Ask Us Anything: Predictions & Plans for 2026

Summary

In this episode, hosts Stu Day and Chris Henderson reflect on the year 2025, discussing the growth and engagement of the podcast, the challenges of mental health in the workplace, and the evolving role of AI in shaping careers.

They emphasise the importance of community support and effective communication in navigating these changes, while also exploring emerging trends in quality engineering and testing for 2026.

Takeaways

1. 2025 has been a year of significant growth for the podcast.
2. Engagement from listeners has remained high throughout the year.
3. Mental health challenges in the workplace are prevalent and need addressing.
4. Control the controllables to navigate mental checkouts.
5. Metrics should tell a story, not just be numbers.
6. AI is a tool, but community will shape our careers.
7. Human interaction will be crucial in the tech industry moving forward.
8. Continuous learning and adaptation are essential in a rapidly changing environment.
9. Effective communication is key to influencing teams and driving change.
10. Leadership in quality requires a broad understanding of various disciplines.

Chapters

00:00 Reflecting on 2025: A Year in Review

21:44 Navigating Mental Checkouts in the Workplace

28:26 The Role of Metrics in Quality Assurance

34:38 AI vs Community: The Future of Careers

36:02 Embracing AI: The Community's Role

46:30 The Future of Work: Human Interaction and AI

56:51 Trends in Quality Engineering: Skills for 2026

01:07:19 Closing out 2025