Podcasts about csat

There is hope for your marriage after betrayal! In this episode, Kristin continues her interview with Stacey Smith, the Chief Clinical Officer of Daring Ventures. After sexual secrets are revealed, there must be a period of repair and amends where the betrayed partner's need for safety is the relational priority. But with humility, hard work, and deepening attunement over time, we can learn to build a new relationship rooted in secure attachment and better than it ever was before. You'll learn principles of secure functioning in marriage & how self protection sabotages connection with your spouse. Using principles of the Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy, Stacey brings her expertise as both a CSAT & an APSATs trained clinician to this episode. Learn more about her at https://www.daringventures.com/stacey/  

When it comes to betrayal, we often hear one story: the man cheats, the woman is hurt, and support rallies around her. But what happens when the script is flipped? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Adam Nisenson, a coach and author who helps men navigate betrayal trauma—a subject that's rarely talked about and often misunderstood.Adam shares his own experience of being betrayed, the cultural narratives that silence men in pain, and why so many men suffer in isolation. We explore how betrayal crushes identity, triggers deep ego wounds, and leaves men unsure of how to move forward.This episode offers insight, language, and hope for betrayed men—and for those who love them.

What if the most exciting AI agent innovation isn't happening in the enterprise, but in the mid-market?In this episode, we unpack Voiceflow's explosive growth, the shift from flowcharts to frameworks, and why success today isn't about having the smartest model, but about how you deploy it.We explore how to build reliable, production-grade agents, the rise of self-improving systems, and the emergence of agent-to-agent orchestration.And while mid-market companies are moving fast, Braden explains why enterprise adoption is inevitable, and what it'll take to reach that tipping point.Congratulations to Braden on making his fourth appearance on the VUX World podcast!This episode is brought to you by NLX.NLX is a conversational AI platform enabling brands to build and manage chat, voice and multimodal applications. NLX's patented Voice+ technology synchronizes voice with digital channels, making it possible to automate complex use cases typically handled by a human agent. When a customer calls, the voice AI guides them to resolve their inquiry through self-service using the brand's digital asset, resulting in automation and CSAT scores well above industry average. Just ask United Airlines.Shownotes: Discover Voiceflow: https://www.voiceflow.com/Subscribe to VUX World: https://vuxworld.typeform.com/to/Qlo5aaeWSubscribe to The AI Ultimatum Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/kanesimmsGet in touch with Kane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kanesimms/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In love addiction, we may find ourselves feeling betrayed by a partner-- even if we don't know for sure that something is going on--while doubting our instincts, believing we're too sensitive, and giving an emotionally unavailable partner the benefit of the doubt. This feeling adds to our anxiety, and whatever information a partner is withholding adds to the dysfunction of the relationship...and we stay in the cycle of love addiction hoping things will change. In this episode Jodi talks with betrayal trauma therapist, Lindsay Haverslew, about the reality of betrayal trauma. Jodi and Lindsay share personal experiences with betrayal, and discuss signs that a partner is emotionally unavailable, tips for identifying a trustworthy person, and much more.  Show notes and resources: Music by JD Pendley Link to Jodi's website and additional resources Lindsay's website and instagram Lindsay mentioned the work of Jennifer Freyd and Dr. Kevin Skinner and the book Unleashing Your Power  Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

In this episode, Kane Simms is joined by Katherine Munro, Conversational AI Engineer at Swisscom, for a deep dive into what might sound like an odd pairing: using LLMs to classify customer intents.Large Language Models (LLMs) are powerful, multi-purpose tools. But would you trust one to handle the precision of a classification task?It's an unlikely fit for an LLM. Classifiers typically need to be fast, accurate, and interpretable. LLMs are slow, random black-boxes. Classifiers need to output a single label. LLMs never stop talking.And yet, there are good reasons to use LLMs for such tasks, and emerging architectures and techniques. Many real-world use cases need a classifier, and many data and product development teams will soon find themselves wondering: could GPT handle that?If that sounds like you, then check out this extended episode to explore how Switzerland's largest telecommunications provider tackles this issue while building a next-generation AI assistant. This episode is brought to you by NLX.NLX is a conversational AI platform enabling brands to build and manage chat, voice and multimodal applications. NLX's patented Voice+ technology synchronizes voice with digital channels, making it possible to automate complex use cases typically handled by a human agent. When a customer calls, the voice AI guides them to resolve their inquiry through self-service using the brand's digital asset, resulting in automation and CSAT scores well above industry average. Just ask United Airlines.Shownotes:"The Handbook of Data Science and AI: Generate Value from Data with Machine Learning and Data Analytics" - Available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/3wNN9cvKatherine's website: http://katherine-munro.com/Subscribe to VUX World: https://vuxworld.typeform.com/to/Qlo5aaeWSubscribe to The AI Ultimatum Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/kanesimmsGet in touch with Kane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kanesimms/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is hope for your marriage after betrayal! In this episode Kristin interviews Stacey Smith, the Chief Clinical Officer of Daring Ventures. After sexual secrets are revealed, there must be a period of repair and amends where the betrayed partner's need for safety is the relational priority. But with humility, hard work, and deepening attunement over time, we can learn to build a new relationship rooted in secure attachment and better than it ever was before. You'll learn principles of secure functioning in marriage & how self protection sabotages connection with your spouse. Using principles of the Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy, Stacey brings her expertise as both a CSAT & an APSATs trained clinician to this episode. Learn more about her at https://www.daringventures.com/stacey/  

Empowered & Unfiltered: A 3-Part Series on Healing, Empowerment, and Real Connection Guest: Shane Adamson, LCSW, CSAT, CCPSWhat happens when a people pleaser finally decides she's worthy of more?In this honest and unfiltered conversation, I'm joined by therapist and relationship trauma specialist Shane Adamson, LCSW, , CSAT, CCPS to explore what really lies beneath the urge to overgive, over-accommodate, and lose yourself in relationships that never loved you back.Together, we peel back the layers of people pleasing as a trauma response, the invisible weight of betrayal, and the impact of emotional neglect that keeps women stuck in cycles of unworthiness. Shane brings clinical insight and deep compassion to the conversation—and even shares his own healing journey and how it shaped his work with couples and betrayed partners.This is the first episode in a powerful 3-part series where we explore what it means to come home to yourself after years of giving yourself away.In this episode, you'll learn:Why people pleasers are drawn to emotionally unavailable or narcissistic partnersThe signs of betrayal trauma and how it hijacks your nervous systemWhat “duty sex” reveals about emotional disconnectionHow guilt, family roles, and cultural expectations keep women stuckWhat the first signs of healing really look like—and how to get there

In this episode, Kane is joined by Sonia Ingram, Global Director of AI at Pandora, to explore what it really takes to develop AI maturity in a global business.Many organisations aiming to get started with AI and generative AI often focus on short-term, point solutions to specific problems. This emergent strategy often led from the grassroots to solve siloed departmental pain points can work for proof of value. But it rarely scales.For example, a chatbot that handles returns brilliantly may not be equipped or supported to drive sales conversations. If the support team owns it, where's the incentive to collaborate with sales to expand its capabilities?To scale AI initiatives enterprise-wide, businesses need a purposeful strategy. One that prioritises literacy, governance, tooling, and operational foundations that empower teams across the organisation to build, maintain and grow AI solutions.In this episode, Kane and Sonia explore what it really takes to build and scale AI maturity in a global business. We cover topics such as AI literacy, change management, privacy and governance, and operational tools and processes. This episode is brought to you by NLX.NLX is a conversational AI platform enabling brands to build and manage chat, voice and multimodal applications. NLX's patented Voice+ technology synchronizes voice with digital channels, making it possible to automate complex use cases typically handled by a human agent. When a customer calls, the voice AI guides them to resolve their inquiry through self-service using the brand's digital asset, resulting in automation and CSAT scores well above industry average. Just ask United Airlines.Subscribe to VUX World.Subscribe to The AI Ultimatum Substack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this weekly Sex and Intimacy Q&A, Dr. Rob Weiss and Tami answer participant questions about sex, intimacy, addiction, betrayal, and more. They offer resources for therapeutic separation, communication at every stage of recovery and reconciliation, and tools for practicing empathy with betrayed partners.    TAKEAWAYS: [:24] Does my partner need to see a psychoanalyst first to get honest about his past?  [4:28] What resources are available for communication building in the later stages of recovery and reconciliation?  [9:17] How can I work to regain trust after recent relapses?  [13:35] How do I start the amends process with my betrayed spouse?  [17:43] Why do betrayers have to go to Porn Addiction 101 through Seeking Integrity?  [22:10] How can I handle my ex's new girlfriend joining the family?  [24:30] What does loving detachment really look like?  [30:51] Can addicts and their partners heal outside the therapeutic setting?  [34:20] What is the correlation between sex addiction and OCD?  [36:41] How can I feel safe even though I have forgiven my partner?  [41:05] What tools can an addict use to practice empathy with their partner?  [42:25] What resources are available to get CSAT couples on the same page regarding key terms?  [47:00] My partner's blameshifting and defensiveness is escalating in therapeutic separation, what should I do next?    RESOURCES: Seekingintegrity.com Email Tami: Tami@Seekingintegrity.com Sexandrelationshiphealing.com Intherooms.com Out of the Doghouse: A Step-by-Step Relationship-Saving Guide for Men Caught Cheating, by Robert Weiss Prodependence: Moving Beyond Codependency, by Robert Weiss Sex Addiction 101: A Basic Guide to Healing from Sex, Porn, and Love Addiction, by Robert Weiss Cruise Control: Understanding Sex Addiction in Gay Men, by Robert Weiss Seeking Integrity Podcasts are produced in partnership with Podfly Productions.    QUOTES “Stop the problematic behavior first, then address the underlying issues.”  “I'm never in the later stages of recovery. Recovery is something I will do for my whole life.”  “Your living amends happens when you act differently.”  “If the worst thing happens, what are you going to do to take care of you?” 

Podcast Summary: The Community Code — Building Brand Loyalty Beyond the TransactionIn this episode, Sacha Awwa dives deep with Michael Puhala, Chief Community Evangelist at Khoros, a trailblazer in the digital community space. With over a decade at the forefront of online community innovation, Michael has helped some of the world's top brands—like Microsoft, Spotify, and Sephora—build thriving ecosystems that drive retention, loyalty, and long-term customer engagement.From the early days of gamer forums to the rise of AI-assisted support and ideation hubs, Michael unpacks how brands can turn passive customers into active participants. This episode is essential for marketers, CX leaders, and product teams who want to build customer relationships that last.Key Topics Discussed:1. The Evolution of Community StrategyWhy digital communities predate social media—and how they still matter moreFrom support channels to data goldmines: how community became strategicHow post-COVID dynamics revived the role of community in brand building2. Community as a Retention EngineWhy Sephora community members spend 2.5x more than non-membersThe difference between customer-to-brand and customer-to-customer engagementUsing forums and ideation to support loyalty, CSAT, and product development3. From Forums to FlywheelsHow brands like Zoom and Southwest scale support through communityThe power of community-driven SEO: 180-day payoff, long-term valueSuper users as volunteers, evangelists, and customer service amplifiers4. B2B vs. B2C CommunitiesThe surprising overlap between Spotify and ShopifyWhy use cases like support, ideation, and lifestyle education apply across sectorsCommunity KPIs: lifetime value, churn reduction, CSAT, and content generation5. Community & AI: A New FrontierWhy AI needs community more than the reverse—for nowSummarization, prioritization, and churn prediction: AI's real role in communitiesHow generative AI will transform federated search and product-embedded support6. Avoiding the Community PitfallsWhy “build it and they will come” doesn't workThe death of MQLs and the rise of behavior-based engagementWhy community is a long-tail investment, not a short-term marketing fixKey Takeaways for Founders & Marketing Leaders:Treat community like a listening channel—not a marketing oneThe first 90 days of a new community initiative are critical—don't wing itDon't treat community like a campaign; it's a flywheel, not a funnelCommunity members are your highest-value customers—invest accordinglySurround yourself with experienced community leaders from day oneFollow Michael Puhala's Work:

