All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life

#278: Is AI making it possible for the average person to live a fully optimized life? Chris and Anish swap notes on how custom AI tools are replacing years of spreadsheets, and reshaping the way we work, learn, create, and relate to each other. They dig into why Chris has abandoned OpenClaw, the architecture mistakes almost everyone is making, and what happens when the subsidies on all these tools eventually go away.

Anish Acharya is a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, where he leads consumer and AI-native investing.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/ai-tools-spreadsheets-anish-acharya/

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NetSuite: ⁠Free KPI checklist to upgrade your business performance

Mercury: ⁠Manage, move, and grow your money

Fora: Become a Fora Advisor today

For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: ⁠chrishutchins.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

AI tools and platforms


Claude


OpenAI Codex


ChatGPT


Gemini


Perplexity Computer


Cursor


OpenClaw

Tools Chris is using in his stack


CardPointers


1Password


Zapier


Apple Health


Notion


Dropbox

Travel and points tools


Google Flights


Seats.aero


Roame

ATH Podcast


#265: I Built an AI Assistant That Works While I Sleep


#275: The Custom Everything Era with Kevin Rose


Newsletter


Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify


Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected]

Full Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction

(02:08) How Chris Replaced His Award-Flight Spreadsheets With an Agent

(04:20) Why Your AI Setup Should Be Platform-Agnostic

(07:13) Why Sub-Agents Don't Actually Make Sense

(13:29) Skills, Connectors, Projects, and Channels Explained

(17:29) Anish on the Two Big Breakthroughs: Coding Agents and Personal Agents

(18:29) Zero Marginal Cost of Doing Work

(21:01) Will Knowledge Get Less Democratized in the AI Era?

(22:17) The Four Layers of Personal AI: Knowledge, Data, Trust, and Connection

(24:35) The Black Pill: Do Most People Have Enough Agency for This?

(26:29) How Chris Connected His Own CardTool App to Claude

(32:07) The Family Video Montage Built From iMessages and Photos

(33:51) Reverse-Prompting and Breaking Tasks Into Discrete Steps

(36:35) Is AI Making Us More Connected, or Less?

(41:45) The Coming Flood of Bill Disputes, Appeals, and Speeding Tickets

(44:52) Gemini, OpenAI Apps, and Claude Connectors Compared

(47:03) The Hidden Power of Zapier's MCP Server

(50:20) Managing Logins and Sensitive Data Without Losing Sleep

(53:20) What's Still Not Possible With AI Today

(56:56) The Gell-Mann Amnesia Effect Applied to AI

(01:00:11) The Subsidies Behind Your $20 ChatGPT Plan

(01:04:59) Evaluating the Actual Cost of AI

Connect with Chris

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Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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#277: The last morning of our Japan trip turned into a sprint to a Tokyo emergency room, and challenged what we thought we knew about traveling abroad. We break down what a Japanese ER really cost, credit card benefits most travelers don't know they have, the best places to shop in Japan right now, and how to navigate Disney Tokyo without losing your day to four-hour lines.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/japan-er-disney-shopping

Partner Deals

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Fabric: ⁠Affordable term life insurance for you and your family

DeleteMe: ⁠20% off removing your personal info from the web

Storyworth: Share your mother's stories in a custom book (+ up to $20 off)

For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: ⁠chrishutchins.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

Flights & Award Booking


Japan Airlines


Finnair


Avios


American Airlines


Award Tool


Seats.aero

Hotels


Park Hyatt Tokyo


Hilton Tokyo Bay


Disney Ambassador Hotel


Airbnb

Activities


teamLab


KidZania


Tokyo Disneyland


Tokyo DisneySea

Luggage & Transportation


Yamato Transport


RideSafer Travel Vest


Suica Card


Takuhaibin Delivery Services

Technology & Planning


Claude


Claude Code


Codex


Google Maps offline


Google Translate


T-Mobile

Shopping


Muji


Don Quijote (Donki)


Loft


Takashimaya


ARC5 PALM-Sized 5-Blade Electric Luxury Razor


Keana Rice Pack face mask

Food & Dining


7-Eleven Japan


FamilyMart


Koffee Mameya


Afuri Ramen


Rokurinsha


Mos Burger

Credit Cards


Bank of America® Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card


Chase Sapphire Reserve®


The Platinum Card® from American Express

ATH Podcast


AMA: Submit A Question


Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify


Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected]

Full Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction

(01:20) The Chaotic Last Day — and Why a Great Hotel Concierge Changes Everything

(06:01) What Happened When We Had a Medical Emergency in Japan

(14:05) Rethinking Which Credit Card to Use for Booking International Travel

(17:48) Why Japan Is One of the Best Places to Shop Right Now (and What to Buy)

(27:32) DisneySea vs. Disneyland Tokyo

(28:34) The Disney Lines Strategy: Premier Access, Vacation Packages, and Happy Entry

(35:25) The Popcorn Hack and Other Only-in-Japan Disney Tips

(41:54) Trip Highlights, Honest Regrets, and How We Handle Jet Lag

(45:01) How Letting Go of "Once-in-a-Lifetime" Made the Trip Better

(48:26) Don't Be Afraid to Ask for What You Need

(49:48) The One-Day Buffer That Makes Every Trip Better

Connect with Chris

⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠ | ⁠Membership⁠⁠ | ⁠X⁠⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠

Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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#276: Learn how Chris and Amy booked four nonstop business class seats and a week at the Park Hyatt Tokyo almost entirely on points. They break down the strategy, key takeaways for traveling with kids, Chris' AI-powered trip planner, and more.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/50k-points-japan-trip

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Aura Frames: $25 off the Carver Mat with code ALLTHEHACKS

For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: ⁠chrishutchins.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

Flights & Award Booking


Japan Airlines


Finnair


Avios


American Airlines


Award Tool


Seats.aero

Hotels


Park Hyatt Tokyo


Hilton Tokyo Bay


Disney Ambassador Hotel


Airbnb

Activities


teamLab


KidZania


Tokyo Disneyland


Tokyo DisneySea

Luggage & Transportation


Yamato Transport


RideSafer Travel Vest


Suica Card


Takuhaibin Delivery Services

Technology & Planning


Claude


Claude Code


Codex


Google Maps offline


Google Translate


T-Mobile

Credit Cards


Bank of America® Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card


Chase Sapphire Reserve®


The Platinum Card® from American Express

Shopping


Muji


Don Quijote (Donki)


Loft


Takashimaya


ARC5 PALM-Sized 5-Blade Electric Luxury Razor


Keana Rice Pack face mask

Food & Dining


7-Eleven Japan


FamilyMart


Koffee Mameya


Afuri Ramen


Rokurinsha


Mos Burger

ATH Podcast


AMA: Submit A Question


Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify


Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected]

Full Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction

(01:59) Why Booking Business Class to Japan a Year Out Actually Works

(16:46) What Our Hyatt Points Are Worth Now — and After the Upcoming Devaluation

(20:37)  Why We Stayed in Tokyo the Entire Trip (and Why We're Glad We Did)

(25:43) Why TeamLab Should Be on Every Asia Itinerary

(26:46) How to Save on Phone Data Abroad and the Rookie Mistake to Avoid

(27:31) How We Used AI to Build a Real-Time Trip Guide Before We Even Landed

(35:58) Japan Airlines Business Class Review

(38:56) Inside the Freshly Renovated Park Hyatt Tokyo

(45:37) Is the Park Hyatt Tokyo's Location Actually a Problem?

(51:03) Did the Cherry Blossoms Live Up to the Hype?

(53:57) Why Japan's Bathrooms, Vending Machines, and Convenience Stores Are a Revelation

(56:09) Cash, Cards, and Transit: How to Pay Your Way Through Japan

(57:45) What We Learned About Traveling Tokyo with Kids

(59:19) Why Food in Japan Is Just Better (Even at 7-Eleven)

(01:00:51) KidZania Tokyo: The Best Kid Experience You've Never Heard Of

(01:05:26) Why Japan's Bag-Forwarding Service Is a Game Changer for Families

Connect with Chris

Newsletter | Membership | X | Instagram | LinkedIn

 

Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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#275: Chris and Kevin dig into how they're actually using AI tools in their daily lives right now. They explore real-world AI use cases, the tradeoffs of sharing personal data, the collapse of trust online, and what all of this means for jobs, creativity, and human connection.

Kevin Rose is the host of Diggnation and a partner at True Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm that has invested over $4 billion in a portfolio of over 400+ founders. Kevin previously founded Zero and Oak, and was a partner at Google Ventures.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/using-ai-tools-today-kevin-rose

Partner Deals

Aura Frames: $25 off the Carver Mat with code ALLTHEHACKS

NetSuite: ⁠Free KPI checklist to upgrade your business performance

Quince: Affordable luxury essentials with free shipping + 365 day returns

Bilt Rewards: ⁠Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent

Mercury: Help your business grow with simplified finances

For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: ⁠chrishutchins.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

Kevin Rose: Diggnation | Newsletter

AI Tools & Platforms


Claude


OpenClaw


ChatGPT


Google Gemini


ElevenLabs


Vercel

Japan Travel


Craig Mod's Blog


Park Hyatt Tokyo


KidZania Tokyo

Articles & Pop Culture


Leica and Content Authenticity Initiative


All-In Podcast episode with Travis Kalanick


The Pitt


Joker Greeting

ATH Podcast


Newsletter


Gift Card Site


Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify


Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected]

Full Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction

(01:07) Are We Actually Saving Time with AI—or Just Wasting It Faster?

(10:03) The Real Risks of Sharing Your Data with AI Tools

(21:18) Why It’s Never Been Easier to Build and Create

(28:12) Has AI Content Already Gone Too Far?

(37:37) How AI Is Reshaping Human Interaction

(40:43) The Growing Need to Verify What’s Real

(46:33) Investing in a World Being Disrupted by AI

(51:44) Where Jobs Are Headed in the AI Era

(55:02) What Happens to Art When Anyone Can Create?

(56:47) Tips for Planning a Trip to Japan

Connect with Chris

⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠ | ⁠Membership⁠⁠ | ⁠X⁠⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠

Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#274: Chris walks through the complete history of points and miles and breaks down the $140 billion machine behind them, so you can get more out of every point you earn. He covers the legal accidents that made credit cards wildly profitable, why loyalty programs are worth more than the airlines, the psychology behind why you keep hoarding points, and more. 

Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/history-of-points-and-miles

Partner Deals

Storyworth: Share your mother's stories in a custom book (+ up to $20 off)

Fabric: ⁠Affordable term life insurance for you and your family

Gelt: ⁠Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth

Thrive Market: ⁠30% off your first order of organic groceries + a free $60 gift

DeleteMe: ⁠20% off removing your personal info from the web

For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: ⁠chrishutchins.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

Movie:  The Man From The Diners Club

Book: Mileage Maniac by Steve Belkin

Video: How Airlines Quietly Became Banks

Articles


Credit-card cash reshapes US airline loyalty — and profit by Reuters


Interview with Matty Simmons by The Saturday Evening Post


Who Pays For Your Rewards? Redistribution in the Credit Card Market by Agarwal, Presbitero, Silva, and Wix

ATH Podcast


Best Cards Page


AMA: Submit A Question


Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify


Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: [email protected]

Full Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction

(00:53) The Very Beginning of Points & Miles

(04:07) How Credit Cards Came to Exist

(08:24) The Legal Accident that Made Credit Cards Profitable

(15:50) The History of Rewards

(19:06) The Story of Air Pass

(23:20) The First Airline Co-branded Credit Cards

(25:21) How the Credit Card System Works Between Different Banks

(29:38) How the Airline Rewards System Works

(35:32) Airline Rewards Grade Devaluations

(37:31) Examples of Rare Airline Reward Point Opportunities

(39:33) The Endowed Progress Effect

(40:38) The Goal Gradient Effect and Chasing Airline Rewards

(41:09) The Sunk Cost Fallacy

(41:47) The Separate Mental Accounts Effect

(42:46) Quick Summary of the History of Miles & Points

Connect with Chris

⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠ | ⁠Membership⁠⁠ | ⁠X⁠⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠

Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices