
AutomationTown
Welcome to AutomationTown! A podcast about regular people, building automations for the problems we all share.
First time here? Start with S02E01 "For When You Need A Chatbot"
What are the things you do each day that you'd rather forget?
Chad & Jason explore common pain points for knowledge workers, and track down the people & tools necessary to automate trivial to-do's.
Latest episodes

Aug 6, 2022 • 37min
S02E01 | For When You Need A Chat Bot
"Well that was a great chat bot experience!" Said no one ever... This week, we launch a call-in radio show in AutomationTown, talk through a few chat bot building tools, discuss when to use a chat bot, and when you're better off with a web form.Bring your automation questions to us live at 7pm on 104.7 The Buzz. SHOW NOTES:—------------------------------------------Voiceflow: https://jo.my/flowxoFlowXO: https://jo.my/voiceflowAmazon Chat Bot: https://jo.my/amazon-instructionsSlack Apps: https://jo.my/slack-appPawfinity: https://jo.my/pawfinityCalendly: https://jo.my/calendlylinkStripe Payment Links: https://jo.my/stripe-pmt-links AUTOMATIONTOWN SOCIALS:—------------------------------------------Twitter: https://t.jo.my/twitterWeb: https://t.jo.my/automationtownRSS Feed: https://t.jo.my/rssABOUT HOSTS:—------------------------------------------Chad DavisTwitter: https://t.jo.my/chad-twitterLinkedIn: https://t.jo.my/chad-linkedinJason StaatsTwitter: https://t.jo.my/jstaats-twitterYoutube: https://t.jo.my/jason-youtubeAUDIO PRODUCTION:—------------------------------------------Paul O'Mara - https://t.jo.my/paulomaraSPONSORS:—------------------------------------------Want to sponsor an episode? Contact us at https://t.jo.my/sponsorcontact

Jul 30, 2022 • 26min
S01E15 | For When You Want to Help
Chad & Jason sit down with AutomationTown resident Elizabeth Ruh to talk through her experience automating a labor-intensive process in her business, and how it helped her get back to doing good. A feel-good tale about reaching out to friendly Canadians on the internet, and having the courage to ask for help.SHOW NOTES:—------------------------------------------Elizabeth's company: https://jo.my/elizabethruhcompanyMake: https://t.jo.my/integromat-makeCognito Forms: https://jo.my/cognitoWealthbox: https://jo.my/wealthboxLearn Regex in 20 Minutes: https://jo.my/regexin20AUTOMATIONTOWN SOCIALS:—------------------------------------------Twitter: https://t.jo.my/twitterWeb: https://t.jo.my/automationtownRSS Feed: https://t.jo.my/rssABOUT HOSTS:—------------------------------------------Chad DavisTwitter: https://t.jo.my/chad-twitterLinkedIn: https://t.jo.my/chad-linkedinJason StaatsTwitter: https://t.jo.my/jstaats-twitterYoutube: https://t.jo.my/jason-youtubeAUDIO PRODUCTION:—------------------------------------------Paul O'Mara - https://t.jo.my/paulomaraSPONSORS:—------------------------------------------Want to sponsor an episode? Contact us at https://t.jo.my/sponsorcontact

Jul 23, 2022 • 36min
S01E14 | For When You Need a Custom Feed
6 million years of technological development has brought human kind to... scrolling feeds. Feeds of fart jokes, life hacks and twerking.Is this peak human experience? Or the beginning of the end? This week we talk about building your own feeds, unplugging from big feed and taking back control of your attention span.SHOW NOTES:—------------------------------------------Pocket: https://jo.my/getpocket Evernote: https://jo.my/evernoteatRSS by Zapier: https://jo.my/rss-zapierMiniextensions RSS: https://jo.my/miniextrssRIP Google Reader: https://jo.my/googlereaderRazr Phone: https://jo.my/razrAUTOMATIONTOWN SOCIALS:—------------------------------------------Twitter: https://t.jo.my/twitterWeb: https://t.jo.my/automationtownRSS Feed: https://t.jo.my/rssABOUT HOSTS:—------------------------------------------Chad DavisTwitter: https://t.jo.my/chad-twitterLinkedIn: https://t.jo.my/chad-linkedinJason StaatsTwitter: https://t.jo.my/jstaats-twitterYoutube: https://t.jo.my/jason-youtubeAUDIO PRODUCTION:—------------------------------------------Paul O'Mara - https://t.jo.my/paulomaraSPONSORS:—------------------------------------------Want to sponsor an episode? Contact us at https://t.jo.my/sponsorcontact

