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. Chapters00:00 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 & resourcesDevelopers 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 #DeveloperCommunityWe 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.comWant to be a guest?Fill out the form 👉 https://share.hsforms.com/2J5me9_v3Rlix21-1LoZWkAbpd9r

🎙️ What happens when HubSpot’s best developers and designers rebuild the default CMS theme from the ground up? Meet the Elevate Theme — a complete reimagining of the HubSpot CMS experience.Episode summary:In this full-crew episode of Developers After Dark, hosts Nick LaPorte, AJ LaPorte, and Dennis Edson sit down with Sakura Stout, Brandon Van Dyck , and BJ Szyjakowski2, the HubSpot team behind the new Elevate Theme.They dive deep into why Elevate was created, how it replaces the aging Growth theme, and what it means for HubSpot Developers, marketers, and designers alike. From color theory (hello, blurple 💜) to accessibility, React integration, and the struggle between flexibility and simplicity — this episode has it all.⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Back on “Daddy” (intro banter)01:00 – HubSpot Developers channel & changelog shoutouts03:00 – Why Elevate was built07:00 – The Growth theme backstory10:00 – Maintenance and design debt12:00 – UX and UI philosophy in HubSpot CMS14:00 – Naming the Elevate Theme17:00 – The “blurple” color palette explained20:00 – Global color theory and accessibility25:00 – Solving inheritance & UI pain points30:00 – Design simplification and border radius settings33:00 – Developer vs. marketer balance37:00 – How Elevate integrates with AI and React42:00 – Building with React + Hubble50:00 – Team dynamics and surprise cameo54:00 – Icons, inline groups, and two-click UX1:00:00 – Lessons learned from building Elevate1:10:00 – What makes a great HubSpot theme1:20:00 – Future of Elevate and HubSpot CMS1:23:00 – Closing thoughts and thank-yous🔗 Useful Links📺 HubSpot Developers YouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@HubSpotDevelopers🧭 HubSpot CMS Developer Documentation:https://developers.hubspot.com/docs🎓 HubSpot Academy – CMS for Developers Certification:https://academy.hubspot.com📰 HubSpot Developers Changelog:https://developers.hubspot.com/changelog🎧 Developers After Dark Website:https://devsafterdarkpod.com🔖 Hashtags#HubSpotDevelopers #ElevateTheme #HubSpotCMS #WebDesign #DevelopersAfterDarkWe 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:https://devsafterdarkpod.comWant to be a guest?👉 Fill out the form:https://share.hsforms.com/2J5me9_v3Rlix21-1LoZWkAbpd9r📢 Important InformationThis is not a support forum. For all support-related questions, please visit the HubSpot Community. 👉 https://bit.ly/49Lto5NDiscover everything HubSpot has to offer: https://bit.ly/3P5A59bFollow us for the latest updates and insights: https://bit.ly/4iJLXve📖 Learn More & Stay ConnectedGet started with HubSpot Development 👉 https://bit.ly/3DhfEmULearn more with the HubSpot Academy 👉https://bit.ly/3P06AFRSubscribe to our newsletter for tips and news 👉 https://bit.ly/41Fm6hCStay up to date with changes that affect you by subscribing to the changelog 👉 https://bit.ly/49J95FPKnow when an Developer Event is happening 👉 https://bit.ly/3VOLT3h🤝 Engage With UsHave feedback? There's a link for that! 👉 https://bit.ly/400bUziLike this video? Give it a thumbs up and subscribe for more content on HubSpot development, integrations, and customization.Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Drop your suggestions in the comments below!HubSpot development, HubSpot CMS, HubSpot API, HubSpot integration, HubSpot CRM, HubSpot tutorials, HubSpot themes, HubSpot modules, HubSpot workflows, app development, web development, CRM customization, marketing automation, HubSpot training

This episode of Devs After Dark spotlights the relaunch of HubSpot’s developer website, featuring Developer Advocates Brooke and AJ, who helped lead the rebuild. They discuss the site’s transformation into a faster, more intuitive, and brand-aligned platform built on HubSpot CMS React rather than Hubble. The redesign emphasizes usability, performance, and accessibility — from streamlined navigation and a live status indicator to a sleek, CLI-inspired homepage. The team focused on clear content paths for both new and experienced developers, restructured menus and footers for clarity, and ensured the experience was equally strong on mobile devices.

