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Joe's Premium Subscription: www.standardgrain.comGrain Markets and Other Stuff Links —Apple PodcastsSpotifyTikTokYouTubeFutures and options trading involves risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.

That idea blew my mind when my friend James Wedmore shared how a crippling lawsuit nearly ended his business… and then forced him to break through fear, build the right container, and jump from $2M to $10M in just one year. Today on the podcast, James and I unpack how you can engineer your own quantum leap no catastrophe required. Listen in and discover:  • Why facing fear exposes what truly matters and ignites unstoppable momentum  • How to build the "infrastructure" that supports massive growth instead of just maintenance  • The shift from playing "not to lose" to playing "to win" (and why it changes everything)  • Which role you must step into next and what to hand off to free your time and energy  • How to leverage AI without losing your unique perspective and authenticity  If you're tired of slow inch-by-inch gains and ready to see what your business is truly capable of, this episode is for you. Tune in now and start your quantum leap. Ready to go further into building a business? Check out this free resource from my mentor and friend James Wedmore: brandonlucero.com/bbd Did you enjoy this episode? I'd love it if you'd share it on Instagram and tag me @iambrandonlucero! Thank you for supporting the show. Find me on: IG: @iambrandonlucero Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IAmBrandonLucero  Website: https://www.brandonlucero.com

War Room Vance Defends Trump On The View, FBI Thwarts Alleged Drone Terror Attack Targeting White House UFC Freedom 250 Event… PLUS, SPLC Boss Funneled $1.2M to Lover in Neo-Nazi Group

ENERGY GOT STRATEGICAndy Cormie, CEO and Chairman of SmartestEnergy US, shares how one hurricane, one geopolitical conflict, or one AI-driven demand spike can send a company's energy costs from $2M a month… to $12M almost overnight.That's not a utility problem anymore.That's a REAL leadership problem.Most companies still think about energy as a line item on a bill.But according to Andy, energy is rapidly becoming:a margin issuea board issuea risk issueand potentially a competitive advantage.One line that hit me hard:“Boards shouldn't be giving you a pass…”Especially as AI, data centers, aging infrastructure, and geopolitical instability continue reshaping global energy demand.The leaders who win over the next decade may not be the ones who react fastest after disruption.They may be the ones who planned before it arrived.What's an operational risk most companies still underestimate right now?-----Connect with the Host, #1 bestselling author Ben FanningSpeaking and Training inquiresSubscribe to my Youtube channelLinkedInInstagramTwitter

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Executive Summary In the third and final episode of the Prosperity Podcast's retirement series, Kim Butler and Spencer Shaw arrive at the topic most people want to start with: portfolio allocation. But three episodes in, the foundation is in place, and the numbers hit differently. Kim opens by explaining why the typical 60/40 stocks-to-bonds split is far more dangerous than most investors realize, and why the math behind it rarely matches the projections people are shown. The core problem is a triple drag: taxes, fees, and opportunity cost. Every dollar paid in taxes or fees does not just leave the portfolio. It removes that dollar's future compounding power for the life of the investment. Kim illustrates with a stark example run through Todd Langford's TruthConcepts calculators: a $2 million portfolio projected to grow to $14 million can, under the weight of taxes, fees, automatic rebalancing costs, and forced withdrawals during market downturns, shrink to less than $1 million in real outcome. The numbers were so surprising that Todd ran them twice on separate tools before Kim felt comfortable sharing them. The solution Kim presents is replacing the bond allocation, typically 40%, with whole life insurance cash value. In the analysis, doing so kept the overall portfolio close to its $14 million potential. Whole life cash value carries no market volatility, no tax drag, and does not create forced selling during downturns. Combined with a cash flow bridge, a separate liquid position you can draw from when markets are down, this structure prevents paper losses from becoming actual losses. The episode closes with a brief overview of two whole life strategies: the Infinite Banking Concept and the Rockefeller approach, and an open invitation to reach out to Kim directly at hello@prosperitythinkers.com for personalized guidance. Links & Resources Mentioned For resources and additional information of this episode go toEmpower Your Finances With Our Prosperity Podcast Empowering Parents, Nurturing Futures - Prosperity Parents Kim D. H. Butler Keywords 60/40 portfolio problems, portfolio allocation retirement, whole life insurance cash value, bond alternative investment, cash flow bridge retirement, opportunity cost investing, taxes fees retirement portfolio, infinite banking concept, Rockefeller approach life insurance, retirement portfolio strategy, prosperity thinkers, financial freedom, stock market volatility retirement, automatic rebalancing cost, TruthConcepts calculators, replace bonds whole life, wealth preservation, financial education, prosperity economics, retirement investment strategy Episode Highlights [00:00:00 - 00:01:49] Spencer frames part three and Kim explains why jumping to investments first skips the essential foundation. [00:01:49 - 00:03:14] Kim introduces the 60/40 stock-to-bond split and the common assumption that a 12% market return makes a 4% withdrawal risk-free. [00:03:14 - 00:04:47] Kim explains automatic rebalancing: how resetting from 65/35 back to 60/40 creates taxable events and fees every cycle. [00:04:47 - 00:05:52] The triple drag: taxes, fees, and opportunity cost. Every dollar paid out removes its future compounding power permanently. [00:05:52 - 00:06:53] The $2M to $14M to under $1M example. Kim introduces the finding that replacing bonds with whole life cash value recovers the $14M outcome. [00:06:53 - 00:07:31] Todd's verification process: HP 12C and TruthConcepts run in parallel to confirm the result before publication. [00:07:31 - 00:08:12] Who should be looking at this now: 30s, 40s, and 50s. Not 65. Though 65 is not too late. [00:08:12 - 00:09:35] The cash flow bridge: a non-correlated cash position that prevents selling a down portfolio and turning paper losses into actual losses. [00:09:35 - 00:11:12] Spencer's observation: bonds and typical retirement planning both produce slow attrition. Kim names whole life insurance cash value as the alternative vehicle. [00:11:12 - 00:13:41] Two whole life approaches: Infinite Banking (high cash value, low death benefit) vs. Rockefeller method (high death benefit). Kim invites personalized email conversations. [00:13:41 - 00:14:32] Spencer wraps the three-part series: control is returned to the listener. Retirement as a concept is reframed. Subscribe CTA.  

What's really behind the growing wave of producers walking out the door? Jason Cass sits down with Athena Page, Head of Sales at Virtual Intelligence, to unpack the real reasons good producers leave agencies and what owners can do to stop the cycle before it starts. Key Topics: Why producers leave: overwhelm, admin burnout, and doing multiple jobs at once Career path and culture rank above money as reasons employees stay Over 60% of a producer's day lost to non-licensed tasks No CSR backup forcing producers into service work with no time to sell Why producers walk when they can't own their book of business Jason's story of leaving an agency that offered no path to ownership The five things owners want from licensed staff and why service work blocks them The call no producer wants to take and how virtual employees change that Two similar $2M agencies, opposite outcomes, and the role of work routing The math of retaining a producer versus replacing one Reach out to: Athena Page Jason Cass Visit Website: Virtual Intelligence Agency Intelligence Produced by PodSquad.fm

Eric Brown leads Developer Relations at BASE, Coinbase's L2. So when he says the chain sees over $4 trillion in monthly stablecoin payments and 25+ local stablecoins now circulate worldwide, it's worth interrogating closely.Jamie Crypto sits down with Eric at Consensus 2026 for a full read on what's actually shipping on BASE in 2026 — X402 as the default agent-payment rail, sub-cent fees and 5,000 TPS bursts, the Azul upgrade, the AI red team / blue team security flip, and why seven-plus local stablecoins are getting real point-of-sale adoption in South America while the U.S. lags.We cover:- The $4T monthly stablecoin payments figure (Eric's claim)- X402 and ~2M agent transactions in 30 days on BASE- 400M gas per block, sub-tenth-of-a-cent fees, 5,000 TPS bursts- DeFi security after a brutal month of hacks — AI's role on both sides- Why the agentic cohort is "completely unbanked already"- Morpho, 4% USDC yields, and what makes an onchain app stickyFilmed at Consensus 2026.Host: Jamie Redman

This episode's Community Champion Sponsor is Ossur. To learn more about their ‘Responsible for Tomorrow' Sustainability Campaign, and how you can get involved: CLICK HEREEpisode Overview: Too many independent practices are being sold not because they failed, but because they never had the systems to succeed on their own terms.Paul Vigario is tackling this reality as founder and CEO of SurfCT.For over 25 years, Paul has helped more than 12,000 practices generate over $36 billion in healthcare revenue by combining visionary brand development, intelligent technology, and intentional patient experience design.His work proves that private practices don't need to consolidate to compete. They need the opportunity and guidance to modernize.From transforming a $2 million endodontics office into a $20 million national brand to helping doctors build automated, scalable legacy practices, Paul brings a blueprint for what independent healthcare can become.Join us to discover how SurfCT is redefining what's possible for private practice owners ready to think boldly and build to endure. Let's go!Episode Highlights:Paul Vigario built SurfCT from a UConn dorm room idea into a firm serving 12,000 practices globally.Independent practices can scale without selling, as ONE ENDO grew from $2M to $20M without acquisition.Doctors often operate for insurance companies without realizing it, playing the wrong game entirely.Removing front desks and automating workflows creates frictionless, high-margin practices that scale beyond the owner.The future of private practice is polarized: massive success or corporate acquisition, with nothing in between.About our Guest:Paul Vigario is the founder and CEO of SurfCT, a leading authority in healthcare practice strategy, design, and technology for private healthcare practices, known for its integrated approach to improving and modernizing operations. Over the past 25 years, he has helped more than 12,000 practices worldwide generate more than $36 billion in healthcare revenue, redefining how providers automate, scale, and grow. Widely recognized as a visionary leader and pioneer in healthcare innovation, Mr. Vigario has spent his career advancing the integration of technology, brand, and patient experience in modern healthcare through clarity of vision, purposeful design, and systems that create freedom for providers.Links Supporting This Episode: SurfCT website: CLICK HEREPaul Vigario LinkedIn page: CLICK HERESurfCT LinkedIn page: CLICK HEREMike Biselli LinkedIn page: CLICK HEREMike Biselli Twitter page: CLICK HEREVisit our website: CLICK HERESubscribe to newsletter: CLICK HEREGuest nomination form: CLICK HERE

