Owl Things Considered: Issue 4

Hello! It’s been a few months since our last issue of Owl Things Considered, so if you’re new here: welcome! 

I’m Erica from KnowledgeOwl, and this newsletter exists to bring you educational and inspirational content to expand your skillset and brighten your day.

Into view, oil on canvas, 24” x 36”, Erica Beyea, 2025 

This issue’s riddle 

What’s an owl’s favorite tapa? 

Scroll to the bottom for the answer 

Knowledge management tips: Using visuals in technical writing

A screenshot from Dennis Dawson’s docs explaining what a Blockchain is, from XRP Ledger’s docs. 

The Not-Boring Tech Writer podcast has had plenty of episodes that resonated with me, but none quite like Kate Mueller's October episode with Dennis Dawson about humor and visuals in technical writing. Anyone who's encountered my marketing content for KnowledgeOwl knows I rely heavily on both. I am a visual artist and natural ham, after all!

But for the technical writing I do at KnowledgeOwl—occasionally writing and updating docs for our Support Knowledge Base, and crafting how-to emails for new trials—I really need to be considerate of my approach. 

The episode got me thinking about the balance between personality and clarity in technical documentation. Humor and visuals are powerful tools for engagement and comprehension, but they need to serve the reader's goal, not just entertain them. Dennis and Kate discussed how strategic use of humor can make technical content more approachable and memorable, while well-chosen visuals can eliminate paragraphs of explanation. 

Since listening to that episode, I've been more intentional about asking myself: Is this visual actually helping someone complete a task faster? Is this bit of levity making the content more digestible, or am I just amusing myself? In technical writing, every element should reduce cognitive load and get readers to their answer efficiently. 

The key takeaway for me was this: humor and visuals aren't about making documentation "fun"— they're about making it human and clear. A well-placed screenshot can prevent user error. A conversational tone can make complex concepts less intimidating. But both need to be purposeful, not decorative. 

If you haven't listened to the episode yet, I highly recommend it. It's a great reminder that technical writing doesn't have to be dry to be effective—it just has to be thoughtful. 

Listen to the episode 

An organization that inspires us: Zingerman’s community of businesses

The Zingerman’s group of businesses (especially ZingTrain) has been an important part of KnowledgeOwl for years. If you work for or own any kind of company, ZingTrain can benefit you immensely. They bring a principled, smart, and successful approach to all their offerings. 

All of KnowledgeOwl’s owls are trained on Zingerman's 3-step recipe for great customer service, and we use Visioning as part of our major decision-making processes. These are just two of the countless ways KnowledgeOwl has learned and improved from ZingTrain. 

It's become a holiday tradition for all owls to attend the Intentional Leadership virtual training in December. Our business, and our lives, have been genuinely improved by it. 

If you have a learning and development budget to spend, or want to gift your employees a great experience next month, I highly recommend checking out the Intentional Leadership training. 

How KnowledgeOwl gives a hoot 

A behind-the-scenes look at how we operate and strive to make a positive impact.

KO Vowlunteer Season 

When owl puns are as integral to your daily operations as they are here at KO, you learn that some forced puns are worse than others. "Howliday" sounds more werewolf Halloween than festive Thanksgiving, so we're going with something better this year. 

Welcome to Vowlunteer Season at KnowledgeOwl! 

In a previous issue I told you about our Give a Hoot in your Community program, which gives our owls paid time to volunteer. Vowlunteer Season is the charged-up, extra sparkly, festive version of that—a season where we're all highly encouraged to get out there and make an impact in our communities. 

I recently relocated to Zaragoza, Spain, and I'm very happy to have this extra nudge to get involved in my new home. It's a great way for KnowledgeOwl to support me as an employee, while also having a positive impact in a place they'd otherwise be unlikely to know about. 

Dopamine dose 

Some warm fuzzies to brighten your day.

In each issue, I'll share a short list of things to add a little light to your day:

Songs to smile to: 

I asked my colleague Chad (Executive Assistant to the CEO & Friend of Felines) to choose this issue’s “song to smile to.” He responded with TWO Cass McCombs songs: 

1. Friends from All Around the World (Hello Version) by Mr. Greg & Cass McCombs 

2. County Line by Cass McCombs 

The first song is on a children’s album that Cass created with his childhood friend Greg, who is now a preschool teacher. It features many lighthearted and fun songs that people of all ages can enjoy. 

The second song is a tender, soothing Cass McCombs classic. When Chad first heard it, he loved it so much he played it on repeat in a car ride that was longer than an hour! Bonus: Here’s a great live version of it. 

Heart-warming animal story alert: 

This farmer rescues 'gay sheep' and sells their wool to support LGBTQ+ charities. These rams would otherwise be slaughtered, but now they live in a green sanctuary and help others. 

Who we're giving to: 

At KnowledgeOwl, we have a community commitment that we call 2% for People and Planet. 

Beyond our commitment to 1% for the Planet, we also give another 1% to a charity of a different owl's choosing each month. This program allows us to help many different people, in many different communities. 

If you're looking for some donation inspiration, you might think about giving to organizations we've given to recently (or starting a similar program at your company!). Since it’s been 4 months since our last issue, we have a longer list than usual: 

In July 2025, Marybeth, our Chief Executive Owl & Knowledge Goddess, donated to Give Directly, an evidence-based nonprofit that empowers people in extreme poverty by providing unconditional cash transfers. This approach has been rigorously proven to improve health, education, and financial stability. 

In August 2025, Pete, our Chief Technical Owl, donated to Clean Air Task Force, a nonprofit that is focused on decarbonizing energy sectors through government policy changes and private sector partnerships. 

In September 2025, Kate, our Documentation Goddess & Resident Cheesemonger, donated to Paisley Paws, an organization that provides financial support during times of medical crises for pet owners who are unable to afford life-saving, life-enhancing veterinary care. They also provide scholarship grants to senior-level veterinary students to offset the educational debt and  financial crisis aid to help prevent suicide. 

In October 2025, our top secret Information Security Owl donated to the Colorado Pet Pantry, a nonprofit that distributes food to feed pets of struggling families in order to help keep pets in their homes and out of shelters. 

Answer the riddle:

An owl’s favorite tapa is wings-down a cup of Gazp-owl-cho, ideally paired with a nice glass of Owlbariño from Galicia. 

Hasta la próxima!

Thanks so much for reading Owls Things Considered! If you have any thoughts, questions, or ideas for the newsletter, please reach out to us at support@knowledgeowl.com. 

Love, 

Erica, Ruf*, and the rest of KnowledgeOwl 

*world's best boy and my dream dog come to life