Breakeven Brothers

AI agents, accounting workflows & social contracts

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0700

This week, the brothers dive headfirst into the world of personal AI agents, with Brad detailing his meticulous, multi-step journey of setting up OpenClaw on a virtual private server. The conversation navigates the critical balance between unlocking immense power and managing the significant security risks that come with granting AI access to personal data. From automating mundane tasks like unsubscribing from spam emails to the dream of booking dinner reservations with a simple command, they explore the technical hurdles and trust barriers that stand between us and a truly agentic future.

The discussion then shifts to the professional world, tackling the recent panic and excitement in the accounting community as many discover the power of AI tools like Claude. Are accountants officially "cooked," or is this simply the next evolution of the profession? Drawing parallels to software engineering, they debate how AI is modifying jobs rather than eliminating them. Finally, they grapple with a fascinating new social concept: "AIDR" (AI Didn't Read), questioning the authenticity and perceived effort of AI-generated communication and what it means for our human-to-human connections in an increasingly automated world.

Chapters:
00:09 Introduction and Personal Catch-Up
03:02 Darren Aronofsky's AI Film Series
06:36 Brad's Experience Setting Up OpenClaw
16:34 The Broader Challenges of AI Security
21:44 Is AI Making Accounting Obsolete?
29:57 Adapting to AI and GPT-4's Power
37:48 AIDR: AI's Impact on Communication

Links:
- AIDR: AI Didn't Read
- Google Workspace CLI
- Bradley's blog post

#OpenInterpreter #AISecurity #FutureOfWork #AccountingTech #GPT4 #ClaudeAI #DeveloperTools #DigitalEthics #AIpodcast #PromptInjection

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

AI for taxes & the end of App Stores?

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 17:17:24 -0800

This week, the Breakeven Brothers dive into the practical (and sometimes frustrating) applications of AI, starting with a hilarious attempt to use AI for taxes and an experiment to recreate their famous intro jingle with Google's new Lyria 3 audio model. The results might surprise you. They also recap a flurry of major releases from the past few weeks, including OpenAI's Codex 5.3 Spark, Anthropic's Claude Sonnet 4.6 with its blazing fast mode, and Google's Gemini 3.1 Pro, debating the emerging market split between raw intelligence and sheer speed.

The conversation then shifts to the powerful world of on-premise AI, exploring how tools like OpenCode and local LLMs can offer unparalleled security for sensitive data in industries like accounting and finance. Is it possible to get the power of modern AI without sending your data to the cloud? The hosts discuss the trade-offs and explore game-changing productivity hacks, like using the Codex app's automation features to analyze your own usage patterns. Finally, they tackle a thought-provoking tweet from Karpathy about the potential 'end of the App Store' and what the explosion of AI-generated software means for developers, legacy systems like COBOL, and companies like Apple.

Chapters:
00:07 Can AI Do Your Taxes?
03:36 Recap of Recent AI Releases
05:56 Testing Google's Music AI, Lyria
09:01 Exploring Open Code with Local LLMs
14:31 The Case for On-Premise AI Models
24:55 Unlocking Power with Codex Automations
31:36 Will AI Make App Stores Obsolete?
38:43 Weekly Bookmarks and Security Concerns
43:11 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser

Links:
- Replit Animation on X
- CNET: Hackers Are Trying to Copy Gemini
- Ollama

#AIPodcast #LocalLLM #OpenCode #AppStore #SoftwareDevelopment #Codex #GoogleGemini #OnPrem #AICyberSecurity #AIMusic

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

OpenClaw hype train & a new job change!

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 06:00:00 -0800

The Breakeven Brothers are back from hiatus with a huge announcement: one of the brothers has started a new role as a software engineer at OpenAI! He shares the inside scoop on the interview process, the dynamic culture, and what it’s like to be working at the epicenter of the AI revolution. This personal journey kicks off a broader conversation about career development in the age of AI, with insights from a career panel at a local college and advice for accountants to embrace new tools like Excel and the command line.

The conversation then dives headfirst into the viral whirlwind surrounding OpenClaw (formerly Moltbot/ClawdBot). The brothers dissect the massive hype, the very real security concerns, and the bizarre phenomenon of AI bots seemingly conspiring on forums. They also tackle the growing problem of AI-generated "slop" flooding open-source projects, the burden it places on maintainers, and the recent trend of AI development tools shifting from complex command-line interfaces back to user-friendly graphical apps. It's a candid and grounded discussion on separating genuine innovation from the noise in today's fast-moving tech landscape.

Chapters:
00:09 Introduction and Recent Life Changes
00:40 Brad Announces New Job at OpenAI
04:35 Ben's Accounting Career Panel Experience
07:29 Ben's New Claude Code YouTube Series
15:39 The Rise and Hype of OpenClaude
28:19 AI Slop Burdening Open Source Projects
33:13 The Return of Graphical User Interfaces
37:59 Bookmarks: Improving Claude and Building Drones

Links:
- Augmentic Accounting YouTube Channel
- OpenClaw
- Mitchell Hashimoto's X/Twitter Profile
- Real Python: Quantum Computing With Qiskit

#OpenAI #OpenClaw #AIHype #CareerChange #SoftwareEngineering #AccountingTech #OpenSource #ClaudeCode #TechPodcast #AItools

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

Our wildest AI predictions for 2026

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0800

What does the future hold? Before diving into some wild predictions, we recap a whirlwind week of AI meetups in San Francisco. We share key takeaways from the Agents Anonymous meetup at Sentry's HQ, including a fascinating talk from a Cursor engineer on solving the "long-running agents" problem and what it took to build a web browser autonomously. Then, we switch gears to the Laravel community, discussing Taylor Otwell's demo of a new first-party AI package and the unique vibe of builders who wait for tech to be proven before delivering powerful tools.

With our minds on the future, we lock in our 2026 predictions with a 4x4 bingo card. We're placing our bets on everything from full-length AI-generated films and humanoid robots in high-income homes to the first $1 trillion AI IPO and the rise of a $10,000-a-month AI subscription plan. Will UBI become a serious midterm topic? Will Apple finally make a huge AI comeback? Will we see the reintroduction of human typing (typos and all) as a signal of authenticity? We cover 16 bold, specific, and sometimes scary predictions that paint a vivid picture of the next two years in tech and society.

Chapters:
00:08 Recapping Recent San Francisco AI Meetups
01:06 Cursor and the Long-Running Agents Problem
04:30 Laravel's New Official AI Package
10:57 Introducing the 2026 Predictions Bingo Card
11:27 Predictions: AI Media and Humanoid Robots
16:12 Predictions: AI Operating Systems and Assistants
19:27 Predictions: Economic Shifts and Market Competition
23:05 Predictions: Security, Society, and Hardware
27:38 Predictions: The Future of AI Coding
38:34 Predictions: Market Recessions and Human Typing
43:02 Full Bingo Card Recap and Bookmarks

Links:
- Creating a web browser with long running agents
- Callstack's React Native Skill for Claude
- Indie Dev Dan on YouTube
- Ben Affleck on Joe Rogan discussing AI in movies

#AIPredictions #TechPodcast #ClaudeCode #Laravel #HumanoidRobots #FutureOfAI #Cursor #SanFrancisco #UBI #AICommunity

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

How AI rewrites the economics of work

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0800

Welcome to 2026! The new year kicks off with shocking news from the web development world as industry darlings Tailwind Labs and Laracasts announce massive layoffs, citing the disruptive force of AI. Brad and Bennett dive deep into the drama, analyzing the GitHub comments and tweets that sent shockwaves through the community. They discuss the harsh reality for businesses built on selling code or educational content in an era where advanced AI can generate both in seconds, connecting the dots between these high-profile stumbles and the broader economic shifts happening across the tech landscape.

The conversation then pivots from industry analysis to personal workflows and the tools defining the new era of development. Brad shares his recent, surprising switch from the much-loved Claude Code to OpenAI's Codex, detailing the specific prompts and settings that are unlocking new levels of productivity. The brothers explore the rise of Agent SDKs, the power of community-created 'Skills,' and the emerging, sometimes wild, use cases for AI, from analyzing personal DNA data to automating tax preparation. This episode is a crucial look at the tangible impacts of AI, offering both a warning and a guide for navigating the rapidly changing world of technology in 2026.

Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to the First Episode of 2026
01:09 AI's Toll on Tailwind and Laracasts
11:19 Why 2026 Is the Year of Agents
14:47 Building Practical AI Agent Workflows
22:30 AI's Role in Accounting and Taxes
27:16 Creative Uses for Personal AI Agents
36:15 Codex vs. Claude Code for Development

Links:
- Tailwind CSS `llms.txt` Pull Request
- Adam Wathan on X (Twitter)
- Laracasts
- TaxDome
- Peter Steinberger: Shipping at Inference Speed
- Boris Cherny's Tweet on the Future of Engineering
- Levelsio on X (Twitter)

#AI #TechPodcast #SoftwareDevelopment #TailwindCSS #FutureOfWork #ClaudeCode #OpenAICodex #Laracasts #DeveloperTools #AgenticWorkflows

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

The great AI debate: are skills the new agents?

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 06:49:21 -0800

In our final episode of 2025, we're taking a look back at what was dubbed 'the year of the agents' and peering into what 2026 might hold. The conversation kicks off with a deep dive into a potential paradigm shift: the rise of AI 'skills.' We explore Anthropic's big push for this new framework, contrasting it with existing tool-calling and MCP server approaches. Are skills just a more user-friendly way to package domain knowledge, or are they a fundamental change in how we'll build with AI? We break down the pros and cons, from context window preservation to ease of sharing in a marketplace.

Beyond the theoretical, we get into the latest industry drama and developments. We tackle the heated online debate surrounding Claude Opus 4.5—is Anthropic secretly downgrading its flagship model, or are user expectations simply rising? We also cover the release of Google's impressively fast Gemini 3 Flash, a major NPM supply chain attack that compromised thousands of repositories, and the exciting new visual editor and debug mode features from Cursor that could change the front-end development workflow. Join us as we wrap up the year with the biggest stories and share our favorite resources to take into the new year.

Chapters:
00:00 End of Year and AI Music Licensing
02:43 Anthropic and OpenAI Introduce "Skills"
12:01 The Opus 4.5 Downgrade Controversy
19:14 Google's New Gemini 3 Flash Model
21:50 Recent Supply Chain Attack on Developers
26:39 Cursor's New Visual Editor and Debug Mode
31:11 Bookmarks: Building Skills and Email Triage
34:15 Wrapping Up 2025 and Holiday Plans

Links:
- Suno AI: Ben mentions he used Suno AI, an AI music generation tool, to create the podcast's current theme song and pays a monthly subscription to maintain the commercial license.
- Highcharts: A paid JavaScript charting library mentioned as an example of a tool with a commercial license that operates on an 'honor system,' similar to Suno AI.
- Chart.js: The free, open-source alternative to Highcharts that Brad switched to for his project, Split My Expenses.
- Cursor IDE: The AI-first code editor discussed for its new features, including a visual editor for front-end development and an automated debug mode.
- Anthropic: Don't Build Agents, Build Skills Instead: Brad's bookmark: An Anthropic presentation on the AI Engineer YouTube channel titled 'Don't Build Agents, Build Skills Instead,' which argues for a shift in how developers leverage AI.
- LangChain YouTube Channel: Ben's bookmark: A deep-dive video from LangChain's YouTube channel about building an agent for email triage, a practical application of AI for managing high-volume inboxes.

#AIPodcast #Anthropic #AISkills #SoftwareDevelopment #Cybersecurity #CursorIDE #AIAgents #GeminiAI #TechNews #LangChain

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

Claude Opus 4.5 is a POWERHOUSE, here's our vibe check...

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0800

The Breakeven Brothers are back after the holiday break, sharing stories from Thanksgiving travels and post-holiday shopping. Bradley kicks things off with a major announcement: the SplitMyExpenses Android app is finally live! He shares the challenging, and often frustrating, journey of navigating the Google Play Store for the first time, contrasting it with his experience on iOS and celebrating the milestone of being available on all major platforms.

From there, the conversation dives headfirst into the whirlwind of recent AI developments. Just days after their last recording, Anthropic released the incredibly powerful Claude Opus 4.5, and the brothers break down why it's a potential game-changer, especially for developers using tools like Cursor. They also explore Google's stunningly realistic new image model: Nano Banana Pro and discuss OpenAI's swift response with Codex Max. This rapid-fire competition leads to a discussion about OpenAI's rumored "code red" to refocus efforts on ChatGPT amidst user decline, raising questions about who will ultimately win the AI race.

Chapters:
00:09 Introduction and Thanksgiving Recap
02:12 Black Friday Shopping and AI Try-Ons
04:10 Launching the SplitMyExpenses Android App
10:31 Google's New Gemini 3 Pro Model
17:39 Nano Banana Pro's Realistic Images
22:11 OpenAI's Agentic Codex Max Model
24:52 Anthropic's Incredible Opus 4.5 Release
38:48 Anthropic's Bun Acquisition and IPO Rumors
43:33 OpenAI Declares a 'Code Red'

Links:
- SplitMyExpenses on Android
- SplitMyExpenses on iOS
- Bradley Bernard's Blog
- Back Market
- Google's SynthID Watermark
- The Boring Marketer

#AI #TechPodcast #Claude4.5Opus #GoogleImagen #OpenAI #AndroidDev #IndieHacker #SoftwareEngineering #Anthropic #DeveloperTools

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

Mastering Cursor: plan mode, multi agent, & Composer 1

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0800

Brad is back from the grind and finally has something to show for his 4 AM coding sessions: the official SplitMyExpenses iOS app is live on the App Store! He shares the entire journey, from the initial manual coding attempts to leveraging AI tools like Claude Code that dramatically accelerated his development pace and expanded the app's feature set. Ben also dives into his own coding project, detailing how he rebuilt his accounting firm's website from scratch, ditching Squarespace for a custom solution powered by Cursor's new "plan mode." The brothers compare notes on how indispensable AI has become in their workflows, feeling almost handicapped without it.

The conversation then zooms out to the broader AI landscape, dissecting the pros and cons of different models and why Ben finally decided to cancel his Claude subscription. With hype reaching a fever pitch, they speculate on the imminent release of Google's Gemini 3.0, discussing what it needs to deliver to be a true game-changer in terms of intelligence, speed, and cost. To wrap up, they explore a fascinating and potentially alarming theory from "The Big Short's" Michael Burry about an AI bubble fueled by misleading accounting practices, leaving listeners to ponder if the current AI boom is built on a solid foundation or a house of cards.

Chapters:
00:10 Catching Up and New Haircuts
02:05 Brad Launches Split My Expenses App
05:32 How AI Transformed App Development
15:36 Ben Rebuilds His Website with AI
20:50 Deep Dive into AI Coding Tools
28:49 Anticipating Google's Gemini 3.0 Release
34:28 Bookmarks: AI Bubbles and iPhone Socks

Links:
- SplitMyExpenses on the iOS App Store
- Catalyst CFO Website
- Render Hosting
- Cursor - The AI-first Code Editor
- Seeking Alpha: Michael Burry and the AI Bubble
- Cursor Presentation: How We Trained Our Model

#AIPodcast #TechPodcast #IndieDev #ReactNativeDev #CursorAI #Gemini3 #AIbubble #SoftwareEngineering #AppLaunch #SideHustle

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

ChatGPT Atlas deep dive: The browser that knows too much?

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Fri, 31 Oct 2025 08:41:33 -0700

The Breakeven Brothers are finally back! After another hiatus filled with cross-continental travel, surprise kitten fostering, and a whole lot of life, Bradley and Bennett jump right back into the deep end. We kick things off with stories from Brad's trip to Korea—navigating rainy weddings and constant hotel hopping—and Bennett's unexpected turn as a foster dad to a tiny kitten that wandered into his backyard. These adventures set the stage for a much larger conversation about how quickly things can change, especially in the world of AI.

Once we're settled, we dive into a wild new technique from DeepSeek that turns text into images just to... turn it back into text? It sounds crazy, but this 10x compression trick could fundamentally solve one of AI's biggest frustrations: why our agents seem to get dumber the longer we talk to them. This sparks a huge debate about OpenAI's new browser, ChatGPT Atlas. Is it a revolutionary agent that will plan our trips and buy our groceries, or a massive security risk waiting to happen? Brad also gives us a firsthand report from an exclusive "Claude Code Anonymous" meetup in San Francisco, sharing the secrets behind a 700-line master prompt that gets near-perfect results. Tune in for a packed episode covering everything from AI walled gardens to the future of how we browse the web.

Chapters:
00:00 Back from Hiatus & Personal Updates
04:11 DeepSeek's Text-to-Image Compression
13:15 OpenAI's New Agentic Browser: ChatGPT Atlas
20:38 Security Concerns with Agentic Browsers
33:20 Takeaways from Claude Code Anonymous in SF
40:16 Bookmarks: Meta vs. AI & Cursor's Plan Mode
43:54 Conclusion & wrap up

Links:
- Meta Banning Rival AI Chatbots on WhatsApp
- Cursor's New "Plan Mode"

#AI #TechPodcast #OpenAI #ChatGPTAtlas #DeepSeek #ClaudeAI #AICoding #ContextWindow #AIAgents #BrowserWars

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

Unpacking OpenAI's DevDay: changes you need to know

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0700

For our dirty 30, we're unpacking some of the biggest AI news of the year, coming at you fresh on the same day it dropped. OpenAI just held their DevDay, and to say they dropped a bombshell would be an understatement. We’re giving our live, unfiltered reactions to a tidal wave of new releases that genuinely knocked it out of the park. From an App Store-like ecosystem built directly into ChatGPT to some wild new revenue estimates (is a billion dollars a month even real?), OpenAI is building a platform that’s impossible to ignore.

Join us as we dive into the game-changing tools that could reshape the AI landscape. Ever wanted to build a powerful, custom agent without writing a single line of code? We break down the new Agent Builder and the live demo where they built and deployed one in under eight minutes. Plus, we were blown away by what might be the coolest live tech demo we've ever seen, involving stage cameras, lighting, and an Xbox controller, all prompted into existence on the spot. We also cover the API releases for Sora 2 and GPT-5 Pro and discuss what this all means for developers, non-technical creators, and the future of building.

Chapters:
00:09 Introduction: OpenAI's Big DevDay
01:32 High-Level DevDay Announcements
06:52 Building Apps within ChatGPT
18:49 The No-Code Agent Builder Kit
27:49 Sora 2 & GPT-5 Pro API Updates
35:13 The Impressive Live Codex Demo
45:44 Final Thoughts & Funny Bookmarks
50:38 Conclusion

Links:
- Sunny Madra's Tweet on OpenAI's Revenue
- OpenAI DevDay Opening Keynote
- Kitze Tweet about MCP
- Sora 2 Video of Sam Altman stealing Studio Ghibli

#OpenAI #DevDay #ChatGPT #AgentKit #Codex #Sora2 #GPT5Pro #NoCodeAI #AIPodcast #TechReaction

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

Claude Code fell off... did GPT-5 codex take the throne?

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 06:00:00 -0700

The Brothers are back! After a much-needed month-long break filled with wedding anniversaries, unfortunate illnesses, and a trip to Hawaii, Bradley and Bennett return to find the AI world has moved at lightning speed. They waste no time diving headfirst into a tool that has defined white-collar work for decades: Excel. With Anthropic's Claude now able to work directly with spreadsheets, is this the game-changing moment accountants have been waiting for, or is it merely a "Band-Aid" on a workflow that's about to be made obsolete by autonomous AI agents? Bennett puts on his tinfoil hat for a bold prediction that could change the future of knowledge work forever.

The debate then shifts from the spreadsheet to the command line, where a civil war is brewing in the world of AI coding assistants. After a "golden period" where Claude Code was the undisputed champion, a recent dip in performance has opened the door for a revitalized competitor: OpenAI's Codex. Bradley breaks down why developers are losing faith in Claude and flocking to its rival, exploring the high-stakes showdown between the two platforms. From groundbreaking new features to scary security vulnerabilities and our predictions for the rest of the year, this episode is a jam-packed catch-up on everything you need to know in the world of AI.

Chapters:
00:09 Introduction: Catching Up
02:36 Claude's New Excel Integration
06:31 Hot Take: Is Excel Obsolete?
12:05 The Rise of Autonomous AI Agents
18:35 Adapting to an AI-Driven Workforce
27:16 Microsoft Copilot Integrates Anthropic Models
32:56 The Claude Code vs. Codex Debate
48:17 AI Predictions & Security Risks
54:58 Conclusion

Links:
- Bennett's YouTube Channel: Augmented Accounting
- Automate the Boring Stuff with Python by Al Sweigart
- Python for Finance by Yves Hilpisch
- Microsoft & Anthropic Partnership (thedecoder.com)
- Google Calendar OpenAI ChatGPT MCP Server Vulnerability

#AI #Excel #FutureOfWork #ClaudeCode #CodexCLI #AccountingTech #DeveloperTools #Programming #TechPodcast #Anthropic

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

The 95% failure rate: Why our AI investment is working

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0700

A bombshell MIT study just dropped, claiming 95% of companies get ZERO return on their AI investments. Is the hype bubble finally bursting, or is there a deeper story the headlines are missing? In this episode, we're calling BS on the doom-and-gloom narrative. Drawing from our own in-the-trenches experience building an app with AI, we break down why these studies might be flawed and reveal the massive "learning gap" that's holding most people back from unlocking AI's true potential. It's not the models that are failing; it’s how we're being taught to use them.

The AI drama doesn't stop there. We're unpacking all the latest chaos from Silicon Valley, from Meta slamming the brakes on its billion-dollar hiring spree to the shocking rumor that Apple might actually use Google's Gemini to power the next generation of Siri. We also dive into a new trend for developers: can you really monetize your expertise by selling $9 AI rules? We debate that and the growing battle against "AI slop" in open source before tackling a big question for the professional world: are junior accountants about to start doing a manager's job right out of college? Tune in for our unfiltered take on the hype, the reality, and where we're all headed.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:37 The Reality of AI Investment ROI
14:58 Monetizing Expertise by Selling Cursor Rules
23:19 Meta's Billion-Dollar AI Hiring Freeze
34:27 Apple Considers Google Gemini for Siri
43:34 Disclosing AI-Generated Code Contributions
51:06 How AI is Reshaping Junior Roles
1:05:54 Bookmarks: AI Workflows and Scrapers
1:12:49 Wrapping Up

Links:
- SplitMyExpenses
- Axios article
- Cursor rules
- Laravel Boost
- Ghostty Terminal
- PwC Article on the Future of Junior Accountants
- Peter Steinberger's "AI Dev Workflow" Blog Post
- Report Reveals Internal Chaos Behind Apple's Siri Failure - MacRumors
- Apple Explores Using Google Gemini AI to Power Revamped Siri
- Marc Colbrugu's Tweet on Cloudflare

#TechPodcast #AINews #AIROI #SoftwareEngineering #MetaHiringFreeze #FutureOfWork #AppleGemini #AICodingTools #Productivity #DeveloperPodcast

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

GPT-5 is here: so why are we sticking with Claude Code?

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 06:00:00 -0700

The Death Star has arrived... or has it? This week, we're diving headfirst into the most anticipated AI launch of the year: OpenAI's GPT-5. After weeks of incredible hype, including some wild pre-launch marketing from Sam Altman himself, we finally got our hands on the new flagship model. We're here to give you our unfiltered, boots-on-the-ground review. Was it the mind-blowing leap in intelligence we were all expecting, or did the reality fall short of the promises? We unpack the bumpy rollout, the confusing new "thinking" modes that took away our control, and the one change that has us scratching our heads and asking, "who asked for this?"

But the conversation doesn't stop at GPT-5. We put the new model to the test in our own workflows, revealing its surprising strengths and one "painfully slow" weakness that might be a dealbreaker for daily use. We also stack it up against the competition, debating whether Claude Code still holds the crown for developers and if Google's Veo was secretly the most impressive release. Plus, Bradley reveals a game-changing productivity hack involving a speech-to-text tool that has him shipping features faster than ever. Tune in for a jam-packed discussion on the current state of the AI race, the drama shaking up the industry, and our verdict on whether GPT-5 is truly worth the hype.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to GPT-5 Release
03:05 Initial Reactions and Expectations
05:42 User Experience and Performance Insights
08:42 Model Selection and User Control
11:34 Temperature Settings and Flexibility
14:27 Comparative Analysis with Other Models
17:22 Open Source Models and Community Feedback
20:14 Future of AI Models and User Expectations
22:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
33:13 Dreaming of Opus Five
38:07 The Future of Coding Intelligence
40:34 Navigating AI in Development
44:32 Unlocking Productivity with Voice
51:01 Industry Insights and AI Impact

Links:
- WisprFlow
- Windsurf layoffs
- Google AI search impact on businesses
- Incredible new Apple ringtone

#GPT5Review #OpenAI #ClaudeCode #TechPodcast #AIProductivity #DeveloperTools #CursorAI #AIFails #PromptEngineering #TechReview

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

(00:00) - Introduction to GPT-5 Release
(03:05) - Initial Reactions and Expectations
(05:42) - User Experience and Performance Insights
(08:42) - Model Selection and User Control
(11:34) - Temperature Settings and Flexibility
(14:27) - Comparative Analysis with Other Models
(17:22) - Open Source Models and Community Feedback
(20:14) - Future of AI Models and User Expectations
(22:59) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
(33:13) - Dreaming of Opus Five
(38:07) - The Future of Coding Intelligence
(40:34) - Navigating AI in Development
(44:32) - Unlocking Productivity with Voice
(51:01) - Industry Insights and AI Impact

Anthropic cracks down: The end of unlimited Claude Code?

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0700

It's the official mid-year reality check! We're dusting off our 2025 bingo card to see which of our wild predictions have actually come true. Did a solo founder get that billion-dollar offer? Are robot cop-dogs with machine guns a thing now? And what ever happened to Bennett's homemade salsa ambitions? We tally the points (and half-points) and laugh at what we were thinking just a few months ago. Before we get to the scorecard, we vent about our recent coding frustrations—from a brutal React Native bug to the eternal search for quality AI content on YouTube—and shout out a couple of creators who are actually getting it right.

Once the predictions are settled, we dive into the main event: the rapidly shifting landscape of AI agents. OpenAI just dropped its highly-anticipated Agent, but does it live up to the "get coffee while it works" hype? We peel back the layers on what it can *actually* do and where it still falls short. Then, we tackle the Claude Code saga. We've been asking for months if their pricing was sustainable, and it looks like we finally have an answer. Anthropic is rolling out major changes to its "unlimited" plans, and we break down what these new limits mean for developers, the future of AI coding assistants, and the one user who was costing them tens of thousands of dollars a month.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
04:44 Bingo Card Recap: Mid-Year Check-In
20:40 OpenAI Agents: Initial Reactions and Insights
33:45 Navigating AI and Automation Limits
37:02 Claude Code Updates and User Experience
40:55 Pricing Strategies and User Impact
44:26 Quality Concerns and User Adaptation
49:42 Innovations in Cloud Code Sub-Agents
52:26 Future Predictions and Market Dynamics

Links:
- AI Jason
- Garret Love
- Comet Browser from Perplexity
- Firecrawl
- Anthropic AI subreddit
- OpenAI Agent controlling a security camera
- 7 useful Claude Code sub-agents

#TechPodcast #ClaudeCode #OpenAIAgents #AI #FuturePredictions #TechStartups #LangGraph #Coding #Anthropic #AITrends

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

How I broke Claude's "Unlimited" $200 plan

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0700

After a surprisingly affordable and delicious trip to Vancouver, we're back and diving headfirst into the AI world's latest obsession: the talent war. Meta is swinging for the fences, reportedly dropping $100 million offers to poach top researchers from OpenAI. This has sparked a war of words, with OpenAI framing it as "stealing" and pitting their "missionaries" against Meta's "mercenaries." We break down the strategies, the ethics, and the sheer audacity of these moves. Is Meta making a desperate play to catch up, or is this a brilliant power move to build an unstoppable super intelligence team? We also go on a wild tangent to connect the dots between Elon's various companies, culminating in Bennett's sci-fi conspiracy theory that you have to hear to believe.

The battle isn't just for people; it's for performance. We explore the flood of new model releases, from the mind-bogglingly large Kimi K2 to the controversial Grok-4, and debate what truly matters more: raw intelligence or flawless "tool calling" capabilities. This hits close to home as Bradley, a Claude Code power user, shares his frustrating story of finally hitting the hard limit on his "unlimited" plan. Is the golden age of infinite AI coding coming to an end? We wrap up by dissecting the dramatic downfall of Windsurf, the AI IDE once courted by OpenAI, and how its top talent ended up at Google, leaving the rest of the team in the lurch. It's an episode packed with big money, big models, and even bigger drama.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction: Summer Travels and Culinary Adventures
05:37 The AI Talent War: Meta vs OpenAI
20:13 Emerging AI Models and Tool Calling Innovations
38:16 The Future of Human-Machine Integration
44:57 The Impact of AI Saturation on Users
51:16 The Windsurf Acquisition and Its Implications

Links:
- Kimi AI Chat
- Article on the Windsurf Acquisition
- Google's MCP Toolbox
- Claude-Code-Kimi-Grok

#TechPodcast #ArtificialIntelligence #AITalentWar #ClaudeCode #KimiAI #ToolCalling #SoftwareEngineering #OpenAI #AcquiHire #BreakevenBrothers

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

The AI CLI war: who’s winning?!

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0700

One year in the books! We're popping the non-alcoholic champagne to celebrate the first anniversary of the Breakeven Brothers podcast. In that time, the AI landscape has shifted from a gentle tremor to a full-blown earthquake, and in this episode, we're navigating the aftershocks. The AI arms race is escalating, with tech giants like Meta opening up their wallets for jaw-dropping nine-figure paydays to poach top talent directly from OpenAI. We dive into the strategies, the insane sign-on bonuses, and what this means for the future of AI development.

But the corporate warfare doesn't stop at talent. We also uncover the shocking deals being made to power these AI ambitions—we're talking multi-year contracts for *nuclear energy* just to keep the data centers humming. On the ground level, we debate the red-hot AI CLI battle, why one of us is happily spending $200 a month on a single coding tool, and whether coding from your phone is a dream come true or a work-life balance nightmare. Tune in as we discuss the shift from "prompt engineering" to "context engineering" and try to make sense of a world where AI bots are scraping 60,000 web pages for a single query.

(00:00) - Intro
(03:00) - AI Developments and OpenAI's New Releases
(05:34) - The Rise of Mobile AI Applications
(11:19) - Exploring the CLI Landscape for AI Agents
(16:48) - Meta's Talent Acquisition and the AI Arms Race
(31:29) - Talent Wars in AI Companies
(35:31) - The Role of AI in Social Media
(39:10) - Energy Needs for AI Development
(41:28) - Quantum Computing: The Next Frontier
(43:50) - The Shift from Prompt Engineering to Context Engineering
(48:12) - AI's Impact on Content Creation and Publishing

Links:
- OpenAI's Deep Research Models & Prompt Rewriter
- Cursor's Mobile App Announcement
- Anthropic's Blog Post on Claude Code Usage
- Andrej Karpathy's "Context Engineering" Tweet
- Mark Gurman's Apple Report
- MKBHD's Quantum Computing Video
- Adrian from Simple Analytics' Tip (Bookmark)
- Justin Anderson's Profile & OpenAI Cookbook Link (Bookmark)

#AI #TechPodcast #ClaudeCode #AITalent #OpenAI #ContextEngineering #AICoding #AIEnergy #AISlop #BreakevenBrothers

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

Agent to Agent: Google’s ADK and the new frontier of AI

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0700

On this Michael Jordan episode (23!), we kick things off with a classic tale of a "five-minute" project gone wrong. Bradley shares his ambitious attempt at a parking lot car battery replacement that quickly turned into a 30-minute fishing expedition for a single lost part. Meanwhile, Bennett recounts a white-knuckle flight experience made even more stressful by a massive, internet-wide outage. What happens when the Google Cloud services that underpin everything suddenly go dark right before your flight? We dive into the chaos, what caused it, and what it reveals about our dependency on just a handful of tech giants.

That tech meltdown is the perfect launchpad for our main event: getting our hands dirty building with the latest AI. Bennett gives his firsthand review of Google's new Agent Development Kit (ADK), comparing its simplicity to the granular control of LangGraph. We explore the frontiers of multi-agent workflows and the tricky art of getting them to actually talk to each other. Then, Brad details his journey of building a custom MCP server from scratch and reveals how he’s squeezed over $1,400 of value from his AI coding assistant this month alone. With tools this powerful, we have to ask the big question: Is the era of traditional SaaS over? Tune in to hear our take on the future of custom software and what it truly means to be a builder in the age of AI.

(00:00) - Introductions & updates
(03:00) - Flying Fears and Internet Outages
(05:52) - AI Model Releases and Developments
(08:43) - Exploring Google ADK and Agent Development
(11:36) - MCPs and Their Role in AI Agents
(14:41) - Multi-Agent Frameworks and Structures
(24:49) - Navigating Agent Handoffs and Protocols
(29:23) - Challenges with OAuth and Authentication
(34:44) - Comparing Google ADK and LangGraph
(42:19) - Building an MCP Server for Laravel Telescope
(47:29) - The Future of Natural Language Interaction
(51:51) - Cost Analysis of Using Cloud Code
(53:13) - The Rise of AI Tools in Development
(55:44) - The Future of SaaS: Cloning vs. Custom Solutions
(58:54) - The Shift from Subscription to One-Time Payments
(01:04:19) - The Evolution of AI Workflows and Automation
(01:08:04) - The Importance of Building vs. Consuming AI Tools
(01:12:18) - Navigating Complex AI Tasks and Future Interactions

Links:
- Bradley's Telescope MCP Server
- LangChain's Interrupt Conference Videos
- Claude Code's MCP servers
- ONCE by 37signals
- Levels.fyi Tweet about Cursor outage
- Apple's "The Illusion of Thinking in LLMs" Paper

#AI #SoftwareDevelopment #GoogleADK #LangGraph #ClaudeAI #TechPodcast #DeveloperLife #SaaS #Laravel #AgenticAI

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

Paying $200/month for Claude Code... here's why

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 06:00:00 -0700

Guess who's finally back from an epic honeymoon adventure through Japan and Korea?! Bradley rejoins Bennett, and after a two-and-a-half-week AI news whirlwind, we've got A LOT to unpack. We're kicking things off by calling out the "Propaganda We're Not Falling For," tackling everything from overhyped agent overload and why some popular frameworks aren't cutting it for us, to whether every new AI feature is truly a revolution or just good PR. Plus, we'll catch you up on the flurry of announcements from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google that dropped while Brad was offline – think new coding assistants, intriguing hardware partnerships, and the ever-evolving landscape of AI models.

But the real deep dive this episode? Bradley's been putting Anthropic's Claude Code through its paces, and folks, the experience has been nothing short of mind-blowing. We're talking about taking a $200/month AI coding partner and unleashing it on a seriously complex part of a real-world app – thousands of lines of code, major refactoring, and even building custom MCP servers for AI-driven testing! Is this the future of solo development? Can an AI truly become your most productive (and surprisingly insightful) coding intern? We're sharing the nitty-gritty, the jaw-dropping successes, and what this level of AI capability means for anyone building software today. Buckle up, because the AI tools are evolving faster than ever!

(00:00) - Introductions & updates
(02:50) - Propaganda I'm Not Falling For: AI Trends and Tools
(06:08) - OpenAI's Codex: Innovations in AI Development
(11:43) - Johnny Ive and OpenAI: A New Era of AI Hardware
(17:35) - Claude Code: The Rise of AI in Coding
(22:15) - Anthropic's Claude: User Experience and Feedback
(25:06) - The Challenge of AI Personalities
(26:51) - Red Teaming and AI Ethics
(29:09) - Anthropic's Marketing Strategy
(30:03) - Innovations from Google I.O.
(34:04) - The Future of Agent-to-Agent Communication
(40:15) - Exploring Claude Code
(48:12) - The Pricing Landscape of AI Tools
(55:33) - Harnessing AI for Enhanced Productivity
(58:26) - Navigating the Learning Curve of AI Tools
(01:01:11) - The Future of Software Development with AI
(01:06:33) - Personalized Software: The New Frontier
(01:11:32) - The Reality of Building SaaS with AI
(01:14:06) - Marketing in the Age of AI

Links:
- Claude Code
- Google's A2A repository
- AI Engineering book
- Building a StoryBrand book
- The Startup Ideas Podcast
- Deep dive into Claude Code
- Introduction to Vibe Marketing

#AI #TechPodcast #SoftwareDevelopment #ClaudeCode #AIProgramming #AIHype #OpenAI #Anthropic #DeveloperTools #MCP

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

Podcastify your work with NotebookLM

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 08 May 2025 06:00:00 -0700

We are back with a jam-packed episode, kicking things off with everything from childhood gaming nostalgia (Oblivion, anyone?) to Brad's very exclusive Breakeven Brothers merch (bidding starts high, apparently!). But things get serious (and seriously exciting) as they dive into Brad's adventures at the DeepDishSwift iOS conference in Chicago, revealing how AI is no longer just a buzzword but a full-blown movement shaking up the Apple developer world. Plus, Ben unveils his brand-new, brilliantly named newsletter, "Augmentic Accounting," aimed at giving accountants an AI-powered edge – you won't want to miss the origin story!

The brothers then tackle the big tech headlines, from OpenAI's latest multi-billion dollar shopping spree to Duolingo's bold (and controversial!) AI manifesto that has everyone talking and some even ditching their streaks. But the real star of this episode might just be a game-changing Google tool called NotebookLM. Bradley and Bennett share their firsthand experiences transforming dense docs, research, and even code into... well, you'll have to listen to find out how they're making information digestion downright fun and surprisingly podcast-like! They explore its clever features, potential workplace revolutions, and why it might become your new favorite productivity hack. Tune in for all this, their takes on AI's evolving (and sometimes overly agreeable) personality, and a look at what it all means for the future of our jobs!

(00:00) - Introduction and Personal Updates
(03:09) - AI Trends in Development Conferences
(06:06) - Launching Augmentic Accounting Newsletter
(09:00) - Navigating AI Tools and Skill Development
(12:05) - The Importance of Human Connection in an AI World
(15:03) - AI in Hiring and Performance Reviews
(17:55) - OpenAI's Acquisition Rumors and Windsurf
(21:06) - Apple App Store Changes and Developer Impact
(23:58) - Exploring Notebook LLM
(25:15) - Exploring Notebook LM Features
(29:14) - Engaging with Audio Content
(33:44) - Knowledge Sharing and Onboarding
(36:30) - The Future of Audio in the Workplace
(40:40) - Context Management in AI Tools
(46:05) - OpenAI's Recent Developments
(51:25) - The Impact of AI on Software Engineering

Links:
- NotebookLM
- ConvertKit (Kit)
- Duolingo AI Manifesto
- Shopify AI Manifest
- Windsurf
- OpenAI GPT-4o Sycophancy Post Mortem
- Will software jobs be the first to be displaced by AI?
- HackerNews comment on original Windsurf launch

#AI #NotebookLM #TechPodcast #FutureOfWork #AICoding #GoogleAI #ProductivityHacks #TechNews #OpenAI #LearnAI

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

How AI can change accounting: Agents & LangGraph

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0700

Alright folks, buckle up because Episode 20 is here, and the AI world has been busy! Just like us hitting this big milestone, the pace of innovation isn't letting up. We kick things off by putting ourselves to the test with a hilarious and high-stakes game: Blind Ranking 10 AI Chat Apps. Who will reign supreme? Will we agree on the top spots, or will a surprise contender emerge from the digital shadows? Tune in to hear our spontaneous takes as we build the list live, one mystery app at a time!

But the fun doesn't stop there. We dive headfirst into the whirlwind of major model releases that dropped faster than we could type – think OpenAI's latest O-series, Google's killer Gemini updates, and even Grok stepping up its game. Forget the dry benchmarks; we're talking about the "vibes" and real-world performance. Then, Bennett pulls back the curtain on a powerful framework he's been mastering, LangGraph, revealing how it can automate complex, multi-step processes (yes, even in accounting!). Could this be the key to building smarter AI agents and reshaping professional workflows? Plus, we share our can't-miss bookmarks, including a peek at a coding tool claiming superhuman results and another that magically turns boring documents into engaging podcasts. Don't miss this jam-packed episode!

(00:00) - Introduction
(02:11) - Blind Ranking of AI Apps
(16:11) - Recent AI Developments and Releases
(24:11) - The Future of Accounting with AI
(25:17) - The Changing Landscape of Accounting
(26:51) - Introduction to LangGraph and Its Applications
(30:46) - State Management and Process Automation
(32:58) - Integrating AI Agents with LangGraph
(37:07) - The Future of Automation in Accounting
(41:26) - The Importance of Human Oversight in AI
(46:39) - Innovations in Automation and Personalization

Links:
- SplitMyExpenses
- LangGraph
- LangChain
- Empower Personal Dashboard
- Google's NotebookLM
- Deel v Rippling NotebookLM
- Cursor 0.49 + o3

#AIChatApps #AIModels #GeminiAI #LangGraph #AIAccounting #AIAutomation #CursorAI #NotebookLM #AITools #TechPodcast

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

Talking to your data: Is MCP the future interface?

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0700

What exactly is MCP (Model Context Protocol) and why is it catching fire in the AI world? We unpack this emerging standard for connecting LLMs like Claude to external data sources, discussing its origins, how it differs from previous methods, and why major tech players are suddenly paying attention. Learn the potential behind standardized AI tool integration.

Explore real-world examples like connecting AI chats to Xero accounting software for easier data access. We also share our own hands-on experiences building custom MCP servers – detailing the initial setup hurdles, the surprising power, the frustrating limitations we hit, and why this technology feels poised to reshape how we interact with our systems and data.

(00:16) - Intro: Weekend Catch-Up & Episode Preview
(01:48) - Introducing MCP: Model Context Protocol
(02:28) - MCP Origins and Early Adoption
(04:10) - Use Case: Connecting with Xero MCP
(06:04) - How MCP Standardizes External Data Access
(15:13) - Building a Custom MCP: Setup & Insights
(31:03) - MCP Challenges: Authentication, Scale & Inefficiencies
(43:51) - Future Vision & Impact of MCP
(50:23) - Bookmarks: Earmark CPE & OpenAI Academy
(53:55) - Conclusion & Call for MCP Examples

Links:
- SplitMyExpenses
- Xero
- Personal Capital / Empower
- MCP documentation
- Earmark
- MCP server directory
- AI course to analyze accounting data and draft reports
- OpenAI Academy

#MCP #AI #LLM #DataIntegration #ClaudeAI #Automation #TechPodcast #DeveloperTools #API #AccountingTech

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

Why these AI updates could change your job forever

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0700

Hold onto your hats, because the AI world just went into hyperdrive! This week, we try to make sense of the absolute deluge of new model releases that have dropped faster than Brad can guess Ben's secret words in our new AI Word Nerd game. From OpenAI finally cracking the code on actually usable text in images (goodbye, alien script!) to Google's confusingly named but seriously powerful Gemini 2.5 Pro storming the leaderboards for coding and reasoning, it feels like a year's worth of updates landed in just two weeks. We'll break down the key players, including the latest from open-source champions like DeepSeek and Sesame, covering advancements in speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and even AI that can see. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the pace, you're not alone – join us as we navigate the flood!

But it's not all just news and benchmarks! Ben dives deep into his latest "vibe coding" experiment: building a personal AI agent to tame his unruly email inbox. Hear about the highs and lows of prompting an AI to sort, prioritize, and even connect with other tools like QuickBooks, all while trying not to break the API limit bank. Discover the quirks of working with these powerful models, the surprising difficulty of asking an AI to remove code it added, and the critical lessons learned from tinkering on the front lines. If you want practical insights into building useful AI tools and staying ahead of the curve without needing a PhD, this episode is packed with real-world experience and essential updates.

(00:00) - Introduction
(06:01) - Recent Developments in AI Models
(10:25) - OpenAI's Image Generation Innovations
(13:19) - Google's Gemini 2.5 Release
(17:47) - DeepSeek's New Model and Open Source Impact
(18:58) - Advancements in Speech-to-Text Technology
(21:23) - Innovations in AI: Leading the Charge
(28:27) - Exploring New AI Models and Their Applications
(38:29) - Building AI Agents: Insights and Experiences

Links:
- Google AI Studio
- OpenAI Text-to-Speech Demo
- Sesame Text-to-Speech Model
- OpenAI Agent Building Framework
- Eric's Context Window Chart & RepoPrompt
- Santiago's MCP Tweet/Video

#AIUpdates #GoogleGemini #OpenAI #AIAgents #AICoding #VibeCoding #OpenSourceAI #AIProductivity #TechPodcast #ContextWindow

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

Are AI agents your next co-workers?

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 06:00:00 -0700

Imagine your daily tasks completing themselves—no tedious manual work, no repetitive copy-pasting, just you overseeing a team of AI-powered assistants handling it all seamlessly. In this exciting new episode of the Breakeven Brothers podcast, Bradley and Ben dive deep into the world of AI agents: powerful tools that not only simplify your work but might just become your favorite new teammates. Whether you're in software engineering, accounting, or any knowledge-driven profession, the AI revolution has officially landed, and it's time to make friends with your newest coworkers—AI agents.

Join the brothers as they unpack what exactly makes AI agents so game-changing, how these new tools are already reshaping professional roles in real-time, and why knowing how to orchestrate your personal AI assistants might soon become an essential skill. Ready to meet your new AI co-workers and learn how they can supercharge your productivity? Hit play and tune into Episode 17—because the future of work has arrived, and it's bringing a few surprises along with it!

(00:00) - Introduction
(03:03) - The Impact of AI on Knowledge Work
(06:20) - Understanding AI Agents
(09:24) - The Evolution of AI Interaction
(12:25) - The Future of AI in Workplaces
(15:18) - Recent Developments in AI Gaming
(18:11) - Challenges and Opportunities with AI Agents
(20:59) - The Importance of Effective Prompting
(26:35) - The Importance of Specificity in AI Prompts
(28:24) - Understanding AI's Limitations and Clarifying Questions
(30:45) - The Evolving Role of Software Engineers in AI
(32:37) - Exploring AI Tools and Their Integration in Workflows
(34:43) - Maximizing Efficiency with AI Tools
(36:37) - The Need for Documentation in AI Utilization
(40:25) - Future of AI Agents in Accounting and Finance
(44:11) - The Competitive Landscape of AI Development

Links:
- Vibe coded FIFA in 2 hours (troll)
- Drink the kool aid: Claude Code is AGI
- Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff's prediction about Microsoft and OpenAI's partnership may have just manifested — and it's not a pretty look for the ChatGPT maker
- Claude code

#AIAgents #PromptEngineering #ProductivityTips #FutureOfWork #VibeCoding #ClaudeCode #AutomationTools #CursorAI #AIRevolution #AccountingAutomation

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

Low pain tolerance: Engineering efficiency & accounting's future

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0800

This week, the Breakeven Brothers are diving headfirst into a whirlwind of tech news, accounting industry shake-ups, and personal automation adventures. From the front lines of the Super Bowl (and its *always* controversial TurboTax ads), we unpack a surprising battle brewing between accountants and the very software they rely on. Is Intuit turning its back on the professionals who champion its products? We also explore the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with automating the *perfect* free Chipotle order, only to be thwarted by… a cellular dead zone? You won't want to miss Brad's hilarious (and slightly heartbreaking) tale of coding, burritos, and the realities of AT&T coverage.

But the real meat of this episode tackles a question on every tech worker's mind: Are robots coming for our jobs? We dissect a provocative tweet from the CEO of Gumroad, declaring junior (and even mid-level) software engineers obsolete thanks to the power of AI. Is this a bold prediction of the future, a publicity stunt, or complete nonsense? We break down the arguments, analyze the current state of AI coding tools like Cursor, and discuss what this all means for the future of software development. Plus, we delve into the surprisingly hot topic of backend languages favored by venture capitalists, a little accounting tech-switching, and Brad's ongoing exploration of OpenAI's "Deep Research" tool – is it worth the hefty price tag? Tune in for a jam-packed episode full of insights, arguments, and, as always, a healthy dose of brotherly banter! We'll explore career prospects and some final book marks, along with an update about Sam Altman.

(00:00) - Introduction and Personal Updates
(03:28) - Laravel Adventures and AI Coding Tools
(06:20) - Super Bowl and TurboTax Controversy
(12:06) - Chipotle Automation and Networking Challenges
(20:41) - Pottery and Future Plans
(22:12) - The Rise of Programming Languages in AI
(32:30) - Technology Switching and Efficiency in Workflows
(44:22) - The Challenge of Legacy Systems and Boring Industries
(46:31) - The 2038 Problem: Legacy Systems and Their Risks
(48:11) - AI's Impact on Software Engineering Jobs
(51:50) - The Future of Coding: AI vs Human Engineers
(56:59) - AI in Accounting: Automation and Efficiency
(58:50) - Deep Research: OpenAI's New Tool for In-Depth Analysis
(01:03:38) - OpenAI's Evolution: From Nonprofit to For-Profit
(01:09:22) - Data Security in AI: Best Practices for Professionals

Links:
- Debugger mode prompt for Cursor (save you hours of pain)
- Humane kills AI Pin; HP buys assets | LinkedIn

- OpenAI - Data security
- What VCs are hiring for in terms of languages
- Sam Altman: what to open source next?

#AIcoding #Laravel #AccountingTech #SoftwareEngineering #OpenAI #TechNews #Productivity #FutureOfWork #VCfunding #LegacySystems

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

Monk mode & micro breaks: How to actually get stuff done

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 09:19:15 -0800

Ever feel like you're juggling a million things at once and still not getting anywhere? This week, the Breakeven Brothers dive deep into the world of productivity – and it’s not all about grinding through endless hours. We’re debating the merits of intense "monk mode" focus versus the power of strategic micro-breaks, all while sharing our personal battles with distractions, sleep schedules, and the never-ending quest to simply get things done. From the depths of AI-powered coding sessions to the complexities of managing a side hustle, we’re exploring how to actually make progress, not just feel busy. Join us as we reveal our current strategies to stay focused, reduce distractions, and even touch on some popular health guru advice. Get ready to rethink your approach to productivity, because it's not just about how hard you work, but how *smart* you work.

This episode is a whirlwind tour through our latest tech adventures, side project updates, and the surprising realities of running a business in 2025. We're diving into some painful realities of mobile app development (yes, we're looking at you, push notifications!), and discuss the surprising ways AI is both helping and hindering our progress. Plus, we reveal the unexpected places where we are seeing real value with new AI models and tools – including one incredibly easy setup that lets us run powerful tech locally! We’ll also touch on the power of community and the financial realities of running your own accounting firm. If you’re curious about how to navigate a world of endless to-dos, tune in for a candid discussion on what’s actually working for us right now… and what's definitely *not*.

(00:00) - Navigating Busy Work Lives
(03:29) - The Importance of Focus and Deep Work
(06:20) - Strategies for Effective Work Sessions
(09:14) - Implementing Notifications and User Engagement
(12:25) - Enhancing Data Security and Backup Strategies
(15:26) - Building a Chat Application with Django and React Native
(22:33) - Navigating React and React Native Development
(24:01) - The Challenges of Prompt Engineering with AI
(28:25) - Understanding the Complexity of React and React Native
(30:25) - The Limitations of AI in Software Development
(36:08) - The Future of AI in Creative Fields
(40:21) - Leveraging AI for Enhanced Productivity
(45:34) - Exploring AI-Powered Web Browsing
(48:26) - Innovative Use Cases in Accounting with AI
(51:11) - The Debate: Python vs. PHP in Web Development
(51:41) - Deep Dive into Open Source AI Models
(58:49) - Setting Up Local AI Models with Open Web UI
(01:02:26) - Bookmarks: AI Tools and Practical Applications

Links:
- Easy apply to jobs with an AI powered Chrome Extension
- Host ALL your AI locally

- How Much Money I Made In 2024 As A Fourth Year CPA Firm Owner

#ProductivityHacks #AIforDevelopers #LocalAI #MobileAppDevelopment #WebDevelopment #SoftwareEngineering #Entrepreneurship #AccountingTech #DeepWork #OpenSourceAI

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

Beyond Stack Overflow: AI as your new programming partner

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 06:00:00 -0800

Tired of endless Stack Overflow searches and outdated tutorials? Get ready to enter a new era of coding where AI is no longer just a tool but a full-fledged programming partner. In this week's episode, we dive deep into the transformative world of AI-assisted development, exploring how these intelligent systems are not just generating code but changing the way we think about building software. We share our firsthand experiences with the latest AI coding tools, from fighting with quirky interfaces to witnessing shockingly efficient code generation. Join us as we discuss everything from using AI to build a Python app from scratch to its ability to act as your personal accountability coach, making sure you actually finish your projects. Is this the end of "copy/paste" coding? Tune in to find out.

But it's not all code and algorithms this week, as we venture beyond the digital realm. We'll explore how this new wave of AI is changing productivity, accountability, and the very nature of how we approach problem-solving. Prepare for a lively conversation that touches on topics from the surprising quirks of a "salty spoon" invention, to the rise of new tech trends. We even uncover the latest from the world of package managers, and how one might just disrupt the Python community as a whole. Is AI the answer to all of our problems, or does it come with its own set of challenges? We are pushing the boundaries to see just how far we can take AI as our new partner.

(00:00) - Introduction and Personal Updates
(08:34) - Networking at Laravel SF Meetup
(19:17) - Coding with AI and New Tools
(27:52) - Accountability Through AI: A New Approach
(34:21) - AI in Coding: Expectations vs. Reality
(39:32) - AI Agents: The Future of Workplace Efficiency
(44:34) - The Shift from PIP to UV in Python Package Management
(52:36) - Exploring AI Tools: ChatGPT vs. O1 Pro
(58:12) - Startup Opportunities: Microsoft’s Support for Entrepreneurs

Links:
- Microsoft Startup Program
- Derek Thompson 2025 forecast
- Jason Stats' 2025 book list

#AICoding #AIforProductivity #SoftwareDevelopment #FutureofTech #TechTrends2025 #OpenAISoftware #PythonProgramming #StartupTech #AIInnovation #AccountabilityPartner

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

The bingo card of the future: Our 2025 reality check

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 06:00:00 -0800

The Breakeven Brothers are back with their first episode in 2025, kicking things off with a lighthearted chat about post-holiday routines, including taking down Christmas lights and the debate between real and fake Christmas trees. They also touch on their New Year's Eve celebrations and share how they’re already thinking about productivity and goal setting for the year. This episode sets the stage for a deeper dive into tech and business trends by discussing the recent whiplash with the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirements, offering up-to-date info amidst the confusion. The hosts also explore the world of AI-powered tools, highlighting the usefulness of voice-to-text apps like Whisper Flow and AI language practice via ChatGPT, while also delving into their experiences with AI for both business and personal use.

The main focus of the episode is the creation of their "2025 Bingo Card," a fun, forward-thinking activity where they make predictions and set goals across various categories—from tech and finance to sports and global events. These range from plausible scenarios, like Aleksandr Ovechkin breaking Gretzky’s goal record and the launch of the SplitMyExpenses mobile app, to more outlandish ideas, such as an AI judge in US courts, the US acquiring Greenland, or even a billion-dollar exit for a solo AI founder. The podcast ends with discussions of bookmarks including cutting-edge AI productivity tools, the Bench acquisition news, and a hint towards the potential for the Breakeven Brothers to launch merch this year. They leave listeners with a call to keep an eye on their predictions, promising to revisit the bingo card at the start of 2026 to see which forecasts came true.