Vladimir Novakovski sits down with Andy & Robbie to break down the Lighter bull thesis from The Tokenization Tower in NYC. We discuss Lighter's escape hatch design that lets every participant exit through Ethereum even if the protocol fails, why the RFQ model is the key to bootstrapping liquidity for pre-IPO and RWA perps, and why getting Citadel and US institutional capital on chain is the biggest unlock the perp market hasn't hit yet. He's working with the CFTC to make that happen.Vladimir Novakovski is CEO of Lighter, a decentralized perp exchange built on top of Ethereum with an institutional-grade security-first architecture.The Rollup is where the leaders of digital assets and finance converge. Live from the financial capital of the world.Timestamps00:00 Intro01:37 Perp Market Awareness Today03:26 Pitching Institutions On Lighter05:28 Ethereum Security And Escape Hatch07:54 How Market Makers Stay Comfortable11:17 How Lighter Bootstraps Liquidity12:35 Pre-IPO Perp Durability15:37 Build In-House Or Composable19:29 US Regulatory Path For Perps23:29 CFTC Innovation Council Insights26:39 Questions For Commissioner Hester Peirce28:07 Team Culture And Miami Office32:26 Founder Decision Making Framework34:46 AI Agents And Lighter's Stack37:30 Perps Market Structure Long View41:21 Power Law Or Distributed Market?Guest Socials:Vladimir Novakovski X: https://x.com/vnovakovskiLighter X: https://x.com/Lighter_xyzLighter Website: https://lighter.xyz/Partners:Better than Banks. Transparent capital efficiency earning the highest yields in DeFi. Learn more here: https://infinifi.xyz/---Dinari - Over 230 1:1 backed tokenized stocks, ETFs & more with dividends. US-based SEC transfer agent. Available on 5+ chains & via API. https://dinari.com/---Relay is the fastest and most reliable way to swap any token on any chain. Learn more here: https://relay.link/bridge---Zama is an open source cryptography company that builds state-of-the-art Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) solutions for blockchain.Learn more here: https://www.zama.org/---Trezor is the creator of the first-ever hardware wallet. Securing crypto for 2M+ users worldwide. 100% open source. Learn more here: https://affil.trezor.io/aff_c?offer_id=133&aff_id=36664---

In this episode, the hosts analyze a railroad telecom infrastructure business generating $1.5M of EBITDA and debate whether its specialized certifications, railroad relationships, and fiber buildout tailwinds make it one of the most attractive acquisition opportunities they've seen in years.Business Listing – https://www.bizbuysell.com/business-opportunity/specialized-telecom-engineering-and-safety-services-25-year-niche/2496836/?utm_source=bizbuysell&utm_medium=emailsite&utm_campaign=shtmlbot&utm_content=viewdetailtextWelcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.Looking to build a professional website in minutes? Try Wix: https://wix.pxf.io/c/6898629/3115214/25616?trafcat=templateHubSpot is the backbone for how businesses scale without chaos. Try them out here: https://go.try-hubspot.com/OeG9VrSubscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast?sub_confirmation=1Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.acquanon.com/newsletter

You've spent years building your business. But what if you've already crossed the finish line — and nobody told you?Most business owners spend their entire careers trying to reach financial freedom. But there's a specific, calculable threshold — called The Freedom Point — where the net proceeds from selling your business would fund the rest of your life without financial worry. And the uncomfortable truth is: a lot of owners have already crossed it. They're still grinding, still taking on risk, still saying "five more years" — without realizing they've technically already won.In this episode, CFP® David Chudyk breaks down The Freedom Point framework, walks through the exact math to calculate yours, and explains why so many smart, successful business owners stay past it without a plan — and what that costs them.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhat The Freedom Point is — and the precise formula to calculate itWhy your business growing could actually be increasing your financial risk (not reducing it)The "4 D's" that can destroy business value overnight — and why none of them care about your timelineHow to figure out if you've already crossed your Freedom Point using a 7-step frameworkWhat your options are once you've crossed it (hint: selling isn't the only one)The three psychological traps that keep smart owners grinding past the point of financial freedomWhy "one more year" syndrome might be the most expensive story you're telling yourselfEpisode Timestamps[0:00] — Cold Open: What if you've already won?[2:00] — What is The Freedom Point?[6:00] — Meet Tim: The business owner with 80% concentration risk[11:00] — The 4 D's: Death, Disability, Divorce, Departure[15:00] — How to calculate your own Freedom Point (7-step framework)[20:00] — What to do when you've crossed the line: 4 options[24:00] — Why smart owners stay too long: Identity, One More Year Syndrome, Fear of Irrelevance[28:00] — The free tool to calculate your Freedom Point todayThe Freedom Point FormulaThe Freedom Point is reached when:(Value of Outside Investments) + (Net Proceeds from Business Sale) > (Desired Annual Income × 33)Here's how to run it yourself:Step 1: Estimate the annual income that would make you feel completely financially freeStep 2: Multiply by 33 (based on a conservative 3% withdrawal rate)Step 3: Calculate your wealth outside your business — investments, rental properties, brokerage accounts (not your primary residence)Step 4: Get a realistic business valuation estimateStep 5: Subtract the frictional cost of selling — taxes, broker commissions (~10–12%), legal fees (~2%)Step 6: Add back any long-term business debt you'd need to pay off at closingStep 7: If Steps 3 + 5 exceed Step 2, you've reached The Freedom PointExample: If you want $150,000/year of income, you need $4.95M in total investable assets. If your business would net $4M after selling costs and you have $1M outside the business — you've crossed it.The 4 D's Every Business Owner Needs to KnowThese four events can destroy business value overnight — and none of them are in your control:Divorce — Especially devastating when both spouses work in the business or when business value becomes contested in settlementDeparture — A key partner, co-founder, or critical employee leaves, triggering buy-sell agreements and operational disruptionDisability — You become unable to work; most disability policies protect income, not business valueDeath — Your beneficiaries inherit a business they don't know how to run, often resulting in forced sales at the worst possible timeWhy Smart Owners Stay Past The Freedom PointThe math alone doesn't explain why successful business owners keep grinding after they've technically won. David breaks down three psychological forces:Identity: When the business is who you are, the idea of stepping back feels like erasing yourself — not a financial decision at allOne More Year Syndrome: The goal line keeps moving. $2M becomes $3M becomes $5M. Every milestone reveals the next one. The exit that was "five years away" has been five years away for fifteen years.Fear of Irrelevance: The quiet one. Not afraid of selling — afraid of what comes after. Who are you without the title, the team, and the 8am calendar?"The biggest threat to your financial freedom isn't market risk. It's the story you're telling yourself about who you are without the business."Your Options Once You've Crossed The Freedom PointSell a Minority Stake — Take chips off the table while keeping control; often done with private equity in a minority recapitalizationSell a Majority Stake — Significant liquidity event now, keep some equity, continue running the business under new ownershipEarn-Out Exit — Full sale with a 1–3 year transition; ideal if you're ready to step back in the next three to five yearsStay and Build Around the Risk — Keep building, but do it intentionally: key person insurance, a funded buy-sell, disability coverage, and a real succession planCalculate Your Freedom Point — Free ToolDon't guess where you stand. Take the free Personal Readiness to Exit assessment — it walks you through the exact Freedom Point calculation in about 10 minutes and shows you a real number.→ Take the Free Assessment at weeklywealthpodcast.com/prescoreRather talk it through with someone? Book a free 20-minute strategy call:→ Book a Vision Call at weeklywealthpodcast.com/visionQuotable Moments"What if you've already won — and you're still playing like you haven't?""Before The Freedom Point, risk is how you build. After it, risk is how you lose what you've already built.""Tim diversifies his 401(k) like a pro. But 80% of his net worth is a single, illiquid, non-publicly-traded asset. That's not diversification. That's concentration in a tuxedo.""One more year syndrome feels responsible. But what it often is — if we're honest — is a way of avoiding a decision you're not emotionally ready to make.""The Freedom Point isn't a feeling. It's a formula. And once you run the math, you can't unsee what it shows you."Who This Episode Is ForThis episode is essential listening if you are:A business owner with a company worth $1M or more wondering if you're "there yet" financiallyAn entrepreneur approaching your 50s who hasn't run a real exit planning calculationA high earner whose business represents more than 50% of your total net worthAnyone who has said "I'll sell when the business hits $X" — and then moved the goalpostA spouse or partner of a business owner trying to understand the financial risk your household is carryingResources & Related EpisodesPersonal Readiness to Exit (Prescore) — Free AssessmentVision Call — Free 20-Minute Strategy SessionSellability Score — Free Business Valuation AssessmentRelated: Ep. 264 — Is Your CPA Only Looking in the Rearview Mirror? (tax planning before a sale matters enormously)Related: Ep. 265 — This Is Exactly Who You've Been Looking For (David's background and advisory approach)About David Chudyk, CFP®David Chudyk is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, CLTC, and Certified ValueBuilder Advisor with nearly two decades of experience working with business owners and high-net-worth individuals. He is the founder and host of the Weekly Wealth Podcast and a fiduciary advisor with Parallel Financial, LLC. David specializes in helping business owners align their personal financial plans with their business exit strategies — so they can make the biggest financial decision of their lives with clarity and confidence.weeklywealthpodcast.comThe Weekly Wealth Podcast is produced by Parallel Financial, LLC, a registered investment advisor. All content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized financial, tax, or legal advice. All examples, including "Tim," are hypothetical illustrations only. Consult a qualified financial advisor before making any financial decisions. Investment advisory services offered through Parallel Financial, LLC.

