Blue Blazes

Hosted by Trailhead Technology Partners

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Jun 2026

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Just like obstacles blocking a hiking trail, barriers in the path to a successful software project can be frustrating. When you encounter one, it helps to take a trail marked with blue blazes to go around the problem, get back on course, and keep moving forward.

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40 recent

June 15, 2026Episode 652 min

Blue Blazes S04E06: AI-Accelerated SDLC – featuring John Waters

In this episode, host Jonathan "J." Tower sat down with John Waters, fellow partner and founder at Trailhead, to talk about how AI changes every phase of the software development lifecycle (SDLC). Rather than rehashing vibe coding, J. and John walk the full SDLC, including requirements and discovery, design and architecture, implementation, code review, testing and QA, DevOps and deployment, and long-term support. They dig into where AI has helped Trailhead deliver real leverage and where human judgment is still essential.If you're trying to figure out where AI actually fits in real software delivery, besides AI-assisted development, this episode is for you.Guest Bio: John Waters is a Partner and co-founder at Trailhead Technology Partners. A longtime software architect and engineering leader, he's been driving Trailhead's effort to apply AI across the entire software development lifecycle—from discovery and estimation through architecture, implementation, QA, DevOps, and support. This marks his fourth appearance on Blue Blazes, making him the podcast's most frequent guest.Additional Resources:Claude Code: https://www.claude.com/product/claude-codeCodeRabbit (agentic code review): https://www.coderabbit.aiTerraform: https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraformContext7 (up-to-date library/SDK docs for AI): https://context7.comPlaywright (end-to-end testing): https://playwright.devFigma: https://www.figma.comAndrej Karpathy on building knowledge bases / LLM context: https://karpathy.aiTrailhead Technology Partners: https://trailheadtechnology.com

May 18, 2026Episode 551 min

Blue Blazes S04E05: AI Smart Features – featuring Spencer Schneidenbach

In this episode, host Jonathan “J.” Tower sat down with Spencer Schneidenbach to talk about the practical realities of integrating AI into modern software applications. Rather than focusing on AI hype or novelty chatbots, J. and Spencer dig into what actually makes AI features valuable in production systems and why good AI engineering is still mostly good software engineering. They cover how to evaluate whether AI is the right solution for a business problem, the difference between AI-assisted development and AI-powered product features, and why many organizations are still misunderstanding what LLMs are actually good at. Spencer also shares lessons learned from production AI implementations, including how his team built systems that evaluate customer service calls using chained LLM workflows. If you’re trying to separate AI signal from noise, this episode is for you.Guest Bio:Spencer Schneidenbach is an AI Architect, and the President and CTO of Aviron Labs. He has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for his AI expertise and contributions to the community. You can find him sharing that expertise at events around the world and as a co-host of the new podcast, Agent Driven Development.Additional Resources:Semantic Kernel: https://learn.microsoft.com/semantic-kernel/overview/Microsoft Agent Framework: search “Microsoft Agent Framework” on learn.microsoft.comModel Context Protocol (MCP): https://modelcontextprotocol.ioOllama (local models): https://ollama.comHugging Face: https://huggingface.coAnthropic Engineering Blog: https://www.anthropic.com/engineeringOpenAI Platform Documentation: https://platform.openai.com/docsAviron Labs: https://www.avironlabs.com/

April 13, 2026Episode 450 min

Blue Blazes S04E04: MCP C# SDK – featuring Mike Kistler

In this episode, host Jonathan "J." Tower sat down with Mike Kistler, Principal Program Manager at Microsoft and one of the maintainers of the official MCP C# SDK, following the SDK's v1.0 release. J. and Mike cover what MCP actually is and how it compares to OpenAPI, why implementing the protocol yourself is harder than it looks, and when to reach for the C# SDK versus the MCP implementations in Azure Functions or API Management. They also dig into the client/host/server architecture, what drove the 1.0 release decision, and how MCP governance evolved from a Discord server with one seat to a Linux Foundation project with a formal spec enhancement proposal process.If you've been building in .NET and wondering whether MCP is something you need to care about, or you've been tinkering and want to understand the production-ready path, this episode will get you there. Guest Bio: Mike Kistler is a Principal Program Manager at Microsoft, where he is one of the core maintainers of the official MCP C# SDK and serves on the MCP steering committee. He is also the PM for SignalR.Additional Resources:- MCP C# SDK documentation: https://csharp.modelcontextprotocol.io- Build your first C# MCP server: search "build your first C# MCP server" on learn.microsoft.com- MCP C# SDK on GitHub: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/csharp-sdk- MCP public Discord: modelcontextprotocol.io/community

