The Good Stuff, with Pete and Andy - Episode 21: Remote Vibe Coding & AI Agent Orchestration

Hosts: Pete and Andy (first remote recording - Pete traveling, Andy at the beach)

Episode Overview: Pete and Andy explore advanced AI agent workflows, the evolution of AI coding tools, and strategies for building sustainable development practices while Pete is away doing "vibe coding and freedom tech" work.

Remote AI Development & Wingman Evolution (03:00-15:00)Pete demonstrates how geographic separation enhances AI-powered development, using his Wingman system to continue building while traveling. Discussion of voice-driven ideation versus typing, and the cognitive benefits of speaking ideas into existence without syntax distractions.

Trigger-Based Automation & Overnight Jobs (15:00-25:00)Introduction of Wingman's new trigger system allowing file-based automation and scheduled tasks. Pete's breakthrough with overnight security reviews using "Grug Brain Developer" principles to audit code changes and identify complexity concerns while he sleeps.

Claude Code vs. Goose: The Dual-Agent Approach (28:00-32:00)Analysis of using different AI models for different cognitive tasks - Claude Code as the enthusiastic "drunk writer" for rapid development, Goose as the thoughtful "sober editor" for planning and documentation. The "dog with two dicks problem" of Claude Code's over-eagerness to build.

Documentation Architecture & Anti-Slack Philosophy (32:00-40:00)Strong critique of chat-based interfaces for knowledge work. Pete's systematic approach to moving valuable insights from chat conversations into structured Obsidian documentation, and why real-time messaging tools damage business focus and inspiration.

AI Agent Loop Problems & Root Cause Analysis (41:00-50:00)Technical discussion of when Claude Code gets stuck in debugging loops due to hard-coded values and scope creep. Solutions include using different AI models for root cause analysis and implementing background auditing agents to catch coding mistakes.

Design-First Development & Planning Orchestration (50:00-59:00)The importance of spending more time in ideation and design phases before coding. Discussion of missing orchestration tools to convert comprehensive documentation into manageable work packages, and the trade-offs between YOLO development and structured planning.

• Segregated Computing: Using dedicated machines for AI development provides security and eliminates local environment dependencies
• Voice-Driven Ideation: Speaking ideas creates more fluid thought processes compared to typing with its syntax distractions
• Overnight Labor: AI agents can provide 16 hours of cleanup and maintenance work while humans sleep
• Dual-Agent Strategy: Different AI models excel at different cognitive tasks - planning vs. execution
• Documentation Philosophy: Structured knowledge systems beat chat interfaces for long-term value creation

"If I can buy a bucket of cognition for $1 instead of $100,000, why is the truck that big? What changes?"

"I feel like it's evolved from an expensive SaaS to a cheap worker. If you said you can hire somebody for a hundred dollars a month, you'd be like, yeah, that's excellent."

"I don't want the robots to give me nice documents on a plate and serve them to me as I sit in my armchair. Come on guys, if we're going to have robot labor, why are we going to these great lengths to make it easy for them?"

"Everything's just like in Slack and you have to constantly chase people to figure out versions because nothing's being managed in a sensible way anymore."

The Good Stuff, with Pete and Andy - Episode 20: Wingman - your AI Control Tower!

Hosts: Pete and Andy (recorded at City Beach, Perth)

Episode Overview: Pete unveils his breakthrough AI agent orchestration system "Wingman" - a Mac Mini-based control center for managing multiple AI agents simultaneously. The discussion explores custom-built solutions versus SaaS subscriptions, testing AI models through games, and the emerging paradigm of humans as "control tower operators" for AI systems.

Opening & Context Setting (00:00-01:48)

• Andy returns from illness for episode 20
• Final beach recording before Pete's mysterious Atlantic adventure
• Reflecting on recent guest episode with Bethanne

The Wingman Revolution (01:48-25:00)

• Pete's Mac Mini experiment: giving AI agents their own dedicated computer environment
• Evolution from basic setup to sophisticated web-based control system
• Multiple agent orchestration: Goose and Claude Code working in parallel sessions
• Remote access from anywhere - phone, laptop, or desktop
• Obsidian integration for documentation and artifact storage
• API endpoints for automated session creation and workflows

Agent-to-Agent Workflows (20:00-25:00)

• Return-to-base protocol for session completion and handoffs
• Webhook systems enabling autonomous agent chains
• Vision of fully automated code review and development cycles
• Moving from human-centered to machine-centered processes

Custom Tools vs. SaaS Fatigue (25:00-40:00)

• Economics of $15/month software subscriptions adding up
• Pete's approach: "Fast fashion for software" - build exactly what you need
• YouTube reel generator case study: custom-built vs. existing solutions
• The open-source developer superpower now accessible via AI

Management-Style AI Interaction (40:00-50:00)

