Ep 90 - How I'm Talking To PDFs And Getting Real Answers

Ep 90 - How I'm Talking To PDFs And Getting Real Answers

Author: Cary Weston October 14, 2025 Duration: 15:01

Episode Summary

In this solo episode of The Chat GPT Experiment, host Cary Weston dives into a personal story of how he's using ChatGPT as a digital advocate to navigate a confusing and bureaucratic process. Cary is in the early stages of trying to build on a property near water, which involves dealing with complex municipal ordinances and slow communication from part-time local officials. To stay prepared and proactive, Cary created a ChatGPT project trained only on the local land use and shoreland zoning ordinances. This episode shows how ChatGPT can become a powerful assistant when you're dealing with legal or technical documents — especially when clarity is hard to come by.


3 Key Takeaways

  • Projects in ChatGPT can be helpful
    By uploading specific documents and setting clear instructions, Cary created a focused assistant that only pulls information from verified sources.

  • ChatGPT can be a digital advocate
    In situations where human help is slow or incomplete, ChatGPT can offer guidance, ask smart follow-ups, and even help you draft better questions — as long as it's trained with the right context.

  • Cite your sources
    Cary emphasizes the importance of verifying ChatGPT's responses by requiring it to cite the exact ordinance section, giving him confidence and clarity in his communications.


About Cary Weston

Cary Weston is the creator and host of The Chat GPT Experiment, a podcast designed to help everyday users unlock practical ways to use ChatGPT in their lives and work. With a background in public service (former city council member and mayor) and deep roots in marketing and communications, Cary brings a grounded and relatable voice to exploring AI tools. He also offers one-on-one and group training sessions to help others get more from ChatGPT.


Cary offers customized one-on-one ChatGPT training in 60 minute sessions. Find out more information on the sessions, answers to frequent questions, and how to register at www.ChatGPTExperiment.com

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LINKEDIN NEWSLETTER
The Chat GPT Experiment is also a LinkedIn Newsletter and you can find it here:
https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-chat-gpt-experiment-7110348839919702016/


MUSIC CREDITS
The instrumental music used in this podcast is called "Curious" by Podington Bear.


Ever wondered how AI tools like ChatGPT could actually fit into your daily work or creative projects without the technical overwhelm? The ChatGPT Experiment-Simplifying Chat GPT For Curious Beginners is built for that exact moment of curiosity. Host Cary Weston demystifies artificial intelligence in a way that feels like a helpful conversation, stripping away the jargon to focus on practical, actionable steps. This podcast moves beyond theory, offering listeners a chance to hear how prompts are crafted and how responses can be shaped for real tasks in business, marketing, education, and personal growth. Each episode feels like a guided session, where Cary’s approachable style turns abstract concepts into clear tools you can use immediately. Whether you're looking to streamline a workflow, generate fresh ideas, or simply understand the buzz, the content meets you where you are. The natural flow of the podcast makes complex topics accessible, ensuring that every listener, regardless of their starting point, can build genuine capability. It’s about transforming that initial interest into tangible skill, one straightforward explanation at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The ChatGPT Experiment - Simplifying Chat GPT For Curious Beginners
Podcast Episodes
Ep 67- You're Not Alone: How Others Are Really Using ChatGPT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:08
Episode Summary: In this solo episode of the ChatGPT Experiment podcast, host Cary Weston reflects on the feedback he's been receiving from listeners. He shares common themes around how people are using ChatGPT, what the…
Ep 66: The Second Brain Experiment: Developing A 'Two-Way' To-Do List [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:34
Cary dives into how he's using ChatGPT not just as a business tool, but as a personal assistant—something he's calling his "second brain." Inspired by a listener named Jessica, he talks about using ChatGPT's memory to cr…
Ep 65 - ChatGPT's Memory - What Does It Really Know About You? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:11
Episode Summary: In this solo episode of The ChatGPT Experiment, host Cary Weston shares a personal and exploratory dive into ChatGPT's growing memory capabilities. Inspired by a LinkedIn post, Cary experiments with usin…
Ep 64 - The Custom GPT Process That Works Best For Me [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:26
In this solo episode, host Cary Weston records from the parking lot during his kids' sports practices and dives into a hands-on tip about creating Custom GPTs—specialized versions of ChatGPT tailored for specific tasks.…
Ep 63 - Intro To Deep Research & A Customer GPT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:57
In this solo episode of The ChatGPT Experiment, host Cary Weston shares personal updates, answers a listener question, and dives into two powerful tools within ChatGPT: Deep Research and a Custom GPT for Ideal Customers.…
Ep 62 - ChatGPT For Personal Advice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:19
In this episode, Cary dives into a potentially controversial topic—using ChatGPT for personal advice. Cary emphasizes that ChatGPT should be seen as a tool, not a replacement for professionals, and shares real-world scen…
Ep 61 - My ChatGPT Advice That Gets The Best Reaction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:56
In this solo episode, host Cary Weston shares his top ChatGPT advice—the tips and principles that consistently get the best reactions in his group presentations and one-on-one coaching. These aren't just specific tactics…
Ep 60 - How I Use Empathy With ChatGPT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:23
In this episode, Cary Weston explores what he calls the "empathetic position" and how it plays a crucial role in writing, problem-solving, and even workplace interactions when using ChatGPT. He shares how taking a step b…
Ep 59 - How I Use Call Transcriptions & ChatGPT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:49
In this episode, Cary Weston dives into how he uses transcriptions with ChatGPT to improve productivity, capture valuable insights, and enhance communication. He shares real-world examples from his recent presentation to…