CRAFTED.

Dan Blumberg
  • 4.1 (47)
  • TECHNOLOGY
CRAFTED.

Future around and find out as product leader Dan Blumberg speaks with founders, makers, and innovators about what comes next in tech, AI, and the craft of building great products. Honored three years in a row by The Webby Awards as a top tech podcast! Sign up for the CRAFTED. newsletter 👉 crafted.fm

  1. JUN 5

    Is AI a New Form of Colonialism? | Empire of AI Author Karen Hao (Rebroadcast)

    As AI models grow larger and more powerful, they promise incredible capabilities — but at what cost? Karen Hao is an AI journalist and her new book, Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI, is a New York Times bestseller. We discuss whether the largest AI models are worth their hefty footprint: They consume massive amounts of electricity and water and Karen argues that smaller models better balance cost vs. benefit. Karen, who has reported for The Atlantic, MIT Technology Review, and the Wall Street Journal, will also provide a view of AI from outside — far outside — Silicon Valley. She’s reported on AI from across the Global South and says many there feel that AI is a new form of colonialism. We’ll hear about the fight over data centers in Chile, how New Zealand’s Maori people are using AI to preserve their indigenous language, and why it’s a problem that AI can speak any language, but can only really be policed in a few. (Our interview was first broadcast in October, while Karen was still writing the book, so we do not discuss her deeply sourced reporting from inside OpenAI.) —CRAFTED. is produced by Modern Product Minds, where CRAFTED. host Dan Blumberg and team can help you take a new product from zero to one... and beyond. We specialize in early stage product discovery, growth, and experimentation. Learn more at modernproductminds.com Subscribe to CRAFTED., follow the show, and sign up for the newsletter 👉 crafted.fm

    35 min
  2. AI Voice Generation Is Crazy Good! Rapid Prototyping Audio Creative With Wondercraft Co-founder Oskar Serrander

    MAY 22

    AI Voice Generation Is Crazy Good! Rapid Prototyping Audio Creative With Wondercraft Co-founder Oskar Serrander

    AI-generated voices aren’t just realistic — they’re changing how brands, creators, and agencies bring ideas to life. In this episode, Wondercraft co-founder Oskar Serrander demonstrates how their “Canva for audio” is unlocking rapid prototyping for high-quality audio ads, content, and storytelling. You’ll learn: How Wondercraft enables you to go from concept to creative in secondsWhy when AI makes execution easy, ideas and taste matter mostHow brands can test creative faster (and smarter)Why audio is still such an under-leveraged mediumThe surprising future of synthetic voice and what it means for storytellingOskar also shares his take on where generative AI is heading, why sameness is the enemy of brand, and what this all means for the next generation of creators. — Subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter 👉 crafted.fm  See how Dan can help you discover, prototype, and launch better products 👉 modernproductminds.com

    22 min
  3. Building an AI-native Podcast App to Turn Listening Into Learning | Kevin Smith (Co-founder, Snipd)

    MAY 8

    Building an AI-native Podcast App to Turn Listening Into Learning | Kevin Smith (Co-founder, Snipd)

    Kevin Smith is building a totally new kind of podcast app.  Snipd is an AI-native podcast app and building it required a few mindset shifts.  First, what even is a podcast? The way Kevin sees it, podcasts are knowledge. So where most podcast players are, as Kevin calls them, "repurposed music players", Snipd is designed to help you learn. As people listen to episodes, they, or an AI, can save “snips” or interesting moments that they want to remember or share. And the app will also help you review what you've heard, so it reinforces what you've learned. A second mindset shift is how Kevin had to retrain his engineering brain to build with generative AI. He no longer thinks in if-then-else statements. Rather, he asks himself: How would an intern do it? And not just one intern, but infinite interns… I learned a ton from the way Kevin thinks and builds, and you will too.  Plus, we discuss the future of podcasting, which looks pretty… weird. You'll talk back to your podcasts, hosts may be synthetic, and shows may not even be designed (at least initially) for human ears. Chapters: (01:30) - Introducing Snipd (03:50) - What led Kevin to found Snipd (06:10) - How AI changes what's possible with podcasts (08:45) - Building with Gen AI requires a mindset shift (11:40) - How would an intern solve this? (12:35) - How podcast listening and podcasting will change with AI (17:35) - Why apps will become your "best friends" (22:00) - Why you may talk back to your podcasts —CRAFTED. listeners can try Snipd, and get a free month of the premium version, here. —Subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter 👉 crafted.fm See how Dan and Modern Product Minds can help you build better products and level up your product teams.

