Back to Work

Back to Work is an award winning talk show with Merlin Mann and Dan Benjamin discussing productivity, communication, work, barriers, constraints, tools, and more.

Episodes

Episode 610: Hero Light

March 22, 2023 • 90 min

DISCUSSED: Steve Buscemi is celebrated, and The Big Lebowski is congratulated; the guys continue their dive into the state of smart home hardware with a focus on switches. e610-buscemi https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/3/316b04e9-2b1f-4ccb-98f1-28fe023874a8/4yea3CGk.jpg (https://twitter.com/MichaelWarbur17/status/1637904652061777920)

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Episode 609: A Reverse Egg

March 14, 2023 • 69 min

Dan is curious about AI voice transcription, and Merlin has yet more smart home advice for a new homeowner.

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Episode 608: Charles Entertainment Berry

March 1, 2023 • 64 min

DISCUSSED: Merlin has some been analyzing a very misleading song about beaches, and Dan has been visiting more with ChadGPT.

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Episode 607: Age of Garbage

February 21, 2023 • 74 min

DISCUSSED: Dan has a new iPad keyboard, and Merlin is intrigued by ChatGPT. Also, Merlin almost tunes his guitar.

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Episode 606: Goodnight, Night

February 7, 2023 • 72 min

DISCUSSED: Dan's takes some smart baby steps into home automation, and Merlin has a lot to say about everything.

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Episode 605: A Case for a Life

January 31, 2023 • 64 min

DISCUSSED: Dan begins a new journey into smart home living, and Merlin is excited about common misconceptions. e605-infants https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/3/316b04e9-2b1f-4ccb-98f1-28fe023874a8/_kkzmi44.jpg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_common_misconceptions)

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Episode 604: Grandpa's Automation

January 24, 2023 • 59 min

DISCUSSED: After settling some confusion about Anna Borg, the boys settle into an amble about the state of voice assistants and the future of the theoretically smart home. As ever, Merlin is pretty excited about music, but he also needs your help figuring out where in the hell he got this new software keyboard. Alexa is doing great. https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/3/316b04e9-2b1f-4ccb-98f1-28fe023874a8/hmTv2y...

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Episode 603: A Jaws of Life for Playgrounds

January 17, 2023 • 70 min

DISCUSSED: Merlin is extremely happy with a suggestion that Dan made, and Dan has a bunch of apps he's excited about. e604-adam-12 https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/3/316b04e9-2b1f-4ccb-98f1-28fe023874a8/GIyvad17.jpg

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Episode 602: Apple Juice Flood

January 10, 2023 • 62 min

Typing on an iPad, rhyming compulsively, default media, and taking a young foodie out on the town.

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Episode 601: Big Broom

January 3, 2023 • 72 min

DISCUSSED: Merlin is excited about reading, and Dan sometimes puts his time in a box. Also: Breaking Bad.

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Episode 600: The Trauma of My Chumby

December 20, 2022 • 73 min

DISCUSSED: Merlin recommends an exciting new beta; Dan gets a new e-reader; and Merlin has a lot to say about taking notes. e600-notebook https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/3/316b04e9-2b1f-4ccb-98f1-28fe023874a8/Rvq_tvqm.jpg

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Episode 599: Self-Involved at Scale

December 6, 2022 • 70 min

DISCUSSED: a classic odds n' sods episode encompassing a missing remote (and a failed system), some wallet FU, cool help with playlist management, unsubscribing in dribs and drabs, and a big-ass RV.

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Episode 598: Chewbacca Credit Union

November 29, 2022 • 54 min

Merlin is still on Island Time, so discussion is mostly limited to Columbo, Star Wars, Merlin's playlists, Ellsworth, and, of course, wallets. We almost talked about _Triangle of Sadness_ https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/3/316b04e9-2b1f-4ccb-98f1-28fe023874a8/zO-NbGOf.jpeg

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Episode 597: The Bronze Hour

November 15, 2022 • 66 min

DISCUSSED: Dan has a new concern; some thoughts on resistance; Merlin shares a new insight on creativity and sleep; Dan has FU directly from the Nosferatu band; Merlin serves a turducken of suggestions related to text editing; and, finally, Dan needs your advice on wallets, while Merlin makes a case for currency. e597-calamari https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/3/316b04e9-2b1f-4ccb-98f1-28fe023874a8/kitCpEKp.jpg...

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Episode 596: Turkey Legs in the Renaissance

November 8, 2022 • 77 min

DISCUSSED: Merlin is playing with his new dingus; Dan almost talks about wallets; try Tailscale to make your stuff work better together; why you (yes, you) need a VPN; Dan is getting enthused about Obsidian; Merlin is freshly re-enthused about Daytum; and finally Dan is very excited about a Dracula he saw.

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Episode 595: Blessèd Vessel

November 1, 2022 • 81 min

DISCUSSED: Halloween Follow-Up; exit interview for Season 4 of What We Do in the Shadows; how Apple could build users' confidence and stimulate their curiosity with better documentation; Merlin makes his case for spreadsheets as your potential place where stuff goes.

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Episode 594: Honey Sun Bear

October 18, 2022 • 66 min

Fortunately, Merlin had thoroughly prepared for 62 minutes of lizards, Morgellons, animal powers, and Tom Cruise. e594-bears https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/3/316b04e9-2b1f-4ccb-98f1-28fe023874a8/NQ9f9_D-.jpeg

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Episode 593: One of the Eel Women

October 11, 2022 • 91 min

Sleep, practice, infrastructure, power, and OCD are themes. As per usual. e593-power https://files.fireside.fm/file/fireside-uploads/images/3/316b04e9-2b1f-4ccb-98f1-28fe023874a8/gu-haXo7.jpg

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Episode 592: Dirt Cat

October 4, 2022 • 63 min

Dan has Covid, so Merlin agrees to carry him, and yet Dan improbably carries them both. Untitled

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Episode 591: A Closeted Magical Thinker

September 30, 2022 • 64 min

There are a few odds and sods, but, yeah, it's mostly about adjudicating Peak Cruise. Runner-Up Titles Bespoke Slime Hole Gavin Assumed Nom De Repair Species-Ending Annoyance Mosquito Tasks One Set of Footprints The Thing You Do Before It Breaks Creating Conditions Old People Jam-Up Don't Give Me Notes The Boston Janitor Movie

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Back to Work

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Episode 610: Hero Light

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Episode 609: A Reverse Egg

Episode 608: Charles Entertainment Berry

Episode 607: Age of Garbage

Episode 606: Goodnight, Night

Episode 605: A Case for a Life

Episode 604: Grandpa's Automation

Episode 603: A Jaws of Life for Playgrounds

Episode 602: Apple Juice Flood

Episode 601: Big Broom

Episode 600: The Trauma of My Chumby

Episode 599: Self-Involved at Scale

Episode 598: Chewbacca Credit Union

Episode 597: The Bronze Hour

Episode 596: Turkey Legs in the Renaissance

Episode 595: Blessèd Vessel

Episode 594: Honey Sun Bear

Episode 593: One of the Eel Women

Episode 592: Dirt Cat

Episode 591: A Closeted Magical Thinker

Popular Podcasts

For You.css-1r2bfgw{margin:0 0 -2px 5px;}

Episode 610: Hero Light

Episode 609: A Reverse Egg

For You