38 Best Technical Leadership Podcasts to Listen to (2026)

Software itself is fundamentally changing. We explore the transition to agentic orchestration, vibe coding, and AI-native development, grounding the conversation in the principles that have always defined great engineering. On Tuesdays, we interview the founders, architects, and builders of the world's most impactful tech to uncover the timeless engineering principles and strategies shaping the next era of development. And on Fridays, we drop an end-of-week roundup of the biggest news in AI and software, and what it actually means for your career, your craft, and your life as a developer. Subscribe to stay ahead of the next era of code. more

This podcast features interviews of CTOs and other technical leadership figures and topics range from technology (AI, blockchain, cyber, DevOps, Web Architecture, etc.) to management (e.g. scaling, structuring teams, mentoring, technical recruiting, product etc.). Guests from leading tech companies share their best practices and knowledge.The goal is to support other CTOs on their journey through tech and engineering, inspire and allow a sneak-peek into other successful companies to understand how they think and act. Get awesome insights into the world's top tech companies, personalities with this podcast brought to you by Tobias Schlottke. more

The Happy Engineer helps engineering managers and directors reach the next level without burning out — because success without fulfillment is failure. You'll learn how to redefine work/life balance, lead with purpose, and accelerate your next promotion. Bring a growth mindset, engineers. It's time for personal development before technical development, EQ before IQ, and coaching to crush your comfort zone. If you're asking questions like these, this show is for you: — How do I decide between a technical path and management? Can I ever go back? — How do I reignite passion and purpose in my engineering career (or just stop dreading Monday)? — Why do I keep getting passed over for Manager / Director / VP while my peers move up? — How can I increase my salary and total compensation faster? — What do I do if I want to change discipline, industry, or leave engineering altogether? — What does it take to go from engineering to entrepreneurship? — WHY AM I SO UNHAPPY??? Your host, Zach White, knows how frustrating building your engineering career can be. He's a former engineering leader at Whirlpool who has felt stuck, survived a bad boss, burned out from 80-hour weeks, and watched corporate reorgs blow up his career plan more than once. Rock bottom taught him what no performance review ever did: the problem was never his work ethic. It was that nobody ever handed him a design for the life he actually wanted. So he built one. Since 2019 he's coached 300+ engineering leaders at 200+ companies — big tech to rust belt, and everything in between — as CEO of Oasis of Courage and a Lifestyle Engineering Coach. Each week you'll get real conversations with engineering leaders and experts from every corner of industry and life, plus solo coaching episodes that give you an action plan to level up your career while designing a life you love. Ready to start? Grab your free Growth Audit at oasisofcourage.com. Build your career. Balance your life. BE HAPPY! more

Leadership in architecture, engineering and construction comes with its own set of challenges, and technical leaders at all stages of their career need support and guidance. The AEC Leadership Podcast (AECLP) is dedicated to helping engineering leaders of all experience levels navigate these challenges. With a diverse audience of AEC professionals across various disciplines, The AECLP provides valuable insights and practical advice. more

Modern CTO is the #1 place where technology leaders and CTOs hang out. We live to bring tech leaders value. Listen in on our fun, intelligent and engaging podcast. We hang out with interesting and popular CTOs in Aerospace, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics + Many more industries. All of this, right here, right now, on the Modern CTO Podcast.What do you think of the show? Let us know here! more

Software engineering at Big Tech and startups, from the inside. Deepdives with experienced engineers and tech professionals who share their hard-earned lessons, interesting stories and advice they have on building software. Especially relevant for software engineers and engineering leaders: useful for those working in tech. newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com more

The Tech Trek is a podcast about how founders, operators, and technology leaders build and scale technology companies. Each episode explores the decisions behind building products, teams, and technical organizations, with conversations spanning engineering, AI, data, product, hiring, leadership, and growth. Guests share what they are building, what they are learning, and how they are navigating the challenges that come with turning technology into a successful company. more

Twice-weekly conversations with top executives and thought leaders at the intersection of business, technology, and innovation. Each episode of Technovation explores the technology trends that are transforming business, and the leaders driving digital change inside their organizations. Produced by Metis Strategy and hosted by firm President Peter High, Technovation is the premier podcast for IT and technology professionals with the largest collection of interviews with elite CIOs, CTOs, and CDOs. more

Welcome to Tech Talks (A Podcast about Technology Leaders and Leadership). We explore the stories behind the most recognisable names in industry and the startups you're yet to hear from. The innovation, cultural transformation and investment stories driving technology with host David Savage. If you're interested in the latest ideas on AI, data, cyber-security this is the show for you. Follow and join the conversation. Tech Talks is powered by Harvey Nash, the leading global provider of technology and talent solutions. Find out more about our solutions at https://www.harveynash.co.uk/ more

