In this episode of Ask the Programmer, hosts Steve Greenblat and James King welcome Leon Prather, AV industry veteran and co-host of the Brave Skills podcast with Brit Yenser.

Leon shares his 20+ year journey in audiovisual technology, starting in technical theater, church AV, and music, and evolving into a career focused on experience design. He emphasizes that technology should always serve the user’s experience, not complexity for its own sake.

Key discussion points include:

• Why AV professionals are often puzzle enthusiasts who thrive on problem-solving.

• The importance of making technology “feel simple” for end users—even though the backend is complex.

• Lessons from Leon’s article and talk, What is Simple Anyway?, highlighting that “simple” means different things depending on the user.

• The value of commenting code, coding for others (not just yourself), and ensuring business continuity.

• How trust, empathy, and focusing on user experience build stronger client relationships.

• Analogies comparing AV programming to solving puzzles, being a good server at a restaurant, or choosing the right tool at a hardware store—underscoring the need to know your audience.

• Insights from AVIXA research showing that C-suite leaders increasingly drive AV purchasing decisions, making communication of outcomes and value more important than technical details.

Listeners also learn about Leon’s perspective on bridging technology with human needs, the importance of community and collaboration in AV, and why building trust and simplicity leads to lasting professional success.