Podcast Awesome

What is nerdery, really? 🤓 In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we dig into the heart of Font Awesome’s culture — inclusive nerdery. It's not about lone geniuses or command line gatekeepers. It’s about heart, curiosity, humility, and building awesome things with other people. 💛👾 You'll hear from FA team members Dave and Travis, plus a few snippets from topics we've covered on our blog and internal convos, all woven together to show how we:🎯 Hire for character over cleverness🔍 Celebrate deep curiosity (hello, nutrition nerds and D&D geeks!)🎉 Create space for serious play through our legendary team "Snuggles"🧠 Foster creativity through snack-sized projects like the Icon Wizard and Space Awesome gameThis episode is for anyone building company culture, or just trying to figure out how to lead with humanity in a techy world.✨ Icons may not change the world, but good people just might.🔍 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:00:00 – Welcome to Nerdery™02:00 – Defining what "nerd" means to us04:00 – Why we hire adults, not rockstars06:00 – Our 3-step hiring philosophy08:00 – Why we host company “Snuggles” (not summits!)10:00 – FARTS, the Icon Wizard & how fun leads to innovation12:00 – Space Awesome: building games on company time (and learning VueJS to boot!)14:00 – Why forced culture doesn’t work16:00 – A culture that’s built to last🔗 Mentioned in the Episode:🧙‍♂️ Space Awesome – FA dev projecthttps://spaceawesome.io/ 🛠 Our Hiring Philosophyhttps://blog.fontawesome.com/company-... ✨ The Icon Wizardhttps://blog.fontawesome.com/icon-wiz... 💼 More About FA Company Culturehttps://blog.fontawesome.com/nerdery/🎵 Theme music by Ronnie Martin🎹 Interstitial music by Zach Malm🎥 Video support by Isaac ChaseStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

12/9/25 • 14:20

🎬 What do Star Wars, oil painting, and storytelling have in common? Turns out: everything. In this curiosity-fueled episode, filmmaker and multi-hyphenate creative Andy Maier (Soon Agency) joins host Matt Johnson to talk about building a life powered by relentless learning, visual storytelling, and the kind of curiosity that launches careers 🚀.From working with Apple, SpaceX, and Microsoft to touring in his metal band Opponent and picking up oil painting during a creative pivot — Andy is the living embodiment of “just figure it out.” 💥🎨🧠If you've ever felt like the underdog creative, this one’s for you. Andy drops storytelling gems faster than Yoda lifts an X-Wing.🎸 Fun fact: Andy composed the metal version of the Font Awesome theme song in a single day. That’s some serious Jedi speed 🤘.🎙️ What We Cover in This Episode🤖 Why being curious is better than being talented🎥 How oil painting made Andy a better compositor🧱 The concept of “armature” and why your story collapses without one🌱 Why telling the truth is the best brand strategy🤝 The power of surrounding yourself with curious people✨ Building "wells, not fences" in your creative career⚔️ Star Wars, Iron Giant, and the real meaning of “The Force”⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Podcast Awesome 01:00 – Meet Andy Maier: Creative Jedi & Founder of Soon 02:30 – Early creative career and figuring it out on the fly 05:15 – The underestimated power of curiosity 08:20 – From DIY music videos to working with Apple and SpaceX 10:45 – Why storytelling is better than trends 13:30 – Building a creative life around community and friendships 16:00 – How oil painting made Andy better at... everything 19:00 – The merch moment: painting turned t-shirt design 22:00 – What’s real? How to build grounded storytelling 26:30 – Invisible Ink, Brian McDonald, and story armature 101 32:00 – Why Marvel’s Phase 4 struggles (and what X-Men got right) 34:00 – Star Wars, Joseph Campbell, and unlocking “the Force” 37:45 – Where to find Andy and his work 38:30 – Bonus: The origin of the metal FA theme song 🤘🔗 Links & Resources 🔥 Andy’s work – https://www.soon.agency 🎶 Andy’s band Opponent – https://www.solidstaterecords.com/opponent 📖 Invisible Ink by Brian McDonald – https://shorturl.at/E9101 🖖 Font Awesome’s Heavy Metal Icon Episode – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FlsrtKCI1Y 🎧 More Podcast Awesome episodes – https://podcastawesome.com #PodcastAwesome #StorytellingMatters #CreativeJedi #VisualStorytelling #FilmmakerLife #MotionGraphicsArtist #DesignNerds #FontAwesome #CuriosityWins #InvisibleInk #CreativeProcess #OilPaintingForDesigners #BuildWellsNotFences #NerdCulture #MetalVibesOnly #StarWarsStorytelling #MakeSomethingAwesomeStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

11/25/25 • 42:58

Episode SummaryWhat does it really take to ship something as powerful, polished, and downright magical as Web Awesome? In this episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt sits down with Lindsay and Cory, the dynamic duo behind the official launch of Web Awesome. Together, they peel back the curtain on how the team brought a customizable design system to life (without summoning any cursed CSS incantations).From the slick Theme Builder to the deeply thoughtful Figma integration, from production-ready patterns to future-forward prototyping dreams, this convo is packed with insights for devs, designers, and nerds of all kinds. Get the scoop on stretch goals, community feedback, and why starting with a “sh*tty first draft” is actually a power move.Oh! And they may or may not be plotting a future where we don’t even need Figma anymore. Gasp!What We Cover in This Episode:🛠 The design magic behind the Theme Builder🎨 Patterns and why you shouldn’t reinvent the checkout form🧩 The current state of Figma files — and where they’re headed🧪 Bridging the gap between prototyping and real code🔮 A sneak peek at future stretch goal components (hello, toasts and video!)⚡ How Web Awesome + Eleventy = your new dream dev stack🗣 Why your newbie feedback matters more than you thinkTimestamps00:00 – Welcome & introductions01:45 – Life after launch: relief or revving up?03:30 – Making the Theme Builder powerful and friendly05:40 – Patterns that just work (and why that's a good thing)07:30 – Balancing usability and delightful surprises08:15 – Figma files, MVP vibes, and real feedback10:20 – The future of theming via Figma plugins12:00 – Stretch goal components: what’s shipped and what’s next14:30 – Why prototyping with code might replace Figma16:45 – Web Awesome meets Eleventy: the ultimate team-up19:00 – Templates, page builders, and lowering the barrier to entry20:30 – Why new users’ feedback is gold22:00 – How to connect with the team & share your experienceLinks & Resources🌐 [Web Awesome](https://webawesome.com)📣 [Join the Community](https://webawesome.com/community)🧵 [GitHub Discussions](https://github.com/webawesome/webawesome/discussions)📬 Email: [help@webawesome.com](mailto:help@webawesome.com) / [hello@webawesome.com](mailto:hello@webawesome.com)💬 Join us on Discord – link on the community page!🧠 Learn more about [Jacob’s Law](https://lawsofux.com/jakobs-law/)🎁 Don’t forget: 20% off Web Awesome Pro until Nov 19th!Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

11/13/25 • 23:19

Episode Summary:We're heading back to the basement — (sort of). In this episode, Matt catches up with Mike Wilkerson, the OG guest of Podcast Awesome, to unveil the biggest update yet to the official Font Awesome WordPress plugin. From block editor visual support to full-on SVG injection wizardry (yes, that’s a thing), this version is all about giving developers and designers more power, more precision, and fewer plugin conflicts.Whether you’re a WordPress purist or a page builder rebel, you’ll walk away knowing how to get your icons looking sharp, staying pro, and loading like a dream.🧠 What We Cover in This Episode:🔌 The origin story of the plugin (and the furnace that helped launch it)🧱 Full block editor visual editing support (finally WYSIWYG!)🛠️ SVG injection + self-hosting benefits🛡️ How to squash plugin conflicts like a pro🔍 Page builder struggles—and what might be coming next🤝 How to send feedback to actual humans™ at Font Awesome⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Basement beginnings & podcast nostalgia 02:00 – WordPress + Font Awesome: how widespread is it? 04:00 – Why Version 5 is a game-changer 06:00 – How inline SVGs improve performance and reduce conflict 08:00 – Self-hosting benefits & advanced options 10:00 – When to load (or not load) your kit 12:00 – Compatibility tips for older content 14:00 – What’s next for FA + WordPress 16:00 – How to give feedback to actual humans™🔗 Links & Resources:Official Font Awesome WordPress PluginUsing Kits with WordPressConflict Detection & TroubleshootingEmail us: hello@fontawesome.comStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

