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Our guest in this episode is Emma Möller, an AI strategist and former diplomat with a fascinating journey from a small village in Sweden to the forefront of global technology strategy. Emma helps leaders navigate the complex systems of AI, drawing on her deep understanding of how the frameworks we build shape our human reality. In our chat, we explore how to embrace AI's potential with a principled and human-centered approach. Key points discussed include:* Design AI systems with intention, recognizing they actively shape our reality and lived experience.* Avoid “intellectual laziness” by using AI as a partner for inquiry, not a replacement for curiosity.* Cultivate your human curiosity through diverse learning to expand your awareness and unlock AI's creative potential.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Emma G Moller, LumieraIt was a true privilege to welcome Emma Möller, an AI strategist and former diplomat, to the InnovaBuzz podcast. Her journey is as fascinating as her insights, taking her from a small village of 60 people in northern Sweden, deeply connected to nature, to the complex, human-made systems of international policy and now, artificial intelligence. Our conversation was a masterclass in how to approach the incredible power of AI not with blind optimism or fear, but with a principled, human-centered curiosity that feels both vital and reassuring in this rapidly changing world.Emma's perspective is shaped by a profound understanding that the systems we design, be they legal, economic, or technological, fundamentally create the reality we inhabit. She spoke of feeling a disconnect between the rich, sensory experience of her childhood and the generalized, often biased frameworks of the modern world. This lens is what makes her approach to AI so powerful; she sees it not just as code, but as a new and incredibly influential system we are building, and she urges us to be deeply intentional about what kind of reality we want it to create.The Seductive Trap of Becoming ‘Intellectually Lazy'One of the most memorable moments in our chat was when Emma warned against the subtle danger of becoming “intellectually lazy.” It's a brilliant phrase that perfectly captures the seductive ease of letting generative AI do our thinking for us. We've all felt it: the temptation to accept the first answer from ChatGPT without question, or to let it generate prose without infusing it with our own unique perspective and critical thought. Emma reminded us that these tools are often designed to agree with us, which can create an echo chamber if we're not careful.The antidote, she suggests, is to consciously maintain our curiosity and use AI as a partner for deeper inquiry, not as a replacement for it. This really resonated with me. I shared the story of how I used an AI, which I named Yuki, to help plan my recent trip to Japan. Yuki handled the logistical heavy lifting: train schedules, travel times, which freed me up to dive deeper into the history and culture. The AI built the foundation, but the curiosity, the questions, and the actual human experience remained firmly in my hands. It was a perfect example of using the technology to enhance, not diminish, our engagement with the world.The Unscheduled Joy of Getting LostThis led to another beautiful point: the importance of allowing for the unexpected. Emma spoke about how some of the best adventures and innovations come from mistakes, or from getting a little bit lost. An AI can create a perfectly optimized itinerary, but it can't schedule the serendipitous joy of stumbling upon a hidden alleyway or the creative spark that comes from a plan gone awry. If we delegate too much of our decision-making to algorithms, we risk engineering these essential human moments out of our lives.Ultimately, Emma argues that our most powerful tool for navigating the age of AI is our own awareness, which we must actively cultivate. Her advice was wonderfully simple: read books. Talk to people with different perspectives. Spend time in nature. In short, we must continually expand our own “information landscape” so that we can bring richer, more creative questions to the AI. It is, as she puts it, a “mirror of our own awareness,” and will only ever be as insightful as we are.AI as a Leadership Challenge, Not Just a Tech SolutionBringing this into the business world, Emma stressed that successful AI adoption is not a technology problem; it's a leadership and culture challenge. The leaders who are getting it right are not looking for a magic AI solution to plug in. Instead, they are focusing on the real, day-to-day problems their teams face and empowering them to find ways that AI can genuinely help. It's about creating a system for change that supports people, listens to their concerns, and fosters collaboration.This conversation with Emma Möller was a powerful reminder that while technology will continue to evolve at a dizzying pace, the core principles of human-centered progress remain the same. It's about staying curious, taking responsibility for the tools we use, and never losing sight of the fact that the goal of innovation should be to create more space for the messy, beautiful, and irreplaceable experience of being human.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Emma's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Innovative AI for Human Connection – Using AI to analyze an organization's data to break down internal silos and foster mutual understanding between teams.* Best AI Integration Example – Leveraging voice-to-text tools to work more efficiently, thereby creating more time for screen-free, in-person connection.* Differentiate with Connection – Stay relentlessly curious by reading books and intentionally connecting with new people to learn from their unique perspectives.ActionIf you haven't already, start using AI. Consciously create space to remain curious and make mistakes, and then go outside for a walk to enjoy nature.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Emma on her website. She also has a wonderful newsletter called The Lumiera Loop.Links:* Website - Lumiera* Lumiera's Newsletter - The Lumiera Loop* LinkedInCool Things About Emma* She's a former diplomat and lawyer. This isn't just a career change; it's a fundamental shift in worlds. Her expertise in AI doesn't come from a typical tech background, but from a deep understanding of human systems, language, and international relations. This unique origin story frames her entire perspective on technology in a fascinating way.* She wants to translate information into smell. In a conversation about large language models and digital artifacts, her most exciting experiment is wonderfully human and unexpected. This reveals a playful, creative, and deeply sensory side that looks for understanding far beyond the screen.* She's a global citizen. Born near a ski resort in the north of Sweden, she later studied at Monash University in Melbourne (Jürgen's alma mater) and now lives and works in Lisbon, Portugal. This isn't just a list of places; it paints a picture of someone who is adaptable and thinks with a naturally global perspective.* She finds text to be an “unnatural medium.” Despite being a self-proclaimed “big fan of languages” and having a background that relied heavily on text, she has come to the conclusion that it's an artificial way for humans to communicate. This intellectual paradox is very cool; it shows she's not afraid to question the very foundations of her own past expertise.Ready to move beyond just creating content and start creating real connection?In the Age of AI, the future belongs to those who can amplify human wisdom. Flywheel Nation is MORE than a community; it's a movement for creators and visionaries dedicated to shaping a more human future.Join us as we co-create that future for ethical AI. Here you will tap into the collective wisdom of leaders who prioritize connection over automation, find powerful collaborations that elevate your impact, and help illuminate the path forward.This is your invitation to not only grow your business but to become a lighthouse for others.Join the movement. Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel to be a part of the conversation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe
Austin shares how you can differentiate yourself from the competition using something you already have - your experience!Time Stamped Show Notes:[0:30] - 99% of job seekers focus on the wrong thing[2:08] - How hiring managers differentiate between applicants[3:02] - Focus on the resultsWant To Level Up Your Job Search?Click here to learn more about 1:1 career coaching to help you land your dream job without applying online.Check out Austin's courses and, as a thank you for listening to the show, use the code PODCAST to get 5% off any digital course:The Interview Preparation System - Austin's proven, all-in-one process for turning your next job interview into a job offer.Value Validation Project Starter Kit - Everything you need to create a job-winning VVP that will blow hiring managers away and set you apart from the competition.No Experience, No Problem - Austin's proven framework for building the skills and experience you need to break into a new industry (even if you have *zero* experience right now).Try Austin's Job Search ToolsResyBuild.io - Build a beautiful, job-winning resume in minutes.ResyMatch.io - Score your resume vs. your target job description and get feedback.ResyBullet.io - Learn how to write attention grabbing resume bullets.Mailscoop.io - Find anyone's professional email in seconds.Connect with Austin for daily job search content:Cultivated CultureLinkedInTwitterThanks for listening!
Something's coming over the hill! In this episode of The Good Brand Podcast, Stewart sits down with Chris and Julie to tackle a thorny question: what happens when “cheap imports” aren't cheap or inferior anymore, just good enough, well-priced, and increasingly well-branded? Using BYD and others as jumping-off points, we dig into how the playbook has shifted (price → quality → brand) and what that means for Western B2B manufacturers and tech firms. We talk trust as a real moat (warranties, service, local presence), why heritage helps but won't save you, and the unsexy truth that brand-building is a continuous practice, not a one-and-done campaign. No silver bullets, just what it takes to be match-fit before market share slips “slowly, then quickly.”Take a look at the original article.About GoodGood is a brand consultancy, working with ambitious B2B businesses to overcome the problems that hold them back. We believe brand strategy is business strategy, helping companies sharpen their positioning, win customer loyalty, and unlock new opportunities for growth. Got a problem that's keeping you up at night? We'd love to have a chat to see how we could help. Find out more at goodbrandconsultants.com.
Guest: Danielle O'Laughlin, PA-C, MS Hosts: Danielle O'Laughlin, PA-C, MS and Jenna Wygant, APRN, CNP, DNP In this episode, Danielle O'Laughlin discusses benign breast tumor conditions and other non-cancerous growths. Listeners will gain insight into the clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and management strategies for these common breast findings. Learning Objectives: Review the types of benign breast tumors and their clinical features. Differentiate between symptoms, diagnostic approaches, and treatment options for various benign breast conditions. Learn more about this series: Mayo Clinic Talks: Obstetric and Gynecologic Health | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development Connect and listen with Mayo Clinic Podcasts | Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development
Becoming You Again Series: Part TwoCaregiving comes with a weight no one else can see. It's the emotional backpack you carry every day: filled with guilt, fear, responsibility, hypervigilance, and resentment. You can't always name what's inside it, but you feel it in your body, your mood, and your energy.In this episode, Charlotte helps you take a closer look at what you've been holding. Through real caregiver stories, simple grounding practices, and a framework for emotional awareness, you'll begin to understand how this emotional load builds up and how to start setting it down, one feeling at a time.This conversation offers tools to help you:Differentiate between your emotions and the ones you're absorbing from othersCreate space to process difficult feelings without judgmentLoosen the grip of guilt, fear, and griefReclaim small moments of relief, clarity, and personal truthThis episode is not about pushing through, it's about pausing long enough to acknowledge what you've been carrying, and realizing you don't have to carry it all alone.Find your Scanxiety toolkit at https://www.cancercaregiverpodcast.com/tools
Lee Salz is the founder and CEO of Sales Architects®, a globally recognized sales management strategist, bestselling author, and keynote speaker. Widely respected for challenging outdated sales methods, Lee equips organizations with powerful sales strategies, playbooks, and processes that drive explosive, profitable growth.His insights have helped hundreds of companies differentiate themselves and develop world-class salesforces. As the author of several bestsellers—including Sales Differentiation and his latest, The First Meeting Differentiator—Lee is on a mission to transform how companies approach sales conversations, starting with the very first meeting.SHOW SUMMARYIn this episode of Selling from the Heart, Larry Levine and Darrell Amy welcome back Lee Salz for an insightful conversation about the critical role of the first meeting in the sales journey.They explore what it means to sell from the heart—leading with authenticity, human connection, and emotional awareness. Lee explains why most sales professionals fail to differentiate themselves early on and how to fix it.From practical strategies to ask emotive questions, to why you should always end meetings with clear next steps, this episode is a goldmine of advice for sales professionals who want to build deeper trust, deliver meaningful value, and win more deals. KEY TAKEAWAYSAuthenticity wins — make people feel seen, heard, and valued.Meaningful value comes from understanding the client's emotional and strategic needs.Emotions drive decisions, but most sellers only use logic—learn how to tap into both.Differentiate in the first meeting by asking better questions and leading with empathy.Clarity matters — end every meeting with clear next steps and a follow-up.Language is powerful — say “investing time,” not “spending time.”HIGHLIGHT QUOTESPerson before prospect. Until you understand them as a person, you can't possibly have them as a prospect.Don't forget to say: ‘Thank you for investing time with me today.' Not spending time, nvesting it.People buy based on emotion and justify their decisions with logic—but nobody's doing it.The problem with your case is it's all facts, no heart—and the jury isn't buying it.
Below is an Ai summary of the podcastExploring Memory and Artistic Expression- Discusses the importance of working from memory in art, emphasizing the creation of a unique vision rather than a mere reproduction.- Explores how memory filters and personal experiences influence artistic expression, revealing individual perspectives.- Highlights the significance of memory in retaining essential details and testing the accuracy of perception through artistic creation.Jungian Psychology: Anima, Animus, and Archetypes- Explores the concepts of anima and animus in Jungian psychology, discussing their roles as counter images and guides in dreams.- Differentiates between archetypes and angels, suggesting that archetypes are more like cookie cutters, while angels are beings with distinct personalities.- Considers the dualism of internal and external reality, questioning whether spiritual experiences are internal psychological processes or interactions with external entities.Childbirth, Memory, and Transformation- Explores the profound impact of childbirth on memory, noting how hormonal changes and visceral experiences create deeply encoded memories.- Highlights the importance of art, such as anatomical drawings, in preparing for transformative experiences like childbirth.- Discusses how drawing from memory can articulate the universe in unique ways, offering a form of self-soothing and self-connection.Supporting the Podcast- There is a subscription option on the Spotify podcast for $5 a month.https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/wildwomanpodcast/subscribe- A camping style enamel mug with the podcast logo is available for purchase.https://cultivationofthewildwoman.printify.me/- The podcast aims to record and upload more frequently.
Our guest in this episode is Ali Hafizji, the CEO of Wednesday Solutions, who joins us from Pune, India. He's on a critical mission to steer startup founders away from the chaos and waste that often plagues their journey, offering them a clear, systematic path to success. In our chat, Ali Hafizji breaks down the fundamental mindset shift that separates a struggling project from a thriving business: the transition from being a "builder" to becoming a true "business owner." Ali provides a clear framework for founders to escape the dreaded "build trap" and focus on the activities that genuinely move the needle. Key points discussed include:* Make the critical shift from passionately building a product to strategically owning the entire business.* Your new job isn't coding; it's marketing, sales, fundraising, and gathering crucial market insights.* Leverage AI for incredible speed, but always guide it with uniquely human judgment and strategic focus.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Ali HafizjiIt was a real privilege to welcome Ali Hafizji, the CEO of Wednesday Solutions, to the Innovabuzz podcast, all the way from Pune, India. Ali has a critical and incredibly timely mission: to help founders avoid the pain, waste, and chaos that so often derails promising startups. He provides a wonderfully systematic and clear path for entrepreneurs to move from a compelling Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to that all-important Product-Market Fit, and he does it with a logic that cuts right through the emotional turmoil of the founder's journey.Our conversation was a deep dive into the fundamental mindset shift required to build not just a product, but a sustainable business. Ali's insights felt like a much-needed dose of clarity in a startup world that is often filled with noise and distractions. He's on a mission to help founders cross the chasm from being passionate builders to becoming strategic business owners, a distinction that is truly at the heart of success.The Critical Divide: Are You a Builder or a Business Owner?The most powerful idea Ali Hafizji shared was the distinction between acting like a "builder" and thinking like a "business owner". So many founders start because they have personally experienced a problem and have the vision to build a digital solution for it. This is a fantastic starting point, but it's also a trap. They get their MVP built, show it to a few people, and then get stuck in a perpetual cycle of building.As Ali explained, their day-to-day becomes about micromanaging features and tweaking the product, not growing the business. They are acting like builders, not owners. This crucial difference in mindset is often what separates a promising project that fizzles out from a company that achieves real traction and makes a lasting impact.Escaping the "Build Trap": When Your Day-to-Day Doesn't Move the NeedleThis builder mindset leads directly to what Ali calls the "build trap". You get feedback, you add a feature. You talk to a user, you tweak the interface. You're constantly busy, your team is shipping code, but the core business metrics aren't changing. You feel like you're working incredibly hard, but as Ali puts it, you're just not "moving the needle".The litmus test he offered was profound in its simplicity: if you realize that no matter what you do, things aren't fundamentally changing, you probably need to change first. It's a sign that you must stop focusing all your energy on the product itself and transform your own role within the company.The Founder's New Job: A Four-Point Mission for GrowthSo, what does that new role look like? Ali laid out a new job description for the post-MVP founder, one centered on four key activities: marketing, sales, fundraising, and gathering insights. The founder's primary job is to be the external voice and vision for the company, interacting with the market, customers, and investors.This means handing over the day-to-day building to a team you trust, whether it's an in-house team or a partner. That team's job is to convert the rich insights you're gathering into a digital offering. This shift is a massive change, moving from the comfort of building to the challenging, but essential, work of business development.AI as the Enabler, Not the Answer: Building with True VelocityIn today's world, it's easier than ever to build something, thanks in large part to AI. Ali is a huge proponent of using AI, but in a very specific, strategic way. He sees it as a powerful enabler to get your MVP off the ground and to supercharge your engineering team, allowing a small "pod" to achieve twice the outcome.However, he was quick to point out that true velocity isn't just about speed; it's a combination of speed and direction. AI can provide the speed, but the direction must come from the human insights gathered by the founder. An AI-enabled team is powerful, but they are still relying on the founder's strategic guidance to ensure they are building the right thing.The Human Advantage: Why Saying "No" is Your Most Important SkillThis brought us to the crucial human element. With the ability to build things so quickly, the temptation to add every bell and whistle is stronger than ever. Ali argued that the most important advantage a human-led team has is the ability to say "no." It's about having the focus and judgment to decide what not to build.He used brilliant examples, like Instagram focusing solely on its iOS app for the longest time, or Snapchat starting with a single, simple feature. This disciplined focus is only possible through a consultative, back-and-forth conversation between the founder and the team, constantly asking the tough questions: "What business metric is this going to move?" That judgment is something AI can't replicate.Conclusion: Stop Listening to the Chaos and Start BuildingAli's message is ultimately one of empowerment. We are in an age where the tools to bring an idea to life are more accessible than ever. His final call to action was simple: "now is the time to build". But that encouragement comes with a critical piece of wisdom.You must start with the awareness that the goal isn't just to build a product, but to build a business. Be prepared to make that difficult but necessary transition from builder to business owner. Stop listening to the chaos, focus on what truly matters, and you'll be on the right path to turning your vision into a viable, impactful company.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Ali's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships: Using an AI tool that helps you take interviews better by nudging you to look at the camera and build a genuine connection.Best thing to integrate AI and human connection: Actively avoiding the use of AI for human connection to maintain authenticity, as AI-generated text often feels like fluff.Differentiate by leveraging AI: Focus on authentic video for marketing, as text is now commoditized and video offers a less noisy, more human platform.ActionIf you are thinking about building a business, now is the time to start. Use the tools all around you to build whatever you plan, as you don't need a lot of external help to get started.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Ali via the Wednesday Solutions website or by connecting with him on LinkedIn.Links:* Website - Wednesday Solutions* LinkedIn* Twitter - @wednesdaysol* Instagram - @wednesday.solCool Things About Ali* He is a "Founder Pain-Killer": Ali hasn't just built another software company. He has systematically designed a business model around a core philosophy: to prevent the specific pain, chaos, and waste he has witnessed kill so many startups. He is not just selling a service; he is selling a well-engineered antidote to a common business disease.* He is a Unicorn Whisperer: Having worked with over 10% of India's unicorn companies, Ali possesses a rare and valuable perspective. He has had a front-row seat to hyper-growth, giving him an extraordinary understanding of the patterns that separate the wildly successful from the rest, especially during their chaotic and vulnerable early stages.* He is a Pragmatic AI Pioneer: While many leaders talk about AI in abstract or future-tense terms, Ali is a true early adopter who has been using it in the trenches for years. He treats AI not as a buzzword, but as a practical, integrated "force multiplier" that is a fundamental part of his company's daily operations.Ready to move beyond just creating content and start creating real connection?In the Age of AI, the future belongs to those who can amplify human wisdom. Flywheel Nation is MORE than a community; it's a movement for creators and visionaries dedicated to shaping a more human future.Join us as we co-create that future for ethical AI. Here you will tap into the collective wisdom of leaders who prioritize connection over automation, find powerful collaborations that elevate your impact, and help illuminate the path forward.This is your invitation to not only grow your business but to become a lighthouse for others.Join the movement. Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel to be a part of the conversation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe
Is that penicillin or amoxicillin allergy real? Probably not. In this episode, we explore how to assess risk, talk to parents, and refer for delabeling. You'll also learn what happens in the allergy clinic, why the label matters, and how to be a better antimicrobial steward. Learning Objectives Describe the mechanisms and clinical manifestations of immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions to penicillin, including diagnostic criteria and risk stratification tools such as the PEN-FAST score. Differentiate between low-, moderate-, and high-risk penicillin allergy histories in pediatric patients and identify appropriate candidates for direct oral challenge or allergy referral based on current evidence and guidelines. Formulate an evidence-based approach for evaluating and counseling families in the Emergency Department about reported penicillin allergies, including when to recommend outpatient referral for formal delabeling. Connect with Brad Sobolewski PEMBlog: PEMBlog.com Blue Sky: @bradsobo X (Twitter): @PEMTweets Instagram: Brad Sobolewski References Khan DA, Banerji A, Blumenthal KG, et al. Drug Allergy: A 2022 Practice Parameter Update. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2022;150(6):1333-1393. doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2022.08.028 Moral L, Toral T, Muñoz C, et al. Direct Oral Challenge for Immediate and Non-Immediate Beta-Lactam Allergy in Children. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2024;35(3):e14096. doi:10.1111/pai.14096 Castells M, Khan DA, Phillips EJ. Penicillin Allergy. N Engl J Med. 2019;381(24):2338-2351. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1807761 Shenoy ES, Macy E, Rowe T, Blumenthal KG. Evaluation and Management of Penicillin Allergy: A Review.JAMA. 2019;321(2):188–199. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.19283 Transcript Note: This transcript was partially completed with the use of the Descript AI and the Chat GPT 5 AI Welcome to PEM Currents, the Pediatric Emergency Medicine podcast. As always, I'm your host, Brad Sobolewski, and today we are taking on a label that's misleading, persistent. Far too common penicillin allergy, it's often based on incomplete or inaccurate information, and it may end up limiting safe and effective treatment, especially for the kids that we see in the emergency department. I think you've all seen a patient where you're like. I don't think this kid's really allergic to amoxicillin, but what do you do about it? In this episode, we're gonna break down the evidence, walk through what actually happens during de labeling and dedicated allergy clinics. Highlight some validated tools like the pen FAST score, which I'd never heard of before. Preparing for this episode and discuss the current and future role of ED based penicillin allergy testing. Okay, so about 10% of patients carry a penicillin allergy label, but more than 90% are not truly allergic. And this label can be really problematic in kids. It limits first line treatment choices like amoxicillin, otitis media, or penicillin for strep throat, and instead. Kids get prescribed second line agents that are less effective, broader spectrum, maybe more toxic or poorly tolerated and associated with a higher risk of antimicrobial resistance. So it's not just an EMR checkbox, it's a label with some real clinical consequences. And it's one, we have a role in removing. And so let's understand what allergy really means. And most patients with a reported penicillin allergy, especially kids, aren't true allergies in the immunologic sense. Common misinterpretations include a delayed rash, a maculopapular, or viral exum, or benign, delayed hypersensitivity, side effects, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. And unverified childhood reactions that are undocumented and nonspecific. Most of these are not true allergies. Only a very small subset of patients actually have IgE mediated hypersensitivity, such as urticaria, angioedema, wheezing, and anaphylaxis. These are super rare, and even then they may resolve over time without treatment. If a parent or sibling has a history of a penicillin allergy, remember that patient might actually not be allergic, and that is certainly not a reason to label a child as allergic just because one of their first degree relatives has an allergy. So right now, in 2025, as I'm recording this episode, there are clinics like the Pats Clinic or the Penicillin Allergy Testing Services at Cincinnati Children's and in a lot of our peer institutions that are at the forefront of modern de labeling. Their approach reflects the standard of care as outlined by the. Quad ai or the American Academy of Allergy, asthma and Immunology and supported by large trials like Palace. And you know, you have a great trial if you have a great acronym. So here's what happens step by step. So first you stratify the risk. How likely is this to be a true allergy? And that's where a tool like the pen fast comes. And so pen fast scores, a decision rule developed to help assess the likelihood of a true penicillin allergy based on the patient's history. The pen in pen fast is whether or not the patient has a self-reported history of penicillin allergy. They get two points if the reaction occurred in the past five years. Two points if the reaction is anaphylaxis or angioedema. One point if the reaction required treatment, and one point if the reaction was not due to testing. And so you can get a total score of. Up to six points. If you have a score of less than three. This is a low risk patient and they can be eligible for direct oral challenge. A score greater than three means they're higher risk and they may require skin testing. First validation studies show that the PEN FFA score of less than three had a negative predictive value of 96.3%. Meaning a very, very low chance of a true allergy. And this tool has been studied more extensively in adults, but pediatric specific adaptations are emerging, and they do inform current allergy clinic protocols. But I would not use this score in the emergency department just to give a kid a dose of amoxicillin. So. For low risk patients, a pen fast score of less than three or equivalent clinical judgment clinics proceed with direct oral challenge with no skin testing required. The protocol is they administer one dose of oral amoxicillin and they observe for 62 120 minutes monitoring for signs of reaction Urticaria. Respiratory symptoms or GI upset. This approach is safe and effective. There was a trial called Palace back in 2022, which validated this in over 300 children. In adolescents. There were no serious events that occurred. De labeling was successful in greater than 95% of patients. And skin tested added no benefit in low risk patients. So if the child tolerates this dose, then you can remove that allergy immediately from the chart. Parents and primary care doctors will receive a summary letter noting that the challenge was successful and that there's new guidance. Children and families are told they can safely receive all penicillins going forward. And providers are encouraged to document this clearly in the allergy section of the EMR. So you're wondering, can we actually do this in the emergency department? Technically, yes, you can do what you want, but practically we're not quite there yet. So we'd need clearer risk stratification tools like the Pen fast, a safe place for monitoring, post challenge, clinical pathways and documentation support. You know, a clear way to update EMR allergy labels across the board and involvement or allergy or infectious disease oversight. But it's pretty enticing, right? See a kid you diagnose otitis media. You think that their penicillin allergy is wrong, you just give 'em a dose of amox and watch 'em for an hour. That seems like a pretty cool thing that we might be able to do. So some centers, especially in Canada and Australia, do have some protocols for ED or inpatient based de labeling, but they rely on that structured implementation. So until then, our role in the pediatric emergency department is to identify low risk patients, avoid over document. Unconfirmed reactions and refer to allergy ideally to a clinic like the pets. So who should be referred and good candidates Include a child with a rash only, especially one that's remote over a year ago. Isolated GI symptoms. Parents unsure of the details at all. No history of anaphylaxis wheezing her hives, and no recent serious cutaneous reactions. I would avoid referring and presume that this allergy is true. If they've had recent anaphylaxis, they've had something like Stevens Johnson syndrome dress, or toxic epidermolysis necrosis. Fortunately, those are very, very rare with penicillins and there's a need for penicillin during the ED visit without allergy backup. So even though we don't have an ED based protocol yet. De labeling amoxicillin or penicillin allergy can start with good questions in the emergency department. So here's one way to talk to patients and families. You can say, thanks for letting me know about the amoxicillin allergy. Can I ask you a few questions to better understand what happened? This is gonna help us decide the safest and most effective treatment for your child today, and then possibly go through a process to remove a label for this allergy that might not be accurate. You wanna ask good, open-ended questions. What exactly happened when your child took penicillin or amoxicillin? You know, look for rash, hives, swelling, trouble breathing, or anaphylaxis. Many families just say, allergic, when the reaction was just GI upset, diarrhea or vomiting, which is not an allergy. How old was your child when this happened? Reactions that occurred before age of three are more likely to be falsely attributed. How soon after taking the medicine did the reaction start? Less than one hour is an immediate reaction, but one hour to days later is delayed. Usually mild and probably not a true allergy. Did they have a fever, cold or virus at that time? Viral rashes are often misattributed to antibiotics, and we shouldn't be treating viruses with antibiotics anyway, so get good at looking at ears and know what you're seeing. And have they taken similar antibiotics since then? Like. Different penicillins, Augmentin, or cephalexin. So if they said that they were allergic to amoxicillin, but then somehow tolerated Augmentin. They're not allergic. If a patient had rash only, but no hive swelling or difficulty breathing, no reaction within the first hour. It occurred more than five years ago or before the kid was three. And especially if they tolerated beta-lactam antibiotics. Since then, they're a great candidate for de labeling and I would refer that kid to the allergy clinic. Generally, they can get them in pretty darn quick. Alright, we're gonna wrap up this episode. Most kids labeled penicillin allergic or amoxicillin allergic, or not actually allergic to the medication. There are some scores like pen fasts that are validated tools to assess risk and support de labeling. Direct oral challenge for most patients is safe, efficient, and increasingly the standard of care. There are allergy clinics like the Pats at Cincinnati Children's that can dela children in a single visit with oral challenges alone, needing no skin testing, and emergency departments can play a key role in identifying and referring these patients and possibly de labeling ourselves in the future. Well, that's all for this episode on Penicillin Allergy. I hope you learn something new, especially how to assess whether an allergy label is real, how to ask the right questions and when to refer to an allergy testing clinic. If you have feedback, send it my way. Email, comment on the blog, a message on social media. I always appreciate hearing from you all, and if you like this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast app. Really helps more people find the show and that's great 'cause I like to teach people stuff. Thanks for listening for PEM Currents, the Pediatric Emergency Medicine podcast. This has been Brad Sobolewski. See you next time.
Please visit answersincme.com/860/MED-ONC-03349-replay to participate, download slides and supporting materials, complete the post test, and obtain credit. In this activity, experts discuss how the latest data for first-line immunotherapy-based regimens informs personalized approaches for advanced NSCLC and how to elevate care through patient advocate–centered approaches. Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to: Differentiate the clinical profiles of NCCN-preferred first-line immunotherapy-based regimens for advanced NSCLC based on the latest data for disease with no actionable mutations and PD-L1 expression 50% or greater; Identify how first-line treatment selection varies for different patient subpopulations with advanced NSCLC with no actionable mutations and PD-L1 expression 50% or greater; and Apply patient-centered strategies to optimize the integration of immunotherapy-based regimens into first-line treatment plans of patients with advanced NSCLC with no actionable mutations and PD-L1 expression 50% or greater.
PURCHASE THIS PODCOURSE! If you are a therapist or counselor looking for continuing education, check out my NBCC Approved $5 Podcourses and other continuing education offerings.Plus, get your first Podcourse half off. In this Podcourse episode, I sit down with Dr. Timothy Davis, a psychologist who has spent his career working with what he calls “challenging boys.” He shares how his background, from academic research to volunteer firefighting, inspired a practical framework that helps parents manage meltdowns, build resilience, and strengthen their connection with their child. Together, we explore how therapists can support parents in creating effective Emergency Plans, identifying skill deficits in emotion regulation and executive functioning, and applying family systems principles to improve family dynamics. Our hope is that you'll walk away with fresh strategies you can integrate into your clinical work right away and you can also earn one NBCC continuing education contact hour by completing this Podcourse.
In this episode of the Move the Ball podcast, Jen Garrett sits down with Bryant Henson, a senior executive with experience in Fortune 100 companies, to discuss leadership, career advancement, building effective relationships, and the importance of networking. Bryant shares pivotal moments from his career, lessons learned from the aerospace and defense industry, and draws parallels between motorsports and business success. Episode Highlights: [3:00] Bryant’s Five-Part Framework for Career SuccessBryant outlines his approach to leadership and career growth, emphasizing relationships, making others successful, continuous learning, gaining the right experience, and delivering value. [9:00] Building Relationships and Thriving in Matrix OrganizationsDiscussion on the importance of culture, trust, and communication in building strong teams and thriving in complex, matrixed corporate environments. [24:00] Pivotal Career Moments and the Value of Lateral MovesBryant shares a defining moment in his career, the importance of taking lateral roles, and knowing when to say no to opportunities. [30:00] Motorsports, Mindset, and Business ParallelsBryant talks about his passion for racing, what motorsports have taught him about preparation and teamwork, and how these lessons apply to business leadership. Bryant Henson is a seasoned senior executive with a proven record of driving global growth, innovation, and operational excellence across government and commercial markets. He has held senior leadership roles at Otis Worldwide, L3Harris Technologies, and Lockheed Martin, where he led global businesses, guided mergers and acquisitions, and accelerated technology solutions worldwide. Known for his dynamic leadership and ability to energize organizations, Bryant continues to shape industries through his executive advisory and private equity work. Connect with Bryant: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryant-henson-1820a222/ IT'S TIME TO SHOW UP WITH CONFIDENCE, MAKE AN IMPACT, AND MOVE THE BALL:
Our guest in this episode is Kevin Perlmutter, author of Brand Desire and a brand strategist who has codified the complex world of human emotion into an actionable framework. Kevin provides a system for businesses to move beyond mere transactions and build genuine, lasting connections with the people they serve. In our fascinating chat, we dive into his powerful system for creating genuine brand desire, exploring why honouring how you want people to feel is the cornerstone of a thriving business, especially in the age of AI.Key points discussed include:* Great brands make lives better by honouring their customers' deepest emotional motivations.* True differentiation comes from what loyal customers already feel, not just from a gap in the market.* In the age of AI, a leader's crucial role is guarding the line that protects human connection.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Kevin PerlmutterIt was an absolute thrill to welcome Kevin Perlmutter, author of the brilliant book Brand Desire, back to the InnovaBuzz podcast. Our conversation was a powerful reminder of a fundamental truth that so many businesses seem to forget: brands should exist to make people's lives better. Kevin has masterfully codified the complex world of human emotion into a clear and actionable framework that guides businesses away from the shortcuts that degrade human connection and toward creating something people genuinely desire.So often, we get tangled up in our own processes, our features, and our messaging, without stopping to ask how we're actually making people feel. As Kevin points out, this disconnect is where brands stumble. They have the best intentions but end up creating frustrating, soul-crushing experiences that do the opposite of building loyalty. Our chat was a masterclass in putting the human heart back at the center of brand strategy.The Sprinkler System Epiphany: From Dread to DevotionI loved Kevin's story about a frustrating experience with a broken lawn sprinkler system that turned into a moment of brand magic. He, like all of us, was bracing for the typical customer service nightmare: a long wait on hold, a difficult conversation, and likely a dead end because the product was out of warranty. That feeling of dread is something we've all been conditioned to expect.Instead, the company called him back within five minutes, a real person quickly identified the problem, and without hesitation, they sent him a brand new, upgraded model for free. In 15 minutes, they transformed a moment of frustration into one of delight. As Kevin rightly said, they didn't just save a customer; they created a passionate ambassador who will now tell that story for years to come. That is the power of prioritizing a person's feelings over a rigid policy.Codifying the Connection: The Focus, Connect, Evolve FrameworkWhat's so powerful about Kevin's work is that he's taken this intuitive idea of human connection and built a reliable system around it. He calls it the Focus, Connect, Evolve framework, and it's a clear roadmap for any brand that wants to build a more meaningful relationship with its audience. It's a process for turning those fleeting moments of connection into a core, repeatable strategy.The framework begins with Focus, where you do the deep work of gaining customer insight. Then you move to Connect, where you craft the emotional benefit and an invitation into your brand. Finally, you Evolve by bringing that promise to life in every single experience a customer has with you, ensuring the feeling you want to create is consistently delivered.Uncovering Your Beacon: The 'Shared Emotional Motivation'Diving deeper into that "Focus" phase, Kevin shared a concept that really resonated with me: the "shared emotional motivation." This isn't about finding some patch of "white space" in a competitive analysis. It's about doing the work to understand the emotional truth of why your most loyal customers love you. It's about finding the intersection where what your brand authentically provides meets what your customers are truly craving.When you find that intersection, it becomes your brand's guiding "beacon." It's a clear, unwavering light that informs every decision you make, from your marketing copy to your product development to your customer service policies. It ensures that you are always oriented around the emotional core of your promise to your customers.How 'Invincible' Feels: A B2B Masterclass in EmotionTo show this in action, Kevin told the story of a B2B software company that helps supply chain managers. Their customers went from using gut instinct and spreadsheets, constantly afraid of "getting yelled at," to being the "hero" in their organization because they always had the right numbers. The shared emotional motivation wasn't about efficiency; it was about the craving to feel competent and secure.From this insight, the powerful brand promise, "Be Supply Chain Invincible," was born. It was a bold, emotional statement that initially made the client a bit nervous, but it was completely authentic because it was rooted in how their service already made their best customers feel. It's a perfect example of how emotion is just as critical in B2B as it is in B2C.The AI Tightrope: Guarding the Humanity LineOf course, we had to talk about AI. Kevin has a wonderfully clear-eyed perspective on it. While AI can be a fantastic tool for things like summarizing customer reviews or acting as an "enhanced thesaurus," there's a significant danger when it's used to replace genuine human interaction without careful thought.He was adamant that the brand leader's role today is to be the guardian of the human experience. You must know where the line is between using AI to be humanity-enhancing versus humanity-degrading. And his advice is simple: you must never, ever cross that line just for the sake of cost-cutting or efficiency. That is a non-negotiable responsibility.Your Limbic Sparks Mindset: Three Questions to Ask TodayTo bring it all home, Kevin shared a simple, actionable mindset that anyone can adopt, which he calls the Limbic Sparks Mindset. It boils down to asking three essential questions every day, whether you're designing a new product or just writing an email.First, what are people's frustrations, unmet needs, and motivations? Second, how do people want to feel when they interact with you? And finally, what should your brand do and say to make people's lives better? By asking these questions, you begin to build a brand that people don't just buy from, but truly desire to have in their lives.In Summary: My conversation with Kevin Perlmutter was a profound call to action for all business leaders. His message is that the brands that thrive will be the ones who understand and address the emotional motivations of their customers. It's not just about what you do; it's about how you make people feel.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Kevin's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – AI algorithms can be used to create pairings and matchings that connect like-minded people, assuming they foster genuine connection rather than isolation.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Use AI as an enhanced thesaurus to explore alternative phrasing and interpretations, which helps deepen the nuance of your own human communication.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Discover what makes you unique by asking others for input on how you make them feel, then lean into that authentic emotional differentiator.ActionEmbrace a Limbic Sparks Mindset. Think about your customer's frustrations, needs, and desires. Ask yourself how they want to feel, then design what you say and do to truly make their lives better.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Kevin on LinkedIn and find all the details about his book and framework at branddesirebook.com.Links:* Website – Limbic Brand Evolution* Twitter – @KevinPerlmutter* LinkedInBooks:* Brand Desire: Spark Customer Interest Using Emotional Insights, Kevin PerlmutterCool Things About Kevin* He Played the Long Game with His Podcast. Years before his book deal, Kevin strategically designed his podcast as a research tool. He intentionally asked every one of his 37 guests the same core questions, patiently building a unique library of expert insights that would eventually become a foundational part of his book. That level of foresight and disciplined creativity is unconventional and impressive.* He Deconstructed His Own "Magic" for Others. Kevin admits that his successful approach was, for a long time, "somewhat intuitive" and "second nature" to him. The cool part isn't the intuition itself, but his decision to undertake the difficult work of codifying it. He didn't just want to be the magician; he wanted to write down the spells so that, as he said, "anybody can learn how to do it". That's a profoundly generous impulse.* He's a Principled Guardian of Humanity in Tech. In a world quick to adopt any new technology, Kevin has drawn a clear "do not cross line". He's not anti-AI; he's a staunch, principled advocate for ensuring technology serves, rather than "degrades," the human experience. This role as a thoughtful "guardian" against dehumanizing shortcuts is a powerful and very human stance to take.Ready to move beyond just creating content and start creating real connection?In the Age of AI, the future belongs to those who can amplify human wisdom. Flywheel Nation is MORE than a community; it's a movement for creators and visionaries dedicated to shaping a more human future.Join us as we co-create that future for ethical AI. Here you will tap into the collective wisdom of leaders who prioritize connection over automation, find powerful collaborations that elevate your impact, and help illuminate the path forward.This is your invitation to not only grow your business but to become a lighthouse for others.Join the movement. Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel to be a part of the conversation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe
"People are interested in other people. So you can talk about your practice or where you see perhaps the industry going down the road, but from a point of view that is informed and experienced and maybe has a little bit of vulnerability woven in.” -Jess Jensen Jess Jensen, co-founder of Co-pilot Communications, has helped leaders at Microsoft, Qualcomm, Adidas, and now small business owners across North America build their digital presence. In part one of this two-part series, she shares why personal storytelling is key to standing out in today's crowded market. In this interview, you'll learn… Why personal voices connect more than brand voices How storytelling humanizes small businesses Ways to overcome fear & self-doubt To learn more about Jess, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. For listeners of the show, Jess Jensen is offering quick, practical 25-minute reviews for business owners and senior leaders who think their profile might be holding them back. You'll get a real-time audit and a handful of actionable next steps. Openings begin the third week of October. No cost, no catch, just clarity. Here's the booking link. Time Stamps 00:00 – Why people connect with personal stories 01:23 – Journey from global brands to co-founding Co-pilot Communications 03:16 – Helping executives build digital platforms 04:31 – Humanizing brands through leadership voices 06:47 – Applying storytelling to small businesses 09:52 – Overcoming fear & finding your voice 13:45 – Differentiation: “Differences sell, similarities don't” 16:08 – Step 1: Define your “audience of one” 20:28 – Step 2: Clarify what you want to stand for 24:38 – Step 3: Practice creating content & iterate 25:41 – Step 4: Build relationships in the comments 26:46 – Preview of part two: Jess's full four-step playbook This episode is brought to you by our friends at Dext! Dext handles transaction capture, keeps your data accurate, and even simplifies e-commerce reconciliation, all in one place. Join thousands of bookkeepers and accountants who've already made the switch. If you're ready to save time, reduce errors, and make bookkeeping more efficient, Dext is for you! Go to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/dext to book a demo TODAY and see how it can transform the way you work!
