The Crodie Files Podcast- For Administrative Assistants and Business Support Professionals
The Crodie Files is a podcast hosted by two career Executive Assistants currently in the role, supporting C-Suite Corporate Executives.
With over 40 years of combined industry experience, we came together to share the knowledge!
We unite Administrative Professionals, Assistants, and all Business Support Professionals globally with our honest, realistic approach to common questions and problem-solving.
Our show provides a space for listeners to learn about the challenges and triumphs of the Assistant Profession and to gain insights into the strategies and approaches that make these professionals successful.
Our episodes are kept to around 30 minutes as we appreciate how precious your time is and never use a typical interview format. Instead, our voice note approach makes each episode easy to listen to and relatable.
Our "Hi Crodie..." initiative is where we invite you to send in your questions, bugbears, and comments that relate to the role and your learning & development. To be featured on the show visit our website www.craigandjodie.com and send in yours today.
If you enjoy listening to our podcast, please support us to help keep the Crodie Files going https://www.buzzsprout.com/2227725
Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes.
The Crodie Files Podcast- For Administrative Assistants and Business Support Professionals
Beyond Basics Unlocking AI’s True Potential for Admins - Fiona Young
In this bonus episode, Craig Bryson and Jodie Mears are joined by Fiona Young (founder of Carve) to go past “draft my email” and “summarise this deck.” We unpack how assistants can use AI for real, outcomes-focused impact: diagnosing diary inefficiencies, building lightweight automations, sharpening decision-making, and even “vibe-coding” practical tools without being a developer. If you’ve dabbled and now you’re asking “What’s next?”, this one’s for you.
Listener Question
Danielle (Boston, investment management):
“I’ve used AI for basics like emails and slide decks, but I want to spot patterns, remove bottlenecks and anticipate needs. How do assistants move beyond simple tasks and free up time for higher-value work?”
Episode Highlights
- AI beyond time-saving: use it to challenge your thinking, surface blind spots, and strengthen judgment
- COIF prompting (Context, Output, Intent, Format): a simple way to get higher-quality results consistently
- Tool-stacking wins: combine systems to automate end-to-end workflows
- Calendar analytics that matter: analyse time use and propose real changes
- Better briefings, faster: market intel, competitor scans, VIP prep
- Becoming a builder: why “vibe-coding” with AI is now within reach for EAs
- Mindset shift: define your higher-value work first; then use AI to create the capacity to do it
Value Bombs
Craig Bryson: “I’m looking at AI as helping me do the things that are monotonous and mundane so I can focus on the things that are important that the AI cannot do. (00:06:49)
Jodie Mears: “It’s not just about prompt writing, begin, middle and end. Can you confidently articulate to someone verbally if they were in person the same way you're articulating to the LLM online? It's that kind of conversation.” (00:15:50)
Fiona Young: “If you look at what's the next level, it's actually AI can help us to literally think differently. It can fill in for gaps in our thinking. Fill in for our biases, for our blind spots, to be able to actually be a sparring partner. (00:08:00)
Free Resources
Download Fiona’s Carve prompts guide + prompt library: https://joincarve.com/prompts-guide-signup
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Supporters will get a shout-out on social media and in future episodes.
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