I have been writing a lot, generating content, working on podcast interview questions, and talking to old friends and colleagues on the phone to discuss the new podcast, The Solutions Architect Experience Podcast. I’ve been practicing working with a microphone and editing audio, and collaborating with a graphic designer on new logos for the podcast and reel covers. I’m also collaborating with a musician to create some new original intro and outro music for the podcast; I hope it will be ready for Episode 2 featuring Sam Jacobs.

This is the most creative I have been in years, and it feels amazing. I am spending a lot of time focused on this new project, putting all my energy into it. I’m working on lists of people to reach out to have on the show. I have 5 people lined up for the show and another 10 ready to reach out to. I am working on the initial seed episodes so that I have a portfolio and statistics on the initial show to share with future guests as an example of what this project looks like and what we will be discussing.

Everything has been going really well; I’m building a new website (TheSAEP.com). I haven’t worked on building and designing a website in years, but it is my original technical skill. Having learned HTML back in 1991 and then traveling across America as a barista/website designer, all these years later, I am still tapping into that original knowledge, though platforms like WordPress make it much easier than writing HTML by hand.

Speaking with these Solutions Architects and Cloud Architects about the show and the projects they are working on has been very mind-opening and insightful. I find it very engaging to discuss this role that I have been pursuing.

I have been looking into how I can contribute to the tech community. Owen Reynolds, in the first episode of the podcast, talks a lot about being part of the EUC community and the rewards of contributing to the technology community that we are part of. I have made some inquiries to a few organizations to see what I can do, be it blogging or moderating webinars. I am not ready for public speaking, but I would like to get involved and help where I can.

All of this started with writing here on my personal blog and has turned into a podcast, opening myself up to speaking with people and putting myself out of my comfort zone, which feels pretty amazing to step out of my shell and focus on something bigger than myself.

I am ramping up to record the second episode this coming Sunday morning. Then, the next episode is scheduled to be recorded on Saturday, October 5th.

Check out the website at TheSAEP.com and you can view The Solutions Architect Experience Podcast on every major platform:

• Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/e7569c7d-4605-46f5-9a1a-cdf6bf460958
• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-solutions-architect-experience-podcast/id1766950821
• Deezer: https://deezer.com/show/1001222161
• iHeart Radio: https://iheart.com/podcast/214420018/
• Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/the-solutions-architect-experience-podcast/PC:1001092291
• RSS.com: https://media.rss.com/the-solutions-architect-experience-podcast/feed.xml
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5E7CBjIf9foj6SgYDGNTbn
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSAEPodcast
• YouTube Music: https://music.youtube.com/@TheSAEPodcast