Today I've got a very special guest, Jeffrey Way, the founder of Laracasts. I know we all have questions for him, so let's get right into it, Jeffrey, the clock starts now. So, uh, when you started Laracasts, what was your most crazy optimistic expectations for it? Oh, I wasn't ambitious at all. If I could simply reproduce the income that I had at my former job, that would've been incredible success.

that I had at my former job, that would've been incredible success. So, yeah, I, I, I didn't hope for anything more than that. Nice. And if, uh, Laracasts hadn't worked out, what was the plan B? Yeah, so it's kind of interesting actually, right around that time I lived in the us, uh, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. And my wife and I were very much at a crossroads. Uh, I, we had to decide whether to finish building Laracasts and launch it as a product,

Uh, I, we had to decide whether to finish building Layer cast and launch it as a product, or at the very same time, I had a job offer from a company called Treehouse. Uh, you may know teamtreehouse.com. Yep. And that would've required that we move to Orlando, Florida, and we had to decide, like, do we go out on our own or do we choose the safe route? And, uh, clearly, and thankfully, I,

And, uh, clearly, and thankfully, I, I took a risk on Layer Cast and it paid off. And then amazingly, we still ended up moving to Orlando, Florida. Uh, just as a coincidence, After all these years creating Screencast, what's the one thing you still struggle with? I think sometimes I, I have a tendency to be a little bit verbose.

I think sometimes I, I have a tendency to be a little bit verbose and, uh, that's why I have a, like an internal rule where I'm always reminding myself, keep it going, keep it going. Like I imagine the viewers saying, come on, come on, come on. Move it along, move it along. Uh, because sometimes I feel like I need to overexplain when I don't.

This is just a simple explanation with no code.

Do you ever rewatch your early episodes? And if so, what makes you cringe the most? They're horrible. Uh, I don't make a habit of going back and watching them, but if they ever just pop up, you know, when I'm testing the site, uh, well, two things. One of them, it's just a, a product of the times. Like we didn't have access to some of the, um, the education that we do now in terms of how to make videos. Now it's like you go on YouTube and there are endless resources for how to set up a camera,

Now it's like you go on YouTube and there are endless resources for how to set up a camera, how to configure it, how to set up three point lighting. As you know, uh, back in 2013, it just wasn't available. If you uploaded a programming Screencast YouTube, I swear it was at three 20 p and you couldn't read it, so you had to make the text or the font size like 24, um, point in order for the viewer to see it. Otherwise it would be too blurry.

This is just a simple explanation with no code.

Right. This thrilling episode of Running Clock is proudly brought to you by Laracasts. Yes, sir. Yes ma'am. It's the Root I Tutus Laraval Screencast. This side of the Information Highway. And back to the show. What's it might be related, what's the hardest part of teaching in 2025 compared to 2014? Uh, I don't think that much has changed.

to 2014? Uh, I don't think that much has changed. Um, yeah, the main thing, like I was just saying is the competition. There are so many people doing the same thing now. And I swear back in 2014, believe it or not, like programming education, it was kind of novel. It was kind of quaint, the idea of like video-based education, not everyone was doing it. Um, so you could get away with a sloppy video, whereas now

of like video-based education, not everyone was doing it. Um, so you could get away with a sloppy video, whereas now a as you know, every single person seemingly has a course. So we've all had to up our game, uh, big time. The bar has been raised. Yep. Yeah, You're a great teacher. But who taught you the most about teaching? Nobody specifically. Uh, I, I was trying to think if I have my own, like Mr. Feeney, uh, for the four people who know that reference,

Uh, I, I was trying to think if I have my own, like Mr. Feeney, uh, for the four people who know that reference, and, and I don't really, uh, I think that the thing that has truly helped me is to remember about the things that confused me the most. Um, in the past when I was learning something, I found myself getting mad once I figured it out because I would think, well, why didn't you just tell me this? And if you had just said this, this,

just tell me this? And if you had just said this, this, and that, I would've understood, but you didn't. And so, yeah, whenever I make videos now I try to remind myself, what do you wish somebody had taught you about this particular subject? Yeah. Alright. 20 seconds left. I'm gonna rapid fire you Early Bird or Night Owl. Oh, I have this one for you. Uh, early Bird. Ah, one monitor or multiple screen Battle Station.

Oh, I have this one for you. Uh, early Bird. Ah, one monitor or multiple screen Battle Station. Just one monitor. And, uh, last one, one weird thing on your desk right now. Uh, abso absolutely nothing actually. I've, I've, I've decided to have a clean desk. I have a mat, a keyboard, a mouse. That's it. Uh, nothing else. Alright, Jeffrey, that's all the time we got. Thank you so much. You've done great.

Alright, Jeffrey, that's all the time we got. Thank you so much. You've done great. Thank you Simon. I appreciate it. Alright. That was fun. That's stressful actually. I know. Well, I, I, I'm about to know. Right, Right, right, right.