Erik Yewell - Podcast Details

Shows

Salesforce Trails and Trials#47 - Swiss LLM as pub svc, packaging beyond AppExchange, key release highlights Jon Cline Twitter Jon Cline Instagram Erik Yewell Erik Yewell Mike Mikula Linkedin Hubbl Technologies | Salesforce Org Monitoring + Optimization Salesforce Second Generation Packaging AI coding tools can slow down seasoned developers by 19% 2025-07-2958 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#41 - Agentforce Testing Center, Cursor + Cline, Level-Up Your Role Jon Cline Twitter Jon Cline Instagram Erik Yewell Erik Yewell Mike Mikula Linkedin Agent Recipes Cline - AI Autonomous Coding Agent for VS Code Cursor - The AI Code Editor 2025-06-1057 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#39 - AI Snake Oil, Off-Platform Agents, a Google Gem, and harmony from Japan Jon Cline Twitter Jon Cline Instagram Erik Yewell Erik Yewell AI Snake Oil | Princeton University Press AI Leadership | Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter Decisions Stephen Klein - University of La Verne | LinkedIn CrewAI - Open source 2025-05-2751 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#27 - Agentforce acceptance, overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Architect Dreamin', and the power of a single word. Jon Cline Twitter Jon Cline Instagram Erik Yewell Erik Yewell 2025-03-0439 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#22 - Agent Support vs. Supplant, Technical Architects needed, Inspiring InterviewsThis episode delves into Salesforce's Agent Force, stressing the importance of measuring ROI by comparing current costs with potential savings. Agents are valuable for handling routine tasks, augmenting human capabilities in support, sales and development roles. The discussion also explores how AI is reshaping developer roles and career paths, highlighting the need to learn AI tools in development and the importance of career progression within the Salesforce ecosystem, with a variety of roles such as admin, consultant and sales engineer. The use of parallel LLMs improves the quality of AI responses. There is a focus on declarative development for agents...2025-01-2825 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#19 - Proxemics, Job Market updates, AgentForce 2.0This episode of Salesforce Trails and Trials explores crucial soft skills and emerging trends in the Salesforce ecosystem. The hosts, Jon and Erik, begin by discussing the impact of proximity in virtual communication, emphasizing the need to be mindful of personal space on video calls. They then delve into a project anecdote highlighting the importance of explicit communication and avoiding assumptions, using the example of a visual force page migration. A key takeaway is the value of feedback as a gift for professional growth, and techniques for giving and receiving feedback effectively. The conversation shifts to the evolving Salesforce job...2024-12-2451 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#16 - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and the Importance of Intangibles in the Salesforce EcosystemThis podcast episode, hosted by two Salesforce architects, focuses on the importance of intangible skills for success in the Salesforce ecosystem. They discuss the impact of AI on the industry and how Salesforce Ben is releasing an article addressing the high rate of project failures due to non-technical reasons. Citing the FoxMeyer Drugs case as an example of a project failure, they stress the importance of involving all stakeholders and emphasize the value of communication, change management, and performance testing. They highlight the significance of intangible skills like confidence, communication, and problem-solving, even over technical certifications. The hosts share personal...2024-05-0742 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#15 - A philosophy major to TaskRabbit to Salesforce consultant with Zachary PalsZachary Pals, a philosophy major, unexpectedly found a fulfilling career in the Salesforce ecosystem. After moving to Los Angeles and working various jobs, he connected with John Klein through a chance encounter while moving a couch. Jon introduced him to Salesforce and Trailhead. Zachary initially balanced Salesforce work with bartending, but eventually committed fully to Salesforce, joining Jon's Salesforce Experience Academy and DevPod for Salesforce Partners. Through the academy and mentorship from Jon and the team, Zachary gained valuable experience and certifications. He transitioned from an admin role to a more solution-oriented position, embracing challenges and anxieties as opportunities for...2023-03-1349 min

