Claim OwnershipInside Tech Comm with Zohra Mutabanna
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© 2026 Inside Tech Comm with Zohra Mutabanna
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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.
57 Episodes
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We ask Julie Trostad how authors can protect their work in an AI-first world and where ethics, law, and new licensing models meet. From content fingerprinting to smarter metadata, we map practical steps, real risks, and hopeful paths for fair compensation. We start with the foundation: what intellectual property actually protects, how work-for-hire changes ownership, and why attribution still matters. From US lawsuits that punish pirated training data versus Europe’s stricter model for text ...
The AI tools arrived, the dashboards lit up, and the ROI… didn’t. Monica Marquez of Flipwork unpacks what actually drives meaningful adoption—and what kills it. The short answer: people and process, not just platforms. The longer answer: psychological safety, shared playbooks, and a clear path from micro efficiencies to measurable impact. Monica walks us through the mindset shift from fearing replacement to becoming “people squared,” where AI handles the drudge work, and humans double down o...
We kick off the new season by breaking down the “contractor mindset” for writing prompts — the key to getting AI to deliver to spec, not with unnecessary “flair.” Chuck Nealis joins us to explore how to write high-impact prompts through the lens of storytelling. We dig into the simple but powerful guardrails that help navigate AI’s context window. Because as conversations grow, crucial constraints tend to fade — and that’s when prompt drift begins. So what do you do when the whiteboard starts...
We unpack how structured content and metadata make AI useful, reliable, and traceable across complex organizations. Regina and Max join us to connect strategy and tech, from RAG fundamentals to governance that bridges silos and boosts trust. Some highlights: How to define AI readinessMaking metadata part of authoring, not an afterthoughtWhy component content + semantic markup matterData fabrics, ontologies, and harmonized vocabularies What are the barriers to tagging, and how to overcome...
Manny graces our show once more to share insights on audio synthesis, a technology that has evolved far beyond robotic voices into sophisticated AI systems. It has made documentation more accessible and enhanced technical communication workflows. Manny and I discuss practical applications, implementation strategies, and ethical considerations for incorporating audio synthesis into documentation. Key takeaways: What is audio synthesis?How the "curb cut effect" of audio options benefits everyon...
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 profe...
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 documentStop applying through applicant tracking systems designed to weed you out; connect directly with hiring m...
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 ...
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 vario...
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 ro...
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 profo...
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...
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 us...
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 ...
Curious about the publishing requirements and nitty-gritty of regulated content? Just one compliance slip can mean lost time and dollars. Tune in to this episode to discover how Quark Software can help you cut costs and enhance your compliance, collaboration, and automation efforts. Richard Worrell and Emerson Welch from Quark Software join us for a riveting discussion on the ins and outs of regulated content creation, where every detail matters. You'll learn strategies to ensure your docum...
As technical communicators, this challenge most likely resonates with you -- how do you keep docs in sync with your product? In the words of Manny Silva, "When product updates are frequent and user expectations are high, maintaining accurate and up-to-date documentation isn’t just a necessity—it’s a competitive advantage." Manny proposes. Docs as Tests, a strategy that keeps your docs in sync with your product. It’s a way to test your docs, just like engineers test their code. As Manny jo...
The humble notes serve a larger purpose - be they a simple list, recipes, or essential information we jot down for later recall and planning. We sit down with Jorge Arango, the coauthor of Information Architecture for the Web and Beyond, to unlock the secrets of note-taking. Our first episode of the season with Jorge is more than a conversation; it's a roadmap to redefining how we handle the barrage of digital information overload. His latest work, "Duly Noted," offers deep insi...
Prepare to step into the future of technical writing as we explore the ground-breaking intersection of AI and technical communication with Caity Cronkhite, CEO of GoodWords. As an entrepreneur and subject matter expert, Caity offers invaluable insights on how AI is revolutionizing the process of technical writing. While we touch upon the empowering facets of AI, Caity shares with us the valid concerns on data protection and risk understanding that are presented with AI. We also delve into...
Has your team decided to do away with visuals in product documentation? Or are you struggling to maintain visuals with the rapid and frequent pace of content updates? If so, then this episode is for you. Keeping up with a rapidly evolving tech landscape and maintaining relevant visual content can be daunting. But, the power of visuals can't be undermined. In this insightful conversation, Daniel Foster shares how TechSmith is harnessing the power of AI in its software to create an efficient, ...
Are you curious about simple ways to make your content universally accessible? Or perhaps you're keen to get a fresh perspective on understanding accessibility? Join us as Lindsey White, an accomplished technical writer, shares her in-depth insights and experiences from her stint managing a department website at Cornell University. We explore the significance of universal design and consider how content can be accessible to all users. Lindsey sheds light on the nuances of intentional l...
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