# 533: The Garage Is Open

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2026-09-04
- Length: 59m
- Episode: 533
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-09-04-533-the-garage-is-open
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/533

## Summary

Susan Lammers, author of the classic book 'Programmers at Work' and founder of Headbone Interactive, discusses the 40th anniversary edition of her book and the revival of her 1990s retro games on Steam. She reflects on interviewing pioneers like Toru Iwatani and Michael Hawley during the personal computer revolution, highlighting their drive for creative freedom from corporate mainframes. Lammers also shares insights from her time at Microsoft Press and her experience leading the early interactive CD-ROM division.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-09-04-533-the-garage-is-open#t=6) Introduction: Susan Lammers and Programmers at Work
- [2:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-09-04-533-the-garage-is-open#t=122) Lightning Round: VisiCalc, Robots, and Personal Favorites
- [5:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-09-04-533-the-garage-is-open#t=311) Origins of Programmers at Work and the Personal Computer Revolution
- [9:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-09-04-533-the-garage-is-open#t=559) Interviewing Pioneers: Toru Iwatani, Jaron Lanier, and Michael Hawley
- [15:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-09-04-533-the-garage-is-open#t=953) Diversity in Tech and the Evolution of Programming Culture
- [40:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-09-04-533-the-garage-is-open#t=2419) Microsoft Press, CD-ROMs, and the Hypercard Era
- [51:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-09-04-533-the-garage-is-open#t=3101) Reviving Headbone Interactive and Retro Gaming on Steam
- [56:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-09-04-533-the-garage-is-open#t=3367) Conclusion: The Garage Is Open Again

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

established companies, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Programmers at Work (product)
- Microsoft (company)
- Headbone Interactive (company)
- VisiCalc (product)
- Ukatsuke Komachi (product)
- Elroy Goes Bugzerk (product)
- Steam (other)
- 8080 Books (company)
- Simon & Schuster (company)
- Namco (company)
- Microsoft Press (company)
- Encyclopedia Britannica (product)
- Wikipedia (product)
- HyperCard (product)
- Pixar (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Showstopper Show](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2021-08-17-the-showstopper-show) (Oxide and Friends)
- [Ep. 40 - Influential Media](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/open-hardware-manufacturing-podcast/2025-06-05-ep-40-influential-media) (Open Hardware Manufacturing Podcast)
- [Tune in for Season 3 of Moore's Lobby](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2021-08-19-tune-in-for-season-3-of-moores-lobby) (Moore's Lobby)
- [Books in the box redux](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2022-06-28-books-in-the-box-redux) (Oxide and Friends)
- [Live From The HIBT Summit: Stewart Butterfield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-01-30-live-from-the-hibt-summit-stewart-butterfield) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2026-09-04-533-the-garage-is-open. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.