Strictly From Nowhere: A Podcast Experiment by Cause of a Kind

Building a CMS isn't a one-shot deal. And that's the point.In episode 2 of SaaS Killers, Mike and Justin move from wishlist to execution plan. We break down how to actually build something complex without falling into waterfall hell or letting AI agents run wild overnight.The big decision? Static rendering with MarkDoc versus dynamic content with Turbo Frames. Both have trade-offs. One is lightning fast but rigid. The other is flexible but slightly slower. And with AI making the cost of code essentially zero, we can actually try both and see what works best in practice.This episode is about making smart decisions early. Choosing Turbo Frames over custom syntax to keep things simple. Using SQLite for speed without distributed database overhead. Skipping the fancy Markdown editor for now because a text area proves the model just fine. And most importantly, following the principle: make it work, make it right, make it fast.Topics covered:MarkDoc versus Turbo Frames for dynamic content injectionStatic versus dynamic websites and the trade-offs marketers actually care aboutWhy SQLite is lightning fast for CMS applicationsSimplifying phase one to focus on core content modelingHow to prevent abstraction leaks from reaching end usersThe principle of make it work, make it right, make it fastChoosing tools that come out of the box over custom solutionsIf you're building a CMS, a content platform, or any complex product with AI assistance, this episode shows how to plan smart, build incrementally, and avoid over-engineering before you understand the problem.Simplify. Execute. Iterate.───────────────────────────LISTEN ON ALL PLATFORMSSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1V4SjmlnG2sntDnck8UrGWApple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strictly-from-nowhere-a-podcast-experiment-by-cause/id1804380172iHeart Radiohttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-strictly-from-nowhere-a-po-315649122/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAstEyCK6YsKVTTRsQr37wSUPPORT THE SHOWPatreonhttp://patreon.com/StrictlyFromNowhereCONNECT WITH USLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/strictly-from-nowhereWebsitehttps://strictlyfromnowhere.com───────────────────────────FOLLOW JUSTIN ABRAMS | @cuzzinjustinLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cuzzinjustin/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/cuzzinjustin/Xhttps://x.com/cuzzinjustinTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cuzzinjustinFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/cuzzinjustin24Websitehttps://www.cuzzinjustin.com───────────────────────────FOLLOW MIKE RISPOLI | @mike_rispoli_ctoLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rispoli-cto/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/mike_rispoli_cto/Xhttps://x.com/michael_rispoliTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@mike_rispoliWebsitehttps://michaelrispoli.com/───────────────────────────CAUSE OF A KIND | @causeofakindWebsitehttps://www.causeofakind.comLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/cause-of-a-kindInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/causeofakind/Xhttps://x.com/causeofakindTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@causeofakindNewsletter Signuphttp://eepurl.com/gcc-yjNewsletter Archivehttps://us16.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=847ea1526d6523a41ef1eb5a5&id=48d53e9627───────────────────────────OPEN SOURCE PROJECTSCodeDojohttps://github.com/Cause-of-a-Kind/code-dojo-coreOCR Ruby GEMhttps://activestorage-ocr-demo.fly.dev/───────────────────────────COMMUNITY INITIATIVESLong Island Technologistshttps://www.longislandtechnologists.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/long-island-technologists-networkinghttps://www.instagram.com/longislandtechnologists/───────────────────────────Fin Forecasting - Never Lose Money On A Project Againhttps://www.finforecasting.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/fin-forecasting───────────────────────────Brought to you by Cause of a KindA boutique software development and startup studio from Long Island, New YorkStand up. Show up. Build.

