Examining

In this episode, Erik and Kris celebrate their 100th episode by discussing Cal Newport's Slow Productivity. They go through the book's three principles: do fewer things, work at a natural pace, and obsess over quality. They also reflect on what 100 episodes of Examining have taught them.

SHOW NOTES

Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout – Cal Newport: Cal's official book page, which his announcement post gives as calnewport.com/slow, and which offers bonus material alongside the book. https://calnewport.com/slow

My New Book: Slow Productivity – Cal Newport: Cal's announcement post, which describes a Slow Productivity Primer (an annotated collection of his best writing on the topic) and a crash course video covering the three principles. https://calnewport.com/my-new-book-slow-productivity/

On Slow Productivity and the Anti-Busyness Revolution – Cal Newport: An earlier essay (the comments are dated 2021) in which Cal argues we may need a slow productivity revolution more than an economic one. https://calnewport.com/on-slow-productivity-and-the-anti-busyness-revolution/

Slow Productivity Chapter Commentary – Cal Newport: Cal gives behind-the-scenes insights on each chapter of the book. https://calnewport.com/slow-productivity-chapter-commentary/

The Workload Fairy Tale – Cal Newport: Cal connects research on shorter workweeks to the book's idea of workload management. https://calnewport.com/the-workload-fairy-tale/

CONTACT
Website: examining.ca
Twitter: @ExaminingPod

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca

Erik and Kris discuss the latest Apple Event - "Surprise and Shine" - including the new phones, watches, and headphones.

CONTACT

Website: examining.ca

Twitter: @ExaminingPod

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca

Erik and Kris interview Dr. Tom O’Neill, an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary. This episode was originally released on August 4, 2020. We are revisiting Tom's interview where he discusses ITP Metrics, a free online teamwork and behavioural assessment platform. Tom and his team created this platform to improve classroom team dynamics, and it has been used in several programs to great success.

SHOW NOTES: 

ITP Metrics platform:  https://www.itpmetrics.com/

GUEST INFORMATION:

Dr. Tom O’Neill
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-o-neill-53bbb321/
UCalgary Profile:  https://psyc.ucalgary.ca/profiles/thomas-o-neill 

CONTACT:

Website: examining.ca
Twitter: @ExaminingPod

TEAM INFORMATION:

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca

In this episode, Erik and Kris Interview Soroush Sabbaghan an Associate Professor at the University of Calgary's Weklund School of Education. The interview centres around Soroush's interest in AI and how it can be ethically and appropriately used in education. 

Soroush's website: https://soroushsabbaghan.com/

Soroush's profile at UofC: https://profiles.ucalgary.ca/soroush-sabbaghan

CONTACT

Website: examining.ca

Twitter: @ExaminingPod

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca

In this episode, Erik and Kris discuss Apple’s MacBook Neo and what it may mean for the future of the iPad. They also look at OpenAI’s GPT-5.5 release, including benchmark results, agentic coding, AI in medical triage, and the strange story of ChatGPT’s “goblin” habit. Finally, they revisit the ongoing question of AI and jobs, from Jensen Huang’s advice to study engineering to a Chinese court ruling on replacing workers with AI.

SHOW NOTES

MacBook Neo and Future of the iPad

MacBook Neo’s Product Fit – Inc: Apple’s low-cost MacBook Neo appears aimed at first-time Mac buyers, students, and people who need an affordable computer more than a high-end Mac. https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/after-45-days-i-figured-out-exactly-who-the-macbook-neo-is-for/91336235

Apple’s iPad Phaseout Has Begun – Macworld: Macworld argues that the MacBook Neo, touchscreen MacBooks, and a future iPhone Fold could put pressure on the iPad from multiple directions. https://www.macworld.com/article/3109565/ipad-demise-touchscreen-macbook-pro-neo-iphone-fold.html

ChatGPT 5.5

Introducing GPT-5.5 – OpenAI: OpenAI positions GPT-5.5 as a stronger model for agentic coding, computer use, knowledge work, and scientific research. https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-5-5/

GPT-5.5 Benchmarks – VentureBeat: VentureBeat reports that GPT-5.5 narrowly beat Anthropic’s Claude Mythos Preview on Terminal-Bench 2.0, while noting that model competition remains tight across benchmarks. https://venturebeat.com/ai/openais-gpt-5-5-is-here-and-its-no-potato-narrowly-beats-anthropics-claude-mythos-preview-on-terminal-bench-2-0

Where the Goblins Came From – OpenAI: OpenAI explains how a “nerdy” personality training pattern led ChatGPT to overuse goblin and gremlin metaphors. https://openai.com/index/where-the-goblins-came-from/

ChatGPT’s Goblin Obsession – Engadget: Engadget summarizes OpenAI’s explanation of the goblin issue and why personality tuning can have unexpected side effects. https://www.engadget.com/2161234/chatgpt-developed-a-goblin-obsession-after-openai-tried-to-make-it-nerdy/

