Episode 15: Inside the Grand Meetup

On this episode of the Distributed podcast, we get an insider’s look at the Grand Meetup, Automattic’s annual weeklong all-staff event, where employees have an opportunity to collaborate, learn from one another, and hang out face-to-face. Folks from across the company share what makes this gathering so special, talk about social cohesion in the context of a large distributed company, and reflect on what’s great (and what’s tough) about the distributed lifestyle.

For more, go to Distributed.blog.

Produced by the Automattic Editorial team and Charts & Leisure: Jason Oberholtzer, Cole Stryker, Levi Sharpe, Michael Simonelli, and Meghal Janardan. Theme music by Jason Oberholtzer. Cover art by Matt Avery.More

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The Importance of IRL in a World of Screens

Since launching the Distributed podcast, we’ve learned that most distributed companies host in-real-life (IRL) meetups in order to promote social cohesion and a sense of collaboration among colleagues who might not otherwise ever spend time face-to-face. As much as leaders at distributed companies value the many benefits of remote work, they also recognize the importance…More

Distributed Podcast: Inside the 2019 Grand Meetup. Read the transcript.

Episode 14: InVision CEO Clark Valberg on Distributed Design

InVision CEO Clark Valberg needed a tool to help his distributed team collaborate on design projects. So he created it — and it became the company’s flagship product, one that every Fortune 100 company now uses. In this episode, Clark joins our host Matt Mullenweg to discuss how he built his distributed company, and how that structure informs InVision’s collaborative-design products.

For more, go to Distributed.blog.

Produced by the Automattic Editorial team and Charts & Leisure: Jason Oberholtzer, Cole Stryker, Levi Sharpe, Michael Simonelli, and Meghal Janardan. Theme music by Jason Oberholtzer. Cover art by Matt Avery.More

Subscribe to Distributed at Pocket Casts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RSS, or wherever you like to listen.

Episode 13: Attorney Lydia X. Z. Brown on Making Work More Accessible

Because of their background in working with disabled and marginalized people, attorney and activist Lydia X.Z. Brown has a deep understanding of how different workplace environments can best serve diverse workforces. Today they join our host Matt Mullenweg to discuss what distributed companies can do to make workflows and working conditions more inclusive.

For more, go to Distributed.blog.

Produced by Mark Armstrong and the team at Charts & Leisure: Jason Oberholtzer, Whitney Donaldson, Cole Stryker, Levi Sharpe, and Michael Simonelli. Theme music by Jason Oberholtzer. Cover art by Matt Avery.More

Subscribe to Distributed at Pocket Casts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RSS, or wherever you like to listen.

Making Work Accessible, Wherever it Happens

Lydia X. Z. Brown is a lot of things — writer, advocate, organizer, strategist, educator, speaker, and attorney. Why do they spread their time and expertise across so many arenas? Because Lydia chooses to dedicate every aspect of their life to promoting social justice for some of the world’s most marginalized people. More

Distributed Podcast: Hear Matt Mullenweg in conversation with Lydia X. Z. Brown. Read the transcript.

Episode 12: Toptal’s Taso Du Val on Finding the Top Distributed Talent

When hiring managers interview a candidate for a high-level role, they want to be sure that the person they choose will be productive and able to work well with their prospective team. But what if the hiring process takes place over video chat? A growing number of companies outsource the vetting process to a company like Toptal, a freelance marketplace. Toptal’s CEO Taso Du Val joins us on this episode of the Distributed podcast, with Matt Mullenweg.

For more, go to Distributed.blog.

Produced by Mark Armstrong and the team at Charts & Leisure: Jason Oberholtzer, Whitney Donaldson, Cole Stryker, Levi Sharpe, and Michael Simonelli. Theme music by Jason Oberholtzer. Cover art by Matt Avery.More

Subscribe to Distributed at Pocket Casts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, RSS, or wherever you like to listen.

Inside Toptal’s Distributed Screening Process

In tech hubs like San Francisco and New York, the demand for top-tier talent can outstrip supply, so HR departments find themselves in a fierce competition for local job applicants. In response, some companies have turned to the distributed model, which allows them to reach beyond hub cities and to access qualified candidates around the…More

Distributed Podcast: Hear Matt Mullenweg in conversation with Taso Du Val. Read the transcript.

Vox Tackles the Pros and Cons of Remote Work

Citing a few recent studies that discovered remote work increases productivity and employee satisfaction, Vox looks at the causes and effects of distributed work arrangements. Most interestingly, they explore the broader trends driving the popularity of remote work, such as millennials moving out of tech hub cities like San Francisco, New York, and Los Angeles.…More