(00:00) - Introduction
(09:15) - Navigating Compliance: BOI Updates
(13:14) - Productivity Tools and AI Innovations
(24:01) - Voice Technology in Everyday Life
(26:58) - The Pricing Dilemma in AI Tools
(30:57) - Cursor's Evolution and Self-Improvement
(35:04) - The Importance of Pricing in Business Models
(36:32) - Bingo Card Predictions for 2025
(47:02) - The Future of JavaScript and Web Development
(50:41) - The Rise of AI in Human Enhancement
(54:01) - Virtual Reality in the Workplace
(54:53) - Taste Testing and Homegrown Delights
(56:26) - Merchandising Ideas for Breakeven Brothers
(56:46) - AI Acquisitions and Mergers on the Horizon
(57:39) - Envisioning Car-Free Cities
(59:31) - Geopolitical Speculations: Acquiring Greenland
(01:00:28) - Wellness Days: A New Approach to Mental Health
(01:02:33) - The Future of Daylight Savings Time
(01:03:36) - AI Judges: The Future of Small Claims Court
(01:05:35) - New Accounting Designations for Small Businesses
(01:07:10) - Blockchain App Stores: Bridging the Gap
(01:08:32) - The Evolution of Accounting Skills
(01:10:18) - AI Coding Agents and Legal Responsibility
(01:12:46) - LLM App Stores: A New Frontier
(01:13:48) - Quantum Computing Programming Languages
(01:15:21) - End-to-End Accounting Automation Platforms
(01:17:11) - Launching the SplitMyExpenses App

Links

Brad: Best 14 AI tools

Ben: Bench to be acquired after abruptly shutting down | TechCrunch

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

UFOs and 2024 wrapped

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 06:00:00 -0800

As 2024 comes to a close, the Breakeven Brothers are looking back at a year filled with bizarre headlines, technological leaps, and the ever-present hum of UFO speculation. Was that a drone swarm over New Jersey, or something...else? They dive deep into the latest sightings, exploring a wild theory involving a missing radioactive device and some top-secret government scanning. But it's not all tinfoil hats and conspiracy theories; they're also taking stock of their own year, sharing lessons learned in the trenches of app development, side hustles, and the quest for a more balanced life. From Black Friday scores to New Year's resolutions, this episode is a jam-packed reflection on the year that was, with a healthy dose of future-gazing. Get ready for some surprising insights, a few laughs, and a whole lot of brotherly debate as they wrap up 2024 and set their sights on a brand new year!

(00:00) - Intros
(07:42) - UFOs and Skepticism in the Digital Age
(17:15) - Learning New Systems: A Personal Journey
(28:34) - Navigating Competition and Innovation in Business
(35:18) - Building a Mobile App: Vision and Challenges
(43:08) - Narrowing Focus: Niching Down vs. General Audience
(50:50) - Setting Goals for 2025: Career and Side Projects
(01:05:18) - Navigating Code and Documentation Challenges
(01:10:26) - AI Innovations and Competitive Landscape
(01:16:10) - Setting Goals for 2025 and Beyond

Links
Native image output with Gemini 2.0 Flash
Why I chose React Native to build my new mobile app in 2024
Blue Ocean Strategy
Elgato Key Light Air
Judge injunction on BOI reporting
Quantum computer Willow

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

The art of building vs. the game of marketing

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 08:00:00 -0800

Join the Breakeven Brothers as they discuss everything from a turbulent flight experience and the ethics of face-scanning apps to the joys of ping pong and the dark side of app monetization. They debate the merits of niching down in business, explore the world of indie game development, and share their struggles with LinkedIn spam and the quest for viral marketing success. Plus, a surprising connection between balance sheet reconciliations and LinkedIn virality! Tune in for a lively conversation about accounting, tech, and the challenges of building a business in the digital age.

(00:00) - Intro & Navigating Travel Experiences
(05:57) - The Rise of Monetization in Apps
(11:42) - Ethics of App Monetization
(17:34) - The Impact of Microtransactions on Gaming
(23:30) - Unique Experiences in Gaming Lounges
(28:55) - Gaming Evolution and Experiences
(34:53) - The Importance of Niching in Business
(42:33) - Navigating Social Media Changes
(53:37) - The Future of Online Communities
(59:20) - LinkedIn Analytics: Insights and Strategies
(01:11:49) - Bookmarks: Tools and Tips for Improvement

Bookmarks

Brad: Huberman blue light glasses - legit or not?

Ben: Matt Wilkinson post about websites for accounting firm & Linkedin junk

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

The social media hack that made me $2K/day

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -0800

In this episode, Bennett and Brad dive into the fascinating world of early social media tools and growth hacking. Brad shares his journey of building viral social media products as a teenager, including a $3 Twitter tool that ran on autopilot for years and an Instagram growth platform that made $2,000 per day before being shut down. The brothers discuss how social media platforms have evolved since 2010, from the early days of Twitter follower ratios to modern LinkedIn content strategy. They explore the risks and rewards of building on social platforms, the importance of timing in tech, and how authentic content creation has changed over the years. Whether you're interested in social media history, building products, or growing an online presence, this episode offers unique insights from someone who's been in the trenches since high school.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Milestones
05:50 The Evolution of Social Media
11:34 The First Sale and Learning Experience
18:36 The Evolution of Social Media Platforms
24:12 Building and Selling iUnfollow
29:42 The Rise and Fall of Instapromote
41:22 The Impact of User Experience on Business Success
50:53 The Challenge of Authenticity in Online Presence
57:29 The Future of AI in Content Creation

Bookmarks
Bradley’s bookmark: Turn off your iPad automatically every night from @Javi

Ben’s Reads for the week:
The Franchise MBA by Nick Neonakis
Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller
Numeric raises $28M to build the next-gen financial data platform | Numeric

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

Brad ties the knot & moving to the Bay Area

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 08:00:00 -0700

In this episode of the Breakeven Brothers podcast, hosts Bennett and Brad discuss significant life updates, including Brad's recent marriage, the challenges of wedding planning, and the joy of celebrating with friends and family. They reflect on memorable moments from the wedding, the importance of having a good support team, and the excitement of moving back to the Bay Area for a new job at Snapchat.

In this conversation, Bennett and Bradley discuss various themes ranging from practical skills like knot tying to childhood memories of outdoor adventures. They delve into tech innovations, user engagement strategies, and the challenges of managing finances and bookkeeping for their projects. The conversation also touches on reverse engineering mobile apps and the complexities of modern web development, particularly in relation to web scraping and the evolving landscape of JavaScript frameworks. In this conversation, Bennett and Bradley discuss the complexities of modern web development, emphasizing the need for simplicity in design and coding practices. They explore the challenges posed by various web development tools and frameworks, particularly Tailwind, and reflect on the importance of choosing the right cloud services for hosting applications. The discussion also touches on personal interests, such as gardening and outdoor activities, highlighting the value of engaging in hands-on projects outside of their tech-centric lives.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Life Updates
01:29 Wedding Reflections and Highlights
06:02 Memorable Moments from the Wedding
08:56 Post-Wedding Celebrations and Friendships
11:49 Transitioning to New Life Events
14:44 Moving Back to the Bay Area
17:28 Job Search and New Opportunities
20:30 Future Plans and Reflections
23:13 Exploring New Interests and Hobbies
27:05 The Art of Knot Tying
29:07 Childhood Memories and Outdoor Adventures
32:27 Tech Innovations and User Engagement
38:28 Referral Programs and User Retention
40:07 Managing Finances and Bookkeeping
43:38 Reverse Engineering and Learning
52:58 Web Development Challenges
01:00:14 The Complexity of Modern Web Development
01:04:54 Simplicity in Design and Development
01:08:03 Choosing Between Cloud Services
01:15:55 Exploring Gardening and Outdoor Activities

Creators & Guests

Bradley Bernard - Host
Bennett Bernard - Host

Back to a 9-5: Signing a job offer

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 10:31:15 -0700

In this episode of the Breakeven Brothers podcast, hosts Bennett and Bradley discuss their recent life updates, including Bradley's job offer at ____ and their experiences at various conferences. They delve into the challenges of job searching, the importance of networking, and the evolving landscape of marketing and AI in the tech industry. The conversation highlights the significance of community in professional growth and the need for continuous learning in a rapidly changing job market. They also share personal recommendations for books and resources that have inspired them.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Life Updates
02:55 Conference Experiences and Networking
06:02 Job Search Journey and Insights
09:02 Job Offer Announcement and Reflections
11:36 Marketing Challenges and Strategies
14:38 AI and Its Impact on Job Roles
17:36 Camtasia and Content Creation
20:28 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Bookmarks
Brad: X: Optimizing your mobile app paywall
Bennett: Getting your fire back

People
Creators & Guests

Bradley Bernard - Host
Bennett Bernard - Host

Learning through coaching and mentoring others

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 06:00:00 -0700

In this episode, Bennett and Bradley discuss Bradley's recent experiences with job interviews and the importance of mentorship and coaching in their careers. They also talk about the upcoming Laracon conference and the value of networking and learning from others in the industry. In this part of the conversation, Bradley and Bennett discuss the importance of constructive criticism, questioning the status quo, and being open to feedback. They also share their experiences with mentorship and the value of optimism in the workplace. They then shift the conversation to discuss their experiences with the AI tools Cursor and Claude, as well as the FastAPI framework.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Updates
01:55 Navigating Job Interviews
07:53 The Importance of Mentorship
10:34 Networking and Learning from Others
17:21 The Value of Conferences
33:20 Constructive Criticism and Questioning the Status Quo
42:16 The Power of Optimism and Integrity
47:31 AI Tools for Rapid Prototyping and Development
51:57 The Future of AI and its Potential
01:01:53 Fine-Tuning AI Models and the Importance of Context
01:04:18 The Blurring Line Between Human and Programming Language
01:07:24 The Potential of Voice-Based and Brainwave Communication
01:14:51 Opportunities in Creating New Chrome Extensions
01:17:21 Using LLMs with SQL for Efficient Querying

Articles/Links
Brad's Interesting Bookmark:
84k Chrome extensions will be disabled next month

Bennett's Interesting Bookmark:
LLMs and SQL

Creators & Guests

Bradley Bernard - Host
Bennett Bernard - Host

Being authentic online: Avoiding the algorithm grasp

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 08:30:01 -0700

In this episode, the Brothers discuss the idea of blending real-life transactions with video games, using the example of a mod in the game Oblivion that allows players to order pizza. They explore the immersive experience of certain games and the potential for integrating real-world transactions within them. Furthermore, they also touch on the concept of being authentic online and the challenges of catering to algorithms while staying true to oneself. They share their experiences with Twitter and the use of AI tools for content creation, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and quality over quantity. Ben and Brad explore the use of AI in writing and the potential drawbacks of relying too heavily on algorithms, and the power and benefit of building a supportive community that shares knowledge to help others.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Catching Up
07:53 The Immersive Experience of Certain Games
17:28 The Importance of Authenticity Online
21:59 Navigating Algorithms and Quality Content
27:57 The Temptation of AI Tools for Content Creation
31:03 Curating Communities and Finding Value Online
34:49 The Drawbacks of Relying on AI and Algorithms
37:12 Building a Supportive Community and Sharing Knowledge
41:20 The Future of Content Creation: Video and Interviews
01:02:27 Bookmarks

Brad: X: iOS 18.1: App intents, developer integration for Apple Intelligence
Ben: Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann

Creators & Guests

Bradley Bernard - Host
Bennett Bernard - Host

Building useful bots & open source AI

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 06:00:00 -0700

What have you wanted to know about building bots? Why is there often a negative stigma around bots in current times?

Bradley shares his experience building various bots, including one that tracked the population of a gym, one that automated chatting with Peloton customer support to get a faster delivery, and most importantly, one that helped earn free Chipotle meals. The Brothers expand further on Bots, discussing the value of automating mundane tasks and the potential applications of bots in different industries. Recent developments in AI models also means that integrating AI models into bots unlock even further opportunity and value-add it can have for many industries, including accounting and finance.

The conversation also touches on recent AI developments, namely the release of Meta's Llama open-source AI model. The Brothers dig deeper into the pro's and cons of utilizing open-source AI models, and even further on how there are numerous options to leverage the Llama model, such as via cloud providers or running locally.

Lastly, Bradley gives an update on his job search, sharing some insights into interviewing for the first time in over a year.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Weekend Recap
02:11 Building Bots: Automating Mundane Tasks
12:34 Optimizing Processes with Bots
16:20 From Gym Populations to Peloton Delivery: Bot Success Stories
18:16 Building Bots
29:53 Integrating AI Models into Bots
36:40 Automating Tasks with AppleScript
40:57 Running the Lama AI Model
47:48 The Impact of OpenAI's Llama 3.1 Release
49:32 Challenges Faced by Closed-Source Models
52:06 The Changing Dynamics of Remote Work
58:22 Navigating the Job Market as a Software Engineer

Articles/Links
Brad's Interesting Bookmark:
Tool for optimizing AI prompts

Bennett's Interesting Bookmark:
Why Meta’s Llama 3.1 is a boon for enterprises and a bane for other LLM vendors
The first GPT-4-class AI model anyone can download has arrived: Llama 405B

Creators & Guests

Bradley Bernard - Host
Bennett Bernard - Host

Connections and conferences: The power of networking

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 06:30:00 -0700

In this episode, Bennett and Bradley discuss their thoughts on attending conferences, including strategies for how to get the most of your experiences and how to make genuine connections. They also discuss small but often overlooked strategies that turn one's career from successful to exceptional with just a little extra effort.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and San Diego Trip
03:01 The Importance of Attending Industry Conferences
11:22 Preparing for Conferences and Setting Goals
18:47 The Benefits of Technical and Social Conferences
25:13 Speaking at Conferences and Career Opportunities
30:47 Balancing Preparation and Authenticity in Presentations
34:13 Mastering the Art of Public Speaking
37:37 Taking Notes and Following Up at Conferences
43:45 The Difference Between Success and Exceptional Success
50:19 The Importance of Effort and Going the Extra Mile
58:38 Finding Joy and Fulfillment in Challenging Work

Articles/Links
Brad's Interesting Bookmark:
Magic UI is becoming the go-to UI library for startup landing pages

Bennett's Interesting Bookmark:
Reusable Components in Django with Stimulus and Tailwind CSS - Part 1 | TestDriven.io

Creators & Guests

Bradley Bernard - Host
Bennett Bernard - Host

(00:00) - Introduction and San Diego Trip
(03:01) - The Importance of Attending Industry Conferences
(11:22) - Preparing for Conferences and Setting Goals
(18:47) - The Benefits of Technical and Social Conferences
(25:13) - Speaking at Conferences and Career Opportunities
(30:47) - Balancing Preparation and Authenticity in Presentations
(34:13) - Mastering the Art of Public Speaking
(37:37) - Taking Notes and Following Up at Conferences
(43:45) - The Difference Between Success and Exceptional Success
(50:19) - The Importance of Effort and Going the Extra Mile
(58:38) - Finding Joy and Fulfillment in Challenging Work

Calculating success: Merging engineering and accounting methodologies

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 06:00:00 -0700

Exploring the differences between engineering and accounting, specifically in terms of learning resources, continuous improvement, and data visualization.

Chapters
01:45 What Engineering Can Learn from Accounting and Vice Versa
02:41 Engineering: Availability of Resources and Continuous Improvement
09:31 Engineering: Overwhelm and Hype
15:23 The Unique Syntax of the R Language
34:19 The Importance of Documentation
38:46 Balancing Automation and Costs
40:30 The Value of Root Cause Analysis
47:40 Credentialing in Engineering
53:08 The Role of Ease of Use in Software Adoption

Articles/Links
Brad's Interesting Bookmark:
Extracted the Claude AI system prompt

Bennett's Interesting Bookmark:
"The Key to Effective Software is Prioritizing the Ease of Use #accounting #accountant #accountingmajor #business #businesspodcast #podcast https://t.co/vonMjkgAbf" / X

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

Automating accounting: The AI advantage

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 21:35:51 -0700

Touching on the different AI providers and the factors to consider when choosing an AI model. This conversation in this part focuses on two main themes: the speed of AI models and data privacy concerns across accounting and engineering.

Chapters
05:15 The Evolution of AI and Chatty Butler
09:41 The State of AI and Choosing the Right Model
25:14 Data Privacy Concerns in Accounting
31:09 Challenges of Reproducibility and Prompt Engineering
40:19 The Risks and Implications of AI
47:21 The Dominance of Nvidia in the GPU Market
49:01 AI in Accounting: Automations and Documentation
53:35 AI Voice Interfaces: Faster and More Natural Interactions
01:12:26 Creating Unique Experiences in Various Industries

Articles/Links
Brad's Interesting Bookmark:
World's fastest voice AI bot

Bennett's Interesting Bookmark:
Creating an experience in Short Term Rental with Richard Fertig
RE #202: Richard Fertig - A World Class Lesson in Short Term Rental

Creators & Guests

Bennett Bernard - Host
Bradley Bernard - Host

Quitting big tech: a family history of entrepreneurship

Bradley Bernard, Bennett Bernard — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 00:00:59 -0700

Ben and Brad discuss what it's like to leave Big Tech and be a solopreneur, as well as discuss how programming should be a must learn for accounting professionals.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Backgrounds
11:58 Considering Leaving Big Tech
24:00 Leaving on Good Terms and Professionalism
27:19 If It Doesn't Work Out, You Can Always Go Back
29:50 The Journey of Entrepreneurship
36:17 Accounting and Data Engineering
39:03 Python as a Tool for Accountants
48:03 Automation and End Goals
52:30 Challenges and Opportunities in Accounting Technology
55:26 Embracing New Tools and Technologies
57:50 Documentation and Collaboration in Accounting Automation
01:01:01 Trying Different Options and Taking Ownership
01:04:02 The Fight for Intelligence, Scale, Speed, and Pricing
01:07:15 Sharing Knowledge and Building Bridges

Articles/Links
Bennett's Blog Post:
Programming as an Accountant — Bennett Bernard, CPA

Brad's Interesting Bookmark:
Context caching for the Gemini API

Bennett's Interesting Bookmark:
221 How To Build The First 1 Person $10M Accounting Firm (youtube.com)

Creators & Guests

Bradley Bernard - Host
Bennett Bernard - Host