Podcast
GROW by Good Combinator
Hosted by Good Combinator · EN
GROW by Good Combinator is the skills library for building AI-era ventures, products, and institutions. The flagship track is the Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) Certification — eight courses that take you from what an FDE is through running a practice as a founder. Each lesson pairs a working operator's method with a concrete artifact you can use the same day. Course 1: FDE Foundations is free. Hosted by Doug Liles, founder of Good Combinator and an elected Special District Commissioner in South Walton, Florida. New lessons drop Tuesdays. Start at goodcombinator.com/grow.
17episodes
Episodes
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[Course 3 Lesson 3.14] Reasoning Patterns - GROW by Good Combinator
Yesterday00:40:53Tap to summarizeReasoning patterns — ReAct, plan-execute, reflection — and when each earns its cost.In Lesson 3.14 of GROW Course 3 (Production Agentic Systems), Doug Liles works through it with you. A guide to choosing a reasoning pattern by the cost and reliability it buys.What you'll take away- The pattern menu- ReAct- Plan-and-executeChapters(00:00) Cold open[chapters set on audio scrub — see section 4]Study guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_3_14Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 3 - Production Agentic SystemsLesson: 3.14Season/Episode: 3/14Runtime: — (audio pending)Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-3/3.14/3.14 Why_AI_shouldn_t_check_its_own_work.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Production Agentic Systems; Career stage=FDE; Skill level=Intermediate; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=BuildCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-3/lesson-3.14/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)
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[Course 3 Lesson 3.13] Model Context Protocol - GROW by Good Combinator
2d ago00:21:08Tap to summarizeModel Context Protocol: wiring tools and context the portable way.In Lesson 3.13 of GROW Course 3 (Production Agentic Systems), Doug Liles works through it with you. How MCP standardizes tool and context wiring across hosts.What you'll take away- What MCP is- Servers and clients- Tools and resourcesChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(3:01) What MCP is(6:02) Servers and clients(9:03) Tools and resources(12:05) Portability(15:06) A working server(18:07) The artifact & what to do MondayMentioned and cited- Anthropic — Model Context ProtocolStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_3_13Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 3 - Production Agentic SystemsLesson: 3.13Season/Episode: 3/13Runtime: 21:09Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-3/3.13/3.13 audio podcast.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Production Agentic Systems; Career stage=FDE; Skill level=Intermediate; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=BuildCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-3/lesson-3.13/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)
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[Course 3 Lesson 3.12] The Semantic Layer Iceberg - GROW by Good Combinator
3d ago00:16:36Tap to summarizeThe semantic layer iceberg: why your data model decides your agent's ceiling.In Lesson 3.12 of GROW Course 3 (Production Agentic Systems), Doug Liles works through it with you. Why the semantic layer, not the model, sets your quality ceiling.What you'll take away- The iceberg- The visible model- The hidden semanticsChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(2:22) The iceberg(4:44) The visible model(7:07) The hidden semantics(9:29) Modeling the layer(11:52) Raising the ceiling(14:14) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_3_12Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 3 - Production Agentic SystemsLesson: 3.12Season/Episode: 3/12Runtime: 16:37Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-3/3.12/3.12 audio podcast.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Production Agentic Systems; Career stage=FDE; Skill level=Intermediate; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=BuildCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-3/lesson-3.12/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)
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[Course 3 Lesson 3.11] State, Memory & Long-Term Context - GROW by Good Combinator
4d ago00:22:00Tap to summarizeState, memory, and long-term context: what to persist and what to forget.In Lesson 3.11 of GROW Course 3 (Production Agentic Systems), Doug Liles works through it with you. A memory architecture that remembers the right things and forgets the rest.What you'll take away- Kinds of memory- Short-term state- Long-term contextChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(3:08) Kinds of memory(6:17) Short-term state(9:25) Long-term context(12:34) Retrieval(15:42) What to forget(18:51) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_3_11Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 3 - Production Agentic SystemsLesson: 3.11Season/Episode: 3/11Runtime: 22:00Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-3/3.11/3.11 audio podcast.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Production Agentic Systems; Career stage=FDE; Skill level=Intermediate; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=BuildCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-3/lesson-3.11/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)
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[Course 3 Lesson 3.10] Tool-Use Design Patterns - GROW by Good Combinator
5d ago00:16:25Tap to summarizeThe tool-use design patterns that keep an agent reliable under real inputs.In Lesson 3.10 of GROW Course 3 (Production Agentic Systems), Doug Liles works through it with you. Reusable tool-use patterns that hold up outside the demo.What you'll take away- Tool-use basics- Schema and validation- Failure handlingChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(2:20) Tool-use basics(4:41) Schema and validation(7:02) Failure handling(9:22) Composition patterns(11:43) Reliability under load(14:04) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_3_10Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 3 - Production Agentic SystemsLesson: 3.10Season/Episode: 3/10Runtime: 16:25Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-3/3.10/3.10 audio podcast.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Production Agentic Systems; Career stage=FDE; Skill level=Intermediate; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=BuildCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-3/lesson-3.10/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)
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[Course 3 Lesson 3.9] Probabilistic vs. Deterministic - GROW by Good Combinator
6d ago00:22:56Tap to summarizeKnow which parts must be deterministic — and which can be probabilistic.In Lesson 3.9 of GROW Course 3 (Production Agentic Systems), Doug Liles works through it with you. A boundary rule for placing probabilistic and deterministic components.What you'll take away- Two kinds of components- Where determinism is mandatory- Where probability is fineChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(3:16) Two kinds of components(6:33) Where determinism is mandatory(9:49) Where probability is fine(13:06) The boundary(16:22) Testing each side(19:39) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_3_9Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 3 - Production Agentic SystemsLesson: 3.9Season/Episode: 3/9Runtime: 22:56Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-3/3.9/3.9 audio podcast.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Production Agentic Systems; Career stage=FDE; Skill level=Intermediate; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=BuildCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-3/lesson-3.9/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)
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[Course 3 Lesson 3.8] LangGraph Multi-Agent Studio - GROW by Good Combinator
1w ago00:20:07Tap to summarizeCompose a multi-agent system in LangGraph without losing control of state.In Lesson 3.8 of GROW Course 3 (Production Agentic Systems), Doug Liles works through it with you. A multi-agent pattern in LangGraph that stays debuggable.What you'll take away- When multi-agent earns its cost- Graph and nodes- Shared stateChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(2:52) When multi-agent earns its cost(5:44) Graph and nodes(8:37) Shared state(11:29) Control and handoffs(14:22) Debugging the graph(17:14) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_3_8Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 3 - Production Agentic SystemsLesson: 3.8Season/Episode: 3/8Runtime: 20:07Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-3/3.8/3.8 audio podcast.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Production Agentic Systems; Career stage=FDE; Skill level=Intermediate; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=BuildCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-3/lesson-3.8/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)
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[Course 3 Lesson 3.7] Single-Agent Build - GROW by Good Combinator
1w ago00:20:04Tap to summarizeBuild a single agent end to end before you reach for multi-agent.In Lesson 3.7 of GROW Course 3 (Production Agentic Systems), Doug Liles works through it with you. A complete single-agent build you can run and extend.What you'll take away- Why single-agent first- The loop- Tools and memoryChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(2:52) Why single-agent first(5:44) The loop(8:36) Tools and memory(11:28) Guardrails(14:20) Running it end to end(17:12) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_3_7Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 3 - Production Agentic SystemsLesson: 3.7Season/Episode: 3/7Runtime: 20:05Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-3/3.7/3.7 audio podcast.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Production Agentic Systems; Career stage=FDE; Skill level=Intermediate; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=BuildCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-3/lesson-3.7/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)
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[Course 3 Lesson 3.6] Agentic Frameworks Tour - GROW by Good Combinator
1w ago00:23:00Tap to summarizeA working tour of the agentic frameworks — what each is actually good for.In Lesson 3.6 of GROW Course 3 (Production Agentic Systems), Doug Liles works through it with you. An honest comparison so you pick a framework for the job, not the hype.What you'll take away- The framework landscape- Orchestration models- State handlingChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(3:17) The framework landscape(6:34) Orchestration models(9:51) State handling(13:09) When to use which(16:26) When to use none(19:43) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_3_6Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 3 - Production Agentic SystemsLesson: 3.6Season/Episode: 3/6Runtime: 23:01Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-3/3.6/3.6 audio podcast.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Production Agentic Systems; Career stage=FDE; Skill level=Intermediate; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=BuildCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-3/lesson-3.6/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)
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[Course 3 Lesson 3.5] The Continuum of Autonomy - GROW by Good Combinator
1w ago00:24:35Tap to summarizeFrom copilot to autonomous: place your system on the continuum of autonomy.In Lesson 3.5 of GROW Course 3 (Production Agentic Systems), Doug Liles works through it with you. A map for choosing the right autonomy level for a given workflow.What you'll take away- The continuum- Copilot mode- Supervised autonomyChapters(0:00) Cold open & the promise(3:30) The continuum(7:01) Copilot mode(10:32) Supervised autonomy(14:02) Full autonomy(17:33) Choosing the level(21:04) The artifact & what to do MondayStudy guide, slide deck, blog companion, infographic (free)- https://fde.goodcombinator.ai/lessons/FDE_Lesson_3_5Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM. Explainer video is human-produced.Public releaseThis full FDE Certification audio lesson is available publicly as part of GROW by Good Combinator.Continue in GROW Skills Library: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/libraryEpisode metadataShow: GROW by Good CombinatorCourse: Course 3 - Production Agentic SystemsLesson: 3.5Season/Episode: 3/5Runtime: 24:35Access label: public-full-lessonSource channel: spotifySource audio: app/lessons/assets/course-3/3.5/3.5 audio podcast.m4aTaxonomy: Domain=Production Agentic Systems; Career stage=FDE; Skill level=Intermediate; Asset type=Lesson; Outcome=BuildCRM events: course_started, lesson_completed, cert_enrolledTranscript and accessibilityFinal transcript required before launch: https://goodcombinator.com/grow/courses/course-3/lesson-3.5/transcriptAccessibility requirement: reviewed audio, clear title, descriptive show notes, and transcript availability before launch.Audio companion is AI-narrated using NotebookLM and disclosed here.CreditsHost: Doug LilesProducer: Good CombinatorAudio: NotebookLM AI narration (disclosed)
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