Mitchell Jones built his first FinTech company during COVID. Four days after launching, the world shut down.In this episode of Forward to Extraordinary, Mitchell shares his journey from Goldman Sachs to founding LendTable and now Lava, a payments platform solving the subscription plus usage billing problem that every AI company faces.This isn't a story about overnight success. It's about weathering hundreds of rejections, cobbling together small checks to survive, and learning that the best co-founders are the ones who challenge your assumptions and expand your perspective.We discuss what it takes to build as an outsider to Silicon Valley, why trusting your mechanics matters more than chasing trends, and how to pivot with direction instead of becoming an idea factory that ships nothing.Topics covered:Building FinTech companies outside Silicon ValleyHow COVID nearly destroyed LendTable four days after launchFinding and working with co-founders who challenge youThe wet blanket of business pressure and how to navigate itWhy observation and curiosity beat forced innovationThe difference between pivoting and chasing squirrelsHow AI accelerates prototyping but demands more focusWhy the next step matters more than seeing the whole mountainIf you're building a startup, struggling with rejections, or trying to figure out how to keep moving forward when everything feels impossible, this episode is for you.Focus on the rock right in front of you. One step at a time.Website: https://www.lava.so/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchell-jones-333559a2/X: https://x.com/MitchJones_────────────────────────────────LISTEN ON ALL PLATFORMSSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1V4SjmlnG2sntDnck8UrGWApple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strictly-from-nowhere-a-podcast-experiment-by-cause/id1804380172iHeart Radiohttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-strictly-from-nowhere-a-po-315649122/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAstEyCK6YsKVTTRsQr37wSUPPORT THE SHOWPatreonhttp://patreon.com/StrictlyFromNowhereCONNECT WITH USLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/strictly-from-nowhereWebsitehttps://strictlyfromnowhere.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW JUSTIN ABRAMS | @cuzzinjustinLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cuzzinjustin/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/cuzzinjustin/Xhttps://x.com/cuzzinjustinTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cuzzinjustinFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/cuzzinjustin24Websitehttps://www.cuzzinjustin.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW MIKE RISPOLI | @mike_rispoli_ctoLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rispoli-cto/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/mike_rispoli_cto/Xhttps://x.com/michael_rispoliTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@mike_rispoliWebsitehttps://michaelrispoli.com/───────────────────────────CAUSE OF A KIND | @causeofakindWebsitehttps://www.causeofakind.comLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/cause-of-a-kindInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/causeofakind/Xhttps://x.com/causeofakindTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@causeofakindNewsletter Signuphttp://eepurl.com/gcc-yjNewsletter Archivehttps://us16.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=847ea1526d6523a41ef1eb5a5&id=48d53e9627───────────────────────────OPEN SOURCE PROJECTSCodeDojohttps://github.com/Cause-of-a-Kind/code-dojo-coreOCR Ruby GEMhttps://activestorage-ocr-demo.fly.dev/───────────────────────────COMMUNITY INITIATIVESLong Island Technologistshttps://www.longislandtechnologists.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/long-island-technologists-networkinghttps://www.instagram.com/longislandtechnologists/───────────────────────────Fin Forecasting - Never Lose Money On A Project Againhttps://www.finforecasting.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/fin-forecasting───────────────────────────Brought to you by Cause of a KindA boutique software development and startup studio from Long Island, New YorkStand up. Show up. Build.

Vibe coding has a dark side. And it's killing engineering culture.In this episode, Mike and Justin tackle the hubris, overconfidence, and dangerous misconceptions that come with AI-powered development. We break down why humility matters more than ever, why experience still counts, and why thinking you can skip the hard work is the fastest way to fail.This isn't about gatekeeping. It's about recognizing that great software requires respect for the craft, collaboration over ego, and the willingness to admit what you don't know.Vibe coding can accelerate development. But it can't replace judgment, taste, or the deep understanding that comes from years of doing the work. When engineers start believing the tools make them experts overnight, products suffer. Teams suffer. Culture suffers.Topics covered:The dangers of hubris and overconfidence in modern software developmentWhy humility is essential for growth in techMisconceptions about app performance, latency, and engineering complexityThe value of experience and hard work in the AI eraWhy great UX is a learned skill, not something AI can generateThe importance of collaboration between design and engineeringHow to create a safe space for ideas without egoThe limitations of AI pattern recognition and where human judgment mattersFostering a culture of continuous learning and opennessBalancing multifaceted skills in the renaissance of modern developmentIf you're an engineer, product leader, or anyone working with AI tools, this episode is a necessary reality check.Humility is key to growth in tech. Tools don't make you an expert. Work does.