Live from PyCon 2023

Episode Deep Dive

Guests Introduction and Background

• Jay Miller – A long-time friend of the show and frequent guest (six times!), Jay is known for his work in developer productivity, marketing, and podcasting. He interviewed Michael Kennedy live at PyCon 2023, focusing on community, personal motivation, and behind-the-scenes stories of Talk Python To Me.
• Mario Munoz – Based in Southern California and author of the “Python by Night” blog, Mario dove deep into volunteering and even led an HTMX tutorial at PyCon. He highlighted how diving into community activities made his second PyCon a much richer experience.
• Nick Muoh – A data scientist at Trimble Transportation, Nick gave his first PyCon talk this year on optimizing transportation networks with Python. He emphasized how welcoming the PyCon audience was for new speakers and how important tackling “real-world” data science problems can be.
• Chris Williams – Chris is a DevRel Manager at HashiCorp, AWS Hero, and host of the VBrownBag podcast. He spoke about soaking up presentation techniques from top keynotes, improving Python skills (like exploring the upcoming Python 3.12 f-string enhancements), and the vibrant energy of the hallway track.
• Sean Tibor – Sean co-hosts the Teaching Python podcast and helped run the Education Summit at PyCon. He delved into emerging issues like generative AI in education and how educators can adapt to tools such as ChatGPT rather than fear them.
• Ray McClendon – A data scientist at the Kansas City Fed, Ray presented a tutorial titled “Feature Engineering Is for Everyone.” He also attended open spaces on civic data, exploring ways Python can make that data more accessible to the public.

What to Know If You’re New to Python

If you’re just starting with Python or curious about PyCon, here are a few tips to help you get the most from this episode:

1. PyCon is a welcoming place to learn, so don’t be afraid to ask questions or attend open spaces and tutorials.
2. You’ll hear about web frameworks like HTMX or data science topics such as feature engineering—these are just examples of Python’s broad applications.
3. Tutorials and lightning talks at PyCon can be highly accessible; many first-time presenters share foundational tips.
4. Learning from podcasts and online communities is a great way to immerse yourself in Python culture and stay motivated.

