Cut Through with AI

Cut Through with AI is a podcast for ambitious founders, solopreneurs, and creators who want to use AI to radically rethink how they work — not just speed it up. Hosted by marketing strategist Nihal Salah and founder/product builder Gil Chan, this show is about using AI as more than just a tool — it’s a thinking partner, a workflow engine, and a way to finally unlock ideas and momentum that used to feel out of reach. We share real-world ways people are using tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and Replit to solve problems, save time, and think more clearly — across both work and life. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the hype and want honest conversations, tested workflows, and the occasional messy brain dump, this podcast is for you.

Last refreshed: August 26th, 2025 at 9:10 PM ⓘ

Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.

Follow on

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

RSS

Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app

Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

The rise of AI slop: what it means for marketers and small businesses

Feeling overwhelmed by AI content? So were we. In this episode, we share why we both took a step back from using AI – and what it taught us about creativity, marketing, and critical thinking. From copywriting and outreach to domain expertise and conferences, we explore when AI helps… and when it just creates more noise. 📝 Show notes Key discussion points: Why we paused our AI usage – and what changed when we did The MIT study making rounds: what it actually says about AI and critical thinking W...

Jul 28, 2025•27 min•Ep. 7

How we actually use AI to plan our days, make better decisions, and get unstuck

How are people really using AI day to day – beyond the hype? In this episode, we share the specific ways we use AI in our personal and professional lives. From planning and strategy work to home repairs and supplement research, we talk through the tools and tactics that help us stay focused, move faster, and avoid overwhelm. 📝 Show notes Key discussion points: Why AI helps Nihal manage ADHD and stay structured in her strategy work The underrated power of voice mode for messy thinkers How Gil us...

Jul 28, 2025•21 min•Ep. 8

The overlooked power of AI as a thinking and building partner

What if your most productive collaborator wasn’t human? In this episode, Gil and Nihal share how they’ve used AI to build, ship and stay focused. From using Claude to refine product strategy, to spinning up prototypes in hours with Claude code, they dig into the overlooked power of AI as a thinking and building partner. Key discussion points Why Gil built an AI productivity app called Mira – and how he dogfoods it daily Using Claude as a thought partner for strategic planning and product develop...

Jun 28, 2025•21 min•Ep. 6

The most overlooked use case for AI that will transform your marketing

Struggling to really understand your audience without spending a fortune on research? In this episode, Nihal and Gil unpack one of the most overlooked use cases for AI: customer research. We share how founders and marketers can now use AI to uncover deep insights -faster, cheaper, and more effectively than ever before. Key discussion points: What synthetic research is and how one AI company is using it to replace traditional methods How Nihal used AI to completely shift a client’s positioning th...

Jun 28, 2025•22 min•Ep. 5

The productivity trap: When AI helps you do the wrong thing, faster

In this episode, we share how AI can sometimes do more harm than good, especially when it comes to strategy. Gil and I reflect on moments when AI tools sent us in the wrong direction, what went wrong, and how to use AI more effectively (without letting it derail your priorities). We also touch on the importance of downtime, domain expertise, and why process still matters- AI or not. 📝 Show notes Key discussion points: The productivity paradox of AI: why doing more doesn’t always mean doing bett...

Jun 28, 2025•20 min•Ep. 4

The hidden downside of prompt templates (and what to do instead)

Do you have a folder full of saved prompts or templates you thought would make AI work better- but never actually use? In this episode, Gil and I share how relying on prompt templates and “perfect prompts” often limits what you get out of tools like ChatGPT and Claude. We break down the mindset shift that helped us go from copy-pasting prompts to having real conversations with AI-leading to better learning, faster results, and outputs we’re actually excited to use. Key discussion points: Why pro...

Jun 17, 2025•16 min•Ep. 3

The 100-Hour Lesson: What Building with AI Really Takes

In this episode, Gil and I talk about where AI helps—and where it just frustrates the hell out of you. I share why I spent 20 hours trying to automate part of this podcast and then decided I didn’t even want to. Gil talks about switching from Cursor to Claude for code generation and what he’s learning from building his own AI assistant. Lots of honest chat about tools, burnout, and the emotional side of learning. What we get into: Why I scrapped my newsletter automation even though it technicall...

Jun 10, 2025•30 min•Ep. 2

Think Faster. Build Smarter. How AI’s Reshaping Our Work and Minds

In this first episode of Cut Through with AI , co-hosts Nihal Salah and Gil Chan kick things off with an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about how they’re actually using AI — not just to work faster, but to think more clearly, get ideas out of their heads, and reshape how they build. They cover: Using tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and Replit to automate and accelerate real work How AI is helping them turn messy ambition into focused execution Why voice notes beat “perfect prompts” H...

May 26, 2025•41 min•Ep. 1

Hosted on Transistor

For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android