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In this episode of The Programming Podcast, Leon Noel and Danny Thompson dive deep into how to get the most out of tech conferences — including unique strategies used at Commit Your Code, what it really takes to build a network from scratch, and how AI is completely changing the developer landscape.
From portable mini golf to prompt cards that kickstart conversations, Danny unveils how CYC is engineered to spark real connections — not just QR-code scans. Then, the duo unpacks Google I/O 2025, including wild use cases for AI-generated video, Android XR glasses, and what companies are really doing with AI budgets (spoiler: it’s not layoffs).
Whether you're a developer looking to network better, a freelancer trying to close more deals, or just someone curious about how AI is disrupting everything — this episode is for you.
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Stay in Touch:
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Email us at [email protected]!
Danny Thompson
https://x.com/DThompsonDev
https://www.linkedin.com/in/DThompsonDev
www.DThompsonDev.com
Leon Noel
https://x.com/leonnoel
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonnoel/
https://100devs.org/
📧 Have ideas or questions for the show? Or are you a business that wants to talk business?
Email us at [email protected]!
Chapters:
00:00 - Strategy for Building Real Connections at Conferences
01:45 - Introducing Commit Your Code & This Year’s Upgrades
03:10 - Mini Golf as a Networking Tool? Here’s Why
04:30 - Free Professional Headshots & The Morning Connect
05:25 - Prompt Cards & the “Start in the Middle” Philosophy
06:15 - The 5-Minute Pass System for Intros
07:50 - How Employers Are Involved at CYC
09:40 - Leon’s Early Networking Strategy: Never Eat Alone
11:00 - The Power of Volunteering at Conferences
13:00 - Shifting the Focus from Collecting Contacts to Creating Relationships
14:15 - “Read the Room” & Breathers During Conversations
15:30 - Making Conferences Less Awkward and More Genuine
16:55 - Transitioning from Online to In-Person Relationships
18:00 - From CYC to Google I/O: Huge Shifts in Tech
20:10 - AI-Generated Video and the Wild Future of Media
21:55 - AI Search and the Changing Behavior Around Google
23:30 - Real-Time Translation with Android XR Glasses
25:05 - Will Smart Glasses Finally Go Mainstream?
27:00 - Google’s Ecosystem Advantage in AI Integration
29:00 - Why Google Glass Was Too Early
30:50 - Stripe Sessions & Corporate AI Investments
32:30 - AI as a Productivity Tool, Not a Layoff Excuse
34:15 - Freelance Client Discovery: Ask the Right Questions
36:00 - What Makes a $30K+ Project Work
37:40 - From $1.8K Projects to $275K+ Consulting Deals
39:10 - Auditing AI-Generated Code Responsibly
40:15 - Why Now Is the Time to Learn AI Tools as a Developer
42:00 - Final Thoughts: Real Problems great than Shiny Tech
43:00 - Ask Danny & Leon: Questions to Ask Freelance Clients