We share the most critical perspectives, habits & examples of great software engineering leaders to help evolve leadership in the tech industry. Join our community of software engineering leaders @ www.sfelc.com! more

The show focused on developer productivity and the teams and leaders dedicated to improving it. Each episode features in-depth interviews with Platform and DevEx teams, along with the latest research and approaches for measuring developer productivity. Presented by DX (getdx.com), the developer intelligence platform designed by researchers. more

C-Suite Conversations on AI and Strategy. Join industry analyst Michael Krigsman for unfiltered discussions with the leaders shaping the future of business. From AI implementation to digital transformation, hear directly from CIOs, CTOs, CEOs, and more from the world's largest companies. No scripts. No PR fluff. Just real questions from our live audience and honest answers from the C-Suite. Want to participate? Get invited to the next live show: https://www.cxotalk.com/subscribe more

The CTO Podcast explores the worlds of Chief Technical officers as they manage the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of technologists in the C-suite. Hosted by Etienne de Bruin, founder of 7CTOs and author of CTO Excellence in 100 Days: Becoming the leader your company deserves. www.ctopod.com more

Great technical leadership requires more than just great coding skills. It requires a variety of other skills that are not well-defined, and they are not something that we can fully learn in any school or book. Hear from experienced technical leaders sharing their journey and philosophy for building great technical teams and achieving technical excellence. Find out what makes them great and how to apply those lessons to your work and team. more

Welcome to the Leadership Launchpad where we help technical managers improve themselves, their teams, and their organizations. Host Matt Gjertsen — former Air Force instructor pilot and head of training and development at SpaceX — brings hard-won lessons from the world's most demanding organizations to help new managers lead with clarity and confidence. Each episode cuts through the noise with practical frameworks, real stories, and straight talk on what it actually takes to build high-performing teams in aerospace, defense, and beyond. Whether you're managing engineers, navigating organizational chaos, or just trying not to let your team down, Leadership Launchpad gives you the tools to get better every day. more

Software engineers, architects and team leads have found inspiration to build better, high performing teams by listening to the weekly InfoQ Podcast. We have achieved that by interviewing some of the top CTOs, engineers and technology directors from companies like Uber, Netflix and more. Over 500,000 downloads in the last 3 years. more

Are you an engineer looking to go beyond your technical expertise to become an impactful leader? Join Dr. Angelique Adams each week as she features engineers in leadership roles. They discuss their career journeys, dissect real-life leadership challenges they've tackled, and share actionable advice on how to achieve success as a leader with an engineering background. Whether you're an aspiring leader or a seasoned engineer looking to grow, join us. Mastering Engineering Leadership—your journey to becoming an exceptional engineer leader starts here. more

World-class software development requires far more than language/platform expertise and steady sprints. Join us as we describe time-tested, industry-proven software best practices at the team, organization, and leadership levels, sharing examples from recent engagements with software teams of all sizes. Construx is led by industry leader Steve McConnell, author of Code Complete and More Effective Agile . Software experts first and software trainers and consultants second, our team has seen what works and doesn't work in hundreds of software organizations. Host Mark Griffin spent the first half of his career as an electrical engineer doing silicon hardware design and leading software automation teams. He moved into the sales side of software because he wanted to spread the value of what his company was building. It was supposed to be a one-year assignment that turned into the second half of his career. His balance of deeply technical skills and right-brain artistry also makes him a masterful home brewer! more

Her Engineering Career Podcast is hosted by Mary Kinsella, career strategist for women engineers. This program offers practical advice and insights to women who want to make a difference as technical experts and influential leaders. Episodes will cover how to foster courage and confidence, garner credibility and recognition, stretch into leadership roles, and spearhead highly desired projects. Listeners will learn strategies for career mastery, increasing the visibility and impact of their accomplishments, and advancing to the next level. Mary has more than 30 years' experience as an engineer, program manager, and team leader, living and learning the challenges that women face in the engineering workplace. more

Join Adam Horner, a CTO with over 30 years in the tech industry, on The CTO Playbook — the podcast dedicated to helping CTOs excel. Perfect for CTOs and tech leaders navigating the complexities of their roles, each episode offers clear insights, innovative strategies, and practical advice from top leaders in tech.With Adam's extensive experience mentoring engineers and tech leaders, and over a decade as a CTO, you'll gain the tools and knowledge to build and refine your own CTO playbook. Whether you're tackling complex projects, fostering innovation, leading teams, or shaping your company's tech strategy, this podcast is your go-to resource.Adam's journey from engineer to strategic CTO was challenging. He learned through the school of hard knocks, making avoidable mistakes and facing countless challenges. Often out of his comfort zone and wishing for more guidance, he created this podcast to provide the support and advice he once lacked.Tune in for engaging interviews, leadership tips, and the latest in technology strategy. Each episode is designed to help you lead with confidence and level up as a CTO.Listen now to start your journey with The CTO Playbook and build your own playbook to excel in your role. more