────────────────────────────────LISTEN ON ALL PLATFORMSSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1V4SjmlnG2sntDnck8UrGWApple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strictly-from-nowhere-a-podcast-experiment-by-cause/id1804380172iHeart Radiohttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-strictly-from-nowhere-a-po-315649122/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAstEyCK6YsKVTTRsQr37wSUPPORT THE SHOWPatreonhttp://patreon.com/StrictlyFromNowhereCONNECT WITH USLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/strictly-from-nowhereWebsitehttps://strictlyfromnowhere.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW JUSTIN ABRAMS | @cuzzinjustinLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cuzzinjustin/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/cuzzinjustin/Xhttps://x.com/cuzzinjustinTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cuzzinjustinFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/cuzzinjustin24Websitehttps://www.cuzzinjustin.com───────────────────────────FOLLOW MIKE RISPOLI | @mike_rispoli_ctoLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rispoli-cto/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/mike_rispoli_cto/Xhttps://x.com/michael_rispoliTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@mike_rispoliWebsitehttps://michaelrispoli.com/───────────────────────────CAUSE OF A KIND | @causeofakindWebsitehttps://www.causeofakind.comLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/cause-of-a-kindInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/causeofakind/Xhttps://x.com/causeofakindTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@causeofakindNewsletter Signuphttp://eepurl.com/gcc-yjNewsletter Archivehttps://us16.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=847ea1526d6523a41ef1eb5a5&id=48d53e9627───────────────────────────OPEN SOURCE PROJECTSCodeDojohttps://github.com/Cause-of-a-Kind/code-dojo-coreOCR Ruby GEMhttps://activestorage-ocr-demo.fly.dev/───────────────────────────COMMUNITY INITIATIVESLong Island Technologistshttps://www.longislandtechnologists.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/long-island-technologists-networkinghttps://www.instagram.com/longislandtechnologists/───────────────────────────Fin Forecasting - Never Lose Money On A Project Againhttps://www.finforecasting.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/fin-forecasting───────────────────────────Brought to you by Cause of a KindA boutique software development and startup studio from Long Island, New YorkStand up. Show up. Build.

WordPress is showing its age. Contentful costs a fortune. And most CMS platforms are solving problems from 2010.In this first episode of SaaS Killers, Mike and Justin tear apart the entire CMS landscape and start building something better. We break down what's broken in WordPress, Contentful, and every other content management system that claims to be the future.Then we build the feature wishlist for the CMS that should exist. Markdown support. Version control that actually makes sense. A-B testing built in. Multi-language support without plugins. AI integration for content generation. Template libraries for common content models. Analytics and marketing tool integration that doesn't require a developer.This is episode one of a series where we're going to build the CMS we wish existed. No bloat. No ridiculous pricing. Just a flexible, user-friendly system that solves real problems for real websites.Topics covered:What's broken in WordPress, Contentful, and modern CMS platformsWhy CMS pricing has gotten out of controlThe importance of Markdown support and version controlBuilding A-B testing capabilities into content managementMulti-language support for global reachAI integration for content generation and optimizationCreating flexible content models for diverse website needsTemplate libraries to accelerate common use casesChapters00:00The State of CMS: A Critical Overview14:46Building the Future of Website Management27:06Feature Wishlist for the Ideal CMSIf you've ever been frustrated by your CMS, this episode is for you.We're killing the CMS. And building something better.────────────────────────────────LISTEN ON ALL PLATFORMSSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1V4SjmlnG2sntDnck8UrGWApple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strictly-from-nowhere-a-podcast-experiment-by-cause/id1804380172iHeart Radiohttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-strictly-from-nowhere-a-po-315649122/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAstEyCK6YsKVTTRsQr37wSUPPORT THE SHOWPatreonhttp://patreon.com/StrictlyFromNowhereCONNECT WITH USLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/strictly-from-nowhereWebsitehttps://strictlyfromnowhere.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW JUSTIN ABRAMS | @cuzzinjustinLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cuzzinjustin/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/cuzzinjustin/Xhttps://x.com/cuzzinjustinTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cuzzinjustinFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/cuzzinjustin24Websitehttps://www.cuzzinjustin.