Betatalks the podcast

In this Christmas Special 2025 episode of Betatalks, Rick and Oscar reflect on how AI has moved this year from hype to practical use. They discuss real-world examples, the maturing AI ecosystem, and the challenge of adopting AI at the right time. We want to thank all our guests and listeners for an amazing year, and we hope to see you in 2026.  We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!About Betatalks: watch our podcast videos and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

In this episode of Betatalks the podcast, Rick and Oscar talk with Amber Vanderburg, a dynamic leader and founder of The Pathwayz Group, passionate about developing leadership in technical fields. She describes stepping into the world of tech, learning to translate technical jargon into language that resonates with real people, and finding joy in helping teams build not only technical know-how, but also empathy and practical communication. She shares how curiosity and humility shaped her path and continue to guide her approach to people-focused leadership. Amber also highlights the value of continuous growth and adaptive leadership in a fast-changing, often remote workplace. About this episode, and Amber Vanderburg in particular: you can find Amber on LinkedIn.About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky. 

In this Betatalks episode, Rick and Oscar talk with Yasen Dinkov, an artist turned engineer and head of engineering at Blue10. Yasen shares how his love for visual arts led him to programming and how he sees both art and software as creative acts shaped by imagination and constraints. He explains how his team builds a SaaS platform that uses AI to process documents while blending seamlessly into users’ workflows, focusing on solving real problems rather than following every request. Yasen also reflects on how music and nature inspire his creativity, showing innovation as a journey driven by curiosity and collaboration.About this episode, and Yasen Dinkov in particular: you can find Yasen on LinkedIn.About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky. 

Rick and Oscar talk with Alvin Ashcroft, Senior Content Developer at Microsoft, about how AI is transforming developer documentation. Alvin explains how tools like Copilot and MCP servers help improve Microsoft’s technical content. They discuss the rise of local AI models, Windows AI APIs, and the shift toward open-source collaboration. Alvin also shares his career journey and passion for community-driven projects. About this episode, and Alvin Ashcraft in particular: you can find Alvin on LinkedIn and on his website. You can also buy his book here.About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky. 

In this Betatalks episode, Rick and Oscar talk with Paula Januszkiewicz, founder and CEO of CQURE, a Cybersecurity Expert, Microsoft MVP, and passionate speaker. Paula shares how cybersecurity evolved from curiosity-driven exploration to a professional, high-stakes discipline shaped by major technological shifts. She highlights the move from one-time penetration tests to continuous security practices and the power of storytelling in making cybersecurity engaging. Paula also reflects on her role as a woman leader promoting openness, learning, and continuous improvement in the tech community.About this episode, and Paula Januszkiewicz in particular: you can find Paula on LinkedIn.About Betatalks: watch our videos and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.