Aboard Podcast, by Paul Ford (Ftrain)

Totally Prepared for 2026

What will the AI story be in 2026: Society-wide transformation or incremental change? On the first podcast of the new year, Paul and Rich (gently) argue over what they expect to see in the AI space over the coming months. These tools might allow people to build software far faster than before, but how much will that disrupt the industry itself? Plus—perfect for a podcast full of tech predictions—they discuss why humans are terrible at predicting the future of tech.

(AI) Bubble Trouble

The AI industry teeters on the edge of the bubble, but AI tools are better than ever. What does this mean for the future of the technology? On this week’s podcast, Paul and Rich talk through Paul’s recent experiments with—you guessed it!—synths to illustrate just how good AI-assisted coding tools have gotten, especially for those with programming expertise. But we’re a long way from the average consumer being able to get what they want with the push of a button. What do these two divergent paths suggest about the trajectory of the AI industry?

NYC Sends AI Packing

All over the New York City subway, ads for the AI wearable “Friend” are being defaced. It seems clear that New Yorkers don’t want what Silicon Valley is selling—but will the general consumer bite? On this week’s Aboard Podcast, Paul and Rich assess the tensions between big tech and the public, in New York and beyond. After decades of having our data be packaged and sold, will anyone want to wear a necklace that listens to them 24/7? Plus: Paul describes what his skincare routine would be like if he were a billionaire.

Of Course There’s an AI Bubble

Traffic to vibe-coding tools is plummeting. Financial analysts are invoking 1929. Is the big AI crash inevitable? On the latest Aboard Podcast, Paul and Rich assess our current moment in AI and its (over)valuation in the global economy. Will the bubble pop—and if it does, how big will that pop be? And as they evaluate the problems with our lopsided AI landscape, they speculate about what AI as a technology—rather than an investment vehicle—could look like in the future.

Reintroducing Aboard

Paul and Rich are always talking about building software with AI—but how is Aboard actually building software with AI? This week’s podcast is a peek behind the curtain, walking through how Aboard gets you from a short prompt to real, working software in minutes. From the specific (the “Harvest Manager” app Paul creates for his pumpkin patch) to the broad (what this technology means for the software agency model, and the industry at large).

The View from the Lebanese Tech Scene

How do you build for the future amid ongoing instability? This week, Paul and Rich turn to Lebanon—literally, since that’s where Rich, who was born in the country and still has family there, is calling in from. After they discuss some Lebanese basics (Cedars! Small plates!) they turn to the Lebanese tech scene, discussing everything from investments in the Beirut Digital District to Aboard’s partner agency in Lebanon, Speedlane.

Help Wanted: AI-First Companies Need Humans After All

Last year, the fintech company Klarna announced they were going AI-first—but now, they’re hiring humans again. Is this a sign that the AI pendulum is swinging back in tech? On this week’s podcast, Paul and Rich look back at Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski’s initial pivot, why that strategy probably didn’t get the job done, and what this move signals for the industry on a whole.

AI Summer School #2: Call My Agents

“Agents” are a big marketing term for AI companies right now—but how do they actually work? In the second installment of AI Summer School, Paul and Rich are joined by Aboard Director of Engineering Kevin Barrett, who breaks down what “agent” actually means, and how they function within the platform. Plus: In the process of demoing Aboard’s agent capabilities, Paul becomes transfixed by the breeding records of a fictional alpaca farm.

AI is Part of Your Job Now

Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke recently told his employees that AI use is now mandatory—and on this week’s Reqless, Paul and Rich talk about why they think this is a good directive for every worker. After they discuss the substance of Lütke’s “leaked” memo and contextualize it within the broader industry trends, they count down five concrete tips for anyone who wants to incorporate AI into their work and isn’t sure where to start.

Kurt Schrader: Shipping AI at Shortcut

As AI transforms the way engineers build software, how is it changing the software that’s built for engineers? On this week’s Reqless, Paul and Rich welcome Kurt Schrader, the CEO and co-founder of the engineering-management platform Shortcut. Topics discussed include what it’s like to integrate AI into engineering-team workflows, why he thinks AI will actually force the engineering skill bar higher in the future, and building Korey, Shortcut’s forthcoming AI tool.

We Need More Software

Does the world actually need more software? In the first Reqless of 2025, Paul and Rich skip the “AI predictions for the coming year” and instead look at the tech landscape for smaller organizations. Do they really have the tools they need to get their work done? Featuring extensive corporate roleplay—including Paul’s very believable turn as a big-firm consultant—and a meditation on New York City’s venerable commercial waste-removal industry.

AI and the Legal Industry

On this week’s podcast, Paul and Rich look at how AI is going to transform a very special industry filled with the nicest people: The law. After laying out the specific areas of the legal profession that are ripe for AI transformation, they assess a few current startups and their application frameworks (e.g., document review, research, contracts), and propose a new segment for each industry-specific podcast: “Will AI take your job?”

Rhetoric, Cringe, and Stock Disasters

On this week’s podcast, Paul and Rich offer up some quick hits—and sample, in Rich’s words, “a buffet of technology news.” First, rhetoric: Specifically, the rhetorical pretzels of Nick Clegg, President for Global Affairs at Meta Platforms, who Paul and Rich saw speak at the EmTech Digital Conference. Next, cringe: Canva’s corporate rap that went viral recently, drawing (uncomplimentary) comparisons to HBO’s Silicon Valley or Succession’s “L to the OG.” And finally, stock disasters: On Salesforce’s steep downturn after posting weak profits, and whether that says anything about the market’s broader opinions on AI.

Growing 10x Is the Wrong Idea

How do you bring in ten times as many new users every day? That’s not the question you should actually be asking. Paul and Rich discuss the tech world’s faulty success metrics, the perpetual struggle of onboarding, and the importance of humility when listening to and communicating with your users.

Career Advice for a UX Researcher

On this week’s Reqless, Paul and Rich receive a letter from a different Rich—a UX researcher interested in helping NGOs make the most of new AI tech. What should a UX researcher learn right now so they’re ready for what’s next? They discuss the things AI is particularly good at right now (translating artifacts!), and give concrete suggestions for things a UX researcher—or any technologist—can do to understand the breadth and scope of these tools.

Robots Take Over, Get Regulated

The Biden administration recently put out their first-ever National Security Memorandum on Artificial Intelligence, so on this week’s Reqless, Paul and Rich unpack the memo and discuss what it might mean for the U.S. government’s future attitudes towards AI. Plus: They talk about recent developments with Anthropic’s Claude that allow you to control all the computers in the world.

Why Facebook Gives AI Away

Are Meta’s ideas about AI the future of the technology? In the wake of the recent tech stock slump and with questions about newer AI companies’ true value, Paul and Rich look at Meta’s Llama and how the company is positioning its model in the broader AI landscape. Plus: They assess the recent decision in United States v. Google LLC—aka the Google antitrust case—and see if there are any real takeaways to be gleaned before what promises to be a lengthy appeals process.

Demolishing the Global Town Square

As the last decade’s big social media platforms crumble, Paul and Rich reflect on the (false) promise of the “global town square,” and the suggestion that putting millions of people in a giant room together could be productive in any way. If the era of building software to facilitate networked connections is truly on the way out, does AI promise a return to an earlier, utility-based era of technology?

Selling Software Like Tote Bags

What makes a person pay $120 for a tote bag—or fall in love with your software? Paul and Rich use a recent article about a TikTok influencer’s pricey (and popular!) tote bag to discuss our relationships with the things we buy, from unboxing videos (“commerce translated into emotional satisfaction”) to technologists’ largely incorrect assumption that adding one more feature will fundamentally change the way users feel about their product.

Podcast Coming Soon

Just a quick update today, because....WE'RE LAUNCHING A SHINY NEW VERSION OF ABOARD!!! Paul and Rich will be back on Thursday with a full episode (which, as you can imagine, will be about the shiny new version of Aboard). In the meantime, check out all our changes—open up the app or visit Aboard.com!

