From Tucson to Berlin Germany - Automations, AI, and the Late Nights In-Between
When you travel for work, it’s easy to fall into the same old rhythm: airports, hotels, events, repeat. But sometimes, a trip sneaks up on you and turns into something far more meaningful than what your calendar promised.
That’s what happened to me in early October 2025 when I traded the heat of Tucson, Arizona for the cool, electric pulse of Berlin, Germany to attend and speak at n8n Builders Berlin — a community event for automation enthusiasts, AI explorers, and makers of every kind.
I went to teach people about workflow automation using n8n. I left with new friendships, late-night stories, and a fresh perspective on why community, not code, is what really powers innovation.
🌍 Why Berlin?
If you’ve never been, Berlin is a fascinating contradiction. It’s a city built on scars, from war, from division, from constant reinvention, yet it thrives on creativity and openness.
It’s industrial, modern, artistic, and raw all at once.
Every corner tells a story. One block might house a centuries-old church, the next an underground art gallery or a startup hub full of hackers and dreamers. It’s a place that constantly tears itself apart just to rebuild better.
So when n8n announced Berlin as the next stop for its Builders event, it made perfect sense. Automation, after all, is about transformation — and no city embodies that better than Berlin. And, it's where n8n is headquartered as well.
🛬 Day 1 – Arriving in Berlin: Reunions and a Live Stream
My flight from Tucson was mercifully uneventful, the best kind of flight when you’ve got work ahead. I landed in Berlin, checked into my hotel, and immediately dropped my bag, showered, and set out to meet the team at n8n headquarters.
Walking through the doors was surreal. Many of these faces: JP, Tom, Niklas, my boss, and others were people I’d collaborated with for a long time but rarely met in person. Screens flatten relationships; handshakes and laughter bring them back to life.
Bart was hosting the n8n Community Stream, and I joined as a guest to talk about the work I’ve been doing. You can even catch that stream here (I show up around the 52-minute mark).
Afterward, the team and a few of our content creator partners went out for dinner. It was one of those nights where the conversation effortlessly drifts from work to life, from automation to travel, from serious to silly. The food was great, the drinks were better, and the company was the best part of all.
⚙️ Day 2 – Work, Collaboration, and the Big Event
The next morning started quietly. Breakfast at the hotel, a few emails, then straight to the office to get some real work done before the big event.
I spent part of the day working with Ian from Puerco TV on our Google Gemini AI collaboration video, and later recorded a session with Mary Newhauser on RAG and agentic workflows.
Mary is one of those rare people whose intelligence feels effortless. Collaborating with her was like taking a crash course in both humility and inspiration. By the time we wrapped, I was buzzing with ideas.
As evening approached, it was time to pack up and head to the venue, Lohmühleninsel, a scenic event space about 30 minutes from the office. The sun was just starting to dip when I arrived, and the place was already alive with energy: banners, gear, people mingling and setting up.
My talk was scheduled for 6:30 PM, so I spent the pre-show hours in the speakers’ lounge, sipping water, tweaking slides, and going over my notes for the Star Wars Demo, a presentation designed to teach beginners how to use n8n in a fun, approachable way.
When I stepped onto the stage, I asked how many people were new to n8n. Nearly 90% of the crowd raised their hands. Perfect. That’s exactly who the demo was for.
The Star Wars Demo uses the Star Wars API to pull movie titles and release dates into a spreadsheet, teaching the fundamentals of automation in a playful way. It’s simple, creative, and approachable, because the truth is, technical learning sticks better when it’s fun.
The crowd was engaged from the first minute. People laughed, asked questions, and by the end, I could see the spark, that moment when something clicks. It’s one of the best feelings in the world.
🤖 The Roundtable: Talking the Future of AI and Automation
Later that evening, I joined four incredible people for a roundtable discussion on the future of AI and automation:
- Max Tkacz, n8n’s original “Flowgrammer”
- Goda Go, a TEDx speaker and content creator with over 100k followers
- David Roberts, VP of Product and Design at n8n
- Marcel Claus-Ahrens, aka Dr. Pure Eval — an automation expert and one of the most entertaining personalities in our community
The discussion was lively, fast-paced, and full of insight. We talked about where automation is heading, how AI is changing workflows, and how human creativity fits into all of it.
There was no script, just a free exchange of ideas among people genuinely passionate about the craft.
When the panel wrapped up, the speakers were gifted Tiny TV sets. Tiny, fully functional televisions from Tiny Circuits. It was such a thoughtful gesture and perfectly symbolic of our shared love for clever engineering.
And then came the networking session. Food, drinks, and deep conversations with content creators, startup founders, automation enthusiasts, and AI experts from around the world.
The vibe felt electric.
The night didn’t end there, it continued at a local bar called QBA, where laughter and music filled the air until around 2 a.m. It was the perfect Berlin ending: spontaneous, spirited, and full of connection.
☕ Day 3 – Improvisation, Coffee, and Unexpected Adventures
The next morning, a big group of us, about twenty of us, decided to cowork together at a shared office space. But Berlin had other plans. It was a public holiday, and the space was closed.
Instead of giving up, we pivoted. A few blocks away stood an old hotel we’d used during a previous Berlin IRL trip. We wandered in, asked if we could use their lobby to work and order coffee, and they graciously agreed. Bart, ever the team player, put coffee for everyone on the company card.
So there we were, laptops open, caffeine flowing, conversations humming softly in the background. It wasn’t the plan, but it worked out perfect.
Later that evening, after dinner, I got a message from Marraliza, an n8n ambassador and fellow creative spirit from Amsterdam. She mentioned her friend from Thailand was visiting Berlin with his girlfriend and invited me out to join them for drinks.
I hesitated for half a second. I was tired, content, ready for bed. But something told me to go.
And I’m glad I did.
That night turned into a full-blown adventure. We met strangers who quickly became friends, wandered through hidden bars, and laughed until our voices were hoarse. It was one of those rare nights that remind you why you travel: for the unexpected human moments.
By 3 a.m., the group had transformed. Some people left, others joined. Conversations about automation gave way to philosophy, jokes, and life stories.
When the night finally ended, it wasn’t the same group that had started it, but that’s the beauty of travel. You meet new people, and for a few fleeting hours, your worlds overlap in perfect harmony.
🌙 Day 4 – Souvenirs, Solitude, and Scooters at Midnight
My body finally called in its debt. I slept through the morning, the afternoon, and most of the day. When I finally woke up, the clock read 5 p.m. I had missed every breakfast and lunch invite, but honestly, it felt earned.
That evening, I took myself out on a solo date with Berlin.
Dinner at Rice & Shine, a cozy spot with flavorful dishes and the comforting hum of quiet conversation.
After dinner, I went hunting for souvenirs — something small to bring home to my sons, Jett and Lucas. I found a candy shop with European treats and grabbed a few giant Kinder Eggs.
Then I wandered into the AMPELMANN Shop Am Tacheles, a cute little store themed around Berlin’s iconic traffic light men, the Ampelmännchen. I left with a few packs of vegan gummy candies shaped like those little walking figures.
Finally, I rented an electric scooter and took off through the empty streets.
Berlin at night is magical. The air was cool, the roads almost deserted, and the city lights reflected off the river like pixels in motion. I flew through intersections, past murals and statues, laughing out loud into the wind. It felt like pure freedom.
I capped the night at a Spanish restaurant called La Esperanza, where I ordered a spread of tapas and watched the city wind down around me.
It was quiet. Peaceful. The kind of solitude that fills you up rather than drains you.
✈️ The Flight Home and What Stayed With Me
The next morning came early. My flight home left at dawn, and as the plane climbed above the city, I looked down at Berlin, a patchwork of memories, lights, and late nights.
This trip wasn’t just another work event. It was a reminder of why I do what I do, not just to build things, but to connect with people who are building their own things too.
n8n Builders Berlin wasn’t just about automation. It was about community, creativity, and human connection in an age of machines.
💭 Final Thoughts
So here’s to the next trip, to more talks, more demos, more conversations over cold drinks and hot workflows.
And maybe, just maybe, another scooter ride through the empty streets of a city that’s always becoming something new.