"If done right, AI will actually make us more human. It handles the busy work and surfaces real-time insights—so GTM teams can focus on what really drives revenue: building relationships, solving real problems, and creating long-term customer value." That's a quote from Roderick Jefferson and a sneak peek at today's episode.Hi there, I'm Kerry Curran—Revenue Growth Consultant, Industry Analyst, and host of Revenue Boost, A Marketing Podcast. In every episode, I sit down with top experts to bring you actionable strategies that deliver real results. So if you're serious about business growth, find us in your favorite podcast directory, hit subscribe, and start outpacing your competition today.In this episode, titled AI + EQ + GTM: The New Growth Equation for B2B Leaders, I sit down with keynote speaker, author, and enablement powerhouse Roderick Jefferson to unpack the modern formula for revenue growth: AI + EQ + GTM.We explore why traditional sales enablement isn't enough in today's landscape—and how real go-to-market success requires alignment across marketing, sales, and customer success, powered by emotional intelligence and smart technology integration.Whether you're a CRO, CMO, or GTM leader looking to scale smarter, this episode is packed with real-world insights and actionable strategies to align your teams and drive sustainable growth.Stick around until the end, where Roderick shares expert tips for building your own AI-powered revenue engine.If you're serious about long-term growth, it's time to get serious about AI, EQ, and GTM. Let's go.Kerry Curran, RBMA (00:01)Welcome, Roderick. Please introduce yourself and share your background and expertise.Roderick Jefferson (00:06)Hey, Kerry. First of all, thanks so much for having me on. I'm really excited—I've been looking forward to this one all day. So thanks again. I'm Roderick Jefferson, CEO of Roderick Jefferson & Associates. We're a fractional enablement company, and we focus on helping small to mid-sized businesses—typically in the $10M to $100M range—that need help with onboarding, ongoing education, and coaching.I'm also a keynote speaker and an author. I actually started my career in sales at AT&T years ago. I was a BDR, did well, got promoted to AE, made President's Club a couple of times. Then I was offered a sales leadership role—and I turned it down. I know they thought I was crazy, but there were two reasons: first, I realized I loved the process of selling more than just closing big deals. And second, oddly enough, I wasn't coin-operated. I did it because I loved it—it gave me a chance to interact with people and have conversations like this one.Kerry Curran, RBMA (01:16)I love that—and I love your background. As Roderick mentioned, he does a lot of keynote speaking, and that's actually where I met him. He was a keynote speaker at B2BMX West in Scottsdale last month. I also have one of your books here that I've been diving into. I can't believe how fast this year is flying—it's already the first day of spring!Roderick Jefferson (01:33)Thank you so much. Wow, that was just last month? It feels like last week. Where is the time going?Kerry Curran, RBMA (01:45)I appreciate your experience for so many reasons. One is that—like we talked about before the show—my dad was in sales at AT&T for over 20 years. It paid for my entire education. So we were comparing notes on that era of innovation and what we learned back then.Roderick Jefferson (02:02)Thank you, AT&T!Kerry Curran, RBMA (02:13)So much of what you talked about on stage and wrote about in your book is near and dear to my heart. My background is in building integrated marketing-to-sales infrastructure and strengthening it to drive revenue growth. I'm excited to hear more about what you're seeing and hearing. You talk to so many brands and marketers—what's hot right now? What's the buzz? What do we need to know?Roderick Jefferson (02:44)A couple of things. The obvious one is AI—but I'll add something: it's not just AI, it's AI plus EQ plus IQ. Without that combination, you won't be successful.The other big theme is the same old problem we've always had: Why is there such a disconnect between sales and marketing? As an enablement guy, it pains me. I spent 30 years in corporate trying to figure that out. I think we're getting closer to alignment—thank you, AI, for finally stepping in and being smarter than all of us! But we've still got a long way to go.Part of the issue is we're still making decisions in silos. That's why I've become a champion of moving away from just "sales enablement."Yes, I know I wrote the book on sales enablement—but I don't think that's the focus anymore. In hindsight, “sales enablement” is too myopic. It's really about go-to-market. How do we bring HR, marketing, product marketing, engineering, sales, and enablement all to the same table to talk about the entire buyer's journey?Instead of focusing on our internal sales process and trying to shoehorn prospects into it, we should be asking: How do they buy? Who buys? Are there buying committees? How many people are involved? And yes, ICP matters—but that's just the tip of the iceberg. It goes much deeper.Kerry Curran, RBMA (04:44)Yes, absolutely. And going back to why you loved your early sales roles—it was about helping people. That's how I've always approached marketing too: what are their business challenges, and what can I offer to solve them? In your keynote, you said, “I want sales to stop selling and start helping.” But that's not possible without partnering with marketing to learn and message around the outcomes we drive and the pain points we solve.Roderick Jefferson (05:22)Exactly. Let's unpack that. First, about helping vs. selling—that's why we have spam filters now. Nobody wants to be sold to. That's also why people avoid car lots—because you know what's coming: they'll talk at you, try to upsell you, and push you into something you don't need or want. Then you have buyer's remorse.Now apply that to corporate and entrepreneurship. If you're doing all the talking in sales, something's wrong. Too many people ask questions just to move the deal forward instead of being genuinely inquisitive.Let's take it further. If marketing is working in a silo—building messaging and positioning—and they don't bring in sales, then guess what? Sales won't use it. Newsflash, right? And second, it's only going to reflect marketing's perspective. But if you bring both teams together and say, “Hey, what are the top three to five things you're hearing from prospects over and over?”—then you can work collaboratively and cohesively to solve those.The third piece is: let's stop trying to manufacture pain. Not every prospect is in pain. Sometimes the goal is to increase efficiency or productivity. If there is pain, you get to play doctor for a moment. And by that, I mean: do they need an Advil, a Vicodin, a Percocet, or an extraction? Do you need to stop the bleeding right now? You only figure that out by getting sales, marketing, product, and even HR at the same table.Kerry Curran, RBMA (07:34)Yes, absolutely. I love the analogy of different levels of pain solutions because you're right—sometimes it's not pain, it's about helping the customer be more efficient, reduce costs, or drive revenue. I've used the doctor analogy before too: you assess the situation and then customize the solution based on where it “hurts” the most. One of the ongoing challenges, though, is that sales and marketing still aren't fully aligned. Why do you think that's been such a persistent issue, and where do you see it heading?Roderick Jefferson (08:14)Because sales speaks French and marketing speaks German. They're close enough that they can kind of understand each other—like ordering a beer or finding a bathroom—but not enough for a meaningful conversation.The core issue is that they're not talking—they're presenting to each other. They're pitching ideas instead of having a dialogue. Marketing says, “Here's what the pitch should look like,” and sales replies, “When's the last time you actually talked to a customer?”They also get stuck in “I think” and “I feel,” and I always tell both groups—those are the two things you cannot say in a joint meeting. No one cares what you think or feel. Instead, say: “Here's what I've seen work,” or “Here's what I've heard from prospects and customers.” That way, the conversation is rooted in data and real-world insight, not opinion or emotion.You might say, “Hey, when we get to slide six in the deck, things get fuzzy and deals stall.” That's something marketing can fix. Or you go to product and say, “I've talked to 10 prospects, and eight of them asked for this feature. Can we move it up in the roadmap?”Or go back to sales and say, “Only 28% of the team is hitting quota because they're struggling with discovery and objection handling.” So enablement and marketing can partner to create role plays, messaging guides, or accreditations. It sounds utopian, but I've actually done this six times over 30 years—it is possible.It's not because I'm the smartest guy in the room—it's because when sales and marketing align around shared definitions and shared goals, real change happens. Go back to MQLs and SQLs. One team says, “We gave you all these leads,” and the other says, “Yeah, but they all sucked.” Then you realize: you haven't even agreed on what a lead is.As a fractional enablement leader, that's the first question I ask: “Can you both define what an MQL and SQL mean to you?” Nine times out of ten, they realize they aren't aligned at all. That's where real progress starts.Once you fix communication, the next phase is collaboration. And what comes out of collaboration is the big one: accountability. That's the word nobody likes—but it's what gets results. You're holding each other to timelines, deliverables, and follow-through.The final phase is orchestration. That's what enablement really does—we connect communication, collaboration, and accountability across the entire go-to-market team so everyone has a voice and a vote.Kerry Curran, RBMA (13:16)You're so smart, and you bring up so many great points—especially around MQLs, SQLs, and the lack of collaboration. There's no unified North Star. Marketing may be focused on MQLs, but those criteria don't always match what moves an MQL to an SQL.There's also no feedback loop. I've seen teams where sales and marketing didn't even talk to each other—but they still complained about each other! I was brought in to help, and I said, “You're adults. It's time to talk to one another.” And you'd think that would be obvious.What I love is that we're starting to see the outdated framework of MQLs as a KPI begin to fade. As you said, it's about identifying a shared goal that everyone can be accountable to. We need to all be paddling in the same direction.Roderick Jefferson (14:16)Exactly. I wouldn't say we're all rowing yet, but we've definitely got our hands in the water, and we're starting to go in the same direction. You can see that North Star flickering out there.And I give big kudos to AI for helping with that. In some ways, it reminds me of social media. Would you agree that social media initially made us less social?Kerry Curran, RBMA (14:27)Yes, totally agree. We can see the North Star.Roderick Jefferson (14:57)Now I'm going to flip that idea on its head: if done right, I believe AI will actually make us more human—and drive more meaningful conversations. I know that sounds crazy, but I have six ways AI can help us do that.First, let's go back to streamlining lead scoring. If we use AI to prioritize leads based on their likelihood to convert, sales can focus efforts on the most promising opportunities. Once we align on those criteria, volume and quality both improve. With confidence comes competence—and vice versa.Second is automating task management. Whether it's data entry, appointment scheduling, or follow-up emails, those repetitive tasks eat up sales time. Less than 30% of a rep's time is spent actually selling. If we offload that admin work, reps can focus on high-value activities—like building relationships, doing discovery, and closing deals.Kerry Curran, RBMA (15:59)Yes! And pre-call planning. Having the time to prepare properly makes a huge difference.Roderick Jefferson (16:19)Exactly. Third is real-time analytics. If marketing and ops can provide sales reps with real-time insights—like funnel data, deal velocity, or content performance—we can start making decisions based on data, not assumptions or feelings.The fourth area is personalized sales coaching. I talk to a lot of leaders, and I'll make a bold statement: most sales leaders don't know how to coach. They either use outdated methods or try to “peanut butter” their advice across the team.But what if we could use AI to analyze calls, emails, and meetings—then provide coaching based on each rep's strengths and weaknesses? Sales leaders could shift from managing to leading.Kerry Curran, RBMA (17:55)Yes, I love that. It would completely elevate team performance.Roderick Jefferson (18:11)Exactly. Fifth is increasing efficiency in the sales process. AI can create proposals, contracts, and other documents, which frees up time for reps to focus on helping—not chasing paperwork. And by streamlining the process, we can qualify faster and avoid wasting time on poor-fit deals.Kerry Curran, RBMA (18:58)Right, and they can focus on the deals that are actually likely to move forward.Roderick Jefferson (19:09)Exactly. And sixth—and most overlooked—is customer success. That's often left out of GTM conversations, but it's critical. We can use AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants to handle basic inquiries. That frees up CSMs to focus on more strategic tasks like renewals, cross-sell, and upsell.Let's be honest—most CSMs were trained for renewals, not selling. But cross-sell and upsell aren't really selling—they're reselling to warm, happy customers. The better trained and equipped CSMs are, the better your customer retention and growth.Because let's face it—we've all seen it: 90 days before renewal, suddenly a CSM becomes your best friend. Where were they for the last two years? If we get ahead of that and connect all the dots—sales, marketing, CS, and product—guess who wins?The prospect.The customer.The company—because revenue goes up.The employee—because bonuses happen, spiffs get paid, and KPIs are hit.But most importantly, we build customers for life. And that has to start from the very beginning, not just when the CSM steps in at the end.Kerry Curran, RBMA (20:47)Yes, this is so smart. I love that you brought customer success into the conversation. One of the things I love about go-to-market strategy is that it includes lifetime value—upsell and renewal are a critical part of the revenue journey.In my past roles, I've seen teams say, “Well, that's just client services—they don't know how to sell.” But to your point, if we coach them, equip them, and make them comfortable, it can go a long way.Roderick Jefferson (21:34)Absolutely. They become the lifeblood of your business. Yes, you need net-new revenue, but if sales builds this big, beautiful house on the front end and then customers just walk out the back door—what's the point?And I won't even get into the stats—you know them—about how much more expensive it is to acquire a new customer versus retaining one. The key is being human and actually helping.Kerry Curran, RBMA (21:46)Exactly. I love that. It leads perfectly into my next question—because one of the core components of your strategy and presentation was the importance of EQ, or emotional intelligence. Can you talk about why that's so critical?Roderick Jefferson (22:19)Yeah. It really comes down to this: AI can provide content—tons of it, endlessly. It can give you all the data and information in the world. But it still requires a human to provide context. For now, at least. I'm not saying it'll be that way forever, but for now, context is everything.I love analogies, so I'll give you one: it's like making gumbo. You sprinkle in some seasoning here, some spice there. In this case, AI provides the content. Then the human provides the interpretation—context. That's understanding how to use that generated content to reach the right person or company, at the right time, with the right message, in the right tone.What you get is a balanced, powerful approach: IQ + EQ + AI. That's what leads to truly optimal outcomes—if you do it right.Kerry Curran, RBMA (23:19)Yes! I love that. And I love every stage of your process, Roderick—it's so valuable. I know your clients are lucky to work with you.For people listening and thinking, “Yes, I need this,” how do they get started? What's the baseline readiness? How do they begin integrating sales and marketing more effectively—and leveraging AI?Roderick Jefferson (23:34)Thank you so much for that. It really starts with a conversation. Reach out—LinkedIn, social media, my website. And from there, we talk. We get to the core questions: Where are you today? Where have you been? Where are you trying to go? And most importantly: What does success look like?And not just, “What does success look like?” but, “Who is success for?”Then we move into an assessment. I want to talk to every part of the go-to-market team. Because not only do we have French and German—we've also got Dutch, Spanish, and every other language. My job is to become the translator—not just of language, but of dialects and context.“This is what they said, but here's what they meant. And this is what they meant, but here's what they actually need.”Then we dig into what's really going on. Most clients have a sense of what's “broken.” I'm not just looking for the broken parts—I'm looking at what you've already tried. What worked? What didn't? Why or why not?I basically become a persistent four-year-old asking, “Why? But why? But why?” And yes, it gets frustrating—but it's the only way to build a unified GTM team with a shared North Star.Kerry Curran, RBMA (25:32)Yes, I love that. And just to add—sometimes something didn't work not because it was a bad strategy, but because it was evaluated with the wrong KPI or misunderstood entirely.Like a top-of-funnel strategy did work—but the team expected it to generate leads that same month. It takes time. So much of this comes down to digging into the root of the issue, and I love your approach.Roderick Jefferson (26:10)Exactly. And it's also about understanding that every GTM function has different KPIs.If I'm talking to sales, I'm asking about average deal size, quota attainment, deal velocity, win rate, pipeline generation. If I'm talking to sales engineering, they care about number of demos per deal, wins and losses, and number of POCs. Customer success? They care about adoption, churn, CSAT, NPS, lifetime value.My job is to set the North Star and speak in their language—not in “enablement-ese.” Sometimes that means speaking in sales terms, sometimes marketing terms. And I always say, “Assume I know nothing about your job. Spell out your acronyms. Define your terms.”Because over 30 years, I've learned: the same acronym can mean 12 different things at 12 different companies.The goal is to get away from confusion and start finding commonality. When you break down the silos and the masks, you realize we're all working toward the same thing: new, long-term, happy customers for life.Kerry Curran, RBMA (27:55)Yes—thank you, Roderick. I love this. So, how can people find you?Roderick Jefferson (28:00)Funny—I always say if you can't find me on social media, you're not trying to find me.You can reach me at roderickjefferson.com, and you can find my book, Sales Enablement 3.0: The Blueprint to Sales Enablement Excellence and the upcoming Sales 3.0 companion workbook there as well.I'm on LinkedIn as Roderick Jefferson, Instagram and Threads at @roderick_j_associates, YouTube at Roderick Jefferson, and on BlueSky as @voiceofrod.Kerry Curran, RBMA (28:33)Excellent. I'll make sure to include all of that in the show notes—I'm sure this episode will have your phone ringing!Thank you so much, Roderick. I really appreciate you taking the time to join us. This was valuable for me, and I'm sure for the audience as well.Roderick Jefferson (28:40)Ring-a-ling—bring it on! Let's dance. Thank you again. This was an absolute honor, and I'm glad we got the chance to reconnect, Kerry.Kerry Curran, RBMA (28:59)For sure. Thank you—you too.Roderick Jefferson (29:01)Take care, all.Thanks for tuning in. If you're struggling with flat or slowing revenue growth, you're not alone. That's why Revenue Boost: A Marketing Podcast brings you expert insights, actionable strategies, and real-world success stories to help you scale faster.If you're serious about growth, search for us in your favorite podcast directory. Hit follow or subscribe, and leave a five-star rating—it helps us keep the game-changing content coming.New episodes drop regularly. Don't let your revenue growth strategy fall behind. We'll see you soon!

What is problematic sexual behavior (PSB)? Bill Herring, creator of the PSB Framework, explains the history behind this important concept—and how it can help men outgrowing porn.Bill Herring (LCSW, CSAT) is a psychotherapist who has influenced the development of sex addiction theory and practice over the past 30 years. In 2019, Bill received the annual "Carnes Award" from the Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH) for his overall contributions to the field of problematic sexual behavior.Read Bill's summary of PSB: https://www.billherring.com/problematic-sexual-behavior-framework-summaryWatch Bill's 11-minute video: https://youtu.be/1NZCr-5dyjM?si=L74h9wulfDff_MapLearn more and connect with Bill at billherring.comSupport the showTake the Husband Material Journey... Step 1: Listen to this podcast or watch on YouTube Step 2: Join the private Husband Material Community Step 3: Take the free mini-course: How To Outgrow Porn Step 4: Try the all-in-one program: Husband Material Academy Thanks for listening!

In this episode, we chat with Andrei Papancea, CEO and Co-Founder of NLX, to cut through the noise and get real about where AI in the enterprise is delivering value, and where it's not.Andrei brings a refreshing dose of grounded perspective as the buzz around ‘agentic AI' and generative everything reaches fever pitch. Instead of chasing trends or slapping AI onto every process, NLX is laser-focused on practical outcomes: real problems, solved efficiently, and with the right tech. We explore the challenges enterprise leaders face when navigating a market bloated with hype: internal pressures to ‘do AI,' tech stacks that aren't ready, and misunderstandings about what LLMs can and can't do. Andrei shares where generative AI genuinely shines and where it is still too risky, especially for heavily regulated industries.This episode is brought to you by NLX.NLX is a conversational AI platform enabling brands to build and manage chat, voice and multimodal applications. NLX's patented Voice+ technology synchronizes voice with digital channels, making it possible to automate complex use cases typically handled by a human agent. When a customer calls, the voice AI guides them to resolve their inquiry through self-service using the brand's digital asset, resulting in automation and CSAT scores well above industry average. Just ask United Airlines.Subscribe to VUX World.Subscribe to The AI Ultimatum Substack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you a people pleaser?Today on the Faithful & True Podcast, Dr. Greg Miller & Jim Farm, LMFT, CSAT return to the program to talk about people pleasing.Listen as they unpack what it is & what's really going on underneath the surface of being a people pleaser. Subscribe to our YouTube channel:   - https://bit.ly/FaithfulandTrueAttend a Workshop Experience   - For Men - https://bit.ly/MensJourneyWorkshop   - For Women - http://bit.ly/WomensJourneyWorkshop   - For Couples - http://bit.ly/CouplesIntensiveWorkshopContact us:   - https://faithfulandtrue.com/   - info@faithfulandtrue.com   - 952-746-3880Dr. Mark Laaser, M.Div., Ph.D., was considered one of the Christian leaders in the field of sex addiction before his death in September 2019. Mark, together with his wife, Debbie Laaser, MA, LMFT, have shared their 32 years of personal experience in sexual addiction recovery with thousands of individuals and couples through their work and resources at Faithful & True.The Faithful & True 3-Day Intensive Workshops continue to transform lives, rebuild trust, and help heal marriages.Send us a text

Is it really necessary to revisit my past? Shouldn't I just move on with my life?Today on the Faithful & True Podcast, Dr. Greg Miller & Jim Farm, LMFT, CSAT make a case for why it's essential to deal with your past if you ever want to truly move forward in life. Subscribe to our YouTube channel:   - https://bit.ly/FaithfulandTrueAttend a Workshop Experience   - For Men - https://bit.ly/MensJourneyWorkshop   - For Women - http://bit.ly/WomensJourneyWorkshop   - For Couples - http://bit.ly/CouplesIntensiveWorkshopContact us:   - https://faithfulandtrue.com/   - info@faithfulandtrue.com   - 952-746-3880Dr. Mark Laaser, M.Div., Ph.D., was considered one of the Christian leaders in the field of sex addiction before his death in September 2019. Mark, together with his wife, Debbie Laaser, MA, LMFT, have shared their 32 years of personal experience in sexual addiction recovery with thousands of individuals and couples through their work and resources at Faithful & True.The Faithful & True 3-Day Intensive Workshops continue to transform lives, rebuild trust, and help heal marriages.Send us a text

Így tudja megtiltani a Facebooknak, hogy az ön adataival etesse a mesterséges intelligenciát Telex     2025-04-19 11:27:27     Tudomány Mesterséges intelligencia A Meta pár napja jelentette be, hogy az európai felhasználók nyilvánosan megosztott tartalmait használják MI-modelljük kiképzésére. Így győzd le a jetlaget, hogy ne borulj meg a belső óráddal együtt! Player     2025-04-19 05:48:02     Infotech Elmondjuk, mit lehet tenni, hogy a belső órád ne mondjon nemet egy másik időzónára. Csodájára járnak a víz nélkül élő kecskéknek First Class     2025-04-19 08:03:21     Tudomány Egy mindentől távol eső szigeten úgy éltek évszázadokon át az állatok, hogy nincs természetes vízforrásuk a sós tengervizet leszámítva. Hogyan éltek akkor túl? Megtalálták a Star Wars legendás bolygójának hasonmását Mínuszos     2025-04-19 13:33:39     Tudomány Világűr Star Wars Egy nem mindennapi bolygóra bukkantak a csillagászok nagyjából 120 fényévnyire a Földtől – és ha a gyanújuk beigazolódik, ez az égitest akár a Star Wars legendás bolygóját, Tatooint is megszégyenítheti. A frissen azonosított exobolygó különlegessége, hogy két barna törpe – vagyis „meghiúsult” csillag – körül keringhet. A barna törpék különös lények Új Steam-tanteremmel gazdagodott a Széchenyi István Egyetem Apáczai-kara Digital Hungary     2025-04-19 12:03:00     Infotech Oktatás egyetem Győr Steam Társadalomkutatás Megújult a győri Széchenyi István Egyetem Apáczai Csere János Pedagógiai, Humán- és Társadalomtudományi Karának 253-as tanterme, amely a jövőben STEAM-tanteremként szolgálja az egyetemi oktatást. Növeli a rák kockáztatát? Érdemes repülő üzemmódba kapcsolni a mobilunkat éjszakára? Startlap Vásárlás     2025-04-19 12:03:56     Mobiltech Repülőtér Telefon Repülőgép Rákbetegség Sokan ismerjük a tanácsot: kapcsold be a repülő üzemmódot éjszakára, hogy ne okozzon kárt a telefonodból áradó sugárzás. Valóban hat a módszer? Nézzük! Törvénnyel szabályoznák a Studio Ghibli filmjeinek mintájára készült Chat Gpt-s képek használatát refresher.hu     2025-04-19 13:38:00     Tudomány Mesterséges intelligencia Japán ChatGPT Chat Japánban már azon dolgoznak, hogy törvény tilthassa a mesterséges intelligencia által készült Studio Ghibli hatású képeket. Kémbiztos mobilokat adott Magyarországra látogató képviselőinek az EU PC Fórum     2025-04-19 07:00:00     Mobiltech Telefon Hangfelvétel Kémkedés Az EU a napokban Magyarországra érkezett képviselői számára különleges, lehallgatás ellen védő technológiával ellátott mobiltokokat adott, hogy azokat használják hazánkba történő látogatásuk során. A törvényhozók ugyanis amiatt aggódnak, hogy a képviselők esetleg kémkedés áldozatává válhatnak, vagy rosszindulatú program kerülhet fel telefonjaikra i Csatába küldi a Samsung az idei csúcs OLED tévéjét TechWorld     2025-04-19 08:20:56     Infotech Samsung A látottak alapján a Samsung S95F az egész mezőny egyik legjobb televíziója lesz. A Samsung már korábban bemutatta idei csúcs OLED televízióját, az S95F névre hallgató modellt, amelyet most a boltokba is küldenek. Az új S95F a tavalyi S95D utódja, és egyben a Samsung idei zászlóshajó televíziója. A 2025-ös QD-OLED panelt használja, amely a korábbi Jézus keresztre feszítésének idejét pontosította a Nasa, egy holdfogyatkozásból számolták ki a konkrét napot Sassy     2025-04-19 12:30:10     Tudomány Világűr NASA Szuperhold Holdfogyatkozás "A nap elsötétült, a hold vérvörössé vált" – Nasa szerint tényleg holdfogyatkozás lehetett Jézus keresztre feszítésekor. Zseniális: humanoid robotok futották le a félmaratont Pekingben hirado.hu     2025-04-19 08:44:07     Tudomány Kína Robot Peking Ez volt az első alkalom, hogy őket is elindították ezen a távon. Én vagyok anya: Kami filmezik Mafab     2025-04-19 07:22:02     Film Mesterséges intelligencia Sziasztok! Kövezzetek meg érte, de én szerettem ezt a filmet! Annak dacára, hogy egy újabb feldolgozása (jobban mondva továbbgondolása) a mesterséges intelligencia térhódításának és az ember hozzá fűződő kapcsolatának. Viszonylag egyszerű koncepcióba csomagoltan, ami ez esetben dicséretnek számít, mivel itt hatványozottabban is igaz volt, hogy a ke A további adásainkat keresd a podcast.hirstart.hu oldalunkon.

