Tired of endless Stack Overflow searches and outdated tutorials? Get ready to enter a new era of coding where AI is no longer just a tool but a full-fledged programming partner. In this week's episode, we dive deep into the transformative world of AI-assisted development, exploring how these intelligent systems are not just generating code but changing the way we think about building software. We share our firsthand experiences with the latest AI coding tools, from fighting with quirky interfaces to witnessing shockingly efficient code generation. Join us as we discuss everything from using AI to build a Python app from scratch to its ability to act as your personal accountability coach, making sure you actually finish your projects. Is this the end of "copy/paste" coding? Tune in to find out.

But it's not all code and algorithms this week, as we venture beyond the digital realm. We'll explore how this new wave of AI is changing productivity, accountability, and the very nature of how we approach problem-solving. Prepare for a lively conversation that touches on topics from the surprising quirks of a "salty spoon" invention, to the rise of new tech trends. We even uncover the latest from the world of package managers, and how one might just disrupt the Python community as a whole. Is AI the answer to all of our problems, or does it come with its own set of challenges? We are pushing the boundaries to see just how far we can take AI as our new partner.

• (00:00) - Introduction and Personal Updates
• (08:34) - Networking at Laravel SF Meetup
• (19:17) - Coding with AI and New Tools
• (27:52) - Accountability Through AI: A New Approach
• (34:21) - AI in Coding: Expectations vs. Reality
• (39:32) - AI Agents: The Future of Workplace Efficiency
• (44:34) - The Shift from PIP to UV in Python Package Management
• (52:36) - Exploring AI Tools: ChatGPT vs. O1 Pro
• (58:12) - Startup Opportunities: Microsoft’s Support for Entrepreneurs

#AICoding #AIforProductivity #SoftwareDevelopment #FutureofTech #TechTrends2025 #OpenAISoftware #PythonProgramming #StartupTech #AIInnovation #AccountabilityPartner

Creators & Guests

• Bennett Bernard - Host
• Bradley Bernard - Host

The Breakeven Brothers are back with their first episode in 2025, kicking things off with a lighthearted chat about post-holiday routines, including taking down Christmas lights and the debate between real and fake Christmas trees. They also touch on their New Year's Eve celebrations and share how they’re already thinking about productivity and goal setting for the year. This episode sets the stage for a deeper dive into tech and business trends by discussing the recent whiplash with the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirements, offering up-to-date info amidst the confusion. The hosts also explore the world of AI-powered tools, highlighting the usefulness of voice-to-text apps like Whisper Flow and AI language practice via ChatGPT, while also delving into their experiences with AI for both business and personal use.

The main focus of the episode is the creation of their "2025 Bingo Card," a fun, forward-thinking activity where they make predictions and set goals across various categories—from tech and finance to sports and global events. These range from plausible scenarios, like Aleksandr Ovechkin breaking Gretzky’s goal record and the launch of the SplitMyExpenses mobile app, to more outlandish ideas, such as an AI judge in US courts, the US acquiring Greenland, or even a billion-dollar exit for a solo AI founder. The podcast ends with discussions of bookmarks including cutting-edge AI productivity tools, the Bench acquisition news, and a hint towards the potential for the Breakeven Brothers to launch merch this year. They leave listeners with a call to keep an eye on their predictions, promising to revisit the bingo card at the start of 2026 to see which forecasts came true.

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (09:15) - Navigating Compliance: BOI Updates
• (13:14) - Productivity Tools and AI Innovations
• (24:01) - Voice Technology in Everyday Life
• (26:58) - The Pricing Dilemma in AI Tools
• (30:57) - Cursor's Evolution and Self-Improvement
• (35:04) - The Importance of Pricing in Business Models
• (36:32) - Bingo Card Predictions for 2025
• (47:02) - The Future of JavaScript and Web Development
• (50:41) - The Rise of AI in Human Enhancement
• (54:01) - Virtual Reality in the Workplace
• (54:53) - Taste Testing and Homegrown Delights
• (56:26) - Merchandising Ideas for Breakeven Brothers
• (56:46) - AI Acquisitions and Mergers on the Horizon
• (57:39) - Envisioning Car-Free Cities
• (59:31) - Geopolitical Speculations: Acquiring Greenland
• (01:00:28) - Wellness Days: A New Approach to Mental Health
• (01:02:33) - The Future of Daylight Savings Time
• (01:03:36) - AI Judges: The Future of Small Claims Court
• (01:05:35) - New Accounting Designations for Small Businesses
• (01:07:10) - Blockchain App Stores: Bridging the Gap
• (01:08:32) - The Evolution of Accounting Skills
• (01:10:18) - AI Coding Agents and Legal Responsibility
• (01:12:46) - LLM App Stores: A New Frontier
• (01:13:48) - Quantum Computing Programming Languages
• (01:15:21) - End-to-End Accounting Automation Platforms
• (01:17:11) - Launching the SplitMyExpenses App