Key Points and Takeaways

1. The Vibrancy and Community Spirit of PyCon 2023 This episode emphasizes how PyCon remains a highly welcoming, uplifting, and energizing conference. The guests consistently mention the power of communal learning—ranging from formal talks to spontaneous hallway conversations. Even long-time attendees find new friends, mentors, or inspiration each time. There’s genuine excitement about exploring technology together, volunteering, and contributing to open source and user groups. Everyone, from first-time presenters to seasoned Pythonistas, can find a niche at PyCon.
   • Links and Tools
     • Python Software Foundation
     • PyCon Official Website
2. Presenting at PyCon: Overcoming Hesitation Several guests, including Nick and Ray, shared their first-time speaker stories, underscoring how positive and supportive the environment is. They highlighted how PyCon’s audience gave them encouragement and constructive feedback. Preparation and practice helped them transform nerves into confidence, especially once they realized the community genuinely wants them to succeed. The sense of accomplishment and personal growth from speaking was a major highlight. This all serves as an open invitation for anyone considering a future submission.
   • Links and Tools
     • PyCon Speaker Info
3. The Impact of Ned Batchelder’s Keynote Many attendees mentioned Ned Batchelder’s keynote on communication and personal connections in the community. His talk resonated by showing that technical and human aspects are deeply intertwined in Python culture. Guests emphasized the importance of clarifying intent and being generous with others’ learning curves. The keynote served as a guide for forging stronger collaborations and empathy in the Python ecosystem. It also demonstrated how a single talk could set the tone for deeper hallway discussions.
   • Links and Tools
     • Ned Batchelder’s Blog
     • Ned’s Keynote Recording (PyCon 2023 YouTube)
4. Hallway Track and Open Spaces PyCon is famous for its hallway track—informal gatherings where deep conversations emerge. Whether it’s over a coffee or spontaneously pulling together seats, this track is how many discover new libraries, find job leads, or even recruit podcast guests. Open spaces are similarly powerful, with topics like “civic data” or “education” drawing in experts and curious newcomers alike. Guests pointed out these unrecorded sessions make PyCon unique because you can’t replicate that serendipity on YouTube. Embrace the unplanned, and you might just find a new collaborator.
   • Links and Tools
     • Open Spaces at PyCon
5. The Value of Volunteering Mario and others noted how much more you gain from PyCon when you volunteer. From helping at a booth to moderating an online platform, it’s a fast way to build meaningful connections. Volunteering led Mario from sitting on the sidelines to giving a well-received tutorial on HTMX. People who volunteer often meet Python luminaries, discover unpublicized community initiatives, and become even bigger advocates. If you’re introverted or shy, volunteering can also break the ice by giving you a structured way to talk to people.
   • Links and Tools
     • PSF Volunteer Info
     • HTMX + Flask Course (related to Mario’s tutorial topic)
6. HTMLX Tutorial and Modern Web Development Mario’s session on HTMX demonstrated how Python developers can build highly interactive apps without diving heavily into JavaScript frameworks. HTMX uses HTML attributes to handle AJAX calls and partial page updates, simplifying front-end work. Attendees raved about how freeing it was to focus on Python while still delivering a fluid user experience. Whether you come from a Django or Flask background, HTMX can integrate easily. This approach hits a sweet spot for teams that prefer minimal JavaScript and more server-side logic.
   • Links and Tools
     • HTMX Documentation
     • HTMX + Django Course
7. Transportation Networks and Real-World Data Nick’s talk illustrated how Python excels at solving real-world problems, particularly in logistics and optimization. At Trimble Transportation, they leverage data science to reduce empty miles, optimize delivery schedules, and improve driver routes. This underscores Python’s versatility: from analyzing truck sensor data to building machine learning models that run on large fleets. His presentation also highlights how data science is now deeply ingrained in industries that once relied on purely manual or hardware-centric solutions. The big takeaway is that “boring” or “invisible” systems can become prime grounds for innovation with Python.
   • Links and Tools
     • Trimble Transportation
     • pandas
8. Python in Education and Sean Tibor’s Summit Sean co-ran the Education Summit, focusing on how teachers can adapt to changes like AI-driven solutions (e.g., ChatGPT) and how to empower Python learners of all ages. Topics ranged from rethinking lesson plans to teaching best practices that go beyond syntax. Because new tools keep emerging, educators must balance giving students guidance with letting them experiment. The summit reinforced that teaching Python effectively involves community, empathy, and iteration—mirroring many of PyCon’s core values. The next steps will likely involve guidelines for responsible AI usage in classrooms.
   • Links and Tools
     • Teaching Python Podcast
     • ChatGPT
9. Exploring F-Strings, Python 3.12, and Future Features Chris Williams mentioned excitement about upcoming Python 3.12 improvements, especially around f-strings. The conversation recalled other modern features like the “walrus operator” and type hints that once seemed experimental but are now standard. Talks at PyCon often preview what’s next in the language, providing insights into performance boosts and expanded syntax. For Chris, the key is to see how these features make coding more elegant and maintainable. The conference fosters a culture of continuous learning so that developers can adopt the best of modern Python.
   • Links and Tools
     • What’s New in Python 3.12
     • PEP 701: Improved F-String Support
10. Feature Engineering for Everyone Ray highlighted the importance of well-crafted features for effective machine learning. During his tutorial, participants discovered practical ways to preprocess data and create new variables that boost model accuracy. Real tools like Pandas, NumPy, and Scikit-Learn are enough to produce sophisticated feature pipelines—no advanced neural network needed. This resonates with the broader theme that data cleaning and thoughtful feature extraction can yield quick wins for any project. It also shows that even “serious” subjects like ML can be taught in an accessible, community-driven forum at PyCon.