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW MIKE RISPOLI | @mike_rispoli_ctoLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rispoli-cto/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/mike_rispoli_cto/Xhttps://x.com/michael_rispoliTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@mike_rispoliWebsitehttps://michaelrispoli.com/────────────────────────────────CAUSE OF A KIND | @causeofakindWebsitehttps://www.causeofakind.comLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/cause-of-a-kindInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/causeofakind/Xhttps://x.com/causeofakindTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@causeofakindNewsletter Signuphttp://eepurl.com/gcc-yjNewsletter Archivehttps://us16.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=847ea1526d6523a41ef1eb5a5&id=48d53e9627────────────────────────────────OPEN SOURCE PROJECTSCodeDojohttps://github.com/Cause-of-a-Kind/code-dojo-coreOCR Ruby GEMhttps://activestorage-ocr-demo.fly.dev/────────────────────────────────COMMUNITY INITIATIVESLong Island Technologistshttps://www.longislandtechnologists.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/long-island-technologists-networkinghttps://www.instagram.com/longislandtechnologists/────────────────────────────────Fin Forecasting - Never Lose Money On A Project Againhttps://www.finforecasting.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/fin-forecasting────────────────────────────────Brought to you by Cause of a KindA boutique software development and startup studio from Long Island, New YorkStand up. Show up. Build.

Never lose money on a project again.That's the promise of Fin Forecasting, a financial management platform for development agencies. But the messaging wasn't landing.In this episode of Say More, With Less, Mike, Justin, and Nir tear apart the website, the value proposition, and the customer acquisition strategy to figure out what's actually broken. Spoiler: it's not the product. It's how they're selling it.Topics covered:Why website messaging fails to resonate with target audiencesThe importance of a clear, focused value propositionHow to streamline onboarding for better user experienceCrafting elevator pitches that actually work (and why most are dead)Creating video content that captures attention and convertsPricing strategies that reflect real valueDefining your ideal customer to tailor marketing effortsUsing urgency in calls to action to drive conversionsSelling the pain point, not just the featuresIf you're building a SaaS platform and struggling with customer acquisition, this breakdown shows exactly where most founders go wrong.You're not selling features. You're selling the pain point.────────────────────────────────LISTEN ON ALL PLATFORMSSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1V4SjmlnG2sntDnck8UrGWApple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strictly-from-nowhere-a-podcast-experiment-by-cause/id1804380172iHeart Radiohttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-strictly-from-nowhere-a-po-315649122/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAstEyCK6YsKVTTRsQr37wSUPPORT THE SHOWPatreonhttp://patreon.com/StrictlyFromNowhereCONNECT WITH USLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/strictly-from-nowhereWebsitehttps://strictlyfromnowhere.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW JUSTIN ABRAMS | @cuzzinjustinLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cuzzinjustin/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/cuzzinjustin/Xhttps://x.com/cuzzinjustinTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cuzzinjustinFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/cuzzinjustin24Websitehttps://www.cuzzinjustin.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW MIKE RISPOLI | @mike_rispoli_ctoLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rispoli-cto/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/mike_rispoli_cto/Xhttps://x.com/michael_rispoliTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@mike_rispoliWebsitehttps://michaelrispoli.com/────────────────────────────────CAUSE OF A KIND | @causeofakindWebsitehttps://www.causeofakind.comLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/cause-of-a-kindInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/causeofakind/Xhttps://x.com/causeofakindTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@causeofakindNewsletter Signuphttp://eepurl.com/gcc-yjNewsletter Archivehttps://us16.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=847ea1526d6523a41ef1eb5a5&id=48d53e9627────────────────────────────────OPEN SOURCE PROJECTSCodeDojohttps://github.com/Cause-of-a-Kind/code-dojo-coreOCR Ruby GEMhttps://activestorage-ocr-demo.fly.dev/────────────────────────────────COMMUNITY INITIATIVESLong Island Technologistshttps://www.longislandtechnologists.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/long-island-technologists-networkinghttps://www.instagram.com/longislandtechnologists/────────────────────────────────Fin Forecasting - Never Lose Money On A Project Againhttps://www.finforecasting.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/fin-forecasting────────────────────────────────Brought to you by Cause of a KindA boutique software development and startup studio from Long Island, New YorkStand up. Show up. Build.

