Some people hear the phrase "technical writing" and think it must be boring. We're here to show the full complexity and awesomeness of being a tech writer. This podcast is for anyone who writes technical documentation of any kind, including those who may not feel comfortable calling themselves tech writers. Whether you create product documentation, support documentation, READMEs, or any other technical content—and whether you deal with imposter syndrome, lack formal training, or find yoursel ...
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It takes more than great code to be a great engineer. Soft Skills Engineering is a weekly advice podcast for software developers about the non-technical stuff that goes into being a great software developer.
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I'd Rather Be Writing features regular podcasts with experts in the field of technical communication.
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10-minute interviews with technical communication practitioners, scholars, and innovators. Hosted by Dr. Ryan Weber at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Visit https://tenminutetechcomm.com/ for transcripts and more information! Contact Ryan Weber at [email protected] with questions, comments, or feedback!
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Conversations about technical communication: professional development, career opportunities, program highlights from SVSU's Rhetoric & Professional Writing department, interviews with alumni and others.
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Discussions of learning and living in the academic programs sponsored by the Department of Rhetoric & Professional Writing (RPW) at Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan. Features interviews with students, faculty, staff, friends, and alumni. Interested in careers in writing and design, media, publishing, and content creation? We have what you are looking for.
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At Open Strategy Partners, our mission is to help you communicate the value of what you do to connect you with the people who need to know about it, and help you grow … personally, professionally, whatever it means to you. This podcast is us figuring out communication, connection, and growth. We want to show you how we go about translating between technical complexity and business value to create strategic communication at OSP. And we want to learn more from our guests.
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Inside Tech Comm is a show for anyone interested in learning more about technical communication. It will also be of interest to those who are new to the field or career-switchers exploring creative ways to expand their horizon. You can write to me at [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.
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Cherryleaf’s podcast on technical writing and becoming a better business communicator. www.cherryleaf.com
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Episode 463: CTO w/ weak resume and I tried management and it was TERRIBLE
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27:16
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27:16In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Albert Nonymous asks, I am the CTO at a small (5 engineers) tech start-up with non-technical founders. I was their first full-time employee and as such have been able to fully form this company the way I want. I’ve worked here for 9 years now and own 10% of the company. I enjoy the tech and …
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In this solo episode, Kate shares an update on her content update progress. She also reflects on Sue Brandt’s interview (S3:E10) and on the Write the Docs Portland 2025 conference. I’ve continued my work to update the KnowledgeOwl Support Knowledge Base to align with major navigation and UI changes that were rolled out in December. I updated an add…
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Episode 462: Supporting laid-off employee and how to rebuild culture after layoffs
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28:46In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: One of my employees is probably getting laid off, what do I do!?! I’m a tech lead / manager for a consultancy and a contract reduction means that one of the people I supervise is likely going to get laid off soon! We’ve found new roles for most of my people, but it’s likely that at least one…
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Episode 461: How to do side projects with a family and demanding job and my company promised me a raise, but didn't give it
32:40
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32:40In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Hey, long-time listener, listened to almost all episodes now and have been loving it since day 1!! I am a senior engineer at FAANG and work 45-50 hours a week and have a lot of cross-org responsibilities. I am lucky to have a beautiful wife and two wonderful young children. I guess, you can …
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Notes and discussion for Suleyman's <i>The Coming Wave: AI, Power, and Our Future</i> + AI Book Club recording and transcript
59:33
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59:33This post describes the key arguments and themes in The Coming Wave: AI, Power, and Our Future, by Mustafa Suleyman, for the AI Book Club: A Human in the Loop. This post not only breaks down the logic but also jumps off into some themes (beyond the book) that might be more tech-writer relevant, such as potential future job titles, areas of focus fo…
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How to get hired as a tech writer with Sue Brandt
41:25
41:25
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41:25In this episode, I’m talking with Sue Brandt, a former Director of Documentation who’d hired around 60 people when we recorded the episode. We discuss practical strategies for technical writing job applications, what hiring managers are really looking for in resumes and interviews, and how to stand out in today’s competitive job market. Sue and I d…
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Episode 460: Losing autonomy and I got skipped for a promotion even though I'm awesome
33:07
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33:07In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I have managed a product for some months now. My previous manager split their team in to mini-teams of 2-3 people. They gave me a small team and plenty of autonomy to own the product and go crazy on it. I had the time of my life as the team lead. I learned a ton and was really developing man…
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In this episode, we dive into responses to the evolving digital landscape shaped by AI in search engines and changes in social media. We explain how Cherryleaf took inspiration from the viral success of the Museum of English Rural Life (Merl) and used AI chatbots to analyse Merl's approach. We share the key lessons learned - such as embracing an au…
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Episode 459: Am I cutting edge and how to compliment someone who went from super jerk to super nice
22:44
22:44
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22:44In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I work for a B2C fintech startup as a senior engineer. Our onboarding funnel has a lot of moving parts due to regulatory compliance and a litany of requirements from various parts of the business. As a startup, we also live and die by optimizing for and demonstrating growth, so we need to ga…
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Kate sounds off on knowledge sharing and docs stewardship
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16:18In this solo episode, Kate shares an update on her content update progress. She also reflects on Marcia Riefer Johnston’s interview (S3:E8) and on the idea of docs stewardship as opposed to docs ownership. I’ve continued my work to update the KnowledgeOwl Support Knowledge Base to align with major navigation and UI changes that were rolled out in D…
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Episode 458: Infinite tech debt hack and figuring out what is going on
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34:00In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Nearly every time certain developers on the team want to address technical debt, they end up just adding more technical debt. Of course, after one round of addressing technical debt, the developers in question believe that yet another round of redesigning and refactoring is in order. This st…
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Episode 457: How do I get off the on-call rotation and "big tech" == "big leagues"?
27:25
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27:25In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I am a senior software engineer in a big tech/faang company and this week is my first ever on call rotation. My team is doing a lot of CI work, monitoring pipelines and support queues during on call. It is probably not as much of a hassle as on call for product teams, but for me personally o…
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The craft of technical writing with Marcia Riefer Johnston
52:31
52:31
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52:31In this episode, I’m talking with Marcia Riefer Johnston, a technical writer who’s worked in our industry for 40 years. We talk about how the profession has evolved since she first started in it, the grammar patterns that have helped her tighten up her writing, and how “creative” writing and “technical” writing are just different expressions of the…
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Notes and discussion for Jonathan Warner's <i>More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI</i> + AI Book Club recording
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59:40This post has notes and questions for discussion for More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI, published in February 2025 by Jonathan Warner. Warner's book, which explores what we lose when we outsource writing to AI, is the first book in the AI Book Club: A Human in the Loop.By Tom Johnson
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Dr. Sarah Gunning on the Learning Curve for Nonprofit Proposal Writers
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12:59Dr. Sarah Gunning of Towson University joins the podcast to discuss her recent article "How Do Nonprofit Proposal Writers Learn Their Jobs? Results of a Nationwide Survey and Interviews." Visit https://tenminutetechcomm.com/ for a transcript of the episode. Email [email protected] for more information on the show!…
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Episode 456: Will I look bad on the job market if I'm a crypto developer and struggling to go from management back to dev work
31:39
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31:39In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Hey, I am a web developer getting bored of the regular development work. I am interested in finance and the monetary system and due to the overlap of finance and engineering I feel down the Bitcoin rabbit hole and even spiked interest in crypto like Solana and Sui. I am pretty sure most of c…
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157. The Rise of Autonomous AI Agents and What It Means for Technical Writers
36:51
36:51
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36:51🔍 Episode Overview In this episode, Ellis explores how AI agents, especially autonomous AI agents, are reshaping the landscape of technical communication. What are they? How do they differ from traditional AI tools? And crucially, what does their rise mean for technical writers? Blending two recent blog posts, Ellis walks us through emerging tools …
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Episode 455: UX designer without a mentor and I get bored too easily and stressed too easily
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33:00In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: A listener named Dakota asks, I’m a UX designer, and I’m constantly looking for growth opportunities. I’m having trouble finding mentors to help challenge me, as every time my boss/senior designer leaves the company, I assume their work and we don’t backfill their spot or my old position. Th…
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In this solo episode, Kate shares an update on her content update progress, muses about the similarities between mice infestations and docs projects, and reflects more on Kenzie Woodbridge’s interview (S3:E6) and how we choose what we work on. Since Episode 5, I’ve continued my work to update the KnowledgeOwl Support Knowledge Base to align with ma…
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Episode 454: Tracking productivity? and my CTO is ChatGPT
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28:11
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28:11In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I’m a manager on a Product team. I’ve been asked by upper management to measure “story points completed per developer per sprint” and display the results publicly each sprint to motivate lower-performing employees. I explained why, according to Scrum, I don’t think this is a good idea. But I…
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Episode 453: Why did my company build an internal LinkedIn and how do I not get stagnant in my skills?
31:34
31:34
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31:34In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Greetings! I work at a research company with ~500 engineers and scientists. My company started promoting this new portal they setup that is like a private linkedin. You can fill up the profile they setup for you and apply for positions within the company. Why is my company doing this? They e…
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We’re all responsible for content accessibility with Kenzie Woodbridge
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45:28In this episode, I’m talking with Kenzie Woodbridge, a documentarian and self-taught accessibility advocate. We talk about how feeling “not expert enough” is no reason to skip content accessibility, four ways you can make your content more accessible right now, and ways you can serve as an accessibility advocate as you review content and work with …
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Episode 452: Consulting refactor and extra work, extra scrutiny
25:12
25:12
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25:12In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I’ve been a developer for about 1.5 years. I work for a large consultancy. we provide services to big clients. I’m working on a front-end codebase that has been through three consulting companies already. Tired of just moving tickets and fixing bugs, I decided to refactor the front end of th…
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156: Privacy and AI: Risks and Solutions for Technical Writers
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22:13Summary: In this episode, Ellis Pratt explores the critical issue of data privacy for technical writers using AI tools and chatbots. He delves into the potential risks, from data leaks and copyright infringement to compliance violations and intellectual property concerns. The episode also provides practical solutions and strategies for mitigating t…
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Episode 451: Un-collaborative architect and who is my boss?
32:47
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32:47In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: A listener named Scot asks, A new architect was hired at my company 6 months ago. I’m an engineer one rung lower on the hierarchy and have been here for 3.5 years. He hasn’t done much to learn about any of us who have been here for a while, so he is constantly undermining my skills and sugge…
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Kate sounds off on docs hierarchy of needs and how we talk to ourselves
17:07
17:07
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17:07In this solo episode, Kate shares an update on working with content types, muses about the idea of a Documentation Hierarchy of Needs, and reflects more on Janine Chan’s interview (S3:E4) and how we talk to ourselves about being tech writers. — I may have overcommitted myself in Episode 3. I have been incorporating content type work into my massive…
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Episode 450: I'm terrible at behavioral interviews and time zonessssssss
34:04
34:04
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34:04In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I struggle with behavioral interviews. I’ve gotten a little bit better as I’ve done more interviews, but it’s still a major pain point for me. I have some common behavioral question answers written out in a spreadsheet in SAR format, but I feel that not all of them are good examples for a mi…
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Episode 449: My tech lead ignored my warnings and I don't know what my leadership style is
29:54
29:54
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29:54In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Hello, long time listener first time question asker. I work for a medium sized tech company and I recently moved teams. Right now my old team is attempting to refactor a bunch of code I wrote to use a library that’ll make life easier. I don’t blame them, I tried to do the same thing. It does…
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Bridging the gap from “not technical enough” to “technical” with Janine Chan
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56:00
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56:00In this episode, I’m talking with Janine Chan, a technical writer and Write the Docs community moderator. We talk about how feeling “not technical enough” is as much about attitude and approach as it is about knowledge and ways you can bridge the gap to a more technical future. Janine and I discuss the fact that there’s no defined/established set o…
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Episode 448: Title over salary and from figure skater to software developer
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28:01
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28:01In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: A listener named Steven says, Long-time listener of the podcast here—it always brings me so much joy! Should I prioritize title over salary? I’m currently based in Europe, working as a Senior Engineer at a big company that pays really well. The problem is, there’s almost no chance for promot…
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Rethinking traditional approaches to release notes -- recording of WTD Australia presentation
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56:52
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56:52I gave a presentation to the Write the Docs Australia group on using AI to write release notes using file diffs, on Feb 16, 2025. Here's the recording, presentation description, and transcript.By Tom Johnson
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155. Dealing with Criticism as a Technical Writer
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20:26In this episode of the Cherryleaf Podcast, we explore the challenges of receiving and responding to criticism as a technical writer. Documentation plays a crucial role in user experience, and receiving feedback—whether constructive or harsh—can be an opportunity for growth. We discuss practical strategies for handling feedback, evaluating its valid…
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Episode 447: Overleveled at FAANG and accidental draft feedback
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30:11
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30:11In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I am a mid level engineer overleveled as a senior engineer in a FAANG company. I got super lucky landing this high paying remote job, but dang… I did underestimate the expectations for my senior level. I had no FAANG experience before, just working at startups, flat hierarchies, just doing t…
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My current in-flight projects include updating nearly all of our documentation to reflect major changes to our user interface, which includes changes to screenshots, navigation options, and section/subsection labels. I’m also working on my long slog to convert all our screenshots from .png to .webp format. As I make all of those updates, I’m bringi…
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Episode 446: Wading through AI slop and they don't get git
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33:19In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: A listener named Matthias (mah-TEA-as) asks, In episode 444 you’re talking about the problems when hiring in the age of AI. I’m a manager who’s trying to hire right now and frankly I’m at a loss. If feels like I’m wading through a sea of AI slop. What tips do you have to cut through the slop…
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Episode 445: Staying at my first job and my coworker is insulting other departments
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26:23In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: A listener named Kevin asks, Hey, found the show and really enjoy it! Been listening from the beginning and have noticed that one of the pieces of advice given is that you should not stay at your first job for too long, because it’s more likely that you’ve not found the best job for you. I t…
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Developer collaboration with Lorna Mitchell
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43:46
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43:46In this episode, I’m talking with Lorna Mitchell, a technology leader, published author, tech blogger, and developer experience expert who is passionate about APIs and developer tools. We talk about why developers writing docs is good for both your devs and your docs, the best ways to build successful collaboration with developers, and more! Lorna …
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Episode 444: Surrounded by apathetic coworkers and put it on my resume?
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31:10In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: After a decade as a Senior front-end engineer in companies stuck in legacy ways of working—paying lip service to true agility while clinging to control-heavy, waterfall practices—I’m frustrated and exhausted by meetings and largely apathetic, outsourced teams who don’t match my enthusiasm fo…
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Episode 443: Does my PM hate me? and My coworker has anxiety when I help
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36:26
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36:26In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I think my team’s PM might hate me. Hate is exaggerating, but they often will give public praise to other members of my team on work they’ve done, and seem to be pretty friendly with others, but I have never gotten the same treatment. I have also not gotten negative feedback from them in the…
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Introducing The Not-Boring Tech Writer Reboot
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12:46Meet our new host Kate Mueller and get the inside scoop on how The Not-Boring Tech Writer (TNBTW) will work moving forward. Kate Mueller is the Documentation Goddess of KnowledgeOwl, a seasoned technical writer and owner of knowledgewithsass, a knowledge management coaching service. She’s written and maintained documentation for companies in broadc…
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Episode 442: Improving communication skills and how to break my job hopping habit
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31:45In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I would like your advice on how I can improve my communication skills. I realize that practicing is usually the best way, but I am interested in taking online courses or learning more on becoming a better communicator. However, I am currently taking courses in CS and would like to primarily …
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It's that time of year again when we take to analyzing trends. If you know me, you're probably gearing up for a load of AI-optimistic predictions because, as I've noted in previous posts like Unpacking the issues from AI, I'm an AI optimist. However, my AI optimism isn't based on hype or the current tech zeitgeist. Rather, I'm an AI optimist becaus…
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Joe Natoli on The User Experience Team of One
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17:32On this episode, we're joined by Joe Natoli, co-author (with Leah Buley) of second edition of The User Experience Team of One: A Research and Design Survival Guide. Natoli, who also runs the UX 365 Academy, argues that UX teams of one are more common than we think and offers strategies for success as the lone UX team member at your organization. Vi…
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Episode 441: Will working in healthcare hurt my reputation and precious wisdom
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22:53
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22:53In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I’m currently in the interviewing pipeline for an engineering position at a fairly large healthcare company. In light of the recent events surrounding UnitedHealthcare, there’s been renewed criticism towards the insurance industry as whole. I was interested in this position and the work cult…
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Episode 440: How do I help my boss not burn out and should I tell people I'm older than I am?
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37:24In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Stefan Help! Most of the time people ask questions about issues that already happened. I however, would like to prevent one. I am a young Tech Lead and really love my responsibilities, team and especially my manager. With the help of your podcast I could even resolve my last issue regarding …
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Episode 439: Harried VP of Eng and first startup job
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23:20In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: What advice would you give for working with an ineffective leader whose input is crucial to your work? I’m a senior developer for a mid-sized non-tech company with probably 60-80 devs, and in the past year I’ve been working more with a VP of software who seems to still be involved in code de…
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154. Trends for 2025 and beyond in technical writing
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24:46In this episode, we reflect on 2024's trends and explore what may be coming in the world of technical writing and content development in 2025. From the impact of AI to evolving policy requirements and shifting market dynamics, we look into the key factors shaping the field. Reflections on 2024 Overview of the year's major trends in technical writin…
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Episode 438: Software job after prison and working 60 hours per week at age 20 and feeling unfulfilled
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42:25
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42:25In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: I am a first time caller and full time listener of your show. I was released from prison a year ago and I coded for 18 years straight on all sorts of stacks as part of my job requirements in the pen. Imagine the irony when I discovered what codepen was. A dev told me about an opening for ful…
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Episode 437: My company canceled all one-on-ones and moving to a single backlog
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30:29In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: My company recently eliminated 1:1 meetings between managers and their direct reports. Previously, most people had these meetings every other week, and they were an opportunity to talk about career growth among other engineering things besides current work. They’re claiming the recurring mee…
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Episode 436: Paralyzed by checkboxes and I'm on a "must keep happy" list
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33:34In this episode, Dave and Jamison answer these questions: Marcus Zackerberg asks, I work at a megacorp whose recent focus has been on reliability. The company already has mature SLO coverage outage response standards, but my org has taken it to the extreme this year. For example… There is now a dashboard of “service health” that is reviewed by engi…
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