Inside Tech Comm with Zohra Mutabanna

Hosted by Zohra Mutabanna

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Feb 2026

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About the show

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.

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58 recent

February 25, 2026Episode 454 min

S7E4 Claiming Space In Systems Not Built For You with Kae Kronthaler-Williams

We explore how to navigate bias, claim space, and thrive in systems not built for women and minorities. Kae Williams shares practical ways to build influence, handle microaggressions, and reach senior leaders with competence and calm. We touch upon these topics:mapping systemic patterns that reward proximity over performancetying work to business goals to earn visibilityone‑on‑one networking and cross‑team collaborationscripts to approach CFOs and VPs for inputworking with ego‑first leaders and assessing fitidentifying microaggressors and setting boundariesdocumenting severe incidents and staying professionalbuilding external support networks and mentorshipcreating psychological safety and inclusive teamsspeaking up with data, questions, and clarityFind Kae’s book Not Made For You on her website with links to Amazon and more. Follow Kae on LinkedIn, Substack, and Instagram.Guest Bio Kae Kronthaler-Williams is a marketing leader who knows how to turn big ideas into real growth. She’s led teams as CMO at companies like Ocelot and Adroit North America, working at the intersection of AI, supply chain, manufacturing, and data-driven strategy. Kae is also a coach and speaker who cares deeply about people, purpose, and performance. She helps leaders build better cultures, strengthen their influence, and lead with confidence and clarity. She’s passionate about equity, growth — both professional and personal — and what it really takes to show up as your best self in work and life. Show CreditsIntro and outro music - AzAudio engineer - RJ Basilio

February 10, 2026Episode 347 min

S7E3 Who Owns Ideas When Machines Learn From Us with Julie Trelstad

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 and data mining rights, Julie explains how content fingerprinting and registries like ISCC plus AMLET give AI systems a machine-readable “do and don’t” list—ranging from research-only to fully licensed generative use—so rights can be recognized and respected across platforms.Guest BioJulie Trelstad is a publishing strategist with 30+ years of experience helping authors and publishers navigate industry change. She currently leads U.S. Publishing at Amlet.ai, where she focuses on how creators can protect and license their work in the age of AI. Julie’s background spans traditional, digital, and rights-driven roles across major publishing segments, and she’s a voice on ethical AI use, content discovery, and digital rights for creative work. Show CreditsIntro and outro music - AzAudio engineer - RJ Basilio

January 23, 2026Episode 254 min

S7E2 People Squared: Reinventing Work With AI with Monica Marquez

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 on judgment, taste, and lived expertise. From thawing the “frozen middle” of management to building agentic AI that connects steps across a workflow, we map a practical route to real ROI. Monica shares Flipwork’s 90‑day sprint, the Flip Factor readiness assessment, and “Flippy,” a non-judgmental change agent that helps individuals identify their "zone of genius" and teams redesign processes. Along the way, we spotlight case studies like IKEA’s upskilling strategy, and we explore how micro wins—clarifying requirements, synthesizing research, in-context coaching—compound into major gains.Let's move past the hype and make AI a partner that elevates your craft. This conversation outlines the practices, mindsets, and tools required to achieve this goal. Guest BioMonica Marquez is a workplace AI strategist, leadership, learning, and inclusion expert, and serial entrepreneur. She is the founder of FlipWork, Inc., the only enterprise-wide AI workforce transformation system that ensures Fortune 500 companies adapt quickly to disruptive change. FlipWork helps employees at every level adopt AI successfully by transforming how people see, think, and work so they can keep pace with rapid workplace change. She also publishes ¡Ay Ay Ay, AI!, a weekly newsletter that gives leaders five minutes of clear, actionable guidance on thriving in the age of AI.Monica brings more than 20 years of executive experience spanning talent, learning, and inclusion at Google, EY, Bank of America, and Goldman Sachs. At Goldman Sachs, she pioneered the Returnship and New Directions programs, setting the industry benchmark for helping experienced professionals reenter the workforce. At Google, she co-founded the Product Inclusion Council to shape more inclusive product design. She is also the co-founder of Beyond Barriers and has hosted more than 300 podcast episodes spotlighting transformative leadership journeys.Recognized among Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 Women of Influence and ALPFA’s Most Powerful Latinas in 2024, Monica continues to champion equity, innovation, and leadership in every arena.Show CreditsIntro and outro music - AzAudio engineer - RJ Basilio