In this episode of Developers:After Dark, the focus is on the evolving relationship between AI and SEO, emphasizing the need for in-depth discussions that reflect the rapid advancements in technology. The hosts invite listeners to explore valuable resources, including HubSpot's YouTube channel and the Inbound Studio, which provide insights into recent developments and educational opportunities in the developer community.Michelle Jensen, the founder of the blog Travel HerStory, shares her journey and expertise as an SEO content writer, previously working for AAA. The discussion highlights the significant impact of SEO and AI technologies on the travel industry.Michelle's Website: https://www.travelherstory.com/Check out the Developers:after Dark website at https://www.devsafterdarkpod.com/Want to be a guest?Fill out the form 👉 https://www.devsafterdarkpod.com/#story

Don’t just test live—build smarter with HubSpot Sandboxes. In this episode of Developers After Dark, we sit down with Denise Thijzen, Product Manager at HubSpot, to explore the power of sandboxes, the future of developer experience, and her inspiring journey into product management.From explaining what a sandbox is to breaking down why it’s essential for CRM customization, Denise shows how HubSpot Sandboxes give developers and builders the safe space to experiment, test workflows, and deploy confidently. Whether you’re building custom objects, integrating APIs, or refining workflows, this conversation is packed with insights on how to protect your production environment while still innovating.We also dive into Denise’s career path — from consulting with HubSpot customers to leading product development — and hear her take on mentorship, public speaking, and finding balance as a PM in a fast-moving ecosystem.Resources & LinksHubSpot Sandboxes Overview: https://www.hubspot.com/products/sandboxHubSpot Academy: academy.hubspot.comGuest: Denise Thijzen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deniseth/Hashtags#HubSpotDevelopers #Sandboxes #DeveloperExperience #CRMCutomizationWe 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.comWant to be a guest? Fill out the form 👉 https://share.hsforms.com/2J5me9_v3Rlix21-1LoZWkAbpd9r

How does a HubSpot Community Champion go on to shape the future of the HubSpot Developer Community? In this episode of Developers After Dark, we sit down with Jennifer Nixon, Developer Community Manager, to talk mentorship, growth, and building a thriving DevRel ecosystem.Jennifer shares her unique journey from customer and community champion to her current role in HubSpot Developer Relations. We dive deep into the Ecosystem Mentorship Program — how it works, why it’s growing, and how it’s redefining what it means to be a developer at HubSpot. We also explore her work on an upcoming HubSpot Academy course designed to empower mentors, plus her perspective on speaking at events, community engagement, and the importance of self-advocacy.From behind-the-scenes DevRel insights to actionable advice for growing in your career, this episode is a must-watch for anyone passionate about the HubSpot Developer Community.Chapters:00:00 – Intro & welcome01:19 – Jennifer’s background & community champion story06:13 – Launching the Ecosystem Mentorship Program10:46 – Who qualifies as a “developer” today?14:01 – Growing the mentorship network18:47 – Building the HubSpot Academy mentorship course22:44 – Speaking at Inbound & lightning talks31:15 – The role of community in HubSpot’s developer ecosystem38:02 – Key mentorship advice that shaped Jennifer’s career42:10 – Why self-advocacy matters in DevRel46:30 – How Jennifer got into tech & HubSpot53:25 – Work–life balance in tech01:00:24 – Where to connect with JenniferHashtags:#HubSpotDevelopers #DevRel #Mentorship #HubSpotAcademy #DeveloperCommunityLinks & Resources:HubSpot Developer Changelog: https://developers.hubspot.com/changelogHubSpot Academy: https://academy.hubspot.comJoin the Developer Community: https://community.hubspot.comJennifer Nixon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jnix284/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.comWant to be a guest?Fill out the form 👉 https://share.hsforms.com/2J5me9_v3Rlix21-1LoZWkAbpd9r📢 Important InformationThis is not a support forum. For all support-related questions, please visit the HubSpot Community. 👉 https://bit.ly/49Lto5NDiscover everything HubSpot has to offer: https://bit.ly/3P5A59bFollow us for the latest updates and insights: https://bit.ly/4iJLXve📖 Learn More & Stay ConnectedGet started with HubSpot Development 👉 https://bit.ly/3DhfEmULearn more with the HubSpot Academy 👉https://bit.ly/3P06AFRSubscribe to our newsletter for tips and news 👉 https://bit.ly/41Fm6hCStay up to date with changes that affect you by subscribing to the changelog 👉 https://bit.ly/49J95FPKnow when an Developer Event is happening 👉 https://bit.ly/3VOLT3h🤝 Engage With UsHave feedback? There's a link for that! 👉 https://bit.ly/400bUziLike this video? Give it a thumbs up and subscribe for more content on HubSpot development, integrations, and customization.Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Drop your suggestions in the comments below!HubSpot development, HubSpot CMS, HubSpot API, HubSpot integration, HubSpot CRM, HubSpot tutorials, HubSpot themes, HubSpot modules, HubSpot workflows, app development, web development, CRM customization, marketing automation, HubSpot training

🚨 SEO is changing fast—and AI might just be your new worst enemy or your best ally. HubSpot SEO expert Victor Pan joins us to break it all down for developers.In this episode of Developers After Dark, Victor Pan (SEO at HubSpot) sits down with Nick, AJ, and Dennis to talk about the evolving world of SEO and AI, what HubSpot developers need to know, and how technical SEO is becoming more important than ever.From the rise of Search Agent Optimization to the new challenges of structured data and LLMs, this episode is a must-watch for content creators, marketers, and devs trying to stay ahead of the curve.⏰ Chapters:00:00 – Intro & AI Overlords03:00 – Meet Victor Pan06:00 – What Does an SEO Really Do?12:30 – Traditional SEO vs. AI SEO20:00 – Cloudflare, Crawlers & Monetization28:00 – The Rise of Agent Browsers35:00 – Content Creators & Brand Strategy42:00 – Structured Data & Hallucinations48:00 – How Do We Measure SEO Now?54:00 – Where Is This All Headed?1:01:00 – How to Learn Modern SEO1:04:00 – Final Thoughts & Optimism📚 Resources:Victor Pan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victorpan/SEOFOMO Newsletter: https://seofomo.coHubSpot SEO Academy: https://academy.hubspot.comDharmesh’s “Search Agent Optimization” Post: [find on LinkedIn]🔖 Hashtags:#HubSpotDevelopers #AISEO #TechnicalSEO #SearchAgentOptimization #DevelopersAfterDarkWe 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.comWant to be a guest?Fill out the form 👉 https://share.hsforms.com/2J5me9_v3Rlix21-1LoZWkAbpd9r📢 Important InformationThis is not a support forum. For all support-related questions, please visit the HubSpot Community. 👉 https://bit.ly/49Lto5NDiscover everything HubSpot has to offer: https://bit.ly/3P5A59bFollow us for the latest updates and insights: https://bit.ly/4iJLXve📖 Learn More & Stay ConnectedGet started with HubSpot Development 👉 https://bit.ly/3DhfEmULearn more with the HubSpot Academy 👉https://bit.ly/3P06AFRSubscribe to our newsletter for tips and news 👉 https://bit.ly/41Fm6hCStay up to date with changes that affect you by subscribing to the changelog 👉 https://bit.ly/49J95FPKnow when an Developer Event is happening 👉 https://bit.ly/3VOLT3h🤝 Engage With UsHave feedback? There's a link for that! 👉 https://bit.ly/400bUziLike this video? Give it a thumbs up and subscribe for more content on HubSpot development, integrations, and customization.Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Drop your suggestions in the comments below!HubSpot development, HubSpot CMS, HubSpot API, HubSpot integration, HubSpot CRM, HubSpot tutorials, HubSpot themes, HubSpot modules, HubSpot workflows, app development, web development, CRM customization, marketing automation, HubSpot training

Paul Maxwell, CEO of RevOps HQ and former academic philosopher, shares his unique journey from theology to HubSpot development. He discusses overcoming imposter syndrome and the vital role of curiosity and persistence in coding. Paul emphasizes the importance of mentorship, urging developers to 'be the hero' in their careers. He also explores the integration of AI tools and highlights the need for creativity in problem-solving. Beyond tech, Paul reflects on how his personal passions influence his professional creativity.

🚀 What happens when a developer builds the first Shopify-HubSpot integration and ends up disrupting HubSpot Live? You get Episode 27 of Developers After Dark with Parag, CEO and dev at heart.In this episode, Parag joins Nick, Dennis, and AJ to talk about his journey from tinkering with Flash websites and HTML books to becoming a HubSpot Partner and CEO of a fast-scaling e-commerce integration company. They dive into building workflows for hundreds of thousands of customers, personalizing automation using HubSpot data, and the growing power of the developer ecosystem.He shares real talk on developer life, the transition to leadership, building during nights and weekends, and learning from mistakes (including a hilarious moment when HubSpot called them mid-integration to stop affecting a live keynote!). Whether you're a HubSpot developer, tech founder, or someone trying to scale e-commerce CX—this one's packed with insight.📍 Chapters00:00 – When HubSpot Called Us04:00 – First Shopify to HubSpot Integration09:00 – Building at Night, Scaling by Day17:00 – Becoming CEO & Letting Go28:00 – Flash, HTML, and Real SEO36:00 – HubSpot Feedback & Community45:00 – Advice for Devs and Leaders#HubSpotDevelopers #EcommerceIntegration #DeveloperJourney #AutomationAtScale #DevsAfterDarkWe 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.comWant to be a guest?Fill out the form 👉 https://share.hsforms.com/2J5me9_v3Rlix21-1LoZWkAbpd9r

🚀 Discover how HubSpot developers are breaking new ground with the Deep Research Connector – a first-of-its-kind integration between HubSpot and OpenAI. In this special episode of Developers After Dark, Nick and Dennis are joined by repeat guest John McLaren, Staff Developer Advocate, and Daniel Jacobson, Director of Product at HubSpot, to dive deep into this revolutionary tool. Whether you're a dev, marketer, or data-driven user, this tool unlocks next-level data insights by marrying your HubSpot CRM with cutting-edge AI.🧠 Learn how it was built, how it respects user-level permissions, and why it’s already changing how teams forecast, analyze, and operate. From use cases in support and sales to security concerns and regional access, this episode has it all.⏱️ Chapters00:00 - Intro & Show Overview03:00 - 🔍 Interview with Daniel Jacobson Begins03:30 - What is the Deep Research Connector?06:00 - How HubSpot + OpenAI Built It08:00 - Real Use Cases (Support, Sales, PMs)13:00 - Forecasting with CRM Data18:00 - Why This is a First in CRM18:25 - 🎙️ Panel Discussion Resumes26:00 - Security, Permissions & Sensitive Data33:00 - Model Context Protocol Deep Dive45:00 - What's Next for Devs and AI at HubSpot#HubSpotDevelopers #DeepResearch #OpenAIIntegration #AIinCRM #DataInsights #openai #aimarketing 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.comWant to be a guest?Fill out the form 👉 https://share.hsforms.com/2J5me9_v3Rlix21-1LoZWkAbpd9r