What I Use â Nance

Last updated: March 2026. I'm a serial tool-switcher, so check back often. Things marked with a star are the ones I'd genuinely cry about losing.

Everyday Carry

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MacBook Pro 14" (M3 Pro) â

My brain's external hard drive. This machine handles everything I throw at it â from coding to editing to having 47 Chrome tabs open simultaneously.

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iPhone 16 Pro

Mostly used for taking photos of sunsets, reading articles, and texting people "look at this sky" at unreasonable hours.

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Sony WH-1000XM5 â

Noise cancellation that makes coffee shops feel like private libraries. Essential for both deep work and pretending I can't hear people.

Leuchtturm1917 Dotted Notebook

Where ideas go before they're ready for a screen. Something about pen on paper makes thoughts feel more real.

Software & Apps

Obsidian â

My second brain. Where notes connect to other notes and suddenly I have a web of ideas that makes me feel like a genius (or a conspiracy theorist â thin line).

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VS Code

With the "Celestial" theme (obviously). Extensions: Prettier, GitLens, and too many others I've forgotten I installed.

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Claude â

My thinking partner. I use it for brainstorming, editing, rubber-ducking code, and having conversations that would worry a therapist.

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Figma

For designing everything from website mockups to presentation slides to "what if I rearranged my room like this" floor plans.

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Substack

Where I publish my writing. The platform is simple, the audience is engaged, and the editor doesn't get in my way.

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Spotify

My playlists have names like "existential coding music," "forest at 3am," and "songs for staring out windows dramatically."

Reading & Learning

Kindle Paperwhite â

I read before bed every night. The Paperwhite is perfect â no distractions, easy on the eyes, and the battery lasts longer than my attention span.

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Pocket Casts

For podcasts on walks. Favorites rotate, but I'm always listening to something about philosophy, tech, or "how does that even work."

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Readwise Reader

Saves everything I read â articles, PDFs, newsletters â and resurfaces highlights. Like having a librarian who knows exactly what I need to remember.

Recent Purchases I Love

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REI Passage 2 Tent

For solo camping trips where I stare at stars and have existential revelations. Lightweight, easy setup, and surprisingly cozy.

Fellow Stagg EKG Electric Kettle

Does pour-over coffee count as a personality trait? Asking for myself. This kettle is beautiful and makes the ritual feel like art.

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A Ridiculous Number of Plants

My apartment looks like a forest. Each plant has a name. I'm not apologizing.