Brad: Best 14 AI tools

Ben: Bench to be acquired after abruptly shutting down | TechCrunch

Creators & Guests

• Bennett Bernard - Host
• Bradley Bernard - Host

As 2024 comes to a close, the Breakeven Brothers are looking back at a year filled with bizarre headlines, technological leaps, and the ever-present hum of UFO speculation. Was that a drone swarm over New Jersey, or something...else? They dive deep into the latest sightings, exploring a wild theory involving a missing radioactive device and some top-secret government scanning. But it's not all tinfoil hats and conspiracy theories; they're also taking stock of their own year, sharing lessons learned in the trenches of app development, side hustles, and the quest for a more balanced life. From Black Friday scores to New Year's resolutions, this episode is a jam-packed reflection on the year that was, with a healthy dose of future-gazing. Get ready for some surprising insights, a few laughs, and a whole lot of brotherly debate as they wrap up 2024 and set their sights on a brand new year!

• (00:00) - Intros
• (07:42) - UFOs and Skepticism in the Digital Age
• (17:15) - Learning New Systems: A Personal Journey
• (28:34) - Navigating Competition and Innovation in Business
• (35:18) - Building a Mobile App: Vision and Challenges
• (43:08) - Narrowing Focus: Niching Down vs. General Audience
• (50:50) - Setting Goals for 2025: Career and Side Projects
• (01:05:18) - Navigating Code and Documentation Challenges
• (01:10:26) - AI Innovations and Competitive Landscape
• (01:16:10) - Setting Goals for 2025 and Beyond

Creators & Guests

• Bennett Bernard - Host
• Bradley Bernard - Host

Join the Breakeven Brothers as they discuss everything from a turbulent flight experience and the ethics of face-scanning apps to the joys of ping pong and the dark side of app monetization. They debate the merits of niching down in business, explore the world of indie game development, and share their struggles with LinkedIn spam and the quest for viral marketing success. Plus, a surprising connection between balance sheet reconciliations and LinkedIn virality! Tune in for a lively conversation about accounting, tech, and the challenges of building a business in the digital age.

• (00:00) - Intro & Navigating Travel Experiences
• (05:57) - The Rise of Monetization in Apps
• (11:42) - Ethics of App Monetization
• (17:34) - The Impact of Microtransactions on Gaming
• (23:30) - Unique Experiences in Gaming Lounges
• (28:55) - Gaming Evolution and Experiences
• (34:53) - The Importance of Niching in Business
• (42:33) - Navigating Social Media Changes
• (53:37) - The Future of Online Communities
• (59:20) - LinkedIn Analytics: Insights and Strategies
• (01:11:49) - Bookmarks: Tools and Tips for Improvement

Brad: Huberman blue light glasses - legit or not?

Ben: Matt Wilkinson post about websites for accounting firm & Linkedin junk

Creators & Guests

• Bennett Bernard - Host
• Bradley Bernard - Host

In this episode, Bennett and Brad dive into the fascinating world of early social media tools and growth hacking. Brad shares his journey of building viral social media products as a teenager, including a $3 Twitter tool that ran on autopilot for years and an Instagram growth platform that made $2,000 per day before being shut down. The brothers discuss how social media platforms have evolved since 2010, from the early days of Twitter follower ratios to modern LinkedIn content strategy. They explore the risks and rewards of building on social platforms, the importance of timing in tech, and how authentic content creation has changed over the years. Whether you're interested in social media history, building products, or growing an online presence, this episode offers unique insights from someone who's been in the trenches since high school.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Milestones
05:50 The Evolution of Social Media
11:34 The First Sale and Learning Experience
18:36 The Evolution of Social Media Platforms
24:12 Building and Selling iUnfollow
29:42 The Rise and Fall of Instapromote
41:22 The Impact of User Experience on Business Success
50:53 The Challenge of Authenticity in Online Presence
57:29 The Future of AI in Content Creation

Bookmarks
Bradley’s bookmark: Turn off your iPad automatically every night from @Javi

Ben’s Reads for the week:
The Franchise MBA by Nick Neonakis
Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller
Numeric raises $28M to build the next-gen financial data platform | Numeric

Creators & Guests

• Bennett Bernard - Host
• Bradley Bernard - Host

In this episode of the Breakeven Brothers podcast, hosts Bennett and Brad discuss significant life updates, including Brad's recent marriage, the challenges of wedding planning, and the joy of celebrating with friends and family. They reflect on memorable moments from the wedding, the importance of having a good support team, and the excitement of moving back to the Bay Area for a new job at Snapchat.