• Links and Tools
  • scikit-learn
  • NumPy
  • pandas

1. Growing Together: From Developer to Presenter and Beyond Many guests echoed the idea that Python’s community extends your potential. People at PyCon often start as attendees, then become volunteers, speakers, or even open-source contributors. By continuously engaging, you gain feedback on your code, public speaking chops, and networking contacts. The environment rewards curiosity, whether you tackle data science, web dev, or educational initiatives. Ultimately, you shape your own Python journey by stepping out of your comfort zone and diving deeper into the ecosystem.

• Links and Tools
  • Python.org Community Page

1. Hallmark of Inclusiveness and Support From first-time attendee experiences to longtime presenters, everyone agrees that PyCon fosters a uniquely positive culture. People find it easy to approach well-known maintainers of big libraries or have casual chats with keynote speakers. The volunteer-driven atmosphere and programs like financial aid ensure that new participants can attend, present, and learn. The effect is a thriving pipeline of fresh perspectives, which keeps Python relevant and evolving. Year after year, PyCon’s inclusiveness cements its reputation as an essential event.

Interesting Quotes and Stories

• Mario on Volunteering: He compared himself to being a “fly on the wall” at first and then discovering how volunteering turned him into a “busy worker bee.” This captures how stepping forward can transform your conference experience.
• Jay Miller on Writing Code for the Podcast: He joked that many folks “trust me” on new ideas for the show, describing how small Python scripts made behind-the-scenes tasks easier. This story shows how quickly Python can solve workflow problems.
• Nick’s First PyCon Talk: “I felt so encouraged by the Python community,” Nick said, illustrating how a welcoming audience boosts speakers’ confidence. He walked away inspired to do more public speaking.
• Sean Tibor’s Big-Picture View: Sean described the Education Summit’s focus on AI tools, reflecting that “like calculators and the internet, we’ll adapt to ChatGPT in a responsible way,” showing that Python educators see new tech as an opportunity, not a threat.

Key Definitions and Terms

• HTMX: A lightweight library enabling server-side dynamic web pages without writing heavy JavaScript frameworks.
• Lightning Talk: Short presentations (usually five minutes or less) that happen at conferences like PyCon, letting many speakers share bite-sized insights quickly.
• Open Space: Unstructured sessions at PyCon where anyone can suggest a topic, gather peers, and discuss or hack on it together.
• Feature Engineering: The process of preparing or creating additional input variables to improve machine learning model performance.
• Keynote: An anchor presentation given by a prominent speaker. Ned Batchelder’s talk on communication was singled out as a PyCon highlight.
• Walrus Operator: The := operator introduced in Python 3.8 that allows assignment within an expression (commonly used in loops or comprehensions).

Learning Resources

Here are some ways to dive deeper into the topics mentioned in this episode:

• HTMX + Flask: Modern Python Web Apps, Hold the JavaScript – For those inspired by Mario’s tutorial on HTMX, this course goes step-by-step into building interactive apps without heavy JavaScript.
• Getting Started with NLP and spaCy – If Ray’s discussion of natural language processing caught your attention, this in-depth course shows how to extract meaning from text and set up a complete NLP project.
• Python for Absolute Beginners – Ideal if you’re completely new to Python but excited about the energy and broad applicability you heard in this episode.

Overall Takeaway

PyCon 2023 once again showed that Python is more than just a programming language—it’s a thriving ecosystem driven by an incredibly open and supportive community. Attendees from vastly different backgrounds shared how Python solves real-world issues, from teaching and transportation logistics to feature engineering and web development. Volunteers and first-time speakers stressed that the surest way to have a transformative conference is by stepping up, speaking out, and staying curious. Whether you’re a brand-new developer or a seasoned pro, the conversations, tutorials, and collaborations at PyCon demonstrate that there’s a welcoming spot for everyone to learn and contribute. The overarching message is one of growth through community—when you join forces, you can do far more with Python than you ever imagined.