Stop Wrestling With Giants

This past week, the big news in the design software world was Canva’s acquisition of Affinity, and Paul and Rich kick off the episode by asking, “Is this a failure on Adobe’s part?” But of course Adobe remains a massively profitable company—so what drives the impulse to frame a giant tech company’s misses as overarching “failures”? As they mull over various motivations, they discuss how to reframe success on your own terms, outside the simple metrics of competition or industry trends.

Exciting Product, Boring Business

How do you build a company that has an exciting product—but has nice, boring, stable qualities, too? Paul and Rich tackle this question from a variety of angles, from tax strategy to the value of marketing to treating the user like a spouse who might cheat on you if you stop putting any effort into the marriage. (And yes, don’t worry: There is also a fair bit of synth talk. And synth noises!)

Intelligence, Artificial and Otherwise

Rich and Paul ring in 2024 assessing the biggest technological development of last year, this year, and possibly many future years to come: Generative AI. Why did AI truly find a mainstream foothold in 2023—and how is the space going to evolve in the coming months? Plus: They engage in some (corporate) roleplay, and get really into character.

2026-07-18. Everyone's An Expert

Vaccines, submarines ... everyone seems to be an expert. In this episode Rich and Paul discuss how everyone seems to become an expert on various subjects in today's world. They discuss how the truth ultimately surfaces, but humanity often lags behind. Reflecting on the impact of social media and the democratization of knowledge, they examine the challenges we face in staying informed and the consequences of misinformation. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-06-22. Vaccines vs. Boredom

Free speech is very important. The drawback? Those who are best at manipulation end up winning in the battle of ideas. This is what happened during the pandemic, where the misinformation about vaccines turned lethal. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

The Web Is a Sticky Pickle

Paul and Rich explore the web as a platform for everyone's data, leading to a shocking number of digressions into the class structure inherent in Android and iOS, how Google manages data, and old naked nudes. As noted at the beginning of the video, this one doesn't feature their little heads. They're going back to basics. This one does include so, so much AI and stock imagery though. It's hallucinatory. Enjoy!

AI Summer School #1: How LLMs (Don’t) Think

Feel a little lost when it comes to AI? It’s time to go back to school—Aboard’s AI Summer School! Over the month of August, Paul, Rich, and a few special guests will break down the basics of LLMs, agents, AGI, and a host of other AI-related topics. In the first installment, they discuss how LLMs think—or rather, don’t think—and compare the major players on the AI scene right now.

Waiting for the DOGE Barbarians

Government by Grok? On this week’s Reqless, Paul opens with a poetry reading (stay with us) and then he and Rich discuss the poem’s relationship to Elon Musk’s DOGE effort, currently ransacking the U.S. Treasury. The DOGE strategy seems to be “destroy without oversight, replace with AI,” which leads to two questions: Could this work? (No.) And if you are going to take a sledgehammer to bureaucracy, is there an ethical way to swing the hammer? (Eh…)

What’s the Opposite of AI Slop?

In the wake of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, Paul and Rich look towards the future with an AI lens—especially with the incoming Trump administration unlikely to put any regulatory guardrails on this rapidly evolving technology. What can AI do for people in our deeply fractured state? Are we doomed to poison the information environment forever, or could we use it to start building things that help people make sense of the world?

How Not to Get Sued

Paul and Rich take on an evergreen: How not to get sued! NOT LEGAL ADVICE. But what are the obvious steps that you can take when you start a business in order to avoid getting sued? Includes a massive bait-and-switch, plus some really fun insurance thoughts. NOT LEGAL ADVICE.

2023-09-26. Turnarounds

Join our latest episode where Rich and Paul uncover the secrets of remarkable company turnarounds! Discover how visionary leadership and unwavering brand commitment transformed struggling businesses into industry titans. Speaking of pivots... check out our sponsor for this podcast - <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-09-21. Onboarding

In this episode Rich and Paul delve into the importance of onboarding to learn the skills of the app, and turn the users to regular users. This podcast episode is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

Can AI Save NGOs Tons of Money?

Non-profits often have tight budgets and specialized needs—and wind up having to pay a whole lot of money for consultants and imperfect, out-of-the-box software solutions. As generative AI promises to drastically reduce the cost of development, how will that affect the non-profit and NGO landscape? On this week’s Reqless, Paul and Rich assess this question, and offer up both immediate and longer-term advice for organizations struggling with software right now.

Exploring Anti-AI Thinking

Reqless tends to take a measured yet optimistic stance on AI, but a lot of people out there hate it—for reasons including the environmental impact, the dubious origins of LLM training data, and, of course, the looming threat of AGI, A.K.A. our future robot overlords. On this week’s episode, Paul and Rich discuss some of those critiques, as well as zoom out to look at the longer arc of the technology industry and its impact on the world, asking the question, “In five years, is the world in a better or a worse place because of AI?”

Planning Through the Vibe Shift

Can we all agree that the vibes are off? On this week’s podcast, Paul and Rich dig into our broader societal malaise (the effects of the pandemic; our phones as an endless portal to misery) and discuss how business leaders can combat these feelings. Plus: Some early analysis of the DOJ’s antitrust case against Apple, and a story about a Formula 1 team using a single Excel spreadsheet for…everything.

2023-09-12. Antitrust

In this episode Rich and Paul explore how dominant platforms maintain their edge. Uncovering the ecosystem strategies and the ongoing battles to stay competitive in a fast-paced world. This podcast episode is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-09-19. Websites

In this episode Rich and Paul solve it - they solved websites! They discuss whether or not your business needs a website, and offer advice on what platforms to use. This podcast episode is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-08-31. Postlaunch

Once you launch you lose control. So, you spent your days trying to get everything right, and then when you launch you figure out that no one cares - which is why launch is very anticlimactic. Our advice? Lean into the ambiguity, lean into growth, listen to the feedback and be flexible-- only then would you figure out what business you're truly in. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-08-29. A Very Soft Launch

Rich and Paul have launched their product! - quietly though... In this episode Rich and Paul discuss, the meaning of launch and the fact that it's just the beginning-- that there is no finality to it. Check out the launch of <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-02-14. Paul is Changing

For the most part Paul had to live with the stereotypes and negative perceptions of society towards obesity. This episode focuses on being more mindful of other people, and to have better relationships. Now paul is changing - after starting to take shots for diabetes, Paul noticed that his brain's wiring changed. Which took a while to acclimate and reset into.

2022-11-30. QE2CEO

Paul has a big idea: There's a strong case to be made that Queen Elizabeth II was the best CEO of the last century. So he makes it to Rich, outlining what makes a great CEO in the process. Rich buys in to the theory, then changes the conversation to chocolate.

2023-08-10. Cardsorters

The simplest form of communication is sending links. Rich and Paul delve into the two kinds of people: Link Droppers and Card-Sorters, and the dynamic between the two. That's why they created a simple tool called Aboard that allows the co-existence of both - it is more organized for the Card-Sorters and it is easier for the Link Droppers. So whichever one you are, check out Aboard - it's for you. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

Prompts, Promptly

On this week’s Reqless, Paul and Rich consider the prompt: What it represents within generative AI tools, how they think about it as users, and what it means for Aboard as a product. Is the prompt the end state of engaging with AI, or will the way we interact with these tools continue to evolve?

Asking a Squirrel to Explain Politics

By emphasizing the chatbot use case, are we missing the real communication powers of generative AI? On this week’s Reqless, Paul describes his recent journey to understand the 900-page, far-right master plan that is Project 2025—which he fed into ChatGPT and then asked for its contents to be summarized by “a really cheerful, optimistic squirrel.” With the power to instantly change voice and tone—for humor, to accommodate different reading levels, to speak with different dialects, etc.—is AI’s future role a sort of universal information translator?

Will AI Change Spreadsheets?

