Note: There is some talk of suicide ideation during this episode. Please take care while listening. If you need help, please use the following link to find resources near you. https://resources.byspotify.com/

There is no way to capture the emotional and inspirational story maze that Lars weaves in this episode. What follows is my best attempt, but do yourself a favor and pull up a code editor, a quiet moment, a cup of coffee, or all three and listen to this far-reaching episode filled with beautiful and raw storytelling.

K Lars Lohn's journey in the tech world began in his childhood, heavily influenced by his innate curious nature, Tandy Town, United Manufacturing, and Radio Shack. During this wide-ranging and inspirational conversation filled with beautiful storytelling, Lars delves into the profound impact of early experiences on his career trajectory, recounting his transition from using proprietary software to embracing open-source platforms, spurred by a licensing dispute with Microsoft. This shift highlights the adaptability and resilience that have marked his varied career, from software development to rose farming and art.

The episode also touches on Lars' challenges within the corporate tech world, particularly in dealing with rigid corporate structures and difficult employers. A fascinating aspect of his story is the integration of his artistic pursuits, namely music and art, with his professional life in technology. This blend underlines the importance of creative outlets and how they can enrich one’s work in tech.

Lars strongly advocates for diversity, not just in terms of race or gender, but crucially in thought and experience within the tech industry. He argues for the value of different perspectives in problem-solving and innovation. This episode offers an inspiring and multifaceted view of a life in technology, underscored by hardship, resilience, creativity, and storytelling.

Community

• Join the community on Slack
• Continue the conversation on GitHub
• Support the podcast on Patreon
• Recorded with Riverside.fm (Affiliate link)

Links

• K Lars Lohn on LinkedIn
• Losing my first programming job
• The Grand Old Lady
• The Burlington Northern Ski Lift
• A Call for Source Code CSS
• Waltzing and Programming are the Same Thing
• My Grudge with the Redmond Racketeer
• The Abandoned Rose Garden
• A Road Not Ridden
• My Coming Out Story
• Lars' Maze Art
• Support Lars on Patreon
• Schalk Neethling on LinkedIn
• Mechanical Ink

Videos

• Pycon 2016 closing keynote
• Well-Tempered API
• Maze Art Video
• Childish Intuition