Így tudja megtiltani a Facebooknak, hogy az ön adataival etesse a mesterséges intelligenciát Telex     2025-04-19 11:27:27     Tudomány Mesterséges intelligencia A Meta pár napja jelentette be, hogy az európai felhasználók nyilvánosan megosztott tartalmait használják MI-modelljük kiképzésére. Így győzd le a jetlaget, hogy ne borulj meg a belső óráddal együtt! Player     2025-04-19 05:48:02     Infotech Elmondjuk, mit lehet tenni, hogy a belső órád ne mondjon nemet egy másik időzónára. Csodájára járnak a víz nélkül élő kecskéknek First Class     2025-04-19 08:03:21     Tudomány Egy mindentől távol eső szigeten úgy éltek évszázadokon át az állatok, hogy nincs természetes vízforrásuk a sós tengervizet leszámítva. Hogyan éltek akkor túl? Megtalálták a Star Wars legendás bolygójának hasonmását Mínuszos     2025-04-19 13:33:39     Tudomány Világűr Star Wars Egy nem mindennapi bolygóra bukkantak a csillagászok nagyjából 120 fényévnyire a Földtől – és ha a gyanújuk beigazolódik, ez az égitest akár a Star Wars legendás bolygóját, Tatooint is megszégyenítheti. A frissen azonosított exobolygó különlegessége, hogy két barna törpe – vagyis „meghiúsult” csillag – körül keringhet. A barna törpék különös lények Új Steam-tanteremmel gazdagodott a Széchenyi István Egyetem Apáczai-kara Digital Hungary     2025-04-19 12:03:00     Infotech Oktatás egyetem Győr Steam Társadalomkutatás Megújult a győri Széchenyi István Egyetem Apáczai Csere János Pedagógiai, Humán- és Társadalomtudományi Karának 253-as tanterme, amely a jövőben STEAM-tanteremként szolgálja az egyetemi oktatást. Növeli a rák kockáztatát? Érdemes repülő üzemmódba kapcsolni a mobilunkat éjszakára? Startlap Vásárlás     2025-04-19 12:03:56     Mobiltech Repülőtér Telefon Repülőgép Rákbetegség Sokan ismerjük a tanácsot: kapcsold be a repülő üzemmódot éjszakára, hogy ne okozzon kárt a telefonodból áradó sugárzás. Valóban hat a módszer? Nézzük! Törvénnyel szabályoznák a Studio Ghibli filmjeinek mintájára készült Chat Gpt-s képek használatát refresher.hu     2025-04-19 13:38:00     Tudomány Mesterséges intelligencia Japán ChatGPT Chat Japánban már azon dolgoznak, hogy törvény tilthassa a mesterséges intelligencia által készült Studio Ghibli hatású képeket. Kémbiztos mobilokat adott Magyarországra látogató képviselőinek az EU PC Fórum     2025-04-19 07:00:00     Mobiltech Telefon Hangfelvétel Kémkedés Az EU a napokban Magyarországra érkezett képviselői számára különleges, lehallgatás ellen védő technológiával ellátott mobiltokokat adott, hogy azokat használják hazánkba történő látogatásuk során. A törvényhozók ugyanis amiatt aggódnak, hogy a képviselők esetleg kémkedés áldozatává válhatnak, vagy rosszindulatú program kerülhet fel telefonjaikra i Csatába küldi a Samsung az idei csúcs OLED tévéjét TechWorld     2025-04-19 08:20:56     Infotech Samsung A látottak alapján a Samsung S95F az egész mezőny egyik legjobb televíziója lesz. A Samsung már korábban bemutatta idei csúcs OLED televízióját, az S95F névre hallgató modellt, amelyet most a boltokba is küldenek. Az új S95F a tavalyi S95D utódja, és egyben a Samsung idei zászlóshajó televíziója. A 2025-ös QD-OLED panelt használja, amely a korábbi Jézus keresztre feszítésének idejét pontosította a Nasa, egy holdfogyatkozásból számolták ki a konkrét napot Sassy     2025-04-19 12:30:10     Tudomány Világűr NASA Szuperhold Holdfogyatkozás "A nap elsötétült, a hold vérvörössé vált" – Nasa szerint tényleg holdfogyatkozás lehetett Jézus keresztre feszítésekor. Zseniális: humanoid robotok futották le a félmaratont Pekingben hirado.hu     2025-04-19 08:44:07     Tudomány Kína Robot Peking Ez volt az első alkalom, hogy őket is elindították ezen a távon. Én vagyok anya: Kami filmezik Mafab     2025-04-19 07:22:02     Film Mesterséges intelligencia Sziasztok! Kövezzetek meg érte, de én szerettem ezt a filmet! Annak dacára, hogy egy újabb feldolgozása (jobban mondva továbbgondolása) a mesterséges intelligencia térhódításának és az ember hozzá fűződő kapcsolatának. Viszonylag egyszerű koncepcióba csomagoltan, ami ez esetben dicséretnek számít, mivel itt hatványozottabban is igaz volt, hogy a ke A további adásainkat keresd a podcast.hirstart.hu oldalunkon.

Erin Snow is the Clinical Director at Seeking Integrity, CSAT, and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She and Dr. Rob discuss a week-by-week overview of residential treatment, the key points of trauma work and treatment, and the hope that she regularly sees as addicts encounter consequences, confront early trauma, and what it really takes to heal individuals and their loved ones from addiction.    TAKEAWAYS: [2:08] Erin's journey toward Seeking Integrity.  [4:50] The healing at Seeking Integrity focuses on much more than sex addiction.  [7:41] Key points of trauma work and treatment.  [12:15] Why is my partner connecting to their therapist but not me?  [13:43] A week-by-week overview of residential treatment.  [20:29] Attachment and connection are not what a spouse is thinking about.  [26:28] Why isn't our relationship enough to make him change?  [31:00] What is it like for Erin being a woman working with addict men?    RESOURCES: Sex and Relationship Healing @RobWeissMSW Sex Addiction 101  Seeking Integrity Free Sexual Addiction Screening Assessment Partner Sexuality Survey Erin Snow Seeking Integrity Podcasts are produced in partnership with Podfly Productions.    QUOTES: “I can see an opportunity for my clients to find meaning in living again.”  “In trauma work, you can lose yourself in the why and never move to the place of how to move on from this.”  “Healing happens the way it's supposed to as long as you're doing the next right thing.” 

In today's episode I chat with Dr. Connie Zollner, licensed therapist, about sex addiction. Dr. Connie starts the episode by discussing her journey into specializing in sex addiction and defines for listeners what sex addiction is. We discuss risk factors for developing a sexual addiction, as well as some warning signs that someone is experiencing a sex addiction. Dr. Connie addresses some of the common misconceptions about sex addiction, as well as discusses sex addiction in neurodivergent clients. We discuss the treatments for sex addiction and Dr. Connie ends the episode by providing some words of advice and encouragement for those experiencing sex addiction and partners of those experiencing sex addiction. Connect with Dr. Connie Zollner:IG: @the.btrcWebsite: ⁠⁠⁠www.thebtrc.comConnect with Me:Follow me on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jessicaleighphd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the podcast on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@psych.talk.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jessicaleighphd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow me on Threads ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jessicaleighphd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Welcome to Group Therapy Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join my Facebook community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Through What You Go Through⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Work With Me:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mind Over Matter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LGBTQ+ Affirming Masterclass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Be a guest on my podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Resources:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Anti-Racism Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LGBTQ+ Affirming Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Helping Professional's Guide to Boundary Setting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Intro/Outro Music⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Life of Riley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by Kevin MacLeod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music License⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join host G Mark Hardy on CISO Tradecraft as he welcomes expert Scott Gicking to discuss the Center for Internet Security's (CIS) Controls Self-Assessment Tool (CSAT). Learn what CSAT is, how to effectively use it, and how it can enhance your career in cybersecurity. Stay tuned for insights on creating effective security frameworks, measuring maturity, and improving organizational security posture using the CSAT tool.   Scott Gicking - https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottgickingus/ CIS CSAT - https://www.cisecurity.org/controls/cis-controls-self-assessment-tool-cis-csat Transcripts: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WAI9U0WEUSJH1ZVWM1HdtFEf-O9hLJBe   Chapters 01:16 Guest Introduction: Scott Gicking 02:49 Scott's Career Journey 04:03 The Hollywood Cybersecurity Incident 07:38 Introduction to CIS and Its Importance 09:49 Understanding the CIS CSAT Tool 10:13 Implementing CIS CSAT in a Real-World Scenario 13:00 Benefits of the CIS CSAT Tool 18:38 Developing a Three-Year Roadmap with CSAT 23:25 Scoring Policies and Controls 24:20 Control Implementation and Automation 25:22 CMMC Certification Levels 27:52 Honest Self-Assessment 30:01 Quick and Dirty Assessment Approach 33:07 Building Trust and Reporting 37:38 Business Impact Analysis Tool 40:02 Reputational Damage and CISO Challenges 42:55 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Dr. Rob and Tami tackle hard questions about sex and intimacy in the wake of betrayal. They cover the role of a spouse in supporting their partner ‘for better and for worse”, how to set boundaries that take care of you first, and addressing the trauma and intrusive thoughts that often come after disclosure.    TAKEAWAYS: [:20] Where do personal responsibility and societal norms come into play?  [7:27] A spouse's job is to take care of themselves. [12:30] How can I deal with my trauma and intrusive thoughts about my partner's acting out?  [18:56] Acknowledging the level of troubled your partner really is.  [23:07] How can we connect through non-sexual intimacy? [30:02] Is it common for people with addictions to seek out others with similar problems?  [38:42] Does our marriage counselor also need to be a CSAT?  [41:42] My spouse is refusing a polygraph test. How can I ever trust him?  [46:50] Should I address porn viewing or obsessive masturbation first?  [49:47] My partner has been with underage girls. How do I handle this?    RESOURCES: Seekingintegrity.com Email Tami: Tami@Seekingintegrity.com Sexandrelationshiphealing.com Intherooms.com Out of the Doghouse: A Step-by-Step Relationship-Saving Guide for Men Caught Cheating, by Robert Weiss Prodependence: Moving Beyond Codependency, by Robert Weiss Sex Addiction 101: A Basic Guide to Healing from Sex, Porn, and Love Addiction, by Robert Weiss Cruise Control: Understanding Sex Addiction in Gay Men, by Robert Weiss Seeking Integrity Podcasts are produced in partnership with Podfly Productions.    QUOTES “As an addict, I need people to support me and relate to me, but as a spouse, that's not your job.”  “Addicts are not bad people. They're broken people.”  “If I fight my addict, I'm going to lose every time.”  “The more questions you ask, the more questions it will bring up.”  ‘Express what you need but don't blame if you're not getting it.”   

The toxic effects of sexual trauma and abuse can be devastating and lasting. Victims’ ability to experience healthy sexuality, even if they free themselves from the abuse, is often shattered. If sexual abuse, violence, or coercive control is part of your story, certified sex addiction therapist (CSAT) and trauma specialist Tabitha Westbrook wants you to know: you are not alone, and healing is possible. Tabitha will draw on her specialized expertise, her own personal story of abuse, and a deep knowledge of Scripture to create a safe and compassionate place for you to start recovering – or even finding - the healthy sexuality God intended for you.Become a Parshall Partner: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/inthemarket/partnersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode web page: https://bit.ly/4l9JDil ----------------------- Rate Insights Unlocked and write a review If you appreciate Insights Unlocked, please give it a rating and a review. Visit Apple Podcasts, pull up the Insights Unlocked show page and scroll to the bottom of the screen. Below the trailers, you'll find Ratings and Reviews. Click on a star rating. Scroll down past the highlighted review and click on "Write a Review." You'll make my day. ----------------------- In this episode of Insights Unlocked, we're joined by Regina DeMars, Director of Content Marketing and Social Media Strategy at First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO). With over 167 years of history, FNBO is one of the largest privately held banks in the U.S.—but that doesn't stop them from thinking innovatively about customer engagement in the digital age. Regina shares how her team is transforming traditional banking touchpoints into rich, multi-channel experiences that prioritize customer trust, education, and community. From using employee storytelling to humanize financial topics, to tailoring content for platform-specific audiences, FNBO's approach is as strategic as it is personal. You'll hear how Regina and her team: Leverage real-time customer insights to guide content creation Build trust by consistently showing up with relevant, value-driven messaging Use content personalization to meet customers where they are—both in life and in channel Connect with younger generations through social-first campaigns like the “Be Kind” mural initiative Balance brand consistency with creative freedom across platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and blogs Whether you're in financial services or not, this episode is packed with practical ideas on how to scale content without losing your brand's human touch. Guest: Regina DeMars, Director of Content Marketing & Social Media Strategy, FNBO Host: Cornelia Klimek, Group Product Manager, UserTesting Producer: Nathan Isaacs, Senior Manager, Content Production, UserTesting Resources & Links: Connect with Regina on LinkedIn Connect with Cornelia on LinkedIn Explore FNBO's content and campaigns on Instagram and YouTube Learn more about Insights Unlocked: usertesting.com/podcast

If you're a survivor of sexual harm, recovering your sexuality is possible. You are worthy of good care.The toxic effects of sexual trauma and abuse can be devastating and lasting. Victims' ability to experience healthy sexuality, even if they free themselves from the abuse, is often shattered.If sexual abuse, violence, or coercive control is part of your story, certified sex addiction therapist (CSAT) and trauma specialist Tabitha Westbrook wants you to know: you are not alone, and healing is possible. In Body & Soul, Healed & Whole,Tabitha draws on her specialized expertise, her own personal story of abuse, and a deep knowledge of Scripture to create a safe and compassionate place for you to start recovering – or even finding - the healthy sexuality God intended for you.With honest wisdom and empathetic understanding, Body & Soul, Healed & Whole will help you discover how to:process your story of abuse―whether it occurred as a child, within marriage, or by someone in a position of power―without shame,develop healthy relationships with God, with ourselves, and with others (including those of the opposite sex),reconnect with your good body and establish a foundation for healthy sexuality, whether currently married or single,identify and address any spiritual abuse that may have taken place within sexually abusive relationships,understand what arousal structures are, how they're formed and distorted by abuse, and how to shift them when needed for healing, andincorporate practical skills for self-care during your healing process.Sexuality does not have to be forever broken. Rest assured in a God who understands and loves you in the deepest of deep ways―and begin your journey toward wholeness, restoration and healing.Tabitha Westbrook, LMFT-S, LCMHC-QS, LPC-S, is a licensed therapist who helps people who have messy, funky pasts (and sometimes messy, funky presents) live amazing, empowered lives today. Tabitha graduated with her BA in Psychology from NC Central University & her MA in Professional Counseling from Liberty University. In addition to being a licensed counselor & supervisor, Tabitha is an EMDRIA Certified Therapist & Approved Consultant, Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT), Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), & Certified Christian Trauma Care Provider (CCTCP). She's also certified in Immediate Stabilization Protocol (ISP), an evidence-based disaster response protocol.She's the Founder & CEO of The Journey and The Process, a private practice with offices in North Carolina & Texas, specializing in complex trauma, with a focus on domestic abuse & coercive control. Tabitha is a nationally known expert & speaker on abuse, providing training to churches, therapists, & agencies. She also helps train domestic abuse advocates through Called to Peace Ministries' faith-based advocacy training, as well as having served as a co-facilitator for the G5 Men's Batterer Intervention Group. Tabitha is the author of Body & Soul, Healed & Whole: An Invitational Guide to Healthy Sexuality After Trauma, Abuse, and Coercive Control.Tabitha is the proud mom to an adult son and currently lives in Dallas, TX.

Therapist Erin Snow shares insights into addiction, betrayal, boundaries and healing. She underscores the impact of addiction in the workplace, the importance of setting boundaries after betrayal, the realities of weaponizing sex in a partnership, and why betrayed partners often pursue safety seeking behaviors during healing.    TAKEAWAYS: [2:05] How addiction manifests in the workplace.  [5:17] My husband is SA genetic – is nature or nurture going to win out?  [9:45] The intimacy disorder underneath compulsive sexual behavior.  [11:32] Healthy goals for a successful separation from an addicted partner.  [17:18] The benefits of a period of separation in the healing journey.  [19:00] Can married sex addicts use their spouses to act out even if they don't have extramarital affairs?  [24:45] My partner threatens to leave me if I don't give her what she wants. What should I do?  [25:30] My partner doesn't like to talk about consequences if he acts out. What can I do?  [29:45] How can I turn away from shame and toward growth and healing?  [33:14] Should I report my ex to help keep women safe? [39:17] Is lying an inner circle behavior? [45:20] Should I hire a polygraph test to help me heal from my partner's lying behavior?  [50:49] My partner is not being fully honest in therapy. What should I tell her CSAT to help us both?  [52:34] Should I stop snooping even though I continually uncover my partner's lies?   RESOURCES: Seekingintegrity.com Email Tami: Tami@Seekingintegrity.com Sexandrelationshiphealing.com Intherooms.com Out of the Doghouse: A Step-by-Step Relationship-Saving Guide for Men Caught Cheating, by Robert Weiss Prodependence: Moving Beyond Codependency, by Robert Weiss Sex Addiction 101: A Basic Guide to Healing from Sex, Porn, and Love Addiction, by Robert Weiss Cruise Control: Understanding Sex Addiction in Gay Men, by Robert Weiss Seeking Integrity Podcasts are produced in partnership with Podfly Productions.    QUOTES “Our willingness to change dramatically shifts when the consequences are more painful than continuing is.”  “The person who is willing to stop and turn around and stare that generational pattern in the face and is willing to do the work can break the cycle for generations to come.”  “Let each other go, or get a really solid plan together for the time that you're separated.”  “Your boundaries are about what you are going to do, and they require your partner to do nothing.”  “I don't have to have some kind of proof that something is dramatically off to set a boundary so that I feel safer.”   

