Best Models Workshop Production Podcasts (2025)

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EP. 96 - Stop Ideating, Start Creating: A Hands-On AI Workshop 59:58

1h ago59:58

59:58

Send us a text This session dives deep into using generative AI tools for video, design, and app development—without code. Learn how mastering prompts can unlock professional-grade outputs, from animated marketing videos to functional web apps. It’s a hands-on walkthrough of creativity and productivity in the AI era. Interested in joining the podca…

1
Episode 112 Fantasy for the Win with Carl Anderson Pt 1 27:36

7d ago27:36

27:36

You will LOVE this discussion with Mr. Carl Anderson about his newest book, Teaching Fantasy Writing: Lessons That Inspire Student Engagement and Creativity, Grades K6. This book is a MUST-HAVE for teachers and hearing Carl's insights on the book as well as his passion for the fantasy genre for students is palpable! In the episode you will hear abo…

1
EP. 95 - Cowboys, Data, and the AI Gold Rush w/ Franceso Tisiot 49:51

4d ago49:51

49:51

Send us a text Enterprises are racing to integrate AI — but most aren't ready for the risks. Francesco Tisiot, Field CTO at Aiven, breaks down why real-time data, strong infrastructure, and clear governance are no longer optional. If your AI agent makes decisions in milliseconds, your data better be bulletproof. You can find Francesco here: https:/…

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Episode 111 Myths and Misconceptions about Writer's Workshop 30:58

14d ago30:58

30:58

We've all heard remarks about the writer's workshop method that are a bit off. In this episode, I bring up some of the misconceptions, and sometimes just untruths, of writer's workshop and try to set the record straight. After telling a bit about the history of the workshop model, I share what I feel are a few of the possible reasons for these misc…

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465: What is quality software with Elaina Natario 37:52

10d ago37:52

37:52

Elaina Natario returns to talk with Joël about what makes good quality product design and the priorities that shape development. The pair discuss the importance of certain elements such as security and accessibility, maintaining certain standards throughout development, as well as judging the practical applications of prototypes within a project an…

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EP. 94 - The Startup That Turned Waste Into Resource w/ Umutcan Duman 47:31

11d ago47:31

47:31

Send us a text Umutcan Duman, CEO of Evreka, joins us to share how a group of engineers turned waste collection into a global smart tech platform. From IoT sensors to AI-powered insights, they’ve been solving real problems long before the buzzwords. This is the story of building Evreka — one bin at a time. You can find Umutcan here: https://nl.link…

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Episode 110 All Things Kinder with Zeba McGibbon 39:56

21d ago39:56

39:56

Oh so many tips and insights were shared by the fabulous Zeba McGibbon of the Kindergarten Cafe! Listen in to hear about: -the importance of supporting students with SEL -including a variety of aspects for helping students with writing -Zeba's Caring Critters book series! You can find Zeba - On her Podcast-Kindergarten Cafe On Instagram @kindergart…

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464: Modelling the stars with Rémy Hannequin 42:59

14d ago42:59

42:59

Joël and Rémy draw inspiration from the stars as they discuss Rémy’s new open source Ruby gem, Astonoby. Rémy reveals the challenges he faced in taking on this project, the scientific translation work that went into making it accessible for everyone, as well as the key lessons he learnt from modelling the cosmos. — The Sponsor for this episode has …

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EP. 93 - Why Intentional Creators Will Win in the New Era of Building w/ Robin Jose 33:39

19d ago33:39

33:39

Send us a text Ready to build smarter, not louder? Robin Jose breaks down how AI tools are leveling the playing field—and why true creators win by building with intention, not just chasing clout. Interested in joining the podcast? DM Behrad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/behradmirafshar/ This podcast is made by Bonanza Studios, Germany’s …

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Episode 109 An Inside View: 3 Classrooms' Journey of Independent Writing Time 37:30

