Myke talks to Quinn Nelson of Snazzy Labs about adapting a creative workflow after becoming a parent – how major life changes reshape priorities, time, and systems, and how creators rebuild sustainable ways to keep making things.

Guest Starring: Quinn Nelson

This episode of Cortex is sponsored by:

• Sentry: Mobile crash reporting and app monitoring. New users get $100 in Sentry credits with code cortex26.

• Fitbod: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership.

• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CORTEX.

Links and Show Notes

Quinn Nelson - Snazzy Labs - YouTube

Spark Mail

Notion

We made the Mac mini ACTUALLY mini! - Snazzy Labs - YouTube

I Made My Own Mac! You Can Too! - Snazzy Labs - YouTube

Brick

Quinn’s Home Screen

Rivian

When Did I…?

Narwhal 2 for Reddit

MDR Dasher Keyboard – Kickstarter

Myke talks to Becca Farsace about beginning her life as an independent creator—shaping a new workflow, making videos on her own terms, and carrying lessons from her years at The Verge into this next chapter.

This episode of Cortex is sponsored by:

• Sentry: Mobile crash reporting and app monitoring. New users get $100 in Sentry credits with code cortex26.

• Fitbod: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership.

• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CORTEX.

Links and Show Notes

Becca Farsace - YouTube

This is the best phone of 2025… (sorry, MKBHD) - Becca Farsace - YouTube

Why I left The Verge - Becca Farsace - YouTube

Becca’s Merch Store

I tried to replace my screens with an Apple Vision Pro… - Becca Farsace - YouTube

I took 1,000 photos with the iPhone 17 Pro... - Becca Farsace - YouTube

the smartwatch that changed my mind about smartwatches - Becca Farsace - YouTube

I quit my job to become a YouTuber, here is how much $$$ I made - Becca Farsace - YouTube

Becca’s Home Screen

Myke talks to Alec from Technology Connections about how he turns everyday tech into compelling videos, from topic selection and deep research to scripting, hands-on experimentation, filming, and editing entirely on his own.

Guest Starring: Technology Connections

This episode of Cortex is sponsored by:

• Sentry: Mobile crash reporting and app monitoring. New users get $100 in Sentry credits with code cortex26.

• Fitbod: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership.

• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CORTEX.

LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

Myke’s 2026 Yearly Theme - Cortex - YouTube

My 2026 Yearly Theme – The Enthusiast

Technology Connections - YouTube

Technology Connections | Patreon

Teleprompters are clever, simple, and also pretty neat - Technology Connections - YouTube

This goofy fridge has a really clever design. It’s also kinda terrible. - Technology Connections - YouTube

Video projectors used to be ridiculously cool - Technology Connections - YouTube

Catalytic converters are simple, but getting them to work is not - Technology Connections - YouTube

My car charger can boil water really fast - Technology Connections - YouTube

Brown; color is weird - Technology Connections - YouTube

Alec’s Home Screen

Tusky

Pocket Casts

Good Store - EcoGeek - Dishwasher Powder

Myke talks to Marques Brownlee about how he builds his reviews, from shaping a product narrative and writing scripts to collaborating with his team, deciding what becomes a video, and managing the pressure of creating at massive scale.

Guest Starring: Marques Brownlee

This episode of Cortex is sponsored by:

• Sentry: Mobile crash reporting and app monitoring. Get 6 months of the Team plan free with code cortex.

• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CORTEX.

• Fitbod: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership.

Links and Show Notes

MKBHD.com

MKBHD - Marques Brownlee - YouTube

The Studio - YouTube

WVFRM Podcast - YouTube

Auto Focus - YouTube

TickTick

OnePlus 15 Review: This is Not Normal! - MKBHD - YouTube

Do Bad Reviews Kill Companies? - MKBHD - YouTube

Wait... Smart Glasses are Suddenly Good? - MKBHD - YouTube

Marques’ Home Screen

Superhuman

Arc

Dia

MKBHD Store

Myke talks to Hank Green about how he manages an impossibly full creative life — from YouTube and Crash Course to books, businesses, and Good.Store — using simple tools, structured weeks, selective meetings, delegation, and a constant flow of new ideas.

