Show Notes
2. Show Notes
Episode 152 - Technically Working
Michael and Damashe are back with a packed episode covering gear, passwords, transactional email, and how to get the most out of your AI tools. Plus, Mike hits a milestone and there's a guest teased for next week.
Topics covered:
Mic Talk (Mini-Series Continues) Damashe is back on the Audio-Technica ATR 2005 over USB, and explains why this style of mic remains a solid starter or travel option. The ATR 2100x and Samson Q2U both offer USB and XLR connections, making them flexible picks for new podcasters or anyone who wants a good-sounding mic for Zoom calls. Neither is recommended for run-and-gun situations, but both shine at a desk.
Password Managers One Password recently raised prices for individual and family accounts. Michael's annual plan jumped from $35.88 to $47.88. That sparked a longer conversation about where people's passwords actually end up, spread across multiple apps and browsers. The guys walk through several options, including 1Password, Bitwarden (free tier available, $10 per year paid), ProtonPass, Apple Passwords, and KeePass. Apple Passwords works well for people deep in the Apple ecosystem, but the sharing and permission structure has limitations. ProtonPass got a positive accessibility mention from a listener. If you're cross-platform, 1Password and Bitwarden are still the strongest picks. Tip from a listener named Scout: ProtonPass is accessible.
AI Tools and How to Use Them Well Both hosts have been using Claude heavily for scripting, Google Apps Script, and Python work. Key prompting tip: don't lead the AI with your assumptions. Instead of asking if a specific approach will work, describe what you want to accomplish and ask for options. Then interrogate the answer. Even if you don't know the subject well, asking "are you sure?" causes the model to recheck itself. This tip came from Matt Geek Gal and both hosts have been applying it regularly.
Postmark: Transactional Email Made Approachable Damashe has been setting up Postmark for transactional email and invited Michael to explore it together. Key concepts broken down: servers in Postmark are essentially folders, not web servers. You verify your domain by adding two DNS records, a DKIM record and a return path record. Postmark puts new accounts in a sandbox that limits sending to verified addresses only, protecting their deliverability reputation. Getting out of the sandbox was quick, with a human review and approval happening overnight. Postmark separates transactional and bulk email into streams, and you can add additional streams for testing or staging environments. Inbound email routing is also supported. For 10,000 emails per month, pricing runs around $18 to $20.
Siri and ChatGPT Siri's integration with ChatGPT has made both hosts more willing to ask quick questions by voice. Answers now come back summarized rather than handing off to a browser link. Still not perfect, especially with home automation commands, but noticeably better than two years ago.
Milestone As of this recording, Michael has been with ACB for one year. Damashe points out he's automated himself into more work, not less, which is exactly the kind of employee you want to keep.
Listener News A new listener was recruited by Michael while on a phone call. Shoutout to Chris for pioneering the one-time Tip Jar option. Another tip came in since then. Monthly subscribers are appreciated too.
Next Week A guest is joining the show. No hints were dropped, but Damashe will be on different gear.
Links and Resources
Postmark: postmark.com
Bitwarden: bitwarden.com
1Password: 1password.com
ProtonPass: proton.me/pass
Samson Q2U mic
Audio-Technica ATR 2100x
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