Community Pulse

The hosts celebrate their milestone of 100 recordings, reflecting on the evolution of the show and the importance of consistency. They discuss the impact of DevRel in tech, revealing its transition from early metrics to a more relational approach. Insights on community-building emphasize authenticity over corporate metrics. As AI transforms the landscape, there’s a renewed focus on the human connection. The podcast highlights the need for education and genuine interaction in DevRel's future while pushing against profit-driven models.

It’s been 10 years since the start of Community Pulse and, appropriately enough, we’ve reached the milestone of 100 episodes. To celebrate, we invited Jono Bacon -- our very first guest on the show -- and SJ Morris -- a former host of the show -- to join us and reminisce about changes in the DevRel industry as well as how we’ve changed personally and professionally over the last 10 years. We’ll laugh a little… cry a little… and as always, learn a lot along the way. Checkouts Jason Bono Primalbranding by Patrick Hanlon and Hooked by Nir Eyal - awesome books, very relevant Attio / OpusClip / Anam - awesome tools Stateshift MobLand on Paramount+ SJ Morris Developers, Reinvented Design from the Margins Wesley Faulkner Kitten TTS Add Bluesky comments and likes to your blog PJ Hagerty The AI Con - How to Fight Big Tech's Hype and Create the Future We Want by Emily M Bender and Alex Hanna Tyler the Creator - Don’t Tap the Glass Jason Hand Anyone can Play Music by Josh Turknett ai-tools-lab.com LLM Observability Learning Course (FREE) Mary Thengvall Upcoming book that I had a preview of and am very excited about (coming from Apress in early 2026)! Developer Relations Activity Patterns: A Unified Approach to Devrel, DX and Community Management by Scott McAllister, David Neal, Ted Neward, and Chris Woodruff Fun (random) things have made me smile lately: Miniature Cheese Graters Lapel Pins Special Guests: Jono Bacon and SJ Morris.

In this episode, Jason, Wesley, and Mary share some of our favorite tools of the trade—from live streaming setups and demo-building tricks to the software and hardware we rely on for recording videos and tracking metrics. Join us for a practical, behind-the-scenes look at the gear and workflows that help us connect with developers and communities every day. Categories Building & Managing Websites Hugo Astro Form Bricks Local Recall SquareSpace Eleventy Data, metrics, and knowledge sharing Airtable Common Room Metabase Scheduling meetings Cal.com Fantastical LiveStreaming & video recording and editing Streamyard Riverside.fm OBS OpenShot Audacity VLC Descript Otter Meeting Agent - AI Notetaker, Transcription, Insights Automation tools n8n Zapier IFTTT Forums Slack Discourse Podcast hosting Fireside Building demos Claude Code Lovable Cursor LocalAI Enjoy the podcast? Please take a few moments to leave us a review on iTunes and follow us on Spotify, or leave a review on one of the other many podcasting sites that we’re on! Your support means a lot to us and helps us continue to produce episodes every month. Like all things Community, this too takes a village. Photo by Todd Quackenbush on Unsplash.

The discussions delve into the blur between work and personal life, highlighting the struggles of setting boundaries in passionate projects versus toxic work environments. The hosts share their experiences of remote work’s flexibility and the necessity of accountability. They also touch on the rapidly changing tech landscape, especially with AI, urging continuous learning. Lastly, they stress the importance of creativity, self-care, and proactive engagement to prevent burnout while navigating a demanding career.

"Vibe coding" is gaining traction as a new way to approach software development—but what does it actually mean? In this episode, we unpack the term, explore how it's shaping the developer experience, and examine its potential to transform developer relations. We'll break down the pros and cons, from faster workflows to new challenges in communication and code quality, and discuss what this shift means for DevRel professionals today and in the future. Enjoy the podcast? Please take a few moments to leave us a review on iTunes and follow us on Spotify, or leave a review on one of the other many podcasting sites that we’re on! Your support means a lot to us and helps us continue to produce episodes every month. Like all things Community, this too takes a village.

There has been a lot of chat about the decline of the tech influencer. Where have they all gone? Is tech influence too heavy or too light? PJ, Mary, Wesley, and Jason share their opinions about “capital I” Influencers and where DevRel falls into all of this. Checkouts PJ Hagerty Take vacations. Fyre Festival 2 is real and can hurt you. Jason Hand Stitched video Original video AI “slop” article AI Tools Lab Mary Thengvall awesome (fictional) books that have stuck with me lately: When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill The Midnight Library by Matt Haig Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel Cover art photo by Diggity Marketing on Unsplash. Enjoy the podcast? Please take a few moments to leave us a review on iTunes and follow us on Spotify, or leave a review on one of the other many podcasting sites that we’re on! Your support means a lot to us and helps us continue to produce episodes every month. Like all things Community, this too takes a village.

In this engaging conversation, Chris DeMars, a developer advocate from Metro Detroit, shares insights on the critical role of humility and sincerity in developer relations. He emphasizes authenticity in building community trust and the challenges of maintaining relatability as a public figure. Chris explores the dynamics of content creation and the importance of community engagement. The talk takes a fun turn as he discusses a Wu-Tang inspired card game and his excitement for their final tour, blending tech with cultural appreciation.

The team takes a look back at 2024 and ahead to 2025. Enjoy the podcast? Please take a few moments to leave us a review on iTunes and follow us on Spotify, or leave a review on one of the other many podcasting sites that we’re on! Your support means a lot to us and helps us continue to produce episodes every month. Like all things Community, this too takes a village. Photo by BoliviaInteligente on Unsplash.

Discover the emerging DevRel Foundation, designed to tackle the challenges of Developer Relations. The conversation highlights its goal to define roles and measure impact while promoting inclusivity. Community engagement is key, allowing everyone from managers to members to voice their insights. The foundation stands out within the Linux Foundation, offering a nonpartisan platform for collaboration and resource sharing. With mixed community reactions, the importance of diverse perspectives in shaping governance discussions is underscored.

The podcast dives into the chaotic world of hiring for Developer Relations roles. It reveals the confusing processes, unrealistic expectations from recruiters, and the emotional toll on candidates. The discussion uncovers the disconnect between HR practices and the actual skills needed, along with common misconceptions about the role. Listeners will find insights into the challenges facing applicants and the chaotic nature of job applications filled with buzzwords. Overall, it's a candid look at the urgent need for reform in the tech hiring landscape.