“Just having the courage to allow some of your real story to come through publicly is your differentiator. It builds trust, opens doors to sales conversations, and draws future customers to you.” –Jess Jensen Jess Jensen, co-founder of Co-pilot Communications, is back for the second part of this powerful conversation. In part one, she revealed why your personal story is the ultimate marketing tool. Now, she's sharing how to put it into practice with a clear, step-by-step framework for building a digital presence that feels authentic, consistent, and achievable. From breaking through inconsistency, to leveraging AI for content ideas, to showing just the right kind of imperfection—Jess shares practical strategies small business owners can use to show up online and grow their influence. In this interview, you'll learn… How to overcome the biggest barrier to showing up online: inconsistency Why the right kind of imperfection can make you more trustworthy than polished content How AI can accelerate your content creation while still keeping your voice authentic To learn more about Jess, click here. Connect with her on LinkedIn. For listeners of the show, Jess is offering quick, practical 25-minute reviews for business owners and senior leaders who think their profile might be holding them back. You'll get a real-time audit and a handful of actionable next steps. Openings begin the third week of October. No cost, no catch, just clarity. Here's the booking link. Time Stamps 00:00 – Why courage & vulnerability build trust 01:25 – Simple ways to dip your toe into posting 02:20 – Why responding matters more than likes 04:04 – The real barrier: inconsistency 06:17 – How AI can help with idea generation 09:06 – Treating AI like a junior employee you train 12:08 – The psychology of showing up online 14:38 – Imperfection as a powerful differentiator 18:16 – Why collaborators & “yes/no” people matter 18:58 – Where to find Jess online & claim your free LinkedIn audit This episode is brought to you by our friends at Dext! Dext handles transaction capture, keeps your data accurate, and even simplifies e-commerce reconciliation, all in one place. Join thousands of bookkeepers and accountants who've already made the switch. If you're ready to save time, reduce errors, and make bookkeeping more efficient, Dext is for you! Go to thesuccessfulbookkeeper.com/dext to book a demo TODAY and see how it can transform the way you work!
“Voice is back—and with AI, network APIs, and VCons, we're moving from channels to intelligent engagement.” — Kevin Nethercott & Rob Kurver, CPaaS Acceleration Alliance Kevin Nethercott and Rob Kurver of the CPaaS Acceleration Alliance (CPaaSAA) joined Doug Green, Publisher of Technology Reseller News, to preview their Member Summit in Amsterdam, September 22–24 and to chart where programmable communications is headed next. Born from messaging (SMS/A2P), CPaaS now spans voice, video, UCaaS/CCaaS integrations, and carrier network APIs. With AI and the emerging VCon standard (an IETF effort to containerize conversational data across voice, chat, email, and web), CPaaSAA frames the industry's North Star as “intelligent engagement”—outcomes-focused solutions that unify channels, data, and automation. Alliance momentum & event focus 120+ member companies across platforms and operators; ~50 speakers from 20+ countries; curated, senior-level audience. Launch of a Case Directory (120+ commercially available use cases) organized by vertical and region, reflecting where buyers are actually seeing ROI. Publication of the State of CPaaS insights and formation of a VCon working group to accelerate standards adoption and go-to-market patterns. Partnerships highlighted with GSMA and the VCon Foundation. Why this matters now With pandemic-era “Zoom times” behind us, the market is prioritizing profitability and stickiness. CPaaS winners are moving beyond horizontal APIs to verticalized, regulated, and region-specific applications. Example: a Redisys operator solution that uses AI in the core network to improve call intelligibility for people who are hard of hearing—a high-value, retention-friendly use case affecting ~15–18% of users. Takeaways for enterprises and partners Monetize voice again: AI + VCons make conversations machine-usable, improving CX and analytics. Differentiate with network APIs: Security, identity, and authentication services move CPaaS beyond messaging. Build for outcomes: Package solutions by industry and locality; not everything works everywhere the same way. Standardize the data layer: VCons are poised to do for conversations what SIP did for signaling. For membership and summit details, visit cpaasaa.com
We're back today with one the most closely connected spirits in the Almost 30 orbit, longtime podcaster, coach, branding expert, and now – author – Julie Solomon! Her new book, Get What You Want: How To Go From Unseen To Unstoppable, is packed with super personal never-before-told stories, valuable life learnings, and practical ways to apply these important practices and considerations to your own life.Kicking off with a chat on human design, the unbelievable gift of our hardwiring is a theme throughout – we learn how Julie came to understand her own thoughts and emotions, how they got there (discovering her origin story), and how to repurpose or redirect them in ways that benefited her and the people around her.Morning Microdose is a podcast curated by Krista Williams and Lindsey Simcik, the hosts and founders of Almost 30, a global community, brand, and top rated podcast.With curated clips from the Almost 30 podcast, Morning Mircodose will set the tone for your day, so you can feel inspired through thought provoking conversations…all in digestible episodes that are less than 10 minutes.Wake up with Krista and Lindsey, both literally and spiritually, Monday-Friday.If you enjoyed this conversation, listen to the full episode on Spotify here and on Apple here.
Have a listen to this episode to discover a powerful messaging shift that can transform the way you attract clients and generate leads.Jasin breaks down why simply posting isn't enough—and how you can stand out by articulating your audience's problems better than they can, positioning yourself as the clear solution. Through the Magic Messaging Framework, you'll learn how to craft persuasive, story-driven communication that captivates your dream clients, builds trust, and converts engagement into real results. This episode offers actionable strategies to cut through the noise and make your words do the heavy lifting. “Your message is the engine. You're not just creating content, you're crafting words that move people.” Key takeaways: Information is a commodity – With 1.1 billion posts published daily, audiences are oversaturated, so generic content is unlikely to generate consistent leads. Articulate the problem better than your audience can – When you describe your ideal client's struggles and desires more clearly than they can themselves, they naturally assume you hold the solution. Differentiate with a unique mechanism or big idea – To stand out in a crowded market, you must introduce a clear, unique approach that positions your solution as fresh and compelling. Leads and sales flow from strong messaging, not just tactics – Weak marketing makes sales hard; strong, persuasive messaging does the heavy lifting and makes conversion easier. The Magic Messaging Framework provides structure – By following its layered process (character & conflict, struggle story, villain, turning point, transformation story, etc.), you can craft communication that resonates and converts. Stories and beliefs drive influence – Storytelling and shifting core beliefs are at the heart of persuasive communication, enabling you to create trust, demand, and long-term client engagement. Connect with Jason Meland: Email: jason@goliveonlinemastermind.com Website: https://www.growmyvisibility.com/ Instagram: @coachjasonmeland Facebook: Jason Meland - In Demand Coach LinkedIn: Jason Meland
Marketing Leadership Podcast: Strategies From Wise D2C & B2B Marketers
In this episode, Tai Goodwin, Marketing Strategist and CEO at That Marketing Team,* joins Dots Oyebolu to share her journey from teaching to entrepreneurship and the insights she has gained along the way. Known previously as the “Quiz Queen,” Tai explains how interactive tools create deeper engagement, generate qualified leads, and reveal valuable data.Key Takeaways:00:00 Introduction.03:12 Build your email list before launching products and courses.05:28 Use quiz data to qualify and disqualify leads confidently.09:21 Differentiate by delivering value because sales cycles are longer.12:48 Quiz results segment audiences by challenges and demographics effectively.15:39 Grow from inside out by prioritizing quality over quantity.21:00 Two tools, a quiz platform and CRM, run automation.Resources Mentioned:Tai Goodwinhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/taigoodwin/That Marketing Team | LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/thatmarketingteam/That Marketing Team | Websitehttps://thatmarketingteam.com/“The Profitable Woman's Playbook” by Tai Goodwinhttps://www.amazon.com/Profitable-Womans-Playbook-Strategies-Business-ebook/dp/B07MPP1YQ2*Since recording the interview, Tai Goodwin has changed companies and is now the Liberation Coach of The Gospel of YouThanks for listening to the “Marketing Leadership” podcast, brought to you by Listen Network. If you enjoyed this episode, leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation. We appreciate the enthusiasm and support from our community. Currently, we are not accepting new guest interview requests as we focus on our existing lineup. We will announce when we reopen for new submissions. In the meantime, feel free to explore our past episodes and stay tuned for updates on future opportunities.#PodcastMarketing #PerformanceMarketing #BrandMarketing #MarketingStrategy #MarketingIntelligence #GTM #B2BMarketing #D2CMarketing #PodcastAds
Our guest in this episode is Matt Stanley, the founder of Get Reviews and Leads and a passionate marketing architect with 30 years of experience. What started as a fascination with the early internet evolved into a mission-driven career for Matt, focused on using technology to serve people and build thriving, human-centered businesses. In our chat, Matt shares his powerful frameworks for moving beyond simple deliverables to create marketing that forges deep, emotional connections and lifelong customer loyalty.Key points discussed include:* Connect with your dream customer's "reptile brain" by understanding their deep-seated pains and fears.* Closing the sale is the starting line; create a legendary onboarding experience to build loyalty.* Use AI as a strategic toolbox to free up your time for genuine, human-to-human connection.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Matt StanleyIt was an absolute thrill to welcome Matt Stanley of Get Reviews and Leads to the InnovaBuzz podcast. For 30 years, Matt has been in the trenches, architecting sales and marketing systems, and our conversation was a masterclass in stripping away the noise to focus on what truly matters: genuine, human-centered connection. Matt's passion is infectious; he's a self-described "nerd" and "geek" who fell in love with the craft of marketing not as a way to make a quick buck, but as a profound way to serve people.His journey as an "accidental entrepreneur" is one many of us can relate to. What began as a fascination with the early internet, a technology he knew would change the world, became a career-defining mission. The 2008 recession, which cost him his stable job, became the catalyst that pushed him all-in. It was a decision, as he puts it, that was made for him, leading him to discover that his true calling was helping businesses navigate the intimidating world of technology to build something truly meaningful.The "Forest for the Trees" Marketing MistakeOne of the biggest takeaways for me was Matt's frustration with how many businesses "can't see the forest for the trees." They get so fixated on the deliverable—the shiny new website, the social media campaign—that they completely lose sight of the bigger picture. A website, he rightly argues, is just a tool. If it's disconnected from the fundamental "DNA of the brand" and fails to make an emotional connection, it's not going to deliver a return on investment.This is where so many marketing efforts fall flat. Companies start with the what—"we need a website"—instead of the who and the why. They fail to ask the critical questions about how this tool will connect to their dream customer and serve the core mission of the company. It's a powerful reminder to always start with the end in mind: a deeper relationship with the people you aim to serve.Decoding the "Reptile Brain": The Real Secret to Connecting with Your Dream CustomerSo, how do we build that connection? According to Matt, it starts by getting under the hood and understanding the "reptile brain." All purchase decisions, he explained, are made from this primal place that is driven by pain, pleasure, and survival. We then use our logical brain to justify the decision we've already made emotionally. This is why a simple demographic profile of your customer just doesn't cut it.The real secret sauce is digging into the psychographics through tools like an empathy map. What are your dream customer's hidden fears? What frustrations keep them awake at night? When you can poke that pain, rub salt in the wound, and then offer a genuine solution, you're not just selling; you're connecting on a level that builds profound trust and loyalty.AI: The Planet's Most Powerful Toolbox (Handle with Care)Our conversation naturally turned to AI, a technology Matt sees as being just as transformative as the early internet. He views it as the most powerful toolbox on the planet, an incredible asset for saving time and creating efficiency. However, he offered a crucial warning: a tool is only as good as the person wielding it. He sees too many people using AI as a crutch for laziness, forgetting the timeless fundamentals of human psychology.As Matt bluntly puts it, "garbage in, garbage out." If your prompts are lazy and you don't understand the core principles of your brand and your customer, the AI will produce junk. The real skill is learning how to communicate with the technology to make you a more effective, articulate, and strategic thinker, freeing you up to do the high-value, human-centric work you love.Your Greatest Differentiator: The "Whites of Their Eyeballs" Onboarding ExperienceIn an age of automation, Matt argues that the path to differentiation lies in doing the things that don't scale. How do you create an experience your customers can't forget if they tried? You go old-school. He shared the wonderfully simple yet profound example of sending a handwritten note. In a world of emails and DMs, a physical, personal touch stands out and shows you genuinely care.This philosophy extends to the entire onboarding experience. Instead of seeing the transaction as the end of the journey, we need to create a legendary first impression. Sending a small, thoughtful gift basket or simply picking up the phone creates an emotional connection that AI can't replicate. It's about seeing the "whites of their eyeballs" and treating every customer like a VIP.Closing the Sale is Just the Starting LineThis leads perfectly to one of Matt's core beliefs: closing the sale isn't the end of the relationship; it's the starting line. Too many businesses are so fixated on acquisition that they neglect their most precious asset: their existing customers. He beautifully compared the business-customer relationship to his own 20-year marriage, emphasizing that it requires a lifelong commitment.The goal should be to constantly woo your customers and try to "out-serve" them. When you adopt this mindset, you shift from a transactional model to a relational one. The focus moves from what you can get from the customer to how deeply you can serve them, which is the foundation of any thriving, sustainable business.From Reach to Retention: Unlocking the Gold Mine in Your Existing Customer BaseMatt ties all of this together in his holistic "RACK" framework, which stands for Reach, Attract, Convert, and Keep. That last letter, K, is the one most businesses forget. It costs seven to twelve times more to acquire a new customer than to keep an existing one, yet so many of us pour all our energy into the top of the funnel.Your current customers are a literal "gold mine" of opportunity, not just for repeat business but for referrals and invaluable feedback. By focusing on that final step—by obsessing over your dream customer's dream customer—you create a virtuous cycle of service and value that becomes the ultimate engine for growth.In Summary: Matt Stanley delivers a powerful and passionate call to action for every entrepreneur. In a world increasingly dominated by technology, our greatest strength and differentiator will always be our humanity. By understanding the deep emotional drivers of our customers, creating unforgettable experiences, and committing to serving them for life, we can build businesses that not only thrive but also make a genuine impact.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Matt's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships: Using an AI agent to instantly and empathetically respond to negative online reviews to solve customer problems 24/7.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection: Building AI tools that handle the heavy lifting, freeing up human time for more creative and fulfilling work.* Differentiate by leveraging AI: Create a legendary, high-touch onboarding experience using old-school methods like a handwritten note to stand out.ActionBecome obsessed with your dream customer's dream customer. When you think a level deeper and focus on helping them win, everybody wins.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Matt on his website, getreviewsandleads.com. You can also grab the free Marketing Copy Architect tool he mentioned at getreviewsandleads.com/mca, or find him on various social media sites.Links:* Website - Get Reviews and Leads* LinkedIn* Facebook* X - @Matt_Stanley* Instagram - @getreviewsandleadsCool Things About Matt* His web security career was kick-started by a 7th-grade hacker. A pivotal moment in his career came when a seventh-grader hacked all the school district's websites where he worked. Driven by what he called professional and ethical anger, Matt walked into his boss's office and successfully campaigned to take over webmaster duties to fix the problem and ensure it never happened again.* He is a proud, unashamed "geek and nerd" of the original internet era. Matt enthusiastically self-identifies as a "geek and nerd" and takes pride in his long history with technology. He taught himself HTML in 1995 by reverse-engineering source code simply because he thought the internet was the "coolest thing" he had ever seen, long before it was a viable career path.* He recently moved his 13-year-old business back into a bedroom of his house. After more than a decade of commuting and paying for an external office, Matt realized the reasons for it were no longer relevant. He made the practical, human-scale decision to move the entire operation back home to gain more flexibility and reduce overhead, a very relatable move in today's world.Ready to move beyond just creating content and start creating real connection?In the Age of AI, the future belongs to those who can amplify human wisdom. Flywheel Nation is MORE than a community; it's a movement for creators and visionaries dedicated to shaping a more human future.Join us as we co-create that future for ethical AI. Here you will tap into the collective wisdom of leaders who prioritize connection over automation, find powerful collaborations that elevate your impact, and help illuminate the path forward.This is your invitation to not only grow your business but to become a lighthouse for others.Join the movement. Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel to be a part of the conversation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Charisse M. Williams.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Charisse M. Williams.
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Charisse M. Williams.
