Smol Der, Season 1
Smol Der is String Theory Accelerator's applied AI podcast: practical conversations with professionals about how they actually use AI at work. Season 1 is streaming now on YouTube and Spotify, and Season 2 is in the works.
Season 1 episodes
Each one is a working professional explaining what AI has changed in their job, and what hasn't.
- 12Part 1 - 2025 Smol Der Year in Review with Jim DuffyJim Duffy and Host James Wagenheim ring in the New Year with a two part series covering great moments in the Smol Der podcast in 2025. We AI use in eveything from developing apps, robotics, creative writing, cyber security, magic, education, and music. , 1 hr 8 min
- 11AI Music, Human Taste, and the Future of SEO — with Digital Entrepreneur & Musician Will MasonIn this episode of Smol Der – the professional’s applied AI podcast, host James Wagenheim sits down with Will Mason (digital entrepreneur and musician) for a practical conversation on what generative AI is actually changing and what it still cannot replace., 1 hr 16 min
- 10Penetration Testing, Fiction Writing, and LLMs With Cybersecurity Expert and Author Alex FoxPenetration testing is changing fast—but not always in the ways the hype suggests. James Wagenheim sits down with fiction author and pentest lead Alex Fox to unpack modern pentesting, real-world escalation paths, and what LLMs mean for both attackers and defenders. We also discuss how LLMs are a poor substitute for human creativity., 1 hr 6 min
- 09Will AI Replace Creatives? Art Director Ian Pullens on Taste, Tools, and Future of CreativeIn Episode 09 of Smol Der – The Professional’s Applied AI Podcast, host James Wagenheim sits down with art director and filmmaker Ian Pullens to ask a blunt question: what really happens to creative work when AI moves from hype to the everyday tools of design, branding, and filmmaking?, 1 hr 17 min
- 08Bringing Wonder Into the World Through AI with Seth RaphaelInventor, magician, and former Google prototyper Seth Raphael joins James to explore how AI can spark real wonder—not slop. Seth cofounded Hello Wonder, an AI platform that reshapes the internet for kids in real time based on parent values and each child’s interests. After two and a half years building the product, Hello Wonder was acquired by Noggin (home to Blue’s Clues and Bill Nye the Science Guy). From redirecting sensitive queries into age-appropriate learning to designing agents that discover high-quality content on the fly, Seth shares how to make technology safe, joyful, and curiosity-driven for families., 1 hr
- 07Educating with AI: Lucas Ames (GOA) on Curiosity and What Schools Must Do NextHow does AI transform learning without killing curiosity? In this episode, I sit down with Lucas Ames of Global Online Academy (GOA) to unpack what actually works—and what doesn’t—when bringing AI into K-12 classrooms., 1 hr 8 min
- 06Programming and Philosophy, Technofeudalism with Adam Hanson and Jim DuffyWhen setting out to produce Smol Der, my goal was to create at least 12 episodes in my first gambit and this is the halfway mark and so today I have a special treat for everyone listening because I’ve asked Jim Duffy from Episode 1 to come back as my co-host. , 1 hr 19 min
- 05AI in High Precision Manufacturing with John DraperToday’s guest, John Draper a CAM Automation Software Developer With Hexagon. , 1 hr
- 04Modern Engineering with AI + Ways to Avoid Deskilling with Richard Diekema of IDEXX LabsVeteran engineer Richard Diekema walks through how he uses AI without losing the plot: where it accelerates real work, where it quietly introduces risk, and how to stay sharp as tools get smarter. Along the way, he traces his path from Linux/PCI-DSS security and pen-testing into full-stack development and modern data streams—then shows the exact places AI now fits in that journey., 1 hr 7 min
- 03Robotics + AI That Works: Peter Haas’ Roadmap to AbundancePeter is a Roboticist and a robotics consultant with Vairc, and as you will hear, he has a ton of experience and expertise across a wide range of disciplines in the field. He shares insight into what is happening on the bleeding edge of robotics and physical and artificial intelligence., 1 hr 19 min
- 02Practical Conclusions for Macro with Charles Drew, Fortune 500 Developer Manager #aitrendsPractical Conclusions for Macro AI Trends on Smol Der, The Professional's Applied AI Podcast with Charles Drew of Autodesk - Episode 02, 1 hr 2 min
- 01AI unlocks with Jim Duffy at Hubspot - Smol Der #ai #chatgpt #podcast #aitrendsLearn what it is like to use multiple Claude Code instances at once to unlock your capacity with generative, Agentic AI. Learn how planning mode can help keep you organized as you advance work with agentic tools without the risk., 1 hr 9 min
Be a Season 2 guest
We're looking for people who use AI in their real work: lawyers, operators, marketers, developers, clinicians. Not vendors, not theorists. If AI has changed how you work, for better or worse, we'd like to hear how.
About the show
- What is Smol Der?
Smol Der is a podcast about using AI at work: not the hype, the actual how. Each episode is a practical conversation with a professional who is using AI in their real job.
- Who is Smol Der for?
Professionals who are curious about AI but tired of breathless claims, and want to hear from people who have already put it to work.
- Where can I listen?
Season 1 is on YouTube and Spotify. You can also support the show on Patreon.
Listen on Spotify- When is Season 2?
Season 2 is in the works. Subscribe on YouTube or Spotify to hear it first, and if you'd like to be a guest, tell us your story.
- Can I be a guest?
We're looking for professionals actively using AI in their work, not vendors or theorists. If AI has changed how you work, pitch yourself as a guest.
Pitch yourself as a guest- Who makes Smol Der?
Smol Der is produced by String Theory Accelerator, a founder-led AI studio. If the show gets you thinking about AI for your own business, that's what our consulting is for.
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Want AI working in your business, not just on a podcast?
The show is made by String Theory Accelerator. We help teams adopt AI the same practical way our guests describe.