Hey everybody, Jason here. As we wrap up the third season of the Tech Commute, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible community. It's been a wild ride with its fair share of highs and lows, but your unwavering support for Jacob and me has been nothing short of amazing. We're truly grateful. That said, buckle up!

The Evolution of Tech Commute

Looking back, I believe we've outdone ourselves this season. Sure, the first season had its charm, starting from scratch and all. But watching the show morph into what it's become in season 3 has been a remarkable experience. We began without a clear direction, but we've found our groove in sharing the personal stories of developers and tech industry folks.

The Human Element

For me, the human element is what's most vital. It's about the journeys we all take. This season brought us incredible narratives from people like Bekah, Aaron Francis, Chantastic, and Brian Douglas from Open Sauce. We even kicked off with Jason Lengstorf, who perfectly set the tone for the season with his inspiring story. These powerful tales remind us that while our paths may differ, we all have a story to tell, and it's these shared experiences that bind our community together. Check out previous episodes as we load them to tasty podcast form here!

Overcoming Challenges

This season was tinged with a bit of the bittersweet, as Jacob had to step away due to family commitments. His absence loomed over the season for me, as taking on the show solo was never the plan. But as we often say, family comes first. The challenges of building momentum as a duo then having to pivot back to a solo act were tough, but it was never about the show at that point. Admittedly when he told me what was going on I told him that Tech Commute was done if he couldn't be a part of it. Because it was for us, and for the community. He told me that couldn't happen. I am glad I listened because of all the amazing that came from it.

Journey's Conference Highlight

One of the season's highlights was the Journey's conference. It was an emotional and proud moment for me to help alleviate some financial pressure for Jacob and Leah's family through community support. We had almost 400 people attend the event and were able to give Leah and Jacob 3 months of life covered. The community's support for one of their own really made me proud. I want to give special shouts to @Elliezub , and @tessak22 and @natecodes for stepping up and helping me, and to the teams at Clerk and EmpathyOps for the amazing donations

RenderATL Conference

Another one the season's highlights was the Render ATL. I have never been to an in person event in tech. I spent alot of time in 15 years in film going to festivals and trade shows and conventions, but I was MORE nervous for this than I ever was speaking in front of thousands at Sundance etc.

It was my first time meeting so many of you and it truly was a gift. My personal highlight was getting up in front of around 200 people with my dude @iamwix and talking about our Gridiron Survivor team project at the Atlanta Javascript PreRender meetup!!

The energy of the whole week was just so wild. I deal with the frequent "what am I doing here" thoughts and to feel so welcome and part of the tech community that week in ATL, was something I will never forget. Thank you all.

Our Approach to Interviews

This season, we ditched the script. In the past, Jacob meticulously prepared lists of questions, but I wanted our conversations to be more organic. So, while it may have seemed like we had a clear direction during the episodes, we actually didn't. I'd simply pull up a guest's Twitter page or website and let the conversation flow from there. This approach led to more personal and heartfelt dialogues, which is exactly what I aimed for.

Listening and Learning

My takeaway from this season is the importance of listening. By tuning into people's emotions and passions, I could steer the conversation towards topics they were eager to discuss. Often, these were things they worked for, not just the technical work they did. It's about understanding that we're all on this giant rock flying through space together, and at the core, we're all the same.

The Future of Tech Commute

Looking ahead, there's some uncertainty. Jacob's future with Tech Commute is up in the air, which is a bit of a bummer and makes me anxious. This show was never meant to be a one-person gig, and it's a lot for one person to handle. I'll be taking some time to reflect and recharge, but rest assured, we plan to return for a fourth season.

Your Input Matters

We'd love to hear from you about what you've enjoyed this season. Your feedback is crucial because, without you, there is no Tech Commute. We're looking forward to coming back after a short break, and you'll see us in other capacities soon enough.

Before I go

I hope everyone has a fantastic summer. Here's to another season of shared stories, learning, and community. Come follow me over on Twitter and look for updates on season 4 and various other shenanigans! See you all soon!

And remember, it's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.

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