It's day two of the World Cup, and the biggest download winner isn't any of the football games anyone predicted — it's a Coca-Cola-sponsored sticker-album app. That's just one of three stories this week that matter for mobile.Felix Braberg flies solo for the Friday news segment. The FIFA Panini Collection is pulling roughly half a million downloads a day across Brazil, Mexico, and the US — 12.2 million downloads in 30 days and ~$1.5M revenue — built around Panini's physical collectible-card heritage and Coca-Cola bottle QR codes. Felix also crunched the numbers on Block Blast's 24-hour Google Play takedown (rumored IP infringement) and found it cost the game roughly $120K/day in lost ad revenue, with a 17% daily-active-user drop and a 14-month download low. And Supercell's US game development is winding down — one project killed, another in limbo after staff departures — feeding the bigger question of when (or whether) Supercell lands its next hit.Three stories, one theme: distribution is fragile, and even the biggest names are exposed.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━⏱️ TIMESTAMPS00:00 Cold open — Block Blast's lost daily active users00:40 FIFA Panini wins the World Cup download race03:00 The Coca-Cola + Panini sticker-album playbook04:30 Block Blast's 24-hour outage — the real cost06:30 The $120K/day loss and the Turkey/Indonesia drop08:00 Supercell kills a US game, another in limbo━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

In this episode, the hosts analyze a railroad telecom infrastructure business generating $1.5M of EBITDA and debate whether its specialized certifications, railroad relationships, and fiber buildout tailwinds make it one of the most attractive acquisition opportunities they've seen in years.Business Listing – https://www.bizbuysell.com/business-opportunity/specialized-telecom-engineering-and-safety-services-25-year-niche/2496836/?utm_source=bizbuysell&utm_medium=emailsite&utm_campaign=shtmlbot&utm_content=viewdetailtextWelcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.Looking to build a professional website in minutes? Try Wix: https://wix.pxf.io/c/6898629/3115214/25616?trafcat=templateHubSpot is the backbone for how businesses scale without chaos. Try them out here: https://go.try-hubspot.com/OeG9VrSubscribe for more episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@AcquisitionsAnonymousPodcast?sub_confirmation=1Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://www.acquanon.com/newsletter

Affiliate marketing, passive income, making money online, high-ticket sales, and ClickFunnels changed Tim Hewitt's life after his $2 million golf business collapsed. Tim spent decades as a software engineer while building side businesses on the side. At one point, he built an online golf company to more than $2 million per year. Then the 2008 financial crisis hit, and revenue crashed almost overnight. Years later, after moving to Malaysia, returning home during COVID, and finding himself stuck with a warehouse full of inventory he couldn't sell, Tim made a decision: He would never build another business that depended on physical products. Instead, he learned affiliate marketing, discovered ClickFunnels, studied Russell Brunson's books, and built a business helping complete beginners earn income online through high-ticket affiliate marketing. In this episode, Tim shares the lessons he learned from building, losing, rebuilding, and reinventing himself over a 40-year entrepreneurial journey. In this episode, you'll learn: • How Tim built a $2 million online golf business • What it felt like when revenue crashed from $2M to $100K • Why he walked away from physical products and inventory • How COVID became the catalyst for an entirely new business • The affiliate marketing framework he uses to help beginners get started • Why most lead magnets fail to generate sales • The difference between low-ticket and high-ticket offers • How ClickFunnels and Russell Brunson influenced his business transformation • Why software engineers and technical professionals can succeed in marketing • The biggest mistakes new affiliate marketers make Whether you're trying to build a side hustle, create passive income, start affiliate marketing, or transition out of a traditional career, Tim's story is proof that reinvention is possible at any stage of life. Sometimes the fastest way forward isn't doubling down on what used to work. It's learning an entirely new game. Ready to build your funnel? Get 3 months of the ClickFunnels Scale plan for just $99: https://www.clickfunnels.com/cfradio If you want to network, connect with future JV partners, find your next business partner, or just be surrounded by the sharpest entrepreneurs in the world… there's no better room than this one. Secure your seat now and join us LIVE at FHL Encore: The A.I. Era: https://www.funnelhackinglive.com/cfr Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, marketers, creators, affiliate marketers, and ClickFunnels users building extraordinary businesses. ClickFunnels Radio is hosted by Dante Torelli and Chris Cameron.

David Schamis breaks down why PERE now holds over 10% of HYPE's circulating supply, why the Coinbase and Circle deal added $200M in annual buybacks that the market didn't price in for a full day, and why Hyperliquid's price discovery on Cerebus and SpaceX may make investment bankers irrelevant to the IPO process. David Schamis is CEO of Hyperliquid Strategies, a publicly traded company and one of the largest corporate holders of HYPE.The Rollup is where the leaders of digital assets and finance converge. Live from the financial capital of the world.Timestamps00:00 PERE Major Update Announced01:03 Not Michael Saylor Mindset05:38 ATM Equity Line Explained08:00 Right Move Is Nothing11:19 Coinbase Circle Deal Impact14:16 $200M More Buybacks16:02 He Checks HYPE Constantly17:32 Cerebus IPO Predicted Perfectly18:34 SpaceX Price Discovery22:13 Anthropic OpenAI IPOs Coming25:22 IPO Discount Is Toll31:12 PERE Beat All ETFsGuest Socials:David Schamis X: https://x.com/dschamisHyperliquid Strategies X: https://x.com/HypeStratHyperliquid Strategies Website: https://www.hypestrat.xyz/Partners:Better than Banks. Transparent capital efficiency earning the highest yields in DeFi. Learn more here: https://infinifi.xyz/---Dinari - Over 230 1:1 backed tokenized stocks, ETFs & more with dividends. US-based SEC transfer agent. Available on 5+ chains & via API. https://dinari.com/---Relay is the fastest and most reliable way to swap any token on any chain. Learn more here: https://relay.link/bridge---Zama is an open source cryptography company that builds state-of-the-art Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) solutions for blockchain.Learn more here: https://www.zama.org/---Trezor is the creator of the first-ever hardware wallet. Securing crypto for 2M+ users worldwide. 100% open source. Learn more here: https://affil.trezor.io/aff_c?offer_id=133&aff_id=36664---

"We have 2,000 agents going through your document, checking every single item in detail."This week we sat down with Brandon Smith and Raymond Zhao, co-founders of Structured AI, fresh off a $4.2M seed round they closed in just five days.Tune in to find out about:✅ How Brandon went from training an AI fighter jet at 17 to building construction AI after a single Reddit message✅ Why agentic AI finally cracks drawing review when traditional machine learning never could✅ The deterministic, no-confidence-score system with a full audit trail your team can sign off on✅ Where this goes next - an AI coworker that fixes errors straight back into your Revit model

How do you scale a consulting business from £2M to £30M without losing culture, customer focus, or entrepreneurial energy?In this episode, Joe O'Mahoney speaks with Stuart Packham, Group CEO of Alchemist Group, about scaling professional services businesses through a combination of organic growth, acquisitions, operational rigor, and people-first leadership. Stuart shares lessons from building a private equity-backed buy-and-build platform across leadership development, sales training, and experiential learning.The conversation explores the realities of integrating acquired firms, managing founders during M&A transitions, and balancing infrastructure with entrepreneurial culture. Stuart also discusses how consulting firms should think about AI, both as a customer-facing capability and as an internal scalability lever, while avoiding “technology for technology's sake.” The discussion also covers private equity partnerships, the importance of financial discipline and operational infrastructure, and why culture and sales enablement become critical as firms grow internationally.Chapters:(00:00) Introduction(03:20) Building a Buy-and-Build Consulting Platform(07:50) AI's Impact on Consulting and Sales Training(15:50) Scaling from £2M to £30M Revenue(19:40) Infrastructure, Systems, and Operational Control(26:00) What Private Equity Really Changes(33:20) Culture, Retention, and Integration in M&A(39:30) Common Sales Mistakes in Boutique ConsultanciesFollow Stuart on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuartpackham Alchemist Group Website:https://thisisalchemist.com RAIN Group Website:https://www.rainsalestraining.com Send us Fan MailProf. Joe O'Mahoney helps boutique consultancies scale and exit. Follow Joe on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeomahoney/Follow Joe on Twitter:https://twitter.com/joeomahoneyVisit Joe's Website:https://www.equitysherpa.com

Want to know how an electrician went from crushing debt, surviving a failed HVAC expansion, and nearly breaking under the pressure to posting a record $228,000 month and closing six-figure opportunities with confidence?This episode is one of the most honest conversations we've had on the Million Dollar Electrician Podcast.If you want the exact sales and options framework James used to transform his company,

Jake Brukman breaks down why a swarm of decentralized agents beat Google's quantum circuit research in a week, why decentralized training on consumer hardware is now provably cheaper than data centers, and why winning just 10% of AI training automatically locks in revenue from a $1 trillion inference market. He published this thesis in September 2022, before ChatGPT existed.Jake Brukman is Founder and CEO of CoinFund, an 11-year digital assets and decentralized AI investment firm.The Rollup is where the leaders of digital assets and finance converge. Live from the financial capital of the world.Timestamps00:00 AI Meets Decentralization Thesis02:44 Thesis Before ChatGPT Existed03:44 Consumer Devices Train Models04:29 100B Parameters Consumer Hardware06:45 Rise Of Authentic Swarms09:15 Swarms Outpaced Google Fast12:53 Inference Drives All Revenue13:13 $1T Inference Market 203114:53 Crypto Subsidizes AI Inference17:02 Win Training Win Inference20:47 Decentralized Training Now Cheaper22:49 Kirkland $500M Own Model28:39 Harnesses Collect Trace Data31:24 Co-Own Model Donate Traces33:10 Different From Past Web340:11 2.4B Monthly AI UsersGuest Socials:Jake Brukhman X: https://x.com/jbrukhCoinFund X: https://x.com/coinfundCoinFund Website: https://www.coinfund.io/Partners:Better than Banks. Transparent capital efficiency earning the highest yields in DeFi. Learn more here: https://infinifi.xyz/---Dinari - Over 230 1:1 backed tokenized stocks, ETFs & more with dividends. US-based SEC transfer agent. Available on 5+ chains & via API. https://dinari.com/---Relay is the fastest and most reliable way to swap any token on any chain. Learn more here: https://relay.link/bridge---Zama is an open source cryptography company that builds state-of-the-art Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) solutions for blockchain.Learn more here: https://www.zama.org/---Trezor is the creator of the first-ever hardware wallet. Securing crypto for 2M+ users worldwide. 100% open source. Learn more here: https://affil.trezor.io/aff_c?offer_id=133&aff_id=36664---

What if diagnosing PTSD, anxiety, and depression could be as objective as a blood test — done in 10 minutes on your phone?That's the vision behind Sensei, a company using AI and ocular biometrics to bring measurable, objective diagnostics to mental health. In this episode, host Deborah Westphal sits down with David Zakariaie, founder and CEO of Sensei, to talk about the science of the eye, a $2M technology problem solved with a commercial camera, and why fixing mental health starts with fixing measurement.Key TakeawaysMental health's biggest crisis isn't just a shortage of care — it's a measurement problem. Major depression, the most commonly diagnosed mental health condition in the U.S., is misdiagnosed approximately 65% of the time. PTSD, bipolar, and schizophrenia are misdiagnosed between 84–92% of the time.Sensei's diagnostic app shows patients a series of ocular stimuli for roughly 10.5 minutes, captures their eyes' responses via a standard smartphone camera, and outputs a binary diagnosis plus a severity score.The platform measures approximately 45 individual metrics across three categories: traditional ocular metrics (pupil size, blinks, saccades, gaze), iris dilator and sphincter dynamics (mapping sympathetic vs. parasympathetic nervous system activity), and heart rate and heart rate variability from facial video.Sensei is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials for a PTSD diagnostic, with an FDA submission planned for late 2025 and approval expected in 2027.About 16,000 people participated in pre-trial studies; the full dataset at submission is expected to reach approximately 30,000.The go-to-market strategy focuses on telehealth platform integration — partnering with companies like Spring Health, Talkspace, and BetterHelp to embed the diagnostic tool directly into existing care delivery workflows.Future expansion targets schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and ADHD, with longer-term interest in neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's and dementia.About David ZachariaDavid Zakariaie is the founder and CEO of Sensei, a mental health diagnostics company building the first FDA-regulatory-grade platform for diagnosing and monitoring PTSD, anxiety, and depression using AI-powered ocular biometrics. His path began at 15, when he attended Google I/O, received an early pair of Google Glass, and became fascinated with the scientific potential of the human eye. He left high school after 10th grade, taught himself to code, and launched the company in 2015.Resources & Links MentionedSensei: sensei.health (verify current URL)Mental Health Study (Phase 3 Trial Sign-Up): mentalhealthstudy.orgKaren Toffler Charitable Trust: tofflertrust.org (verify current URL)Parea Therapeutics (digital therapeutics reference)The CAPS-5 (Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale)The PCL-5 (PTSD Checklist for DSM-5)If You Enjoyed This EpisodeSubscribe to Research Renaissance wherever you listen to podcasts. If this conversation sparked something for you, share it with someone in healthcare, mental health advocacy, or neuroscience — this is the kind of work that needs more eyeballs on it.To learn more about the breakthroughs discussed in this episode and to support ongoing research, visit our website at tofflertrust.org. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.

Brian Szytel reports from West Palm Beach on a volatile market stretch driven by stronger-than-expected jobs data, renewed tech weakness, and Middle East uncertainty. The Dow rose 86 points while the S&P 500 fell 0.25% and the Nasdaq dropped 1%, as equal-weight S&P outperformed cap-weighted by over 100 bps and the 10-year yield fell to 4.52%. He notes the tech sector's nine-week 47% rally is seeing froth and sharp daily swings, alongside widening market breadth and sector rotation. Szytel urges investors to focus on fundamentals rather than popularity and dismisses warnings of simultaneous “cycle” peaks as largely unknowable and hindsight-driven. Economic updates include slightly softer NFIB optimism (still near historical average), a narrower April trade deficit to $55B, and existing home sales up 3.2% to about 4.2M. 00:00 Market Rollercoaster Recap 01:18 Tech Selloff And Rotation 02:16 Stick With Fundamentals 03:16 Ray Dalio Cycle Warnings 04:45 Quick Economic Calendar 05:39 Wrap Up And Sign Off Links mentioned in this episode: DividendCafe.com TheBahnsenGroup.com

Sponsored by Wella Professional https://us.wella.professionalstore.com/en-US/search?text=blondorplex https://us.wella.professionalstore.com/en-US/search?text=ultimate%20color https://www.cosmoprofbeauty.com/USA-045322.html# https://www.cosmoprofbeauty.com/USA-045043.html  Interview with Dusty Schlabach Dusty Schlabach, is a 20-year stylist empowering both curl specialists and the global curly hair community with an integrated ecosystem of resources, networks, and education that prioritize curly hair styling. Known to millions as “Curl Vision” Dusty is THE most influential Curl Specialist in the world (2M+ followers on social media). In building an entire ecosystem dedicated to curly hair with platforms like CurlVision and CurlMaps, and destinations like Thairapy, he's on a mission to redefine what it means to take care of people and their natural curly hair by challenging industry norms and empowering people to embrace the beauty of their natural texture… without compromise.  Today, he specializes in dry curly cuts that embrace the hair's natural texture and are uniquely tailored for each client. From real curly civilians as he calls them to creators and more (like the Kalogeras Sisters), Dusty takes a people-first approach to make people feel good and confident with the best version of their curly selves. In November 2025, he introduced the first-to-market salon concept that will forever change the access, cost and experience for those with curly hair (an unperfected market that is set to reach $15.7 billion by 2031) with the flagship opening of Curly Hair Salon in Fullerton, CA. In the 2k+ square foot salon there will be something unexpected – no sinks, no hot tools, no product application, and absolutely no brand merchandising or transactions. This salon will immediately fill the gap in the market by providing excellent and efficient curly, wavy, and coily hair haircuts at an accessible price point (under $100), with experienced curly hair specialists, with no waitlist and under 60-minute appointments. Links: https://www.instagram.com/curlvision/?hl=en  https://www.curlvision.com/ https://curlmaps.com/ https://www.instagram.com/curlyhairsalonn/?hl=en  https://ineedthairapy.com/  News from TheTease.com: https://www.thetease.com/martino-cartier-gushes-over-ga-ma-professionals-spherical-iqsfera-hair-dryer/ https://www.thetease.com/how-evanie-frausto-created-every-katseye-look-at-the-2026-amas/ Obsessed or Over It? Posting Your Cute Headshots Doing what you have to for the CONTENT Trusting Your Stylist More from TheTease.com   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/readthetease/ (readthetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volumeupbythetease/ (volumeupbythetease) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyehlers/ / (KellyEhlers) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eljeffreycraig/ (eljeffreycraig) Web: https://www.thetease.com (TheTease.com) Email: VolumeUp@TheTease.com   Credits: Volume Up is a Tease Media production. This episode was produced by Monica Hickey and Madeline Hickey. James Arbaje is our editor and audio engineer. Thank you to our creative team for putting together the graphics for this episode.   Thank you to the team who helped create our theme song. Show them some love and check out their other work! •Josh Landowski https://www.instagram.com/josh_landowski/

Sam Kazemian breaks down why the Genius Act's 120-day default acceptance is the most bullish structural change for compliant stablecoins, why you can't vibe code liquidity or DeFi integrations regardless of AI, and why the stablecoin supply step function could arrive in 6 to 8 months.Sam Kazemian is Founder of Frax Finance, the protocol behind FRAX USD, a Genius-compliant decentralized stablecoin operating system.The Rollup is where the leaders of digital assets and finance converge. Live from the financial capital of the world.Timestamps00:00 Genius Act Q1 202701:28 120-Day Default Acceptance03:40 FRAX USD Genius Compliant04:07 Biggest Stablecoin On Aave08:05 Can't Vibe Code Liquidity09:06 Investable DeFi Tokens Breakdown12:42 Two Types Of Stablecoins15:20 New On-Chain Assets Coming19:15 Supply Growth Drives Buybacks23:18 Reinvest Now Burn Later27:33 Institutional Players Move Slower28:41 Stablecoin Step FunctionGuest Socials:Sam Kazemian X: https://x.com/samkazemianFrax Finance X: https://x.com/FraxFinanceFrax Finance Website: https://frax.com/Partners:Better than Banks. Transparent capital efficiency earning the highest yields in DeFi. Learn more here: https://infinifi.xyz/---Dinari - Over 230 1:1 backed tokenized stocks, ETFs & more with dividends. US-based SEC transfer agent. Available on 5+ chains & via API. https://dinari.com/---Relay is the fastest and most reliable way to swap any token on any chain. Learn more here: https://relay.link/bridge---Zama is an open source cryptography company that builds state-of-the-art Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) solutions for blockchain.Learn more here: https://www.zama.org/---Trezor is the creator of the first-ever hardware wallet. Securing crypto for 2M+ users worldwide. 100% open source. Learn more here: https://affil.trezor.io/aff_c?offer_id=133&aff_id=36664---

Send us Fan MailSixteen years as a physician entrepreneur across five businesses taught Dr. Una one thing. Challenges never stop coming. What changes is how you meet them.

If you've ever felt like your business problems were strategy problems, this episode will flip that completely. Dr. Kasey Jo Orvidas sits down with her mentors James and Jenni Wedmore for a conversation about what business breakthroughs actually require, and why the internal work isn't separate from the business work. In this episode, they cover:What a business breakthrough actually is and why it almost never looks like what you expectWhy every problem in your business starts as a problem of the mind, and what to do with thatHow James took his business from $2M to $10M in one yearWhat you're avoiding in your business, why you're avoiding it, and what that's costing youWhy the "uncoachable client" label says more about the coach than the clientA practical experiment for the skeptical, analytical person who wants to see if the internal work actually matters If you've been wondering why the strategy isn't working even when you're doing everything right, this conversation is for you. Register for the free Business Breakthrough Experience (June 11) Connect with us on Instagram: @coachkaseyjo @jameswedmore@jenniwedmore

Welcome to this week's episode of the PEBCAK Podcast!  We've got four amazing stories this week so sit back, relax, and keep being awesome!  Be sure to stick around for our Dad Joke of the Week. (DJOW) Follow us on Instagram @pebcakpodcast   Please share this podcast with someone you know!  It helps us grow the podcast and we really appreciate it!   Simple 6 signup link https://simple6.co/r/CFUR98   Meta's AI support bot was weaponized to hijack Instagram accounts, including the Obama White House page, by tricking it into adding attacker-controlled emails during password resets. https://x.com/zachxbt/status/2061251183675949365?s=46 https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/instagram-users-locked-out-after-meta-ai-abused-to-steal-accounts/ https://krebsonsecurity.com/2026/06/hackers-used-metas-ai-support-bot-to-seize-instagram-accounts/ Meta's AI customer support bot was socially engineered into resetting account passwords for targets, exposing the new attack surface that AI-powered support creates — and enabling hijacks that MFA would have blocked.   A Google security engineer was arrested and charged with insider trading after using confidential "Year in Search" data to pocket $1.2M on the prediction market Polymarket. https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/us-charges-google-security-engineer-with-polymarket-insider-trading/ Operating under the alias "AlphaRaccoon," Michele Spagnuolo went 22-for-23 on Google search trend bets using nonpublic internal data — marking the second high-profile Polymarket insider trading arrest this year, following a Special Forces soldier who bet on the Maduro raid he was part of.   New data shows 55% of companies regret their AI-driven layoffs, with half already quietly reversing them — the so-called "Layoff Boomerang." https://medium.com/@curiouser.ai/the-great-ai-layoff-boomerang-68e38c88fa7d Forrester, Gartner, and PwC data confirm the "replace humans with AI" thesis is failing: companies that cut aggressively are scrambling to rehire at higher cost, while firms that augmented their workers are seeing 3x revenue growth per employee.   Google's Verily is seeking EPA approval to release up to 64 million Wolbachia-infected male mosquitoes in Florida and California to crash disease-carrying mosquito populations. https://x.com/bulltheoryio/status/2060810332831129782?s=46 https://www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2026/06/04/google-mosquito-release-florida-california/90384899007/ The Debug Project's sterile male mosquitoes mate with wild females but produce no viable eggs — a technique that's already shown 80–90% suppression of Aedes aegypti in prior trials and has the internet predictably losing its mind.   Dad Joke of the Week (DJOW)   Find the hosts on LinkedIn: Chris - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chlouie/ Glenn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennmedina/ Raja - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajazkhalid/

