Aaron Black

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.

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

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

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.

In this episode of 'When Shit Hits the Fan', Johan and Jeffrey welcome Duncan Epping, Chief Technologist at Broadcom/VMware (and former co-host of this podcast). The conversation explores Duncan's journey from a consultant to a Chief Technologist, his passion for running, and his involvement in the tech community. They discuss Duncan's career highlights, including the development of EvoRail/VxRail and the organization of the VMworld Fun Run, showcasing his dedication to both technology and fitness. In this episode, Duncan shares his experiences in organizing community events, the challenges faced during his career in technology, and the valuable life lessons learned along the way. He emphasizes the importance of communication, the unpredictability of outcomes in both work and personal endeavors, and the significance of enjoying the journey rather than solely focusing on the end goals.