Shows / The Not-Boring Tech Writer
The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Some people hear the phrase "technical writing" and think it must be boring. We're here to show the full complexity and awesomeness of being a tech writer. This podcast is for anyone who writes technical documentation of any kind, including those who may not feel comfortable calling themselves tech writers. Whether you create product documentation, support documentation, READMEs, or any other technical content—and whether you deal with imposter syndrome, lack formal training, or find yourself…
Episodes
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Telling the stories of women in technical communication with Sharon Burton
In this episode, I talk with Sharon Burton, a technical content strategist who has taught technical communication to engineering students at the University of…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on collaborative work
In this solo episode, I share my latest content updates progress and reflect on my takeaways from Jenna Jennissary’s interview (S3:E46). I share some thoughts…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Scripting audio description for film, TV, and video games with Jenna Jennissary
In this episode, I talk with Jenna Jennissary, a producer at Descriptive Video Works who specializes mostly in video games and still gets to write and perform…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on instructional design
In this solo episode, I share my latest content updates progress and confess to finally jumping on the Claude Code bandwagon. I also reflect on my takeaways…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Making the leap from tech writing to customer education with Katie Cox
In this episode, I talk with Katie Cox, an instructional designer who has spent her career in customer education and now builds an entire product Academy as a…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on being more human (and not boring)
In this solo episode, I share my latest content updates progress and reflect on my takeaways from Mat Patterson’s interview (S3:E42). I also share how my…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Writing more human content with Mat Patterson
In this episode, I talk with Mat Patterson, a CX professional turned technical marketing writer who spent nearly a decade each at Campaign Monitor and Help…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on making things better
In this solo episode, I share my latest content updates progress and reflect on my takeaways from Vladimir Izmalkov’s interview (S3:E40). I also share my…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Mapping your technical writing skill tree with Vladimir Izmalkov
In this episode, I talk with Vladimir Izmalkov, an experienced technical communicator who has built and managed documentation teams and worked across open…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on building confidence
In this solo episode, I share my latest content updates progress and reflect on my takeaways from Heather Zoppetti’s interview (S3:E38). I also share some…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Knitting together a technical writing career with Heather Zoppetti
In this episode, I talk with Heather Zoppetti, a senior technical writer who came to the field through software development and a decade spent running a…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on stress reduction
In this solo episode, I share my latest content updates progress and reflect on my takeaways from Florian Lefebvre’s interview (S3:E36). I also share some…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Writing docs as an open source developer with Florian Lefebvre
In this episode, I talk with Florian Lefebvre, a core maintainer of the open source Astro framework, about what it looks like to write and contribute to docs…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on community
In this solo episode, I share my latest content updates progress and reflect on my takeaways from Eric Holscher’s interview (S3:E34). I also share some…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Building a home for documentarians with Eric Holscher
In this episode, I talk with Eric Holscher, co-founder of Read the Docs and Write the Docs, about building and sustaining a community for people who care about…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on lovable docs
In this solo episode, I share my latest content updates progress and reflect on my takeaways from Jacob Moses’ interview (S3:E32). I also share some thoughts…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
From tech writing to building lovable neighborhoods with Jacob Moses
In this episode, I talk with Jacob Moses, the founder and original host of The Not-Boring Tech Writer podcast, about how the skills and values he developed as…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on docs symbiosis
In this solo episode, I share my latest content updates progress and reflect on my takeaways from Bill Holland’s interview (S3:E30). I also share my attempts…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Collaborating with designers and animators with Bill Holland
In this episode, I talk with Bill Holland, a motion graphics designer and video producer, about how tech writers can effectively collaborate with visual…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on process (and LEGO)
In this solo episode, I share my latest progress updates as I recover from finishing my big project, along with updates on my daily check-in form. I reflect on…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Advocating for docs and choosing tools with Kelton Noyes
In this episode, I talk with Kelton Noyes, a senior technical communicator who started his career in tech support and gradually built his way into…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on self-documentation
In this solo episode, I share my latest content updates progress (spoiler: I finished my project! 🎉). I also share the new daily check-in Google Form I’m…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
A peek behind the curtain: 2025 clips episode
In this episode, I share clips from my conversations with Liz Argall, Dennis Dawson, Sarah Walker, Ryan Macklin, Nick Graziade, Janine Chan, and Kate Pond. The…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on 2025
In this solo episode, I share my latest content update progress. I also reflect on all of 2025 hosting this podcast, offering lessons learned about tech…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Self-documentation for career growth with Kate Pond
In this episode, I talk with Kate Pond, a software engineer and former park ranger who turned self-documentation into a career superpower. We discuss her…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on small things and repairs
In this solo episode, I talk about my latest content update progress. I also reflect on Dennis Dawson’s interview (S3:E22), the ways I'm already using Dennis's…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Humor and visuals in technical writing with Dennis Dawson
In this episode, I talk with Dennis Dawson, a technical writer with 40 years of experience who creates the sketchnotes for Write the Docs talks. We talk about…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on beliefs and maintenance work
In this solo episode, I share an update on my content update progress. I also reflect on Fabrizio Ferri-Benedetti’s interview (S3:E20) and the ways exploring…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Growing as a technical writer in the AI era with Fabrizio Ferri-Benedetti
In this episode, I talk with Fabrizio Ferri-Benedetti about moving beyond strictly following documentation frameworks to embrace strategic thinking, his…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on docs as an act of service
In this solo episode, I share an update on my content update progress. I also reflect on Sarah Walker’s interview (S3:E18) and the concepts of Asteya, giving…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Yoga wisdom for technical writers with Sarah Walker
In this episode, I talk with Sarah Walker, a technical writer and yoga instructor, about how yoga principles like establishing foundations, respecting people’s…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on cognitive capital and learning
In this solo episode, I share an update on my content update progress. I also reflect on Manny Silva’s interview (S3:E14), Ryan Macklin’s interview (S3:E16)…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Empathy advocacy: Designing docs for all emotional states with Ryan Macklin
Learn how Ryan Macklin's "empathy advocacy" framework helps you design documentation that works for users in all emotional states (e.g. anxious, frustrated…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on “good” documentation
In this solo episode, I share an update on my content update progress. I also reflect on Nick Graziade’s interview (S3:E12) and Liz Argall’s interview (S3:E13)…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Docs as Tests: Keeping documentation resilient to product changes with Manny Silva
In this episode, I'm talking with Manny Silva, a technical writer who created the "Docs as Tests" concept name and the open-source tool Doc Detective. We…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Connecting permaculture and documentation with Liz Argall
In this episode, I’m talking with Liz Argall, a writer I connected with at Write the Docs Portland 2025. We talk about working on open source projects…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Documentation as a creative endeavor with Nick Graziade
In this episode, I'm talking with Nick Graziade, a technical writer and musician who approaches documentation as a creative endeavor. We explore how his early…
The Not-Boring Tech WriterKate sounds off on Write the Docs
In this solo episode, I share an update on my content update progress. I also reflect on Sue Brandt’s interview (S3:E10) and on the Write the Docs Portland…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
How to get hired as a tech writer with Sue Brandt
In this episode, I’m talking with Sue Brandt, a former Director of Documentation who’d hired around 60 people when we recorded the episode. We discuss…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on knowledge sharing and docs stewardship
In this solo episode, I share an update on my content update progress. I also reflect on Marcia Riefer Johnston’s interview (S3:E8) and on the idea of docs…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
The craft of technical writing with Marcia Riefer Johnston
In this episode, I’m talking with Marcia Riefer Johnston, a technical writer who’s worked in our industry for 40 years. We talk about how the profession has…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on mice and iterating
In this solo episode, I share an update on my content update progress, muse about the similarities between mice infestations and docs projects, and reflect…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
We’re all responsible for content accessibility with Kenzie Woodbridge
In this episode, I’m talking with Kenzie Woodbridge, a documentarian and self-taught accessibility advocate. We talk about how feeling “not expert enough” is…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on docs hierarchy of needs and how we talk to ourselves
In this solo episode, I share an update on working with content types, muse about the idea of a Documentation Hierarchy of Needs, and reflect more on Janine…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Bridging the gap from “not technical enough” to “technical” with Janine Chan
In this episode, I’m talking with Janine Chan, a technical writer and Write the Docs community moderator. We talk about how feeling “not technical enough” is…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Kate sounds off on content types
In this solo episode, I share what I'm currently working on, reflect a little on teaching my first Knowledge Management Master Class with KnowledgeOwl, and dig…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Developer collaboration with Lorna Mitchell
In this episode, I’m talking with Lorna Mitchell, a technology leader, published author, tech blogger, and developer experience expert who is passionate about…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Introducing The Not-Boring Tech Writer Reboot
Meet our new host Kate Mueller and get the inside scoop on how The Not-Boring Tech Writer (TNBTW) will work moving forward. — Kate Mueller is the Documentation…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Tech Writer Advocacy and Managing Write the Docs with Swapnil Ogale
In this episode I’m talking to Swapnil Ogale, a Technical Writer Advocate for Redocly based in Melbourne, Australia, who is also a Community and Conference…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Documentarians for Diplomacy: Bringing the Mirth with Kat Stoica Ostenfeld
We’re back after a short and unexpected break! Sorry to keep you waiting! This episode you’ll hear Kat Stoica Ostenfeld, an accomplished tech writer living in…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Marrying skillsets and existential googling with Caity Cronkhite
In this episode, I’m excited to be speaking to Caity Cronkhite, Seattle-based founder and CEO of Good Words LLC. We talk about her experience of starting up as…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
How to Infiltrate a Hackathon in Iowa with Philip Kiely
In such a complex and fast-moving industry as tech writing, it can be interesting to see how burgeoning tech writers get started - and become successful. Enter…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
A Fond Farewell (Yet Warm Welcome!)
After four exciting years hosting The Not-Boring Tech Writer—the podcast that gives listeners the skills to break the stereotype that technical writing is a…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Skill #36: Creating Usability Tests for Your Organization
Technical writers must ensure their help resources, such as documentation and video tutorials, are useful for their users. Therefore, they study language…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Skill #35: Understanding Basic Design Principles
Technical communicators wield the power of plain language to ensure their readers find and understand the information they need to complete a task—no matter…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Skill #34: Crowdsourcing Technical Communication
Folk working in technical communication—whether they’re academics or practitioners—through their own unique skill sets, perspectives, and experiences, often…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Skill #33: Getting Started with Open Data
For the civically-mind technical writer, there’s a growing movement in cities across the world where technical writers can use their skills to better their…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Skill #32: Understanding Translation and Localization
As products and services reach markets outside of their geographic origins, organizations must consider how to translate and localize their existing…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Skill #31: Choosing the Right Knowledge Base Software for Your Organization
No matter your industry—tech, nonprofit, marketing—your organization likely needs a knowledge base software, a dedicated place to capture essential knowledge…
- The Not-Boring Tech Writer
Skill #30: Landing a Tech Writing Internship
As prospective tech writers look for ways to get into the tech writing field, many pursue internships. And understandably so: internships give prospective tech…