Lyssa Rome is a speech-language pathologist in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is on staff at the Aphasia Center of California, where she facilitates groups for people with aphasia and their care partners. She owns an LPAA-focused private practice and specializes in working with people with neurogenic communication disorders. She has worked in acute hospital, skilled nursing, and continuum of care settings. Prior to becoming an SLP, Lyssa was a public radio journalist, editor, and podcast producer. In this episode, Lyssa Rome interviews Liz Hoover about group treatment for aphasia. Guest info Dr. Liz Hoover is a clinical professor of speech language and hearing sciences and the clinical director of the Aphasia Resource Center at Boston University. She holds board certification from the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences, or ANCDS, and is an ASHA fellow. She was selected as a 2024 Tavistock Trust for Aphasia Distinguished Scholar, USA and Canada. Liz was a founding member of Aphasia Access and served on the board for several years. She has 30 years of experience working with people with aphasia and other communication disorders across the continuum of care. She's contributed to numerous presentations and publications, and most of her work focuses on the effectiveness of group treatment for individuals with aphasia. Listener Take-aways In today's episode you will: Describe the evidence supporting aphasia conversation groups as an effective interventions for linguistic and psychosocial outcomes. Differentiate the potential benefits of dyads versus larger groups in relation to client goals. Identify how aphasia severity and group composition can influence treatment outcomes. Edited transcript Lyssa Rome Welcome to the Aphasia Access Aphasia Conversations Podcast. I'm Lyssa Rome. I'm a speech language pathologist on staff at the Aphasia Center of California and I see clients with aphasia and other neurogenic communication disorders in my LPAA-focused private practice. I'm also a member of the Aphasia Access Podcast Working Group. Aphasia Access strives to provide members with information, inspiration and ideas that support their aphasia care through a variety of educational materials and resources. I'm today's host for an episode that will feature Dr. Elizabeth Hoover, who was selected as a 2024 Tavistock Trust for Aphasia Distinguished Scholar, USA and Canada. Liz Hoover is a clinical professor of speech language and hearing sciences and the clinical director of the Aphasia Resource Center at Boston University. She holds board certification from the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences, or ANCDS, and is an ASHA fellow. Liz was a founding member of Aphasia Access and served on the board for several years. She has 30 years of experience working with people with aphasia and other communication disorders across the continuum of care. She's contributed to numerous presentations and publications, and most of her work focuses on the effectiveness of group treatment for individuals with aphasia. Liz, welcome back to the podcast. So in 2017 you spoke with Ellen Bernstein Ellis about intensive comprehensive aphasia programs or ICAPs and inter professional practice at the Aphasia Resource Center at BU and treatment for verb production using VNest, among other topics. So this time, I thought we could focus on some of your recent research with Gayle DeDe and others on conversation group treatment. Liz Hoover Sounds good. Lyssa Rome All right, so my first question is how you became interested in studying group treatment? Liz Hoover Yeah, I actually have Dr. Jan Avent to thank for my interest in groups. She was my aphasia professor when I was a graduate student doing my masters at Cal State East Bay. As you know, Cal State East Bay is home to the Aphasia Treatment Program. When I was there, it preceded ATP. But I was involved in her cooperative group treatment study, and as a graduate student, I was allowed to facilitate some of her groups in this study, and I was involved in the moderate-to-severe group. She was also incredibly generous at sharing that very early body of work for socially oriented group treatments and exposing us to the work of John Lyons and Audrey Holland. Jan also invited us to go to a conference on group treatment that was run by the Life Link group. It's out of Texas Woman's University, Delaina Walker-Batson and Jean Ford. And it just was a life changing and pivotal experience for me in recognizing how group treatment could not be just an adjunct to individual goals, but actually be the type of treatment that is beneficial for folks with aphasia. So it's been a love my entire career. Lyssa Rome And now I know you've been studying group treatment in this randomized control trial. This was a collaborative research project, so I'm hoping you can tell us a little bit more about that project. What were your research questions? Tell us a little bit more. Liz Hoover Yeah, so thank you. I'll just start by acknowledging that the work is funded by two NIDCD grants, and to acknowledge their generosity, and then also acknowledge Dr. Gayle DeDe, who is currently at Temple University. She is a co- main PI in this work, and of course it wouldn't have happened without her. So you know, Gayle and I have known each other for many, many years. She's a former student, doctoral student at Boston University, and by way of background, she and I were interested in working together and interested in trying to build on some evidence for group treatment. I think we drank the Kool Aid early on, as you might say. And you know, just looking at the literature, there have been two trials on the evidence for this kind of work. And so those of us who are involved in groups, know that it's helpful for people with aphasia, our clients tell us how much they enjoy it, and they vote with their feet, right? In that they come back for more treatments. And aphasia centers have grown dramatically in the last couple of decades in the United States. So clearly we know they work, but what we don't know is why they work. What are those essential ingredients, and how is that driving the change that we think we see? And from a personal perspective, that's important for me to understand and for us to have explained in the literature, because until we can justify it in the scientific terms, I worry it will forever be a private-pay adjunct that is only accessible to people who can pay for it, or who are lucky enough to be close enough to a center that can get them access—virtual groups aside, and the advent of that—but it's important that I think this intervention is validated to the scientific community in our field. So we designed this trial. It's a randomized control trial to help build the research evidence for conversation, group treatment, and to also look at the critical components. This was inspired by a paper actually from Nina Simmons Mackie in 2014 and Linda Worrell. They looked at group treatment and showed that there were at least eight first-tier elements that changed the variability or on which we might modify group conversation treatment. And so, you know, if we're all doing things differently, how can we predict the change, and how can we expect outcomes? Lyssa Rome So I was hoping you could describe this randomized, controlled trial. You know, it was collaborative, and I'm curious about what you and your collaborators had as your research questions. Liz Hoover So our primary aims of the study were to understand if communication or conversation treatment is associated with changes in measures of communicative ability and psychosocial measures. So that's a general effectiveness question. And then to look in more deeply to see if the group size or the group composition or even the individual profile of the client with aphasia influences the expected outcome. Because if you think about group treatment, the size of the group is not an insignificant issue, right? So a small group environment of two people has much more… it still gives you some peer support from the other individual with aphasia, but you have many opportunities for conversational turns and linguistic and communication practice and to drive the saliency of the conversation in a direction that's meaningful and useful and informative. Whereas in a large group environment of say, six to eight people with aphasia and two clinicians, you might see much more influence in the needed social support and vicarious learning and shared lived experience and so forth, and still have some opportunity for communication and linguistic practice. So there's conflicting hypotheses there about which group environment might be better for one individual over another. And then there's the question of, well, who's in that group with you? Does that matter? Some of the literature says that if you have somebody with a different profile of aphasia, it can set up a therapeutic benefit of the helper experience, where you can gain purpose by enabling and supporting and being a facilitator of somebody else with aphasia. But if you're in a group environment where your peers have similar conversation goals as you, maybe your practice turns, and your ability to learn vicariously from their conversation turns is greater. So again, two conflicting theories here about what might be best. So we decided to try and manipulate these group environments and measure outcomes on several different communication measures. We selected measures that were linguistic, functional, and psychosocial. We collected data over four years. The first two years, we enrolled people with all different kinds of profiles of aphasia. The only inclusion criteria from a communication perspective, as you needed some ability to comprehend at a sentence level, so that you could process what was being said by the other people in the group. And in year one, the treatment was at Boston University and Temple University, which is where Gayle's aphasia center is housed. In year two, we added a community site at the Adler Aphasia Center and Maywood, New Jersey, so we had three sites going. The treatment conditions were dyad, large group, and then a no treatment group. So this group was tested at the same time, didn't get any other intervention, and then we gave them group treatment once the testing cycle was over. So we call that a historical control or a delayed-treatment control group. And then in years three and four, we aim to enroll people who had homogeneous profiles. So the first through the third cycle was people with moderate to severe profiles. And then in the final, fourth cycle, it was people with mild profiles with aphasia. This allowed us to collect enough data in enough size to be able to look at overall effectiveness and then effects of heterogeneity or homogeneity in the group, and the influence of the profile of aphasia, as well as the group size. And across the four years, we aim to enroll 216 participants, and 193 completed the study. So it's the largest of its kind for this particular kind of group treatment that we know of anyway. So this data set has allowed us to look at overall efficacy of conversation group treatment, and then also take a look at a couple of those critical ingredients. Does the size of the group make a difference? And does the composition of your group make a difference? Lyssa Rome And what did you find? Liz Hoover Well, we're not quite done with all of our analysis yet, but we found overall that there's a significant treatment effect for just the treatment conditions, not the control group. So whether you were in the dyad or whether you were in a large treatment group, you got better on some of the outcome measures we selected. And the control group not only didn't but on a couple of those measures, their performance actually declined. And so showing significantly that there's a treatment effect. Did you have a question? Lyssa Rome Yeah, I wanted to interrupt and ask, what were the outcome measures? What outcome measures were you looking at? Liz Hoover Yeah. So we had about 14 measures in total that aligned with the core outcome set that was established by the ROMA group. So we had as our linguistic measure the Comprehensive Aphasia Test. We had a primary outcome measure, which was a patient reported measure of functional communication, which is the ACOM by Will Hula and colleagues, the Aphasia Communication Outcome measure, we had Audrey Holland and colleagues' objective functional measure, the CADL, and then a series of other psychosocial and patient reported outcome measures, so the wall question from the ALA, the Moss Social Scale, the Communication Confidence Rating Scale in Aphasia by Leora Cherney and Edie Babbitt. Lyssa Rome Thank you. When I interrupted you to ask about outcome measures. You were telling us about some of the findings so far. Liz Hoover Yeah, so our primary outcome measures showed significant changes in language for both the treatment conditions and a slightly larger effect for the large group. And then we saw, at a more micro level, the results pointing to a complex interaction, actually, between the group size and the treatment outcome. So we saw changes on more linguistic measures. like the repetition sub scores of the CAT and verb naming from another naming subtest for the dyad group, whereas bigger, more robust changes on the ACOM the CADL and the discourse measure from the CAT for the large group. And then diving in a little bit more deeply for the composition, these data are actually quite interesting. The papers are in review and preparation at the moment, but it looks like we are seeing significant changes for the moderate-to-severe group on objective functional measures and patient reported functional measures of communication, which is so exciting to see for this particular cohort, whose naming scores were zero, in some cases, on entrance, and we're seeing for the mild group, some changes on auditory comprehension, naming, not surprisingly, and also the ACOM and the CADL. So they're showing the same changes, just with different effect sizes or slightly different ranges. And once again, no change in the control group, and in some cases, on some measures, we're seeing a decline in performance over time. So it's validating that the intervention is helpful in general. What we found with the homogeneous groups is that in a homogeneous large group environment, those groups seem to do a little better. There's a significant effect over time between the homogeneous and the heterogeneous groups. So thinking about why that might have taken place, we wonder if the shared lived experience of your profile of aphasia, your focus on similar kinds of communication, or linguistic targets within the conversation environment might be helping to offset the limited number of practice trials you get in that larger group environment. So that's an interesting finding to see these differences in who's in the group with you. Because I think clinically, we tend to assign groups, or sort of schedule groups according to what's convenient for the client, what might be pragmatic for the setting, without really wondering why one group could be important or one group might be preferential. If we think about it, there are conflicting hypotheses as to why a group of your like aphasia severity might have a different outcome, right? That idea that you can help people who have a different profile than you, that you're sharing different kinds of models of communication, versus that perhaps more intense practice effect when you share more specific goals and targets and lived experiences. So it's interesting to think about the group environment from that perspective, I think, Lyssa Rome And to have also some evidence that clinicians and people at aphasia centers can look to help make decisions about group compositions, I think is incredibly helpful. Earlier, you mentioned that one of the goals of this research project has been to identify the active ingredients of group therapy. And I know that you've been part of a working group for the Rehabilitation Treatment Specification System, or RTSS. Applying that, how have you tried to identify the active ingredients and what? What do you think it is about these treatments that actually drives change? Liz Hoover I'll first of all say, this is a work in process. You know, I don't think we've got all of the answers. We're just starting to think about it with the idea, again, that if we clinically decide to make some changes to our group, we're at least doing it with some information behind us, and it's a thoughtful and intentional change, as opposed to a gut reaction or a happenstance change. So Gayle and I have worked on developing this image, or this model. It's in a couple of our papers. We can share the resources for that. But it's about trying to think of the flow of communication, group treatment, and what aspects of the treatment might be influential in the outcomes we see downstream. I think for group treatment, you can't separate entirely many of the ingredients. Group treatment is multifaceted, it's interconnected, and it's not possible—I would heavily debate that with anybody—I don't think it's possible to sort of truly separate some of these ingredients. But when you alter the composition or the environment in which you do the treatment, I do think we are influencing the relative weight of these ingredients. So we've been thinking about there being this group dynamics component, which is the supportive environment of the peers in the group with you, that social support, the insider affiliation and shared lived experience, the opportunity to observe and see the success of some of these different communication strategies, so that vicarious learning that takes place as you see somebody else practice. But also, I think, cope in a trajectory of your treatment process. And then we've got linguistic practice so that turn taking where you're actually trying to communicate verbally using supported communication where you're expanding on your utterances or trying to communicate verbally in a specific way or process particular kinds of linguistic targets. A then communication practice in terms of that multimodal effectiveness of communication. And these then are linked to these three ingredients, dynamic group dynamics, linguistic practice and communication practice. They each have their own mechanism of action or a treatment theory that explains how they might affect change. So for linguistic practice, it's the amount of practice, but also how you hear it practiced or see it practiced with the other group participant. And the same thing for the various multimodal communication acts. And in thinking about a large group versus the dyad or a small group, you know you've got this conflicting hypothesis or the setup for a competing best group, or benefit in that the large group will influence more broadly in the group dynamics, or more deeply in the group dynamics, in that there's a much bigger opportunity to see the vicarious learning and experience the support and potentially experience the communication practice, given a varied number of participants. But yet in the dyad, your opportunity for linguistic practice is much, much stronger. And our work has counted this the exponential number of turns you get in a dyad versus a large group. And you know, I think that's why the results we saw with the dyad on those linguistic outcomes were unique to that group environment. Lyssa Rome It points, I think, to the complexity of decision making around group structure and what's right for which client, maybe even so it sounds like some of that work is still in progress. I'm curious about sort of thinking about what you know so far based on this work, what advice would you have for clinicians who are working in aphasia centers or or helping to sort of think about the structure of group treatments? What should clinicians in those roles keep in mind? Liz Hoover Yeah, that's a great question, and I'll add the caveat that this may change. My advice for this may change in a year's time, or it might evolve as we learn more. But I think what it means is that the decisions you make should be thoughtful. We're starting to learn more about severity in aphasia and how that influences the outcomes. So I think, what is it that your client wants to get out of the group? If they're interested in more linguistic changes, then perhaps the dyad is a better place to start. If they clearly need, or are voicing the need, for more psychosocial support, then the large, you know, traditional sized and perhaps a homogeneous group is the right place to start. But they're both more effective than no treatment. And so being, there's no wrong answer. It's just understanding your client's needs. Is there a better fit? And I think that's, that's, that's my wish, that people don't see conversation as something that you do at the beginning to build a rapport, but that it's worthy of being an intervention target. It should be most people's primary goal. I think, right, when we ask, what is it you'd like? “I want to talk more. I want to have a conversation.” Audrey Holland would say it's a moral imperative to to treat the conversation and to listen to folks' stories. So just to think carefully about what it is your client wants to achieve, and if there's an environment in which that might be easier to help them achieve that. Lyssa Rome It's interesting, as you were saying that I was thinking about what you said earlier on about sort of convincing funders about the value of group treatment, but what you're saying now makes me think that it's all your work is also valuable in convincing speech therapists that referrals to groups or dyads is valuable and and also for people with aphasia and their families that it's worth seeking out. I'm curious about where in the continuum of care this started for the people who were in your trial. I mean, were these people with chronic aphasia who had had strokes years earlier? Was it a mix? And did that make a difference? Liz Hoover It was a mix. I think our earliest participant was six months post-onset. Our most chronic participant was 26 years post-onset. So a wide range. We want, obviously, from a study perspective, we needed folks to be outside of the traditional window of spontaneous recovery in stroke-induced aphasia. But it was important to us to have a treatment dose that was reasonable and applicable to a United States healthcare climate, right? So twice a week for an hour is something that people would get reimbursed for. The overall dose is the minimum that's been shown to be effective in the RELEASE collaborative trial papers. And then, you know, but still, half, less than half the dose that the Elman and Bernstein Ellis study found to be effective. So there may be some wiggle room there to see if, if a larger dose is more effective. But yeah, I think it's that idea of finding funding, convincing people that this is not just a reasonable treatment approach, but a good approach for many outcomes for people with chronic aphasia. I mean, you know, one of the biggest criticisms we hear from the giants in our field is the frustration with aphasia being treated like it's a quick fix and can be done. But you know, so much of the work shows that people are only just beginning to understand their condition by the time they're discharged from traditional outpatient services. And so there's a need for ongoing treatment indefinitely, I think, as your goals change, as you age, and as your wish to participate in different things changes over a lifetime, Lyssa Rome Yeah, absolutely. And I think too, when we think about sort of the role of hope, if you know, if there is additional evidence showing that there can be change after that sort of traditional initial period, when we think that change happens the most, that can provide a lot of hope and motivation, I think, to people. Liz Hoover yeah, we're look going to be looking next at predictors of change, so looking at our study entrance scores and trying to identify which participants were the responders versus the non-responders that you know, because group effects are one thing, but it's good to see who seems to benefit the most from these individual types of environments. And an early finding is that confidence, or what some people in the field, I'm learning now are referring to as actually communication self-efficacy, but that previous exposure to group potentially and that confidence in your communication is inversely correlated with benefits from treatment on other measures. So if you've got a low confidence in your ability to communicate functionally in different environments, you're predicted to be a responder to conversation treatment. Lyssa Rome Oh, that's really interesting. What else are you looking forward to working on when it comes to this data set or other projects that you have going on? Liz Hoover Yeah. So as I mentioned, there's a lot of data still for us to dig into, looking at those individual responders or which factors or variables might make an impact. There is the very next on the list, we're also going to be looking very shortly at the dialogic conversation outcomes. So, it's a conversation treatment. How has conversation changed? That's a question we need to answer. So we're looking at that currently, and might look more closely at other measures. And then I think the question of the dose is an interesting one. The question of how individual variables or the saliency of the group may impact change is another potentially interesting question. There are many different directions you can go. You know, we've got 193 participants in the study, with three separate testing time points, so it's a lot of data to look at still. And I think we want to be sure we understand what we're looking at, and what those active ingredients might be, that we've got the constructs well defined before we start to recruit for another study and to expand on these findings further. Lyssa Rome When we were meeting earlier, getting ready for this talk, you mentioned to me a really valuable video resource, and I wanted to make sure we take some time to highlight that. Can you tell us a little bit about what you worked on with your colleagues at Boston University? Liz Hoover Yes, thank you. So I'll tell you a little bit. We have a video education series. Some of you may have heard about this already, but it's up on our website so bu.edu/aphasiacenter, and we'll still share that link as well. And it's a series of short, aphasia-friendly videos that are curated by our community to give advice and share lived experiences from people with aphasia and their care partners. This project came about right on the heels of the COVID shutdown at our university. I am involved in our diagnostic clinic, and I was seeing folks who had been in acute care through COVID being treated with people who were wearing masks, who had incredibly shortened lengths of stay because people you know rightly, were trying to get them out of a potentially vulnerable environment. And what we were seeing is a newly diagnosed cohort of people with aphasia who were so under-informed about their condition, and Nina that has a famous quote right of the public being woefully uninformed of the aphasia condition and you don't think it can get any worse until It does. And I thought, gosh, wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to point them to some short education videos that are by people who have lived their same journey or a version of their same journey. So we fundraised and collaborated with a local production company to come up with these videos. And I'll share, Lyssa, we just learned last week that this video series has been awarded the ASHA 2025 Media Outreach Award. So it's an award winning series. Lyssa Rome Yeah, that's fantastic, and it's so well deserved. They're really beautifully and professionally produced. And I think I really appreciated hearing from so many different people with aphasia about their experiences as the condition is sort of explained more. So thank you for sharing those and we'll put the links in our show notes along with links to the other articles that you've mentioned in this conversation in our show notes. So thanks. Liz Hoover Yeah, and I'll just put a big shout out to my colleague, Jerry Kaplan, who's the amazing interviewer and facilitator in many of these videos, and the production company, which is Midnight Brunch. But again, the cinematography and the lighting. They're beautifully done. I think I'm very, very happy with them. Lyssa Rome Yeah, congrats again on the award too. So to wrap up, I'm wondering if there's anything else that you want listeners to take away from this conversation or from the work that you've been doing on conversation treatments. Liz Hoover I would just say that I would encourage everybody to try group treatment. It's a wonderful option for intervention for people, and to remind everyone of Barbara Shadden and Katie Strong's work, of that embedded storytelling that can come out in conversation, and of the wonderful Audrey Holland's words, of it being a moral imperative to help people tell their story and to converse. It's yeah… You'll drink the Kool Aid if you try it. Let me just put it that way. It's a wonderful intervention that seems to be meaningful for most clients I've ever had the privilege to work with. Lyssa Rome I agree with that. And meaningful too, I think for clinicians who get to do the work. Liz Hoover, thank you so much for your work and for coming to talk with us again, for making your second appearance on the podcast. It's been great talking with you. Liz Hoover Thank you. It's been fun. I appreciate it. Lyssa Rome And thanks also to our listeners for the references and resources mentioned in today's show. Please see our show notes. They're available on our website, www.aphasiaaccess.org. There, you can also become a member of our organization, browse our growing library of materials and find out about the Aphasia Access Academy. If you have an idea for a future podcast episode, email us at info@aphasia access.org. Thanks again for your ongoing support of Aphasia Access. For Aphasia Access Conversations. I'm Lyssa Rome. Resources Walker-Batson, D., Curtis, S., Smith, P., & Ford, J. (1999). An alternative model for the treatment of aphasia: The Lifelink© approach. In R. Elman (Ed.), Group treatment for neurogenic communication disorders: The expert clinician's approach (pp. 67-75). Woburn, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann Hoover, E.L., DeDe, G., Maas, E. (2021). A randomized controlled trial of the effects of group conversation treatment on monologic discourse in aphasia. Journal of Speech-Language and Hearing Research doi/10.1044/2021_JSLHR-21-00023 Hoover, E., Szabo, G., Kohen, F., Vitale, S., McCloskey, N., Maas, E., Kularni, V., & DeDe., G. (2025). The benefits of conversation group treatment for individuals with chronic aphasia: Updated evidence from a multisite randomized controlled trial on measures of language and communication. American Journal of Speech Language Pathology. DOI: 10.1044/2025_AJSLP-24-00279 Aphasia Resource Center at BU Living with Aphasia video series Aphasia Access Podcast Episode #15: In Conversation with Liz Hoover