We just judged the CUNY Hackathon. And it proved something we've been saying for years.The future isn't about coding. It's about building viable businesses.In this episode, Justin and Mike break down their experience at the CUNY Hackathon, where students from diverse backgrounds pitched solutions to real problems. The twist? Most participants weren't traditional coders. They were entrepreneurs, collaborators, and problem solvers who understood that the business model matters as much as the technology.We discuss why entrepreneurship is becoming essential in today's challenging job market, how smaller teams often produce better outcomes, and why students need to stop waiting for permission and start owning their opportunities.Topics covered:The shift in education from pure coding to entrepreneurial thinkingWhy viable business ideas matter more than technical complexityTeam dynamics and collaboration in hackathon environmentsHow students are adapting to a tough economy through entrepreneurshipThe importance of assessing business viability, not just building featuresIf you're a student, educator, or entrepreneur, this episode shows why the future belongs to builders who understand both technology and business.Stop coding for grades. Start building for impact.────────────────────────────────LISTEN ON ALL PLATFORMSSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1V4SjmlnG2sntDnck8UrGWApple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strictly-from-nowhere-a-podcast-experiment-by-cause/id1804380172iHeart Radiohttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-strictly-from-nowhere-a-po-315649122/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAstEyCK6YsKVTTRsQr37wSUPPORT THE SHOWPatreonhttp://patreon.com/StrictlyFromNowhereCONNECT WITH USLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/strictly-from-nowhereWebsitehttps://strictlyfromnowhere.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW JUSTIN ABRAMS | @cuzzinjustinLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cuzzinjustin/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/cuzzinjustin/Xhttps://x.com/cuzzinjustinTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cuzzinjustinFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/cuzzinjustin24Websitehttps://www.cuzzinjustin.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW MIKE RISPOLI | @mike_rispoli_ctoLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rispoli-cto/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/mike_rispoli_cto/Xhttps://x.com/michael_rispoliTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@mike_rispoliWebsitehttps://michaelrispoli.com/────────────────────────────────CAUSE OF A KIND | @causeofakindWebsitehttps://www.causeofakind.comLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/cause-of-a-kindInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/causeofakind/Xhttps://x.com/causeofakindTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@causeofakindNewsletter Signuphttp://eepurl.com/gcc-yjNewsletter Archivehttps://us16.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=847ea1526d6523a41ef1eb5a5&id=48d53e9627────────────────────────────────OPEN SOURCE PROJECTSCodeDojohttps://github.com/Cause-of-a-Kind/code-dojo-coreOCR Ruby GEMhttps://activestorage-ocr-demo.fly.dev/────────────────────────────────COMMUNITY INITIATIVESLong Island Technologistshttps://www.longislandtechnologists.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/long-island-technologists-networkinghttps://www.instagram.com/longislandtechnologists/────────────────────────────────Fin Forecasting - Never Lose Money On A Project Againhttps://www.finforecasting.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/fin-forecasting────────────────────────────────Brought to you by Cause of a KindA boutique software development and startup studio from Long Island, New YorkStand up. Show up. Build.

Karlo Kilayko went from rebuilding car engines to building games. And the skills transferred better than you'd think.In this episode of CTO Confidential, Mike Rispoli sits down with Karlo to discuss his journey from the gaming industry trenches to software engineering, the brutal reality of quality assurance in game development, and why he walked away from management to get back to building.How AI is reshaping software development and testing. Why the indie builder movement is exploding right now. And what the future of interactive storytelling looks like when games become more dynamic and personalized.Karlo doesn't just build software. He builds experiences. And his insights on transitioning from developer to producer and back to individual contributor reveal what so many CTOs are feeling right now. Sometimes you just need to get back to the work that matters.Topics covered:Karlo's journey from rebuilding engines to building gamesThe critical role of quality assurance in game developmentWhy shipping games is essential for success and player engagementThe evolution of testing frameworks and AI's impact on QATransitioning from management back to individual contributor rolesThe rise of the indie builder movement in tech and gamingHow AI is changing software development without replacing engineersWhy indie development allows for more creativity and personal projectsIf you're a CTO, software engineer, game developer, or anyone who's ever felt the pull to get back to building instead of managing, this episode is for you.Builders build. Everything else is noise.────────────────────────────────LISTEN ON ALL PLATFORMSSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1V4SjmlnG2sntDnck8UrGWApple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strictly-from-nowhere-a-podcast-experiment-by-cause/id1804380172iHeart Radiohttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-strictly-from-nowhere-a-po-315649122/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAstEyCK6YsKVTTRsQr37wSUPPORT THE SHOWPatreonhttp://patreon.com/StrictlyFromNowhereCONNECT WITH USLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/strictly-from-nowhereWebsitehttps://strictlyfromnowhere.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW JUSTIN ABRAMS | @cuzzinjustinLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cuzzinjustin/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/cuzzinjustin/Xhttps://x.com/cuzzinjustinTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cuzzinjustinFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/cuzzinjustin24Websitehttps://www.cuzzinjustin.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW MIKE RISPOLI | @mike_rispoli_ctoLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rispoli-cto/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/mike_rispoli_cto/Xhttps://x.com/michael_rispoliTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@mike_rispoliWebsitehttps://michaelrispoli.com/────────────────────────────────CAUSE OF A KIND | @causeofakindWebsitehttps://www.causeofakind.comLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/cause-of-a-kindInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/causeofakind/Xhttps://x.com/causeofakindTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@causeofakindNewsletter Signuphttp://eepurl.com/gcc-yjNewsletter Archivehttps://us16.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=847ea1526d6523a41ef1eb5a5&id=48d53e9627────────────────────────────────OPEN SOURCE PROJECTSCodeDojohttps://github.com/Cause-of-a-Kind/code-dojo-coreOCR Ruby GEMhttps://activestorage-ocr-demo.fly.dev/────────────────────────────────COMMUNITY INITIATIVESLong Island Technologistshttps://www.longislandtechnologists.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/long-island-technologists-networkinghttps://www.instagram.com/longislandtechnologists/────────────────────────────────Fin Forecasting - Never Lose Money On A Project Againhttps://www.finforecasting.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/fin-forecasting────────────────────────────────Brought to you by Cause of a KindA boutique software development and startup studio from Long Island, New YorkStand up. Show up. Build.

Jordan Sachs built a real estate empire in New York. Then the market turned. So he built another one in California.In this episode of Forward to Extraordinary, I sit down with Jordan Sachs to discuss his journey from Scottsdale, Arizona to founding Bold New York and eventually launching Sunday Capital in Los Angeles. This isn't a story about avoiding challenges. It's about controlling your response to them.Jordan shares the real lessons from navigating brutal market conditions, rebuilding after partnerships fall apart, and leveraging technology to transform traditional real estate. We dig into the importance of company culture, the role of trust and loyalty in partnerships, and why entrepreneurs need to put fear away and keep moving forward.Topics covered:Jordan's journey from Scottsdale to New York to California real estateFounding Bold New York and navigating market adversityThe launch of Sunday Capital and expansion into property managementHow technology is transforming real estate without replacing human judgmentBuilding company culture that starts with people, not perksThe critical role of partnerships and finding the right balanceWhy controlling your own destiny matters more than chasing trendsPractical advice for entrepreneurs facing tough marketsIf you're building a business, working in real estate, or trying to navigate market challenges, Jordan's insights on persistence, partnership, and purpose will resonate.Life's too short to hate what you do. Find what makes you happy and build around it.