In this conversation, Bennett and Bradley discuss various themes ranging from practical skills like knot tying to childhood memories of outdoor adventures. They delve into tech innovations, user engagement strategies, and the challenges of managing finances and bookkeeping for their projects. The conversation also touches on reverse engineering mobile apps and the complexities of modern web development, particularly in relation to web scraping and the evolving landscape of JavaScript frameworks. In this conversation, Bennett and Bradley discuss the complexities of modern web development, emphasizing the need for simplicity in design and coding practices. They explore the challenges posed by various web development tools and frameworks, particularly Tailwind, and reflect on the importance of choosing the right cloud services for hosting applications. The discussion also touches on personal interests, such as gardening and outdoor activities, highlighting the value of engaging in hands-on projects outside of their tech-centric lives.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Life Updates
01:29 Wedding Reflections and Highlights
06:02 Memorable Moments from the Wedding
08:56 Post-Wedding Celebrations and Friendships
11:49 Transitioning to New Life Events
14:44 Moving Back to the Bay Area
17:28 Job Search and New Opportunities
20:30 Future Plans and Reflections
23:13 Exploring New Interests and Hobbies
27:05 The Art of Knot Tying
29:07 Childhood Memories and Outdoor Adventures
32:27 Tech Innovations and User Engagement
38:28 Referral Programs and User Retention
40:07 Managing Finances and Bookkeeping
43:38 Reverse Engineering and Learning
52:58 Web Development Challenges
01:00:14 The Complexity of Modern Web Development
01:04:54 Simplicity in Design and Development
01:08:03 Choosing Between Cloud Services
01:15:55 Exploring Gardening and Outdoor Activities

Creators & Guests

• Bradley Bernard - Host
• Bennett Bernard - Host

In this episode of the Breakeven Brothers podcast, hosts Bennett and Bradley discuss their recent life updates, including Bradley's job offer at ____ and their experiences at various conferences. They delve into the challenges of job searching, the importance of networking, and the evolving landscape of marketing and AI in the tech industry. The conversation highlights the significance of community in professional growth and the need for continuous learning in a rapidly changing job market. They also share personal recommendations for books and resources that have inspired them.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Life Updates
02:55 Conference Experiences and Networking
06:02 Job Search Journey and Insights
09:02 Job Offer Announcement and Reflections
11:36 Marketing Challenges and Strategies
14:38 AI and Its Impact on Job Roles
17:36 Camtasia and Content Creation
20:28 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Bookmarks
Brad: X: Optimizing your mobile app paywall
Bennett: Getting your fire back

People
Creators & Guests

• Bradley Bernard - Host
• Bennett Bernard - Host

In this episode, Bennett and Bradley discuss Bradley's recent experiences with job interviews and the importance of mentorship and coaching in their careers. They also talk about the upcoming Laracon conference and the value of networking and learning from others in the industry. In this part of the conversation, Bradley and Bennett discuss the importance of constructive criticism, questioning the status quo, and being open to feedback. They also share their experiences with mentorship and the value of optimism in the workplace. They then shift the conversation to discuss their experiences with the AI tools Cursor and Claude, as well as the FastAPI framework.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Updates
01:55 Navigating Job Interviews
07:53 The Importance of Mentorship
10:34 Networking and Learning from Others
17:21 The Value of Conferences
33:20 Constructive Criticism and Questioning the Status Quo
42:16 The Power of Optimism and Integrity
47:31 AI Tools for Rapid Prototyping and Development
51:57 The Future of AI and its Potential
01:01:53 Fine-Tuning AI Models and the Importance of Context
01:04:18 The Blurring Line Between Human and Programming Language
01:07:24 The Potential of Voice-Based and Brainwave Communication
01:14:51 Opportunities in Creating New Chrome Extensions
01:17:21 Using LLMs with SQL for Efficient Querying

Articles/Links
Brad's Interesting Bookmark:
84k Chrome extensions will be disabled next month

Bennett's Interesting Bookmark:
LLMs and SQL

Creators & Guests

• Bradley Bernard - Host
• Bennett Bernard - Host