When Shit Hits the Fan

In this very human and often hilarious episode of When Shit Hits the Fan, Johan and Jeffrey welcome Eric Lajoie, AI specialist at SUSE, to unpack a career shaped by curiosity, failure, and a global perspective. From name mispronunciations to technical missteps, this conversation spans tech, identity, and the unexpected stuff that breaks — including intros, connections, and sometimes, a water pipe.
Eric reflects on his journey from the US to Germany, how his multicultural background shapes the way he works, and why making mistakes in public can be one of the best ways to grow.

🔗 Links & Mentions:
SUSE AI

Eric Lajoie on LinkedIn

Red Hat OpenShift AI

NVIDIA AI Enterprise

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In this episode of When Shit Hits the Fan, we sit down with long-time ITQ technologist Sander Harrewijnen to talk about building better software, making bad assumptions, and breaking things that needed fixing anyway.
We cover everything from Sander’s accidental roast of a client’s legacy app (in front of the people funding it 😬) to his thoughts on vibecoding (letting AI write your code), and his approach to solving tech and people problems in complex environments.
Along the way, we discover his unusual hidden talent (spoiler: he’s your guy for photo wallpaper), his Maker side with lightsabers and Mandalorian helmets, and how his developer career evolved from .NET to cloud-native advocacy

Links & Mentions:
Sander’s blog: https://harre.dev

Find Sander on LinkedIn

Podcast: Cloud Native Chronicles
Fisker Ocean vs. Reality: MKBHD video

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In this episode of the When Shit Hits the Fan podcast, Johan interviews Aaron Black, the director of product for Omnissa Workspace ONE Security.
Aaron shares his career journey, insights on product management, and the importance of security in technology. He recounts memorable moments from his career, including challenges faced and lessons learned, particularly in the context of IT and software development.
The conversation also touches on personal anecdotes and life lessons, providing a well-rounded view of Aaron's experiences in the tech industry.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Aaron Black and the Podcast
04:09 Rapid Fire Questions and Insights
08:03 Career Highlights and Experiences
14:03 The Importance of Security in Technology
15:09 When Shit Hits the Fan Moments
21:29 Life Lessons and Personal Anecdotes

In this episode of 'When Shit Hits the Fan', Spencer Pitts, Partner CTO at Omnisa, shares his career journey, insights on technology, and personal life lessons.
He discusses his experiences in the IT industry, the importance of preparation, and the value of being open to opportunities. He shares why he uses visuals of bridges in his presentations, how to break PXE boot sequences, and his love for a particular game.
Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Spencer Pitts
10:29 Career Highlights and Journey
22:43 When Shit Hits the Fan Moment
27:01 Life Lessons and Reflections

In this episode of 'When Shit Hits the Fan', Johan and Jeffrey welcome Frank Denneman, a distinguished engineer for AI at VMware/Broadcom.
The conversation covers Frank's experiences, interests, and career journey, including his insights on technology, movies, and the importance of effective communication in engineering.
The episode features rapid-fire questions, discussions about favorite films, and a deep dive into Frank's professional background. The conversation explores his journey from building Microsoft Exchange across multiple countries to his experiences with virtualization, working at VMware, and the challenges of startup life. It highlights his time at PernixData and the lessons learned from mistakes made throughout his career, including the importance of sharing knowledge and overcoming fears in public speaking.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
02:40 Frank's Background and Interests
06:41 Binaries and Quickfire Questions
11:01 Frank's Career Journey and Early Experiences
13:15 Building Microsoft Exchange Across Borders
16:45 The Virtualization Journey Begins
17:35 Transitioning to VMware and the Startup Experience
20:00 The Challenges of Startup Life
23:25 Innovations at Pernix Data
25:59 Lessons Learned from Mistakes
30:04 First Time on Stage: Overcoming Fear
31:27 The Thrill of Live Performance
34:17 Key Takeaways for First-Time Speakers
39:43 Lessons from Experience and Listening
41:54 The Importance of Preparation
42:53 Learning from Presentation Skills and Shark Tank

Links:
Frank Simrig account on instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/roadtoimmersion/