No Hacks: Future-proofing your career in the age of AI

Slobodan (Sani) Manić
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Work is changing quickly, and AI is at the center of that shift. For many professionals, it raises tough questions: How do I stay relevant? What skills should I build? How do I make sense of the changes ahead? No Hacks is about helping you adapt with confidence. In each episode, host Slobodan Manic speaks with leaders from different fields about the real impact of AI on their industries and what it means for people working in them. The conversations are practical, grounded, and focused on the long term, offering clarity, strategies, and perspectives to help you future-proof your career without shortcuts.

  1. 12 HR AGO

    207: The Vibe Coding Trap and What to Do Instead

    Welcome to No Hacks, the podcast that cuts through the noise to reveal the truth about the future of work and the impact of AI. In this episode, we're taking a look into the phenomenon of "vibe coding" – the idea that you can simply describe an app to an AI and have it magically built. Is Vibe Coding the shortcut to tech success, or just another false promise? Sani argues that the hype around pure vibe coding mirrors the deceptive playbook of dropshipping gurus: selling a dream that ultimately profits the platform, not the aspiring creator. We break down the seductive promises, expose the harsh realities, and reveal the catastrophic failures that occur when the "vibes turn bad." What you'll learn in this episode: What Vibe Coding Really Is: Understand the difference between responsible AI-assisted development and "pure" vibe coding, where code is accepted without full understanding.The Anatomy of a Hype Cycle: Discover the striking parallels between the vibe coding phenomenon and the dropshipping course industry, from their sales pitches to their hidden realities and who truly profits.A Catalogue of Catastrophes: Hear real-world horror stories of instantly hacked startups, data deletion disasters, and AI models that "lie"—illustrating the dangers of relying on AI without deep technical oversight.The 80/20 Trap: Explore why AI can get you 80% of the way to a prototype, but that crucial final 20%—security, scalability, and integration—requires uniquely human skills.The "No Hacks" Skills for the AI Era: We conclude by revealing the four critical, future-proof skills that will define the next generation of builders and leaders in technology: Systems Thinking, Problem Decomposition, Architectural Integrity & Security, and Expert Curation.Don't fall for the illusion of "irrational confidence" in tech. Tune in to understand why deep, durable skills, not magic, are the real path to success in the age of AI. Important links from the episode: https://www.reddit.com/r/cscareerquestions/comments/1jmyk5k/seems_like_the_guy_who_invented_the_vibe_coding/https://www.finalroundai.com/blog/vibe-coding-failures-that-prove-ai-cant-replace-developers-yethttps://www.louisbouchard.ai/genai-coding-risks/https://medium.com/@lars_13145/system-thinking-and-ai-redefining-software-product-development-a193a08119bchttps://instil.co/blog/critical-thinking-in-the-age-of-ai-and-why-it-still-matters/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lance_StephensonComparison table--- If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with a friend! No Hacks website YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    33 min

  2. 3 SEPT

    206: AI, Search, and the Jobs of Tomorrow with Olga Andrienko

    The world of work is changing faster than ever, and AI is leading the charge. What does this mean for industries like SEO, marketing, and content? And more importantly, what does it mean for your career? In this episode of No Hacks, I’m joined by Olga Andrienko, a marketing leader who transitioned from VP of Brand Marketing into AI operations. Her journey is the perfect case study for how professionals can adapt when the ground shifts under their feet. We start with Olga’s “lightning bolt moment” at an AI course that showed her the power of automation and AI agents. From there, we explore: The future of SEO and search: why Google’s AI Overviews are disrupting traffic, how “search everywhere optimization” is replacing traditional SEO, and what it means for attribution.AI business models and big tech: the economic reality behind AI tools, the competition between Google and OpenAI, and why Olga switched from iPhone to Google Pixel for integrated AI features.Practical automation in marketing ops: real workflows Olga and her team automated, how to identify the right tasks to start with, and what role AI workflow architects play.The jobs of tomorrow: emerging roles like Heads of AI Ops and AI workflow specialists, why community and events still matter, and how to stand out in a flood of AI sameness.Human creativity in an AI-first world: why now is the easiest time to stand out online, and why clumsy, authentic writing can be a feature, not a bug.This conversation is not just about AI tools. It is about how work itself is being reshaped, what skills will still matter five or ten years from now, and how you can adapt your career for long-term success. 👉 If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss what’s next. And join the Substack, where I share deeper insights, notes, and resources to help you navigate the future of work.  Episode links: No Hacks SubstackHow to start in any brand role (Olga's LinkedIn post)--- If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with a friend! No Hacks website YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    50 min

  3. 1 AUG

    205: #ChatGate - Your ChatGPT Conversation Could Be Indexed and Anyone Could Read Them

    In this emergency solo episode I walk you through #ChatGate, the discovery that thousands of “shared” ChatGPT conversations are now fully searchable on Google. We de-mystify the site: operator, trace the unusual timeline that puts OpenAI, Google Cloud and Microsoft on a collision course, and explain why some marketers cheer while privacy advocates panic.  Most importantly, you’ll learn how to check whether your chats are exposed and what to do next.  Key Takeaways Shared ChatGPT links are public if you tick “Enable search indexing.”A sitemap discovered in late 2024 helps Google crawl those pages automatically.OpenAI now pays Google for compute while Microsoft cools its spending — timing that looks suspicious.Marketers cheering the “SEO gold-mine” are ignoring the privacy fallout.Audit yourself (site:chatgpt.com/share "Your Name"), delete stray links, and think twice before sharing sensitive prompts.Enjoy the listen — and remember: what happens in ChatGPT doesn’t necessarily stay in ChatGPT. Resources & Further Reading Google Support – Advanced Search Operators (official guide to site:) https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/2466433?hl=enOpenAI Help Center – “Share your conversations” (checkbox controls indexing) https://help.openai.com/en/articles/7925741-chatgpt-shared-links-faqLinkedIn Post by Senthil Kumar – “OpenAI’s /shared-convos-sitemap.xml SEO play” https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/unboxing-chatgpts-organic-traffic-deep-dive-openais-seo-hariram-jhtkcTechCrunch (31 July 2025) – “Your public ChatGPT queries are getting indexed by Google” https://techcrunch.com/2025/07/31/your-public-chatgpt-queries-are-getting-indexed-by-google-and-other-search-engines/Fast Company (30 July 2025) – “Google is indexing ChatGPT conversations—here’s why it’s a privacy nightmare” https://www.fastcompany.com/91376687/google-indexing-chatgpt-conversationsYahoo Finance (Dec 2024) – “Microsoft has invested nearly $14 billion in OpenAI but is pulling back” https://finance.yahoo.com/news/microsoft-invested-nearly-14-billion-000512844.htmlReuters (16 July 2025) – “OpenAI taps Google Cloud TPU chips to meet soaring demand” https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/openai-lists-google-cloud-partner-amid-growing-demand-computing-capacity-2025-07-16/Juliana Jackson – Substack Essay “ChatGPT Indexed Conversations” https://julianajackson.substack.com/p/chatgpt-indexed-conversations--- If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with a friend! No Hacks website YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    15 min
  4. [S03E11] No Juniors, No Google, No Chill: Survival Tips for the AI Shake-Up with Erin Weigel and Lukas Vermeer

    2 JUL

    [S03E11] No Juniors, No Google, No Chill: Survival Tips for the AI Shake-Up with Erin Weigel and Lukas Vermeer