January 16, 2026Episode 135 min

S7E1 When Your Bot Writes Poetry For Execs with Chuck Nealis

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 getting messy?In this episode, we unpack:Explicit prompts with clear purpose, audience, and formatContractor mindset over poetic creativityContext window limits and the 80% summary handoffLabeling drafts and starting fresh threadsTriangulated reviews across multiple AIsVerifying sources and rejecting fabricated citationsBuilding repeatable, reliable prompt blueprintsWhy consistency leads to accuracyTreat AI’s memory like a whiteboard, not a library — and start designing prompts that stick.Guest BioChuck Nealis is a seasoned instructional designer, Organizational Change Management lead, and AI prompt expert with over 20 years of experience helping organizations deploy practical AI‑powered learning solutions and training programs. Chuck is also an author and thought leader on effective AI usage, focusing on precision‑engineered prompting and learning design. Show CreditsIntro and outro music - AzAudio engineer - RJ Basilio

October 8, 2025Episode 552 min

S6E5 Smart Metatagging Tips for a Path to AI-ready Content with Regina and Max

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 themRAG for traceable answers and risk controlA cancer information case study for empathy and speedFinding the sweet spot in tag granularityAudits, lifecycle, and content as a business assetTools landscape: authoring, optimization, taxonomy, localizationGuest BiosRegina Lynn Preciado is a Sr. Director of Content Strategy at Content Rules, with decades of experience in structured content, metadata, and content automation. She works with clients across life sciences, tech, manufacturing, and finance to make content findable, usable, and scalable. A skilled communicator and facilitator, she co-authored The Personalization Paradox, helping organizations succeed with personalized experiences at scale.Max Swisher is Director of Technology at Content Rules, where he helps clients implement structured authoring and data solutions. With a background as a technical writer and system administrator, he bridges technical insight with practical execution. Max supports companies across diverse industries in transforming their content to be AI-ready and metadata-rich. Show CreditsIntro and outro music - AzAudio engineer - RJ Basilio

October 1, 2025Episode 449 min

S6E4 Audio Synthesis in AI: Breaking Down Barriers with Manny Silva

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 everyone, not just those with disabilitiesHow can you implement audio synthesis through CI/CD pipelines for docs-as-code or integrated into CMS publication workflows?How should you prepare content with alternative descriptions for visual elements like code blocks and diagrams for audio synthesis?Considerations for voice cloning and careful ethical consideration to avoid misuse.What are some proprietary and open-source options that provide audio libraries?Guest BioA tech writer by day and engineer by night, Manny Silva is Head of Docs at Skyflow, codifier of Docs as Tests, and the creator of Doc Detective. He’s passionate about intuitive and scalable developer experiences and likes diving into the deep end as the 0th developer.Show CreditsIntro and outro music - AzAudio engineer - RJ Basilio

September 24, 2025Episode 343 min

S6E3 Beyond Documentation: Building Knowledge Systems for AI with Kartika Raman

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 professionals.As content creators, we already possess the valuable skills needed for success in the AI era. The ability to organize information, provide context, and communicate clearly becomes even more crucial when creating content that both humans and AI systems will consume. As Kartika explains, "We're not just writing, we're developing knowledge systems" that enable AI to generate accurate, relevant responses.We explore emerging roles in areas of prompt engineering, ontology development, and content design. These are skill sets that technical writers should develop as they adapt to changing technology landscapes. Focusing on continuous learning, experimentation with AI tools, and maintaining critical thinking skills are essential for future-proofing our careers.While AI will undoubtedly change the nature of technical writing jobs, it will also create new opportunities. The stakes for creating trustworthy, accurate content have never been higher. By embracing AI literacy and expanding beyond traditional documentation roles, technical communicators can position themselves at the forefront of this transformation.Ready to adapt, create, and thrive with AI?Guest BioKarthika Raman is a Lead Technical Writer at Salesforce, where she plays a pivotal role on the AI Content Experience team. With a career that began in database administration, Karthika transitioned into technical writing, leveraging her deep domain expertise to simplify and communicate complex systems. Her journey has included impactful roles at Microsoft, Tableau, and Salesforce, and today she helps shape how enterprise AI technologies are documented and understood.At Salesforce, Karthika focuses on creating content that supports both human users and AI systems, emphasizing clarity, context, and trustworthiness. She is part of the team that develops content to explain AI and agentic technologies Salesforce creates. She is passionate about evolving the role of technical communicators in the age of AI, exploring emerging areas such as prompt engineering, ontology development, and content design. Her work reflects a commitment to continuous learning, innovation, and the strategic use of AI tools to build scalable knowledge systems.Show CreditsIntro and outro music - AzAudio engineer - RJ Basilio

September 17, 2025Episode 253 min

S6E2 Resume Robots and Chatbot Interviews: Surviving the AI Hiring Maze with Jack Molisani

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 managersHiring managers look for what you are, your seniority level, domain knowledge, tool proficiency, and affordabilityCompanies value technical communicators who can appropriately integrate AI into workflows, not just prompt engineersPosition yourself as part of revenue generation, not just as someone who "writes manuals"In Jack's words, "like surfing, timing is everything—don't adopt AI too early or too late, but ride the wave at its crest." Listen in for this timely advice. Guest BioJack Molisani is the President of ProSpring Technical Staffing, an employment agency specializing in content professionals (both contract and perm): https://ProspringStaffing.comHe’s also the author of Be The Captain of Your Career: A New Approach to Career Planning and Advancement, which hit #5 on Amazon’s Career and Resume Best Seller list.Jack also produces The LavaCon Conference on Content Strategy and TechComm Management. See https://LavaCon.org for more information.Show CreditsIntro and outro music - AzAudio engineer - RJ Basilio

September 12, 2025Episode 153 min

S6E1 Empowering Technical Writers Through Agentic AI: A Conversation with Manny Silva

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 GitHub Copilot qualify as agents.Creating custom AI tools to accelerate documentation drafting processes.Using AI to turn a week-long project into a three-day effort.The continued importance of human expertise in identifying requirements and context.Strategies for incorporating AI tools into existing documentation workflows.Establishing boundaries and processes to prevent burnout in the AI era.The value of internal documentation in creating successful organizations.How technical writers can maintain their relevance by focusing on curation and quality.Manny shares a six-point checklist for making documentation AI-ready. Listen in for the tips.Stay tuned for a future episode where we'll explore audio synthesis and multimodal AI in documentation.Guest BioA tech writer by day and engineer by night, Manny Silva is Head of Docs at Skyflow, codifier of Docs as Tests, and the creator of Doc Detective. He’s passionate about intuitive and scalable developer experiences and likes diving into the deep end as the 0th developer.Show CreditsIntro and outro music - AzAudio engineer - RJ Basilio

August 29, 202448 min

S5E10 The Future of Technical Documentation in the AI Era with Selvaraaju Murugesan

As a content creator, you may wonder how your role will evolve with AI on the scene. Are you excited or concerned? Either way, this is a must-listen episode to learn and pivot. Join us as Selvaraaju Murugesan and I discuss this topic at length to explore how content creators and, especially technical writers, need to pivot. We dissect the evolving role of technical writers in the age of AI, focusing on how engineering concepts can be seamlessly integrated with technical writing to enhance content creation and user experience. Selva emphasizes how technical writers can transform their roles to become AI managers to guide and enhance AI-generated content.We dive deep into the unification of product design and documentation, emphasizing the need for a "knowledge experience" to simplify users' learning processes. If you are concerned and struggling to determine how to respond to the changing landscape of AI, then tune in. You will discover insights to prepare for a future with Gen AI while leveraging your current skills. Guest BioSelvaraaju Murugesan is the head of Data Science at Kovai.co. He focuses on integrating AI features into Document360 - a knowledge base SaaS. He is an active community member in the technology and documentation space. His recent article, "Is Your Content Ready for Gen AI Based Agents?", was featured in the tcworld magazine.Show CreditsIntro and outro music - AzAudio engineer - RJ Basilio