Guest Starring: Hank Green

This episode of Cortex is sponsored by:

• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CORTEX.

• Stuff: Organize your life and achieve your goals. Get 50% off your first year of Extra Stuff with code STUFF.

• Fitbod: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership.

LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

🚨 Get 20% off an annual Moretex subscription 🚨

👕 Shop The Subtle Range – Available until November 19th 👕

vlogbrothers - YouTube

hankschannel - YouTube

Crash Course

‎Focus Friend, by Hank Green App - App Store

DFTBA

Good Store

SciShow - YouTube

Dear Hank & John

Complexly

Google Tasks

Airtable

The Hardest Problem Evolution Ever Solved – hankschannel – YouTube

Hank’s Home Screen

Hank Green | Book of Good Times – DFTBA

Awesome Socks

🎁 Get 20% off an annual Moretex subscription 🎁

Myke talks to The Verge’s David Pierce about the workflow behind his Humane AI Pin review, how he collaborates to make podcasts like The Vergecast, and how his Installer newsletter helps him highlight the positive side of the internet each week.

Guest Starring: David Pierce

This episode of Cortex is sponsored by:

• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CORTEX.

• Fitbod: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership.

• Incogni: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CORTEX with this link and get 60% off an annual plan.

LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

🚨👕 The Subtle Range – Available for a Limited Time Only! 👕🚨

David Pierce | The Verge

Humane AI Pin review: the post-smartphone future isn’t here yet | The Verge

Workflowy

Notion

Craft

I spent three months with Telly, the free TV that’s always showing ads | The Verge

Do Bad Reviews Kill Companies? - MKBHD - YouTube

Installer Newsletter | The Verge

kottke.org

Waxy.org

The Marginalian

A Thing or Two

Downtime

The Linkfest

TV Insider

Reelgood

Typora

The Enthusiast – Myke’s Blog

The Vergecast

Airtable

Version History

The Rest Is History - YouTube

The Rewatchables - The Ringer

David’s Home Screen

Myke’s Home Screen in the Installer Newsletter

Myke’s Action Button Shortcut

Notion Calendar

Remind Me Faster

Arc Search

Quiche Browser

Myke talks to Casey Newton about his workflow for running Platformer, from idea capture to writing and publishing, and how he balances reporting with access to some of the most powerful people in tech.

Guest Starring: Stephen Hackett and Casey Newton

This episode of Cortex is sponsored by:

• Nexos.ai: All-in-one AI platform for enterprises. Get a 14 day free trial now.

• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CORTEX.

• Fitbod: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership.

• Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code cortex50off

LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

🎗Relay for St. Jude – Donate Today

Platformer

What really happened at Basecamp - by Casey Newton

Capacities

What I learned about productivity this year – Platformer

Google Docs

Ghost

Why Platformer is leaving Substack – Platformer

Ghost

Todoist

My dinner with Altman – Platformer

Casey Newton (@crumbler) – Threads

Hard Fork Podcast

Sam Altman upstages the critics – Platformer

Notion

Installer Newsletter | The Verge

Casey's Homescreen

Bear

Balatro

Notion Calendar

Relay for St. Jude - Donate Today

Relay for St. Jude Podcastathon 2025 - YouTube

Streaming live from 12pm to 12am US Eastern time on September 19, 2025

Myke talks to Simone Giertz about her workflow for turning ideas into products, from early sketches and CAD prototypes to manufacturing, launching, and running a product studio alongside her YouTube channel.

Guest Starring: Simone Giertz

This episode of Cortex is sponsored by:

• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CORTEX.

• Fitbod: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership.

• Factor: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code cortex50off

• Sentry: Mobile crash reporting and app monitoring. Get 6 months of the Team plan free with code cortex.

LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

Simone Giertz - YouTube

Yetch Studio

The Coat Hinger – Yetch Studio

A chair built for your half-dirty clothes - Simone Giertz - YouTube

Why I spent 3 years working on a coat hanger - Simone Giertz - YouTube

Fusion 360

Patch Cap – Yetch Studio

Screwdriver Ring – Yetch Studio

Coat Hingers – Foldable Coat Hangers – Kickstarter

The Every Day Calendar – Kickstarter

The Every Day Goal Calendar – Yetch Studio

Spool Table – Yetch Studio

What I’ve learned from 10 years on YouTube - Simone Giertz - YouTube

Yetch Studio – Instagram

Edge Piece Puzzle – Yetch Studio

Why sales is the worst part of my job - Simone Giertz - YouTube

Simone's Home Screen

Brick

Microsoft To Do

Microsoft To Do

Paper Apps™ TO•DO Notebook – Gladden Design

Pencil Dice™ – Gladden Design

Myke interviews John Gruber of Daring Fireball. They take a deep-dive into how John’s writing takes shape – from capturing ideas and drafting articles to the meticulous editing behind his influential work.

This episode of Cortex is sponsored by:

• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CORTEX.

• Fitbod: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership.

• Sentry: Mobile crash reporting and app monitoring. Get 6 months of the Team plan free with code cortex.

LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

Daring Fireball

Daring Fireball: The M4 iPad Pros

MacBook Pro - Apple

Studio Display - Apple

Daring Fireball: Something Is Rotten in the State of Cupertino

Getting Things Done - Wikipedia

Field Notes

Tot

Markdown - Wikipedia

Daring Fireball: Introducing Markdown

Daring Fireball: Markdown

The Enthusiast – Myke's New Blog

This is how Apple rolls – John Gruber – Macworld

The Talk Show

Dithering

Sandwich

Daring Fireball: WWDC 2007 Keynote News

Daring Fireball: Dive Into Markdown

Daring Fireball: Internal Letter Circulates at Apple -- and Leaks to The Verge -- Pushing Back Against Returning to the Office

Apple Extended Keyboard - Wikipedia

tinkerBOY ADB Keyboard/Mouse to USB Converter

ThinkPad Silent Bluetooth Mouse

MarsEdit

BBEdit

John's Home Screen

Daring Fireball: Kotoba: The Best iOS Dictionary App You've Never Heard Of

Sequel

Sofa

Callsheet

Tapestry

NetNewsWire

Ivory

Things

Sidekick Pocket

Myke kicks off the new ‘State of the Workflow’ series with YouTuber Austin Evans. They explore the apps, gear, and systems—like dual phones, YouTube Shorts strategies, and analytics deep dives—that fuel Austin’s creativity and 1.5 billion views.

This episode of Cortex is sponsored by:

• Squarespace: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CORTEX.

• Fitbod: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership.

• Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.

• Sentry: Mobile crash reporting and app monitoring. Get 6 months of the Team plan free with code cortex.

LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

Austin Evans - YouTube

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max - Apple

iPhone 12 Mini - I'm switching! - Austin Evans - YouTube

Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge

Why the S25 Edge is BETTER than I thought - Austin Evans - YouTube

I'm NEVER Switching Again - Samsung Z Flip 6 - Austin Evans - YouTube

iMac - Apple

OWC 11-Port Thunderbolt Dock

MacBook Pro - Apple

Surface Pro – Microsoft

Microsoft Recall - Wikipedia

Austin's iPhone Home Screen

Austin's Android Home Screen

Claude

Descript

The End of YouTubers - Austin Evans - YouTube

Google Gemini

ChatGPT

ChatGPT Thumbnail of Austin

Todoist

Google Calendar

Spotify

Google Docs

Notion

Is DealDash a SCAM? - Austin Evans - YouTube

Final Cut Pro for Mac

CapCut

Mac mini - Apple

Slack

Adobe Creative Cloud

This Is - YouTube

Denki - YouTube

The Tech of F1 is WILD - Inside Red Bull Racing - Austin Evans - YouTube

Frame.io

iPad mini - Apple

Kindle Paperwhite

Steam Deck

WF-1000XM5 | Sony

Bathys | Focal

Arrivé Larson Backpack | TUMI

Osmo Pocket 3 - DJI

DJI Mic - DJI

Grey and Myke look back on ten years of the show.

Buy Merch At: http://cortexmerch.com

Get Moretex: https://www.relay.fm/cortex/join

Discuss This Episode On the reddit

LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

Special episode artwork illustrated by Ceej Rowland.

