I'm shifting away from listening to podcasts and I'm a blog reader now.

In Episode #508 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: why our media diets are shifting, how we each consume information across video, audio, books, Substack, X long‑form (even X Spaces), why written digital content is winning more of our attention lately, the flood of AI‑generated media (from YouTube videos to TTS podcasts spun from Reddit threads), the challenge of finding high‑signal sources, fiction vs non‑fiction swings, curation styles (tabs vs phone-first), rising ad density in pods/YouTube to near ad‑free long‑form writing and why subtlety and cadence get lost in AI summaries of long videos.

No support for this week, the beanie remains cold.

Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:48) How we consume now
(00:04:26) From video rabbit holes to purposeful listening and reading
(00:09:35) Podcasting 2.0 and structuring feeds to handle AI content
(00:12:20) Why digital reading wins for AI and crypto topics
(00:16:30) Finding and filtering digital reading: Substack, X longform, and curation styles
(00:19:37) Longform on X and email newsletters as modern blogs
(00:22:07) One inbox vs many silos: different workflows for discovery
(00:26:21) Timeless vs timely episodes: examples from Rick Rubin, Brian Armstrong, Lex Fridman
(00:29:07) Boostagram Lounge
(00:31:21) Enhancement vs slop: subtle AI in scripts and production
(00:38:20) AI guidance wins and fails: car fixes vs an $800 vet visit
(00:41:03) TTS flooding the podcast indexes: Reddit threads to AI voices
(00:46:28) High signal vs hype: debating Gary Vee and trend timing
(00:52:38) Uniqueness from humans vs AI clones: where interviews still shine
(00:56:37) Superabundance everywhere: YouTube, podcasts, music, and text
(00:59:14) Hard mediums breed quality: from early podcasting to AI curated media
(01:03:00) On demand past, uncertain future: predicting the next media shift
(01:08:51) Follow the money: ads, creators, and why text feels cleaner
(01:10:27) Wrap-up 

Connect with Mere Mortals:
Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
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Value 4 Value Support:
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It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next.

Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly goals and how we will fix that for the month that comes. We hope you get some value from this series, showcasing our own methodology. What do you do differently and why?

Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:17) Juan's December 2025 Recap
(00:06:19) Kyrin's December 2025 Recap
(00:09:30) Support Overview
(00:11:47) Juan's January 2026 Goals
(00:18:17) Kyrin's January 2026 Goals
(00:34:29) Fitness
(00:37:04) V4V

Connect with Mere Mortals:
Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

Value 4 Value Support:
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We're expanding out from an AI blog into the real world. Also had some issues with the audio this episode so I'm working from the backup copy (that was super loud for some reason).

In Episode #507 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: the shift from attention to intention in the AI era, what truly agentic AI might look like versus glorified chatbots and automated workflows, where the tech is actually useful right now, whether the real breakthroughs will come from bolt-ons to existing platforms or from new rails built natively for agents, testing jailbreak games, microtransactions and betting on an AI Monopoly, job market dislocations, new forms of basic services and the rise of agent-first marketplaces.

Huge thanks to Petar for the baller boost this week, the beanie is back!

Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:20) Agentic AI: what it is and what it is not
(00:06:08) Hands-on agents: calls, purchases and speed trade-offs
(00:10:54) Agents vs automated workflows: real differences
(00:15:06) Trust, bugs and the need for human verification
(00:20:04) The Intent Economy article: key takeaways
(00:27:59) Legacy rails vs new rails: why 2026 may surprise
(00:31:05) Slow to sudden shifts: adopting AI-first systems
(00:34:16) Content for AIs, not humans: a paradigm shift
(00:39:11) Bootstragram Lounge
(00:43:06) Daily use-cases: new profiles, payments and x402
(00:49:20) Model guardrails vs open models: practical lessons
(00:53:17) Spinning up a podcast agent: limitations revealed
(00:57:47) Intent drift: when your goals change mid-stream
(1:00:12) Human relationships, agents and future norms
(01:06:36) Free money? x402 Monopoly and betting agents
(01:12:32) When rules break: brittleness of current agents
(01:15:00) Keeping up: daily AI briefs and real-world inertia
(01:19:59) Wrap-up 

Connect with Mere Mortals:
Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

Value 4 Value Support:
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Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

Magnus is back with a master class on how to buy art.

In Episode #506 of 'Meanderings', Juan and I discuss: the big blank wall behind us, how to choose something meaningful for your home, Magnus Resch’s books 'How To Become A Successful Artist' and 'How to Collect Art', why branding and networking matter in the art world, why most buyers should treat art as a sunk cost and purchase only what they truly love, practical buying tips (galleries, fairs, auctions, pricing signals), comparing art collecting with car collecting, digital art and NFTs as a way to prove ownership and enable utility and reflect on building personal connection to pieces and artists.

No support for this week, so the Chux Cloth beanie stays off.

Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals

Timeline: 
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:03) Two books by Magnus Resch
(00:06:08) Defining success and the pyramid of artist types
(00:11:06) Practicalities for artists: branding, pricing and Instagram
(00:13:01) How to Collect Art – structure of the market and roles
(00:18:18) What is a fair price? Treat purchases as sunk costs
(00:23:53) Buy what you love: quotes and guiding principles
(00:26:18) Access, opacity and why networking is crucial
(00:34:46) Car collecting vs art collecting: rarity and value
(00:41:11) Tactics: auctions, fairs, timing and discounts
(00:41:53) Boostragram lounge and value‑for‑value break
(00:43:12) Personal shifts: curating with sentiment and story
(00:52:49) NFTs 101: ownership, authenticity and utility
(00:58:02) Rebalancing a digital collection: fewer, loved pieces
(01:01:30) Wrap‑up lessons and next week’s AI intent teaser 

Connect with Mere Mortals:
Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

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I'm a woman trapped in a man's body analysing dating advice for women given by a man.

In #505 of 'Meanderings', Juan and I discuss: three dating and relationships books (The New Rules, Get the Guy by Matthew Hussey and Attached), how prescriptive “rules” aimed at women can backfire, why some advice feels outdated (Facebook walls and BBM), how scarcity games tend to attract the very players you might want to avoid, why attachment styles are useful as a lens but less so as a to‑do list, a focus on authenticity over mere effectiveness, watch the influence of your friend circle, understand how strong male sexual drive can shape dating dynamics, apply Pareto principles to health and appearance first, build an interesting life (travel, skills, community) and learning to read yourself so you don’t try to fill loneliness with just anyone.

No boostagrams this week, very sad puppy.

Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:00:47) The books: The New Rules, Get the Guy & Attached
(00:04:21) Lot's of Don'ts
(00:07:12) Perfectionism and the hunt for Mr Right
(00:11:09) Who this attracts: playing games gets game players
(00:16:21) What men reportedly dislike
(00:20:25) Quick verdict on The New Rules & Switch To Matt Hussey
(00:25:48) Practical prompts: compliments, conversations, and friendly vibes
(00:30:15) Brief detour to Attached: anxious, avoidant, secure
(00:39:24) Boostagram Lounge
(00:41:15) Effectiveness vs authenticity: advice for daughters
(00:45:00) Masks, faking confidence and why acts won't last
(00:48:00) Be interesting: travel, stories and easy conversation openers
(00:55:14) Broad advice: the male mind, sex drive, and expectations
(01:02:26) Pareto squared: health and appearance
(01:07:09) A raw moment: walking through Brisbane and feeling loneliness
(01:11:24) Closing reflections 

Connect with Mere Mortals:
Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
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There is a reason why the art 'space' is divisive and why money distorts many things.

In Episode #504 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: the book by Magnus Resch titled '100 Secrets of the Art World', tight‑knit gatekeeping at the high end of the market, how control of information shape what gets seen and sold (often more than artistic merit), parallels to other status markets such as watches/supercars, why 'better' often defaults to 'more expensive', where marketing can overshadow craft yet many collectors still buy for love and to support artists and why the truest encounters with art might still be found in small local galleries rather than at Art Basel.

No support for this week, very sad puppy :(
 
Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:52) Defining the 'art space'
(00:03:38) First impressions: elitism, provenance and pretence
(00:09:04) Gatekeeping: cabals, galleries and New York
(00:12:06) Parallels with cars/watches: scarcity and status
(00:15:27) Art Basel anecdote: committees, control and quiet coups
(00:20:02) NFTs, provenance on-chain and collectibles vs art
(00:22:22) Popularity: storytelling, marketing and money
(00:27:38) Quality heuristics: effort, complexity and the 22blue painting22 problem
(00:32:38) Boostagram Lounge
(00:34:00) Misconceptions across niches: calisthenics, hand balancing, circus
(00:39:03) On labels and assumptions: steroids, fitness and nuance
(00:44:04) Finding the essence: local galleries, pure enjoyment
(00:48:06) Would creation persist without cash?
(00:53:56) Purity at the base, distortion at the peak
(00:55:27) Housekeeping and support links; live chat banter 

Connect with Mere Mortals:
Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

Value 4 Value Support:
Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support
Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

The master does nothing .... yet he leaves nothing undone.

In Episode #503 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: why the mindset of mastery may matter more than the title of “master", Robert Greene’s book called Mastery, the role of obsession, whether teaching is required for mastery, “unearned” mastery and savant talent and a pragmatic take on how to design your own path toward improvement without sacrificing what matters most.

