Advice on tech & gadgets.

How do you keep improving at golf as a beginner?

Don't try to hit the ball too hard ('hit the skin off it') as this ruins your shot; instead focus on technique over power, and use tracking tools like Toptracer and SwingU to understand distances and improve consistency.

How can I avoid overpaying for app subscriptions like YouTube Premium?

Check your phone's subscription settings (App Store > profile > Subscriptions) to see what you're subscribed to, and compare pricing — subscribing directly through a service's own site/app (e.g. YouTube) is often cheaper than subscribing via Apple's App Store, which adds a markup/cut.

What should I do if I discover I'm being double-charged for a subscription?

Contact the platform's support directly (in this case Apple), be ready to provide confirmation emails, and don't settle for the first refund offer — push for a fair refund covering the full period you were double-charged, using screen-sharing or documentation to prove your case.

Should I keep an annual-fee frequent flyer credit card if its benefits change?

If a card's key benefit (like points transfer to a preferred airline) is removed but the annual fee remains, it's reasonable to cancel the card rather than keep paying for a reduced-value product.

How can I avoid overpaying for app subscriptions on iPhone?

Check your Apple ID account's 'Subscriptions' section (tap your profile icon, then Subscriptions) to see all pricing tiers available for an app you're subscribed to or considering — sometimes a much cheaper plan exists than the one advertised in-app.

How can you get a free trial on an app without it charging you immediately?

Josh describes double-tapping the side of the phone to use Face ID when starting a free trial, which lets the trial begin before payment, but notes you must remember to cancel/turn it off before the trial period ends.

Does it matter whether you're paid to recommend a product?

Tommy suggests there's more pressure on influencers who are paid to endorse things they don't actually care about, whereas recommending something you got for free and genuinely like carries less risk of dishonesty.

How should you approach dating app banter before meeting someone in person?

Don't oversell yourself with witty banter that sets unrealistic expectations; instead be a 'Kinder Surprise' — under-promise and over-deliver so the in-person meeting surprises and delights rather than underwhelms.

How can I stop forgetting tasks my partner asks me to do repeatedly?

Write tasks down immediately when they're mentioned in conversation, using a note-taking app or 'second brain' system, rather than relying on memory; consider putting recurring tasks like car servicing into a calendar as a recurring event.

How can someone who gets easily disengaged from fitness routines stay motivated?

Lean into obsessive tracking and technology rather than avoiding it—using tools like Wi-Fi-connected scales, DEXA scans, and detailed data lets some people stay engaged, since 'not overthinking it' (as PTs often suggest) can actually reduce engagement for people wired that way.

How can you reset your mood after waking up frustrated or annoyed?

Tommy describes consciously choosing not to carry frustration into the day: sitting on the edge of the bed, putting his feet on the ground, and deciding 'today is going to be a good day' before getting up, rather than letting the irritation build into blowing up later.

What's the correct hand to use when catching with a baseball glove?

Put your non-glove hand behind your back while learning, since beginners often instinctively try to catch with the wrong (throwing) hand instead of the glove hand.

How should you structure weightlifting sets when returning to the gym?

Start with lighter weight for higher reps (e.g., 3 sets of 12) and then move to your top weight for lower reps (5 sets of 5, representing roughly 80-90% capacity), training each set to completion.

How should you use an electric toothbrush to avoid damaging your teeth?

Don't move the electric toothbrush back and forth like a manual brush; instead hold it steady on each tooth and slowly move around the mouth to reduce toothbrush abrasion.

How can I reduce note-taking friction across my phone and computer?

Use an app like Drafts that lets you create a new note instantly from a phone widget or from your clipboard/share sheet, with paid cross-device sync so you can start a note on your Mac and finish it on your phone.

How can I cut down my phone screen time during lockdown?

Delete attention-heavy apps like Facebook from your phone (while still posting from a computer) and batch certain consumption, such as limiting YouTube watching to one scheduled hour a week by saving links to watch later via a notes app.

How can I declutter my phone and be more minimalist with apps?

Get rid of folders entirely (treat using folders as 'cheating'), delete any app you don't truly need, and aim to shrink your home screen down to as few screens as possible so your phone functions more like a simple tool.

How do I stop getting constant notification emails from social media apps?

