GOTO - The Brightest Minds in Tech

This interview was recorded for GOTO State of the Art in November 2025.
https://gotopia.tech

Read the full transcription of this interview here:
https://gotopia.tech/articles/425

Adrian Mouat - Developer Relations at Chainguard & Author of 'Using Docker'
Charles Humble - Freelance Techie, Podcaster, Editor, Author & Consultant

RESOURCES
Adrian
https://bsky.app/profile/adrianmouat.com
https://twitter.com/adrianmouat
https://github.com/amouat
https://linkedin.com/in/adrianmouat
http://www.adrianmouat.com

Charles
https://bsky.app/profile/charleshumble.bsky.social
https://linkedin.com/in/charleshumble
https://mastodon.social/@charleshumble
https://conissaunce.com

Links
https://images.chainguard.dev
https://www.cisa.gov/sbom
https://www.chainguard.dev/supply-chain-security-101/the-npm-registry-cant-protect-you-the-new-javascript-supply-chain-attacks
https://oxide-and-friends.transistor.fm/episodes/discovering-the-xz-backdoor-with-andres-freund
https://edu.chainguard.dev

DESCRIPTION
In this State of the Art episode, Charles Humble speaks with Adrian Mouat, Developer Relations at Chainguard and author of "Using Docker", about the evolution of container security and the persistent challenge of outdated packages.

Adrian explains how traditional Linux distributions weren't designed for the immutable, frequently-replaced nature of containers, leading to security vulnerabilities that scanners detect but teams struggle to address. He discusses how Chainguard tackles this problem by building everything from source using Wolfi, creating minimal "distroless" images with near-zero CVEs, and how concepts like SBOMs, attestations, and defense in depth are reshaping security practices.

The conversation also covers major security incidents including the XZ Utils backdoor and Shai-hulud attacks, emphasizing the importance of building from source, using short-lived credentials, and replacing rather than updating containers – practices pioneered by companies like Google that are gradually spreading across the industry.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Adrian Mouat • Using Docker • https://amzn.to/3PEYIJL
Liz Rice • Container Security • https://amzn.to/3oU4iJe
Liz Rice • Kubernetes Security • https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/kubernetes-security/9781492039075
Bluesky
Instagram
LinkedIn
Facebook

CHANNEL MEMBERSHIP BONUS
Join this channel to get early access to videos & other perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs_tLP3AiwYKwdUHpltJPuA/join

Looking for a unique learning experience?
Attend the next GOTO conference near you! Get your ticket: gotopia.tech

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL - new videos posted daily!

This interview was recorded for GOTO Unscripted.
https://gotopia.tech

Check out more here:
https://gotopia.tech/articles/427

Nick Selby - Managing Partner at EPSD
Sarah Wells - Independent Consultant & Author of "Enabling Microservice Success"

RESOURCES
Nick
https://infosec.exchange/@fuzztech
https://bsky.app/profile/nickselby.com
https://github.com/nickselby
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickselby
https://nickselby.com

Sarah
https://bsky.app/profile/sarahjwells.bsky.social
https://linkedin.com/in/sarahjwells1
https://www.sarahwells.dev

Links
https://ainowinstitute.org/contributor/heidy
https://www.heidyk.com

DESCRIPTION
In this conversation, Sarah Wells and Nick Selby explore why the current rush to adopt AI tools introduces significant business risks. They discuss how AI vendors deliberately blur security terminology to confuse buyers, how AI tools' insatiable appetite for data creates enormous blast radii when breaches occur, and what organizations can do to adopt AI responsibly - from threat modeling and cross-disciplinary governance to minimum-permission principles and incident readiness.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Sarah Wells • Enabling Microservice Success • https://amzn.to/4aa8xrv
Katharine Jarmul • Practical Data Privacy • https://amzn.to/3OafC3m
Katharine Jarmul & Jacqueline Kazil • Data Wrangling with Python • https://amzn.to/3Ue5BV5
Bluesky
Instagram
LinkedIn
Facebook

CHANNEL MEMBERSHIP BONUS
Join this channel to get early access to videos & other perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs_tLP3AiwYKwdUHpltJPuA/join

Looking for a unique learning experience?
Attend the next GOTO conference near you! Get your ticket: gotopia.tech

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL - new videos posted daily!

This interview was recorded for the GOTO Book Club.
http://gotopia.tech/bookclub

Check out more here:
https://gotopia.tech/episodes/426

Frances Buontempo - Consultant, Developer & Author of "Learn C++ by Example"
Matt Godbolt - Low-level Latency Geek & Creator of Compiler Explorer

RESOURCES
Frances
https://bsky.app/profile/fbuontempo.bsky.social
https://mastodon.social/@fbuontempo
https://x.com/fbuontempo
https://github.com/doctorlove
https://www.linkedin.com/in/francesbuontempo
https://about.me/frances_buontempo
https://buontempoconsulting.blogspot.com

Matt
https://bsky.app/profile/matt.godbolt.org
https://xania.org
https://github.com/mattgodbolt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/godbolt
https://twitter.com/mattgodbolt
https://godbolt.org

Links
https://cppinsights.io

DESCRIPTION
Matt Godbolt interviews Frances Buontempo about her book "Learn C++ by Example", a practical guide aimed at helping programmers relearn modern C++ features introduced since C++11. Frances shares her unique teaching philosophy, which emphasizes self-contained, playable examples like simple games that make complex concepts accessible and memorable.

Drawing on her background in mathematics and her father's work in teacher education, she explains how her approach—exemplified by her famous "X Out of a Y Paper Bag" series of talks—uses humor and practical scenarios to help learners understand challenging topics like coroutines, the spaceship operator, and the "almost always auto" style. The discussion touches on the evolution of C++, the upcoming reflection features in C++26, and Fran's current project: writing an introductory C++ book for complete beginners, despite finding concepts like "constant variable" challenging to explain even as an experienced author.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Frances Buontempo • Learn C++ by Example • https://amzn.to/4rgxSZX
Frances Buontempo • Introducing C++ • https://amzn.to/40aHQQC
Frances Buontempo • Genetic Algorithms and Machine Learning for Programmers • https://amzn.to/3OLjXMV
Daniel Kusswurm • Modern Parallel Programming with C++ and Assembly Language • https://amzn.to/4o5J3SF
Bluesky
Instagram
LinkedIn
Facebook

CHANNEL MEMBERSHIP BONUS
Join this channel to get early access to videos & other perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs_tLP3AiwYKwdUHpltJPuA/join

Looking for a unique learning experience?
Attend the next GOTO conference near you! Get your ticket: gotopia.tech

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL - new videos posted daily!

This interview was recorded for GOTO State of the Art in January 2026.
https://gotopia.tech

Read the full transcription of this interview here:
https://gotopia.tech/articles/423

Dr. Ewelina Kurtys - Strategic Advisor on Frontier Technologies at FinalSpark
Charles Humble - Freelance Techie, Podcaster, Editor, Author & Consultant

RESOURCES
Ewelina
https://x.com/ewelina_kurtys
https://github.com/ewelinaewela
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ewelinakurtys
https://www.ewelinakurtys.com

Charles
https://bsky.app/profile/charleshumble.bsky.social
https://linkedin.com/in/charleshumble
https://mastodon.social/@charleshumble
https://conissaunce.com

Links
https://finalspark.com
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/biologically-inspired-computing-dr-ewelina-kurtys-udnhe
https://finalspark.com/finalspark-6-month-research-technology-update
https://finalspark.com/first-publication-from-a-neuroplatform-user

DESCRIPTION
Dr. Ewelina Kurtys, Strategy Advisor at FinalSpark, discusses the revolutionary potential of biological computing with host Charles Humble.

The conversation explores FinalSpark's ambitious goal to build computers using living neurons that are 1 million times more energy efficient than current digital systems. Ewelina explains the technical challenges of working with brain organoids, the ethical considerations of using human stem cells, and why biological neurons could dramatically reduce AI costs while offering unique advantages for complex tasks like generative AI.
The interview covers everything from neural encoding and plasticity to consciousness and the deterministic nature of the brain.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Robert M. Sapolsk • Determined • https://amzn.to/4akv2gi
Jin Xu • Biological Computing • https://amzn.to/4a4Wwp9
Bluesky
Instagram
LinkedIn
Facebook

CHANNEL MEMBERSHIP BONUS
Join this channel to get early access to videos & other perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs_tLP3AiwYKwdUHpltJPuA/join

Looking for a unique learning experience?
Attend the next GOTO conference near you! Get your ticket: gotopia.tech

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL - new videos posted daily!

This interview was recorded for the GOTO Book Club.
http://gotopia.tech/bookclub

Check out more here:
https://gotopia.tech/episodes/424

Susanne Kaiser - Independent Tech Consultant & Author of "Architecture for Flow"
James Lewis - Software Architect & Director at Thoughtworks

RESOURCES
Susanne
https://bsky.app/profile/suksr.bsky.social
https://mastodon.social/@suksr
https://twitter.com/suksr
https://www.linkedin.com/in/susannekaiser1
https://susannekaiser.net

James
https://bsky.app/profile/boicy.bovon.org
https://twitter.com/boicy
https://linkedin.com/in/james-lewis-microservices
https://github.com/boicy
https://www.bovon.org

Links
https://susannekaiser.net/the-architecture-for-flow-canvas
https://susannekaiser.net/articles
https://www.christenseninstitute.org/theory/jobs-to-be-done

DESCRIPTION
James Lewis interviews Susanne Kaiser about her comprehensive new book "Architecture for Flow: Adaptive Systems with Domain-Driven Design, Wardley Mapping and Team Topologies".

Susanne shares how she brought together 3 powerful frameworks over several years of her consulting work, creating a holistic approach to designing socio-technical systems. The discussion covers her journey from startup CTO to independent consultant, the evolution of her thinking around value streams and team organization, and her practical "Architecture for Flow Canvas" that teams can use to assess their current state and envision their future.

With 126 hand-drawn illustrations and 599 sticky notes in the book, Kaiser emphasizes the importance of visual communication and starting with the problem space before jumping to solutions.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS
Susanne Kaiser • Adaptive Systems With Domain-Driven Design, Wardley Mapping & Team Topologies • https://amzn.to/3XTmNCc
Matthew Skelton & Manuel Pais • Team Topologies • https://amzn.to/4a2gh0i
Woods, Erder & Pureur • Continuous Architecture in Practice • https://amzn.to/2QWAmkl
Steve Pereira & Andrew Davis • Flow Engineering • https://amzn.to/3GY3u44
Stefan Hofer & Henning Schwentner • Domain Storytelling • https://amzn.to/3EroBH7
Bluesky
Instagram
LinkedIn
Facebook

CHANNEL MEMBERSHIP BONUS
Join this channel to get early access to videos & other perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs_tLP3AiwYKwdUHpltJPuA/join

Looking for a unique learning experience?
Attend the next GOTO conference near you! Get your ticket: gotopia.tech

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL - new videos posted daily!