#230 | AMA: Ask Me Anything

We live in a world with endless reviews, open tabs and pressure to optimize every second of our lives. Which is why I like to host these Ask Me Anything’s so we can all collaborate on what’s worth the hype and what’s just noise. Lately, I’ve been focusing less on finding the newest cool thing and more on finding what actually works for me.

One thing that’s helped tremendously is creating simple systems for consuming content. I keep a running “to be read” and “to be watched” list directly in my Notes app. Anytime someone recommends a podcast, book, movie, or article, I drop it in there immediately so I don’t have to rely on my memory. I’ve also fully embraced audiobooks as “real reading” (because they absolutely are). Recently, I’ve been balancing what I call my “carrots and cake” content diet: books that challenge me and help me grow mixed with books that are simply fun. One day it’s The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday, the next it’s listening to Jerry Seinfeld make me laugh while I unpack a suitcase. Both count.

I’ve also been experimenting with AI tools that help simplify the parts of life that tend to eat up way too much energy, especially travel. If you travel frequently, you know how exhausting it can be to compare flights, track credits, manage loyalty points, and rebook delays. I’ve been testing AI-powered travel assistants that can handle a lot of that for you. Instead of opening 14 browser tabs, you can text preferences like seat choices, timing, or hotel needs and let the system do the heavy lifting.

And of course, I’ve gone down the rabbit hole of AI creativity tools too. From image generators to brainstorming platforms, I’m fascinated by tools that help us create faster without sacrificing quality. The biggest shift for me has been realizing that technology works best when it supports your life, not when it becomes your life. Just because we can produce more content, consume more information, or automate more tasks doesn’t always mean we should.

So if you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by all the “must-read,” “must-download,” or “must-try” recommendations lately, consider this your reminder that you don’t need every tool, you just need the right ones for you. Build systems that make your life feel lighter. Read books that make you think and books that help you relax. The goal isn’t to become more efficient at being busy. It’s to create a life that feels a little more thoughtful, enjoyable, and sustainable along the way.

Timestamps:

05:08 Reading Recommendations and Tips

11:02 Exploring Audiobooks and Alternatives

22:24 Innovative Travel Solutions

28:16 Streamlining Travel with AI

37:54 Optimizing Loyalty Programs

43:01 Exploring New AI Tools

47:05 Quality Over Quantity in Content Creation

Links:

Arthur C Brooks – The Meaning Of Your Life

The Obstacle is the way – Ryan Holiday

Joyosity – Jenn Whitmer

Steve Jobs – Walter Isaacson

Benjamin Franklin – Walter Isaacson

Project Hail Mary – Andy Weir

The Correspondent – Virginia Evans

Proof of Heaven – Eben Alexander

Crush it! – Gary Vaynerchuk

Is This Anything? – Jerry Seinfield

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Sea of Tranquility – Emily St John Mandel

Billy Summers – Stephen King

Websites:

bookshop.org

Apps:

Libby – for reading using your library card

Miso.com – to help with travel it’s in beta right now so shoot me a message if you’re interested!

Seek by iNaturalist – for identifying plants

Nano Banana – for creating AI images

Replit – for building websites, apps, slides and more

Google Flow – for creating AI videos

Giggs – for helping professionals find jobs or hire in the live event space

Notebook LM – for research

Podcast:

The Midlife Chrysalis

Articles:

Linkedin is Fighting Back Against AI Slop and AI Comments

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