11/4/25 • 20:06

🧠 What do LEGO logos, hand-puppet dreams, citrus gadgets, and naming things "Turbo" have in common? They're all part of Dan Cederholm’s design universe — and part of this wide-ranging, joy-filled second half of our conversation.In this episode, Dan returns to talk about: • Embracing constraints as a creative fuel source• Naming fonts after misspelled words (because ... domains)• The delightful hellscape of naming anything in tech• Why imposter syndrome might actually be useful• And how a puppet changed everything at Font Awesome 🧡🎧 It’s a show-and-tell episode full of unexpected design wisdom, warm fuzzies, and orange peelers.What We Cover in This Episode:• 🧠 Dan’s creative process: one font at a time• 🚫 Naming things is still the hardest problem in tech• 🐀 The birth of the Font Possum Puppet• 🧃 The power of a really good citrus squeezer• 🤖 Why AI can’t fake taste (yet)• 💌 Why Dan's newsletter works (and yours could too)• 😵‍💫 Making peace with imposter syndrome• 🧩 Why being weird is a superpower⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Intro01:15 – The creative process of typeface design04:04 – Naming fonts is a nightmare06:05 – The importance of naming & branding12:25 – Imposter syndrome in the creative industry18:15 – A puppet changed everything22:31 – Why a newsletter is like old-school blogging29:03 – Orange peelers, joy, and the power of small specificity37:17 – The impact of creativity38:14 – Building community through creativity41:16 – Wrap up with Dan Cederholm42:24 – Final Thoughts & Credits📌 Links & Resources• Dan Cederholm → https://simplebits.com• Dan's newsletter → https://simplebits.com/newsletter• Turbo Typeface → https://simplebits.com/fonts• Font Possum cameo → [FontAwesome YouTube Channel]• BrickLink Studio (Lego design app) → https://www.bricklink.com/v3/studioStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

10/30/25 • 44:49

SummaryDesigner, author, and co-founder of Dribbble, Dan Cederholm joins Podcast Awesome to chat with Matt Johnson and Jory Raphael about finding joy in creativity later in life, making fonts just for fun, and the art of embracing imperfection. From typefaces and merch to dice games and design detours, Dan shares how side projects, constraints, and a healthy dose of curiosity keep the creative spark alive.This two-part conversation is full of laughter, nostalgia, and lessons about learning new things just because they’re fun. You’ll walk away inspired to make something— anything — awesome.Key TakeawaysCreativity thrives in curiosity: Dan reminds us that learning new things (even outside your job) can reignite your creative energy.Constraints fuel originality: Sometimes not knowing everything — or having limited tools — can sometimes help create the most human, interesting work.Merch can tell a story: From fonts to dice games, playful side projects become part of a designer’s personal brand.Imperfection = personality: The best designs often come with flaws that make them real, memorable, and relatable.Spend time not doing your job: Font Awesome’s team philosophy — creativity grows when you step outside your usual sandbox.Timestamps00:00 — Introduction and catching up with Dan Cederholm02:00 — Typefaces as creative puzzles06:00 — The joy of passion projects10:00 — The first font and lessons from “Chameleon”18:00 — The lineage of icon design and learning from imperfection26:00 — Failures, Field Notes, and finding the next fun thing30:00 — Creative constraints and the beauty of not knowing everything36:00 — Humor, joy, and “making stuff that makes you laugh”38:00 — The icons that exist just because they’re funny42:00 — Hidden glyphs, zombie hands, and bonus icons in fonts44:00 — Wrap-up and where to find Dan onlineRelated LinksSimpleBits.com — Dan’s home for fonts, merch, and creative experimentsDan’s Newsletter — The one Font Awesome staffers never skipDribbble — Co-founded by Dan, still inspiring designers everywhereCreditsProduced and edited by Matt Johnson Video editing by Isaac Chase Theme music by Ronnie Martin Interstitial music by Zach MalmStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

10/14/25 • 44:58

Build once, run everywhere. In this full-nerd, front-end-leaning episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt sits down with Zach Leatherman (creator of Eleventy) and Konnor Rogers (Web Awesome developer) to chat about how a static site generator just might be the key to building some of the most powerful, performant documentation on the web.We dig deep into Eleventy’s evolution, Web Awesome’s hybrid architecture, and how a team of devs found a way to keep docs fast, flexible, and secure — without rewriting everything from scratch or giving up on open source values. Spoiler: they didn’t go full ExpressJS for fun.Whether you’re a seasoned dev or a newb, this one's packed with insight, edge-case explorations, and some seriously satisfying build-time nerdery.In this episode, we explore:⚡️ Why Eleventy’s simplicity still scales 🧠 Making static sites feel dynamic (without a heavy JS framework) 🔐 How Web Awesome handles auth + private docs with minimal friction 🚫 Avoiding vendor lock-in and runtime gotchas 📦 The future of Eleventy in browsers, edge runtimes, and beyondPull up your terminal. This one’s for you.🔗 Links & Credits🎵 Theme by Ronnie Martin🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns (Lemon Productions)🎹 Interstitial music by Zach Malm🎥 Video support by Isaac Chase🔗 Eleventy🔗 Web AwesomeStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

9/30/25 • 35:07

Inside the UX lessons, internet lore, and surprising comeback of ClippyLove him or loathe him, you remember him. Clippy — the googly-eyed paperclip that lived inside Microsoft Word — has become a permanent fixture in internet culture. But how did a productivity tool become the patron saint of annoying-yet-adorable UI? In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we’re digging into the cult of Clippy with behind-the-scenes insights from Clippy's original creator Kevan Atteberry and Microsoft designer Sam Cundall. From meme fame to Microsoft Teams emoji, Clippy's legacy is more layered than you think.📝 What We Cover in This Episode:📎 Why Clippy was loved and hated🧠 The psychology of nostalgic design🔁 When Microsoft secretly brought Clippy back🤖 What Clippy might teach us about the future of AI assistants✍️ thoughts on reviving legacy designs the right way⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome to the Cult of Clippy 02:00 – The origin story: from helpful to hated 04:30 – Nostalgia and annoyance: why we love to hate him 06:00 – Microsoft’s secret Clippy emoji comeback 08:00 – What makes emoji design "work"? 10:00 – Fun at work: why weirdness builds culture 14:00 – The creator's take: Kevan Atteberry on designing Clippy 20:00 – From embarrassment to pride: Clippy's redemption arc 24:00 – Clippy vs. Siri: The rise of personality-driven UI 26:00 – Final thoughts: where personality fits in UX🔗 Links & Resources:Sam Kundal on LinkedInKevan Atteberry's booksHow to add a paperclip emoji to your UIVote a favorite icon up the leaderboard🎥 Podcast Awesome on YouTube 🎶 The Font Awesome Theme Song – Composed by Ronnie Martin🎸 Music Interstitials by Zach Malm🎬 Produced and edited by Matt Johnson with some extra help from Isaac Chase Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

9/25/25 • 26:04

Have you ever rage-coded your way into building a developer tool that actually fixes things? Burton Smith has. And we’re here for it.In this episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt and Web Awesome's boss, Cory Laviska chat with Burton Smith. Burton is an open source wizard and creator of the Web Components Toolkit, and he tells us about the gap between the promise of Web Components and the messy reality devs often face.💻 Burton’s toolkit bridges that gap like Gandalf on a DX bender.In this episode we dive into: ⚙️ Developer experience pain points 🧩 Custom Elements Manifests (CEMs) and real-world tooling 🎯 Form-associated custom elements, declarative shadow DOM, and why they still have rough edges 🚀 Why frameworks finally (mostly) play nice with Web Components 📦 How open source tools can fix the stuff we all silently suffer through 🧠 And why making components “just work” should be table stakesThis one’s for devs who are tired of wiring up wrappers, fighting with VS Code autocomplete, or wondering why their component still doesn’t show up right in Storybook.✨ Bonus: We get a little spicy about SSR, headless UI, and whether a global design system is even a thing we want.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Podcast Awesome 02:00 – Meet Burton Smith: The Stuff Breaker 04:00 – Why Web Components Tooling is (Still) a Pain 06:00 – Closing the Gap Between DX and Dev Reality 12:00 – CEMs, ASTs, and Metadata Magic 20:00 – Form-associated Custom Elements (and the Weird Gaps) 24:00 – Declarative Shadow DOM: Blessing or Band-Aid? 28:00 – SSR, Frameworks, and the Next Frontier 34:00 – Global Design Systems, Gatekeeping, and Interop 42:00 – Headless UI vs. Useless DX 44:00 – How to Support Burton + Where to Find the Toolkit🔗 Links & Resources🌐 Burton’s Toolkit: https://wc-toolkit.com🧙‍♂️ Follow Burton on GitHub: https://github.com/Breakstuff🐦 Burton on Social: @StuffBreaker📄 Learn more about Custom Elements Manifest: https://github.com/webcomponents/custom-elements-manifest🛠️ Web Awesome: https://webawesome.dev🧡 Shoutout to all you open sourcers building magic after hours🎥 Podcast Awesome on YouTube 🎶 The Font Awesome Theme Song – Composed by Ronnie Martin🎸 Music Interstitials by Zach Malm🎬 Produced and edited by Matt Johnson with some extra help from Isaac Chase Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

9/17/25 • 45:33

🔴 “Excuse me … I believe you have my stapler?”One line. Infinite memes. A red-hot icon.In this episode of The Story Behind the Icon, we dive deep into the surprisingly rich lore behind the humble office stapler — and how a cult classic film, a soft-spoken cubicle dweller, and a spray-painted prop turned it into a cultural artifact.🎧 Whether you’ve got 37 pieces of flair or just enough sarcasm to survive corporate life, this one’s for the design nerds, Office Space devotees, and UI jokesters looking for the perfect button metaphor.🔍 What We Cover in This Episode🔴 The origin story of Milton’s beloved red stapler 🎞️ Mike Judge’s animated roots and early Office Space shorts 💻 Remote work, legacy office gear, and the evolution of workplace design 🧑‍💼 Font Awesome’s very own “Milton” and the logic behind the madness 🎨 How to recreate Milton’s soul in HTML with our duotone icon 🎬 The real reason Swingline started making red staplers⏰ Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to Podcast Awesome 01:25 – A new take on the old office 02:40 – Meet Milton: The patron saint of passive resistance 04:20 – Mike Judge: From Beavis and Butthead to box office satire 05:55 – The stapler becomes an icon 06:35 – Meet FA’s own Milton (Hi, Steve 👋) 07:20 – Grumpiness as UI insight 08:05 – Milton’s stapler wasn’t red... until it was 09:00 – Design challenge: Where will you use the stapler icon? 09:50 – Commission your own icon or vote one into existence 10:30 – Credits and a final plea: Return. The. Stapler.🔗 Links & Resources🖇️ Stapler Icon on Font Awesome 📽️ Office Space (1999) 🎨 Vote for an icon on the leaderboard 📝 FA Blog: The Story Behind the Icon Series🎥 Podcast Awesome on YouTube – Full uncut convo with extra music nerdiness 🎶 The Font Awesome Theme Song – Composed by Ronnie Martin 🎸 Music Interstitials by Zach Malm 🎬 Produced and edited by Matt JohnsonStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

8/19/25 • 09:57

Designing Joy: Don Clark of Invisible Creature on Creativity, Collectibles & CultureIn this episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt hangs out with legendary designer Don Clark of Invisible Creature to dive into the analog soul of digital design. From their punk rock roots and Grammy-nominated album covers to art directing for Seattle’s swankiest restaurant, Don and his brother Ryan have created work you’ve seen —whether you know it or not.They discuss growing up with a NASA illustrator grandpa, how nostalgia fuels creativity, the value of physical objects in a swipe-and-scroll world, and how a sibling-run design studio rides the waves of industry change. It’s a masterclass in storytelling, aesthetics, and sneaky inspiration.Plus, Don once designed a 7-story mural for Newark Airport that one construction worker told him no one would ever notice. Art, meet irony.✨ What We Cover in This Episode🚀 Grandpa drew spaceships for NASA — no big deal🎸 From hardcore zines to Grammy-nominated album art🧸 Why physical objects still matter (even in a scroll-y, swipey world)😊 Nostalgia, and the purposeful creation of joy 🏠 Turning a love of toys and typography into brand work for Target, Canlis, and more🏄🏻‍♂️ Creating a career by riding the wave (not controlling it)👾 How Invisible Creature got its name — and why most people don’t realize they’ve seen their work🍽️ Art direction in fine dining, and designing for iconic spaces⏱️ Timestamps[00:01:00] – Don’s creative upbringing & grandpa's NASA work [00:04:00] – From punk flyers to full-time design [00:08:00] – Physical design in a digital world [00:12:00] – Object design, collectibles, and vintage influence [00:16:00] – Tapping nostalgia the right way [00:20:00] – Album covers, influence, and desktop publishing [00:24:00] – The decline of CDs & the rise of gig posters [00:28:00] – The challenges (and joys) of working with family [00:32:00] – Canlis restaurant and entering the fine dining space [00:36:00] – Creating inspiring physical spaces [00:38:00] – Why “Invisible Creature” is the perfect name [00:42:00] – Good design as invisible, objective experience [00:44:00] – Designing stamps, murals, and children’s Bibles [00:46:00] – Streamlining creativity after 25 years in the biz [00:48:00] – Wrapping up and why riding the wave matters🔗 Links & ResourcesInvisible CreatureMind Reader Music – Album packaging by Ryan Clark & Kevin MooreCanlis – Seattle fine dining where Don is art directorArt of the Incredibles Book – Don’s favorite Pixar art bookPodcast Awesome on YouTube – Full uncut convo with extra music nerdinessThe Font Awesome Theme Song – Composed by Ronnie MartinMusic Interstitials by Zach MalmAudio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon ProductionsProduced and edited by Matt JohnsonStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

