Best API The Docs Podcasts (2025)

1
The craft of technical writing with Marcia Riefer Johnston 52:59

12d ago52:59

52:59

📣 Special announcement: The Not-Boring Tech Writer team (Kate and Chad) will be at Write the Docs Portland in May. Thanks to KnowledgeOwl's sponsorship, they’ll be wearing KnowledgeOwl and The Not-Boring Tech Writer t-shirts and giving out The Not-Boring Tech Writer stickers. If you're attending WTD Portland this year, please say hi to Kate and Cha…

1
Notes and discussion for Jonathan Warner's <i>More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI</i> 59:40

14d ago59:40

59:40

This post has notes and questions for discussion for More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI, published in February 2025 by Jonathan Warner. Warner's book, which explores what we lose when we outsource writing to AI, is the first book in the AI Book Club: A Human in the Loop.By Tom Johnson

1
Kate sounds off on mice and iterating 17:56

26d ago17:56

17:56

📣 Special announcement: The Not-Boring Tech Writer team (Kate and Chad) will be at Write the Docs Portland in May. Thanks to KnowledgeOwl's sponsorship, they’ll be wearing KnowledgeOwl and The Not-Boring Tech Writer t-shirts and giving out The Not-Boring Tech Writer stickers. If you're attending WTD Portland this year, please say hi to Kate and Cha…

1
We’re all responsible for content accessibility with Kenzie Woodbridge 45:57

1M ago45:57

45:57

📣 Special announcement: The Not-Boring Tech Writer team (Kate and Chad) will be at Write the Docs Portland in May. Thanks to KnowledgeOwl's sponsorship, they’ll be wearing KnowledgeOwl and The Not-Boring Tech Writer t-shirts and giving out The Not-Boring Tech Writer stickers. If you're attending WTD Portland this year, please say hi to Kate and Cha…

1
Kate sounds off on docs hierarchy of needs and how we talk to ourselves 17:36

2M ago17:36

17:36

📣 Special announcement: The Not-Boring Tech Writer team (Kate and Chad) will be at Write the Docs Portland in May. Thanks to KnowledgeOwl's sponsorship, they’ll be wearing KnowledgeOwl and The Not-Boring Tech Writer t-shirts and giving out The Not-Boring Tech Writer stickers. If you're attending WTD Portland this year, please say hi to Kate and Cha…

1
Bridging the gap from “not technical enough” to “technical” with Janine Chan 56:28

2M ago56:28

56:28

📣 Special announcement: The Not-Boring Tech Writer team (Kate and Chad) will be at Write the Docs Portland in May. Thanks to KnowledgeOwl's sponsorship, they’ll be wearing KnowledgeOwl and The Not-Boring Tech Writer t-shirts and giving out The Not-Boring Tech Writer stickers. If you're attending WTD Portland this year, please say hi to Kate and Cha…

1
Rethinking traditional approaches to release notes -- recording of WTD Australia presentation 56:52

2M ago56:52

56:52

I gave a presentation to the Write the Docs Australia group on using AI to write release notes using file diffs, on Feb 16, 2025. Here's the recording, presentation description, and transcript.By Tom Johnson

1
Kate sounds off on content types 16:33

3M ago16:33

16:33

📣 Special announcement: The Not-Boring Tech Writer team (Kate and Chad) will be at Write the Docs Portland in May. Thanks to KnowledgeOwl's sponsorship, they’ll be wearing KnowledgeOwl and The Not-Boring Tech Writer t-shirts and giving out The Not-Boring Tech Writer stickers. If you're attending WTD Portland this year, please say hi to Kate and Cha…

1
Developer collaboration with Lorna Mitchell 44:15

3M ago44:15

44:15

📣 Special announcement: The Not-Boring Tech Writer team (Kate and Chad) will be at Write the Docs Portland in May. Thanks to KnowledgeOwl's sponsorship, they’ll be wearing KnowledgeOwl and The Not-Boring Tech Writer t-shirts and giving out The Not-Boring Tech Writer stickers. If you're attending WTD Portland this year, please say hi to Kate and Cha…

