Kyle Jacobsen (Applica)

I sat down with Kyle, a product manager with 20+ years building B2B SaaS products, to talk about Applica — the platform he built to help job seekers navigate an increasingly AI-driven hiring process.We covered a lot of ground:→ How Applica went from an idea to a working product→ Why human connection still drives results, even in an AI-powered productIf you're job hunting right now, or just curious about where AI genuinely helps (and where it doesn't), this one's worth a listen.

In this episode, we get real about surviving startup chaos and going through big career changes.Mike also shares how he turned a tough job loss into something good. He built a project called Kairos, and it helped him learn AI tools while solving a real problem for users. We also talk about how Mike uses AI to plan his day, organize his thoughts, and stay focused during uncertain times.If you've ever faced a setback and wondered what to do next, this episode will show you what's possible on the other side of it.

I’m sitting down with my good friend and former coworker, Phil Monson. Phil is a graphic and product designer who holds a degree in European history, which inspired his latest personal project—a visual history app called Witten.In this episode, we talk about:The "Jarvis" Approach, Fighting AI Overreach, Solving Design Problems, and Staying Human.Whether you're a designer trying to figure out where AI fits into your workflow, a history buff, or just a creator trying to get a project off the ground, this is a fun, honest conversation.

Today we're exploring the intersection of faith and intentional design with veteran product leader Grady Kelly. Grady is the creator of Woven Prayers, a unique platform designed to knit communities together through the power of shared prayer. Far more than just a social app, Woven Prayers helps users track commitments, celebrate answered prayers, and receive daily inspiration tailored to over 20 different faith traditions. We're diving into Grady's AI-first development process and how he's leveraging technology to build private, secure spaces that foster real human connection.Website: wovenprayers.com

Aaron comes from a product management background, and in this conversation we talk about how he uses AI to research, design, and build faster than ever before.We also dive into one of his projects, Bragboard, which helps workers track their wins and accomplishments over time so they’re ready for performance reviews, promotion conversations, or even job interviews. If you’ve ever wondered how AI is changing the way people build, this is a great conversation for you.Website: bragboard.work

Hi, I'm Tony Naccarato, and welcome to Built by Designers.Every episode, I'll sit down with a designer or product thinker who's built something with the help of AI. Sometimes it will be a side project, sometimes it'll be an MVP, sometimes it'll just be a prototype they hack together over a weekend. It isn't about polished case studies; it's about curiosity, learning, and experimenting.I'm an experienced product designer building products in fintech, health tech, and enterprise software. Learn more about me at tonynaccarato.com.