This week, Ivy Slater, host of Her Success Story, chats with her guest, Sarah Hubbard. The two talk about the challenges and surprises of building a successful career in the mortgage industry, the power of authentic relationship-building in a sales-driven, male-dominated field, and how Sarah's work, including her book The Intentional Networker, empowers professionals to find networking strategies that align with their strengths and values. In this episode, we discuss: How Sarah transitioned from a planned career in physical therapy to joining the mortgage industry after facing unexpected setbacks in her original path. What pivotal advice from an experienced mentor inspired Sarah to align her business approach with her personal strengths and values, leading to greater satisfaction and results. When Sarah realized that the quality, not quantity, of relationships yields deeper success and business joy, focusing on a smaller, trusted network rather than chasing numbers. Why mindset is crucial in overcoming setbacks and avoiding a "desperate" approach in business, with Sarah sharing personal stories of financial and emotional struggles early in her career. How relationship-building became Sarah's core strategy for success and growth in her industry, rather than relying on traditional sales tactics like direct mailers. S a r a h H u b b a r d T h e R e l a t i o n s h i p S t r a t e g i s t  Sarah built a $2M+ business where 85% of revenue comes from referral partnerships-no cold calling, no paid advertising, just strategic relationship building. Now she teaches the exact system she used to build this referral-based empire. Her methodology has been tested by 500+ professionals across industries, generating millions in documented referral revenue.  Website: https://sarah-hubbard.com/ Social Media Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-hubbard-flannery/      

Ali quit his job a few months after ChatGPT launched, convinced AI would eat labor marketplaces like Upwork. With no co-founder and no code, he collected $12K from real customers—using a faked demo and a cloned voice. Then he pitched 100 VCs in 10 days and got 47 straight 'no's.In this episode, Ali breaks down how he banked $12K in revenue before writing a single line of code, how a $20/month Slack community drove Amigo's first $1M in ARR, and why he churned every existing customer to go all-in on $100K+ healthcare enterprise deals.Why You Should ListenWhy validation only counts when dollars exchange hands.How a $20/month paid community turned into $1M in ARR.Why he refunded every customer and churned 100% of his revenue.Why founders must sell the first $2M themselves before hiring an AE.Keywords startup podcast, startup podcast for founders, product market fit, finding pmf, AI agents, healthcare AI, enterprise sales, pre-seed fundraising, community-led growth, customer validation, pivot, Amigo AIChapters00:00:00 Intro00:08:37 From Upwork to Starting Amigo00:13:30 $12K in Revenue Before Writing Code00:23:24 Pitching 100 VCs in 10 Days00:30:20 47 No's—Then FOMO Took Over00:37:12 The $20/Month Community Behind the First $1M00:45:47 Churning 100% of Revenue on Purpose00:01:49 The Moment of True Product Market FitSend me a message to let me know what you think!

DeFi Dad breaks down why lighter's ETH escape hatch makes it the most underrated security feature versus HyperLiquid, why RWA tokenization will eventually eclipse all native crypto tokens by market cap, and why ETH staking yield is effectively the native T-bills rate of the entire DeFi economy. The most convicted ETH bull case you'll hear right now.DeFi Dad is one of the most prominent long-term ETH advocates and DeFi content creators in the space.The Rollup is where the leaders of digital assets and finance converge. Live from the financial capital of the world.Timestamps:01:15 Lighter Vs Hyperliquid04:22 DeFi Exploit Risk Reality05:58 DeFi Dad's Portfolio07:32 Ethereum's DeFi Dominance11:09 Exploits And AI Vulnerabilities14:55 Stani New Protocol Rumors17:38 Tom Lee BitMine Preferred Shares19:46 STRK Vs BitMine Compared23:19 ETH Burn And Issuance Debate25:10 Staking Yield As Native Rate29:23 DeFi Dad's ETH Stack Story31:54 ETH Bull Price Targets35:00 Return To Quality AssetsGuest Socials:DeFi Dad X: https://x.com/DeFi_DadThe Edge Podcast X: https://x.com/Edge_PodThe Edge Podcast Website: https://www.the-edge.xyz/Partners:Better than Banks. Transparent capital efficiency earning the highest yields in DeFi. Learn more here: https://infinifi.xyz/---Dinari - Over 230 1:1 backed tokenized stocks, ETFs & more with dividends. US-based SEC transfer agent. Available on 5+ chains & via API. https://dinari.com/---Relay is the fastest and most reliable way to swap any token on any chain. Learn more here: https://relay.link/bridge---Zama is an open source cryptography company that builds state-of-the-art Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) solutions for blockchain.Learn more here: https://www.zama.org/---Trezor is the creator of the first-ever hardware wallet. Securing crypto for 2M+ users worldwide. 100% open source. Learn more here: https://affil.trezor.io/aff_c?offer_id=133&aff_id=36664---

Chris Camillo turned $20,000 into over $70M using a strategy anyone can learn. In this episode, he shares his exact strategy, and why AI now makes this the biggest opportunity of your lifetime. Try Vanta Today: https://Vanta.com/calum Want to get the Chris Camillo Observational Investing Guide, subscribe to New Era, our weekly newsletter: https://calumjohnsonshowlinks.lovable.app/ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 02:39 Why now is the easiest time in history to get rich 07:14 Why the game is rigged in your favor 11:11 How AI does the hardest part of investing 14:32 Watch this if you're unhappy with your 9-5 22:40 The $70M strategy anyone can learn 27:54 How I turned $20k into $2M in 3 years 33:14 The trade that cost me 1/3 of my net worth 36:35 The money trick the top 1% use 41:42 How much money do you need to start investing? 55:00 Why AI will create more jobs 01:00:22 The business anyone could build right now 01:06:30 What is an AI agent? (clearly explained) 01:16:17 How to start with AI if you're not technical

Mark Walker has been a litigator, a music industry lawyer, and a repeat SaaS founder — and he's now CEO of Nue, the revenue orchestration platform quietly running the billing stack for most of the major AI companies you've heard of.We get into why customers come to you looking for reasons not to buy, how one Nue customer had $2M unbilled and didn't know it, when Stripe is genuinely enough and when it isn't, why seat-based pricing was never really right — and what Mark thinks are the only real moats left in SaaS.For SaaS founders thinking about pricing, billing complexity, or what their revenue stack should look like as they scale.In this episode: → Why customers come looking for reasons not to buy → How to find and fix revenue leakage (one customer: $2M unbilled) → When to invest in revenue infrastructure — and when Stripe is enough → Why seat-based pricing was never the right model → Lessons from selling his last company → Why distribution and data are the only real moats left----------- Episode's Chapters -----------0:24 — Introduction: Mark's Unconventional Path to SaaS1:08 — First Startup Blanketware: Ahead of Its Time3:21 — What Is Nue? Revenue Orchestration Explained4:27 — Who's Running Nue: The AI Company Client List5:44 — Pricing for the Fastest-Growing Companies in the World9:13 — When to Invest in Revenue Infrastructure16:08 — How to Price Your Product (and Stop Leaving Money on the Table)22:40 — Usage-Based Pricing: Hype or Reality?26:48 — Revenue Leakage: What It Is and Why It's Costing You Millions35:36 — Lessons from Acquisitions and Exits39:19 — Biggest Failure and Biggest Win44:08 — The Hack: Sell by Addressing What They're Afraid Of

Are you a firm owner trying to break past that next big growth plateau? Many managing partners and bookkeeping firm owners find themselves stuck in the daily grind, struggling to build a practice that can survive independent of their personal production.   In this episode of Growing Your Firm, host Dave Cristello sits down with Adam Shay, CPA, a dad, entrepreneur, and high-performance firm coach. Adam pulls back the curtain on his own journey of building, scaling, and ultimately selling a multimillion-dollar accounting firm. Today, through Share the Knowledge LLC, he helps fellow owners design companies built with intention—and positioned perfectly for a future exit.   Whether you are an operations manager trying to optimize workflow or a CPA starting a firm from scratch, this episode offers practical, data-driven strategies to maximize structural efficiency.   In this episode, we unpack: The Firm Snapshot: What Adam's firm looked like two years prior to a successful sale (10 team members and nearly $2M in revenue). Ditching the Compliance Trap: Moving clients to a mandatory high-value advisory package that features proactive tax planning. The "Broken Process Document": Adam's highly practical, low-friction Google Sheets strategy that empowers teams to log workflow bottlenecks as they happen. Capacity & Staff Ownership: How to encourage senior team members to bring proposed solutions rather than just dumping problems on management. The Multiplier Mindset: Key metrics to track weekly, including labor efficiency ratios and technical rework percentages. A Candid Look at M&A: The real-world nuances of working with specialized brokers and navigating post-merger transition periods.   Featured Guest: Adam Shay  

