Crafted

Murderbots, mass layoffs, and media takeovers — all in one news cycle. Anthropic told the Pentagon "we will not accede." Block cut half its workforce overnight. And the Paramount-Warner Brothers deal raises real questions about who's running the media now.Also, thanks to Nicolás Maduro's fashion sense, Dan's 13-year-old is being called Lil Tator at school and honestly? The kids are all right. Happy FAFO Friday!Here's some of what Kwaku Aning and I get into:(00:00) - Three Stories Broke Last Night (03:16) - Anthropic Tells the Pentagon No (06:24) - Murder Bots, But Human in the Loop (07:00) - The Pentagon's Friday Deadline (09:28) - Why This Is a Huge Win for Anthropic (10:50) - The War for AI Talent (12:57) - Is the Administration Losing Steam? (15:05) - The Paramount-Warner Brothers Deal (17:36) - Who Controls the Media Now? (21:13) - CNN, Independent Media, and the Employee Perspective (23:55) - Block Lays Off 4,000 People (24:14) - The Citrini Research Fiction That Tanked Stocks (27:49) - AI Washing and the Real Reason for Layoffs (30:11) - Will Vibe Coding Replace Real Companies? (33:27) - Mid-Roll Break (34:41) - Past, Present, Future: State-Controlled AI (35:18) - Past, Present, Future: Independent Media (38:03) - — SLAPP Lawsuits and Creator Protections (40:23) - — Past, Present, Future: Knicks Championship (41:44) - — Come See Us at South by Southwest!

Of all the industries AI will transform, Kira Radinsky believes chemistry and biology will change the most. Kira is the co-founder and CTO of Diagnostic Robotics, which uses AI to automate the administrative work that's crushing healthcare teams — so clinicians can actually focus on patients. She's also the co-founder of Mana.bio, where they're accelerating drug discovery by orders of magnitude.She'll tell you she's terrible in the lab. Not because she isn't brilliant, but because she can't pipette without killing the cells. So she's thrilled that thanks to her skills in data and AI she was able to realize her childhood dream of being a scientist: “I'm not trying to automate everything… Like when, when you say automate drug discovery, I'm not gonna discover everything. I just want to accelerate it, which comes back to my childhood dream: I just didn't want to do it myself. I just want AI to replace me as a scientist. That's it.”But this episode is about more than healthcare. It's about how to build systems that get smarter over time — feedback loops, causal inference, incentivizing algorithms to take risks, and knowing when to optimize for ROI instead of accuracy. Lessons that apply whether you're building in biotech or not.We cover:How growing up Jewish in Soviet Ukraine — and fleeing to Israel just before the Gulf War — shaped Kira's obsession with predicting the futureHow she built a system that successfully predicted real-world events, including Cuba's first cholera outbreak in Cuba in 130 yearsHow Mana.bio is using AI to build "rocketships" that deliver drugs to the right cells — and how they've done in three months what used to take 20 yearsWhy predictions are only valuable if there's something you can do about them — and why that makes healthcare an ideal field for AI How to incentivize algorithms to make bolder predictions (it's easy to predict there won't be an earthquake today; it's much harder to say there will be)Why causal inference is the most underrated tool in machine learning right nowHow healthcare AI can perpetuate racial bias — and what builders need to do differentlyNote: this interview originally aired in October 2024. Chapters:(01:44) - Why predictions are so important to Kira: lessons from fleeing Soviet-era Kyiv (05:10) - Building a prediction engine from 150 years of news (08:35) - How Kira predicted the Cuba cholera outbreak (09:50) - Returning to biology by way of data (12:50) - Predicting healthcare outcomes by finding your patient's twin (17:53) - The racial bias hiding in healthcare AI (19:15) - Building Mana.bio and accelerating drug discovery (24:33) - "In three months, what did what used to take 20 years" (31:44) - Builder tips: ROI, causal inference, and teaching algorithms to explore (35:07) - Planning: Where generative AI needs improve Links & Resources:Kira Radinsky on LinkedInDiagnostic RoboticsMana.bioSupport Future Around & Find OutGet the free newsletterAnd consider becoming a paid subscriber and help future proof this thing!Sponsor the show? Are you looking to reach an audience of senior technologists and decision-makers? Email me: dan@modernproductminds.com---Music by Jonathan Zalben

You probably know by now that AI is the definition of mediocre. As in: it's the average of everything it's been trained on. So how do you get beyond average? How do you build a moat? It certainly doesn't seem to be via the models. While there are models of the month (hey, Opus 4.6, my new friend!), they seem to be pretty swappable. So, the model ain't it. But proprietary data (e.g. an AI that knows you really well), yes! Or doing something really hard in the real world (think: Waymo self-driving cars). Maybe via trust and safety (Anthropic is certainly making a play here). Or... how about via amazing design and good taste. Remember when ChatGPT first came out and everyone derided “AI wrappers”… well, maybe a wrapper isn't so bad, assuming you can differentiate on one or more of the above. Luke Des Cotes is the CEO of MetaLab, the agency famous for designing interfaces, including early versions of Slack and Coinbase, so don't be shocked when you hear him say that great design can be your moat. MetaLab is working with a host of AI companies (another shocker), including Windsurf (AI + code), Suno (AI + music), Pika (AI + video), and more…, which is why Luke's take on AI surprised me. He's not rah rah. He's pretty judicious actually. Luke has questions about AI's costs and appropriateness for lots of use cases like those involving kids, but mostly he objects to its mediocrity.On this episode we discuss what it takes to go beyond.We also get into:Why vibe-coded software isn't changing the world anytime soonWhy Shopify acquired a design agency right after telling employees to justify their existence against AIHow MetaLab designers are using AI to prototype in hours instead of weeksThe talent market for zero-to-one designers — and why they're harder to find than everLandlines, brick phones, and how parents are fighting back against always-on kidsChapters(01:10) - "It's a race to the mean" (03:10) - "How do you create emotional resonance?" (05:33) - AI companies are burning money (08:44) - Speed to good enough (13:51) - Is the chat here to stay or a temporary fad? (17:43) - It's hard to find great 0 to 1 design talent (22:28) - Seemingly conscious AI (25:05) - Kids, landlines, and fighting always-on culture (27:21) - Sounds like science fiction, but is here now… Links & ResourcesLuke Des Cotes on LinkedInMetaLabSupport Future Around & Find OutGet the free newsletterAnd consider becoming a paid subscriber and help future proof this thing!Sponsor the show? Are you looking to reach an audience of senior technologists and decision-makers? Email me: dan@modernproductminds.com

Henrik Werdelin is one of my favorite entrepreneurs. He's founded and incubated several unicorns, most notably BARK, the dog happiness company.Henrik himself is a pretty happy guy — an optimistic guy who likes to ask what could go right? — and on the day we recorded (a few months ago as I was squirreling away interviews for the podcast relaunch), he helped me see through some future of tech gloom I was feeling. I honestly can't even remember what Trump+tech hellscape we were living through that week, but I do remember that Henrik put me in a better mood. I think he'll do the same for you, no matter how you're feeling.

Is AI conscious? Will it be someday? And should we be nice to it now... just in case?This FAFO Friday, Kwaku and I dive into the mind-bending world of machine consciousness.We cover a lot of ground, weaving from the different ways that Luke (co-dependent with R2) and Han (barking commands at C-3PO) treat their droids to whether Pascal's Wager informs whether we should believe in AI consciousness just in case they do come alive and have been keeping score. (Pascal figured it was the safe bet to believe in God, just in case; maybe we should do likewise?) That's from us knuckleheads, but we've also got a true expert on consciousness. This week I interviewed Daniel Hulme, one of the world's leading AI researchers. He's the Chief AI Officer at WPP, the CEO of Satalia (which WPP bought) and just founded and is CEO of Conscium, which is researching AI consciousness, efficiency (he thinks we're scaling wrong and LLM's are not the way), and building a platform to verify AI agents are safe. You'll hear the first five minutes of my interview with Daniel. Daniel was not surprised by Moltbook (the Reddit-style site that AI agents built for themselves). That's because he's been putting agents together (in a “primordial soup” as he put it) for decades to observe the wild and wonderful ways they behave and to see if they'd create intelligence.Daniel does not think today's agents are conscious, but can see a path to it. And he believes that a conscious superintellignece would be safer than a “zombie” one. But mostly he doesn't want machines to feel pain and suffer. Huh???My brain is still kind of broken from our hourlong chat, which I'm producing now and will be released in a few weeks. For now, enjoy this preview and more from Kwaku and me as we talk about what we expect from machines, whether we want to be one with them, and more…

Everyone's feeling jumpy about AI right now—and for good reason.The hype has been massive. The investment has been astronomical. But where's the actual return?In this episode, Azeem Azhar, founder of Exponential View and advisor to tech leaders and governments, breaks down why the next 18 months are make-or-break for AI. Companies need to prove there's real ROI, not just prototypes launched and tokens spent.We cover:What hard evidence would actually prove AI is working (hint: it's not usage metrics)Who can build a real moat with AI—and why the winners will likely come from unexpected places, as they have in previous tech transformationsThe physical constraints nobody wants to talk about: chips, data centers, power grids, and whether America's infrastructure is up to the taskWhy OpenAI's "ubiquity strategy" might be spreading too thin (and what Anthropic is doing differently)The "pragmatic addicts" problem: we're dependent on AI even though we don't trust itHow Azeem and his team use AI to be more productive, how they automate whatever they can, and why individual contributors are acting more like managers (of AI)Note: This interview was recorded months before the "SaaSpacolypse" (big market drop) of Feb 2026; the analysis is as relevant as ever. Chapters(01:51) - Why the next 18 months are the crucible for AI (04:09) - What hard evidence would actually prove AI ROI (not token counts!) (06:55) - Why it's so hard to measure AI's real impact (09:55) - Who can build a moat with AI? Winners will be in "odd places" (12:56) - Structural data advantages: why Waymo's edge is hard to replicate (14:34) - Coding agents and whether developers will become disillusioned with them (18:21) - Physical constraints: chips, data centers, power, and America's grid problem (21:25) - How the Gulf countries became an unexpected AI hub (28:02) - "Pragmatic addicts": why 75% of Americans distrust AI but use it anyway (31:45) - The narrative of AI can be very unappealing: heaven on Earth or dystopia (34:36) - How Azeem's team uses AI: augmentation vs. automation (40:06) - What should we be talking about besides AI? (43:46) - Sounds like science fiction: What Azeem can't believe is real and here today Links & Resources:Exponential View: https://www.exponentialview.co/Azeem's Boom or Bubble dashboard: https://boomorbubble.ai/Azeem's New York Times piece on America's electric grid challenge: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/28/opinion/ai-electricity-power-plants.htmlMore on the “MIT Study” claiming 95% of AI projects fail that Azeem and I both found to be really poorly done, but that is nonetheless is quoted by everyone: Here's Azeem tearing the study apart with data: https://www.exponentialview.co/p/how-95-escaped-into-the-worldAnd here's me riffing with Kwaku Aning on it. You know why Azeem liked my take? Because I actually read the thing, unlike ~95% of the writers out there who just quoted that 95% number: https://www.futurearound.com/p/did-anyone-actually-read-that-mit-ai-study-that-made-the-markets-swoon-i-didSupport Future Around & Find OutGet the newsletter: https://www.futurearound.comBecome a paid subscriber and help future proof this thing!: https://www.futurearound.comSponsor the show? Are you looking to reach an audience of senior technologists and decision-makers? Email me: dan@modernproductminds.com

Welcome to the first FAFO Friday!This week Dan and Kwaku dig into:- The uncanny valley that is AI agents and Moltbook—the "Reddit" that agents built for themselves to complain about humans, create a religion, and behave in ways that freak humans out- Anthropic takes aim at OpenAI with a Super Bowl ad that's spicy (for cubs and cougars alike)- We read Claude's "Constitution" and ask: Should AI do what you ask it to do—or what it thinks you _really_ want long-term?- Why Dan switched from OpenAI to Claude (and what he learned about tone, capability, and custom projects)- OpenAI scrambles; the market stumbles; Jensen Huang acts like Sam Altman is "just someone I used to know"- How AEO (AI Engine Optimization) becomes critical in an AI-agent world—and what that means for brand, marketing, and search- Why social media is already past (dark social won)- Elon's pivot to humanoid robots, data centers in space, and other cool things we definitely need- Are we setting higher ethical standards for machines than for tech leaders?Plus: Friendster, TiVo, Pee-wee's Playhouse, and other asides that we hope you get, but maybe you won't ¯_(ツ)_/¯---Support Future Around & Find Out- Subscribe to the newsletter and support: https://www.futurearound.com- Support the media — support the future — you hope to see. Please consider a paid subscription to Future Around & Find Out. You'll also get access to exclusive events and the ability to ask questions of upcoming guests. Learn more: https://www.futurearound.com/upgrade

Baratunde Thurston wants us to live well with machines — not for us live under them, nor to be their almighty overlords. Baratunde is a technologist, a comedian, and an Emmy-nominated storyteller who explores interdependence. He gets spicy in this episode. The host of Life With Machines explores how he uses AI — without succumbing to its literal mediocrity — and why he feels he must use AI because otherwise he's ceding the future to big tech. He also digs into the compromises made in service of building AGI, why strongmen are actually weak, and why CEOs need to stop bending the knee and learn how collective power and strength actually work.But he doesn't just critique—he offers builders a concrete path forward for how we can build a better future , because: "If we build these systems in a good way, there'll be more for everybody, more freedom for everybody and more money for everybody. I do believe that that is possible, but if we do this the wrong way, most of us are gonna suffer and a handful will enjoy their riches in a very secure compound."This episode is a banger. You will be inspired to take action!Chapters:(02:00) - “I don't want to live under machines… I also don't want to be like master of the machine” (06:25) - Creating good goals for AI systems and products (09:00) - “Nothing about us without us” – principles of community-based action (11:10) - How Baratunde stays creative and avoids mediocrity when using AI (14:10) - Building BLAIR, Baratunde's AI “co-host” and “producer” on Life With Machines (16:50) - “You know nothing, John Snow.” Generative AI systems are not knowledge repositories! (20:00) - Practice what you preach: on Mustafa Suleyman (Microsoft AI CEO) and his warning against building “Seemingly Conscious AI” (24:26) - The AI funding shell game (25:26) - Racing to AGI and the compromises (trust & safety, copyright, etc…) along the way (28:56) - How Baratunde reconciles his unease with his own heavy use of AI (32:10) - “Comedy will not save us; we will save us.” On the role of comedy vs. authority / authoritarians (36:26) - Bending the knee: why Baratunde says tech CEOs need to learn how collective power works (38:26) - What builders — what we! — can do (today!) to exercise our power about how these systems will be built (40:26) - “If we build these systems in a good way, there'll be more for everybody…” Where to find Baratunde Thurston:Life with Machines: https://www.lifewithmachines.media/Support Future Around & Find OutSubscribe to the newsletter and support: https://www.futurearound.comSupport the media — support the future — you hope to see. Please consider a paid subscription to Future Around & Find Out. You'll also get access to exclusive events and the ability to ask questions of upcoming guests. Learn more: https://www.futurearound.com/upgrade Sponsor the show?Interested in reaching an audience of senior technologists and decision-makers and aligning with future-forward content? Let's talk! Please email show host Dan Blumberg: dan@modernproductminds.com---Music by Jonathan Zalben

You know what would be awesome? If we could build the future we want — before we muck it up.Future Around & Find Out helps builders think clearly about AI and emerging technologies, grapple with the implications, and decide what to build next.Independent technologist and former NPR journalist Dan Blumberg speaks with founders, makers, and you to celebrate breakthroughs, call BS on the hype, explore how things might go sideways — and how we can steer the future in the right direction.The Webby Awards have honored the show (formerly known as CRAFTED.) as a top tech podcast three years in a row! On Tuesdays, we feature interviews with the builders changing how we work, live, and play. On FAFO Fridays, futurist Kwaku Aning joins Dan for a playful recap of the week in tech, including the amazing, the scary, and the strange.You'll also hear about innovations that too often get overshadowed by AI, including in deep tech, biotech, fintech, quantum computing, robotics, blockchain, and more.Across it all, you'll hear sharp takes on what comes next and what builders need to know now. So let's Future Around & Find Out together! FutureAround.com(Music by Jonathan Zalben)

Here's the full text of this short episode:Hey everyone, Dan here with a quick, exciting update on this show... the name is about to change! In a few days -- on January 20th --  you'll see that this podcast will have new cover art, a new name, a new trailer, and more...I'm not going to reveal that name today, but I do want to share a bit of why I'm changing the name of a show that's been honored 3 years straight by the Webby Awards -- and what is NOT changing.OK, so there are three main reasons for the name change:- the first is very practical: "crafted" is really hard to find in search. I've literally stood next to people who are looking to subscribe and they can't find the show. I swear this wasn't the case when we launched 3yrs ago, but today there are several shows that are either called crafted or something close to it. - the second reason is more personal: the show is mine now -- that wasn't always the case. You may recall the show launched when I was with a high craft software consultancy doing product and client work. The podcast was a surprise! When I left and got full ownership of the show I didn't want to change too many things all at once. Also, I like the name crafted, but -- and this leads to the *real* reason I'm changing --- it no longer fits the show.- crafted is a past tense verb. and it perfectly described the original incarnation of this show, where founders, makers, and innovators would look *back* on things they'd built and we'd do a sort of case study that would help other builders learn from their mistakes and understand how that great product or company they built got so great...So here's the thing... I'm not really doing that sort of case study thing anymore. And I haven't for a while. Creating explicitly educational content is not favorite thing. I'm not exactly a "here is a framework" kind of guy. There are other people who LOVE to create that sort of content and they do a great job with it. So I've been following my interests... For a while now, this show has been much less concerned with teaching case studies and much interested in what comes *next.* * What are the implications of new tech? * How will AI change how we live, work, play, teach our kids...? * Should we get ready to live with humanoid robots? * How are stablecoins changing the world of money? * And what about quantum computers? And what do builders need to know about these things so that we can build a future we actually want? See that part is not changing... the show is still for builders. And you can take that literally: as in people who make software. Or if you want you can take it a bit more broadly: as in: people who putting in the work to build a better future.Sorry if that's a bit cheesy, but it's true. Because while I'm optimistic that we will build an amazing future, there is... uh... a lot going on right now in tech and in the world. And I believe that, together, we have power to steer the future in the right direction. This show will still feature the world's top technologists. And we're going to get into all of these future-forward things. Of course, we'll talk about things they've done in the past, because if we don't learn from history... well, you know how that expression goes. So, get ready to see some new art and a new name -- I'll give you a hint, it'll have the word future in it -- on Tuesday. And I would love your help spreading the word. When the new trailer and website drop, please share them with all your builder friends. So stay tuned...

Travel is one of the most demo-friendly use cases for AI — and one of the hardest industries to actually disrupt.Every AI launch seems to promise the same thing: “Tell me where you want to go, and I'll plan everything.” But behind the slick demos sits a deeply consolidated industry dominated by platforms, hotel chains, and airlines that optimize for upsell and extraction.Rafat Ali is the founder and CEO of Skift, which bills itself as “the daily homepage for the global travel industry.” We discuss whether AI is likely to have a traveler-friendly effect — or whether the big platforms will just use these new tools of hyper-personalization to extract even more from us. We cover: Whether AI creates new intermediaries—or just strengthens existing giantsWhy no breakout consumer AI travel startup has emerged (yet)Where AI does work in travel today: ops, logistics, and B2B automationWhy travel is a graveyard for “great UX, bad business” startups (RIP HipmunkRafat's dad hacks for traveling with three kids---Featured voices:Rafat Ali — Founder and CEO of SkiftMe (Dan Blumberg) — I'm the host of CRAFTED. and the founder of Modern Product Minds. HMU if you want to build something great! I love building from zero to one.---And if you please…Share with a friend! Word of mouth is by far the most powerful way for podcasts to growSubscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter at crafted.fmShare your feedback! I'm experimenting with new episode formats and would love your honest feedback on this and other episodes. Email me: dan@modernproductminds.com or DM me on LinkedInSponsor the show? I'm actively speaking to potential sponsors. Drop me a line and let's talk.Get psyched!… There are some big updates to this show coming soon!

This week I'm turning the mic over to podcast friends Mike Masnick and Ben Whitelaw, hosts of Ctrl-Alt-Speech, a show about what happens when we talk on the internet, the messy world of content moderation, trust & safety, and the laws trying (and often failing) to keep up.In their first episode of the new year, they build a 2026 bingo card of things that might happen across AI, regulation, and online speech. Not predictions exactly — more a way to follow along and yell “BINGO” as we stumble into another year of deepfakes, age verification fights, and calls to repeal Section 230.You can find links to Ctrl-Alt-Speech on all podcast apps here: https://www.ctrlaltspeech.com/And this — for now — name change coming soon! — is CRAFTED. Sign up for the newsletter and stay tuned at https://www.crafted.fmThe new name and the reasons why are coming in about a week. 

Happy New Year! This is the time of year when people make big changes. So, I'm bringing back my conversation with the co-author of Tomorrowmind. It's a fascinating book and especially relevant at this time of the year. Dr. Gabriella Rosen Kellerman writes that that career trajectories used to be like steamships (full steam ahead), and then they became more like sailboats (lots of tacking), but now we're swirling in whitewater. So how can we stay afloat? How can we flourish? “When you're kayaking in the whitewater. It's hard to get a sense of what could be around the bend, but if you know if what's coming up is a sudden cascade or versus another, you know, set of gentle bumps, or maybe it's a calmer space in the river, it can give you a great advantage.”On this episode of CRAFTED., we focus on PRISM, the five key skill groups that Gabriella says can help you be more successful: Prospection, Resilience, Innovation and creativity, Social support by way of rapid rapport, and Mattering and meaning. Gabriella was until recently the Chief Product Officer at BetterUp, a platform that helps organizations and people level up through a mixture of human and AI coaching. She originally appeared on the show in a two-part episode. Part one is includes more on the tomorrowmind skills and her career path; in part two, she describes how BetterUp builds products and innovated under her leadership. And stay tuned as we employ our own tomorrowminds here at CRAFTED... there are some big changes to the show, including a new name, coming this month!---Featured voices:Dr. Gabriella Rosen Kellerman, Partner at BCG, former CPO of BetterUp, and co-author, with Martin Seligman, of Tomorrowmind Me (Dan Blumberg) — I'm the host of CRAFTED. and the founder of Modern Product Minds. HMU if you want to build something great! I love building from zero to one.---And if you please…Share with a friend! Word of mouth is by far the most powerful way for podcasts to growSubscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter at crafted.fmShare your feedback! I'm experimenting with new episode formats and would love your honest feedback on this and other episodes. Email me: dan@modernproductminds.com or DM me on LinkedInSponsor the show? I'm actively speaking to potential sponsors for 2026 episodes. Drop me a line and let's talk.Get psyched!… There are some big updates to this show coming soon!

A guest episode from Famous & Gravy. On each episode, host Michael Osborne and guests look at the life of a famous dead celebrity and ask themselves if it's a life they would've wanted. The show gets into all sorts of things you will not in that person's official obituary or biography. I'm a fan. Here's how they describe today's episode:This person died 2011, age of 56. He dropped out of Reed College in 1972 and once said that taking LSD was among the most important things he ever did. In the early years of his career, his obsession with detail drove colleagues crazy, but later he inspired extraordinary loyalty. In the 1990s he bought a small computer graphics spinoff from George Lucas and built it into Pixar. He told the world he would step down as Apple's CEO if he could no longer meet expectations — and then he did. Today's dead celebrity is Steve Jobs.Subscribe to Famous & Gravy in all your favorite podcast apps and at famousandgravy.com---And if you please…Subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter: crafted.fmShare with a friend! Word of mouth is by far the most powerful way for podcasts to growSponsor the show? I'm actively speaking to potential sponsors for 2026 episodes. Drop me a line and let's talk.Get psyched!… There are some big updates to this show coming in January

This week I'm the guest and my friends at Whiskey Web and Whatnot are the hosts. And they're great hosts, because they send their guests a bottle of whiskey before talking web and whatnot...As we head into the holidays I hope you'll raise a glass with us and enjoy this very laid back episode... Chuck and Robbie hosted me a year ago and I love that they got me on tape when they did, because it was just as I was starting to consider making some big changes to my show... Changes that I will announce in late January... so get excited for that! and please subscribe to this here podcsat in your favorite apps, and get the newsletter at crafted.fmHere's how they described the episode:Robbie and Chuck talk with Dan Blumberg about his journey from radio producer to product manager and podcaster. They explore the art of building great software, podcasting essentials, and the changing landscape of podcast platforms. Plus, Dan shares his kayaking adventures and insights on balancing authenticity and growth.And if you please…Subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter atcrafted.fmShare with a friend! Word of mouth is by far the most powerful way for podcasts to growSponsor the show? I'm actively speaking to potential sponsors for 2026 episodes. Drop me a line and let's talk.Get psyched!… There are some big updates to this show coming soonFor more on Whiskey Web and Whatnot...Check ou:t https://whiskey.fmConnect with Robbie Wagner: https://x.com/RobbieTheWagnerConnect with Chuck Carpenter: https://x.com/CharlesWthe3rd In this episode:- (00:00) - Intro- (03:26) - Whiskey review and rating: Woodinville Straight Bourbon- (09:23) - Apple Podcasts vs Spotify- (11:20) - Spotify video vs YouTube- (13:02) - Podcasting audio vs video- (15:24) - Advice on starting a podcast- (19:24) - Equipment requirements for guests on podcasts- (22:15) - Having a pre-interview interview- (26:06) - Social media and podcasting challenges- (27:37) - How to grow your audience- (33:18) - How to make money as a podcaster- (37:28) - Being yourself vs having a persona- (38:42) - Monetizing your podcast- (42:11) - What's missing from RSS- (43:38) - Dan's non-tech career ideas- (45:40) - Podcast recommendations- (49:12) - Dan's plugsLinks- Woodinville Straight Bourbon: https://woodinvillewhiskeyco.com/- Crafted: https://crafted.fm- WNYC: https://www.wnyc.org/- NYT: https://www.nytimes.com/- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/- Spotify: https://www.spotify.com/- Pocket Casts: https://pocketcasts.com/- IAB: https://www.iab.com/- National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/- Shure SM7B: https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/sm7b- Focusrite: https://focusrite.com/- Shure MV7: https://www.shure.com/en-US/products/microphones/mv7- Elgato: https://www.elgato.com/- AirPods: https://www.apple.com/airpods/- Audio Technica: https://www.audio-technica.com/en-us/- Morning Edition: https://www.wnyc.org/shows/me- Chicago Public Radio: https://www.wbez.org/- Riverside: https://riverside.fm/- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/- Mr. Beast: https://youtube.com/@mrbeast- Docker: https://www.docker.com/- Artium: https://www.thisisartium.com/- Jay Clouse: https://creatorscience.com/- Hark: https://harkaudio.com/- Syntax: https://syntax.fm/- Hard Fork: https://www.nytimes.com/column/hard-fork- Big Technology with Alex Kantrowitz: https://www.bigtechnology.com/- Decoder with Nilay Patel: https://www.theverge.com/decoder- How I Built This: https://www.npr.org/series/490248027/how-i-built-this- Acquired: https://www.acquired.fm/- Smartless: https://smartless.com/- Wondery: https://wondery.com/- Sacha Baron Cohen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacha_Baron_Cohen- Tim Burton: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Burton- Beetlejuice: https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/beetlejuice- Darknet Diaries: https://darknetdiaries.com/

Looking to fund your startup? If you're new to the process, fundraising can be difficult to navigate. Not only are there a myriad of ways to go about it, but it can be hard to tell whether the tips, tricks, and advice floating around are based on any evidence at all.[This week, I'm turning the mic over to my friends at The Startup Podcast. featuring Carta's head of insights on what you need to know about today's fundraising environment and how AI is affecting valuations, equity, and how companies grow. Here's how they describe this episode...]So, what is the truth?And what are the actual, data-backed insights that can help you choose the best method of fundraising for your own business?Enter: Peter Walker.As Head of Insights at Carta, he has access to, and industry knowledge about, the vast sets of funding data that will help you cut through the noise. Today, he joins Chris and Yaniv in discussing the real data behind startup funding trends in 2025 and the key takeaways you can apply to your own startups.In this episode, you will:Discover why Silicon Valley valuations often hurt founders more than they helpUnderstand how AI startups now account for nearly half of all venture funding, and what that means for non-AI foundersLearn how lean AI-driven teams are reshaping early-stage hiring, with Series A companies shrinking from 25 employees to just 15See why most founders misunderstand SAFE notesExplore why 70% of startup employees never exercise their equityUncover the reasons behind why nearly 40% of startups lose a co-founder within seven yearsGet clarity on founder vesting, equity splits, and why a six-year vesting schedule may protect your company better than fourReframe your goals as a founder: why chasing “life-changing money” isn't the right reason to start a company---Featured voices:Peter Walker - Head of Insights at CartaYaniv Bernstein - Co-host of The Startup PodcastChris Saad - Co-host of The Startup PodcastMe (Dan Blumberg) — I'm the host of CRAFTED. and the founder of Modern Product Minds. HMU if you want to build something great. I love building from zero to one.---And if you please…TAKE THE SURVEY: It'll just take five minutes and I'll give $100 to the charity of choice for one lucky respondentShare with a friend! Word of mouth is by far the most powerful way for podcasts to growSubscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter at crafted.fmShare your feedback! I'm experimenting with new episode formats and would love your honest feedback on this and other episodes. Email me: dan@modernproductminds.com or DM me on LinkedInSponsor the show? I'm actively speaking to potential sponsors for 2026 episodes. Drop me a line and let's talk.Get psyched!… There are some big updates to this show coming soon!

“So if you take any great startup and look backwards, you'll see that 90 percent of their growth came from like 10 percent of the stuff that they tried. So how do you find that 10 percent as quickly as possible?”Matt Lerner has advised hundreds of startups on how to grow. Now, the CEO of SYSTM has written a book called Growth Levers and How to Find Them where he shares his approach. This episode of CRAFTED. is full of actionable advice on how you can grow your products and companies. Matt will tell us about the mindset shift founders need to make from thinking about their products to thinking about their customers needs. We'll talk about jobs-to-be-done (JTBD) style interviewing and why it's such a powerful approach, but also why at first Matt was put off by some of the overly academic language that often goes with jobs. And we'll talk about how you can get new customers to that aha moment as quickly as possible, so they stick with your product. Plus, lots of real talk about founders and the mistakes they make. ---Featured voices:Matt Lerner (Founder and CEO of SYSTM; the book is Growth Levers and How to Find Them)Me (Dan Blumberg) — I'm the host of CRAFTED. and the founder of Modern Product Minds. HMU if you want to build something great. I love building from zero to one.---And if you please…TAKE THE SURVEY: It'll just take five minutes and these surveys are actually really important for podcasters. Share with a friend! Word of mouth is by far the most powerful way for podcasts to growSubscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter at crafted.fmShare your feedback! I'm experimenting with new episode formats and would love your honest feedback on this and other episodes. Email me: dan@modernproductminds.com or DM me on LinkedInSponsor the show? I'm actively speaking to potential sponsors for 2026 episodes. Drop me a line and let's talk.Get psyched!… There are some big updates to this show coming soon---Key Moments:(02:10) - 90 percent of growth comes 10 percent of the stuff you try (03:43) - Over-thinkers, under-thinkers, and delegators: the 3 types of founders and the mistakes they make (07:30) - Why the pace of learning is so important (09:41) - Great examples of companies that learn quickly (10:42) - The “locksmith moment” and why you need to find yours (12:35) - Jobs-to-be-Done style interviewing and why it's so effective (13:57) - How to do a JTBD interview (15:05) - The mindset shift founders need to make from thinking about their product to thinking about the customers' needs – and why it's so hard for them to do so (21:14) - Growth Sprints and how to set them up for success (24:57) - Retention and customer activation: still (!) overlooked by most and why it's so critical (28:50) - Matt writes a blog post on the spot about how working at an oil refinery taught him about startups (31:26) - Writing a book is not an agile process! And the fantastic reception for Growth Levers

** I'd be so grateful if you'd take five minutes and answer our annual survey. It'll help me make the show better for you!  **Hey folks, it's Thanksgiving weekend here in the US and it's the time of year when we think about what we're grateful for, so today I'm re-sharing some words from perhaps the most grateful person I've ever had on the show. Kelsey Hightower is a legendary developer. And he has an incredible story. He went from sleeping in his car to becoming a pioneer in the Kubernetes world, a distinguished engineer at Google, and then... he retired. At the age of 42. Because he wanted to have more impact on the world than he thought he could have by advancing up the career ladder. So here are 15 minutes of my original interview with him, because some of the things he said — not about tech, but about humanity, gratitude, and prioritizing what matters — have really stuck with me.Here's the full interview, originally released in July 2024. We cover a lot, including how he became so good at live demos, why emotion is the key to great software — and storytelling — and how it's those “boring innovations” and mindset shifts you need to make as a technologist that will take you from “hello, world” to “hello, revenue.” ---Featured voices:Kelsey Hightower: "Retired, not tired" former distinguished engineer at Google and Kubernetes PioneerMe (Dan Blumberg) — I'm the host of CRAFTED. and the founder of Modern Product Minds. HMU if you want to build something great. I love building from zero to one.---And if you please…TAKE THE SURVEY: It'll just take five minutes and these surveys are actually really important for podcasters. Share with a friend! Word of mouth is by far the most powerful way for podcasts to growSubscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter at crafted.fmShare your feedback! I'm experimenting with new episode formats and would love your honest feedback on this and other episodes. Email me: dan@modernproductminds.com or DM me on LinkedInSponsor the show? I'm actively speaking to potential sponsors for 2026 episodes. Drop me a line and let's talk.Get psyched!… There are some big updates to this show coming soon

In this special live Web Summit edition from Lisbon, roboticist, investor, and founder Chris Coomes shares how and why he built X1 Pipeline, an AI platform that evaluates startups the way he would — only much, much faster. It's something he wishes he had when looking for early stage robotics startups while at Google and Amazon. We also talk about the strange humanoid robots wandering the convention hall at Web Summit, why "agents" is a vastly overused word and why (his take) most of the agent startups he saw at the conference won't be around next year. Plus, why plugging things in is hard — and why (my take) that's a good thing, because it means we humans will still have jobs (as plumbers and electricians) in the future. Enjoy this fun episode, recorded live from the "Croissant Studio" on the floor at Web Summit in Lisbon. ---  Featured voices:Chris Coomes — Founder of X1 PipelineMe (Dan Blumberg) — I'm the host of CRAFTED. and the founder of Modern Product Minds. HMU if you want to build something great. I love building from zero to one.And if you please…Share with a friend! Word of mouth is by far the most powerful way for podcasts to growSubscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter at https://crafted.fm/Share your feedback! I'm experimenting with new episode formats and would love your honest feedback on this and other episodes. Email me: dan@modernproductminds.com or DM me on LinkedInSponsor the show? I'm actively speaking to potential sponsors for 2026 episodes. Drop me a line and let's talk.Get psyched!… There are some big updates to this show coming soon!

In this special live Web Summit edition from Lisbon, I sit down with Tom Haworth, founder of D13 AI, to talk about why “good enough” AI might actually be one of the most dangerous places we can get stuck.And you'll hear Tom say it's time for the leaders of vibe coding platforms (e.g. Lovable, Replit, Cursor) to acknowledge that they're great when you need to “demo not memo”, but not great (today and maybe ever) at delivering production-grade, secure code. We also make a few detours as we detail a ridiculous week in Lisbon, including:How (shocker!) 90% of the conference was about AIWhy “good enough” AI is not a good place to beWhether we'll graduate to great AIAI's ROI now and in the futureWhy it's still iffy whether AI agents they can be trusted to accomplish complex jobsRobots wander Web Summit, do the Macarena, fall downHow tennis great Maria Sharapova uses (IBM's) AI How the presumptuous Web Summit's app prominently suggests we all message Maria… (as if!) Visa wants to help creators monetize (yay! it me!), using Web3 technologies (yes, they said “Web3”; no, I was not expecting to hear a non-ironic use of that phrase)Why self-driving cars are the best robots — and coming soon to more of EuropeHow much Web Summit pampers (and corrupts) the media: I was like a stuffed goose. Hurray for Portuguese custard and other delicacies!How even the beer at Web Summit was high tech---Featured voices:Tom Haworth: Founder of D13 AI, a UK-based consultancy that “builds intelligent tools that help businesses make sense of messy data.”Me (Dan Blumberg) — I'm the host of CRAFTED. and the founder of Modern Product Minds. HMU if you want to build something great. I love building from zero to one.---And if you please…Share with a friend! Word of mouth is by far the most powerful way for podcasts to growSubscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter at crafted.fmShare your feedback! I'm experimenting with new episode formats and would love your honest feedback on this and other episodes. Email me: dan@modernproductminds.com or DM me on LinkedInSponsor the show? I'm actively speaking to potential sponsors for 2026 episodes. Drop me a line and let's talk.Get psyched!… There are some big updates to this show coming soon!

 Hey everyone. I've gotten so much interesting feedback on last week's Halloween episode featuring the anonymous CTO saying spooky things about AI and coding agents that I thought I'd share a quick solo voice memo style episode with you. The feedback ranges from people saying he's spot on about the insidious problems that AI coding agents create while others saying "he's holding it wrong." In other words, he's not using AI properly. Listen to this short episode and you'll also hear reaction to his claim that "adversarial AI" is not really a thing and why context and data are so critical. And please please please: take five minutes and complete our annual survey. I have big plans for the show and some new things I'm working on. So I really want to hear from you. And for one lucky survey taker, I will make a $100 donation to the charity of your choice. Here's the survey. Again: it takes just five minutes and these surveys are actually really important to podcasters and sponsors. Thanks so much!And go to crafted.fm to get the newsletter and see all past episodes, including the Halloween Special with the Anonymous CTO on Spooky AI Things (listen to this first before listening to today's episode)

AI coding assistants promise to write your code, speed up your sprint, and maybe even make engineers obsolete. But what if the people building with them every day see something very different?In this special Halloween edition of CRAFTED. — which also marks the show's third anniversary! — a masked CTO shares what he can't say publicly: that these tools are powerful, but insidious. In his view, coding assistants are great for auto-complete, but they can't do what a human engineer does. He says they're terrible at starting from scratch and will often suggest code that “works in vacuum”, but not in context. And because AI can write so much code, so quickly, it's hard to catch errors. In short, he sees an increase in short term velocity, at the expense of increased defects and an increasing dependency on systems that are untrustworthy. I want to emphasize that this episode features the experience of one very experienced person. There are obviously others who disagree, who say AI coding agents are incredible, so long as they're managed well. However, there are also an increasing number of people questioning the sustainability of coding agents — they're incredibly expensive to run — and also how good they are in the first place.For example Andrej Karpathy, the guy who literally coined the phrase "vibe coding" and was early at OpenAI and Tesla, just said publicly on Dwarkesh Podcast that the path to AI agents is going to be a lot slower than people in the industry think it will be. He said coding agents are "not that good at writing code that's never been written before" and that there is too much hype right now about where AI really is, with people in the industry, quote "trying to pretend like this is amazing, when it's not." And he said: "My Claude Code or Codex still feels like this elementary-grade student." Today's guest agrees with Karpathy on a lot of this. Our guest has worked at startups, scale-ups, and big tech companies you've definitely heard of and today he's at a very AI-forward company and using AI coding tools every day. Enjoy this special episode of CRAFTED.! ---And pretty please...!Share with a friend! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow!Subscribe to the newsletter at https://www.crafted.fmShare your feedback! I'm experimenting with new episode formats and would love your feedback on this and other episodes. DM me on LinkedIn or contact me email, via https://www.crafted.fmSponsor the show? I'm actively speaking to potential sponsors for 2026 episodes. Let's talk!Get psyched!… There are some big updates to the show in 2026!---Key Quotes03:16 The myth of AI replacement: “The idea that AI can actually supplant a software engineer in their current role is basically nonsense.”06:29 Why AI struggles without human input: “If you remove the human engineer from the equation, there's no place to start from. The AI does not do well when you're starting from scratch because it doesn't have the real-world context or the continuous learning required to make that system better.”12:21: The illusion of speed: “Coding assistants help you generate code very quickly. There's an illusion that your velocity increases. What actually happens is you're just shipping more bugs to production.”13:30 More code than humans can review: “AI generates so much code that no human can keep that context in their head and review it in a meaningful way. At some point you just have to trust — but who are you trusting? You're trusting the AI, and the AI cannot be trusted.”14:02 AI & Junior Engineer Hiring: “The narrative that hiring trends have anything to do with AI is absurd. It's not that AI is replacing junior engineers — it's that companies are running lean and don't have the bandwidth to train them.”15:42: Where the AI Bulls and Bears Differ: “Whereas we see flawed systems that aren't ready for primetime [...] they view this as ‘oh, that's, that's insignificant. They will get better almost immediately. It's not a big deal.' But we've been repeating this cycle for years at this point.”19:50 Where AI Excels: “Where review and revise are part of the process already, that's a really good place for generative AI because you already have a human in the loop.”21:02: What builders need to unlearn “To the extent that people think these things are thinking or reasoning or on any path to AGI at all — they should discard that. These models don't think. They're very sophisticated pattern-matching machines, and that's really it.”

Here's a jaunty debrief from PopTech, a notoriously hard conference to describe, that always features obscenely talented entrepreneurs and changemakers.In this episode, Kwaku Aning, Sarah Rose Siskind, and I share some of the great stories and great vibes from this year's conference, including:FetusGPT, Sarah's madcap experiment to train an AI on everything her soon-to-be-born baby is hearing from inside the wombWhy Colossal Biosciences is de-extincting the dire wolf and other “charismatic animals” (dodos and woolly mammoths are in the works) — and why de-extinction is an important goal that will help us solve lots of other problems along the way“Shade-as-a-Service”, a new idea from climate champion, farmer, and entrepreneur Eben Bayer, the founder of MyForest Foods (maker of MyBacon, the top-selling non-meat bacon). The idea is to launch giant parasols into the atmosphere to cool the Earth below.Why Tibet and Taiwan are so key to the tech industry (not to mention global stability); Tibetan PM-in-Exile Lobsang Sangay was a speaker.How to make progress on what matters most to you, featuring a prioritization exercise from Deep Future inventor and investor Pablos HolmanFeatured Voices:Sarah Rose Siskind, science and comedy writer and the founder of Hello SciCom, a STEM communications agencyKwaku Aning, professional connector, founder/principal of RetroFuturism ConsultingDan Blumberg (me!), host of CRAFTED. and the founder of Modern Product Minds. HMU if you want to build something great. I love building from zero to one.And Pretty Please... Share with a friend! Word of mouth is how podcasts grow!Subscribe to the newsletter at crafted.fmShare your feedback! I'm experimenting with new episode formats and would love your feedback on this and other episodes. Email me: dan@modernproductminds.com or DM me on LinkedInSponsor the show? I'm actively speaking to potential sponsors for 2026 episodes. Let's talk! Get psyched!… There are some big updates to the show in 2026!

A quick debrief from Climate Week / UN General Assembly week, including: How seemingly normal everything felt, in spite of [...you know...] everythingAI will destroy the climate?AI will solve climate change? AI will kill us all? (If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies)A call for AI Red LinesThe UN takes action on AIA plea to “stay in the game” (even though it's hard)Joining me from New York are: Kwaku Aning, creates strategic partnerships that drive meaningful changeLendy Krantz, collaboration strategist, helps companies reimagine their operations in physical and virtual environmentsAnd you can join all three of us (hi, I'm your host Dan Blumberg!) from October 7-9th at PopTech in Washington DC. It's a great conference and I'll be interviewing many of the technologists and futurists who will be on stage for future episodes of the podcast. If you'd like a discount code, DM me on LinkedIn or email me: dan@modernproductminds.com 

What's up with “the MIT study” that claims 95% of all AI pilots fail? Did anyone actually read it beyond the headline? (Dan did—and he has thoughts.)Also: the good, the bad, and the quietly dystopian side of putting AI in kids' classrooms.And… are robots really the thing Melania should be worrying about? That's just some of what Kwaku Aning, return guest and founder of Retrofuturism, and I get into on this very lively, very bubbly, and very uncrafted edition of CRAFTED.More new episodes—and a major update to the show—are coming soon. Subscribe in your favorite podcast app and get the newsletter at crafted.fm---Come hang with us at PopTechCome hang with us and see live recordings of CRAFTED., at PopTech! PopTech is a “curator of what's next” and this will be my third time at the conference. I keep going back because I get new ideas, new inspiration, and really get to know the attendees and speakers. This year's talk's include “A possibilist's guide to the future”, “AI: In service to human(ity),” “Vibe coding for human rights” and more. To see the full list of talks and speakers, see PopTech.org and if you've never been before and would like a discount, DM me on LinkedIn or email me: dan@modernproductminds.com ---Referenced in this episode:MIT study on AI profits rattles tech investors (Axios)Full 26-page MIT study (Scribd)AI Is a Money Trap (Ed Zitron)The Fever Dream of Imminent Superintelligence Is Finally Breaking (Gary Marcus in the NYTimes)How Chatbots and AI Are Already Transforming Kids' Classrooms (Bloomberg)Alpha School – the “AI-Powered Private School”Melania Trump Has a Warning for Humanity: ‘The Robots Are Here' (NYTimes)---Like this episode?You'll also like my conversation with Khan Academy's Chief Product & Learning Officer on what happens when AI becomes your tutor—and what it means for the future of learning.

 Software is eating the world, right? We've all heard this phrase by now, but inventor and investor Pablos Holman has something important to add: “The world can't eat software.”That's why Pablos focuses on “deep tech”, i.e. how to invent new solutions to real world problems like energy, water, waste, construction, and sanitation. Pablos says we're still mostly using version 1.0 technology for these fundamental systems, but recent advances, including AI and the ability to prototype and test in software, are enabling incredible innovation in hardware.Pablos has worked with Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and more. He's kind of a mad scientist and in this episode we'll discuss things that sound like science fiction, but that Pablos says are coming soon, such as solar panels in outer space that can beam clean energy down to earth, autonomous cargo ships blown by the wind across the ocean, and tiny nuclear reactors buried a mile underground that power the world above. At Deep Future, Pablos is on a mission to solve the world's biggest problems, and he's hoping more people will make the jump that he did from software to hardware and into deep tech, because, as he says, “ all the people who've been building software their entire career, those are the ones who are going to save the world.”—Chapters02:25 Deep tech and why it's so important05:56 How Pablos became an inventor07:44 Getting Blue Origin off the ground11:35 Running an invention lab at Intellectual Ventures13:40 Why solar panels in space will soon power Earth16:46 Why all problems are energy problems21:33 Better nuclear reactors are coming28:25 How rapid iteration in software enables better hardware31:35 An appeal to software people to get into deep tech — and save the world—Links:Deep Future book, podcast, and firm: deepfuture.techPopTech conference: poptech.org (if you're new to PopTech and would like a discount, email me or DM me on LinkedIn)Sign up for the CRAFTED. newsletter: crafted.fmLearn more about how Modern Product Minds can help you build the future: modernproductminds.comEmail me: dan@modernproductminds.com

As AI models grow larger and more powerful, they promise incredible capabilities — but at what cost? Karen Hao is an AI journalist and her new book, Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI, is a New York Times bestseller. We discuss whether the largest AI models are worth their hefty footprint: They consume massive amounts of electricity and water and Karen argues that smaller models better balance cost vs. benefit. Karen, who has reported for The Atlantic, MIT Technology Review, and the Wall Street Journal, will also provide a view of AI from outside — far outside — Silicon Valley. She's reported on AI from across the Global South and says many there feel that AI is a new form of colonialism.We'll hear about the fight over data centers in Chile, how New Zealand's Maori people are using AI to preserve their indigenous language, and why it's a problem that AI can speak any language, but can only really be policed in a few.(Our interview was first broadcast in October, while Karen was still writing the book, so we do not discuss her deeply sourced reporting from inside OpenAI.)—CRAFTED. is produced by Modern Product Minds, where CRAFTED. host Dan Blumberg and team can help you take a new product from zero to one... and beyond. We specialize in early stage product discovery, growth, and experimentation. Learn more at modernproductminds.com Subscribe to CRAFTED., follow the show, and sign up for the newsletter

AI-generated voices aren't just realistic — they're changing how brands, creators, and agencies bring ideas to life. In this episode, Wondercraft co-founder Oskar Serrander demonstrates how their “Canva for audio” is unlocking rapid prototyping for high-quality audio ads, content, and storytelling.You'll learn:How Wondercraft enables you to go from concept to creative in secondsWhy when AI makes execution easy, ideas and taste matter mostHow brands can test creative faster (and smarter)Why audio is still such an under-leveraged mediumThe surprising future of synthetic voice and what it means for storytellingOskar also shares his take on where generative AI is heading, why sameness is the enemy of brand, and what this all means for the next generation of creators.—Subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter

Kevin Smith is building a totally new kind of podcast app. Snipd is an AI-native podcast app and building it required a few mindset shifts. First, what even is a podcast? The way Kevin sees it, podcasts are knowledge. So where most podcast players are, as Kevin calls them, "repurposed music players", Snipd is designed to help you learn. As people listen to episodes, they, or an AI, can save “snips” or interesting moments that they want to remember or share. And the app will also help you review what you've heard, so it reinforces what you've learned.A second mindset shift is how Kevin had to retrain his engineering brain to build with generative AI. He no longer thinks in if-then-else statements. Rather, he asks himself: How would an intern do it? And not just one intern, but infinite interns…I learned a ton from the way Kevin thinks and builds, and you will too. Plus, we discuss the future of podcasting, which looks pretty… weird. You'll talk back to your podcasts, hosts may be synthetic, and shows may not even be designed (at least initially) for human ears.Chapters:(01:30) - Introducing Snipd (03:50) - What led Kevin to found Snipd (06:10) - How AI changes what's possible with podcasts (08:45) - Building with Gen AI requires a mindset shift (11:40) - How would an intern solve this? (12:35) - How podcast listening and podcasting will change with AI (17:35) - Why apps will become your "best friends" (22:00) - Why you may talk back to your podcasts —CRAFTED. listeners can try Snipd, and get a free month of the premium version, here.—Subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter

What is a good money habit in 2025? And how do you actually help someone build one—without boring them, shaming them, or losing them in the first five seconds?Chief Product Officer Tim Hong shares how MoneyLion designs for emotion and creates content and products that inspire people to take action. MoneyLion is a personal finance platform used by millions of mostly younger Americans who are just getting started with their money, so, as Tim says: “It's actually less about bad habits that we fight. It's about having no habits.”Tim also shares how AI could create a truly personalized (1 of 1) financial advisor, why most financial apps are “like going to the DMV”, and how things like open banking and embedded finance can change that…—Chapters:(01:30) - Tim has literally measured how short our attentions spans are at a brainwave startup (03:49) - What MoneyLion does and why content and storytelling are so important (08:30) - What even are good money habits today? (12:00) - How MoneyLion uses AI to create personalized content (13:40) - "Talking to your money" with AI (16:30) - How building with GenAI is different (20:30) - Building with non-deterministic systems (24:30) - "Self-driving money": Tim's not so sure people want to fully give up control (29:30) - Why so many financial apps feel like "going to the DMV" — and how that's changing with open banking and embedded finance —Looking for your next episode? Here's another fintech one you might enjoy:“You Have to Invest Into Change.” Startup Lessons from Fintech OG and VC Daniel Kimerling, Founder of Deciens Capital and Standard Treasury —For all CRAFTED. episodes and to subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter

Fun news! The Webby Awards have honored CRAFTED. for the third year in a row as a top tech podcast. Thank you — yes, you! — for listening!This episode features the highlight reel we gave the Webbys. It features great moments from 2024 episodes, including (listed in the order mentioned): Powering the World's Hackathons | Brandon Kessler (Founder & CEO, DevPost)Asana's Head of AI on the Profound Ways Work Is Changing | Paige Costello (Head of AI & Co-Head of Product Management at Asana)AI, Creativity, and Soul: How Hilary Mason Chooses Her Own Adventure (Co-Founder & CEO of Hidden Door)“You Have to Invest Into Change.” Startup Lessons from Fintech OG and VC Daniel Kimerling, Founder of Deciens Capital and Standard TreasuryOpen Source Must Evolve for AI and the Next Generation | Nithya Ruff (Head of AWS Open Source Program Office and Chair of the Linux Foundation)Great Software & Storytelling Is Emotional | Kelsey Hightower (Legendary Developer, Kubernetes Pioneer, Former Distinguished Engineer at Google)One Billion Developers! GitHub's Head of Product Says AI Democratizes How We Build the Future | Mario Rodriguez (CPO, Github)Design for Emotion. Leverage AI. Be Curious. | Design Better's Co-founders on Building Great ProductsUsing AI to Launch Thousands of Startups a Year | Henrik Werdelin (Founder of BARK, prehype, Audos)AI and the Future of Medicine | Kira Radinsky (CEO of Diagnostic Robotics and Co-founder of Mana.bio)New Frontiers of Health: AI, Psychedelics, the Gut-Brain Axis, and More! | Live from SXSWMy AI Teacher: Khan Academy and the Future of Education | Dr. Kristen Dicerbo (Chief Learning Officer)Making Music With AI – And Doing So Ethically | Diaa El All, Founder & CEO of SoundfulThe full show archive is at crafted.fm, where I hope you'll also subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter. And please share CRAFTED. with a friend. Just one. Text them right now!Thanks... and onward!

On a rooftop at SXSW, fellow startup advisor and podcaster Rob Kenedi joins me as we discuss why: AI models are becoming commodities…AI companies need to differentiate at the application layer, with brand, and by earning trust…B2B creators are all the ragePodcasts are so intimate and how video changes thingsWe're in the “fart app” era of AI…Enjoy this uncrafted CRAFTED.!And if you enjoy this more casual format, please share your feedback. DM me on LinkedIn or email me: dan@modernproductminds.comWhere to find Rob:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rkenedi/Decelerator podcast: https://decelerator.media/More CRAFTED.:Subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter: https://www.crafted.fmLearn how Dan and Modern Product Minds can help you discover, build, and test new products: https://www.modernproductminds.com 

Linda Liukas is a programmer, children's book author, and the creator of Hello Ruby, a whimsical series that teaches computing concepts through stories and play. She's also the force behind a one-of-a-kind playground in Helsinki—designed to teach kids how computers work without them ever touching a screen.In this episode, Linda shares why, especially with the rise of AI and code-writing copilots, we need to rethink the way we teach tech. Linda, a.k.a. the “Mary Poppins of Computing”, is on a mission to bring more whimsy, creativity, and fearlessness to kids and grown-ups alike. Enjoy this very fun episode!You'll learn:Why physical play helps us grasp abstract computing conceptsHow software makers can benefit from thinking like educatorsWhat “unplugged computing” looks like—and why it worksHow to cultivate creativity, curiosity, and fearlessness in tech teamsWhy learning through play isn't just for kidsWhat Linda's AI experiments with tiny personal datasets reveal about the future of learningChapters(00:00) - Introduction (01:42) - What it means to be the “Mary Poppins of Computing” (02:18) - Designing the Computer Playground (05:43) - Why play is an ideal way to teach programming (09:26) - Why software organizations should embrace play (13:19) - AI and play (14:47) - Learn to code vs. learn to program; how to become future-proof (21:20) - Hello Ruby: how Linda accidentally became a children's book author (25:35) - Building more playgrounds and more fun ideas on teaching through play Links & ResourcesLinda's websiteLinda's NewsletterHello Ruby – Linda's book series and learning platformThe Computer Playground in HelsinkiMore on Dan and CRAFTED.Subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletterFollow Dan on LinkedinLearn how Dan and Modern Product Minds can help you build great products

Educator, innovator, super-connector, and conference champion Kwaku Aning and I have coffee and discuss a few things that stuck us at SXSW, including:Why we're in a “pre-mainframe” moment in quantum computing — and why you should prepare for what comes nextBioengineering: are we headed for a Westworld-style mix of human musculature and AI?Robot choreography, e.g. how to train a self-driving car to drive non-aggressively (but also should they be allowed to speed?) Mind control via inaudible noises and Severance-style brain implantsWhether or not I had enough breakfast tacos in Austin…Where to find Kwaku:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwaku-aning/Clickpoint podcast: https://clickpoint.transistor.fm/Where to find Dan and get more CRAFTED.:Sign up for the CRAFTED. newsletter: https://www.crafted.fm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dblums/ Learn how Dan and Modern Product Minds can help you discover, build, and test new products: https://www.modernproductminds.com 

How do you build a system for turning wild ideas into world-changing innovations? Astro Teller, Captain of Moonshots at X, The Moonshot Factory, has spent over 15 years leading Google's audacious innovation lab—the birthplace of Waymo, Google Brain, and other breakthrough projects.In this special episode, recorded live in Austin at SXSW, Astro shares the playbook to create a moonshot factory. You'll Learn:

What if we could deliver supplies anywhere, no roads or runways needed?Elroy Air has built a really big drone. One that can carry 300 pounds of stuff 300 miles or more. And it takes off like a helicopter, but flies like a plane, meaning it can get in and out of all sorts of hard to reach places. In this episode, we sit down with David Merrill, co-founder, executive chairman, and former CEO of Elroy Air, to explore how these hybrid-electric, vertical takeoff and landing aircraft are set to transform express delivery, humanitarian aid, and military logistics.David shares the lean prototyping and rapid iteration strategies that helped bring Elroy Air's vision to life, the biggest technical challenges they've tackled, and what the future of autonomous aerial logistics could look like. Plus, we dive into the Jetsons-inspired origins of Elroy Air and whether flying taxis are still on the horizon.What You'll Learn in This Episode:

CRAFTED. host Dan Blumberg will be at SXSW this year. Will you? If so, please reach out! DM me on LinkedIn or go to crafted.fm where you can email me. Let's get a taco!—Software, hardware, and biotechnology are playing an increasingly transformative role in our mental health and wellness. On this episode of CRAFTED., recorded live on the “Next” stage at SXSW 2024, we discuss what investors look for in these new companies and how they separate what's real — and what's near-term — from what's hype. On stage with host Dan Blumberg are:Amy Kruse, General Partner & Chief Investment Officer at Satori Neuro, and a trained neuroscientistMatias Serebrinsky, Co-founder and General Partner at PsyMed Ventures, and the host of Business Trip, which is a great podcast if you want to go even deeper on these topics. Listen at businesstrip.fm Christie Nicholson, Founder of Studio Lumina, and the co-host for this panelWe'll explore AI-powered tools for mental health, the new area of “enerceuticals” (energy replacing the “pharma”), psychedelics, and why what's in your gut is so important to your mental state. Hear from investment experts who have a wide view of this growing startup landscape and better understand which new ventures are likely to succeed.— Key Moments:01:38] Recent advances in biotech and why advances in data and AI are helping biology become a more “mature” science[04:00] Why AI is overhyped, but also where it's not[07:37] Why psychedelics are overhyped, but also where they're not[10:04] What's real and amazing: brain-computer interfaces, e.g. humans controlling robotic arms with the minds[11:25] What's real and amazing: precision psychiatry and neuroscience[14:12] The emerging field of “enerceuticals” -- using energy instead of drugs, e.g. low intensity focused ultrasound[16:17] Neuroplasticity: our brains can change![21:31] Mental health, the gut-brain axis, and food as medicine[32:38] The business models of bio tech startups and how to know when a company is making progress on a years-long effort—CRAFTED. is produced by Modern Product Minds, where my team and I can help you take a new product from zero to one... and beyond. We specialize in early stage product discovery, growth, and experimentation. Learn more at modernproductminds.com Subscribe to CRAFTED., follow the show, and sign up for the newsletter

Software is eating the world, right? We've all heard this phrase by now, but inventor and investor Pablos Holman has something important to add: “The world can't eat software.”That's why Pablos focuses on “deep tech”, i.e. how to invent new solutions to real world problems like energy, water, waste, construction, and sanitation. Pablos says we're still mostly using version 1.0 technology for these fundamental systems, but recent advances, including AI and the ability to prototype and test in software, are enabling incredible innovation in hardware.Pablos has worked with Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and more. He's kind of a mad scientist and in this episode we'll discuss things that sound like science fiction, but that Pablos says are coming soon, such as solar panels in outer space that can beam clean energy down to earth, autonomous cargo ships blown by the wind across the ocean, and tiny nuclear reactors buried a mile underground that power the world above.At Deep Future, Pablos is on a mission to solve the world's biggest problems, and he's hoping more people will make the jump that he did from software to hardware and into deep tech, because, as he says, “ all the people who've been building software their entire career, those are the ones who are going to save the world.”—More on Pablos: Deep Future: https://deepfuture.tech/Deep Future podcast: https://deepfuture.tech/podcast-index/ —Support CRAFTED.:Sign up for the CRAFTED. newsletter: https://www.crafted.fmSubscribe to CRAFTED. on your favorite podcast platformShare this episode with a friend or colleague!

Deepfakes are getting easier and easier to make. So, how will we be able to believe that what we see and what we hear is real? And what can software makers do to help?Sam Gregory is an expert on deepfakes, AI, and trust. He advises governments and tech companies on how they can protect human rights and how we can preserve our shared reality. Sam is the executive director of WITNESS, an organization that helps citizens use video to foster social change. WITNESS has trained and supported citizen-journalists since the days of the camcorder through the smartphone era and now into the world of AI. We discuss:How deepfakes are being used to spread disinformation and erode trust in media.How to detect that a piece of media was manipulated and to what degreeWhy audio deepfakes are so perniciousHow deepfakes mostly did not affect the 2024 US Presidential Election, while cheapfakes were very commonThe surprising ways AI is both helping and harming human rights defenders and journalistsWhy “Prepare, Don't Panic” is WITNESS's mantra for addressing AI threats.Practical steps software makers can take to design tools that prioritize transparency and ethical use, such as including transparency features in AI-generated content, red teaming to simulate misuse scenarios, thinking beyond Western contexts, and more…Chapters:(00:55) - Deepfakes and the threat they pose human rights and journalism (03:16) - The 2024 US election and how deepfakes, cheapfakes, and audio clones were used (07:35) - Why WITNESS. says “Prepare, Don't Panic” about AI (11:16) - Recommendation for software builders to prevent — and detect — misuse (13:45) - How to identify that a piece of media was manipulated by AI (17:31) - Red Teaming: The scary questions builders should ask as they deploy new products (22:20) - WITNESS.'s work beyond AI (26:00) - Good news: we've preparing for AI and deepfakes for a long time and governments and technologists are working together —Links:Learn more about WITNESS: witness.orgVisit WITNESS's resources on generative AI: gen-ai.witness.orgLearn more about deepfakes and AI detection: C2PA Coalition—Support CRAFTED.:Subscribe to CRAFTED. on your favorite podcast platformShare this episode with a friend or colleague.Sign up for the CRAFTED. newsletter: crafted.fm

Help improve CRAFTED. Please take this quick 5m survey. You might win a prize. Thanks!Accounting may not be the sexiest part of running a business, but according to Sasha Orloff, it's the key to understanding your company's financial health—and ultimately, its success. At his previous two startups, Sasha was frustrated that he didn't have a real-time view into his company's financial health. And he realized the problem wasn't accounting – but accounting software. So, Sasha founded Puzzle, because “it's hard to set yourself up for success if you don't know when you're about to run out of money.” Sasha is on a mission to make accounting intuitive, real-time, and accessible for founders and finance teams alike. In this episode of CRAFTED., we explore how Sasha is crafting Puzzle, how AI makes this the right moment to challenge QuickBooks, and why he was so confident that the market needed Puzzle that he was undaunted by the five years he estimated it would take to build an MVP. "We're not just rethinking accounting software—we're rethinking how founders and CEOs can make data-driven decisions to build enduring companies." Sasha shares:How the frustration he felt at his previous startups led him to Puzzle Why “accounting gets a bad rap”, but it crucial for founders: it's your financial healthWhy second-time founders are ideal customersWhy it took five years to build an MVP – and why he wasn't daunted by this expectationWhy the problem was never accounting, but accounting software and the distorted realities it's built to createWhy AI and modern API's made now the right time to build PuzzleWhy Puzzle is “poking the bear” and putting highway billboards up near QuickBooks HQ(01:04) - Sasha's finance frustrations at previous startups (02:49) - Traditional accounting software isn't made for founders (02:49) - The problem with traditional accounting software (05:35) - What Puzzle does differently: Real-time financial health (08:26) - AI's role in revolutionizing accounting (10:56) - Why second-time founders are Puzzle's ideal users (13:22) - Building a five-year MVP: Challenges and conviction (17:15) - Tackling QuickBooks: Bold marketing moves and billboards (19:49) - Understanding edge cases and complexity in accounting (23:41) - The future of Puzzle: Helping startups thrive (27:35) - Hosting the Turpentine Finance podcast Links:Learn more about Puzzle: Puzzle.ioFollow Sasha Orloff on LinkedIn: Sasha OrloffTurpentine Finance Podcast: Turpentine FinanceCRAFTED. is produced by Modern Product Minds, where CRAFTED. host Dan Blumberg and team can help you take a new product from zero to one... and beyond. We specialize in early stage product discovery, growth, and experimentation. Learn more at modernproductminds.com Subscribe to CRAFTED., follow the show, and sign up for the newsletter

AI democratizes things. It's enabling designers to be developers, and developers to be designers… And in this episode, Aaron Walter and Eli Woolery explain how AI “changes the game” for designers. As co-founders of Design Better, Aaron and Eli advise companies on how to incorporate AI into their design process. We'll explore how AI can help designers explore a problem more thoroughly, as well as some pitfalls to watch out for. (Hint: speed is not always a good thing.)Aaron and Eli are also hosts of the popular Design Better podcast, where they've interviewed some of the world's most creative people. Featuring software designers, as well as famous musicians, artists, architects, and more, the duo explore the creative process. And there are some striking similarities across disciplines.For more on Aaron and Eli and to subscribe to the Design Better podcast and newsletter, see DesignBetterPodcast.com ***CRAFTED. is produced by Modern Product Minds, where CRAFTED. host Dan Blumberg can help you take a new product from zero to one... and beyond. We specialize in early stage product discovery, growth, and experimentation. Learn more at modernproductminds.com Subscribe to CRAFTED., follow the show, and sign up for the newsletter

Vote! A quick plea for you to vote today. Both for President (if you're in the US) and for the change you'd like to see on CRAFTED. Please take a few minutes to take the short survey at crafted.fm CRAFTED. is two years old! And I want to make this year the best yet. Back next week with a brand new episode!Please go to crafted.fm to take that short survey -- some lucky respondents will win prizes!

Amir Nathoo is reimagining the future of education by building products that put students at the center of their learning experience. As the Founder and CEO of Outschool, Amir has created a marketplace for remote, personalized, interest-based learning that's challenging traditional K-12. In this episode of CRAFTED., we explore how Amir founded and grew Outschool, including the 15x spike in usage during the pandemic. Post-pandemic, alternative education and homeschooling continues to rise. As Amir says: “The idea that a single institution could fulfill all of your kids' needs or all of all kids' needs is completely unrealistic…. Mass personalization is needed.” And he sees Outschool as the integration layer for all those teachers, students, and institutions. You will learn a ton from Amir's approach to product development and disruption. Key takeaways for product builders: 1. Start with a Niche Audience, Then ExpandAmir and Outschool began by targeting a specific group—secular homeschoolers—who had unmet needs in education. By serving this niche well, they achieved product-market fit before scaling to a broader audience. 2. Co-Creation, FTWOutschool's initial product was shaped through customer co-creation and iterative development, testing small features before scaling them. 3. Solve Real Problems, But Keep Early Stakes LowWhile Outschool addressed a critical need (supplemental education), they started with interest-based, "low-stakes" classes. This allowed them to test and refine their offering without the pressure that would've come with offering “core” classes. 4. Build a Two-Sided Marketplace with BalanceCreating a thriving marketplace like Outschool required balancing teacher supply with student demand. Amir emphasized solving the “chicken and egg” problem by manually curating both sides early on. 5. Pay Attention to the Market and Adapt QuicklyWhen the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Outschool responded quickly by offering free training sessions for schools who needed to understand remote learning, scaling their platform, and adding free classes to serve families in need. ***Never miss an episode! Subscribe to CRAFTED. in your favorite podcast app and sign up for the newsletter at crafted.fmCRAFTED. is produced by Modern Product Minds, where CRAFTED. host Dan Blumberg and team can help you take a new product from zero to one... and beyond. We specialize in early stage product discovery, growth, and experimentation. Learn more at modernproductminds.com 

Hilary Mason is a world-builder. She's a serial entrepreneur, machine learning expert, and now, as the founder and CEO of Hidden Door, she's creating immersive experiences where fans can interact with their favorite characters from books and movies. The choose-your-own-adventures style games are an amazing blend of AI and human creativity — and Hilary is passionate about both: “If I write a manifesto, this is what it'll be: I don't think the power of generative AI is to create the next amazing novel. I don't think it's gonna create the next amazing movie. I think it is not opinionated, but people are opinionated and people will create those things using these tools.”On this episode of CRAFTED., we discuss what AI is good at and how to create a great marriage of human and machine. And Hilary is not holding back… “Doing data work without a soul or without philosophy is, at best, meaningless and, at worst, harmful.”“I think prompts are gonna go away. We're in a moment of industry-wide product design, chaos…”Listen for a masterclass on building with AI and building with creativity and soul.(02:00) - – This moment in AI: figuring out the right use cases and design patterns (05:00) - – Founding Hidden Door (09:00) - – Why “controllability” is so important (11:00) - – Enabling fans want to play with their favorite characters (13:00) - – Why text-based games are so great (15:00) - – Behind the scenes of how Hidden Door builds for fun (19:00) - – AI has caused a moment of “industry-wide product design chaos” (23:00) - – Industries and use cases where AI will be really good; where it won't (25:00) - – Effective ways to get beyond AI mediocrity (28:00) - – Why Hilary thinks prompts will soon go away (31:00) - – Hilary's liberal arts background: English + Computer Science (33:00) - – Why we need philosophy and soul along with the data Where to find Hidden Door:https://www.hiddendoor.co/Where to find Hilary Mason:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilarymason/X: https://x.com/hmason Where to find Dan Blumberg:Website & newsletter: https://www.crafted.fm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dblums/X: https://x.com/dblumsCRAFTED. is produced by Modern Product Minds, where CRAFTED. host Dan Blumberg and team can help you take a new product from zero to one... and beyond. We specialize in early stage product discovery, growth, and experimentation. Learn more at modernproductminds.com 

As AI models grow larger and more powerful, they promise incredible capabilities — but at what cost? Karen Hao is a journalist and former engineer who writes about the impact of artificial intelligence on society for The Atlantic and other top publications. On this episode of CRAFTED., we discuss whether the largest AI models are worth their hefty footprint: They consume massive amounts of electricity and water and Karen argues that smaller models better balance cost vs. benefit. Karen will also provide a view of AI from outside — far outside — Silicon Valley. She's reported on AI from across the Global South and we'll hear about the fight over data centers in Chile, how New Zealand's Maori people are using AI to preserve their indigenous language, and why it's a problem that AI can speak any language, but can only really be policed in a few.Key Moments:(01:51) - - The view of AI from the Global South (04:08) - - Data centers are thirsty and their benefit is unclear to locals in Chile (and elsewhere) (09:16) - - GenAI is English-first: Why it's not as safe in other languages (12:12) - - Why some activists call AI a new form of “colonialism” (14:50) - - Indigenous communities innovating with AI (17:46) - - The case for smaller AI models (19:40) - - Why open source AI is so important (25:09) - - AI and the environmental impact: Karen's reporting on Microsoft's “hypocrisy” (28:40) - - Are big AI models worth the cost? (34:56) - - How Karen trains journalists to cover AI Where to find Karen:Website: https://karendhao.com/X: https://x.com/_KarenHaoLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karendhao/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@_karenhaoArticles Mentioned:Microsoft's Hypocrisy on AI (The Atlantic) A new vision of artificial intelligence for the people (MIT Technology Review)AI Is Taking Water From the Desert (The Atlantic)Where to find Dan Blumberg:Website & newsletter: https://www.crafted.fm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dblums/X: https://x.com/dblumsCRAFTED. is produced by Modern Product Minds, where CRAFTED. host Dan Blumberg and team can help you take a new product from zero to one... and beyond. We specialize in early stage product discovery, growth, and experimentation. Learn more at modernproductminds.com Subscribe to CRAFTED., follow the show, and sign up for the newsletter

Russ Somers has tripled his productivity by building a “GPTeam” of AI “employees.” In this episode, from Beyond the Prompt, the head of marketing for Quantified reveals how he's done it, and how you can build your own virtual team to be more productive and creative. Russ's virtual team helps with tasks ranging from webinar content creation to specialized knowledge acquisition. Through personal anecdotes and exploratory conversations, the episode delves into the process of building AI team members, the importance of play in learning and innovation, and strategies for incorporating AI into personal and professional growth. Highlights include building AI with specific skill sets like 'Wendy Webinar' and 'Roger RevOps,' and the philosophical implications of personifying AI for better engagement and output. And Russ's personal journey from a layoff to pioneering AI productivity tools opens a discussion on the transformative power of AI in the modern workplace.Subscribe to Beyond the Prompt on Spotify, Apple, or your favorite podcast app. And follow hosts Henrik Werdelin and Jeremy Utley on LinkedIn. Key Moments:(00:48) - Meet Russ Summers: The One-Man Marketing Powerhouse (02:30) - Introducing Wendy Webinar: A GPT Team Member Revolutionizing Content Creation (04:30) - Leveling Up with GPT: Beyond Basic Task Automation (06:00) - Roger RevOps: A Custom GPT for Niche Expertise (08:55) - Exploring the Next Frontier: Collaborative and Mentorship GPTs (15:13) - The Art of Building and Utilizing GPT Staff: Tips and Tricks (23:15) - Expanding the Team: Integrating GPTs into Human Workflows (24:30) - Exploring Organizational Progress and Tool Adoption (26:13) - The Importance of Measuring Effort and Encouraging Experimentation (27:38) - Fostering Creativity and Psychological Safety in the Workplace (29:54) - Personifying Bots for Better Engagement and Output (32:30) - Reimagining Brand Communication in a Conversational World (35:46) - The Transformative Power of Play and Exploration (39:31) - Strategies for Personal and Professional Growth with GPT (48:42) - Concluding Thoughts on Innovation and the Future of Work

Kira Radinsky is the CEO of Diagnostic Robotics, which uses AI to make predictions that help patients get better healthcare. She's also the co-founder of Mana.bio which is using AI to automate drug discovery. On this episode of CRAFTED., Kira will share more on why she believes that, of all the industries that AI will change, it's those involving chemistry and biology that will change the most. Plus, why she says: “I just want AI to replace me as a scientist.” Kira shares:How Mana.bio is using AI to build new “rocketships” that can deliver drugs to the right planets (cells) — and how they've done things in three months that used to take 20 yearsHow AI is accelerating drug discovery by creating feedback loops that speed up learningHow Diagnostic Robotics makes predictions on patient outcomes that help doctors and care teams provide better careWhy she loves making predictions — Kira is famous for them. Over a decade ago, while getting her PhD and working with Microsoft, she built systems that successfully predicted cholera outbreaks and riots.How to incentivize bots to make bolder predictions. i.e. It's easy to predict that there will not be an earthquake today; it's harder to say today there will be one. Why predictions are only valuable if there's something you can do to prevent bad outcomes — and why this makes healthcare an ideal fieldHow advances in software have enabled her to follow her dream and be a scientist. (Kira doesn't have the great hands you need to be a lab chemist.)Key Moments (02:29) - Why predictions have been so important to Kira from an early age, and her dream to be a scientist (05:46) - How Kira predicts the future and how she became famous for predicting the first cholera outbreak to hit Cuba in more than 100 years (09:49) - How Diagnostic Robotics makes predictions that improve healthcare outcomes (14:22) - Big unlocks to make better predictions — and explain them to doctors (16:42) - What's “easy” to predict and what's hard; how to incentivize bots to make bold predictions (e.g. an earthquake) (18:49) - Founding Mana.bio and how AI can improve drug discovery (25:06) - AI will have a huge impact on the administrative aspects of patient care (29:36) - How Mana.bio creates rapid learning feedback loops (31:23) - Tips for building with GenAI and why more attention should be paid to causal inference (34:21) - Where GenAI will be really transformative in the future (36:04) - Outro CRAFTED. is brought to you in partnership with Docker, which helps developers build, share, run and verify applications anywhere – without environment confirmation or management. More than 20 million developers worldwide use Docker's suite of development tools, services and automations to accelerate the delivery of secure applications. CRAFTED. is produced by Modern Product Minds, where CRAFTED. host Dan Blumberg and team can help you take a new product from zero to one... and beyond. We specialize in early stage product discovery, growth, and experimentation. Learn more at modernproductminds.com Subscribe to CRAFTED., follow the show, and sign up for the newsletter

Matt Flannery and Branch have done something the banks have not: learned how to profitably lend to people who have little to no credit history. Matt is the founder and CEO of Branch, which issues small loans to millions of people in India, Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania. He's also the founder of Kiva, a microfinance pioneer that skyrocketed from a small project into a worldwide nonprofit that Oprah and President Clinton loved talking about. On this episode of CRAFTED., we learn how Branch uses data from people's phones to confidently make loans to people who don't have traditional credit scores. Plus, how they prevent fraud and avoid bias. We'll also explore the wild ways that Branch is experimenting with Generative AI, including how they are creating “future synthetic data” that they believe will predict how users will save and spend in the future. Takeaways:Branch uses AI to confidently lend to people without traditional credit scoresBranch was built on traditional machine learning models – the name “Branch” derives in part from the “random forest” approach – and now is adding Generative AI approaches to the mixBranch is using GenAI to create “future synthetic data” that predicts how people will spend and save in the years to come. As Matt says, “it's kind of a wild idea” and it'll take a few years to see how predictive the approach isTo avoid bias, lend to lots of people no matter what the data says. It will teach you what the “natural loss rate” is and prevent you from training your model on customers you've already selected as creditworthy.Preventing fraud is the biggest challenge. And you can go from zero fraud to massive fraud over a weekend if fraudsters discover a vulnerability.Branch is hugely successful in India, because of the approach it developed in Africa: lend very small amounts to lots of people and, as people repay, offer them larger loans. Branch failed in Mexico, because the user experience of repaying the loan (visiting a local shop) was too difficult; meanwhile another reason for success in India is the country's recent rollout of a nationwide mobile payments system (UPI). Plus, willingness to repay in India is naturally very high. Key Moments:(02:33) - Founding Kiva and its rise from a side project to a worldwide non-profit (06:31) - Founding Branch and the impact of lending to people that banks won't (10:03) - Scaling Branch, and why it can grow better as a for-profit than Kiva could as a non-profit (14:28) - Why fraud is the biggest challenge to Branch and how they prevent it (16:17) - How Branch got really good at making quick lending decisions and why it's critical to approve lots of people (19:43) - Why Branch failed in Mexico, and how those lessons led to their outsize success in India (22:36) - How Branch uses AI to make lending decisions and how it's experimenting with GenAI to create “future synthetic data” (26:42) - How to prevent bias – and why Branch automatically approves lots of people for loans no matter what the data says about them (30:06) - What's next for branch (30:59) - How being in a rock band helped Matt gain confidence — and how that served him when he'd later appear on Oprah (32:01) - Outro CRAFTED. is brought to you in partnership with Docker, which helps developers build, share, run and verify applications anywhere – without environment confirmation or management. More than 20 million developers worldwide use Docker's suite of development tools, services and automations to accelerate the delivery of secure applications. CRAFTED. is produced by Modern Product Minds, where CRAFTED. host Dan Blumberg and team can help you take a new product from zero to one... and beyond. We specialize in early stage product discovery, growth, and experimentation. Learn more at modernproductminds.com Subscribe to CRAFTED., follow the show, and sign up for the newsletter

Nithya Ruff is an expert on open source. As the head of AWS's Open Source Program Office and the Chair of the Linux Foundation, she has a wide view on all things open source. On this episode of CRAFTED., we discuss:Why Open Source AI is so tricky, but also so essential, to defineHow open source needs to evolve for the next generation of developersWhat an Open Source Program Office is — and why companies like AWS have themThe questions, benefits, and risks that arise when a company is considering using open source technologiesWhy contributing to open source (“giving back”) is not always so selfless: relying on a successful, well-supported open source technology can be very advantageous to companiesWhy you need need to be deliberate when growing an open source project – just let it grow organically is not a great recipe for success todayHow open source draws on so many skills beyond coding, such as community management, marketing, and legalHow open source is not just for software. Social change, agriculture, and other domains often use open source approachesNithya's path, and why she loves with open sourceKey Moments:(02:20) - The state of open source today (04:47) - Teaching a new generation the values of open source, increasing diversity (07:38) - Open source AI, why we need a definition of it, and why we should insist on it or else live in a “black box” future (11:34) - Open source is full of possibilities (13:08) - What an OSPO (Open Source Program Office) is and why companies have them (16:18) - Common open source questions developers face (21:24) - How to balance risk vs. reward when using open source (25:21) - Why (most) open source projects should not grow organically, and the value of community management (27:13) - Open source is not just for code. Social good, agriculture, and other applications… (29:00) - Nithya's story: how she got into tech and why she fell in love with open source because it draws on so many skills, beyond just coding (33:21) - Outro CRAFTED. is brought to you in partnership with Docker, which helps developers build, share, run and verify applications anywhere – without environment confirmation or management. More than 20 million developers worldwide use Docker's suite of development tools, services and automations to accelerate the delivery of secure applications. CRAFTED. is produced by Modern Product Minds, where CRAFTED. host Dan Blumberg and team can help you take a new product from zero to one... and beyond. We specialize in early stage product discovery, growth, and experimentation. Learn more at modernproductminds.com Subscribe to CRAFTED., follow the show, and sign up for the newsletter

Mario Rodriguez is GitHub's Chief Product Officer. And he believes that CoPilot and other AI advances will unleash a wave of creativity and enable a billion people to be software developers.Mario says the definition of “software developer” will have to change as non-professionals discover that they can make apps, too. And the way they do so will look very different: “It's gonna feel a lot more like how kids play. ​​It's like you create something you play with and you're like, Nope. Then you instruct it again… It's going to be real time development.”On this episode of CRAFTED., Mario gets us excited about the future of software development!Takeaways:Mario says we've lost some of the creativity of the early days of the web; AI is helping bring it backWith AI, it's getting much easier (for non-professional developers) to build “micro experiences” and other ephemeral apps that just serve one purpose. The craft of product management must change with AI, because building with non-deterministic AI is so tricky to get rightWhen building with AI, run your scenario multiple times. Test your prompts repeatedly. You will get different responses each time. Are they all helpful to your user? Invest in offline evaluation when building with AI or else you'll have lots of problems later. Psychology is key. How will users react if AI tells them something subjective? Mario has seen CoPilot users get upset, e.g. “Nope, you're completely wrong. I know what I'm doing. You are a machine. I am not gonna ask you to ever review my code.” Don't optimize for just one metric. Mario says you should have three or so that you evaluate in concert. Product sense matters! Prompt engineering is real. How you can better prompt your CoPilotKeeping developers in flow is critical. How much time do developers spend on “sense-making” vs. coding? How much time do they spend waiting for reviews? These are some of the questions GitHub asks when evaluating developer productivity. Mario came to the US from Cuba when he was in high school. His father is an electrical engineer and his mother is a teacher. Both influence him greatly.Mario founded a charter school in rural North Carolina because “everyone should have access to amazing education.”System thinking and evaluating things from first principles are key skills for the future. CRAFTED. is brought to you in partnership with Docker, which helps developers build, share, run and verify applications anywhere – without environment confirmation or management. More than 20 million developers worldwide use Docker's suite of development tools, services and automations to accelerate the delivery of secure applications. CRAFTED. is produced by Modern Product Minds, where CRAFTED. host Dan Blumberg and team can help you take a new product from zero to one... and beyond. We specialize in early stage product discovery, growth, and experimentation. Subscribe to CRAFTED., follow the show, and sign up for the newsletter

Henrik Werdelin is on an AI-fueled mission to launch thousands of startups a year. He is the founder of BARK, which went public, and prehype, a studio that has incubated several unicorns. With Audos, Henrik is building AI agents that can coach founders how he would — if he had infinite time to do so. And Audos is not just for the cliche founder looking to launch a unicorn… It's for entrepreneurs of all stripes. With AI making things easier, Henrik expects to see lots more “DonkeyCorns,” i.e. highly profitable businesses operated by just one or two people. “DonkeyCorns party like unicorns, but they grind like mules.”Check out this episode for lots of practical tips for how you can get more out of AI. Plus, we'll peer into the weird future we're building. Takeaways from this episode: AI enables new businesses to be created, launched, and tested very quickly. Henrik shares how Audos uses AI to help founders focus on their customers, launch, and get customersHenrik talks to his AI agents like they're people: He gives them names and backstories. By doing so, he finds he has a better partner than a bot or Google search would be. The more creative you are with prompts, the better the AI will be. e.g., Ask for “ten ideas that will definitely get me fired”“Customer-founder fit” is the most important ingredient to Henrik Use “signal mining” to prove there is real demand for your product“The swipe” proves there is real intent for your product, i.e. get people to pay for it, even if you haven't built it yet.BARK succeeded (it's gone public) by following its mission (be “Disney for dogs”) not by following its utility (boxes of stuff for pets)“Relationship capital” and “humanity” will be more important, as AI continues to excel at technical jobs. Take AI seriously right now. And Henrik says senior leaders need to be using it themselvesIt's weird out there: We discuss the uncanny valley of talking to AI agents (including those that impersonate your dead spouse) Rock and roll – Henrik tells the story of his career break: As an intern, he pulled an on-air stunt at MTV that he was sure would get him fired, but instead got him a huge promotion.Henrik is the author of The Acorn Method: How Companies Get Growing Again. And he's writing a new book, Me, My Customer, and AI. He also co-hosts the podcast Beyond the Prompt, which features the interesting, weird, and uncanny-valley ways people are using AI in their day-to-day lives, as well as practical tips for how you can go beyond “beginner mode” in your own use of AI. CRAFTED. is brought to you in partnership with Docker, which helps developers build, share, run and verify applications anywhere – without environment confirmation or management. More than 20 million developers worldwide use Docker's suite of development tools, services and automations to accelerate the delivery of secure applications. CRAFTED. is produced by Modern Product Minds, where CRAFTED. host Dan Blumberg and team can help you take a new product from zero to one... and beyond. We specialize in early-stage product discovery, growth, and experimentation. Subscribe to CRAFTED., follow the show, and sign up for the newsletter