    What does life look like when search engines, junior tech jobs, and even human therapists start losing ground to generative AI? In this lightning-charged round-table, host Sani sits down with experimentation legends Erin Weigel and Lukas Vermeer to test-drive a future that’s already creeping into the present. In this episode you’ll hear: “RIP Google SERPs?”. Lukas explains why he’s stopped opening SERPs and lets ChatGPT do the leg-work instead, and what that means for SEO as a profession. Therapy by chatbot. A frank debate on the ethics of replacing licensed counselors with LLMs, complete with Erin’s tale of an AI that literally narrated its own fake empathy. The vanishing ladder. Why companies are skipping junior hires, how that starves tomorrow’s seniors, and whether YouTube “mentors” can fill the gap. Layoffs, wage pressure & the fourth AI hype-cycle. Erin argues that generative tools are becoming the C-suite’s favorite excuse to “do more with less,” accelerating job insecurity across tech. Blackout reality check. Sani recounts a one-day power failure that froze an entire city, highlighting just how thin our digital safety net really is. Off-grid plans & doom-prep kits. From Raspberry Pi LLMs to a solar-powered farmhouse in France, the crew swaps tongue-in-cheek tips for surviving an AI-augmented apocalypse. About the guests Erin Weigel is the former principal designer at Booking.com, now charting the blurry boundary between human-centered design and AI-generated “V-Zero” mock-ups.Lukas Vermeer is the ex-director of experimentation at Booking.com and Vista; known for turning data questions into live product experiments. Both Erin and Lukas started the same day at Booking.com, one of many shared origin stories they unpack. --- If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with a friend! No Hacks website YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    43 min
  5. [S03E10] Behavioral Design Secrets from YouTube, Google, and Duolingo with Katie Dove

    5 JUN

    [S03E10] Behavioral Design Secrets from YouTube, Google, and Duolingo with Katie Dove

    Why don’t users do what they say they’ll do? Why does great UX still fail sometimes? And what do the world’s top companies know about behavior that most of us miss? In this episode, Sani sits down with Katie Dove, behavioral designer at Irrational Labs, to break down the Three B Framework, a powerful behavioral design tool used by teams at Google, YouTube, and Duolingo. They unpack how context shapes decisions, why psychological friction is often invisible, and what it really takes to drive engagement through design. If you work in UX, CRO, product, or marketing, this episode will change how you think about user behavior forever. 🔍 What we cover: Why values don’t always predict behavior (and why that’s okay)The Three B Framework: Behavior, Barriers, BenefitsThe difference between logistical and psychological frictionReal-world case studies: Google AdWords, ClassPass, Duolingo, top banksHow to identify the right behavior to optimizeThe psychology of mental models, defaults, and motivationWhy asking users what they want often leads you astrayRapid-fire insights on irrationality, app design, and moreGuest: Katie Dove Behavioral designer and partner at Irrational Labs Katie leads behavioral design projects for companies like Google, YouTube, and leading financial institutions. At Irrational Labs, she helps teams apply behavioral science to real-world digital products and services. 🔗 IrrationalLabs.com 🔗 Follow Katie on LinkedIn --- If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with a friend! No Hacks website YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    33 min
  6. [S03E09] Know Your Customer, Grow Your Brand: Email Marketing Masterclass with Omar Lovert

    29 MAY

    [S03E09] Know Your Customer, Grow Your Brand: Email Marketing Masterclass with Omar Lovert

    What separates email campaigns that convert from those that get ignored? It all comes down to understanding your customers, deeply. In this episode, Sani welcomes back Omar Lovert for a masterclass on customer-centric email marketing. Together, they unpack why AI can’t replace real customer insight, how to use RFM segmentation to identify your most valuable users, and the frameworks that top-performing brands use to map the customer journey and boost lifetime value. From tactical tips on optimizing welcome flows to the underrated power of post-purchase emails, this is your blueprint for building human-first marketing in a world increasingly driven by automation. 🧠 You’ll learn: Why customer research still beats AI-generated contentHow to segment your audience with RFM scoringThe role of jobs-to-be-done interviews in crafting better campaignsHow to use NPS and support signals to improve retentionWhy your first-time customers are your biggest opportunityWhether you’re a DTC marketer, retention strategist, or email geek, this one’s packed with value. --- If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with a friend! No Hacks website YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    41 min

