Master the full spectrum of software engineering - from technical foundations and AI tools to business thinking, specialization strategies, and building a thriving career in tech.

I want to learn how to be a software engineer


From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco

**Lena:** Hey everyone, welcome to your personalized podcast from BeFreed! I'm Lena, and I'm absolutely thrilled to be here with my co-host Eli to dive deep into something that could completely transform your career path.
**Eli:** And I'm Eli! You know what, Lena? I can barely contain my excitement about today's topic. We're talking about how to become a software engineer-and not just any software engineer, but one who truly thrives in this incredible field. We've got so much ground to cover, from the technical foundations all the way through to the soft skills that separate good engineers from truly exceptional ones.
**Lena:** Exactly! And what I love about this journey we're about to take together is that we're not just going to talk about writing code. We're going to explore the whole picture-the mindset, the business thinking, the continuous learning, even the financial aspects that most people never consider when they're starting out.