La răscruce de drumuri. Cum arată scenariul ideal și cel de coșmar pentru viitorul României (Adevărul) - Eșecul primului CSAT de după anularea alegerilor (DW) - Industria militară se pregătește să consume/investească 10 mld. euro pe an. Pe ce? (CursDeGuvernare) - Investițiile în fabricile din industria de apărare de stat, tărăgănate sau blocate de birocrație, contestații și indecizii (Europa Liberă) - Generația „experiment” 2012-2025: Primii elevi care au făcut clasa pregătitoare au găsit la liceu manuale și programe dinainte de nașterea lor, din cauza politicienilor care au amânat reforma curriculară (EduPedu) Goana după voturi - Antonescu, Dan și Ponta. Trăsnăile calculate (SpotMedia)Săptămâna aceasta începe campania electorală prezidențială 2.0, al cărei deznodământ îl vom afla în 18 mai, odată cu numele viitorului președinte al României.Nu intrăm pe această ultimă sută de metri cu multe certitudini, dimpotrivă. Până la aceste prezidențiale, din noiembrie și din mai, turul I era mai degrabă o formalitate, pentru că, de fiecare dată, cu excepția anului 2000, s-au confruntat două blocuri mari, PSD și antiPSD, cu candidați care erau ca și calificați în finală de la început.De această dată lucrurile sunt cu mult mai complicate, din multe motive.Cele două blocuri și-au pierdut mult din vigoare, au avut candidați slabi, nereprezentativi, aparatele de partid nu mai au puterea de mobilizare, partidele sunt desprinse de electorat. Ura împotriva lor a generat un al treilea bloc, extrem de puternic, extremist.În fața lui s-a încercat o unitate ratată, dar nici el nu mai este unit. Voturile sunt fragmentate și calificarea în finală absolut incertă.La cum arată acum procentele, cu mențiunea că oricând pot apărea modificări spectaculoase, este destul de probabil ca un loc în finala din 18 mai să fie ocupat de George Simion, ca beneficiar al celei mai mari parți din susținerea orfană pentru Călin Georgescu.Pentru celălalt loc se bat, în acest moment, trei candidați cu șanse reale și procente destul apropiate: Crin Antonescu, Nicușor Dan și Victor Ponta. Mai ales primii doi par a fi intrat într-un concurs de trăsnăi colosale, care nu sunt, de fapt, scăpări, ci socoteli.Integral pe pagina SpotMedia.La răscruce de drumuri. Cum arată scenariul ideal și cel de coșmar pentru viitorul României| ANALIZĂ (Adevărul)România se află la răscruce de drumuri, iar alegerile prezidențiale din luna mai vor decide calea pe care o luăm. Expertul în securitate Marius Ghincea avertizează că pentru prima dată de la momentul Snagov, de acum trei decenii, nu mai există decizia fermă și unanimă privind orientarea politicii externe românești și «marea strategie» a României în domeniul securității și apărării exclusiv spre SUA și UE.În 1995, la Snagov, liderii politici ai vremii s-au întâlnit și au decis că România trebuie să se integreze în NATO și Uniunea Europeană, apartenența la valorile occidentale nu mai reprezintă o certitudine. A fost momentul în care până și partidele naționaliste ale vremii, România Mare și PUNR, au spus da Europei de Vest și Americii și au întors spatele Rusiei.Expertul în securitate și politici de guvernanță, Marius Ghincea vorbește despre o mare schimbare și explică direcțiile pe care am putea să o luăm, după ce vom traversa acest moment de răscruce.Există varianta pro-occidentală, cea pro-Rusia, fie o variantă de mijloc. Pe larg în Adevărul.Analiză: Eșecul primului CSAT de după anularea alegerilor (DW)Prima ședință a CSAT după anularea primului tur al prezidențialelor de anul trecut nu a elucidat eșecul serviciilor secrete care nu au depistat din timp intervenția Rusiei în procesul electoral autohton, scrie jurnalista Sabina Fati pe pagina DW.Reuniunea Consiliului Suprem de Apărare a Țării (CSAT) a analizat și aprobat „rapoartele privind activitatea desfășurată de instituțiile cu atribuții în domeniul securității naționale în anul 2024”, fără să explice cum a fost posibilă ascensiunea bruscă a extremistului Călin Georgescu și sprijinul pe care acesta l-ar fi primit din partea Rusiei, după cum au arătat documentele desecretizate de preşedinte în decembrie anul trecut. Nu există deocamdată nicio comisie parlamentară care să ancheteze activitatea Serviciului Român de Informații (SRI) sau a Serviciului de Informații Externe (SIE) din perioada campaniei electorale din 2024.Spre deosebire de Germania sau de alte state occidentale, serviciile autohtone continuă să tacă și în această perioadă în care Bruxellesul, Parisul și Berlinul avertizează asupra pregătirilor pe care le face Rusia pentru a ataca unul sau mai multe state NATO în următorii ani.Industria militară se pregătește să consume/investească 10 mld. euro pe an. Pe ce? (CursDeGuvernare)CursDeGuvernare publică o analiză în 7 puncte a perspectivei a industriei de apărare pentru următorul deceniu.România ar putea ajunge până în 2027 să aibă un buget anual de minimum 60 de miliarde de lei / 12 miliarde de euro. Asta pentru a respecta atât cerințele NATO de a asigura un minimum de 2% din PIB, dar și programul UE de întărire a industriei militare, care vede încă 1,5% din PIB.Cu alocările bugetare interne și cu fondurile de finanțare externe, România deja se pregătește, cu firme din prima linie a industriei militare, să facă drone, blindate, camioane, radare, sisteme electronice militare, pulberi pentru muniție, mitraliere și nave de patrulare.În a doua linie încep să se așeze companiile care vor reprezenta marii producători de echipamente și sisteme militare care vor fi achiziționate pentru Armata Română, de la tancurile Abrams până la avioanele F-35. Companii internaționale ca Rheinmetall, General Dynamics, Raytheon, Hanwha, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, au anunțat investiții.Până ca planul unei industrii militare puternice să fie credibil și în practic, realitatea nu stă neapărat bine pentru sectorul Apărării.Investițiile în fabricile din industria de apărare de stat, tărăgănate sau blocate de birocrație, contestații și indecizii (Europa Liberă)La trei ani de la atacul Rusiei asupra Ucrainei și într-un moment în care UE le cere statelor membre să-și consolideze rapid apărarea, investițiile vitale pentru apărarea României - precum fabrica de pulberi militare, liniile de producție muniție de calibru NATO 155 de mm, arme de asalt moderne - trenează. De ce?21 de fabrici de muniție, arme și vehicule militare are statul român.15 dintre ele sunt în proprietatea Companiei Naționale Romarm, adică ale Ministerului Economiei – aici se produc gloanțe, proiectile mari, arme. Restul de șase sunt subordonate tot Ministerului Economiei – ele se ocupă de producție, mentenanță, achiziții, import-export etc.Din 2023, Europa Liberă scrie constant despre incapacitatea fabricilor de stat de muniție și armament de a livra Armatei României produse compatibile cu cele ale aliaților din Alianța Nord Atlantică (NATO).Generația „experiment” 2012-2025: primii elevi care au făcut clasa pregătitoare, la gimnaziu nu au avut în niciun an manuale la timp și nici profesori formați / Liceul i-a primit fără curriculum nou, cu manuale și programe dinainte de nașterea lor, din cauza politicienilor care au amânat reforma curriculară (EduPedu)Circa 100.000 de elevi de clasele a XII-a și a XIII-a au participat de luni, 24 martie, la probele scrise de la simularea examenului de Bacalaureat 2025, potrivit datelor de prezență ale Ministerului Educației și Cercetării (MEC). 20% din această cohortă nu s-a prezentat la aceste simulări, cel puțin la proba la alegere de miercuri. Ministerul susține că sunt 123.000 de elevi înscriși în ultimul an de liceu.Este vorba de cea mai mică generație de elevi ca număr de înscriși la școală, cu un parcurs școlar marcat de abandon, stagnare curriculară și lipsa de coerență a reformelor educaționale. Deși au început școala cu un curriculum nou, centrat pe competențe, acești elevi nu au beneficiat de continuitate în liceu, din cauza blocării reformei planurilor-cadru de către politicienii care au pus liniștea funcției mai presus de elevi.Continuarea, pe pagina EduPedu.