Go into each platform's settings and manually turn off email notifications (e.g., from Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram) to stop being told what you're missing out on when you're trying to step back from social media.

How can someone get more signal and less noise in their information diet?

Favor reading full books over endless scrolling/searching online, since books tend to have a much higher ratio of valuable insight ('gold') per minute spent.

How do you cleanly separate egg yolks from whites when baking, e.g. for a pavlova?

Use a plastic bottle with some air let out, place the opening over the yolk in the cracked egg, and let the bottle's suction pull the yolk up and away from the white, leaving a clean separation.

Should I buy an extended warranty for electronics?

Don't bother — consumer law already requires products to last a reasonable time beyond the stated warranty period, so extended warranties are largely unnecessary and considered 'the biggest scam going around.'

How can you tell if a potential match is compatible before investing in a date?

Tully uses personality-revealing prompt questions on Hinge (like asking about books in someone's home) to screen out incompatible matches before meeting in person.

Should a digital-first business compete purely on being the cheapest or having no fees?

Pym warns that digital challengers who differentiate solely on price (no fees, best rates) risk going bankrupt; instead a business should build a strong brand and experience customers are willing to pay for, while remaining competitive but not the absolute cheapest.

How do you know if you should reconnect with someone in your contacts?

Tommy suggests auditing your phone favourites list, and if you haven't called someone in the last 3-4 weeks, you should either call them or remove them ('call it or cut it').

How should a business run an ethical free trial?

Tommy suggests that a truly generous free trial, like Basecamp's, should not require credit card details upfront, unlike the Chris Hemsworth app model which he considers a 'gronk move'.

how do you deal with creative self-doubt when reviewing your own work?

Dil Takes Photos says he always focuses on the story and audience experience rather than technique, and acknowledges he tends to only see what he did wrong when reviewing his own content, but doesn't let that stop him from pushing to try new things.

How can you sustain a relationship or date virtually when you can't meet in person?

Try to mimic a real-life date virtually — cook the same meal together over video, make the same cocktail, or share a Spotify playlist, recreating shared experiences remotely.

Should I bother downloading a government contact-tracing app despite privacy concerns?

Download it if it could help manage the pandemic; resisting purely on privacy/freedom grounds doesn't hold up well once you consider the public benefit, though it's fair to question how the government has handled data before.

How should I approach taking photos of strangers in public?

It's legal to photograph people in public, but to ease moral discomfort, try to ask for permission when possible, be friendly/smile, and acknowledge it can feel 'a bit gross' even though it's allowed.

How can a founder overcome fear of sales?

Approach sales not as 'talking yourself up' but as genuinely believing in your product and in your ability to help the business you're pitching to — authenticity makes sales feel less like a performance.

How can I avoid long hold times when I need to contact my phone/internet provider during the pandemic?

Use the provider's app (in this case Telstra's) which lets you submit your details and skip straight to the front of the phone queue instead of waiting on hold.

What's the best way for a founder to raise capital?

No one can sell your business or ask for money as well as you can yourself, and seeking mentorship from someone who has personally raised capital before makes a major difference.

How do you know if a founder should remain CEO as the company grows?

A founder needs to drive the business in its early stages, but once it reaches a more corporate size (30+ employees, needing formal processes and culture), it's worth questioning whether they're still the right person to run it.

Should I bring a notepad and pen to a meeting?

Bring a notepad and pen to client meetings where there will likely be action items, as it signals seriousness; showing up without one in a creative/agency context can make a client wonder if you're being taken seriously.

How do you get someone to commit to a new habit with you (e.g. exercise) without scaring them off?

Josh suggests not asking for a big commitment upfront; instead, propose something small and low-pressure (like one walk to discuss a book), which can turn into a long-running habit organically rather than demanding a fixed schedule from the start.

What's a good approach to staying in touch with someone who lives far away?

Rhys suggests favouring email for distance relationships because it can be revisited later and isn't disrupted by changing phone numbers, preferring it over texts, DMs, or phone calls.

How can a small business save money on staff email accounts?

Rather than paying for a separate individual G Suite account per person or per legacy employee, import a secondary domain as an alias within one main G Suite account so each person gets a personalised address without extra per-account costs, and migrate old emails locally (e.g., via Mozilla Thunderbird) if needed.

