In this episode, host Joe Colantonio sits down with Debbie O'Brien, Principal Technical Program Manager at Microsoft and a leading advocate for Playwright end-to-end testing. Debbie shares her fascinating journey from web design in the late '90s to building and nurturing the Playwright community at Microsoft. Together, they tackle the latest and greatest in test automation, with a special focus on Playwright's Model Context Protocol (MCP) server and how you can unlock its powerful AI-driven browser automation capabilities. From real-world advice on overcoming resistance to testing in teams to the exciting possibilities MCP brings for generating and scaling tests with natural language and AI, this conversation is packed with both practical tips and future-looking insights. Debbie also addresses common fears around AI replacing jobs, highlighting the need for testers and developers to embrace these tools and stay ahead of the curve. Whether you're an automation engineer, front-end developer, or simply curious about where testing is headed, this episode is full of actionable wisdom and inspiration. Tune in and get ready to supercharge your automation skills!
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Solving Challenges in Software Testing with Kristijan Plaushku
On this episode of the TestGuild Automation Podcast, host Joe Colantonio welcomes Kristijan Plaushku, founder of QA Robots, for a fascinating deep dive into the evolving world of testing and automation. Grab the free Testing Toolkit now: https://testguild.me/toolkit Broadcasting from Italy, Kristijan shares his journey from starting in quality assurance at AS Watson to building his own company, dedicated to reshaping how businesses approach QA, automation, and DevOps integration, with a specific focus on the unique challenges and opportunities within the Italian tech landscape. Together, they explore what it means to apply first-principles thinking in QA, the ongoing struggles with test environment management, and why bridging the gap between QA and DevOps can have such a significant impact on software delivery. Kristijan also shares the growing influence of AI in automation, his passion for the Robot Framework, and the innovative tools he’s creating to help teams work smarter, not harder. Whether you’re an automation pro or just beginning to dip your toes in the world of testing, this episode is packed with practical insights, industry trends, and actionable advice for building better, more efficient quality processes. Don’t miss Kristijan’s take on building a QA culture from the ground up and why human-centric thinking still matters in an AI-driven world.
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WireMock with Tom Akehurst
In this episode, we sit down with Tom Akehurst, the creator of WireMock, the popular open-source API mocking tool now powering simulation at scale in modern development pipelines. We unpack the real-world benefits of API mocking, when to simulate vs. integrate, and how WireMock Cloud is helping teams manage drift, complexity, and change. If you're exploring API testing, mocking tools, or wondering how OpenAPI, AI, and MCP (Model Context Protocols) fit into the picture—this one’s for you.
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Mastering Medical Device Testing with Priyank Soni
In today’s show, we’re diving deep into the highly specialized world of software testing for medical devices. Our guest, Priyank Soni, brings over 20 years of experience and a wealth of knowledge from the front lines of medical innovation, think cardiac mapping, lab automation, and infusion pumps. Not only is Priyank a recognized authority in embedded systems, AI, and machine learning, but he’s also a master at transforming manual QA processes into scalable, cloud-based automated frameworks. Join host Joe Colantonio as he and Priyank unravel the unique challenges of testing in a heavily regulated, high-risk environment where safety, compliance, and innovation must work hand-in-hand. You’ll gain practical insights into navigating stringent standards like ISO 13485, managing risk in legacy systems, and balancing Agile development with rigorous verification requirements. Plus, Priyank shares the real impact of AI and automation in medical device testing—and what the future might hold for testers in this rapidly evolving field. Whether you’re a seasoned QA pro or just curious about what it takes to deliver safe, compliant software in healthcare, you won’t want to miss this episode! Take the first step towards transforming your and our community's future. Check out our done-for-you services awareness and lead generation demand packages, and let's explore the awesome possibilities together now https://testguild.com/mediakit
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What is Reverse Mutation Testing with Leonardo Lanni
In this session, host Joe Colantonio sits down with Leonardo Lanni, a globally recognized quality engineer and founder of QA Roots, to explore a cool testing technique: mutation testing and reverse mutation testing. See if your apps are visual perfect with App Percy: https://testguild.me/apppercy Leonardo breaks down the concepts behind mutation testing, which is an innovative approach to verifying the effectiveness of your tests by intentionally introducing code changes—and introduces the idea of reverse mutation testing, a new technique for ensuring your tests themselves are up to the task. They also discuss real-world QA challenges, practical tooling, and the future of automated testing in an AI-driven world. Whether you’re a seasoned engineer or just getting started in QA, this conversation is packed with actionable insights and fresh ways to look at your automation strategy. Listen up!
TestGuild Automation Podcast (formally Test Talks) is a weekly podcast hosted by Joe Colantonio, which geeks out on all things software test automation. TestGuild Automation covers news found in the testing space, reviews books about automation, and speaks with some of the thought leaders in the test automation field. We’ll aim to interview some of today’s most successful and inspiring software engineers, and test automation thought leaders.
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