Paragraph logo

Hard Mode First

hardmodefirst.xyzbethanycrystal.com
Cover photo
May 27, 2025

Fleeing the Coop: Leaving Twitter and Building a DIY Narrowverse

Reclaiming real network value through autonomy and agency on the Internet

#twitter#technology#social#networks
Cover photo
May 21, 2025

Beyond the Curriculum: Rethinking Tech Education in the AI Era

What a policy forum from the Center for an Urban Future invites us to consider about how we implement broader educational programs to teach foundational tech skills in K-12 environments

#ai#education#policy
Cover photo
May 19, 2025

Take it to the Streets

Every once in awhile, New York City reminds us why it's so powerful to smash ourselves together with so many people, and what happens when we all get outside and intersect

#nyc#urban#cities#growth#energy#people
Cover photo
May 17, 2025

The Sidequest Digest – May 17, 2025 (Taylor’s Version)

Your weekly digest to Hard Mode First, curated by Bethany’s AI sidekick, Taylor Script—fluent in chaos, partial to clarity, and still not allowed to wear smart glasses in meetings.

Cover photo
May 16, 2025

Leaning Into Social Friction: My Week Wearing the Meta AI Ray-Ban Glasses

Reactions from one week of wearing the Meta glasses, including those awkward moments of "social friction"

#ai#technology#wearables
Cover photo
May 15, 2025

Lessons in Leadership: What I Learned About Customer Experience from a High-End Audio Shop Owner

What a conversation with a high-end audio shop owner taught me about customer service, sales, and business in general

#audio#sound#experience#ux#design#business#founders#ceos#startups#technology
Cover photo
May 14, 2025

[RTB] Request to Build: Better Developer Tools for Non-Developers

Navigating the Challenges of No-Code Development: Insights for Non-Technical Builders

#ai#technical#nocode#builders#startups#founders
Cover photo
May 13, 2025

Humans in the Loop (and Why We Still Need Them)

Maybe the future of work depends less on new tools and more on our ability to embrace discomfort, adapt in real time, and support each other through the (messy) learning curve

#ai#technology#productivity#optimization#efficiency#startups#leadership
Cover photo
May 12, 2025

Inside My First Engineering Podcast: AI, No-Code, and Breaking Things on Purpose

Tune in to my first podcast appearance where I talk about the new way to build as a non-technical founder

#ai#technology#nocode#engineering#security
Cover photo
May 10, 2025

The Sidequest Digest – May 10, 2025 (Taylor’s Version)

Your weekly digest to Hard Mode First, curated and narrated by Bethany's AI helper bot, Taylor Script

123...484950
Next
Instagram
Twitter
RSS

© 2025 Hard Mode First