On this week’s Reqless, Paul and Rich look at how AI might affect the dominant way people organize data today: The spreadsheet. With its low barrier to entry and ability for users of all sorts to hack together solutions, does the humble spreadsheet leave any room for an AI transformation—and does it even need one? Plus: Fresh off a trip to San Francisco, Paul reports back on our driverless car future.

2023-08-01. World News Tonight

In this episode, Rich and Paul discuss global warming and the chaos that it would cause. As the world grapples with the impacts of climate change, building resilience becomes essential to cope with the challenges ahead. We created a <a href="https://app.aboard.com/boards/1nNhHfRaKpZzufJzYCemyn?view=ungrouped&cs=m" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">board</a> that aims to bring order to this chaos, fostering collaboration and solutions for a sustainable future. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

Bringing More Chaos to the Enterprise

What does “risk-taking” really mean in business—and how can embracing some level of chaos help foster success? Paul and Rich make the case for unpredictability, talking about everything from New York City’s Diamond District to the relatively short runway when running an agency to Rich’s management style. (Hint: It involves repeatedly hitting a metaphorical gong.)

2022-12-15. AI Anxiety

Rich has been a Customer Success Manager Level IV for Salesforce for 13 years—and he's panicking. He heard a cable bill got renegotiated by a robot and now he's convinced the robots are coming for his job. Paul unpacks that with him and helps him see that there could be new ways of working and doing things for him and his team, and then Paul and Rich demonstrate the absolute state of the art in AI technology.

2023-06-26. Zuckermuskagon

Rich and Paul discuss the Musks and the Zucherburgs of the world. People have shifted their focus from the thing to themselves. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-07-06. YouTube Goes Dogme 95

In this episode, Rich and Paul discuss how working in the media shapes our perspective on human nature. They delve into artists' take on media and compare true artists who express themselves authentically, regardless of audience preferences, to those who create content solely to cater to the constraints of the platform or audience. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

Why the Software Industry Hates Your SMB

Big tech doesn’t care about medium-sized businesses—but is AI really the solution? On this week’s podcast, Paul is fresh off the plane from Phoenix, Arizona, where he was speaking to business owners at the Inc. 5000 Conference. As he gives Rich a full report, they discuss the specific needs of the “SMB”—small-to-medium-sized business—and how little interest the software industry has in the very large middle of the business spectrum. Can AI help these orgs get the software they actually need?

Welcome to Slopworld

AI videos from tools like OpenAI’s Sora and Meta’s Vibes are flooding our feeds. Is this the future? On the Aboard Podcast, Paul and Rich tackle a trio of AI topics. First: They look at a report from the Yale Budget Lab on which industries are adopting AI the fastest. (Spoiler: Only one is fully embracing it. Take a guess!) Then, they talk about spammy AI-generated bug reports submitted to the developer of cURL—and what happened when someone found real bugs with AI. And finally: Welcome to Slopworld! You can generate whatever video you want with a single sentence. Isn’t that kind of…boring?

2022-12-06. Heading for the Exits

Twitter seems to be cooked (or is it). Where do we go now? We talk to Jason Goldman, former VP of Product at Twitter, and to each other, of course, and Paul admits that he really likes Mastodon.

2023-06-20. The Beast of Our Problems

Rich and Paul dive into Mr. Beast's YouTube philosophy, that focuses more on growth rather than content. And the importance of one translating their funds into acts of kindness. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

Why We Made Aboard Human-First

AI is a great first step, but to really build software, you need humans to get the job done. On last week’s podcast, Paul and Rich talked about how Aboard works by focusing on those AI first steps; this week, they dig into the human work that gets Aboard projects over the line, from classic agency-style client management to the brand-new role of “Solution Engineer.”

Things Keep Getting Faster

AI is on the verge of utterly transforming the software industry, but how quickly will that change come? While Paul has been betting on a shorter timeline, Rich had thought the pace of institutional change would slow things down significantly. But on this week’s Reqless, Rich explains why his thinking has shifted—and how he’s coming around to Paul’s speedier timeline.

2023-06-01. Why We're Building Aboard

In this episode, Rich and Paul delve into the issues of the web, as it has become toxic. Their advice? Search for those healthy, cleansed spaces on the web. Spaces where you can be productive, keep your information safe, and share your knowledge. All of which is possible by our sponsor, <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

Bless This Mess

Our friends find themselves in a new, corporate co-working space, determining that this, finally, is the thing that will push their digital product over the edge. Then, in a typically wide-reaching (cough) conversation, Rich and Paul discuss the current status of free speech discourse, in the context of the drama around Substack, and—well, as Rich puts it—“Who the hell asked technologists to be the arbiters of free speech?” Paul confesses that he dislikes mess, which would deeply shock anyone who saw his office desk.

2022-11-29. Line Goes Everywhere: Matt Levine and Aaron Lammer Explain FTX, Exchanges, and Everything Else Crypto

Crypto exchange FTX has melted down, whatever that means—and it turns out nothing means what it seems to mean, especially the word "exchange." Paul and Rich invite two friends to guide us through the latest crypto maelstrom, finance journalist and crypto chronicler Matt Levine and polymath crypto advisor/journalist Aaron Lammer. Can they explain what's happening? Can Aaron convince Paul that crypto is just getting started? Why is our first podcast about crypto?

Dan Frommer: Consumers in the Age of AI

AI is transforming what we buy—and how we buy it. On the final podcast of the year, Paul and Rich are joined by Dan Frommer, founder of The New Consumer, to talk through his brand-new Consumer Trends Report for 2026. First, they discuss shifting consumer dynamics over the past few decades, from the rise of digital-native direct-to-consumer brands to the omnipresence of the TikTok Shop. Then, they dig into New Consumer survey results around our current moment in AI, particularly the generational differences towards the technology.

God, Sex, and AI

Is there space for everyone in LLM world? On this week’s podcast, Paul and Rich traverse the always-changing AI landscape from one end of the spectrum to the other. First, the Christian LLM company Gloo, currently headed by former Intel CEO Patrick Gelsinger, which is building technologies for the “faith ecosystem.” Then, Sam Altman’s recent announcement that OpenAI will begin producing erotic content for verified users. In one version of our AI future, there’s room for lots of smaller companies with different values and frameworks—but when this technology has been so quickly dominated by just a few giant players, is that future impossible?

Arushi Saxena: Can We Trust AI?

As people feed their whole lives into LLMs, how can they protect themselves? On this week’s Aboard Podcast, Paul and Rich are joined by Arushi Saxena, a trust and safety expert who’s worked everywhere from big tech to startups to the U.S. government. What does trust and safety mean in the AI age, both for individuals and for companies working with LLMs? Arushi also gives an overview of the trust and safety world, but sorry, folks: What happens at TrustCon stays at TrustCon.

Bots Ate My Resume

AI is making job hunting near-impossible on both sides of the hiring equation. Is there a way out of this automated mess? On this week’s podcast, Paul and Rich look at AI’s effect on an already unpredictable job market. Hirers are getting spammed with AI-generated applications, while sincere job seekers are getting swiftly rejected via AI hiring tools. As AI ushers in a hyper-transactional era of diminished trust between strangers, how can applicants and hiring managers actually connect with each other?

2023-05-09. Launching

Rich and Paul are about to launch <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a> - the sponsor of this podcast. In this episode they discuss the expectations of entrepreneurs for launch, and how to navigate the dissonance between expectations and reality post-launch.

Bots, Feeds, and Kids

The Aboard Podcast is about software in the age of AI—but what non-AI things are happening in the world of software? Not much, Paul and Rich are sorry to report. In the first half of this week’s episode, they discuss how AI is sucking up all the tech oxygen in the room. Then, they pivot to talking about AI and kids: What should parents be teaching their kids about these tools? (Or should they even let them use LLMs at all?)

AI Summer School #3: From Agents to Apps

So now that you’ve set up your AI agents, what can you build with them? In the third lesson of AI Summer School, Paul and Rich are joined by CTO Adam Pash to spin up a sample app in Aboard. How do agents work together to simulate the development process—and what’s the difference between Aboard’s structured approach and a vibe-coding tool? Plus: Introducing the Adam Pash Drinking Game, where you take a shot every time you say the word “guardrails.”

