In this episode, I walk through a beginner-friendly, step-by-step way to set up Claude Skills so you can get more consistent, higher-value output over time. I show where to enable Skills (it’s not on by default), how to create a new skill using Claude’s “create a skill together” flow, and why Skills are different from Projects for ongoing, reusable workflows. Then I demo a real example: building a conversion-focused copywriting review skill for an agency workflow, installing it, and testing it on app store screenshots + website copy. I close with how to level up Skills by iterating them over time, using a 10-step process I reference from a “Boring Marketer” tweet.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

00:40 – Enable Skills (Settings → Capabilities → Skills Preview)

01:21 – Creating a new skill

06:34 – Why Skills are important Projects for “always-on” workflows

07:49 – Reviewing the skill

10:34 – Installing the skill (copy to skills / upload in Skills)

11:28 – Testing the Skill 16:14 – How to improve skill over time

Key Points

• Skills make Claude’s output more consistent because you bake in reusable context and workflows.

• Skills aren’t enabled by default—turn them on in Settings → Capabilities.

• The easiest path for most people is “Create a skill together,” then answer Claude’s scoping questions.

• A strong skill includes frameworks, scoring, and an output template—not vague advice.

• The real power comes from iterating: test on real scenarios, critique, refine, and keep improving the skill over time.

Numbered Section Summaries

1. Why Skills Matter For Beginners I open by explaining that Skills help you get more consistent, higher-value output from Claude over time, especially if you’re a beginner and want repeatable results.

2. Turn On Skills First Skills aren’t enabled by default, so I show the exact path: Settings → Capabilities → enable the Skills preview feature.

3. Create A Skill (Three Paths) I walk through the three options: create with Claude, write skill instructions, or upload an existing skill

4. Build A Real Skill: Conversion Copy Review I describe the skill I want: a conversion-focused copywriting reviewer for apps and websites, built like a specialist “employee” that can critique headlines, CTAs, value props, pricing pages, and more.

5. Skills vs Projects (And Why Skills Win For Ongoing Work) I explain why I prefer Skills for ongoing workflows: Projects can be context-specific to a campaign, while Skills are meant to work across day-to-day work regardless of the project timeline.

6. What Claude Generates (And Why Markdown Is Great) I show Claude generating the skill structure and markdown files (like skill md and framework docs), and I call out why markdown is practical and easy for non-technical folks to edit.

7. Install + Test The Skill On A Real Example I install the skill (copy to Skills / upload) and test it on real assets—app store screenshots and website copy—to see if it actually follows the skill workflow.

8. Make The Skill Better Over Time (The Improvement Loop) I share the idea that Skills shouldn’t stay static. I reference a 10-step process (understand the problem, explore failures, research, synthesize, draft, self-critique, iterate, test, finalize) and emphasize ongoing iteration based on real outputs.

The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com

LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/

The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: https://www.thevibemarketer.com/

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

Today I break down a big news item I think is flying under the radar: OpenAI quietly launched Skills for Codex, and I explain what that means (and how it differs from sub-agents and MCPs). I then share a fast-moving trend I’m watching and why it’s a strong wedge for a simple app. After that, I recommend the to-do app I’ve used for 14 years and give away a startup idea. I close with a practical 6-step framework for going from idea → viral validation → mobile app launch in 2026.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: the new format (news, trend, app, startup idea, framework)

00:40 – AI New Item: OpenAI launches Skills for Codex

05:45 – Trend: Face Yoga

07:56 – App Recommendation: Things

09:33 – Startup Idea: Call-an-expert service for non-developers stuck at 80% done

14:44 – Framework: Viral Mobile App Framework

Key Points

• OpenAI “Skills” make Codex/ChatGPT more reusable and consistent by packaging repeatable workflows.

• A “skill” is the recipe, a “sub-agent” is extra worker instances, and an “MCP” is the tool access plug.

• Face yoga is an emerging sub-niche with clear app potential (simple routines, monetization via paid or ads).

• Last 20 is a practical marketplace idea: pay for 15 minutes of expert unblock help to finish the last 20%.

• Viral validation favors apps that are visually obvious, explainable in three words, and tied to insecurity-driven outcomes.

Numbered Section Summaries

1. OpenAI Skills: The Quiet Upgrade I walk through OpenAI’s launch of Skills for Codex—reusable bundles of instructions/scripts/resources that can be called directly or chosen automatically. I’m excited because this makes agent workflows more consistent and scalable across tasks.

2. The Foundation: Skill vs Sub-Agent vs MCP I clarify the taxonomy: a skill is the written playbook, sub-agents are extra “worker” copies of the model that split a big job, and MCPs are what let the model access external systems like tickets or repos. This is the mental model I want everyone using going into 2026.

3. The Trend: Face Yoga As An App Wedge I share a niche trend I’m seeing—face yoga—and why it’s a product opportunity similar to how yoga apps became huge. I call out the obvious app angles: guided routines, jawline/face-slimming programs, and content-driven growth via short videos.

4. The Tool: Things (My Simple Focus System) I recommend the Things to-do app because it’s simple: “Today,” “Upcoming,” and “Someday,” without a monthly fee. I also note what’s missing (I’d like more AI features), but it still wins for focus if you don’t want a “kitchen sink” system.

5. The Startup Idea: Last 20 (Phone-A-Friend For Vibe Coders) I give away the idea: builders get stuck at 80% after using Cursor/Replit/V0, so Last 20 matches them with someone who’s solved that exact wall before. The product is a fast screen-share session—problem solved—priced per session or bundled for teams/agencies, with the marketplace taking a cut.

6. The Distribution Framework: Viral Validation → Launch I share a 6-step process: warm up the account, design a visually obvious app, build a tiny MVP fast, post daily until something hits, build the community before the product, then launch with a hard paywall and keep content rolling. It’s a simple playbook for getting to organic traction in 2026.

The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com

LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/

The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: https://www.thevibemarketer.com/

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

In this episode, I go over one AI news item I can’t stop thinking about, one trend you can build a business around, two tools I’m using, one startup idea you should steal, and one framework to end on. I start with a leak suggesting Anthropic is productizing “agent mode” for Claude with structured task buckets and a progress/context UI. Then I use Hyrox as an example of how I validate trends quickly with search data (and what “low competition + cheap CPC + explosive growth” signals). I wrap by pitching a hotel guest-communication concierge and the “thousand people framework” for getting to clarity on your ICP and what they’ll reliably pay for.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

00:32 – AI New Item: Anthropic leak: Agent Task Mode for Claude

04:47 – Trend: Hyrox

08:59 – AI App: Krea and Notebook LLM

12:23 – Startup idea: Digital Hotel Concierge

15:59 – Framework: The “1000 People”

For founders doing $50k+ MRR+: https://startup-ideas-pod.link/offline-mode

Key Points

• Agent workflows get “productized” when the UI guides the task (not just a blank prompt box).

• Trend validation can be fast: look for explosive growth + low competition + cheap CPC, then ideate apps around it.

• NotebookLM’s slide generation is an underrated workflow for turning sources into clean decks.

• The “Guest Guide” concept is a simple AI/QR wedge: answer repetitive hotel questions and monetize per property.

• The thousand-people exercise forces clarity: who exactly buys, what they pay yearly, and how you reach them.

Section Summaries

1. The Claude Agent Mode Leak I break down a leak claiming Anthropic is preparing a more structured “agent mode” for Claude, organized into buckets like research, analyze, write, and build plus choices like depth, format, and outputs. The big shift is moving from “open chat” to “delegating distinct tasks” with visibility into progress and context.

2. Productized Prompts = Better Output I explain why a blank text box can be daunting, and why UI that scaffolds intent (validate/compare/forecast, quick vs. thorough, doc vs. slides vs. spreadsheet) can make results meaningfully better. To me, it points at a future where you “check in” on agents like teammates.

3. Trend Hunting I use Hyrox, an indoor fitness competition that’s “like the new CrossFit,” as a real example of how I sanity-check whether something is becoming a business opportunity. The workflow is simple: I see it in culture, then I go straight to Idea Browser to pull search/CPC/competition signals.

4. Two Tools I’m Testing I call out Krea as a creative AI subscription bundling multiple models, and then I highlight NotebookLM’s slide/infographic feature as the underrated part—turning a source (including transcripts) into clean, well-designed slides with strong hierarchy.

5. Steal This: Guest Guide I pitch a hotel digital concierge that handles common guest questions via QR-code guides, priced per property with affiliate upside, and I reference Sadie as an adjacent AI hospitality product (more on calls/reservations). Then I close with the “thousand people framework”: define the real ICP, map what they’ll pay yearly, and figure out distribution—because clarity is the driver.

The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com

LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/

The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: https://www.thevibemarketer.com/

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

I’m joined by Sahil Bloom for a throwback episode where he walks me through his “personal annual review,” a 7-question framework to reflect on 2025 and set yourself up to crush 2026. We talk about why reflection beats raw experience, how to use your calendar to surface what you’ve actually changed your mind on, and how to identify what creates vs. drains your energy. We dig into “boat anchors” (the hidden drag holding you back), what fear kept you from doing, and how to learn from both your greatest hits and worst misses. By the end, you’ll have a practical set of questions you can answer on paper to extract real insights from the year and carry them forward.

Get the Personal Review Template: https://www.sahilbloom.com/annual-review

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

02:54 – Why Reflection Matters (The “Annual Review” Setup)

04:12 – Q1: What Did I Change My Mind On?

11:29 – Q2: What Created Energy This Year?

18:58 – Q3: What Drained Energy This Year?

25:05 – Q4: What Were The Boat Anchors In My Life?

33:06 – Q5: What Did I Not Do Because Of Fear?

39:51 – Q6: Greatest Hits & Worst Misses (And Why)

44:04 – Q7: What Did I Learn This Year? (Synthesize 3–10 Learnings)

Key Points

• You don’t learn from “having a year,” you learn from reflecting on it, and that reflection becomes usable data for the next year.

• Your outcomes follow your energy, use your calendar to identify what creates energy and what drains it, then adjust accordingly.

• For “draining” activities, evaluate how you feel after (not during), because many high-value things feel hard in the moment.

• The fastest progress often comes from cutting what holds you back (“boat anchors”), not adding new habits or protocols.

• Fear is often inexperience (not inability); shine a light on it with deconstruction exercises (e.g., upsides vs. downsides) and take action.

• “Hits vs. misses” reflection prevents bias, overly critical people only see misses; optimists only see wins, both lose learning.

The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com

LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/

The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com

Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit

Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

FIND SAHIL ON SOCIAL

X/Twitter: https://x.com/SahilBloom

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sahilbloom/?hl=en

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@Sahil_Bloom

In this solo episode, I walk through 10 concrete rules to get way more out of Claude Code and Claude Opus 4.5, based directly on tips Anthropic has shared in their docs and blog posts. I show how to move from vague prompts to architected briefs that use tone, constraints, structure, and power phrases to avoid “AI slop.” I demo examples across writing, research, teaching, and planning so you can see exactly how to apply each rule. By the end, you have a practical playbook for prompting Claude like a teammate and using it as a true thinking partner in your work.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

00:56 – Rule #1: Tone of collaboration

02:16 – Rule #2: Principle of explicitness (action verbs, quantity, audience)

03:20 – Rule #3: Define the boundaries with clear constraints

04:26 – Rule #4: Draft, plan, then act (outline → refine → execute)

06:39 – Rule #5: Demand structured output (tables, formats, schemas)

08:00 – Rule #6: Explain the “why” behind your request

09:05 – Rule #7: Control brevity vs. verbosity (expert, brief, simplifier)

10:21 – Rule #8: Provide a scaffold and templates

11:21 – Rule #9: Use “power phrases” and expert personas

12:28 – Rule #10: Divide and conquer complex projects

14:09 – Putting it all together with an example

For founders doing $50k+ MRR+: https://startup-ideas-pod.link/offline-mode

Key Points

• I share 10 specific prompting rules that come directly from how Anthropic suggests people use Claude.

• I show how friendly, clear, and firm prompts beat either vague or overly polite requests.

• I demonstrate how explicit constraints (length, style, audience, banned words) create more creative and focused outputs.

• I use outlines, scaffolds, and structured formats to turn Claude into a planning and synthesis engine instead of a random text generator.

• I introduce “power phrases” like “think step by step” and “critique your own response” to unlock more advanced reasoning.

• I wrap everything into a final Stoicism lecture prompt that combines persona, context, constraints, structure, and tone.

The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com

LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/

The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com

Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit

Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

On this episode I sit down with Rob Hoffman, who runs a portfolio of profitable SaaS businesses (Contact, Mentions, Kleo). Rob breaks down six proven customer acquisition playbooks using real examples doing between ~$20K and $300K MRR. The episode walks through concrete strategies like waitlist launches, trend-jacking, language arbitrage, AI search, signal-search, and high-ticket ads. You will learn how to go beyond “vibe coding” and use structured marketing systems to get their first customers, raise prices, and scale more predictably.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

04:16 – 1) Waitlist Strategy: Kleo & Mentions Case Study

19:45 – 2) Wave Surfer Strategy: TrustMRR Case Study

27:54 –3) Language Arbitrage Strategy: Teachizy Case Study

33:53 – 4) AI Search Strategy: Tally Case Study

40:30 – 5) Signal Search Strategy: LocalRank Case Study

50:04 – 6) High Ticket Ad Strategy: MailScale Case Study

Key Points

• Most indie builders can ship products but struggle to get customers; Rob packages his experience into six repeatable acquisition playbooks.

• The Waitlist Strategy pairs “edgy sales” content with email nurturing, scarcity, and beta cohorts to quickly reach tens of thousands in MRR.

• Riding an existing wave (like fake-MRR discourse on X) plus product-led virality can generate huge attention, which is better monetized with ads than subscriptions.

• Language and geo arbitrage—cloning a winning SaaS into another language/market—combined with non-English SEO is “marketing on easy mode.”

• AI search (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude) is an overpowered channel right now; deep “alternatives/versus/best of” pages are heavily cited and convert far better than Google traffic.

• Feature-first launches, faceless accounts, and enterprise plans let products like LocalRank and MailScale stack MRR with small audiences, YouTube demos, and high-ticket sales.

The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com

LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/

The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com

Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit

Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

FIND ROB ON SOCIAL

X/Twitter: https://x.com/RobHoffman_

Kleo: https://kleo.so

On this episode, I breakdown eight little-known mobile apps that each generate around $50,000+ per month and explain why they work. I walk through specific examples—from AI video generators and Bible note-takers to vinyl pricing tools and AI English tutors—then explain the common patterns behind their success. The second half of the episode is devoted to six clear frameworks for spotting high-potential niches and designing simple, sticky mobile apps around them. I end the episode with a batch of extra startup ideas built on high-intent inputs like photos, videos, and scans so listeners can “vibe code” their own profitable apps in 2026.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

02:02 – App 1: Flashloop: AI Video Generator for Viral Character Clips

03:26 – App 2: Bible Note-Taker & Prayer Recorder for Churchgoers

06:35 – App 3: AI Home Decor Interior Design App and Visualization Pain

08:48 – App 4: Moji Lab: Emoji/Sticker Packs and Expression as a Business

11:43 – App 5: Vinyl Snap: Scanning Vinyl Records for Accurate Pricing

13:51 – App 6: Genora AI: Bundling Multiple LLMs into One Assistant

16:45 – App 7: Logo Maker: AI Generated Logos

18:57 – App 8: Menu Fit: Healthy Eating Recommendations at Any Restaurant

20:44 – App 9: LangLearn: Personal AI English Tutor and Duolingo Comparison

22:37 – App 10: Zozo Fit 3D Body Scanner: Tracking Body Change, Not the Scale

25:04 – The “ 50K MRR App Framework”

31:30 – Bonus Startup Ideas

Key Points

• Profitable mobile apps often do one high-intent, recurring job for a specific identity-based group, then charge a subscription around that behavior.

• Many breakout apps turn photos, videos, or scans (high-signal inputs) into premium insights like valuations, design plans, or tailored recommendations.

• Simple, one-screen interfaces with clear before/after transformations make these AI-powered tools feel approachable and addictive to use.

• The “50K MRR App Framework” combines spending power, repeating problems, visual inputs, accuracy needs, and bad existing tools to guide idea selection.

• New app ideas can be generated by pairing these frameworks with underserved niches like golf swings, pet health, used cars, or RV layouts.

Numbered Section Summaries

1. Why Mobile Apps Are Printing Money in 2026 The host opens by arguing that now is an incredible time to build mobile apps, pointing to new apps that have appeared “out of nowhere” and reached $50K+ per month. He cites a tweet listing 10 such apps launched in the last 180 days and sets the goal of reverse engineering what makes them work so listeners can apply the patterns to their own ideas.

2. The 50K MRR App Framework The “50K MRR App Framework”: find a group that (1) spends money, (2) has a repeating problem, (3) uses photos/videos as inputs, (4) cares deeply about accuracy, and (5) suffers from bad existing tools. He walks through how vinyl collectors fit every criterion and stresses that while the framework is simple, execution still requires great UX, clean UI, and the right niche. The goal is to make idea selection easier by checking all five boxes before committing to an app.

3. Six Supporting Frameworks for Designing Hit Apps I expands into six additional frameworks: start with a “nerve” (identity, urgency, stakes, repetition); solve one job that always must be done; build around a single high-intent input (photo, address, object); use AI to unlock a premium insight (price, diagnosis, summary, design plan); wrap it in a simple, desirable interface (one screen, one button, one transformation); and create a recurring behavior loop that pulls users back daily or weekly. He summarizes these in a conceptual pipeline: high-intent input → AI premium insight → simple interface → recurring loop → $50K MRR.

The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com

LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/

The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com

Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit

Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

On this episode I sit down with indie app builder and designer Chris ****Raroque to walk through his real AI coding workflow. Chris explains how he ships a portfolio of productivity apps doing thousands in MRR by pairing Claude Code and Cursor instead of picking just one tool. He live-demos “vibe coding” an iOS animation, then compares how Claude Code and Cursor’s plan mode tackle the same task. The episode closes with concrete tips on plan mode, MCP servers, AI code review, dictation, and deep research so solo devs can build bigger apps than they could alone.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

03:04 – Which Tools & Models to Use

09:16 – Thoughts on the Vibe Coding Mobile App Landscape

11:14 – Live demo: prompting Claude Code to build an iOS “AI searching” animation

18:07 – Live demo: prompting Cursor with same task

21:02 – Chris’s Best Tips for Vibe Coders

Key Points

• You don’t have to pick one IDE copilot: Chris actively switches between Claude Code and Cursor because they have different strengths.

• For very complex bug-hunting, he prefers Cursor with plan mode; for big-picture app architecture, he leans on Claude Code with Opus.

• Non-developers should start on higher-level “vibe coding” platforms like Create Anything for mobile apps before graduating to Claude/Cursor.

• Plan mode plus detailed, spoken prompts dramatically improves code quality, especially for UI and animation work.

• MCP servers and AI code review bots let solo developers safely set up infra, enforce security, and catch bugs they’d otherwise miss.

• Claude’s deep research is a powerful way to choose the right patterns and libraries before handing implementation back to Claude Code or Cursor.

The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com

LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/

The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com

Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit

Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

FIND CHRIS ON SOCIAL

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raroque

X/Twitter: https://x.com/raroque

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris.raroque/

Join me as I sit down with Jonathan Courtney to host the second annual “Sippy Awards,” the most prestigious award show in tech for the products, games, and tools that shaped 2025. We crown our most-hyped products for 2026, favorite games of the year, best productivity tools, and best products under $100. We also dive into analog tools like Traveler’s Notebook, hi-fi systems, Japanese porcelain, and simple clothing uniforms as ways to make everyday life better and de-fragment your brain.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

03:23 – Most Hyped Product of 2026

14:43 – Game of the Year 2025

19:49 – The Way to Innovate

25:41 – Premium Domains

29:56 – Best Productivity Product

42:02 – Favorite Product of 2025

54:10 – Best products under $100.

Key Points

• The Sippy Awards are a playful but serious way for Greg and Jonathan to highlight the products and games that genuinely improved their lives in 2025.

• They argue that cult classics (Wind Waker, Pinkerton, Kid A, Breath of the Wild, Elden Ring) come from creators who put the audience last and follow their own taste, even at the risk of initial backlash.

• Distinctive visual identities and premium dot-com domains are framed as both trust builders for users and commitment devices for founders.

• Their favorite productivity and lifestyle tools—ChatGPT, Things, Endel, Traveler’s Notebook, YouTube Premium, Japanese porcelain—show how small, well-crafted tools reshape daily workflows and rituals.

• Analog practices (morning pages, notebooks, hi-fi listening) and simple clothing uniforms are presented as ways to de-fragment your brain, reduce decision fatigue, and focus on what matters.

The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com

LCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/

The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com

Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit

Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg

Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

FIND JONATHAN ON SOCIAL

Unscheduled CEO Podcast: https://www.unscheduledceo.com/ 

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jicecream 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-courtney-4510644b/

I sat down with James, the Boring Marketer, to stress-test Claude 4.5 Opus against Gemini 3 Pro for real-world coding and design work. Together we live-build and compare landing pages and clickable prototypes for an “EstateClear” probate-family dashboard, then zoom out into conversion copywriting frameworks, “elevated direct response” brand voice, and ad creative workflows. The episode is a practical walkthrough of how non-technical builders can go from idea → landing page → prototype → ads using modern AI tools without vibe-coded, low-converting sites. 

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro

02:00 – Startup Idea: EstateClear

03:17 – Claude Opus 4.5

04:47 – Gemini 3.0 Pro

09:02 – Reviewing Opus’ landing page

11:16 – Reviewing Gemini’s version

12:17 – Comparing the two

17:29 – Reprompting Opus 4.5 and Gemini

19:02 – Google’s vertically integrated stack (AI Studio, Anti-Gravity, TPUs, Workspace)

21:50 – Nano Banana Pro and ad creative experiments

27:35 – Opus 4.5 builds a clickable EstateClear prototype

31:38 – Gemini’s prototype and comparing product depth

36:40 – Anti-Gravity + Nano Banana workflow for mockups and code

44:41 – Claude Skills Workflow and Best Practices

56:41 – Final Thoughts

Key Points

• Claude 4.5 Opus can act like a senior engineer for non-technical builders when paired with a tight skill and tools setup.

• Conversion wins come more from “elevated direct response” copy and clear page architecture than from fancy visuals alone.

• Claude’s front-end design skill meaningfully reduces “AI-looking” gradients and vibe-coded layouts, producing cleaner, production-grade UIs.

• Live tests show Opus 4.5 generates more refined layouts and deeper product thinking, while Gemini often injects clever AI product features.

• Google’s integration of Anti-Gravity, Nano Banana, and AI Studio points to a powerful end-to-end environment for shipping and promoting products.

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