Ep 34 - A Design Link To The Future with Chad Pierce | Developers:After Dark

NPEs feel like acupuncture? Same. Today we sit down with Chad Pierce to talk HubSpot CMS development, HubSpot CRM integrations, and how the HubSpot developer community turns curiosity into careers. We also dig into AI tools for developers—as accelerators, not replacements.

Chad traces his path from agency days to running his own shop, why CMS is still his “bread-and-butter,” and how tightly HubSpot’s CRM work now pairs with CMS projects. We get real about mentorship, asking questions without gatekeeping, and using AI for readmes, code reviews, and faster prototypes—all while keeping humans in the loop. If you build on HubSpot, this episode is loaded with field-tested tips and good vibes.

Chapters
00:00 Intro & why devsafterdarkpod.com matters
04:36 Guest intro: Chad Pierce—CMS roots, integrations
10:56 Early web days: tables, floats, Dreamweaver era
14:37 Pre-CMS HubSpot → CMS beta and big leaps
22:05 CMS ↔ CRM: real client integrations & impact
28:25 AI as a developer tool (not a replacement)
40:18 Docs, readmes, examples: AI workflows that help
56:45 Community over gatekeeping; Slack & meetups
1:09:20 Work–life fit, family, bowling, and balance
1:15:20 Shoutout: Canopy Life (skills & tech in Kenya)

Links & resources

• Developers After Dark site: https://devsafterdarkpod.com

• HubSpot Developers channel: https://www.youtube.com/@HubSpotDevelopers

• HubSpot Developers site: https://developers.hubspot.com/

• Give feedback on the Devs site: https://developers.hubspot.com/feedback

• Canopy Life (Chad’s shoutout): https://canopylife.org/

Hashtags
#HubSpotDevelopers #HubSpotCMS #CRMIntegrations #AIDevTools #DeveloperCommunity

We aim to incorporate the human element and drive a conversation that is fun, informational, and thought-provoking. You can watch Developers After Dark on the HubSpot developer’s channel or wherever you get your podcasts.
Check out the Developers:after Dark website at devsafterdarkpod.com

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