# # 160 EASY Claude Cowork Setup (full beginner tutorial)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/build-with-ai-6407453/160-easy-claude-cowork-setup-full-beginner-tutorial
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/build-with-ai-6407453/160-easy-claude-cowork-setup-full-beginner-tutorial.md
Podcast: [Build With AI](https://stenobird.com/podcast/build-with-ai-6407453)
Published: 2026-04-23T15:18:47+00:00
Episode link: https://share.transistor.fm/s/9ba94a46
Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/9ba94a46/22ad95bf.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/build-with-ai-6407453/episodes/160-easy-claude-cowork-setup-full-beginner-tutorial
Duration seconds: 1612

## Resource

In this solo episode, I walk through the exact process of setting up Claude Cowork from scratch — the right way — using the free Cowork Onboarding plugin I built and made open source. I go step by step through the full onboarding flow, from picking your workspace folder and connecting tools, to building three core context files (About Me, Brand Voice, and Working Style), generating global instructions that tie everything together, setting up scheduled tasks like a daily morning briefing and quarterly context review, and running an optional security review to lock in sensible rules.Timestamps00:00 – Why Cowork is useless out of the box02:22 – Starting the onboarding flow from scratch03:30 – Choosing workspace folder and onboarding path04:37 – Workspace structure and file access permissions05:45 – Connecting Google Workspace tools (Gmail, Drive, Calendar)06:56 – Building context files: About Me, Brand Voice, Working Style10:58 – Linking existing brand materials from Google Drive12:44 – Generating global instructions from your context files15:00 – Skills and plugin recommendations from the marketplace17:24 – Setting up scheduled tasks: morning briefing and quarterly review19:46 – Running the optional security review23:23 – Wrapping up: what we built and the two manual steps leftKey PointsMost people skip the onboarding and then wonder why Cowork feels generic. The entire point of setting it up properly — building context files and global instructions — is so Claude never has to ask who you are again. Every session loads with that context automatically.The three context files (About Me, Brand Voice, Working Style) are the foundation of the whole setup. Without them, Cowork is writing responses for a stranger. With them, it knows your business, how you communicate, and how…

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## Transcript

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