If you're in SF: Join us for the Claude Plays Pokemon hackathon this Sunday!If you're not: Fill out the 2025 State of AI Eng survey for $250 in Amazon cards!We are SO excited to share our conversation with Dharmesh Shah, co-founder of HubSpot and creator of Agent.ai.A particularly compelling concept we discussed is the idea of "hybrid teams" - the next evolution in workplace organization where human workers collaborate with AI agents as team members. Just as we previously saw hybrid teams emerge in terms of full-time vs. contract workers, or in-office vs. remote workers, Dharmesh predicts that the next frontier will be teams composed of both human and AI members. This raises interesting questions about team dynamics, trust, and how to effectively delegate tasks between human and AI team members.The discussion of business models in AI reveals an important distinction between Work as a Service (WaaS) and Results as a Service (RaaS), something Dharmesh has written extensively about. While RaaS has gained popularity, particularly in customer support applications where outcomes are easily measurable, Dharmesh argues that this model may be over-indexed. Not all AI applications have clearly definable outcomes or consistent economic value per transaction, making WaaS more appropriate in many cases. This insight is particularly relevant for businesses considering how to monetize AI capabilities.The technical challenges of implementing effective agent systems are also explored, particularly around memory and authentication. Shah emphasizes the importance of cross-agent memory sharing and the need for more granular control over data access. He envisions a future where users can selectively share parts of their data with different agents, similar to how OAuth works but with much finer control. This points to significant opportunities in developing infrastructure for secure and efficient agent-to-agent communication and data sharing.Other highlights from our conversation* The Evolution of AI-Powered Agents – Exploring how AI agents have evolved from simple chatbots to sophisticated multi-agent systems, and the role of MCPs in enabling that.* Hybrid Digital Teams and the Future of Work – How AI agents are becoming teammates rather than just tools, and what this means for business operations and knowledge work.* Memory in AI Agents – The importance of persistent memory in AI systems and how shared memory across agents could enhance collaboration and efficiency.* Business Models for AI Agents – Exploring the shift from software as a service (SaaS) to work as a service (WaaS) and results as a service (RaaS), and what this means for monetization.* The Role of Standards Like MCP – Why MCP has been widely adopted and how it enables agent collaboration, tool use, and discovery.* The Future of AI Code Generation and Software Engineering – How AI-assisted coding is changing the role of software engineers and what skills will matter most in the future.* Domain Investing and Efficient Markets – Dharmesh's approach to domain investing and how inefficiencies in digital asset markets create business opportunities.* The Philosophy of Saying No – Lessons from "Sorry, You Must Pass" and how prioritization leads to greater productivity and focus.Timestamps* 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome* 02:29 Dharmesh Shah's Journey into AI* 05:22 Defining AI Agents* 06:45 The Evolution and Future of AI Agents* 13:53 Graph Theory and Knowledge Representation* 20:02 Engineering Practices and Overengineering* 25:57 The Role of Junior Engineers in the AI Era* 28:20 Multi-Agent Systems and MCP Standards* 35:55 LinkedIn's Legal Battles and Data Scraping* 37:32 The Future of AI and Hybrid Teams* 39:19 Building Agent AI: A Professional Network for Agents* 40:43 Challenges and Innovations in Agent AI* 45:02 The Evolution of UI in AI Systems* 01:00:25 Business Models: Work as a Service vs. Results as a Service* 01:09:17 The Future Value of Engineers* 01:09:51 Exploring the Role of Agents* 01:10:28 The Importance of Memory in AI* 01:11:02 Challenges and Opportunities in AI Memory* 01:12:41 Selective Memory and Privacy Concerns* 01:13:27 The Evolution of AI Tools and Platforms* 01:18:23 Domain Names and AI Projects* 01:32:08 Balancing Work and Personal Life* 01:35:52 Final Thoughts and ReflectionsTranscriptAlessio [00:00:04]: Hey everyone, welcome back to the Latent Space podcast. This is Alessio, partner and CTO at Decibel Partners, and I'm joined by my co-host Swyx, founder of Small AI.swyx [00:00:12]: Hello, and today we're super excited to have Dharmesh Shah to join us. I guess your relevant title here is founder of Agent AI.Dharmesh [00:00:20]: Yeah, that's true for this. Yeah, creator of Agent.ai and co-founder of HubSpot.swyx [00:00:25]: Co-founder of HubSpot, which I followed for many years, I think 18 years now, gonna be 19 soon. And you caught, you know, people can catch up on your HubSpot story elsewhere. I should also thank Sean Puri, who I've chatted with back and forth, who's been, I guess, getting me in touch with your people. But also, I think like, just giving us a lot of context, because obviously, My First Million joined you guys, and they've been chatting with you guys a lot. So for the business side, we can talk about that, but I kind of wanted to engage your CTO, agent, engineer side of things. So how did you get agent religion?Dharmesh [00:01:00]: Let's see. So I've been working, I'll take like a half step back, a decade or so ago, even though actually more than that. So even before HubSpot, the company I was contemplating that I had named for was called Ingenisoft. And the idea behind Ingenisoft was a natural language interface to business software. Now realize this is 20 years ago, so that was a hard thing to do. But the actual use case that I had in mind was, you know, we had data sitting in business systems like a CRM or something like that. And my kind of what I thought clever at the time. Oh, what if we used email as the kind of interface to get to business software? And the motivation for using email is that it automatically works when you're offline. So imagine I'm getting on a plane or I'm on a plane. There was no internet on planes back then. It's like, oh, I'm going through business cards from an event I went to. I can just type things into an email just to have them all in the backlog. When it reconnects, it sends those emails to a processor that basically kind of parses effectively the commands and updates the software, sends you the file, whatever it is. And there was a handful of commands. I was a little bit ahead of the times in terms of what was actually possible. And I reattempted this natural language thing with a product called ChatSpot that I did back 20...swyx [00:02:12]: Yeah, this is your first post-ChatGPT project.Dharmesh [00:02:14]: I saw it come out. Yeah. And so I've always been kind of fascinated by this natural language interface to software. Because, you know, as software developers, myself included, we've always said, oh, we build intuitive, easy-to-use applications. And it's not intuitive at all, right? Because what we're doing is... We're taking the mental model that's in our head of what we're trying to accomplish with said piece of software and translating that into a series of touches and swipes and clicks and things like that. And there's nothing natural or intuitive about it. And so natural language interfaces, for the first time, you know, whatever the thought is you have in your head and expressed in whatever language that you normally use to talk to yourself in your head, you can just sort of emit that and have software do something. And I thought that was kind of a breakthrough, which it has been. And it's gone. So that's where I first started getting into the journey. I started because now it actually works, right? So once we got ChatGPT and you can take, even with a few-shot example, convert something into structured, even back in the ChatGP 3.5 days, it did a decent job in a few-shot example, convert something to structured text if you knew what kinds of intents you were going to have. And so that happened. And that ultimately became a HubSpot project. But then agents intrigued me because I'm like, okay, well, that's the next step here. So chat's great. Love Chat UX. But if we want to do something even more meaningful, it felt like the next kind of advancement is not this kind of, I'm chatting with some software in a kind of a synchronous back and forth model, is that software is going to do things for me in kind of a multi-step way to try and accomplish some goals. So, yeah, that's when I first got started. It's like, okay, what would that look like? Yeah. And I've been obsessed ever since, by the way.Alessio [00:03:55]: Which goes back to your first experience with it, which is like you're offline. Yeah. And you want to do a task. You don't need to do it right now. You just want to queue it up for somebody to do it for you. Yes. As you think about agents, like, let's start at the easy question, which is like, how do you define an agent? Maybe. You mean the hardest question in the universe? Is that what you mean?Dharmesh [00:04:12]: You said you have an irritating take. I do have an irritating take. I think, well, some number of people have been irritated, including within my own team. So I have a very broad definition for agents, which is it's AI-powered software that accomplishes a goal. Period. That's it. And what irritates people about it is like, well, that's so broad as to be completely non-useful. And I understand that. I understand the criticism. But in my mind, if you kind of fast forward months, I guess, in AI years, the implementation of it, and we're already starting to see this, and we'll talk about this, different kinds of agents, right? So I think in addition to having a usable definition, and I like yours, by the way, and we should talk more about that, that you just came out with, the classification of agents actually is also useful, which is, is it autonomous or non-autonomous? Does it have a deterministic workflow? Does it have a non-deterministic workflow? Is it working synchronously? Is it working asynchronously? Then you have the different kind of interaction modes. Is it a chat agent, kind of like a customer support agent would be? You're having this kind of back and forth. Is it a workflow agent that just does a discrete number of steps? So there's all these different flavors of agents. So if I were to draw it in a Venn diagram, I would draw a big circle that says, this is agents, and then I have a bunch of circles, some overlapping, because they're not mutually exclusive. And so I think that's what's interesting, and we're seeing development along a bunch of different paths, right? So if you look at the first implementation of agent frameworks, you look at Baby AGI and AutoGBT, I think it was, not Autogen, that's the Microsoft one. They were way ahead of their time because they assumed this level of reasoning and execution and planning capability that just did not exist, right? So it was an interesting thought experiment, which is what it was. Even the guy that, I'm an investor in Yohei's fund that did Baby AGI. It wasn't ready, but it was a sign of what was to come. And so the question then is, when is it ready? And so lots of people talk about the state of the art when it comes to agents. I'm a pragmatist, so I think of the state of the practical. It's like, okay, well, what can I actually build that has commercial value or solves actually some discrete problem with some baseline of repeatability or verifiability?swyx [00:06:22]: There was a lot, and very, very interesting. I'm not irritated by it at all. Okay. As you know, I take a... There's a lot of anthropological view or linguistics view. And in linguistics, you don't want to be prescriptive. You want to be descriptive. Yeah. So you're a goals guy. That's the key word in your thing. And other people have other definitions that might involve like delegated trust or non-deterministic work, LLM in the loop, all that stuff. The other thing I was thinking about, just the comment on Baby AGI, LGBT. Yeah. In that piece that you just read, I was able to go through our backlog and just kind of track the winter of agents and then the summer now. Yeah. And it's... We can tell the whole story as an oral history, just following that thread. And it's really just like, I think, I tried to explain the why now, right? Like I had, there's better models, of course. There's better tool use with like, they're just more reliable. Yep. Better tools with MCP and all that stuff. And I'm sure you have opinions on that too. Business model shift, which you like a lot. I just heard you talk about RAS with MFM guys. Yep. Cost is dropping a lot. Yep. Inference is getting faster. There's more model diversity. Yep. Yep. I think it's a subtle point. It means that like, you have different models with different perspectives. You don't get stuck in the basin of performance of a single model. Sure. You can just get out of it by just switching models. Yep. Multi-agent research and RL fine tuning. So I just wanted to let you respond to like any of that.Dharmesh [00:07:44]: Yeah. A couple of things. Connecting the dots on the kind of the definition side of it. So we'll get the irritation out of the way completely. I have one more, even more irritating leap on the agent definition thing. So here's the way I think about it. By the way, the kind of word agent, I looked it up, like the English dictionary definition. The old school agent, yeah. Is when you have someone or something that does something on your behalf, like a travel agent or a real estate agent acts on your behalf. It's like proxy, which is a nice kind of general definition. So the other direction I'm sort of headed, and it's going to tie back to tool calling and MCP and things like that, is if you, and I'm not a biologist by any stretch of the imagination, but we have these single-celled organisms, right? Like the simplest possible form of what one would call life. But it's still life. It just happens to be single-celled. And then you can combine cells and then cells become specialized over time. And you have much more sophisticated organisms, you know, kind of further down the spectrum. In my mind, at the most fundamental level, you can almost think of having atomic agents. What is the simplest possible thing that's an agent that can still be called an agent? What is the equivalent of a kind of single-celled organism? And the reason I think that's useful is right now we're headed down the road, which I think is very exciting around tool use, right? That says, okay, the LLMs now can be provided a set of tools that it calls to accomplish whatever it needs to accomplish in the kind of furtherance of whatever goal it's trying to get done. And I'm not overly bothered by it, but if you think about it, if you just squint a little bit and say, well, what if everything was an agent? And what if tools were actually just atomic agents? Because then it's turtles all the way down, right? Then it's like, oh, well, all that's really happening with tool use is that we have a network of agents that know about each other through something like an MMCP and can kind of decompose a particular problem and say, oh, I'm going to delegate this to this set of agents. And why do we need to draw this distinction between tools, which are functions most of the time? And an actual agent. And so I'm going to write this irritating LinkedIn post, you know, proposing this. It's like, okay. And I'm not suggesting we should call even functions, you know, call them agents. But there is a certain amount of elegance that happens when you say, oh, we can just reduce it down to one primitive, which is an agent that you can combine in complicated ways to kind of raise the level of abstraction and accomplish higher order goals. Anyway, that's my answer. I'd say that's a success. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk on agent definitions.Alessio [00:09:54]: How do you define the minimum viable agent? Do you already have a definition for, like, where you draw the line between a cell and an atom? Yeah.Dharmesh [00:10:02]: So in my mind, it has to, at some level, use AI in order for it to—otherwise, it's just software. It's like, you know, we don't need another word for that. And so that's probably where I draw the line. So then the question, you know, the counterargument would be, well, if that's true, then lots of tools themselves are actually not agents because they're just doing a database call or a REST API call or whatever it is they're doing. And that does not necessarily qualify them, which is a fair counterargument. And I accept that. It's like a good argument. I still like to think about—because we'll talk about multi-agent systems, because I think—so we've accepted, which I think is true, lots of people have said it, and you've hopefully combined some of those clips of really smart people saying this is the year of agents, and I completely agree, it is the year of agents. But then shortly after that, it's going to be the year of multi-agent systems or multi-agent networks. I think that's where it's going to be headed next year. Yeah.swyx [00:10:54]: Opening eyes already on that. Yeah. My quick philosophical engagement with you on this. I often think about kind of the other spectrum, the other end of the cell spectrum. So single cell is life, multi-cell is life, and you clump a bunch of cells together in a more complex organism, they become organs, like an eye and a liver or whatever. And then obviously we consider ourselves one life form. There's not like a lot of lives within me. I'm just one life. And now, obviously, I don't think people don't really like to anthropomorphize agents and AI. Yeah. But we are extending our consciousness and our brain and our functionality out into machines. I just saw you were a Bee. Yeah. Which is, you know, it's nice. I have a limitless pendant in my pocket.Dharmesh [00:11:37]: I got one of these boys. Yeah.swyx [00:11:39]: I'm testing it all out. You know, got to be early adopters. But like, we want to extend our personal memory into these things so that we can be good at the things that we're good at. And, you know, machines are good at it. Machines are there. So like, my definition of life is kind of like going outside of my own body now. I don't know if you've ever had like reflections on that. Like how yours. How our self is like actually being distributed outside of you. Yeah.Dharmesh [00:12:01]: I don't fancy myself a philosopher. But you went there. So yeah, I did go there. I'm fascinated by kind of graphs and graph theory and networks and have been for a long, long time. And to me, we're sort of all nodes in this kind of larger thing. It just so happens that we're looking at individual kind of life forms as they exist right now. But so the idea is when you put a podcast out there, there's these little kind of nodes you're putting out there of like, you know, conceptual ideas. Once again, you have varying kind of forms of those little nodes that are up there and are connected in varying and sundry ways. And so I just think of myself as being a node in a massive, massive network. And I'm producing more nodes as I put content or ideas. And, you know, you spend some portion of your life collecting dots, experiences, people, and some portion of your life then connecting dots from the ones that you've collected over time. And I found that really interesting things happen and you really can't know in advance how those dots are necessarily going to connect in the future. And that's, yeah. So that's my philosophical take. That's the, yes, exactly. Coming back.Alessio [00:13:04]: Yep. Do you like graph as an agent? Abstraction? That's been one of the hot topics with LandGraph and Pydantic and all that.Dharmesh [00:13:11]: I do. The thing I'm more interested in terms of use of graphs, and there's lots of work happening on that now, is graph data stores as an alternative in terms of knowledge stores and knowledge graphs. Yeah. Because, you know, so I've been in software now 30 plus years, right? So it's not 10,000 hours. It's like 100,000 hours that I've spent doing this stuff. And so I've grew up with, so back in the day, you know, I started on mainframes. There was a product called IMS from IBM, which is basically an index database, what we'd call like a key value store today. Then we've had relational databases, right? We have tables and columns and foreign key relationships. We all know that. We have document databases like MongoDB, which is sort of a nested structure keyed by a specific index. We have vector stores, vector embedding database. And graphs are interesting for a couple of reasons. One is, so it's not classically structured in a relational way. When you say structured database, to most people, they're thinking tables and columns and in relational database and set theory and all that. Graphs still have structure, but it's not the tables and columns structure. And you could wonder, and people have made this case, that they are a better representation of knowledge for LLMs and for AI generally than other things. So that's kind of thing number one conceptually, and that might be true, I think is possibly true. And the other thing that I really like about that in the context of, you know, I've been in the context of data stores for RAG is, you know, RAG, you say, oh, I have a million documents, I'm going to build the vector embeddings, I'm going to come back with the top X based on the semantic match, and that's fine. All that's very, very useful. But the reality is something gets lost in the chunking process and the, okay, well, those tend, you know, like, you don't really get the whole picture, so to speak, and maybe not even the right set of dimensions on the kind of broader picture. And it makes intuitive sense to me that if we did capture it properly in a graph form, that maybe that feeding into a RAG pipeline will actually yield better results for some use cases, I don't know, but yeah.Alessio [00:15:03]: And do you feel like at the core of it, there's this difference between imperative and declarative programs? Because if you think about HubSpot, it's like, you know, people and graph kind of goes hand in hand, you know, but I think maybe the software before was more like primary foreign key based relationship, versus now the models can traverse through the graph more easily.Dharmesh [00:15:22]: Yes. So I like that representation. There's something. It's just conceptually elegant about graphs and just from the representation of it, they're much more discoverable, you can kind of see it, there's observability to it, versus kind of embeddings, which you can't really do much with as a human. You know, once they're in there, you can't pull stuff back out. But yeah, I like that kind of idea of it. And the other thing that's kind of, because I love graphs, I've been long obsessed with PageRank from back in the early days. And, you know, one of the kind of simplest algorithms in terms of coming up, you know, with a phone, everyone's been exposed to PageRank. And the idea is that, and so I had this other idea for a project, not a company, and I have hundreds of these, called NodeRank, is to be able to take the idea of PageRank and apply it to an arbitrary graph that says, okay, I'm going to define what authority looks like and say, okay, well, that's interesting to me, because then if you say, I'm going to take my knowledge store, and maybe this person that contributed some number of chunks to the graph data store has more authority on this particular use case or prompt that's being submitted than this other one that may, or maybe this one was more. popular, or maybe this one has, whatever it is, there should be a way for us to kind of rank nodes in a graph and sort them in some, some useful way. Yeah.swyx [00:16:34]: So I think that's generally useful for, for anything. I think the, the problem, like, so even though at my conferences, GraphRag is super popular and people are getting knowledge, graph religion, and I will say like, it's getting space, getting traction in two areas, conversation memory, and then also just rag in general, like the, the, the document data. Yeah. It's like a source. Most ML practitioners would say that knowledge graph is kind of like a dirty word. The graph database, people get graph religion, everything's a graph, and then they, they go really hard into it and then they get a, they get a graph that is too complex to navigate. Yes. And so like the, the, the simple way to put it is like you at running HubSpot, you know, the power of graphs, the way that Google has pitched them for many years, but I don't suspect that HubSpot itself uses a knowledge graph. No. Yeah.Dharmesh [00:17:26]: So when is it over engineering? Basically? It's a great question. I don't know. So the question now, like in AI land, right, is the, do we necessarily need to understand? So right now, LLMs for, for the most part are somewhat black boxes, right? We sort of understand how the, you know, the algorithm itself works, but we really don't know what's going on in there and, and how things come out. So if a graph data store is able to produce the outcomes we want, it's like, here's a set of queries I want to be able to submit and then it comes out with useful content. Maybe the underlying data store is as opaque as a vector embeddings or something like that, but maybe it's fine. Maybe we don't necessarily need to understand it to get utility out of it. And so maybe if it's messy, that's okay. Um, that's, it's just another form of lossy compression. Uh, it's just lossy in a way that we just don't completely understand in terms of, because it's going to grow organically. Uh, and it's not structured. It's like, ah, we're just gonna throw a bunch of stuff in there. Let the, the equivalent of the embedding algorithm, whatever they called in graph land. Um, so the one with the best results wins. I think so. Yeah.swyx [00:18:26]: Or is this the practical side of me is like, yeah, it's, if it's useful, we don't necessarilyDharmesh [00:18:30]: need to understand it.swyx [00:18:30]: I have, I mean, I'm happy to push back as long as you want. Uh, it's not practical to evaluate like the 10 different options out there because it takes time. It takes people, it takes, you know, resources, right? Set. That's the first thing. Second thing is your evals are typically on small things and some things only work at scale. Yup. Like graphs. Yup.Dharmesh [00:18:46]: Yup. That's, yeah, no, that's fair. And I think this is one of the challenges in terms of implementation of graph databases is that the most common approach that I've seen developers do, I've done it myself, is that, oh, I've got a Postgres database or a MySQL or whatever. I can represent a graph with a very set of tables with a parent child thing or whatever. And that sort of gives me the ability, uh, why would I need anything more than that? And the answer is, well, if you don't need anything more than that, you don't need anything more than that. But there's a high chance that you're sort of missing out on the actual value that, uh, the graph representation gives you. Which is the ability to traverse the graph, uh, efficiently in ways that kind of going through the, uh, traversal in a relational database form, even though structurally you have the data, practically you're not gonna be able to pull it out in, in useful ways. Uh, so you wouldn't like represent a social graph, uh, in, in using that kind of relational table model. It just wouldn't scale. It wouldn't work.swyx [00:19:36]: Uh, yeah. Uh, I think we want to move on to MCP. Yeah. But I just want to, like, just engineering advice. Yeah. Uh, obviously you've, you've, you've run, uh, you've, you've had to do a lot of projects and run a lot of teams. Do you have a general rule for over-engineering or, you know, engineering ahead of time? You know, like, because people, we know premature engineering is the root of all evil. Yep. But also sometimes you just have to. Yep. When do you do it? Yes.Dharmesh [00:19:59]: It's a great question. This is, uh, a question as old as time almost, which is what's the right and wrong levels of abstraction. That's effectively what, uh, we're answering when we're trying to do engineering. I tend to be a pragmatist, right? So here's the thing. Um, lots of times doing something the right way. Yeah. It's like a marginal increased cost in those cases. Just do it the right way. And this is what makes a, uh, a great engineer or a good engineer better than, uh, a not so great one. It's like, okay, all things being equal. If it's going to take you, you know, roughly close to constant time anyway, might as well do it the right way. Like, so do things well, then the question is, okay, well, am I building a framework as the reusable library? To what degree, uh, what am I anticipating in terms of what's going to need to change in this thing? Uh, you know, along what dimension? And then I think like a business person in some ways, like what's the return on calories, right? So, uh, and you look at, um, energy, the expected value of it's like, okay, here are the five possible things that could happen, uh, try to assign probabilities like, okay, well, if there's a 50% chance that we're going to go down this particular path at some day, like, or one of these five things is going to happen and it costs you 10% more to engineer for that. It's basically, it's something that yields a kind of interest compounding value. Um, as you get closer to the time of, of needing that versus having to take on debt, which is when you under engineer it, you're taking on debt. You're going to have to pay off when you do get to that eventuality where something happens. One thing as a pragmatist, uh, so I would rather under engineer something than over engineer it. If I were going to err on the side of something, and here's the reason is that when you under engineer it, uh, yes, you take on tech debt, uh, but the interest rate is relatively known and payoff is very, very possible, right? Which is, oh, I took a shortcut here as a result of which now this thing that should have taken me a week is now going to take me four weeks. Fine. But if that particular thing that you thought might happen, never actually, you never have that use case transpire or just doesn't, it's like, well, you just save yourself time, right? And that has value because you were able to do other things instead of, uh, kind of slightly over-engineering it away, over-engineering it. But there's no perfect answers in art form in terms of, uh, and yeah, we'll, we'll bring kind of this layers of abstraction back on the code generation conversation, which we'll, uh, I think I have later on, butAlessio [00:22:05]: I was going to ask, we can just jump ahead quickly. Yeah. Like, as you think about vibe coding and all that, how does the. Yeah. Percentage of potential usefulness change when I feel like we over-engineering a lot of times it's like the investment in syntax, it's less about the investment in like arc exacting. Yep. Yeah. How does that change your calculus?Dharmesh [00:22:22]: A couple of things, right? One is, um, so, you know, going back to that kind of ROI or a return on calories, kind of calculus or heuristic you think through, it's like, okay, well, what is it going to cost me to put this layer of abstraction above the code that I'm writing now, uh, in anticipating kind of future needs. If the cost of fixing, uh, or doing under engineering right now. Uh, we'll trend towards zero that says, okay, well, I don't have to get it right right now because even if I get it wrong, I'll run the thing for six hours instead of 60 minutes or whatever. It doesn't really matter, right? Like, because that's going to trend towards zero to be able, the ability to refactor a code. Um, and because we're going to not that long from now, we're going to have, you know, large code bases be able to exist, uh, you know, as, as context, uh, for a code generation or a code refactoring, uh, model. So I think it's going to make it, uh, make the case for under engineering, uh, even stronger. Which is why I take on that cost. You just pay the interest when you get there, it's not, um, just go on with your life vibe coded and, uh, come back when you need to. Yeah.Alessio [00:23:18]: Sometimes I feel like there's no decision-making in some things like, uh, today I built a autosave for like our internal notes platform and I literally just ask them cursor. Can you add autosave? Yeah. I don't know if it's over under engineer. Yep. I just vibe coded it. Yep. And I feel like at some point we're going to get to the point where the models kindDharmesh [00:23:36]: of decide where the right line is, but this is where the, like the, in my mind, the danger is, right? So there's two sides to this. One is the cost of kind of development and coding and things like that stuff that, you know, we talk about. But then like in your example, you know, one of the risks that we have is that because adding a feature, uh, like a save or whatever the feature might be to a product as that price tends towards zero, are we going to be less discriminant about what features we add as a result of making more product products more complicated, which has a negative impact on the user and navigate negative impact on the business. Um, and so that's the thing I worry about if it starts to become too easy, are we going to be. Too promiscuous in our, uh, kind of extension, adding product extensions and things like that. It's like, ah, why not add X, Y, Z or whatever back then it was like, oh, we only have so many engineering hours or story points or however you measure things. Uh, that least kept us in check a little bit. Yeah.Alessio [00:24:22]: And then over engineering, you're like, yeah, it's kind of like you're putting that on yourself. Yeah. Like now it's like the models don't understand that if they add too much complexity, it's going to come back to bite them later. Yep. So they just do whatever they want to do. Yeah. And I'm curious where in the workflow that's going to be, where it's like, Hey, this is like the amount of complexity and over-engineering you can do before you got to ask me if we should actually do it versus like do something else.Dharmesh [00:24:45]: So you know, we've already, let's like, we're leaving this, uh, in the code generation world, this kind of compressed, um, cycle time. Right. It's like, okay, we went from auto-complete, uh, in the GitHub co-pilot to like, oh, finish this particular thing and hit tab to a, oh, I sort of know your file or whatever. I can write out a full function to you to now I can like hold a bunch of the context in my head. Uh, so we can do app generation, which we have now with lovable and bolt and repletage. Yeah. Association and other things. So then the question is, okay, well, where does it naturally go from here? So we're going to generate products. Make sense. We might be able to generate platforms as though I want a platform for ERP that does this, whatever. And that includes the API's includes the product and the UI, and all the things that make for a platform. There's no nothing that says we would stop like, okay, can you generate an entire software company someday? Right. Uh, with the platform and the monetization and the go-to-market and the whatever. And you know, that that's interesting to me in terms of, uh, you know, what, when you take it to almost ludicrous levels. of abstract.swyx [00:25:39]: It's like, okay, turn it to 11. You mentioned vibe coding, so I have to, this is a blog post I haven't written, but I'm kind of exploring it. Is the junior engineer dead?Dharmesh [00:25:49]: I don't think so. I think what will happen is that the junior engineer will be able to, if all they're bringing to the table is the fact that they are a junior engineer, then yes, they're likely dead. But hopefully if they can communicate with carbon-based life forms, they can interact with product, if they're willing to talk to customers, they can take their kind of basic understanding of engineering and how kind of software works. I think that has value. So I have a 14-year-old right now who's taking Python programming class, and some people ask me, it's like, why is he learning coding? And my answer is, is because it's not about the syntax, it's not about the coding. What he's learning is like the fundamental thing of like how things work. And there's value in that. I think there's going to be timeless value in systems thinking and abstractions and what that means. And whether functions manifested as math, which he's going to get exposed to regardless, or there are some core primitives to the universe, I think, that the more you understand them, those are what I would kind of think of as like really large dots in your life that will have a higher gravitational pull and value to them that you'll then be able to. So I want him to collect those dots, and he's not resisting. So it's like, okay, while he's still listening to me, I'm going to have him do things that I think will be useful.swyx [00:26:59]: You know, part of one of the pitches that I evaluated for AI engineer is a term. And the term is that maybe the traditional interview path or career path of software engineer goes away, which is because what's the point of lead code? Yeah. And, you know, it actually matters more that you know how to work with AI and to implement the things that you want. Yep.Dharmesh [00:27:16]: That's one of the like interesting things that's happened with generative AI. You know, you go from machine learning and the models and just that underlying form, which is like true engineering, right? Like the actual, what I call real engineering. I don't think of myself as a real engineer, actually. I'm a developer. But now with generative AI. We call it AI and it's obviously got its roots in machine learning, but it just feels like fundamentally different to me. Like you have the vibe. It's like, okay, well, this is just a whole different approach to software development to so many different things. And so I'm wondering now, it's like an AI engineer is like, if you were like to draw the Venn diagram, it's interesting because the cross between like AI things, generative AI and what the tools are capable of, what the models do, and this whole new kind of body of knowledge that we're still building out, it's still very young, intersected with kind of classic engineering, software engineering. Yeah.swyx [00:28:04]: I just described the overlap as it separates out eventually until it's its own thing, but it's starting out as a software. Yeah.Alessio [00:28:11]: That makes sense. So to close the vibe coding loop, the other big hype now is MCPs. Obviously, I would say Cloud Desktop and Cursor are like the two main drivers of MCP usage. I would say my favorite is the Sentry MCP. I can pull in errors and then you can just put the context in Cursor. How do you think about that abstraction layer? Does it feel... Does it feel almost too magical in a way? Do you think it's like you get enough? Because you don't really see how the server itself is then kind of like repackaging theDharmesh [00:28:41]: information for you? I think MCP as a standard is one of the better things that's happened in the world of AI because a standard needed to exist and absent a standard, there was a set of things that just weren't possible. Now, we can argue whether it's the best possible manifestation of a standard or not. Does it do too much? Does it do too little? I get that, but it's just simple enough to both be useful and unobtrusive. It's understandable and adoptable by mere mortals, right? It's not overly complicated. You know, a reasonable engineer can put a stand up an MCP server relatively easily. The thing that has me excited about it is like, so I'm a big believer in multi-agent systems. And so that's going back to our kind of this idea of an atomic agent. So imagine the MCP server, like obviously it calls tools, but the way I think about it, so I'm working on my current passion project is agent.ai. And we'll talk more about that in a little bit. More about the, I think we should, because I think it's interesting not to promote the project at all, but there's some interesting ideas in there. One of which is around, we're going to need a mechanism for, if agents are going to collaborate and be able to delegate, there's going to need to be some form of discovery and we're going to need some standard way. It's like, okay, well, I just need to know what this thing over here is capable of. We're going to need a registry, which Anthropic's working on. I'm sure others will and have been doing directories of, and there's going to be a standard around that too. How do you build out a directory of MCP servers? I think that's going to unlock so many things just because, and we're already starting to see it. So I think MCP or something like it is going to be the next major unlock because it allows systems that don't know about each other, don't need to, it's that kind of decoupling of like Sentry and whatever tools someone else was building. And it's not just about, you know, Cloud Desktop or things like, even on the client side, I think we're going to see very interesting consumers of MCP, MCP clients versus just the chat body kind of things. Like, you know, Cloud Desktop and Cursor and things like that. But yeah, I'm very excited about MCP in that general direction.swyx [00:30:39]: I think the typical cynical developer take, it's like, we have OpenAPI. Yeah. What's the new thing? I don't know if you have a, do you have a quick MCP versus everything else? Yeah.Dharmesh [00:30:49]: So it's, so I like OpenAPI, right? So just a descriptive thing. It's OpenAPI. OpenAPI. Yes, that's what I meant. So it's basically a self-documenting thing. We can do machine-generated, lots of things from that output. It's a structured definition of an API. I get that, love it. But MCPs sort of are kind of use case specific. They're perfect for exactly what we're trying to use them for around LLMs in terms of discovery. It's like, okay, I don't necessarily need to know kind of all this detail. And so right now we have, we'll talk more about like MCP server implementations, but We will? I think, I don't know. Maybe we won't. At least it's in my head. It's like a back processor. But I do think MCP adds value above OpenAPI. It's, yeah, just because it solves this particular thing. And if we had come to the world, which we have, like, it's like, hey, we already have OpenAPI. It's like, if that were good enough for the universe, the universe would have adopted it already. There's a reason why MCP is taking office because marginally adds something that was missing before and doesn't go too far. And so that's why the kind of rate of adoption, you folks have written about this and talked about it. Yeah, why MCP won. Yeah. And it won because the universe decided that this was useful and maybe it gets supplanted by something else. Yeah. And maybe we discover, oh, maybe OpenAPI was good enough the whole time. I doubt that.swyx [00:32:09]: The meta lesson, this is, I mean, he's an investor in DevTools companies. I work in developer experience at DevRel in DevTools companies. Yep. Everyone wants to own the standard. Yeah. I'm sure you guys have tried to launch your own standards. Actually, it's Houseplant known for a standard, you know, obviously inbound marketing. But is there a standard or protocol that you ever tried to push? No.Dharmesh [00:32:30]: And there's a reason for this. Yeah. Is that? And I don't mean, need to mean, speak for the people of HubSpot, but I personally. You kind of do. I'm not smart enough. That's not the, like, I think I have a. You're smart. Not enough for that. I'm much better off understanding the standards that are out there. And I'm more on the composability side. Let's, like, take the pieces of technology that exist out there, combine them in creative, unique ways. And I like to consume standards. I don't like to, and that's not that I don't like to create them. I just don't think I have the, both the raw wattage or the credibility. It's like, okay, well, who the heck is Dharmesh, and why should we adopt a standard he created?swyx [00:33:07]: Yeah, I mean, there are people who don't monetize standards, like OpenTelemetry is a big standard, and LightStep never capitalized on that.Dharmesh [00:33:15]: So, okay, so if I were to do a standard, there's two things that have been in my head in the past. I was one around, a very, very basic one around, I don't even have the domain, I have a domain for everything, for open marketing. Because the issue we had in HubSpot grew up in the marketing space. There we go. There was no standard around data formats and things like that. It doesn't go anywhere. But the other one, and I did not mean to go here, but I'm going to go here. It's called OpenGraph. I know the term was already taken, but it hasn't been used for like 15 years now for its original purpose. But what I think should exist in the world is right now, our information, all of us, nodes are in the social graph at Meta or the professional graph at LinkedIn. Both of which are actually relatively closed in actually very annoying ways. Like very, very closed, right? Especially LinkedIn. Especially LinkedIn. I personally believe that if it's my data, and if I would get utility out of it being open, I should be able to make my data open or publish it in whatever forms that I choose, as long as I have control over it as opt-in. So the idea is around OpenGraph that says, here's a standard, here's a way to publish it. I should be able to go to OpenGraph.org slash Dharmesh dot JSON and get it back. And it's like, here's your stuff, right? And I can choose along the way and people can write to it and I can prove. And there can be an entire system. And if I were to do that, I would do it as a... Like a public benefit, non-profit-y kind of thing, as this is a contribution to society. I wouldn't try to commercialize that. Have you looked at AdProto? What's that? AdProto.swyx [00:34:43]: It's the protocol behind Blue Sky. Okay. My good friend, Dan Abramov, who was the face of React for many, many years, now works there. And he actually did a talk that I can send you, which basically kind of tries to articulate what you just said. But he does, he loves doing these like really great analogies, which I think you'll like. Like, you know, a lot of our data is behind a handle, behind a domain. Yep. So he's like, all right, what if we flip that? What if it was like our handle and then the domain? Yep. So, and that's really like your data should belong to you. Yep. And I should not have to wait 30 days for my Twitter data to export. Yep.Dharmesh [00:35:19]: you should be able to at least be able to automate it or do like, yes, I should be able to plug it into an agentic thing. Yeah. Yes. I think we're... Because so much of our data is... Locked up. I think the trick here isn't that standard. It is getting the normies to care.swyx [00:35:37]: Yeah. Because normies don't care.Dharmesh [00:35:38]: That's true. But building on that, normies don't care. So, you know, privacy is a really hot topic and an easy word to use, but it's not a binary thing. Like there are use cases where, and we make these choices all the time, that I will trade, not all privacy, but I will trade some privacy for some productivity gain or some benefit to me that says, oh, I don't care about that particular data being online if it gives me this in return, or I don't mind sharing this information with this company.Alessio [00:36:02]: If I'm getting, you know, this in return, but that sort of should be my option. I think now with computer use, you can actually automate some of the exports. Yes. Like something we've been doing internally is like everybody exports their LinkedIn connections. Yep. And then internally, we kind of merge them together to see how we can connect our companies to customers or things like that.Dharmesh [00:36:21]: And not to pick on LinkedIn, but since we're talking about it, but they feel strongly enough on the, you know, do not take LinkedIn data that they will block even browser use kind of things or whatever. They go to great, great lengths, even to see patterns of usage. And it says, oh, there's no way you could have, you know, gotten that particular thing or whatever without, and it's, so it's, there's...swyx [00:36:42]: Wasn't there a Supreme Court case that they lost? Yeah.Dharmesh [00:36:45]: So the one they lost was around someone that was scraping public data that was on the public internet. And that particular company had not signed any terms of service or whatever. It's like, oh, I'm just taking data that's on, there was no, and so that's why they won. But now, you know, the question is around, can LinkedIn... I think they can. Like, when you use, as a user, you use LinkedIn, you are signing up for their terms of service. And if they say, well, this kind of use of your LinkedIn account that violates our terms of service, they can shut your account down, right? They can. And they, yeah, so, you know, we don't need to make this a discussion. By the way, I love the company, don't get me wrong. I'm an avid user of the product. You know, I've got... Yeah, I mean, you've got over a million followers on LinkedIn, I think. Yeah, I do. And I've known people there for a long, long time, right? And I have lots of respect. And I understand even where the mindset originally came from of this kind of members-first approach to, you know, a privacy-first. I sort of get that. But sometimes you sort of have to wonder, it's like, okay, well, that was 15, 20 years ago. There's likely some controlled ways to expose some data on some member's behalf and not just completely be a binary. It's like, no, thou shalt not have the data.swyx [00:37:54]: Well, just pay for sales navigator.Alessio [00:37:57]: Before we move to the next layer of instruction, anything else on MCP you mentioned? Let's move back and then I'll tie it back to MCPs.Dharmesh [00:38:05]: So I think the... Open this with agent. Okay, so I'll start with... Here's my kind of running thesis, is that as AI and agents evolve, which they're doing very, very quickly, we're going to look at them more and more. I don't like to anthropomorphize. We'll talk about why this is not that. Less as just like raw tools and more like teammates. They'll still be software. They should self-disclose as being software. I'm totally cool with that. But I think what's going to happen is that in the same way you might collaborate with a team member on Slack or Teams or whatever you use, you can imagine a series of agents that do specific things just like a team member might do, that you can delegate things to. You can collaborate. You can say, hey, can you take a look at this? Can you proofread that? Can you try this? You can... Whatever it happens to be. So I think it is... I will go so far as to say it's inevitable that we're going to have hybrid teams someday. And what I mean by hybrid teams... So back in the day, hybrid teams were, oh, well, you have some full-time employees and some contractors. Then it was like hybrid teams are some people that are in the office and some that are remote. That's the kind of form of hybrid. The next form of hybrid is like the carbon-based life forms and agents and AI and some form of software. So let's say we temporarily stipulate that I'm right about that over some time horizon that eventually we're going to have these kind of digitally hybrid teams. So if that's true, then the question you sort of ask yourself is that then what needs to exist in order for us to get the full value of that new model? It's like, okay, well... You sort of need to... It's like, okay, well, how do I... If I'm building a digital team, like, how do I... Just in the same way, if I'm interviewing for an engineer or a designer or a PM, whatever, it's like, well, that's why we have professional networks, right? It's like, oh, they have a presence on likely LinkedIn. I can go through that semi-structured, structured form, and I can see the experience of whatever, you know, self-disclosed. But, okay, well, agents are going to need that someday. And so I'm like, okay, well, this seems like a thread that's worth pulling on. That says, okay. So I... So agent.ai is out there. And it's LinkedIn for agents. It's LinkedIn for agents. It's a professional network for agents. And the more I pull on that thread, it's like, okay, well, if that's true, like, what happens, right? It's like, oh, well, they have a profile just like anyone else, just like a human would. It's going to be a graph underneath, just like a professional network would be. It's just that... And you can have its, you know, connections and follows, and agents should be able to post. That's maybe how they do release notes. Like, oh, I have this new version. Whatever they decide to post, it should just be able to... Behave as a node on the network of a professional network. As it turns out, the more I think about that and pull on that thread, the more and more things, like, start to make sense to me. So it may be more than just a pure professional network. So my original thought was, okay, well, it's a professional network and agents as they exist out there, which I think there's going to be more and more of, will kind of exist on this network and have the profile. But then, and this is always dangerous, I'm like, okay, I want to see a world where thousands of agents are out there in order for the... Because those digital employees, the digital workers don't exist yet in any meaningful way. And so then I'm like, oh, can I make that easier for, like... And so I have, as one does, it's like, oh, I'll build a low-code platform for building agents. How hard could that be, right? Like, very hard, as it turns out. But it's been fun. So now, agent.ai has 1.3 million users. 3,000 people have actually, you know, built some variation of an agent, sometimes just for their own personal productivity. About 1,000 of which have been published. And the reason this comes back to MCP for me, so imagine that and other networks, since I know agent.ai. So right now, we have an MCP server for agent.ai that exposes all the internally built agents that we have that do, like, super useful things. Like, you know, I have access to a Twitter API that I can subsidize the cost. And I can say, you know, if you're looking to build something for social media, these kinds of things, with a single API key, and it's all completely free right now, I'm funding it. That's a useful way for it to work. And then we have a developer to say, oh, I have this idea. I don't have to worry about open AI. I don't have to worry about, now, you know, this particular model is better. It has access to all the models with one key. And we proxy it kind of behind the scenes. And then expose it. So then we get this kind of community effect, right? That says, oh, well, someone else may have built an agent to do X. Like, I have an agent right now that I built for myself to do domain valuation for website domains because I'm obsessed with domains, right? And, like, there's no efficient market for domains. There's no Zillow for domains right now that tells you, oh, here are what houses in your neighborhood sold for. It's like, well, why doesn't that exist? We should be able to solve that problem. And, yes, you're still guessing. Fine. There should be some simple heuristic. So I built that. It's like, okay, well, let me go look for past transactions. You say, okay, I'm going to type in agent.ai, agent.com, whatever domain. What's it actually worth? I'm looking at buying it. It can go and say, oh, which is what it does. It's like, I'm going to go look at are there any published domain transactions recently that are similar, either use the same word, same top-level domain, whatever it is. And it comes back with an approximate value, and it comes back with its kind of rationale for why it picked the value and comparable transactions. Oh, by the way, this domain sold for published. Okay. So that agent now, let's say, existed on the web, on agent.ai. Then imagine someone else says, oh, you know, I want to build a brand-building agent for startups and entrepreneurs to come up with names for their startup. Like a common problem, every startup is like, ah, I don't know what to call it. And so they type in five random words that kind of define whatever their startup is. And you can do all manner of things, one of which is like, oh, well, I need to find the domain for it. What are possible choices? Now it's like, okay, well, it would be nice to know if there's an aftermarket price for it, if it's listed for sale. Awesome. Then imagine calling this valuation agent. It's like, okay, well, I want to find where the arbitrage is, where the agent valuation tool says this thing is worth $25,000. It's listed on GoDaddy for $5,000. It's close enough. Let's go do that. Right? And that's a kind of composition use case that in my future state. Thousands of agents on the network, all discoverable through something like MCP. And then you as a developer of agents have access to all these kind of Lego building blocks based on what you're trying to solve. Then you blend in orchestration, which is getting better and better with the reasoning models now. Just describe the problem that you have. Now, the next layer that we're all contending with is that how many tools can you actually give an LLM before the LLM breaks? That number used to be like 15 or 20 before you kind of started to vary dramatically. And so that's the thing I'm thinking about now. It's like, okay, if I want to... If I want to expose 1,000 of these agents to a given LLM, obviously I can't give it all 1,000. Is there some intermediate layer that says, based on your prompt, I'm going to make a best guess at which agents might be able to be helpful for this particular thing? Yeah.Alessio [00:44:37]: Yeah, like RAG for tools. Yep. I did build the Latent Space Researcher on agent.ai. Okay. Nice. Yeah, that seems like, you know, then there's going to be a Latent Space Scheduler. And then once I schedule a research, you know, and you build all of these things. By the way, my apologies for the user experience. You realize I'm an engineer. It's pretty good.swyx [00:44:56]: I think it's a normie-friendly thing. Yeah. That's your magic. HubSpot does the same thing.Alessio [00:45:01]: Yeah, just to like quickly run through it. You can basically create all these different steps. And these steps are like, you know, static versus like variable-driven things. How did you decide between this kind of like low-code-ish versus doing, you know, low-code with code backend versus like not exposing that at all? Any fun design decisions? Yeah. And this is, I think...Dharmesh [00:45:22]: I think lots of people are likely sitting in exactly my position right now, coming through the choosing between deterministic. Like if you're like in a business or building, you know, some sort of agentic thing, do you decide to do a deterministic thing? Or do you go non-deterministic and just let the alum handle it, right, with the reasoning models? The original idea and the reason I took the low-code stepwise, a very deterministic approach. A, the reasoning models did not exist at that time. That's thing number one. Thing number two is if you can get... If you know in your head... If you know in your head what the actual steps are to accomplish whatever goal, why would you leave that to chance? There's no upside. There's literally no upside. Just tell me, like, what steps do you need executed? So right now what I'm playing with... So one thing we haven't talked about yet, and people don't talk about UI and agents. Right now, the primary interaction model... Or they don't talk enough about it. I know some people have. But it's like, okay, so we're used to the chatbot back and forth. Fine. I get that. But I think we're going to move to a blend of... Some of those things are going to be synchronous as they are now. But some are going to be... Some are going to be async. It's just going to put it in a queue, just like... And this goes back to my... Man, I talk fast. But I have this... I only have one other speed. It's even faster. So imagine it's like if you're working... So back to my, oh, we're going to have these hybrid digital teams. Like, you would not go to a co-worker and say, I'm going to ask you to do this thing, and then sit there and wait for them to go do it. Like, that's not how the world works. So it's nice to be able to just, like, hand something off to someone. It's like, okay, well, maybe I expect a response in an hour or a day or something like that.Dharmesh [00:46:52]: In terms of when things need to happen. So the UI around agents. So if you look at the output of agent.ai agents right now, they are the simplest possible manifestation of a UI, right? That says, oh, we have inputs of, like, four different types. Like, we've got a dropdown, we've got multi-select, all the things. It's like back in HTML, the original HTML 1.0 days, right? Like, you're the smallest possible set of primitives for a UI. And it just says, okay, because we need to collect some information from the user, and then we go do steps and do things. And generate some output in HTML or markup are the two primary examples. So the thing I've been asking myself, if I keep going down that path. So people ask me, I get requests all the time. It's like, oh, can you make the UI sort of boring? I need to be able to do this, right? And if I keep pulling on that, it's like, okay, well, now I've built an entire UI builder thing. Where does this end? And so I think the right answer, and this is what I'm going to be backcoding once I get done here, is around injecting a code generation UI generation into, the agent.ai flow, right? As a builder, you're like, okay, I'm going to describe the thing that I want, much like you would do in a vibe coding world. But instead of generating the entire app, it's going to generate the UI that exists at some point in either that deterministic flow or something like that. It says, oh, here's the thing I'm trying to do. Go generate the UI for me. And I can go through some iterations. And what I think of it as a, so it's like, I'm going to generate the code, generate the code, tweak it, go through this kind of prompt style, like we do with vibe coding now. And at some point, I'm going to be happy with it. And I'm going to hit save. And that's going to become the action in that particular step. It's like a caching of the generated code that I can then, like incur any inference time costs. It's just the actual code at that point.Alessio [00:48:29]: Yeah, I invested in a company called E2B, which does code sandbox. And they powered the LM arena web arena. So it's basically the, just like you do LMS, like text to text, they do the same for like UI generation. So if you're asking a model, how do you do it? But yeah, I think that's kind of where.Dharmesh [00:48:45]: That's the thing I'm really fascinated by. So the early LLM, you know, we're understandably, but laughably bad at simple arithmetic, right? That's the thing like my wife, Normies would ask us, like, you call this AI, like it can't, my son would be like, it's just stupid. It can't even do like simple arithmetic. And then like we've discovered over time that, and there's a reason for this, right? It's like, it's a large, there's, you know, the word language is in there for a reason in terms of what it's been trained on. It's not meant to do math, but now it's like, okay, well, the fact that it has access to a Python interpreter that I can actually call at runtime, that solves an entire body of problems that it wasn't trained to do. And it's basically a form of delegation. And so the thought that's kind of rattling around in my head is that that's great. So it's, it's like took the arithmetic problem and took it first. Now, like anything that's solvable through a relatively concrete Python program, it's able to do a bunch of things that I couldn't do before. Can we get to the same place with UI? I don't know what the future of UI looks like in a agentic AI world, but maybe let the LLM handle it, but not in the classic sense. Maybe it generates it on the fly, or maybe we go through some iterations and hit cache or something like that. So it's a little bit more predictable. Uh, I don't know, but yeah.Alessio [00:49:48]: And especially when is the human supposed to intervene? So, especially if you're composing them, most of them should not have a UI because then they're just web hooking to somewhere else. I just want to touch back. I don't know if you have more comments on this.swyx [00:50:01]: I was just going to ask when you, you said you got, you're going to go back to code. What

Send us a textEPISODE DESCRIPTION:Are your post-call surveys actually providing meaningful insights, or just creating a dangerous illusion of customer understanding?In this eye-opening episode of Advice from a Call Center Geek, we tackle the uncomfortable truth about those NPS and CSAT metrics your executive team loves so much. The shocking reality? Only 1 in 20 customers actually completes these surveys, yet companies continue making major strategic decisions based on this minuscule, heavily biased sample.After examining the latest research and industry data, we're ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about customer feedback collection. This episode breaks down:Why survey response rates have plummeted to a dismal 5% and what this means for data reliabilityHow extreme response bias creates a distorted picture of your actual customer experienceThe fundamental flaws in survey methodologies that no amount of tweaking can fixWhy AI-powered sentiment analysis across 100% of interactions represents the future of customer insightsPractical steps to transition your contact center to more reliable feedback mechanismsWhether you're a contact center director, CX professional, or operations manager, this episode delivers the wake-up call your customer experience strategy desperately needs. Stop making decisions based on feedback from just 5% of your customers and discover how to capture the complete voice of your customer base. Discover exceptional, AI-driven contact center outsourcing with Expivia. Visit expiviausa.com or message me in Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tlairdexpivia/Follow Tom: @tlaird_expiviaJoin our Facebook Call Center Community: www.facebook.com/callcentergeekConnect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tlairdexpivia/Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@callcenter_geekLinkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/9041993/Watch us: Advice from a Call Center Geek Youtube Channel

Enterprise Connect Podcast | Technology Reseller News “AI isn't here to replace humans — it's here to make customer service smarter, faster, and more efficient.” – Jill Blankenship, CEO, Frontline Group In this special Enterprise Connect 2025 episode, Technology Reseller News publisher Doug Green sat down with Frontline Group CEO Jill Blankenship and CRO Matt Bramson to explore the company's dual mission: delivering cutting-edge customer experience technology while keeping the human touch front and center. Frontline's Edge: A Foot in Both Worlds Frontline isn't just advising businesses on CCaaS — they're living it daily through their own 350-seat contact center. This real-world expertise enables them to offer something unique: deployment strategies informed by frontline operations. That hybrid approach — combining software like NICE CXone and Zoom with agent services and consultative support — is what sets them apart. AI That Supports Agents — Not Replaces Them Rather than jumping on the “AI-first” bandwagon, Frontline brings a pragmatic view. AI is already embedded in their analytics, quality management, and workforce tools. Their focus? Using AI to empower agents, reduce repetitive calls, and improve both CSAT and agent retention. “We envision a future with AI-driven service,” said Bramson, “but customers still need human empathy.” Resilient, Responsive, Ready When a global company with nearly 10,000 agents lost its internal CX team overnight, Frontline stepped in — not in months, but in days. They deployed a full support team, onboarded agents, and stabilized operations fast. That kind of agility is made possible by deep platform expertise and decades of team experience. Built for SMB & Mid-Market Success Unlike traditional CCaaS vendors focused on large enterprises, Frontline tailors solutions for SMBs and mid-market firms in regulated industries like finance, healthcare, and government. Whether it's compliance, rapid onboarding, or integrating omnichannel AI solutions, Frontline helps these clients scale without sacrificing quality. Looking Ahead: Human-Centered AI Blankenship founded the company to solve real-world customer service challenges. Now, she's leading it into a future where AI and human agents work in tandem. With a 98% client retention rate and a reputation for fast, flexible implementations, Frontline is poised to help more businesses navigate CX transformation in the AI age. Learn more at frontline.group or connect with the team on LinkedIn. You can also meet them at Channel Partners in Las Vegas.