Salesforce Trails and TrialsEpisode 15 - CD Maturity Model w/ a Crawl, Walk, Run Roadmap, LWC apps, Dreamforce, PickleballThis time on Salesforce Trails and Trials, hosts Jon Cline and Erik Yewell talk with Zachary Pals, who took a unique career path to go from moving couches to Salesforce consultant. Jon Cline has been working in IT since 1998 and is a very curious person. Erik Yewell has been in IT for 24 years and done just about everything you can imagine. They share their wins and worse so you can learn with them. Zachary Pals is a Salesforce consultant with an interest in swing dancing and a philosophy degree from Pepperdine University. His career took a unique path, including Task...2023-03-1249 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#14 - Salesforce for Slack, Org Ownership, and Best Practices: Celebrating year one!This episode of Salesforce Trails and Trials celebrates the podcast's one-year anniversary. The hosts, Jon and Erik, discuss the exciting new features in Salesforce for Slack, enabling seamless integration and workflow automation. They emphasize the crucial role of clear org ownership, highlighting the pitfalls of expecting functional users to handle Salesforce administration and the risks of unclear code responsibility. Finally, they debunk the "myth of best practices," arguing that while best practices exist for specific technical aspects, business processes require tailored solutions based on individual needs and preferences.2023-02-1856 min

Salesforce Trails and TrialsEpisode 14 - Code Standards, Dedicated Admins, Salesforce and Slack, Power of Debugging, Nerd ManifestoThis time on Salesforce Trails and Trials, hosts Jon Cline and Erik Yewell talk about the value of code standards and the peril of not having a dedicated admin. Plus the marriage of Salesforce and Slack, the power of debugging, and a nerd manifesto. Jon Cline has been working in IT since 1998 and is a very curious person. Erik Yewell has been in IT for 24 years and done just about everything you can imagine. They share their wins and worse so you can learn with them. This episode includes a quick reflection on the show’s one-year anniversary. “It’s really...2023-02-1756 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#13 - Overcoming the Dev-First Mindset in SalesforceThis podcast episode, titled "Overcoming the Dev-First Mindset in Salesforce: Why Configuration and Clicks Beat Code in Most Business Applications", features a discussion between two Salesforce architects about the drawbacks of approaching Salesforce implementations with a developer-first mindset. They argue that while custom coding offers flexibility, it often comes at the cost of maintainability, upgradeability, and the ability to leverage Salesforce's ongoing innovations. They emphasize the benefits of Salesforce's configuration tools, such as Flow, which enable faster prototyping and empower non-developers to contribute to the solution. The architects also highlight the importance of considering the total cost of ownership, the...2022-03-2243 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#12 - Politics of Security, Gratitude, Enterprise Apex Best Practices, and Real-World ExamplesThis podcast episode of Salesforce Trails and Trials opens with a cautionary tale about an untrained system administrator who accidentally deleted all the list views in a Salesforce org. The hosts emphasize the importance of limiting the number of system administrators and using delegated administration to reduce the risk of such incidents. The conversation then shifts to development best practices including the use of Salesforce Flow for document generation and automation, API integration platforms for building complex Slack apps, and enterprise Apex programming techniques for better code management. Finally, the hosts express their gratitude for the generosity and beauty of...2022-01-1849 min

Salesforce Trails and TrialsEp. 12 - Miro Decision Tree & Flow UX/Polymorphic Visual Flow, Slack Bots, Gratitude, Soft SkillsThis time on Salesforce Trails and Trials, hosts Jon Cline and Erik Yewell talk about admin power in the wrong hands. Plus Slack bot platforms, Miro decision trees, bow ties, gratitude, and holiday lights. Jon Cline has been working in IT since 1998 and is a very curious person. Erik Yewell has been in IT for 23 years and done just about everything you can imagine. They share their wins and worse so you can learn with them. Erik talks about learning Slack bot platforms and automating tasks. You can do it with Heroku and Azure of course, but there are also...2022-01-1749 min

Salesforce Trails and TrialsEp. 11 - Salesforce Classic vs. Lightning, future integrations with Slack, how to do more with Flow, and the power of opportunity.This time on Salesforce Trails and Trials, hosts Jon Cline and Erik Yewell talk about Salesforce Classic vs. Lightning. Plus, lots of discussion about future integrations with Slack, how to do more with Flow, and the power of opportunity. Jon Cline has been working in IT since 1998 and is a very curious person. Erik has been in IT for 23 years and done just about everything you can imagine. They share their wins and worse so you can learn with them. Salesforce recently acquired Slack, and there are new integrations coming down the pipeline. Erik has been learning a lot about...2021-12-1357 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#10 - Liberated UAT, Row Locking, Over-riced Biryani, and the power of community.This podcast episode focuses on the importance of User Acceptance Testing (UAT) in Salesforce projects. The hosts emphasize that UAT offers freedom for both consultants and clients by promoting accountability, ensuring successful outcomes, and exceeding expectations. The conversation also explores technical aspects of Salesforce, such as the Metadata Dependency API, the retirement of Workflow and Process Builder in favor of Flow, and strategies for handling technical debt. The hosts share personal anecdotes about learning and failure, emphasizing the value of embracing mistakes and maintaining a "failure resume." They discuss Salesforce's internal resources for performance optimization and the increasing importance of...2021-11-091h 03

Salesforce Trails and TrialsEp. 10 - Elements Cloud, Metadada Dependancy API, Flow vs Process Builder, Picklist Values and Consequences, Lightning Scheduler, UAT and Failur ResumesThis time on Salesforce Trails and Trials, hosts Jon Cline and Erik Yewell talk failure. Plus, unexpected consequences of changing picklist values, metadata dependency API, some helpful tools, the value of user acceptance testing, and bread.2021-11-081h 03

Salesforce Trails and Trials#9 - From Mailroom to Mountaintop: A Salesforce Journey with Tyler CobbettThis interview features Tyler Cobbett, president of Sales Team Performance Incorporated, as he shares his career journey with Salesforce architects John and Eric. Starting from humble beginnings in the mailroom and as an intern at IBM, Tyler discovered his passion for understanding business problems and finding software solutions. He transitioned from sales to consulting, recognizing the importance of empathy and communication skills, which were further honed through leadership training and personality assessments. Tyler's entry into the Salesforce world began with an early SaaS pioneer and was solidified by his realization of Salesforce's flexibility and power. He later founded his own...2021-09-2851 min

Salesforce Trails and TrialsEp. 09 - Interview with Tyler CobbettThis time on Salesforce Trails and Trials, hosts Jon Cline and Erik Yewell talk with Tyler Cobbett, a tech industry veteran. Jon Cline has been working in IT since 1998 and is a very curious person. Erik has been in IT for 23 years and done just about everything you can imagine. They share their wins and worse so you can learn with them. Tyler Cobbett started out with IBM in the early 1980s and has had a long career that moved from sales to solutions, eventually focusing on Salesforce consulting. He's now moving into retirement, which presents an opportunity to share...2021-09-2750 min

Salesforce Trails and TrialsEp. 09 - Interview with Tyler Cobbett, a Tech Industry VeteranThis time on Salesforce Trails and Trials, hosts Jon Cline and Erik Yewell talk with Tyler Cobbett, a tech industry veteran. Jon Cline has been working in IT since 1998 and is a very curious person. Erik has been in IT for 23 years and done just about everything you can imagine. They share their wins and worse so you can learn with them. Tyler Cobbett started out with IBM in the early 1980s and has had a long career that moved from sales to solutions, eventually focusing on Salesforce consulting. He's now moving into retirement, which presents an opportunity to share...2021-09-2751 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#8 - Google Translate for trave, Flow validation, using downtime productivelyThis podcast episode features a conversation between two Salesforce professionals who share their recent experiences and insights. One speaker describes using Google Translate's camera feature to navigate language barriers while traveling in Mexico. The other speaker highlights a valuable flow validation tool from UnofficialSF that helps anticipate errors. They discuss early career lessons about navigating workplace dynamics and the importance of respecting boundaries. The conversation concludes with recommendations for leveraging downtime for professional development, including exploring Trailhead, joining Salesforce user groups, and practicing public speaking through Toastmasters.2021-08-1855 min