AI and Emergency Triage – The Guardian: A Harvard study found that AI outperformed doctors in some emergency triage diagnosis tasks, while researchers warned that AI should be treated as a clinical support tool, not a doctor replacement. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/apr/30/ai-outperforms-doctors-in-harvard-trial-of-emergency-triage-diagnoses

Latest on AI Taking Our Jobs

Jensen Huang on AI and Careers – Inc: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang argues that engineering remains one of the safest career bets because it teaches first-principles problem-solving. https://www.inc.com/leila-sheridan/jensen-huang-engineering-jobs-ai/91337609

AI Layoffs in China – Gizmodo: A Chinese court found that employers cannot use AI automation as a pretext to unilaterally demote or terminate workers. https://gizmodo.com/its-illegal-in-china-to-lay-someone-off-to-replace-them-with-ai-court-finds-2000753791

CONTACT

Website: examining.ca

Twitter: @ExaminingPod

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca

In this episode, Kris and Erik discuss the announcement that Tim Cook will be stepping down as Apple's CEO and turning over the role to John Ternus. Could this be a signal that Apple is returning to products with a hardware engineer at the helm? They discuss what it means for a tech industry focused on subscriptions. The co-hosts also discuss Anthropic's new Mythos model and how it has discovered many major software vulnerabilities. For the tip section, Kris and Erik discuss their experience using NotebookLM for learning new topics and keeping up to date with industry news.

SHOW NOTES

Apple Newsroom: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/04/tim-cook-to-become-apple-executive-chairman-john-ternus-to-become-apple-ceo/

Macrumors: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/20/tim-cook-stepping-down/

PCWorld: https://www.pcworld.com/article/2816617/microsofts-copilot-gamble-is-a-bustbut-ai-pcs-still-feel-inevitable.htm 

Anthropic - Project Glasswing: https://www.anthropic.com/glasswing

Scientific American: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-is-mythos-and-why-are-experts-worried-about-anthropics-ai-model/

CONTACT

Website: examining.ca

Twitter: @ExaminingPod

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca

In this episode, Kris and Erik interview Dr. Hadi Fariborzi, an Assistant Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Mount Royal University. His research is situated at the intersection of international entrepreneurship. Dr. Fariborzi co-founded Hub Meta — an AI powered tool for conducting systematic reviews. 

SHOW NOTES

CONTACT

Website: examining.ca

Twitter: @ExaminingPod

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca

In this episode, Erik and Kris chat with Ross "Memphis" Pambrun about his unique path across healthcare, firefighting, technology, music, and media. They discuss how Ross built a career that spans public service, AI and cyber innovation through The Memphis Group, storytelling through Red River Gold, and performing with his band, Memphis and The Grande.

SHOW NOTES

CONTACT

Website: examining.ca

Twitter: @ExaminingPod

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: erikchristiansen.net

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host
Website: krishans.ca

In this episode, Erik and Kris discuss how trust keeps becoming the real story in tech. They look at Paul Thurrott’s skepticism about Microsoft’s latest promises to improve Windows, Anthropic’s massive global interview project on what people actually want from AI, OpenAI’s plan to nearly double its workforce as it pushes further into enterprise adoption, and the gamer backlash to Nvidia’s DLSS 5.

SHOW NOTES

Trust But Verify: https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-11/334053/trust-but-verify-2 

What 81,000 people want from AI: https://www.anthropic.com/81k-interviews 

OpenAI to nearly double workforce to 8,000 by end-2026, FT report: https://www.reuters.com/business/openai-nearly-double-workforce-8000-by-end-2026-ft-reports-2026-03-21/ 

Gamers react with overwhelming disgust to DLSS 5’s generative AI glow-ups: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2026/03/gamers-react-with-overwhelming-disgust-to-dlss-5s-generative-ai-glow-ups/ 

The hidden advantage of being over 50 in the age of AI: https://www.inc.com/joel-comm/the-hidden-advantage-of-being-over-50-in-the-age-of-ai/91312602 

CONTACT

Website: examining.ca

Twitter: @ExaminingPod

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host

Website: erikchristiansen.net

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host

Website: krishans.ca

In this episode, Erik and Kris explore the growing gap between AI adoption and AI literacy, highlighting how institutions, governments, and workplaces are struggling to keep up. They discuss practical frameworks for using AI responsibly, the risks of poorly implemented automation, and the opportunity for skilled professionals to stand out.

They also break down Apple’s March 2026 product lineup, with a deep dive into the MacBook Neo, a $599 laptop that signals a major shift in Apple’s strategy and could redefine entry-level computing.

SHOW NOTES

MRU Library: Generative AI Applications Guide: https://library.mtroyal.ca/ai/applications

Alberta AI Academy: https://albertaaiacademy.com/ 

Maclean’s: AI Has Entered the Cubicle: https://macleans.ca/longforms/ai-has-entered-the-cubicle/ 

New Apple hardware

MacBook Neo reviews

CONTACT

Website:examining.ca

Twitter: @ExaminingPod

Erik Christiansen, Co-Founder & Co-Host 

Website: erikchristiansen.net

Kris Hans, Co-Founder & Co-Host Website: krishans.ca

Website: krishans.ca