Behind The Tech Event Marketing Scene With Katie Reese

This episode of Screaming in the Cloud features Katie Reese, an experienced events producer at Tailscale, who walks us through the ins and outs of event marketing within the tech industry. Katie shares insights on effective swag management and event planning to create memorable experiences that drive product adoption. Additionally, Katie and Corey discuss the challenges and strategies of marketing in a post-pandemic, budget-conscious world and explore how remote-first companies have adapted to these changes.Show Highlights: 00:00 - Intro00:19 - Welcome Katie Reese, discussing life in sunny Mexico City and her work at Tailscale03:03 - How Tailscale's product-led growth feels like magic05:08 - Success stories from the Tailscale Up conference06:25 - Event strategies in the post-pandemic, budget-conscious era09:04 - The benefits of remote-first companies and changes in the event landscape10:36 - Katie's career journey and the value of networking at events14:34 - The thoughtful approach to swag and reducing event waste20:14 - How bad marketing can ruin customer interactions25:40 - Ensuring swag runs out at the right time at conferences28:10 - Discussion on ethical event practices and avoiding waste32:04 - Closing thoughts and where to find Katie onlineAbout Katie:Katie leads field events at Tailscale and, when she is not traveling, splits her time between small-town Tennessee and Mexico City because it's all about balance.Links referenced: *Tailscale: https://tailscale.com/*Katie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-reese/*Katie’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/katiereese317?lang=enSponsor*Panoptica Academy: https://panoptica.app/lastweekinaws

In this episode, Corey chats with Google's Nick Eberts about how Kubernetes helps manage applications across different cloud environments. They cover the benefits and challenges of using Kubernetes, especially in Google's cloud (GKE), and discuss its role in making applications more flexible and scalable. The conversation also touches on how Kubernetes supports a multi-cloud approach, simplifies the deployment process, and can potentially save costs while avoiding being tied down to one cloud provider. They wrap up by talking about best practices in cloud infrastructure and the future of cloud-native technologies.Show Highlights: (00:00) - Introduction to the episode(03:28) - Google Cloud's approach to egress charges and its impact on Kubernetes(04:33) - Data transfer costs and Kubernetes' verbose telemetry(07:23) - The nature of Kubernetes and its relationship with cloud-native principles. (11:14) - Challenges Nick faced managing a Kubernetes cluster in a home lab setting(13:25) - Simplifying Kubernetes with Google's Fleets(17:34) - Introduction to GKE Fleets for managing Kubernetes clusters (20:39) - Building Kubernetes-like systems for complex application portfolios (24:06) - Internal company platforms and the utility of Kubernetes for CI/CD (27:49) - Challenges and strategies of updating old systems for today's cloud environment(32:43) - The dividing line between Kubernetes and GKE from a product perspective. (35:07) - Where to find Nick (36:48) - Closing remarks About Nick:Nick is an absolute geek who would prefer to spend his time building systems, but he has succumbed to capitalism and moved into product management at Google. For the last 20 years, he has worked as a systems engineer, solution architect, and outbound product manager. He is currently the product manager for GKE Fleets & Teams, focusing on multi-cluster capabilities that streamline GCP customers' experience while building platforms on GKE. Links referenced: Duck Bill Group's website:http://www.duckbillgroup.com Nick on Twitter/X : @nicholasebertsNicholas Eberts on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neberts1/Nick on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholaseberts/SponsorPanoptica Academy: https://panoptica.app/lastweekinaws

Xe Iaso, the Senior Technophilosopher at Fly.io, joins Corey to explore the world of unconventional thinking in technology. They discuss the magic of embracing bad ideas as stepping stones to innovation, the simplicity and power of deploying applications globally with a single command, and the humorous yet insightful take on using old tech in new, imaginative ways. Along the way, they tackle the importance of clear communication in tech, the challenges and rewards of making technology accessible, and how to creatively navigate the tech industry's evolving landscape. Join us for an enlightening conversation that challenges the conventional path to tech success.Show Highlights: (00:00) - Intro (02:08) - The ease of deploying apps across data centers with Fly.io (04:33) - From Python to Go, Xe shares their programming journey(07:26) - Using S3 as a message queue for cross AZ data transfer(10:57) - How unconventional ideas can lead to tech breakthroughs(14:50) - The dangers of being too close to a product and the importance of a broader perspective (19:15) - The challenge of making complex tech accessible to newcomers(23:40) - Voice Coding in tech(28:33) - The pioneering tech developments driven by the adult entertainment industry(31:22) - The ethical implications and personal impacts of AI in creative fields(36:22) - Xe's multi-faceted approach to creativity and tech (38:55) - Closing remarksAbout Xe IasoI'm Xe Iaso, a technical educator, twitch streamer, vtuber, and philosopher that focuses on ways to help make technology easier to understand and do cursed things in the process. I live in Ottawa with my husband and I do developer relations professionally. I am an avid writer for my blog xeiaso.net, where I have over 400 articles. I regularly experiment with new technologies and find ways to mash them up with old technologies for my own amusement.Links referenced: Fly.io: https://fly.ioXe Iaso's Blog: https://xeiaso.net  SponsorThe Duckbill Group: https://www.duckbillgroup.com/ 

Corey sits down with Alyssa Miller, the CISO at Epic Global, for a discussion that cuts through the noise of the technology world in this episode of Screaming in The Cloud. Alyssa celebrates her personal journey to becoming a licensed pilot and invaluable insights into the current state and future of AI, cloud computing, and security. This episode ventures beyond the typical tech hype, offering a critical look at the realities of AI, the strategic considerations behind cloud computing at Epic Global, and the importance of explainability in AI within regulated industries. Additionally, Alyssa and Corey highlight the cyclical nature of tech hype, the misconceptions surrounding AI's capabilities, and the impact of startup culture on genuine innovation. Show Highlights: (00:00) Introduction(01:33) Corey celebrates Alyssa Miller getting her general aviation license.(04:10) Considerations of cloud computing at Epic Global.(06:45) The hype and reality of AI in today's tech landscape.(11:49) Alyssa on the importance of explainability in AI within regulated industries.(14:21) Debunking myths about AI surpassing human intelligence.(19:30) The cyclical nature of tech hype, exemplified by blockchain and AI.(24:58) Critique of startup culture and its influence on technology adoption.(29:01) Alyssa and Corey discuss how tech trends often fail to meet their initial hype.(31:57) Where to find Alyssa Miller online for more insights.About Alyssa:Alyssa directs the security strategy for S&P Global Ratings as Business Information Security Officer (BISO), connecting corporate security objectives to business initiatives. Additionally, she shares her message about evolving the way people think about and approach security, privacy and trust through speaking engagements at various conferences and other events. When not engaged in security research and advocacy, she is also an accomplished soccer referee, guitarist and photographer.Links referenced: Alyssa Miller’s LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssam-infosec/Epic Global's Website: https://www.epiqglobal.com/en-usAlyssa’s Aviation Journey: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alyssam-infosec_i-landed-at-ohare-kord-in-my-cherokee-activity-7079088781575811074-ZsSx?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

This week on Screaming in the Cloud, Corey is joined by good friend and colleague, Charity Majors. Charity is the CTO and Co-founder of Honeycomb.io, the widely popular observability platform. Corey and Charity discuss the ins and outs of observability 1.0 vs. 2.0, why you should never underestimate the power of software to get worse over time, and the hidden costs of observability that could be plaguing your monthly bill right now. The pair also shares secrets on why speeches get better the more you give them and the basic role they hope AI plays in the future of computing. Check it out!Show Highlights:(00:00 - Reuniting with Charity Majors: A Warm Welcome(03:47) - Navigating the Observability Landscape: From 1.0 to 2.0(04:19) - The Evolution of Observability and Its Impact(05:46) - The Technical and Cultural Shift to Observability 2.0(10:34) - The Log Dilemma: Balancing Cost and Utility(15:21) - The Cost Crisis in Observability(22:39) - The Future of Observability and AI's Role(26:41) - The Challenge of Modern Observability Tools(29:05) - Simplifying Observability for the Modern Developer(30:42) - Final Thoughts and Where to Find MoreAbout CharityCharity is an ops engineer and accidental startup founder at honeycomb.io. Before this she worked at Parse, Facebook, and Linden Lab on infrastructure and developer tools, and always seemed to wind up running the databases. She is the co-author of O'Reilly's Database Reliability Engineering, and loves free speech, free software, and single malt scotch.Links:https://charity.wtf/Honeycomb Blog: https://www.honeycomb.io/blogTwitter: @mipsytipsy

On this week’s episode of Screaming in the Cloud, Corey is joined by Kristi Perreault. Given Kristi’s title of AWS Serverless Hero, Corey and Kristi discuss the origins and current state of the serverless world, the similarities between AI and serverless as the tech world moves into this next era, and why she emphasizes that serverless is not always the right solution for every issue. Kristi also opens up about her role as Principal Software Engineer at Liberty Mutual, and what she enjoys most about jet setting around the globe giving speeches.Highlights:(00:00) - Introducing Kristi Perreault(00:39) - The Unconventional Path to Becoming an AWS Serverless Hero(05:05) - Exploring the Boundaries of Cloud Education(10:53) - The Challenges of Keeping Up with Rapid Tech Changes(11:51) - Redefining Serverless: Beyond the Hype(13:12) - The Evolution of Serverless and Its Impact(21:55) - Staying Grounded Amidst Technological Zealotry(27:18) - Python Development in the Cloud(29:31) - Upcoming Talks and Where to Connect with KristiAbout KristiKristi Perreault is an AWS Serverless Hero and a Principal Software Engineer at Liberty Mutual Insurance, where her focus is serverless-first cloud enablement. She has over 5 years of industry experience, holds an M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering, and is very passionate about promoting women in technology. She is an established speaker, appearing in over 35 conferences, podcasts, panels, and more. Kristi founded the Serverless Denver meetup, and currently co-organizes the Portsmouth, NH AWS User Group and CDK Day. Outside of work and the serverless tech space, Kristi can be found reading a good book in her tiny home, enjoying a good poke bowl, or jet setting all over the world.Links:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-perreault/Twitter: @kperreault95AWS Portsmouth User Group: https://www.meetup.com/aws-portsmouth-user-group/AWS Usergroup Belfast: https://www.meetup.com/aws-usergroup-belfast/

George Porter, a computer science professor at the University of California, San Diego, talks to us about advanced networking and the effects of computing on the environment In this episode of Screaming in the cloud. George explores the shift towards optical networking in data centers to meet growing bandwidth needs and discusses the significant carbon footprint associated with computing, from data centers to device production. In addition to providing a look into the future of scalable, sustainable computing systems, George mentions the difficulties and benefits of incorporating cloud computing into academic research. Show Highlights:(00:00) - Introduction (03:15) - The Shift to Optical Networking(07:50) - The Efficiency of Cloud Networks(12:06) - Adaptable Networks for Different Uses(16:19) - Reducing Computing's Carbon Footprint(20:25) - Highlighting Computing's Environmental Impact Through Art(26:51) - Cloud Computing Challenges in Academia(31:18) - The benefits of cloud computing for academic research(34:14) - Closing thoughts About George:A Computer Science Professor at UC San Diego focusing on high-performance and sustainable computer systemsLinks:Center for Network Systems at UCSD: https://cns.ucsd.edu/Low Carbon Computing and Collaboration with the University of San Diego: https://c3lab.net/ 

Join Corey Quinn and MinIO's co-founder and CEO, AB Periasamy, for a look into MinIO's strategic approach to integrating open-source contributions with its business objectives amidst the AI evolution. They discuss the effect of AI on data management, highlight the critical role of data replication, and advocate for the adoption of cloud-native architecture. Their conversation examines the insights of data replication, mentioning its pivotal role in ensuring efficient data management and storage. Overall, a recurring theme throughout the episode is the importance of simplifying technology to catalyze a broader understanding and utilization that can remain accessible and beneficial to all.Show Highlights: (00:00) - Intro(03:40) - MinIO's evolution and commitment to simplicity and scalability.(07:25) - The significance of data replication and object storage's versatility.(12:12) - Challenges and innovations in data backup and disaster recovery.(15:21) - Launch of MinIO's Enterprise Object Store and its comprehensive features.(20:50) - Balancing open-source contributions and commercial objectives.(30:32) - AI's growing influence on data storage strategies and MinIO's role.(34:33) - The shift towards software-defined data infrastructure driven by AI and cloud technologies.(39:40) - Resources and the future of tech (43:31) - Closing thoughts About A.B Periasamy:AB Periasamy is the CEO and co-founder of MinIO. One of the leading thinkers and technologists in the open source software movement, AB was a co-founder and CTO of GlusterFS which was acquired by RedHat in 2011. Following the acquisition, he served in the office of the CTO at RedHat prior to founding MinIO in late 2015. AB is an active angel investor and serves on the board of H2O.ai and the Free Software Foundation of India. He earned his BE in Computer Science and Engineering from Annamalai University.Links:MinIO: https://min.io/Kubernetes:https://kubernetes.io/AWS (Amazon Web Services): https://aws.amazon.com/Twitter: @abperiasamy 