Salesforce Trails and TrialsEp. 08 - Validation Checker Flow Action, Levy Brothers, Mexico, Walmart, Google Translate App, Right Answer Versus Right Way to Go, Shift and OBS tools, Quiet Time With Yourself, Trailhead Superbades and ToastmastersOn this episode of Salesforce Trails and Trials, hosts Jon Cline and Erik Yewell talk about https://unofficialsf.com/validation-checker-flow-action/, Jewish Levy brothers helping broker early farms in Oxnard, Mexico, Walmart, google translate app, uber, Jon checking an item in his boss's inbox of papers, Erik learning the difference between advising the right answer vs the right way to go. Tools of the trade "Shift" and "OBS". Jon shares about a social group to help navigate, lunch w/ yourself and some quiet car time, activity != progress and Erik talks about his experience with trailhead, superbadges, and toastmasters,2021-08-1855 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#7 - Dynamic Forms, VS Code, and the Importance of Source Control.This podcast episode of Salesforce Trails and Trials features two Salesforce architects discussing their recent wins and woes. One architect learned about the benefits of using dynamic forms for record layouts, particularly for standard objects. The architect discovered a flow component on UnofficialSF that enables the use of dynamic forms on standard objects. The other architect recounts an experience that highlights the importance of clear communication with one's boss and moving forward when things go wrong. Both architects discuss the importance of source control and staying up to date on Salesforce features and best practices, like utilizing VS Code for...2021-07-1050 min

Salesforce Trails and TrialsEp. 07 - Dynamic Form Component for Standard Objects, The right way to Debug and use VS, The mindset in moving past your mistakes/failures,Learning from the world of beesOn this episode of Salesforce Trails and Trials, hosts Jon Cline and Erik Yewell talk about Standard Object Dynamic Form Components, Validation Checker Flow, Debugging/Using VS, Big consequences of decoupling and removing VF pages, How a manager changed Jeff's life after Jeff messed up, Clickup for road-map management and learning from "the world of bees" by Rudolf Steiner 2021-07-1050 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#6 - Reveal hidden sandbox changes, Trailhead Go, DevOps Center, and Chrome’s Network TimelineThis episode of Salesforce Trails and Trials offers valuable tips for Salesforce admins. The hosts, two Salesforce architects, discuss the benefits of DevPro Sandboxes for tracking changes and introduce the upcoming DevOps Center, emphasizing the importance of aligning admin and developer workflows. They offer a clever trick to uncover unacknowledged modifications in sandboxes before refreshes, leveraging user behavior to surface uncaught changes. The episode also spotlights useful tools including: ● Trailhead Go: The mobile app for learning Salesforce on the go. ● Chrome Network Timeline: A developer tool for analyzing webpage performance and identifying slow-loading elements. The hosts also stress the importance of c...2021-06-0943 min

Salesforce Trails and TrialsEp. 06 - Avoid Auto-Activation, We Don't Know What we Don't Know, How to Make Pages Load Faster, Tracking Changes in Sandboxes, Debug in VS CodeOn this episode of Salesforce Trails and Trials, hosts Jon Cline and Erik Yewell talk about how avoiding an activation checkbox can make you a hero. Plus we don’t know what we don’t know, how to make pages load faster, tracking changes in sandboxes, and more. Jon Cline has been working in IT since 1998 and is a very curious person. Erik has been in IT for 23 years and done just about everything you can imagine. They share their wins and worse so you can learn with them. Jon learned about an ‘order on behalf of’ feature with Cloud Commerce...2021-06-0943 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#5 - UI design tools, 2nd-gen Packaging, changing field data types, mountain biking, and PickleballThis podcast episode features two Salesforce architects discussing their recent experiences and insights. They highlight the benefits of using UI design tools to improve communication and development processes. They also delve into the capabilities of second-generation packaging, emphasizing its usefulness for partners, admins, and even users beyond app exchange development. The architects then offer a cautionary segment on the potential data loss and user experience impacts when changing data types of fields in Salesforce. Finally, they share their personal inspirations: one is embracing mountain biking, while the other is training for a pickleball tournament. They end by reflecting on the...2021-05-1739 min

Salesforce Trails and TrialsEp. 05 - UI Design Tools and 2GP Updates, SI Uses for Packaging, Mountain Biking, Jon's first Pickleball Tournament and Foster Care Awareness Month - Episode 5In this episode of Salesforce Trails and Trials, hosts Jon Cline and Erik Yewell talk about things they've learned like UI Design Tools, 2GP Updates, migration path, SI uses for packaging in addition to ISVs, open source tools. They also discuss the big consequences from the small action of changing a field data type. Erik talks about his exploration into mountain biking and building up endurance and Jon talks about his first pickleball tournament. Jon also discusses his appreciation for all the foster parents who are loving and serving children, since this is foster care awareness month. Jon Cline has...2021-05-1739 min