Dragonfly's Haseeb Qureshi breaks down why Bitcoin is not an honest macro asset, why domestic perps will disappoint compared to offshore, and why BNB has been outearning Hyperliquid for years yet nobody wants to talk about it. The most contrarian read on digital assets you'll hear this week.Haseeb Qureshi is Managing Partner at Dragonfly, a leading digital assets venture capital firm.The Rollup is where the leaders of digital assets and finance converge. Live from the financial capital of the world.Timestamps00:00 Bloody Day Market Recap02:21 Bitcoin Not Honest Macro03:39 Retail Left The Market04:56 Revenue Beats Crypto Beta07:00 HL Regulatory Risk Explained09:34 Domestic Perps Different Product12:07 Why Perps Were Invented15:42 HL Lighter Most Investable?17:56 BNB Beats Hyperliquid Revenue19:36 Markets Are Forward Looking23:03 L1 Fee Paradox Explained27:34 OpenAI Enterprise Fee Model29:14 Fundamentals Great Prices LaggingGuest Socials:Haseeb X: https://x.com/hosseebDragonfly X: https://x.com/dragonfly_xyzDragonfly Website: https://www.dragonfly.xyz/Partners:Better than Banks. Transparent capital efficiency earning the highest yields in DeFi. Learn more here: https://infinifi.xyz/---APYX - Enhanced Digital Credit Yield, Onchain | On Track to Become the Largest Holder of STRC. https://apyx.fi/---Dinari - Over 230 1:1 backed tokenized stocks, ETFs & more with dividends. US-based SEC transfer agent. Available on 5+ chains & via API. https://dinari.com/---Relay is the fastest and most reliable way to swap any token on any chain. Learn more here: https://relay.link/bridge---Zama is an open source cryptography company that builds state-of-the-art Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) solutions for blockchain.Learn more here: https://www.zama.org/---Trezor is the creator of the first-ever hardware wallet. Securing crypto for 2M+ users worldwide. 100% open source. Learn more here: https://affil.trezor.io/aff_c?offer_id=133&aff_id=36664---

Illia and Mert break down why the Zcash situation is a known ZK circuit trade-off and not the infinite mint catastrophe the market priced in, why Project Tachyon's formal verification is the most bullish upgrade in Zcash history, and why NEAR Intents generated $150K in a single volatile day, buying back NEAR while everyone else was selling.Illia Polosukhin is Co-Founder of NEAR Protocol, and Mert is Co-Founder of Helius, a leading Solana infrastructure platform.The Rollup is where the leaders of digital assets and finance converge. Live from the financial capital of the world.Timestamps00:00 Zcash Exploit Or Not?00:41 ZK Circuit Risk Explained02:32 Why ZEC Price Dropped03:48 Zcash Sapling Pool 201905:22 No Infinite Mint Evidence06:31 Formal Verification Is Solution08:05 Project Tachyon Quantum Proof11:18 AI Vulnerability Armageddon Coming17:02 Zcash Optional Transparency Explained21:08 NEAR Intents ZEC Inflow24:35 Bear Case Worst Scenario30:01 NEAR Profits On Volatility33:43 Arthur Dumped NEAR ReactionGuest Socials:Mert Mumtaz X: https://x.com/mertHelius X: https://x.com/heliusHelius Website: https://www.helius.dev/Illia Polosukhin X: https://x.com/ilblackdragonNEAR Protocol X: https://x.com/NEARProtocolNEAR Protocol Website: https://www.near.org/Partners:Better than Banks. Transparent capital efficiency earning the highest yields in DeFi. Learn more here: https://infinifi.xyz/---APYX - Enhanced Digital Credit Yield, Onchain | On Track to Become the Largest Holder of STRC. https://apyx.fi/---Dinari - Over 230 1:1 backed tokenized stocks, ETFs & more with dividends. US-based SEC transfer agent. Available on 5+ chains & via API. https://dinari.com/---Relay is the fastest and most reliable way to swap any token on any chain. Learn more here: https://relay.link/bridge---Zama is an open source cryptography company that builds state-of-the-art Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) solutions for blockchain.Learn more here: https://www.zama.org/---Trezor is the creator of the first-ever hardware wallet. Securing crypto for 2M+ users worldwide. 100% open source. Learn more here: https://affil.trezor.io/aff_c?offer_id=133&aff_id=36664---

Book a free strategy call with CertainPath to see how we can help you hit your goals and beyond: https://bit.ly/4b0wLaZ Or call us at: (214) 453-1591 $17 million in residential HVAC sales. One comfort advisor in Boise, Idaho. Here's how Cord Nichols sells the top-tier system — every time. Cord Nichols isn't a closer who shows up Friday with a quote book. He's a comfort advisor at Diamond Heating & Cooling in Boise, Idaho — and he's quietly sold roughly $17 million in residential HVAC, including $2.25 million last year alone. He's a 7x Crown Champion at CertainPath, the program's top sales tier. Cord didn't start in HVAC. His first sales job was door-to-door — security in his early twenties. He moved to Utah looking for a wife, found her, then sold solar door-to-door before the solar industry tightened in the mid-2010s. Wanting a trade he could "sink his teeth into" — and not be a one-trick pony — he approached Diamond cold. He'd never sold HVAC. But owners Rick and Sue Ellen hired him for his sales background. Today he's a Dave Ramsey debt-free dad of four (with a fifth on the way) who recently paid off his mortgage — all on residential HVAC sales. In this episode, Cord walks Bob Houchin through the exact playbook — every question he asks, every option he names, every word he uses — for turning a single in-home consultation into a top-tier HVAC sale. In this conversation, you'll discover: • The $17M reveal — and the on-camera moment where Bob puts the career number on record • Why Cord opens every options reveal by repeating the customer's own words back to them • The Kia-vs-Toyota framing he uses to explain tiered HVAC systems in 30 seconds • The "Is there any reason I can't ask for your business today?" close — and the three answers it always produces • Why Cord names options after the customer's hobbies (the "14-Point Buck" move) • The clipboard intro that disarms skeptical homeowners ("I'm just going to be taking some notes") • "I am your one throat to choke" — the post-sale handoff line that earns lifelong customers  Whether you're a comfort advisor working to break $2M for the first time, a sales manager building a residential HVAC playbook, or an owner trying to understand what consistent top-tier closing looks like — Cord's process is a masterclass in trust-first, conviction-led HVAC sales. Watch on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform. And don't forget to subscribe to The Successful Contractor for more interviews that move the needle. About The Successful Contractor is a podcast for residential HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and roofing contractors. Hosted by Bob Houchin, each episode features real contractor growth stories, hard-won business insights, and practical takeaways for building a profitable home services company. Meet the Guest Cord Nichols is a comfort advisor at Diamond Heating & Cooling — a family-owned, values-based HVAC company in Boise, Idaho, founded by Rick and Sue Ellen. After several years selling door-to-door (security in his early twenties, then solar in Utah and Idaho), Cord joined Diamond with zero HVAC experience and a strong sales background. He's now a 7x CertainPath Crown Champion with roughly $17 million in residential HVAC sales — including $2.25 million in his most recent year. He lives in Boise with his wife and four kids (with a fifth on the way) and recently paid off his mortgage as a Dave Ramsey debt-free family. Connect CertainPath: https://www.mycertainpath.com Show Notes The Successful Contractor Podcast is part of the CertainPath family. CertainPath is a business coaching program for residential HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and roofing contractors. For 25 years, we've helped contractors double their revenue, hit 20% net profit, and build teams that stay. With proven systems, professional coaching, software solutions, and a member community of 1,200+ strong — Success is Made Certain. Visit www.mycertainpath.com for more information. FOLLOW CERTAINPATH: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CertainPath LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/certainpath Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certainpath/

Sal Ternullo joins this episode of AI Supercycle and breaks down why NEAR is a very unique asset in digital assets right now, how intents are building toward a real-economy TAM that dwarfs crypto-to-crypto swaps, and why the path to NEAR going deflationary is closer than the market thinks. The institutional inbound is at record levels, and the market is finally catching up, or so he says.Sal Ternullo is CEO of SVRN, a development company dedicated to growing the NEAR Protocol ecosystem.The Rollup is where the leaders of digital assets and finance converge. Live from the financial capital of the world.Timestamps00:49 Institutional Inbound Explained02:28 Bitcoin Negative Correlation04:35 NEAR Investment Thesis Evolution06:16 NEAR AI Stack08:29 Bear Case And Risks09:56 Venice Integration Breakdown11:27 Path To Deflation14:18 Intents Fee Model Analysis15:51 Fee Structure Vs Volume17:46 Confidential Intents Premium19:42 Token Buyback Pre-CommitmentGuest Socials:Sal Ternullo X: https://x.com/sal_ternulloSVRN X: https://x.com/svrn_aiSVRN Website: https://svrn.net/Partners:Better than Banks. Transparent capital efficiency earning the highest yields in DeFi. Learn more here: https://infinifi.xyz/---APYX - Enhanced Digital Credit Yield, Onchain | On Track to Become the Largest Holder of STRC. https://apyx.fi/---Dinari - Over 230 1:1 backed tokenized stocks, ETFs & more with dividends. US-based SEC transfer agent. Available on 5+ chains & via API. https://dinari.com/---Relay is the fastest and most reliable way to swap any token on any chain. Learn more here: https://relay.link/bridge---Zama is an open source cryptography company that builds state-of-the-art Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) solutions for blockchain.Learn more here: https://www.zama.org/---Trezor is the creator of the first-ever hardware wallet. Securing crypto for 2M+ users worldwide. 100% open source. Learn more here: https://affil.trezor.io/aff_c?offer_id=133&aff_id=36664---

Most recruiters think AI is coming for someone else's desk. Riece Keck isn't so sure. Two years ago he said AI wouldn't replace great recruiters, but it would replace the mediocre ones sooner than anyone wanted to admit. He still stands by it, and he thinks we're a lot closer now than we were then. He's also taking the stage at the AI Recruiting Summit 2026 to go even deeper on this, so if today's episode lands, that's where you see it built live: https://ai-recruiting-summit-2026.heysummit.com/ This conversation is the proof. Riece built a tech recruiting agency to a $1.2M year, then watched it nearly die twice before it folded into a merger for a token amount. He stepped away during a brutal personal stretch, then cold-started the whole thing again in early 2025, and billed roughly $800K in his first year back without leaning on his old client list. The difference the second time wasn't more hustle. It was systems. Riece walks Benjamin through the no-code BD engine he built end to end: scraping job boards on a daily auto-run, identifying the right hiring managers, enriching the contacts, drafting the outreach, and dripping it out, all while he sleeps. He breaks down how he uses funding signals, new-hire signals, and backfill signals to reach companies at the exact moment they're hurting, and how he's now rebuilding the entire stack inside Claude Code with MCP connections so an agent runs his ATS and his sourcing for him. But this isn't a go-all-in-on-tech sermon. Riece is just as direct about the other lane: if your zone of genius is relationships, build the offline communities that pull you out of the LinkedIn noise everyone else is drowning in. The one move he says gets you crushed in 2026 is staying in the middle, the undifferentiated recruiter who takes a job order, fires off templated outreach, and hopes. You'll also hear how he turned strategic referral partnerships into a steady deal source, why persona-based messaging quietly outperforms everything else in the inbox, and what he'd tell a recruiter trying to go from average to elite right now. If you've ever watched your desk go to zero and wondered if there's another side to it, this one is for you. There is. The recruiters who reinvent now are the ones crushing it in 2028. This episode is powered by Atlas, the AI-first recruitment platform built to eliminate the admin that eats your day. Atlas captures every candidate conversation automatically and turns it into something you can actually use. Ask it who mentioned wanting a four-day week or who's open to relocating next year, and Magic Search pulls the answer from your entire database instantly. No keyword guessing, no digging through old notes. Atlas customers have reported over 40% EBITDA growth and over 80% more monthly billings after switching. Unlock your exclusive listener offer at recruitwithatlas.com. Also brought to you by Millee, the AI deal strategist that turns the gut feel of big billers into real-time guidance on every live process. Millee preps you before every call and drafts your high-caliber follow-ups so you lead from the first minute. Try it free at millee.ai.

