A bicycle fell on Tim's iPhone. The repair took three hours. In suburban Columbus, Ohio — a place entirely built around having a phone — this was a minor crisis. In episode eight of Breaking the Build, Tim and James explore what it actually means to disconnect from technology, why intentional unplugging feels nothing like forced unplugging, and whether raw-dogging a flight is a spiritual experience or just suffering with good posture.

Topics covered: digital detox, smartphone dependency, tech and mental health, work-life balance in tech, phantom notifications, screen time, location sharing, and disconnecting from technology.

This fun technology podcast takes an honest look at what modern life with a phone actually feels like — and what happens when it's suddenly gone. Includes: phantom buzzes on a Garmin watch, a detailed Survivor strategy, and Tim's long-term plan to return from a year off the grid and crash a finale ceremony.

Perfect for: tech professionals, anyone interested in digital wellness, people who've thought about doing a phone detox but haven't, and remote workers.

If you've been sneaking in AI prompts from the couch while your family watches TV, this episode is for you. Tim and James get honest about how much time they're actually spending with AI coding tools, what they've built, and whether any of us really know what we're doing — or just watching a very convincing cardboard town.

Topics covered: AI coding tools, Claude Code, vibe coding, AI addiction, software development productivity, building with AI, AI limitations, prompt engineering, and using AI for non-developers.

This casual tech podcast covers the real day-to-day experience of building with AI: the wins, the database deletions, and the weird slot machine psychology that keeps you coming back. Featuring the truss plate theory of AI-assisted development, a goof plate that Google couldn't find but Claude could, and Tim's plan to run the entire development process from school drop-off.

Perfect for: developers using AI tools, tech enthusiasts, anyone curious about AI in software development, and people wondering if AI will replace programmers.

From 40-inch curved monitors to tiny foldable phones — does the size of your device actually affect how well you get work done? In episode nine of Breaking the Build, Tim and James debate the perfect screen setup, the case for and against foldable phones, and the very specific rules Tim has developed about which device is allowed to do what.

Topics covered: monitor sizes, foldable phones, device productivity, remote work setup, tablet vs laptop, responsive web design, mobile vs desktop, retro gaming phones, work from home tech.

This casual tech podcast explores the surprisingly personal relationship people have with their devices — and what it says about you when you pull out a tri-fold phone in a business meeting. Also: why Tim sits on his phone, the physics limit of foldable screens, a Windows 98 website that someone built in 2024 on purpose, and Tim's prediction that humans will eventually need blue light to survive.

Perfect for: tech enthusiasts, remote workers, developers, and anyone who has ever argued about monitor setups or phone sizes.