March 16, 2026Episode 31 hr 27 min

Blue Blazes S04E03: AI-Assisted Development – featuring Cory House

In this episode, host Jonathan “J.” Tower sits down with Cory House, author, consultant, founder of ReactJSConsulting, and a 12-time Microsoft MVP, to explore what it actually looks like to code effectively with AI today. Cory has trained more than 10,000 developers worldwide and has authored over a dozen courses on JavaScript, React, C#, testing, and web development.Cory and J. talk through the fast-changing landscape of AI-assisted development: choosing between editors and CLI workflows, selecting models, creating custom agents, using MCP servers, handling requirements, improving code review, managing context, and building tighter testing and feedback loops. They also dig into the bigger question underneath all of it: where AI genuinely helps, and where human judgment still matters most. If you’re trying to figure out how to use AI to move faster without creating more confusion, rework, or technical debt, this episode is packed with practical ideas for developers and software teams. Guest Bio:Cory House is an author, consultant, founder of ReactJSConsulting, and a 12-time Microsoft MVP. He has trained more than 10,000 software developers at conferences and businesses worldwide and has authored over a dozen courses on JavaScript, React, C#, testing, and web development for Pluralsight and Dometrain. Cory shares software development tips daily as @housecor.Additional Resources:- Cory House Sessionize profile: https://sessionize.com/housecor/- ReactJSConsulting: https://www.reactjsconsulting.com/- Cory on X: https://x.com/housecor

February 16, 2026Episode 234 min

Blue Blazes S04E02: GitHub Copilot App Modernization for .NET – featuring Matthew Soucoup

In this episode, host Jonathan "J." Tower sits down with Matthew Soucoup, Principal Cloud Advocate and .NET Cloud Advocacy Lead, to explore how GitHub Copilot's new App Modernization agent is transforming the way teams upgrade and migrate .NET applications to modern platforms.Matt breaks down the three core capabilities of this AI-powered modernization tool: assessment and scope planning, step-by-step modernization planning, and detailed task execution with persistent memory. Together, they discuss how the agent handles upgrade scenarios, from moving projects forward through .NET versions to migrating legacy .NET Framework applications to the cloud. If you're working with legacy .NET applications or thinking about modernization, this episode offers practical insights into how AI agents are making these notoriously difficult projects more manageable.Guest Bio:Matthew Soucoup is a Principal Cloud Advocate and .NET Cloud Advocacy Lead at Microsoft and works to spread the ❤️ of .NET and Azure ☁️. Matt enjoys helping everybody along on their cloud journey, brand new and experienced devs alike. And when he's not thinking about "the cloud" he's trying to hike above the clouds in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Follow Matt on Twitter at @codemillmatt, GitHub at codemillmatt, and his personal blog at codemillmatt.com.Additional Resources:- GitHub Copilot App Modernization for .NET: https://github.com/copilot- Jeff Fritz's Web Forms to Blazor migration project (mentioned as a complementary tool for ASP.NET Web Forms modernization)

January 13, 2026Episode 133 min

Blue Blazes S04E01: Uno Platform – featuring Sam Basu

In this episode, host Jonathan “J.” Tower sits down with Sam Basu, technologist, author, Microsoft MVP, and Lead Developer Advocate at Uno Platform, to unpack the realities of modern cross-platform app development with .NET.Sam shares how Uno Platform enables developers to build native applications for iOS, Android, WebAssembly, Windows, macOS, and Linux, all from a single codebase, and how it compares with other cross-platform frameworks like .NET MAUI, React Native, and Flutter. He also explains the value of Uno’s multiple rendering paths, including native UI and Skia-based rendering, and what those mean for performance and design consistency across devices.If you’re a .NET developer, this episode offers you a grounded, forward-looking take on how we build cross-platform apps in 2026 and beyond.Guest Bio:Sam Basu is a technologist, author, speaker, Microsoft MVP, and Lead Developer Advocate for Uno Platform. With a deep background in .NET development, Sam now focuses on helping teams ship modern, performant, and beautiful apps across platforms using open-source and AI-powered tools. When he’s not speaking at conferences or writing about technology, you’ll find him traveling, cooking, or enjoying fast cars and cricket.You can connect with Sam online through his work with Uno Platform and across developer communities worldwide.

