On this episode of Business Brain, you explore how to use AI as a tool for revealing blind spots you didn’t even know you had. With prompts designed to surface hidden assumptions and second-order effects, you learn how to turn AI into a sharper strategic partner. The hosts walk you through asking AI to SWOT your life, push for specific examples, and then combine strengths and weaknesses so you can take real corrective action instead of just collecting insights.

Adding value in business doesn’t always mean solving every problem — sometimes simply naming the issue helps people unlock their own path forward. That mindset protects you from the Consultant Trap, where you feel obligated to deliver solutions instead of insight. Like cognitive behavioral therapy, your real power often comes from reframing the situation, not fixing it. Whether you’re chatting with clients, partners, or even hotel staff when you’re celebrating something special, you’re shaping outcomes through clarity and communication.

You kick off with a blast of rapid-fire tips: instantly saving PDFs from Google Docs, digging photos out of Messages, moving your playlists into Apple Music with iOS 26, tightening up your Digital ID setup, wrangling mail right inside a message, and even retraining Siri when she goes off the rails. Then you dig into listener questions: how to avoid phishing traps, whether segmenting IoT gear actually improves security, and how to bypass that annoying shutdown confirmation.

You’re living in the future now—where ChatGPT rides shotgun and your car’s dashboard becomes your co-pilot. This week, you’ll explore how AI and CarPlay are merging to make driving smarter and conversations with tech more natural. Discover how Shannon and Dave use GPT behind the wheel and why they wouldn’t buy a car without CarPlay anymore. You’ll see how these tools blend productivity and creativity into the rhythm of daily life.

You know that consistency is the secret sauce of every successful venture. This episode shows you how showing up—again and again—builds your credibility, sharpens your edge, and strengthens your moat against competitors. With the Business Brain hosts breaking down “bullheaded persistence” and the beauty of being “too dumb to quit,” you’ll see why consistency is more than habit—it’s identity. You’ll also learn why accountability partners can turbocharge your follow-through and how competing with yourself keeps your growth curve alive.

This week on Mac Geek Gab, you, Pilot Pete, Adam Christianson, and Dave Hamilton dive headfirst into a whirlwind of Quick Tips and real-world Apple wisdom. You’ll learn how to clean up those pesky “recovered” Messages folders, fine-tune your Apple TV profiles, and even adjust the contentious “Liquid Glass” effect on your devices. Apple might be making the iPhone feel more Android-like, but you’ll still stay one step ahead with tips like checking your Apple Watch battery health directly from your wrist, tightening up that Mac menu bar spacing, and using ChatGPT safely in CarPlay (just remember to ask it, “Are you sure?”).

In this episode, you’ll join Dave and returning guest co-host Adam Moskowitz, Chief Groove Officer of VAM Band, as they dive headfirst into the world of nanny tracks, first-gig chaos, and future-proofing your sound. From building tracks in Reaper to rehearsing smarter—not longer—you’ll learn how technology can help you bring your band’s best show to the stage fast. Then, it’s all about mindset: dealing with last-minute cancellations, navigating new players, and keeping your cool when the curveballs fly.

You’ll learn how to supercharge your entrepreneurial workflow with AI as Shannon and Dave dive into the latest ChatGPT tricks, from snapping store photos to capturing screenshots and shaping your business philosophy with better prompts. You’ll discover how adding context helps AI think more like a partner and less like a tool—helping you make sharper, faster decisions. This is all about working smarter so you can live your Charmed Life.

As you navigate the waves of life and business, this episode reminds you that age isn’t a limitation—it’s momentum. Shannon and Dave dive into how your brain evolves from chasing facts to harnessing wisdom, helping you spot patterns and ride bigger waves of opportunity. You’ll learn to see mistakes as tuition and fear as a tool, not an obstacle. Whether you’re 25 or 65, you can turn experience into advantage and live your Charmed Life.

In this solo hang, you dig into the real tools that keep your sound clean and your gigs tight. You’ll learn how to tame noisy tracks with the Accusonus ERA bundle, Waves Clarity Vx, and iZotope RX, plus a few quick tricks from SoundDesk to make your mixes shine. Then it’s time to talk ears—Huberman-style—with magnesium and NAC tips for keeping your hearing sharp long-term.

In Mac Geek Gab 1114, you’ll uncover a ton of real-world Apple wisdom — from mastering Apple TV’s hidden control center to supercharging your Mac keyboard shortcuts. Learn how to re-enable Low Data Mode on your new iPhone, control-click your way into Terminal, and even get an alphabetical list from your Dock. Then, dive into listener-shared “Don’t Get Caught” moments like why people don't always receive your calendar invites, CarPlay’s uncertain future at GM, and AirTag stealth hacks.

You’re already using AI every day—but are you actually using it smartly? In this week’s Business Brain, Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton explore the next level of practical AI for entrepreneurs, from using your browser to scrape data instantly to letting AI listen, watch, and analyze what’s happening in your business. You’ll learn how to troubleshoot, research, and brainstorm faster just by speaking to your computer, snapping a video, or using your browser as your AI command center.

You already know that building a business is a marathon, not a sprint—but how do you keep running when the finish line keeps moving? In this week’s Business Brain, Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton dive into the concept of Motivational Endurance, sharing ways to recharge your entrepreneurial drive and find joy in the daily grind. From creating a “To Did” list that celebrates small wins to finding multiple sources of motivation, you’ll learn how to build habits that fuel long-term success and keep your energy high even when your excitement dips.

This week, you’re sitting down with funk legend James “Diamond” Williams from The Ohio Players! From his jazz roots and early gigs at age 14 to shaping the groove of “Love Rollercoaster” and “Fire,” Diamond shares how precision, persistence, and passion built one of the most iconic sounds in funk. You’ll hear stories of wild recording schedules, late-night gigs, and the unforgettable moment Stevie Wonder first heard “Fire.” Through it all, Diamond reminds you that love—and music—is truly a rollercoaster.

In this episode of Business Brain, Dave and Shannon kick off a lighthearted Casual FridAI conversation that revolves around practical AI tips and how they’re integrating AI tools into everyday problem solving. Dave shares a recent experience using the ChatGPT mobile app to diagnose a foot issue by uploading and annotating photos directly in the app, highlighting how powerful visual AI has become for troubleshooting real-world tasks.

In this episode of Business Brain, Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton explore the difference between 2x and 10x growth mindsets. Shannon shares a quote from a recent event — “focus on 10x, not 2x” — and breaks down how the 2x approach is about working harder and incrementally improving, while 10x thinking requires transformative change, ruthless prioritization, and bold decision-making. They discuss how 10x growth forces entrepreneurs to abandon outdated systems and focus only on what delivers real results, even if that means disrupting what’s already working.

This week, you’re diving deep into a treasure trove of quick tips and practical geekery with Dave, Pilot Pete, and Adam! From setting iOS call-back reminders to connecting keyboards to your iPhone or iPad, you’ll learn how to make Apple’s ecosystem work smarter for you. Discover why Numbers might finally replace Excel, how to share spreadsheets with non-Mac users, and why FileMaker still rules the database world.

Mike Schulte returns to Gig Gab for a deep dive into the conversations that make bands stronger. You’ll explore how band summits—those intentional moments to step away from gigs and just talk—can reset your focus, rebuild trust, and make your group operate like a real team. From redefining what success looks like to refining how you plan your shows, this episode challenges you to look beyond the stage and invest in the relationships that keep your music alive.

Dave and Shannon open Casual Friday with a Shopify nod, then spotlight listener David’s “vibe-coded” Replit app for high-school sports. His web iPad tool tracks scoring, fouls, streaks, and biggest leads, exports structured summaries to an AI project, and let him publish recaps before leaving the gym. The hosts urge productizing it as a simple SaaS for local media and parents, noting how low-code iteration unlocks niche, high-value workflows.

Dave and Shannon kick off episode 692 with a Shopify sponsor read and dive into listener-submitted interview questions. Jeff’s favorite prompt—“How many gas stations are in the U.S.?”—is used to evaluate problem-solving under pressure, not factual recall. Shannon riffs on the persuasive power of specific numbers and “making the truth fantastic,” while Dave notes real estimates vary widely. Todd’s “What would you put on a bumper sticker?” uncovers candidates’ core beliefs; the hosts swap their own slogans and talk about how pithy lines often emerge over the years, not on demand.

You’ll come out smarter — and maybe even safer — after this week’s Mac Geek Gab with Pilot Pete, Adam Christianson, Dave Hamilton, and a triumphant return from John F. Braun. From unlocking hidden gems in iOS 26’s Health app and securing your Mint Mobile account with Number Lock to setting up ChatGPT Tasks like it’s your own personal Knowledge Navigator, you’ll pick up tricks to stay ahead.

You’re diving into the power of persistence and adaptability in this episode of Gig Gab with guest co-host Steve Witschel. From building and moderating a 132,000-member Cover Band Central group to navigating Facebook’s monetization chaos with the nearly-1,000,000-member Facebook page, Steve shares how he transformed challenges into content gold. You’ll learn how he separates community-driven interaction in the group from content curation on the page—and how both have become invaluable tools.

Dave and Shannon kick off episode 691 on National Handbag Day, segueing from Shannon’s experiment that grew into selling 7,000 handbags and nearly $4M in revenue. He explains how handbags taught him the power of emotional selling and confidence-driven purchases. The conversation pivots to ChatGPT “tasks” (automations) that perform timely research and send results—born from Dave’s football-pick workflow—and expands to examples like weekly industry briefings, sponsor invoicing reminders, and Apple Shortcuts/Zapier/IFTTT integrations to reduce friction and beat procrastination by starting work for you.

Dave and Shannon open episode 690 on National Fluffernutter Day with playful banter before diving into the core theme: “execution is the moat, not information.” They argue that oversharing isn’t risky because ideas are plentiful; what matters is doing the work. Dave recalls advice from a VC contact that asking for NDAs is a rookie move—investors back people who will execute, not just ideas.

This week on Mac Geek Gab, you’re climbing to new heights—literally and geekily—with Pilot Pete, Adam Christianson, and Dave Hamilton. With big, 6,000-foot energy, you’ll inhale knowledge (not bear spray!) with Quick Tips like disabling auto-return to apps, blazing through iPhone setup using a wired Phone-to-Phone connection, and printing photo books via third-party tools. You’ll also learn how to save iPhone pics directly to an SD card and how macOS 26’s Notes app now exports Markdown—yes, really.