Corey Quinn is joined by HumblePod CEO Chris Hill to dissect Chris's debut experience at AWS re:Invent. Together, they tackle the challenges of attending one of the biggest conferences in the IT industry, discussing its immense reach, logistical hurdles, and invaluable insights for anyone considering attending in the future. Beyond the event itself, Chris provides an intimate glimpse into the crucial behind-the-scenes efforts involved in producing exceptional content amid the chaos of AWS re:Invent, emphasizing the importance of kindness, professionalism, and superior audio quality. Discover how partnering with an experienced podcast production team can elevate any content to new heights of polish and engagement.Full Description / Show Notes(00:00) - Introduction to the Episode(01:25) - Chris's First Impressions of AWS re:Invent(02:09) - The Surprising Scale of AWS re:Invent(04:13) - Lessons Learned and Things Chris Would Do Differently at Future AWS re:Invent Events(07:52) - Balancing Content Creation, Networking, and Professionalism Under Stress(13:42) - Chris and Corey’s Humorous Encounters with Security While Filming at AWS re:Invent(15:35) - Exploring AWS Services and Billing Surprises(21:12) - Significance of Professional Podcast Production(25:04) - Closing Thoughts & HumblePod Contact Information(26:19) - Closing ThoughtsAbout Chris:Chris Hill is a Knoxville, TN native and owner of the podcast production company, HumblePod. He helps his customers create, develop, and produce podcasts and is working with clients in Knoxville as well as startups and entrepreneurs across the United States, Silicon Valley, and the world.In addition to producing podcasts for nationally-recognized thought leaders, Chris is the co-host and producer of the award-winning Our Humble Beer Podcast. He also lectures at the University of Tennessee, where he leads non-credit courses on podcasts and marketing.  He received his undergraduate degree in business at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where he majored in Marketing & Entrepreneurship, and he later received his MBA from King University. Chris currently serves his community as the President of the American Marketing Association in Knoxville. In his spare time, he enjoys hanging out with the local craft beer community, international travel, exploring the great outdoors, and his many creative pursuits.Links:HumblePod: https://www.humblepod.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/HumblePod LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisdhill1/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thechristopholiesWBTB TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@webuiltthisbrand HumblePod IG: https://www.instagram.com/humblepod/?hl=en 

On this week’s episode of Screaming in the Cloud, Corey Quinn is joined by Joel Griffith. Joel is  the CEO of Browserless.io, a company focused on providing headless browser automation without the pains of hosting. Corey and Joel discuss the most common use cases for headless browsers, the spectrum of web scraping ethics over the last decade, and why it’s so important to always do what you are passionate about no matter how high you climb on the corporate ladder. Joel also gives us his insight into why so many engineers come from creative backgrounds and shares his story of moving from jazz trumpet player to CEO.Full Description / Show Notes(00:00) - Intro(00:53) - Guest Introduction: Joel Griffith(02:51) - The Genesis of Browserless.io(05:21) - Use Cases of Browserless.io(07:19) -The Potential for Abuse of Web Scraping(08:37) - The Legitimate Use Cases of Web Scraping(11:17) - The Power of the Right License Type(13:55) - The Value of Open Source and Charging for Software(14:13) - The Journey to Starting a Business(24:00) - Joel’s Emphasis on Quality of Life(27:43) - Staying Focused on the Work You’re Passionate About(30:00) - Conclusion and Final ThoughtsAbout JoelMaster of puppets and the browsers they run! I'm Joel Griffith, and for over a decade I've helped run, destroy, and make manageable things related to browser automation. I've had the pleasure of working on this in big companies and small, and more recently started Browserless to bring the power of automation to teams of all sizes.Links:Github: https://github.com/joelgriffithTwitter: @browserless https://twitter.com/browserless