In this listener mailbag episode, Cary answers questions from listeners about how to get more practical with ChatGPT. He talks through where to find useful AI training, how to "just talk to it" using his four-part framework, and how someone working alone can use ChatGPT as a brainstorming partner. The big message is simple: don't overthink the prompt. Treat ChatGPT like a capable coworker, give it context, explain what you need, and invite it to ask questions.

• Look for AI training that matches your real work. Cary recommends finding resources that are practical, honest, and relevant to your role or industry instead of relying only on broad success stories or random prompt lists.
• Use Cary's four-part framework when talking to ChatGPT: What are we doing? Why are we doing it? What does success look like? Do you have any questions for me?
• ChatGPT can be a brainstorming partner, especially if you work alone. Cary suggests explaining your situation, what you miss from having coworkers, and asking ChatGPT how it can help you think through ideas, decisions, or projects.

AI Institute Link referenced in show: https://academy.smarterx.ai/courses#departments

Cary offers customized one-on-one ChatGPT training in 60 minute sessions. Find out more information on the sessions, answers to frequent questions, and how to register at www.ChatGPTExperiment.com

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CONNECT WITH CARY

ChatGPT Podcast Website: www.ChatGPTExperiment.com Marketing Podcast: www.PracticalMarketingShow.com Cary's Agency Website: www.CMWeston.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston

LINKEDIN NEWSLETTER The Chat GPT Experiment is also a LinkedIn Newsletter and you can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/

MUSIC CREDITS The instrumental music used in this podcast is called "Curious" by Podington Bear".

In this episode of The ChatGPT Experiment, Cary walks through three simple ways to personalize tools like ChatGPT and Claude so they feel more useful, relevant, and tailored to how you work. He covers custom instructions, memory, and connectors or sources, explaining how each one can help you get better answers, cut down on annoying habits, and connect AI tools to the apps and files you already use.

• Custom instructions are a great starting point. Cary explains how they help shape the way ChatGPT or Claude responds, including tone, length, writing style, and things you do or don't want.
• Memory is worth checking once in a while. Cary compares memory to a backpack and encourages listeners to review what the tool remembers, delete what is no longer useful, and correct anything that feels off.
• Connectors and sources can make AI more useful. By connecting tools like Google Drive, Gmail, Canva, Fireflies, Adobe PDF, or other apps, users can create smoother workflows and get more value from their AI tool.

Resources Mentioned In The Show:

• Find downloadable files to customize your own set of instructions for both ChatGPT and Claude here.
• Link to Episode 93 - the AI Prompt Master - as mentioned in the show

Cary offers customized one-on-one ChatGPT training in 60 minute sessions. Find out more information on the sessions, answers to frequent questions, and how to register at www.ChatGPTExperiment.com

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CONNECT WITH CARY

ChatGPT Podcast Website: www.ChatGPTExperiment.com Marketing Podcast: www.PracticalMarketingShow.com Cary's Agency Website: www.CMWeston.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston

LINKEDIN NEWSLETTER The Chat GPT Experiment is also a LinkedIn Newsletter and you can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/

MUSIC CREDITS The instrumental music used in this podcast is called "Curious" by Podington Bear".

In this episode, Cary talks about a common pattern he is seeing in workshops and keynotes: people are using AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude, but they are only using them in small ways, like rewriting emails or checking spelling. He describes this as being "stuck in first gear." The bigger opportunity, Cary says, is to treat AI like a capable intern that can help shrink the "busy middle" of work — the part where most of the time and mental energy gets spent. The key is to have real back-and-forth conversations with the tool, give it context, ask questions, and stay curious.

• Using AI is not the same as benefiting from AI. Cary shares that many organizations have people using AI, but only a small number feel they are getting meaningful results from it.
• AI can help with more than quick fixes. Instead of only using it to polish emails or spell-check documents, Cary encourages listeners to use it as a problem-solving partner.
• The best results come from conversation. Give the tool context, ask how it can help, follow up with "tell me more," and keep exploring. That is where the real value starts to show up.

Cary offers customized one-on-one ChatGPT training in 60 minute sessions. Find out more information on the sessions, answers to frequent questions, and how to register at www.ChatGPTExperiment.com

+++++++++

CONNECT WITH CARY

ChatGPT Podcast Website: www.ChatGPTExperiment.com Marketing Podcast: www.PracticalMarketingShow.com Cary's Agency Website: www.CMWeston.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston

LINKEDIN NEWSLETTER The Chat GPT Experiment is also a LinkedIn Newsletter and you can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/

MUSIC CREDITS The instrumental music used in this podcast is called "Curious" by Podington Bear".

In this episode, Cary shares a keynote-style talk about how to think about AI without getting overwhelmed. He compares AI to a capable intern: adaptable, available, and ready to help, but only as useful as the direction you give it. Cary walks through the current AI landscape, why so much money is being invested, and why tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are just the beginning. The heart of the message is simple: you do not need to master every tool or chase every trend. Start with curiosity, find one useful task, and learn how to work with AI in a way that saves time, improves communication, and helps people do better work.

• Treat AI like an intern, not a magic box. The better the context, direction, and feedback you give it, the better the results will be.
• Start with one thing. Do not worry about what everyone else is doing. Find one repeatable task that eats up your time and see how AI can help shrink the "busy middle."
• Curiosity matters more than certainty. The tools will keep changing, but the habit of asking better questions, testing ideas, and learning as you go will stay valuable.

Cary offers customized one-on-one ChatGPT training in 60 minute sessions. Find out more information on the sessions, answers to frequent questions, and how to register at www.ChatGPTExperiment.com

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CONNECT WITH CARY

ChatGPT Podcast Website: www.ChatGPTExperiment.com Marketing Podcast: www.PracticalMarketingShow.com Cary's Agency Website: www.CMWeston.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston

LINKEDIN NEWSLETTER The Chat GPT Experiment is also a LinkedIn Newsletter and you can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/

MUSIC CREDITS The instrumental music used in this podcast is called "Curious" by Podington Bear".

In this episode of The ChatGPT Experiment, Cary draws a helpful parallel between the anxiety students feel when thinking about college and the anxiety many beginners feel when trying to understand AI. The big idea is simple: you do not need to have the whole thing figured out right away. Just like life, AI is easier to approach one step at a time.

Cary shares five pieces of advice that work for both life and AI: use good communication, find what matters to you, do not expect everything to go perfectly, treat mistakes as learning, and stay curious. The episode is a calm reminder that AI does not have to be scary. The goal is not to master everything. The goal is to learn how to interact with the tools in a way that helps you in your real life and work.

• You do not need to "learn AI" all at once. Start with one useful thing that makes your day easier, whether that is writing, planning, brainstorming, cooking, travel, work tasks, or something personal.
• Better conversations create better AI results. Cary's simple framework is: What are we doing? Why are we doing it? What does success look like? Do you have any questions for me?
• Mistakes are tuition, not failure. When AI gives you something that misses the mark, tell it what did not work and why. That feedback helps you get better results next time.

Cary offers customized one-on-one ChatGPT training in 60 minute sessions. Find out more information on the sessions, answers to frequent questions, and how to register at www.ChatGPTExperiment.com

+++++++++

CONNECT WITH CARY

ChatGPT Podcast Website: www.ChatGPTExperiment.com Marketing Podcast: www.PracticalMarketingShow.com Cary's Agency Website: www.CMWeston.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston

LINKEDIN NEWSLETTER The Chat GPT Experiment is also a LinkedIn Newsletter and you can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/

MUSIC CREDITS The instrumental music used in this podcast is called "Curious" by Podington Bear".

In this episode, Cary talks about FOBO — the fear of becoming obsolete — and how it shows up for people who feel pressure to learn AI but do not really know where to start. He explains that a lot of AI anxiety comes from the unknown, not from the tools themselves. Cary encourages listeners to slow down, name what they are actually afraid of, and start with one simple use case from their own life or work. The big message is that tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are less scary when you stop trying to master everything and start having a real conversation with them.

• Name the fear first. Instead of letting AI anxiety stay vague and overwhelming, ask yourself what you are actually afraid of. Once you can name it, you can start working through it.
• Start with one thing, not everything. You do not need to learn every button, feature, or setting. Pick one task or challenge in your work or life and explore how AI might help.
• Treat AI like a working partner. The best value comes when you use AI as a brainstorming and problem-solving partner, not as a magic tool that does everything for you.

Cary offers customized one-on-one ChatGPT training in 60 minute sessions. Find out more information on the sessions, answers to frequent questions, and how to register at www.ChatGPTExperiment.com

+++++++++

CONNECT WITH CARY

ChatGPT Podcast Website: www.ChatGPTExperiment.com Marketing Podcast: www.PracticalMarketingShow.com Cary's Agency Website: www.CMWeston.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston

LINKEDIN NEWSLETTER The Chat GPT Experiment is also a LinkedIn Newsletter and you can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/

MUSIC CREDITS The instrumental music used in this podcast is called "Curious" by Podington Bear".

Episode Summary In this solo episode, Cary shares what it was like visiting St. Joseph's College of Maine, where Dr. Anthony "Dr. G" Girlando built a class around helping students learn ChatGPT in a practical, meaningful way. Cary walks through what he saw on campus, the kinds of student projects being built, and why curiosity matters more than trying to "master" the tool. The big theme of the episode is simple: people get the most value from ChatGPT when they stop treating it like software they have to learn and start treating it like a conversation that can help them move one real goal forward.

3 Key Takeaways

• Curiosity is the biggest advantage when it comes to using ChatGPT well.
• The best starting point is to find one useful way the tool can help you, instead of trying to learn everything at once.
• AI works better when you use it to make communication more human and personal, not more robotic.

Cary offers customized one-on-one ChatGPT training in 60 minute sessions. Find out more information on the sessions, answers to frequent questions, and how to register at www.ChatGPTExperiment.com

Connect with Dr. G: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antony-girlando-906603102/ St Josephs College of Maine https://www.sjcme.edu

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CONNECT WITH CARY

ChatGPT Podcast Website: www.ChatGPTExperiment.com Marketing Podcast: www.PracticalMarketingShow.com Cary's Agency Website: www.CMWeston.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston

LINKEDIN NEWSLETTER The Chat GPT Experiment is also a LinkedIn Newsletter and you can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/

MUSIC CREDITS The instrumental music used in this podcast is called "Curious" by Podington Bear".

Episode Summary

In this solo episode, Cary talks about a simple idea that can make AI tools way more useful: teaching them who you are. He explains that if ChatGPT, Claude, or another tool does not really know your personal and professional context, the answers you get will stay generic and can miss what matters most to you. Cary walks through how to check what the tool already knows, how to spot what is wrong or missing, and how to build an "About Me" file inside a project so future responses feel more relevant, personal, and helpful.

3 Key Takeaways

• Ask your AI tool what it knows about you personally and professionally so you can see what is accurate, what is off, and what is missing.
• Create an "About Me" document inside a project and instruct the tool to review it before giving answers, so the work feels more tailored to you.
• A better result usually comes from better context, not just better prompts. The more clearly the tool understands you, the more useful its output becomes.

Cary offers customized ChatGPT training. Find out more information on the sessions, answers to frequent questions, and how to register at www.ChatGPTExperiment.com

+++++++++

CONNECT WITH CARY

ChatGPT Podcast Website: www.ChatGPTExperiment.com Marketing Podcast: www.PracticalMarketingShow.com Cary's Agency Website: www.CMWeston.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston

LINKEDIN NEWSLETTER The Chat GPT Experiment is also a LinkedIn Newsletter and you can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/

MUSIC CREDITS The instrumental music used in this podcast is called "Curious" by Podington Bear".

Episode Summary Cary Weston welcomes back Greg Howe, founder of Gimme Info, to hellp explain what two common AI terms are: agents and vibe coding. Greg breaks both down in a really practical way, using simple examples instead of technical jargon. He explains agents as purpose-built AI "job doers" that can handle tasks and make basic decisions along the way, and he describes vibe coding as building software by telling AI what you want in plain English. The conversation stays grounded in real business use, with a big focus on starting with a problem first instead of chasing shiny AI tools.

3 Key Takeaways

• Agents are easiest to understand as AI helpers with a specific job to do, kind of like a contractor with a tool belt instead of a single tool.
• Vibe coding lets people describe software in normal language and have AI build it, revise it, and improve it through back-and-forth conversation.
• The best starting point with both agents and vibe coding is not "how do I use AI?" but "what problem am I trying to solve?"

About Greg Howe Greg Howe is the founder of Gimme Info, LLC, where he builds practical AI applications for small to mid-sized businesses. His focus is on solving real-world business pain points instead of chasing flashy "unicorn" ideas. Right now, he's especially focused on wealth management and is building a SaaS product called Estate IQ, which helps professionals review estate documents, spot overlaps and gaps, and turn complicated legal language into clear summaries. Greg brings a mix of technical experience and plain-English thinking, which makes him especially good at helping business owners understand where AI can actually help.

Connect with Greg:

• LinkedIn
• Website

Cary offers customized one-on-one ChatGPT training in 60 minute sessions. Find out more information on the sessions, answers to frequent questions, and how to register at www.ChatGPTExperiment.com

+++++++++

CONNECT WITH CARY

ChatGPT Podcast Website: www.ChatGPTExperiment.com Marketing Podcast: www.PracticalMarketingShow.com Cary's Agency Website: www.CMWeston.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston

LINKEDIN NEWSLETTER The Chat GPT Experiment is also a LinkedIn Newsletter and you can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/

MUSIC CREDITS The instrumental music used in this podcast is called "Curious" by Podington Bear".

Episode Summary

Cary shares a quick follow-up to last week's episode about using a scoring matrix for writing. After a listener asked for a real example and template, he put together a sample document and article that listeners can download from the website or find in the show notes. In this episode, he walks through the five areas included in the sample matrix and explains how writers can tweak it to fit their own process.

Link To The Article / Resource

Find the article and downloadable PDF here

3 Key Takeaways

• Cary created a sample scoring matrix for article or blog writing that listeners can download and use as a starting point.

• The sample focuses on five areas: headline strength, opening hook, clarity of the main point, actionability, and the closing call to action.

• He also explains that this kind of matrix can become a reusable tool inside ChatGPT or Claude through a project, skill, or custom GPT.

Cary offers customized one-on-one ChatGPT training in 60 minute sessions. Find out more information on the sessions, answers to frequent questions, and how to register at www.ChatGPTExperiment.com

+++++++++

CONNECT WITH CARY

ChatGPT Podcast Website: www.ChatGPTExperiment.com Marketing Podcast: www.PracticalMarketingShow.com Cary's Agency Website: www.CMWeston.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryweston

LINKEDIN NEWSLETTER The Chat GPT Experiment is also a LinkedIn Newsletter and you can find it here: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/