1
Introducing The Not-Boring Tech Writer Reboot 13:14

4M ago13:14

13:14

📣 Special announcement: The Not-Boring Tech Writer team (Kate and Chad) will be at Write the Docs Portland in May. Thanks to KnowledgeOwl's sponsorship, they’ll be wearing KnowledgeOwl and The Not-Boring Tech Writer t-shirts and giving out The Not-Boring Tech Writer stickers. If you're attending WTD Portland this year, please say hi to Kate and Cha…

1
My 2025 trends predictions for tech comm 21:17

4M ago21:17

21:17

It's that time of year again when we take to analyzing trends. If you know me, you're probably gearing up for a load of AI-optimistic predictions because, as I've noted in previous posts like Unpacking the issues from AI, I'm an AI optimist. However, my AI optimism isn't based on hype or the current tech zeitgeist. Rather, I'm an AI optimist becaus…

1
[Podcast] GenAI and Document360: Conversation with Saravana Kumar 49:36

7M ago49:36

49:36

This podcast explores GenAI in technical documentation scenarios, highlighting the AI features and capabilities provided in Document360. I talk with Saravana Kumar, CEO of Kovai.co, which makes Document360, about how AI is changing search functionality and reducing support costs in knowledge bases. We discuss practical applications of AI for techni…

1
Podcast: Task decomposition and complex tree diagrams 18:38

9M ago18:38

18:38

This tutorial will help you understand task decomposition by guiding you through the process of creating a complex tree diagram that's too sophisticated for an AI tool to create at once. Whether you're creating tree diagrams or not, it doesn't matter. This is just an example of how to break down complex information into smaller chunks and pass it i…

1
Podcast: Using long-token contexts to quality check an entire API doc set 21:58

9M ago21:58

21:58

One of the advantages of recent Gen AI updates is the massive token input context. When you can pass in an entire set of documentation as an input, you have a much stronger possibility for powerful prompts. In this tutorial, I share some quality-control prompts you can use that deal with entire doc sets as inputs, as well as explain some of the cha…

1
Podcast: Using file diffs for better release notes in reference docs 17:31

9M ago17:31

17:31

You can use AI prompts when creating release notes for APIs by leveraging file diffs from regenerated reference documentation. The file diffs from version control tools provide a reliable, precise information source about what's changed in the release.By Tom Johnson

1
Podcast: Populating documentation templates using AI 22:47

9M ago22:47

22:47

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to use AI to populate documentation templates with the source material you've gathered. For example, API overviews often follow a highly structured template. This technique can be a quick way to get an initial draft of documentation, which you can then edit and review with SMEs.…

1
Podcast: Gathering source material for context input 18:02

9M ago18:02

18:02

One of the most successful strategies for using AI is to pass in an abundance of source material that can augument and inform the AI's responses. In this tutorial, I cover strategies for gathering this material, including what types of documents to look for, optimal ordering, pitfalls to look out for such as outdated or slanted information, and mor…

1
Podcast: Creating high-fidelity, thematically organized notes from engineering meetings using AI 15:29

9M ago15:29

15:29

For AI tools to generate accurate information for documentation you're writing, you need to pass in source material. This usually means meeting with engineers and product managers to gather information about the product. In this tutorial, I share prompts for turning those meeting transcriptions into organized, readable meeting summaries. These clea…

1
Documentation by humans for humans - Discussion with Polina Zaichkina and Max Clayton Clowes 43:21

10M ago43:21

43:21

How do you get people on board when you shift to a new tool or a new approach? Even if the value proposition is clear, it might be a challenge to create a practice out of the change. In this episode of API The Docs, Polina Zaichkina (Senior technical writer at Codat) and Max Clayton Cowes (Product director for experience at Codat) share insights ab…

1
From Inconsistent to Award-winning Docs - Conversation with Naomi Pentrel & Andrew Feierabend 50:38

10M ago50:38

50:38

In this episode, Naomi Pentrel and Andrew Feierabend share their journey of revamping Viam’s robotics APIs documentation. They discuss the benefits of sitting down with actual users in well-structured interview sessions with specific scripts and tasks. Learn about their approach to user research, their team’s collaborative methodology for achieving…

1
The Secret Sauce of Developer Programs: A Conversation with Byrne Reese 56:46

10M ago56:46

56:46

Byrne Reese had the opportunity to build a number of developer programs over the years. In this episode, he explains his unique Developer Pyramid framework which he uses as a guide to build a successful and scalable developer program now at RingCentral. He also dives into his passion for board games and how it influences his approach to documentati…

1
[Podcast] Uncovering and communicating the value of your tech comm teams' work, with Keren Brown 47:32

11M ago47:32

47:32

In this podcast episode, I talk with Keren Brown, VP of Marketing and Value at Zoomin Software, about strategies for technical writers to demonstrate their value within their organizations, especially in light of recent layoffs in the tech industry. We discuss aligning documentation work with high-priority initiatives, quantifying the impact of tec…

1
Teaching and Learning Git - Discussion with Anna Skoulikari 27:30

1y ago27:30

27:30

When it comes to learning Git, it can be daunting to navigate the plethora of learning resources out there. Recognising the need for a visually engaging all-levels experience, Anna Skoulikari (JetBrains) decided to write her own self-study book to help learners along the way.

1
Install ways to check on the overall health of the portal - Conversation with Rachel Lee Nabors 25:39

1y ago25:39

25:39

"Key results are the things you're going to do to move that number. Here's the thing where most people spin out. There should be a break mechanism on the things that you're doing […] a culture of experimentation, and objective critique around 'Is this the right thing to be doing?” Welcome back to our two parts episode with Rachel Lee Nabors, we con…

1
React.dev and storyboarding with Rachel Lee Nabors 23:37

1y ago23:37

23:37

"You can always tell when it's a novice writer or a writer and an artist who are in bad relation because there will be blocks of text everywhere explaining how the character is feeling […] There's a delicate balance to be struck and it's the same with code.” Welcome Rachel Lee Nabors, one of the creators behind the grand award-winning react.dev por…

1
On the management track - conversation with Claire Waters 44:35

1y ago44:35

44:35

Drawing from her role as a wayfinder, Claire Waters (Senior Manager – Product Content Experience, Cloudflare) shares her team’s using the COIN methodology for embracing AI tools as a team, and how they engage in low-stakes AI challenges to foster familiarity and comfort with AI technologies.

1
The zen of resilience - Discussion with Dan Grabski 49:23

1y ago49:23

49:23

You need docs and headspace when a well-oiled system inevitably throws a flat tire. With Dan Grabski we talked from car racing through tech execs mediating at Burning Man, forest fire incident management systems and early expectations setting all the way to API docs and back again.

1
Writing with humans in mind - Discussion with Ryan Young 36:02

1y ago36:02

36:02

Technical writers walk a tricky tightrope between delivering accurate technical information and making it comprehensible for a wide range of users with varying levels of technical experience. In this episode, Ryan Young (Technical writer at Stripe) shares his thoughts on bridging the gap between different content layers and writing for humans in a …

1
DevPortal Awards Jury Interview - Special Edition Part 4 16:34

1y ago16:34

16:34

How can one make their devportal accessible and useful at the same time? What can devportal owners do to support inclusive design? We were honored to ask Susanna Laurin (Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies, G3ict and IAAP Representative to the EU) about these questions in 2023’s DevPortal Awards framework. As she highlighted, …

1
DevPortal Awards Jury Interview - Special Edition Part 3 22:10

1y ago22:10

22:10

The API The Docs Podcast brings you a Special Edition series with insights from the 2023 DevPortal Awards. Each year, the DevPortal Awards seeks the most outstanding solutions with the help of experienced jurors, who are volunteers with extensive knowledge of API programs, developer portals, and API documentation. In the Special Edition series, we …

1
DevPortal Awards Jury Interview - Special Edition Part 2 28:09

1y ago28:09

28:09

The API The Docs Podcast brings you a Special Edition series with insights from the 2023 DevPortal Awards. Each year, the DevPortal Awards seeks the most outstanding solutions with the help of experienced jurors, who are volunteers with extensive knowledge of API programs, developer portals, and API documentation. In the Special Edition series, we …

1
DevPortal Awards Jury Interview - Special Edition Part 1 18:40

1y ago18:40

18:40

The API The Docs Podcast brings you a Special Edition series with insights from the 2023 DevPortal Awards. Each year, the DevPortal Awards seeks the most outstanding solutions with the help of experienced jurors, who are volunteers with extensive knowledge of API programs, developer portals, and API documentation. In the Special Edition series, we …

1
Harnessing the power of customer success - Discussion with Charlie Edwards 36:32

1y ago36:32

36:32

Connected to both customers and internal teams, customer success is a powerful source of valuable information throughout the entire feedback loop. In this episode, Charlie Edwards (Customer Success Manager at CAE Technologies Limited) explains how the feedback from customer success teams contributes to the comprehensive improvement of products. The…

1
Building empathy with a beginner’s mindset - Discussion with Adrienne Braganza Tacke 49:46

1+ y ago49:46

49:46

Adopting a beginner’s mindset allows you to explore familiar concepts through a lens of curiosity and openness. But how does that translate to documentation? In this episode, Adrienne Braganza Tacke (Sr. Developer Advocate & DevNet Community Programs Lead at Cisco) explains the unexpected benefits of writing with newcomers in mind and how it can ta…

1
Docs anthropology, and how to make content useful for the future - conversation with Portia Burton 27:22

1+ y ago27:22

27:22

How does a biological anthropologist become a professional docs auditor? Portia Burton, founder of DocumentWrite, narrates her meandering journey from biological anthropology to ESL China, through blockchain technology community engineering, all the way to content audit services. We talk about what to look for in an audit, and what is often critica…

1
[Podcast] Breaking ground: New API documentation course at UW, with Bob Watson 53:05

1+ y ago53:05

53:05

In this podcast, I chat with Bob Watson about an upcoming API documentation course he'll be teaching at the University of Washington. Bob has extensive experience working as an API technical writer at big tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. The UW reached out to Bob to develop this new course offering. The 14-week evening course will…

1
My 2024 technical writing trends and predictions 28:28

1+ y ago28:28

28:28

I've been mulling over whether to write a trends post this year. There's so much uncertainty, it's hard to feel confident about how the tech writing profession will play out. But little trends-related ideas keep surfacing in the back of my mind, so I decided to write out some of my thoughts. Before I jump into this, I want to say that I’m much more…

1
Podcast: Notes and themes from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig 1:03:29

1+ y ago1:03:29

1:03:29

These are some notes and thoughts from reading Robert Pirsig's classic philosophical novel, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, published in 1974. My reading here focuses more on the technical writing aspects and themes from the book. Some themes include Classic versus Romantic modes of thought, the concept of Quality, our relationship with …

1
Webinar recording: Experiments and use cases for AI from a tech writer’s perspective 1:02:34

1+ y ago1:02:34

1:02:34

I recently gave a webinar titled 'Experiments and use cases for AI from a tech writer’s perspective' on December 8, 2023. The webinar was sponsored by the STC Washington, DC - Baltimore Chapter. In this presentation, I shared some personal experiences in using AI for different writing-related use cases, explaining what I’ve found helpful. These use…

1
30+ ways I’m using AI in everyday writing life as a technical writer, blogger, and curious human 44:33

1+ y ago44:33

44:33

In this post, I provide over 30 real-life examples of how I'm using AI on a daily basis, not just for technical writing tasks but more broadly in life, including summarizing content, explaining concepts, answering questions, troubleshooting problems, and having engaging conversations for a variety of tasks and scenarios. In my view, AI use cases ar…