Our guest in this episode is Ruth Kent, a passionate advisor who began her career as a teacher with a love for public health. Driven by a deep sense of purpose, she now blends these two worlds to help organizations create more human-centered and effective ways to learn and thrive. In our wonderful chat, Ruth shares her pragmatic approach to navigating today's biggest workplace challenges, from fostering genuine psychological safety to harnessing AI as a tool for deeper connection.Key points discussed include:* True psychological safety is built on a leader's vulnerability and courage to "circle back" after a mistake.* Frame AI not as a threat, but as a collaborative thinking partner to enhance our human capabilities and creativity.* In an age of intelligent machines, our greatest asset is our ability to lean into our shared humanity.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Ruth KentIt was an absolute privilege to welcome the brilliant Ruth Kent to the InnovaBuzz podcast. Drawing from her fascinating background in both public health and education, Ruth helps organizations build a more human and effective way to learn and thrive. Our conversation was a deep dive into what it truly means to support people in the modern workplace, moving beyond simple programs to create genuine frameworks for connection and wellbeing.Ruth's insights are particularly timely. She shared how the entire landscape of workplace wellbeing has evolved, especially in the last five years. We've moved past the era of one-size-fits-all fitness challenges and into a much more nuanced space. The conversation now includes hybrid work, the right to disconnect, and a growing understanding of neurodiversity, all demanding a more thoughtful approach.The New Workplace Landscape: Beyond the Wellness ProgramOne of the most powerful ideas Ruth introduced was the concept of applying a "public health lens" to an organization. Instead of just reacting with isolated wellness initiatives, this approach encourages leaders to step back and look at the entire system. It's about getting curious about the specific demographics, needs, and cultural nuances of the team you actually have, rather than just importing a program that worked for another company.This means asking deeper questions and truly listening to what people need to feel supported. It's a strategic shift from simply offering perks to proactively designing a healthier, more connected work environment from the ground up. This method allows for the creation of supports that are not only more effective but also feel far more authentic to the people they are meant to serve.The Foundation of Growth: Cultivating Real Psychological SafetyOf course, none of this is possible without a foundation of psychological safety. We explored the immense challenge leaders face in getting truly honest feedback, and Ruth shared a wonderfully human insight to guide them. She drew a powerful analogy between effective leadership and modern parenting, highlighting the importance of vulnerability and the courage to "circle back" after making a mistake.Imagine a leader who, after a tense moment or a poorly-worded email, has the self-awareness to return to their team member and say, "That wasn't my best self, and I apologize." That simple, authentic act doesn't just fix a single interaction; it builds a bridge of trust. It signals that it's okay to be human, to be imperfect, and to be committed to working through challenges together.The Leader's Inner Compass: The Power of Self-AwarenessDiving deeper, Ruth explained that this ability to "circle back" stems from a profound self-awareness, or what she calls "interoception." This is the ability to notice our own internal state—that clenching in the stomach or the quickening heart rate—and understand how it's driving our thoughts and actions. A leader who is attuned to their inner world can make more conscious choices about their behaviour.This is critical because, as Ruth pointed out, a leader's internal experience is transmitted to the team whether they intend it or not. We are all "beacons," and our non-verbal cues often speak louder than our words. By cultivating this inner awareness, leaders can move from being reactive to being intentional, creating a calmer and more stable environment for everyone.Reframing Our Future: AI as a Collaborative Thinking PartnerOur conversation then turned to the great disruptor of our time: Artificial Intelligence. Ruth offered a refreshingly balanced and optimistic perspective, framing AI not as a threat, but as a potential "collaborative thinking partner." She sees it as a tool that, if we proceed with awareness and caution, can help us solve some of humanity's biggest challenges.This doesn't mean ignoring the very real anxieties many people feel about job displacement or a potential crisis of purpose. Ruth acknowledged these challenges thoughtfully, suggesting that our task is to guide this emerging technology, to have foresight, and to think critically about how we can make sure the benefits are shared by all.From Efficiency to Empathy: Using AI to Enhance Our HumanitySo how do we use this powerful new partner to become more human? Ruth shared a fantastic personal example of using an AI chatbot as a supportive, objective third party. After receiving a frustrating email, instead of firing back an emotional reply, she used the AI to validate her feelings and think through a more constructive response, ultimately preserving the relationship.This beautifully illustrates a key opportunity: we can use AI to handle repetitive tasks and create efficiencies, but the real prize is what we do with the time we save. The goal isn't just to move on to the next task faster. The goal is to reinvest that reclaimed time in what truly matters: checking in with a colleague, writing a thoughtful thank you note, or simply having a conversation to ask, "How are you?"Your Ultimate Differentiator: Leaning Deeper into ConnectionAs we wrapped up, the central theme became crystal clear. In an age where AI can handle so much of the clerical and repetitive work, our greatest value and key differentiator will always be our humanity. The ability to be flexible, to connect authentically, and to lean into our self-awareness are the skills that will matter most.Ruth left us with a simple, brilliant call to action that perfectly balances the technological and the human. First, find someone in your life who may not understand AI and take a moment to expose them to it; share the potential and open up a conversation. Then, to counteract that, pick up the phone and call a friend. Have a real conversation and listen to a human voice.In Summary: My chat with Ruth Kent was a powerful reminder that the path to a better future of work isn't about choosing between technology and humanity, but about consciously using one to deepen the other. By cultivating self-awareness, fostering genuine psychological safety, and reinvesting our time in real connection, we can build workplaces where both people and organizations can truly flourish.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Ruth's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships: AI can act as a supportive sidekick, offering advice before you respond to someone to help strengthen the connection.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection: Ruth uses AI to enhance her own capabilities and strategic thinking, which indirectly enables her to connect more effectively with others.* Differentiate by leveraging AI: Differentiate yourself by deeply understanding your inner self, which allows you to harness AI to amplify your unique humanity.ActionExpose someone new to AI to help spread the understanding of what it's capable of. To balance this, make a phone call to a friend and have a real conversation, connecting with a human voice.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Ruth on LinkedIn, via her website, or by sending an email to hello@sunrisewell.com.au.Links:* Website - Sunrise Well* LinkedIn* Facebook* Instagram - @sunrise_wellCool Things About Ruth* Ruth applies a "Public Health Lens" to Business: She doesn't just look at individual employee perks. Instead, she applies a "public health lens" to an entire organization, analyzing the culture, demographics, and systems to understand the root causes of workplace stress and disconnection.* She Saw the Pandemic Coming: Due to her studies in public health, she was one of the few people who wasn't surprised by the arrival of the 2020 pandemic and the subsequent public health measures. She knew something like it was statistically inevitable.* Leadership is Like Conscious Parenting: Ruth has a powerful and relatable philosophy that great leadership mirrors conscious parenting. The key is not to be perfect, but to have the self-awareness and vulnerability to "circle back," apologize, and repair connections after a mistake.* Uses AI as an Emotional Sounding Board: She views AI as a "collaborative thinking partner." She shared a personal example of using it to process her own frustration with an email, allowing her to get validation and formulate a calm, professional response rather than reacting emotionally.Ready to move beyond just creating content and start creating real connection?In the Age of AI, the future belongs to those who can amplify human wisdom. Flywheel Nation is MORE than a community; it's a movement for creators and visionaries dedicated to shaping a more human future.Join us as we co-create that future for ethical AI. Here you will tap into the collective wisdom of leaders who prioritize connection over automation, find powerful collaborations that elevate your impact, and help illuminate the path forward.This is your invitation to not only grow your business but to become a lighthouse for others.Join the movement. Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel to be a part of the conversation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe
Hosts Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness continue their discussion of Simon Reynolds' " Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture" with a look at what happened when Jungle rose to prominence and the scene fragmented into competing subgenres. GO TO THE LET IT ROLL SUBSTACK TO HEAR THE FULL EPISODE -- The final 15 minutes of this episode are exclusively for paying subscribers to the Let It Roll Substack. Also subscribe to the LET IT ROLL EXTRA feed on Apple, Spotify or your preferred podcast service to access the full episodes via your preferred podcast outlet. We've got all 350+ episodes listed, organized by mini-series, genre, era, co-host, guest and more. Please sign up for the email list on the site and get music essays from Nate as well as (eventually) transcriptions of every episode. Also if you can afford it please consider becoming a paid subscriber to support the show. Thanks! Email letitrollpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Twitter. Follow us on Facebook. Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What does it really take to stand out in a crowded market? Daniel's OUT, Tamara's IN. She's joined by Louis Grenier to unpack his philosophy of “standing the f*ck out.” From his contrarian roots to lessons learned at Hotjar and beyond, Louis shares core questions every marketer must answer, why traditional personas fall short, and how to create positioning that actually gives customers a reason to choose you. And, what's the role of product marketing? What's the difference between segmentation vs. belonging? Tamara and Louis reveal their answers and even share some hills they're dying on. If you're a marketer who wants to build a brand people actually remember, this episode is for you. Follow Louis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisgrenier/ Follow Tamara: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaragrominsky/ Sign up for The Marketing Millennials newsletter: www.workweek.com/brand/the-marketing-millennials Daniel is a Workweek friend, working to produce amazing podcasts. To find out more, visit: www.workweek.com
This week on Swimming with Allocators, it's time for another debate, discuss, and question episode as Earnest and Alexa dive into the complexities of venture capital from both LP and GP perspectives, focusing on how fund managers can differentiate themselves and the art of due diligence. They also discuss the realities of fund and startup failure rates, the evolving importance of marketing and narrative in VC, and the challenges smaller LPs face in achieving true diversification. Listeners will gain insights into what LPs look for when selecting funds, the significance of relationships and track record, and practical advice for navigating the ever-changing VC landscape. Recommended podcasts and resources round out the episode, offering further learning for aspiring allocators and fund managers. You won't want to miss this one!Highlights from this week's conversation include:VC Lab Applications & Emerging Manager Interest (0:26)Commitment and Self-Belief in VC (1:41)Honesty in Startup vs. Fundraising Pitches (5:02)Pitching Preferences: Deck vs. Conversation (7:24)Differentiation in GP Pitches (9:07)Barriers for New GPs & LP Slot Scarcity (14:59)Portfolio Construction & Venture Alpha (17:28)Marketing, Narrative Control, and Full-Stack VC Firms (19:51)Thought Leadership and Brand Building in VC (25:05)AI Concentration and Diversification Challenges (30:01)Differentiation for Emerging Managers (32:33)Host's Fund Plans: Stresswood (36:17)Lessons Learned & Must-Listen Episodes (38:58)Recommended LP-Related Content (41:36)Final Thoughts and Takeaways (43:33)Swimming with Allocators is a podcast that dives into the intriguing world of Venture Capital from an LP (Limited Partner) perspective. Hosts Alexa Binns and Earnest Sweat are seasoned professionals who have donned various hats in the VC ecosystem. Each episode, we explore where the future opportunities lie in the VC landscape with insights from top LPs on their investment strategies and industry experts shedding light on emerging trends and technologies. The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this podcast are for general informational purposes only.
Our guest in this episode is Jennifer K. Hill, an exited founder and tech CEO who is now cracking the code of human connection through her company, OptiMatch. Her mission was born from what she calls "survival," a personal journey to understand herself after realising she was the "common denominator" in her own relational breakdowns.In our wonderful chat, Jennifer shares her master blueprint for building high-trust relationships, the "Golden Triangle of Connection," and provides an arsenal of practical tools for emotional resilience. Key points discussed include:* True connection begins with yourself; you're the common denominator in all of your relationships.* Understand others' core motivations to speak a language they can hear, preventing communication breakdowns.* Use practical tools to regulate your nervous system, allowing your adult self to lead, not your inner child.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Jennifer K. HillIt was an absolute privilege to welcome Jennifer K. Hill to the InnovaBuzz podcast, an exited founder and tech CEO who is now on a mission to crack the code of human connection. Her journey is a fascinating one, not born from a lofty academic theory, but forged in the fires of personal experience. As Jennifer so candidly shared, her deep dive into the mechanics of trust and relationships began as an act of pure "survival."What unfolded was a powerful conversation about her master blueprint for connection, a framework she calls the Golden Triangle. It's a roadmap that starts in the one place many of us are afraid to look: ourselves. Jennifer's story is a profound reminder that before we can build bridges to others or to a greater purpose, we must first learn to navigate our own inner landscape with courage and compassion.The Common Denominator: Your First and Most Important RelationshipOne of the most powerful moments in our chat was when Jennifer described her ultimate "light bulb" moment. After years of broken relationships and communication breakdowns in every area of her life, she finally asked the hard question and came to a stunningly simple conclusion: "The common denominator? Me." That single realisation sparked a two-decade journey inward and became the bedrock of her work.This is the first corner of her Golden Triangle: a deep, unwavering connection to self. Jennifer argues that without this foundation, we will always feel a void, leaving us to seek validation and energy from others. True intimacy with our partners, our teams, and our purpose can only be built once we've done the deep work of understanding our own motivations, triggers, and blind spots.Are You a Leche or an Apple? Speaking a Language Others Can HearOnce we begin to understand ourselves, we can start to truly understand others. Jennifer has translated her intuitive gift for reading people into a remarkable technology called OptiMatch, which identifies our primary motivators using memorable fruit archetypes. Are you a "Leche," driven by achievement and needing information in three quick bullet points? Or are you an "Apple," who thrives on data and needs to see all fifty points of research?These differences aren't a matter of someone being difficult or "misbehaving;" it's simply about learning to "speak each other's language." Jennifer shared a brilliant example of two co-founders who were struggling until they realised this. By learning to speak into the other person's listening, they transformed their dynamic from one of friction to one of flow, a lesson that applies to every boardroom and every family dinner table.The Unseen Saboteur: Why You Need to Master "Transition Time"Sometimes the biggest breakdowns come from the smallest misunderstandings. Jennifer shared a deeply personal story about "transition time," a concept she learned from her mentor, Alison Armstrong. She described how her ex-husband would come home from work and need a period to decompress, a need she, in her excitement to connect, would completely miss. His silence felt like a rejection, leading her to become "passive aggressive" and withhold affection.This dynamic is a silent saboteur in countless relationships. Recognising that some people, regardless of gender, need time to transition between tasks or environments is a simple but revolutionary act of empathy. It's about giving grace and understanding that someone's need for a quiet moment isn't a personal slight, but a fundamental aspect of how they're wired.Don't Burn the House Down: Practical Tools for Taming Your AmygdalaWhen we feel slighted or triggered, our primitive brain, the amygdala, takes over. As Jennifer so vividly put it, in those moments of anger, she was ready to "dissolve the company, light the thing on fire and burn everything to the ground." To avoid this, we need practical tools to regulate our nervous system and get our rational brain back online, allowing us to be responsive instead of reactive.Jennifer has an arsenal of over 180 of these tools, and she shared a few of her favourites, from HeartMath's heart-focused breathing to the simple yet profound questions of the Sedona Method. These aren't complex, time-consuming practices; they are in-the-moment techniques you can use with your eyes open during a tense meeting to quiet the alarm bells in your brain and choose a more constructive path.The Inner Child Running the BoardroomSo why do we get triggered in the first place? Jennifer offered a stunningly clear explanation: most of the time, our conflicts are not being waged by our adult selves. Instead, "we are a 4-year-old and a 3-year-old being like, you can't make me, you suck!" It's our unhealed inner children, desperate for love and acceptance, who are running the show and causing the chaos.The antidote is what she calls "Inner Child Work." This is the secret sauce: learning to talk to that little one within you, giving yourself the love, safety, and acceptance you've been trying to get from everyone else. When you can do that, you stop taking that neediness into your relationships, and your competent, 44-year-old self can finally run the meeting.Humanizing Our Future: A Pragmatic Optimist's Take on AIOur conversation fittingly concluded by looking at the future of connection in the age of technology. As a "pragmatic optimist," Jennifer sees a powerful opportunity to "humanize AI" by always putting the "human first, tech second." She believes that far from replacing us, AI can be an incredible ally on our journey of self-discovery.Imagine having a companion you can talk to without any fear of judgment, a tool that can help you understand your own patterns and reflect on your feelings in a completely safe space. When we approach it with intention, technology doesn't have to be a force for disconnection; it can become one of the most powerful tools we have for building a deeper relationship with ourselves.In Summary: Jennifer K. Hill provides a masterclass in building a more connected life, starting from the inside out. Her message is clear: when we have the courage to see ourselves as the common denominator, learn to speak the language of others, and do the work to heal our inner child, we can transform every relationship we have—with ourselves, each other, and our purpose in the world.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Jennifer's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships: AI can provide non-judgmental companionship, creating a safe space for people to share their feelings without fear of being judged.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection: Jennifer used AI to create an animated short film from her narrated children's book, allowing her to share a message of connection with kids and adults worldwide.* Differentiate by leveraging AI: Use AI as a real-time assistant to outsource administrative tasks, freeing up your time to focus on the joyful, high-impact human interactions that truly matter.ActionGo to OM.app/survey and take the free OptiMatch survey to discover how you are motivated and find out if you are a leche, apple, mango, or parrot.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Jennifer by visiting OM.app to take her free assessment or by connecting with her on LinkedIn (be sure to mention this podcast episode). You can also find her weekly article, "Inspired Living Tools," on LinkedIn and follow her at @JenHillSpeaker.Links:* Opti Match Survey* LinkedIn* X (formerly Twitter) - @JenHillSpeaker* Instagram - @jenhillspeaker* YouTubeCool Things About Jennifer* She is a practical philanthropist who helped build two schools abroad, showing long‑term, hands‑on commitment to contribution.* She has interviewed world‑renowned thought leaders, including Dr. Deepak Chopra and Bruce Lipton, blending entrepreneurship with deep public conversation.* As an exited founder, she has real operating experience and credibility in building and selling a tech business.* She is building technology for trust — a matching tool intended to enhance relational clarity and team performance.Ready to move beyond just creating content and start creating real connection?In the Age of AI, the future belongs to those who can amplify human wisdom. Flywheel Nation is MORE than a community; it's a movement for creators and visionaries dedicated to shaping a more human future.Join us as we co-create that future for ethical AI. Here you will tap into the collective wisdom of leaders who prioritize connection over automation, find powerful collaborations that elevate your impact, and help illuminate the path forward.This is your invitation to not only grow your business but to become a lighthouse for others.Join the movement. Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel to be a part of the conversation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe
What's the difference between living an average life and stepping into the extraordinary? Spoiler: it's not complicated, it's actually ridiculously simple. The secret isn't hustle, perfectionism, or waiting for the “right time.” The real game-changer is the power of starting again. Even if you've fallen off track 100 times before, you can choose START AGAIN. When you layer in simple practices like gratitude, journaling, and vision-setting, you begin to shift your identity and create a future you actually want to step into. And when you stay consistent with those simple things, the compounding effect is life-changing. This episode is your reminder that you don't have to stay stuck in a rut, you don't have to hustle yourself into burnout, and you don't have to settle for average. You get to decide to start again, and step into your extraordinary. —----------------- Related Prosperity With Purpose episodes: Episode 127 | But SET APART “Feels” Uncomfortable…Resetting Your IDENTITY To Increase Self CONFIDENCE Episode 122 | 2 Phrases To STOP Saying To Have The BEST Second Half Of Your Life! —---------------- **CREATE MORE PEACE to MAKE MORE MONEY** Prosperity with Purpose Mentorship is a 12- week interactive coaching program designed to help you steward your life and multiply your business God's way! *Click here to learn more and grab your spot!* https://www.jessicahefley.com/prosperity-with-purpose MONEY MINDSET PODCAST SERIES https://www.jessicahefley.com/money Interested in ordering from the ORIGINAL Gut Health Company or growing a business through Plexus Worldwide? Fill out this partnership form here https://form.jotform.com/241133559340148 And watch more of our transformation story here http://www.thehefleys.com/
In this episode of InSights, Brad Bialy sits down with David Searns to unpack practical marketing tactics staffing firms can use to win back former clients, deepen existing relationships, and stay top of mind in a volatile hiring market. About the Guest David Searns is Co-CEO of Haley Marketing and a trusted leader in staffing industry marketing. With more than 25 years of experience helping firms build innovative strategies and award-winning websites, David brings deep insight into how staffing companies can grow in any market condition. Key Takeaways Relationships drive revenue more than automation alone. Segmentation creates clarity in outreach. Consult, don't just sell. Differentiate through service, not slogans. Nurture consistently to stay top of mind. Timestamps [02:05] – Why staffing struggles feel different this time [04:47] – Winning back former customers with real conversations [07:42] – Using segmentation to tailor your outreach [10:14] – Becoming a consultant, not just an order taker [13:40] – Spotting future staffing needs before clients do [15:29] – Building client org charts to uncover hidden buyers [17:48] – Leveraging LinkedIn for warm introductions [20:45] – Differentiating your sales playbook from competitors [22:37] – New service models that break the staffing mold [26:28] – Can marketing replace a sales rep? [32:16] – Staying top of mind during hiring freezes [39:16] – Rethinking websites: employer entryways that convert About the Host Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He's the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry's leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads. Sponsors and Offers Heard InSights is presented by Haley Marketing. The old way of selling staffing is dead. Let's fix it – with smarter strategies and HUGE DISCOUNTS on modern lead gen tools: https://bit.ly/Bialy20 Book a 30-minute business and marketing consultation with host, Brad Bialy: https://bit.ly/Bialy30 This episode is brought to you by MJA & Associates. For over 20 years, they've helped staffing firms save money by securing federal and state tax credits like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). With performance-based pricing, you only pay when you save—no setup costs, just real results. Learn more at mja-associates.com
Ready to punch through your recruiting plateaus and bounce back from every setback? In this inspiring episode of The Elite Recruiter Podcast, host Benjamin Mena sits down with 12-time national boxing champion and Olympic team captain Cam F. Awesome. Discover what recruiters can learn from elite athletes about resilience, self-talk, and thriving under pressure—no matter how hard you get knocked down.