    25 min
  4. Inspiring the Next Generation to Build Great Money Habits (Whatever Those Are) | Tim Hong (CPO of MoneyLion)

    APR 24

    Inspiring the Next Generation to Build Great Money Habits (Whatever Those Are) | Tim Hong (CPO of MoneyLion)

    What is a good money habit in 2025? And how do you actually help someone build one—without boring them, shaming them, or losing them in the first five seconds? Chief Product Officer Tim Hong shares how MoneyLion designs for emotion and creates content and products that inspire people to take action.  MoneyLion is a personal finance platform used by millions of mostly younger Americans who are just getting started with their money, so, as Tim says: “It's actually less about bad habits that we fight. It's about having no habits.” Tim also shares how AI could create a truly personalized (1 of 1) financial advisor, why most financial apps are “like going to the DMV”, and how things like open banking and embedded finance can change that… —Chapters: (01:30) - Tim has literally measured how short our attentions spans are at a brainwave startup (03:49) - What MoneyLion does and why content and storytelling are so important (08:30) - What even are good money habits today? (12:00) - How MoneyLion uses AI to create personalized content (13:40) - "Talking to your money" with AI (16:30) - How building with GenAI is different (20:30) - Building with non-deterministic systems (24:30) - "Self-driving money": Tim's not so sure people want to fully give up control (29:30) - Why so many financial apps feel like "going to the DMV" — and how that's changing with open banking and embedded finance —Looking for your next episode? Here’s another fintech one you might enjoy: “You Have to Invest Into Change.” Startup Lessons from Fintech OG and VC Daniel Kimerling, Founder of Deciens Capital and Standard Treasury  —For all CRAFTED. episodes and to subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter 👉 crafted.fm —Oh, and see how Dan and Modern Product Minds can help you build better products.

    31 min

  5. APR 17

    3 years in a row! The Webby Awards say we're a top tech podcast! Here are some show highlights...

    Fun news! The Webby Awards have honored CRAFTED. for the third year in a row as a top tech podcast. Thank you — yes, you! — for listening! This episode features the highlight reel we gave the Webbys. It features great moments from 2024 episodes, including (listed in the order mentioned):  Powering the World’s Hackathons | Brandon Kessler (Founder & CEO, DevPost)Asana’s Head of AI on the Profound Ways Work Is Changing | Paige Costello (Head of AI & Co-Head of Product Management at Asana)AI, Creativity, and Soul: How Hilary Mason Chooses Her Own Adventure (Co-Founder & CEO of Hidden Door)“You Have to Invest Into Change.” Startup Lessons from Fintech OG and VC Daniel Kimerling, Founder of Deciens Capital and Standard TreasuryOpen Source Must Evolve for AI and the Next Generation | Nithya Ruff (Head of AWS Open Source Program Office and Chair of the Linux Foundation)Great Software & Storytelling Is Emotional | Kelsey Hightower (Legendary Developer, Kubernetes Pioneer, Former Distinguished Engineer at Google)One Billion Developers! GitHub’s Head of Product Says AI Democratizes How We Build the Future | Mario Rodriguez (CPO, Github)Design for Emotion. Leverage AI. Be Curious. | Design Better’s Co-founders on Building Great ProductsUsing AI to Launch Thousands of Startups a Year | Henrik Werdelin (Founder of BARK, prehype, Audos)AI and the Future of Medicine | Kira Radinsky (CEO of Diagnostic Robotics and Co-founder of Mana.bio)New Frontiers of Health: AI, Psychedelics, the Gut-Brain Axis, and More! | Live from SXSWMy AI Teacher: Khan Academy and the Future of Education | Dr. Kristen Dicerbo (Chief Learning Officer)Making Music With AI – And Doing So Ethically | Diaa El All, Founder & CEO of SoundfulThe full show archive is at crafted.fm, where I hope you'll also subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter.  And please share CRAFTED. with a friend. Just one. Text them right now! Thanks... and onward!

    11 min

  6. APR 10

    We're Still in AI's “Fart App” Era… And Other Deep Thoughts from SXSW, With Rob Kenedi

    On a rooftop at SXSW, fellow startup advisor and podcaster Rob Kenedi joins me as we discuss why:  AI models are becoming commodities…AI companies need to differentiate at the application layer, with brand, and by earning trust…B2B creators are all the ragePodcasts are so intimate and how video changes thingsWe’re in the “fart app” era of AI…Enjoy this uncrafted CRAFTED.! And if you enjoy this more casual format, please share your feedback. DM me on LinkedIn or email me: dan@modernproductminds.com Where to find Rob: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rkenedi/Decelerator podcast: https://decelerator.media/More CRAFTED.: Subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletter: https://www.crafted.fmLearn how Dan and Modern Product Minds can help you discover, build, and test new products: https://www.modernproductminds.com

    17 min
  7. Why the "Mary Poppins of Computing" Says We Must Change the Way We Teach Tech | Linda Liukas (Author of "Hello Ruby")

    APR 3

    Why the "Mary Poppins of Computing" Says We Must Change the Way We Teach Tech | Linda Liukas (Author of "Hello Ruby")

    Linda Liukas is a programmer, children’s book author, and the creator of Hello Ruby, a whimsical series that teaches computing concepts through stories and play. She’s also the force behind a one-of-a-kind playground in Helsinki—designed to teach kids how computers work without them ever touching a screen. In this episode, Linda shares why, especially with the rise of AI and code-writing copilots, we need to rethink the way we teach tech.  Linda, a.k.a. the “Mary Poppins of Computing”, is on a mission to bring more whimsy, creativity, and fearlessness to kids and grown-ups alike. Enjoy this very fun episode! You’ll learn: Why physical play helps us grasp abstract computing conceptsHow software makers can benefit from thinking like educatorsWhat “unplugged computing” looks like—and why it worksHow to cultivate creativity, curiosity, and fearlessness in tech teamsWhy learning through play isn’t just for kidsWhat Linda’s AI experiments with tiny personal datasets reveal about the future of learningChapters (00:00) - Introduction (01:42) - What it means to be the “Mary Poppins of Computing” (02:18) - Designing the Computer Playground (05:43) - Why play is an ideal way to teach programming (09:26) - Why software organizations should embrace play (13:19) - AI and play (14:47) - Learn to code vs. learn to program; how to become future-proof (21:20) - Hello Ruby: how Linda accidentally became a children’s book author (25:35) - Building more playgrounds and more fun ideas on teaching through play Links & Resources Linda’s websiteLinda’s NewsletterHello Ruby – Linda’s book series and learning platformThe Computer Playground in HelsinkiMore on Dan and CRAFTED. Subscribe to the CRAFTED. newsletterFollow Dan on LinkedinLearn how Dan and Modern Product Minds can help you build great products

    29 min

  8. MAR 27

    Quantum & Coffee: SXSW 2025 Impressions, With Kwaku Aning

    Educator, innovator, super-connector, and conference champion Kwaku Aning and I have coffee and discuss a few things that struck us at SXSW, including: Why we’re in a “pre-mainframe” moment in quantum computing — and why you should prepare for what comes nextBioengineering: are we headed for a Westworld-style mix of human musculature and AI?Robot choreography, e.g. how to train a self-driving car to drive non-aggressively (but also should they be allowed to speed?) Mind control via inaudible noises and Severance-style brain implantsWhether or not I had enough breakfast tacos in Austin…Where to find Kwaku: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwaku-aning/Clickpoint podcast: https://clickpoint.transistor.fm/Where to find Dan and get more CRAFTED.: Sign up for the CRAFTED. newsletter: https://www.crafted.fm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dblums/ Learn how Dan and Modern Product Minds can help you discover, build, and test new products: https://www.modernproductminds.com

    16 min
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Trailer

4.1
out of 5
47 Ratings

About

Future around and find out as product leader Dan Blumberg speaks with founders, makers, and innovators about what comes next in tech, AI, and the craft of building great products. Honored three years in a row by The Webby Awards as a top tech podcast! Sign up for the CRAFTED. newsletter 👉 crafted.fm

Information

  • Creator
    Dan Blumberg
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    77
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 582465
  • Show Website
    CRAFTED.

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