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Basic AF: a (mostly) tech podcast

Tom Anderson & Jeff Battersby

Apple makes incredible products. The tips and insights that actually help are harder to find. Basic AF cuts through the hype cycles and gets straight to what matters for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch users. Plus, app recommendations, gear reviews, AI tools, and the everyday tech that actually shows up in your life. Every other Monday, Tom Anderson and Jeff Battersby bring 25+ years of real-world Apple experience to practical, insightful conversations for people like you.

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  • 24 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 52 min
  • English

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Episodes 24

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  • #80
    February 2 · 54 min

    When You Should (and Shouldn’t) Switch Productivity Apps with Jim Eagar

    Jim Eagar joins Tom Anderson and Jeff Battersby for a thoughtful, experience-driven conversation about productivity, tools, and the often-tempting urge to switch apps. Drawing on decades of professional experience—from Air Force chaplain to attorney to productivity writer—Jim shares how his workflows evolved alongside Apple technology, why “shiny new app syndrome” can quietly sabotage real work, and how to evaluate whether switching tools is actually worth the cost. The discussion digs into intentional productivity, app minimalism, and using frameworks (not rules) to make better decisions about software—especially in an era overflowing with AI tools. Jim also walks through his personal writing and planning stack, explains why he recently switched from ChatGPT to Claude, and shares David Sparks’ advice on limiting major app changes to once per year. The result is a grounded, reassuring episode for anyone feeling overwhelmed by productivity tools—and a reminder that clarity beats novelty every time. More from Jim: Original Mac Guy Retirement Reinvented! Links from the show: A Very Nerdy Christmas: Evaluate Your Tech Stack Why I Quit Paid Apps MacSparky Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message! Support the show 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.

  • #79
    January 19 · 45 min

    Apple Teams Up With Google (Again) & A Look at Apple Creator Studio

    In this episode of Basic AF, Tom Anderson and Jeff Battersby kick off the year by digging into some of the biggest Apple stories in early 2026—starting with the news that Apple is partnering with Google to have Gemini power a revamped Siri and Apple Intelligence. The discussion looks at how Gemini might be integrated behind the scenes, and whether Apple’s privacy promises can hold up when Google enters the equation. The conversation then turns to Apple Creator Studio, Apple’s new subscription bundle that includes Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, and other creative tools. Tom and Jeff debate who this bundle is really for, how it compares to Apple’s older one-time purchase model, and whether subscription fatigue is simply the cost of modern software. From there, they break down Apple’s controversial new app icons and macOS Tahoe design changes, followed by concerns over App Store ads becoming harder to distinguish from real search results. The episode wraps with a broader look at Apple’s record-breaking services revenue and what it signals about the company’s priorities moving forward. Links from the show: Google and Apple issue joint partnership statement Report: Google Gemini will expand Siri’s capabilities Report: Apple will fine-tune Gemini independently Apple confirms Google Gemini will power new Siri features Apple announces Apple Creator Studio Apple reports record-breaking Services revenue in 2025 Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message! Support the show 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.

  • #78
    January 5 · 47 min

    The Latest iPhone Fold Rumors and a Fix (of sorts) for Poor Battery Life in iOS 26

    Happy New Year! Everyone expects Apple to release its first foldable iPhone later this year and the rumors and “leaks” are heating up. Tom and Jeff discuss the latest, including the 3D printed model that looks nothing like current iPhones. Plus, Tom decided to reset his iPhone in an attempt to resolve the ongoing battery life issues he’s been having with iOS 26. Apple’s made a lot of improvements to the process, but it’s not quite perfect and he shares what worked well and what still needs some work. Links from the show: Support Jeff Battersby’s Stroke Recovery Apple Pencil Could Work With iPhone Fold, According to New Report iPhone Fold 1:1 Replica With Folding Hinge (3D Model) How to factory reset your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch Clicks Power Keyboard Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message! Support the show 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.

  • #77
    Dec 22, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min

    These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things (2025 Edition) with Joe Moyer

    Happy Holidays! Joe Moyer returns and joins Tom and Jeff for a fun and festive discussion in the third-annual “These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things” show! Picks range from backpacks to iPhone accessories, books, apps, and more. Find more from Joe at https://www.24letters.net/. Links: Bellroy Transit Workpack Bullstrap Men's Wallets Bullstrap iPhone Cases Peak Design Phone Cases Gentler Streak Workout Tracker Craft: Docs, Notes, Tasks & AI The Ugmonk Pen Discbound Analog Productivity System Field Notes Notebooks iPad Pro Anker MagGo 3-in-1 Charging Station Highland Pro Screenwriting App Snipd AI Podcast App Readwise Version History Podcast Book Tracker - Reading Journal YouTube Premium Marcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor Culpability by Bruce Holsinger What We Can Know by Ian McEwan Asana Project Management Question or Comment? Send us a Text Message! Support the show 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.

Showing 21–24 of 24 episodes