Introducing Relay FM's 2015 Summer Pilots — Relay

#133: The Ethics of AI Art

#134: AI Art Will Make Marionettes Of Us All Before It Destroys The World

#59: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

#165: How to Win Friends and Influence People

#119: Thinking, Fast and Slow

#120: Episode Out of Time: Rio Heist

#143: Apple Vision Pro: Experiencing the Future

#32: Dropping Acid

#149: Rock, Paper, Scissors

Grey's Original Home Screen

Myke's Original Home Screens

Grey and Myke watch the 2010 biopic The Social Network. They discuss their thoughts on the film, its portrayal of Facebook’s early days, and how it prompted them to reflect on their own use of social media today.

Buy Merch At: http://cortexmerch.com

Get Moretex: https://www.relay.fm/cortex/join

Discuss This Episode On the reddit

LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

The Social Network - Wikipedia

DP/30: The Social Network, screenwriter Aaron Sorkin - YouTube

The Social Network (soundtrack) - Wikipedia

Jesse Eisenberg: I don't want to think of being associated with Mark Zuckerberg - BBC News

[iOS 18.4 DB1] New setting for the stock mail app that returns back to inbox after deleting a message instead of automatically going to the next email. : r/iOSBeta

Grey and Myke explore why this foundational self-help and business book remains relevant today, breaking down its core principles on human interaction and influence—and sharing how they’ve applied its ideas in their own lives.

Buy Merch At: http://cortexmerch.com

Get Moretex: https://www.relay.fm/cortex/join

Discuss This Episode On the reddit

LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

How to Win Friends and Influence People - Wikipedia

How to Win Friends and Influence People: Updated For the Next Generation of Leaders: Dale Carnegie – Amazon.com

How to Win Friends and Influence People Audiobook | Audible

Grey and Myke reveal their ‘Screen Crimes’—how do they actually use their devices, and for how long? Meanwhile, Grey is in full team-management mode, and Myke is preparing to start his parental leave.

Buy Merch At: http://cortexmerch.com

Get Moretex: https://www.relay.fm/cortex/join

Discuss This Episode On the reddit

LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

Asana

Asana Rules

Screen time - Wikipedia

Cortex #82: Screen Crimes - Relay

Myke's Screen Crimes

Balatro

Kinda Funny Games - YouTube

The Town Podcast

Grey's Battery Usage

NYT Games

Myke Hurley (@myke.social) — Bluesky

Grey's Screen Crimes

DiamondClean Smart 9400 Sonic electric toothbrush with app

How to Win Friends and Influence People: Updated For the Next Generation of Leaders: Dale Carnegie – Amazon.com

How to Win Friends and Influence People Audiobook | Audible

Grey and Myke discuss how and why they track their time, Myke shares his thoughts on announcing his upcoming child, and Grey drops a task management bombshell.

Buy Merch At: http://cortexmerch.com

Get Moretex: https://www.relay.fm/cortex/join

Discuss This Episode On the reddit

LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

Baby Hurley Announcement Post – Instagram

Analog(ue) #232: My Dad Era - Relay

How to Be a Dad, by Dr Oscar Duke – Amazon

Selfish Reasons to Have More Kid, by Bryan Caplan – Amazon

Asana

Cortex #101: Productivity 101 - Relay

Timery

Toggl

Timelines

Myke's Time Tracking Comparison

Grey and Myke use Yearly Themes to guide their personal and professional lives. In this episode, they reflect on how 2024 went and reveal their plans for 2025.

Buy Merch At: http://cortexmerch.com

Get Moretex: https://www.relay.fm/cortex/join

Discuss This Episode On the reddit

LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

Cortex #150: 2024 Yearly Themes - Relay FM

Your Theme - CGP Grey - YouTube

The Theme System

Buy your Theme System Journal

Get 25% Off a New Annual Moretex Subscription – Only Until December 18, 2024

Grey discusses why Apple Intelligence message suggestions feel ‘anti-human’. Myke shares his current iPad Home Screens. Also, Ask Cortex questions on breaking free from the 7-day week, productivity music, and finding balance on text-based social media.

