Breaktime Tech Talks
A bite-sized tech podcast for busy developers where we’ll briefly cover technical topics, new snippets, and more in short time blocks. Your host, Jennifer Reif, is an avid developer and problem-solver with special interest in data, learning, and all things technology.
Episodes
Friday Dec 27, 2024
Ep28: 2024 Recap, 2025 Look-Ahead + Always Be Launching
Friday Dec 27, 2024
Friday Dec 27, 2024
Take a moment to reflect on 2024, exploring highlights in AI advancements, personal growth, and professional achievements, along with exciting 2025 goals. Then delve into an article that discusses marketing strategies but aligns well with developer advocacy.
Friday Dec 20, 2024
Ep27: Lexical vs Semantic Search + Downside of Vector Databases
Friday Dec 20, 2024
Friday Dec 20, 2024
Explore the distinction between lexical and semantic search technologies, the growing use of vector databases, and the potential challenges and solutions that may arise as these technologies mature.
Friday Dec 06, 2024
Ep26: Git Troubles + Dungeons & Dragons Graph
Friday Dec 06, 2024
Friday Dec 06, 2024
Git issues, finally resetting local branch, cherry-picking, and cleaning up. Then a fun graph presentation - Dungeons, Dragons, and Graph Databases.
Friday Nov 29, 2024
Ep25: Github Actions + AI Coding Assistant
Friday Nov 29, 2024
Friday Nov 29, 2024
In this episode, hear some positive tech experiences from the week: the upgrade from GitHub Actions (upload/download artifact) to v4 through a 3rd party repo, and the new AI coding assistant feature in IntelliJ IDEA.
Friday Nov 22, 2024
Ep24: Graph Data Science + Building Knowledge Graphs
Friday Nov 22, 2024
Friday Nov 22, 2024
This episode, my refresher with the Graph Data Science library with highlights and challenges. Then an overview of the Building Knowledge Graphs book, a guide on everything from concepts to technical details.
Friday Nov 15, 2024
Ep23: Spring Data Neo4j course + Event recap
Friday Nov 15, 2024
Friday Nov 15, 2024
Hear learnings from the new Spring Data Neo4j course - building blocks, updates/deletes, and modeling. Then recap XtremeJ and NODES 2024, + upcoming at CJUG.
Friday Nov 08, 2024
Ep22: LLM Graph Builder + Devrel unlocks “aha” moment
Friday Nov 08, 2024
Friday Nov 08, 2024
In this episode, get my latest experiences with the Neo4j LLM Graph Builder, both the benefits and challenges. Then, an article focusing on the concept of the "Aha moment"—a key moment when developers discover the value of a technology.
Friday Nov 01, 2024
Ep21: Data is cool + NODES 2024 preview
Friday Nov 01, 2024
Friday Nov 01, 2024
In this episode, hear why data (a less glamorous topic) is actually fascinating and crucial. Then, look forward with a preview of next week's NODES 2024 event, which features a range of sessions on graph technologies, AI, data science, and security. Finally, get a teaser for the next episode.
Friday Oct 25, 2024
Ep20: What is a graph + Goodhart’s Law
Friday Oct 25, 2024
Friday Oct 25, 2024
Cover the basics of graphs, explaining mathematical roots and applications. Introduce Goodhart's Law and highlight the risks of over-focusing on metrics, whether in tech or personal growth.
Friday Oct 18, 2024
Ep19: RAG vs Agents + Naming Things
Friday Oct 18, 2024
Friday Oct 18, 2024
Explore agents in AI, distinguishing them from RAG (article1, article2). And discuss naming and the importance of conveying relevance and clarity.

Breaktime Tech Talks
Welcome to the Breaktime Tech Talks podcast! I'm your host Jennifer Reif, and I’m an avid developer and problem-solver.
This podcast is designed with bite-sized episodes that fit into the gaps of a busy developer's day. Want to catch tech news snippets, learn a technical tidbit, or hear about solving technical problems? Listen in and easily find what you heard later.
Happy coding!