(Snowpal) Backend as a Service APIs, Apps, Courses, Podcasts

Mar 09, 2024

We’ve had the privilege of collaborating with the following guests so far.

A deep dive into Entrepreneurship, Development, Sales, and more (feat. Justin Abrams & Mike Rispoli)

Oct 17

A deep dive into Entrepreneurship, Development, Sales, and more (feat. Justin Abrams & Mike Rispoli)

In this episode, Krish Palaniappan, Mike Rispoli, and Justin Abrams discuss the journey of entrepreneurship, the challenges of building a business, and the importance of freedom and legacy in their careers. They share insights on the realities of running a startup, the balance between security and freedom, and the impact of their work on future generati…

Introduction to Weaviate Vector Database (feat. Bob van Luijt)

Oct 17

Introduction to Weaviate Vector Database (feat. Bob van Luijt)

In this conversation, Krish Palaniappan interviews Bob van Luijt, CEO of Weaviate, about the emerging field of vector databases and their significance in AI applications. Bob explains the concept of vector embeddings, the evolution of databases from SQL to NoSQL and now to vector databases, and the unique capabilities that vector databases offer for sea…

Career Progression: Development to Leadership (feat. Siddharth Parakh)

Oct 15

Career Progression: Development to Leadership (feat. Siddharth Parakh)

In this episode, Krish Palaniappan engages with Siddharth Parakh, an experienced software engineer and leader, to discuss the evolving role of developers in the age of AI. Siddharth shares his journey from a developer to an engineering leader, emphasizing the importance of understanding the bigger picture in software development. The conversation explor…

Entrepreneurship, MVP & Startup Challenges (feat. Michael Sattler)

Oct 7

Entrepreneurship, MVP & Startup Challenges (feat. Michael Sattler)

In this episode, Krish Palaniappan interviews Michael Sattler, a serial entrepreneur and fractional technical product executive. They discuss the critical aspects of MVP development for early-stage companies, emphasizing the importance of finding product-market fit, learning from failures, and the necessity of customer feedback. Michael shares his insig…

What does it take to run a SaaS Business? (feat. Rodion Telpizov)

Sep 30

What does it take to run a SaaS Business? (feat. Rodion Telpizov)

In this episode, Krish Palaniappan interviews Rod Telpizov, CEO of SmartJobBoard. They discuss the journey of launching and growing a SaaS business, the importance of choosing the right market, navigating business challenges, and the critical role of resilience in entrepreneurship. Rod shares insights on leveraging AI tools to enhance product offerings …

Product Management: Problems and Solutions (feat. Christoph Steinlehner)

Sep 27

Product Management: Problems and Solutions (feat. Christoph Steinlehner)

In this episode, Christoph Steinlehner discusses the challenges faced by product managers, including endless discussion cycles and the importance of visual communication. He emphasizes the need for effective meetings, collaboration between product managers and developers, and the role of prototyping and user feedback in product development. Christoph al…

AI Orchestration and Automation (feat. Andrew Brooks)

Sep 26

AI Orchestration and Automation (feat. Andrew Brooks)

In this conversation, Krish Palaniappan interviews Andrew Brooks, co-founder of Contextual.io, an AI orchestration platform. The conversation covers Andrew's background in technology and entrepreneurship, the evolution of Contextual, and its unique offerings in AI workflow automation. The episode includes a live demonstration of the platform, showcasing…

Finding Product Market Fit (feat. Daniel Mawdsley)

Sep 25

Finding Product Market Fit (feat. Daniel Mawdsley)

In this conversation, Daniel Mawdsley, founder of SkillSociety, discusses the innovative approach his company is taking to revolutionize the hiring process through AI-driven assessments. He emphasizes the importance of identifying real problems in the market, understanding product-market fit, and the significance of creating a minimum viable product (MV…

Business Agility & its role in the modern world (feat. Ivan Gekht)

Sep 24

Business Agility & its role in the modern world (feat. Ivan Gekht)

In this engaging conversation, Krish Palaniappan and Ivan Gekht delve into the concept of business agility and its significance in the modern world. They explore the differences between business agility and agile software development, the importance of mindset, and the challenges of implementing agile practices in teams. Ivan shares insights on the comp…

iOS 18: New Feature Review (feat. Varun Palaniappan)

Sep 18

In this episode, Krish and ⁠Varun⁠ discuss the new features of iOS 18, focusing on customization options for the home screen and lock screen, enhancements to the torch app, a revamped control center, improvements in the photos app, and new functionalities in the calculator and notes apps. They provide insights into how these features enhance user experi…

Starting a Startup: What does it take? (feat. Josh Sanabria)

Sep 17

Starting a Startup: What does it take? (feat. Josh Sanabria)