Matt Cole is the CEO of Strive Asset Management. In this conversation, we break down digital credit — what it is, how it works, and why it could be the most important asset in the transition from fiat to a bitcoin future. We discuss the mechanics of Strive's SATA product, dividend structures, Michael Saylor's decision to sell bitcoin, and why a thriving ecosystem of digital credit issuers is better for bitcoin long-term.====================Simple Mining makes Bitcoin mining simple and accessible for everyone. We offer a premium white glove hosting service, helping you maximize the profitability of Bitcoin mining. For more information on Simple Mining or to get started mining Bitcoin, visit https://www.simplemining.io/pomp====================Bitget (https://bitget.com/promotion/futures-tradfi?channelCode=regd&vipCode=nkew) is the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX) (https://bitget.com/promotion/futures-tradfi?channelCode=regd&vipCode=nkew), serving over 125 million users with access to over 2M+ crypto tokens, and TradFi markets such as 100+ tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, FX and precious metal like Gold. At launch, users can trade 79 instruments with USDT directly with the App. Users can also enjoy high liquidity and low slippage, while trading these assets with up to 500x leverage. For more information on Bitget TradFi, visit this article (https://bitget.com/support/articles/12560603846859). For more information, visit: Website (https://bitget.com/) | Twitter (https://x.com/bitget) | Telegram (https://t.me/BitgetENOfficial) | LinkedIn (https://linkedin.com/company/bitget-global/) | Discord (https://discord.com/invite/bitget) For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com====================Arch Public is an agentic trading platform that automates the buying and selling of your preferred crypto strategies. Sign up today at https://www.archpublic.com and start your automated trading strategy for free. No catch. No hidden fees. Just smarter trading.====================0:00 - Intro0:41 - What is digital credit & what problem does it solve?5:17 - How the carry trade works8:48 - Daily dividends & dividend structure10:52 - Downside risk & balance sheet protection16:18 - The strongest critique of digital credit19:32 - Michael Saylor selling bitcoin27:03 - Bitcoin price action vs. bullish headlines31:32 - Where is digital credit taking capital from?36:44 - Banks, Jamie Dimon & systemic risk38:52 - Strive vs. Strategy42:38 - Too much bitcoin held by public companies?48:33 - Strive's mission & the road ahead

Sarah Hubbard is the founder of The Intentional Network and the upcoming author of The Intentional Networker (releasing January 2026). After building a $2M+ business where 85% of revenue comes from referral partnerships—no cold calling, no paid ads—Sarah knows firsthand that real business growth doesn't come from vanity metrics on social media, it comes from strategic relationships that convert. Her MAPP Framework has been tested by 500+ professionals across industries, helping them turn networking from awkward small talk into a repeatable system that generates qualified referrals and revenue. Sarah teaches entrepreneurs how to stop chasing engagement and start building relationships that actually close deals.Connect with Sarah here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-hubbard-flannery/https://www.facebook.com/sarah.hubbard.638116https://sarah-hubbard.com/Take our LinkedIn Scorecard Here:https://www.thetimetogrow.com/ecs-scorecard

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The I Love CVille Show headlines: Elk Hill School Buys 321 Hillsdale Dr For $3.4M (05/26) City Of CVille Buys 2000 Holiday Dr For $6.2M (11/25) Compare/Contrast: 321 Hillsdale Dr To 2000 Holiday Dr Woodard Properties Proposing 5-Story Bldg On Cherry Services Or Housing: What Do Homeless Really Need? Jeff Council Offers Insight Into Jim Ryan & UVA Health The I Love CVille Show Will Be Off-Air Friday, June 5 50 Stories Per Month At JerryRatcliffe.com For Only $8 Read Viewer & Listener Comments Live On-Air The I Love CVille Show airs live Monday – Friday from 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm on The I Love CVille Network. Watch and listen to The I Love CVille Show on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, iTunes, Apple Podcast, YouTube, Spotify, Fountain, Amazon Music, Audible, Rumble and iLoveCVille.com.

Live from Consensus 2026 in Miami, we're joined by Russ Davis - "In Russ We Trust" - one of the co-founders of Shiba Inu, the meme coin that changed everything.Russ tells the full story: from passing on Doge in 2016 (a decision that would've been worth $15 million), to taking over Shiba's marketing in February 2021 when it was stuck at a $2M market cap, to watching it explode to $40 billion in eight months.This episode is sponsored by FirstRead — the AI-powered legal assistant that reads, marks up, and chats through contracts right inside your Word document. If you're a founder, builder, or anyone dealing with legal agreements, FirstRead is a game-changer.

Is the U.S. on the verge of breaking the Iranian regime? In this packed episode of The Brian Kilmeade Show, Brian sits down with Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan to unpack the true state of the U.S. economy, gas prices, and a massive new $2M commitment to veterans for the World Cup. Plus, political heavyweights Brit Hume and Karl Rove join the show to dissect the absolute chaos unfolding in the midterm primaries—from California's stunning "independent lurch" to Maine's catastrophic Democratic candidates. Finally, sports columnist Ian O'Connor drops by to preview the high-stakes Knicks vs. Spurs NBA Finals matchup.   [00:00:00] Brian Moynihan   [00:18:26] Brit Hume   [00:36:50] Allen West   [00:47:40] Sen. Rick Scott   [00:55:13] Ian O'Connor   [01:13:38] Karl Rove   [01:32:02] Martha MacCallum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's show special guest co-host Andy Boyd joins Patrick Gray and James Wilson to discuss the week's cybersecurity news. Andy is the CEO of REDLattice, which makes the Paragon “intelligence collection and reconnaissance” solution. They cover: Adversaries are tracking US troop locations with commercially available location data A new Signal phishing campaign is going after message backups 404 Media is suing ICE to get its spyware contract with REDLattice (lol) Microsoft's tone-deaf response to ‘never justifiable' zero-day disclosures Mini Shai-Hulud pops up again just as Glassworm gets shattered Much, much more This week's episode is sponsored by Authentik, an open source identity platform that you can host yourself. In this week's sponsor interview Authentik's CEO Fletcher Heisler joins Patrick Gray to talk about how they're keeping up with the bugpocalypse, and also the work they're doing to support identities for AI agents. This episode is also available on YouTube. Show notes The Pentagon Knew Enemies Could Track Troops' Phones for Years. Now They Are | wired.com U.S. says troops were targeted with location data, as senator warns ad industry is a ‘national security threat' | TechCrunch Security DOD location data attachment (Wyden) | Risky Business #830 -- LiteLLM and security scanner supply chains compromised | Risky Business Media US has seized nearly $1 billion in crypto from Iran, Bessent says | Russia claims foreign spy agencies hacked officials' phones | therecord.media Hackers are trying to steal Signal users' backups in new wave of phishing attacks | TechCrunch Security We Sued ICE to Get Its Spyware Contract. The Agency Is Redacting Essentially Everything | Social Signals Microsoft calls zero-day releases ‘never justifiable' as researcher threatens to drop more | therecord.media A shared responsibility: Protecting customers through Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure | Social Signals Microsoft says it will not pursue security researchers after zero-day backlash | therecord.media IBM's new $5B initiative will help enterprises rapidly patch open-source vulnerabilities | Social Signals Federal audit reveals NIST's NVD is plagued by poor planning and duplication | cyberscoop.com Hackers Used Meta's AI Support Bot to Seize Instagram Accounts | krebsonsecurity.com Critical Windows Netlogon RCE flaw now exploited in attacks | BleepingComputer CISA adds exploited Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect flaw to KEV | Cybersecurity Dive Password manager Dashlane says hackers stole some customers' password vaults | TechCrunch Security CrowdStrike disrupts Glassworm botnet that preyed on open-source supply chain | cyberscoop.com Botnet of more than 17 million devices dismantled | arstechnica.com Chinese-speaking fraud gang could be stealing millions from 2026 World Cup fans | therecord.media ACCC investigating Olympics ticket scam | ABC Dozens of Red Hat packages backdoored through its offical NPM channel | arstechnica.com Solo podcast: A deep dive on TeamPCP - Risky Business Media | Trump administration releases scaled-back AI executive order | cyberscoop.com Google security engineer accused of turning confidential search trends into $1.2M win on Polymarket | cyberscoop.com