How can you overcome anxiety about phone calls?

Peter suggests leaning into more phone calls as a form of exposure therapy, including returning calls promptly, and notes that doing so reduces friction when organizing things and becomes 'quite convenient' with practice.

What's a good way to avoid losing your phone data if your screen stops working?

Check when your phone last backed up to iCloud by signing in on the web, so you know exactly what data you'd lose if the phone had to be wiped or replaced.

How do you turn a lose situation into a win when working with clients?

Look for communication breakdowns causing friction, reiterate back what the client is saying to confirm understanding, and actively reframe a win-lose scenario into a win-win rather than accepting a loss.

How do you get someone who's never been drunk to enjoy drinking?

Tully says you need to actually get drunk at least once to realize how fun it is to keep doing, and plans to get Mason 'white girl wasted' as an introduction.

What's a good starter drink for someone new to drinking?

Tully recommends starting with something like vodka cranberry or a vodka orange juice screwdriver, which feels like you're not drinking straight spirits.

How do you get a testosterone test done cheaply in Australia?

Go to a bulk-billing GP, ask for a referral for a blood test specifying you want testosterone (and optionally other markers like vitamin D or cholesterol tested), then take the referral to a pathology clinic to have blood drawn and sent to a lab.

How can you stop being annoyed at strangers and instead reflect on your own behavior?

After almost being hit by a running garbage collector while distracted on his phone, Josh reframes his instant frustration into self-reflection, concluding the real fix was to look at his phone less while walking rather than blaming the other person.

How do you actually get a company to give you a replacement product instead of a repeated repair?

Push the issue by putting yourself in the representative's position and walking through the problem in detail, even if it takes over an hour and feels uncomfortable — persistence and detailed negotiation can get you a replacement, though it requires significant effort most people won't put in.

Why don't more people successfully fight fines or contest poor service outcomes?

Most people don't push because it requires putting someone else into an uncomfortable position, which takes real effort and energy that most people aren't willing to spend, so they just pay the fine or accept the service outcome.

Should you buy extended warranties or premium cables for electronics?

Extended warranties (like 24-month store warranties) and premium cables (like Monster cables) are often unnecessary cons, especially for digital signals where cheap and expensive cables perform identically.

Is it worth getting equipment/gear insurance for expensive items like laptops or cameras?

Gear insurance for professional equipment (e.g., through AON) can have very low excess (~$100) and reimburse the replacement cost minus GST, making it worthwhile compared to assuming you'd be penalized like with car insurance claims.

What should you do if you find someone else's belongings (keys, phone, ID) in a shared vehicle?

Try to contact the relevant venue or use the app's lost-and-found feature to get a message to the owner, but don't feel obligated to personally deliver the item yourself — leaving it with the driver/venue and notifying the owner is enough.

How do I find out who owns a phone number that missed-called me?

Use PayID — search the phone number in your banking app's PayID feature and it will display the linked account holder's name, even if you don't send the payment.

Why shouldn't you burn bridges in your industry?

Maintaining good relationships with former colleagues and contacts (rather than burning bridges) pays off later, as it allows for favors and connections, like borrowing equipment or getting access, down the line.

What should you do if a stranger on the street or bus asks to use your phone?

Put the call on speakerphone and hold the phone for them rather than handing it over directly, so you retain control and don't give away your device or personal details.

How should you handle a task or fear you're avoiding?

Do the hardest/most uncomfortable part first to get it out of the way, rather than letting avoidance reinforce the fear.

Should you answer calls from unknown numbers?

Answer unknown calls rather than screening them, on the basis that there's little downside and you can handle unwanted calls (like scams) as they come.

Should I get a date's phone number instead of relying on Instagram DMs?

Josh and Tommy advise always getting the actual phone number rather than relying on Instagram DMs, citing a listener's story of losing contact after a date because he only had her Instagram.

How should someone start a conversation with a new dating match?

Don't use a scripted conversation starter—it'll come off as rehearsed. Instead, stay calm and talk to them as if they're someone you already know; carry the confident mindset that they're lucky to be talking to you.

How do you move a DM conversation toward an actual date?

Find common ground (an interest or cuisine), then offer two concrete evening options rather than a vague 'let's hang out sometime'—a vague suggestion isn't a real date and makes you look like a fuckboy.

Is it okay to message/date multiple people before being exclusive?

Yes—outside Australia it's normal to date multiple people until you decide to be exclusive; in Australia people tend to jump to exclusivity too fast, but there's no need to feel guilty about seeing several people at once.

What's the best way to let someone down if there's no romantic spark?

Be honest and tell them directly rather than ghosting; say you had a great time but don't feel a romantic connection—frame it as not a comment on them as a person, since you can meet great people you're just not romantically interested in.

Should you rely on texting/DMs or phone calls when getting to know a match?

Push for an actual phone call instead of just texting—apps and text are curated and based on how you look or craft yourself, whereas a phone call lets you connect as a real person before investing time and money in multiple dates.

What's the key to successful dating?

Know who you are and what you want before entering a relationship; don't date someone based purely on looks since that fades, and ultimately just be yourself—if she accepts the real you, she's the right match; if not, move on.

Should you accept free products or sponsorships on a podcast?

Josh says he finds it hard to talk about products he hasn't genuinely used or been asked to promote, and considers overt ad-reads (like a generic Squarespace ad) something he personally couldn't do unless the compensation addressed a real need, like dental care.

Should you give out a well-connected friend's phone number to someone else?

Tommy advises against giving out a friend's number without permission, based on his experience giving out Jules Lund's number, which led to unwanted contact and Jules asking him not to do it again; better to do the legwork yourself and text the well-connected friend directly.

What should I look for when buying a robot vacuum?

Spend over $1,000 for a model with real mapping (e.g., LiDAR) and strong suction rather than a cheap one with no positional awareness; run it daily while out of the house, but still manually mop/vacuum properly every couple of weeks.

Is it safe to use your phone at traffic lights, even briefly?

Josh decided against trying to use his phone at a red light right outside a police station because, even mounted on a car mount, the act of tapping the screen would be obvious to police.

Should you trust a digital vs analogue speedometer to avoid fines?

Tommy notes his digital speedo isn't perfectly accurate and that there's reportedly a few km/h of leeway before police act, so slightly exceeding a round number on a digital speedo is generally understood as within tolerance.

Should young kids be given phones and tablets?

Keep devices out of the house for as long as possible (at least five more years), and give kids tactile tools like a ball or puzzle instead, since screens are optimized to maximize dopamine and early brain plasticity is at stake.

How do I get used to an iPhone without a home button or fingerprint sensor?

Trevor Long says while Face ID feels slower than a fingerprint for things like Apple Pay and app purchases (needing a double-click and stare), users adapt quickly to navigating and switching apps on the new gesture-based interface.

Should I try switching from iPhone to Android to judge it fairly?

Trevor advises giving an Android phone at least two weeks of real use before making a judgment, since early impressions are often skewed by unfamiliarity.

Should I keep a folder system for emails or just search?

Josh argues folders are unnecessary busywork because modern email clients like Gmail and Outlook let you search and sort by sender, so there's no need to manually file every email into folders.

What should I consider before launching a podcast live stream?

Think about audience timing preferences (ask listeners what time works best), expect an adjustment period to get comfortable on camera, and consider broadcast safety tools like a dump button to handle mistakes, weighing cost against necessity.

What should I put in my wallet in case it gets lost?

Put your phone number inside your wallet so whoever finds it can contact you directly, since handing it in to police may delay return by days.

How can I improve the chances of getting lost gear back?

Label your name on valuable items like camera gear so they can be identified and returned if lost.

How can you stop missing important work calls while juggling multiple projects?

Josh considers using Do Not Disturb mode more deliberately when juggling multiple client projects so he isn't context-switching constantly, while being thoughtful about setting clear, honest expectations (e.g., a personable auto-reply) rather than vague automated messages.

How should you respond to pushy telemarketers?

Josh suggests it's fine to just answer, listen briefly, and hang up or say 'sorry, not interested' and hang up, rather than feeling guilty about being abrupt.

What should you do when a company's customer service process is failing you?

Escalate as soon as possible rather than waiting patiently in the normal support queue — go public (e.g. tweet), find alternate departments or contacts, or go over agents' heads to resolve the issue faster.