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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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