Cortex

174: Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) – State of the Workflow

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. THIS EPISODE OF CORTEX IS SPONSORED BY: * Sentry [https://sentry.io/signup/?utm_source=cortex&utm_medium=paid-community&utm_campaign=general-fy26q2-evergreen&utm_content=recording-relay-tryfree]: Mobile crash reporting and app monitoring. Get 6 months of the Team plan free with code cortex. * Squarespace [http://squarespace.com/cortex]: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CORTEX. * Fitbod [http://fitbod.me/cortex]: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership. GUEST STARRING: Marques Brownlee [http://www.relay.fm/people/marquesbrownlee] LINKS AND SHOW NOTES: GET MORETEX – MORE CORTEX, WITH NO ADS. [https://relay.fm/cortex/join] SUBMIT FEEDBACK [https://relay.fm/cortex/feedback] MKBHD.COM [https://mkbhd.com/] MKBHD - MARQUES BROWNLEE - YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBJycsmduvYEL83R_U4JriQ] THE STUDIO - YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG7J20LhUeLl6y_Emi7OJrA] WVFRM PODCAST - YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/Waveform] AUTO FOCUS - YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/autofocus] TICKTICK [https://ticktick.com/] ONEPLUS 15 REVIEW: THIS IS NOT NORMAL! - MKBHD - YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MdQWo9fHZs] DO BAD REVIEWS KILL COMPANIES? - MKBHD - YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QztFpzKsdeA] WAIT... SMART GLASSES ARE SUDDENLY GOOD? - MKBHD - YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gtc1DW2Tgo] MARQUES' HOME SCREEN [https://relayfm.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/Cortex/Episode%20174/Marques%27%20Home%20Screen.jpg] SUPERHUMAN [https://superhuman.com/] ARC [https://arc.net/] DIA [https://www.diabrowser.com/?ref=arc.net] MKBHD STORE [https://mkbhd.com/collections/all]

173: Hank Green – State of the Workflow

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. THIS EPISODE OF CORTEX IS SPONSORED BY: * Squarespace [http://squarespace.com/cortex]: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CORTEX. * Stuff [https://trystuff.app]: Organize your life and achieve your goals. Get 50% off your first year of Extra Stuff with code STUFF. * Fitbod [http://fitbod.me/cortex]: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership. GUEST STARRING: Hank Green [http://www.relay.fm/people/hankgreen] LINKS AND SHOW NOTES: SUBMIT FEEDBACK [https://relay.fm/cortex/feedback] 🚨 GET 20% OFF AN ANNUAL MORETEX SUBSCRIPTION 🚨 [https://relayfm.memberful.com/checkout?coupon=2025holidays&plan=9639] 👕 SHOP THE SUBTLE RANGE – AVAILABLE UNTIL NOVEMBER 19TH 👕 [https://cottonbureau.com/p/W5WV6X/shirt/the-subtle-range#/30009134/tee-men-premium-lightweight-vintage-black-tri-blend-s] VLOGBROTHERS - YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/vlogbrothers] HANKSCHANNEL - YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/@hankschannel] CRASH COURSE [https://thecrashcourse.com/] ‎FOCUS FRIEND, BY HANK GREEN APP - APP STORE [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/focus-friend-by-hank-green/id6742278016] DFTBA [https://store.dftba.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoodnF3UADhGnuMKgo4rQyB630oj5Knttj46-WeiJicxQCBceyER] GOOD STORE [https://good.store/?srsltid=AfmBOopkByFFIAeLGCM1qgfrXf4ZQt6HiEk_4v79PmcZpfcLP7oxBQHe] SCISHOW - YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/user/scishow] DEAR HANK & JOHN [https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/dear-hank-john] COMPLEXLY [https://complexly.com/] GOOGLE TASKS [https://tasks.google.com/] AIRTABLE [https://www.airtable.com/] THE HARDEST PROBLEM EVOLUTION EVER SOLVED – HANKSCHANNEL – YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On2V_L9jwS4] HANK'S HOME SCREEN [https://relayfm.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/Cortex/Episode%20173/Hank%27s%20Home%20Screen.png] HANK GREEN | BOOK OF GOOD TIMES – DFTBA [https://store.dftba.com/products/book-of-good-times-hardcover-1?srsltid=AfmBOoodeE-C_SzPNWJca6gEZAjDbYCkcZRPNFJ7fmBdXxEbbeQQTb1r] AWESOME SOCKS [https://good.store/collections/awesome-socks-club-fun-socks-and-undies] 🎁 GET 20% OFF AN ANNUAL MORETEX SUBSCRIPTION 🎁 [https://relayfm.memberful.com/checkout?coupon=2025holidays&plan=9639]