Dr. Rob Weiss and Tami answer participant questions about the importance of combining sex and drug addictions in treatment and recovery, the danger of staying stuck in the rage phase, and who you have control over in healing and recovery (it's you and only you!).    TAKEAWAYS: [:55] Does ‘vanilla' porn really affect our relationship? I don't believe it's hurting my partner. [5:53] What are the major differences between sex addiction treatment/recovery and drug addiction treatment/recovery?  [12:25] The importance of tackling both sex and drugs in addiction treatment and recovery.  [15:40] I'm stuck in the rage phase - how can I decide to heal or leave?  [23:05] You cannot drag someone else into healing, but you can heal YOU.  [27:18] My partner is so ill that I can't help him anymore. What do I do now?  [35:24] Why do so many CSATs coddle their patients?  [41:11] My partner recently uncovered childhood sexual trauma. What should come first - couples therapy or CSAT work?  [46:48] Can my partner pray his way out of addiction? [49:35] Write this down - there is nothing I have ever done or am currently doing or will ever do to make my partner act out.    RESOURCES: Seekingintegrity.com Email Tami: Tami@Seekingintegrity.com Sexandrelationshiphealing.com Intherooms.com Out of the Doghouse: A Step-by-Step Relationship-Saving Guide for Men Caught Cheating, by Robert Weiss Prodependence: Moving Beyond Codependency, by Robert Weiss Sex Addiction 101: A Basic Guide to Healing from Sex, Porn, and Love Addiction, by Robert Weiss Cruise Control: Understanding Sex Addiction in Gay Men, by Robert Weiss Seeking Integrity Podcasts are produced in partnership with Podfly Productions.    QUOTES “If you have a sex addiction, I don't want you to stop having sex. I want you to do it in a way that's healthy and honest.” “Addiction is not about the behavior, it's about the function it serves.”  “You have the opportunity to choose. You don't have to stay stuck in this.”  “Give yourself the gift of getting the help you need.”   

At Enterprise Connect 2025, John Finch, VP of Product Marketing, Customer Engagement at RingCentral, joined Doug Green, publisher of Technology Reseller News, to discuss RingCentral's latest AI-driven advancements that are reshaping business communications and customer engagement. Introducing AI Receptionist (AIR): The Future of Call Handling The highlight of the day? RingCentral's AI Receptionist (AIR)—an AI-powered virtual assistant designed to handle inbound calls, provide information, and route callers efficiently while delivering a human-like customer experience without requiring a live receptionist. “This is our foray into agentic AI,” said Finch. “It's intuitive, simple to set up, and integrates seamlessly with existing knowledge bases, ensuring businesses can enhance their call-handling capabilities effortlessly.” The Rise of Agentic AI in Business Communications Agentic AI is revolutionizing enterprise communications by eliminating outdated IVR systems and rigid DTMF touch-tone menus. With AI-powered automation, businesses can now facilitate natural, real-time conversations that streamline call handling and reduce customer frustration. RingCX: Expanding AI-Powered Customer Engagement RingCentral's RingCX—its native cloud contact center platform—has grown significantly, now serving 700+ companies. The platform seamlessly integrates UCaaS and CCaaS, enabling cross-team collaboration and improving overall customer experiences. “RingCX is built for simplicity, ease of use, and deep AI integration,” said Finch. “We're automating quality management, improving agent performance, and enhancing customer interactions in ways that traditional systems never could.” Main Stage Presentation & The AI Evolution During Enterprise Connect's main stage keynote, RingCentral's President and COO, Kira Macagon, will discuss how businesses can harness AI-driven insights to capture and leverage every customer interaction, ensuring more effective communication strategies. Three More AI Innovations for Enhanced CX In addition to AI Receptionist (AIR), RingCentral also unveiled: AI Agent Assist: Real-time knowledge retrieval, allowing agents to automatically surface answers from company knowledge bases while handling live customer calls. AI Supervisor Assist: Live call monitoring and sentiment analysis, providing supervisors with real-time alerts to intervene when customer interactions require guidance. AI Interaction Analytics & Predictive CSAT: AI-driven customer satisfaction (CSAT) scoring, ensuring businesses receive continuous customer feedback without relying solely on traditional post-call surveys. RingCentral's AI-Powered Future With RingSense AI at the core of its EX and CX offerings, RingCentral is ensuring that AI-powered innovations enhance unified communications, contact centers, and enterprise collaboration tools. For those attending Enterprise Connect 2025, RingCentral's booth (1000) features live demos of AI-powered solutions. For others, visit RingCentral's website to explore how AI is transforming business communications.    

Analiză: Cuplul lui Georgescu îi face loc lui Ponta? (DW) - Ce anchete și informații noi au apărut după desecretizarea documentelor din CSAT și motivarea CCR (Europa Liberă) - Numele a trei europarlamentari români apar în investigația presei belgiene despre lobby-ul Huawei. Cristian Bușoi: Nu am semnat scrisoarea / Daniel Buda: Nu am avut niciodată vreo legătură lobbyiști chinezi (G4Media) - Analiză Erste, despre economia României: E ca o mașină veche, fiabilă, surprinzător de rapidă, dar când dă de o groapă nu știi dacă-i cad roțile (CursDeGuvernare) Am dus întrebarea „Sunt românii sclavii Europei?” în Parlamentul European: „Nu aș vrea să experimenteze cum e să fie sclavii lui Putin” (Adevărul)„Românii sunt sclavii Europei” sau „Români este o colonie a Uniunii Europene” sunt sintagme folosite de politicienii români de fiecare dată când se urcă pe un val de frustrare al oamenilor pe care vor să-i canalizeze spre un țap ispășitor.Astfel că reporterul Adevărul a dus întrebarea „Sunt românii sclavii Europei?” pe holurile Parlamentului European de la Strassbourg. A vorbit cu liderul opoziției din Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, cu europarlamentarul francez Bernard Guetta, cu vicepreședinte AUR, Adrian Axinia și mai mulți europarlamentari.  „Oamenii din lumea democratică uită uneori de luxul pe care îl au. Uită că nu vor fi reținuți imediat și nu vor fi torturați pentru că s-au opus guvernului sau s-au opus oricăror narațiuni și este într-adevăr păcat că pot fi otrăviți atât de ușor cu aceste narațiuni false”, a explicat dizidenta belarusă care a avut îndrăzneala să candideze la alegerile prezidențiale din 2020 împotriva președintelui Alexandru Lukașenko.Ea a subliniat că nu-și dorește ca „oamenii din lumea liberă să experimenteze cum e să fie sclavii lui Putin sau sclavi ai Rusiei”. Analiză: Cuplul lui Georgescu îi face loc lui Ponta? (DW)George Simion, 38 de ani, a fost convins să intre în cursă odată cu Anamaria Gavrilă, 41 de ani, pentru a avea o rezervă în cazul în care va fi respins de Biroul Electoral Central (BEC) sau de Curtea Constituțională (CCR) din cauza opiniilor sale radicale și a limbajului violent. Acest cuplu ar putea fi dezamăgitor, însă, pentru simpatizanții fostului prezidențiabil. Oamenii se așteptau să-l vadă pe Călin Georgescu într-un tandem cu George Simion sau cu un alt lider naționalist, în care să joace rolul unui potențial prim-ministru. În schimb, o văd pe Anamaria Gavrilă, care abia duce o frază până la capăt fără să se contrazică, și se uită la George Simion, care a promis de zeci de ori că nu va candida. Această pereche pare menită să-i deschidă drumul lui Victor Ponta, nou venit în spațiul naționalist-suveranist.Spre deosebire de Georgescu & Simion, care s-au bazat mult pe boți și troli incapabili să iasă în stradă la chemarea liderului maxim, fostul premier Victor Ponta pare să rămână deocamdată mai mult în spațiul real. Îl copiază pe Donald Trump, poartă șapcă roșie pe care scrie România pe primul loc, o adaptare a inscripției de pe șapca președintelui american Make America Great Again, asortată cu o cravată roșie.Sondajul Sociopol îl dă deocamdată pe locul al doilea, cu 22%, deci cu 6 procente sub George Simion, dar Sociopol îi aparține lui Mirel Palada, care i-a fost purtător de cuvânt pe vremea când era premier. Totuși, campania abia începe, iar Victor Ponta e uns cu toate alifiile, vorbește mai bine și e mai sigur pe el decât cuplul Simion-Gavrilă, cu care se află pe același culoar, scrie jurnalista Sabina Fati în analiza publicată de DW.Ce anchete și informații noi au apărut după desecretizarea documentelor din CSAT și motivarea CCR (Europa Liberă)La 99 de zile de la anularea alegerilor prezidențiale, autoritățile române nu au venit cu informații noi care să justifice și mai solid decizia de anulare a scrutinului. În schimb, date noi au fost publicate în rapoartele unor servicii de informații occidentale, dar și în investigații jurnalistice. De asemenea, anchetele deschise inițial „in rem” au acum acuzați „in personam”, scrie Europa Liberă.Numele a trei europarlamentari români apar în investigația presei belgiene despre lobby-ul Huawei (G4Media)Numele a trei foști europarlamentari români apar în investigația presei belgiene despre lobby-ul Huawei. E vorba despre Cristian Bușoi (PNL), Daniel Buda (PNL) și Tudor Ciuhodaru (AUR) ar fi semnat în 2021 o scrisoare de susținere pentru compania chineză, potrivit publicației Follow the Money. E vorba despre o scrisoare prin care opt europarlamentari, inclusiv cei trei români, cereau Comisiei Europene să modifice legislația extrem de restrictivă care îngreuna accesul Huawei la rețelele de telecomunicații 5G din UE.Pe scurt, reacțiile obținute de G4Media:Cristian Bușoi: Nu am semnat scrisoarea. Daniel Buda: Nu am avut niciodată vreo legătură lobbyiști chinezi.Tudor Ciuhodaru nu a răspuns la întrebările G4Media până la publicarea articolului. Analiză Erste, despre economia României: E ca o mașină veche, fiabilă, surprinzător de rapidă, dar când dă de o groapă nu știi dacă-i cad roțile (CursDeGuvernare)Perspectivele pe termen scurt ale României sunt definite atât de oportunități, cât și de riscuri: cererea internă puternică oferă reziliență, dar vulnerabilitățile macroeconomice persistente și incertitudinea politică ar putea afecta încrederea investitorilor și stabilitatea pe termen lung, potrivit unei analize semnate de echipa de economiști a BCR și detaliate de CursDeGuvernare.

 România nu ar trebui să ceară în acest moment amplasarea de focoase nucleare, planurile de apărare NATO din acest moment sunt suficiente , spune presedintele interimar care nu a exclus ca ar putea deveni premier dupa alegeri si care spune ca nu renunță la ideea tăierilor bugetare. Referitor la eliminarea lui Călin Georgescu din cursa pentru prezidenţiale, Bolojan a precizat că "avem o decizie a CCR pe care trebuie să o respectăm" şi si-a exprimat speranţa ca alegerile din mai să fie organizate corect. In ultima saptamana din luna martie, va fi convocat si CSAT-ul, a mai transmis Ilie Bolojan.   Cum se raportează ucrainenii la anunțul liderului de la Kremlin, care spune că susține armistițiul dar cu rezervePreşedintele rus Vladimir Putin a anunţat că ”susţine armistiţiul” pe o perioadă de 30 de zile propus de Statele Unite în Războiul din Ucraina, dar ”cu câteva rezerve”, privind prezenţa trupelor ucrainene în regiunea rusă Kursk. Kievul a lansat o ofensivă în zona vara trecuta, cu speranţa să folosească teritoriul cucerit ca monedă de schimb în eventuale negocieri de pace, însă forţele ruse au recâştigat teren în regiune. Cum se raporteaza ucrainenii la anuntul liderului de la Kremlin, va spunem in aceasta seara. Reuniune tripartită la Beijing: China, Iranul şi Rusia cer o ridicare a sancţiunilor impuse TeheranuluiSi, în cadrul unor negocieri tripartite la Beijing, China, Iranul şi Rusia cer o ridicare a sancţiunilor impuse Teheranului. In 2018, Donald Trump a retras Statele Unite din acordul nuclear în mod unilateral. Sancţiunile americane au fost restabilite şi multiplicate, iar economia iraniană a fost afectata masiv. Ţările occidentale suspectează de zeci de ani Teheranul de faptul că vrea să se doteze cu arma nucleară.  

AI is changing so much about how we create content. So we thought we'd bring in the founders of a brand new tool for making rich, interactive 3D content using AI.We're talking with Co-Founders Charles Migos and Bharat Vasan.And together, we talk about how to make the most out of AI tools, including mocking up ideas, iterating quickly and taking risks.About our guests, Charles Migos and Bharat VasanCharles Migos is Co-Founder & CEO at Intangible. He has over 30 years of experience in the tech industry, specializing in UX and product design. He has previously worked for Microsoft and Apple. Prior to Intangible, Charles served as VP of Product Design at Unity Technologies, where he established a core design practice, principles and philosophy. He also founded a centralized design organization and drove double-digit NPS, CSAT, engagement KPIs and revenue improvement across their portfolio with product design efforts.Bharat Vasan is an experienced investor, executive and board member with 15+ years of leadership in technology. He has a strong track record as a founder and operator in multiple sectors:• Connected Sensors & Devices• Consumer Software and Media• Healthcare, Fitness & Wellness• IoT Sensors / Smart HomeBharat is currently a founder of Intangible.ai, which uses AI to build the world's simplest 3D storytelling tool for creators in games, film, web and XR.Prior to Intangible, Bharat was an investment partner at The Production Board, a $450M venture capital fund, where he built on his experience as an angel investor with a deep network of founders. He helped invest in and create value at businesses ranging from foundry/seed, all the way to growth/IPO. As COO for fund, he also helped the firm fundraise and navigate market cycles in 3 of the most volatile years in venture capital.Bharat also has a strong track record as a P&L operator for growth and early-stage companies, having led his businesses through multiple rounds of financing and acquisitions. Bharat has raised over $500m for his companies, with multiple exits (founded BASIS Science, acq. by Intel; President August Home, acq. by Assa Abloy; CEO of PAX Labs, achieved unicorn status).Bharat is an active public speaker and Board member for venture-backed startups, and nonprofits.What B2B Companies Can Learn From Intangible.ai:Mock up ideas. You can make effective prototypes of a content idea with AI. It lets you get your idea across without having to invest a lot of time or money in a first draft. Charles says, “A storyboard is probably the most important artifact in the process after the script itself. Why? Because it is very low fidelity, but there is very high bandwidth in what it communicates. So like, I as the cinematographer, the director, the set designer, the costume designer, the visual effects supervisor, whomever, looks at A 2D sketch and understands exactly what it means for them creatively. So that idea that you can work from very low or coarse levels of detail, but get to very high levels of detail over time in the way that the process requires is super important. And is as enabling for those film creators or game creators as it will be for these other use cases we hope to activate around live event and architecture, urban design, live event productions and theater and all of that good stuff.”Iterate quickly. Something not quite right with the first version? Iterate quickly using AI. It can even give you multiple drafts or versions of the same idea. Bharat says, ” If you're trying to do a Pixar movie or a documentary, or you're trying to make an interactive game, that's the stuff that feels harder. And it feels like AI can simplify some of that. I can give you a first draft, I can give you a second draft, and I can do it in real time.” Take risks. Because you're not having to spend too much time or money mocking up your ideas with AI, it allows you to take some risks. Get really wild and see how far your ideas can take you. Bharat says, ”One thing that's happened to businesses because budgets have gotten so big, everyone's super risk averse, so you get more lookalike content. And one reason you don't see great content on channels like we used to, or the box offices, because, you know, when your budget is that large, you can't afford to take a lot of creative risks.  So one reason we started the company where we are is if we can make that beginning process easy, if it's easier for Netflix to review more pitches, if it's easier for them to get a better scent, maybe they start taking more diverse bets.”Quotes*” When we found ourselves in this moment around generative AI, I knew that the time had come. Like we could apply generative AI in a way that was designed for creatives to do their best work ever. And I'm an ardent believer that creativity is a team sport.” - Charles Migos*” There's a lot of anxiety about, is AI gonna take over jobs? What is it gonna do to the creative industry? I see it slightly differently. I see it as a way to revert back to the original joy.” - Bharat Vasan*” Those people who feel somewhat threatened by the technological advance, we want to re-weaponize them so that they have more tools and skills that they can employ in different ways to ensure that bright, creative minds are in charge of the content that we enjoy as lovers of the space and consumers of that content.” - Charles Migos*” If you're trying to do a Pixar movie or a documentary, or you're trying to make an interactive game, that's the stuff that feels harder. And it feels like AI can simplify some of that. I can give you a first draft, I can give you a second draft, and I can do it in real time. But the agency that people feel when they're able to do that in real time is really, really powerful. And they share that with other people, other people give them feedback. At least when I build stuff, that gives me energy. I made something as a kid, you know, with my little Lego bricks. I shared it with my friends. They go, ‘That's really cool.' They want to build it with me. That's the fun part about being in this business.” - Bharat Vasan*”Now that AI has come along, we feel like that's the last unconquered thing. You can set up a 3D set, you can figure out how to film it before you spend a dollar on production. And then people know what it looks like, feels like, when you're pitching that to a client, to a movie studio, they get a sense of what that's like as well. And so everyone gets more confidence on the creative project before going into production. And one of the things that's broken about the business is everyone has to place that bet in millions and millions of dollars without knowing what's going to come out of it at the end of the day. And often it might not even be a storyboard, it might just be a script or a blurb. And then you're just hoping and praying that someone's going to do something good with it.” - Bharat Vasan*”A storyboard is probably the most important artifact in the process after the script itself. Why? Because it is very low fidelity, but there is very high bandwidth in what it communicates. So like, I as the cinematographer, the director, the set designer, the costume designer, the visual effects supervisor, whomever, looks at A 2D sketch and understands exactly what it means for them creatively. So that idea that you can work from very low or coarse levels of detail, but get to very high levels of detail over time in the way that the process requires is super important. And is as enabling for those film creators or game creators as it will be for these other use cases we hope to activate around live event and architecture, urban design, live event productions and theater and all of that good stuff.” - Charles Migos*”One thing that's happened to businesses because budgets have gotten so big, everyone's super risk averse, so you get more lookalike content. And one reason you don't see great content on channels like we used to, or the box offices, because, you know, when your budget is that large, you can't afford to take a lot of creative risks.  So one reason we started the company where we are is if we can make that beginning process easy, if it's easier for Netflix to review more pitches, if it's easier for them to get a better scent, maybe they start taking more diverse bets.” - Bharat VasanTime Stamps[00:55] Meet Intangible.ai Co-founders Charles Migos and Bharat Vasan[01:34] Charles' Early Inspirations[03:26] Bharat's Journey and Inspirations[04:26] Founding Intangible AI[04:30] The Vision Behind Intangible AI[05:59] Challenges in the Creative Industry[09:38] The Role of AI in Creativity[20:42] User Experience and Design Thinking[26:01] The Complexity and Fear of AI in Creativity[27:53] Supporting Creative Intent with AI[29:06] Generative AI and the Future of Content Creation[30:33] Revolutionizing B2B Marketing with AI[36:07] The Role of Taste in Creative AI Tools[42:14] Simplifying the Creative Process[46:44] Empowering Original Ideas and Risk-Taking[51:19] Final Thoughts and Closing RemarksLinksConnect with Bharat and Charles on LinkedInLearn more about Intangible.aiAbout Remarkable!Remarkable! is created by the team at Caspian Studios, the premier B2B Podcast-as-a-Service company. Caspian creates both nonfiction and fiction series for B2B companies. If you want a fiction series check out our new offering - The Business Thriller - Hollywood style storytelling for B2B. Learn more at CaspianStudios.com. In today's episode, you heard from Ian Faison (CEO of Caspian Studios) and Meredith Gooderham (Senior Producer). Remarkable was produced this week by Meredith Gooderham, mixed by Scott Goodrich, and our theme song is “Solomon” by FALAK. Create something remarkable. Rise above the noise.