Salesforce Trails and TrialsEp. 04 - Surprises on a trip to Joshua Tree, making a field required, SaaS around physical space, and the delights of making pizza.In this episode of Salesforce Trails and Trials, hosts Jon Cline and Erik Yewell talk about Erik's trip to Joshua tree, what can happen when you make a field required, and SaaS around physical space and things and making pizza. Jon Cline has been working in IT since 1998 and is a very curious person. Erik has been in IT for 23 years and done just about everything you can imagine. Together, they’re never bored.2021-05-0334 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#3 - Impact of deactivating Salesforce users, enterprise Apex patterns, the inspiration found in nature, and new bikesThis episode of Salesforce Trails and Trials explores the unintended consequences of deactivating a Salesforce user and emphasizes the importance of using the mass reassignment tool before deactivating users to avoid making opportunity records read-only and disrupting integrations. The hosts also delve into enterprise Apex patterns and highlight the benefits of using custom settings to create a preference pane for managing Apex classes and triggers. They underscore the importance of team culture over individual competence and share inspiring stories, including a daughter’s newfound love for biking and the altruistic efforts of those who maintain a hot spring in the wi...2021-04-1341 min

Salesforce Trails and TrialsEp. 03 - Apex Enterprise and Flow patterns, SFXD, and the hidden risks of deactiving users.In this episode of Salesforce Trails and Trials, hosts Jon Cline and Erik Yewell talk about the unexpected harm caused by deactivating a user. They also get excited about community code, Slack as a culture incubator, biking, SFXD, and a hot tub in the middle of nowhere. Jon Cline has been working in IT since 1998 and is a very curious person. Erik has been in IT for 23 years and done just about everything you can imagine. Together, they’re never bored.2021-04-1241 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#2 - Salesforce Tips & Tricks: Einstein Bots, Scratch Orgs, and the Power of the Go-GiverThis Salesforce Trails and Trials episode features two architects sharing practical tips and inspiring insights. They discuss leveraging Einstein bots for efficient automation, such as collecting employee vaccination proof via text and OCR. They highlight using scratch orgs for compelling client demos with various Salesforce clouds. They caution against carelessly changing field names, emphasizing potential downstream impacts on integrations and automations. Finally, they celebrate the "go-giver" mentality and the power of open-source contributions, drawing parallels with their own experiences in using and contributing to collaborative projects 2021-04-0641 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#1 - Power of Picklist changes, The Right to Repair, Vaccine CRM, MLK's Legacy, and the Power of Speaking UpThis episode of Salesforce Trails and Trials explores the unforeseen consequences of simple Salesforce actions, like changing picklist values, emphasizing the need for governance and change management. The hosts then delve into their individual areas of excitement: one exploring the "Right to Repair" movement's potential societal impact and the other highlighting Salesforce's role in vaccine distribution. They also share sources of inspiration, from Martin Luther King Jr.'s philosophy of nonviolent action and advocacy to the vast possibilities of data analysis for solving real-world problems. Finally, they underscore the importance of preserving memories through physical photo albums as digital records...2021-03-2328 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#11 - Importance of Embracing Lightning, the Power of Flow, and the Excitement of Slack IntegrationThis Salesforce Trails and Trials podcast episode features Salesforce architects discussing recent innovations and experiences. One architect highlights the power of flow for automating complex business processes, as demonstrated in two field service projects. The discussion emphasizes the importance of migrating to Salesforce Lightning for enhanced user experience and access to new features. The architects also delve into the potential of Slack integration with Salesforce, enabling streamlined workflows and improved user engagement. The conversation concludes with inspiring anecdotes about recognizing and seizing opportunities for personal and professional growth, underscoring the importance of continuous learning and expanding one's "luck surface area".2020-12-1457 min

Salesforce Trails and Trials#4 - Paying it forward at Jack in the Box, making pizza, and the impact of required fields.This episode of Salesforce Trails and Trials features Salesforce architects discussing travel stories, culinary adventures, and Salesforce tips. Erik recounts his trip to Joshua Tree National Park, inspired by the website Atlas Obscura. He also shares his newfound pizza-making skills, learned during a virtual team event. The episode then delves into a practical discussion on the impact of making fields required in Salesforce, emphasizing the potential for unintended consequences like disrupted integrations and user frustration. Finally, the hosts reflect on acts of kindness and resilience, finding inspiration in a "pay it forward" chain at Jack in the Box and a...2020-05-0334 min