Being a Jira admin has never been more complex or more critical. In this episode, we sit down with Peter Kerrigan, Head of Customer Success at Solcoro, for a no-holds-barred conversation about the real struggles, hard decisions, and thankless work that goes into keeping an Atlassian environment healthy, scalable, and sane.

Whether you're managing a scrappy single-instance setup or a sprawling enterprise layout with dozens of sites, this one is going to hit home.

We dig into the topics that don't get talked about enough the ones that keep admins up at night and that no Atlassian certification ever fully prepares you for.

Thank you to ikuTeam for connecting and collaborating with The Jira Life.

https://ikuteam.com

The Jira Life

=====================================

Having trouble keeping up with when we are live? Sign up for our Atlassian Community Group!

https://ace.atlassian.com/the-jira-life/

Or Follow us on LinkedIn!

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-jira-life/

Become a member on YouTube to get access to perks:

https://www.youtube.com/@thejiralife/join

Hosts:

- Alex "Dr. Jira" Ortiz

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexortiz89/

https://www.youtube.com/@ApetechTechTutorials

- Rodney "The Jira Guy" Nissen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rgnissen/

https://thejiraguy.com

- Sarah Wright

https://www.linkedin.com/in/satwright/

Producer:

- "King Bob" Robert Wen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-wen-csm-spc6-a552051/

Executive Producer:

- Lina Ortiz

Music provided by Monstercat:

=====================================

Intro: Nitro Fun - Cheat Codes

https://www.youtube.com/c/monstercat

Outro: Fractal - Atrium

https://www.youtube.com/c/monstercatinstinct

What does it actually look like to embed social impact into the DNA of a leading tech company — not as a PR footnote, but as a core operating principle? This week, we sit down with Jessica Hyman, the person at Atlassian tasked with answering exactly that question.

As a key part of the Atlassian Foundation and the company's Chief Sustainability Officer, Jessica oversees everything from Atlassian's environmental commitments to its global social impact programs. We dig into how she navigates the tension between ambitious sustainability goals and the realities of running a high-growth software company, what the Atlassian Foundation is building for the long term, and why she thinks the tools teams use every day — yes, including Jira — can shape a more equitable future of work.

This discussion looks beyond the typical outcomes such as new features of Rovo to understand how one of the world's biggest collaboration platforms approaches its obligations to the planet and its communities. If you're ready to look at Atlassian from a different perspective, this conversation is for you.

Thank you to ikuTeam for connecting and collaborating with The Jira Life.

https://ikuteam.com

The Jira Life

=====================================

Having trouble keeping up with when we are live? Sign up for our Atlassian Community Group!

https://ace.atlassian.com/the-jira-life/

Or Follow us on LinkedIn!

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-jira-life/

Become a member on YouTube to get access to perks:

https://www.youtube.com/@thejiralife/join

Hosts:

- Alex "Dr. Jira" Ortiz

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexortiz89/

https://www.youtube.com/@ApetechTechTutorials

- Rodney "The Jira Guy" Nissen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rgnissen/

https://thejiraguy.com

- Sarah Wright

https://www.linkedin.com/in/satwright/

Producer:

- "King Bob" Robert Wen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-wen-csm-spc6-a552051/

Executive Producer:

- Lina Ortiz

Music provided by Monstercat:

=====================================

Intro: Nitro Fun - Cheat Codes

https://www.youtube.com/c/monstercat

Outro: Fractal - Atrium

https://www.youtube.com/c/monstercatinstinct

Birthday episode! 🎂

Three years. Hundreds of sprints. Countless standups. And somehow, we're still here.

To mark the third birthday of The Jira Life, co-hosts Rodney Nissen, Alex Ortiz, and Sarah Wright are joined by the people who make this whole thing possible behind the scenes — producers Robert "King Bob" Wen and Lina Ortiz — for a full-crew celebration episode unlike any other.

Expect the unexpected: the gang digs into the stories they've never told on air, from the chaotic recording sessions that almost didn't make it to publish, to the Atlassian tools that run the podcast itself (yes, it's real, and yes, it's a mess). King Bob finally gets his mic moment, Lina drops some behind-the-scenes producer wisdom, and the hosts reflect on how three years of living the Jira life has genuinely changed the way they think about work, teams, and software.

There are laughs, a few roasts, some heartfelt moments, and at least one deeply unhinged retrospective on the worst sprint planning takes the show has ever aired.

Whether you've been a JirAmigo since episode one or you're just joining the Peanut Gallery for the first time — thank you. This one's for you.

Be prepared for:

* The origin story, retold with new receipts

* Hot takes the crew regrets (and a few they stand by)

* King Bob and Lina step out of the shadows

* Three years of lessons from the trenches of agile, project management, and the beautiful chaos of shipping software

Happy birthday to us. Now let's get back to work.

Thank you to ikuTeam for connecting and collaborating with The Jira Life.

https://ikuteam.com

=====================================

Having trouble keeping up with when we are live? Sign up for our Atlassian Community Group!

https://ace.atlassian.com/the-jira-life/

Or Follow us on LinkedIn!

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-jira-life/

Become a member on YouTube to get access to perks:

https://www.youtube.com/@thejiralife/join

Hosts:

- Alex "Dr. Jira" Ortiz

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexortiz89/

https://www.youtube.com/@ApetechTechTutorials

- Rodney "The Jira Guy" Nissen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rgnissen/

https://thejiraguy.com

- Sarah Wright

https://www.linkedin.com/in/satwright/

Producer:

- "King Bob" Robert Wen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-wen-csm-spc6-a552051/

Executive Producer:

- Lina Ortiz

Music provided by Monstercat:

=====================================

Intro: Nitro Fun - Cheat Codes

https://www.youtube.com/c/monstercat

Outro: Fractal - Atrium

https://www.youtube.com/c/monstercatinstinct

As spring turns into summer, many people's thoughts turn to hitting the open road and soaking in the majestic grandeur of the United States. This week on The Jira Life, we're celebrating that spirit of adventure with a grand reunion of the Trello Trailblazers — featuring the Trello queen herself, Brittany Joiner, along with fellow Trello enthusiasts Rob Hean and Mike Day. Brittany takes us behind the scenes of her cross-country motor home journey, sharing how she planned every mile of the trip using Trello. From route mapping to packing lists, tune in as she walks us through her actual board and the tips and tricks that kept her adventure organized and on track.

But the fun doesn't stop there. Rob and Mike bring their own Trello expertise to the table, diving into the ways they've harnessed the power of Trello in their own lives and work. Whether you're a seasoned Trello power user or just getting started, this episode is packed with inspiration, practical takeaways, and plenty of good company. Don't miss this lively, road-trip-fueled conversation with three of the most passionate voices in the Trello community — only on The Jira Life.

Thank you to ikuTeam for connecting and collaborating with The Jira Life.

https://ikuteam.com

The Jira Life

=====================================

Having trouble keeping up with when we are live? Sign up for our Atlassian Community Group!

https://ace.atlassian.com/the-jira-life/

Or Follow us on LinkedIn!

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-jira-life/

Become a member on YouTube to get access to perks:

https://www.youtube.com/@thejiralife/join

Hosts:

- Alex "Dr. Jira" Ortiz

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexortiz89/

https://www.youtube.com/@ApetechTechTutorials

- Rodney "The Jira Guy" Nissen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rgnissen/

https://thejiraguy.com

- Sarah Wright

https://www.linkedin.com/in/satwright/

Producer:

- "King Bob" Robert Wen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-wen-csm-spc6-a552051/

Executive Producer:

- Lina Ortiz

Music provided by Monstercat:

=====================================

Intro: Nitro Fun - Cheat Codes

https://www.youtube.com/c/monstercat

Outro: Fractal - Atrium

https://www.youtube.com/c/monstercatinstinct

TEAM '26 was a whirlwind — and we're still buzzing from it. But before we move on to the next thing, we wanted to take a moment to shine a light on the people who helped make this season possible. This quarter, that means ikuTeam, and we couldn't be more grateful for the partnership.

So what better way to say thank you than to hand them the mic?

In this episode, we sit down with Nelson Pereira, co-founder and VP of Product at ikuTeam, for a wide-ranging conversation about how ikuTeam came to be, what they've built, and where they're headed. Whether you've been hearing about ikuTeam all season and want to finally understand what they actually do, or you're already a fan of their products, this one's worth a listen.

Nelson walks us through the origin story of ikuTeam — the problem they set out to solve and how that vision has evolved over time. We dig into their current product lineup, what makes it tick for Jira users specifically, and the roadmap ahead. If you've ever wondered how a tool gets purpose-built for the way modern teams actually work inside Atlassian's ecosystem, Nelson has a lot of thoughtful things to say about that.

It's a fun, honest conversation with someone who clearly loves what he's building — and we think you'll come away with a much clearer picture of why ikuTeam has been a natural fit for the Atlassian community.

Give it a listen, and as always — thanks for being here!

Thank you to ikuTeam for connecting and collaborating with The Jira Life.

https://ikuteam.com

The Jira Life

=====================================

Having trouble keeping up with when we are live? Sign up for our Atlassian Community Group!

https://ace.atlassian.com/the-jira-life/

Or Follow us on LinkedIn!

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-jira-life/

Become a member on YouTube to get access to perks:

https://www.youtube.com/@thejiralife/join

Hosts:

- Alex "Dr. Jira" Ortiz

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexortiz89/

https://www.youtube.com/@ApetechTechTutorials

- Rodney "The Jira Guy" Nissen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rgnissen/

https://thejiraguy.com

- Sarah Wright

https://www.linkedin.com/in/satwright/

Producer:

- "King Bob" Robert Wen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-wen-csm-spc6-a552051/

Executive Producer:

- Lina Ortiz

Music provided by Monstercat:

=====================================

Intro: Nitro Fun - Cheat Codes

https://www.youtube.com/c/monstercat

Outro: Fractal - Atrium

https://www.youtube.com/c/monstercatinstinct

Every Atlassian admin has been there — you're either locking everything down so tightly that users are filing tickets just to breathe, or you've said "yes" one too many times and now you've got 47 duplicate fields and a different workflow in every single space. So where's the line?This episode is less of an interview and more of a conversation — and we want you to be part of it. As we sit down with Nick Turner of the Turner Advisory Group, we're pulling in perspectives straight from the JiraAmigos community, because this is exactly the kind of topic where everyone has a war story, an opinion, or a hard-learned lesson worth hearing.We'll dig into what it actually looks like when an instance tips too far in either direction. On one end, the over-governed environment built more for the admin than the everyday user — where guardrails have become gates and friction is everywhere. On the other, the anything-goes instance where customization has quietly spiraled into chaos, half the fields don't work, and no two teams are operating the same way.Nick brings his perspective from the Turner Advisory Group, the hosts bring theirs, and we want you bringing yours too. As you listen, we're challenging you to think honestly about your own instance — which direction are you leaning? How much of that is intentional, and how much just... happened?We also get into how much context matters here, because what works at a few hundred users can fall apart fast at a few thousand.Pull up a chair. This one's a group discussion.Thank you to ikuTeam for connecting and collaborating with The Jira Life. https://ikuteam.comThe Jira Life=====================================Having trouble keeping up with when we are live? Sign up for our Atlassian Community Group!https://ace.atlassian.com/the-jira-life/Or Follow us on LinkedIn!https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-jira-life/Become a member on YouTube to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/@thejiralife/joinHosts:- Alex "Dr. Jira" Ortiz https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexortiz89/ https://www.youtube.com/@ApetechTechTutorials- Rodney "The Jira Guy" Nissen https://www.linkedin.com/in/rgnissen/ https://thejiraguy.com- Sarah Wright https://www.linkedin.com/in/satwright/ Producer:- "King Bob" Robert Wen https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-wen-csm-spc6-a552051/Executive Producer: - Lina OrtizMusic provided by Monstercat:=====================================Intro: Nitro Fun - Cheat Codeshttps://www.youtube.com/c/monstercatOutro: Fractal - Atriumhttps://www.youtube.com/c/monstercatinstinct

In this episode, we sit down with Kristjan Mathiesen, who recently joined Atlassian's Certification team as a Technical Subject Matter Expert, to take a comprehensive look at one of the most valuable — and often underutilized — resources in the Atlassian ecosystem: the certification program.

Kristjan walks us through the full history of Atlassian credentialing, from the early days of the Atlassian Certified Professional (ACP) exams — high-stakes, proctored assessments designed to validate deep product knowledge — through the evolution of the program into a broader ecosystem of credentials. We cover the early ACP exams, how they came to be, why they were built the way they were, and who they were designed to serve. We also dig into the Atlassian Certified Associate (ACA) and Atlassian Certified Hands-on (ACH) credentials — the latter being a lower-stakes, non-proctored, open-book format aimed at a different audience entirely.

Then we look at where the program stands today. All exams now live on the Certiverse platform, making the entire certification journey fully online — no more trekking to a testing center. Other changes are afoot this year, rolling out with the release of the updated ACP-520.

We close the episode with a bigger-picture conversation about the value of credentials in today's job market. Kristjan shares his perspective on why certifications matter more than ever in a world where learning moves fast — where a college degree still carries weight, but hands-on, specialized credentials are increasingly what validates real-world expertise to employers.

Whether you're already certified, considering your first exam, or just curious about where the Atlassian credentialing program is headed, this episode is for you.

Subscribe, leave a review, and let us know — are you certified?

Thank you to ikuTeam for connecting and collaborating with The Jira Life.

https://ikuteam.com

The Jira Life

=====================================

Having trouble keeping up with when we are live? Sign up for our Atlassian Community Group!

https://ace.atlassian.com/the-jira-life/

Or Follow us on LinkedIn!

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-jira-life/

Become a member on YouTube to get access to perks:

https://www.youtube.com/@thejiralife/join

Hosts:

- Alex "Dr. Jira" Ortiz

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexortiz89/

https://www.youtube.com/@ApetechTechTutorials

- Rodney "The Jira Guy" Nissen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rgnissen/

https://thejiraguy.com

- Sarah Wright

https://www.linkedin.com/in/satwright/

Producer:

- "King Bob" Robert Wen

https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-wen-csm-spc6-a552051/

Executive Producer:

- Lina Ortiz

Music provided by Monstercat:

=====================================

Intro: Nitro Fun - Cheat Codes

https://www.youtube.com/c/monstercat

Outro: Fractal - Atrium

https://www.youtube.com/c/monstercatinstinct