7/29/25 • 48:09

💥 A Podcast Awesome Deep CutEpisode Description:🛎️ Guess what? We got a fever … and the only prescription is … well, you know. In this very special episode of Podcast Awesome, we hit pause on our usual tech-and-icon-nerdery to unleash a full-throttle ode to one of the wackiest icons in our set: Cowbell Circle Plus.What starts as a nod to the legendary SNL sketch featuring Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken (The Bruce Dickinson, thank you very much), quickly turns into a globetrotting, time-hopping, cultural deep dive through the unexpected history of the humble cowbell. From medieval Irish cow raids 🐄⚔️ to German cowbell zoning laws 📏🔔 to the altars of rock and roll 🥁🎸, we unpack how this sonic sidekick moo-ved (hehe) from pasture to punchline.Plus: Icon Designer extraordinaire Jory Rafael stops by to share how we brought the Cowbell icon to life (spoiler: it did not involve raiding any farms).🧀 What We Cover in This Episode:🐄 Cowbell as medieval emergency alert system🏴‍☠️ Cattle raids and why your cow needed anti-theft bells in 12th century Ireland🛠️ The surprising craftsmanship behind cowbells (hello, zoning laws!)🌍 How cowbells show up in global rituals🎶 The greatest cowbell moments in music — from Foghat to KISS to the Beastie Boys😂 The SNL sketch that made “More Cowbell” the rallying cry for comedy nerds everywhere🔤 Behind-the-scenes with the FA team: how we turned “More Cowbell” into an icon🤘 A lightning round of underappreciated cowbell bangers⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome to the Weird World of Cowbell 01:15 – SNL Meets SVG: The Inspiration Behind the Icon 02:30 – History Lesson: Cowbells as Analog GPS 04:20 – Cattle Raids, Irish Wars, and Why Your Cow Needed Protection 06:10 – Cowbell Zoning Laws? Yep, That Was a Thing 07:00 – Superstition, Spirit-Banishing & Ceremonial Bells 08:15 – Enter: The Iconic More Cowbell Sketch (2000, SNL) 09:00 – Icon Deep Dive with Jory Rafael 10:20 – Musical Cowbell Moments You Didn’t Know You Needed 11:30 – Wrap-up & Credits Roll Like a Cow in a Parade🔗 Links & Resources:Cowbell Circle Plus Icon on Font AwesomeMore Cowbell SNL Sketch (NBC)Cattle Raid of Cooley (Wikipedia)Alex Poiry makes an appearance as the medieval town council. Music shoutouts: Foghat, Beastie Boys, KISS, Judas Priest, Queen, Thin Lizzy, and moreCredits: Matt Johnson (host + producer), Ronnie Martin (theme song), Zach Malm (music interstitials), Chris Enns @ Lemon Productions (mastering), Isaac Chase (video edit magic)Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

7/24/25 • 11:25

Pork chop sandwiches!! 🫡 🏃‍♂️‍➡️Gather round the interwebs young Gen Xers and Elder Millennials ... In this oddball solo episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt rewinds to the early 2000s and dives deep into the glitchy, glorious chaos of Fensler Film’s GI Joe PSA remixes — a series of bootleg web videos that helped shape meme culture as we know it.These gloriously low-res VHS-rip remixes mashed up 1980s GI Joe cartoon PSAs with absurdist humor, surreal voice dubbing, and non sequiturs that burned themselves into our collective consciousness.Before TikTok. Before YouTube. Before broadband was normal … we had burned DVDs, word-of-mouth weirdness, and lines like:“Pork chop sandwiches!”“Hey kid, I’m a computer!”“Stop all the downloading!”"It's the body message machine-GO!" In this episode, we explore:🧠 The origin story of the GI Joe PSAs📼 Why they were viral gold in a pre-social internet💥 The art of deliberate absurdity and proto-memes📺 Their influence on shows like Robot Chicken and Tim & Eric🌀 Why chaotic creative energy still beats algorithmic contentSo gather 'round, old-school internet nerds. This one’s for you. And knowing? Well… you know the rest.🔗 Links & Credits🎵 Theme by Ronnie Martin 🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns (Lemon Productions) 🎹 Interstitial music by Zach Malm 🎥 Video support by Isaac Chase#PodcastAwesome #GIJoePSAs #InternetHistory #MemeCulture #FenslerFilm #DesignNerdery #TimAndEric #PorkChopSandwiches #AbsurdistComedyStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

7/8/25 • 08:47

Where did the “All Your Base Are Belong to Us” meme come from — and why did it break the early internet?In this nostalgic deep dive, Matt explores the wackadoodle origin of one of the internet’s most gloriously awkward memes. Before “going viral” was even a phrase, this phrase from the 1992 Sega Genesis game Zero Wing somehow made its way from mistranslation to mass internet hysteria — with techno remixes, Flash videos, Photoshopped street signs, and even a nod from AOC herself.Yes, this was real. And it was spectacular.Whether you're an old-school web nerd or just want to understand why your coworker keeps saying “Set up us the bomb,” this one's for you.🔹 What We Cover in This Episode:🕹️ A breakdown of Zero Wing’s hilariously mistranslated intro🎶 The techno remix and Flash video that made the meme explode🧠 Why “All Your Base” became the blueprint for internet weird📡 How meme culture has evolved from delightful chaos to... whatever’s happening now🧑‍🚀 AOC’s legendary tweet that brought it all full circle⏱️ Timestamps:0:00 – Intro + Barry White podcast voice 1:31 – What is the Ballmer Peak of memes? 3:00 – The original Zero Wing translation trainwreck4:32 – “Set up us the bomb”: the remix and Flash frenzy6:15 – AOC, memes in politics, and nostalgia rebooted8:00 – Final thoughts on the beauty of shared digital nonsense🔗 Links & Resources:🕹️ Original Zero Wing meme history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_your_base_are_belong_to_us#:~:text=%22All%20your%20base%20are%20belong,the%201989%20Japanese%20arcade%20game.👾 The remix that started it all: Invasion of the GABA Robots: https://archive.org/details/invasion_of_the_gabber_rob🧠 AOC’s legendary tweet: https://x.com/aoc/status/1086483485668319233🛠️ Credits:🎙️ Hosted, produced, and edited by Matt Johnson🎵 Theme music by Ronnie Martin🎧 Music interstitials by Zach Malm🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions📣 Like the show?Subscribe so you never miss an episode!Rate + review to help more nerds discover us.Or just shout “ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US” in public. (We’ll know what it means.)Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

6/25/25 • 09:11

“Layouts are sexy but, you know, words still matter.” In this solo rant-style episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt takes a silly, unhinged dive into the world of Lorem Ipsum — the gibberish placeholder text that’s haunted designers and writers alike since the 1500s. From Cicero’s scrambled Latin to zombie-themed mockups, we trace the wild history and the weird world of filler text.So ... why do we still treat real content as an afterthought? And what happens when a layout only works with nonsense words?You’ll laugh. You’ll cringe. You’ll maybe rethink that next wireframe.🧠 What We Cover in This Episode:🤬 The grammar quirks that make writers lose their minds (yes, we see you, Oxford comma debate)🏛️ The bizarre origin of Lorem Ipsum (hi Cicero!)🥓 Bacon Ipsum, Hipster Ipsum, Cat Ipsum😤 A friendly/spicy rant on why Lorem Ipsum might kill your content strategy👻 Live sites with placeholder text ⏱️ Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome to the Fake Latin Fight Club 01:00 – Oxford Commas, Passive Voice, and Writers with Rage 03:00 – Sarcastic Quotation Marks and Melty “Cheese” 04:00 – What Even Is Lorem Ipsum, Anyway? 05:30 – From Ancient Rome to Adobe Default Settings 06:45 – The Rise of Bacon, Hipster, and Zombie Ipsum 08:00 – THE RANT: “If Your Layout Only Works With Nonsense…” 09:30 – Final Thoughts: Fonts Are Cool. Content Is King.🔗 Links & Resources:Generate your own Bacon Ipsum 🥓Cat Ipsum for feline-forward mockups 🐱Zombie Ipsum, because... why not 🧟Theme by Ronnie Martin 🎹8-bit interstitial music by Zach MoomAudio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions 🍋🎙️ Subscribe + Listen:📱 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 💻 YouTube | 🌐 podcastawesome.comStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

