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#11 "Mutate and Dip"
00:00:00 – Introduction & Episode OverviewKickoff of TSD #11 – Mutate and Dip00:01:18 – Hedge Booking, Discounts & Tariff TalkDiscussion about hedge booking tickets, discount inquiries, and potential legal/tariff issues00:03:00 – Conference Experiences & In-Person NetworkingChat about meeting online contacts face‑to‑face at conferences and the magic of real-life interactions00:07:00 – Travel Booking, Airbnb Deals & Flight SafetyStories on snagging an Airbnb deal, flight booking quirks, and nonstop vs. layover debates00:11:00 – Live Podcast Ideas & Operator DemoIntroduction to the concept of live podcasts and a demo of the browser‑controlling operator00:15:00 – AI Models, Integration & Operator LimitationsInsights on current AI model integrations (GPT, Claude, Cursor) and the need for more seamless automation00:17:30 – Investment Updates & Industry BuzzTalk of recent investment news—including a billion-dollar boost into Anthropics—and industry dynamics00:18:55 – App of the Week: Live Meta Fields on ShopifyOverview of the new Espresso Live Meta Fields app and its live data features for Shopify00:24:00 – E-Commerce UX: Filtering, Registration Flows & A/B TestingDiscussion on meta field filtering, multi‑step registration flows, and early A/B test insights00:34:00 – UI/UX Optimizations: Button Colors, Videos & Warranty MessagingExploration of simple UI tweaks, the impact of product videos, and warranty language experiments00:39:00 – Shopify Flow, Webhooks & Infrastructure InsightsDeep dive into how webhooks are handled in Hydrogen, Shopify Flow’s queuing system, and related infrastructure00:45:00 – New Customer Accounts, Loop Exchanges & Store CreditTalk on new customer account features, the loop exchange process, and the nuances between store credit and gift cards00:52:00 – Mutate and Dip: GraphQL Tools & Automation HighlightsShowcasing GraphQL mutations (“mutate and dip”) along with a cool Chrome extension and automation challenges00:56:00 – Dev Environment Sync & Meta Field HandlingExperiences with Postman, syncing development environments, and tackling meta field reference issues00:59:00 – NetSuite Integration & Data Pipeline OverhaulVentures into NetSuite’s changing APIs, data pipeline revamps, and the evolution of reporting systems01:01:00 – Wrap-Up & Episode Title ConfirmationFinal thoughts, a nod to “Mutate and Dip,” and closing remarks
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1:02:17
#10 "Bundle of Shenanigans"
00:00:00 – Intro: Competitor Research vs. InspirationDavid explains his approach to finding app ideas without heavy competitor research.00:01:00 – Wholesome Vibes & Family TalesKalen jokes about David’s wholesome life—quaint B&Bs, shoveling snow, and family snow fights.00:03:00 – DIY Tech Hack: The Pencil MicThe duo recounts the hilarious “jerry rigged pencil on a hat” hack for a lapel mic.00:05:00 – Happy Friday & Keeping It RealA light moment about resetting expectations and the simple joys of real conversations.00:06:00 – Family & Jiu Jitsu: Balancing SensitivityDiscussion on sensitivity, family stories, and how jiu jitsu classes play into growing up.00:07:00 – Judo Roll Antics & Psychological BarriersA playful exchange about judo roll lessons and the “psychological barrier” joke.00:08:00 – Horse Tracks & Pop Culture QuipsThe conversation shifts to quirky topics like horse tracks and a tongue-in-cheek Game of Thrones nod.00:10:00 – Shopify Deep Dive: Exchanges & API MysteriesDavid introduces his recent work on Shopify exchanges and the quirks between POS and online store APIs.00:12:00 – Online Store Exchanges vs. POSThey break down how online store exchanges use a different “return API” compared to the POS system.00:13:00 – App Shenanigans in Dev StoresA humorous rant on “shenanigans” when apps lack free dev plans or test charge setups.00:16:00 – Bundle App Madness & Naming ChaosThe duo debates the complexity of bundle apps and the wild world of app naming conventions.00:23:00 – Deep Research for B2B OpportunitiesKalen explains how he uses deep research (with lots of clarifying questions) to uncover B2B app pain points.00:24:00 – Mining Negative Feedback for OpportunityThey discuss how negative reviews can spotlight unmet needs—turning pain points into opportunities.00:27:00 – Automating Research: Notifications & IterationsA vision of a system that notifies you when research tasks are complete, letting you iterate on ideas.00:31:00 – API Keys & Company Accounts: ChatGPT InsightsDavid shares his experience with signing up for a ChatGPT company account and navigating API key challenges.00:33:00 – GPT for Topic Generation & App Pitch TacticsA look at how GPT helps generate topics—and even pitch app ideas with injection tactics.00:35:00 – Cart Transforms & Bundle Pricing StrategiesThe conversation shifts to Shopify’s cart transform functions and strategies for bundling products.00:42:00 – Forum Frustrations: Old Threads vs. NewKalen laments the state of old forum threads versus the new, cleaner discussions.00:44:00 – Open Sourcing the Gadget AppA quick update on the flow extension gadget app that Kalen open sourced for location automation.00:45:00 – Event Registration Woes & Conference FearsThe duo discusses registration panic for an upcoming event and the rush to secure a spot.00:47:00 – Tech Swag & AI Glasses: Modern GadgetsChat turns to cool swag items like Snapchat and AI glasses, with impressions of bone-conducting audio.00:49:00 – Sabbatical Plans: Vision Quest & Personal GrowthDavid reveals plans for a six‑week sabbatical—mixing vision quests, reading, and self‑improvement.00:50:00 – A/B Testing Cadence & Customer ResearchA rundown of their consistent A/B testing schedule and the challenges of tracking customer behavior.00:52:00 – Leveraging PostHog & Growth Book for AnalyticsThey delve into using tools like PostHog and Growth Book to analyze conversions and test performance.00:56:00 – Coding Culture: Vibe Coding & AI DebatesA fun finale discussing “vibe coding,” natural language coding, and the quirks of AI-generated advice.
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58:44
#9 "Bundle Up"
00:00:00 - Introduction: The Shopify Way00:01:10 - Discussion on Bundles and Pricing Strategies00:02:00 - Different Approaches to Bundling Products00:03:00 - Merchants' Greed in Bundling00:04:00 - Handling Complex Bundles and Customer Experience00:05:00 - Challenges with Bundle Pricing and Customer Options00:06:00 - Examples of Bundling in Retail00:07:00 - User Interface Challenges with Bundles00:08:00 - Recursion and Complexity in Bundling00:09:00 - Challenges with Existing Bundling Apps00:10:00 - Importance of Deep Links in Admin00:11:00 - App Functionality and User Experience00:12:00 - Example of a Well-Designed App: Loop Returns00:13:00 - Challenges with Discounting and Bundles00:14:00 - Personal Experiences with Discounting in Magento00:15:00 - The Shopify Approach to Functionality00:16:00 - Adding B2B Pricing and Customer Tags00:17:00 - New Contribution to the Podcast: Sound Machine00:18:00 - Importance of Feels Good Experience in Apps00:19:00 - Debugging and Logging in Shopify Flow00:20:00 - Adventures with Cursor and JavaScript00:21:00 - Transition from Alpine to Plain JavaScript00:22:00 - Benefits of Plain JavaScript in Development00:23:00 - Personal Experiences with JavaScript and jQuery00:24:00 - Expanding Skills in JavaScript for Various Platforms00:25:00 - Discussion on Hot Reload and Syncify00:26:00 - Experiences with Shopify Theme CLI00:27:00 - Challenges with Authentication and Hot Reload00:28:00 - Exploring Syncify for Faster Development00:29:00 - Search and Discovery App in Shopify00:30:00 - Client Requirements for Search Features00:31:00 - Using Meta Fields for Category Filtering00:32:00 - Customizing Search Results with Liquid00:33:00 - Client Simplification Wins and Challenges00:34:00 - Importance of Simplicity and Native Features in Shopify00:35:00 - Exploring Third-Party Authentication and Registration Tools00:36:00 - Redirecting After Login in Shopify00:37:00 - Customizing the Customer Account Section00:38:00 - Adding Custom Features to Customer Accounts00:39:00 - Admin Extensions and Custom Buttons in Shopify00:40:00 - Deep Linking and Theme App Extensions00:41:00 - Considerations for Building Shopify Apps00:42:00 - Success Stories in Shopify App Development00:43:00 - Identifying Gaps and Opportunities in the Shopify Ecosystem00:44:00 - Experiences with NetSuite and API Integrations00:45:00 - Challenges with iPass Solutions and Logging00:46:00 - Opportunities for Building Custom Integration Solutions00:47:00 - The Future of Making Internet Money00:48:00 - Personal Reflections on Career and Retirement Plans00:49:00 - Conclusion: Embracing Creativity and New Opportunities
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1:03:28
#8 "Going Doc Spelunking"
[00:00:00] – Intro & Back-In-Stock FlowDavid kicks things off by explaining how the back‐in‐stock flow automatically fires when inventory becomes available. [00:01:07] – Badge Brag & Community WinsDavid shares his excitement over earning a Shopify community badge while Kalen reveals he just unlocked a custom “flow” badge. [00:03:21] – Pre‑Launch Jitters & Project PressureThe conversation turns to launch anxiety—with both discussing the stress of pre‑launch lists, last‑minute tasks, and the pressure of agency projects. [00:06:05] – The Agency Owner ProblemKalen explains the challenges of working with demanding clients and the pitfalls of making rapid, short‑term decisions in agency work. [00:07:52] – Meta Objects & Bulk Editing LimitsThey dive into using meta objects in Shopify—touching on bulk editing, the entry limits, and how these tools open up new possibilities. [00:11:56] – Multi‑Location Inventory ManagementDavid explains his setup for managing inventory across six live stores, including the challenges of marketing inventory versus online availability. [00:16:30] – Client Call ChaosA humorous recount of a kickoff call with a vendor (and a missing CEO) highlights the often awkward nature of agency meetings. [00:18:32] – AI & Prompting TechniquesThe pair discuss new AI tools and prompt frameworks (including ChatGPT techniques) as they brainstorm ways to automate tasks like email classification. [00:21:00] – Klaviyo Flows & Webhook WoesThey review how Klaviyo handles back‑in‑stock notifications—covering both the strengths and quirks of using webhooks without response feedback. [00:24:30] – Streamlining Flow SolutionsDavid describes an additional Flow he added for “shop my” orders that automates fulfillment location changes, noting how simple (and exportable) the solution is. [00:26:00] – AI-Driven Template GenerationThe conversation shifts to using AI for generating templates and automating parts of their workflow, highlighting the blend of rules‑based processing and GPT fallback. [00:29:00] – Deep Dive into AI PromptingThey explore different prompting strategies (like “role-play” prompts and “before–after–bridge” frameworks) and debate how this new “prompting” skill is reshaping search and learning. [00:33:00] – On AI Sentience & the Future of IntelligenceA playful but thoughtful debate arises about whether AI can “feel” pain and what truly differentiates human experience from machine processing. [00:40:00] – Geolocation & Native Shopify ToolsDiscussion moves to technical integration—using Hydrogen and a privacy API to achieve region‑level geolocation without a server‑side call. [00:44:00] – The Joys (and Quirks) of DocumentationDavid and Kalen share their different takes on reading documentation—from thorough manual deep dives to quick search-and‑skip approaches. [00:46:15] – Returns & Exchange Flow with Loop ReturnsThey break down how Loop Returns integrates with Shopify to handle exchanges (including credit adjustments and order updates) and compare it with other return solutions. [00:52:00] – Managing Exchange OrdersA closer look at how exchange orders work in Shopify—how items are “returned” on the original order and updated in NetSuite to keep things in sync. [00:55:00] – ERP, NetSuite & the Future of Shopify AppsThe conversation shifts to the broader ecosystem as they discuss the limitations of NetSuite, the potential of native Shopify ERP solutions, and the challenges of integrating third‑party systems. [01:00:00] – Looking Ahead: Native Solutions & the B2B PushThey wrap up by speculating on the future—how Shopify’s growing B2B focus might drive the development of native apps (including ERP tools) that could eventually replace traditional systems like NetSuite. [01:02:00] – Wrap‑Up & Final ThoughtsDavid and Kalen sign off with reflections on all the topics they’ve covered—from innovative Flow solutions and AI prompting to the evolution of Shopify’s ecosystem.
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1:02:16
#7 "Pure LocalHost"
00:00:00 - Intro. Sponsored by Smile.io, because your discounts are out of control. 00:00:55 - Slack workspaces and the art of saying no to notifications. 00:03:31 - Slack boundaries: the show you didn’t know you needed. 00:03:59 - Snow days, sick days, and the joy of blowing snow at people. 00:06:00 - DHL ghosted my frying pan delivery, and I’m not okay. 00:08:00 - Why I ordered a frying pan from Argentina instead of Target. 00:09:47 - NetSuite’s love for three decimals is ruining everything. 00:13:00 - Shenanigans: a recurring theme we can all get behind. 00:14:39 - Ocular migraines are the universe telling you to stop working. 00:17:13 - AI podcasts: binge-listening your way to smarter downtime. 00:20:28 - My AI-powered email assistant might be smarter than me. 00:25:00 - Picking tasks two at a time is the productivity hack I didn’t know I needed. 00:29:57 - Shopify Flow adventures and automating all the things. 00:37:00 - Open source vs. monetization: the eternal dev dilemma. 00:42:49 - Big red buttons for podcast topics are the future of content. 00:46:08 - ScrapingBee: skipping Cloudflare blocks like a pro. 00:51:03 - Managing bots is the symphony I was born to conduct. 00:58:00 - Ignoring Taco Bell fights makes me optimistic about AI again.
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1:02:54