For a long time, tech culture has focused too narrowly on technical skills; this has resulted in a tech community that too often puts companies and code over people. Greater Than Code is a podcast that invites the voices of people who are not heard from enough in tech: women, people of color, trans and/or queer folks, to talk about the human side of software development and technology. Greater Than Code is providing a vital platform for these conversations, and developing new ideas of what it means to be a technologist beyond just the code. Featuring an ongoing panel of racially and gender diverse tech panelists, the majority of podcast guests so far have been women in tech! We’ve covered topics including imposter syndrome, mental illness, sexuality, unconscious bias and social justice. We also have a major focus on skill sets that tech too often devalues, like team-building, hiring, community organizing, mentorship and empathy. Each episode also includes a transcript. We have an active Slack community that members can join by pledging as little as $1 per month via Patreon. (https://www.patreon.com/greaterthancode)
080: Crafting A Community with Kris Howard
02:05 – Knitting and Computing
Software Art Thou: Knit One, Compute One with Kris Howard
06:17 – The Knitting Community Vs The Software Community
09:38 – Moderation and Clear Communication of Expectations
12:50 – Welcoming New People
14:45 – Muscle Memory and Workflow; Teaching Others
19:09 – Information Exchange and Spreading Knowledge
25:16 – User Focus Vs Creator Focus
27:07 – Kris’ Superpower: Being a Social Extrovert
35:39 – Hard Work Vs Reframing
40:51 – Gender Differences in “Crafting”
"Read a comment this morning stating that Maker culture is 80% male and had to laugh. Only if you discount the millions of women sewing, knitting, weaving, and more. But oh right, they're just "crafters." That artificial distinction enrages me. 😡" ~ Kris Howard
25:16 – The “Craftsman” Gender Controversy
Reflections:
Kris: Thinking about your environment.
John: Onboarding community members and the importance of making that ramp as shallow as possible.
Jessica: Choosing a tribe based on inclusivity.
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Special Guest: Kris Howard.
Sponsored By:
- O'Reilly Media: Support for the Greater Than Code podcast comes from O’Reilly Fluent and Velocity conferences, coming to San Jose, California, June 11-14. Join us for more insights, experts, and peers than ever before. You’ll get hands-on training to help you improve performance, resilience, and user experience. Register with code GTC20 to save up to $519 on your pass. Learn more at oreilly.com/bettertogether. Promo Code: GTC20