Dr. Rob Weiss and Tami answer participant questions about the challenges of rebuilding trust in a betrayed relationship and the importance of focusing on what you can do as a betrayed partner instead of focusing on what your addict partner can't or shouldn't do.    TAKEAWAYS: [1:40] My reluctant, betrayed spouse has been gone for a year. How can I approach them about my behavior?  [6:43] I feel like I'm seeing the world through a different lens in recovery. Is this typical?  [10:33] How can I better understand my partner's damage and betrayal trauma?  [14:04] I think my spouse is lying about his recovery and he failed his porn addiction test. Now what?  [22:45] What resources are available to learn more about addiction so I can better understand my loved one?  [27:02] I don't trust my partner's CSAT because of my history with unhelpful counselors. What can I do to improve our dynamic all around?  [33:25] What are some actionable ways I can rebuild trust with my betrayed partner?  [39:25] What is the best 12-Step recovery program for me?  [44:05] I can't stop lying to my betrayed spouse. Is this a slippery slope back into addiction?  [51:16] My partner has multiple addictions and is compartmentalizing recovery. Is this the best approach?    RESOURCES: Seekingintegrity.com Email Tami: Tami@Seekingintegrity.com Sexandrelationshiphealing.com Intherooms.com Out of the Doghouse: A Step-by-Step Relationship-Saving Guide for Men Caught Cheating, by Robert Weiss Prodependence: Moving Beyond Codependency, by Robert Weiss Sex Addiction 101: A Basic Guide to Healing from Sex, Porn, and Love Addiction, by Robert Weiss Cruise Control: Understanding Sex Addiction in Gay Men, by Robert Weiss Seeking Integrity Podcasts are produced in partnership with Podfly Productions.    QUOTES “If you choose to leave your partner, you don't do it to make them do something differently.”  “While in recovery, we have to look at the world through a different lens.”  “Getting sober is not about not doing things.”  “If we're not in recovery, we are not living in integrity. But if we're willing to change, we can have an amazing life.”  “You cannot fix a problem with intimacy and connection and loneliness while the person is still acting out.”  “A spouses job is to take care of themselves, their self-care and their boundaries, not to focus on you.”  “Being honest takes practice if you've been lying forever.”  

In this episode of the Helping Couples Heal Podcast, Marnie talks with Deb Kaplan, licensed therapist, CSAT and former Wall Street career woman, about money - a topic often dismissed or neglected entirely when helping couples heal from the traumatic impact of betrayal. In this rich (no pun intended) conversation, Marnie and Deb explore the financial impacts of betrayal and discuss the process of building trust around money and creating emotional and financial intimacy.

Ki gondolta volna a szezon előtt? De Matheus Cunha eltiltása és Jean Philippe Mateta sérülése komoly fejvakarást okoz a legtöbb FPL-managernek jelen pillanatban. Elsősorban mi is azt vitattuk meg a legújabb adásban, hogy kiket lehet érdemes megfontolni helyettük a következő fordulókra, de azt is átbeszéltük, hogy mennyire kell aggódni a Liverpool lehetséges hétvégi kezdőcsapatával kapcsolatban a PSG elleni visszavágó előtt!

All Home Care Matters and our host, Lance A. Slatton were honored to welcome Kelly Meany as guest to the show.   About Kelly Meany:   Kelly Meany is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and a dedicated therapist with a deep passion for helping others heal from trauma. But long before she entered the field of mental health, Kelly was a caregiver in a way that most children never have to be.   Her mother suffered a traumatic brain injury before Kelly was born, spending 12 weeks in a coma and emerging with lifelong cognitive challenges. From a young age, Kelly found herself in a unique and complex role not just as a daughter, but as more of a caregiver. Then, in her 20s, her mother was diagnosed with dementia, adding another layer to their journey together.   Navigating the emotional, mental, and logistical challenges of caregiving from childhood into adulthood profoundly shaped Kelly's understanding of resilience, connection, and the human capacity to heal. It also inspired her career as a therapist, where she now helps others whether they are caregivers, trauma survivors, or those seeking deeper emotional healing.   Kelly has training in EMDR, CSAT, IFS, and QNRT. She specializes in trauma recovery, addiction, and high-profile client work, offering a unique approach to healing that integrates both science and personal experience.   While Kelly's work in one-on-one therapy is deeply fulfilling, she has a bigger dream of helping people on a macro level. She is passionate about expanding access to trauma-informed care and educating the public about the long-term effects of trauma and caregiving. Through speaking engagements, social media, and writing, she hopes to reach a wider audience, break the stigma around mental health, and create systemic change. She is currently working on a book and has a goal of giving a TED X Talk in 2025 to share her insights on healing and human connection.

Autism self-advocate and therapist Megan MacKay discusses her work helping those experiencing PTSD and CPTSD. Megan MacKay works as an addiction and trauma psychotherapist. She is a CSAT, LCPC and LPC in the states of Arizona and Montana. Megan is also a Clinical Mental Health Consultant at Trapper Creek Job Corps, and a Board Member for Returning Youth Initiative. She also is a host and Board member for 101.5 KFGM, Missoula Community Radio. For more about Megan's work, visit: https://www.innerstatehealingandrecovery.com/ https://bloggingforrecovery.wordpress.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganmackayaz/ Listen to 101.5 KFGM at https://www.1015kfgm.org/ Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ https://www.instagram.com/diffbrains/ Check out more episodes of Exploring Different Brains! http://differentbrains.org/category/edb/

Orbán Viktor miniszterelnök a Kossuth Rádió Jó reggelt, Magyarország! című műsorában adott interjút. Kattintson a hirado.hu összefoglalójáért: https://hirado.hu/belfold/cikk/2025/02/28/orban-viktor-a-fronton-meg-veres-csatak-zajlanak-de-kezzelfoghato-kozelsegbe-kerult-a-beke

In our final episode on mental health for men, we spent time with Gabriel Trujillo. He is another for student of Marty and is doing great kingdom work to help those in his community through his expertise in counseling and therapy.   Over the past decade, Gabriel has embarked on a counseling journey, earning a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2013. He has since provided mental health services across diverse settings, including university campuses, community clinics, churches, and through his private online practice. Following licensure, Gabriel specialized as a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT), a role involving advanced trauma treatment expertise. As a CSAT, he assists clients in addressing deep-seated wounds, experiences, patterns, and trauma often overlooked by untrained clinicians, particularly in the context of sexual addiction. Additionally, Gabriel focuses on treating depression and anxiety using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Here are two ways to learn more about or reach him: Renewal Counseling (not taking new clients for now)Email - counselorgabetrujillo@gmail.com (but he would love to help and point you to some resources)To learn more about small groups where you can also grow together with other men, including our Men of Integrity groups, click here.Send Your Ask Marty Anything Question HereBlueprint for Men is a ministry that empowers husbands, fathers, and leaders to live like Jesus. Sign up for our weekly newsletter here.

In this episode of the Helping Couples Heal podcast, Marnie talks with Gary Katz, LCSW and CSAT about the complex dynamics surrounding infidelity, pornography and betrayal that impact sexuality and intimacy. If you are struggling with sexual and intimacy-related issues after betrayal, including desire, safety, rejection and arousal, this episode will offer clarity and compassion and and opportunity to begin to explore the complexity of sexual and relational healing.

In this webinar, CSAT therapist Jon Taylor offers a high-level overview of Attachment Theory, how it manifests as maturity in a relationship, and how it impacts sex addiction and betrayal trauma recovery. Jon and Tami then answer questions about attachment theory's role in creating strong relationships.   TAKEAWAYS: [:55] The role of attachment theory in addiction recovery.  [1:58] The history and research of attachment theory.  [7:02] Emotions and comfort are not a luxury, they are a necessity. [8:20] Maturity in a relationship is not making one another responsible for your attachment deficits. [9:35] Patterns in baseline attachment styles. [13:20] Recent findings in attachment theory.  [15:50] What does attachment theory teach about maturity in relationships?  [19:20] How does attachment style apply to couples in recovery?  [23:18] Contemplating real loss and forgiveness in recovery.  [27:40] How can I navigate trauma in a way that doesn't traumatize my children?  [29:55] Attachment and personality grow out of temperament, but presentation can change over time.  [35:04] Attachment explains everything, but it's not the answer to everything. [36:10] As a partner, how can I preserve our progress and disengage early in the negative cycle?  [39:22] How can I overcome my attachment style to create a stronger marriage?  [43:51] How long should an SA be in treatment before making a long term relationship decision?    RESOURCES: Seekingintegrity.com Email Tami: Tami@Seekingintegrity.com Sexandrelationshiphealing.com Intherooms.com Out of the Doghouse: A Step-by-Step Relationship-Saving Guide for Men Caught Cheating, by Robert Weiss Prodependence: Moving Beyond Codependency, by Robert Weiss Sex Addiction 101: A Basic Guide to Healing from Sex, Porn, and Love Addiction, by Robert Weiss Cruise Control: Understanding Sex Addiction in Gay Men, by Robert Weiss Seeking Integrity Podcasts are produced in partnership with Podfly Productions.    QUOTES “It's one of the most annoying parts of therapy, but it really does all come back to mom and dad.”  “Part of attachment theory is understanding that emotions and comfort are not a luxury, they are a necessity.”  “Maturity in a relationship is not making one another responsible for your attachment deficits.” “Attachment theory is important but it does not totally dictate how we can and must show up in our relationships.”  “For maturity to take place, we have to learn how to control our impulses.”  “Attachment explains everything, but it's not the answer to everything.”   

Summary:In this episode, we sit down with Danielle Shneor, Head of Player Support and Strategy at Ilyon, to uncover the secrets behind her remarkable success in the gaming industry. From her early days as a D&D and LARP enthusiast to managing player communities in casual gaming, Danielle shares how her deep understanding of player emotions and needs has transformed customer support into a competitive advantage.We explore how Danielle tackled a 40,000-ticket backlog upon joining Ilyon, built a player-centric process from scratch, and elevated CSAT scores from 39% to an impressive 87%. Through anecdotes like converting a frequent complainer into a lifelong advocate, she highlights the importance of empathy, data-driven insights, and treating players as people—not just users. Danielle also touches on the evolving role of feedback, loyalty, and community-building in the future of gaming.Whether you're in gaming or any customer-focused industry, Danielle's lessons on creating meaningful connections will leave you inspired.Key Moments: 00:01 – Meet Danielle and her passion for blending gaming with people-centric roles. 01:41 – From D&D to Ilyon: Danielle's path to professional gaming. 07:01 – Tackling a 40,000-ticket backlog and reinventing player support at Ilyon. 10:26 – Understanding the emotional journey of casual gamers. 26:43 – How Danielle turned a frequent complainer into a loyal community member.Highlights: “We don't call them users; we call them players. Respect matters.” CSAT jumped from 39% to 87% in three months under Danielle's leadership. “To truly improve player experience, understand how your players feel while playing.” The value of closing the feedback loop: “Let players know their feedback drives change.”Mentioned Resources: Danielle's LinkedIn – Connect with Danielle for insights on player experience. Ilyon's Games – Discover their community-driven casual games.Closing Thought:Danielle's approach reminds us of the power of empathy and human connection in gaming. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to transform player experiences, foster loyalty, and build thriving communities.

Autism self-advocate and therapist Megan MacKay discusses her role with Job Corps, and how it can help the neurodivergent population. Megan MacKay works as an addiction and trauma psychotherapist. She is a CSAT, LCPC and LPC in the states of Arizona and Montana. Megan is also a Clinical Mental Health Consultant at Trapper Creek Job Corps, and a Board Member for Returning Youth Initiative. She also is a host and Board member for 101.5 KFGM, Missoula Community Radio. For more about Megan's work, visit: https://www.innerstatehealingandrecovery.com/ https://bloggingforrecovery.wordpress.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganmackayaz/ Listen to 101.5 KFGM at https://tunein.com/radio/KFGM-1015-s288054/ Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ https://www.instagram.com/diffbrains/ Check out more episodes of Exploring Different Brains! http://differentbrains.org/category/edb/

In this weekly Sex and Intimacy Q&A, Erin Snow answers participant questions about fetishes and triggers – what they are, where they come from, and what they really mean about a person's sexuality and the likelihood of successful recovery. She also offers resources and actions betrayed partners can employ to empower themselves while they offer support to their addicted partner.    TAKEAWAYS: [:56] My husband's fantasy about my sister underlines his addiction to non-consenting victims. [4:00] All humans fantasize. That doesn't make all behaviors acceptable.  [8:00] Do fetishes get more intense from watching porn?  [10:01] Can we incorporate healthy fetishes into our sex life?  [12:47] Is my fetish a sex addiction?  [15:13] What happened in my childhood that led to my fetish?  [20:20] My husband is defensive about watching teen porn. How can I keep myself and our children safe? [26:29] I think my partner is protecting his addiction, he says I'm crazy. How can I protect myself?  [32:10] I'm going crazy waiting for my partner's disclosure. What can I do to empower myself in this process? [38:25] My partner is watching barely-legal porn. What does his fantasy say about our reality?  [45:13] What actions reduce intimacy? My partner doesn't recognize all of the ways that I'm trying to connect with her. [50:13] My partner has been lying about his recovery group. How can I reset clear boundaries?  [52:02] My partner never follows through with his safety plan and is relapsing again. I think I'm done, but where do I go from here?  [57:10] My partner's CSAT causally diagnosed me in their session. Now what?    RESOURCES: Seekingintegrity.com Email Tami: Tami@Seekingintegrity.com Sexandrelationshiphealing.com Intherooms.com Out of the Doghouse: A Step-by-Step Relationship-Saving Guide for Men Caught Cheating, by Robert Weiss Prodependence: Moving Beyond Codependency, by Robert Weiss Sex Addiction 101: A Basic Guide to Healing from Sex, Porn, and Love Addiction, by Robert Weiss Cruise Control: Understanding Sex Addiction in Gay Men, by Robert Weiss Seeking Integrity Podcasts are produced in partnership with Podfly Productions.    QUOTES “Fetishes are not going anywhere. It's part of your arousal template.”  “Fetishes are neither good nor bad. It's just a question of whether you can incorporate it into your sex life.”  “Knowing the fantasty and the why behind it is not going to solve the problem.”  “For most of us, recovery is literally learning a new language.”  “Fantasy life and reality are two very different things that shouldn't be compared at all.”  “We are not going to judge you for staying or for going. But that decision has to be yours.”  

Episode SummaryIn this episode of the Player Driven Podcast, host Greg interviews Łukasz Cieślak, Senior Operations Manager at 5CA. Łukasz shares his journey from support agent to senior operations manager and provides deep insights into the role of BPOs (Business Process Outsourcing) in the gaming industry. He explains how companies like 5CA help gaming studios scale their player support, the essential KPIs that drive player satisfaction, and the growing role of AI in modern support operations. The episode also highlights career advice for those looking to grow from support agent to management roles and explores emerging trends like VIP support and hybrid AI-human models.This conversation offers valuable lessons for gaming studios, support professionals, and anyone curious about the future of player support.Key Takeaways for Indie Developers from the Podcast with Łukasz CieślakOutsourcing Player Support with BPOs BPOs like 5CA allow indie devs to scale support without hiring in-house teams. Outsourcing lets devs focus on core tasks like game development while ensuring players get timely support.Essential Player Support KPIs to Track Track key metrics like service level, quality assurance, and player satisfaction (CSAT or NPS). Consistent support responses are crucial since players share their experiences on platforms like Discord and social media.The Role of AI in Player Support AI tools can handle repetitive inquiries, freeing agents (or indie devs) to focus on complex issues. Hybrid models (AI + human support) are the future, offering faster, more efficient player support.Career Growth and Leadership Lessons Łukasz's journey from agent to senior manager shows the value of proactivity and continuous learning. Indie devs can apply this approach by taking initiative, helping teammates, and being curious about better ways to operate.Emerging Trends in Player Support VIP support is growing in popularity, offering white-glove treatment for high-value players. Personalization and proactive support can build community loyalty, especially for indie devs running Discords or Kickstarter campaigns.These takeaways offer actionable insights on support outsourcing, key metrics, AI, career growth, and player experience trends.Notable Quotes"The companies that will be most successful will have a hybrid model, where agents are equipped with super-advanced AI tools to help them be more productive." – Łukasz Cieślak"If you're a support agent and want to grow, focus on helping others — help your boss, help your colleagues, and stay curious about how things work." – Łukasz Cieślak"Players are vocal on social media and Discord, so if one agent gives one answer and another gives a different answer, it's going to cause issues." – Łukasz Cieślak"AI is more than chatbots. It's everything from data analytics to moderation to making workforce management more efficient." – Łukasz Cieślak"BPOs give game studios the ability to focus on their core competency, like building great games, while outsourcing the complexity of player support." – Greg

Carm Aufderheide, CSAT, KPA-CTP, CTDP-KA, MS-CRES, is a dog behavior consultant with a master's degree in conflict and dispute resolution. In this episode, Carm and I talk about conflict in the dog breeding world - and in dog training, human politics, and other parts of life. Why are we as humans so likely to fall into conflict with others? Why is it so hard to convince others of your viewpoint when you're in conflict with them? How can we do things differently so we can start having meaningful conversations with others in which we and they are able to think deeply about why we believe what we believe? To learn more about Carm, check out https://www.northstartraining.info/ - note that in addition to dog training services, she does consults to help with conflict resolution. In this episode, Carm and I talk about a lot of books that she recommends. They are: Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection, by Charles Duhigg How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion, by David McRaney High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out, by Amanda Ripley Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It, by Chris Voss Street Epistemology (check out YouTube for examples)

Last week we learned what personality disorders are and how they can impact relationships. This week Amie and Alana welcome back Alexandra Repke, a licensed psychologist (PhD, CSAT, C-PD, CAIMHP), to explore what you can do if your partner has been diagnosed with a personality disorder. Alexandra provides critical insights on adjusting expectations, setting boundaries with consequences, and maintaining your own well-being while supporting your partner's treatment journey. Learn more about Alexandra Repke.  Listen to part one HERE.  Referenced in this episode: Karpman's Drama Triangle The Wizard of Oz and Other Narcissists by Eleanor D. Payson Stop Walking on Eggshells by Paul T. T. Mason and Randi Kreger Coming Up! Unmasked: Paths to Authentic Masculinity for Men⁠ - This is a three-day live intensive designed to help men delve deep into understanding integrity, unveiling layers of shame, and reclaiming their authentic selves. Intensive will be held in Spanish Fork, UT on Jan 15-17, 2025. Learn more and register ⁠HERE⁠. Revive and Thrive: Betrayal Trauma Intensive for Women - This four-day retreat aims to provide a holistic and nurturing environment for women to heal through somatic body work. Learn to reconnect with your body, process your trauma, and build resilience. Join us January 22-25, 2025 in Spanish Fork, Utah. Register HERE. ⁠Watch us⁠ on YouTube. ⁠Schedule⁠ a complimentary consultation with us. More from Choose Recovery Services Beyond the Facade Podcast - Luke Gordon hosts a podcast geared toward helping men live authentically and in harmony with their values. Choose Healing - Weekly support group for women who have recently experienced betrayal and are needing help coping with the symptoms of trauma. First four weeks are free! Believing in You - In this program Amie teaches you how to work WITH your brain instead of against it.  Road to Recovery Webinar - Join us on the second Sunday of each month for a FREE interactive discussion that explores tools and strategies to support individuals and couples navigating the challenges of recovery following betrayal.   Intensives - Accelerate your healing journey with one of our intensives, available year-round for individuals, couples, and professionals.  Healing Hearts - This is for couples seeking healing after betrayal. It emphasizes the development of empathy, integrity, and authentic intimacy. Available as a support group or a self-paced course. Help. Her. Heal - This program is for men seeking to learn more about empathy, conflict resolution, and healthy communication.  ⁠Empowerment After Betrayal for Men⁠ - This betrayal trauma support group is for men who have been betrayed. They will receive resources to recover from betrayal trauma while being surrounded by a supportive community. Beyond the Facade: Men's Healing Group - We help men move through the pains of addiction, relationship healing, managing emotions, and moving past shame. You'll learn how to better connect with others, understand your own emotional experience, and build a deeper sense of self respect. Choose Renewal - For women recovering from unwanted sexual behavior, whether it's a recurring challenge or a one-time incident.  Resilient Teens - Ongoing support group for teens ages 15-18 whose parents have experienced betrayal in their marriage. Adult Children Uniting for Healing - Ongoing support group for adult children of parents who have experienced betrayal in their marriage. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Empowered Divorce Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with Amie Woolsey for those who are leaning toward divorce.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dating From Within - Amie Woolsey hosts this workshop which teaches you how to date yourself first.  Should I Stay or Go? - Self-paced course designed to be a companion on your journey toward self-discovery and personal empowerment.  Connect with us on Social Media: Alana Gordon Amie Woolsey Choose Recovery Services