Jul 16, 2022 • 36min
S01E13 | For When Your Notifications Are Out Of Control
[klaxon] Your attention span is under assault, and our world's brightest minds have been tasked with distracting you.Chad & Jason call an emergency meeting to take back control of our mobile notifications. You can turn them off, you can leave them on, but how do we do something in the middle? We pull in some tools to take back control of exactly the notifications we want, and cut out the fluff.SHOW NOTES:—------------------------------------------Let Calls Through on Android: https://jo.my/androiddndbypassPushover: https://jo.my/pushoverHey: https://jo.my/heyemailEmail by Zapier: https://jo.my/emailbyzapierRelay Financial: https://jo.my/relayAUTOMATIONTOWN SOCIALS:—------------------------------------------Twitter: https://t.jo.my/twitterWeb: https://t.jo.my/automationtownRSS Feed: https://t.jo.my/rssABOUT HOSTS:—------------------------------------------Chad DavisTwitter: https://t.jo.my/chad-twitterLinkedIn: https://t.jo.my/chad-linkedinJason StaatsTwitter: https://t.jo.my/jstaats-twitterYoutube: https://t.jo.my/jason-youtubeAUDIO PRODUCTION:—------------------------------------------Paul O'Mara - https://t.jo.my/paulomaraSPONSORS:—------------------------------------------Want to sponsor an episode? Contact us at https://t.jo.my/sponsorcontact

Jul 9, 2022 • 40min
S01E12 | For When You're Manually Creating Documents
What do you do when you need to generate a whole bunch of documents?Chad & Jason talk through his struggles bulk-processing flyers for his dog walking business, how old-thymey mail merge has evolved into the tools we use today, and the most accessible methods to making a whole bunch of a specific thing.SHOW NOTES:—------------------------------------------Mail Merge: https://jo.my/mailmerge Google Document Templates: https://jo.my/googletemplatesFormstack: https://jo.my/formstackAirtable Document Automator: https://jo.my/document-automatorAron Korenblit: https://jo.my/aron Bannerbear: https://jo.my/bannerbearPlacid: https://jo.my/placid AUTOMATIONTOWN SOCIALS:—------------------------------------------Twitter: https://t.jo.my/twitterWeb: https://t.jo.my/automationtownRSS Feed: https://t.jo.my/rssABOUT HOSTS:—------------------------------------------Chad DavisTwitter: https://t.jo.my/chad-twitterLinkedIn: https://t.jo.my/chad-linkedinJason StaatsTwitter: https://t.jo.my/jstaats-twitterYoutube: https://t.jo.my/jason-youtubeAUDIO PRODUCTION:—------------------------------------------Paul O'Mara - https://t.jo.my/paulomaraSPONSORS:—------------------------------------------Want to sponsor an episode? Contact us at https://t.jo.my/sponsorcontact

Jul 2, 2022 • 22min
S01E11 | For When You Go Back In Time
Sometimes the old ways are the best. This isn't one of those times, but in this case we didn't have a choice. We talk through how to put a new-age spin on an old-age technology, and built automations around that crusty ole fax machine.SHOW NOTES:—------------------------------------------History of the fax machine (don't click on this please): https://jo.my/faxmachineHelloFax: https://jo.my/hellofax mFax: https://jo.my/mfax eFax: https://jo.my/efax MyFax: https://jo.my/myfax Phaxio (very promising): https://jo.my/phaxio Clicksend: https://jo.my/clicksend Integromat/Make: https://t.jo.my/integromat-make PDF.co: https://t.jo.my/pdfcoAUTOMATIONTOWN SOCIALS:—------------------------------------------Twitter: https://t.jo.my/twitterWeb: https://t.jo.my/automationtownRSS Feed: https://t.jo.my/rssABOUT HOSTS:—------------------------------------------Chad DavisTwitter: https://t.jo.my/chad-twitterLinkedIn: https://t.jo.my/chad-linkedinJason StaatsTwitter: https://t.jo.my/jstaats-twitterYoutube: https://t.jo.my/jason-youtubeAUDIO PRODUCTION:—------------------------------------------Paul O'Mara - https://t.jo.my/paulomaraSPONSORS:—------------------------------------------Want to sponsor an episode? Contact us at https://t.jo.my/sponsorcontact

Jun 25, 2022 • 26min
S01E10 | For When You're Mad
Did someone just microwave fish in the office lounge? What about copying you on that passive aggressive email to the VP? Don't worry, this week we've got you covered with tips on how to automate the age old topic of revenge. SHOW NOTES:—------------------------------------------Cat Facts: https://jo.my/catfactsBag of Ducks: https://jo.my/bag-ducksZinc API: https://jo.my/zinc-apiPizza Belt: https://t.jo.my/pizzapouchAmazon Tide Button: https://jo.my/amazon-dashZapier Webhooks: https://jo.my/zapier-webhooksCredit Card Number Math: https://jo.my/creditcard-numbersCart Narcs: https://jo.my/cart-narcsTremendous Gifts: https://jo.my/tremendousAUTOMATIONTOWN SOCIALS:—------------------------------------------Twitter: https://t.jo.my/twitterWeb: https://t.jo.my/automationtownRSS Feed: https://t.jo.my/rssABOUT HOSTS:—------------------------------------------Chad DavisTwitter: https://t.jo.my/chad-twitterLinkedIn: https://t.jo.my/chad-linkedinJason StaatsTwitter: https://t.jo.my/jstaats-twitterYoutube: https://t.jo.my/jason-youtubeAUDIO PRODUCTION:—------------------------------------------Paul O'Mara - https://t.jo.my/paulomaraSPONSORS:—------------------------------------------Want to sponsor an episode? Contact us at https://t.jo.my/sponsorcontact