6/10/25 • 10:31

Design meets activism. Philosophy meets iconography. Wheelchairs meet graffiti.In this philosophy-packed episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt chats with professor, artist, and co-founder of the Accessible Icon Project, Brian Glenny. Together with colleague Sara Hendron, they took a bold journey to make a tweak to the accessibility symbol — which led to a humble street art sticker to statewide legislation.Brian’s story unpacks how a wheelchair icon went from stiff and static to dynamic and full of agency — and how that tweak sparked a global conversation about representation, identity, and inclusion.Along the way, we hit:🧠 The neuroscience of symbol recognition🎨 Graffiti roots and punk rock influence📜 Ethics and accessibility in visual design♿ The making of a movement: from sticker campaign to state law🤯 How even tiny geometry tweaks carry political powerIf you’ve ever wondered how symbols shape culture — or why an icon isn’t “just an icon” — this one’s for you.And knowing? Yep. That’s half the battle.🔗 Links & Credits🚧🎨🏙️Brian's Wiki Page👀 Learn more about Sara Hendren🎵 Theme by Ronnie Martin 🎹 Interstitial music by Zach Malm 🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns (Lemon Productions) 🎥 Video support by Isaac Chase⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣀⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⢁⣛⣷⠖⡐⡐⠐⠀⠂⣠⣷⣾⣆⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣸⣸⣀⣀⠀⠈⠀⠌⢀⠂⣻⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣴⠊⠉⠀⠀⠀⠈⠙⣢⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢻⡟⡟⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠻⢭⡭⠭⠭⠭⠭⠭⡼⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡏⡇⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡿⠀⢀⠤⠤⢄⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠃⡇⠆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠇⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣷⠀⠱⣄⡀⡠⠁⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣼⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢯⣭⣈⣉⣍⣉⡭⠜⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀#PodcastAwesome #AccessibleIconProject #BrianGlenny #DesignActivism #InclusiveDesign #IconographyMatters #DisabilityRepresentation #GraffitiArt #DesignEthics #Semiotics #ContentIsCulture #DesignPhilosophyStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

5/29/25 • 37:11

In this very special episode of The Nerd Show and Tell, we finally cornered the elusive co-founder of Font Awesome — Travis Chase! 🧢✨ From dialing into the web back in the modem days, to co-founding a company that powers millions of websites, Travis shares his unique journey from almost-accountant to accidental icon-company-boss. Or something. You’ll hear tales of telephony code, Star Wars devotion, and how building a company that doesn’t burn people out might be the most radical idea of all.He’s part artist 🎨, part developer 💻, full-on space western nerd — and yes, he’s that guy you want on your trivia team.🧠 What We Cover in This Episode🖼️ How an “uncreative” art student became a designer-turned-developer📞 Building answering machines from scratch — with homemade programming languages!👨‍👦 Juggling startups, Y Combinator, and parenting like a boss🎯 The philosophy behind not grinding yourself to dust🌟 Going full lightspeed into Star Wars Unlimited (Vegas tourney? Yep.)🧙‍♂️ Favorite icons, D&D vibes, and space westerns galore☕ How coffee and coding dreams brewed into a global icon toolkit⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Intro: We Finally Wrangled Travis 01:00 – Side Hustles, Modems, and Making the Web Happen 03:00 – From Art School to Programming Wizardry 06:00 – Answering Machine Nerdvana (Travis’ Favorite Dev Story!) 09:00 – College Friends → Startup Squad 12:00 – That Time They Got Into YC  15:00 – Building Font Awesome the Fun Way 18:00 – Culture that Actually Cares About People 21:00 – What Travis is Nerding Out About (👀 Star Wars Unlimited!) 24:00 – AI, Card Games, and Cross-Pollinating Passions 25:00 – Favorite Icons + Wishlist Packs (Laser swords, anyone?) 27:00 – A Chill Goodbye and More Nerd Show and Tell to Come🔗 Links & Resources🌐 Font Awesome — Icons that just work™🪐 Star Wars: Unlimited TCG — The game Travis is totally (and deeply) nerding out about🏢 37signals & Rework — Inspiration for FA's work/life philosophy🎵 Podcast Theme by Ronnie Martin🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns @ Lemon ProductionsStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

5/13/25 • 25:48

SummaryWhat does it take to shoot a high-energy, humor-packed, visually delicious Font Awesome marketing video? A 12-hour day, a diner full of chaos, and a guy in a hot dog suit. In this episode, Matt chats with Jory and Isaac, two key players behind the Font Awesome 7 video, about the hilarious mishaps, creative choices, and ridiculous amounts of pancakes that went into bringing the video to life.They cover everything from why FA videos always feature food-themed settings to the art of keeping a cast of recurring characters (aka the Font Awesome Cinematic Universe). And yes, Easter eggs abound — including a cameo from FA co-founder Dave Gandy, cheers-ing a Stormtrooper, blue milk in hand. Plus, Isaac documented the whole process, creating FA’s first behind-the-scenes mini-documentary.Key Takeaways🔥 FA videos don’t follow the “no comedy in tech” rule — and that’s exactly why they work.🎬 From coffee shops to candy stores to diners, FA videos always have a warm, real-world setting (because a lab full of beakers? Snooze).🤝 The same cast keeps coming back — because the FA Cinematic Universe is a thing now.📹 The behind-the-scenes doc captures the chaos of shooting in one day —including an entire subplot about pancakes raining from the sky.🌭 A guy in a hot dog suit wore it all day. No, really. All day.👀 Hidden Easter eggs in the video include an inside joke about “changing the recipe” and a blue milk cheers from FA’s co-founder.Timestamps🎤 0:00:09 - Welcome to Podcast Awesome! Matt sets the stage for this episode, talking about the Font Awesome 7 video shoot, the team behind it, and why humor is baked into FA’s DNA.🎞️ 0:04:06 - The evolution of FA videos: From Kickstarter promos to a full-blown recurring cast — how FA has built a Cinematic Universe of its own.🍪 0:10:45 - The FA video playbook: Coffee shops, candy stores, and diners—why FA videos always happen in warm, real-world food settings instead of cold tech labs.🎭 0:18:05 - Bringing the band back together: How the same actors, crew, and production team keep the FA vibe consistent (and keep the jokes landing).📹 0:26:11 - Lights, camera, pancakes! Improv moments, VFX wizardry, and an actor in a hot dog suit — who refused to take it off all day.🎬 0:32:16 - The behind-the-scenes doc: For the first time ever, FA captured a full BTS look at a marketing shoot — outtakes, problem-solving, and late-day delirium included.🐣 0:35:31 - Easter eggs and inside jokes: Dave Gandy’s blue milk toast, a deep-cut Star Wars reference, and a menu full of hidden Font Awesome-specific gems.Links & Credits🎥 Watch the Font Awesome 7 video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmYXJGEyBXI🎬 Check out the Behind-the-Scenes Mini Doc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3pTha-tT3c🎵 Theme song by Ronnie Martin 🎛 Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions 🎤 Podcast production by Matt Johnson 🎥 Video production and behind-the-scenes doc by Isaac ChaseGot thoughts on the episode? Hit us up on social and let us know what your favorite moment was!Now go make something awesome. 🚀🎨Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

4/24/25 • 41:06

Learn why accessible web design matters for everyone — not just users with disabilities. Lindsay Miller joins Podcast Awesome to discuss WCAG, ADA, design best practices, and tools for accessible development.🚨 In this insightful episode of Podcast Awesome, host Matt Johnson is joined by Lindsay Miller, accessibility advocate and member of the Web Awesome team, for a deep dive into the principles, practices, and purpose of accessible web design.Together, they explore what web accessibility really means, debunk common misconceptions, and offer practical insights for developers, designers, and digital creators. From ADA compliance and WCAG standards to UI/UX challenges, you'll learn how small choices—like proper contrast ratios or semantic HTML—can have a big impact.🔍 Key Topics Covered:What accessibility means on the web (hint: it’s about inclusion, not just disability)Designing and coding with empathy: serving users with temporary, situational, or permanent impairmentsWhy legal compliance matters: WCAG, ADA, Section 508, and how lawsuits are shaping the webReal-world design challenges: from color contrast to font sizesHow Web Awesome components are accessibility-firstTools, resources, and guidelines used by accessibility professionals🛠️ Mentioned Resources:WebAIM.orgWAI-ARIA Authoring PracticesThe A11Y ProjectNielsen Norman Group’s accessibility guidesWhether you're building for clients, open-source, or your own product, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone who believes in a more usable, equitable internet.🎧 Produced and edited by Matt Johnson 🎵 Theme song: By Ronnie Martin | interstitials by Zach Malm 🔊 Mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions 📹 Video editing help from Isaac Chase / @theisaacchaseStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

4/15/25 • 33:18

Font Awesome 7 Here We Come! In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we’re serving up a heaping helping of new icons, fresh features, and ProPlus goodness with Font Awesome 7! Host Matt Johnson is joined by icon designers Jory Raphael and Noah Jacobus to break down what’s new — like seven all-new icon packs, a smoother-than-butter upgrade path, and under-the-hood improvements that make your icons sharper, faster, and slicker than ever.Is it too many icons? Maybe. Are we going to stop? Absolutely not.🎙️ Listen in as we talk about the design tweaks, ProPlus perks, and the iconic (heh) collabs that made Font Awesome 7 a reality. Plus, we drop some exclusive details on the biggest sale of the year!💥 Don’t miss out — hit play and then ... Go make something awesome.Timestamp Summary🌟 0:00 | Font Awesome 7 Launch: New Icons and Features Unveiled 🚀 3:37 | Font Awesome 7 Enhancements and New Pro Plus Icon Packs 🎨 9:24 | Icon Designers Unleash Creativity with Font Awesome Pro Packs 🌌 17:18 | Creative Icon Design Inspired by Silicon Valley and Cosmic Events 🧠 21:09 | Innovative Icon Design and Preparation for Launch ✏️ 24:00 | Creating Art with Thumbprint Drawings and Icon Packs 🧭 24:48 | Creative Exploration and Unique Icon Design Inspirations 🔍 29:17 | Exploring Icon Packs and Their Creative Development 📦 32:05 | Font Awesome 7 Launches With New Plans and Icon Packs 📣 34:57 | Font Awesome 7 Pro Plus Icon Packs and Marketing IdeasResources & Links🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/🎵 Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/ "After School Keyboard Club" https://pixabay.com/music/video-games-after-school-keyboard-club-casio-vl-tone-80s-chiptune-retro-151684/Font Awesome on the Socials🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome📸 Instagram: @font.awesomeStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

4/8/25 • 37:09

🎬 SummaryIn this Nerd Show & Tell episode of Podcast Awesome, we finally catch up with the one and only Isaac Chase — the wizard behind our ever-growing library of video content at Font Awesome. From his early dreams of making it in film and television to becoming a full-time creator on our team, Isaac shares about the challenges of starting in the film industry during the COVID era, storytelling in marketing, and more.We chat about his background in film and marketing, his favorite movies (slow burns, unite!), creative influences, and how his love for storytelling finds a home even in screencasts and product walkthroughs. Plus, Isaac drops his hot take on the next big icon pack idea (we're looking at you, Severance fans 👀).🧠 Key Takeaways🎓 College Grad, Creative Dad Connection Isaac studied digital film and TV production at Missouri State University and joined Font Awesome part-time during the industry-wide writer/actor strikes — eventually going full-time thanks to a well-timed offer (shoutout to Travis Chase, a.k.a. Isaac’s real-life dad).🎥 From Film Sets to Screencasts His deep love for film — especially slow-paced, thoughtful stories like The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Past Lives, and Arrival — translates into his thoughtful, user-focused approach to content creation at FA.📼 Video, Video, Video! Isaac helped launch our video podcast format and has been leading the charge on screencasts, animations, and behind-the-scenes storytelling (more to come on that, soon!)  🎬💻 Learning on the Job = Built-in Bonus Despite not having a dev or design background, Isaac's learned loads about accessibility, UI, and component-based design just by working on educational content — and he's loving every minute of it.🧃 Favorite Icon? The cup-to-go ☕ icon has a special place in his heart (because coffee + nostalgia), and he’s got a soft spot for our teleportation icon too. ✨🎨 Design Nerd in the Making Outside work, Isaac’s nerding out on graphic design, especially in music merch and poster art. He’s diving into the visual side of music culture — and working with musician friends on their branding.⏱️ Chapter Markers🟡 00:00 – Introduction to Podcast Awesome 🎥 01:13 – Isaac’s role at FA and current projects 🎓 03:21 – Isaac’s background in film, college, and the writer's strike 🛠️ 09:12 – From film school to corporate creativity 🍿 11:22 – Favorite movies and the magic of slow storytelling 🎞️ 16:46 – How filmmaking skills shape his current work 📺 22:55 – Screencasts, branding, and learning to teach 🎨 29:43 – Nerding out on design, music merch, and FA icons 📦 32:33 – Isaac’s icon wish list (hello, Severance pack!) 🎉 44:00 – Wrap-up and thank-yousProduced and edited by Matt Johnson Edited by Isaac Chase Theme Music by Ronnie Martin Interstitials by Zach Malm Mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions 🍋Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

3/28/25 • 24:51

Episode SummaryWhat makes design hard? It’s not just pixels, software, or tools — it’s people. (Yep, you. And me. And all of us.) In this episode, I sit down with my friend Bryan Zug, co-author (along with Scott Berkun), of the book, Why Design is Hard, to talk about why good design is more than just good ideas — it’s about relationships, collaboration, and the messy, sometimes painful reality of working on creative teams.Bryan was there in the early days of the web, hacking together sites before CSS was even a thing. He’s built products, led UX teams, and helped companies like Amazon and Zillow figure out how to make design work at scale. But more than that, he’s a community builder, the kind of guy who started hosting backyard firepits during COVID just to keep people connected.I’ll be honest — this conversation was brutal to edit because Bryan has so much insight to share. If you’ve ever struggled with design bottlenecks, team dynamics, or just getting your ideas off the ground, this one’s for you.What We Cover in This Episode💡 Why great design is really about great relationships 🎨 How designers can avoid getting stuck in “artifact culture”  💻 What designers actually do in the real world  📖 How storytelling can make or break your influence as a designer 🤝 The secret sauce to making cross-functional teams actually function 🦄 Why the lone “unicorn designer” era is over — and what comes next *Factually accuracy check at playback: Bryan informed me he misspoke at 7:11 when he said he was at Amazon when the pandemic hit — I was actually Zillow. NBD. Audio not edited. ⏳ Timestamps⏲️ [00:00] Intro – A Conversation Years in the Making⏲️ [02:15] The Big Idea: Why Design is Hard⏲️ [08:40] The Myth of the “Design Hero”⏲️ [14:25] Why Design Decisions Happen in Budget Meetings⏲️ [19:30] The Red Flags of a Company That Doesn’t Truly Value Design⏲️ [25:10] The #1 Skill Designers Need (Hint: It’s Not Figma)⏲️ [30:50] What Ignite Seattle Taught Bryan About Telling Better Stories⏲️ [35:15] Outro – Why You Need to Read Why Design is HardLinks & Resources📖 Grab a copy of Why Design is HardLearn more about the co-author, Scott Berkun: https://scottberkun.com/ 🔗 Connect with Bryan Zug: @bryanzug.bsky.social 🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/🎵 Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/ "Retro Race" https://pixabay.com/music/video-games-retrorace-108750/Font Awesome on the Socials🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome📸 Instagram: @font.awesomeStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

