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Amy Jo Martin built one of the first social media agencies because Shaq told her to. True story. Seven years later, she shut it down. Not because it failed, but because it worked in a way that locked her into a life she didn't want. Walking away gave her the freedom to decide what to build next. Since then, she's scaled multiple 8-figure companies, written bestselling books, and hosts the Why Not Now? podcast where she's interviewed countless celebrities. This conversation is packed with value for entrepreneurs building at every stage. We also go deep on what building a social media agency in 2009 can teach us about AI today — and what that means if you're building anything right now. Key Takeaways with Amy Jo Martin (00:00) Intro (01:25) Social Media in 2009 vs AI Today (04:18) The Only Metric That Actually Matters (06:38) Shaq Told Me to Quit My Job (11:39) Is AI a Trampoline or a Trap? (15:32) Why the Agency Model Keeps Breaking (19:18) Can AI Improve Your Relationships? (23:34) The LinkedIn Hack That Replaces Hours of Biz Dev (28:03) This Kills The Traditional Brainstorm Meeting (31:20) Taking Tony Hsieh's Money (34:44) Why She Shut Down a Profitable Company (38:34) When Personal Brand Becomes a Liability (43:24) Why AI Won't Save Bad Marketing (45:52) The Real AI Problem Is Organizational Culture (51:06) The Renegade Reinvention Experiment (57:41) Can AI Help You Feel More Alive? (01:06:25) Action Creates Clarity (01:07:49) Don't Raise Money Too Early Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kdos8mOBLgk Let's Connect: Website | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Twitter | Facebook
No Priors: Artificial Intelligence | Machine Learning | Technology | Startups
In this episode of No Priors, Sarah and Elad dive into the evolving landscape of software, exploring how AI is transforming the traditional SaaS model. They discuss whether SaaS as we know it is coming to an end, what new business and sales strategies are emerging, and how AI is reshaping the way software is built, sold, and scaled. The conversation also examines whether or not these shifts are a good thing for both big and small companies, and how coders and software experts are reacting to abrupt AI transitions. They also dig into how AI is reshaping sales, automating workflows, and enabling more predictive customer strategies. Beyond individual companies, they examine how tech giants are increasingly dominating the S&P 500, and what this concentration of power means for the future of startups, innovation, and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem. Sign up for new podcasts every week. Email feedback to show@no-priors.com Follow us on Twitter: @NoPriorsPod | @Saranormous | @EladGil | Chapters: 00:00 – Cold Open 00:35 – The SaaS-polcalypse discussion 4:55 – AI Change Management in Large vs. Small Companies 05:43 – “Is Software Eating the World?” 08:38 – Addressing the Unsolved Problems 14:00 – The Noise of the Last Month vs. Excitement 21:32 – What Proportion of GDP is Tech? 23:20 – Market Cap Shifts 25:02 – As a Company, When Should You Sell? 29:05 – Multi-Product Bundle Defense 30:45 – Conclusion
As artificial intelligence companies roll out more sophisticated agents, many analysts and investors raised concerns that AI could replace traditional software. Some are dubbing this the “SaaSpocolypse.”New AI tools allow users to “vibe code,” or describe what you'd like to create in plain language and have the AI generate the code for you. This could make some software easier for companies to create themselves.Marketplace's Stephanie Hughes spoke with Daniel Newman, CEO of The Futurum Group, a technology research firm, to learn more.
As artificial intelligence companies roll out more sophisticated agents, many analysts and investors raised concerns that AI could replace traditional software. Some are dubbing this the “SaaSpocolypse.”New AI tools allow users to “vibe code,” or describe what you'd like to create in plain language and have the AI generate the code for you. This could make some software easier for companies to create themselves.Marketplace's Stephanie Hughes spoke with Daniel Newman, CEO of The Futurum Group, a technology research firm, to learn more.
The run is hot economy is here! Today we talk markets, and debunk alarmist headlines about rising Japanese bond yields. We also talk about a significant market rotation: expensive mega-cap tech stocks are faltering while capital flows into "boring" sectors like staples, industrials, energy, healthcare, and utilities, with international markets also outperforming. Watch out about chasing falling tech names or trying to pick bottoms in areas like crypto. Diversification is always the way to go so understand sentiment cycles and focus on where money is flowing rather than where it has already been. Successful investing is about discipline, context, and avoiding emotional decisions. We discuss... Japan's 10-year government bond yield rising from near 0% to over 2%, which has sparked global concern. Because most Japanese government debt is owned domestically—by the central bank and pensions—the systemic risk narrative may be exaggerated. Market headlines often amplify short-term moves without proper historical framing. A large percentage of U.S. stocks are trading at very high price-to-sales ratios, exceeding even dot-com-era levels in some measures. Companies like Apple have high valuations despite limited recent earnings growth, raising questions about sustainability. Rotations are normal cycles in markets, where leadership shifts rather than the entire market collapsing. Utilities and staples—traditionally "boring" sectors—have recently outperformed while software and high-beta tech stocks have sold off sharply. International markets, particularly emerging markets and Europe, have outperformed the U.S. year-to-date. Heavy AI-related capital expenditures announced by large tech firms may have contributed to investor concerns. We compare crypto cycles to past tech bubbles, noting that true bottoms often occur when sentiment disappears and investors stop paying attention. Focus on where capital is flowing now rather than chasing sectors based on past performance. Diversification, patience, and understanding market cycles are essential for long-term investing success. Today's Panelists: Kirk Chisholm | Innovative Wealth Phil Weiss | Apprise Wealth Management Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moneytreepodcast Follow LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/money-tree-investing-podcast Follow on Twitter/X: https://x.com/MTIPodcast For more information, visit the show notes at https://moneytreepodcast.com/run-it-hot-economy-is-here-791
The Brutal Truth about B2B Sales & Selling - The show focuses on Hacking the Sales Process
Here is a FAQ Video on the Courses: https://youtu.be/0F7imrzjXWs Here is a deep dive into which course is best for you: https://youtu.be/JM_jgS8M-iU https://www.b2bRevenue.com - Get Your Free E-Book on How Companies make Decisions. FAQ: 1 YEAR ACCESS, PAY MONTHLY OR ANNUALLY NOT A SUBSCRIPTION OFFICE HOURS EVERY OTHER WEEK VIA ZOOM. 1 HOUR GROUP Q&A. UNLIMITED 1-ON-1'S ARE FREE AS LONG AS THEY CAN BE SHARED IN THE COURSE. 1-ON-1 ARE FULL ACCESS ON DAY ONE - NOTHING IS GATED OR TIME RELEASED. ALL CONTENT IS VIDEO BASED AND SELF PACED I RECOMMEND TAKE COURSE ONCE WITHOUT NOTES OR APPLYING IT SO YOU UNDERSTAND THE BIG PICTURE FIRST. THEN TAKE AND APPLY IT STEP BY STEP. YOU START WHEN YOU WANT AND GO AS FAST OR SLOW AS NEEDED. Email me additional questions: briangburns@me.com — SAMPLE EMAIL TO EXPENSE THE COURSE MGR, I have been listening to the brutal truth about sales podcast for X months and it speaks to the issues we face. They currently offer a course that includes video instruction, group Q&A and One-on-One coaching. I'm committed to my own personal development and would like your help in expensing the course. It would pay for itself if I closed only one new deal of $X value. Please let me know by Friday if I can move forward with this 1 year course. Thanks, ME Here are some student interviews from the courses: ———————————————————————————————————— Audible 30 day Free Trial: http://www.audibletrial.com/BrutalTruth
Aaron and Brian review some of the latest AI model releases and discuss how they would evaluate them through the lens of an Enterprise AI Architect. SHOW: 1003SHOW TRANSCRIPT: The Cloudcast #1003 TranscriptSHOW VIDEO: https://youtube.com/@TheCloudcastNET NEW TO CLOUD? CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PODCAST - "CLOUDCAST BASICS" SHOW NOTES:Last Week in AI Podcast #234Artificial Analysis.AIOpus 4.6 ReleaseGPT Codex 5.3 ReleaseGLM-5 ReleaseOpenAI Preparedness FrameworkSam's Tweet that 5.3 Codex hit “high” ranking for cybersecurityFortune Article on 5.3 high rankingTAKEAWAYSThe frequency of AI model releases can lead to numbness among users.Evaluating AI models requires understanding their specific use cases and benchmarks.Enterprises must consider the compatibility and integration of new models with existing systems.Benchmarks are becoming more accessible but still require careful interpretation.The rapid pace of AI development creates challenges for enterprise adoption and integration.Companies need to be proactive in managing the versioning of AI models.The industry may need to establish clearer standards for evaluating AI performance.Efficiency and cost-effectiveness are becoming critical metrics for AI adoption.The timing of model releases can impact their market reception and user adoption.Businesses must adapt to the fast-paced changes in AI technology to remain competitive.FEEDBACK?Email: show at the cloudcast dot netBluesky: @cloudcastpod.bsky.socialTwitter/X: @cloudcastpodInstagram: @cloudcastpodTikTok: @cloudcastpod
Ed Baker's resume reads like a founder's fantasy.At Harvard, he launched Date Site, an early dating platform. His next venture, Friend.ly, grew to more than 25 million users and was acquired by Facebook. At Facebook, Ed helped lead international growth as the company crossed one billion monthly active users. He later joined Uber as VP of Product and Growth, where he helped define weekly trips as the company's north-star metric and scaled the business from hundreds to thousands of employees.In 2017, Ed left Uber, moved back to Boston, and decided to rebuild his health. Within six months, he transformed himself into an elite triathlete and went on to win his first Ironman in Lake Placid. Along the way, he became deeply focused on recovery, sleep, and performance data.After founding AnyQuestion, which was acquired by WHOOP, Ed joined the company and now serves as Chief Product Officer. He leads product strategy across product, design, software, and AI, helping millions of members optimize their health and training.In this episode, Ed shares how he applies the same systems thinking to business, athletics, and life.You will learn how to:• Build viral growth loops and sustainable user acquisition• Choose and operationalize the right north-star metric• Balance speed and product quality at scale• Train, recover, and sleep for long-term performance• Use wearable data and AI to prevent burnout• Build teams that execute without micromanagement• Design a life that supports both ambition and healthWhether you are scaling a startup or pushing your personal limits, this conversation offers a blueprint for achieving extraordinary growth without sacrificing well-being.
Companies of every size in every industry and part of the world are basing more of their work around projects. And yet research shows that nearly two-thirds of those efforts fail. Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, who has studied projects and project management for decades, explains how we can do better. He offers advice on the right way to frame projects, how to structure organizations around them, and pitfalls to avoid. Nieto-Rodriguez is the author of the Harvard Business Review Project Management Handbook and author of the article “The Project Economy Has Arrived.”
For two decades, organisations have invested heavily in ERP and procurement platforms to digitise source-to-pay. Yet many procurement leaders still find themselves managing critical processes in Excel, chasing approvals over email, and relying on experience rather than real-time intelligence to negotiate with suppliers. The uncomfortable truth? Most enterprise systems were built for control and record-keeping, not optimisation. Unfortunately, we now live in a world increasingly defined by margin pressure, supply chain volatility, and investor scrutiny. So archaic, clunky, limited technology is no longer good enough, especially in Europe with strong economic headwinds, that will last for several years and rapid growth of AI disruption. CFOs Want Efficiency. Procurement Is Under-Resourced. Today's forward thinking CFO's are laser focused on cost discipline, working capital, OpEx/CapEx optimisation, and resilience. Global advisory firms consistently reinforce this and amplify the need for urgent digital transformation and efficient implementation of AI technology across all functions, especially procurement. McKinsey & Company highlights that digital procurement leaders can unlock 5–10% cost savings while improving speed and compliance. PwC points to AI-driven automation reducing manual effort and improving decision quality across finance and procurement. Deloitte emphasises that procurement must move from transactional processing, to insight-led value creation to meet modern CFO expectations. The ambition is there. The problem is structural. Procurement teams are often: Lean relative to spend under management Burdened with manual processes Operating across fragmented systems Dependent on legacy ERP architecture Even when CFO's fully support cost efficiency initiatives, procurement leaders struggle to execute because they lack manpower, clean data, optimal process and intelligent tooling. The ERP Illusion: Control Without Intelligence Multinational ERP platforms — such as SAP S/4HANA, Oracle ERP Cloud, or Microsoft Dynamics 365 — are incredibly powerful financial engines. But they are not purpose-built data driven intelligence platforms, especially for areas such as procurement. They: Capture transactions. Enforce controls. Process invoices. Store supplier records. What they do not do well is: Continuously benchmark pricing. Detect commercial leakage, proactively. Provide dynamic, AI-driven negotiation insights. Surface supplier optimisation opportunities automatically. Remove friction from Supplier relationships. Worse, these systems are extremely expensive and complex. Companies often pay for vast feature sets they never fully deploy, let alone understand. Customisation is costly. Implementation cycles are long and upgrades can be highly disruptive. As a result, procurement teams have no choice but to revert to: Excel models. Offline bid comparisons. Manual supplier evaluations. Email-driven approvals. Even pen and paper in parts of the workflow. The industry becomes digitally "enabled", but not digitally optimised. Even Major Procurement Suites Have Limitations Many of the major procurement platforms such as Coupa, SAP Ariba, and Jaggaer have advanced the market significantly. Yet challenges remain: Rigid workflows. Heavy configuration. Limited/Non existent contextual AI. Fragmented modules across sourcing, contracts, and P2P. High total cost of ownership. They digitise process, but often stop short of delivering continuous, embedded intelligence. Procurement becomes systemised, but not truly strategic. AI Changes the Equation Artificial intelligence shifts procurement from reactive administration to proactive optimisation. Instead of merely recording what has happened, AI answers: Where are we overpaying? Which suppliers present commercial risk? Which contracts contain value leakage? Where can we renegotiate based on real-time market data? Which spend categories are fragmented and unleveraged? AI can: Benchmark pricing at ...
Liz Peek discusses the market's current drift and the continued dominance of Artificial Intelligence, arguing AI is not a bubble but a rapidly adopted technology transforming productivity, with companies underhiring as they assess impact and investors needing exposure to this dominant sector.1900 BRUSSELS
In today's episode of Motley Fool Money, host Emily Flippen is joined by analysts Sanmeet Deo and Dan Caplinger as each gives a stock pick they think can outperform in a “worst case” economic environment of rising inflation, lower-than-expected rate cuts, and slowing economic growth. - Dan argues that Dollar General can keep delivering value to consumers - Sanmeet introduces us to a company that is “fitting” into the mold - Emily wraps up with a pitch for a pest-control parent company Companies discussed: PLNT, DG, ROL Host: Emily Flippen, Dan Caplinger, Sanmeet Deo Producer: Anand Chokkavelu Engineer: Dan Boyd Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. We're committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Our Head of U.S. Internet Research Brian Nowak joins U.S. Small and Mid-Cap Internet Analyst Nathan Feather to explain why the future of agentic commerce is closer than you think.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----Brian Nowak: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Brian Nowak, Morgan Stanley's Head of U.S. Internet ResearchNathan Feather: And I'm Nathan Feather, U.S. Small and Mid-Cap Internet Analyst.Brian Nowak: Today, how AI-powered shopping assistants are set to revolutionize the e-commerce experience.It's Tuesday, February 17th at 8am in New York.Nathan, let's talk a little bit about agentic commerce. When was the last time you reordered groceries? Or bought household packaged goods? Or compared prices for items you [b]ought online and said, ‘Boy, I wish there was an easier way to do this. I wish technology could solve this for me.'Nathan Feather: Yeah. Yesterday, about 24 hours ago.Brian Nowak: Well, our work on agentic commerce shows a lot of these capabilities could be [coming] sooner than a lot of people appreciate. We believe that agentic commerce could grow to be 10 to 20 percent of overall U.S. e-commerce by 2030, and potentially add 100 to 300 basis points of overall growth to e-commerce.There are certain categories of spend we think are going to be particularly large unlocks for agentic commerce. I mentioned grocery, I mentioned household essentials. We think these are some of the items that agentic commerce is really going to drive a further digitization of over the next five years.So maybe Nathan, let's start at the very top. Our work we did together shows that 40 to 50 percent of consumers in the U.S. already use different AI tools for product research, but only a mid single digit percentage of them are actually really starting their shopping journey or buying things today. What does that gap tell you about the agentic opportunity and some of the hurdles we have to overcome to close that gap from research to actual purchasing?Nathan Feather: Well, I think what it shows is that clearly there is demand from consumers for these products. We think agentic opens up both evolutionary and revolutionary ways to shop online for consumers. But at the moment, the tools aren't fully developed and the consumer behavior isn't yet there. And so, we think it'll take time for these tools to develop. But once they do, it's clear that the consumer use case is there and you'll start to see adoption.And building on that, Brian, on the large cap side, you've done a lot of work here on how the shopping funnel itself could evolve. Traditionally discovery has flowed through search, social or direct traffic. Now we're seeing agents begin to sit in the start of the funnel acting as the gatekeeper to the transaction. For the biggest platforms with massive reach, how meaningful is that shift?Brian Nowak: It is very meaningful. And I think that this agentic shift in how people research products, price compare products, purchase products, is going to lead to even more advertis[ing] and value creation opportunity for the big social media platforms, for the big video platforms. Because essentially these big platforms that have large corpuses of users, spending a lot of time on them are going to be more important than ever for companies that want to launch new products. Companies that want to introduce their products to new customers.People that want to start new businesses entirely, it's going to be harder to reach new potential customers in an agentic world. So, I think some of these leading social and reach based video platforms are going to go up in value and you'll see more spend on those for people to build awareness around new and existing products.On this point of the products, you know, our work shows that grocery and consumer packaged goods are probably going to be one of the largest category unlocks. You know, we already know that over 50 percent of incremental e-commerce growth in the U.S. is going to come from grocery and CPG. And we think agentic is going to be a similar dynamic where grocery and CPG is going to drive a lot of agentic spend.Why do you think that is? And sort of walk us through, what has to happen in your mind for people to really pivot and start using agents to shop for their weekly grocery basket?Nathan Feather: I think one of the key things about the grocery category is it's a very high friction category online. You have to go through and select each individual ingredient you want [in] the order, ensure that you have the right brand, the right number of units, and ensure that the substitutions – when somebody actually gets to the store – are correct.And so for a user, it just takes a substantial amount of time to build a basket for online grocery. We think agentic can change that by becoming your personal digital shopper. You can say something as simple as, ‘I want to make steak tacos for dinner.' And it can add all of the ingredients you want to your order. Go from the grocery store you like. And hey, it'll know your preferences. It'll know you already like a certain brand of tortillas, and it'll add those to the cart. And so it just dramatically reduces the friction.Now, that will take time to build the tools. The tools aren't there today, but we think that can come sooner than people expect. Even over the next one to two years that you start to get this revolutionary grocery experience.And so, it's coming. And from your perspective, Brian, once agentic grocery shopping does start to work, how does that impact the broader e-commerce adoption curve? Does it pull forward agentic behavior in other categories as well?Brian Nowak: I think it does. I think it does lead to more durable multi-year, overall e-commerce growth. And potentially in some of our more bull case scenarios, we've built out – even an acceleration in e-commerce growth, even though the numbers and the dollars added are getting larger. But there is some tension around profitability.We are in a world where a lot of e-commerce companies, they generate an outsized percentage of their profit from advertising and retail media that is attached to current transactions. Agentic commerce and agents wedging themself between the consumer and these platforms potentially put some of these high-margin retail media ad dollars at risk.So talk us through some of the math that we've run on that potential risk to any of the companies that are feeding into these agents for people to shop through.Nathan Feather: Well, in our work for most e-commerce companies, a majority – or sometimes even all – of their e-commerce profitability comes from the advertising side. And so this is the key profit pool for e-commerce. To the extent that goes away, there is one potential offset here, which is the lower fee that agentic offers for companies that currently have high marketing spend. To the extent that agentic offers a lower take rate, that could be an offset.But we think it's going to be very important for companies to monitor the retail media landscape and ensure they can try to keep direct traffic as best as possible. And things like onsite agents could be really important to making sure you're staying top of mind and owning that customer relationship.Now, on the platform side, search today captures an implied take rates that are 5-10 times higher than what we're seeing in the early agentic transaction fees. If this model does shift from CPC – or cost per click – towards a more commission based model, Brian, how do you think search platforms respond?Brian Nowak: I think the punchline is the percentage of traffic and transactions that retailers or brands or companies selling their items online that's paid is going to go up. You know, while search is a relatively more expensive channel on a per transaction basis, search works because there's a very large amount of unpaid and direct traffic that retailers benefit from post the first time they spend on search.Just some math on this. We're still at a situation where 80 percent of retailers' online traffic is free. Or direct. And so if we do get into a situation where there's a transition from a higher monetizing per transaction search to a lower monetizing per transaction agent, I would expect the search platforms to react by essentially making it more challenging to get free and direct and unpaid traffic. And we'll have that transition from more transactions at a lower rate; as opposed to fewer transactions at a higher rate, which is what we have now,Nathan, in our work, we also talked about a Five I's framework. We talked about inventory, infrastructure, innovation, incrementality and income statement, sort of a retailer framework to assess positioning within the agentic transition. Maybe walk us through what your big takeaways were from the Five I's framework and what it means that retailers need to be mindful of throughout this agentic transition.Nathan Feather: Well, for retailers, I think it's going to be very important that you're winning by differentiation. Having unique, competitively priced inventory with infrastructure that can fulfill that quickly to the consumer and critically staying on the leading edge of innovation.It's one thing to have the inventory. It's another thing to be able to be actively plugged into these agentic tools and make sure you're developing good experiences for your customers that actually are on this cutting edge. In addition, it's one thing to have all of that, but you want to make sure there's also incrementality opportunity.So [the] ability to go out, expand the TAM and gain market share. And of course what we just talked about with the margin risk, I think all of those are going to be very important. And so on balance for retailers, we do see a lot of opportunity. That's balanced with a lot of risk. But this is one of those key transition moments that we think companies that really execute and perform well should be able to perform nicely.Now finally, Brian, over the next five years, how do you think agent commerce reshapes competitive dynamics across the internet ecosystem?Brian Nowak: I think over the next few years, we're going to realize that agentic commerce is no longer a fringe experiment or a concept. It's a reality. And we may get to the point where we don't even talk about agentic commerce or agentic shopping. We just say, “‘This cool thing I did through my browser.' Or, ‘Look at what my search portal can do. Look at how my search portal found me this product. Look at how my groceries got delivered.' And it'll become part of recurring life. It'll become normal.So right now we say it's agentic, it's far off. It's going to take time to develop. But I would argue that every year that goes by, it's going to be becoming more part of normal life. And we'll just say, ‘This is how I shop online.'Nathan, thanks for taking the time todayNathan Feather: It was great speaking with you, Brian.Brian Nowak: And thanks for listening. If you enjoy Thoughts on the Market, please leave us a review wherever you listen. And share the podcast with a friend or colleague today.
Taylor Riggs, Co-anchor "The Big Money Show" on the Fox Business Network, joined us on the Guy Benson Show today to discuss the latest on the economy and the economic outlook of the United States amongst reports that companies may begin to start raising prices across the board to deal with inflation and tariffs. These fears contrast with unexpectedly strong jobs numbers and a cool inflation report, and Riggs breaks down why there is or is not concern in the market. Riggs and Benson also discussed the growing national debt and deficit and whether the growing debt will come to a head, and you can listen to the full interview below. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Scaling is not about working harder — it's about thinking differently.In this episode, Keith sat down with Casey Woo, former operator at WeWork, OpenAI, Flexport, and Zappos, founder of Operators Guild, and Managing Partner at FOG Ventures, to break down what it really takes to scale a company.Casey introduces the concept of the “Scaler” — the operator who thrives in complexity, builds systems that evolve, and helps companies move from chaos to clarity. He shares how the world's fastest-growing startups fail not because of bad ideas, but because they lack the operating structure needed for sustainable growth.They dive into:Why scaling is a discipline, not a phase How great operators think across product, people, and processWhat founders misunderstand about growth- Why systems—not heroics—create durable companiesHow AI is changing the way companies scaleWhether you're a founder, operator, or investor, this episode is a masterclass in building companies that don't just grow — they scale.Connect with Casey Woo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseywoo/ Sponsor Info: We are strategic business advisors with decades of leadership experience and a proven track record of driving businesses' growth. We specialize in creating custom-tailored strategies to introduce your company, drive growth, build leadership teams, and ensure companies implement appropriate compensation programs. Our mission is to utilize our expansive network to benefit your company https://www.compass-strategic-advisors.com/ Subscribe for more founder insights and hit the bell for notifications! Follow us on our channels for exclusive startup content and behind-the-scenes insights from interviews like this one. - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD?si=f5a14e779777487dApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeith TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keithnewman74 For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com#TheScaler #StartupScaling #Hypergrowth #Operators #StartupOperators #Founders #VentureCapital #FOGVentures #OperatorsGuild #BusinessGrowth #ScalingStartups #Leadership #SaaS #TechStartups #FutureOfWork
In this episode, Alfredo Borodowski discusses the critical mistakes leaders make when attempting to future-proof their workforce, particularly the risk of employee burnout. He emphasizes the importance of understanding character strengths and fostering resilience within teams. Listeners will learn practical strategies to create a culture of nourishment rather than fixing, ultimately enhancing employee engagement and performance. Listener Takeaways Leaders should focus on providing orientation rather than trying to predict change. Understanding character strengths is essential for minimizing disorientation in teams. Resilience is about learning from setbacks and coming back stronger, not just returning to the previous state. Companies should shift from a culture of fixing to one of nourishing employee potential. Psychological capital, including self-confidence, hope, optimism, and resilience, is crucial for future success. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to the episode 00:43 – Common mistakes in future-proofing workforces 01:50 – The shift from predicting to providing orientation 02:56 – Importance of character strengths in the workplace 04:51 – Case study on honesty in team dynamics 07:13 – The relationship between strengths and resilience 09:08 – Understanding resilience beyond just recovery 10:31 – The emotional work involved in change 11:18 – The value of humanity in a tech-driven world 15:32 – Practical advice for integrating AI without losing humanity 17:45 – Key components of psychological capital 18:19 – Moving from fixing to nourishing cultures Guest(s): Alfredo Borodowski is a Purpose Factor Facilitator at The Purpose Company, where he helps leaders connect purpose to performance by building cultures rooted in meaning, resilience, and engagement. future-proofing, employee burnout, character strengths, resilience, workplace culture, psychological capital, leadership strategies, employee engagement, change management, positive psychology
In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, host Jim Mayer speaks with Chuck Coxhead about the importance of evolving manufacturing practices and company culture. They discuss the need for leaders to abandon outdated thinking, the significance of differentiation in a commoditized market, and the transformative changes in business practices post-2020. Chuck shares his journey in the RF cable assembly industry, emphasizing the importance of customer experience and the buyer's journey. The conversation also touches on empowering frontline workers, achieving alignment across departments, and the future of differentiation in the industry.TakeawaysManufacturing leaders must abandon pre-2000 thinking.Culture is about how employees feel in the workplace.Differentiation is key in a commoditized market.Customer experience can set a company apart.The buyer's journey has changed significantly.Companies must adapt to new market realities post-2020.E-commerce can revolutionize the buying process.Frontline workers play a crucial role in company success.Alignment across departments is essential for growth.Trust and accountability are vital in leadership.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Manufacturing Culture Podcast01:52 Understanding Culture in the Workplace07:53 Chuck's Origin Story and Career Path11:08 The Shift from Pre-2000 Thinking16:45 Transformative Changes in Business Post-202022:39 Revolutionizing the Buyer's Journey25:24 Applying the Framework to Job Shops30:07 Empowering Frontline Workers34:11 Achieving Alignment Across Departments36:30 Creating Systems for Bold Growth41:34 The RF Frontiers Podcast43:52 Future of Differentiation in Industry46:35 Final Thoughts and Advice
Laura Hanley, licensed therapist and workplace consultant at Big Picture Companies, joins The Manufacturing Employer to unpack generational diversity on the shop floor. Drawing from her clinical background at the Mayo Clinic and VA, Laura explains why communication and occupational empathy are key skills in today's manufacturing environment. She breaks down why older and younger workers often talk past each other, how wiring, motivation, and stress responses play into team dynamics, and why leadership rooted in empathy and data-driven insight is essential.
Text us your questions or topics for the show! We got you!Cass Morrow, Author of Disrupting Divorce: The NEW Man. Saving Struggling, Sexless, and Toxic Marriages.Kathryn Morrow, Author of Behind The White Picket Fence.Why Broken Marriages Cost Companies Millions!Struggling marriages aren't just personal—they're costing companies millions.In The 'NEW' Marriage Podcast Ep378, Cass and Kathryn Morrow expose how relationship problems at home destroy productivity, drain profits, and lead to massive business losses.Learn the real reasons behind absenteeism, mistakes, and burnout—and why fixing marriages is the ultimate business strategy. No fluff, just raw truth and practical solutions for leaders and employees.Listen now to protect your bottom line.
In this episode, Matt sits down with Greg Mehfoud, Head of Procurement at Twenty/20 Management, to unpack what really happens when you cross the line between operations and the vendor side in senior living.Greg shares what surprised him most about SaaS sales, what operators often misunderstand about vendors (and vice versa), and how procurement isn't about being sold — it's about stewardship. The conversation dives into purchasing power, relationship-driven growth, and why clarity around priorities is the missing piece in most vendor-operator conversations.If you've ever felt tension between “the dark side” and operations, this episode brings nuance, humility, and practical insight to the table.Guest Bio:Greg Mehfoud is the Head of Procurement at Twenty/20 Management, where he leads strategic purchasing and vendor partnerships across the organization's senior living communities. With experience on both the operations and SaaS vendor sides of the industry, Greg brings a rare dual perspective to procurement, sales relationships, and long-term growth strategy. He is passionate about stewardship, operational excellence, and building vendor partnerships that truly enhance resident and team member experiences.Timestamps01:35 – Pants shopping, friendship, and career pivots03:25 – Why Greg left operations for SaaS sales05:46 – The biggest surprise about being on the vendor side08:00 – Missing the impact of day-to-day operations10:41 – How vendor “wins” add up at the community level12:05 – What procurement really means (hint: it's not about being sold)14:13 – Purchasing power, stewardship, and due diligence16:00 – Calling out fluff: integrations, transparency, and hard questions18:00 – Building trust between vendors and operators20:11 – What each side misunderstands about the other23:39 – Stop stringing vendors along (and vendors, respect operator time)25:50 – Advice for anyone considering crossing sides
The Moose on The Loose helps Canadians to invest with more conviction so they can enjoy their retirement. Today, I discuss 7 companies issuing shares to finance their projects: Enbridge (ENB.TO) Fortis (FTS.TO) TerraVest Industries (TVK.TO) Emera (EMA.TO) Telus (T.TO) Intact Financial (IFC.TO) Capital Power (CPX.TO) It's all about dividend growth investing! Subscribe to the best free dividend investing newsletter: https://thedividendguyblog.com/newsletter Get the 20 income products guide for retirees: https://retirementloop.ca/income/ Get your Investment roadmap: https://dividendstocksrock.com/roadmap
Episode Info Wayne Slavin is the CEO and Co-Founder of Sure, a VC backed insurtech startup. Prior to Sure he was the VP of Product Management at Tapingo, TechCrunch's Most Innovative Company of 2013. His other past projects and companies include NetStumbler, a consumer app with more than 1.5 billion downloads, the Barnes & Noble Nook eBook reader, Buddy Media (now part of salesforce), and BackupRight the enterprise SaaS company he sold in 2012. He has a Masters Degree from Columbia University. You can see Wayne from his appearance on the show in April of 2024 in the final episode of Season 5. Episode Overview: SURE's Role: SURE provides the technology infrastructure and services that enable large brands, including Fortune 500 companies and major auto manufacturers, to launch and manage their own digital insurance businesses. This allows these brands to control the customer experience and build long-term, durable insurance operations. Embedded Insurance: The trend of "embedded insurance" is driven by the fact that insurance is often a necessary component of a core product (like cars or homes) or can be a friction point in a sale. Companies are recognizing the value of offering insurance directly to their customers to enhance the overall experience and capture economic benefits. The "One-Stop-Shop" Vision: Many large consumer brands aim to be a comprehensive provider for their customers, whether it's for car ownership, homeownership, or financial well-being. Insurance is a natural extension of this strategy, allowing them to create a complete ecosystem around their core offerings. Structural Advantage: Brands that already have a customer base have a significant advantage. Acquiring these customers for insurance purposes costs them next to nothing, giving them better economics than external insurance providers. Evolution of SURE: Over the past year, SURE has focused on helping its partners achieve "permanence" in their insurance offerings. This means enabling them to build stable, long-term insurance programs that are not subject to the fluctuating appetites or market conditions of traditional insurers. Challenges for Traditional Insurers: The existing insurance industry has had ample opportunity to improve its technology and customer experience but has largely failed to do so. This has created an opening for new models. The "Build vs. Buy" Dilemma: While some companies attempt to build their own insurance carriers, this is capital-intensive and distracts from their core business. Partnering with a third-party carrier often results in a loss of control over customer experience and technology, leading to suboptimal outcomes. SURE's Sweet Spot: SURE offers a middle ground, enabling brands to have their own differentiated insurance programs with control and economic upside without the need to become full-fledged insurers or rely on inadequate partnerships with traditional carriers. Speed to Market: SURE can bring partners to market with approved insurance products in as little as 90 days, or even faster for simpler offerings, demonstrating a significant advantage over the lengthy internal development times typical for such initiatives. Industry Inertia: The insurance industry often suffers from a lack of incentive for long-term growth and innovation. Decisions are often based on avoiding blame (omission vs. commission) rather than proactively pursuing new opportunities. This makes it difficult for established players to adapt to new models. The Future of Insurance Distribution: The future will likely involve insurance being more deeply integrated into the customer journey, moving away from discrete purchases and towards seamless, embedded solutions. The current models of comparison engines and traditional carrier partnerships are becoming less relevant. Investor Appetite: There is a significant appetite from investors like private equity and sovereign wealth funds for insurance-like returns, especially for well-defined, scalable programs that leverage existing customer bases. This episode is brought to you by The Future of Insurance book series (future-of-insurance.com) from Bryan Falchuk. Follow the podcast at future-of-insurance.com/podcast for more details and other episodes. Music courtesy of Hyperbeat Music, available to stream or download on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music and more.
Federal Tech Podcast: Listen and learn how successful companies get federal contracts
Connect to John Gilroy on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gilroy/ Want to listen to other episodes? www.Federaltechpodcast.com Way back in 2011, one of the goals of FedRAMP was to eliminate software redundancy. The federal government had evolved to the point where one agency would spend millions of dollars on the same application program that the agency in the same zip code had just invested heavily in. The theory proposed by luminaries like Vivek Kundra was to move to the cloud to share services. Reducing cost and improving resilience. FedRAMP was the initiative that established a safe environment for federal cloud use. Companies can comply with regulations outlined in an Authorization to Operate (ATO). Well, fifteen years later, and we are seeing the same duplication not in the application programs, but in the process to get the ATO itself. For example, FedRAMP, RMF, and agency internal policies may require specific artifacts to satisfy one or the other. During the interview, Travis Howerton paints the legacy model—static documentation, annual/3-year audits, spreadsheets. His solution is to have AI assist with documentation, which will drastically reduce compliance time; he cites an example of reducing a process from 52 weeks to 356 weeks. RegScale uses OSCAL (XML/YAML/JSON) to auto-generate RMF artifacts and integrate with SIEMs (Splunk, Elastic), Axonius, ServiceNow, and APIs. Howerton understands the limitations of many automated systems and suggests that a human is a key component after the machine language has assembled the data to make the decision.
Six companies linked to the former Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, are being wound down, according to new reports. One company is related to public relations, another to retail, and none appeared to be commercially active. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Ferguson was desperate for money, even emailing Epstein for help while he was in prison. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Why do companies with strong consumer appeal tend to outperform? The team breaks down the elements of a resilient brand and then uses that lends to discuss recent financial results from Unity Software (NYSEL U) and Zillow Group (NASDAQ: Z). Alicia Alfiere, Rick Munarriz, and Tim Beyers discuss: - The thinking behind David Gardner's fifth trait of a Rule Breaker: strong consumer appeal. - The world's most valuable brands and what makes the best brands resilient. - What fresh results from Unity Software and Zillow say about the resiliency of their brands. Don't wait! Be sure to get to your local bookstore and pick up a copy of David's Gardner's new book — Rule Breaker Investing: How to Pick the Best Stocks of the Future and Build Lasting Wealth. It's on shelves now; get it before it's gone! Companies discussed: AMZN, MSFT, AAPL, U, Z Host: Tim Beyers Guests: Alicia Alfiere, Rick Munarriz Producer: Anand Chokkavelu Engineer: Dan Boyd Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. We're committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Listen and Subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Alicia Lyttle. SUMMARY OF THE ALICIA LYTTLE INTERVIEW From “Money Making Conversations Master Class” with Rushion McDonald [ 1. Purpose of the Interview The purpose of this interview was to: Showcase Alicia Lyttle, CEO and co‑founder of Air Innovations, known widely as the “Queen of AI.” [ Educate small business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits on how to leverage AI for growth. Highlight her mission to empower the African American community to not only keep up with AI—but lead in it. [ Demonstrate how AI tools can transform operations, content creation, finances, and productivity in minutes instead of months. Inspire listeners through her entrepreneurial journey, professional pivots, and personal resilience. 2. High-Level Summary Alicia Lyttle returns to the show two years after her last appearance, now positioned at the forefront of the global AI movement. She explains how her work has shifted from annual summits to monthly AI Business Summits, teaching tens of thousands of entrepreneurs how to use AI hands‑on for content, marketing, operations, and scaling. She breaks down how simple tools—such as NotebookLM, ChatGPT, Jasper, Gemini, and HeyGen—can turn a single piece of content into newsletters, PowerPoints, videos, study guides, and more. She stresses that AI is now accessible, especially with free versions like ChatGPT. Alicia also shares her origin story in AI, beginning with a 15‑year‑old speaker at Walmart Tech Live describing IBM Watson. This sparked her fascination and ultimately led her to pivot her entire company toward full-time AI training and consulting by 2022—despite skepticism from her peers. She details the massive growth of her brand, including 21,000+ live summit attendees and explosive social media expansion. The interview also addresses AI’s role in finance, healthcare, government, job disruption, and how individuals can future‑proof themselves. Her personal story of overcoming a restrictive ex-husband who told her she would “never speak again” underscores her powerful message: no one should silence your gifts. Now she speaks to thousands, leads major events, and helps others build new careers in AI. 3. Key Takeaways A. AI Is Evolving Fast—and So Must We AI is changing so quickly that entrepreneurs cannot afford to wait for annual updates. This is why Alicia shifted to monthly training summits. People need ongoing education to stay competitive. B. Hands‑On AI Education Is the Key Alicia doesn’t just lecture—she walks participants through real demonstrations: Uploading YouTube links Creating summaries Generating emails, mind maps, PowerPoints, quizzes, videos, and more…all from a single input. Her approach eliminates fear and teaches entrepreneurs how to use AI immediately. C. Accessibility Has Changed the Game The release of ChatGPT, especially the free version, democratized AI. Before that, tools like IBM Watson were too complex and expensive. Now anyone with a laptop and internet connection can build websites, write content, or automate business flows in minutes. [ D. The African American Community Must Lead—Not Follow Alicia emphasizes that historically, Black communities have been “last in line” in tech innovation, but this AI era presents a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to jump ahead.She sees it as her mission to speak everywhere Black entrepreneurs are to ensure they seize this moment. E. AI Will Replace Tasks—But People Can Future‑Proof Themselves Jobs are already shifting. Companies are laying off non–AI‑literate employees.Alicia urges people to: Become AI‑fluent Join AI committees at work Pursue certification Use AI to become their company’s internal expert “There’s no maybe—you have to learn AI,” she warns. F. AI is Transforming Every Sector: Finance, Healthcare, Government She provides insights on… AI receptionists (“Monica” and “Leslie”) that boost customer interaction to 92% Financial analysis using secure ChatGPT setups AI mental health companions Government calls for national AI leadership G. Alicia Monetizes Through Education, Certification & Consulting Her business model includes: Free monthly summits Paid masterclasses Corporate consulting AI certifications Live Atlanta workshops She teaches others to become AI consultants too. H. Her Personal Triumph Story Inspires Thousands A powerful moment is when she recounts her ex-husband saying: “There’s only one quarterback on a team—and you will never speak again.”Yet today, 1,200+ people attend her live events, and tens of thousands join her virtual trainings. Her success proves resilience and purpose overcome adversity. 4. Key Quotes On AI Opportunity “Never has there been a better time in history to start, build, or scale a business than right now.” On Training Entrepreneurs “Open your laptops… use the same prompt I use. See what results you get.” On the Power of AI Tools “You can take one episode and repurpose it into all these different content ways.” On Pivoting Her Entire Company “In 2022, I said we’re closing this business and going all in on AI.” On Being Black in Tech “My mission is to make sure our community is not left behind—but ahead of the curve.” On Personal Resilience “You will be speaking on the best stages… people will come to see you.”(A friend’s response after she was told she’d “never speak again.”) On Future-Proofing Careers “Those using AI will replace you. You have to learn how to leverage AI.” On AI as a Human-First Technology “AI plus human intelligence—that’s what takes things to the next level.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Go to www.LearningLeader.com This is brought to you by Insight Global. If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader My guest: Tom Hardin was known as "Tipper X" during Operation Perfect Hedge, the largest insider trading investigation in history. After making four illegal trades based on inside information, the FBI approached him on a Manhattan street corner and convinced him to wear a wire over 40 times, helping build 20 of the 81 cases. Key Learnings Ambiguity is where ethical lines blur. Tom's boss said, "Do whatever it takes," after the hedge fund lost money, and as a junior employee, Tom didn't ask clarifying questions. The undiscussable becomes undiscussable. Leaders give ambiguous messages, then pretend they weren't ambiguous, employees get confused and don't question the boss, and you end up with a culture of silence. Making decisions in isolation is dangerous. The information came to Tom and he didn't talk to his boss or his wife (who probably would've slapped him around for crossing ethical lines). Psychological safety requires muscle memory. You have to practice saying "I'm just going to ask some clarifying questions here" when your boss gives ambiguous orders. Bad decisions aren't mistakes. Mistakes are made without intent, but bad decisions are made with intent. Tom told himself for years he made "mistakes," but on a drive home from speaking at a keynote, he realized: "There's no way I made mistakes. I made bad decisions." Never say never. Tom argues you're more susceptible to falling down your own slippery slope when you think "that would never be me." 80% of employees can be swayed either way. 10% are morally incorruptible, 10% are a compliance nightmare, and 80% can be influenced by the culture around them. Tone at the top means nothing. Company culture isn't the tone at the top or glossy shareholder letters; it's the behaviors employees believe will be rewarded or put them ahead. Reward character, not just results. You can't just focus on short-term performance and dollar goals without understanding how the business was made and what was behind the performance. The question isn't "what?" but "how?" If you're just focused on the numbers and not on how you got there, you have the opportunity to end up in a slippery slope situation. Celebrate people who live your values. Companies that spend millions on trips for people who live out shared values (not financial performance) are putting their money where their mouth is. Leaders must share their own ethical dilemmas. We've all been in situations where we could go left or right, and sharing how you worked through those moments makes you more endearing and a better leader. Keep a rationalization journal. When Tom and his wife have big decisions (or even little things), he writes them down in a rationalization journal and reflects on them once a month. He's still susceptible to going down another slippery slope, so checking himself on those passing thoughts improves his character over time. It's not what you say, it's what you do. Just like kids see what parents do (not what they say), employees see what behaviors leaders actually reward. $46,000 cost him $23 million. A business school professor calculated Tom would've made $23 million if he'd stayed on the hedge fund path, but he made $46,000 on the four illegal trades before getting caught. His wife was his rock. 85% of marriages end when something like this happens, and she had every right to leave. They just got married, no kids yet. But she stayed. When Tom interviewed her for the book 20 years later, she said, "All I remember is you accepted responsibility immediately. You didn't make up excuses." Running pulled him out of a shame spiral. Tom got obese as a stay-at-home dad. His wife signed him up for a 5K race (and beat him while pushing a jogging stroller). Just crossing that finish line lit a fire. He ended up running a 100-mile race. Doing hard things teaches you that you can do hard things. When Tom had to start a speaking business because they were running out of money, he said, "I can do this" because he'd already put his body through ultramarathons. No challenge is insurmountable. He ended up with something better. It's not about status or money anymore; it's about who he is with his family and his relationships now. Windshield mentality, not rearview mirror. Tom can't change the past, but he can look forward instead of backward. A lot of people in their twenties do stupid stuff (maybe not to this degree), but now, in his forties, he can learn from it. Why not embrace it rather than try to scrub it off the internet? Eulogy virtues versus resume virtues. In his twenties, Tom only thought about resume virtues (how much money, the next job, the next stepping stone) and never about eulogy virtues (what people will say about his character when it's all over). What will people say at your eulogy? Will they still be talking about those four trades, or will they talk about who you became after? More Learning #226 - Steve Wojciechowski: How to Win Every Day #281 - George Raveling: Wisdom from MLK Jr to Michael Jordan #637 - Tom Ryan: Chosen Suffering: Become Elite in Life & Leadership Reflection Questions Tom's boss gave him an ambiguous message ("do whatever it takes"), and as a junior employee, he didn't ask clarifying questions. Think about the last ambiguous instruction you received from leadership. Did you ask clarifying questions, or did you fill in the blanks yourself? What's stopping you from creating psychological safety to ask next time? Tom argues that 80% of employees can be swayed either way by culture. Look at your organization right now. What behaviors are actually being rewarded? If someone asked your team "what gets you ahead here?" what would they honestly say? Tom asks: "Will people be talking about the resume virtues (money, titles, achievements) or the eulogy virtues (character, relationships, who you were) when you're gone?" What's one eulogy virtue you need to start prioritizing today, even if it means slowing down on resume building?
Listen and Subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Alicia Lyttle. SUMMARY OF THE ALICIA LYTTLE INTERVIEW From “Money Making Conversations Master Class” with Rushion McDonald [ 1. Purpose of the Interview The purpose of this interview was to: Showcase Alicia Lyttle, CEO and co‑founder of Air Innovations, known widely as the “Queen of AI.” [ Educate small business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits on how to leverage AI for growth. Highlight her mission to empower the African American community to not only keep up with AI—but lead in it. [ Demonstrate how AI tools can transform operations, content creation, finances, and productivity in minutes instead of months. Inspire listeners through her entrepreneurial journey, professional pivots, and personal resilience. 2. High-Level Summary Alicia Lyttle returns to the show two years after her last appearance, now positioned at the forefront of the global AI movement. She explains how her work has shifted from annual summits to monthly AI Business Summits, teaching tens of thousands of entrepreneurs how to use AI hands‑on for content, marketing, operations, and scaling. She breaks down how simple tools—such as NotebookLM, ChatGPT, Jasper, Gemini, and HeyGen—can turn a single piece of content into newsletters, PowerPoints, videos, study guides, and more. She stresses that AI is now accessible, especially with free versions like ChatGPT. Alicia also shares her origin story in AI, beginning with a 15‑year‑old speaker at Walmart Tech Live describing IBM Watson. This sparked her fascination and ultimately led her to pivot her entire company toward full-time AI training and consulting by 2022—despite skepticism from her peers. She details the massive growth of her brand, including 21,000+ live summit attendees and explosive social media expansion. The interview also addresses AI’s role in finance, healthcare, government, job disruption, and how individuals can future‑proof themselves. Her personal story of overcoming a restrictive ex-husband who told her she would “never speak again” underscores her powerful message: no one should silence your gifts. Now she speaks to thousands, leads major events, and helps others build new careers in AI. 3. Key Takeaways A. AI Is Evolving Fast—and So Must We AI is changing so quickly that entrepreneurs cannot afford to wait for annual updates. This is why Alicia shifted to monthly training summits. People need ongoing education to stay competitive. B. Hands‑On AI Education Is the Key Alicia doesn’t just lecture—she walks participants through real demonstrations: Uploading YouTube links Creating summaries Generating emails, mind maps, PowerPoints, quizzes, videos, and more…all from a single input. Her approach eliminates fear and teaches entrepreneurs how to use AI immediately. C. Accessibility Has Changed the Game The release of ChatGPT, especially the free version, democratized AI. Before that, tools like IBM Watson were too complex and expensive. Now anyone with a laptop and internet connection can build websites, write content, or automate business flows in minutes. [ D. The African American Community Must Lead—Not Follow Alicia emphasizes that historically, Black communities have been “last in line” in tech innovation, but this AI era presents a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to jump ahead.She sees it as her mission to speak everywhere Black entrepreneurs are to ensure they seize this moment. E. AI Will Replace Tasks—But People Can Future‑Proof Themselves Jobs are already shifting. Companies are laying off non–AI‑literate employees.Alicia urges people to: Become AI‑fluent Join AI committees at work Pursue certification Use AI to become their company’s internal expert “There’s no maybe—you have to learn AI,” she warns. F. AI is Transforming Every Sector: Finance, Healthcare, Government She provides insights on… AI receptionists (“Monica” and “Leslie”) that boost customer interaction to 92% Financial analysis using secure ChatGPT setups AI mental health companions Government calls for national AI leadership G. Alicia Monetizes Through Education, Certification & Consulting Her business model includes: Free monthly summits Paid masterclasses Corporate consulting AI certifications Live Atlanta workshops She teaches others to become AI consultants too. H. Her Personal Triumph Story Inspires Thousands A powerful moment is when she recounts her ex-husband saying: “There’s only one quarterback on a team—and you will never speak again.”Yet today, 1,200+ people attend her live events, and tens of thousands join her virtual trainings. Her success proves resilience and purpose overcome adversity. 4. Key Quotes On AI Opportunity “Never has there been a better time in history to start, build, or scale a business than right now.” On Training Entrepreneurs “Open your laptops… use the same prompt I use. See what results you get.” On the Power of AI Tools “You can take one episode and repurpose it into all these different content ways.” On Pivoting Her Entire Company “In 2022, I said we’re closing this business and going all in on AI.” On Being Black in Tech “My mission is to make sure our community is not left behind—but ahead of the curve.” On Personal Resilience “You will be speaking on the best stages… people will come to see you.”(A friend’s response after she was told she’d “never speak again.”) On Future-Proofing Careers “Those using AI will replace you. You have to learn how to leverage AI.” On AI as a Human-First Technology “AI plus human intelligence—that’s what takes things to the next level.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
The Twenty Minute VC: Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch
Sebastian Siemiatkowski is the co-founder and CEO of Klarna, the global digital bank with over 114 million global active users and 3.4 million transactions per day. Seb is one of the leading public company CEOs pushing the boundaries of AI. AGENDA: 04:50 — The Real Threat to SaaS is The Switching Cost Coming Down 05:57 — What revenue multiple will software companies trade at in the future? 14:12 — Why you need to build your own customer service AI to win 23:51 — Klarna has two times the customer base of Revolut. They will beat Revolut 25:39 — How I lost a billion dollars not investing in Nubank 30:57 — Why Nubank are more likely to win the US than Revolut? 34:28 — We used to be 6,000 people. Now we are just 3,000 39:58 — When is a high valuation too high and can be dangerous? 42:45 — How we got Sequoia to invest and Michael Moritz to join the board 53:14 — If you are an investor today that is not building then you're at a fundamental disadvantage 01:11:43 — I have changed my mind on the adoption cycle... I think it will take longer than people think 20VC: Is SaaS Dead: Klarna Replaces 1,500 Internal SaaS Products | Why Systems of Record Will Die in an Agentic World | What Revenue Multiple Will Software Companies Trade At? | From 7,000 to 3,000: We Need Less People Than Ever with Sebastian Siemiatkowski
Listen and Subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Alicia Lyttle. SUMMARY OF THE ALICIA LYTTLE INTERVIEW From “Money Making Conversations Master Class” with Rushion McDonald [ 1. Purpose of the Interview The purpose of this interview was to: Showcase Alicia Lyttle, CEO and co‑founder of Air Innovations, known widely as the “Queen of AI.” [ Educate small business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits on how to leverage AI for growth. Highlight her mission to empower the African American community to not only keep up with AI—but lead in it. [ Demonstrate how AI tools can transform operations, content creation, finances, and productivity in minutes instead of months. Inspire listeners through her entrepreneurial journey, professional pivots, and personal resilience. 2. High-Level Summary Alicia Lyttle returns to the show two years after her last appearance, now positioned at the forefront of the global AI movement. She explains how her work has shifted from annual summits to monthly AI Business Summits, teaching tens of thousands of entrepreneurs how to use AI hands‑on for content, marketing, operations, and scaling. She breaks down how simple tools—such as NotebookLM, ChatGPT, Jasper, Gemini, and HeyGen—can turn a single piece of content into newsletters, PowerPoints, videos, study guides, and more. She stresses that AI is now accessible, especially with free versions like ChatGPT. Alicia also shares her origin story in AI, beginning with a 15‑year‑old speaker at Walmart Tech Live describing IBM Watson. This sparked her fascination and ultimately led her to pivot her entire company toward full-time AI training and consulting by 2022—despite skepticism from her peers. She details the massive growth of her brand, including 21,000+ live summit attendees and explosive social media expansion. The interview also addresses AI’s role in finance, healthcare, government, job disruption, and how individuals can future‑proof themselves. Her personal story of overcoming a restrictive ex-husband who told her she would “never speak again” underscores her powerful message: no one should silence your gifts. Now she speaks to thousands, leads major events, and helps others build new careers in AI. 3. Key Takeaways A. AI Is Evolving Fast—and So Must We AI is changing so quickly that entrepreneurs cannot afford to wait for annual updates. This is why Alicia shifted to monthly training summits. People need ongoing education to stay competitive. B. Hands‑On AI Education Is the Key Alicia doesn’t just lecture—she walks participants through real demonstrations: Uploading YouTube links Creating summaries Generating emails, mind maps, PowerPoints, quizzes, videos, and more…all from a single input. Her approach eliminates fear and teaches entrepreneurs how to use AI immediately. C. Accessibility Has Changed the Game The release of ChatGPT, especially the free version, democratized AI. Before that, tools like IBM Watson were too complex and expensive. Now anyone with a laptop and internet connection can build websites, write content, or automate business flows in minutes. [ D. The African American Community Must Lead—Not Follow Alicia emphasizes that historically, Black communities have been “last in line” in tech innovation, but this AI era presents a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to jump ahead.She sees it as her mission to speak everywhere Black entrepreneurs are to ensure they seize this moment. E. AI Will Replace Tasks—But People Can Future‑Proof Themselves Jobs are already shifting. Companies are laying off non–AI‑literate employees.Alicia urges people to: Become AI‑fluent Join AI committees at work Pursue certification Use AI to become their company’s internal expert “There’s no maybe—you have to learn AI,” she warns. F. AI is Transforming Every Sector: Finance, Healthcare, Government She provides insights on… AI receptionists (“Monica” and “Leslie”) that boost customer interaction to 92% Financial analysis using secure ChatGPT setups AI mental health companions Government calls for national AI leadership G. Alicia Monetizes Through Education, Certification & Consulting Her business model includes: Free monthly summits Paid masterclasses Corporate consulting AI certifications Live Atlanta workshops She teaches others to become AI consultants too. H. Her Personal Triumph Story Inspires Thousands A powerful moment is when she recounts her ex-husband saying: “There’s only one quarterback on a team—and you will never speak again.”Yet today, 1,200+ people attend her live events, and tens of thousands join her virtual trainings. Her success proves resilience and purpose overcome adversity. 4. Key Quotes On AI Opportunity “Never has there been a better time in history to start, build, or scale a business than right now.” On Training Entrepreneurs “Open your laptops… use the same prompt I use. See what results you get.” On the Power of AI Tools “You can take one episode and repurpose it into all these different content ways.” On Pivoting Her Entire Company “In 2022, I said we’re closing this business and going all in on AI.” On Being Black in Tech “My mission is to make sure our community is not left behind—but ahead of the curve.” On Personal Resilience “You will be speaking on the best stages… people will come to see you.”(A friend’s response after she was told she’d “never speak again.”) On Future-Proofing Careers “Those using AI will replace you. You have to learn how to leverage AI.” On AI as a Human-First Technology “AI plus human intelligence—that’s what takes things to the next level.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSteve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Companies justify commission caps as a way to control costs and create predictability. But in sales, caps send the wrong message.In this episode, Brandon breaks down why commission caps reduce output, create cultural ceilings, and push elite reps to leave for uncapped environments.You'll learn what commission caps actually signal, why big payouts are a growth indicator, and what companies should fix instead of limiting upside. If you want a sales culture built for expansion, this episode makes the case: stop capping greatness.
The Brutal Truth about B2B Sales & Selling - The show focuses on Hacking the Sales Process
Here is a FAQ Video on the Courses: https://youtu.be/0F7imrzjXWs Here is a deep dive into which course is best for you: https://youtu.be/JM_jgS8M-iU https://www.b2bRevenue.com - Get Your Free E-Book on How Companies make Decisions. FAQ: 1 YEAR ACCESS, PAY MONTHLY OR ANNUALLY NOT A SUBSCRIPTION OFFICE HOURS EVERY OTHER WEEK VIA ZOOM. 1 HOUR GROUP Q&A. UNLIMITED 1-ON-1'S ARE FREE AS LONG AS THEY CAN BE SHARED IN THE COURSE. 1-ON-1 ARE FULL ACCESS ON DAY ONE - NOTHING IS GATED OR TIME RELEASED. ALL CONTENT IS VIDEO BASED AND SELF PACED I RECOMMEND TAKE COURSE ONCE WITHOUT NOTES OR APPLYING IT SO YOU UNDERSTAND THE BIG PICTURE FIRST. THEN TAKE AND APPLY IT STEP BY STEP. YOU START WHEN YOU WANT AND GO AS FAST OR SLOW AS NEEDED. Email me additional questions: briangburns@me.com — SAMPLE EMAIL TO EXPENSE THE COURSE MGR, I have been listening to the brutal truth about sales podcast for X months and it speaks to the issues we face. They currently offer a course that includes video instruction, group Q&A and One-on-One coaching. I'm committed to my own personal development and would like your help in expensing the course. It would pay for itself if I closed only one new deal of $X value. Please let me know by Friday if I can move forward with this 1 year course. Thanks, ME Here are some student interviews from the courses: ———————————————————————————————————— Audible 30 day Free Trial: http://www.audibletrial.com/BrutalTruth
In this episode of The Game Deflators Podcast, hosts John and Ryan dive into a wide range of gaming news, retro games, and tabletop adventures. They kick things off with fresh additions to their collections, John's latest Dungeons & Dragons campaign plans, and gameplay impressions of Valkyrie Profile. Ryan also shares his ongoing journey through Dragon Quest—complete with a surprising fitness‑focused gaming routine. The discussion heats up as the duo breaks down Guilty Gear mechanics, the bizarre and controversial rumor linking Pokémon Go to Epstein Island, and the challenges facing High Guard as it struggles to maintain its player base. They reflect on the evolving landscape of modern video games, the importance of character selection in fighting games, and the powerful role of nostalgia in shaping gaming experiences. Later, John and Ryan explore the influence of Jeff Keighley on major game launches, the uncertain future of live‑service games, and the growing excitement around new God of War projects. They also discuss the evolution of Kena: Bridge of Spirits and recent trailer for Silent Hill. The episode wraps with a look at the Super Nintendo classic “We're Back!” and whether it's worth picking up for under $10 in today's retro market. 00:00 Introduction to the Game Deflators Podcast 02:24 Game Pickups and Dungeons & Dragons Adventures 06:11 Exploring Valkyrie Profile Gameplay 14:54 Ryan's Journey with Dragon Quest and Fitness Gaming 18:44 Guilty Gear Journey and Fighting Game Mechanics 29:28 Mastering Fighting Games: Footsies and Edge Guarding 32:18 Transitioning from Pokémon to Gaming News 34:50 The Rise and Fall of High Guard 42:58 Anticipating New Releases: God of War and Beyond 49:20 Exciting Announcements: Kena and Project Winless 01:03:31 Reflections on Game Quality 01:05:44 Inflation Deflation 01:11:20 Nostalgia and Movie Adaptations Find us on TheGameDeflators.com Twitter - www.twitter.com/GameDeflators Facebook - www.facebook.com/TheGameDeflators Instagram - www.instagram.com/thegamedeflators The views and opinions expressed on this channel are solely those of the author. The content within these recordings are property of their respective Designers, Writers, Creators, Owners, Organizations, Companies and Producers. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted. Permission for intro and outro music provided by Matthew Huffaker http://www.youtube.com/user/teknoaxe 2_25_18
In this episode, CJ talks with Paul Stansik of ParkerGale Capital about what separates Simplifiers from Complicators. They unpack why most board meetings miss the point, how to answer the actual question, and why naming the real problem builds trust.—SPONSORS:Abacum is a modern FP&A platform built by former CFOs to replace slow, consultant-heavy planning tools. With self-service integrations and AI-powered workflows for forecasting, variance analysis, and scenario modeling, Abacum helps finance teams scale without becoming software admins. Trusted by teams at Strava, Replit, and JG Wentworth—learn more at https://www.abacum.aiBrex is an intelligent finance platform that combines corporate cards, built-in expense management, and AI agents to eliminate manual finance work. By automating expense reviews and reconciliations, Brex gives CFOs more time for the high-impact work that drives growth. Join 35,000+ companies like Anthropic, Coinbase, and DoorDash at https://www.brex.com/metricsMetronome is real-time billing built for modern software companies. Metronome turns raw usage events into accurate invoices, gives customers bills they actually understand, and keeps finance, product, and engineering perfectly in sync. That's why category-defining companies like OpenAI and Anthropic trust Metronome to power usage-based pricing and enterprise contracts at scale. Focus on your product — not your billing. Learn more and get started at https://www.metronome.comRightRev is an automated revenue recognition platform built for modern pricing models like usage-based pricing, bundles, and mid-cycle upgrades. RightRev lets companies scale monetization without slowing down close or compliance. For RevRec that keeps growth moving, visit https://www.rightrev.comRillet is an AI-native ERP built for modern finance teams that want to close faster without fighting legacy systems. Designed to support complex revenue recognition, multi-entity operations, and real-time reporting, Rillet helps teams achieve a true zero-day close—with some customers closing in hours, not days. If you're scaling on an ERP that wasn't built in the 90s, book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/cjTabs is an AI-native revenue platform that unifies billing, collections, and revenue recognition for companies running usage-based or complex contracts. By bringing together ERP, CRM, and real product usage data into a single system of record, Tabs eliminates manual reconciliations and speeds up close and cash collection. Companies like Cortex, Statsig, and Cursor trust Tabs to scale revenue efficiently. Learn more at https://www.tabs.com/run—LINKS: Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulstansik/ParkerGale Capital: https://www.parkergale.com/https://hellooperator.substack.com/CJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.com—TIMESTAMPS:0:00 Fixing Broken Windows in Investing3:08 What an Operating Partner Actually Does5:35 Managing Nine Portfolio Companies6:07 Where PE Investors Spend Their Time9:02 Do Investors Think About You All Day?10:16 The Operator “Bermuda Triangle”12:35 Sponsors — Abacum | Brex | Metronome15:52 The CFO “Triangle of Doom”17:47 How to Become an Investor Favorite18:42 Templates Build Trust in Board Communication20:54 Using Trusted Data22:10 The Board Payback Record Scratch23:18 Building Your “Data Diet” With the Board25:19 Sponsors — RightRev | Rillet | Tabs28:47 Signs a Team Isn't in Command31:30 Board Meetings Aren't a Performance34:16 “20 Board Meetings—Don't Waste Them”35:15 Ask Permission to Reallocate the Agenda37:54 When to Send Board Materials40:28 Simplifiers vs. Complicators41:58 The Simplifier Finds the One Question That Matters42:16 Three Traits of a Simplifier: Answer, Find, Do43:15 Why Complicated Operators Take You on a Ride44:26 Selling vs. Substance46:23 “Get There, Bob”47:25 Why We Hedge49:36 You Can't Fix a Secret52:50 Credits
My newsletter: https://simonowens.substack.com/ For decades, Diane Salvatore helped lead some of America's most recognizable magazine brands, including Consumer Reports, where rigorous product testing and consumer safety were core to the mission. Now, as executive director of the MedShadow Foundation, she's applying that same watchdog mentality to one of the most opaque corners of the marketplace: prescription and over-the-counter drugs. In a recent interview, Diane walked through how MedShadow operates as a nonprofit investigative newsroom, its expansion into social media video, and its plan to build a donor-supported model that funds independent health journalism.
The Moose on The Loose helps Canadians to invest with more conviction so they can enjoy their retirement. Today, I discuss 6 companies with generous share buyback programs Dollarama (DOL.TO) Canadian Natural Resrouces (CNQ.TO) Alimentation Couche-Tard (ATD.TO) Canadian National Railway (CNR.TO) CGI (GIB.A.TO) Stella-Jones (SJ.TO) It's all about dividend growth investing! Subscribe to the best free dividend investing newsletter: https://thedividendguyblog.com/newsletter Get the 20 income products guide for retirees: https://retirementloop.ca/income/ Get your Investment roadmap: https://dividendstocksrock.com/roadmap
The factory runs perfectly. The robots work tirelessly. Production costs plummet. And then someone asks the question that breaks the entire model: Who's buying the cars? This episode examines the economic paradox no one wants to name. Companies don't survive on efficiency alone—they survive on customers with money. If automation displaces massive amounts of human labor, the math breaks. Not morally. Mechanically. We explore what happens when the economy can produce value without you but hasn't figured out the consequences yet. How does purchasing power flow when work stops being the gatekeeper? What futures are being quietly debated behind closed doors? And why does your anxiety as a job seeker feel less like a skills gap and more like existential irrelevance? The rules are changing. The system is stalling. And the answer to one old factory joke might determine what comes next. ... Subscribe to The Recruiting Life newsletter https://jimstroud.beehiiv.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode, we chat with Tim Foden, a partner at Boies Schiller Flexner, one of the most well-known and formidable litigation firms in the world. Tim has built a reputation for tackling complex, bet-the-company disputes and navigating some of the most challenging legal battles across industries. We'll explore Tim's path to Boies Schiller, what it takes to succeed in an elite litigation environment, and how lawyers think about strategy when the pressure is on and the consequences are real. We'll also talk about the evolving role of trial lawyers, lessons learned from major cases, and what young attorneys and even business leaders can take away from the way top litigators approach decision-making and risk. Whether you're a lawyer, a founder, or simply curious about how major legal battles are fought and won, this episode offers a rare inside look. KEY TAKEAWAYS Mining companies are increasingly recognising the importance of involving legal counsel early in the process, especially when facing potential disputes or changes in mining codes The mining industry is heavily influenced by geopolitics, with major international powers becoming more involved in the politics surrounding mining projects Companies often make critical errors, such as failing to document agreements properly or engaging in corrupt practices like bribery, which can jeopardise their legal claims in the future When investing in mining, especially in regions like Africa and South America, it's crucial to establish a holding structure that provides treaty protection BEST MOMENTS "If you take, for example, Mali, this is a perfect example. Mali enacts a new mining code in 2023, and everyone has these existing mineral development agreements that suggest they should be immune from any changes." "Junior mining companies are run by frontiersmen... The problem is sometimes they start to get into problems with the sovereign and all of a sudden, having done everything on their own, they think they know best in that arena too." "If you pay a bribe to get a license... you might really have deprived yourself of the opportunity to bring a claim down the road." "Sovereigns are increasingly putting diplomatic pressure on states to avoid the kinds of outcomes... to get more involved, to restore licenses." GUEST RESOURCES Tim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-l-foden-6a12496/ YouTube video of the cross-examination from day three of the Winshear Gold vs Tanzania hearing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9bX0yvyCas&list=PLTPAfLBOjfQJS8VymC4os9jvefqE7rMHO&index=5 VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail: rob@mining-international.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X: https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast Web: http://www.mining-international.org CONTACT METHOD rob@mining-international.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people's experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
In this episode of Project Synapse, the hosts discuss how "agentic" AI has rapidly accelerated and become widely distributed, using the explosion of OpenClaw (with claims of ~160,000 instances) as a sign that autonomous agent tools are now in anyone's hands. Hashtag Trending would like to thank Meter for their support in bringing you this podcast. Meter delivers a complete networking stack, wired, wireless and cellular in one integrated solution that's built for performance and scale. You can find them at Meter.com/htt They compare the speed and societal impact of current AI progress to COVID-19's early days, arguing the pace may be even more destabilizing. They cover Anthropic's Claude 4.6 and OpenAI's Codex 5.3, including claims that Claude 4.6 helped produce a functional C compiler for about $20,000, and that a Cowork-like tool could be replicated in a day with Codex 5.3 after Claude reportedly took two weeks to build Cowork. The conversation highlights improved long-context memory performance (needle-in-haystack-style metrics reportedly in the 90% range) and increasingly autonomous behavior such as self-testing, self-correction, and coordinating teams of agents. The hosts then focus on security: MCP (Model Context Protocol) as a widely adopted but "fundamentally insecure" connector requiring broad permissions; the risk of malicious tools/skills and malware in agent ecosystems; and the rise of "shadow AI," where employees or individuals deploy agents without organizational vetting—potentially leaking sensitive data or running up massive token bills. They discuss incentives that push both humans and models toward fast answers and risky deployment, referencing burnout and an HBR study on rising expectations without proportional hiring. The episode also touches on realism and deepfakes, citing impressive new AI video generation (including a Chinese model "SEEDANCE 2.0" example) and how this erodes trust in what's real. They conclude with practical advice for organizations—don't just say "no," create safe outlets and governance ("say how")—and briefly discuss wearables/AR, Meta's continued AI efforts (including the Meta AI app and "Vibes"), and the coming integration of AI into always-on devices. Sponsor: Meter, an integrated wired/wireless/cellular networking stack (meter.com/htt). 00:00 Cold Open + Sponsor: Meter Networking Stack 00:18 Welcome to Project Synapse (and immediate chaos) 00:57 'Something Big Is Happening': AI feels like COVID-speed disruption 02:57 OpenClaw goes viral: 160k instances and easy DIY clones 04:03 Claude Code 'Cowork' on Windows… and why it's broken 06:47 Rebuilding Cowork in a day with OpenAI Codex 5.3 08:18 Why Opus 4.6 feels like a step-change: memory, autonomy, agent teams 11:24 Model leapfrogging + the end of 'can AI write code?' debates 14:45 Hallucinations, 'I don't know,' and self-correction in modern models 18:42 Autonomous agents in practice: cron-like loops, tool use, and fallout 21:00 MCP security: powerful connectors, scary permissions, and 500 zero-days 24:33 Shadow AI & skill marketplaces: the app-store malware analogy 32:02 Incentives drive risk: move fast culture, confident wrong answers, burnout 34:16 AI Agents Boost Productivity… and Raise the Bar at Work 35:14 Warnings of a Coming AI-Driven Crash (and Why We're Not Steering Away) 36:28 "I Quit to Write Poetry": Existential Dread & On the Beach Vibes 37:21 Tech Safety Is Reactive: Seatbelts, Crashes, and the AI Double-Edged Sword 39:42 Fast-Moving Threats: Agents Hacking Infrastructure & Security Debt 40:54 From Doom to Adaptation: Using the Same Tools to Survive the Disruption 42:21 Why We're Numb to AI Warnings + The 'Free Energy' Thought Experiment 46:43 AGI Is Already Here? Prompts, Ego, and the 'If It Quacks Like a Duck' Test 48:56 Deepfake Video Leap: Seedance, Perfect Voices, and What's Real Anymore 52:39 Contain the Damage: 'Don't Say No—Say How' and Shadow AI in Companies 54:58 Holodeck on the Horizon: VR + GenAI + Wearables (Meta, Apple, OpenAI/Ive) 59:53 Meta's AI Reality Check: Bots, the Meta AI App, 'Vibes,' and Who's Making Money 01:04:41 Final Wrap + Sponsor Thanks
Pippa Hudson speaks to Nicolene Schoeman Louw from Schoeman Law Incorporated about what our rights are when it comes to the handling of our personal information by companies. Lunch with Pippa Hudson is CapeTalk’s mid-afternoon show. This 2-hour respite from hard news encourages the audience to take the time to explore, taste, read and reflect. The show - presented by former journalist, baker and water sports enthusiast Pippa Hudson - is unashamedly lifestyle driven. Popular features include a daily profile interview #OnTheCouch at 1:10pm. Consumer issues are in the spotlight every Wednesday while the team also unpacks all things related to health, wealth & the environment. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Lunch with Pippa Hudson Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 13:00 and 15:00 (SA Time) to Lunch with Pippa Hudson broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/MdSlWEs or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/fDJWe69 Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Season 5, Episode 6: The Content Flywheel — How Pest Control Companies Dominate a Local MarketBefore we talk strategy, we have to start with the foundation: true local market dominance is built through strong teamwork between the pest control company and the marketing team. When operations, sales, and marketing are aligned—and everyone is committed to executing consistently—your results don't just improve, they compound. This type of strategy takes time, patience, and commitment, but it's one of the most permanent competitive advantages you can build.In this episode of The Pest Control Marketing Domination Podcast, we break down how to use a structured content strategy to create long-term, “evergreen” lead flow in your market. We'll use a Mind Pump-style example of how a growing contact database fuels drip campaign success—and how consistent written content and video can eventually lead to true local market dominance.You'll learn why strongly written, original content tied to specific topics wins, and how to organize it using pillar pages and topic clusters. We explain how a single authoritative “pillar” page (like Ant Control, Rodent Control, Termite Protection, etc.) can be supported by a library of related subtopic content that links back to the pillar—helping you show up for more searches, increase domain authority, and raise the visibility of every page on your website over time.Ultimately, the formula is simple: Traffic equals leads, leads equal customers. This strategy isn't about quick hacks—it's about building an asset that compounds. If you want to dominate your market for the long run, this is the roadmap.Please review us on Rhino Pest Control Marketing and let us know how we can improve in 2026.Casey Lewiscasey@rhinopros.com(925) 464-8383Follow and subscribe at the following links:https://www.youtube.com/@RhinoPestControlMarketinghttps://www.facebook.com/rhinopestcontrolmarketingLeave us a review on Google:https://g.page/r/CT9-E84ypVI0EBM/review
In this episode of Project Synapse, the hosts discuss how "agentic" AI has rapidly accelerated and become widely distributed, using the explosion of OpenClaw (with claims of ~160,000 instances) as a sign that autonomous agent tools are now in anyone's hands. Hashtag Trending would like to thank Meter for their support in bringing you this podcast. Meter delivers a complete networking stack, wired, wireless and cellular in one integrated solution that's built for performance and scale. You can find them at Meter.com/htt They compare the speed and societal impact of current AI progress to COVID-19's early days, arguing the pace may be even more destabilizing. They cover Anthropic's Claude 4.6 and OpenAI's Codex 5.3, including claims that Claude 4.6 helped produce a functional C compiler for about $20,000, and that a Cowork-like tool could be replicated in a day with Codex 5.3 after Claude reportedly took two weeks to build Cowork. The conversation highlights improved long-context memory performance (needle-in-haystack-style metrics reportedly in the 90% range) and increasingly autonomous behavior such as self-testing, self-correction, and coordinating teams of agents. The hosts then focus on security: MCP (Model Context Protocol) as a widely adopted but "fundamentally insecure" connector requiring broad permissions; the risk of malicious tools/skills and malware in agent ecosystems; and the rise of "shadow AI," where employees or individuals deploy agents without organizational vetting—potentially leaking sensitive data or running up massive token bills. They discuss incentives that push both humans and models toward fast answers and risky deployment, referencing burnout and an HBR study on rising expectations without proportional hiring. The episode also touches on realism and deepfakes, citing impressive new AI video generation (including a Chinese model "SEEDANCE 2.0" example) and how this erodes trust in what's real. They conclude with practical advice for organizations—don't just say "no," create safe outlets and governance ("say how")—and briefly discuss wearables/AR, Meta's continued AI efforts (including the Meta AI app and "Vibes"), and the coming integration of AI into always-on devices. Sponsor: Meter, an integrated wired/wireless/cellular networking stack (meter.com/htt). 00:00 Cold Open + Sponsor: Meter Networking Stack 00:18 Welcome to Project Synapse (and immediate chaos) 00:57 'Something Big Is Happening': AI feels like COVID-speed disruption 02:57 OpenClaw goes viral: 160k instances and easy DIY clones 04:03 Claude Code 'Cowork' on Windows… and why it's broken 06:47 Rebuilding Cowork in a day with OpenAI Codex 5.3 08:18 Why Opus 4.6 feels like a step-change: memory, autonomy, agent teams 11:24 Model leapfrogging + the end of 'can AI write code?' debates 14:45 Hallucinations, 'I don't know,' and self-correction in modern models 18:42 Autonomous agents in practice: cron-like loops, tool use, and fallout 21:00 MCP security: powerful connectors, scary permissions, and 500 zero-days 24:33 Shadow AI & skill marketplaces: the app-store malware analogy 32:02 Incentives drive risk: move fast culture, confident wrong answers, burnout 34:16 AI Agents Boost Productivity… and Raise the Bar at Work 35:14 Warnings of a Coming AI-Driven Crash (and Why We're Not Steering Away) 36:28 "I Quit to Write Poetry": Existential Dread & On the Beach Vibes 37:21 Tech Safety Is Reactive: Seatbelts, Crashes, and the AI Double-Edged Sword 39:42 Fast-Moving Threats: Agents Hacking Infrastructure & Security Debt 40:54 From Doom to Adaptation: Using the Same Tools to Survive the Disruption 42:21 Why We're Numb to AI Warnings + The 'Free Energy' Thought Experiment 46:43 AGI Is Already Here? Prompts, Ego, and the 'If It Quacks Like a Duck' Test 48:56 Deepfake Video Leap: Seedance, Perfect Voices, and What's Real Anymore 52:39 Contain the Damage: 'Don't Say No—Say How' and Shadow AI in Companies 54:58 Holodeck on the Horizon: VR + GenAI + Wearables (Meta, Apple, OpenAI/Ive) 59:53 Meta's AI Reality Check: Bots, the Meta AI App, 'Vibes,' and Who's Making Money 01:04:41 Final Wrap + Sponsor Thanks
Jane Wooldridge, author of "Frommer's Comfort in the Wild: 1000+ Idyllic Nature Destinations—No Roughing It Required", continued her discussion of different types of travel that allow vacationers to get deep into the wild. She talked about African safaris, as well as safaris on the tundra to see polar bears; a lodge in Belize owned by one of the most famous film directors on earth; and places where you can have unique nature experiences in Armenia, Mongolia, and Bhutan.Takeaways:What you see on safari will vary depending on the time of year you go.Knowledgeable travel agents should be used when booking a complex trip like a safari.Unique accommodations, such as bird's nest lodges, tundra buggies, and yurts are a wonderful way to get deeply into nature.The episode encourages listeners to explore outdoor experiences without the necessity of roughing it, promoting comfort in nature.Companies mentioned in this episode:Frommer'sMiami HeraldSociety of American Travel WritersGreen Safari's Chisa Busanga CampTundra Buggy LodgeBlancaneaux Lodge Shinta Mani Wild LodgeFogo Island InnThree Camel LodgeGangtey Lodge
Is AI just a buzzword, or are we witnessing an electricity-level shift in how the world works? In this solo episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius Mirshahzadeh shares a passionate public service announcement for business owners, leaders, and operators: the AI moment is here, and it is bigger than most people realize. Drawing on his experience as an early adopter, from the early internet days to Bitcoin and blockchain, Darius explains why this wave of AI is not like the dot-com boom. It is foundational. It is transformational. He breaks down how tools like Claude and no-code automation platforms such as n8n are already replacing hours, even weeks, of manual work inside his private equity firm. From building complex financial models and investment decks in minutes to automating data enrichment projects that once took 70+ hours, Darius shares real examples of how AI workflows and agents are reshaping productivity, cost structures, and competitive advantage. His core message: this is no longer optional. Companies that aggressively adopt and train their teams to leverage AI will dramatically outperform those who hesitate. Whether you are a CEO, salesperson, operator, or individual contributor, the future belongs to those who learn to build, manage, and optimize AI-powered systems. In this episode, Darius will discuss: (00:00) The AI Revolution Begins (06:50) Embracing AI in Business (13:01) The Future of Work with AI (19:14) A Call to Action: Adapting to Change Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Write a review for The Greatness Machine using this link: https://ratethispodcast.com/spreadinggreatness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
AI Slop is gonna kill the internet. Companies are gonna have agent brains. And if you travel down the same path in 2026 as you did in 2025, you're toast shorty. I spend thousands of hours each year working in and around AI. And once a year, we do our predictions and roadmap series. It's a literal cheat code to skip through the 95% of B.S and get the plan for the 5% that moves the needle. Join us for Part 2 of our AI Predictions and Roadmap series. Company AI Brains, No More Code, Slop Debt Kills internet and Agent Societies. 2026 AI Predictions and Roadmap Series Part 2 of 2 -- An Everyday AI Chat with Jordan WilsonNewsletter: Sign up for our free daily newsletterMore on this Episode: Episode PageJoin the discussion on LinkedIn: Thoughts on this? Join the convo on LinkedIn and connect with other AI leaders.Upcoming Episodes: Check out the upcoming Everyday AI Livestream lineupWebsite: YourEverydayAI.comEmail The Show: info@youreverydayai.comConnect with Jordan on LinkedInTopics Covered in This Episode:OpenAI Consumer Hardware Predictions 2026Disposable Software Adoption in EnterprisesNotebookLM as Fifth Core AI PlatformAI Native Ads Maintain Premium PricingMulti-Agent Societies: Enterprise Default ArchitectureMicrosoft Copilot Usability Reset ForecastBig Four Consulting AI-Driven RestructuringVibe Coding Rebranded as Agentic OrchestrationProfessional Services Launch AI Flanker BrandsSlop Debt Crisis and LLM Data IntegrityFrontier Labs: Humans Rarely Write CodePortable Context Engines Replace Prompt LibrariesGDP-Val Benchmark Scores Surpass 80%2026 AI Roadmap: Unlearning and RebuildingTimestamps:00:00 "AI Insights and Actionable Steps"07:40 OpenAI's Lead and Growing Race11:50 "Disposable Software and AI Duct Tape"17:26 "NotebookLM: Game-Changing AI Tool"22:47 Advertising Evolution and Faster ROI29:11 Domino's Strategy & Copilot Reset35:22 "Consulting vs. AI Efficiency"42:54 AI Transparency Demands Rising48:29 "AI Slop Debt in Training Data"51:34 "AI Coding Revolution Predicted"54:57 "Portable Context Engine in AI"01:00:51 "Unlearn and Rebuild with AI"Keywords: 2026 AI predictions, AI shortcut, AI trends, AI roadmap, OpenAI, consumer hardware, disposable software, NotebookLM, core AI platform, AI native ads, premium intent pricing, multi-agent societies, enterprise AI architecture, Microsoft Copilot, CopilSend Everyday AI and Jordan a text message. (We can't reply back unless you leave contact info) Start Here ▶️Not sure where to start when it comes to AI? Start with our Start Here Series. You can listen to the first drop -- Episode 691 -- or get free access to our Inner Cricle community and access all episodes there: StartHereSeries.com
In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop sits down with Lars van der Zande, founder and CEO/technical architect of Inkwell Finance, for what Lars describes as his first-ever podcast appearance. The conversation covers a wide range of blockchain infrastructure topics, including Lars's work with Sui and Solana blockchains, the innovative capabilities of Ika's programmatic wallets and blockchain of signatures, and how Inkwell Finance is building revenue-based financing solutions for on-chain entities—from AI agents to protocols. They explore the evolving landscape of crypto regulation, the merging of traditional finance with blockchain technology, the future of decentralized legal systems, and how the user experience barrier is being lowered through technologies that eliminate constant transaction signing. Lars also discusses Inkwell's embedded financing approach and their pre-seed fundraising round.Links mentioned:- Inkwell's website: inkwell.finance- Inkwell on Twitter: @__inkwell- Lars on Twitter: @LMVDZandeTimestamps00:00 Introduction to Inkwell Finance and Technical Architecture02:06 Understanding Sui and Solana: Blockchain Dynamics05:55 The Role of Ika in Inkwell Finance11:51 Leviathan: Revenue Generation and Financing in Crypto17:38 The Future of AI Agents and Programmatic Wallets23:23 Smart Contracts: Legal Implications and Future Directions25:06 The Future of Inqvil Finance25:42 Decentralization and Its Evolution27:32 The Merging of Traditional and Crypto Systems29:33 Global Financial Dynamics and Market Reactions31:48 The Collapse of Traditional Financial Systems32:46 Jurisdictional Shifts in the Crypto World33:59 Legal Systems and Blockchain Integration35:57 On-Chain Credit and Financial Opportunities39:29 The Role of AI in Finance41:30 Learning from Peer-to-Peer Lending History43:14 Disruption in Insurance and Risk Management44:54 On-Chain vs Off-Chain Data46:54 The Evolution of the Internet and Blockchain49:12 Future Subscription Models in BlockchainKey Insights1. Ika's Revolutionary Blockchain Signature Technology: Lars discovered Ika, a blockchain of signatures built on Sui that enables any blockchain transaction to be signed without revealing the underlying message. Using patented 2PC MPC technology, Ika splits key shares across validators and encrypts them in transit, performing complex cryptographic operations that allow smart contracts on Sui to generate signatures for transactions on any other blockchain. This eliminates the need to build separate smart contracts on each blockchain, fundamentally changing how cross-chain interactions work and opening possibilities for truly interoperable decentralized applications.2. Programmatic Wallets vs Traditional Wallets: Traditional wallets like MetaMask require manual user approval for every transaction through a front-end interface, but Ika's D-wallet introduces programmatic wallets with policy-based controls embedded in smart contracts. These wallets can execute transactions based on predetermined conditions checked against on-chain data like Oracle prices, without requiring individual user signatures. For example, a Bitcoin D-wallet can hold native Bitcoin without wrapping or bridging to a custodian, and smart contract policies determine when and how that Bitcoin can be transferred, creating unprecedented security and automation possibilities for decentralized finance.3. Inkwell's Revenue-Based Financing Model: Inkwell Finance is building Leviathan, a revenue-based financing platform for on-chain entities including protocols, AI agents, and individual traders with verifiable track records. Borrowers receive capital based on their on-chain performance metrics like sharp ratio and drawdown, with loan repayment automatically deducted from their revenue stream. The profit split structure allocates approximately 60% to borrowers, 30% to lenders, and 10% split between Inkwell and integrating platforms. This creates a sustainable lending model where flight risk is minimized through D-wallet policy controls that restrict how borrowed capital can be used.4. Wallet-as-a-Protocol and the Future of User Experience: The crypto industry is moving toward embedded wallet solutions that eliminate the friction of traditional wallet management, with Wallet-as-a-Protocol representing the next evolution beyond services like Privy and Dynamic. Unlike current embedded wallets that lock users into specific applications, Wallet-as-a-Protocol enables single sign-on across multiple applications while users maintain control of their keys. Combined with app-sponsored gas fees, this approach allows non-crypto-native users to interact with blockchain applications without knowing they're using crypto, removing the biggest barrier to mainstream adoption and creating web2-like user experiences on web3 infrastructure.5. AI Agents as Financial Entities: AI agents are emerging as revenue-generating entities with on-chain transaction histories that create verifiable track records for creditworthiness assessment. Inkwell Finance is specifically targeting this market, recognizing that AI agents will need wallets and capital to operate effectively. The programmatic nature of D-wallets pairs perfectly with AI agents, as policy controls can restrict agent behavior to specific smart contract interactions, preventing unauthorized fund transfers while allowing automated trading or revenue generation. This creates a new category of borrower that operates 24/7 with completely transparent performance metrics, fundamentally different from traditional loan recipients.6. Cross-Chain Liquidity Without Asset Transfer: Ika's technology enables users to take loans against revenue generated on one blockchain and deploy that capital on entirely different blockchains without moving their original liquidity positions. For instance, someone earning yield on Sui's Fusol protocol could borrow against that revenue stream and deploy capital on Solana opportunities, effectively creating multiple on-chain businesses that generate their own credit scores and revenue to service debt. This ability to read state across different blockchains from within smart contracts opens possibilities for multi-chain strategies that don't require withdrawing capital from productive positions, maximizing capital efficiency across the entire crypto ecosystem.7. The Convergence of Traditional Finance and Crypto Infrastructure: The regulatory landscape is rapidly evolving with initiatives like the Genius Act and Clarity Act creating frameworks where traditional financial systems merge with crypto infrastructure through mechanisms like stablecoins backed by US treasuries. Companies are increasingly establishing entities in the United States to access capital networks and Delaware's established legal framework while issuing tokens through jurisdictions like Switzerland. This hybrid approach, combined with emerging concepts like Gabriel Shapiro's "cybernetic agreements" that make smart contract parameters legally enforceable in traditional courts, suggests the future isn't pure decentralization but rather a sophisticated integration of on-chain and off-chain legal and financial systems.
Send a textWhy do companies go to such great lengths to avoid the word "Sales"? In this episode, Scott and Mike pull back the curtain on the "emotional baggage" attached to the sales profession. From the stigma of the "snake oil salesman" to the internal friction that revenue generation causes within a company, we explore why sales has become a dirty word—and why it shouldn't be.We break down the Sales Spectrum, helping you identify where you fall between being a "facilitator" and a "persuader," and why the best reps are actually "artists" who match products to real human needs. Whether you're an "opener," a "closer," or a "Business Development Specialist," this episode is your therapy session to help you embrace your role as a revenue generator.Support the showScott SchlofmanMike Williams - Cell 801-635-7773 #sales #podcast #customerfirst #relationships #success #pipeline #funnel #sales success #selling #salescoach
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T.J. Rodgers has built — and rebuilt — billion-dollar companies across semiconductors, energy, storage, and manufacturing.In this 2.5-hour Episode 900 deep dive, he walks through the operating principles behind that track record — in detail.This isn't a surface-level conversation. It's a masterclass in how durable companies are actually constructed.We unpack:
This is what happens when you order ice cream at a bar. How were big companies were forced to carry water for the communists? Companies are finally throwing off the shackles of DEI because you stepped it up and started punishing companies that push that ideology. What happens when a political commentator becomes a turncoat? Follow The Jesse Kelly Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJesseKellyShowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.