The “Mary Poppins of Computing” Wants Programmers to Play More — and Says We Must Change the Way We Teach Tech | Linda Liukas (Author of “Hello Ruby”)

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Linda Liukas is the creator of Hello Ruby, a whimsical series that teaches kids computing concepts through stories and play. She’s also the force behind a one-of-a-kind playground in Helsinki—designed to teach kids how computers work without them ever touching a screen.

In this episode, Linda shares why — especially with the rise of AI and code-writing copilots — we need to rethink the way we teach tech.

Linda, a.k.a. the “Mary Poppins of Computing”, is on a mission to bring more curiosity, creativity, and fearlessness to kids and grown-ups alike.

Enjoy this very fun episode!

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You’ll learn:

• Why physical play helps us grasp abstract computing concepts

• How software makers can benefit from thinking like educators

• What “unplugged computing” looks like—and why it works

• How to cultivate creativity, curiosity, and fearlessness in tech teams

• Why learning through play isn’t just for kids

• What Linda’s AI experiments with tiny personal datasets reveal about the future of learning

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Chapters:

• 01:42 - What it means to be the “Mary Poppins of Computing”

• 02:18 - Designing the Computer Playground

• 05:43 - Why play is an ideal way to teach programming

• 09:26 - Why software organizations should embrace play

• 13:19 - AI and play

• 14:47 - Learn to code vs. learn to program; how to become future-proof

• 21:20 - Hello Ruby: how Linda accidentally became a children’s book author

• 25:35 - Building more playgrounds and more fun ideas on teaching through play

Links & Resources

• Linda’s website

• Linda’s Newsletter

• Hello Ruby – Linda’s book series and learning platform

• The Computer Playground in Helsinki

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