November 11, 2025Episode 1034 min

Blue Blazes S03E10: Trailhead at 10 – featuring Trailhead Founders

In this special 10th-anniversary episode, guest host Mark Adams turns the microphone toward the founders of Trailhead Technology Partners — Jonathan “J.” Tower, John Waters, and Josh Eastburn — for a candid conversation about a decade of building great software and a great company.The four partners look back at how Trailhead began — with a shared vision for a consultancy built on purpose, craftsmanship, and long-term client partnerships — and how that vision has evolved through global growth and technological change. They discuss what’s changed and what hasn’t over that time, and how the Trailhead Process and Trailhead Framework help deliver consistent client results regardless. They also cover how trust, collaboration, and curiosity have been the company’s real differentiators.The episode closes with a look ahead at AI, quantum computing, and the ever-human side of technology, as the founders toast to the next 10 years of innovation, partnership, and growth.Guest Bio: Jonathan “J.” Tower, John Waters, and Josh Eastburn are the founding partners of Trailhead Technology Partners, a global software consultancy specializing in .NET and modern cloud solutions. Together, they’ve spent decades designing, building, and leading software projects across industries from healthcare to public transit, and have grown Trailhead into a distributed team spanning multiple continents.Mark Adams, Partner at Trailhead and host for this episode, leads many of the firm’s strategic client engagements and product initiatives.

October 20, 2025Episode 935 min

Blue Blazes S03E09: .NET Conf – featuring Javier Lozano

In this episode, host J. Tower sits down with Javier Lozano, co-founder of .NET Conf and CEO of Lozanotek, a .NET-focused software consultancy based in Des Moines, Iowa. Javier is a longtime Microsoft MVP, recognized for nearly 20 years for his contributions to ASP.NET, Azure, and the global developer community.In this episode, Javier shares the origin story of .NET Conf, which began as a small virtual event called MVC Conf 15 years ago, well before online conferences were common. He walks through how it evolved into today’s massive, three-day global launch event for the newest version of .NET, with contributions from Microsoft’s product teams and experts from around the world.If you’ve ever tuned in to .NET Conf, or wondered what it takes to bring the .NET community together on a global scale, this episode is a must-listen.Guest Bio: Javier Lozano is the CEO and Founder of Lozanotek, a .NET-focused software development boutique based in Des Moines, Iowa. He’s a Microsoft MVP, community leader, and co-founder of .NET Conf, the world’s largest virtual event celebrating the .NET ecosystem. With nearly two decades of experience building enterprise systems, mentoring teams, and contributing to the developer community, Javier is passionate about helping others grow, learn, and connect through technology.

August 18, 2025Episode 831 min

Blue Blazes S03E08: AI in .NET – featuring John Waters

In this episode, host J. Tower sits down with John Waters, his fellow Partner at Trailhead Technology Partners, to explore how AI is reshaping life as a .NET developer. They talk about the fast-evolving development ecosystem, including GitHub Copilot’s new agent mode, Microsoft.Extensions.AI and its sister packages for vector data, and the growing role of Semantic Kernel. John also breaks down the promise of the Model Context Protocol (MCP), explains the tradeoffs of local vs. cloud-based models, and shares practical stories of “pragmatic AI” in action—like fuzzy semantic search and warranty claim automation. The conversation wraps with a look at how AI is surfacing in .NET Aspire, where Copilot helps diagnose complex distributed systems in real time.Guest Bio:John Waters is a seasoned technology leader, accomplished architect, and founding partner at Trailhead Technology Partners. With decades of experience in software architecture and a career spanning the U.S. and Sweden, John has delivered innovative solutions for many different industries, including public transit, finance, and healthcare.John was previously recognized as a Microsoft MVP three times, speaks at conferences worldwide, and is fluent in English and Swedish, and proficient in French. He is also a licensed pilot, bringing the same precision and focus to the skies as he does to software development.

July 14, 2025Episode 735 min

Blue Blazes S03E07: .NET Aspire – featuring Maddy Montaquila

In this episode, host Jonathan “J.” Tower talks with Maddy Montaquila from Microsoft’s .NET team about .NET Aspire—a tool aimed at simplifying modern cloud app development. They discuss how Aspire helps orchestrate services across languages and platforms, improves the local development experience, and introduces powerful diagnostics through OpenTelemetry and AI-powered log analysis. Maddy also shares the story behind Aspire’s creation, clears up common misconceptions, and gives a sneak peek at what’s coming in version 9.4.Guest Bio:Maddy Montaquila is a Senior Product Manager at Microsoft on the .NET team. Maddy has been shaping the .NET developer experience since 2018, with work spanning Xamarin, .NET MAUI, and now .NET Aspire. Her journey began as a Microsoft intern with the Xamarin team, where she discovered her passion for creating tools that help developers build modern, scalable applications. Outside of work, you’ll find Maddy singing with her band, big rav.