28d ago37:30

37:30

I am currently in the process of supporting three teachers with implementing an authentic independent writing time and wanted to give you an insider's look! In this episode you will hear about teachers and students from three different grade levels and how they are progressing with implementing student choice, multiple drafts and more. Our coaching…

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463: All about modals with Elaina Natario 36:42

28d ago36:42

36:42

Joël strikes up a dialogue with fellow thoughtboter Elaina Natario about the various use cases of modals. Together they discuss their pros and cons, the dos and don’ts, their functionality and accessibility to the end user as well as the subtle differences you'll notice when compared to dialogs. — The Sponsor for this episode has been Judoscale - A…

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Shorts: This AI Talks Like a Human. So I Brought It on the Podcast. 14:58

25d ago14:58

14:58

Send us a text I interviewed a voice-first AI about UX, ethics, and the future of human-AI interaction. AI meets UX in this exclusive interview with Sesame. We explore natural interfaces, ethical design, and the future of human-computer interaction. A first-of-its-kind episode for designers, devs, and tech futurists. You can try Sesame here: https:…

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Episode 108 Practical and Effective Tips for Supporting Multi-lingual Writers with Katherine Hamilton 38:54

1M ago38:54

38:54

I know that teachers are always looking for more ways to be able to provide effective support for their students who are multilingual learners. In this episode, Katherine Hamilton from Ensemble Learning discusses mindsets and strategies that are able to be implemented without lengthy preparation and will generalize across other areas of instruction…

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462: Decomposition as a key developer skill with Steve Polito 42:18

28d ago42:18

42:18

Joël and Steve sit down to discuss the ins and outs of decomposition within their respective workflows and how they use it to their advantage when working on certain projects. Together they look at working with vertical slices over other decomposition methods, when and how to break down code as efficiently as possible, and Joël lays out his three k…

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EP. 91 - AI-Led Automation Will Define Tomorrow’s Companies w/ Lennard Kooy 38:23

1M ago38:23

38:23

Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Lennard Kooy, founder of Lleverage, to explore how AI-driven automation is evolving beyond technical barriers. From his days leading marketing tech at ITG to building a next-gen automation platform that starts with just a prompt, Lennard shares his vision for a frictionless future where AI meets real…

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Episode 107 Thoughts on "Free Writing" and Journals 21:47

1M ago21:47

21:47

The term "free writing" is used often, and I have to say, I don't love it. To me, it signals that providing students "freedom" to choose their own topics, make mistakes, right without what is considered "proper structure", make mistakes or go at their own pace is something that is different from or outside of the writing that is typically done. Hea…

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461: Writing new vs existing code with Sara Jackson 42:20

1M ago42:20

42:20

Joël talks with fellow thoughtboter Sara about the different ways developers can help one another across the various stages of an app’s lifecycle. They highlight the importance of utilising notes early on to clarify your work for others who may need it later down the line, how tooling can aid with this at all stages of development, and what lessons…

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Shorts: App Launcher Boilerplate: Workflow That Changed Everything 8:58

1M ago8:58

8:58

Send us a text What if vibe coding actually felt good? In this episode, we break down the vibe coding workflow: a mindset that centers creative energy and flow over complexity and rigid setups. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or like your tools are in control, this one’s for you. Interested in joining the podcast? DM Behrad on LinkedIn: htt…

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S16E16: Empathy: Know Thy Customer 15:30

2M ago15:30

15:30

In this episode, I read Chapter 15 of The Trust Premium, continuing Part III: Behaviors That Will Make Your Customers Trust You. This chapter is all about empathy—not just as a nice-to-have, but as a powerful tool to earn deeper trust, stronger loyalty, and ultimately, the Trust Premium. We explore how to genuinely understand your customers: their …

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Episode 106 Meaningful Grammar Instruction with Patty McGee 43:45

2M ago43:45

43:45

Students struggle with grammar. Teachers struggle with grammar. But...Patty McGee says it doesn't have to be that way! If you are looking for simple yet powerful ways to help your students to apply grammar skills, you will not want to miss this discussion! Patty shares a wealth of information on best practices in grammar instruction including high-…

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460: Programer Productivity with Valerie Burzynski 36:10

1M ago36:10

36:10

Start taking notes in this episode as Joël and Valerie discuss the different ways in which they structure their note taking systems to improve their workflows. Together they cover the best ways to get started with serious note taking, how to best map out your thoughts so they make the most sense when you come back round to them, as well as examinin…

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EP. 90 - Run Your Operation With 100% Autonomous AI Agents w/ John Rush 56:31

2M ago56:31

56:31

Send us a text In this insightful episode, Behrad engages with entrepreneur John Rush, a visionary who's revolutionizing the SEO and UX landscape. The conversation centers on Rush's innovative approach to making sophisticated SEO tools accessible to small businesses at a fraction of traditional agency costs. Rush shares his journey of creating SEO …

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S16E15: Time, Intimacy, and First Impressions 13:43

2M ago13:43

13:43

This is a short chapter—and a short episode—but one that deserves to stand on its own. In this episode, I read Chapter 14 of The Trust Premium, continuing Part III: Behaviors That Will Make Your Customers Trust You. We look at how trust is shaped in the earliest moments of a professional interaction. From being on time and showing your face, to bei…

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Episode 105 Holding Space for Writers' Needs: One Teacher's Win! 12:50

2M ago12:50

12:50

When teaching writing, there are so many things on our mind-so many skills to worry about our students mastering. Most of these skills are what we can see on paper, and they can easily steal the majority of our focus. However, there are a multitude of skills, abilities, beliefs and characteristics of writers that need to be developed and addressed …

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459: Paper Data Structures with Sally Hall 42:20

2M ago42:20

42:20

Joël and thoughtbot colleague Sally Hall set out to find an answer to the question, what exactly are the differences between paper data structures and digitals ones? They compare the different ways humans store and access data, from rolodexs to the dewey decimal system, browsing a system vs searching it, and how the digital age has changed the way …

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EP. 89 - Redefining UX in the AI Era: From Design to Full-Stack Development with AI Tools 1:02:56

2M ago1:02:56

1:02:56

Send us a text In this groundbreaking episode of UX for AI, Adam, a veteran UX designer and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience, shares his journey of leveraging AI to transition from traditional design workflows to building a full-scale LinkedIn competitor—entirely on his own. The discussion dives deep into the seismic shifts happening i…

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S16E14: The No-BS Approach to Building Trust 26:11

2M ago26:11

26:11

In this episode, I read Chapter 13 of The Trust Premium, continuing Part III: Behaviors That Will Make Your Customers Trust You. This chapter explores one of the most fundamental trust-building behaviors: being real. We all have a built-in BS detector—and your customers are no exception. In a world of hype, inflated claims, and performative profess…

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Episode 104 Empowering the Writer Within with Author Sarah McDavis 37:19

2M ago37:19

37:19

This incredible conversation with author and speaker Sarah McDavis will have you feeling inspired! Sarah gives us a peek into her mind as a writer sharing: How she begins a new book Her process for drafting Her own version of planning Strategies for when you are "stuck" Using charts and graphs to revise her book She reminds us that each and every w…

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458: Learning Typescript with Aji Slater 42:31

2M ago42:31

42:31

Joël and fellow thoughtboter Aji Slater examine the unfamiliar world of Typescript and various ways of working within it’s system. They lay out the pros and cons of Typescript over other environments such as Ruby and Elm and discuss their experience of adopting LLM partners to assist in their workflows. Using ChatGPT and Claude to verify code and t…

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EP. 88 - AI Web Development Showdown: When to Use Bolt vs. Lovable vs. Custom Coding for Fast Builds 16:03

2M ago16:03

16:03

Send us a text In this insightful episode, a seasoned developer shares their hands-on experience comparing various AI-powered web development tools to determine which solutions work best for different project requirements. After spending a month "in the trenches" testing these platforms, they provide a practical breakdown of the strengths and limit…

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S16E13: The Customer is Not Always Right 19:06

2M ago19:06

19:06

In this episode, I read Chapter 12 of The Trust Premium, which marks the start of Part III: Behaviors That Will Make Your Customers Trust You. This chapter covers the first of five key trust-building behaviors—and it challenges the old mantra that “the customer is always right.” Instead of defaulting to agreement, trusted professionals know when to…

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Episode 103 Master Sentences before Writing? I Don't Think So 24:23

2M ago24:23

24:23

How can we expect perfection from our young writers when we don't expect it of ourselves? Does a young basketball player need to perfect his shot before he can play a game? Do professional authors publish their first draft? For some reason there are literacy professionals who are promoting having students "master sentences" before they are able to …

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EP. 87 - Creativity in the Age of AI: Language, Technology, and Innovation w/ Bob Van Luijt 52:55

2M ago52:55

52:55

Send us a text In this thought-provoking episode of UX for AI, host Behrad engages with Bob Van Luijt in a philosophical exploration of creativity, language, and technology in the AI era. Bob, the founder of Weaviate (a vector database company), shares insights that blend his unique background in both music and technology. The conversation begins w…

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S16E12: The Foundations of Trust and Trustworthiness 20:52

3M ago20:52

20:52

In this episode, I read Chapter 11 of The Trust Premium, which brings us to the conclusion of Part II of the book. This chapter steps back from the model and the laws to explore the deeper foundations of trust—the underlying principles that guide how trust is built, lost, and earned. We look at relativity, the idea that trust is not one-size-fits-a…

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Episode 102 Help! I Don't Know What to Teach Them! 18:41

3M ago18:41

18:41

When I first began using the workshop model, I felt very unequipped to help my writers. I wasn't a writer myself and certainly had not had any training in writing or how to teach writing. So, when I sat next to my little ones and read over their pieces, I felt like I didn't know how to help them. The truth was, I knew so many things about writing t…

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Shorts: Exploring the Lovable App Ecosystem 13:48

2M ago13:48

13:48

Send us a text In this engaging episode of "UX for AI," listeners are taken on an exploratory journey through the diverse ecosystem of applications built using the Lovable platform. The host begins by sharing their personal experience with Lovable, expressing enthusiasm about their initial interactions while acknowledging they haven't yet fully com…

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S16E11: The Three Components That Shape Customer Trust in Every Interaction 39:07

3M ago39:07

39:07

Trust isn’t just about who you are—it’s also about what you do in every interaction with a customer. In this episode, I continue reading Chapter 10 of The Trust Premium, focusing on the three key components that shape trust in the moment: Positivity, Time, and Intimacy. I discuss why radical honesty (No-BS) and empathy are essential for building tr…

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Episode 101 Elevating Writing Instruction with Carl Anderson and Matt Glover Pt 2 30:59

3M ago30:59

30:59

Get ready for the rest of this fantastic discussion with Carl Anderson and Matt Glover! You will hear more about the importance of student engagement in writing as well as helpful tips for navigating the various aspects of a writer-focused workshop model. Check out what the authors have to say about: Illustrations as an integral part of composition…

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Episode 100 Elevating Writing Instruction with Carl Anderson and Matt Glover Pt 1 31:38

3M ago31:38

31:38

This is it!!! The 100th Episode! For my 100th am joined by two incredible writers themselves who have given so much to the field of education through their work on writing instruction: Matt Glover and Carl Anderson. In this first episode of the two-part series, we discuss ways to provide more student ownership in writing, which increases engagement…

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457: Time Zones with Sally Hall 46:29

3M ago46:29

46:29

Joël enlists the help of thoughtbot colleague Sally Hall as they dive into the complex world of time zones, daylight savings, measurements and coding. Together they discuss their struggles with daylight savings throwing off their recent project reporting, the constant struggles of writing for different time zones and why writing your own code is ne…

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EP 86. Meet the 21-year-old Entrepreneur Revolutionizing Recruitment with AI w/ Sebastian Hjärne 34:45

3M ago34:45

34:45

Send us a text In this enlightening conversation, we welcome 22-year-old serial entrepreneur Sebastian Hjärne, founder and CEO of Talentium, who shares his remarkable journey from school dropout to innovative tech founder. Sebastian opens up about his unconventional path, revealing how his boundless energy and constant stream of ideas made traditio…

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S16E10: Do Your Customers Trust You? The Relative Trust Model (Part I) 32:18

3M ago32:18

32:18

Do your customers truly trust you, or do you just think they do? In this episode, I read Chapter 9 of The Book of TRUST, where we explore the surprising trust gap between businesses and their customers. Then, I dive into the first half of Chapter 10, introducing the Relative Trust Model and focusing on the first three components that shape trust be…

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Ep 99 But We Don't Have Enough Time! 27:19

3M ago27:19

27:19

Time just does not seem to be on a teacher's side! There are so many things requiring or affecting your time-some you can control, some you cannot. Some you are invested in, some you are not. More often than not, writing is the part of literacy that gets pushed aside for other areas. But writing is an ESSENTIAL part of our students' day and life an…

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EP. 85 - Design Systems in the Age of AI with Felix Lebedinzew 47:57

3M ago47:57

47:57

Send us a text In this thought-provoking episode of UX for AI, we dive deep into the transforming landscape of design with Felix Lebedinzew, a seasoned product designer with extensive experience in fintech and insurtech. Felix brings valuable insights from his work at leading companies like Revolut and GetSafe, offering a unique perspective on how …

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S16E9: The 8 Laws of Trust: What is Trust and How it Really Behaves 35:33

3M ago35:33

35:33

Trust isn’t just about honesty or reliability—it follows specific patterns and behaviors that influence every interaction, especially in the customer-provider relationship. In this episode, I read Chapters 7 and 8 of The Trust Premium, where we transition from why trust is essential to what trust really is. I’ll introduce my definition of trust and…

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Episode 98 Writers Struggling? Try a New Perspective! 14:33

3M ago14:33

14:33

We all get stuck in a rut with our teaching. Sometimes it just takes a different perspective to figure out what works! This episode shares a few examples of looking at parts of teaching writing in a new way and provides you with steps to try it out yourself! Listen in to this short episode for some helpful tips for improving your writing instructio…

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EP 84. Redefining UX Design: A Deep Dive into Canvas and Workflows in AI-Powered App Design with Jesper Bylund, Ex-Head of Design at n8n 1:05:54

3M ago1:05:54

1:05:54

Send us a text In this episode of UX For AI, host Behrad Mirafshar sits down with Jesper Bylund, a freelance designer and former Head of User Experience at n8n, to dive deep into the fascinating world of UX design, artificial intelligence, and the no-code revolution. Jesper brings a wealth of experience from his time at n8n, a leading automation pl…

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S16E8: The Bottom Line Impact of The Trust Premium 12:17

3M ago12:17

12:17

In this episode, I’ll be reading Chapter 6 of The Trust Premium—The Bottom-Line Impact of Trust Premium. So far, we’ve discussed how trust drives revenue through higher pricing and customer preference. But what about profitability? Today, we’ll break down how trust doesn’t just boost your top line—it multiplies your bottom line. From increasing gro…

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Episode 97 Little Things Make a HUGE Difference! 14:01

3M ago14:01

14:01

Implementing effective writing instruction is a big task. There are many moving parts and lots of important young writers to take care of! I find it helpful to know and remember that often times the little details are what also make a huge impact on your student writers. This episode shares examples of those small practices and hopefully helps to s…

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456: Typescript with Jimmy Thigpen 37:19

3M ago37:19

37:19

Joël turns to fellow thoughtboter Jimmy Thigpen as he looks to expand his knowledge about the wide world of Typescripts. Together they discuss the differences between Typescript and other common systems such as Elm and Javascript, how to best handle their edge cases and error flags, as well as the benefits of using Zod as your typescript library. —…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Models Workshop Production Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen