The blog.
Notes on Mac productivity, task management, and how the tools out there actually compare.
I Put an MCP Server on My Own Life Database
Why a personal task, project and CRM app should ship a local MCP server — what 39 read-write tools over your own SQLite file actually gets you, and where the idea has sharp edges.
How to Prep for a Client Meeting in Two Minutes (Without a Cloud CRM)
The two-minute scramble before a client call — who is this, what did we agree, what did I promise — and how to end it using tools that keep your client data on your own Mac.
Otter.ai Alternatives: Finding a Private, One-Time Purchase Notetaker
Otter.ai is the industry standard for cloud-based meeting transcription, but subscription fatigue and privacy concerns are driving professionals toward local-first alternatives. Here's how to replace Otter with a one-time purchase on Mac.
The Best Simple CRM for Consultants on Mac (No Subscription)
Every CRM is priced and built for sales teams. An honest look at the options for a team of one on a Mac — including the free ones and where a spreadsheet is still the right answer.
The Best One-Time Purchase Mac Apps in 2026 (No Subscription)
Mac apps you buy once and own — organized by the subscription each one replaces, with an honest look at when a subscription is actually the better deal.
Your Meeting Transcripts Are a Graveyard
Every AI notetaker competes on transcript quality. None of them fix the actual failure point — the handoff between the meeting ending and the commitment landing in your task system.
How to Transcribe Meetings Locally on a Mac with Whisper
A practical guide to running Whisper on your own Mac — which model size to pick, what accuracy to expect, the tools that do it, and where local transcription genuinely still loses to the cloud.
The Best Private AI Meeting Notetakers for Mac in 2026
An honest look at private meeting notetakers for Mac — Granola, Otter, Fireflies, Fathom, Meetily, Hyprnote, MacWhisper and Life Manager Pro — sorted by what actually happens to your audio.
What Actually Happens to Your Data With Cloud AI Notetakers
Where your meeting audio goes, who processes it, how long it's kept, and why legal and compliance teams have started pushing back on AI notetakers — with the clauses to check before you trust one.
How to Record a Teams or Zoom Call on Mac Without a Meeting Bot
Every option for recording and transcribing meetings on a Mac without inviting a notetaker bot — QuickTime, virtual audio devices, native capture — and the trade-offs of each.
Apple Notes vs Obsidian: Which Should You Use in 2026?
Apple Notes and Obsidian solve the same problem in opposite ways. An honest comparison of cost, sync, extensibility, and where both fall short.
The Best Mac Productivity Apps in 2026
An honest, no-hype roundup of the Mac productivity apps actually worth your money in 2026 — what each one is genuinely best at, and what it isn't.
The Best Notion Alternatives for Mac Users in 2026
Looking to leave Notion? Here's an honest look at the real alternatives — Obsidian, Todoist, Things 3, and Life Manager Pro — and who each one actually fits.