Async
Episodes
[Joshua] What do you want?
20 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Geeking out about writing, X4 as a device, and product design in 2026.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold.A Pretty Good podcast.
[Saadia] Two Steps Forward
20 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Discussing responses to Cal Newport, the Xteink X4 ereader, and taking time to just be.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold.A Pretty Good...
[Joshua] Reversion to the Mean
19 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
I followup on Saadia's last post with thoughts of my own on dumb phones, infinity wells, and I've gone back and forth on the whole concept. ...
[Saadia] Dumbphones and writerDecks
19 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Revisiting simplifying my digital life.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold.A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] Tired brains
07 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A little bit more about gen ai and using it as a designer, followed by an update on the X4, software brain, and Age of Empires on the Mac. An async p...
[Saadia] It doesn't feel like you
30 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
More discussion about whether a client should be able to ask their designer not to use AI tools in their design process.An async podcast by Saadia Car...
[Joshua] Software Brain
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Async is a podcast where Joshua (a product designer) and Saadia (a software engineer) debate and often argue (as friends!) the merits and challenges o...
[Saadia] Disclosure
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Would GenAI disclosure would be helpful or is it a waste of time?An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold.A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] X4
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Hi Saadia! In this episode I talk about AI, and lend a different perspective to your idea of authorship. Then I talk about some AI classes I've ...
[Saadia] Soul
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We're back! Well, I am, at least.Welcome to Season 2 of Async where we'll probably just keep talking about AI.An async podcast by Saadia Car...
[Joshua] Launching Lochy
05 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Joshua and a friend launched Lochy.org last night, and now Joshua's trying to figure out what happens next. An async podcast by Saadia Carbis an...
[Saadia] For love, growth, or money
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
So much to respond to! I talk mostly about motivation – why commit? And what does "best practice" mean in the age of AI?An async podcast b...
[Joshua] Dragonsteel
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joshua went to Dragonsteel, and he's having thoughts about how careers should be shaped based on passion versus marketplace acceptance. An async...
[Saadia] Quiet Design
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Shh.In this episode I talk about my experience writing an app from scratch in SwiftUI, and compare that to vibe coding it. I also discuss a lack of te...
[Joshua] Democratization of product
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joshua has followup on a bunch of topics, including Figma make, app development, and his own experience with race and privilege. He then follows up on...
[Saadia] Privilege
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
One-push-wonders and white-privilege.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] Writing what I'd read
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Followup on Saadia’s AI teaching adventure, along with some of Joshua’s own musings on classroom time. For topics, Joshua shares about a new pers...
[Saadia] AI in the Classroom
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I'm back! I spent the last four weeks on a school placement. Here's what I learned about using AI in the classroom.An async podcast by Saadi...
[Joshua] Actually shipping
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I'm back!After some time away (it's been crazy), I've got a lot to followup on, and some things to share about the work I've been ...
[Saadia] Cognitive Load Theory
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can AI reduce mental overhead and help us to concentrate on what matters most?An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good pod...
[Joshua] Detente and growing the newsletter
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wrapping up a mini-series where Saadia and Joshua have been discussing whether it's irresponsible to vibe code apps into production. The next to...
[Saadia] What I create, I understand.
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Gatekeeping‽Richard Feynman: “What I cannot create, I do not understand.”An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcas...
[Joshua] Gatekeeping and travel
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joshua follows up on whether it's irresponsible to ship without fulling understanding them, while taking potshots at WordPress. Then he shares ab...
[Saadia] Irresponsible
13 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It doesn’t matter if it works, you should understand how it works.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] Vibe coding designers and AirPods Pro 3
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joshua follows up on two person product teams, designers vibe coding into prod, and his excitement about the latest Apple announcements.An async podca...
[Saadia] Two Person Product Team
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Product Designer: Uses vibe coding as an immediate feedback design tool.Product Developer. Uses AI assisted tooling to implement the designs, and prod...
[Joshua] The end of product managers
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joshua weighs in on where product managers, product designers, frontend developers, and fullstack developers fit, and how a convergence of all these i...
[Saadia] A New Approach to Software Development
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hypothesis 1: Vibe code tools will always produce better results in the hands of skilled operators.Hypothesis 2: Vibe code tools are more impactful on...
[Joshua] Shifting gears
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joshua's been missing for a few weeks. Well a ton has changed. He's got a new job (sort of), and it's all related to AI (for better or ...
[Saadia] A bad feeling
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling overwhelmed by the AI hype cycle, politics, and tests!An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] Claude vs Replit for a vibe coding designer
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Followup from the last episodeDoes Joshua have a bunch of nebulous ideas he struggles to write? [Oh boy yes]Does Joshua feel there's too many inp...
[Saadia] Sometimes Synchronous
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Responsible use of AI, and launching a new product.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] A crazy vibe coding week
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joshua made an app, a crazy fun week, and some Freeform complaints on the iPad.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcas...
[Saadia] Know your tools
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Be true.Dungeons & Dragons: https://diggingforfire.blog/posts/dungeons-and-teenagers/James Jameson Used One Finger: https://youtube.com/watch?v=p...
[Joshua] Ghosted fireballs
17 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's been a massive week for Saadia and Joshua.Saadia got fireballed, Joshua got ghosted. This episode (and the previous) are why async exists. F...
[Saadia] Cowboy Coding
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Choosing an audience, not a topic. Finding your crew. Platform native design.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] Custom illustrations and default designs
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Suggesting to Ben Thompson a way he can tweak his illustration, suggestions to Marco Arment on Overcast, and congratulating Saadia on a fantastic epis...
[Saadia] Googly
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 100! Launch, design, and an AI game concept.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] Finding a niche
03 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I'm getting closer to landing a niche for my writing. Now I just need to get over the last hurdle.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wo...
[Saadia] Ambient AI
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I'm starting to get excited about the LLM-powered tiny quality-of-life features that will soon start appearing in our interfaces.An async podcast...
[Joshua] Writing into the dark again
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Joshua gets inspired on a new breakthrough, has some sadness with the NBA, along with followup on genealogies and Saadia's apps.An async podcast ...
[Saadia] Genealogy
22 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lots of follow up topics! And a peak at my latest hobby.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] A Playdate hobby
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
https://joshuawold.com/finding-a-hobby/Followup on starting a subscription blog, a weird bug in iOS, finding a hobby, and Playdate.An async podcast by...
[Saadia] Talk to think
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tonic is out! https://diggingforfire.blog/posts/tonic/External vs Internal processing, plus more about just knuckling down and doing the hard work.An ...
[Joshua] Inflate the Patreon balloon
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On deciding, dithering, using personal projects to fuel creativity, and thinking through ideas. An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A ...
[Saadia] Knuckle down
15 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On Patreon, growing an audience, Tonic, compasses, and open-source.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] Focus on monetization
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Finding a path toward monetization. An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Saadia] Project Success
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you free time for directed inspiration?An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] Diamorphic design
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Async! In this episode Joshua follows up on ways to monetize an audience, diamorphic design, and writing fiction. New topics include thoug...
[Saadia] Time to think
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On writing, design, and writing.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] Finding Your Writing Muse and Embracing Diamorphic Design
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
FollowupAI rubber duckingLine editing with ChatGPTTopicsThe art of discouragement - finding my writing museWriting to one person firstFinding 100 subs...
[Saadia] AI Ascetic
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Will AI polarise cognition?An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] Trusting the process
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I followup on Saadia's Japan trip, having kids come of age, forced holidays, being overcommitted to work, and using AI to augment...
[Saadia] Amputation
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Discussing Marshall McLuhan's idea that "every augmentation is also an amputation", in the context of LLMs.An async podcast by Saadia C...
[Joshua] Travel and Sugar and Wrestling with UX and AI
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
FollowupDesigning apps for design awards instead of moneyFinding a writing angle with technology and education Travel and stressMental health checkin...
[Saadia] Winging it
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lofty goals, travel tactics, mental health workouts, and more angles.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] Finding an angle
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Followup topics:Road trips in Australia vs. AmericaWhy Joshua wants the Boox palma Apps - Do they need to make money?Playing games slowlyNew topics:W...
[Saadia] Writing for me
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On camping, ebooks, apps that don't make money, and blog that don't have readerships.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pr...
[Joshua] Switch 2, Boox Palma, and loving hard problems
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
FollowupPassover and away from screen timeiPhone rumors and surprisesTopicsLightning woesStarting an app ideaSwitch 2, Boox Palma, and anti-glareLovin...
[Saadia] BBC Shipping Forecast
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From exercise, to sleep, to iOS 19 rumours!The BBC Shipping Forecast can be heard at https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qfvv/episodes/playerAn asyn...
[Joshua] New workout methods
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
FollowupAnxiety in AIScreenshots: https://joshuawold.com/screenshots/ and https://joshuawold.com/thinking-with-screenshots/Apple Magic Mouse ftwHard c...
[Saadia] AI anxiety
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Climate anxiety for the under-30s. AI anxiety for 30—50s. Total-collapse-of-the-financial-system-as-we-know-it anxiety for the over-50s?An async pod...
[Joshua] Maybe
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
FollowupAI and layoffsUsing ChatGPT to write vs helpHaving non-tech enabled conversations with peopleApple Maps vs Google MapsFix it or leave itSaying...
[Saadia] No?
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A few reflections on AI, catching up with friends, and saying no.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] Emailing versus texting
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Followup:AI hype and being replaced by ChatGPTSimple vs complex appsPodcasting and talking to friendsTopicsEmailing versus textingApple Maps complaint...
[Saadia] Pretty Good
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Blogging, creativity, and AI. Perfect is nice, but pretty good will do.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] Finding your secret sauce for creativity
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
FollowupFinding the secret sauce for great creativityDon't have customer feedback loops before shipping version one. Simple products versus comp...
[Saadia] Artificial Everything
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Frustration at the current over-the-top obsession with AI. Also, Loofah's.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcas...
[Joshua] Writing on convictions
14 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Async. In this episode Joshua follows up on:Random versus planned introsThe Johnny Decimal systemRed marker methodDesigning apps process W...
[Saadia] Writing vs Publishing
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Another Johnny Decimal update. MVP, STE, or just DIY? Questions on writing.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] Design systems and Webflow
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Joshua follows up on:Reading later vs reading neverRedlines as a design process Surviving being sooo busyTopicsDesign systemsAuphonic...
[Saadia] It's a chapter
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A Johnny decimal checkin, discussion on the Red Line System (Method? Workflow?). and a desperate plea for help.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and J...
[Joshua] My redline design process never fails
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
FollowupD&D and fiction for self-growthScheduling calls for a podcastFreeform and Remarkable ProThe Johnny Decimal and Jeff Paul system of organiz...
[Saadia] D&D & Identity
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How Dungeons & Dragons enables us to play with who we are and who we want to be. Freeform, ReMarkable, and Johnny Decimal.https://johnnydecimal.co...
[Joshua] Freeform woes and pirate networks
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
FollowupSocial media outposts Side projectsD&DTopicsOffice hours podcastGroup chat networksFreeform woesAn async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Jos...
[Saadia] Side Projects and Social Media
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
An approach to making time for side projects. Maybe we should be on X after all.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podca...
[Joshua] Showing up and pushing through
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Followup on items from the previous episode:Protecting your job from AIPushing the Fractional podcast forwardFinding your podcast audienceFinding your...
[Saadia] Manifesto
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Finding your audience, your voice, and your winter jacket.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] The perfect product team
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Followup on a bunch of great topics:AI model collapseThe perfect product teamPitts in your stomachWriting for impactTopics:Social media and short form...
[Saadia] Indie Founder Zen Venn
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Should we get rid of our Product Managers, or truly enable them by giving them even more trust and ownership? And more reflections on "I want to ...
[Joshua] Star Trek Wars, Dealing with Anxiety, Writing for Readers
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Followup on:Trying out LLMs and getting mixed results for images. Beats, bears, Battlestar GalacticaIC vs ManagersDealing with anxiety and aholesTopi...
[Saadia] IC vs Management
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What makes a great product manager?An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] Day job, freelance, side project. Pick 2.
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
FollowupAI is everywhere - but not evenly distributed. I'm trying a challenge.Career transitions - They're hard, but I have some ideas. Tur...
[Saadia] Turning down work
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you balance income verse stress?An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] We're in the endgame now
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Followup from the previous episode:AI design and dev tools - AI image generation is actually valuable. AI pessimism and DeepSeek - Censorship is over...
[Saadia] A dose of AI pessimism
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I'm not all that excited about the future of AI tooling, and less excited about DeepSeek. I've been sick too, but now I'm feeling Prett...
[Joshua] DeepSeek is the new Apple Silicon
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Joshua followed up on the goals topic and AI design tools from the previous episode. New topics:R1 from DeepSeek is like M1 from Ap...
[Saadia] Compass Goals
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What even is a goal, anyway?https://diggingforfire.blog/posts/compasses-over-maps/An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good pod...
[Joshua] Chasing after goals
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Followup from previous episode:Leaning into my personality so that AI can't take meGoal setting and why I reject goalsTopicsRunning on a bum knee...
[Saadia] Uncharted Territory
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We still haven't found the killer app for AI.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] Focus on your strengths
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A blast of an episode. Followup items:Trusting your experienceDon't be scared of GitWriting a book one blog post at a timeFTP and virusesVR gami...
[Saadia] Digital Frugalism
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
There's usually a way to make it free.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.
[Joshua] Writing into the dark
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I talked about:1. Writing a book - My process for writing into the dark, and how I've found ways to do and ignore my inner critic...
[Saadia] Internal critic
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
So many topics this episode! Mostly, though, it's about blogging and the open web.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Goo...
[Joshua] A magical app for blogging and podcasting
15 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Followup on previous episode:Comments on a blogAudio on a blogSocial media NewslettersWriting booksReeder appTopicsA magical app for blogging and pod...
[Saadia] Book it
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Writing a book as a career move.By the way, 42 is my lucky number. Happy forty-second episode.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pre...
[Joshua] RSS for everybody
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hey everyone! Joshua here, and I'm trying out a new format. In this episode I followed up on a few previous things, such as traveling back in tim...
[Saadia] Codify
12 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Is trying to promote RSS on the modern web kind of like King Arthur in a Connecticut Yankee's Court?An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua ...
[Joshua] Unique design processes
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Joshua follow's up on Saadia's question about prepping, and what that looks like in his own life. Joshua then shares about ...
[Saadia] Prepared
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How could a tech worker be a useful contributor in an apocalypse?I remember now! The thing Joshua mentioned in the previous episode that reminded me o...