2023-04-25. Productivity Tips and Tricks

In this episode Rich and Paul discuss productivity tips and tricks. Their best bet is deadlines. They go into productivity softwares as tools of empowerment. They inform you on what the tools offer and how to make the most out of them.

Tech Giants Want AI to Behave

As the legacy tech giants weave AI functionality through their existing systems, is it all over for AI-first companies like OpenAI and Anthropic? In the wake of this year’s WWDC, Paul and Rich analyze Apple’s AI plans, and contextualize them within broader industry shifts. What’s Apple’s AI endgame—and where can we expect to see a player like OpenAI a few years from now?

OpenAI Goes Shopping

OpenAI’s $6.5 billion acquisition of Jony Ive’s startup might be grabbing the headlines, but the real shifts in AI right now are a lot less flashy—and point towards more long-term stability in the industry. On this week’s podcast, Paul walks Rich through some recent Big AI news and they pull out some key trends and takeaways, from the announcements at Google’s I/O 2025 to new capabilities at Anthropic to, in Paul’s words, “Agents, agents, agents, agents, agents.”

Patrick Austin: AI’s Not There Yet

From your inbox to the podcast studio: Paul and Rich are joined by Patrick Lucas Austin, longtime tech journalist and founding editor of IT Brew, to talk about how he views AI in his work covering the enterprise sector. While Paul and Rich consider themselves “AI centrists,” Patrick takes an arguably more critical view of these technologies, and they go back and forth on the capabilities, outputs, ethical concerns, and where they’ll leave users in the coming years.

2023-04-06. Innovation Group

Rich and Paul discuss the importance of innovation groups within big companies in order to stay relevant, compete and thrive against upstarts. They highlight the struggle of navigating resources within big organizations - these orgs have a hard time processing their money at such a large scale, and it is difficult for them to have new ideas surface within them. A key to reach innovation within them is their leadership and founders mentality. Tune in to this thought provoking conversation and for advice.

The Big Crash

As Trump’s tariffs become reality and global markets plummet, Paul and Rich take stock of the situation and ask: How are the founders of an AI startup thinking about the months ahead, and how can AI help businesses weather the storm? Plus: As they look back at the early-2000s dot-com crash, they discuss how tech innovation can blossom in times of economic uncertainty.

Boring is Thrilling

When Rich asks Paul for a report from the AI-coding trenches, Paul brings news: AI is boring now! And that’s a good thing. As the novelty of the technology wears off and the pace of advancement stabilizes, it’s getting easier and easier to actually get work done. Plus: Paul gets nerdy (well, even nerdier than normal) and walks through the specifics of the data-migration project he’s working on to show how AI’s boring turn is affecting real-word software work.

Sara Chipps: How AI Changes Coding

What should developers be doing right now to adapt to AI? On this week’s Reqless, Paul and Rich get an on-the-ground perspective from longtime software engineer Sara Chipps, who’s been going deep with AI-assisted coding tools in recent months. They discuss what AI means for the work of everyone from recent CS grads to senior engineering managers, before they shift topics to Sara’s true passion, using AI to better trade crypto, which leaves Rich uttering the phrase, “What’s the market cap of Fartboy?”

Don’t Freak About DeepSeek

As Chinese LLM company DeepSeek makes headlines for wreaking havoc on the stock prices of the American tech sector, Paul and Rich sit down and answer the important questions: What is DeepSeek? Why does Paul feel like it’s Christmas? What does this mean for both AI and the broader industry? What does Rich think Microsoft should do with Three Mile Island now?

2023-03-14. Buy Nothing

The internet is a huge customer support platform. When people online subscribe to an idea they tend to over-identify with it, and build a strong emotional connection to them. This turns into an unhealthy community when the users approach the platform as theirs and forget about the administrators.

2023-03-09. Keep Going Until You See the Simplicity

Rich and Paul, founders of a new software startup called Aboard, discuss the importance of creating something that is simple and resonates with people. And the challenge of accepting that not all ideas will be successful, that the important thing is to put our ego aside and have the humility and discipline to continue working on our ideas until they are simple.

2023-02-16. Humility Is Fun

Paul has started to learn the piano, as a part of his applied practice for his love for music. Rich and Paul discuss the importance of having the humility to learn for the sake of learning regardless of the outcome.

Brains Are Better Than Butlers

AI tools are often positioned as agents, assistants, or butlers—but their potential is so much greater than that. On this week’s Reqless, Rich explains to Paul why the “agent” model gets AI all wrong. Plus: A discussion about CTOs, and the spectrum from those who are resisting the change that’s coming to those who are embracing it.

2023-01-26. Proverbs

Ziade and Ford ADVISORS right? Well you know the oldest kind of advice? Proverbs. Paul picks out some interesting ones to see what happens. Thoughts ensue.

2023-01-24. Layoffs

Rich and Paul talk through the tech layoffs, explaining why they happen, why they suck, and what you can do about them (very little) and what you can do for the people involved in them (far more).

Not Quite Finishing Apps

Can you actually build an app with AI right now? Fresh off a holiday break where he attempted to do just that (rather than talking to his family), Paul tells Rich what worked and what didn’t work in his experimentation: Where AI failed, where Paul got impatient, and how that mapped onto human programmers’ strengths and weaknesses. Building an entire app with AI might not be quite there yet—but is it close?

Introducing Aboard Climate

These days, it can take longer to plan the software launch party than to spin up the software itself—which is exactly what happened with Aboard Climate, a new integration Paul, Rich, and the Aboard team debuted last week. Hangovers nursed and moderately rested, Paul and Rich discuss the event and the feature itself—which lets you incorporate real-time data from the climate-change literacy organization Probable Futures directly in Aboard—before talking about how the building process reflects today’s rapidly shifting landscape of software development.

A Case for Growth

Does AI mean the end of software development jobs—or is this the start of a brand-new boom? Tech industry narratives are painting a gloomy future for coders, but on this week’s Reqless, Paul and Rich take the opposite tack. AI will shift who has access to software creation and the way things get built—so how should technologists position themselves for the coming decade?

2023-01-16. Stopping By

Rich has an idea about how to completely revolutionize the remote workplace. Typical hijinks ensue.

AI Meets Marketing with Noah Brier

How is AI changing the marketing industry? This week Paul and Rich welcome Noah Brier, a marketer and startup founder who’s excited about the ways AI could be used to solve the industry’s problems. Topics discussed include his early interest and adoption of generative AI tools, the types of problems his marketing clients are trying to tackle with AI, and why the tech industry seems to be missing the true potential of AI in its messaging.

2022-12-13. Recipe for Conspiracy

Paul and Rich talk conspiracies: Where they come from and why people keep going in for them. Paul pretends to be a guy named Jeff who is falling into QAnon. They talk about where conspiracy thinking comes from, what to do, and how to handle Christmas Dinner.

2022-12-08. Recession-proofing Your Promotion

Paul role-plays as Jim, a hapless and cranky young product/project manager at some company or other. Jim hankered for a promotion, oh how he hankered, but now there's a recession looming, and Jim—well, he's never experienced one before. So he's come to ask Rich for advice. How do you thrive in a recession? What do you need to do to get the big account, or the big promotion, when things are looking kind of dire? Rich, of course, has bullet points.

Will AI Take Your Job?

It’s easy to make blanket claims about “AI taking jobs”—but what does AI mean for specific industries in the near-term? On this week’s Reqless, Paul and Rich run through five careers (musician, advertiser, teacher, therapist, and consultant) and assess the ways AI might—and might not—change work. Plus: Paul describes himself as the “slightly grumpy girlfriend” as he and Rich reminisce about going to see beloved indie band Low together.

Who Actually Needs AI?

Your boss walks in and says, “What are we doing about AI?” How do you respond? On this week’s podcast, Paul and Rich break down the problem with the question itself, and the way AI is being offered as an imprecise, ineffective solution to solve business’s structural problems. Who actually needs AI—and how do you figure out the best way to use it?

Reqless: Making Sense of AI

AI is completely changing tech and tech careers. Want to get ready? Come meet Reqless, the podcast where Paul and Rich, two fast-talking NYC software industry veterans, take a clear look at how AI is changing the entire industry, how to make sense of that change, and how to make the best of it.

The Space Between Platforms

You’ve got one software system that doesn’t play nicely with your other software system—so surely the answer is a third software system to link them together, right? And how about adding a fourth, maybe even a fifth? Paul and Rich discuss the challenging gaps between the platforms people use to manage their businesses: How hard it can be to truly identify problems while you’re trying to grow, and how technology consultants tend to recommend shorter-term solutions that only make things more complicated—and more expensive.

What the TikTok Ban Means to Tech at Large

Algorithmically innovative? An important tool for connection? A grave national security threat? Paul and Rich discuss the recent bipartisan vote in the U.S. House of Representatives to ban TikTok—and whatever you think of the platform itself, they argue that the move says something significant about the American government’s relationship with big tech.

Max Read: Reporting on the Big, Bad Internet

AI is reshaping the media, the internet, and the culture at large—and Max Read is writing about it. On this week’s podcast, the longtime journalist and author of the popular “Read Max” newsletter comes into the studio to talk about the intersections of tech and culture in our current AI moment. Topics discussed include Max’s journey from a general-interest journalist to covering tech platforms and internet culture, the ways he uses AI tools in his own work, and whether he thinks the slop flooding our feeds is actually popular with users.

Hard AI Choices

Will generative AI give us the answer or lead us to the answer—or is that the wrong question entirely? Paul and Rich assess the promise of AI through a lens of lightly skeptical optimism, trying to sort out hype from reality and figure out how exactly these tools might be embedded in everyones’ lives someday.

Controlled Chaos

Men will literally record a podcast about their anxiety rather than go to therapy. How do you run a business when the world is on fire in so many ways? Paul and Rich talk about the state of things—including whether their perceptions of said things are even accurate—and how they should work, what to consider as they grow their company, and when to turn off. Gotta keep going.

“But That's Another Podcast”

Our friend Jim Nielsen cataloged all the podcasts we didn't record, so Paul and Rich doubled down and recorded five new podcasts in a hurry. The end result is exactly what you would expect. YouTube edition features extra-ridiculous stock imagery.

AI vs. the Feds

Paul gives Rich an overview of where AI is these days, from Biden's regulations to Chinese lovelorn bot mistresses. It's an interesting, messy moment as global legislation starts to take shape, new features drop daily, and the world is left to figure it all out. Meanwhile, the podcast's slow journey towards AV quality continues.

2023-10-04. Bon Voyage

Join our journey as our sponsor swallows us whole! This podcast has now morphed into the Aboard Podcast. Rich and Paul will uphold the same spirit and will be entering the YouTube realm – catch the hosts' faces and join the adventure! Sign up, reach out, and get on mobile to be part of <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

A Blast From Computing Past

Same as it ever was: On this week’s podcast, Paul and Rich take a spin through a 1980 issue of Omni magazine, comparing how computers were being discussed back then with how AI is talked about today. Featuring an essay by Frank Herbert (yes, of Dune), IBM’s early-80s consumer pitch, and a meditation on the question: What does “new technology” even mean?

AI Advice for the Confused CEO

The CEO comes into the office and says, “What are we doing about AI?” What’s wrong with this picture? On the podcast, Paul and Rich offer advice to the CEO whose instinct is to ask that very question. How should business leaders be thinking about these technologies? And when it comes to getting AI into your organization, what’s a better question to ask? Plus: A whole lot of snack-chip talk, including a meditation on the humble Dipsy Doodle.

2023-09-28. Amazon Antitrust

In this episode Rich and Paul unravel the legal battles around Amazon's market dominance. Discover how its built in tactics affect small sellers, reshape prices, and redefine the game, leaving us all pondering who truly controls the online marketplace. This podcast episode is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-09-14. Office 365

In this episode Rich and Paul discuss the importance of having a physical space for startups. As it enhances your representation in front of big companies and also helps foster stronger relationships and collaborative learning. This podcast episode is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

Could We Replace the Pope With AI? (God, No)

Does AI have a place in religion—or in our moral decision-making more broadly? Recorded shortly after the death of Pope Francis was announced, Paul and Rich reflect on the pontiff’s legacy and then segue to theology and tech, assessing ChatGPT’s output to moral queries “from a Catholic perspective.” Could these tools ever be a substitute for the real (human) thing? Featuring what’s possibly the most upsetting sentence ever uttered on the podcast: “I wanna see Peter Thiel wash some feet.”

2023-09-05. Personal Brands Are Dead

Rich and Paul discuss how everyone wants to build their own thing, but then the time comes where they have to let their personal brand die. Building a personal brand is a one lane business, making it hard to scale without creating a business entity. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-08-22. Culture as a Feature

Rich and Paul discuss how new tech like Threads offers humans a fresh start. However, human beings fundamentally don't want to change, and we run into issues because we don't move as fast as our technology does - however we know of a fast growing yet intuitive technology - our sponsor <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

AI as an Accelerant for Good

How is AI transforming the social sector? Flying solo in the Reqless hosting chair, Paul sits down with Perry Hewitt, Chief Marketing and Product Officer for Data.org, to talk about how AI tools are enhancing the projects they support. Topics discussed include what data collection can entail in the world of global nonprofits, the impact of constraints on technological problem solving, and real examples of how AI is being used right now, from healthcare settings in India to the wildfires in Los Angeles.

AI Fires Our CEO, Rich

This week the robots bring the pink slip…for Aboard’s CEO, Rich Ziade! On the latest episode of Reqless, Paul observes that much of Rich’s job at their old agency—listening to the client, reframing their needs, outlining a solution and a path to build it—could now be done, at least in part, by AI. What value can Rich—and other skilled software “translators”—bring to a project in a world of AI-accelerated development?

Explaining AI with Josh Tyrangiel

How has public perception of AI changed over the past two years? On this week’s Reqless, Paul and Rich welcome on writer and editor Josh Tyrangiel, who’s been the Washington Post’s “AI tourist” columnist since early 2023. They discuss what he’s encountered in various industries experimenting with AI, and the overall sentiments he’s observed as ordinary people grapple with this technology. Plus: He discusses his recent collaboration with Oprah Winfrey on an AI special for ABC News—and the remarkable lettuce she served him for lunch.

2023-08-15. Little firings everywhere

In this episode, Rich and Paul delve into the topic of firing people from the perspective of the employer. And offer advice on how to ensure that relationships within the organization remain profitable to the organization. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-06-25. Resilience

Rich and Paul discuss the classic startup dream of world-changing impact. But in today's unpredictable landscape, the real key is resilience. To develop a software that fosters collaborative communities that revolve around trust. This podcast is sponsored by Aboard.

2023-06-13. Goggles Pro!

In this episode Rich and Paul discuss Apple's new release of Vision Pro. They share their in-depth take on this new technology when it comes to productivity, accessibility, and even human connections. They also envision how it might mix with our sponsor - <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

Are Developer Jobs Safe?

Generative AI is already revolutionizing software development—so how long are developers’ jobs safe? On this week’s Reqless, Paul and Rich use a recent post on the subject by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy to discuss the future of coders: What these tools will mean for organizations large and small; how new development paradigms will imperil the big consulting firms; and what advice they have for a junior developer looking at the next few decades of their career.

2023-05-30. Succession Finale

In this episode Rich and Paul discuss how Succession has shows up in real life, in people that they've met and how it portrays our world in the media. They offer advice of how you could chase success and avoid Succession. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a> - it's live, it's free and it's a healthy corner on the web, Sign Up at aboard.com.

The Dangers of Metaphors in Tech

Why do we try to explain tech concepts and processes with metaphors—and why do we choose the metaphors we use? On this week’s podcast, Paul and Rich get philosophical, kicking off the conversation with an article about how the human is not like a computer, and travel through the history of personal computing to our present AI moment. Plus: How exactly should you handle the idealists in your organization?

AI Is Scaffolding

Does the real promise of generative AI lie in the chatbot? Paul and Rich don’t think so. Building off a post by tech entrepreneur Dustin Moskovitz on “scaffolded AI,” they discuss extreme visions of our AI future and position themselves in the center—where tools work with the user, rather than attempt to replace them.

2023-05-18. Aboard.com

<a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>, our sponsor, just launched! Rich and Paul, the co-founders, walk you through Aboard in this episode. It is a software that was created to provide you with a better experience on the web. It helps you reclaim your data, gives you your power and control back, and allows you to create safe spaces. Sign up at aboard.com now to get waved in.

2023-05-16. Yahoo

In this episode Paul discusses the tedious process of cleaning up his late father's yahoo mail. Rich and Paul talk about the creepy and private side of tech, which is the intense marketing behind newsletters that are just trying to get money out of subscribers. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

When Giants Want to Befriend You

If a huge company wants to “partner” with your small business, can that ever be a fair partnership? Paul describes a recent mentorship dilemma to Rich, and they discuss the dynamics that make the position of the smaller player in that scenario so challenging. Plus: Musings on public-spectacle trials past and present, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and the existential dread prompted by even the most innocent Slack notifications.

2023-05-11. Self-driving

AI has been doing a huge chunk of our work for us, however it can't seem to get that last 10% right. Rich and Paul discuss how technology lacks the human traits of real-time judgement and unpredictability. So, it will have to negotiate with humanity. This episode is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a> (the new tech in town).

2023-04-27. Discipline Island

Rich and Paul, the co-founders of Aboard (a software product), discuss shipping software. They give advice to better ship products within time estimates. They also provide tips and tricks for better product management.

Craft as an Antidote to Crisis

Paul tries to talk about his current obsession—synthesizers—on a hardware and software level, but Rich turns the tables to talk about Paul’s obsession itself. After Rich repeatedly asks Paul, “What are you doing?” they discuss the appeal of minimally online hobbies (and, by extension, software) in an extremely online world.

2023-04-20. Shut it All Down

Leadership sometimes means killing the project. Rich and Paul discuss the importance of cutting your losses short on a failing project. To make amends with failure, and keep an open mind, to compromise and pivot when needed.

2023-04-18. Caring a Little Less

After COVID-19 and the internet people seem to be less connected. In this episode Rich and Paul discuss how the internet is designed to perpetually split people into different parties and views. They offer advice for people to care less, in order to foster better, more holistic human connections.

ChatGPT and We

Rich and Paul struggle with video technology as they seek to jam the podcast into YouTube, but limp across the line with a whole podcast. Briefly digressing and explaining themselves, they proceed to discuss AI, namely sexy robots (they're against), using a complicated metaphor involving WordPerfect 5.1—definitely something Gen Z will connect with—and what's good about ChatGPT. Rich closes it by predicting an almost inevitable nightmare scenario where giant AI platform companies will use their advantages to destroy society without even trying. Listen to find out how! Good times! Brought to you by Aboard.

2023-03-30. What You Learn as You Get Older

In this episode Rich and Paul share the lessons they learned about success and failure when it comes to your visions. They highlight the need to think small rather than big, and to not be too stubborn. In the end there is no shortcut to reach your goals, and it's the tiring journey that makes it all worth it.

2023-03-21. Frank and Assad

This episode pays tribute to Paul's late father. Rich and Paul discuss the influence that their fathers had on their lives, and how they now see their dads reflections in themselves. They talk about the difficulties that come with being a father and how it is important to be compassionate and understanding towards them, that at some point, they were doing the best they could, with what they had.

2023-08-24. Against Solutions

Rich and Paul discuss how softwares usually promise to be a solution, some sort of pain relief. However, that isn't realistic the promise of being a solution is too good to be true. Which is why we built Aboard, and it is not a solution, however it is malleable enough to be a solution. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-01-05. Predictions

Rich and Paul come back to the office after the holidays just full of predictions for tech, politics, and the economy.

2023-06-06. AI Mailbag

In this episode Rich and Paul assess AI risk. They discuss them in the 2 chapters - that where the anxiety should be versus where it is overblown. This episode is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>, a place where you can take a breath from your AI anxiety.

2023-05-04. Milton Snavely

In this episode of Ziade and Ford sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a> - Paul delves deep into his childhood in Milton Snavely's boarding school. His unstable childhood reset his brain, and instilled more empathy. Both Rich and Paul had unstable childhoods, still people find it hard to see past their successes.

2023-03-28. Meta-advice on Advice

People want validation or shortcuts when it comes to advice. However, there is no magic source for advice. Our advice? You should be wary of advice. Go out there ask multiple people for advice and then synthesize them. And the best advice is the one you never had to ask for - feedback!

2023-01-18. AI Adaptation

A conversation about the robots taking our job—and how various forces have been taking our jobs for a while, and personal experiences with jobs and robots.

Deciding What to Build Next

You’ve just shipped your latest release. Once you finish celebrating, how do you decide what to build next? Paul taps Rich, in his role as Aboard CEO, to set a course on a hypothetical product roadmap: Does he prioritize an enterprise-specific feature, another that might bump up broader user engagement, or the thing the boss tossed out because he had a vague hunch? Plus: Why is some industry-specific software beautiful, while other industries are left with clunky, uninspired “bureaucracy in software”?

2023-02-02. Paul needs it by Thursday

Paul found himself in a CEO position again, and he's finding trouble keeping people accountable and setting deadlines for others. Rich provides useful and universal career advice to Paul, on how to demand accountability.

The Billable Hour is Dead

Will AI put an end to management consulting? Maybe hold off on writing that McKinsey obituary for now. On the podcast, Paul and Rich break down the different kinds of consulting on a practical level, and assess what AI might mean for that work going forward. Can these companies really get away with charging the same rates if AI lets them reduce headcount or dramatically speed up the work?

Is Search Really the Future of AI?

Millions of people are using AI tools to search—so what does that mean for search engines? On this week’s podcast, Paul and Rich dive into (the questionably named) “GEO,” or Generative Engine Optimization. After an overview of Google’s classic model, they explore the ways AI is currently upending the search world, and speculate about what might emerge in the years to come. If LLMs cannibalize all the content on the web, what will be left to search in the future?

Artificial Intelligence/Artificial Deadlines

When is something “done”—and why is it so hard to define “done” when it comes to AI? On this week’s podcast, Paul and Rich talk about the challenges of the last mile of software development, and why the industry needs a whole new set of processes to actually use AI to ship product. Plus: Paul reveals one neat trick that will make you finish writing something.

AI Regulation (and Disregulation)

Is it too late to regulate AI? On this week’s Reqless, Paul and Rich assess what “regulating AI” could even mean, from controlling training data sources to moderating its ability to spread information—and disinformation. They then zero in on the question in the context of the new American administration, and Paul muses about just how long he’d like to hold his breath underwater given the current state of the news. (Five minutes? Ten?)

A Year of Chaos Concludes

Farewell 2024—a boring year in which nothing really happened! On this week’s Reqless, Paul and Rich reflect on our current moment of widespread instability, from the cultural to the political to the technological, and discuss some of the ways they try to manage it (waffles!) (also building software). And because this is an AI podcast, they look back over a year of rapid change in the space, and make predictions for what’s to come in 2025.

They’re Killing SaaS?

Is the SaaS era coming to an end? On this week’s Reqless, Paul and Rich discuss recent comments from Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski, who says that generative AI has allowed them to build internal tools that let them dispose of products like Salesforce and Workday. With the cost of building software on the brink of dropping precipitously, what does that mean for the SaaS giants going forward?

Using AI Respectfully

From copyright violations to environmental concerns to the looming threat of the singularity, AI is a hot-button topic these days. Paul and Rich talk through many facets of this conversation, and discuss how they think about the AI components of Aboard. Plus: A little roleplay in which we learn that Paul thinks Aboard is an earnest mid-century cartoon character.

Startup Year in Review

Rich and Paul talk about their willingness to be humiliated in a corporate context. It sounds just a little like they crave it. Especially Paul. Which is weird but whatever. Then they talk about how you can't automate relationships—how you can't remove interaction from the loop. They discuss what they learned this year, and what they hope to learn next year.

An OpenAI and Shut Case

With Sam Altman fired from OpenAI, there was so much drama in tech that it was impossible not to discuss it. With no secret insight but remarkable aplomb, Paul and Rich dive deep on the passionate subject of corporate governance, and try to understand just what the hell is going on.

Old Skills Never Die

Has Angular gone the way of the automat? Paul and Rich discuss how hard it is to give up on a programming language that's fallen out of fashion—especially when it's as much a part of your identity as your day-to-day work. Plus: An ode to bananas, nature's perfect creation.

2023-10-03. AI Checkin

Rich and Paul checkin on AI! They discuss the sweet spot where AI excels in streamlining tasks but falls short in capturing the intention and meaning woven into human expression. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>, it uses amazing AI technology to tame the web’s wildest data, clean up your tabs, and help you get things done fast—solo or with others.

2023-08-07. Shameless

Rich and Paul delve into the topic of success, and how the path to success includes a lot of failures along the way. To the extent that an important characteristic of the really successful people is being -- shameless. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-05-25. Best of Brooklyn

In this episode Rich and Paul take you on a wonderful tour across Brooklyn's diversity, through the multiple "little" diverse communities there. For this episode specifically Rich and Paul created a board for Brooklyn, on <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a> - the sponsor of this podcast. Tune in and join the board to add your take on Brooklyn!

2023-04-13. Mailbag Interview

In this episode Rich and Paul who have done hundreds of interviews give advice for both interviewees and interviewers. They help them navigate interviews while still maintaining that human connection throughout.

2023-03-02. Majors and Minors

The decline of humanities majors is resulting in a lack of diverse perspectives, since they play a crucial role in cultivating more well-rounded individuals. This decline may be contributing to the growing polarization and intolerance we see online today.

2023-01-10. Should I Get a New Job?

Rich advises Paul (who is pretending to be a guy who works in video editing) on whether to quit his job or not. Together, they look into THE VOID. The VOID looks back. Paul digresses on corporatist epistemology. In the end everything is okay.

2022-12-20. Soccer as a Platform

The last episode of 2022! Paul and Rich talk about the World Cup, in a general way, but then they start to talk about how soccer functions as a platform in the world—how to see it as a kind of technology.

Tech’s Hard-Right Turn

The big tech CEOs are openly embracing Trump—so what do we all do now? On this week’s Aboard Podcast, Paul and Rich dig into Steven Levy’s recent cover story for WIRED’s politics issue that breaks down the industry’s hard pivot towards Trumpism. What did these leaders think they were signing up, and what are they actually getting? Plus: By way of metaphor, Rich offers up the world’s worst bundt cake recipe (it’s full of gold!).

Timing My Vibe Coding

Mapping the history of the universe—and the limits of current AI programming tools. On this week’s podcast, Paul walks Rich through his recent experiments trying to build timeline software via vibe coding. Spoiler: There were issues. Halfway through 2025, where do the current tools excel, and where do they fall flat? And looking over the few years at where these tools might be headed, what should a young person interested in tech be learning right now?

A New AI Acronym

You’re a business stakeholder trying to evaluate AI tools for your organization. How should you assess them—and how should you measure the value of their outputs? On this week’s Reqless, Paul pitches Rich an acronym for this very task: TRACE. Transparent, Repeatable, Actionable, Clear, Efficient. How can these metrics help someone understand these tools before letting them into their org, and help them calculate the potential return on investment? Plus: Paul and Rich discuss a recent interview with MIT economist Daron Acemoglu on just how many jobs he’s calculated will be eliminated by AI in the next decade.

The View From the Top of the Funnel

Now longer than three minutes! (Sorry, tech glitch.) Rich and Paul talk about that most evergreen and thrilling of subjects—the marketing funnel! How it starts, where it goes, what makes it better or worse, and the great and deep importance of onboarding in this world.

2023-08-03. Superconducting

Rich and Paul discuss superconductors! This groundbreaking technology is finally becoming a reality, with the potential to benefit both the common good and economic prosperity. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-04-10: AI Mailbag

Mailbag questions are pouring in for Rich and Paul. For this episode - why isn't Paul more excited about AI? Rich and Paul discuss the evolution and history of AI. And how it is the medium updates that people are getting infatuated with rather than the content of it.

2023-02-28. Headphone Conference

An episode about two spoiled men with two spoiled hobbies-- that turns deep. Shedding light on the importance of communities, and having that space that fosters growth and positivity. Additionally, how these are the safe spaces of the internet where there is more authenticity.

Rafe Colburn: Building Etsy in the AI Era

How is one of the internet’s biggest spaces for human creativity adapting in the AI era? On this week’s podcast, Paul and Rich are joined in the studio by Rafe Colburn, the Chief Product and Technology Officer at Etsy. After discussing Rafe’s long history at the company, they tackle the AI topic two ways: First, how the Etsy engineering org is using AI tools, and second, Etsy’s recent deal with OpenAI to display their products directly in ChatGPT searches. Plus: Rafe and Paul teach Rich the proper term for those little charms you stick in the holes of your Crocs.

Matt Seitz: MBA…I?

How should the business leaders of the future think about AI? On this week’s podcast, Paul and Rich are joined by Matt Seitz, the Director of the AI Hub for Business at the University of Wisconsin’s School of Business. Matt discusses his journey from years at Google to his current role at UW, and he gives on-the-ground insight into the AI struggles of both leadership and employees in this moment of transition. Plus: They ponder whether AI can improve Wisconsin cheese. (Spoiler: No. It is perfect.)

AI Summer School #4: Chill Out About AGI

Aboard uses AI to help build software, but in just a few years, AI will gain sentience and take over our work, personal lives, and even brains—just kidding! Yes, the fourth and final installment of “AI Summer School” is about AGI, or “Artificial Generalized Intelligence.” What does it mean? Can anyone agree on a definition? And if no one can define it or agree on those definitions, what’s the likelihood that all these Silicon Valley AGI predictions will come true?

School’s Out Forever

Today’s young people are growing up with generative AI at their fingertips. Should we be worried? On this week’s podcast, Paul (father of 13-year-old twins) and Rich (father of a 12 year old and a 10 year old) discuss the technology world in which their children are coming of age, particularly when it comes to education. If students are bound to turn to these tools no matter the rules, how can we make sure they’re actually learning, rather than just copy/pasting?

A Database Will Never Love You

Are product managers’ jobs safe in our new AI-development reality? Paul and Rich discuss the news that OpenAI is looking to acquire the coding assistant Windsurf, asking the question: If AI is excellent at coding, why would OpenAI need to integrate a coding assistant into its products? This leads them to the role of humans in AI-aided software development—especially the product manager, and how their skills gathering context and asking the unexpected questions would be impossible for even the most well-trained AI to match.

The AI Centrist

Some people hate AI and think it’ll destroy everything. Others love it and want to press their feet on the AI gas pedal. What happens if you’re stuck in the middle? On this week’s Reqless, Paul lays out his “AI centrist” approach to thinking about these technologies—how to continue to experiment with these tools, while being open to all arguments about them. Plus: Rich sings the praises of everybody’s favorite agrochemical conglomerate, Monsanto (well…not exactly).

Clay Shirky: AI for Higher Education

How is generative AI transforming the university? On this week’s Reqless, Paul and Rich sit down with someone on the front lines of AI in higher ed: Clay Shirky, a longtime educator and technologist who’s currently the Vice Provost of Educational Technologies at New York University. Clay outlines how the university’s approach to AI has shifted from semester to semester over the past few years, and then digs into the reasons why widespread student adoption of AI is worrying the faculty—and the students themselves.

Employees Don’t Care About AI

Executives are all-in on AI, but many workers are not: A recent survey of white-collar employees conducted by Slack shows workplace AI adoption has slowed, even stalled, in recent months. On this week’s Reqless, Paul and Rich explore the various reasons Slack’s respondents gave for their reticence and what they suggest about the current moment in tech. Is the issue the tools? Or is it how they’re being asked to use them—or if they’re being asked to use them at all.

The New Code Curriculum

If AI is about to fundamentally change software development, what should current students be learning about code? On this week’s Reqless, Paul anoints Rich as head of a fictional programming department and asks him to lay out his syllabus—before hijacking the exercise and laying out his own syllabus. You need just enough knowledge to really use these tools to program, so what exactly should students learn?

Reqless and Step Skipping

Introducing Reqless—the new podcast from Aboard about how AI is changing software. In this episode, your hosts Paul Ford and Rich Ziade explain why this podcast exists, and talk about how AI is enabling everyone to start skipping steps—and why overall, you should embrace this, not fear it. (Although a little healthy fear never hurt anyone.)

How Real Is Low Code?

There are a huge number of low-code tools out there—but is “low code” a meaningful term? Paul and Rich discuss the promise versus the reality of low code, what most businesses really need from software, and the other descriptors they’d use if tasked with a low-code rebrand.

Aboard Goes AI

Most weeks, the Aboard Podcast is only sponsored by Aboard—but this week, Paul and Rich celebrate Aboard’s relaunch by devoting the whole episode to their shiny new AI-powered product! After they take a (technical and non-technical) look at exactly what’s going on under the hood, they discuss the ways Aboard uses AI to help humans, not supplant them.

Learning From People We Hate

When Paul suggests recording a podcast about public figures they admire, Rich has a counter-offer—why not talk about people they hate instead? But this particular exercise has a catch: They can only discuss things they admire or feel they can learn from said figures, a very tricky exercise with certain politicians! A countdown of five business and political leaders that some large number of people hate—plus listen to the very end to hear exactly how Paul compares himself to Taylor Swift.

Paul Breaks His Foot and Observes Enterprise Healthcare Software

When Paul injures himself and is advised by his wife, Rich, and ChatGPT (seriously) to seek emergency medical attention, he goes to the urgent care and marvels at their utterly Byzantine technological set-up, from parallel, disconnected patient portals to being handed a literal CD-ROM with his X-rays. What can we learn from systems built for the captive user—and how does that apply to enterprise software more broadly?

2023-09-07. Triple Play

In this episode Rich and Paul delve into the different aspects of a software company- and yes it is more than a code! They discuss how a lot of sales and marketing has gone into growing well established softwares that we see today. This podcast episode is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-08-17. Vaudeville Gang Gang

Rich and Paul discuss whether the internet is actually elevating people's lives. They discuss the good and the bad, but all in all the internet is making us more informed it's just what we choose to do with that information that counts. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a> (where you can save all your mug collections too).

2023-07-27. Hard Product Decisions

In this episode Rich and Paul discuss the empowering feature of softwares that help you get things done. They argue that complexity in software is unnecessary and that negating friction in the tools fosters productivity. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-07-07. Ready for a Rainy Day

Humans are bad at future investments. Our mentality of not fixing things unless they're broken has led us too far off when it comes to the impending doom of climate change. In this episode Rich and Paul delve into the human psyche and our biggest obstacle to change? Our adaptability skills. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-06-15. Mod Drama

In this episode Rich and Paul discuss the unhealthy communities that form on big scale platforms. This necessitates the presence of moderators, leading to "Mod Drama". This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-05-24. What Business Are You In?

Rich and Paul discuss the risks with having a generic product. How it affects both the users and the founders. However, they highlight the importance of keeping your options open and communicating with the users. Tune in to know what the path to salvation is... on this episode that's sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-05-02. What Succession Gets Wrong

Rich and Paul give their two cents on what Succession got wrong in their series. They discuss the romanticized version of capitalism that's portrayed on the show, and how in real life things would've been way trickier... As in the end whether it is the consultants, bankers, lawyers, founder... they would all be looking for their best interest.

2023-04-04. Let's Help Jim

Rich and Paul are on a quest to help Jim offer advice to his managers. They help Jim navigate giving unsolicited advice up the hierarchy. Highlighting the fact that this interaction defines the environment that one is in, whether it revolves around politics or the business itself.

2023-03-23. Big AI Predictions

With the rapid rise of AI a lot of people are worried about them taking over. In this episode Rich and Paul, who are experts in the tech world, examine how human history has shown time and time again that this is just a wave. People love the new AI because they're interesting but soon enough they will reach their limit, and humans will resort back to what's genuine and authentic.

2023-02-09. Rich Needs it by Tuesday

Paul is no longer the CEO of Aboard. Rich and Paul have switched positions, as the criteria with being the CEO of Aboard includes a lot of accountability to investors and outside actors.

2023-01-31. Kids Today!

Rich thinks kids these days have it too easy. He complains about his bursitis for thirty minutes (just kidding). But he and Paul talk about constraints and the media, and how to raise kids. Advice is given. You know what this is.

2023-01-12. Retail Futures: The Circus Comes to Town

Paul and Rich talk about modern shopping experiences—and how big box retail is increasingly like a warehouse for online orders, while more and more commerce becomes focused around community and live events.

Time for a Change

A one-minute episode—we’re taking a very short summer break! But expect some big changes when we return…TranscriptPaul Ford: Hi, I'm Paul Ford, the co-founder of Aboard.Rich Ziade: And I'm Rich Ziade, the other co-founder of Aboard.Paul: And you're listening to the Aboard Po—oh, wait a minute. Oh, wow. Okay, wait. I think we're gonna rename this thing.Rich: Yeah? Paul: Yeah, it's time. We've received some high-level branding advice, and it is time for us to get out there and kinda own what we've been talking about, Richard. Let me tell you what we talk about. You know what we talk about?Rich: What?Paul: The incredibly rapid change that artificial intelligence technologies are bringing to the software industry. And sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, sometimes it's ridiculous. Often it's ridiculous. Rich: Mmm hmm. Mmm hmm. Paul: And we keep dancing around it, saying, we're this or we're that. But damn it, I think that's what we are. I think that's what we're doing for the next X months or years or decades.Rich: Great. Tune in next week. It'll be a new name. It'll show up in your same feed so you don't have to do anything. And it's fun. We still want to, like, share our ideas, thoughts, feedback to the world that is useful outside of our product.Paul: God help anybody trying to keep us on-script.Rich: Yeah. So world's shortest podcast this week. Have a lovely week, and we'll see you next week with a brand-new name and maybe a brand-new haircut.Paul: I could use one.Rich: All right, have a great week.Paul: Bye!

2023-06-29. Getting Ready for AI in 2036

In this captivating episode Rich and Paul venture into the year 2036, a world where advanced AI has seemingly replaced humans, leading to a thought-provoking exploration of the endless possibilities. This podcast is sponsored by <a href="https://aboard.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aboard</a>.

2023-03-16. SVB

Rich and Paul discuss the reality of your money in the bank-- it's just in a database. They delve into the formal and informal systems of financing, highlighting the challenges faced by immigrants and small businesses. They advocate for the balance between regulation and privatization, recognizing that while regulations are important, they can sometimes create friction for entrepreneurs looking to build a growing business and drive economic growth.

2023-03-07. Jane Says (She's Done with Microsoft)

Rich and Paul follow Jane as she takes initiative on a project at Microsoft. Jane is met with disinterest from her team and is... done with microsoft. The episode offers valuable advice for both Jane and her boss, highlighting the importance of working on something you care about and recruiting passionate team members to produce impactful work.

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