Best Jam Dev Podcasts (2025)

1
036 — Pedal to the Metal 13:24

2d ago13:24

13:24

Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rLRNnlzIOQM I connected with Vercel this past week to discuss how I could both optimize and try to control the costs that https://www.starterpacks.net was accumulating. I did walk away with some techniques that I will try on the next site I launch on Vercel where I need to try to maintain a consistent bi…

1
Raycast founder Thomas Paul Mann on iOS, community, and quality 40:21

4d ago40:21

40:21

In this episode of the Distributed podcast, host Jack Hannah chats with Thomas Paul Mann, cofounder and CEO of Raycast, the native productivity tool and extendable launcher. They cover how Raycast leverages community, ships such high quality product consistently, and approaches hiring. Jack actually spoke with Thomas the day after Raycast released …

1
Ep 405 - How to Spot and Support Viral Games with Sam De Boeck 40:34

7d ago40:34

40:34

Many developers dream of going viral, but few understand what it actually takes to get there. While focusing on virality isn’t everything, it can help build momentum. So today, we’re going to talk about how to identify, shape, and publish games with viral potential, all without chasing trends or sacrificing originality, by learning what early signa…

1
Ep 405 - How to Spot and Support Viral Games with Sam De Boeck 40:34

7d ago40:34

40:34

Many developers dream of going viral, but few understand what it actually takes to get there. While focusing on virality isn’t everything, it can help build momentum. So today, we’re going to talk about how to identify, shape, and publish games with viral potential, all without chasing trends or sacrificing originality, by learning what early signa…

1
035 — $800 Gorilla in the Room 10:20

10d ago10:20

10:20

Unfortunately I missed my milestone of getting an early release of https://www.skylounge.social deployed during Release Day. But, it wasn’t for a lack of trying. It’s kind of hard to run when it feels like you have a knife in your stomach and you don’t know how to stop the bleeding. I dig into what attempts I made to optimize the NextJS App for htt…

1
Agile Otter on why most devs work in the worst ways possible 46:41

12d ago46:41

46:41

How does the future hold for software development with remote collaboration? In this episode of the Distributed podcast, host Jack Hannah chats with Tim Ottinger, aka the Agile Otter, about how to manage and organize the work. Among other things, Tim is a Senior Consultant at Industrial Logic, contributor to the book Clean Code, and active presence…

1
Ep 404 - Redefining the Publishing Landscape with Ben Kvalo 1:05:26

14d ago1:05:26

1:05:26

The publishing model most indie devs face is outdated and often stacked against them. Rigid contracts, hidden expectations, and a lack of real partnership force devs to choose between full independence or giving up too much. But thankfully, a new approach is emerging. In this episode, we explore what a modern publishing model looks like, one that’s…

1
Ep 404 - Redefining the Publishing Landscape with Ben Kvalo 1:05:26

14d ago1:05:26

1:05:26

The publishing model most indie devs face is outdated and often stacked against them. Rigid contracts, hidden expectations, and a lack of real partnership force devs to choose between full independence or giving up too much. But thankfully, a new approach is emerging. In this episode, we explore what a modern publishing model looks like, one that’s…

1
59. Bring Back StreetPass! 16:16

15d ago16:16

16:16

Do you miss StreetPass too?

1
Emily Bache on software quality, technical excellence, and driving change 30:37

19d ago30:37

30:37

In this episode of Distributed, host Jack Hannah speaks with Emily Bache, a technical coach and the creator of Samman Coaching, about her work helping teams improve their development practices. Emily shares her experiences with test-driven development and refactoring, and explains how these practices can transform both code quality and team dynamic…

1
Ep 403 - Winning at PR Without a Big Budget with Shanté Micah & Josh Moody 1:05:02

21d ago1:05:02

1:05:02

Many indie studios feel locked out of traditional PR, feeling like you need an agency and big budget just to get noticed. In this episode, we break down how to earn meaningful media coverage with a story worth telling and how to create a system to share it. Learn how a strategic approach to visibility can build credibility, attract players, and dri…

1
Ep 403 - Winning at PR Without a Big Budget with Shanté Micah & Josh Moody 1:05:02

21d ago1:05:02

1:05:02

Many indie studios feel locked out of traditional PR, feeling like you need an agency and big budget just to get noticed. In this episode, we break down how to earn meaningful media coverage with a story worth telling and how to create a system to share it. Learn how a strategic approach to visibility can build credibility, attract players, and dri…

1
Cofounder of Cucumber Ltd. on RSpec, Cucumber, and legacy systems with Matt Wynne 36:54

26d ago36:54

36:54

In this episode of the Distributed podcast, Jack Hannah sits down with Matt Wynne, staff software engineer at Mechanical Orchard and a longtime advocate for Agile and Behavior-Driven Development (BDD). Matt shares his journey from working with legacy systems to co-founding Cucumber Ltd., offering a firsthand look at how testing, pairing, and social…

1
034 — Who’s ready to Jam!? 8:34

26d ago8:34

8:34

A quick update on this glorious hump day, just in time before I head out to the Atlanta PHP meetup (https://phpxatl.com). Tomorrow, May 21st at 11:30am EDT I’ll be chatting with Brian Casel (https://briancasel.com) about his recent launch of Instrumental Components (https://instrumental.dev). Join us in the stream and if you have any questions for …

1
Ep 402 - Making Sense of Game Marketing Attribution with Matthias Mirlach 1:11:16

28d ago1:11:16

1:11:16

Attribution often feels like a black box for indie devs, but ignoring it can cost you time, money, and momentum. In this episode, we break down what attribution really is, why it matters, and how small teams can start tracking what counts while learning how to avoid misleading metrics, balance data with creative instincts, and make smarter marketin…

1
Ep 402 - Making Sense of Game Marketing Attribution with Matthias Mirlach 1:11:16

28d ago1:11:16

1:11:16

Attribution often feels like a black box for indie devs, but ignoring it can cost you time, money, and momentum. In this episode, we break down what attribution really is, why it matters, and how small teams can start tracking what counts while learning how to avoid misleading metrics, balance data with creative instincts, and make smarter marketin…

1
033 — Just Oil the Chair 5:31

1M ago5:31

5:31

I listened to a podcast episode back on January 30, 2025, and there are 3 little words that have been bouncing around in the back of my head ever since whenever I turn on the mic to stream or record, "oil your chair". The podcast episode was from Justin Jackson (https://justinjackson.ca) and Jeremy Enns (https://jeremyenns.com) on their Podcasting …

1
Clerk Cofounder & CEO on how to build a company that delivers incredible DX with Colin Sidoti 35:02

1M ago35:02

35:02

In this latest episode of the Distributed podcast, host Jack Hannah interviews Colin Sidoti, Clerk Cofounder & CEO, to discuss what’s allowed them to grow so rapidly and deliver such an incredible developer experience for users. Colin reflects on how limited process fosters growth and allows his team of engineers and designers to excel. Colin also …

1
Ep 401 - How to Turn Jams into Plans and Opportunities with Juliana Brito 53:39

1M ago53:39

53:39

When it comes to game jams, too many projects get shelved before they reach their full potential. In this episode, we’re going to explore how jams and small projects can become launchpads for long-term opportunity with the right support. From mentorship and incubation to funding access and marketing guidance, learn how structured programs are helpi…

1
Ep 401 - How to Turn Jams into Plans and Opportunities with Juliana Brito 53:39

1M ago53:39

53:39

When it comes to game jams, too many projects get shelved before they reach their full potential. In this episode, we’re going to explore how jams and small projects can become launchpads for long-term opportunity with the right support. From mentorship and incubation to funding access and marketing guidance, learn how structured programs are helpi…

1
58. Nintendo History Videos & Lots Of Fun IRL stuff! 17:21

1M ago17:21

17:21

Check out my Nintendo History video series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcbv4UzwWRK1V9lGpltIJZoPocOIPgd7R Check out the Animal Crossing SEA LIFE Vlog here: https://youtu.be/3amxXtAkCUE

1
032 — Streaming Developments: Breaking ground on skylounge.social 12:53

1M ago12:53

12:53

Some quick updates on the status of https://www.starterpacks.net and announcing the new project that I am working on! Since the last update, the crawlers have been crawling—HEAVILY—accessing the site over 24M 👀 times. Needless to say, my Vercel bill is going to be a little higher this month, but 🤞 it will be worth it. Since the last update where th…

1
Principal Engineer at John Deere on how extreme programming saved his startup 40:57

1M ago40:57

40:57

Engineering teams whose work leaves an impact thrive on trust, collaboration, and the appropriate technical practices. In this episode of the Distributed podcast, host Jack Hannah sits down with Ryan Bergman, Principal Engineer at John Deere, to explore the impact of Extreme Programming (XP) and agile practices on software development. Ryan shares …

1
Ep 400 - A Practical Guide to Smarter Crowdfunding with Thomas Bidaux 53:12

1M ago53:12

53:12

From trailers to reward tiers, creators often stress over the wrong things when preparing for a Kickstarter launch. So in this episode, our guest challenges common misconceptions and shares hard-earned insights from analyzing numerous campaigns. We’ll cut through the noise and offer practical, proven strategies that anyone would be confident to bac…

1
Ep 400 - A Practical Guide to Smarter Crowdfunding with Thomas Bidaux 53:12

1M ago53:12

53:12

From trailers to reward tiers, creators often stress over the wrong things when preparing for a Kickstarter launch. So in this episode, our guest challenges common misconceptions and shares hard-earned insights from analyzing numerous campaigns. We’ll cut through the noise and offer practical, proven strategies that anyone would be confident to bac…

1
Stuart Maine on 28 Years in Game Development: Starting a Studio, Building Great Teams, Career Advice & Lessons for Aspiring Devs & His New Books 50:23

1M ago50:23

50:23

In this interview, veteran game designer Stuart Maine shares his 28-year journey in the gaming industry, detailing his humble beginnings in a cyber café to becoming a senior designer at Two Desperados, a mobile games company in Serbia. Stuart recounts his early days at Bullfrog and his time at renowned companies like Acclaim and Blitz, working on n…

1
Founder & CEO of DNSimple on bootstrapping and embracing async with Anthony Eden 39:56

2M ago39:56

39:56

Anthony Eden started DNSimple as a remote first, mostly asynchronous company in 2010 before it was cool. In this episode of the Distributed podcast, host Jack Hannah sits down with Anthony, Founder and CEO, to discuss the intricacies of remote-first companies. Anthony shares his journey of building DNSimple as a remote-first company, highlighting h…

1
031 — Appeasing the SEO Gods 10:19

2M ago10:19

10:19

You can also watch the video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/ENFM-pQK5iM A quick update about some recent updates I pushed out on https://www.starterpacks.net. In the last episode, I announced the addition of the Quick Starter Pack Editor to the site. Since then, I have rolled out a few tweaks to make it nicer, like preventing duplicate entries t…

1
Ep 399 - What It Really Takes to Launch a Game Studio with Colin McInerney 1:06:15

2M ago1:06:15

1:06:15

A lot of developers dream of starting their own studio, but the reality is far from glamorous. In this episode, we dive deep with our guest to unpack the overlooked, gritty, and often emotional process of building a studio from scratch. From pitching to production pipelines, they're going to share what aspiring founders need to prepare for, emotion…

1
Ep 399 - What It Really Takes to Launch a Game Studio with Colin McInerney 1:06:15

2M ago1:06:15

1:06:15

A lot of developers dream of starting their own studio, but the reality is far from glamorous. In this episode, we dive deep with our guest to unpack the overlooked, gritty, and often emotional process of building a studio from scratch. From pitching to production pipelines, they're going to share what aspiring founders need to prepare for, emotion…

1
Spotify engineer on the role of trust with Pavel Hubich 39:26

2M ago39:26

39:26

Trust, collaboration, and adaptability define the best engineering teams. In this episode of the Distributed podcast, host Jack Hannah sits down with Pavel Hubich, Software Engineer at Spotify, to explore the realities of remote and hybrid work. Pavel shares his journey navigating career shifts, relocations, and the challenges of distributed collab…

1
Ep 398 - Why Insurance Matters for Game Devs with Phil Wildman 51:01

2M ago51:01

51:01

The game industry is full of risks, IP disputes, cyberattacks, contract issues, even failed crowdfunding campaigns. And while we never anticipate these things happening to us...sometimes, they surface when we least expect it, inviting all sorts of chaos. So today, we explore how devs can avoid the hassle of the unknown by understanding how insuranc…

1
Ep 398 - Why Insurance Matters for Game Devs with Phil Wildman 51:01

2M ago51:01

51:01

The game industry is full of risks, IP disputes, cyberattacks, contract issues, even failed crowdfunding campaigns. And while we never anticipate these things happening to us...sometimes, they surface when we least expect it, inviting all sorts of chaos. So today, we explore how devs can avoid the hassle of the unknown by understanding how insuranc…

1
030 — New Starter Packs Features 12:14

2M ago12:14

12:14

After a few weeks away I am back with some fresh updates that have been deployed to Starter Packs (https://www.starterpacks.net). The first—and best feature, imho—is the Quick Starter Pack Editor. This feature makes it easy to add people to your existing Bluesky Starter Packs in as little as 3 clicks (maybe more if you want to add them to multiple …

1
Building global teams, connections, and culture with Nick Cash from Jam City 35:51

2M ago35:51

35:51

How do you foster connection and collaboration in a remote-first world? In this episode of the Distributed podcast, host Jack Hannah sits down with Nick Cash, Senior Vice President & Head of Technology at Jam City, to explore the unique challenges and opportunities of leading a hybrid team across the globe. Nick shares insights into Jam City’s hub-…

1
Ep 397 - Debunking Steam Algorithm Myths with Chris Zukowski 43:15

2M ago43:15

43:15

Steam’s algorithm is the engine that powers visibility on the platform, but understanding how it works is often a big mystery. So today, we’re going to bust some of the most common and persistent myths indie developers believe about how the algorithm functions, getting to the bottom of which signals actually matter, so you can stop worrying and foc…

1
Ep 397 - Debunking Steam Algorithm Myths with Chris Zukowski 43:15

2M ago43:15

43:15

Steam’s algorithm is the engine that powers visibility on the platform, but understanding how it works is often a big mystery. So today, we’re going to bust some of the most common and persistent myths indie developers believe about how the algorithm functions, getting to the bottom of which signals actually matter, so you can stop worrying and foc…

1
Head of Engineering at Sublime Security on development cycles, process, and tooling with Sumeet Jain 37:07

2M ago37:07

37:07

What happens when a fully remote team prioritizes speed, flexibility, and customer feedback? In this episode of the Distributed podcast, Host Jack Hannah talks to Sumeet Jain, Head of Engineering at Sublime Security, about how they manage one-week development cycles to stay agile and responsive to their customers’ needs. Sumeet shares how the team’…

1
Ep 396 - The Power of Player-Centric Marketing with Greg Posner 52:09

2M ago52:09

52:09

Traditional marketing methods often struggle to cut through the noise, leaving indie developers searching for better ways to reach their audience. But what if the key isn’t just better tactics or bigger budgets, but a deeper understanding of players themselves? In this episode, we dive into how player-centric design principles can transform marketi…

1
Ep 396 - The Power of Player-Centric Marketing with Greg Posner 52:09

2M ago52:09

52:09

Traditional marketing methods often struggle to cut through the noise, leaving indie developers searching for better ways to reach their audience. But what if the key isn’t just better tactics or bigger budgets, but a deeper understanding of players themselves? In this episode, we dive into how player-centric design principles can transform marketi…

1
Chris Oliver on bootstrapping GoRails and building remote teams 43:01

2M ago43:01

43:01

How do you transition from a solo founder to leading a thriving remote team? In this episode of the Distributed podcast, Host Jack Hannah sits down with Chris Oliver, Founder of GoRails and Host of the Remote Ruby podcast, to discuss his journey from working solo to building a successful three-person remote team. Chris shares a candid look at how h…

1
Ep 395 - It’s Not the Event. It’s You: GDC Takeaways with Andrew Pappas 42:54

3M ago42:54

42:54

In this episode, I share my GDC recap: a quarter-zip pullover, a virus, and a powerful reminder that change comes from within, not the event itself. I dive into how our intentions shape our relationships, why meaningful connections outshine superficial networking, and how the true impact of any event hinges on the mindset you bring to it. Episode S…

1
Ep 395 - It’s Not the Event. It’s You: GDC Takeaways with Andrew Pappas 42:54

3M ago42:54

42:54

In this episode, I share my GDC recap: a quarter-zip pullover, a virus, and a powerful reminder that change comes from within, not the event itself. I dive into how our intentions shape our relationships, why meaningful connections outshine superficial networking, and how the true impact of any event hinges on the mindset you bring to it. Episode S…

1
How former Apple and Google senior engineer thinks about code quality & remote work with Mike Bland 46:58

3M ago46:58

46:58

How do grassroots efforts drive big changes in the world of remote work? In this episode of the Distributed podcast, Jack Hannah sits down with Mike Bland, Developer Experience Platform Architect at EngFlow, to discuss his journey from Google and Apple to leading remote teams. Mike shares insights from his time running Testing Grouplet at Google, s…

1
Ep 394 - Navigating the Transition from Mobile to PC with the Jackson Bros 58:19

3M ago58:19

58:19

Designing for mobile and PC might seem like a simple transition, but the reality is very different. Everything from screen sizes to monetization models requires a completely different approach. So today, for the first time ever on the podcast, we’re talking with a team of four brothers who’ve been through this firsthand. We’ll dive into what makes …

1
Ep 394 - Navigating the Transition from Mobile to PC with the Jackson Bros 58:19

3M ago58:19

58:19

Designing for mobile and PC might seem like a simple transition, but the reality is very different. Everything from screen sizes to monetization models requires a completely different approach. So today, for the first time ever on the podcast, we’re talking with a team of four brothers who’ve been through this firsthand. We’ll dive into what makes …

1
How Fortune 500 Engineering Manager approaches hybrid work with Rachel Trana from Grainger 35:22

3M ago35:22

35:22

What makes hybrid and remote teams successful? In this episode of the Distributed podcast, Jack Hannah sits down with Rachel Trana, Senior Engineering Manager at Grainger, to explore strategies for thriving in flexible work environments. Rachel shares how practices like pair programming, effective status updates, and intentional onboarding can help…

1
Ep 393 - Why Smaller Devs Are Driving the Next Big Industry Shift with Chris Wood 1:01:52

3M ago1:01:52

1:01:52

The gaming landscape has changed dramatically in recent years, and it’s indie developers who are leading some of the most exciting innovations. But what challenges do they still face, and how can small teams carve out success in an increasingly competitive market? In this episode, we explore how shifts in technology, business models, and industry t…

1
Ep 393 - Why Smaller Devs Are Driving the Next Big Industry Shift with Chris Wood 1:01:52

3M ago1:01:52

1:01:52

The gaming landscape has changed dramatically in recent years, and it’s indie developers who are leading some of the most exciting innovations. But what challenges do they still face, and how can small teams carve out success in an increasingly competitive market? In this episode, we explore how shifts in technology, business models, and industry t…

1
029 — Wrestling with SaaS Pricing: Building Value to Justify Prices 12:22

3M ago12:22

12:22

Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WNmupzrWcAA What goes into setting and justifying your SaaS (Software as a Service) pricing? I had the goal of getting subscription plans setup for https://www.starterpacks.net before a queued job I had running to backfill data that I needed to support those plans was done processing. I ultimately did ge…

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