# Foojay Podcast #59: DevRel Explained!

> What do people who have Developer Relations as their job description do? And how do you become a conference speaker? You'll learn in this Foojay podcast! 

- URL: https://foojay.io/today/foojay-podcast-59/
- Published: 2024-10-21
- Authors: Frank Delporte, Baruch Sadogursky, Pratik Patel, Roni Dover
- Categories: Conference, Podcast


**What do people who have Developer Relations as their job description do? And how do you become a conference speaker? You'll learn in this Foojay podcast!**

At Devoxx in Belgium, I got to talk to Josh Long, Baruch, Pratik Patel, and Roni Dover, who were on the stage because it was part of their job. They shared many tips about being a DevRel and the many tasks involved in such a job.

I also talked with Clo Willaerts, who inspired me many years ago to become a speaker myself when I saw her presentation at a marketing conference.

## Video

{{< youtube FyL6--GsLZI >}}

## Podcast Apps

You can listen and subscribe to the Foojay Podcast on:

* [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/6CpTfgn9LirzJGAtc4ICdQ)
* [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/foojay-io-the-friends-of-openjdk/id1652281304)
* And most others...

## Guests

* Clo Willaerts
  * <https://www.linkedin.com/in/clowillaerts/>
  * <https://x.com/bnox>
  * <https://clowillaerts.com/>
  * <https://clowillaerts.substack.com/>
* Josh Long
  * <https://x.com/starbuxman>
  * <https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshlong/>
* Baruch Sadogursky
  * <https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbaruch/>
  * <https://x.com/jbaruch>
* Pratik Patel
  * <https://www.linkedin.com/in/prpatel/>
  * <https://x.com/prpatel>
* Roni Dover
  * <https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronidover/>
  * <https://x.com/doppleware>

## Content

00:57 Clo about the difference between marketing and technical conferences   

02:49 Impact of ecological cost on our work   

04:56 Fast changes in trending topics   

07:33 How to get paid as a (keynote) speaker   

12:53 Josh about being Developer Relation   

14:53 How to reach the energy level of Josh   

15:42 Do you have to be an expert about a topic to talk about it?   

18:34 How to create a story for a new talk   

19:02 Only use slides when really needed   

22:29 How hard is live coding?   

23:48 Baruch about the DevRel role   

24:52 How to move from Dev to DevRel   

25:44 The focus of Baruch   

27:57 Pratik about the role of a dev team at a conference   

29:50 How DevRel influences product development in their company   

31:36 How Pratik became a DevRel   

32:40 Good and bad of being a DevRel   

34:38 Roni about the role of a DevRel   

35:54 Importance of using your product (coding) as a DevRel   

37:35 Back side of the job   

38:43 Tip 1: Ask to be a speaker   

39:31 Tip 2: Stand out!   

41:01 Tip 3: The show must go on!   

42:31 More tips...   

48:08 One final tip from Josh   

48:16 Outro   
[Book by Geertjan Wielenga: "Developer, Advocate!"](https://www.amazon.com/Developer-Advocate-Conversations-turning-passion/dp/1789138744)