Jun 18, 2022 • 25min
S01E09 | For When You Lose The Clicker
We're talking about loss. Specifically, not being able to find things and whether there's a way to get them back. Along the way we learn about infrared, hubs, and how to build an automation for Chad's bathroom fan.SHOW NOTES:—------------------------------------------Zigbee: https://jo.my/zigbeeHarmonyHub: https://jo.my/harmonyhub Z-Wave: https://jo.my/zwaveSmartThings: https://jo.my/smart-thingsHomeKit: https://jo.my/homekitMatter: https://jo.my/matter Jason's Logitech Fancy Remote: https://jo.my/logitech-harmonyremote Broadlink RM4 Pro: https://jo.my/broadlink-rm4pro Broadlink RM4 Mini: https://jo.my/broadlink-rm4mini AUTOMATIONTOWN SOCIALS:—------------------------------------------Twitter: https://t.jo.my/twitterWeb: https://t.jo.my/automationtownRSS Feed: https://t.jo.my/rssABOUT HOSTS:—------------------------------------------Chad DavisTwitter: https://t.jo.my/chad-twitterLinkedIn: https://t.jo.my/chad-linkedinJason StaatsTwitter: https://t.jo.my/jstaats-twitterYoutube: https://t.jo.my/jason-youtubeAUDIO PRODUCTION:—------------------------------------------Paul O'Mara - https://t.jo.my/paulomaraSPONSORS:—------------------------------------------Want to sponsor an episode? Contact us at https://t.jo.my/sponsorcontact

Jun 11, 2022 • 25min
S01E08 | For When You Keep Refreshing That Page
What do you do when a website doesn't offer a connector for the info you want? Hop a trolley down to the AutomationTown coworking space as Chad & Jason run through methods to scrape the goods you need from any site on the web.SHOW NOTES:—------------------------------------------URLOOKER: https://jo.my/urlookerSEMRush: https://jo.my/seosemrushWayback Machine: https://jo.my/waybackmachineWachete: https://jo.my/wacheteVisualPing.io: https://jo.my/visualpingCryptoKitties: https://jo.my/cryptokittiesApp Advisory Plus: https://jo.my/appadvisoryplusSimpleScraper: https://jo.my/simplescraper Scraping Bee:https://jo.my/scrapingbeeHexomatic: https://jo.my/hexomaticParseHub: https://jo.my/parsehubData Miner: https://jo.my/dataminerBright Data: https://jo.my/brightdataAUTOMATIONTOWN SOCIALS:—------------------------------------------Twitter: https://t.jo.my/twitter Web: https://t.jo.my/automationtown RSS Feed: https://t.jo.my/rss ABOUT HOSTS:—------------------------------------------Chad Davis Twitter: https://t.jo.my/chad-twitter LinkedIn: https://t.jo.my/chad-linkedin Jason Staats Twitter: https://t.jo.my/jstaats-twitter Youtube: https://t.jo.my/jason-youtube AUDIO PRODUCTION:—------------------------------------------Paul O'Mara - https://t.jo.my/paulomaraSPONSORS: —------------------------------------------Want to sponsor an episode? Contact us at https://t.jo.my/sponsorcontact

Jun 4, 2022 • 33min
S01E07 | For When You Need to Zapier
Someone ever tell you to check out Zapier? Happens all the time. Why? Because they're freakin great, that's why. In this episode we cover why it's a must-have tool to know, how we use it and some advice on where to start. SHOW NOTES: —------------------------------------------Zapier: https://t.jo.my/zapierZap Editor Drafts Beta: https://jo.my/zapdraftWebflow: https://jo.my/webflowSync O365 to Gmail Calendar: https://jo.my/365caltogmailcalZapier Pricing: https://jo.my/zapierpricingTransfer by Zapier: https://jo.my/transferbyzapierAUTOMATIONTOWN SOCIALS:—------------------------------------------Twitter: https://t.jo.my/twitter Web: https://t.jo.my/automationtown RSS Feed: https://t.jo.my/rss ABOUT HOSTS:—------------------------------------------Chad Davis Twitter: https://t.jo.my/chad-twitter LinkedIn: https://t.jo.my/chad-linkedin Jason Staats Twitter: https://t.jo.my/jstaats-twitter Youtube: https://t.jo.my/jason-youtube AUDIO PRODUCTION:—------------------------------------------Paul O'Mara - https://t.jo.my/paulomaraSPONSORS: —------------------------------------------Want to sponsor an episode? Contact us at https://t.jo.my/sponsorcontact
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