Basic AF: a (mostly) tech podcast

Tom Anderson & Jeff Battersby
Basic AF: a (mostly) tech podcast

Spilling trash, talk, tech, and tea (though Tom says no politics). Plus, games, plenty of Apple tech, or whatever else comes into our heads. It’s a show where we get to hang out and talk tech, talk shit, and have fun every couple of weeks (and sometimes more often - only your podcast app knows for sure). We'll give you the lowdown on the gear we're using, some knowledge bombs to help you use your gear better, and answer listener questions. 

  1. 3D AGO

    Our Summer Vibes Check

    We’re in between WWDC and the Public Betas, and it’s the perfect time for a summer vibe check! Tom and Jeff break down what they’re reading, watching, listening to, and playing with this summer. Books, newsletters, podcasts, the new Reply All Time and Top Songs playlists in Apple Music, and more. Additionally, Tom gets nerdy with Claude, Readwise, and MCP, while Jeff plans to dabble in sketching and watercolors.  Links: White Noise – Don DeLillo Crudo – Olivia Laing Wellness – Nathan Hill The Hidden Girl and Other Stories – Ken Liu Throughline – NPR Podcast Seeing White (Scene on Radio) – Listen to Episode 1 The Mars Volta – Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacío (Filthy Lucre; The Eyes of the Void) Pink Elephant – Arcade Fire Jeff’s Playlist – Trying Not to Cry Lost in Play – Apple Arcade Sahil Bloom James Clear – Atomic Habits Unreasonable Hospitality Lean Learning Vanessa Lau on YouTube Modern Wisdom Podcast Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message! Contact Us Drop us a line at feedback@basicafshow.com You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks. Tom has a new YouTube channel Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating! Review on Apple Podcasts Rate on Spotify Recommend in Overcast Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen Apple Music Spotify Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness. ...

    49 min
  2. JUN 23

    90 Days of Forever*Notes and Stress Awareness with Athlytic & Apple Watch

    Tom and Jeff dive into three fun segments: Tom’s updated Mac recommendations for students, Jeff's update on his Forever Notes system using Apple Notes, and how both hosts are using health tracking apps to better understand their stress and recovery. Tom unpacks how Athlytic and Apple Watch are helping him recognize stress and reduce habitual tension, while Jeff shares how Gentler Streak has helped him optimize sleep and workouts. It’s a mix of tech tips, personal stories, and wellness insights—plus a few keg-lifting jokes. Links from the show: Best Mac for College – Tom Anderson My Forever Notes Gentler App Athlytic App Episode 55 - Who Pays for Calendar Apps & Next-Level Notes with Bill McLean Episode 58 - WWDC Announced, Gentler Streak Workout Tracker, and "The Cybernetic Teammate" by Ethan Mollick Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message! Contact Us Drop us a line at feedback@basicafshow.com You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks. Tom has a new YouTube channel Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating! Review on Apple Podcasts Rate on Spotify Recommend in Overcast Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen Apple Music Spotify Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness. ...

    42 min
  3. JUN 10

    WWDC 2025 Recap with Joe Moyer

    Tom Anderson and Jeff Battersby are joined by returning guest Joe Moyer for a comprehensive breakdown of Apple's WWDC 2025 keynote: Exploration of the new "Liquid Glass" design language unifying all Apple platformsNew Apple Intelligence featuresAnalysis of simplified version numbering (everything is now version 26)iPadOS 26's new windowing system and advanced featuresiOS 26's customizable interface and enhanced CarPlay featuresmacOS Tahoe's powerful Spotlight improvements and Journal app expansionVision Pro's enterprise push and quality-of-life improvements across the ecosystemWhere to find Joe: Threads - https://www.threads.net/@thejournalingguide The Journaling Guide - https://www.24letters.net/thejournalingguide 24Letters - https://www.24letters.net Links from the show: Apple elevates the iPhone experience with iOS 26 watchOS 26 delivers more personalized ways to stay active and connected Apple TV brings a beautiful redesign and enhanced home entertainment experience macOS Tahoe 26 makes the Mac more capable, productive, and intelligent than ever visionOS 26 introduces powerful new spatial experiences for Apple Vision Pro iPadOS 26 introduces powerful new features that push iPad even further Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message! Contact Us Drop us a line at feedback@basicafshow.com You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks. Tom has a new YouTube channel Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating! Review on Apple Podcasts Rate on Spotify Recommend in Overcast Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen Apple Music Spotify Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness. ...

    1h 10m
  4. MAY 26

    WWDC 2025 Preview with Riley Hill

    Riley Hill returns to the show to join Jeff and Tom for a preview of WWDC 2025. What's coming from Apple? What kind of AI company should Apple be? And is there less hype than normal for this year's event? The guys also throw around some thoughts on the big announcement that Jony Ive and OpenAI are working on a new type of AI-centered device. It doesn't sound like it's a phone or glasses, so what might it be? Is there a market for a new type of device? Also, they sprinkle in some highlights from Google's IO event last week. Where to Find Riley: Riley Hill on YouTube Riley Hill Website Riley Hill on Threads Links from the show: 9to5Mac on Instagram: “Just 18 days until WWDC 2025! While last-minute leaks are likely, here’s what we expect Apple to announce so far” WWDC 2025: Everything We Know | MacRumors OpenAI is buying iPhone designer Jony Ive’s AI devices startup for $6.4 billion Exclusive | What Sam Altman Told OpenAI About the Secret Device He’s Making With Jony Ive The 15 biggest announcements at Google I/O 2025 Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message! Contact Us Drop us a line at feedback@basicafshow.com You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks. Tom has a new YouTube channel Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating! Review on Apple Podcasts Rate on Spotify Recommend in Overcast Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen Apple Music Spotify Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness. ...

    57 min
  5. MAY 12

    Tom Gets Snipd, Siri Lawsuit Settlement, and More Bruises on Apple

    Tom’s queued up an AI podcast app experiment, and Jeff’s wondering if it’s really worth the $85 price tag. This week, the guys dive into Snipd’s AI-powered podcast magic, how it pairs with Readwise for smart highlights and spaced repetition, and Tom’s sneaky new trick for “listening” to podcasts while he sleeps.  Plus, they talk about the Siri lawsuit that might earn you a few bucks, Apple’s App Store rule changes, and why longtime fans (and cranky nerds) are raising eyebrows at Apple’s recent stumbles. Is it time for new leadership? Links from the show: Snipd - The Most Powerful Podcast App How to Start Journaling Today — 24 Letters If you used Siri between 2014 and 2024, you may have a claim against Apple Epic Games Submits Fortnite to U.S. App Store Apple’s Phil Schiller Initially Opposed 27% App Store Fee on External Purchases Apple Turnover Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message! Contact Us Drop us a line at feedback@basicafshow.com You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks. Tom has a new YouTube channel Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating! Review on Apple Podcasts Rate on Spotify Recommend in Overcast Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen Apple Music Spotify Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness. ...

    51 min
  6. APR 14

    Beyond Features and Functions: Is Technology Missing What Humans Really Need? with Leah Reich

    We sit down with writer and user researcher Leah Reich to explore the complex relationship between technology and the humans who use it. Leah shares insights from her newsletter and writing career before diving into the evolving landscape of user research in tech companies, including her time at Slack, Spotify, and Meta/Instagram. We discuss the delicate balance between serving user needs and business goals, and examine the concerning industry shift away from comprehensive user research. Leah offers her personal perspective on the Apple Watch experience and we explore the broader implications of gamification in our digital lives—questioning whether turning everything into a game truly serves our wellbeing. Links from the show: Friction is Necessary ResistanceWe Don’t Need No InnovationUngamify Your BrainLeah Reich | Meets Most Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message! Contact Us Drop us a line at feedback@basicafshow.com You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks. Tom has a new YouTube channel Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating! Review on Apple Podcasts Rate on Spotify Recommend in Overcast Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen Apple Music Spotify Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness. ...

    1h 1m
5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Spilling trash, talk, tech, and tea (though Tom says no politics). Plus, games, plenty of Apple tech, or whatever else comes into our heads. It’s a show where we get to hang out and talk tech, talk shit, and have fun every couple of weeks (and sometimes more often - only your podcast app knows for sure). We'll give you the lowdown on the gear we're using, some knowledge bombs to help you use your gear better, and answer listener questions. 

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