Jun 12, 2025
In this candid episode of Search Off the Record, Gary
Illyes and Martin Splitt from the Google Search team peel back the
curtain to reveal a more human side of their work and challenges.
Instead of diving deep into technical concepts, they reflect on
their personal journeys—touching on everything from public speaking
nerves to building empathy between developers and SEOs. Through
playful banter and thoughtful commentary, they share how
communication, context, and curiosity play vital roles in their
day-to-day roles, both internally at Google and in the broader web
ecosystem.
The conversation also explores the evolution of
Martin’s career, his passion for the web, and how his developer
background helps him bridge gaps in technical understanding. The
duo navigates the complexities of delivering accurate guidance in
public forums, the risk of being taken out of context, and the
importance of clear communication across diverse audiences. It’s a
thoughtful, lighthearted, and occasionally philosophical discussion
that reminds listeners that behind the guidance, there are real
people striving to make the web better for everyone.
Resources:
Episode 93 transcript→https://goo.gle/sotr093-transcript
Chapters:
0:00 – Intro & Setup
1:30 – Life at Google
3:30 – Speaking to Developers
6:30 – Early Speaking Days
10:00 – SEOs vs Devs
14:00 – Should SEOs Code?
19:00 – Context is Everything
23:30 – Clearer SEO Advice
26:30 – Why No Slides
29:00 – Wrap Up Chat
Listen to more Search Off the Record → https://goo.gle/sotr-yt
Subscribe to Google Search Channel → https://goo.gle/SearchCentral
Search Off the Record is a podcast series that takes
you behind the scenes of Google Search with the Search Relations
team.
#SOTRpodcast #SEO
Speaker: Martin Splitt, Gary Illyes
Products Mentioned: Search