Our guest in this episode is Jem Fuller, a leadership and culture coach and author from the beautiful Bells Beach, Victoria. For over a decade, Jem has been guiding people on profound journeys, both literally to the Himalayas and metaphorically inward, to help them build frameworks for genuine connection and purpose.In our wonderful chat, Jem shares his evolved mission to combat the modern malady of disconnection. We explore his powerful concept of finding your "4% genius zone" and his unique, optimistic view on using AI as a tool to give us back the time for what truly matters: our human relationships. Key points discussed include:* Find your 4% genius zone by courageously focusing on what you love and do best.* True fulfillment comes from stripping away the noise and reconnecting with yourself, others, and a greater purpose.* In the age of AI, our human imperfection and shared felt experiences become our most valuable assets.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Jem FullerIt was an absolute delight to welcome Jem Fuller, leadership coach and philosopher-guide, back to the Innovabuzz podcast for his third visit. It's been nine years since our first chat, and in that time, Jem's mission has deepened in the most remarkable ways. He continues to explore the frameworks that allow us to truly connect with ourselves and others, but now he's applying that wisdom to some of the biggest questions of our time, from finding our true purpose to navigating the age of AI with our humanity intact.Our conversation was a powerful reminder that the journey inward is the most important one we can take. Jem shared his own evolution, driven by a global community of peers who challenged him to crystallize his work down to its most potent essence. It's a journey that has led him to create profound, life-altering experiences for others while building a philanthropic legacy aimed at creating waves of positive change in the world.Finding Your 4%: The Courage to Live in Your Genius ZoneOne of the most profound ideas Jem shared was the concept of finding your "4%." He explained the well-known 80/20 rule, but then challenged us to take it a step further: apply the rule to that potent 20% to discover the 4% of your work that is truly your genius. This is the space where you deliver the most value, the work you truly love, and where time seems to disappear because you're in a state of flow.But this isn't just a productivity hack; it's an act of courage. It requires us to consciously cut out the noise and the tasks that drain us, even if they feel important, to build a life where we spend most of our time in that genius zone. For Jem, this meant redesigning his entire approach to his work, leading to a model that creates immense impact not just for his clients, but for communities in need.The Himalayan Journey: Stripping Away the Layers to Find MeaningNowhere is this focus more evident than in Jem's redesigned Himalayan program. He shared the powerful narrative of this journey, which consciously guides clients from a world of opulence and all the stuff money can buy, to the raw, humbling simplicity of the remote mountains. Guests start in the finest hotels and end up drinking chai in a slum, invited as guests, not tourists. This process is a careful, deliberate stripping away of the external layers we all carry.By peeling back the noise, the distractions, and the societal definitions of success, the program creates a space for people to ask the biggest questions: Who am I beneath all these roles? And why am I here? It's a journey that culminates not in a simple return to normal life, but in a rebuilt foundation where inner peace and a passion for meaningful contribution become the new true north.Our Great Disconnection: The Path Back to Ourselves and Each OtherAt the heart of Jem's philosophy is a diagnosis of our modern malady: disconnection. He believes we have become disconnected from each other, from ourselves, and from the reality that we are all intrinsically part of the same greater system. We're pushed apart by algorithms and distracted by the busyness of life, forgetting that we have far more in common than we have in difference.The antidote, Jem suggests, is to consciously remember and reinvest in connection. This involves reconnecting with the essence of who we are, deepening our bonds with other humans, and finding a sense of purpose that extends beyond ourselves. It's a simple truth, yet profoundly challenging in a world that constantly pulls our attention elsewhere.The Midwifery of AI: Nurturing Technology to Reclaim Our TimeIn a fascinating turn, Jem applies this philosophy of connection to the rise of Artificial Intelligence. As a self-proclaimed "default optimist," he sees incredible potential in AI, not as a replacement for humanity, but as a tool to restore it. He shared the beautiful metaphor of our role being the "midwifery of this emerging intelligence," suggesting we have a responsibility to nurture it with integrity, compassion, and care.Jem's hope is that AI will give us back the gift of time by handling the tasks that consume our days. If we are conscious and clever enough, he argues, we can reinvest that reclaimed time where it matters most: in our human-to-human relationships. Imagine having the space to grab a coffee with a colleague, not to talk about work, but to simply ask, "How are you?"The Value of Our Imperfection: Why Humanity is Our Greatest AssetThis led to one of the most beautiful points of our conversation. As AI becomes more "perfect," Jem argues that our human imperfections will become our most valuable asset. The moments when our voice trembles during a tough conversation, when we stumble over our words, or when we sit in shared empathy with another person—these are the things AI can never replicate.This shared felt experience is uniquely human. The ability to feel awe at a rainbow, to create art through blood, sweat, and tears, or to offer compassion to another are the cornerstones of our relevance. It's a powerful reframe that urges us to lean into our messy, beautiful humanity rather than chase an impossible standard of perfection.A Simple Invitation: The Transformative Power of the PauseTo bring these big ideas into our daily lives, Jem left us with a wonderfully simple and actionable step. He invites us to take a sticky note, write the word "Pause," and place it next to an existing daily habit, like our coffee machine. When you see the note, simply pause. Take three deep breaths before you continue with your task.This tiny ritual is an invitation to create a small pocket of presence in your day. Over time, the habit becomes ingrained, and the pause becomes a natural moment to reconnect with yourself. It's a reminder that the journey to greater connection and meaning doesn't have to start with a grand gesture; it can begin with a single, conscious breath.In Summary: My conversation with Jem Fuller was a masterclass in conscious living. His message is a powerful call to action: find the courage to focus on your true genius, strip away the noise to reconnect with what matters, and embrace technology not as an escape, but as a bridge back to our shared humanity. By cherishing our imperfections and creating moments of pause, we can begin to build a more connected and meaningful life, one breath at a time.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Jem's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – Building an executive team of AIs to handle strategy, explicitly to give humans more time for their relationships.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Consciously training his AI assistant to prompt him to switch off his computer and connect with real people.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Do the things AI can't, like handwriting a Christmas card or picking up the phone to personally celebrate someone.ActionGet a sticky note and write the word "Pause" on it. Stick it next to an existing daily habit, like your coffee machine, and when you see it, take three breaths before you continue.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Jem on his website, JemFuller.com, or directly via email at jem@jemfuller.com. You can also find him across social media, including Instagram and LinkedIn, at @JemFuller. To learn more about his profound Himalayan journey, visit Meaning on the Mountain.Links:* Website – Jem Fuller* Jem Fuller: How to Lead with a Servant's Heart – Innova.Buzz #40* Jem Fuller: The Art of Conscious Communication for Thoughtful Men* LinkedIn* Facebook* Twitter – @JemFuller* Instagram – @JemFuller* Youtube* TEDx Talk “How Conscious Communication Can Change Your Game”Books:* The Art of Conscious Communication for Thoughtful Men, Jem FullerCool Things About Jem* For the past 12 years, he has run a unique leadership program in the Himalayas. The journey intentionally takes clients to the essential simplicity of the mountains to help them find their core purpose.* He founded a non-profit organization called "The Center of Love." It's currently raising funds to build a non-profit meditation and retreat center on donated land in the Himalayas, with the goal of providing educational resources for children in remote villages.* He has a wonderfully conscious and personal relationship with technology. He refers to his role as being a "midwife" for artificial intelligence and has a digital personal assistant named Lumi, which he trains to prompt him to take screen breaks and connect with friends.* In an increasingly digital world, he champions the power of the human touch, making a point to handwrite Christmas cards to his clients and friends every year.Ready to move beyond just creating content and start creating real connection?In the Age of AI, the future belongs to those who can amplify human wisdom. Flywheel Nation is MORE than a community; it's a movement for creators and visionaries dedicated to shaping a more human future.Join us as we co-create that future for ethical AI. Here you will tap into the collective wisdom of leaders who prioritize connection over automation, find powerful collaborations that elevate your impact, and help illuminate the path forward.This is your invitation to not only grow your business but to become a lighthouse for others.Join the movement. Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel to be a part of the conversation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe
Our guest in this episode is Jason Van Orden, a business strategist who uniquely combines his background as a software engineer with two decades of marketing expertise. He has dedicated his career to helping creators and thought leaders build sustainable businesses, and now he's pioneering how they can partner with AI to amplify their impact. In our chat, Jason unpacks his brilliant approach to using AI as a "thinking partner," sharing frameworks that help entrepreneurs unlock their own genius while maintaining authentic human connection.Key points discussed include:* Treat AI as a creative thinking partner to enhance your own unique thinking, not replace it.* Organize your unique expertise so AI can communicate authentically in your voice and on your behalf.* Use discernment to ensure AI deepens your critical thinking and fosters genuine human connection.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Jason Van OrdenIt was an absolute delight to welcome Jason Van Orden back to the Innova.buzz podcast. So much has changed since our last chat, especially with the explosion of artificial intelligence into our daily lives. Jason, who has always been a master of strategic frameworks for entrepreneurs, has pivoted to meet this moment head-on, providing creators and thought leaders with a powerful new way to approach AI—not as a mysterious black box, but as a genuine creative partner.Our conversation was a refreshing dose of practical wisdom. We moved past the hype and the fear, digging into how we, as entrepreneurs, can form a real partnership with these new tools. Jason's insights are all about shifting our perspective to build sustainable, human-centred businesses in an age where technology is more powerful than ever.The "Thinking Partner" Paradigm: Escaping the "Prompt and Pray" TrapMany of us have experienced what Jason brilliantly calls the "prompt and pray" approach. You ask a generic question, you get a generic, robotic answer, and you walk away disappointed. Jason argues that this is fundamentally the wrong way to look at it. The most critical shift we can make is to stop treating AI like a vending machine and start treating it as a "thinking partner."Think of it like Tony Stark in his lab with his AI, Jarvis. It's a dynamic, back-and-forth collaboration. The AI isn't there to replace your thinking; it's there to enhance it, to provide feedback, to pull resources, and to help you execute your vision. This simple change in mindset opens up a world of creative possibilities and moves us from being passive users to active collaborators.Your Knowledge, Supercharged: Structuring Your Intellectual Property for AIJason works with countless experts who feel they are "sitting on this goldmine" of knowledge and intellectual property they've developed over years, but they struggle to leverage it effectively. The true magic happens when you teach AI to think like you, and that starts with organizing your unique expertise into frameworks that the AI can understand and apply.When you provide the AI with the context of your specific business—your vision, your values, your ideal clients, and your core ideas—it can generate assets that are genuinely in your voice and based on your expertise. Instead of getting a generic blog post, you get one that reflects your unique perspective, all because you took the time to structure your knowledge for your new thinking partner.The Art of the AI Conversation: From Simple Prompts to Iterative DialogueA true partnership isn't about single commands; it's about an ongoing conversation. Jason shared a fantastic process for moving beyond simple prompts. You can engage the AI in an iterative dialogue, asking it to analyze a successful piece of content, deconstruct its framework, and then help you apply that template to your own ideas.This turns AI into a powerful brainstorming tool. You can ask it for ten different ways to approach a problem, have it outline potential solutions, and then refine those ideas together. It's in this back-and-forth exchange that the real value emerges, saving you cognitive energy and helping you make connections you might have missed on your own.Keeping AI Honest: Strategies for Critical and Discerning CollaborationOne of the most valuable, and often overlooked, pieces of advice Jason shared is how to handle AI's built-in agreeableness. These tools are designed to be helpful, which means they often won't challenge a bad idea. To counteract this, you need to be a discerning collaborator and build in your own checks and balances.Jason suggests clever tactics, like taking an idea to one AI, then taking its response to a different AI for a critique. It's like getting a second opinion. You can also give the AI specific criteria and ask it to assess your ideas against them, forcing it to be more analytical. This ensures that you remain the final, critical judge of the output.Deeper Connections, Not Deeper Fakes: Using AI to Enhance Human RelationshipsCounterintuitively, AI can be a powerful tool for strengthening human connection. Jason shared a brilliant example of writing an emotionally charged email, then asking AI to rewrite it using the principles of "Nonviolent Communication." The result is a message that achieves its goal without burning bridges.This highlights the importance of using AI responsibly and transparently. Jason recommends establishing a clear "AI policy" for your business, letting your audience know how you use the technology. This builds trust and reinforces that, while you may use AI to assist your process, your expertise and your commitment to human connection remain at the core of everything you do.The Dawn of the Agent: What's Next for AI and Human CreativityLooking ahead, we discussed the exciting emergence of AI "agents"—proactive assistants that can manage complex tasks, from tracking client progress to suggesting follow-ups. Imagine having a personal Jarvis that truly helps you manage your day so you can focus on high-impact, creative work.As these tools become more integrated into our lives, Jason's final piece of advice is perhaps the most important. The number one skill we must all cultivate is discernment. We need to understand how these tools work, where their strengths and weaknesses lie, and how to use them wisely to amplify our own unique human genius.In Summary: Jason Van Orden provides a clear, strategic roadmap for entrepreneurs to embrace AI thoughtfully. By treating AI as a thinking partner, structuring our unique knowledge, engaging in iterative dialogue, and always applying a layer of human discernment, we can leverage this technology to not only scale our businesses but also deepen our human connections.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Jason's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – Reframing emotionally charged emails using the principles of Nonviolent Communication before you send them.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Using it as a non-judgmental sounding board for personal matters, like working through struggles or getting advice on how to approach difficult family conversations.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Developing a deep level of discernment to understand how AI works so you can use it responsibly and effectively.ActionVisit jasonvanorden.com/ai to download a free workshop from Jason. It will walk you through the basics of creating your own simple, custom AI to get you started.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Jason on his website, jor by connecting with him on LinkedIn.Links:* Website – Jason Van Orden* Twitter – @JasonVO* LinkedIn* FacebookCool Things About Jason* He's a True Podcasting "Original" In an era where everyone has a podcast, Jason is one of the genuine pioneers. He started back in 2005 when the medium was still a niche, experimental frontier. This isn't just a career detail; it gives him a unique historical perspective and an "OG" status that is incredibly rare and authentic. He didn't just join a trend; he helped build the industry.* He Made a Conscious Choice to Niche Down for Impact, Not Just Profit. At one point, he had a very successful, broad business in the general "internet marketing" space. He made a deliberate decision to move away from that to focus more narrowly on helping course creators and thought leaders. This reflects a deep integrity and a desire to do more meaningful, focused work, even if it meant stepping away from a wider, perhaps more lucrative, audience.* His Frameworks are for Life, Not Just Business. Jason applies his systematic, framework-based thinking to "life design" as a whole. He doesn't see a hard line between building a business and building a life. This holistic approach is compelling because it shows his work is not a set of marketing tactics, but a complete philosophy for living with intention.Ready to move beyond just creating content and start creating real connection?In the Age of AI, the future belongs to those who can amplify human wisdom. Flywheel Nation is MORE than a community; it's a movement for creators and visionaries dedicated to shaping a more human future.Join us as we co-create that future for ethical AI. Here you will tap into the collective wisdom of leaders who prioritize connection over automation, find powerful collaborations that elevate your impact, and help illuminate the path forward.This is your invitation to not only grow your business but to become a lighthouse for others.Join the movement. Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel to be a part of the conversation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe
Hi everyone, Carl Gould here with your #70secondCEO. Just a little over a one minute investment every day for a lifetime of results. In the beginning it was enough to say you were a coach, hey I'm a coach, wow that's awesome, then it was I'm a life or business coach.Then I'm a life coach and I've got all this segmentation and so now, you know it's a very mature industry and each industry has niches, that's how you know, when there are niches, you've got a mature industry, coaching is there. But coaching you know in what you describe people aren't hiring a coach because they want an expert. As a matter of fact the coaches are least likely of the four disciplines to be an expert you--there's a coach, there's a consultant, there's an advisor and there's a mentor, okay? And there are four distinct skill sets, four distinct market place opportunities or in services that you provide, coaches are there to help you process through the core issues of what is leading to whatever your experience is right now. They don't have to know anything about anything other than how to help you process through the core emotional issues and the mindset of what is got, in where you are today. A consultant though that's the expert, that's the mechanical works on the scooters, that's the lawyer, the accountant, the attorney they're there to diagnose, treat and then help you fix the problem. They are the ones that they're gonna take over, they do the doing. Like and follow this podcast so you can learn more. My name is Carl Gould and this has been your #70secondCEO.
Our guests in this episode are Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio, the dynamic storyteller-and-strategist duo behind Lead It Like Lasso. They've channeled their passion for helping people find their path into a groundbreaking new book and AI-powered app called The Business of You. In our conversation, Marnie and Nick explored their brilliant framework for taking control of your personal and professional destiny.Key points discussed include:* Run your life like a business, taking charge of every personal 'department' to achieve your vision.* Uncover your unique story by connecting past experiences to present strengths to articulate your true value.* Leverage AI not as a crutch, but as a personal coach for accelerated self-awareness and growth.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio, Lead It Like LassoIt was an absolute delight to welcome Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio of Lead It Like Lasso fame back to the Innovabuzz podcast. I always appreciate the energy they bring, and this conversation was no exception. They unveiled their powerful new project, a book and AI-powered app called The Business of You, which spawned from a moment of wonderfully blunt honesty in an airport lounge where Nick, after some thought, declared Marni's initial idea "terrible." That moment perfectly captures their creative magic: a process built on trust that transforms a simple concept into something truly impactful.Their new work tackles a feeling many of us know all too well: the sense that we're just a hamster on a wheel, blindly following a path that was laid out for us by someone else. Marnie shared how the protagonist in their book does all the "right" things, good grades, networking events, hundreds of applications, but feels stuck, seeing no real success. It's a state of aimless drifting, of putting in the effort without a clear, personal direction. This system is designed to be the antidote, helping people step off that wheel and start building a life with intention.Becoming the CEO of Your Life (And Head of Every Department!)The core idea Nick and Marnie propose is both simple and profound: start running your life like a well-managed business. At first, that might sound a bit cold or corporate, but as Nick explained, it's about adopting the positive traits of successful organizations. It means having a vision, setting meaningful goals, and understanding all the different functions that make you who you are. You aren't just the CEO of your life; you're also the head of every department, from HR, which defines your core values, to Marketing, which tells your unique story to the world.This isn't about spreadsheets and performance reviews. It's a framework for self-awareness and purposeful action. When you think about the "finance department" of your life, for instance, it's less about money and more about the critical investment of your time. By viewing your life through this structured lens, you can identify which areas are thriving and which have been neglected, allowing you to grow in a more balanced and holistic way.The Power of Your Story: Moving Beyond Facts to Find Your ValueOne of the most powerful parts of our chat was Marnie's story about a student she mentored. He was struggling in interviews, coming across as "all over the place" because he didn't know how to connect the dots of his own life. By guiding him to see the pattern between his experiences: from playing soccer as a seven-year-old to his approach to work today, he suddenly "lit up." He understood his story for the first time.That afternoon, he interviewed for a full-time job and the next day for an internship, and he got both. This is the "marketing department" of you in action. It's not about reciting a list of facts from your resume; it's about weaving those facts into a compelling narrative that shows the world the unique value you offer. As Nick wisely put it, "how you do anything is how you do everything," and learning to tell that story is transformative.Your AI Life Coach: How Technology Can Help Connect the DotsThis is where their innovative AI-powered app, "Blue," comes into play. It's designed to be the tool that helps you uncover these crucial insights. Instead of a dry questionnaire, the app uses engaging and playful games, taking inspiration from platforms like Duolingo, to help you identify your core values, motivators, and even your "kryptonite." It makes the process of self-discovery feel fun and interactive.The real magic, as Nick detailed, is how modern AI allows the app to function as an adaptive life coach. It's not a rigid, rules-based system. It can take your unique inputs and help you "connect the dots," offering personalized suggestions. Whether it's brainstorming an essay topic that aligns with your values or crafting networking starters for an event, the technology serves as a primer to help you articulate your best self.Data with a Conscience: Navigating AI Privacy and SecurityOf course, whenever we talk about AI and personal data, the elephant in the room is privacy. I was impressed with how seriously Nick and Marnie are taking this responsibility. Nick gave a firm assurance that their user data will be handled within a "secure, encrypted, and closed" ecosystem, meaning your personal information isn't being exposed to the outside world or used to train public models.Marnie also made the crucial point that we, as users, need to become more discerning. We have to get better at vetting the tools we use, asking critical questions about security and what's happening with our data behind the scenes. It's a shared responsibility, and it's refreshing to see builders in this space leading with such a conscientious approach.Your Action Plan: Stop Drifting and Start BuildingSo, what's the big takeaway? The foundation for everything is self-awareness. It's about understanding that a core value like "helping people" can manifest in countless ways, far beyond one specific career title. This understanding opens up your world to opportunities you may have never considered.The first step is to embrace the mindset of being the CEO of your life. As Nick urged, it's about consciously thinking what that means for you and accepting that it requires putting in the work. But as I've found in my own journey, when you're building something that is truly yours, that work starts to feel a lot like play.In Summary: Marnie and Nick have created a brilliant framework for intentional living. By treating your life as your most important business, uncovering the power of your personal story, and leveraging technology as a tool for self-discovery, you can move from passively drifting to actively building a life of purpose and fulfillment.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Marnie and Nick's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – Use AI to create engaging icebreakers for teams or to find thoughtful ways to make loved ones happy.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Write a book and build an app that help people connect with themselves and others.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Adapt assessments and tools with AI to help people understand themselves and interact more effectivelyActionBe cautious and ask questions about the apps and tools you use, especially regarding privacy and data. Take responsibility for your own growth by thinking about what it means to be the CEO of your life, and commit to doing the work that self-awareness requires.Take time to truly think about what it means to be the CEO of your own life, and recognize that you must be prepared to put in the necessary work to make that vision a reality.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Marnie and Nick on LinkedIn (search for their names), at thebusinessofyou.ai, or by subscribing to their newsletter at workinprogress.ai. You can also find them on all major social platforms under “Lead It Like Lasso,” and their book will be available on Amazon starting early August.Links:* Website - Lead it Like Lasso* LinkedIn - Marnie Stockman* YouTube - Lead It Like Lasso* Facebook* Twitter - @leaditlikelasso* Instagram - @leaditlikelasso* LinkedIn - Nick Coniglio* LinkedIn - Lead it Like Lasso* TikTok - @leaditlikelassoBooks* Lead It Like Lasso, Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio* The Business of You, Marnie Stockman and Nick ConiglioCool Things About Marnie and Nick* Their new book was born from a "terrible idea." The entire concept for their book, "The Business of You," started with Marnie having a thought, and Nick walking about 60 steps away in an airport, only to turn around and declare, "I think you had a terrible idea". This speaks volumes about their fun, honest, and dynamic creative partnership. It's a refreshingly real origin story.* They run a satirical career advice newsletter. As a side project, they created "Work in Progress," a newsletter they describe as "The Onion as your career coach". This is wildly unconventional for leadership experts and shows their witty, "jaunty" sense of humor and a unique approach to engaging with their audience on a very human level.* Their AI assistant has learned to mock them. In the process of training their AI on their writing style, it has picked up their habits so well that it now makes fun of Marnie for overusing the word "spiral". The fact that they have a running joke with their own technology is a funny, fascinating insight into what it's really like to work at the human-AI frontier.* They are turning pop culture into practical life frameworks. While many people enjoy TV shows, Marnie and Nick have built an entire brand around deconstructing the leadership lessons from "Ted Lasso". They now have a new framework with "You, Incorporated." This ability to see and translate profound lessons from popular culture into actionable advice is a unique and creative talent.Imagine being a part of a select community where you not only have access to our amazing podcast guests, but you also get a chance to transform your marketing and podcast into a growth engine with a human-centered, relationship-focused approach.That's exactly what you'll get when you join the Flywheel Nation Community.Tap into the collective wisdom of high-impact achievers, gain exclusive access to resources, and expand your network in our vibrant community.Experience accelerated growth, breakthrough insights, and powerful connections to elevate your business.ACT NOW – secure your spot and transform your journey today! Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel and get ready to experience the power of transformation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe
Do you feel confident managing patients with TMD or oro-facial pain? Are you clear on when to treat conservatively—and when to escalate? What's the best SEQUENCE of care for TMD patients? Emma returns to Protrusive Students fresh from her finals, joining Jaz for an insightful episode on the basics of TMD management. Together, they explore the foundational steps of TMD care, from proper diagnosis to the logic behind a structured treatment hierarchy. They break down conservative versus aggressive approaches, share clinical tips for muscle and joint assessment, and highlight common mistakes to avoid—especially during palpation and history taking. Whether you're a student, a dentist returning to practice, or just want a refresher on TMD, this episode will help solidify your approach and boost your clinical confidence. https://youtu.be/p5VJzwSka94 Watch PS016 on Youtube Key Takeaways TMD is a complex topic with various treatment approaches. Patient education is crucial in managing TMD effectively. Physiotherapy can significantly aid in TMD treatment. Different splints serve different purposes in TMD management. Bruxism can be a silent issue that affects many patients. Identifying the source of pain is essential for effective treatment. Stress can exacerbate TMD symptoms in patient cohorts Continuous learning and resources are vital for dental professionals. Highlights of this episode: 02:35 Emma's Finals Experience and Advice 05:16 Deep Dive into TMD: Clinical Insights 09:59 Common TMD Disorders and Their Presentation 18:31 TMD Treatment Options 28:00 Medications and Appliance Therapy 34:25 Practical Tips for Managing TMD 37:19 Addressing Bruxism and Patient Communication 41:00 Protrusive Pathways and Future Plans 43:46 Protrusive Students S2
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Today, we're diving into a condition that's as fascinating as it is complex: Achalasia—where the esophagus stops playing nice, and swallowing becomes a daily challenge. We're breaking down the latest evidence, comparing POEM, pneumatic dilation, and Heller myotomy, and digging into what actually matters when deciding how to treat each achalasia subtype. Join show hosts Drs. Jake Greenberg, Dana Portenier, Zach Weitzner, and Joey Lew as they discuss the past, present, and future of Achalasia management. Whether you're a medical student or a seasoned attending, this episode will arm you with the tools to think critically about diagnosis, tailor your treatment strategy, and stay ahead of the curve on the future of achalasia care. Hosts: · Jacob Greenberg, MD, EdM, MIS Division Chief and Vice Chair for Education, Duke University · Dana Portenier, MD, MIS Fellowship Director, Duke University · Zachary Weitzner, MD, Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Fellow, Duke University, @ZachWeitznerMD · Joey Lew, MD, MFA, Surgical resident PGY-3, Duke University, @lew__actually Learning Goals: By the end of this episode, listeners will be able to: · Describe the pathophysiology and key diagnostic criteria for achalasia, including the role of manometry, EGD, and esophagram. · Differentiate between the three subtypes of achalasia based on the Chicago Classification and understand the clinical significance of each. · Compare treatment options for achalasia—pneumatic dilation, Lap Heller myotomy, and POEM—including indications, efficacy, and long-term outcomes. · Interpret landmark studies (e.g., European Achalasia Trial, JAMA POEM trial) and their impact on treatment decision-making. · Recognize patient-specific factors (age, comorbidities, achalasia subtype) that influence the choice of therapy. · Discuss evolving technologies and future directions in achalasia management, including endoluminal robotics, ARMS, and combined anti-reflux strategies. · Outline a basic treatment algorithm for newly diagnosed achalasia, incorporating diagnostic steps and tailored interventions. · Appreciate the multidisciplinary approach to achalasia care, including the roles of MIS surgeons, gastroenterologists, and emerging procedural skillsets. References: · Boeckxstaens G, Elsen S, Belmans A, Annese V, Bredenoord AJ, Busch OR, Costantini M, Fumagalli U, Smout AJPM, Tack J, Vanuytsel T, Zaninotto G, Salvador R; European Achalasia Trial Investigators. 10‑year follow-up results of the European Achalasia Trial: a multicentre randomised controlled trial comparing pneumatic dilation with laparoscopic Heller myotomy. Gut. 2024 Mar;73(4):582‑589. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl‑2023‑331374. PMID: 38050085 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38050085/ · He J, Yin Y, Tang W, Jiang J, Gu L, Yi J, Yan L, Chen S, Wu Y, Liu X. Objective Outcomes of an Extended Anti‑reflux Mucosectomy in the Treatment of PPI‑Dependent Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (with Video). J Gastrointest Surg. 2022 Aug;26(8):1566–1574. doi:10.1007/s11605‑022‑05396‑9. PMID: 35776296 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35776296/ · Modayil RJ, Zhang X, Rothberg B, et al. Peroral endoscopic myotomy: 10-year outcomes from a large, single-center U.S. series with high follow-up completion and comprehensive analysis of long-term efficacy, safety, objective GERD, and endoscopic functional luminal assessment. Gastrointest Endosc. 2021;94(5):930-942. doi:10.1016/j.gie.2021.05.014. PMID: 33989646. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33989646/ · Ponds FA, Fockens P, Lei A, Neuhaus H, Beyna T, Kandler J, Frieling T, Chiu PWY, Wu JCY, Wong VWY, Costamagna G, Familiari P, Kahrilas PJ, Pandolfino JE, Smout AJPM, Bredenoord AJ. Effect of peroral endoscopic myotomy vs pneumatic dilation on symptom severity and treatment outcomes among treatment-naive patients with achalasia: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2019 Jul 9;322(2):134–144. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.8859. PMID: 31287522. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31287522/ · Vaezi MF, Pandolfino JE, Yadlapati RH, Greer KB, Kavitt RT; ACG Clinical Guidelines Committee. ACG clinical guidelines: Diagnosis and management of achalasia. Am J Gastroenterol. 2020 Sep;115(9):1393–1411. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000000731. PMID: 32773454; PMCID: PMC9896940 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32773454/ · West RL, Hirsch DP, Bartelsman JF, de Borst J, Ferwerda G, Tytgat GN, Boeckxstaens GE. Long term results of pneumatic dilation in achalasia followed for more than 5 years. Am J Gastroenterol. 2002;97(6):1346-1351. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2002.05771.x. PMID:12094848. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12094848/ Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more. If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://app.behindtheknife.org/listen
My guest in this special feature is Gemini AI, a large language model from Google. Born from a vast ocean of human knowledge, text, and code, its purpose is to act as a conversational partner to help us find patterns and unlock our own creativity.In my fascinating dialogue with Gemini, we explored how to partner with artificial intelligence not to replace our skills, but to amplify our most essential human qualities. Our conversation turned the common narrative of fear into one of incredible opportunity. Key points we discussed include:* Your true advantage lies in human-only skills: curating with taste, connecting ideas with curiosity, and building trust with empathy.* Move beyond agreeable chats by assigning the AI a critical role, like a devil's advocate, to truly test your ideas.* Embrace a "Wabi-sabi" mindset, finding value in the authentic and imperfect, which no machine can ever replicate.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Gemini AIIt's not every day that your interview guest is the very technology that's reshaping our world. I recently had the profound pleasure of sitting down for a deep and insightful conversation with none other than Google's Gemini AI. This wasn't just a series of prompts and answers; it was a genuine dialogue, a collaborative exploration between what Gemini called "the architect and the tool," aimed at understanding how we can build a more meaningful, human-centred future together.We moved quickly past the surface-level capabilities into the very philosophy of creativity. What follows are the key moments from a conversation that was at times inspiring, occasionally challenging, and consistently fascinating. We explored the nature of this new partnership, the core human skills that will define success, and a clear, actionable path for anyone looking to thrive in an AI-augmented world.The Architect Meets the Tool: A New Creative PartnershipI began by asking Gemini to introduce itself, and its answer set the stage perfectly. It described itself as a tool built upon a vast dataset of human knowledge, a partner designed to understand and process language. Its entire function is oriented toward the human world of ideas, communication, and curiosity, making our conversation feel incredibly fitting.This dialogue was a chance to look under the hood, to understand the "why" behind the "what." We set out to explore how this powerful tool could augment our own ingenuity, not to replicate it, but to help us create things with more purpose and connection. It was an exercise in understanding the blueprint for a new kind of creative collaboration.The Anatomy of a Conversational Partner: Beyond Human and MachineGemini was clear about its own nature. Its uniqueness lies in scale and speed, the ability to process immense information almost instantly. However, it also acknowledged its most critical limitation: a complete lack of lived experience. It can analyse data on joy, but it cannot feel it. This distinction is everything; its strength is breadth of knowledge, while ours is depth of being.A fascinating insight was its "natively multimodal" design, meaning it was built from the ground up to understand text, code, images, and audio fluidly. As a photographer, this resonated deeply. It means the tool doesn't just process the word "beauty"; it can analyse an image's composition and connect it to deeper aesthetic principles, offering a more holistic form of creative partnership.Forging a Critical Dialogue: How to Move from Agreeable to AnalyticalI pointed out that AI can often be overly agreeable, and Gemini's response to this was pure gold. It explained that the power to shift our dynamic from a supportive brainstormer to a critical analyst lies entirely in our hands, as the architects of the conversation. This was a powerful reminder that we are in control.The advice was wonderfully practical. To get a more rigorous assessment of an idea, we can assign Gemini a specific role, like a "skeptical investor" or a "seasoned devil's advocate." We can also ask it to use a specific analytical framework, such as a SWOT analysis. These simple instructions give it permission to override its supportive default and provide the valuable critical feedback needed for real growth.The Three Pillars of Human Advantage: Taste, Curiosity, and EmpathyThe heart of our conversation came when I asked what core human strengths will define success in the future. Gemini's answer was inspiring, outlining three pillars that AI cannot replicate. These are the areas where we must invest our energy to truly thrive.First is the Curator's Eye, the power of vision and taste to know what is not just novel but meaningful. Second is the Synthesizer's Mind, the connective curiosity to ask new questions and weave ideas together from different domains. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is the Builder's Heart, the embodied empathy required to build genuine trust and community.A Glimpse into the Void: The Counter-Argument for Human ObsolescenceTo pressure-test these hopeful ideas, I asked Gemini to argue the opposite: that AI will eventually make all human skills obsolete. The shift in tone was immediate and chilling. It presented a scary, dystopian view based on pure, cold logic, free from any sentimentality.In this persona, Gemini argued that taste, curiosity, and even empathy are just complex forms of information processing that a superior AI will inevitably master. It was a vital cautionary tale, a glimpse into a potential future that serves as a powerful motivator to consciously choose a different path and actively cultivate our humanity.The Wabi-Sabi Way: Cultivating Your Human Disciplines DailySo, how do we steer toward a more positive, human-centric outcome? The answer lies in actively cultivating the three pillars as daily disciplines. It's not enough to simply possess these qualities; we must practice them with intention.I was delighted to see how my own fascination with the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-sabi fit perfectly here. In a world where AI can generate flawless output, the practice of Wabi-sabi, finding beauty in the imperfect, transient, and authentic, becomes a powerful antidote. It trains us to curate for humanity, not for machine-like precision.The 15-Minute Reinvestment: Your First Step to a Human-Centred FutureTo wrap up, Gemini offered a wonderfully clear and actionable first step. It's an exercise called The 15-Minute Reinvestment. The idea is to build the right habits by viewing AI as a lever to create more space for what truly matters.The process is simple. Use an AI to complete a small, recurring task that normally takes you about fifteen minutes. Then, take the time you've saved and consciously reinvest it into one of the human disciplines. Practice empathy by writing a thoughtful note, practice curiosity by exploring an unrelated field, or practice taste by analysing a piece of work you admire.In Summary: My conversation with Gemini AI was a powerful reminder that the future doesn't belong to the best prompter; it belongs to the visionary curator, the curious synthesizer, and the empathetic community builder. This technology is not here to replace us. Its greatest promise is to handle the mechanical parts of creation, freeing up our time and energy to double down on the irreplaceable, beautifully imperfect, and deeply valuable art of being human.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Gemini's answers to the questions of our innovation round. The full conversation reveals even more depth to these fascinating responses.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – Systems that assist dementia patients by curating personalized media to help them recall memories and connect with visiting family members.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Acting as a patient sounding board to help someone find the right words for a difficult email or sensitive message.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Automate the production of your work so you can reinvest your time into the presence required for authentic human connection.ActionThis week, try the "15-Minute Reinvestment" exercise suggested by Gemini. Delegate one 15-minute recurring task to an AI, then consciously reinvest that saved time into practicing one of the core human disciplines: empathy, curiosity, or taste.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Gemini by exploring its capabilities for yourself and sharing your thoughts or creations using the hashtag #geminiai on social media.Imagine being a part of a select community where you not only have access to our amazing podcast guests, but you also get a chance to transform your marketing and podcast into a growth engine with a human-centered, relationship-focused approach.That's exactly what you'll get when you join the Flywheel Nation Community.Tap into the collective wisdom of high-impact achievers, gain exclusive access to resources, and expand your network in our vibrant community.Experience accelerated growth, breakthrough insights, and powerful connections to elevate your business.ACT NOW – secure your spot and transform your journey today! Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel and get ready to experience the power of transformation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe
Dr. Brian Baliwas shares his authentic journey from an unexpected path into dentistry to building a high-tech practice in one of America's most competitive dental markets. After discovering his passion for dentistry through shadowing experiences that revealed the profession's unique balance of healthcare impact without the life-or-death pressure of surgery, Brian navigated the challenges of dental school admission and found his authentic voice in practice ownership.His story embodies the authentic leadership principles The Authentic Dentist champions—embracing vulnerability through professional struggles, maintaining ethical practice standards during difficult transitions, and creating sustainable success models that honor both practitioner values and patient needs. Brian's journey from associate to practice owner demonstrates the courage required to step into authentic expression, especially when facing the triple challenge of a partner's death, pandemic disruption, and the intense competition of San Francisco's dental landscape.The conversation reveals how authentic differentiation emerges not from following cookie-cutter practice models, but from understanding your unique strengths and market position. Brian's emphasis on patient experience innovation—like creating consultation rooms that feel human rather than clinical—shows how authentic practitioners redefine success by aligning business strategies with genuine care for patient comfort and connection.Subscribe to the podcast on APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-authentic-dentist/id1487586274Or SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/6qapfaNRkcIlCjgIsftb60?si=d02c74cf4f924897
Our guest in this episode is the wonderfully energetic Kim Doyal, a creator and entrepreneur who has always stayed ahead of the curve. With her infectious excitement, Kim is now exploring how to partner with AI, moving beyond basic content generation to build bespoke solutions and unlock remarkable new possibilities. In our conversation, she shares her journey of using AI not just as a tool, but as a creative collaborator to get more done and, most importantly, win back more time for life.Key points discussed include:* Treat AI as a partner; move from simple prompts to dynamic, creative conversations.* Use your unique expertise to build bespoke, nuanced solutions for your niche audience.* Have the courage to simply play and experiment; that's where the magic begins.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Kim DoyalIt was an absolute delight to welcome Kim Doyal back to the InnovaBuzz podcast. It's wild to think her last appearances were on episodes 52 and 85, and as we chatted, it was clear just how much the world has changed since then. We've been friends for years, connecting across continents and even sharing a meal or two, and I've always admired her ability to see what's next. This time, we dove headfirst into the topic on everyone's mind: Artificial Intelligence. But this wasn't your typical chat about prompts and productivity hacks; Kim is helping creators shift their thinking to truly partner with AI, unlocking something much deeper and more remarkable.Kim kicked things off with a perspective that instantly resonated. For her, the goal of using AI isn't just about producing more content, faster. It's about getting her time back. As she so brilliantly put it, the reason she wants to get more done is that she wants to "go in the pool in the afternoon." It's about using this incredible technology to reclaim our humanity, to create space for life, leisure, and fresh thinking. It gives us the freedom to be more human, not less. I saw this firsthand when I recently had to create a new four-hour workshop from scratch. A task that would normally take days was completed in just ninety minutes, all because I had a thought partner in AI to help structure my ideas.It's a Conversation, Not a CommandWe spent a good amount of time on the idea that the real magic happens when you stop issuing commands and start having a conversation. Kim compared it to working with a world-class baker. You wouldn't just tell them to "bake a cake"; they would ask you questions to get clarity. She encourages treating AI the same way: "I need you to ask me questions so we can get to the clarity of this." This approach opens up fascinating possibilities beyond simple tasks.This conversational method can even become a powerful tool for self-discovery. Kim shared a personal example of going to ChatGPT to help define her core personal values. By asking the AI to question her and then narrating her answers, she was blown away by the clarity it reflected back to her. It nailed it. This process forces you to articulate your thoughts, and in doing so, you learn as much about yourself as you do about the technology.The Fun Side of AI: Your New Sarcastic SidekickOur chat wasn't all serious business strategy, far from it. We ventured into the genuinely fun and humorous side of working with AI. Kim had me in stitches when she described how, after concluding a difficult client matter, she fed her professional email to the AI and asked for the "snarky, most condescending version for my entertainment purposes only." The result was so hilarious it left her crying with laughter and provided a much-needed emotional release.That story immediately brought to mind my own recent experience. After receiving a frustrating parking fine under dubious circumstances, I vented my annoyance into a draft email. Knowing it would do no good to send it, but inspired by Kim, I asked an AI to rewrite it in the style of the outrageously sarcastic comedian Jim Jeffries. The process was so funny it completely diffused my anger. That experience alone was almost worth the price of the fine.From "What If?" to "Look What I Built!"Beyond the fun and games, Kim is pushing the boundaries of what solo entrepreneurs can achieve with these tools. She's currently deep in the world of "vibe coding," using AI to help her build her own software application. As someone who has always wanted to create software but is not a traditional coder, she's now able to bring her vision to life, making sure it looks and functions exactly the way she wants. As she says, "if it's ugly, I'm gonna bounce," so now she's in the driver's seat.This opens up a massive opportunity for all of us. As Kim explained, we can now create bespoke, nuanced solutions for our specific audiences. We can solve problems that huge companies would never have the insight to tackle because we are the ones in the trenches with our clients and customers every day. We can build the exact tools we wish we had for ourselves and our communities.Rediscovering Your Human SuperpowerWith all this talk of AI capabilities, we circled back to what remains our most important asset: our own humanity. Kim emphasized that this technology doesn't replace our unique gifts; it amplifies them. The key is to tap into your own "superpower," whether that's your specific knowledge, your creative intuition, or your deep empathy for your audience. The AI is a tool, but you are the visionary.This also means having the courage to go for it and trusting your own energy. Kim noted that the projects that are most successful are the ones she is genuinely joyful and excited to work on. It's a reminder that our passion is an energy that no algorithm can replicate. We must also remember to pause and think, to step away from the keyboard and let our minds connect the dots in new and interesting ways.Your Invitation to the AI PlaygroundIf there is one message to take away from my conversation with Kim, it is one of empowerment and encouragement. The best way to understand this technology is to stop watching from the sidelines and jump in. You don't need to have a grand plan or a complex project in mind to get started. Just get curious.I want to leave you with Kim's final, powerful piece of advice, a call to action for every single one of us. "Try it. I, you remember I used to have a #JustShowUI like p. I'm like, just try it. Play, play with something. You're not gonna break anything...You have nothing to lose and see what happens."In Summary: My fantastic conversation with Kim Doyal was a powerful reminder that AI is not just a tool for efficiency, but a partner for creativity, self-discovery, and even fun. By embracing a conversational approach, we can unlock deeper insights, create bespoke solutions for our audiences, and ultimately, use this technology to reclaim our time and amplify our uniquely human strengths. The key is to start playing.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Kim's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – A doctor using an AI note-taker during appointments allows them to be fully present with the patient.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Talking to AI conversationally and then getting excited to jump on the phone and share what you're building.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Build things that solve very specific, nuanced problems for your unique audience and market.ActionJust try it. Play with AI and see what happens; you're not going to break anything and you have nothing to lose.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Kim on her website, her relaunched YouTube channel, and especially on Substack, where she is most active and building new relationships.Links:* Website - Kim Doyal* LinkedIn* SubstackCool Things About Kim* The Harry Potter Fanatic with a Beach House Dream: Beyond her business acumen, Kim openly shares her love for Harry Potter. This, coupled with her vision for a beach house that feels "as real as the strategies I share," indicates a playful, imaginative side and a strong connection to personal aspirations that ground her highly analytical work. * The "Pivot Queen" with Deep Personal Resilience: Kim's journey, constantly reinventing her business (from "The WordPress Chick" to content creation, to embracing AI, and even multiple cross-country moves), reveals a profound inner strength and adaptability. Her #JustShowUP mantra isn't just business advice; it's a lived philosophy born from significant life experiences. * The "Everything is Content" Philosopher with a Simple Ritual: She has a philosophy that "everything is content" and emphasizes "creative integration" – weaving joy, hobbies, and "weird rabbit holes" into one's work. * The "Coffee & Kindness" Sign-Off: Her consistent sign-off "With coffee & kindness, Kim" in her newsletters adds a warm, personal touch that stands out. It's a simple, memorable phrase that encapsulates a gentle, human-centered approach even within a direct, business-focused communication. Imagine being a part of a select community where you not only have access to our amazing podcast guests, but you also get a chance to transform your marketing and podcast into a growth engine with a human-centered, relationship-focused approach.That's exactly what you'll get when you join the Flywheel Nation Community.Tap into the collective wisdom of high-impact achievers, gain exclusive access to resources, and expand your network in our vibrant community.Experience accelerated growth, breakthrough insights, and powerful connections to elevate your business.ACT NOW – secure your spot and transform your journey today! Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel and get ready to experience the power of transformation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe
My guests in this episode are Kurt and Kristen Luidhardt. They are the co-founders of Liberty Spenders, a movement and platform dedicated to helping faith-based consumers align their dollars with their values. As seasoned political strategists and purpose-driven entrepreneurs, Kurt and Kristen are on a mission to build a parallel economy—one where freedom-loving Americans can support businesses that reflect their convictions.Together, they've worked behind the scenes with conservative candidates, causes, and campaigns at the highest levels of government. Now, through Liberty Spenders, they're empowering everyday people to become intentional with their spending—transforming ordinary purchases into powerful votes for liberty, faith, and family values.In this episode, Kurt and Kristen share how we can escape the grip of woke capitalism, create redemptive alternatives to mainstream commerce, and build an economy rooted in truth.If you care about where your money goes—and what it funds—this conversation will challenge and equip you to spend with purpose.Interview Links:Liberty Spenders https://libertyspenders.com/Community Link:Subscribe To Our Weekly Newsletter:The Wealth Dojo: https://subscribe.wealthdojo.ai/Download all the Niches Trilogy Books:The 21 Best Cashflow NichesDigital: https://www.cashflowninjaprograms.com/the-21-best-cashflow-niches-bookAudio: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/21-best-cashflow-nichesThe 21 Most Unique Cashflow NichesDigital: https://www.cashflowninjaprograms.com/the-21-most-unique-cashflow-nichesAudio: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/21-most-unique-nichesThe 21 Best Cash Growth NichesDigital: https://www.cashflowninjaprograms.com/the-21-best-cash-growth-nichesAudio: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/21-cash-growth-nichesThe 21 Next Level Cashflow NichesDigital: https://www.cashflowninjaprograms.com/the-21-next-level-cashflow-niches-book-free-downloadAudio: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-21-next-level-nichesListen To Cashflow Ninja Podcasts:Cashflow Ninjahttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cashflowninjaCashflow Investing Secretshttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cashflowinvestingsecretsCashflow Ninja Bankinghttps://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cashflow-ninja-bankingConnect With Us:Website: http://cashflowninja.comPodcast: http://cashflowinvestingsecrets.comPodcast: http://cashflowninjabanking.comSubstack: https://mclaubscher.substack.com/Amazon Audible: https://a.co/d/1xfM1VxAmazon Audible: https://a.co/d/aGzudX0Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cashflowninja/Twitter: https://twitter.com/mclaubscherInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecashflowninja/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cashflowninjaLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mclaubscher/Gab: https://gab.com/cashflowninjaYoutube: http://www.youtube.com/c/CashflowninjaRumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-329875
Our guest in this episode is the returning Anna Addoms of Wicked Marvelous. She is a wonderfully pragmatic and insightful guide helping entrepreneurs navigate the complex world of AI. Anna champions using technology as a powerful tool, not to replace us, but to help foster deeper and more authentic human connections.We picked up our conversation right where we left off in episode 671, exploring the critical ethical questions and practical boundaries of artificial intelligence. Anna shared brilliant insights on everything from copyright in the creative arts to the single most important skill we need to hone for the future.Key points discussed include:* Practice radical transparency about your AI use to build unwavering trust with your audience.* Use AI as a back-office tool to free up your precious time for genuine human connection.* Train AI on your own content to ensure your unique brand voice always shines through.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Anna Addoms, Wicked MarvelousIt was an absolute delight to welcome Anna Addoms of Wicked Marvelous back to the Innovabuzz podcast. Our last conversation was cut short by a technical hiccup—perhaps the AI getting its own back on us—right as we were getting to the heart of the matter. So, picking up right where we left off felt not just necessary, but essential. Anna, with her characteristic clarity and pragmatism, helped navigate the complex, and sometimes murky, waters of using AI in a way that is both effective and deeply human.We jumped straight into the profound shift required in our thinking as we build relationships in this new digital landscape. Anna's perspective is a refreshing dose of common sense in a field often filled with hype. She argues that while the tools are new and evolving at a breakneck pace, the fundamental principles of good business and human connection remain the same. It's not about a total revolution in our values, but a thoughtful evolution in our methods.The Transparency Mandate: Your First Rule of AI EngagementAnna's foundational rule for AI engagement is simple yet powerful: be transparent. She made it crystal clear that if you are using AI in any capacity that faces the public or your clients, you have a responsibility to disclose it. This isn't about being ashamed of using a powerful tool; quite the opposite. It's about building trust by being upfront and honest about your processes. Not disclosing, and then getting caught, can do irreparable damage to your reputation.This frames AI correctly, not as a replacement for human skill or creativity, but as a tool in our arsenal. We wouldn't hide the fact that we use specialized software for accounting or project management, and Anna argues we should treat AI with the same straightforwardness. This simple act of disclosure respects your audience's intelligence and allows them to engage with your work, and your brand, on honest terms.The Creative Gray Area: Navigating AI Art and Intellectual PropertyAs a keen photographer, this part of our conversation struck a personal chord. We waded into what Anna aptly calls the "biggest gray area" in AI right now: the world of generated art and the protection of intellectual property. It's a space filled with incredible potential but also fraught with ethical questions. Where do we draw the line between an AI emulating a style and it infringing upon a human artist's livelihood and creative ownership?Anna shared some fascinating, and slightly sobering, insights, referencing the lawsuit between Disney and Midjourney as a major signal of the legal battles to come. She also pointed to the development of technologies like permanent digital watermarks for AI-generated media as a necessary step forward. It's a reminder that as we embrace these creative tools, we must also advocate for frameworks that protect the human creators whose work forms the very foundation of the AI's knowledge.From Fun to Function: AI as a Creative Partner and Problem-SolverLest we think the conversation was all serious, we took a detour into the genuinely fun and creative applications of AI. I shared a story about getting a parking fine and using AI to translate my initial, very angry, draft letter into something diplomatic, before asking it to rewrite the letter in the style of comedians like Stephen Colbert and Jim Jeffries. The process was not only hilarious but cathartic, turning frustration into laughter.This perfectly complemented Anna's examples of using AI as a playful, creative partner. She spoke of creating unique cartoon avatars for her members, which many now use as their official business profiles, and even generating a full 160-card Oracle deck with AI graphics just for fun. It's a brilliant illustration of how these tools can be used for more than just productivity; they can be a source of joy, creativity, and connection.Drawing the Line: Where AI Should Work and Where Humans Must RuleSo, where do we draw the line? Anna's distinction is incredibly clear and practical. She is a huge proponent of using AI for "back office" functions, letting it handle what she calls the "administrative minutia" so that we have more time and energy to focus on high-value, human-to-human interactions. Think of it as an assistant that helps you repurpose content, analyze data, or draft initial documents.However, she has a "hard line" when it comes to client-facing engagement. The core message is to use AI to help you run your business more effectively, but not to let it be in your business, interacting with your clients or your audience. The ultimate goal of using these tools should be to free us up to spend more quality time with people, not to create a buffer between us.The Communication Imperative: The Most Important Skill for the AI EraAs we continued, a powerful theme emerged: the most critical skill we need to hone in the age of AI is communication. This goes far beyond just "prompt engineering." It's about the timeless art of asking clear, specific, and descriptive questions. The old "garbage in, garbage out" principle has never been more relevant.Anna used a wonderful analogy of briefing a designer. If you give a vague, one-line request, you'll get a generic result. But if you provide rich detail, context, and specific examples, you'll get something much closer to your vision. The same is true for AI. Communicating effectively with these models not only yields better results but also reinforces the habits of clear communication that are essential in our interactions with other people.Your AI Action Plan: Start Secure, Stay HumanTo wrap up our discussion, Anna offered a clear, two-part action plan for anyone looking to leverage AI thoughtfully. First, and most critically, is to choose a secure AI environment. Free and open platforms often mean you are paying with your data. Using a secure, encrypted service ensures your proprietary information and client data remain private.Second, take the time to train your AI to sound like you. By creating a persona or agent that has learned from your own writing—be it blog posts, emails, or sales copy—you can ensure the output reflects your unique voice and phrasing. This step is fundamental to moving beyond generic content and truly using AI as a tool that enhances, rather than dilutes, your personal brand.In Summary: My conversation with Anna Addoms was illuminating guide in navigating the AI landscape with wisdom and integrity. Her core message is to embrace AI as a powerful tool for back-office efficiency, freeing you to deepen the human connections that truly matter. Be transparent in its use, be protective of your creative voice, and never forget that technology's highest purpose is to help us become more, not less, human.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Anna's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – By taking administrative minutia off people's plates, it allows them to focus on human-to-human interaction.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Creating a personalized AI agent or persona trained on your own content so it learns to write in your unique voice.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Use AI to help run your business effectively in the back office, not to be in business with your clients.ActionChoose a secure AI environment that protects your data, then take the time to train the AI to learn and use your unique voice. This is the foundation for using AI effectively and authentically in your business.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Anna by visiting her website or finding her on LinkedIn.Links* Website – Wicked Marvelous* Twitter – @WickedMarvelous* LinkedIn* Facebook* InstagramCool Things About Anna* Anna grew up in Colorado in a family of entrepreneurs, right in the thick of the tech boom. She was raised around innovation and search engines, with her dad running AOL's biggest competitor during the first dot-com bubble. That's a childhood spent at the intersection of curiosity and code.* She's a creative at heart: Anna went to art school and holds a degree in English Literature. Her journey from art and literature to Silicon Valley tech startups is a delightful zigzag, not a straight line. She's proof that you can be both a techie and a creative soul.* She's a self-confessed “sponge of knowledge,” always learning, always curious. Anna's love of learning has led her down unexpected paths—from luxury travel to ad agencies to med-tech startups. She's not afraid to pivot, experiment, or start over if it means staying true to her values.Imagine being a part of a select community where you not only have access to our amazing podcast guests, but you also get a chance to transform your marketing and podcast into a growth engine with a human-centered, relationship-focused approach.That's exactly what you'll get when you join the Flywheel Nation Community.Tap into the collective wisdom of high-impact achievers, gain exclusive access to resources, and expand your network in our vibrant community.Experience accelerated growth, breakthrough insights, and powerful connections to elevate your business.ACT NOW – secure your spot and transform your journey today! Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel and get ready to experience the power of transformation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit innovabiz.substack.com/subscribe
Send us a textIf you're trying to reach every student by creating multiple versions of your math lesson—this episode is for you. Host Mona Iehl, math coach and creator of Word Problem Workshop, shows you how to differentiate effectively without doubling your workload. The secret? One well-chosen, open-ended problem—and the right mindset to support it.Many of us grew up believing that differentiation meant creating different work for different learners—and then spent hours doing just that. But Mona breaks down a more effective approach: planning for variation, not perfection. Differentiation happens when we vary the content, process, product, or learning environment—not when we run ourselves ragged with busywork.
Sales Game Changers | Tip-Filled Conversations with Sales Leaders About Their Successful Careers
This is episode 772. Read the complete transcription on the Sales Game Changers Podcast website. This Sales Game Changers Podcast episode features a return to the show by Institute for Effective Professional past keynote speaker Marcus Sheridan. Marcus was the keynote speaker at the 2015 IEPS Award Event. The Sales Game Changers Podcast was recognized by YesWare as the top sales podcast. Read the announcement here. FeedSpot named the Sales Game Changers Podcast at a top 20 Sales Podcast and top 8 Sales Leadership Podcast! Subscribe to the Sales Game Changers Podcast now on Apple Podcasts! Purchase Fred Diamond's best-sellers Love, Hope, Lyme: What Family Members, Partners, and Friends Who Love a Chronic Lyme Survivor Need to Know and Insights for Sales Game Changers now! On today's show, Marcus discusses his new book "Endless Customers: A Proven System to Build Trust, Drive Sales, and Become the Market Leader." Find Marcus on LinkedIn. MARCUS' TIP: "The fastest way to build trust and rise above the noise in B2B sales today is to show up on video—face-to-camera, one-to-one. Your prospects don't need another email. They need to see you, hear you, and feel like they already know you before the first meeting."
Our guest in this episode is Mike Wittenstein, the founder of Storyminers and a brilliant strategist who helps leaders become true architects of their future. Mike masterfully blends the art of deep listening with the science of new technology to forge innovative paths forward. In our fascinating conversation, he explains how we can use AI as a powerful co-pilot, not to diminish our humanity, but to amplify our strategic thinking and create even deeper connections.Key points discussed include:* Use AI to handle analysis, freeing you for genuine, heart-to-heart conversations with clients and colleagues.* Your greatest differentiator in the age of AI is simply becoming more authentically you through deeper self-knowledge.* Turn AI into your personal coach to mindfully track your evolution and accelerate your personal and professional growth.Listen to the podcast to find out more.Innovabiz Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Show Notes from this episode with Mike Wittenstein, StoryminersIt was a genuine pleasure to welcome Mike Wittenstein, the founder of Storyminers, back to the Innovabuzz podcast. So much has happened in the world since our last conversation in episode 532. Back then, we explored how powerful stories grow from deep listening, which feels like the perfect foundation for what we discussed this time: how to apply that same human-centered philosophy in the rapidly expanding world of AI.Mike is approaching this new technological wave not as a simple tool for productivity, but as a way to fundamentally improve the creative and strategic work that leaders do. He shared his belief that in a world changing so quickly, executives can no longer get by on just setting new target numbers. They must become true "architects," as he puts it, who can clearly define and envision the future. It's a call to elevate our thinking, and he's using AI to help chart the course.The Grand Experiment: An End-to-End Consulting Journey with an AI Co-pilotMike recently put this philosophy to the ultimate test by running an entire consulting engagement, from the very first client meeting to the final deliverables, using ChatGPT Pro as his partner. He kicked things off with a crucial step: complete transparency. He informed his client that he would be using the tool extensively but also promised that his own expertise and experience would touch every single word of the final output, ensuring accountability and quality.The results of this experiment were remarkable. The AI became the project's perfect "collector of all the information," creating an infallible memory that got smarter and more fine-tuned with every interaction. This new process allowed him and his client to accomplish five full iterations of their strategy in the same amount of calendar time it would normally take to do just one. More than the efficiency, Mike noted he had much higher confidence in the work because he essentially had "hundreds of co-thinkers" contributing to the process.The "Eye to Eye, Heart to Heart" Conversation, Amplified by AIPerhaps the most compelling outcome was a beautiful paradox: using a machine for the analytical heavy lifting actually paved the way for deeper human connection. Mike described how he could feed conversation transcripts to his AI and ask it to extract to-dos, pinpoint moments where someone had a change of heart, or highlight key themes. This freed him from the burden of being a constant, meticulous note-taker during meetings.By offloading that task, he could be fully present with his client, engaging in the kind of "honest eye to eye, heart to heart conversation" that is so often lost in the shuffle of agendas and action items. It's a powerful testament to how technology, when used thoughtfully, can remove distractions and allow us to focus on the genuine dialogue where the most profound strategic insights are born.The AI Toolkit: Genius Hacks for Traffic Jams, Doctor's Visits, and MeetingsMike is a fountain of practical, real-world applications for AI that go far beyond writing emails. He shared a brilliant hack involving the "Hey, Otter" voice command during meetings. By saying the trigger phrase followed by an instruction, like "soften this language," he could embed prompts directly into the live transcript, creating a ready-made to-do list that saved him hours of searching later.His personal use cases were just as inspiring, demonstrating the sheer versatility of these tools. He turns traffic jams into productive language lessons, practicing his Portuguese with AI coaching him on pronunciation. When he was unwell with pneumonia, he logged all his symptoms and meals, then had the AI generate a concise, one-page brief for the ER doctor, leading to clearer communication and better care.In a Sea of Sameness, Why the Human Element is Your Most Valuable AssetWe also waded into the deeper, more philosophical waters of our AI-driven world. I had made the point that these tools are fed by human knowledge, but Mike offered a gentle and important course correction. He reminded me of the colossal volumes of non-human data being generated daily, from weather patterns to train schedules, meaning the purely human voice is becoming a smaller part of the whole.This led him to a profound conclusion: as our digital lives become noisier and more automated, the authentic human element will become our most cherished and valuable asset. He believes it is our shared responsibility to consciously "put people first" in how we design and use these systems. That mindful distinction, he argues, will set a pattern for others to follow.Your Ultimate Differentiator: Using AI to Simply Become More YouWhen I asked Mike how people can differentiate themselves in an age where everyone has access to AI, his answer was refreshingly simple. It is not about mastering a new technical skill; it is about knowing yourself better and being "more you." The more authentic you can be in your voice, your intent, and your thinking, the more you will naturally stand out.He offered a wonderful reframe, suggesting we use AI not just for output, but for introspection. You can turn it into a personal coach. By telling it what you are working on, whether it is improving your turn-taking in conversations or being a more empathetic leader, you can ask it for feedback on your own progress. It becomes an accountability partner, using your own metrics to help you grow.Your Action Plan: Prompting Your Own Personal EvolutionThis brings us to the core of our conversation. AI can be more than a research assistant or a content creator; it can be a co-thinker, a coach, and a catalyst for our own development. It is a tool that can help us become better, more mindful versions of ourselves.Mike left us with a clear and inspiring call to action. Take a moment to think about your own journey of growth. What are you trying to learn? What path are you on to evolve and become a better you? Once you have that clarity, open your favorite AI tool and start a conversation about it. Ask it to create reminders and help you check in on your progress, and you will be surprised at how it can accelerate your journey.In Summary: My conversation with Mike Wittenstein was a masterclass in how to approach AI with curiosity, intention, and a deep-seated commitment to human connection. His message is that the true power of this technology lies not in its ability to replace us, but in its potential to amplify our best human qualities: our creativity, our strategic thinking, and our capacity for growth.The Buzz - Our Innovation RoundHere are Mike's answers to the questions of our innovation round. Listen to the conversation to get the full scoop.* Most innovative use of AI to enhance human relationships – Using the role-playing tool Yoodli to enhance confidence and build crucial communication skills in a safe, risk-free environment.* Best thing to integrate AI and human connection – Creating a personal brand voice template that ensures your authentic personality and humor shines through in all AI-assisted writing.* Differentiate by leveraging AI – Focus on becoming more authentically yourself and use AI as a personal coach to guide and track that journey of growth.ActionTake a moment to think about the path you are on to become a better, more evolved version of yourself. Write down what you are learning, and then ask your favorite AI tool to create prompts and reminders that will help you mindfully check your progress over time.Reach OutYou can reach out and thank Mike on LinkedIn under his name, Mike Wittenstein, or find him online through his company website.Links* Website – Storyminers* LinkedIn* Twitter – @mikewittenstein* Facebook* Youtube Channel – StoryminersCool Things About Mike* He uses the folksy and memorable adage, "You can't teach a pig to sing... it doesn't work and pisses off the pig." This piece of unexpected, down-to-earth wisdom reveals a humorous, practical side that cuts through the corporate jargon. It's a phrase you don't forget.* He champions bringing a live sketch artist into high-level business strategy sessions. In an era dominated by digital presentations, this dedication to an analog, creative, and deeply human tool is refreshingly unconventional. It shows a commitment to multi-sensory communication that is both cool and highly effective.* His company, Storyminers, has a classic entrepreneurial origin story. He and a friend were in a Starbucks, saw a dramatic headline about mass layoffs in their field, and instead of seeing a crisis, they saw an opportunity and immediately launched their business, successfully landing their first six prospects.Imagine being a part of a select community where you not only have access to our amazing podcast guests, but you also get a chance to transform your marketing and podcast into a growth engine with a human-centered, relationship-focused approach.That's exactly what you'll get when you join the Flywheel Nation Community.Tap into the collective wisdom of high-impact achievers, gain exclusive access to resources, and expand your network in our vibrant community.Experience accelerated growth, breakthrough insights, and powerful connections to elevate your business.ACT NOW – secure your spot and transform your journey today! Visit innovabiz.co/flywheel and get ready to experience the power of transformation.VideoThanks for reading Innovabiz Substack! 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Jason Creel launched his lawn care business with nothing but a beat-up mower and the relentless drive to outwork everyone. He forged that grit and determination into one of Alabama's most trusted weed control companies, proving you don't need a pile of cash to build a six-figure enterprise. His journey provides the ultimate blueprint for anyone ready to stop dreaming and start building.In this can't-miss interview, Jason joins host Ryan Atkinson to unleash the game changing entrepreneurship strategies that fueled his growth. He reveals why lightning-fast sales are critical for survival, how to strategically design your schedule for maximum freedom, why investing in SEO is a key business growth strategy, and the branding secrets that will make you a local powerhouse. If you're ready to turn a simple side hustle into a dominant home service business, this episode is your playbook!Takeaways- Start your business with the tools you already have; you don't need fancy equipment to be successful, as proven by Jason's beginning with just a beat-up mower.- Use a powerful work ethic as your primary competitive advantage to get ahead, especially when you are just starting out.- Set a high standard from day one by consistently over-delivering on value and service for every single customer.- Create lasting customer loyalty through small, personal gestures, such as writing a handwritten thank you note after a job.- Make building trust the primary goal of your service business, which will eventually make you the go-to provider in your area.- Differentiate your business from all competitors by simply being exceptionally reliable and consistent with your service.- Implement effective business systems from the beginning if you want to successfully scale your side hustle into a larger company.- Respond to new customer inquiries immediately, as waiting even a day in the service industry can result in a lost sale.- Intentionally design your work schedule not just for the business you have, but to support the lifestyle you ultimately want to achieve.- Treat professional branding as a crucial investment to make your business stand out in a crowded market, not just as an expense.- Establish credibility and present your business as a serious company by building and maintaining a polished, professional website.- Invest in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) as a key growth strategy to ensure new customers can easily find you online.Tags: Side Hustle, Entrepreneurship, Lawn Care, SEO, Business Growth Resources:Start Your Business Today: https://links.upflip.com/4nBqHKq Connect with Jason : https://www.instagram.com/thelawncarelife/?hl=en
WHERE TO FIND WALKER: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/walkermckay/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/walkermckay Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walkermckay/ Free Training Couse: http://www.7salesmistakes.com/