In this episode, Krish Palaniappan interviews ⁠Josh Sanabria⁠, CEO of Go Architect, discussing the journey of starting a startup. They explore the challenges entrepreneurs face, the importance of patience, effective prospecting strategies, and the significance of building a supportive community. Josh shares insights on narrowing down target audiences an…

Entrepreneurship with a Nomadic Lifestyle (feat. Austin Reed)

Sep 13

Entrepreneurship with a Nomadic Lifestyle (feat. Austin Reed)

In this episode, ⁠Austin Reed⁠ shares his experiences as a digital nomad and entrepreneur, discussing the challenges and rewards of balancing work and travel. He delves into the dynamics of remote work, the importance of flexibility, and the technical challenges faced by distributed teams. The conversation also covers API development, cultural differenc…

Book: "Future-Proofing Product Management” (feat. Magali Pelissier)

Jan 4

Book: "Future-Proofing Product Management” (feat. Magali Pelissier)

Krish Palaniappan had an opportunity to chat with Magali Pelissier, Product Management Leader at Cisco, about her latest book: Future-Proofing Product Management: A Guide to Current Trends and Beyond, and it made for a very exciting conversation. You can find the book

The Art of Tech Transition (feat. Richa Bhardwaj)

Jan 4

The Art of Tech Transition (feat. Richa Bhardwaj)

Krish Palaniappan had an opportunity to chat with Richa Bhardwaj, a Holistic Technology Professional, about various aspects of Software Development. We talked about technology stacks, code reviews, comfort zones, full stack development, polyglot development, and more.

(Part 1/2) Content Marketing for Founders — Fundamentals, Challenges, Distribution Strategies (feat. Dessire Ugarte)

Jan 4

(Part 1/2) Content Marketing for Founders — Fundamentals, Challenges, Distribution Strategies (feat. Dessire Ugarte)

In this conversation, Dessire Ugarte, a digital marketer, discusses the basics of content marketing and the challenges faced by startups in this field. She emphasizes the importance of defining the target audience and creating content that addresses their specific needs. Desi also highlights the role of storytelling in content marketing and the need to …

(Part 2/2) Content Marketing for Founders — Fundamentals, Challenges, Distribution Strategies (feat. Dessire Ugarte)

Jan 4

(Part 2/2) Content Marketing for Founders — Fundamentals, Challenges, Distribution Strategies (feat. Dessire Ugarte)

In this podcast episode, Dessire Ugarte discusses the importance of distribution in content marketing. She emphasizes that creating great content is not enough; it must be actively shared and distributed to reach the intended audience. Desi explains that distribution involves sharing content on various channels, such as social media, subreddits, and ind…

Automated Economy Series (2/N): AI in Automated Economy (feat. David Kramer)

Jan 4

Automated Economy Series (2/N): AI in Automated Economy (feat. David Kramer)

In this conversation, David Kramer discusses the role of AI in the automated economy and its impact on various industries. He explains how AI can process large amounts of data and make logical decisions, leading to advancements in automation and personalization. Kramer also explores the changing roles in different sectors and the emergence of new roles …

Impact of layoffs - letting go and being let go (feat. Serkan Durusoy)

Feb 29

Impact of layoffs - letting go and being let go (feat. Serkan Durusoy)

In this episode, Serkan Durusoy shares his experiences and insights on the impact of layoffs, both from a leadership perspective and as someone who has been let go. He emphasizes the importance of proactive planning and avoiding surprises in the layoff process. Serkan also discusses the need for individuals to manage their attachment to a company and bu…

Remote Leadership - Opportunities & Challenges in scaling remote SaaS teams (feat: Valentina Thörner)

Jan 2

Remote Leadership - Opportunities & Challenges in scaling remote SaaS teams (feat: Valentina Thörner)

Valentina Thörner discusses the challenges and benefits of remote work in her book ‘From a Distance: Strategies and Tools for Leading Remote Support Teams’. She emphasizes the importance of trust, communication, and clear expectations in remote work. Valentina also highlights the need for conscious conversations and checkpoints to ensure productivity an…

(Part 1/2) Impact of Social Media on Mental Health (feat. Vidhi Vohra)

Jan 4

(Part 1/2) Impact of Social Media on Mental Health (feat. Vidhi Vohra)

The conversation explores the impact of social media on mental health. Vidhi Vohra discusses the negative effects of excessive social media usage, such as reduced interaction and increased anxiety and depression. The conversation also touches on the fear of missing out, comparison with others, and the use of filters to present an idealized version of on…

(Part 2/2) Impact of Social Media on Mental Health (feat. Vidhi Vohra)

Jan 4

(Part 2/2) Impact of Social Media on Mental Health (feat. Vidhi Vohra)

In this conversation, Krish and Vidhi discuss the impact of social media on mental health, specifically focusing on the role of comparison. They explore how comparison can steal joy and peace of mind, and how social media exacerbates this issue by constantly triggering comparison. They emphasize the importance of not letting social media change one’s op…

Fundamentals of Platform Engineering (feat. James Schorr)

Jan 2

Fundamentals of Platform Engineering (feat. James Schorr)

In this conversation, James Schorr, a senior director in the cloud platform area, discusses platform engineering and its impact on developers. Platform engineering is the next evolution of DevOps, aiming to provide a consistent and easy-to-use platform for developers. It simplifies the developer experience by reducing the cognitive load and allowing dev…

World Traveler Series (3/N, 4/N): Welcome to Africa (feat. Prasanna Veeraswamy)

Jan 19

World Traveler Series (3/N, 4/N): Welcome to Africa (feat. Prasanna Veeraswamy)

(Part 1/2) Welcome to Africa

Fundamentals of Prospecting with a focus on B2B Sales (feat. Dr. Deva Rangarajan)

Jan 26

Fundamentals of Prospecting with a focus on B2B Sales (feat. Dr. Deva Rangarajan)

In this podcast episode, ⁠Dr. Deva Rangarajan⁠ discusses the topic of prospecting in sales. The conversation covers various aspects of prospecting, including the changes in prospecting over time, the difference between advertising and marketing, and the role of sales and marketing in outbound and inbound prospecting. The discussion also touches on the e…

Automated Economy Series (3/N): Education in Automated Economy (feat. David Kramer)

Jan 4

Automated Economy Series (3/N): Education in Automated Economy (feat. David Kramer)

In this conversation, Krish and David Kramer discuss the impact of automation and AI on education. They explore the challenges and benefits of personalization in learning, as well as the potential loss of the human element. They also discuss the importance of building trust with digital entities and the future of education in a hyper-personalized world.…

Coaching and Self Development (feat. Dan Tudorache)

Jan 5

Coaching and Self Development (feat. Dan Tudorache)

In this podcast episode, Dan Tudorache at empacITy discusses game-based learning and its implementation in the tech industry. He shares insights on how game-based learning can be applied to software teams and how it can benefit different roles within an organization. Dan also explains how his coaching and gaming sessions are structured and the typical a…

Evolution of Software Development (feat. Jason Crum)

Feb 24

Evolution of Software Development (feat. Jason Crum)

In this episode, Krish and ⁠Jason⁠ discuss the evolution of software development and the changes they have witnessed over the years. They reflect on their first lines of code and compare the differences between then and now. They also explore the pace of change in technology and the challenges it presents for developers. The conversation touches on the …

Fundamentals of Sales (feat. Deva Rangarajan)

Jan 5

Fundamentals of Sales (feat. Deva Rangarajan)

In this conversation, Dr. Deva Rangarajan discusses the differences between sales, pre-sales, and marketing. He explains that marketing is about creating awareness and educating customers, while pre-sales helps customers formulate solutions and sales focuses on negotiating terms and conditions. Dr. Rangarajan emphasizes that these roles can be performed…

Impact of Gratitude, Forgiveness, Expectations on Mental Health (feat. Vidhi Vohra)

Jan 6

Impact of Gratitude, Forgiveness, Expectations on Mental Health (feat. Vidhi Vohra)

In this conversation, Krish and Vidhi discuss the topics of gratitude and forgiveness. They emphasize the importance of expressing gratitude towards oneself and others, as well as the positive impact it can have on mental health. Vidhi shares her personal experience of forgiving someone and the sense of relief it brought her. They also discuss the need …

World Traveler Series (1/N): Learnings from Global Travels to 200 Countries (feat. Prasanna Veeraswamy)

Jan 9

World Traveler Series (1/N): Learnings from Global Travels to 200 Countries (feat. Prasanna Veeraswamy)

Prasanna Veeraswamy shares his unique experience of traveling to every country in the world and the personal growth and education he gained from his travels. He emphasizes the importance of living in a place to truly understand its culture and build relationships. Prasanna also discusses the impact of travel on food perceptions and the accessibility of …

World Traveler Series (2/N): Why cultural learnings have a profound impact on business outcomes (feat. Prasanna Veeraswamy)

Jan 19

World Traveler Series (2/N): Why cultural learnings have a profound impact on business outcomes (feat. Prasanna Veeraswamy)

In this podcast episode, Krish and ⁠Prasanna⁠ discuss the challenges and strategies for building relationships and effective communication in remote work environments. They explore the cultural differences that can impact communication styles and offer insights on how to bridge those gaps. They also discuss the importance of creating off-sites and team …

2 engineers discussing many things about Software Development (feat. Serkan Durusoy)

Jan 10

2 engineers discussing many things about Software Development (feat. Serkan Durusoy)

In this conversation, ⁠Serkan Durusoy⁠, the head of engineering at Okra, discusses his background, living on a sailboat, and his passion for engineering. He emphasizes the importance of creativity and art in engineering and how personal background and upbringing can influence problem-solving approaches. Serkan also explores the balance between individua…

(Part 1/2) Remote Work - An Engineer’s Perspective (feat. Jason Crum)

Jan 18

(Part 1/2) Remote Work - An Engineer’s Perspective (feat. Jason Crum)

In this podcast episode, Krish interviews Jason Crum, a Senior Enterprise Architect, about remote work from an engineer's perspective. They discuss various aspects of remote work, including pre-pandemic, during pandemic, and post-pandemic experiences, preferences for remote or in-office work, benefits and challenges of remote work, limitations of remote…

(Part 2/2) Remote Work - An Engineer’s Perspective (feat. Jason Crum)

Jan 18

(Part 2/2) Remote Work - An Engineer’s Perspective (feat. Jason Crum)

In this podcast, Krish and ⁠Jason⁠ discuss the cultural aspects of remote work and the importance of knowing each other in a remote setting. They explore whether it is necessary for engineers to know each other and the responsibility of individuals and organizations in fostering relationships. They also touch on the impact of engagement length on buildi…

Automated Economy Series (4/N): Impact of Automated Economy on Global Economic Growth (feat. David Kramer)

Jan 20

Automated Economy Series (4/N): Impact of Automated Economy on Global Economic Growth (feat. David Kramer)

In this episode, Krish and Kramer discuss the impact of the automated economy on global economic growth. They explore the differences in the adoption of automated economy between countries and the role of culture in this process. They also identify the countries that are likely to have the largest impact on the automated economy, including India, Africa…

Software Supply Chain Security and a Decoupled Architecture (feat. Tracy Ragan)

Feb 20

Software Supply Chain Security and a Decoupled Architecture (feat. Tracy Ragan)

Tracy Ragan discusses software supply chain management and the importance of generating and consuming Software Bill of Materials (SBOMs) in decoupled architectures. She explains the challenges of managing libraries and dependencies in microservices and the need for aggregated SBOMs. Tracy emphasizes the importance of rapid response to vulnerabilities an…

Automated Economy and its influence on India's growth (feat. David Kramer)

Feb 24

Automated Economy and its influence on India's growth (feat. David Kramer)

In this podcast episode, Kramer discusses his recent travels and the evolution of automation in traditional services. He highlights the excitement of witnessing the accelerated adoption of automation in different countries. The conversation then shifts to the most delicious vegetarian food in New Zealand. The hosts recap the previous podcast and set the…

Scaling High Performing, Multinational Teams (feat. Andy Hilliard)

Mar 6

Scaling High Performing, Multinational Teams (feat. Andy Hilliard)

In this podcast episode, Krish Palaniappan interviews Andy Hilliard, CEO of Accelerance, about offshoring and building effective globally distributed teams. They discuss the importance of understanding cultural differences in offshoring, the challenges of offshoring for different types of positions, and navigating the risks of offshoring with defined vs…

Authorization as a Service (feat. Jake Moshenko)

Mar 15

Authorization as a Service (feat. Jake Moshenko)

Jake Moshenko⁠, CEO of ⁠AuthZed⁠, discusses the importance of permissioning databases and the challenges of implementing permissions at scale. He explains how AuthZed solves this problem by providing a common API for flexible and fine-grained authorization. The target market for AuthZed includes companies of all sizes that need to add complex permission…

Importance of UI/UX Localization & the Need for Transparency between all Stakeholders (feat. Leigh Lawhon)

Mar 19

Importance of UI/UX Localization & the Need for Transparency between all Stakeholders (feat. Leigh Lawhon)

In this episode, Leigh Lawhon discusses the importance of transparency in software projects. She highlights the gap between product managers and developers, emphasizing the need for clear communication and understanding of the 'why' behind tasks. Leigh also explores the influence of culture on UX/UI design and the challenges of localization. She emphasi…

Measuring Developer Experience and Improving it through Platform Engineering (feat. Ajay Chankramath)

Apr 16

Measuring Developer Experience and Improving it through Platform Engineering (feat. Ajay Chankramath)

Ajay Chankramath, Head of Platform Engineering at ThoughtWorks, discusses measuring and improving developer experience through platform engineering. Platform engineering is the abstracted set of tools, principles, and techniques that make developers' lives easier and enable DevOps. It focuses on improving developer productivity and reducing friction in …

Journey of a product from Vision to Execution (feat. Chuks Ejechi)

Sep 5

Journey of a product from Vision to Execution (feat. Chuks Ejechi)

In this conversation, ⁠Chuks Ejechi⁠, a product leader, discusses the journey of a product from vision to execution. He explains the process of translating a business vision into a product vision and the importance of defining what, who, and why in the product vision. Chuks also highlights the challenges faced in executing ideas, such as resistance from…