S3E1: Barbara Oakley on Learning How to Learn & How Fundamentals Make All the Difference

S3E1: Barbara Oakley on Learning How to Learn & How Fundamentals Make All the Difference

Author: Launch School June 15, 2021 Duration: 1:07:03

In today's episode, Launch School students Jenae and Mandy interviewed Barbara Oakley. Dr. Oakley is no stranger to Launch School students — her Learning How to Learn course is a required part of the preparation to being a student! The conversation has many gems, including what it’s like being a woman in STEM and how programming is a form of art.

She generously shared her own journey of learning how to learn, why “follow your passion” is actually not great advice, why taking your time greatly impacts your learning, and why programming is one of the best examples of how mastery-based learning is the way to go. She’s as kind, knowledgeable, and passionate as we all already knew her to be.

You can listen from your favorite podcast app by searching for “Launch School”, or listen directly from your browser.


For anyone curious about the deliberate, patient path to becoming a true software craftsman, the Launch School Podcast offers a grounded and insightful companion. This isn't about quick hacks or trending frameworks; it's a deep, ongoing conversation about the fundamentals of mastery itself. Each episode connects through the shared experiences of learning to code, drawing on voices from within the Launch School community and beyond. You'll hear from students navigating the curriculum, employers discussing what they truly value in developers, and seasoned engineers reflecting on the principles of long-term career growth. Discussions naturally explore effective study habits, the philosophy of mastery-based learning, and the practical realities of transitioning into a professional role. By focusing on the underlying process of expertise, this podcast provides a unique and thoughtful resource for anyone committed to a meaningful education in technology. Tune in for honest conversations that reframe the journey of learning to code as one of continuous, intentional growth.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 57

Launch School Podcast
Podcast Episodes
S3E8: Bytes — Gratitude [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:52
In this Thanksgiving episode, Mandy talks to students who have been at Launch School for over a year. These students share what they are grateful for and how the community has helped them throughout their journey at Laun…
S3E7: Bytes — Life Stages [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:47
In today's episode, Callie chats with three Launch School students in three very different life stages. They share how they came to Launch School, what seemed to come easy to them, and what was harder. Without hearing on…
S3E6: Getting to Know Srdjan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:37
In today's episode, Callie chats with Launch School TA Srdjan as he shares his journey to and through Launch School. He generously shares about a wide range of experiences, from how his cats lovingly torture him to what…
S3E5: Women Who Code (WWCode) at Launch School [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:32
In today's episode, students from Women Who Code share what the group is, what the meet-ups are like, and how they've found a sense of belonging and community. These students talk about the importance of having a support…
S3E3: Bytes — Why Did You Choose Launch School? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:55
Today's episode is the first of a new series called Bytes: a collection of sound-bites from the Launch School community that answer a focused question. A question we've all asked at some point or another is why should I…
S2E11: Q&A Capstone, Assessments, DPP, & 2020 Salaries with Chris [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:06
In this episode, Staacy and I held a Zoom Q & A. I was happily surprised by the wide-range of topics that we got to dive into. Questions ranged from knowing if you’re on track for Capstone, when and how to get a job, how…
S2E9: Student Panel Discussion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:18
Welcome to another episode of the Launch School podcast. This is a slightly different episode in that it’s a recording of a webinar we did a few weeks ago about our Deferred Payment Program. Now why would we include a we…