Welcome to what might just be the final episode of Wrenches, Gadgets & Hacks -and no, not because we’re tired of talking tech. It’s because AI has officially taken over.

That’s right, folks. As the title suggests, AI is just too good now. We, the humble human hosts, are no longer needed to flip the switches, ramble into microphones, or even pretend to know what we’re talking about. AI can do it all - research, scriptwriting, and yes, even turning dry documentation into binge-worthy podcast content.

So, John and Carl thought, why not go out with a bang? This entire episode has been created by AI. Who knew it could be this good?

Enjoy the show… or should I say, enjoy your new AI overlords. 🤖

...

Still here? Noticed today’s date - April 1st, 2025? Yeah, you got us. April Fools! 🤣

We’re not hanging up our podcast mics just yet. But we are talking about NotebookLM - an AI-powered research and learning tool that’s honestly pretty incredible. And yes, it can turn what you're learning into a podcast as a way to absorb content. In fact, a big chunk of this episode was generated using NotebookLM, based on just four blog posts. And it nailed it.

Now, for real—enjoy the show! (Starts around the 17:30 mark)

Remember to check out the Show Notes for all the episode links.

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

Welcome to the finale of Wrenches, Gadgets & Hacks Series 3, "Guests' Choice: AECO Mavericks Unscripted." In this week's episode, it's less about the guest, because we don't have one, and more about the tech! Get out your pens and take notes as John and Carl give their suggestions for our first annual "AECO Tech Geek Gift Guide."

Join us for the final episode of the year as we dive into the AECO tech geek gift guide! From 3D printers to outdoor tech and even luxury tech, we've got 12 categories of must-have gadgets and tools for the holiday season, with recommendations for a wide range of budgets. Whether you're shopping for a tech enthusiast or looking to treat yourself, this episode is packed with innovative ideas and tips from your hosts for everyone in AECO tech. Don't miss out on making your holiday shopping a breeze! 🎄🔧

And if ever there was an episode to check out the show notes, this is it! You can find the full list with links from both Carl and John for all 12 categories there!

Enjoy the show, and remember to check out the Show Notes for all the episode links.

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

Welcome to Series 3, Episode 5 of Wrenches, Gadgets & Hacks. This series' theme is less of a theme and more about being awesome - "Guests' Choice: AECO Mavericks Unscripted." In this week's episode, we chat with the awesome Aaron Maller of the Parallax Team in the AMA (Ask Me Anything) style.

Join us for an insightful conversation with Aaron Maller, founder of Parallax Team, as he shares his journey in architecture and BIM, discusses the human side of technical support, and reveals the heartwarming story behind his traveling koala bear companion. This candid discussion explores everything from handling challenging support situations to the therapeutic value of hand drafting. Plus, learn why admitting you're wrong can be a powerful tool for personal growth. Tune in now for insights, inspiration, and laughs!

Enjoy the show, and remember to check out the Show Notes for all the episode links.

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

Welcome to the forth episode of of Wrenches, Gadgets & Hacks Series 3. This series theme, is really no theme at all "Guests' Choice: AECO Mavericks Unscripted." This week, we chat with Adam Thomas of Read|Thomas, discussing how consulting in 2024 is moving away from the traditional hired hand approach and embracing new strategies!

In this episode of Wrenches, Gadgets & Hacks, we dive into the world of AECO consulting with our maverick guest, Adam Thomas. We explore how he balances the art of problem-solving with the science of stress management. From his unique journey in construction and architecture to his insights on modern consulting, Adam shares his strategies for staying calm under pressure and the importance of prioritizing people over technology. Tune in for valuable tips on work-life balance, generational shifts in the industry, and why challenging yourself is the ultimate hack for growth.

Enjoy the show, and remember to check out the Show Notes for all the episode links.

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

Welcome to the third episode of Series 3 of Wrenches, Gadgets & Hacks! The theme of this series is "Guests' Choice: AECO Mavericks Unscripted." This episode's guest, Jeffrey "The Revit Kid" Pinheiro, is one of the OG Mavericks in the world of AECO content creation!

In this episode of Wrenches Gadgets &Hacks, we dive into the world of content creation and community building with Jeff Pinheiro, also known as The Revit Kid. Jeff shares his journey, from starting a blog to amassing nearly one hundred thousand followers on his YouTube channel, "The Revit Kid." We explore the importance of creating valuable content, the role of social media, and how to build a supportive online community. Whether you're a seasoned content creator or just starting out, Jeff's insights offer valuable lessons on leveraging technology to share knowledge and connect with like-minded individuals.

Enjoy the show, and remember to check out the Show Notes for all the episode links.

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

Welcome to the second episode of Series 3 of Wrenches, Gadgets & Hacks! The theme of this series is "Guests' Choice: AECO Mavericks Unscripted," where we have amazing guests driving the topics of each episode.

In this episode, Carl and John dive into the art of communication within the AECO industry. Our guest, Susan Young, a seasoned storyteller and CEO of Get in Front Communications, shares her journey from being a radio news reporter to helping professionals in architecture, engineering, and construction improve their presentation skills. The discussion highlights the importance of storytelling, curiosity, and the human connection in effectively conveying ideas. With insights into overcoming the fear of public speaking and the value of authentic communication, this episode offers valuable takeaways for anyone looking to enhance their professional interactions.

We also learn about Susan's new online 3-day training, "Top Tier Communicator," perfect for AEC speakers, communicators, and networkers. It covers networking, listening, small talk, presentations, storytelling, and more - link below 👇

Top Tier Communicator

Enjoy the show, and remember to check out the Show Notes for all the episode links.

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

In this episode of Wrenches Gadgets & Hacks, we kick off Series 3: "Guests' Choice: AECO Mavericks Unscripted" and welcome back John Pierson as our Co-Host!

For this episode's Maverick, we have Clifton Harness, co-founder and CEO of TestFit, as we explore the world of generative design and its impact on real estate, architecture and construction. From optimizing and building AECO configurators to the future of automated design processes, Clifton shares insights on how technology is transforming the industry. Tune in to discover how TestFit is redefining architectural feasibility and what this means for the future of design and construction.

Enjoy the show, and remember to check out the Show Notes for all the episode links.

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

Welcome back for the sixth and final episode of our second series, “AI in the AECO and Beyond.” Our host, Carl, speaks with Tannis Liviniuk, Digital Advancement Executive at Zachry Group, about the current state and future of AI in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations (AECO) industry. What they discover during the discussion is that AI is a valuable assistant that can help with mundane tasks, such as sifting through millions of documents, and also serve as a tool for learning and exploration. The use of AI can lead to curiosity and deeper engagement with projects, ultimately providing real value and convenience.

Key Topics Discussed:

• AI in Construction: The evolution of AI and its current applications in the AECO industry.
• Data Management: The importance of data quality and the challenges of managing vast amounts of project documentation.
• Future of AI: Predictions on how AI will continue to shape project planning, risk management, and overall workflow efficiency.
• Practical AI Tools: How AI can assist in daily tasks and improve productivity without replacing human jobs.
• Corporate AI Policies: The necessity of secure and ethical AI usage within organizations.
• Educational Insights: Encouraging exploration and learning of AI tools to stay ahead in the industry.

* The above was created with a helping hand from an LLM from the Podcast episode transcript, which was transcribed by AI 😁

And remember to check out the Show Notes for all the episode links.

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

In this episode of Wrenches, Gadgets & Hacks, we continue our series on AI in the AECO industry. Host Carl welcomes Craig, the Director of Digital Technology at Ewing Cole, to discuss the transformative role of AI in rendering and design. Craig shares his journey from studying architecture and landscape architecture to leading digital media and design technology at a major firm. The conversation moves into the parallels between the rise of BIM and AI, the practical applications of AI in rendering, and the importance of crafting effective prompts for AI tools.

Key Topics Discussed:

• AI in Design: The impact of AI on the design process, including the use of tools like MidJourney, Veras, and Magnific.
• Rendering with AI: How AI is used to generate architectural renderings, the challenges of creating realistic images, and the importance of maintaining design authenticity.
• Prompts and Workflows: The significance of crafting good prompts for AI tools and the innovative workflows developed by designers at Ewing Cole.
• Security and Custom AI: The exploration of different methods for creating custom AI tools while ensuring data security.
• Future of AI in AECO: The potential and limitations of AI in the industry, and the importance of continuous experimentation and learning.

* The above was created with a helping hand from an LLM from the Podcast episode transcript, which was transcribed by AI 😁

And remember to check out the Show Notes for all the episode links.

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay

Welcome back  "Wrench's Gadgets & Hacks" where we explore the latest in technology and innovation. In this episode host Carl Storms dives into the world of AI in software development and the AECO (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operations) industry with special guest Valentin Noves. They explore the practical applications of AI, the challenges faced by developers, and the future of AI in coding and beyond.

Key Discussion Points:

1. AI in Software Development:
   • Valentin and Carl discussed how AI tools like Copilot and Codeium are used in software development. They noted that junior developers tend to use these tools more frequently than senior developers, especially when dealing with complex coding problems.
2. Training and Learning with AI:
   • Valentin emphasized the usefulness of AI as a training tool, highlighting how it can help developers quickly learn and solve specific problems without sifting through extensive tutorials.
3. Custom AI Models:
   • Creating custom AI models was discussed, with Valentine explaining the challenges related to data quality and quantity. He shared an example of an experimental project where they tried to use AI for construction schedules and found limitations due to insufficient data.
4. Future of AI in AECO:
   • Valentine shared his views on the potential of AI to automate and enhance various aspects of the AECO industry. He stressed the importance of finding a balance between using AI tools and traditional methods.
5. Fun with AI:
   • Valentin recounted experimental projects like translating city images into music and creating ontologies for building IoT device placement. These projects, while experimental, showcased the creative and fun side of working with AI.

Join us for this insightful conversation as we jump into the world of AI from the software developers side and its potential in the AECO industry and beyond.

* The above was created with a helping hand from an LLM from the Podcast Episode transcript, which was transcribed by AI 😁

And remember to check out the Show Notes for all the episode links.

Support the show

You can find all of the WGH links in one place with our 👉 BIO LINK

Also a BIG Thanks to Alex Grohl for our amazing intro and outro music "Indie Hey Song (Lost Fragments)" You can find more great royalty-free music from Alex on Pixabay