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Off Script

Off Script

By: Hey! Presents
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About this listen

 Hosted by CTOs Josh Nesbitt and James Hall, Off Script brings you unfiltered conversations about the highs, lows, and lessons of working in tech today. From leading engineering teams and scaling companies, to tackling burnout, bad bets, and breakthrough ideas, this is the show where raw honesty meets experience. Alongside one-on-one conversations between Josh and James, you’ll hear from leaders, builders, designers, and entrepreneurs who aren’t afraid to share what’s really going on behind the scenes — the conversations usually left for DMs, side chats, and after-hours drinks. Whether you’re building your first product or leading a fast-growing team, Off Script gives you a raw and refreshing perspective on the challenges and creativity that shape modern tech. New episodes every few weeks. Subscribe and join the conversation.© 2025 Josh Nesbitt & James Hall
Episodes
  • Episode 49: Navigating the AI discourse — Why can't we talk properly about AI?

    Episode 49: Navigating the AI discourse — Why can't we talk properly about AI?
    Jun 16 2025
    In this weeks episode, Josh and James delve into the complexities of the discourse surrounding artificial intelligence (AI), exploring the polarising perspectives that dominate discussions. In a balanced debate, they emphasise the importance of understanding AI as a tool rather than a stand-alone entity, highlighting the need for responsible usage and ethical considerations in its development and implementation. They cover the reality of AI's impact on engineering and the necessity of maintaining a human element in the design process. This episode is a call to action for technologists to navigate the AI hype responsibly and to create strong governance around its use. The discourse around AI is often polarising and broken. AI is frequently misrepresented in sensational headlines. Understanding AI as a tool is crucial for productive discussions. The reality of AI's impact on engineering is often overstated. Human involvement is essential in the design and implementation of AI. Ethical considerations are paramount in AI development. AI can improve accessibility and inclusivity in products. Navigating the AI hype requires careful evaluation and governance. The importance of productive friction in learning and development. AI's role in software development is evolving and requires adaptation.
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    29 mins
  • Episode 48: AI interoperability and MCP

    Episode 48: AI interoperability and MCP
    Jun 2 2025
    In this conversation, Josh and James discuss AI interoperability and the concept of MCP (Model Context Protocol). They explore the initial skepticism surrounding MCP, the process of building custom MCP servers, and the importance of permissions and security in AI integrations. The discussion also touches on the future of AI integration in various applications, particularly in shopping experiences, and the potential for these technologies to revolutionise how we interact with digital tools. MCP is a new way to integrate AI with existing tools. Initial skepticism can lead to valuable discoveries in technology. Building custom MCP servers can enhance personal productivity. Permissions and security are crucial when using AI tools. MCP has the potential to go mainstream with the right ecosystem. AI can act on behalf of users, changing the way we interact with technology. Real-world applications of MCP can simplify everyday tasks. The future of shopping may involve AI-driven experiences. AI tools need to be intuitive for non-developers to adopt them. The evolution of technology often leads to a blend of old and new experiences.
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    27 mins
  • Episode 47: Behind the scenes of running a tech conference

    Episode 47: Behind the scenes of running a tech conference
    Apr 1 2025
    How do you structure and run the perfect tech conference? What things are involved behind the scenes that attendees don’t see? What advice would you give to someone looking to start their own event? We’re glad you asked! This episode is an All Day Hey! Special where hosts, Josh and James spill the beans on what goes on behind the All Day Hey! conference curtain, how we can collectively safeguard the future of events and what makes running a tech conference like this so special. Join us in Leeds on Thursday, 1st May for this year’s All Day Hey! Tickets and schedule at https://heypresents.com/conferences/2025 00:00 How to run a conference 01:00 Why start a conference? - The aim behind All Day Hey! 02:00 What do you want to provide for the audience? 03:00 Avoiding trends and providing backed knowledge 04:00 How to plan the day of talks to keep people engaged? 05:00 Dealing with technical blunders 07:00 Process of picking speakers and who to contact 08:00 Avoiding talks being sponsored ads 11:00 Getting diversity of topic and idea 12:00 All Day Hey! is community focussed - how to create this? 13:00 How to open up the networking and make it welcoming 14:00 How to close a conference to provoke questions 15:00 Tips for other organisers 16:00 Investing in production quality 17:00 Setting up a conference in 2025 19:00 Keeping the indie conference alive Find out more about Stac and Parallax: * https://stac.works (https://stac.works) * https://parall.ax (https://parall.ax)
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    21 mins
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