We kick off the new season by breaking down the “contractor mindset” for writing prompts — the key to getting AI to deliver to spec, not with unnecessary “flair.”

Chuck Nealis joins us to explore how to write high-impact prompts through the lens of storytelling. We dig into the simple but powerful guardrails that help navigate AI’s context window. Because as conversations grow, crucial constraints tend to fade — and that’s when prompt drift begins.

So what do you do when the whiteboard starts getting messy?

In this episode, we unpack:

• Explicit prompts with clear purpose, audience, and format
• Contractor mindset over poetic creativity
• Context window limits and the 80% summary handoff
• Labeling drafts and starting fresh threads
• Triangulated reviews across multiple AIs
• Verifying sources and rejecting fabricated citations
• Building repeatable, reliable prompt blueprints
• Why consistency leads to accuracy

Treat AI’s memory like a whiteboard, not a library — and start designing prompts that stick.

Guest Bio

Chuck Nealis is a seasoned instructional designer, Organizational Change Management lead, and AI prompt expert with over 20 years of experience helping organizations deploy practical AI‑powered learning solutions and training programs. Chuck is also an author and thought leader on effective AI usage, focusing on precision‑engineered prompting and learning design.

Show Credits

• Intro and outro music - Az
• Audio engineer - RJ Basilio