Basic AF: a (mostly) tech podcast Podcast By Tom Anderson & Jeff Battersby cover art

Basic AF: a (mostly) tech podcast

Basic AF: a (mostly) tech podcast

By: Tom Anderson & Jeff Battersby
Listen for free

Spilling trash, talk, tech, and tea (though Tom says no politics). Plus, games, plenty of Apple tech, or whatever else comes into our heads. It’s a show where we get to hang out and talk tech, talk shit, and have fun every couple of weeks (and sometimes more often - only your podcast app knows for sure). We'll give you the lowdown on the gear we're using, some knowledge bombs to help you use your gear better, and answer listener questions. © 2025 Basic AF: a (mostly) tech podcast Politics & Government
Episodes
  • An AI Diagnosis, iPadOS 26 First Look, and How to Beta Test Without Breaking Everything
    Jul 21 2025

    If you’re itching to try iPadOS 26, or just curious how far AI has crept into everyday life, this episode is for you.

    Tom and Jeff share how well (or not) AI played doctor, deliver a first look at the iPadOS 26 developer beta, and break down how to beta test like a pro (without nuking your device).

    You’ll get honest impressions of the new floating windows, updated UI, Preview on iPad, the surprise “Games” app—and what it all feels like in day-to-day use. Plus: how Jeff tested it, what crashed, and what delighted.

    Will Tom install the beta? What did his doctor say when he quoted ChatGPT? And what’s the one thing you should do before installing any beta? It’s all here in a fast, fun 35 minutes.

    Links:

    Apple Public Beta

    Apple Beta FAQ

    iPadOS 26

    Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message!

    Contact Us

    • Drop us a line at feedback@basicafshow.com
    • You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky
    • Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads
    • Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
    • Tom has a new YouTube channel
    • Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design


    Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating!

    • Review on Apple Podcasts
    • Rate on Spotify
    • Recommend in Overcast


    Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen

    • Apple Music
    • Spotify


    Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness.

    ...
    Show more Show less
    37 mins
  • Our Summer Vibes Check
    Jul 7 2025

    We’re in between WWDC and the Public Betas, and it’s the perfect time for a summer vibe check!

    Tom and Jeff break down what they’re reading, watching, listening to, and playing with this summer. Books, newsletters, podcasts, the new Reply All Time and Top Songs playlists in Apple Music, and more. Additionally, Tom gets nerdy with Claude, Readwise, and MCP, while Jeff plans to dabble in sketching and watercolors.

    Links:

    White Noise – Don DeLillo

    Crudo – Olivia Laing

    Wellness – Nathan Hill

    The Hidden Girl and Other Stories – Ken Liu

    Throughline – NPR Podcast

    Seeing White (Scene on Radio) – Listen to Episode 1

    The Mars Volta – Lucro Sucio; Los Ojos del Vacío (Filthy Lucre; The Eyes of the Void)

    Pink Elephant – Arcade Fire

    Jeff’s Playlist – Trying Not to Cry

    Lost in Play – Apple Arcade

    Sahil Bloom

    James Clear – Atomic Habits

    Unreasonable Hospitality

    Lean Learning

    Vanessa Lau on YouTube

    Modern Wisdom Podcast

    Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message!

    Contact Us

    • Drop us a line at feedback@basicafshow.com
    • You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky
    • Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads
    • Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
    • Tom has a new YouTube channel
    • Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design


    Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating!

    • Review on Apple Podcasts
    • Rate on Spotify
    • Recommend in Overcast


    Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen

    • Apple Music
    • Spotify


    Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness.

    ...
    Show more Show less
    49 mins
  • 90 Days of Forever*Notes and Stress Awareness with Athlytic & Apple Watch
    Jun 23 2025

    Tom and Jeff dive into three fun segments: Tom’s updated Mac recommendations for students, Jeff's update on his Forever Notes system using Apple Notes, and how both hosts are using health tracking apps to better understand their stress and recovery. Tom unpacks how Athlytic and Apple Watch are helping him recognize stress and reduce habitual tension, while Jeff shares how Gentler Streak has helped him optimize sleep and workouts. It’s a mix of tech tips, personal stories, and wellness insights—plus a few keg-lifting jokes.

    Links from the show:

    Best Mac for College – Tom Anderson

    My Forever Notes

    Gentler App

    Athlytic App

    Episode 55 - Who Pays for Calendar Apps & Next-Level Notes with Bill McLean

    Episode 58 - WWDC Announced, Gentler Streak Workout Tracker, and "The Cybernetic Teammate" by Ethan Mollick

    Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message!

    Contact Us

    • Drop us a line at feedback@basicafshow.com
    • You’ll find Jeff at @reyespoint on Threads and reyespoint.bsky.social on Bluesky
    • Find Tom at @tomanderson on Threads
    • Join Tom’s newsletter, Apple Talk, for more Apple coverage and tips & tricks.
    • Tom has a new YouTube channel
    • Show artwork by the great Randall Martin Design


    Enjoy Basic AF? Leave a review or rating!

    • Review on Apple Podcasts
    • Rate on Spotify
    • Recommend in Overcast


    Intro Music: Psychokinetics - The Chosen

    • Apple Music
    • Spotify


    Transcripts and some images are AI generated and may contain errors and general silliness.

    ...
    Show more Show less
    42 mins
No reviews yet