---
title: "Career Shift: Audio/Video Production to Software Developer | Stories From The Hackery"
description: Discover Kris's inspiring journey from audio/video production to software development with practical tips for a successful job search.
---

[Blog](https://learn.nashvillesoftwareschool.com/blog)

# [Career Shift: Audio/Video Production to Software Developer | Stories From The Hackery](https://learn.nashvillesoftwareschool.com/blog/2026/10/07/career-shift-audio/video-production-to-software-developer-stories-from-the-hackery)

 Written by [Mandy Arola](https://learn.nashvillesoftwareschool.com/blog/author/mandy-arola) | Oct 7, 2026

Kris, a recent graduate of our full-time, full-stack Software Development Cohort 80, spent years working in audio/video (AV), most recently recording podcasts for the local library. While he enjoyed the creative environment, he was looking for a stable path with clear career growth. Seeing friends “change their lives” through Nashville Software School (NSS) and vibe coding an application inspired him to take the leap to become a software developer.

### Discovering "Vibe Coding" & Building a Real Product

Before stepping foot into NSS, Kris started experimenting with AI tools, like ChatGPT. What began as a fun toy for writing song lyrics turned into an exploration of coding.

Leveraging AI as a late-night coding partner, Kris built **RoadUno**, an AI agent integrated with Google Maps and Spotify heat maps designed to help touring musicians find and book venues in cities where they already have listener bases. The app even attracted paying users! However, while the application worked, Kris realized he had knowledge gaps around the underlying architecture.

*"I couldn't explain to you anything in the code, and that's what really pushed me to get that foundation to go to NSS. I knew I could stop the vibe coding and start from square one to gain confidence in my development."* — Kris Cagle

### Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Code Anxiety

Bootcamp moves fast, and Kris faced a major hurdle early on—learning to articulate his code, which was one of the primary reasons he came to NSS in the first place, and something he got to practice early and often. Regular code reviews with his cohort instructor Dave initially triggered imposter syndrome for Kris. The fear of being called out was real, but practicing line-by-line code explanations turned a nerve-wracking requirement into a powerful confidence builder. This preparation paid off during a mock interview with a GitHub engineer, where Kris successfully coded live in front of an interviewer and talked through solutions across multiple languages.

### Turning Networking into a Fast-Track Tech Job

Kris’ other major hurdle was an uncertain job market. Kris channeled his energy into networking. He stayed active on LinkedIn, posted regularly about his learning process to remain visible to recruiters, and plugged directly into the NSS community. While attending a career development roundtable, Kris connected with an NSS alumnus and team lead who shared his background as a musician. That genuine personal connection, paired with Kris's focus on sharing his learning process on LinkedIn, paved the way to his new job offer.

Today, Kris applies the core problem-solving and communication skills he developed at NSS to navigate legacy codebases like Ruby on Rails, while continuing to collaborate with his former cohort mates on side projects like building games in Godot.

### Is Now the Right Time to Start Your Tech Journey?

If you're on the fence about transitioning to tech, Kris encourages you not to let market shifts or AI hold you back.

*"If you have any passion for it at all, go for it... AI isn't eliminating jobs; it's changing them. If you put in the work, get creative, and push yourself, there will be an opportunity for you."* — Kris Cagle

#### Ready to hear the full conversation about Kris's path from podcast producer to software developer?

🎧 Tune in to the latest episode of Stories from the Hackery on [SoundCloud](https://soundcloud.com/nashville-software-school/career-shift-audio-video), [YouTube](https://youtu.be/4Q8JDZ54Xxg), or wherever you listen to podcasts.

#### What's Your Next Move?

Inspired by Kris's story to explore a career in tech? Here is how you can get started with Nashville Software School:

- **Attend an Info Session:** Join a free, one-hour [virtual information session](https://nashvillesoftwareschool.com/calendar/events/) to learn about our upcoming bootcamps.
- **Explore Our Bootcamp Programs:** Learn more about our [full-time and part-time Software Development programs](https://nashvillesoftwareschool.com/calendar/upcoming-programs/) on our website.

[View full post](https://learn.nashvillesoftwareschool.com/blog/2026/10/07/career-shift-audio/video-production-to-software-developer-stories-from-the-hackery)

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