3/13/25 • 35:34

Design engineer. UX engineer. Front-end dev with opinions. What does it all mean?! In this episode, we sit down with Dave Darnes to untangle the ever-evolving world of design and development (And Dave is our first non-Font Awesomer on the pod!). We talk about why job titles keep getting weirder, whether "engineer" is a fair title for folks who work on the web, and how design systems can bridge the gap between teams. Plus, we explore the future of the role — will tools like Figma and AI replace design engineers, or will the internet always need humans who can actually build things?🚀 Tune in for a fun, insightful, and slightly existential conversation about the intersection of design, dev, and the titles we give ourselves.🏆 Key TakeawaysDesign Engineer: Job Title or Existential Crisis? Dave breaks down the blurry line between design and development and why this role exists.Gatekeeping vs. Open Web: How the internet has democratized career paths—and why some job titles might be a shield against skepticism.The Future of Design & Dev: Will tools like Figma and AI squeeze out design engineers, or is there always a place for people who build with craft?Design Systems & Developer Relations: Why advocacy (not nagging) makes or breaks adoption.Rockstar/Ninja/Unicorn Titles: Just ... don’t.⏱️ Episode Breakdown🕛 00:00 - Meet Dave Darnes – 🇬🇧 UK-based designer/developer, father of sick children (but still here for the podcast).🎤 02:30 - The Legendary "David Darnes" Callout – A completely necessary and extremely fun moment of podcast magic.🛠️ 06:45 - What is a Design Engineer Anyway? –  The Venn diagram of design and development overlaps in weird ways.📛 12:15 - Why Job Titles Get Messy –  Specialization vs. generalization and the need to impress hiring managers.🏗️ 18:30 - Engineer as a Title — Does It Matter? –  Structural engineers hold up buildings; do web engineers hold up the internet? (Kinda, yeah.)🔄 24:00 - The Evolution of Design & Dev Roles –  How web components, CSS variables, and other tech are shifting expectations.🥕 30:45 - How to Get People to Actually Use a Design System –  Hint: Be more carrot, less stick.🤖 35:00 - The Battle Between Figma & AI –  Will design engineers survive the encroaching automation?🔄 40:30 - If You Had to Rename 'Design Engineer'... – Dave's answer is almost annoyingly simple.🔗 Resources & LinksCheck out Dave’s work: https://darn.es/His blog on design systems: designsystems.wtfIs 2025 the Year of the "Design Engineer"? Submit your own “David Darnes” callout on his website (seriously, do it).🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/🎵 Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/ "After School Keyboard Club" https://pixabay.com/music/video-games-after-school-keyboard-club-casio-vl-tone-80s-chiptune-retro-151684/Font Awesome on the Socials🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome📸 Instagram: @font.awesomeStay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

2/26/25 • 43:11

In this episode, Dave and Matt explore First LEGO League, where kids as young as third grade tackle robotics and engineering challenges. As a coach, Dave shares how he guides his team to embrace the golden rule of engineering: Keep it simple, keep it sturdy.Listeners will learn how to spot the difference between over-the-top complexity and straightforward solutions that just work. Practical beats fancy almost every time.Dave also shares how his time at MIT taught him that simplicity is the secret sauce of reliable design. His mantra “Boring is Best™” takes center stage as he unpacks how choosing functional, dependable solutions often leads to bigger wins.But this isn’t just about gears and sensors — it’s about the people behind the bots. Coaching young engineers shines a light on the ultimate truth: Good engineering is all about putting people first.Key Takeaways:LEGO League 101: Where third graders gear up to build and program robots like tiny pros.Simple Wins: In engineering, simple and sturdy beats flashy but fragile every time.Dave's MIT Mantra: Inspired by his alma mater, Dave champions practical, reliable solutions.Power of Basics: Stick to the fundamentals, and you’ll go further than you think.Test, Tweak, Repeat: Early testing and iteration > chasing perfection out of the gate.This episode is proof that when it comes to engineering (and life), keeping it simple doesn’t just work — it wins.Timestamp🧩 0:32 – Coaching Kids in Engineering Through First LEGO League ⚖️ 5:31 – Balancing Simplicity and Creativity in Engineering Solutions 🤖 8:02 – Simplifying LEGO Robotics: Achieving Success Through Minimalism 🤿 10:54 – Innovative Solutions for Underwater Exploration Challenges 🏆 12:38 – Boring Solutions Win Engineering Competitions 🚀 15:45 – Balancing Innovation with Customer Needs in Tech Startups 🔄 17:35 – Embracing Iteration and Accepting Being Wrong for Faster Success 🛠️ 20:01 – Embracing Simplicity and Iteration in Product DevelopmentResources:Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon ProductionsAurora Holiday DanceFont Awesome on the SocialsFirst LEGO League🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome📸 Instagram: @font.awesome💼 LinkedIn:   / fontawesome   Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

2/18/25 • 24:29

It’s that time of year again! In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we’re reflecting on all the things that went down at Font Awesome in 2024. From expanding the Awesomeverse with Web Awesome and Eleventy to major product updates like the full release of Duotone Icons and shiny new branding, we cover it all.You’ll hear about the Web Awesome Kickstarter campaign (success!), the arrival of industry legends Lea Verou and Zach Leatherman, and the behind-the-scenes Font Awesome updates that made 2024 one for the books. As they say. Oh, and don’t miss Jory’s epic tale of a tuxedo kitten named Toast that could easily inspire a heart warming stop motion holiday movie.Tune in for a fun, nerdy recap of the year that was and a sneak peek at what’s in store for 2025.Timestamp Summary🎉 0:08 | Reflecting on 2024 and Font Awesome's Upcoming Plans 🐾 2:35 | A Christmas Miracle and a Chaotic Kitten Rescue 🌌 7:26 | Building the Awesomeverse: Font Awesome's Expansion and Success 🔧 10:28 | Web Awesome Simplifies Website Building with Reusable Components 🤝 13:12 | Exciting New Hires and Developments at Font Awesome 🎁 16:41 | Exciting Updates and Offers for Font Awesome Pro ✨ 18:51 | Font Awesome's Icon Expansion and Creative Uses 🎥 25:07 | Behind the Scenes of a New Font Awesome Video 🛠️ 27:57 | Customizing Font Awesome Kits for Optimal Website Performance 🌱 30:12 | Evolution ... It'll Save Your Life Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon ProductionsAurora Holiday Dance Font Awesome on the Socials 🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome📸 Instagram: @font.awesome💼 LinkedIn:   / fontawesome   🖥️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more nerdery, tech insights, and fun!Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

1/21/25 • 34:07

🍺 What’s the deal with the Ballmer Peak? Myth, meme, or just good old-fashioned developer humor? In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we unpack the hilarity and history behind this coding legend, complete with personal stories, team insights, and a responsible PSA. Whether you’re debugging at 3 a.m. or just love a good laugh, this episode has something for everyone. (And check out the episode on our YouTube for an even more fun! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb77NS_zFgQ)🍻 0:00 - Introduction to Ballmer's Peak  💡 1:31 - What Is Ballmer's Peak?  🎉 3:13 - Ballmer's Peak at Font Awesome Snuggle  ⚡ 5:15 - Steve Ballmer and Developer Energy  🚀 7:07 - Achieving Peak Developer Performance  🎶 8:32 - Real Developer Strategies for Peak Performance  🔬 9:06 - DIY Breathalyzer and Exploring Ballmer's Peak  🎬 10:23 - Conclusion and Credits  Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie MartinAudio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions Font Awesome on Social  🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com 🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome 📸 Instagram: @font.awesome💼 LinkedIn:   / fontawesome   🖥️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more nerdery, tech insights, and fun!Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