Tech Teams Today dives into how top engineering leaders are building, leading and scaling high-performing teams of engineers and developers in the new world of work. Get unfiltered, fresh ideas to help propel your teams and your own tech leadership career.Tech Teams Today is brought to you by Revelo, the platform used by leading US companies to find, hire and pay full-time, remote engineers based in Latin America. Learn more at www.revelo.com more

Dive into the world of technical management with 'Technical Leadership Talks.'  Brought to you by Texas A&M University's Master of Engineering Technical Management (METM), join us as we speak with top industry leaders and executives about tech leadership skills, current industry insights, and EQ-based management strategies that are creating the tech leaders of the future.   more

A short discussion of leadership improvements you can start using in your startup today as a technical executive, whether you are a CTO, CIO, VP Engineering, VP R&D, and so on. more

Inspiring Tech Leaders is a weekly technology leadership podcast hosted by Dave Roberts, featuring in-depth conversations with senior tech leaders from across the industry. The episodes explore real-world leadership experiences, career journeys, and practical advice to help the next generation of technology professionals succeed. The podcast also reviews and breaks down the latest technologies across artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, cloud, cybersecurity, and enterprise IT, examining how emerging trends are reshaping organisations, careers, and leadership strategies. - More insights, show notes, and resources at: https://www.priceroberts.com - Email: ****@priceroberts.com - Connect with Dave on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveroberts/ Whether you're a CIO, CDO, CTO, IT Manager, Digital Leader, or an aspiring Tech Professional, Inspiring Tech Leaders delivers actionable leadership insights, technology analysis, and inspiration to help you grow, adapt, and thrive in a fast-changing tech landscape. more

Welcome to the 'How Many CTOs?' Podcast, hosted by Brad and Scott, where we dive deep into the intricate world of Chief Technology Officers. Each episode features candid conversations with guest CTOs who share their real-world experiences and insights on a wide range of topics. From building and upleveling high-performing engineering teams to managing and communicating the impact of tech debt, we cover it all. Discover strategies for measuring engineering productivity, refining processes, and balancing innovation with structured methodologies. Learn from experts about decomposing monolithic systems and keeping up with the latest technology trends. Whether you're a current or aspiring CTO, our podcast offers practical solutions and valuable advice to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of technology leadership. Tune in and join the discussion on overcoming the common challenges faced by CTOs today. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review! #TechLeadership #CTO #techpodcast more

Gaining the Technology Leadership Edge is for CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and senior technology leaders who are paying the hidden price of being indispensable. If everything still depends on you—decisions, escalations, delivery, and 'just one more quick fix'—this show is for you. Hosted by Mike Mahony, creator of the Decentralized A-Team Method, GTLE breaks down why high-performing tech leaders get trapped as bottlenecks—and how to build teams that think, decide, and execute without constant oversight. This isn't a hustle podcast. It's not leadership theater. And it's not about working harder or being more inspirational. Each episode explores real leadership failure modes inside scaling tech organizations—dependency, overfunctioning, fragile execution—and replaces them with practical systems for decentralizing ownership, engineering autonomy, and scaling without burning out. Through direct analysis, real-world case patterns, and conversations with experienced leaders, GTLE helps senior technical leaders stop being the smartest person in the room—and start building teams that don't need them to survive. If you're responsible for other people's output—and you know the current model won't scale—this show was built for you. more

Weekly interviews with world-class engineering leaders about writing great software and working well with humans. more

Decoding Leadership - where we break down the intersection of effective and humane leadership, especially in software product development (engineering, product, and design). more

This is No-Nonsense Agile Leadership, where we explore better ways to develop digital products and services. Join world-class experts for honest insights and practical advice to help you lead digital teams, products, and organisations clearly and confidently. Subscribe now to learn the best ideas in the field. more

Leman Tech Leadership Podcast Welcome to the Leman Tech Leadership Podcast, your ultimate guide to developing exceptional tech leadership skills. Whether you're a seasoned tech leader or just stepping into a managerial role, this podcast is designed to provide you with actionable insights and best practices to create a thriving work environment that people won't want to leave. Learn how to do it with host Aleksandra Lemańska, CQ Technology Leadership Mentor & Speaker. Founder @LemanSkills, Co-Founder & Board President @Startup Community Poznan Foundation, Host @Leman Tech Leadership Podcast. She is the creator of the CQ Leadership Method: a battle-tested framework that helps tech leaders communicate with precision and lead without burnout. Join Alex as she delves deep into the secrets of effective leadership, from mastering essential tools to implementing cutting-edge techniques. Each episode brings you invaluable knowledge, practical advice, or unique perspectives through engaging interviews with leaders who have experiences and lessons to share. Discover the dos and don'ts of tech leadership, learn about the habits that drive success, and gather strategies to foster a motivated and engaged team. Follow Alex @aleksandralemanska on LinkedIn for more inspiration and actions that you can take as a transformational leader. Check out more as well on https://lemanskills.com ! more

IT Leaders is the podcast for IT Directors, CIOs, and technology decision-makers seeking actionable insights and executive-level leadership strategies. Produced by the IT Leaders Council and powered by Expedient, each episode features expert guest speakers, peer-to-peer discussions, and real-world stories from the front lines of enterprise IT.Recorded live at leadership events in Indianapolis, IN, Columbus, OH, and expanding nationwide, IT Leaders delivers vendor-neutral content focused on cloud strategy, digital transformation, data center modernization, and IT operations leadership.Join the conversation that helps shape the future of IT. more

Ben Pearce interviews thought leaders in the tech world to learn from their success. In each episode we focus on a topic our guest has learnt about, failed at, course corrected and ultimately succeeded with. We can stand on the shoulders of giants and benefit from their insight. The Tech World Human Skills podcast is a masterclass on building the leadership, professional and human skills that are essential to thrive in the tech world. If you're in Pre-Sales, Consulting, Engineering, Customer Success, Architecture, Tech Leadership or any other tech discipline come and join the party. New episodes every 2 weeks. Listen to The Tech World Humans Skills podcast wherever you listen to your podcast or watch on YouTube. Check out www.techworldhumanskills.com for more details. more

Hosted by TC Gill, this podcast explores the dynamic world of technology leadership. Each episode explores the challenges, strategies, and stories that shape the lives of today's CTOs and tech leaders. From navigating complex business issues to leading high-performing teams, CTO Confessions sheds light on the multifaceted role of technology executives, highlighting the critical decisions they make and the impact they have on organizations. Join us as we unpack the realities of tech leadership and share insights that rarely get the appreciation they deserve, all with a healthy dose of curiosity and candor. Brought to you by IT Labs. more

A software engineering podcast for senior developers, staff engineers, and tech leads who build and scale systems in production. Hosted by Neciu Dan, Señors @ Scale features deep, technical conversations with engineering leaders from companies like Google, AWS, Microsoft, Cloudflare, Datadog, and Snyk.Every week, we sit down with Staff Engineers, Principal Engineers, and technical leaders to unpack the real challenges of frontend architecture, micro frontends, React and Vue at scale, design systems, security, reliability, and technical leadership. No fluff, no surface-level takes. Just hard- more

The Sustainable Tech Leader isn't just another leadership podcast. Tech leaders face unique pressures, fast-paced change, relentless delivery cycles, managing up while supporting teams, and constant disruption. Most advice is either too technical or too generic. This podcast fills the gap with honest conversations on the highs and lows of leadership, and practical ways to excel without burning out. For leaders who want balance, resilience, and lasting impact. more

Welcome to Tech Voices on Leadership. This show is all about creating a community of technical leaders who want to grow, share ideas, and navigate the transition from technical mastery to people leadership. Each episode dives into the emotional and practical sides of leading others.Hit subscribe and join us — we put heart and passion into bringing you content that supports your leadership journey. more

There are a number of ways to develop software: Test-driven, Behavior-driven, Product-driven, Customer-driven (to name a few). But once you move into engineering leadership, you're no longer dealing with software directly.It's all about People Driven Development.How do you work with people to drive this engineering product forward?How do you manage people so they feel seen, respected, emotionally safe, challenged, and empowered?How do you deliver business results and also focus relentlessly on people?Eddie and Morgan try to help their fellow engineering leaders through difficult situations where the problem isn't really technology at all. more

Re:Engineered is a podcast for engineers and technical professionals who've realized that being great at the technical work isn't enough anymore.Hosted by Chris Stasiuk, an engineer turned coach who spent 25 years growing from project engineer to shareholder at an engineering consulting firm, and now coaches technical professionals on the leadership skills no one taught them.The show treats communication, leadership, and influence as systems. Not personality traits. Not corporate theater. Skills you can learn and apply without pretending to be someone you're not.Episodes include solo takes, newsletter riffs, and conversations with engineers and experts in areas technical professionals often overlook. No theory. Real frameworks from real engineering environments, with direct guidance on managing up, leading without authority, and navigating difficult conversations.No buzzwords. No corporate platitudes. No advice from consultants who've never built anything.If you're the one who actually solves the problems but keep getting passed over for people who talk more than they contribute, this podcast was built for you.Because being a great engineer isn't enough anymore. more