# 372: The Motivation of Creativity

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2021-05-06
- Length: 54m
- Episode: 372
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-05-06-372-the-motivation-of-creativity
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/372

## Summary

Anne Barela, a retired U.S. Foreign Service security engineer and consulting engineer at Adafruit, discusses her journey from Caltech and government service to the maker community. She explains how affordable dev boards like the Adafruit Trinket and Circuit Playground Express, along with libraries for CircuitPython and Arduino, lowered the barrier to entry for embedded electronics. Barela also shares insights on writing accessible tutorials, the impact of global chip shortages on hobbyists versus enterprise manufacturers, and the potential for open-source hardware in developing regions.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-05-06-372-the-motivation-of-creativity#t=6) Introduction and Lightning Round
- [5:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-05-06-372-the-motivation-of-creativity#t=324) Career in the U.S. Foreign Service
- [8:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-05-06-372-the-motivation-of-creativity#t=508) Transition to Adafruit and Maker Culture
- [16:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-05-06-372-the-motivation-of-creativity#t=999) Evolution of Dev Boards and Sensors
- [24:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-05-06-372-the-motivation-of-creativity#t=1446) Microcontroller Choices and CircuitPython
- [26:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-05-06-372-the-motivation-of-creativity#t=1618) Chip Shortages and Sourcing
- [30:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-05-06-372-the-motivation-of-creativity#t=1845) Writing Tutorials and Books
- [46:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-05-06-372-the-motivation-of-creativity#t=2807) Advice for Technical Writers and Makers

## Topics

- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Creator business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/creator-business)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Adafruit (company)
- Trinket (product)
- Circuit Playground Express (product)
- Arduino (product)
- ESP32 (chip)
- RP2040 (chip)
- SAMD51 (chip)
- CircuitPython (tool)
- Limor Fried (other)
- Phil Torrone (other)
- Digi-Key (company)
- Mouser (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [033 - All Over the Place](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2020-04-27-033-all-over-the-place) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [What's In A Name?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-08-07-whats-in-a-name) (The Amp Hour)
- [Otiose Ontocyclic Opiniasters](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-01-30-otiose-ontocyclic-opiniasters) (The Amp Hour)
- [Recycle All Your Microcontrollers](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-08-07-recycle-all-your-microcontrollers) (The Amp Hour)
- [Love Robots and Pantyhose Screens](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-09-08-love-robots-and-pantyhose-screens) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-05-06-372-the-motivation-of-creativity. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.