On the show this week, we’re talking about Google Cloud Reader, a nifty podcast we created to narrate Google Tech blog posts. Host Jenny Brown tells us her inspiration for creating Google Cloud Reader and she and cohost Stephanie Wong walk us through a series of published episodes.

First up, we learn what Cloud SQL Maintenance is and how customers can customize maintenance schedules to limit the impacts of downtime. Region picker is the topic of our next segment, and we hear how it helps projects stay cost efficient while conserving resources. Using three inputs, companies can decide quickly which region offers the best balance between cost, latency, and carbon footprint for them. Next, we learn about search abandonment’s effect on brand loyalty and how important it is for the right products to show in search results.

We tackle the working environment with the next piece, redefining productivity to make it more personal and less robotic and offering advice on being productive while maintaining a good work-life balance. Making learning more personalized is the subject of our next segment. We hear how Google is using AI to aid the instruction of students no matter their learning style. Building diversity, equity, and inclusion into companies is important for success, and our last segment offers advice on how to incorporate DEI initiatives to ensure employees feel valued.

Cool things of the week

• Build a data mesh on Google Cloud with Dataplex, now generally available blog
• From watersheds to Koala habitats - tackling ecosystem restoration with data blog

Interview

• Understanding Cloud SQL Maintenance: why is it needed? blog
• Cloud SQL site
• Faster, cheaper, greener? Pick the Google Cloud region that’s right for you blog
• Google Cloud Region Picker on GitHub site
• Reduce your cloud carbon footprint with new Active Assist recommendations blog
• Research: Search abandonment has a lasting impact on brand loyalty blog
• Why Search Abandonment Is the Metric That Matters video
• The Google Workspace guide to productivity and wellbeing blog
• New Google Cloud Student Success Services help educators scale individualized learning blog
• Why representation matters: 6 tips on how to build DEI into your business blog
• Why representation matters blog

Hosts

Stephanie Wong and Jenny Brown