//podcastplus.net/feed/podcast~7c380b928aecf204f168a5b284c92531ebda3e78af329b272ce9ded97d5ccdc6 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 insidetechcomm@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you. Wed, 29 Apr 2026 08:13:40 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/episodes/17872845-s6e3-beyond-documentation-building-knowledge-systems-for-ai.mp3 What happens when AI meets technical writing? It's not the end of the profession—it's an evolution that opens exciting new possibilities for skilled communicators. Kartika Raman, Lead Technical Writer at Salesforce, shares her journey from database administration to technical writing and now to the cutting edge of AI content creation. She explains how the fundamental nature of AI systems—probabilistic rather than deterministic—creates both challenges and opportunities for documentation professionals. As content creators, we already possess the valuable skills needed for success in the AI era. The ability to organize information, provide context, and communicate clearly becomes even more crucial when creating content that both humans and AI systems will consume. As Kartika explains, "We're not just writing, we're developing knowledge systems" that enable AI to generate accurate, relevant responses. We explore emerging roles in areas of prompt engineering, ontol... Wed, 24 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/episodes/17872845-s6e3-beyond-documentation-building-knowledge-systems-for-ai.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/episodes/17829929-s6e2-resume-robots-and-chatbot-interviews-surviving-the-ai-hiring-maze.mp3 Jack Molisani returns to discuss how technical communication careers are evolving with generative AI. He shares practical advice for navigating the changing landscape with pro tips in this era of resume robots and chatbot interviews, while emphasizing that human expertise remains irreplaceable. A resume should be a personal communication from you to the reader, not an AI-generated document Stop applying through applicant tracking systems designed to weed you out; connect directly with hiring managers Hiring managers look for what you are, your seniority level, domain knowledge, tool proficiency, and affordability Companies value technical communicators who can appropriately integrate AI into workflows, not just prompt engineers Position yourself as part of revenue generation, not just as someone who "writes manuals" In Jack's words, "like surfing, timing is everything—don't adopt AI too early or too late, but ride the wave at its crest." Listen in for this timely advice. ... Wed, 17 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/episodes/17829929-s6e2-resume-robots-and-chatbot-interviews-surviving-the-ai-hiring-maze.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/episodes/17803359-s6e1-empowering-technical-writers-through-agentic-ai-a-conversation-with-manny-silva.mp3 Kicking off our season, Manny Silva discusses how agentic AI is transforming technical documentation workflows and explains why human expertise remains essential despite technological advancements. AI agents are tools that extend our capabilities rather than replace technical writers' core skills. Learn why! Some takeaways from this interesting discussion: Definition of agentic AI as applications that take actions based on the tools provided to them. How common tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and GitHub Copilot qualify as agents. Creating custom AI tools to accelerate documentation drafting processes. Using AI to turn a week-long project into a three-day effort. The continued importance of human expertise in identifying requirements and context. Strategies for incorporating AI tools into existing documentation workflows. Establishing boundaries and processes to prevent burnout in the AI era. The value of internal documentation in creating successful organizations. How technical wri... Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/episodes/17803359-s6e1-empowering-technical-writers-through-agentic-ai-a-conversation-with-manny-silva.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/episodes/15657055-s5e10-the-future-of-technical-documentation-in-the-ai-era-with-selvaraaju-murugesan.mp3 As a content creator, you may wonder how your role will evolve with AI on the scene. Are you excited or concerned? Either way, this is a must-listen episode to learn and pivot. Join us as Selvaraaju Murugesan and I discuss this topic at length to explore how content creators and, especially technical writers, need to pivot. We dissect the evolving role of technical writers in the age of AI, focusing on how engineering concepts can be seamlessly integrated with technical writing to enhance content creation and user experience. Selva emphasizes how technical writers can transform their roles to become AI managers to guide and enhance AI-generated content. We dive deep into the unification of product design and documentation, emphasizing the need for a "knowledge experience" to simplify users' learning processes. If you are concerned and struggling to determine how to respond to the changing landscape of AI, then tune in. You will discover insights to prepare for a future with Gen AI while lev... Thu, 29 Aug 2024 02:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/episodes/15657055-s5e10-the-future-of-technical-documentation-in-the-ai-era-with-selvaraaju-murugesan.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/episodes/15578072-s5e9-expert-tips-for-effective-technical-editing-with-kim-campbell.mp3 Kim Campbell, who wears many hats, joins me on this latest episode to unlock the secrets behind effective technical editing. Kim and I explore the fundamentals of technical editing, highlighting its pivotal role in ensuring high standards and tailoring content for specific audiences. We dive into the growing necessity of human oversight amidst the rise of AI-generated content, ensuring accuracy and quality remain uncompromised. In our deeper dive into the editing process, we unpack the various levels of technical editing, from developmental and structural editing to copy editing and proofreading. Highlighting the importance of collaboration and open dialogue, especially in tech environments, Kim provides strategies for resolving conflicts between authors and editors. Our conversation also delves into the emerging role of tech editors as change agents and the impact of generative AI on technical writing. Join us for a discussion filled with practical tips and valuable insights for mastering the art of tech... Wed, 14 Aug 2024 03:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/episodes/15578072-s5e9-expert-tips-for-effective-technical-editing-with-kim-campbell.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/episodes/15471966-s5e8-reimagining-a-unified-content-experience-for-customer-success-with-scott-abel.mp3 Unlock the secrets of a unified content experience for enhanced customer satisfaction with Scott Abel. Known as the Content Wrangler, Scott takes us through his journey from journalism to becoming a key player in content strategy. Ever wondered why customer experience is more than just a buzzword? We unpack its multifaceted nature, shining a light on every interaction from prospective to former customers, including internal stakeholders. Scott and I discuss the often-overlooked strategic role of technical writers in delivering timely and relevant content. You'll learn about the potential pitfalls and inefficiencies when customer experience strategies are managed by departments outside content teams, and the financial implications of recognizing technical communication as crucial for customer experience success. Discover the strategic value of technical documentation beyond its traditional role. This episode covers how documentation impacts post-sale support and even pre-sale decisions, driving ... Thu, 25 Jul 2024 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/episodes/15471966-s5e8-reimagining-a-unified-content-experience-for-customer-success-with-scott-abel.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/episodes/15386880-s5e7-enhancing-tech-writing-workflows-with-markdown-and-ai-with-christopher-ward.mp3 Are traditional documentation formats holding you back? Join us as Christopher Ward offers a unique perspective on the future of technical communication. Discover how Markdown, with its straightforward syntax and open nature, can revolutionize the way technical writers and subject matter experts collaborate. Markdown simplifies collaboration by separating content from style, bridges the gap with developers, and aligns content creation with business goals.  We also discussed the profound impact of artificial intelligence and generative AI on the field, underscoring the pivotal role that technical writers play in developing and enhancing AI models while recognizing the limitations of AI-generated content and the irreplaceable value that human technical writers bring to the table.   Tune in for actionable insights and strategies to elevate your technical communication game. Markdown Demo Demo of the technical writing process using Markdown at 39:38 . Resources Blog  - [ https://goto.we... Thu, 11 Jul 2024 03:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/episodes/15386880-s5e7-enhancing-tech-writing-workflows-with-markdown-and-ai-with-christopher-ward.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/episodes/15234309-s5e6-using-collaborative-techniques-for-prioritizing-content-with-robert-mills.mp3 As content creators, we are constantly at the edge of our seats as we try to juggle multiple content deliverables. How do we strategize and manage stakeholder expectations? Robert Mills , the founder of Fourth Wall Content , joins me with techniques and insights into collaborative content prioritization.  With a journalism and content operations background, Robert shares the power of clear communication and methods you can employ to ensure your workflows and content efforts are efficient and effective. Discover four decision-making techniques: dot voting, the MoSCoW method, the RICE method, and the five whys. Robert and I dissect each technique, revealing how they can be leveraged for in-person and remote collaboration. Whether you're managing a major website overhaul or juggling a slew of content requests, these methods offer a structured approach to prioritization that can be adapted to any team or project context. Effective content strategy goes beyond mere tools—it's about... Tue, 11 Jun 2024 22:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/episodes/15234309-s5e6-using-collaborative-techniques-for-prioritizing-content-with-robert-mills.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/episodes/15162890-s5e5-mastering-ai-enhanced-content-creation-using-retrieval-augmented-generation-rag-with-manny-silva.mp3 Can outdated training data and hallucinations in large language models (LLMs) hold back your AI projects? Manny Silva joins us to uncover Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), a technique that improves the output of LLMs. He shares practical insights with real-world applications that ensure AI-generated responses are accurate and contextually relevant. The future of content creation is going to be automated. Manny reveals how we can cut down the time required to produce first drafts by using developer tools and open-source communities. Learn about integrating engineering and design documents, and templates from the Good Docs Project, all optimized for LLM inference. This episode also explores the delicate balance between AI and human creativity in writing, emphasizing that while AI can handle initial drafts, human input is invaluable for refinement. Tune in for a compelling discussion that will transform how you approach AI and content creation. Link to the video demo for RAG . The demo runs from ... Thu, 30 May 2024 12:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/episodes/15162890-s5e5-mastering-ai-enhanced-content-creation-using-retrieval-augmented-generation-rag-with-manny-silva.mp3 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/15073928-s5e4-mastering-project-management-as-content-creators-with-kieran-morgan.mp3 Kieran Morgan and I connected to discuss how to manage projects and priorities as technical communicators, particularly in agile environments.  With Kieran's vast experience in operations and governance, he shares strategies that can empower you as a writer to take charge of your workload without the luxury of dedicated project management support. From the importance of planning to the art of negotiation with stakeholders, our conversation dives into project management skills vital for technical writers. As we unravel the complexities of defining scope, scheduling, and budgeting, Kieran offers invaluable advice for those new to the field. Discover how embracing formal training in basic project management skills can be a game-changer, extending beyond mere schedules and trackers to encompass a holistic view of project execution, including risk and stakeholder management. Lastly, we bridge the gap between cognitive psychology and technical writing, shedding light on how a deeper understanding of... Wed, 15 May 2024 15:00:00 +0000 https://www.buzzsprout.com/1728253/15073928-s5e4-mastering-project-management-as-content-creators-with-kieran-morgan.mp3