172: David Pierce – State of the Workflow

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. THIS EPISODE OF CORTEX IS SPONSORED BY: * Squarespace [http://squarespace.com/cortex]: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CORTEX. * Fitbod [http://fitbod.me/cortex]: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership. * Incogni [https://incogni.com/cortex]: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code CORTEX with this link and get 60% off an annual plan. GUEST STARRING: David Pierce [http://www.relay.fm/people/davidpierce] LINKS AND SHOW NOTES: GET MORETEX – MORE CORTEX, WITH NO ADS. [https://relay.fm/cortex/join] SUBMIT FEEDBACK [https://relay.fm/cortex/feedback] 🚨👕 THE SUBTLE RANGE – AVAILABLE FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY! 👕🚨 [https://cottonbureau.com/p/W5WV6X/shirt/the-subtle-range#/27040890/tee-men-premium-lightweight-vintage-black-tri-blend-s] DAVID PIERCE | THE VERGE [https://www.theverge.com/authors/david-pierce] HUMANE AI PIN REVIEW: THE POST-SMARTPHONE FUTURE ISN’T HERE YET | THE VERGE [https://www.theverge.com/24126502/humane-ai-pin-review] WORKFLOWY [https://workflowy.com/] NOTION [https://www.notion.com/en-gb] CRAFT [https://www.craft.do/] I SPENT THREE MONTHS WITH TELLY, THE FREE TV THAT’S ALWAYS SHOWING ADS | THE VERGE [https://www.theverge.com/televisions/777588/telly-tv-hands-on-ads] DO BAD REVIEWS KILL COMPANIES? - MKBHD - YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QztFpzKsdeA&t=14s] INSTALLER NEWSLETTER | THE VERGE [https://www.theverge.com/installer-newsletter] KOTTKE.ORG [https://kottke.org/] WAXY.ORG [https://waxy.org/] THE MARGINALIAN [https://www.themarginalian.org/] A THING OR TWO [https://www.athingortwohq.com/] DOWNTIME [https://downtimenewsletter.com/] THE LINKFEST [https://buttondown.com/clivethompson] TV INSIDER [https://www.tvinsider.com/] REELGOOD [https://reelgood.com/] TYPORA [https://typora.io/] THE ENTHUSIAST – MYKE'S BLOG [https://www.theenthusiast.net/] THE VERGECAST [https://www.theverge.com/the-vergecast] AIRTABLE [https://airtable.com/] VERSION HISTORY [https://www.theverge.com/version-history-podcast] THE REST IS HISTORY - YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/@restishistorypod] THE REWATCHABLES - THE RINGER [https://www.theringer.com/podcasts/the-rewatchables] DAVID'S HOME SCREEN [https://relayfm.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/Cortex/Episode%20172/David%27s%20Home%20Screen.png] MYKE'S HOME SCREEN IN THE INSTALLER NEWSLETTER [https://www.theverge.com/installer-newsletter/664397/backbone-pro-controller-surface-pro-poker-face-installer] MYKE'S ACTION BUTTON SHORTCUT [https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/4d74c5b0e5374ee28093c39ac9fc27f5] NOTION CALENDAR [https://www.notion.com/product/calendar] REMIND ME FASTER [https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/remind-me-faster/id985555908] ARC SEARCH [https://apps.apple.com/us/app/arc-search-find-it-faster/id6472513080] QUICHE BROWSER [https://quiche.industries/browser/]

171: Casey Newton – State of the Workflow

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. THIS EPISODE OF CORTEX IS SPONSORED BY: * Nexos.ai [https://nexos.ai/cortex]: All-in-one AI platform for enterprises. Get a 14 day free trial now. * Squarespace [http://squarespace.com/cortex]: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CORTEX. * Fitbod [http://fitbod.me/cortex]: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership. * Factor [https://factormeals.com/cortex50off]: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code cortex50off GUEST STARRING: Stephen Hackett [http://www.relay.fm/people/stephenhackett] and Casey Newton [http://www.relay.fm/people/caseynewton] LINKS AND SHOW NOTES: GET MORETEX – MORE CORTEX, WITH NO ADS. [https://relay.fm/cortex/join] SUBMIT FEEDBACK [https://relay.fm/cortex/feedback] 🎗RELAY FOR ST. JUDE – DONATE TODAY [https://relay.experience.stjude.org/] PLATFORMER [https://www.platformer.news/] WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AT BASECAMP - BY CASEY NEWTON [https://www.platformer.news/-what-really-happened-at-basecamp/] CAPACITIES [https://capacities.io/] WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT PRODUCTIVITY THIS YEAR – PLATFORMER [https://www.platformer.news/productivity-tools-ai-2025/] GOOGLE DOCS [https://docs.google.com/] GHOST [https://ghost.org/] WHY PLATFORMER IS LEAVING SUBSTACK – PLATFORMER [https://www.platformer.news/why-platformer-is-leaving-substack/] GHOST [https://ghost.org/] TODOIST [https://www.todoist.com/] MY DINNER WITH ALTMAN – PLATFORMER [https://www.platformer.news/sam-altman-gpt-5-interview-lightcap-turley/] CASEY NEWTON (@CRUMBLER) – THREADS [https://www.threads.com/@crumbler?hl=en-gb] HARD FORK PODCAST [https://www.nytimes.com/column/hard-fork] SAM ALTMAN UPSTAGES THE CRITICS – PLATFORMER [https://www.platformer.news/sam-altman-hard-fork-live/] NOTION [https://www.notion.com/] INSTALLER NEWSLETTER | THE VERGE [https://www.theverge.com/installer-newsletter] CASEY'S HOMESCREEN [https://relayfm.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/Cortex/Episode%20171/Casey%27s%20Homescreen.jpeg] BEAR [https://bear.app/] BALATRO [https://www.playbalatro.com/] NOTION CALENDAR [https://www.notion.com/product/calendar] RELAY FOR ST. JUDE - DONATE TODAY [https://relay.experience.stjude.org/] RELAY FOR ST. JUDE PODCASTATHON 2025 - YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ1aq-NHDdg&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2F512pixels.net%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE] Streaming live from 12pm to 12am US Eastern time on September 19, 2025

170: Simone Giertz – State of the Workflow

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. THIS EPISODE OF CORTEX IS SPONSORED BY: * Squarespace [http://squarespace.com/cortex]: Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CORTEX. * Fitbod [http://fitbod.me/cortex]: Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership. * Factor [https://factormeals.com/cortex50off]: Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code cortex50off * Sentry [https://sentry.io/signup/?utm_source=cortex&utm_medium=paid-community&utm_campaign=general-fy26q2-evergreen&utm_content=recording-relay-tryfree]: Mobile crash reporting and app monitoring. Get 6 months of the Team plan free with code cortex. GUEST STARRING: Simone Giertz [http://www.relay.fm/people/simonegiertz] LINKS AND SHOW NOTES: GET MORETEX – MORE CORTEX, WITH NO ADS. [https://relay.fm/cortex/join] SUBMIT FEEDBACK [https://relay.fm/cortex/feedback] SIMONE GIERTZ - YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/@simonegiertz] YETCH STUDIO [https://yetch.studio/] THE COAT HINGER – YETCH STUDIO [https://yetch.studio/products/the-coat-hinger?srsltid=AfmBOopY7XGFB6nsqr8L1jaL3U5wXScfZClBchpQDq-QsjoBc--CB0DR] A CHAIR BUILT FOR YOUR HALF-DIRTY CLOTHES - SIMONE GIERTZ - YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H175G8NH2Cg] WHY I SPENT 3 YEARS WORKING ON A COAT HANGER - SIMONE GIERTZ - YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vREokZa4dNU] FUSION 360 [https://www.autodesk.com/campaigns/fusion-360] PATCH CAP – YETCH STUDIO [https://yetch.studio/products/patch-cap] SCREWDRIVER RING – YETCH STUDIO [https://yetch.studio/products/screwdriver-ring] COAT HINGERS – FOLDABLE COAT HANGERS – KICKSTARTER [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/simonegiertz/coat-hingers-foldable-coat-hangers] THE EVERY DAY CALENDAR – KICKSTARTER [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/simonegiertz/the-every-day-calendar] THE EVERY DAY GOAL CALENDAR – YETCH STUDIO [https://yetch.studio/products/every-day-goal-calendar] SPOOL TABLE – YETCH STUDIO [https://yetch.studio/products/spool-table] WHAT I’VE LEARNED FROM 10 YEARS ON YOUTUBE - SIMONE GIERTZ - YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1CGq7zSjjM] YETCH STUDIO – INSTAGRAM [https://www.instagram.com/yetch.studio] EDGE PIECE PUZZLE – YETCH STUDIO [https://yetch.studio/products/edge-piece-puzzle] WHY SALES IS THE WORST PART OF MY JOB - SIMONE GIERTZ - YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogYzdHzumeA&t=1s] SIMONE'S HOME SCREEN [https://relayfm.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/Cortex/Episode%20170/Simone%27s%20Home%20Screen.jpeg] BRICK [https://getbrick.app/?srsltid=AfmBOop2mMd1yV7kyJ37KUy1weF_9Jt3vvCxu4xApx3EjVwdrQuzpNEw] MICROSOFT TO DO [https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/microsoft-to-do/id1212616790] MICROSOFT TO DO [https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/microsoft-to-do/id1212616790] PAPER APPS™ TO•DO NOTEBOOK – GLADDEN DESIGN [https://gladdendesign.com/products/paper-apps-todo] PENCIL DICE™ – GLADDEN DESIGN [https://gladdendesign.com/products/pencil-dice]