1
Podcast: The evolution of podcasting, with Ed Marsh 57:24

1+ y ago57:24

57:24

In this podcast, I talk with Ed Marsh about podcasting. You may have listened to Ed Marsh's Content Content podcast previously. As an experienced podcaster, Ed has a lot of insights and thoughts about podcasting. We discuss what initially drew him to start podcasting, the equipment and logistics involved in podcasting, different formats that engage…

1
Demystifying DevRel and Tech Writing - Discussion with Kruno Golubic and Katarina Šupe 53:52

1+ y ago53:52

53:52

Technical writing and developer relations are relatively new areas, and they have both grown out of a need for these specific skill sets. However, for newcomers in the IT landscape, it might take a while to understand what they actually mean and how they support the work of developers. Kruno Golubic (technical writer at Memgraph) and Katarina Šupe …

1
Podcast: Tech writing and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, with Dan Grabski 42:12

1+ y ago42:12

42:12

In this episode, I chat with Dan Grabski, a senior content developer based in Portland, both about his recent WTD talk titled 'Zen and the Art of Manually Creating API Documentation' and Robert Pirsig's 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.' Dan explains the importance of focusing not just on technical details of implementations but also on i…

1
Doing research with AI tools -- avoiding the trap of fabricated URLs 14:56

1+ y ago14:56

14:56

In this short podcast, I explore using AI tools to do research, the potential for fake URLs, and how to deal with the fabrication. I started by using Claude to summarize a podcast and provide a list of salient points, including the potential counterargument. What I didn't expect was for Claude to fabricate a list of imagined research and then summa…

1
Notes for Building the Cycling City: The Dutch Blueprint for Urban Vitality 46:49

1+ y ago46:49

46:49

In Building the Cycling City: The Dutch Blueprint for Urban Vitality, Melissa and Chris Bruntlett describe how the Dutch achieved so much cycling success, and how other cities might do the same. The authors bring up a variety of techniques and approaches the Dutch have used, such as seamlessly integrating cycling with public transit, pursuing custo…

1
Fostering an API-first culture in a startup environment - Discussion with Alex Akimov and Helen Kosova 42:54

1+ y ago42:54

42:54

From rapid changes to learning on the fly, startups face unique challenges that require creative solutions. Alex Akimov (Head of API Platform at Monite) and Helen Kosova (API Technical Writer at Monite) discuss how Monite’s API council supports the adoption of an API-first approach at the company.

1
My experience trying to write original, full-length human-sounding articles using Claude AI 37:30

1+ y ago37:30

37:30

You can use AI tools like Claude to help you write full-length content. By going paragraph-by-paragraph, you can direct the AI while seemingly maintaining your own voice and ideas. However, despite my attempts to use AI with writing, I've found that it's harder to pull off than I thought. I can get close, but due to the way AI tools are trained, th…

1
Chatting about AI trends and tech comm with Fabrizio Ferri Benedetti 49:01

1+ y ago49:01

49:01

In this podcast, I chat with Fabrizio Ferri Benedetti, a tech writer in Barcelona who blogs at passo.uno and works for Splunk, about various AI news topics. We talk about the Forrester AI jobs impact forecast, the community element in documentation, the way the profession is changing with AI, content design roles with LLMs, how complex processes an…

1
[Podcast] AI and APIs: What works, what doesn't 1:00:58

1+ y ago1:00:58

1:00:58

In conversations about AI, a lot of tech writers are asking what kind of scenarios is AI good for? What works, what doesn’t? In which scenarios? You may have read my responses to these questions before in previous posts, but this time I recorded a podcast with slides. In the podcast, I try to pull together these ideas into more of a narrative shape…

1
Empowered community through user-centered design - Discussion with Anthony Pichardo 23:51

1+ y ago23:51

23:51

With Anthony Pichardo, product manager at Visa Developer Platform, on the value of user-centered design and building non-zero sum environments where everyone wins. Community is not just an afterthought, it’s an integral part of strategy. The platform team conducts regular user research to gauge pain points, and constantly strives to minimize the le…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

API The Docs Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen