Async

[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...

[Joshua] Quake bullet time

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Back from the holiday break! Following up on the previous episode where Saadia dived into his geeky background. Then a few new topics on trying out gr...

[Saadia] Lab Rat

08 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Learning to embrace my cringy teenage self.Saadia's new blog: http://diggingforfire.blogAn async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pret...

[Joshua] Motivating to action

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joshua is finally back! After a vacation and disappearing act we're back with a new episode. Following up on Women's sports in America, tes...

[Saadia] Prolific

24 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is it better to have multiple small apps, or one big one?Sindre Sorhus: https://sindresorhus.comAn async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A P...

[Joshua] Challenge modified

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joshua follows up on a bunch of items from Saadia then dives into feedback loops and how they're critical for him as a creative. An async podcas...

[Saadia] Writing challenge

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Finding space for output.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.

[Joshua] What's in my pocket

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joshua follows up on several items from Saadia, including travel without a Mac, and Deep Work.He then forgot entirely to followup on one of the items ...

[Saadia] Macless

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Thinking more about our relationship with technology.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.

[Joshua] Pausing infinity wells

13 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joshua follows up on Saadia's questions about Apple Watch Double Tap, Overcast vs Apple Podcasts, wallets, and what he uses to travel. Joshua th...

[Saadia] Travelling light

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Loving the iPhone + AirPods Pro + Apple Watch trifecta.An async podcast by Saadia Carbis and Joshua Wold. A Pretty Good podcast.

[Joshua] The easiest thing to write

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Joshua follows up on the previous episode, shares his struggles with Overcast vs Apple Podcasts and shares an idea that inspired him to write. An asy...