• Transition from "button-pushing" to strategic oversight
• Using specialized agent personalities (Grug Brain Developer for code reviews)
• Dueling agents: building features in parallel and choosing the best
• Planning and auditing as core human value-add

Gaming as AI Benchmarks (50:00-01:09:00)

• Settlers of Catan as model testing environment
• Game mechanics as proxy for enterprise negotiation and resource management
• Tabletop wargaming automation concepts
• Testing strategic thinking, negotiation, and long-term planning capabilities

The Control Tower Paradigm (01:09:00-01:13:00)

• Humans as air traffic controllers for AI agent fleets
• Multiplayer mode implications for teams
• Terminology evolution: logbooks, flight plans, control towers

Dedicated AI Environments: Running agents on isolated hardware eliminates privacy concerns while providing full system access and persistent operation.

Agent Orchestration Architecture: The future involves managing 1-100 agents simultaneously across different projects and functions, requiring sophisticated coordination systems.

Custom vs. Commercial Software: AI development capabilities are shifting the economics from subscription services to custom-built solutions tailored to specific workflows.

Human Role Evolution: The transition from direct execution to strategic oversight and agent management represents a fundamental shift in how knowledge work gets done.

"I don't have a good way of explaining how just fucking nice this is" - Pete on Wingman's seamless operation

"The data is in the computer. You were in the computer. Talk to it." - Pete on the future of AI interaction

"It's the same way that junior developers fuck stuff up... we just need to use the same processes" - Pete on managing AI agents

"Fast fashion for software" - Andy's description of rapid custom tool development

Looking Ahead: Pete's system represents a glimpse into the future of human-AI collaboration, where individuals can operate sophisticated agent networks from anywhere, fundamentally changing the nature of knowledge work and business operations.

The Good Stuff - Episode 19: The Human Edge

Hosts: Pete and Bethan Winn
Location: City Beach, Perth

Episode Overview: Pete hosts with special guest Bethan Winn, his wife and author of "The Human Edge: Critical Thinking in the Age of AI." They explore the intersection of human thinking and artificial intelligence, discussing when and how to use AI tools while maintaining human agency and creativity.

Book Link: The Human Edge: Critical Thinking in the Age of AI

Key Discussion Points:

Introduction and Book Launch (01:01-04:00)
Bethan discusses her motivation for writing "The Human Edge" making critical thinking training more accessible as AI becomes ubiquitous. Her five years of corporate training experience revealed growing need for critical thinking skills in the AI era.

The Writing Process (04:00-07:00)
First-time author experience, early morning writing sessions, and using dictation to capture ideas. The challenge of moving from workshops to written format with AI assistance.

AI as Cognitive Offloading (07:00-12:00)
Comparison to historical abstractions like GPS replacing map knowledge and software development layers. The "AI veganism" concept - consciously choosing when to use AI versus manual processes for different purposes.

Pete's AI Development Experiments (12:00-18:00)
Multi-agent conversations, facilitator roles, and panel discussions between different AI models. Discovery that AIs can generate genuinely new concepts through interaction, challenging assumptions about creativity.

Human vs AI Creativity (18:00-25:00)
Debate about manufactured music, authenticity, and the value of creative processes. Whether AI-generated content diminishes human artistic expression or simply changes the distribution landscape.

Critical Thinking in Practice (25:00-32:00)
Using AI conversationally to challenge thinking rather than replace it. The book's focus on structured conversations and frameworks for better decision-making.

The Value of Difficulty (32:00-40:00)
Importance of uncomfortable experiences for growth. Pete's development of mobile AI tools that enable work while walking, maintaining human movement and reflection.

Knowledge Democratization (40:00-48:00)
How AI breaks down gatekeeping of specialist knowledge. The shift from information scarcity to the need for better filtering and evaluation skills.

Productivity and Attention (48:00-55:00)
OODA loops in software development, the challenge of managing multiple projects when AI accelerates execution. Social media's impact on attention and the value of deliberate focus.

Social Media Censorship Debate (55:00-01:19:00)
Discussion of Australia's social media ban for children. Arguments for education over restriction, the dangers of information control, and the importance of teaching critical evaluation skills.

Belief Change and Growth (01:19:00-01:26:00)
The "ocean analogy" for confronting uncomfortable truths - the discomfort of changing deeply held beliefs compared to entering cold water, but the growth that follows.

Human Connection in the AI Age (01:26:00-01:32:00)
The continued importance of empathy and understanding different perspectives. Bethan's approach of assuming the best in people and the value of genuine human connection.

Closing Thoughts:
"The AI doesn't care about the outcomes that you get, but you do" - emphasizing human agency in an AI-augmented world.

Book: "The Human Edge: Critical Thinking in the Age of AI" by Bethan Winn