This was supposed to be about testing.Instead, it turned into a conversation about burnout, money, leadership, community, AI, and what it actually takes to build a sustainable life in tech.Richard and Vernon kick off 2026 reflecting on what they’re changing, what they’re rebuilding, and how testing and quality fit into a future shaped by intention rather than hustle.
Links to stuff we mentioned during the pod:
00:54 - Greetings & where have we been?
04:00 - Routines for success
05:59 - Push-up challenge!
10:28 - THE EPISODE BEGINS!
10:29 - What are our personal 2026 themes (rather than resolutions)?
10:59 - Rich's 2026 themes
17:58 - Friendship, loneliness, and being the initiator
21:28 - Rich has a two itches. One about writing...
21:56 - ...and another about hats
25:23 - Vern's leadership focus and testing foundations
31:06 - AI work: data mindset, agents, and the vibe coding divide
40:11 - Rant about AI testing being stuck in the past
46:37 - Do "cool" shit and "talk" about it. How to stand out from AI Slop
50:10 - Our podcast themes for 2026
Episode 32