12/10/24 • 12:50

In this episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt chats with Font Awesome co-founder Dave Gandy about building a workplace that doesn’t just work — but works for everyone. Whether you’re hustling in a startup, navigating open-source communities, or just trying to figure out if your boss actually values your humanity, this one’s for you.  Dave dishes on the magic of finding the right co-founder (hint: they need to tell you when you're off your rocker), why open-source is about more than just writing code, and how empathy might just be the ultimate leadership hack.  So, if you’re dreaming of cultivating a positive work culture — or just want to avoid soul-sucking jobs — this episode is for you. Timestamp Summary 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 0:15 | Finding Balance and Empathy in Co-Founder Relationships  🏢 6:04 | Finding a Workplace That Values Employees as Human Beings  🌐 14:56 | The Value of Empathy and Community in Open Source  💡 19:29 | Empathy and Leadership: Building Teams That Care  🎙️ 24:27 | Behind the Scenes of Podcast Awesome Production   Key Takeaways:  The Co-Founder Code: Pick a partner who balances your strengths and isn’t afraid to call out your crazy ideas (yes, you have them).  Open Source Awesomeness: It’s not just about profit—it’s about passion, collaboration, and making something bigger than yourself.  Empathy is Everything: Forget power suits; your best leadership tool is actually understanding your team.  Work-Life Reality Check: When scouting a new job, look for a place that respects *you*, not just what you produce.  Leadership Done Right: The best managers focus on building teams that are better than them at what matters most.  Notable Quotes:  💡 “You need someone next to you that’s going to tell you when you’re crazy—or not—and that is of *such* extreme value.”  💖 “Empathy is your qualification for leadership.”  🚀 “Management is more about how you inspire and execute, not just delivering outcomes.”  🏆 “The best managers hire people who are better than them at the job that needs to be done.”  🌟 “You call it a lifestyle company like it’s a bad thing. Spoiler: every company is a lifestyle.”  Resources:  🎨 Font Awesome: FontAwesome.com  🐦 Twitter: @fontawesome 📸 Instagram: @font.awesome 🌌 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fontawesome.com 🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/ 🎵 Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/ 🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/ Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

11/26/24 • 25:30

Ready to geek out? In this episode of Podcast Awesome's Nerd Show and Tell, Matt sits down with none other than Zach Leatherman, the tech dynamo and creator behind Eleventy — the static site generator that’s got web devs buzzing. Zach’s tech-world experience is a wild ride of innovation, grit, and love for the open web. With a little help from our team here at Font Awesome, Zach’s pushing to make open-source sustainable and bring back the glory days of personal websites, free from algorithm overlords.Zach gets real about the rollercoaster ride of building Eleventy and why owning your corner of the internet is more important than ever. Expect some hot takes on the tech industry, social media, and how platforms like Eleventy could just be the ticket to a new wave of web independence. Plus, you’ll get a peek into the collaborative brainpower with our founders Dave and Travis backing Zach’s mission. Hold onto your icons — this one’s packed!Key Takeaways:Eleventy: Zach’s creation was inspired by Jekyll, but it’s packed with unique features — no messy databases or plugins here! Simple, secure, and seriously impressive.Sustainable Open Source: Zach’s career shines a light on the need for open-source projects to be sustainable, allowing devs to thrive without burning out.Browser Dev Tools Love: Remember Firebug? Zach does. He spills on how these tools have shaped modern web development practices.Indie Web Comeback: Forget the social media maze. Zach’s all about owning your digital real estate, championing a return to independent web publishing.Font Awesome Collab: It’s a team effort! With the support of our founders and a shared mission, we’re backing Zach and Eleventy for a brighter, algorithm-free web future.Timestamp Summary  🚀 0:00 | Zach Leatherman Discusses Eleventy and Open Source Challenges  💸 1:59 | Navigating the Challenges of Open Source Project Funding  ⚖️ 13:04 | Balancing Open Source Passion with Sustainable Business Models  🌟 20:15 | The Joy of Building Websites and Creative Storytelling  🧻 25:26 | Debating the Proper Way to Hang Toilet Paper  🌌 26:27 | Eleventy's Future and Integration into the Awesome Universe  Links and Resources:Twitter: @fontawesomeInstagram: @font.awesomeEleventy DocumentationZach Leatherman on GitHubCredits:Theme music by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

11/19/24 • 29:21

🎙 In this episode, Font Awesome founder Dave Gandy joins our host Matt Johnson for an honest, unfiltered convo about what it means to build a *lifestyle company* (and wear that badge proudly 💪). This isn’t your typical startup hustle. We’re diving into the “people-first” culture that makes Font Awesome a standout, from character-driven hiring to redefining what success means beyond growth on charts and graphs. 🏆💼As Dave says, instead of climbing someone else’s ladder, Font Awesome is building its own way up, with purpose, transparency, and some solid work-life balance goals. Here’s why we believe that putting *people* over profit isn’t just good business — it’s just the way the work should be. 🌱💼  🔑 Key Takeaways:Lifestyle Company, Proudly: We’re embracing the “lifestyle” label, focusing on growth, happiness, and well-being over sky-high returns. 📈💆‍♂️Character > Skills: At Font Awesome, character-first hiring = trust, respect, and people who actually *want* to stick around. 🫶✨ VC Vibes Not Required: Font Awesome skips the “thousand-X-or-bust” mentality for a sustainable, fulfilling work culture. 👋💸  Life Outside Work Matters: The best parts of life are outside the office—so why not bring those values in? 🏠🌅 The Right Partner in Crime: Success means finding a partner who balances your quirks. 👯‍♂️ The perfect co-founder is a friend, critic, and cheerleader rolled into one.Timestamp Summary0:12 | 🌱 Building a Lifestyle Company Focused on Well-Being and Growth  6:52 | 💼 Creating a People-First Company Against Conventional Practices  12:04 | 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Human-Centric Product Design and Company Culture  15:59 | 🤝 The Importance of Balanced Partnerships in Business  20:38 | 🫶 Embracing a People-First Culture at Font AwesomeLinks and Resources:Podcast Awesome: https://www.podcastawesome.com/Font Awesome Hiring Philosophy: https://blog.fontawesome.com/company-culture/Twitter: @fontawesomeCredits:Theme music by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

11/7/24 • 20:57

In this edition of Podcast Awesome, Matt sits down with Font Awesome founder, Dave Gandy, at the 2024 Snuggle in Bentonville, Arkansas. Between karaoke sessions and Hoobastank choruses (blame Ed), Matt and Dave discuss a topic on a lot of minds lately: How do you build a company where people actually want to stick around?With a tech industry average of just 18 months at a job, Font Awesome breaks the mold — no one has left in over 10 years. Dave and Matt dive into Font Awesome’s  hiring philosophy, the importance of building a people-first culture, and how giving employees autonomy and treating them like adults might just be the magic recipe for success. Key Takeaways:Loyalty Beyond the Paycheck: At Font Awesome, it’s about treating people as humans first — loyalty comes from loyalty. Simple, right?Hire for Character: Skills are important, but character and culture fit are what truly makes a team thrive.Autonomy Matters: Give people the freedom to make decisions, and watch creativity and innovation skyrocket.It’s Not Just Business: A company’s culture is built on everything someone brings from outside of work, not just the hours they log in the office.Timestamp Breakdown:0:05 | 🎤 Welcome to the Snuggle: Karaoke, Game Nights, & Company Culture2:30 | 🏢 The Importance of Building a People-First Culture in Tech6:45 | 🧠 How Loyalty and Trust are Built When You Hire for Character11:10 | 👨‍💻 Autonomy is Key: Why Giving Employees Freedom is Essential15:55 | 💡 Solving Problems vs. Solving Interesting Problems: Finding the Balance21:30 | 🚀 How Font Awesome Created a Company People Want to Stick WithLinks and Resources:Podcast Awesome: https://www.podcastawesome.com/Font Awesome Hiring Philosophy: https://blog.fontawesome.com/company-culture/Twitter: @fontawesomeCredits:Theme music by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/Stay up to date on all the Font Awesomeness!

10/24/24 • 27:51