Buy Merch At: http://cortexmerch.com

Get Moretex: https://www.relay.fm/cortex/join

Discuss This Episode On the reddit

LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

Get 25% Off a New Annual Moretex Subscription – Only Until December 18, 2024

OpenAI’s search engine is now live in ChatGPT - The Verge

The Assistant by Kagi

The Subtle Range – Cortex Brand – Available until November 27

Myke's iPad Pro Home Screen

Cortex Brand iPad Pro Home Screen

Kindle Colorsoft

Kindle Scribe

reMarkable Paper Pro

Readwise

Testing the Vision Pro With New Ultrawide Display Option in visionOS 2.2 - MacRumors

Mac mini - Apple

Chappell Roan - Wikipedia

Endel

Portal

Croissant App

Myke on Mastodon

Myke on Threads

Myke on Bluesky (Which he joined after recording)

Get 25% Off a New Annual Moretex Subscription – Only Until December 18, 2024

Grey and Myke discuss the tools they use to get work done, highlighting new additions and workflow changes. They also showcase their current home screens and reflect on how their work has evolved over the past year.

Buy Merch At: http://cortexmerch.com

Get Moretex: https://www.relay.fm/cortex/join

Discuss This Episode On the reddit

LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

The Subtle Range – Available for a Limited Time

Todoist

Things

Due

Timery

OmniFocus

Working With Templates - Things

Timelines

Multitimer

Spark

Slack

Notion

Figma

Obsidian

ChatGPT

Descript

Claude

Freeform

Darkroom

Halide

Audio Hijack

Logic Pro

Fission

Forecast

Overcast

Feedbin

Unread

Marvel Unlimited

Balatro

Delta

GB Operator

GameTrack

Fitbod

AllTrails

Foodnoms

AutoSleep

Sleep++

Whoop

Charty

Adobe Acrobat

PowerPhotos

Croissant

Focus for YouTube

Dark Reader

Duolingo

Mosaic

Widgetsmith

Hand Mirror

iStat Menus

Overlap

Quitter

Shareshot

Logger

Myke - Standard Home Screen

Peak

Myke - Standard Watch Face

Myke - Recording Home Screen

Myke - Weekend Home Screen

Myke - Sleep Home Screen

Myke - Travel Home Screen

Flighty

Tripsy

Myke - Travel Watch Face

Myke - Vacation Home Screen

Grey - Home Screen Flow Chart

Grey - Closed Home Screens

Grey - Open and Closed Home Screens

Grey - Open Home Screens

Endel

Grey and Myke talk about how they take breaks during their workdays, share some fiction books they’ve enjoyed, discuss a major change Myke is making to his tech setup, and express their sympathy for phone case makers.

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Discuss This Episode On the reddit

LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

Relay for St. Jude - Donate Today

The St Jude Creator Achievement Award — @imyke — Instagram

Relay for St. Jude Podcastathon 2024 - YouTube

Greys notes from the event

Upgrade - Relay FM

How It Works - MFi Program

Sidekick Notepad by Cortex Brand

How do iPhone 16 cases support the Camera Control (Capture) button?—

How do iPhone 16 cases support the Camera Control (Capture) button? — Peak Design

Pomodoro Technique - Wikipedia

Connected - Relay FM

Jony Ive's LoveFrom reinvents the button with Moncler - Fast Company

Jony Ive and Moncler Join Forces on the Season’s Most Functional Outerwear | Vogue

After Steve: How Apple Became a Trillion-Dollar Company and Lost Its Soul: Mickle, Tripp: Amazon

Marvel Unlimited

The Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #1 | Comic Issues | Marvel

Daredevil (2019 - 2021) | Comic Series | Marvel

The Three-Body Problem: Liu, Cixin, Liu, Ken: Amazon

Grey and Myke mark the 10-year anniversary of 'Humans Need Not Apply,' taking the opportunity to share their current thoughts on AI.

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Discuss This Episode On the reddit

LINKS AND SHOW NOTES

Humans Need Not Apply - YouTube

Cortex #133: The Ethics of AI Art - Relay FM

Cortex #134: AI Art Will Make Marionettes Of Us All Before It Destroys The World - Relay FM

Confabulation - Wikipedia

“Do not hallucinate”: Testers find prompts meant to keep Apple Intelligence on the rails | Ars Technica

Anthropic’s Claude 3 causes stir by seeming to realize when it was being tested | Ars Technica

OpenAI’s latest model will block the ‘ignore all previous instructions’ loophole - The Verge