Podcasts about prototyping

On this episode of the Swell Season Surf Podcast, we welcome board industry vet, Jamie Meiselman to the show! We  trace his journey from cold-water surfing in Westfield, New Jersey and the DIY dawn of Northeast snowboarding to a lifetime of innovation across board sports. Jamie reflects on his early roots in skate, surf and competitive snowboarding, pioneering boot technology with Burton and Airwalk, and his years shaping the voice of the industry as Managing Editor of Transworld Snowboarding during its explosive growth in the early 90s. After earning an MBA at Columbia, he pursued an ambitious surf-focused wave pool project that ultimately collapsed, shaping his philosophy on risk, resilience, and iteration. In 2017, Jamie returned to his core passion and founded Solite, introducing the first heat-moldable surf bootie and building a lean, performance-driven brand now respected worldwide. This conversation explores obsession, reinvention, craftsmanship, wave pool evolution, and the mindset behind creating products that truly improve function — closing with reflections on shaping, favorite boards, and the perfect eternity wave.Follow Jamie's company Solite Boots on Instagram @solitebootsand you can check out the latest selection at https://soliteboots.com/The Swell Season Surf Podcast is recorded by The NewsStand Studio at Rockefeller Center in the heart of Manhattan and is distributed by The Swell Season Surf Radio Network. For more information, you can follow @swellseasonsurfradio on Instagram or go to our website: www.swellseasonsurf.com Music: Artist: Sure SureSong: This Must be the PlaceAlbum: Sure Sure00:00 Welcome to the Swell Season Surf Podcast + Jamie Meiselman's Wild Resume04:18 Risk, Failure & the Brutal Early Wave Pool Dream (1999–2004)07:08 Franken-Boots, First Patents & Burton/K2 Innovation Stories10:47 The Obsession Advantage: How Jamie Thinks, Learns & Gets Distracted (AI Tools)13:21 Building a Lean Niche Brand: Solite's Focus, Marketing & Why Performance Wins19:02 Growing Up in NJ: Skateparks, Hamptons Summers & Learning to Surf23:32 Early Snowboarding DIY Era: Woodshop Boards, Ski-Shop Roots & Tinkering Mindset28:07 Solite Origin Story: From Seamless EVA Surf Gloves to Heat-Moldable Boots32:42 Staying Small on Purpose: Competitors, Core Values & Avoiding the ‘Next Nike' Trap35:46 Founder Reality Check: Freedom vs 7-Day Weeks, Support Systems & Family Balance41:58 Less Is More: Letting Kids Learn With Guardrails42:53 Balancing Marriage, Work, and Empty-Nester Life43:42 Surf vs Snowboard: Family Interests & Learning Curves46:17 Living Inland vs Beachside: Staying Hungry for Waves49:40 Dartmouth Days: Choosing Mountains, Quitting Lacrosse for Snowboarding52:03 Starting a Snowboard Club + Early Skiers vs Snowboarders Tension54:41 The ‘Urinal Meeting' That Launched a Transworld Writing Career57:09 Why Surfing Stays #1 (and Chasing Feel Over Progression)01:00:06 From Shaping Curiosity to DIY Boardbuilding as a Step-by-Step Process01:05:52 Boots, Concave Decks, and Performance-Enhancing Gear Ideas01:09:17 Inside Transworld's Boom: Ads, Trade Shows, and Snowboarding's Explosion01:13:30 From Airwalk to Burton: Boot Wars, Culture Shock, and the Wave-Pool Seed01:19:45 From Water Parks to Surf Pools: The Wave Pool Spark01:20:27 Prototyping the Dream: Trade Shows, Engineers & Early Wave Tech01:21:42 Business School as a Launchpad: Columbia, Seed Money & Raising Capital01:24:09 The Hard Part: Rejection, Anxiety, and Getting to the First Million01:26:20 The Fatal Flaw: Adjustable Bottom Contours and Why the Pool Kept Breaking01:28:11 When It Fell Apart: Boardroom Confidence, Bad Partners & Lessons Learned01:29:43 The Randall's Island “What If”: NYC Indoor Surfing That Never Happened01:32:18 Bouncing Back: Mindset After Failure and Building Smarter at Solight01:35:48 Solight's Growth Playbook: DTC vs Wholesale, Dealers, and Global Distribution01:40:17 Marketing Breakthrough: Pros in Cold Water and the Slater Boots Moment01:43:19 What's Next for Solight: New Products, Hats, and “No Me-Too Gear” Philosophy01:47:57 Surfer Questionnaire + The Perfect Eternal Wave (and Wave Pools Today)01:54:34 Closing Thoughts: The Future of Surfing, Wave Pool Communities & Sign-OffBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/swell-season-surf-radio--3483504/support.

In this episode of Startup Hustle, Matt Watson interviews John Morlan, founder and CEO of Smarter Risk, about the transformative impact of AI on startups. John shares his journey of integrating AI into his business, enhancing productivity, and improving collaboration with developers. He discusses the balance between product-led and sales-led growth strategies, the importance of knowledge management, and the challenges of achieving product-market fit. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of hands-on involvement from founders and the evolving role of AI in business operations.⏱️ Episode Breakdown00:00 Introduction to AI in Startups00:57 John's Journey with AI04:58 Prototyping and Development with AI09:47 Balancing Coding and Leadership15:03 Sales vs. Product-Led Growth19:51 Building a Knowledge Base with AI24:57 Final Thoughts on AI and ProductivityLinks & ResourcesConnect with John Morlan on LinkedInWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent SprintFull Scale – Build your dev team quickly and affordablyIf you're trying to get your team out of the basement and into real product ownership, this episode is your playbook. Stop being a ticket factory. Build teams that think, create, and lead.Follow the show, rate it, and send this to someone who's still trying to do “real Scrum.” They need it more than you do.

Send a textIn this episode, we explore the College of Charleston's Life Design Center and how it helps students move from uncertainty to action through individualized coaching, practical tools, and community support.What You Will LearnWhat the College of Charleston's Life Design Center is and how it helps students build clarity and confidence with practical tools and coaching. Life Design Center How Life Design differs from traditional advising or career planning by focusing on individualized support and real-world experimentation. What students can expect in a first visit, including the kinds of questions coaches ask to help students clarify what they want and what to try next. The difference between Design My Charleston (for early college exploration) and Life Launch: Design My Life (for students preparing for graduation), and how students can start in either place. How to take the first step, including where to find the Life Design Center and when to drop in. Where to go next on campus for degree planning and job or internship preparation, including Academic Advising and the Career Center. Resources from this episode:Life Design 

Alan Byrne, Product Leader for Mozilla's Firefox extensions ecosystem, argues that the best product work is less doctrine and more judgement. In conversation with LRandy Silver, he breaks down why prioritisation frameworks like RICE and MoSCoW often masquerade as science while quietly embedding subjectivity—and why he prefers writing clear “what and why” statements over chasing false precision.From his experience at QuickBooks and Twitter, Alan explores when PRDs are genuinely valuable (complex systems, high risk, trust and safety concerns) and how to keep them lean enough to stay useful. The discussion also digs into the tension between moving a metric and doing right by users, the dangers of gamifying growth, and how product managers can translate customer problems into narratives that align engineers, executives, and sales.Chapters03:30 Product as philosophy04:41 Studying product vs learning in the field07:25 The real job: understand users and their “why”08:21 Why prioritisation frameworks often fail in practice10:58 Decision-making without false precision13:14 Goal-led roadmaps and narrative alignment14:22 Metrics, ethics, and avoiding gamification traps18:35 When PRDs help, and how to keep them lean22:37 Prototyping, vibe coding, and where it falls apart25:14 Communication, compromise, and working documents27:36 Preventing overbuild and defining “good enough”30:39 Handling “can't you just…” from sales and marketing33:28 What Alan wishes he knew five years ago34:49 Explaining product management to non-product peopleOur HostsLily Smith enjoys working as a consultant product manager with early-stage and growing startups and as a mentor to other product managers. She's currently Chief Product Officer at BBC Maestro, and has spent 13 years in the tech industry working with startups in the SaaS and mobile space. She's worked on a diverse range of products – leading the product teams through discovery, prototyping, testing and delivery. Lily also founded ProductTank Bristol and runs ProductCamp in Bristol and Bath. Randy Silver is a Leadership & Product Coach and Consultant. He gets teams unstuck, helping you to supercharge your results. Randy's held interim CPO and Leadership roles at scale-ups and SMEs, advised start-ups, and been Head of Product at HSBC and Sainsbury's. He participated in Silicon Valley Product Group's Coaching the Coaches forum, and speaks frequently at conferences and events. You can join one of communities he runs for CPOs (CPO Circles), Product Managers (Product In the {A}ether) and Product Coaches. He's the author of What Do We Do Now? A Product Manager's Guide to Strategy in the Time of COVID-19. A recovering music journalist and editor, Randy also launched Amazon's music stores in the US & UK.

SummaryIn this conversation, David J Bland and Dan Olsen discuss the evolution of product management, the impact of vibe coding, and the importance of cross-functional collaboration. They explore the challenges of prototyping, user research, and the role of AI in product development. The discussion emphasizes the need for strong product management fundamentals and the future of product management in a rapidly changing landscape.TakeawaysThe awareness of product management has significantly increased over the years.Vibe coding allows for rapid prototyping and testing without heavy technical resources.Cross-functional collaboration is essential for successful product development.User research is becoming more valued in product management.Prototyping should focus on learning rather than just building.AI can assist in generating ideas but lacks judgment in prioritization.The pace of innovation in product tools is accelerating rapidly.Understanding customer problems is crucial for product success.Rushing to high fidelity prototypes can lead to missed opportunities in the problem space.Product management fundamentals will be key in differentiating successful products.Guest LinksWebsite: https://dan-olsen.com/LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danolsen98/YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/danolsenLean Product Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/lean-product/ Vibe Coding Product Brief: https://dan-olsen.com/vibe-coding/Vibe Coding Spectrum: https://dan-olsen.com/vibe-coding/The Lean Product Playbook: https://amzn.to/1EYCUdP Struggling to decide which bets deserve more time, money, and people?Join my AI-Assisted Decision Workshop and learn how to use AI to surface assumptions, map risk, and reach a Commit, Correct, or Cut decision in just 3 hours.

In this engaging episode, host Rupert McSheehy welcomes Buzz Pearce, a seasoned leader in the design industry with nearly three decades of experience. Buzz reflects on his journey from a young, curious child inspired by his architect father to his current role as a design leader at TEM. He shares valuable insights into the evolution of design, the importance of leadership, and the shift from being a hands-on designer to mentoring and empowering teams. Buzz emphasizes the need for designers to embrace a mindset focused on problem-solving and collaboration, as well as the importance of understanding the business context in which design operates.Throughout the conversation, Buzz discusses the challenges and opportunities that arise in the design field, particularly in startup environments. He provides practical advice for designers seeking employment and highlights the significance of maintaining a balance between creativity and the practical demands of business. With a focus on learning and adaptation, Buzz encourages listeners to cultivate a growth mindset and to navigate the complexities of design leadership with purpose and clarity.

Tiffany Yeh, MD is the CEO and Co-Founder of Eztia Materials, a climate-tech venture developing energy-efficient cooling materials to protect people from extreme heat. With a mission to advance hard tech solutions at the climate-health nexus, Tiffany draws on her unique background as a physician, engineer, and public health advocate to build technologies that improve global health in a warming world.(01:13) - Dr. Ye's Background & Inspiration (01:52) - The Heat Challenge(05:20) - Singapore and the Power of Cooling(06:32) - Why Construction Has Been Slow to Adapt (07:22) - The Human Factor(08:14) - HydroVolt Technology(09:29) - Business Model, Distribution & Competition(11:19) - Worker Comfort (15:32) - Hidden Productivity Crisis Brewing(18:18) - Feature: Blueprint: The Future of Real Estate 2026 in Vegas on Sep. 22-24 (19:21) - The Secret Sauce Behind HydroVolt (20:31) - Prototyping & Real-World Applications (21:32) - Measuring Impact & ROI (23:34) - Pitching to VCs & Investors(25:31) - Product Roadmap(29:08) - Collaboration Superpower: Lionel Messi

Ryan Stephen (https://x.com/Ryan__Stephen) is a product designer at Microsoft, but the reason I wanted to interview him is because he's the man behind some of my favorite design experiments on Twitter.So in this episode Ryan gives us a behind-the-scenes look at his creative process, the tools in his stack, and how he approaches effective storytelling in design.Some highlights:- How Ryan sparks creativity- The power of putting your work on Twitter- How Ryan thinks about investing in his career- Ryan's mental model for fidelity and prototyping- The lessons Ryan's learned about effective storytelling- The tools and techniques Ryan uses to make ideas feel real- + a lot more

For more thoughts, clips, and updates, follow Avetis Antaplyan on Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/avetisantaplyan⁠In this episode of The Tech Leader's Playbook, Avetis Antaplyan sits down with Alex Shartsis, serial founder, former corporate development lead, and current CEO of Skyp.ai—to unpack the real cost of “growth at all costs.” With scars and exits to back his views, Alex offers a candid breakdown of what founders get wrong about product-market fit, fundraising traps, and the often-misunderstood economics of scaling.Together, they explore why bootstrapping is back in vogue, how over-raising can kill flexibility, and how AI is redefining what it means to be a lean operator. Alex draws from his time at Perfect Price and now Skyp.ai to expose the hidden “footwork” behind successful GTM strategies and why most SaaS founders underprice out of insecurity. The conversation is loaded with tactical advice—from navigating platform creep to testing pricing thresholds—and peppered with war stories from the front lines of both venture-backed and bootstrapped journeys.Whether you're scaling an AI startup or building quietly with customer revenue, this episode challenges conventional wisdom and lays out what durable, customer-obsessed growth looks like in 2026.TakeawaysMany founders mistake a short burst of sales or demand for true product-market fit, leading to premature scaling and churn.Financial acquirers focus on cash flows; strategic acquirers pay for fit. Most founders don't deeply understand either.Venture capital often creates misaligned incentives. Founders lose control over exits and may be pushed to chase unsustainable valuations.Bootstrapping forces discipline: every dollar must generate near-term return, every decision must align with customer need.Raising too early or too much reduces urgency, increases burn, and often leads to wasteful bets and bloated teams.SaaS buyers increasingly value smaller vendors who prioritize service over scale.Advice is context-dependent: founders must be careful not to blindly copy tactics that worked in a different market or macro.AI tools enable hands-on execution and eliminate layers of communication, especially for lean teams.Founders often “hide their footwork”—the unseen details that actually drive GTM success.Customer proximity and rapid iteration beat slide decks and assumptions every time.Chapters00:00 Growth at All Costs Is Dead01:07 What Acquirers Really Care About02:35 The Mirage of Product-Market Fit05:10 Amazon vs. Realistic Unit Economics06:44 When Losing Money Is Okay—And When It's Not08:01 The Advice Trap: When Playbooks Expire10:01 The SurveyMonkey Blueprint (And Its Limits)13:06 How Bootstrapping Forces Better Decision-Making17:34 Owning the Downside: Founders vs. VCs20:13 Building a $5M Business Without Needing a Billion-Dollar Exit22:30 Platform Creep and Product Dilution27:53 Customer Success Is the Real Differentiator29:49 Jiu-Jitsu and GTM Footwork36:39 How AI Changes How Work Gets Done44:43 Prototyping, Building, and Speed with AI Tools46:41 Pricing Insecurity and Willingness to Pay51:01 You Are Not Your Customer: Pricing Psychology53:48 Cheap Gym Memberships, Expensive LessonsAlex Shartsis's Social Media Link:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shartsis/Resources and Links:⁠⁠https://www.hireclout.com⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.podcast.hireclout.com⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hirefasthireright⁠

In this episode of I See What You're Saying, we explore how human-centered design and disciplined listening intersect to solve the right problems with educator and design thinking instigator David Phillips. Together, we unpack why finding problems worth solving matters more than rushing to solutions, and how curiosity, observation, and patience fuel better communication, collaboration, and innovation.David shares practical frameworks for applying design thinking beyond product development, revealing how leaders can uncover hidden constraints, earn candid feedback, and create environments where people feel safe to think, speak, and contribute honestly. From the dangers of data delusion to the power of prototyping, beginner's mindset, and asking better questions, this conversation highlights how listening is the foundation of meaningful progress in business and human relationships.Join us as we examine why innovation is a contact sport, how to get comfortable being wrong, and what it really takes to design solutions that people will adopt, trust, and sustain.Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction: Why Solving the Right Problem Matters(04:10) What Human-Centered Design Really Means(09:00) Why Data Fails Without Context(12:55) The Danger of Solving the Wrong Problem Well(16:20) A Practical Design Thinking Framework(20:00) Why Innovation Requires Behavior Change(24:15) Prototyping to Get Honest Feedback(29:00) Learning to Get Comfortable Being Wrong(33:00) Ego, Identity, and Resistance to Change(37:00) Why Innovation Is a Contact Sport(45:00) Asking Better Questions to Drive Better Decisions(50:20) How Environment Shapes Human Behavior(58:30) Finding Problems Worth Solving(01:05:20) Final Takeaways and Where to Learn MoreGuest InformationDavid Phillips | LinkedIn Faster Glass – Innovation Training, Facilitation, and Consulting - Resources Mentioned in the EpisodeScout Mindset – Julia Galef (TEDx Talk) Why You Think You're Right — Even If You're Wrong

Summary In this episode of the AI for Sales podcast, host Chad Burmeister speaks with Drew Falkman, an expert in digital innovation and product management. They discuss the transformation of customer experience through AI, the rapid prototyping capabilities now available, and the importance of balancing AI with human touch. Drew shares insights on misconceptions about AI, the ethics surrounding its use, and the future of vibe coding. The conversation also touches on the startup culture, non-compete agreements, and emerging technologies in the AI space. Takeaways Drew Falkman is an expert in digital innovation and product management. AI is transforming customer experience by streamlining processes. Prototyping can now be done in days instead of weeks or months. Misconceptions about AI can lead to over-reliance on its outputs. It's crucial to validate AI-generated information. Vibe coding allows anyone to create apps without extensive coding knowledge. Emerging technologies are rapidly changing the landscape of AI. Non-compete agreements can hinder innovation in startups. Ethics in AI is a shared responsibility among developers and users. The future of AI will require a balance between automation and human involvement. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI for Sales Podcast 03:04 Drew Falkman's Journey in Digital Innovation 05:50 Transforming Customer Experience with AI 08:44 Case Studies in Product Development 11:14 Misconceptions and Ethics in AI 14:06 Balancing AI with Human Touch 17:01 Future of Tech and Vibe Coding 19:58 Exploring New AI Tools 22:39 The Importance of Sharing Ideas 25:21 Ethics and Responsibility in AI The AI for Sales Podcast is brought to you by BDR.ai, Nooks.ai, and ZoomInfo—the go-to-market intelligence platform that accelerates revenue growth. Skip the forms and website hunting—Chad will connect you directly with the right person at any of these companies.

Tyson Singer (Head of Tech & Platforms @ Spotify) joins us to unpack how Spotify is transforming its product development lifecycle across creation, experimentation and maintenance to shift from "localized speed" to "systematic speed." We explore why the industry's current obsession with the "Build It" phase of development is shortsighted, and how Spotify is aggressively deploying AI in the "Think It" (prototyping/strategy) and "Maintain It" (fleet management) phases. Tyson also details the internal tools driving this shift, including AiKA and Honk, and shares why the future of engineering relies on moving from I-shaped specialists to T-shaped generalists. ABOUT TYSON SINGERTyson Singer is the SVP of Technology & Platforms at Spotify, where he leads technology infrastructure, developer experience, cybersecurity, and finance IT. Tyson is the executive behind Spotify's internal developer portal, Backstage, and Spotify's experimentation system, Confidence, which are now both commercially available. He has a background as an engineer, architect, and product lead, and he holds a Master's in Computer Science from Stanford University. Tyson is also an avid outdoor adventurer. This episode is brought to you by Retool!What happens when your team can't keep up with internal tool requests? Teams start building their own, Shadow IT spreads across the org, and six months later you're untangling the mess…Retool gives teams a better way: governed, secure, and no cleanup required.Retool is the leading enterprise AppGen platform, powering how the world's most innovative companies build the tools that run their business. Over 10,000 organizations including Amazon, Stripe, Adobe, Brex, and Orangetheory Fitness use the platform to safely harness AI and their enterprise data to create governed, production-ready apps.Learn more at Retool.com/elc SHOW NOTES:Tyson's 9-year journey @ Spotify: From the "crucible" of hyper-growth to leading Tech & Platforms (3:46)The pivot from "localized speed" to "systematic speed" (7:27)Core principles of Spotify's Platform org: Partnering with customers & "Taking the pain away" (10:37)The "Think it, Build it, Ship it, Tweak it" lifecycle framework & why the industry obsession with "Build It" (coding agents) is missing the bigger picture (14:57)How Spotify is investing in the "Think It" phase: AI prototyping with deep business context (16:49)AiKA (AI Knowledge Assistant): Context engineering for humans and bots (18:47)"Honk": Spotify's internal framework for large-scale automated code changes (22:17)Addressing the decline of code quality and the bottleneck of human PR reviews (25:50)Probabilistic vs. Deterministic code reviews: A new approach to quality checks (29:43)Identifying bottlenecks to company value outside of R&D (Legal, Licensing, etc.) (32:12)Why systems change is fundamentally about people and identity shifts (35:57)Rapid fire questions (38:49) This episode wouldn't have been possible without the help of our incredible production team:Patrick Gallagher - Producer & Co-HostJerry Li - Co-HostNoah Olberding - Associate Producer, Audio & Video Editor https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-olberding/Dan Overheim - Audio Engineer, Dan's also an avid 3D printer - https://www.bnd3d.com/Ellie Coggins Angus - Copywriter, Check out her other work at https://elliecoggins.com/about/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Product management is being rewritten in real time, and AI is doing the editing.Matt sits down with Jerel Velarde, product manager at Full Scale Ventures, to discuss how AI is reshaping the relationship between PMs and engineering. We dive into what Jerel calls prompt prototyping, how expectations for product velocity have changed, and why the best PMs today are blending design, strategy, and code—all while staying laser-focused on validation over output.If you're a founder, CTO, or product leader trying to navigate the new frontier of product development, this one's for you.Key Discussion PointsIs “Product Manager” even the right title anymore?The new definition of PM: focused on outcomes, not artifactsHow PMs are using AI to validate fasterHow to lead product in a startup vs. a scale-upHow to think about MVPs when AI can build anythingResources & LinksConnect with Jerel on LinkedInProduct Driven - Get the BookSubscribe to the Product Driven NewsletterWhat Smart CTOs Are Doing Differently With Offshore Teams in 2025Subscribe to the Global Talent Sprint

In dieser Folge ist endlich Ivo zu Gast – langjähriger Softwareentwickler, Sparringspartner im Hintergrund und jetzt auch vor dem Mikrofon. Wir sprechen über virtuelle Büros wie aus „Die Sims“, Remote-Teamgefühl ohne Kaffeemaschine und warum Avatare Hemmschwellen abbauen können. Der zweite große Block dreht sich um KI in der Softwareentwicklung: Wird der Developer überflüssig? Haben Junioren noch eine Zukunft? Was verändert sich wirklich – und was ist nur Hype? Ivo gibt tiefe Einblicke in Vibe Coding, Side Projects, Testing mit KI, Code Reviews durch Maschinen und warum sich Code heute „fremder“ anfühlt als noch 2004. Eine Folge über Geschwindigkeit, Verantwortung, Vertrauen – und dass „tatsächlich“ immer noch Geld kostet. -- Links zur Folge immer auf https://podcast.ichglaubeeshackt.de/ Wenn Euch unser Podcast gefallen hat, freuen wir uns über eine Bewertung! Feedback wie z.B. Themenwünsche könnt Ihr uns über sämtliche Kanäle zukommen lassen: Email: podcast@ichglaubeeshackt.de Web: podcast.ichglaubeeshackt.de Instagram: http://instagram.com/igehpodcast

Gab and Nim are the co-founders of a startup called Dessn which allows designers to prototype in the context of their production codebase (without any of the setup).So I asked them to hook it up to the Inflight repo and give me a little demo to see what's possible.I'm pretty sold

What does it mean to be an AI-native employee—and why will they win? In this episode of CPO PLAYBOOK, Thibault Imbert, Chief Product and Growth Officer at The Brief, breaks down the tools, mindsets, and skills redefining productivity and creativity in the AI era. From mastering conversational AI to prototyping in real time with voice and visual tools, Thibault shares what it takes to thrive in a rapidly evolving workplace. We explore how creative tools are changing the way we ideate, build, and communicate—and why 70% is the new zero when it comes to speed and experimentation. You'll learn: • Why mastering conversational AI is now a business advantage • How visual creation tools accelerate innovation • What “AI-native” workflows look like in real teams • How to go from idea to prototype using voice and visual AI • Why empathy still matters—even in an AI-first world Whether you're building products, leading teams, or just trying to keep up with AI, this episode will leave you rethinking how you work. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage 04:30 The Journey of AI Transformation 09:52 Mastering Conversational AI 15:52 Visual Creation and Concepting Ideas 23:10 Voice as a Creative Output 27:45 Prototyping and Building in Real Time 32:58 Innovative Tools for Research and Presentation

We talk a lot about using AI at startups…But what are more established companies doing to scale AI prototyping?What are the best ways to use AI to prototype with your design system?That's what today's episode is all about because we're talking with Lewis Healey (https://x.com/Lewishealey) and Kylor Hall (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylorhall/) about how they scaled AI prototyping at Atlassian.Some highlights

In this expert interview, Sarah Doody is joined by Patrick Neeman, Director of UX & AI Experiences at Workday, to pull back the curtain on how UX hiring actually works today—and where candidates are getting tripped up.Patrick brings a rare perspective: he's led UX teams, taught UX at General Assembly, worked inside applicant tracking systems, and now hires designers in an AI-driven product environment. Together, Sarah and Patrick unpack the biggest misconceptions about ATS systems, why portfolios often fail the six-second test, how soft skills influence hiring decisions, and what senior designers really need to focus on to stand out in today's market.This episode is especially valuable if you're making it to interviews but not offers, feeling unsure how AI fits into your skillset, or questioning whether your resume and portfolio are helping—or hurting—you.What You'll Learn in This Episode:✔️ Why companies are often bad at hiring—and how that impacts candidates✔️ The truth about ATS filters, knockout questions, and resume formatting✔️ Why two-column resumes fail ATS systems (and what to do instead)✔️ What hiring managers notice in the first 6 seconds of reviewing a resume✔️ How soft skills like alignment, collaboration, and communication influence hiring✔️ Why decks often outperform portfolio websites in UX interviews✔️ How AI tools like Lovable are changing expectations for prototyping✔️ The role of “weak ties” in landing jobs—and why relationships matter more than applications✔️ Red flags candidates should avoid during interviews and outreach✔️ Why being “nice to work with” is a real career advantageLinks From This Episode:Patrick's Book: uxGPT: Mastering AI Assistants for User Experience Designers and Product Management ProfessionalsPatrick's Article: What's makes an effective UX professionalPatrick's Article: What's your Ideal Designer Profile?The Strength of Weak Ties: A Network Theory RevisitedThe ADP Checklist: Resources about Resumes, Portfolios and Interviews for UX ProfessionalsTimestamps:00:00 Introduction to Sarah Doody and Career Strategy Lab00:38 Welcoming Patrick Neiman: Insights into UX Hiring01:19 Patrick's Background and Experience04:19 The State of the UX Job Market07:21 The Importance of Writing Skills in UX08:49 Applicant Tracking Systems and AI in Hiring13:28 Contract Roles in UX: Myths and Realities14:42 Standing Out as a UX Candidate17:48 Soft Skills: The Superpower of UX Professionals22:05 Tips for Early Career UX Designers24:15 Prototyping vs. Figma: The Future of Design24:28 The Value of Personal Projects in Portfolios24:57 Challenges in Redesigning Complex Systems26:10 Misconceptions About Hiring Software27:23 The Six-Second Resume Test29:16 Networking and the Power of Weak Ties33:10 Tips for Advancing in Your UX Career41:46 Balancing Figma and AI-Assisted Design Tools43:21 Final Thoughts and Advice for Job Seekers

Diarra Bousso returns to Beyond the Prompt to share how she's reprogramming the fashion industry using AI, math, and a relentless spirit of experimentation. From selling AI-generated products before they exist to cutting out waste and wait times, she walks us through a radical new approach to design and operations.She explains how her team uses scientific rigor to test marketing ideas, create on-demand collections, and rethink the traditional fashion calendar. Diarra also opens up about the origin of her experimental mindset, which began during a year of recovery after a life-changing accident, and how that philosophy now shapes her leadership.The episode wraps with reflections on sustainability, mental health, and what it means to build a joyful, human-first company in the age of AI. Diarra shares how she's using AI not just to scale her business, but to reclaim her time, and why her next venture might bring these tools to creators everywhere.Key TakeawaysExperimentation is the foundationDiarra treats her entire business as a lab. Every idea is a test, and her team is trained to think in hypotheses, measure results, and adapt quickly.AI enhances human creativityShe sees AI as a creative partner, not a replacement. It helps her move faster, make smarter decisions, and focus on the parts of design that require real taste and vision.Sell before you buildBy testing AI-generated designs with customers before making anything, Diarra unlocks cash flow, cuts waste, and sidesteps the long timelines of traditional fashion.Sustainability starts with the founderDiarra applies the same mindset to her own life. She's using AI to reclaim time, reduce burnout, and build a business that supports health as well as growth.Website: diarrabousso.comDIARRABLU: diarrablu.com00:00 Intro: AI-Driven Fashion00:13 Meet Diarra Bousso: Founder of DIARRABLU01:43 The Power of Experimentation02:00 A Life-Changing Accident and Recovery04:40 Embracing a Culture of Experimentation06:13 Scientific Approach to Business09:48 Empowering the Team15:03 AI in Fashion Design18:36 Revolutionizing the Fashion Industry28:09 Traditional vs. Digital Fashion Models32:18 Embracing AI in Fashion Design32:49 Collaborating with Retailers Using AI35:06 AI's Role in Prototyping and Design36:58 The Future of AI in Creative Industries39:14 Navigating Resistance to AI48:10 Operationalizing AI for Efficiency52:18 Balancing Innovation and Personal Well-being57:19 Debrief

Bending Spoons is the acquisition machine of the tech world. They have acquired the likes of Evernote, Vimeo, Eventbrite, Streamyard and more. However, they never open their gates to the secrets behind Evernote's product machine. Today that changes with Federico Simionato joining 20Product. Fede has been a Product Lead at Bending Spoons for 8 years where he has led product teams at Evernote, WeTransfer and more.   AGENDA: 03:02 From Dentist Games to $11BN Bending Spoons 04:54 Advice for Aspiring Product Managers 05:38 Building a Coveted Brand at Bending Spoons 07:43 Evaluating and Testing New Product Ideas 13:35 How Evernote has Mastered User Retention 25:24 The Impact of AI on Product Design and Prototyping 31:19 How Bending Spoons Does Product Launches and Lessons Learned 33:27 How Every Product Team Should Do Monthly Updates to Users 36:38 Recording and Transparency in Updates 38:06 Lessons from Failed Product Launches 45:14 Structuring Teams and Acquisitions 47:12 Monetization Strategies and Push Notifications 57:21 Quick Fire Round: Insights and Reflections  

Today, we're joined by Sarah Jacob Singh, CPTO at Medbridge, a digital healthcare platform. In this episode, Sarah shares: * Why AI means all companies have to act like startups again, with product more tightly integrated from engineering all the way to go-to-market * How many Product Managers are evolving into Product Engineers - building prototypes, shipping code, and helping developer teams innovate faster * The ways Medbridge is leveraging AI-enabled Product Engineers to ship big bets weekly instead of quarterly Links Sarah's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahjacobsingh/ Medbridge: https://www.medbridge.com/ Chapters 00:00: Introduction 01:53: Sarah's career journey 03:56: The expanding role of product management 08:22: The impact of AI on product and engineering 11:35: Prototyping and feedback loops 17:20: AI adoption in healthcare 19:04: What is the “product engineer”? 22:47: In-house vs. Purchased solutions 29:13: Medbridge's upcoming hackathon 30:54: Conclusion Follow LaunchPod on YouTube We have a new YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/@LaunchPodPodcast)! Watch full episodes of our interviews with PM leaders and subscribe! What does LogRocket do? LogRocket's Galileo AI watches user sessions for you and surfaces the technical and usability issues holding back your web and mobile apps. Understand where your users are struggling by trying it for free at LogRocket.com (https://logrocket.com/signup/?pdr). Special Guest: Sarah Jacob Singh.

With so many AI tools flying around, it feels overwhelming for any creative team to choose the ones that will make a difference. This is why last week, we decided to have a conversation with Charles Migos, Chief Product Officer, Founder of Intangible.ai, Design Leaders faculty member and one of the most exciting voices in design today. He is a design executive who has spent 30 years building tools for creatives, working alongside the industry's brightest minds like Steve Jobs and in companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Unity.What we got is a powerful conversation with Charles about how designers play an important role in the age of AI, from problem-solving and aligning teams to improving collaboration. Timecodes:00:00 Introduction to design and AI with Charles Moberly (ex Apple, Microsoft, Unity)03:04 How the AI shift compares to the internet, Photoshop, and touchscreens06:12 The fundamentals of design that stay the same in the AI era08:23 How to choose AI tools for designers without feeling overwhelmed14:07 How to test and adopt AI tools in a design team16:36 Why creativity still works best as a team sport19:49 What design leaders should focus on in the AI era25:51 Balancing design and engineering cultures at scale32:20 Building Intangible AI and rethinking generative 3D workflows38:46 Copyright, IP, and ethical risks in generative AI45:08 Trust, privacy, and data choices when using AI tools45:26 A realistic look at the future of AI for creatives46:42 How designers can actively shape the future with AI50:19 New opportunities for designers using AI tools well54:09 Practical Figma Make tips for faster high fidelity prototyping01:02:04 Gender bias in AI and what design leaders can do01:22:22 Empathy and pragmatism as core design leadership skills54:09 Practical Figma Make tips Prototyping faster in high fidelity01:02:04 Gender bias in AI How design leaders respond01:22:22 Empathy and pragmatism in design leadership

In this second part of my three-part series (catch Part I via episode 182), I dig deeper into the key idea that sales in commercial data products can be accelerated by designing for actual user workflows—vs. going wide with a “many-purpose” AI and analytics solution that “does more,” but is misaligned with how users' most important work actually gets done.   To explain this, I will explain the concept of user experience (UX) outcomes, and how building your solution to enable these outcomes may be a dependency for you to get sales traction, and for your customer to see the value of your solution. I also share practical steps to improve UX outcomes in commercial data products, from establishing a baseline definition of UX quality to mapping out users' current workflows (and future ones, when agentic AI changes their job). Finally, I talk about how approaching product development as small “bets” helps you build small, and learn fast so you can accelerate value creation.    Highlights/ Skip to: Continuing the journey: designing for users, workflows, and tasks (00:32) How UX impacts sales—not just usage and  adoption(02:16) Understanding how you can leverage users' frustrations and perceived risks as fuel for building an indispensable data product (04:11)  Definition of a UX outcome (7:30) Establishing a baseline definition of product (UX) quality, so you know how to observe and measure improvement (11:04 ) Spotting friction and solving the right customer problems first (15:34) Collecting actionable user feedback (20:02) Moving users along the scale from frustration to satisfaction to delight (23:04) Unique challenges of designing B2B AI and analytics products used for decision intelligence (25:04) Quotes from Today's Episode One of the hardest parts of building anything meaningful, especially in B2B or data-heavy spaces, is pausing long enough to ask what the actual ‘it' is that we're trying to solve. People rush into building the fix, pitching the feature, or drafting the roadmap before they've taken even a moment to define what the user keeps tripping over in their day-to-day environment.   And until you slow down and articulate that shared, observable frustration, you're basically operating on vibes and assumptions instead of behavior and reality.   What you want is not a generic problem statement but an agreed-upon description of the two or three most painful frictions that are obvious to everyone involved, frictions the user experiences visibly and repeatedly in the flow of work.   Once you have that grounding, everything else prioritization, design decisions, sequencing, even organizational alignment suddenly becomes much easier because you're no longer debating abstractions, you're working against the same measurable anchor.   And the irony is, the faster you try to skip this step, the longer the project drags on, because every downstream conversation becomes a debate about interpretive language rather than a conversation about a shared, observable experience. __ Want people to pay for your product? Solve an *observable* problem—not a vague information or data problem. What do I mean? “When you're trying to solve a problem for users, especially in analytical or AI-driven products, one of the biggest traps is relying on interpretive statements instead of observable ones.   Interpretive phrasing like ‘they're overwhelmed' or ‘they don't trust the data' feels descriptive, but it hides the important question of what, exactly, we can see them doing that signals the problem.   If you can't film it happening, if you can't watch the behavior occur in real time, then you don't actually have a problem definition you can design around.   Observable frustration might be the user jumping between four screens, copying and pasting the same value into different systems, or re-running a query five times because something feels off even though they can't articulate why.   Those concrete behaviors are what allow teams to converge and say, ‘Yes, that's the thing, that is the friction we agree must change,' and that shift from interpretation to observation becomes the foundation for better design, better decision-making, and far less wasted effort.   And once you anchor the conversation in visible behavior, you eliminate so many circular debates and give everyone, from engineering to leadership, a shared starting point that's grounded in reality instead of theory." __ One of the reasons that measuring the usability/utility/satisfaction of your product's UX might seem hard is that you don't have a baseline definition of how satisfactory (or not) the product is right now. As such, it's very hard to tell if you're just making product *changes*—or you're making *improvements* that might make the product worth paying for at all, worth paying more for, or easier to buy. "It's surprisingly common for teams to claim they're improving something when they've never taken the time to document what the current state even looks like. If you want to create a meaningful improvement, something a user actually feels, you need to understand the baseline level of friction they tolerate today, not what you imagine that friction might be. Establishing a baseline is not glamorous work, but it's the work that prevents you from building changes that make sense on paper but do nothing to the real flow of work. When you diagram the existing workflow, when you map the sequence of steps the user actually takes, the mismatches between your mental model and their lived experience become crystal clear, and the design direction becomes far less ambiguous. That act of grounding yourself in the current state allows every subsequent decision, prioritizing fixes, determining scope, measuring progress, to be aligned with reality rather than assumptions. And without that baseline, you risk designing solutions that float in conceptual space, disconnected from the very pains you claim to be addressing." __ Prototypes are a great way to learn—if you're actually treating them as a means to learn, and not a product you intend to deliver regardless of the feedback customers give you.  "People often think prototyping is about validating whether their solution works, but the deeper purpose is to refine the problem itself. Once you put even a rough prototype in front of someone and watch what they do with it, you discover the edges of the problem more accurately than any conversation or meeting can reveal. Users will click in surprising places, ignore the part you thought mattered most, or reveal entirely different frictions just by trying to interact with the thing you placed in front of them. That process doesn't just improve the design, it improves the team's understanding of which parts of the problem are real and which parts were just guesses. Prototyping becomes a kind of externalization of assumptions, forcing you to confront whether you're solving the friction that actually holds back the flow of work or a friction you merely predicted. And every iteration becomes less about perfecting the interface and more about sharpening the clarity of the underlying problem, which is why the teams that prototype early tend to build faster, with better alignment, and far fewer detours." __ Most founders and data people tend to measure UX quality by “counting usage” of their solution. Tracking usage stats, analytics on sessions, etc. The problem with this is that it tells you nothing useful about whether people are satisfied (“meets spec”) or delighted (“a product they can't live without”). These are product metrics—but they don't reflect how people feel. There are better measurements to use for evaluating users' experience that go beyond “willingness to pay.”  Payment is great, but in B2B products, buyers aren't always users—and we've all bought something based on the promise of what it would do for us, but the promise fell short. "In B2B analytics and AI products, the biggest challenge isn't complexity, it's ambiguity around what outcome the product is actually responsible for changing.   Teams often define success in terms of internal goals like ‘adoption,' ‘usage,' or ‘efficiency,' but those metrics don't tell you what the user's experience is supposed to look like once the product is working well.   A product tied to vague business outcomes tends to drift because no one agrees on what the improvement should feel like in the user's real workflow.   What you want are visible, measurable, user-centric outcomes, outcomes that describe how the user's behavior or experience will change once the solution is in place, down to the concrete actions they'll no longer need to take.   When you articulate outcomes at that level, it forces the entire organization to align around a shared target, reduces the scope bloat that normally plagues enterprise products, and gives you a way to evaluate whether you're actually removing friction rather than just adding more layers of tooling.   And ironically, the clearer the user outcome is, the easier it becomes to achieve the business outcome, because the product is no longer floating in abstraction, it's anchored in the lived reality of the people who use it."   Links Listen to part one: Episode 182  Schedule a Design-Eyes Assessment with me and get clarity, now.

How do you redesign a newsroom's entire workflow when AI is no longer a single tool, but a collection of agents, voice interfaces, and ambient intelligence changing how journalism gets produced?This week on Newsroom Robots, host Nikita Roy is joined by Markus Franz, Chief Technology Officer at Ippen Digital, one of Germany's largest digital media networks with more than 80 online news and media portals. This episode was recorded live at the Digital Growth Summit in Stuttgart, where Markus shared how his team is building some of the most forward-looking AI experiments in European media.Markus leads Ippen Digital's Incubator Lab, an innovation unit focused on reimagining how publishing and AI-driven experiences will evolve. With 16 years inside the company, Markus has been central to Ippen's digital transformation and now leads efforts around multi-agent architectures and building adaptive workflows for the newsroom.In this conversation, Markus breaks down how his lab is experimenting with multi-agent “virtual teams,” voice-first newsroom interfaces, multimodal content production and an ambient AI-powered newsroom where intelligent systems support journalists in real time. He shares what his team has learned from early prototypes, why the biggest challenges are cultural rather than technical, and how news organizations should think about guardrails, platform dependency, and the rise of self-evolving models.This episode covers: 02:22 – Why Ippen Digital built an Incubator Lab and how it's structured as a future-focused R&D unit04:49 – What multi-agent systems look like inside a newsroom9:42 – The case for voice as the next major interface for both journalists and audiences14:41 – The shift from human-in-the-loop to human-on-the-loop workflows17:40 – Guardrails for agent systems: grounding, bounding, editorial policies19:33 – The vision for an ambient newsroom powered by AI companions and real-time intelligence27:31 – Why vendor lock-in and self-evolving LLMs pose new strategic risks30:08 – Multimodal personalization and rethinking how news is experienced34:27 – Why most AI pilots fail and what experimentation looks like in practice49:19 – Markus's personal AI stack and how he uses these tools day-to-daySign up for the Newsroom Robots newsletter for episode summaries and insights from host Nikita Roy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Stay within your means and never bet what you can't afford to lose."Episode SummaryIn this episode, Big Keith and I sit down with Graig Davis, founder of NeoMag, to talk about his dedication to American manufacturing, his Second Amendment journey, and the story behind creating one of the most innovative everyday carry products in the firearms industry. From reminiscing about childhood gun cabinets and Thanksgiving traditions to deep dives into engineering, prototyping, and thoughtful product design, Graig shares how a simple need led him from building prototypes in his basement to running a thriving business dedicated to helping Americans protect their families. We also discuss the importance of responsible gun ownership, mentorship in business, and the balance of function versus form in making gear that truly lasts.Call to Action1. Join our mailing list: Thegunexperiment.com2. Subscribe and leave us a comment on Apple or Spotify3. Follow us on all of our social media: Instagram Twitter Youtube Facebook4. Be a part of our growing community, join our Discord page!5. Grab some cool TGE merch6. Ask us anything at AskMikeandKeith@gmail.com5. Be sure to support the sponsors of the show. They're a big part of making the show possible.Show SponsorsSpecial thanks to our show sponsors:Flatline Fiber Company: Get serious savings on gun gear and accessories for Black Friday at Flatlinfiberco.com, but you can use our code TG20 for 20% off, all year round.Onsite Firearms Training: Professional firearms training to turn shooters into defenders. Visit oftlc.us to find courses nationwide.Coopers Cask Coffee: Whether you are headed to the rang or the office get some of the best single origin roasts and spirit infused flavors for your morning caffeine fix at Coopers Coffee.Key TakeawaysGraig Davis' Second Amendment journey started as a kid, influenced by hunting traditions and the desire to protect his family.American manufacturing and local sourcing are at the heart of NeoMag's mission, even when it means more work and higher costs.Prototyping with 3D printing has transformed the design process—speeding up innovation and allowing for endless tweaks before production.Every new NeoMag product is inspired by personal need, customer feedback, and the belief that function should never be sacrificed for cost.Responsible gun ownership means demystifying firearms, teaching safety, and focusing on education over...

This week @adafruit we're checking out JP's e-ink slow movie player guide. Prototyping an Apple IIe inspired enclosure for the Fruit Jam. This week's time lapse features an articulating skeleton of the grinch. E-ink Slow Movie Player Guide https://learn.adafruit.com/eink-slow-movie-player E-ink Bonnet https://www.adafruit.com/product/6418 Fruit Jam: https://www.adafruit.com/product/6200 Timelapse Tuesday Articulated skeleton Grinch By 3Dcutes https://makerworld.com/en/models/1956311-articulated-skeleton-grinch#profileId-2102568 https://youtu.be/y6kEgaxXxNY

This week @adafruit we're checking out JP's e-ink slow movie player guide. Prototyping an Apple IIe inspired enclosure for the Fruit Jam. This week's time lapse features an articulating skeleton of the grinch. E-ink Slow Movie Player Guide https://learn.adafruit.com/eink-slow-movie-player E-ink Bonnet https://www.adafruit.com/product/6418 Fruit Jam: https://www.adafruit.com/product/6200 Timelapse Tuesday Articulated skeleton Grinch By 3Dcutes https://makerworld.com/en/models/1956311-articulated-skeleton-grinch#profileId-2102568 https://youtu.be/y6kEgaxXxNY

In this episode of the HappySignals podcast, host Sakari Kyrö interviews Lisa Bauer, who shares her journey through various industries and her experiences at IDEO. Lisa discusses the importance of human-centered design, the transition from an asking culture to an assigning culture in team dynamics, and the significance of stakeholder involvement in organizational change. She emphasizes the need for a culture of experimentation and continuous learning, drawing on her experiences to inspire others in their own transformation journeys.Lisa Bauer - https://www.itslisabauer.com/TakeawaysLisa is passionate about helping her colleagues and improving team collaboration.Her career path has been nonlinear, spanning various industries.Human-centered design is crucial for effective team dynamics.Transitioning from asking to assigning teams can enhance project outcomes.Involving stakeholders in the design process leads to better acceptance of changes.A culture of experimentation allows for learning and growth.Prototyping is essential in the design process.Identifying key players is vital for successful change management.Lisa aims to spread the values of human-centered design in traditional industries.Optimizing operations is a continuous journey that requires collaboration.Subscribe to our newsletter:LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/it-experience-insights-6996053129205026816/⁠Email: ⁠https://happysignals.com/itxm-insights

In this special crossover episode with the brand-new Embedded AI Podcast, Luca and Jeff are joined by Ryan Torvik, Luca's co-host on the Embedded AI podcast, to explore the intersection of AI-powered development tools and agile embedded systems engineering. The hosts discuss practical strategies for using Large Language Models (LLMs) effectively in embedded development workflows, covering topics like context management, test-driven development with AI, and maintaining code quality standards in safety-critical systems. The conversation addresses common anti-patterns that developers encounter when first adopting LLM-assisted coding, such as "vibe coding" yourself off a cliff by letting the AI generate too much code at once, losing control of architectural decisions, and failing to maintain proper test coverage. The hosts emphasize that while LLMs can dramatically accelerate prototyping and reduce boilerplate coding, they require even more rigorous engineering discipline - not less. They discuss how traditional agile practices like small commits, continuous integration, test-driven development, and frequent context resets become even more critical when working with AI tools. For embedded systems engineers working in safety-critical domains like medical devices, automotive, and aerospace, the episode provides valuable guidance on integrating AI tools while maintaining deterministic quality processes. The hosts stress that LLMs should augment, not replace, static analysis tools and human code reviews, and that developers remain fully responsible for AI-generated code. Whether you're just starting with AI-assisted development or looking to refine your approach, this episode offers actionable insights for leveraging LLMs effectively while keeping the reins firmly in hand. ## Key Topics * [03:45] LLM Interface Options: Web, CLI, and IDE Plugins - Choosing the Right Tool for Your Workflow* [08:30] Prompt Engineering Fundamentals: Being Specific and Iterative with LLMs* [12:15] Building Effective Base Prompts: Learning from Experience vs. Starting from Templates* [16:40] Context Window Management: Avoiding Information Overload and Hallucinations* [22:10] Understanding LLM Context: Files, Prompts, and Conversation History* [26:50] The Nature of Hallucinations: Why LLMs Always Generate, Never Judge* [29:20] Test-Driven Development with AI: More Critical Than Ever* [35:45] Avoiding 'Vibe Coding' Disasters: The Importance of Small, Testable Increments* [42:30] Requirements Engineering in the AI Era: Becoming More Specific About What You Want* [48:15] Extreme Programming Principles Applied to LLM Development: Small Steps and Frequent Commits* [52:40] Context Reset Strategies: When and How to Start Fresh Sessions* [56:20] The V-Model Approach: Breaking Down Problems into Manageable LLM-Sized Chunks* [01:01:10] AI in Safety-Critical Systems: Augmenting, Not Replacing, Deterministic Tools* [01:06:45] Code Review in the AI Age: Maintaining Standards Despite Faster Iteration* [01:12:30] Prototyping vs. Production Code: The Superpower and the Danger* [01:16:50] Shifting Left with AI: Empowering Product Owners and Accelerating Feedback Loops* [01:19:40] Bootstrapping New Technologies: From Zero to One in Minutes Instead of Weeks* [01:23:15] Advice for Junior Engineers: Building Intuition in the Age of AI-Assisted Development ## Notable Quotes > "All of us are new to this experience. Nobody went to school back in the 80s and has been doing this for 40 years. We're all just running around, bumping into things and seeing what works for us." — Ryan Torvik > "An LLM is just a token generator. You stick an input in, and it returns an output, and it has no way of judging whether this is correct or valid or useful. It's just whatever it generated. So it's up to you to give it input data that will very likely result in useful output data." — Luca Ingianni > "Tests tell you how this is supposed to work. You can have it write the test first and then evaluate the test. Using tests helps communicate - just like you would to another person - no, it needs to function like this, it needs to have this functionality and behave in this way." — Ryan Torvik > "I find myself being even more aggressively biased towards test-driven development. While I'm reasonably lenient about the code that the LLM writes, I am very pedantic about the tests that I'm using. I will very thoroughly review them and really tweak them until they have the level of detail that I'm interested in." — Luca Ingianni > "It's really forcing me to be a better engineer by using the LLM. You have to go and do that system level understanding of the problem space before you actually ask the LLM to do something. This is what responsible people have been saying - this is how you do engineering." — Ryan Torvik > "I can use LLMs to jumpstart me or bootstrap me from zero to one. Once there's something on the screen that kind of works, I can usually then apply my general programming skill, my general engineering taste to improve it. Getting from that zero to one is now not days or weeks of learning - it's 20 minutes of playing with it." — Jeff Gable > "LLMs are fantastic at small-scale stuff. They will be wonderful at finding better alternatives for how to implement a certain function. But they are absolutely atrocious at large-scale stuff. They will gleefully mess up your architecture and not even notice because they cannot fit it into their tiny electronic brains." — Luca Ingianni > "Don't be afraid to try it out. We're all noobs to this. This is the brave noob world of AI exploration. Be curious about it, but also be cautious about it. Don't ever take your hands off the reins. Trust your engineering intuition - even young folks that are just starting, trust your engineering intuition." — Ryan Torvik > "As the saying goes, good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgment. You'll find spectacular ways of messing up - that is how you become a decent engineer. LLMs do not change that. Junior engineers will still be necessary, will still be around, and they will still evolve into senior engineers eventually after they've fallen on their faces enough times." — Luca Ingianni  You can find Jeff at https://jeffgable.com.You can find Luca at https://luca.engineer.Want to join the agile Embedded Slack? Click hereAre you looking for embedded-focused trainings? Head to https://agileembedded.academy/Ryan Torvik and Luca have started the Embedded AI podcast, check it out at https://embeddedaipodcast.com/

Grant Lee is the co-founder of Gamma, the AI-powered presentation tool that's one of the hottest and most interesting AI startups in the world right now. They're valued at over $2 billion, and they hit $100 million ARR in just over two years, with a lean team of just around 30 people. Unlike many fast-growing AI startups, Gamma has been profitable for most of its history, has not raised significant funding, and they built a massive business in a category most investors dismissed. In fact, one investor told Grant his idea was “the dumbest idea he had ever heard.”We discuss:• How Gamma found product-market fit by rethinking their onboarding• Their process for building a “word-of-mouth machine”• How they leveraged more than 1,000 micro-influencers instead of big names• Why focusing on the “first 30 seconds” transformed their business• Their approach to pricing that led to profitability within months• How Grant thinks about building a durable “GPT wrapper” business—Brought to you by:Vanta—Automate compliance. Simplify security.Justworks—The all-in-one HR solution for managing your small business with confidenceMiro—A collaborative visual platform where your best work comes to life—Where to find Grant Lee:• X: https://x.com/thisisgrantlee• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantslee—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Introduction to Grant Lee and Gamma(05:59) The founding story of Gamma(09:52) Achieving product-market fit(15:43) Self-awareness as a founder(17:17) The power of onboarding(20:41) The original insight that led to Gamma(22:42) Founder-led marketing and growth tactics(29:20) Sharing online(37:40) Getting to $100M ARR(41:19) Influencer marketing as a growth strategy(54:08) Virality is not an accident(58:30) Investing in brand before paid ads(01:02:04) Tips for getting started with performance marketing(01:04:49) Prototyping and user feedback(01:16:12) Adapting and moving quickly(01:19:21) The concept of GPT wrapper companies(01:22:16) Deep dive into workflow and model utilization(01:29:06) Pricing strategies(01:34:53) Hiring philosophy and practices(01:43:24) Betting big on high performers(01:45:03) Final thoughts and lightning round—References: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-50-people-built-a-profitable-ai-unicorn—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. To hear more, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com

How Haley Pavone turned a college injury into an eight-figure convertible footwear brand built on curiosity, grit, and smart, sustainable growth.For more on Pashion Footwear and show notes click here Subscribe and watch Shopify Masters on YouTube!Sign up for your FREE Shopify Trial here.

This week @adafruit we're releasing our IoT Pool Notification guide. Prototyping an Apple IIe inspired enclosure for the Fruit Jam. Shoptalk segment on how Noe added images to his Mac Classic Fruit Jam and a special full color resin print from JLCPCB. This week's time lapse features an articulating skeleton reindeer. Pool Alert Guide https://learn.adafruit.com/pool-party-notification-device Pool Alert YouTube video https://youtu.be/mguoqNAtfqU Eink Bonnet https://www.adafruit.com/product/6418 Fruit Jam: https://www.adafruit.com/product/6200 MagTag 2025 Edition: https://www.adafruit.com/product/4800 MagTag Enclosure https://www.adafruit.com/product/6433 Displaying Images on Pico Mac Emulator Playground Note https://adafruit-playground.com/u/pixil3d/pages/displaying-images-on-pico-mac-emulator-for-fruit-jam Skeleton Reindeer By 3Dcutes https://makerworld.com/en/models/1945280-articulated-skeleton-reindeer#profileId-2089632 https://youtu.be/ekabPOhpxh4 Community Makes https://www.printables.com/make/2944760

We are joined by experts from Xometry, a company that many engineer's have grabbed instant quotes & custom parts on demand with CNC machining, 3D printing, and more. This week, we are joined by Mike Cavalieri and Greg Paulsen - both leaders at Xometry. Our guests are experts in rapid prototyping to full production and have helped big Space Companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, NASA, and more when they need a reliable machine shop to make parts for space applications.  We discuss their origin stories, how 3D Printing can be helpful in Space applications, and what kinds of parts have been made for Aerospace. While they can't get too into the specifics, we get a great deep dive into how Xometry plays a big role in helping customers find unique advantages with 3D printing. We also discuss big topics like Manufacturing in America, and how platforms like Xometry can help skilled machine shops in the US find customers using their powerful tools and data. When AI is combined with their skilled experts in many manufacturing methods, you get a powerful web of part makers and consumers that can help fill the gap on the feast or famine that is manufacturing. Please check out https://www.xometry.com/ to learn more Thank you to both Mike & Greg for joining us and sharing so much with us about what it takes to make parts for Aerospace in 3D printing but also many other traditional techniques. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Origin Stories 03:58 Challenges in 3D Printing and Prototyping 09:17 Global Operations and Time Zone Management 11:31 Additive Manufacturing in Space Applications 16:15 Assisting US Machine Shops, Vetting Suppliers, and Quality Control 30:22 More Applications for 3D Printing In Space 47:53 Digital Manufacturing and Marketplace Dynamics 48:46 Education and Training in Manufacturing 50:41 Future of Additive Manufacturing and AI We'd like to thank our sponsors: AG3D Printing (go to ag3d-printing.com to learn more & start 3D printing today!) Today In Space Merch: James Webb Space Telescope Model (3DPrinted) https://ag3dprinting.etsy.com/listing/1839142903 SpaceX Starship-Inspired Rocket Pen (3DPrinted) https://ag3dprinting.etsy.com/listing/1602850640 Blue Origin New Glenn-inspired Rocket Pen (3DPrinted) https://ag3dprinting.etsy.com/listing/1859644348 Support the podcast: • Buy a 3D printed gift from our shop - http://ag3dprinting.etsy.com  • Get a free quote on your next 3D printing project at http://ag3d-printing.com • Donate at todayinspace.net

This week @adafruit we're showcasing our IoT Pool Notification project using MagTag. Prototyping an enclosure for our 7.5in e-ink display. Looking at a big update to the pico-mac Mac Classic project. This week's time lapse features a multi-color print of Zero from Nightmare Before Christmas. Mac Classic Fruit Jam Video https://youtu.be/7vfm1CUQnAo Mac Classic Learn Guide https://learn.adafruit.com/mac-classic-fruit-jam E-Ink Bonet: https://www.adafruit.com/product/6418 Fruit Jam: https://www.adafruit.com/product/6200 7.5in eInk Display: https://www.adafruit.com/product/6418 Raspberry Pi 5 2GB RAM https://www.adafruit.com/product/6007 MagTag 2025 Edition https://www.adafruit.com/product/4800 Timelapse Tuesday Zero from Nightmare Before Christmas By Campurro3D https://makerworld.com/en/models/1925129-zero-from-nightmare-before-christmas#profileId-2065972 https://youtu.be/1VU3ns1SRB4

SPACE ROBOTS! We are are talking about this exciting topic again in this episode. Icarus Robotics is a NY-based space robotics start up that just raised its $6M seed financing round. Co-founders Ethan Barajas and Jamie Palmer are our guests. 

What if your nonprofit could anticipate the future instead of reacting to it? In this episode, futurist and strategist Donna DuPont shares how leaders can build future literacy—the skill of reading change before it happens. We explore how to turn uncertainty into opportunity, overcome resistance to change, and design flexible strategies that thrive even in chaos. If your team feels stuck reacting to crises, this conversation will help you plan with confidence, not fear. Episode Highlights 04:25 Understanding Future Mindsets 06:57 Empowering Nonprofits Through Strategic Foresight 09:03 The Power of Great Questions 09:40 Collective Intelligence and Workshop Insights 15:09 The Rise of AI: A Case Study in Weak Signals 22:24 Opportunities in Crisis 24:43 Building a Case for Change 25:25 Understanding Dissatisfaction and Vision 27:26 Taking Action and Iteration 29:48 Navigating Uncertainty with Foresight 33:01 Evaluating Processes and Outcomes 38:42 Prototyping and Innovation Meet the Guest My guest for this episode is Donna Dupont, Founder and Chief Strategist of Purple Compass, is an award-winning designer and futurist with over 25 years of experience collaborating with leaders. She helps organizations build future literacy, navigate uncertainty, and drive impactful change. Combining systems thinking with strategic foresight, she empowers leaders to mitigate risks, enhance preparedness, and seize opportunities for innovation, transformation, and resilience. Recognized with seven government awards, Donna's work spans critical areas like climate change, health security, and emergency management, with her futures research earning accolades from the Canadian Defence and Security Network and the Association of Professional Futurists. Connect with Donna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-dupont/ www.purplecompass.ca Sponsored Resource Join the Inspired Nonprofit Leadership Newsletter for weekly tips and inspiration for leading your nonprofit! Access it here >> Be sure to subscribe to Inspired Nonprofit Leadership so that you don't miss a single episode, and while you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated! Let us know the topics or questions you would like to hear about in a future episode. You can do that and follow us on LinkedIn.

Founder JOhn Rokos shares how MagSafe inspired OpenCase—an iPhone case with a recessed opening that locks MagSafe accessories in place to prevent sliding, improve charging/heat, and cut weight. He covers patenting, vetting manufacturers in China, yearly fit changes, testing with dummy phones, and building an open accessory ecosystem.  This edition of MacVoices is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Get access to the MacVoices Slack and MacVoices After Dark by joining in at Patreon.com/macvoices. Show Notes: Chapters: [0:00] Intro and why this case is different[1:22] MagSafe sparks the recessed-opening idea[2:12] Preventing slide-off; charging and heat benefits[5:46] Prototyping and patent path[7:22] Finding a manufacturer; risks and quality control[12:35] Pre-announcement samples and real-device fit checks[13:48] iPhone 17 fit, rigidity, and button/camera changes[19:33] Growing an open accessory ecosystem (wallets, batteries, stands)[25:13] Color requests vs. MOQs; why black dominates[35:43] Pricing and accessory lineup[38:34] What's included; opening size 96×65 mm (9 mm corners)[40:15] Where to buy and future plans[41:37] Listener discount code details Links:   MacVoices Viewers and Listeners can take 10% off their first order at TheOpenCase.com. Restrictions apply, offer good through November 2025. Guests: JoHn Rokos is the brains behind The Open Case, a “MagSafe Perfected” iPhone case. MacVoices Viewers and Listeners can take 10% off their first order at TheOpenCase.com. Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon     http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:     http://macvoices.com      Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner     http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Mastodon:     https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner      Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes     Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

Founder JOhn Rokos shares how MagSafe inspired OpenCase—an iPhone case with a recessed opening that locks MagSafe accessories in place to prevent sliding, improve charging/heat, and cut weight. He covers patenting, vetting manufacturers in China, yearly fit changes, testing with dummy phones, and building an open accessory ecosystem.  This edition of MacVoices is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Get access to the MacVoices Slack and MacVoices After Dark by joining in at Patreon.com/macvoices. Show Notes: Chapters: [0:00] Intro and why this case is different [1:22] MagSafe sparks the recessed-opening idea [2:12] Preventing slide-off; charging and heat benefits [5:46] Prototyping and patent path [7:22] Finding a manufacturer; risks and quality control [12:35] Pre-announcement samples and real-device fit checks [13:48] iPhone 17 fit, rigidity, and button/camera changes [19:33] Growing an open accessory ecosystem (wallets, batteries, stands) [25:13] Color requests vs. MOQs; why black dominates [35:43] Pricing and accessory lineup [38:34] What's included; opening size 96×65 mm (9 mm corners) [40:15] Where to buy and future plans [41:37] Listener discount code details Links: MacVoices Viewers and Listeners can take 10% off their first order at TheOpenCase.com. Restrictions apply, offer good through November 2025. Guests: JoHn Rokos is the brains behind The Open Case, a “MagSafe Perfected” iPhone case. MacVoices Viewers and Listeners can take 10% off their first order at TheOpenCase.com. Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon      http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:      http://macvoices.com      Twitter:      http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner      http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Mastodon:      https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner      Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:      https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:      https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes      Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

This week @adafruit we're taking a look at our Mac Classic inspired enclosure for the Fruit Jam. Prototyping an IoT Pool Notification project using MagTag. This week's time lapse features an articulating spider pumpkin. E-Ink Bonet: https://www.adafruit.com/product/6418 Fruit Jam: https://www.adafruit.com/product/6200 7.5in eInk Display: https://www.adafruit.com/product/6418 Raspberry Pi 5 2GB RAM https://www.adafruit.com/product/6007 MagTag 2025 Edition https://www.adafruit.com/product/4800 Timelapse Tuesday Pumpkin Spider By FlexiMania https://www.myminifactory.com/object/3d-print-flexi-pumpkin-spider-halloween-edition-articulated-pumpkin-head-spider-for-3d-printing-691457 https://youtu.be/BdR-s0Wg9-Y

Outline00:00 Introduction to Temple of Gainz02:54 Yoni's Home Gym Journey5:44 The Evolution of Temple of Gainz08:33 Challenges and Triumphs in Business11:45 Customer Experience and Branding14:36 Product Development and Innovation17:32 Timeline of Growth and Sales20:14 Marketing Strategies and Community Engagement22:57 The Impact of Social Media and Reviews26:16 Future Plans and Expansion41:36 Building a Personal Gym and Showroom43:59 Establishing Temple of Gainz' Reputation44:57 Navigating Customer Feedback and Sales49:15 Challenges of Running a Fitness Equipment Business01:11:49 The Launch of the QuadSend Machine01:17:31 Designing the Ultimate Home Gym Machine01:22:05 Prototyping and Manufacturing Insights01:28:38 Kickstarter Launch Strategy01:35:38 Integrating New Technologies in Fitness01:50:16 Future Vision for Temple of Gainz

Danielle Kidney is the founder of The Creative Pack, a Los Angeles-based agency specializing in packaging design for CPG and DTC brands. With over two decades of experience in the industry—including work with Tesco and a diverse portfolio of well-known consumer brands—Danielle brings a wealth of expertise in every aspect of packaging, from strategy and brand storytelling to materials and production.In this episode of DTC Pod, Danielle breaks down the behind-the-scenes process of creating packaging that not only looks great but also delivers on function, compliance, and scalability. She covers everything from the earliest stages of design and competitor audits, to the nuances of materials, regulatory requirements, and print production. Danielle shares practical advice on how brands can avoid costly mistakes, streamline their supply chain, and create packaging that stands out both online and on the shelf.Episode brought to you by StordInteract with other DTC experts and access our monthly fireside chats with industry leaders on DTC Pod Slack.On this episode of DTC Pod, we cover:1. The importance of packaging in brand perception and sales2. Process: From initial idea to production-ready design3. Building a design brief and establishing project scope4. Competitive reviews and designing for hierarchy and function5. Balancing creative innovation with must-have regulatory details6. Collaborating with clients, manufacturers, and printers7. Prototyping, mockups, and unboxing experience8. Print technology, material choices, and cost management9. Regulatory review, legal claims, and compliance essentials10. Lead times, timeline planning, and pitfalls of rushing production11. Early-stage packaging vs. scaling up for retail and DTC12. Lessons learned: common mistakes and strategic tips13. Pricing, form factor, and packaging design as sales leversTimestamps00:00 Introducing Danielle Kidney & The Creative Pack05:42 The Creative Pack's client process: from idea to brief10:50 Balancing branding vs. functionality for sales and conversion18:03 Manufacturing realities: materials, dielines, and cost constraints24:39 Colors, mockups, and bringing digital designs to life26:22 Real-world costs of packaging mistakes and risk mitigation29:27 Regulatory musts: nutrition facts, barcodes, legal pitfalls35:10 Realistic timelines for packaging launches and scale40:33 Strategies for startups vs. brands scaling up43:23 Lessons learned and tips for optimizing packaging decisions50:20 Where to connect with Danielle and The Creative PackShow notes powered by CastmagicPast guests & brands on DTC Pod include Gilt, PopSugar, Glossier, MadeIN, Prose, Bala, P.volve, Ritual, Bite, Oura, Levels, General Mills, Mid Day Squares, Prose, Arrae, Olipop, Ghia, Rosaluna, Form, Uncle Studios & many more.  Additional episodes you might like:• #175 Ariel Vaisbort - How OLIPOP Runs Influencer, Community, & Affiliate Growth• #184 Jake Karls, Midday Squares - Turning Your Brand Into The Influencer With Content• #205 Kasey Stewart: Suckerz- - Powering Your Launch With 300 Million Organic Views• #219 JT Barnett: The TikTok Masterclass For Brands• #223 Lauren Kleinman: The PR & Affiliate Marketing Playbook• ​​​​#243 Kian Golzari - Source & Develop Products Like The World's Best Brands-----Have any questions about the show or topics you'd like us to explore further?Shoot us a DM; we'd love to hear from you.Want the weekly TL;DR of tips delivered to your mailbox?Check out our newsletter here.Projects the DTC Pod team is working on:DTCetc - all our favorite brands on the internetOlivea - the extra virgin olive oil & hydroxytyrosol supplementCastmagic - AI Workspace for ContentFollow us for content, clips, giveaways, & updates!DTCPod InstagramDTCPod TwitterDTCPod TikTokDanielle Kidney - Founder of The Creative PackBlaine Bolus - Co-Founder of CastmagicRamon Berrios - Co-Founder of Castmagic

Before the written word — and possibly even before speech — humans have communicated through drawing. From crude scratches in the dirt or on cave walls to the arcane symbology of the laboratory whiteboard, our instinct for conveying our thoughts visually is pretty extraordinary. We see or understand something in the world, we build an idea in our mind of what we think we see, and then using our hand and the utensil we re-create it to communicate the share our perception with others. Along the way, we add in our own understanding and experience to craft that communication in ways that might not correspond with a specific object in the world at all.How we do this — and how we can learn to be better visual communicators — is at the heart of our conversation with Judy Fan, who runs the Cognitive Tools Lab in Stanford University's Department of Psychology.We've been nominated for a 2025 Signal Award for Best Science & Education Podcast! Vote for us in the "Listener's Choice" category by October 9.Learn More:Cognitive Tools Lab, Stanford Department of PsychologyFan, J., et al. (2023) "Drawing as a versatile cognitive tool." Nature Reviews Psychology. (pdf)Hawkins, R., Sano, M., Goodman, N., and Fan, J. (2023). Visual resemblance and interaction history jointly constrain pictorial meaning. Nature Communications. [pdf]Fan, J., et al. (2020). Relating visual production and recognition of objects in human visual cortex. Journal of Neuroscience. [pdf]Fan, J., Yamins, D., and Turk-Browne, N. (2018). Common object representations for visual production and recognition. Cognitive Science. [pdf]More recent papersWe want to hear from your neurons! Email us at at neuronspodcast@stanford.eduSend us a text!Thanks for listening! If you're enjoying our show, please take a moment to give us a review on your podcast app of choice and share this episode with your friends. That's how we grow as a show and bring the stories of the frontiers of neuroscience to a wider audience. Learn more about the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute at Stanford and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Learn how to harness AI as your ultimate business accelerator and create what once seemed impossible in record time What if I told you that "super-agents" could solve your biggest business problems in 20 minutes while you sleep? Look, the AI revolution isn't coming - it's already here, and it's moving faster than most people can even comprehend. In this episode, we dive deep into the reality that everything you've ever imagined AI could do is not only possible right now, but the only limitation is your imagination and willingness to embrace these tools. We're talking about creating functional software prototypes in 20 minutes, generating professional presentations for NASA in hours instead of weeks, and literally having 10 AI "super-agents" work on your problems simultaneously. This isn't about replacing human creativity - it's about amplifying it to levels that would have been science fiction just months ago. Mike Koenigs is the Founder of The Superpower Accelerator and has transformed over 61,000 clients into "Category of One" brands that dominate their markets. This guy just got back from speaking at NASA - not about theory, but actually demonstrating solutions to their 174 biggest documented problems using AI tools most people have never heard of. He's also spoken at the United Nations, leveraging over 30 years of strategic insight to help experts become influential brand leaders. What sets Mike apart isn't just his track record of creating transformational business celebrities - it's his ability to see possibilities where others see obstacles and turn AI into a profit-multiplying superpower without diluting your essence. KEY TAKEAWAYS: AI capabilities are advancing daily - the gap between what was possible six weeks ago versus today shows exponential acceleration. "Super-agents" let you run 10 AI specialists simultaneously on the same problem instead of waiting for one solution. You can create functional software prototypes in 20 minutes without any coding experience or technical background. Master the AI mindset, not specific tools - tools change constantly but strategic thinking principles remain valuable. AI amplifies existing traits - lazy people get lazier while curious people become exponentially more effective. Future advantage belongs to those asking better questions, not those memorizing more answers. Use AI to amplify your thinking, not replace it - letting AI think for you leads to declining performance. Companies must create AI-friendly cultures now or risk losing top talent to competitors who embrace these capabilities. AI Live Event: www.AiAccelerator.com/LIVECharles AI Accelerator Book: www.AiAccelerator.com/CGAiBook Use Coupon Code “BIRD500” for $500 Off (good until Sunday at Midnight) Growing your business is hard, but it doesn't have to be. In this podcast, we will be discussing top level strategies for both growing and expanding your business beyond seven figures. The show will feature a mix of pure content and expert interviews to present key concepts and fundamental topics in a variety of different formats. We believe that this format will enable our listeners to learn the most from the show, implement more in their businesses, and get real value out of the podcast. Enjoy the show. Please remember to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast so you don't miss any future episodes. Your support and reviews are important and help us to grow and improve the show. Follow Charles Gaudet and Predictable Profits on Social Media: Facebook: facebook.com/PredictableProfits Instagram: instagram.com/predictableprofits Twitter: twitter.com/charlesgaudet LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/charlesgaudet Visit Charles Gaudet's Wesbites:  www.PredictableProfits.com www.predictableprofits.com/community  

In legacy markets, no one's asking for your product, and that's the point. In this episode of The Predictable Revenue Podcast, our host Collin talks with Vinay Jayachand, co-founder of HummingbirdEV, about building electric vehicles for commercial use in the mining and agriculture industries, where resistance to change is the norm. But this isn't about EVs. It's about what it takes to earn trust, find traction, and adapt fast in hard, skeptical markets. If you're a founder or operator chasing product-market fit in the real world, here's what to take with you. Highlights include: Prototyping and Customer Validation (11:05), Scaling and Expanding Customer Base (17:40), Realizing Product Market Fit and Future Directions (23:48), and more... Stay updated with our podcast and the latest insights on Outbound Sales and Go-to-Market Strategies!

“If you're not listening to your customers, to your students, to your users, then you run the risk of using generic best practices that work in situation X, but might totally face plant in situation Y." - Elliot FelixIs the future of higher education about piling on more programs, services, and systems, or about focusing on what truly helps students succeed? And how often do colleges and universities leap to solutions before asking what students actually need?In this episode of Transformative Leadership Conversations, I sit down with Elliot Felix, author of The Connected College, to explore what higher ed leaders - and really, leaders everywhere - can learn about breaking silos, designing better student experiences, and leading through complexity and change. Elliot brings stories from campuses across the country, along with practical tools and a fresh way of thinking about leadership.You'll hear us discuss:Why “less with more” helps institutions focus resources on what makes the biggest difference for studentsHow everyday habits of prioritization create clarity for leaders, faculty, and staffThe double diamond framework and how defining the right problem first improves student outcomesWhat design thinking looks like when universities listen to students and design around their experienceHow prototyping new programs can reduce risk and build confidence before scaling upThe danger of overwhelming faculty and staff with too much information, and how to strike a healthier balanceThe leadership myth Elliot once believed and how working with students and campuses changed his perspectiveResourcesElliot Felix on the Web | The Connected College Book | The Connected College Podcast | LinkedInWinnie da Silva on LinkedIn | On the Web | Substack | YouTube | Email - winnie@winnifred.org

OpenAI's Codex has already shipped hundreds of thousands of pull requests in its first month. But what is it really, and how will coding agents change the future of software?In this episode, General Partner Anjney Midha goes behind the scenes with one of Codex's product leads- Alexander Embiricos - to unpack its origin story, why its PR success rate is so high, the safety challenges of autonomous agents, and what this all means for developers, students, and the future of coding. Timecodes:0:00 Intro: The Vision for AI Agents1:25 Codex's Origin and Naming3:20 Early Prototypes and Agent Form Factors6:00 Cloud Agents: Safety and Security9:40 Prompt Injection and Attack Vectors12:00 PR Merging: Metrics and Transparency17:00 The Future of Code Review and Automation20:00 User Adoption: Internal vs. External Surprises22:00 Multi-Turn Interactions and Product Learnings29:30 Best-of-N, Slot Machine Analogy, and Creativity33:00 Human Taste, Iteration, and Collaboration40:00 AI's Impact on Software Engineering Careers45:00 Education, CS Degrees, and AI Integration49:00 Prototyping, Hackathons, and Speed to Magic55:00 Legacy Code, Modernization, and Global Adoption1:00:00 Enterprise, Security, and Air-Gapped Environments1:05:00 Product Roadmap and Future of Codex1:10:00 Advice for Founders and Startups1:15:00 Education Reform and Project-Based Learning1:20:00 Hiring, Building, and New Grad Advice Resources: Find Alex on X: https://x.com/embiricoFind Anjney on X: https://twitter.com/AnjneyMidha Stay Updated: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends!Find a16z on X: https://x.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zListen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYXListen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenbergPlease note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Stay Updated:Find a16z on XFind a16z on LinkedInListen to the a16z Podcast on SpotifyListen to the a16z Podcast on Apple PodcastsFollow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Find bonus content and more on our Substack: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/henry-modisett AI isn't just another layer in our digital toolkit—it's reshaping the tools themselves, and in the process, transforming how we work, think, and solve problems. Henry Modisett, VP of Design at Perplexity, is in a unique position to challenge many of the norms that have shaped tech for some time now. Perplexity just released a beautiful new browser called Comet that puts AI at the heart of the user experience. We have been thoroughly impressed with it all ready. As a designer with a computer science background, Henry takes a unique approach to his work. Rather than designing in Figma like most of us mortals, he and his team design in React, building working versions of interfaces so they can use it while they shape it. Henry shares how his team approaches the design of AI-native products, and why traditional UX patterns often fall short in this new landscape. We explore the role of curiosity in AI interaction, how transparency and trust are earned (not assumed), and why embracing ambiguity might just be the most human-centered design move of all. By the way, you may have heard that we just launched the Design Better Toolkit, a collection of resources we love and use regularly. The Toolkit gets you major discounts and free access to tools and courses that will help you unlock new skills, make your workflow more efficient, and take your creativity further. Perplexity just happens to be a part of this bundle. You'll get 6 months free of Perplexity Pro (an $180 value), as well as credits and discounts on tools like Airtable, Read AI, and other tools, and courses like Prototyping with Cursor and more. To get access you'll need to be a Design Better Premium member at the annual subscription level. Visit dbtr.co/toolkit to learn more.

When was the last time you got quiet enough to hear what your life is already telling you?What powers your best decisions—hustle or quiet? Chef-founder and former actor Vikki Krinsky shares how she turned premonition-level intuition, elite-client kitchen experience, and stubborn resilience into VK Bars, a clean B12 energy bar now landing in luxury hotels—without venture money. From a life-altering choice at 15 to follow her inner signal, to staging in Europe, to cooking for A-listers, to saying “no” to additives and “yes” to athletes, Vikki shows how to stack wins, slow down, and let feelings inform execution. Show Notes00:00 – Who is Vikki? “Fuel” as a life theme; movement, mind, and food as energy.02:00 – Immigrating S. Africa → Canada; early journaling; adversity shaping drive.04:30 – Premonitions as a kid; learning to nurture intuition.07:00 – Pivotal choice at 15: soccer scholarship dreams vs. TV pilot—listening to guidance.10:30 – Industry pressure to get “camera-ready”; shifting into nutrition & training.13:30 – Walking away from acting; backpacking to Paris; invited to stage in elite kitchens.18:00 – Self-taught path, asking for a shot in Swiss & Spanish kitchens.22:00 – Back to LA: Equinox → first celeb client; learning by doing (and owning mistakes).24:00 – Her real edge: empathy + energy with talent under body-image pressure.26:00 – Underpaid → create the VK Method → A-List Appetite food delivery.29:00 – Quiet practices: “staring at walls,” micro-pauses, best-case intention setting.37:00 – “Stack the wins” as fuel.38:00 – Cooking for Seth MacFarlane; caffeine problem → B12 exploration.40:00 – Prototyping energy bites on set; cold-calling manufacturers.41:00 – Everyone says “don't do it” → she does it anyway; 2020 launch, pause, reformulate.42:00 – Clean label differentiators (rosemary as preservative; no “natural flavors”).43:00 – Door-to-door selling; wins with Four Seasons, Bel-Air, Rosewood; bootstrapping grit.45:00 – New nudge: fueling female athletes with real ingredients. ****Release details for the NEW BOOK. Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️*Special props

This is a preview of a premium episode on Design Better. Head to our Substack to get access to the full episode: https://designbetterpodcast.com/p/elizabeth-lin Have you played around with Cursor? If not, it's time. Designers with no coding skills are passing Cursor Figma files and getting working apps out the other side. And if you have no design, you can just prompt this AI powered development environment to get a solid prototype of your idea. Elizabeth Lin, founder of Design is a Party, recognizes that Cursor is going to expand the capabilities of designers. She's built a course that introduces designers to Cursor and challenges you to build while you design. We talk with Elizabeth about how she's using AI tools like Cursor to help designers prototype faster than ever before, why she thinks now might be the perfect time to try something new in your career, and what's missing from traditional design education. Elizabeth also shares what she's learned about "vibe coding," why debugging is the hardest skill for new students to master, and how she's building a business around the idea that learning should feel more like a party than work. By the way, you may have heard that we just launched the Design Better Toolkit, a collection of resources we love and use regularly. The Toolkit gets you major discounts and free access to tools and courses that will help you unlock new skills, make your workflow more efficient, and take your creativity further. One of Elizabeth's courses, Prototyping with Cursor, just happens to be a part of this bundle. You'll get $100 off her course, as well as a $500 credit towards Airtable, discounts on Read.ai, Perplexity, Miro, and other tools, and discounts on other courses from platforms like ShiftNudge. To get access you'll need to be a Design Better Premium member at the annual subscription level. Visit dbtr.co/toolkit to learn more. Bio Elizabeth is a design educator with 10 years of experience whose love for design began in the early internet days of Neopets, creating playful graphics and websites with tools like MS Paint. She went on to study computer science at UC Berkeley, where she discovered a community of design enthusiasts and began teaching her first course on Illustrator and Photoshop as a sophomore. That experience sparked a lasting passion for teaching, which she continued to pursue through workshops and courses during her time at Berkeley. After graduating, Elizabeth worked as a product designer at education-focused companies like Khan Academy and Primer, designing tools for teachers and students while expanding her perspective on learning. In 2023, she founded Design is a Party, an alternative design school that reflects her playful yet rigorous approach to teaching. Since then, she has launched a two-course series on visual design, developed portfolio-building resources, and led workshops to help the next generation of designers grow their craft.

Join Jason with special guest co-host publisher of RV Today Magazine, Damien Ross. In this episode, we discuss the devastating floods in Texas and their impact on the RV community, Damien's recent move to Elkhart, Indiana, and updates about RV Today Magazine. We also have some fun with a game of 'Two Truths and a Lie' RV edition, and delve into the complexities of RV manufacturing, including RVs designed by social media influencers. *Become an RV Miles Mile Marker member and get your first month for $3 *Get your FREE weekly Road Signs Newsletter at https://rvmiles.com/mailinglist/ *Get all the details about Homecoming 2025 here: https://rvmiles.com/homecoming/ Support our Sponsors: *https://liquifiedrv.com * Harvest Hosts: Save 15% on a Harvest Hosts membership with MILES at https://harvesthosts.com *Check out all Blue Ox has to offer at https://BlueOx.com *Find all the RV parts and gear you need at etrailer: https://www.etrailer.com/vehicle-finder.aspx?etam=p0001 *Use code RVMILES15 to get 15% off Travelfi here: https://travlfi.com/?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=Ad+Read&utm_campaign=RV+Miles+YouTube+Ad+Read 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 02:27 Texas Floods and RV Community Impact 05:43 Damien's Move to Elkhart and RV Today Magazine Updates 11:32 Challenges and Insights in RV Manufacturing 20:54 RV Today Magazine's Success and Future Plans 29:16 Innovations and Trends in the RV Industry 33:55 Prototyping and Design Challenges 35:48 Consumer Knowledge and Trends 47:06 Two Truths and a Lie: RV Edition 59:16 Closing Remarks and Announcements Track SSTK_MUSIC_ID  437726– Monetization ID MONETIZATION_ID AMXDXB4BX5FLHUYE.