Huge thanks to Petar for the support, very much appreciated!
 
Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:08) Why read Robert Greene's 'Mastery'?
(00:04:54) Podcasting as a case study: from basics to refinement
(00:06:58) Local mastery vs global mastery and reference frames
(00:10:33) Choosing what to master: obsession, trade-offs and limits
(00:13:16) Mastery as mindset vs outcome; daily improvement lens
(00:17:25) Boostagram Lounge
(00:19:00) Challenging outcome-first goals; internal vs external focus
(00:21:11) The costs of global excellence and life balance
(00:24:39) Prioritising self-mastery: emotions and immediate circles
(00:26:29) Unearned talent? Kyrgios, training minutiae and masters
(00:32:56) Reframing goals: skills, learning and public speaking
(00:35:00) Applying lessons like biographies, not blueprints
(00:39:11) Do you need to teach to be a master? Savants vs transferable methods
(00:41:14) Mastery (process) vs Master (status)
(00:45:59) Wrap-up and ways to support 

Connect with Mere Mortals:
Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

Value 4 Value Support:
Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support
Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next.

Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly goals and how we will fix that for the month that comes. We hope you get some value from this series, showcasing our own methodology. What do you do differently and why?

Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals

Timeline: 
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:41) Juan's November 2025 Recap
(00:06:42) Kyrin's November 2025 Recap
(00:10:05) Support Overview
(00:12:59) Juan's December 2025 Goals
(00:28:09) Kyrin's December 2025 Goals
(00:37:40) Fitness
(00:41:44) V4V

Connect with Mere Mortals:
Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

Value 4 Value Support:
Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support
Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

It's time for the male version of therapy .... podcasting!!!

In Episode #502 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: Lori Gottlieb’s book 'Maybe You Should Talk to Someone', the emotional burden therapists carry plus the mirror-like role they play in helping people surface what’s unsaid, my own brief stint with therapy as a late teen, why men seek therapy less, what they tend to talk about (anger, identity, intimacy, parenting), whether gym time/mates/modern tools like AI can substitute for a human therapist and how to decide when an external guide could reveal the real question behind the problem you’re trying to solve.

Huge thanks to Petar & The Late Bloomer Actor for the support, much appreciated!
 
Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals

Timeline: 
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:00:36) Book setup: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone (Lori Gottlieb)
(00:04:22) Is talk therapy an "easy job"?
(00:07:34) Personal histories with therapy
(00:13:37) When would you go?
(00:19:35) Male substitutes for therapy and why some need a neutral listener
(00:24:13) What therapists really offer: safe disclosure and third-party perspective
(00:31:03) Introspection vs understanding; overthinking and feeling understood
(00:35:05) Boostagram Lounge
(00:39:56) What Aussie men discuss in therapy
(00:47:15) Low affect: numbing vs regulation
(00:51:15) When does therapy end? Termination, success metrics and vagueness
(00:55:02) Therapy as a business, niches and the rise of AI/text-based care
(00:59:12) The value of a well-formed question and paid accountability
(01:03:11) Risks: authority, bad guidance and incentives
(01:06:54) Wrap-up: Meanderings as free therapy and support links 

Connect with Mere Mortals:
Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

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Let's help Juan find some excitement in the daily grind!

In Episode #501 of 'Meanderings', Juan and I discuss: the shifting meaning of “adventure” across seasons of life, adventure beyond skydiving (think ballet classes, new walking routes, digital art experiments and structured learning), how vicarious adventures through kids or friends can scratch the itch without derailing priorities, a note on podcasting 2.0’s KeySend/LNURL Lightning shift and practical ideas to add novelty without burning your foundations.

Huge thanks to Petar for the support, much appreciated!
 
Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals

Timeline:
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:01:17) Framing adventure and seasons of life
(00:05:21) Reality check: priorities, phases and filtering ideas
(00:09:41) Broadening experiences: ballet, novelty without risk
(00:15:42) Travel temptations vs relationship goals
(00:18:57) Miniadventures and planning around family life
(00:23:03) Designing doable novelty: tracks, cafes and small switches
(00:29:56) Tiny tweaks to shake patterns: routes, movement, mindset
(00:32:38) Routine builds longterm payoffs
(00:36:00) Boostagram Lounge
(00:41:39) Swapping motivation for systems: dating, friends and classes
(00:47:16) Big projects as adventures: the gym dream and obsession
(00:53:03) Finding excitement in small stakes: digital art and curiosity
(00:54:56) Living history: AI race, power and echoes of the space race
(01:02:11) Perspective at the park: Luma Lads, comparison and gratitude
(01:08:09) Wrapup: comments, Discord and socials 

Connect with Mere Mortals:
Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReU
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

Value 4 Value Support:
Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support
Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast