Testing Peers

What are you known for? Is it what you want to be known for? And how much control do you have over either?
In this episode of the Testing Peers, Chris Armstrong, Russell Craxford, Dan Ashby and Tara Walton explore intellectual territory: the ideas, problems and patterns of thinking we repeatedly return to.
Against a backdrop of AI, changing roles and questions about future relevance, the Peers discuss whether intellectual territory is something we choose, discover or have placed upon us by others.
They explore identity and perception, the opportunities and limitations of becoming known for something, and whether being a generalist makes territory harder to define. They also consider how territory can evolve as careers, interests and contexts change.
And it doesn't require global recognition. Your intellectual territory might simply be what colleagues come to you for, what your team associates with you, or the perspective you consistently bring to a conversation.
Exploring Your Intellectual Territory
Chris introduces seven questions for exploring your own intellectual territory. The fuller prompts are below.
The aim is to uncover something durable: not trendy topics or surface positioning, but the patterns of thinking that are consistently yours.
1. Across your past work, talks, writing and decisions:
What recurring tensions do you return to?
What problems do you seem unable to ignore?
What assumptions do you frequently challenge?
2. Where do you consistently add value?
Do you clarify?
Reframe?
Simplify?
Expose risk?
Connect systems?
Interrogate signals?
Something else?
3. What irritates you professionally?
Vanity metrics?
Superficial optimisation?
Incentive distortion?
Performative confidence?
Something deeper?
Irritation often points to intellectual territory.
4. What do you believe that is both:
True across contexts, and
Uncomfortable enough that not everyone agrees?
5. What is the mechanism behind your thinking?
Do you operate through empiricism?
Through systems thinking?
Through cultural observation?
Through risk framing?
Through interrogation of assumptions?
6. If you stripped away job titles and trends, what lens remains?
7. What capability would organisations strengthen if they deeply adopted your way of thinking?
As you explore them:
Challenge where you generalise. Push yourself to be specific. Avoid buzzwords. Avoid praise. Articulate patterns, not slogans.
The questions aren't intended to produce an immediate answer. There may be a difference between the territory you believe you occupy and the one others place you in. You cannot completely control what sticks, but you can reflect on it, reinforce it or choose to move towards something different.
References and Mentions
The episode references Simon Sinek and Start With Why, Brené Brown's work on vulnerability and leadership, April Dunford and positioning, DORA metrics, Lisa Crispin & Janet Gregory and agile testing, and Dan Ashby's continuous testing/DevOps model.
#PeersCon27 (March 11th, 2027) is now LIVE Tickets for the event are live for the Price of £30.
The Call for Papers is open until July 31st, 2026: https://testingpeerscon.com/collaboration/
And as always, we are looking for sponsors to make this event the success it has been for the last 3 years, get in touch if interested
Twitter (https://twitter.com/testingpeers)
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/testing-peers)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/testingpeers/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TestingPeers)
If you like what we do and are able to, please visit our Patreon to explore how you could support us going forwards: https://www.patreon.com/testingpeers
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What does testing look like in 2026?
In this episode, Tara Walton, Chris Armstrong, Russell Craxford and Dan Billing reflect on the current state of testing, quality engineering and software delivery in a rapidly changing industry.
From the continued rise of AI and changing organisational priorities to evolving job titles, shifting responsibilities and the importance of context, the conversation explores both the opportunities and challenges facing quality professionals today.
Despite ongoing disruption, many of the themes feel familiar. Communication, critical thinking, collaboration, adaptability and understanding customer value remain at the heart of effective testing. The panel discusses how quality professionals can continue to influence decisions, contribute earlier in the development process and help organisations navigate an increasingly complex technology landscape.
Topics discussed
The impact of AI on software development and testing
Why quality engineering remains about more than automation
Communication, influence and stakeholder engagement
Changing roles and career paths within testing
Legacy systems, modernisation and organisational change
The importance of context, adaptability and human judgement
What the future may hold for testing and quality engineering
#PeersCon27 (March 11th, 2027) is now LIVE Tickets for the event are live for the Early Bird Price of £15 until later in the year.
The Call for Papers is open until July 31st, 2026: https://testingpeerscon.com/collaboration/
And as always, we are looking for sponsors to make this event the success it has been for the last 3 years, get in touch if interested
Twitter (https://twitter.com/testingpeers)
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/testing-peers)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/testingpeers/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TestingPeers)
If you like what we do and are able to, please visit our Patreon to explore how you could support us going forwards: https://www.patreon.com/testingpeers
Support the show

In this episode, Russell, Tara, Ben Dowen, and Al Goodall explore end-to-end testing.  
Starting with some light-hearted banter on coffee, triggered by Ben. 
From what start to what end? 
A recurring theme is being clear with what we mean when we say end-to-end
The group reflect on:
Using a term alongside terms like user journey and which user
Being clear about what 'flow' is being tested
Not to test everything
Is it a sign of low testability and a smell of something
Integrations
Often, these tests cross architecture and boundaries, and check some form of integration 
Use the smallest unit of test to validate your goal
End-to-End tests are expensive - time, effort, fragility, environments
Help reduce risk as ownership crosses teams in modern systems
They find important failures
#PeersCon27 (March 11th, 2027) is now LIVE Tickets for the event are live for the Early Bird Price of £15 until later in the year.
Support the show

In this episode, Chris, Russell, David and Vernon try something a little different. Instead of ranting about the state of the industry, the conversation focuses on optimism, momentum, and the things they are genuinely excited about in 2026.
Reasons to be cheerful
The team reflect on what is giving them energy right now, from community and conference season to new projects, new teammates, and rediscovering enthusiasm after a difficult year.
Growth, curiosity, and intentionality
The conversation explores decisive humility, cautious optimism, and the importance of being intentional in how we work, learn, and grow. There is also discussion around revisiting testing fundamentals, pushing beyond comfort zones, and embracing opportunities to learn in unfamiliar spaces.
Community and connection
The group talk about the importance of conferences, shared experiences, and meeting people through the testing community. They also reflect on the continued growth of the Testing Peers podcast, rotating co-hosts, and the excitement around PeersCon.
Looking ahead
The episode closes with personal goals, side projects, travel plans, theme parks, cars, and the simple joy of having things to look forward to.
This episode explores
Optimism in testing and tech
Community, conferences, and connection
New teammates and fresh energy
Decisive humility and cautious optimism
Intentionality and testing fundamentals
Personal goals, projects, and things to look forward to
#PeersCon27 (March 11th, 2027) is now LIVE Tickets for the event are live for the Early Bird Price of £15 until November 30th 2027.

And as always, we are looking for sponsors to make this event the success it has been for the last 3 years, get in touch if interested
Twitter (https://twitter.com/testingpeers)
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/testing-peers)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/testingpeers/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/TestingPeers)
We’re also now on GoodPods, check it out via the mobile app stores
If you like what we do and are able to, please visit our Patreon to explore how you could support us going forwards: https://www.patreon.com/testingpeers
Support the show

In this episode, hosts Chris Armstrong and Russell Craxford are joined by #PeersCon27 Programme Chairs, Veerle Verhagen and Callum Akehurst-Ryan, to launch the Call for Collaboration.
The conversation introduces the 2027 theme, explores what “quality on the boundaries” means in practice, and sets clear expectations for submissions. It also reinforces what makes #PeersCon different: real experiences over theory, diverse voices, and a community-first approach to shaping the programme.
Theme
Quality on the Boundaries: Where does quality begin and end, are there lines in testing that we won’t cross?
What does this mean in practice
The theme isn’t meant to be interpreted one way.
For some, it’s about the boundaries of the work itself. The systems, the domains, the tooling, the edges where things get unclear or uncomfortable.
For others, it’s about people. The boundaries between roles, between experience levels, between perspectives. Who owns quality, and where that ownership starts to blur.
It might be about pushing forward. Exploring new spaces, new ideas, new ways of working in a landscape that is changing quickly.
Or it might be about limits. The moments where things don’t work, where something shouldn’t be done, or where you’ve had to draw a line.
There isn’t a single “right” interpretation. That’s the point.
What matters is the experience behind it, and what others can learn from it.
What to do next
If you’re listening to this and thinking “I’ve got something there”… you probably do.
This isn’t about having the perfect abstract or the most polished idea. It’s about the things you’ve actually lived through. The messy bits, the decisions you made, the times it worked, and the times it didn’t.
Maybe you’ve pushed into a new space. Maybe you’ve been working at the edges of your role. Maybe you’ve hit a boundary and had to stop. Maybe you’ve crossed one and learned something the hard way.
That’s what we want.
And it doesn’t need to fit neatly into a box. Talks, workshops, or something a bit different, if you’ve got an idea that doesn’t quite fit, submit it anyway.
If you’re not a “tester”, that’s fine too. Quality doesn’t belong to one role, and neither does this conference.
If you’ve never spoken before, that’s not a blocker. Support is there to help shape your idea and your abstract.
And if you’re thinking “this might be a bit niche”, that’s okay. Not every talk needs to be for everyone.
So submit. Share your experience. Bring your perspective.
The programme itself is being shaped by a deliberately diverse committee, alongside Veerle and Callum, including Jacob Urantowka, Lisa Crispin, Parveen Khan and Jitesh Gosai.
And if you’re planning to attend, bring someone with you. A colleague, a friend, someone outside your usual circle.
Why #PeersCon exists (and why it matters)
Testing Peers exists because folks were working in isolation, and knew we weren't the only ones.
It grew from a small group of peers looking for connection into something much bigger, but the intent hasn’t changed. It’s still about creating a space where people can share honestly, challenge each other, and learn from real experiences.
It’s also intentionally accessible. Low cost, community-driven, and designed so people can attend without needing large budgets or corporate backing.
And in a world that is becoming more automated, more distributed, and in some ways more isolating, spaces like this matter more.
Not just for the talks, but for the conversations. The challenges. The different perspectives you don’t get day to day.
That only works if people show up.
If you want spaces like this to exist, support them. Submit. Attend. Bring others with you. Be part of it.
Part of that support is partnership.
#PeersCon is run by the community, for the community, but it does
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