───────────────────────────LISTEN ON ALL PLATFORMSSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1V4SjmlnG2sntDnck8UrGWApple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strictly-from-nowhere-a-podcast-experiment-by-cause/id1804380172iHeart Radiohttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-strictly-from-nowhere-a-po-315649122/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAstEyCK6YsKVTTRsQr37wSUPPORT THE SHOWPatreonhttp://patreon.com/StrictlyFromNowhereCONNECT WITH USLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/strictly-from-nowhereWebsitehttps://strictlyfromnowhere.com───────────────────────────FOLLOW JUSTIN ABRAMS | @cuzzinjustinLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cuzzinjustin/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/cuzzinjustin/Xhttps://x.com/cuzzinjustinTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cuzzinjustinFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/cuzzinjustin24Websitehttps://www.cuzzinjustin.com───────────────────────────FOLLOW MIKE RISPOLI | @mike_rispoli_ctoLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rispoli-cto/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/mike_rispoli_cto/Xhttps://x.com/michael_rispoliTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@mike_rispoliWebsitehttps://michaelrispoli.com/───────────────────────────CAUSE OF A KIND | @causeofakindWebsitehttps://www.causeofakind.comLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/cause-of-a-kindInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/causeofakind/Xhttps://x.com/causeofakindTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@causeofakindNewsletter Signuphttp://eepurl.com/gcc-yjNewsletter Archivehttps://us16.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=847ea1526d6523a41ef1eb5a5&id=48d53e9627───────────────────────────OPEN SOURCE PROJECTSCodeDojohttps://github.com/Cause-of-a-Kind/code-dojo-coreOCR Ruby GEMhttps://activestorage-ocr-demo.fly.dev/───────────────────────────COMMUNITY INITIATIVESLong Island Technologistshttps://www.longislandtechnologists.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/long-island-technologists-networkinghttps://www.instagram.com/longislandtechnologists/───────────────────────────Fin Forecasting - Never Lose Money On A Project Againhttps://www.finforecasting.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/fin-forecasting───────────────────────────Brought to you by Cause of a KindA boutique software development and startup studio from Long Island, New YorkStand up. Show up. Build.

We built Uncal as an open source solution to Calendly.Not because Calendly is bad. Because we wanted to prove you can ship a standalone scheduling tool without the bloat, the complexity, and the feature creep that kills most SaaS products.In this episode, Mike and I walk through the entire development process. Planning the core features. Building workflows and notifications. Testing at every phase. Integrating email functionality with Markdown support. Making UX adjustments based on real user feedback. And prepping the whole thing to release as open source.This is what focused product development looks like. No committees. No endless planning cycles. Just two people shipping something that works.Topics covered:Focusing on essential features and avoiding bloatTest-Driven Development and why it mattersBuilding email workflows that enhance user engagementUser experience decisions that make or break adoptionWhy we're releasing this as open sourceThe importance of testing and user feedback at every phaseIf you're building a SaaS product and drowning in feature requests, this is required watching.Ship the core. Test relentlessly. Iterate based on feedback.────────────────────────────────LISTEN ON ALL PLATFORMSSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1V4SjmlnG2sntDnck8UrGWApple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strictly-from-nowhere-a-podcast-experiment-by-cause/id1804380172iHeart Radiohttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-strictly-from-nowhere-a-po-315649122/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAstEyCK6YsKVTTRsQr37wSUPPORT THE SHOWPatreonhttp://patreon.com/StrictlyFromNowhereCONNECT WITH USLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/strictly-from-nowhereWebsitehttps://strictlyfromnowhere.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW JUSTIN ABRAMS | @cuzzinjustinLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cuzzinjustin/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/cuzzinjustin/Xhttps://x.com/cuzzinjustinTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cuzzinjustinFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/cuzzinjustin24Websitehttps://www.cuzzinjustin.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW MIKE RISPOLI | @mike_rispoli_ctoLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rispoli-cto/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/mike_rispoli_cto/Xhttps://x.com/michael_rispoliTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@mike_rispoliWebsitehttps://michaelrispoli.com/────────────────────────────────CAUSE OF A KIND | @causeofakindWebsitehttps://www.causeofakind.comLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/cause-of-a-kindInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/causeofakind/Xhttps://x.com/causeofakindTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@causeofakindNewsletter Signuphttp://eepurl.com/gcc-yjNewsletter Archivehttps://us16.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=847ea1526d6523a41ef1eb5a5&id=48d53e9627────────────────────────────────OPEN SOURCE PROJECTSCodeDojohttps://github.com/Cause-of-a-Kind/code-dojo-coreOCR Ruby GEMhttps://activestorage-ocr-demo.fly.dev/────────────────────────────────COMMUNITY INITIATIVESLong Island Technologistshttps://www.longislandtechnologists.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/long-island-technologists-networkinghttps://www.instagram.com/longislandtechnologists/────────────────────────────────Fin Forecasting - Never Lose Money On A Project Againhttps://www.finforecasting.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/fin-forecasting────────────────────────────────Brought to you by Cause of a KindA boutique software development and startup studio from Long Island, New YorkStand up. Show up. Build.

