• Our Summer Vibes Check
    Jul 7 2025

    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.

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    49 mins
  • 90 Days of Forever*Notes and Stress Awareness with Athlytic & Apple Watch
    Jun 23 2025

    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


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    42 mins
  • WWDC 2025 Recap with Joe Moyer
    Jun 10 2025

    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 platforms
    • New Apple Intelligence features
    • Analysis of simplified version numbering (everything is now version 26)
    • iPadOS 26's new windowing system and advanced features
    • iOS 26's customizable interface and enhanced CarPlay features
    • macOS Tahoe's powerful Spotlight improvements and Journal app expansion
    • Vision Pro's enterprise push and quality-of-life improvements across the ecosystem

    Where 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.

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    1 hr and 10 mins
  • WWDC 2025 Preview with Riley Hill
    May 26 2025

    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.

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    57 mins
  • Tom Gets Snipd, Siri Lawsuit Settlement, and More Bruises on Apple
    May 12 2025

    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.

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    51 mins
  • Subscription Madness!
    Apr 28 2025

    It’s easy to lose track of subscriptions, and Tom and Jeff are feeling it too. In this episode, they unpack the apps, services, and streaming platforms they’re paying for — the good, the bad, and the ones they forgot they even had. They swap stories about accidental renewals (looking at you, $250 “oops”), spotlight useful apps, and talk through a few tricks for managing subscriptions smarter. It’s a fun and slightly painful look at modern digital life.

    Links from the show:

    Setapp

    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.

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    54 mins
  • Beyond Features and Functions: Is Technology Missing What Humans Really Need? with Leah Reich
    Apr 14 2025

    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 Resistance
    • We Don’t Need No Innovation
    • Ungamify Your Brain
    • Leah 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


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    1 hr and 1 min
  • WWDC Announced, Gentler Streak Workout Tracker, and "The Cybernetic Teammate" by Ethan Mollick
    Mar 31 2025

    In this episode:

    • Apple announces WWDC will be June 9-13
    • Jeff is experimenting with Gentler Streak and having a bit of nostalgia with Notebook Artillery
    • A subtle AirPods Pro experience
    • The boys continue to argue over AI
    • Ethan Mollick highlights study that finds legit benefits of AI at work


    Links from the show:

    • Mac - Lumon Terminal Pro
    • ‘Severance’ editor was all-in on Apple hardware, but not Final Cut Pro
    • ‎Workout Tracker Gentler Streak
    • ‎Notebook Artillery
    • ChatGPT Starts Blocking Studio Ghibli-Style Images After Trend Goes Viral
    • The Cybernetic Teammate
    • Artificial Intelligence Systems and Copyright
    • The Tech Fantasy That Powers A.I. Is Running on Fumes

    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.

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    53 mins