Virginia Tech backs Hokie Ventures with $15.2M interest-free loan, Wright State AD search update, Minnesota AD Mark Coyle on finances & hockey and more.We would love to know what you think of the show and you can let us know on social media @D1ticker.If you are not subscribed to D1.ticker, you can and should subscribe at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.d1ticker.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Rafael is the Founder and CEO of Share It Studio, a leading creative agency that helps Amazon and Walmart sellers turn data into powerful visual storytelling. Under his leadership, Share It Studio has worked with hundreds of top-performing e-commerce brands, blending creativity with analytics to craft product images, videos, and A+ content that actually convert.Before founding Share It Studio, Rafael built a career in film and marketing, becoming a 3-time Telly Award–winning entrepreneur. He's passionate about helping brands optimize their listings, understand their buyers, and stand out in competitive marketplaces. Highlight Bullets> Here's a glimpse of what you would learn…. Ben Leonard's entrepreneurial journey with Beast Gear, from initial investment to seven-figure exit.Challenges faced after selling Beast Gear to Thrasio, including mismanagement and loss of brand identity.Importance of effective inventory management and the consequences of overleveraging.The significance of building a genuine consumer brand beyond basic Amazon tactics.The role of intellectual property protection and the impact of neglecting it.Insights on the operational difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on e-commerce.Strategies for diversifying sales channels and avoiding dependency on a single platform.The importance of quality in products and overall business operations.Marketing strategies for brand awareness, including the use of influencers and social media.Lessons learned from reacquiring and reviving a brand in a competitive market.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley speaks with Rafael Veloz, founder of ShareIt Studio, about optimizing Amazon product listings through visual storytelling. Rafael discusses the nuanced impact of AI-generated images, emphasizing that authenticity often outperforms polished visuals — demonstrated by a shoe cleaner brand scaling from $400K to $12M monthly. He advocates for a full-funnel marketing approach beyond PPC, continuous image testing, and integrating AI tools strategically. Rafaell also highlights the importance of emotional connection in content creation and recommends building strong internal creative teams to drive sustainable e-commerce growth.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Prioritize authenticity over polish Test raw, real-looking visuals (UGC-style, iPhone shots)—they often convert better than high-end production. Systematize testing with data Validate images using tools and customer feedback before scaling; continuously test and iterate based on performance. Build a dedicated creative strategy team Don't rely on freelancers—invest in a creative lead and team to consistently produce, test, and optimize high-converting content.Timestamps:00:00:01 Authenticity vs. Professionalism in AdsOrganic, real-feeling content can perform twice as well as high-end professional videos, depending on the product's industry.00:00:50 Podcast and Guest IntroductionHost Josh Hadley introduces the topic of AI images on Amazon and welcomes guest Rafael Veloz from ShareIt Studio.00:02:27 Are AI Images Hurting Amazon Listings?AI images can hurt sales if used incorrectly, as they can lower the "perceived value" for emotionally-driven products.00:04:01 The Shoe Cleaner Case StudyA shoe cleaner brand grew from $400K to $1.2M a month by focusing on authentic, emotional content.00:06:26 How to Test and Update Main ImagesAnalyze competitor reviews for emotional triggers, create multiple main images, and test them both off and on Amazon regularly.00:12:01 Building a System for Creative ContentInstead of "hacks," build a system. Constantly track competitors' rankings, reviews, and image changes to stay ahead.00:14:33 Optimizing Creatives for PPC CampaignsCreate different ad creatives for different PPC campaigns and keywords to reduce wasted ad spend and improve conversions.00:16:55 Driving External Traffic to AmazonAmazon now rewards external traffic. Don't just focus on TikTok; create content that connects to specific buying intentions.00:19:34 Connecting Creative and Media Buying TeamsYour creative team and PPC (media buying) team must work together to create a cohesive and effective marketing strategy.00:22:28 Using AI to Build a CommunityCreate AI-generated personas and avatars on social media to build a community and drive traffic to your product listings.00:25:44 The Process for Creating Viral ContentA strategist analyzes the market, a script is developed, and a mix of organic and AI video is used.00:27:36 Final Advice: Embrace AIDon't fear AI. Hire team members dedicated to exploring and implementing new AI tools to stay competitive.00:28:40 Actionable Takeaway 1: Marketing Efficiency RatioStop focusing only on ACoS. Adopt the Marketing Efficiency Ratio (MER) to measure your total marketing spend against revenue.00:31:03 Actionable Takeaway 2: Systemize Image TestingCreate a consistent system for testing main images on Amazon, using real customer data to make decisions.00:31:45 Actionable Takeaway 3: Hire a Creative LeadInvest in a high-level creative team member to lead your marketing, as this is the most important aspect of your brand.00:33:56 Rafael's Favorite AI ToolRafael recommends Claude for its data gathering and Open-Claude's "Coworker" feature for automating executive assistant tasks.00:36:30 Connecting with RafaelFind Rafael at ShareIt Studio's website or email, and mention the podcast for a free 30-minute consultation.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: Josh@eCommBreakthrough.comTools and Websites"Amazon Experiments": "00:08:54""Pixel": "00:08:54""Productpinion": "00:08:54""Fiverr": "00:08:06""Social Media Platforms (TikTok, In...

Filmmakers! Welcome back to a very special Business of Film edition of The Filmmakers Podcast. Today, we are cutting through the absolute nonsense and delivering a survival guide for how to fund, produce, and sell an independent film in the current market. Host Giles Alderson is joined by an expert powerhouse panel: film industry data analyst Stephen Follows, director-producer and AI tech expert Hilary Shakespeare, independent director-producer Dom Lenoir, and VP of Distribution at Quantify Sales, Dimo Alexandrov. Together, they break down the exact numbers of what sold, why horror and elevated genre remain king, the catastrophic mistakes indie producers are making on the Croisette, and the real impact of AI on the future of cinema. Whether you are prepping a project for production or trying to close a distribution deal, this episode is a mandatory masterclass on how to navigate the international market right now. Come Fully Prepared: Before approaching any sales agent or distributor, you must know your exact budget top-sheet, your realistic cast options, your shoot locations, and your tax credit strategy. Do not pitch an abstract idea; pitch a business plan. The Sweet Spot Budget: The current market "sweet spot" for independent genre films is £1.2M–£1.5M. Going higher requires highly recognizable names; going lower works best in horror where a strong, high-concept hook can carry the film. Horror and Rom-Coms are Leading: Horror and elevated genre films remain the most bulletproof, reliable bets globally. However, romantic comedies are making a significant comeback—particularly book adaptations and projects with established cast members. The Market Moves Early: The traditional Cannes calendar has shifted. A massive portion of business and deal-making was finalized the weekend before the official market doors opened. Start your outreach and schedule your virtual meetings much earlier next year. Personalize or Perish: Sales agents are swamped with generic copy-and-paste pitch emails that don't even mention their company slate. Take the time to research exactly who you are contacting and explain why your project specifically fits their portfolio. Badges Matter Less Than Presence: The most lucrative business deals and connections didn't happen inside the secure zones; they happened in bars, beach parties, and informal networking spots. Even without an official market badge, it is still worth being on the ground. AI is a Tool, Not a Writer: The panel consensus is clear—leverage AI for workflow efficiencies like scheduling, budgeting, localized dubbing, and storyboarding. However, original human voice and lived experiences are the only things that truly make a film connect with an audience. Understand Gen Z: Gen Z is now the largest cinema-going demographic, but their tastes, media consumption, and viewing habits differ drastically from previous generations. You must understand how to market directly to them. Work the Other 360 Days: Cannes is a momentary flashpoint, not a long-term strategy. The filmmakers finding genuine traction are building relationships, sending screeners, and doing Zoom calls all year round. The Follow-Up Strategy: Don't let your market contacts go cold. Connect on LinkedIn or Instagram (read the room on which platform fits best), screenshot their contact info so you don't lose it, and follow up within a few days with a personalized, contextual message.

This week on Grumpy Old Geeks, Brian and Jason stare directly into the flaming garbage barge of “the future” and discover that self-driving vehicles still can't tell the difference between a road and an urban swimming pool. Waymo stranded robotaxis in both Atlanta and San Antonio, while Gothenburg's brand-new autonomous bus service survived roughly one day before getting rear-ended by a tram like a lost RoboCop scene directed by Benny Hill. Meanwhile, Ferrari unveiled the Jony Ive-designed Luce EV, proving that if you give Apple designers enough money and untreated minimalist impulses, eventually everything starts looking like an uninspired bar of soap.The AI bubble keeps inflating like a cursed parade balloon nobody knows how to land. Uber admits it's spending fortunes on AI without being able to explain what it actually improves, Starbucks killed its AI inventory system after repeated losses to dairy products, and Google's AI search now struggles with advanced concepts like “ignore,” “stop,” and spelling “Google.” CEOs remain committed to replacing workers anyway, with 99% expecting AI-driven layoffs because apparently nothing says innovation like firing junior staff and replacing them with autocomplete that thinks there are two Ps in Google. Meanwhile, Spotify continues its transformation into the content equivalent of a casino buffet with AI-narrated magazine articles, while Pope Leo emerges as the lone adult in the room, suggesting humanity maybe shouldn't hand civilization over to glorified pattern-matching slot machines.Elsewhere in dystopia, Trump Mobile exposed customer data to the open internet because, of course, it did, while the White House reportedly plans to force-install its official app on government phones in what feels like the world's least subtle spyware rollout. Prediction markets are devolving into a legal cage fight between states and crypto gambling enthusiasts. A Google engineer allegedly made $1.2 million through insider trading on Polymarket because we've apparently rebuilt Wall Street out of meme apps, and researchers say your Wi-Fi router can now identify you by how your meat body disturbs radio waves. Add in SpaceX building a military sensor-to-shooter network straight out of a cyberpunk fever dream, China launching artificial embryo experiments into orbit to explore off-world reproduction, and Erin Brockovich mapping AI data centers draining entire towns' worth of water, and suddenly the most comforting thing this week might be watching The Grand-ish Tour and pretending the world still runs on gasoline and bad decisions.Sponsors:Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/748Watch on YouTube at https://youtu.be/1ji4EPiTgQ4Links:The Mandalorian and GroguWaymos in Atlanta and San Antonio keep driving into flooded roadsGothenburg's self-driving bus trammed on day oneFerrari Luce unveiled: Here's the first car from Jony Ive's design houseUber president says AI spending is getting ‘harder to justify'Trump Mobile has exposed customers' personal data, including home addresses and phone numbersThe White House is reportedly forcing its official app onto all government employee phonesKalshi and Rhode Island sue each other in latest challenge to prediction marketsGoogle engineer charged with insider trading after making $1.2M on PolymarketGoogle is currently struggling to define words like disregard, stop and ignoreWhy Google's AI can't spell Google (or anything else)Starbucks abandons its AI inventory tool after only nine monthsMajority of Americans Support Ban on Surveillance Pricing and Electronic Shelf LabelsAnsel Adams' trust says AI-colorized version of his work was exhibited without permissionPeople used AI to recreate the voices of pilots killed in a plane crashSpotify now lets you stream narrated magazine articles, tooPope Leo calls for AI to serve humanity and not concentrate power99% of CEOs Expect AI-Driven Layoffs in the Next Two YearsUS Space Force confirms SpaceX will build sensor-to-shooter targeting networkStar Trek Title Card GeneratorErin Brockovich launches a crowdsourced AI data center mapResearchers Issue Warning About Tech That Could Turn Every Router ‘Into a Potential Means for Surveillance'China Launched Artificial Embryos to Orbit to Find Out If We Can Have Space BabiesI Am Not a Robot: My Year Using AI to Do (Almost) Everything by Joanna SternInside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better by David EpsteinThe Grand-ish TourSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.