  7. 8 MAY

    [SOLO] Magician vs. Conductor: How to Build (and Fix) Products with AI in 2025

    Heads-up: I use some salty language. Nothing hateful, just passionate about this topic. Skip if that’s not your vibe. It’s 2 AM, your side-project just went viral, and the signup flow is on fire. Do you keep “vibe-coding” blind prompts, or step up as the conductor who actually knows the score? In this first-ever solo episode, I unpack why “anyone can code with AI” is 2025’s biggest myth and show you how to turn large language models into the ultimate co-pilot instead of a ticking time-bomb. Key Takeaways Illusions break at scale. Vibe-coding can get you an MVP, but you’ll pay interest when production fires start.Your new super-power isn’t “no knowledge,” it’s “faster knowledge.” LLMs shrink the gap between “I don’t know” and “I can ship.”Learning beats prompting. Prompting is great, prompt-and-probe is better. Use back-and-forth to understand, not just generate.Career moat = curiosity. The people who thrive next year aren’t the ones with the fanciest prompts; they’re the ones who ask better questions and close their gaps daily.7-Day Knowledge-Gap Challenge Pick one concept you avoid (CSS Flexbox? Indexing in Postgres?).Spend 15 min/day grilling an LLM: “Explain it like I’m 7… now show real-world code… now debug this snippet…”Log what surprised you, then share your aha momentsCall to Action Try the challenge. Tag me with your progress by next week.Rate & Review. If this episode saved you from a 2 AM meltdown, drop a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ on your favorite app.Share. Forward the LinkedIn post or the episode link to one builder who still thinks vibe-coding is a strategy.--- If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with a friend! No Hacks website YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    13 min
  8. [S03E08] Data Minimalism, Experimentation, and Ethical AI with Matt Gershoff

    27 APR

    [S03E08] Data Minimalism, Experimentation, and Ethical AI with Matt Gershoff

    In this episode, Sani sits down with Matt Gershoff, CEO and Co-founder of Conductrics, to talk about how being intentional, not just fast, leads to better experimentation, better customer relationships, and better outcomes. Matt shares the wild story of how a machine learning summer school (and donkeys in pajamas!) helped spark Conductrics. They unpack why "just in case" data collection is broken, why data minimalism matters now more than ever, and how companies should rethink experimentation in the AI age. What You'll Hear [00:00] Introduction [00:03:05] What Makes Conductrics Different [00:09:01] Being Intentional with Experimentation [00:09:54] The Problem with "Just in Case" Data Collection [00:17:06] Why Data Hoarding Feels So Different Digitally [00:25:43] Rapid Fire: Quick Takes with Matt [00:38:07] Intentional Data Collection in A/B Testing Where to Find Matt Connect at Conductrics.comOr find him on LinkedIn and the Test & Learn Community SlackAbout Matt Gershoff Matt Gershoff is the CEO and Co-founder of Conductrics, a leader in privacy-first experimentation technology. With a background in econometrics, database marketing, and artificial intelligence, Matt is passionate about helping businesses build smarter, more customer-focused decision systems — without losing sight of ethics or intentionality. 🔗 Find Matt online: Conductrics WebsiteMatt's LinkedIn--- If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with a friend! No Hacks website YouTube LinkedIn Instagram

    44 min
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Work is changing quickly, and AI is at the center of that shift. For many professionals, it raises tough questions: How do I stay relevant? What skills should I build? How do I make sense of the changes ahead? No Hacks is about helping you adapt with confidence. In each episode, host Slobodan Manic speaks with leaders from different fields about the real impact of AI on their industries and what it means for people working in them. The conversations are practical, grounded, and focused on the long term, offering clarity, strategies, and perspectives to help you future-proof your career without shortcuts.

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