Got tokens? Because you're burning through them faster than you think.In this episode, Mike and Justin break down the hidden economics of AI that nobody wants to talk about. Token costs are rising, efficiency varies wildly between tools, and most businesses have no idea how to predict their actual AI spend.We dig into why effective prompting matters more than which AI tool you choose, why you can't outsource judgment and experience to language models, and how the token economy is reshaping business strategy in ways most founders aren't prepared for.This isn't about which AI is "better." It's about understanding the cost dynamics, resource management, and strategic decisions that determine whether AI actually drives value for your business or just drains your budget.Topics covered:The real cost of token utilization and why it's unpredictableWhy effective prompting is more valuable than expensive AI toolsThe economics of reseller solutions versus direct API accessHow to evaluate AI tools based on efficiency and output qualityBalancing innovation with resource management and mental fatigueWhy you can't outsource judgment, experience, and taste to AIToken efficiency as a core business strategyIf you're using AI in your business and you don't understand token economics, you're flying blind.Economics 101 still applies. Even to AI.────────────────────────────────LISTEN ON ALL PLATFORMSSpotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/1V4SjmlnG2sntDnck8UrGWApple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/strictly-from-nowhere-a-podcast-experiment-by-cause/id1804380172iHeart Radiohttps://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-strictly-from-nowhere-a-po-315649122/YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWAstEyCK6YsKVTTRsQr37wSUPPORT THE SHOWPatreonhttp://patreon.com/StrictlyFromNowhereCONNECT WITH USLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/strictly-from-nowhereWebsitehttps://strictlyfromnowhere.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW JUSTIN ABRAMS | @cuzzinjustinLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/cuzzinjustin/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/cuzzinjustin/Xhttps://x.com/cuzzinjustinTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@cuzzinjustinFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/cuzzinjustin24Websitehttps://www.cuzzinjustin.com────────────────────────────────FOLLOW MIKE RISPOLI | @mike_rispoli_ctoLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-rispoli-cto/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/mike_rispoli_cto/Xhttps://x.com/michael_rispoliTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@mike_rispoliWebsitehttps://michaelrispoli.com/────────────────────────────────CAUSE OF A KIND | @causeofakindWebsitehttps://www.causeofakind.comLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/cause-of-a-kindInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/causeofakind/Xhttps://x.com/causeofakindTikTokhttps://www.tiktok.com/@causeofakindNewsletter Signuphttp://eepurl.com/gcc-yjNewsletter Archivehttps://us16.campaign-archive.com/home/?u=847ea1526d6523a41ef1eb5a5&id=48d53e9627────────────────────────────────OPEN SOURCE PROJECTSCodeDojohttps://github.com/Cause-of-a-Kind/code-dojo-coreOCR Ruby GEMhttps://activestorage-ocr-demo.fly.dev/────────────────────────────────COMMUNITY INITIATIVESLong Island Technologistshttps://www.longislandtechnologists.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/long-island-technologists-networkinghttps://www.instagram.com/longislandtechnologists/────────────────────────────────Fin Forecasting - Never Lose Money On A Project Againhttps://www.finforecasting.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/fin-forecasting────────────────────────────────Brought to you by Cause of a KindA boutique software development and startup studio from Long Island, New YorkStand up. Show up. Build.