The tools I'm currently using to research, write, and use AI every day.

Here’s your ultimate toolkit to catch up — and crush it.

• ​Perplexity: Next-level search engine for smarter answers.
• ​Ideogram: Make quick, killer visuals in seconds.
• ​Midjourney: Create sophisticated, jaw-dropping images.
• ​Descript: Edit videos like a pro, faster than ever.
• ​Opus: Clip and highlight your videos effortlessly.
• ​Decktopus: Power up your presentations with ease.
• ​Replicate: Train your own AI models — no PhD required.
• ​Suno: Generate original sounds and music in a snap.
• ​Claude: Build MVPs with a smarter AI assistant.
• ​DeepSeek R1: Level up your coding workflow.
• ​ChatGPT: The Swiss Army knife for everything else.
• ​Syllaby: Create faceless videos that captivate.
• ​Replit: Build mobile apps fast and collaborative.
• ​Fastread: Turn your content into ebooks, instantly.
• ​Fastphoto: AI-powered headshots that impress.

Start using these today — or get left in the dust.

Methylene Blue: From Old Schiil Dye to Biohacking Darling

This one’s wild. What started as a 19th-century textile dye is now a rising star in the biohacking and wellness world. But before you go chasing that blue pill, let’s unpack the story behind methylene blue — the history, the science, the hype, and the risks.

The Origin Story

• 19th-century chemistry magic: Back in 1876, a guy named Heinrich Caro cooked up methylene blue at BASF — not for health, but to dye cotton bright blue.
• Then microbiologists like Robert Koch found a crazy use for it: staining bacteria under microscopes. Suddenly, methylene blue became a key tool in early medicine.
• Fast forward to the 1890s, Paul Ehrlich (yeah, the chemotherapy OG) discovered methylene blue’s power against malaria. It was the first fully synthetic drug to actually treat disease. Game changer.

Medical Uses That Actually Stick

• Methemoglobinemia treatment — it’s the real deal for a rare blood disorder that messes with oxygen transport.
• Surgeons use it to light up tissues during cancer ops.
• It’s got antimicrobial powers and even some antiviral promise in lab tests (hello, COVID research).

The Wellness Hype Train 🚂

• TikTok and Instagram exploded with people showing off blue tongues and claiming it’s a brain booster, immune system hero, and neurodegeneration fighter.
• Famous names like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Bryan Johnson have fueled the buzz.
• Search interest has surged 300% in the US alone over the past five years.

The Science on Brain Boosting​
​

• Lab rats and mice showed improved memory and learning after methylene blue treatment.
• Small human trials hint at short-term cognitive gains — better focus, memory, and brain activity — but the data is thin.
• Mechanism? It’s a mitochondrial powerhouse, helping your cells produce energy more efficiently. Think of it as a little biohack for your brain’s batteries.

Regulatory Gray Zone

• Pharmaceutical-grade methylene blue is FDA “grandfathered” — it’s legit for specific medical uses.
• The wellness market often uses industrial-grade stuff — no guarantees on purity or dosing. This is where things get risky.
• No standardized dosing for wellness means people are winging it with supplements, which could be ineffective or downright dangerous.

My Take 👇

I think methylene blue could be a legit tool in the biohacker’s arsenal — the mitochondrial support angle is compelling, and the history backs up real medical uses. But I haven’t tried it yet personally.

I just ordered a bottle to test the waters. Stay tuned for my honest review once I dive in. Until then, proceed with caution, especially if you’re on meds or have health conditions.

Newsletter Gems:

I’m always deep in newsletters, and this one on Flexible Spending Accounts from The Crunch CPA is a total gem — super valuable stuff you don’t want to miss.

This newsletter breaks down how Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) let you save pre-tax dollars on healthcare and dependent care expenses—basically giving you an easy way to keep more cash in your pocket. It also covers key rules, benefits, and smart strategies to maximize your FSA without losing money at year-end.

​Read the full newsletter​

Perplexity Labs: What You Need to Know ⚡

• Build Big, Fast: Generate detailed projects — reports, dashboards, mini apps — in minutes. Pro subscribers get full access for $20/month.
• Interactive & Hands-On: From start to finish, Labs guides you through creating interactive content with charts, code, and visuals.
• Anywhere Access: Use it on web, iOS, and Android now. Windows and Mac apps are coming soon.
• Organized Workflow: All your charts, images, and code stay neatly in one tab for easy viewing and downloads.
• Powerful Tools Under the Hood: Combines web search, code execution, and visualization to handle complex projects (10+ min depending on scope).

How It Works:​
Hit the Labs icon → Submit your project idea → AI crunches data and builds it → Outputs ready for download and review.

Labs is Perplexity’s leap from basic search to full-on AI-powered project builder — perfect for pros and power users who want speed, depth, and interactivity all in one place.

5 stocks that will pop in 2025 🍾

I just ran a search on 5 stocks with huge potential gains this year using Labs — the results were fast, deep, and ready to act on. This thing is a total game-changer for anyone hunting alpha.

​Check out the research​
​​
What Makes a Good Tiny Experiment: Your Shortcut to Personal Growth 🔬

Tiny experiments flip personal development on its head. Instead of overwhelming yourself with huge goals, they use the scientific method to test small, low-risk actions that unlock real change. Think of it as a step-by-step way to experiment with your habits and mindset—one tiny move at a time—so you learn, adjust, and grow without the pressure of “all or nothing.”

​Check out the research​

Mindset Mint 🧊

🚀 Know a killer business owner or entrepreneur? Shoot over their info! 🎙️ I’d love to chat with them on the podcast and plug them into our small-but-mighty audience. 💥

​

Trending Tools

🛝 Opus Youtube Thumbnail Creator : Create viral YouTube thumbnails in 1 click. Just drop your link, and get bold thumbnails that drive clicks instantly.

🤖 AppearOnAI: Analyze your website's AI Visibility Score based on key factors like content clarity, structure, and semantic relevance. The tool provides a comprehensive assessment of how well your website is optimized for AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Grok, and Perplexity, along with actionable recommendations to improve your visibility.

​

Love The Content Enjoying Beyond Brief? Your tip helps keep this newsletter free, ad-light, and full of the deep-dive insights you rely... Read more Send a tip

​

Hello Hey, I’m Michael Benatar—founder & CEO of Benatar Brands. We’re on a mission to help you work smarter, not harder, by building AI tools that feel like a personal assistant for your day-to-day Check it out

​

​