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Latest podcast episodes about platforms

Inside Scoop
Is Software Dead? and What Big Tech's Spending Reveals About the Future...

Inside Scoop

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2026 18:12 Transcription Available


In this episode of Around the Desk, Sean Emory, Founder and Chief Investment Officer at Avory & Co., steps back from the AI noise to focus on what actually matters right now.Using recent earnings from Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, this conversation breaks down what the massive AI CapEx buildout really signals, how different business models monetize AI very differently, and why many of the fears around software disruption may be overstated.This episode explores AI through a capital allocation lens, separating defensive spending from offensive opportunity, and what Big Tech behavior tells us about the true health of the underlying economy.Topics covered include:• The scale of Big Tech AI CapEx and why it matters more than feature launches • Defensive vs offensive AI spending and how to think about moats • Why AI CapEx is also an economic confidence signal • Different monetization paths at Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Google • Why Meta may be the cleanest AI beneficiary • The narrative vs data gap around Google Search and AI disruption • Why the “AI breaks software” panic may be overdone • Enterprise security, governance, and why AI rollout feels fast and slow at the same time • Platforms vs single-purpose tools and where risk actually sits • What recent software earnings say about demand, renewals, and long-term contracts • How AI likely becomes embedded inside platforms rather than replacing themThis conversation is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice. Avory & Co. may hold positions in some of the companies discussed. Please do your own research before making any investment decisions._____DisclaimerAvory is not an investor in either company mentioned. .Avory & Co. is a Registered Investment Adviser. This platform is solely for informational purposes. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Avory & Co. and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. No advice may be rendered by Avory & Co. unless a client service agreement is in place.Listeners and viewers are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax, legal, or investment adviser to determine whether any information presented may be suitable for their specific situation. Past performance is not indicative of future performance.“Likes” are not intended to be endorsements of our firm, our advisors, or our services. While we monitor comments and “likes,” we do not endorse or necessarily share the opinions expressed by site users. Any form of testimony from current or past clients about their experience with our firm is strictly forbidden under current securities laws. Please limit posts to industry-related educational information and comments.Third-party rankings and recognitions are no guarantee of future investment success and do not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results. These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the advisor by any client nor are they representative of any one client's evaluation.Please reach out to Houston Hess, our Head of Compliance and Operations, for any further details.

The Agile World with Greg Kihlstrom
#808: Resident Expert: Bill Staikos on the market activity in 2025 MarTech & CX platforms and what 2026 will bring

The Agile World with Greg Kihlstrom

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2026 25:17


As a marketing leader, you often spend so much time on the strategies and tactics that keep your brand growing that it's difficult to keep up with what's going on in the background with the platforms and the companies behind them. While agility requires a flexible technology stack, it also requires a leadership mindset that can distinguish market noise from genuine strategic opportunity, and filter out the hype to understand the shifts that can impact customers and the bottom line. The ability to pivot your people, processes, and platforms in response to major market shifts is no longer a nice to have, but rather a competitive advantage. Today, I'm excited to talk with our 2026 Resident Expert on the CX and MarTech platform landscape. We're going to focus on the business and business opportunities that mergers, acquisitions, and big moves in the market provide to these platforms' customers. Our focus today is going to be a recap of market activity in 2025 with an eye towards what to expect in 2026. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Bill Staikos, Founder at Be Customer Led.About Bill Staikos Bill Staikos on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billstaikos/ Resources Be Customer Led: https://becustomerled.com/ Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code AGILE at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://incogni.com/agile The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://www.thecrmc.com/ Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://advertalize.com/r/faaed112fc9887f3 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Wine Talks with Paul Kalemkiarian
Wine Talks with Paul Mabray: Navigating the Digital Evolution of the Wine Industry

Wine Talks with Paul Kalemkiarian

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2026 59:19


Next week, I am in Paris. And I have the privledge to document the session on "Rethinking The WIne Business." Two of the prominent panel members are Paul Mabray and Priscilla Hennekam.  There is a movement in the trade to mix things up a bit; make some changes, move the needle a bit. Paul Mabray is considered the pre-eminent authority of all things digital wine. Platforms, logistics, user-experience and more, all play into the realm of Paul's knowledge base.  I have to tell you, having Paul Mabray on the show was a breath of fresh air—no other way to describe it. He's got this knack for slicing through the clutter and getting to the heart of what's happening in the wine world today. You know me, I love a good anecdote and an insightful thought, and he delivered plenty. Right out of the gate, Paul Mabray hit us with a beautiful metaphor: a glass of wine is a time capsule, a space-time machine connecting you to France ten years ago, or some other corner of the world and moment in history. I was hooked! That's what keeps me coming back to these conversations—a guest who sees past the label and into the soul of wine itself. We started the episode in my studio in Monroeville, California, broadcasting all the way to Napa. Paul Mabray—and, yes, for the record, both our names being Paul made the "Paul Squared" jokes inevitable—has worn many hats: club manager, consultant, software innovator, and digital pioneer. I reminisced about the early days of my own family's Wine of the Month Club: carbon paper, binders stuffed with customer cards, and handwritten manifests. He nodded knowingly, recalling his own journey at Niebaum Coppola, and the story about hiring Rob Crumb to write Access for Dummies so they could process wine club memberships in 72 hours instead of weeks! That story, I thought, is the kind of practical innovation the wine business desperately needed. As I listened to Paul Mabray, it occurred to me how much the industry has changed. The old guard—wholesalers, lobbyists—used to make it nearly impossible to ship direct to consumers. Back then, you practically had to sneak into the Wholesalers Association. He reminded me how those lobbying efforts were already fracturing in the mid-2000s, and with COVID, things are accelerating. Consumers are getting what they want, regulations be damned. That's insight you only get from someone who's lived both the analog and digital sides of the game. We also dove into software innovation—my old-school, "clunky but functional" database meets his experience launching e-commerce solutions like Wine Direct back in 2002. He had me laughing with stories of credit card gateways thinking a massive wine club was a puppy mill for stolen cards. The way he explained the evolution from manual systems to omnichannel cloud solutions made me realize: in the wine business, technology is about scaling human connection, not replacing it. A favorite moment in our conversation was when we discussed the fragility of relying on the tasting room model. Fires, earthquakes, and COVID have hammered the point home—it's time to reach consumers in Boston, Austin, Anchorage, wherever they are. It's about connection. That's tough for the "gentleman farmers" who often own wineries now, but it's necessary. Paul Mabray sees the golden age of wine online coming, and I'm inclined to agree. If you want a snapshot of the state and future of wine, these are the conversations to listen to. Technology, branding, regulation, and, of course, the existential experience of sharing a bottle—wine, Paul Mabray reminds us, is a social time capsule. He left me thinking that the business side, the digital side, and the soul of wine are all lining up for a renaissance. And that's a story worth sharing.  

Terminal Value
From Bankruptcy to Building Opportunity — Reinvention After the 2008 Crash

Terminal Value

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2026 35:45


After losing his business in the 2008 financial collapse, Doug Thorpe didn't pivot to another startup or chase the next trend. He went bankrupt — and then built a nonprofit to help hundreds of people find jobs in one of the worst labor markets in modern history.In this episode of Second Life Leader, Doug Thorpe joins Doug Utberg to unpack what actually happens after economic collapse — personally, professionally, and psychologically. From running a mortgage-services company wiped out in a 45-day window to navigating unemployment, identity loss, and reinvention, this conversation strips away the sanitized version of resilience.This isn't motivational theater. It's a practical, honest discussion about recovery speed, burn rate, relevance, and why old playbooks fail during systemic change. The conversation expands into modern job searching, why relationships still matter more than applications, and how platforms like Reddit are quietly reshaping how people connect, hire, and rebuild outside traditional corporate channels.If you're facing layoffs, career resets, business volatility, or the uncomfortable question of “what now?”, this episode offers clarity — not comfort.What We Explore• What it actually feels like to lose everything after long-term success• Why bankruptcy doesn't end careers — denial does• How Doug built a nonprofit during peak unemployment• Why most job applications go nowhere (and what works instead)• The role of relationships versus platforms in modern hiring• Why Reddit is emerging as a raw, trust-driven alternative to LinkedIn• How anonymity changes real conversation and opportunity• Using AI to surface real-time market signals instead of chasing noise• Why reinvention is a permanent requirement, not a phaseTL;DRReinvention isn't optional in volatile economies.Bankruptcy is an event — not an identity.Burn rate determines freedom more than revenue.Applications don't get jobs — relationships do.Platforms change, but trust remains the currency.Adaptability beats stability every time.Memorable Lines“It's not the collapse that defines you — it's what you build after.”“Burn rate is destiny when markets turn.”“You don't pitch your way to trust — you earn it.”“Applications are noise; conversations are leverage.”“Reinvention isn't reactive — it's strategic.”GuestDoug ThorpeEntrepreneur, nonprofit founder, executive coach, and business advisorDoug Thorpe is a former mortgage-industry entrepreneur whose company was wiped out during the 2008 financial crash. He went on to found a nonprofit that helped hundreds of job seekers navigate unemployment and career transition during the recession. Today, Doug advises business owners and leaders on growth, reinvention, and navigating volatility without losing clarity or integrity.Why This MattersThe modern economy doesn't reward loyalty or linear careers. It rewards people who can recalibrate quickly, stay relevant, and rebuild without clinging to outdated identities.For founders, operators, executives, and job seekers navigating uncertainty, this episode reframes failure as information — not judgment. The edge isn't avoiding collapse. It's shortening the distance between setback and meaningful forward motion. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.dougutberg.com

We Don't PLAY
Shopify SEO Vs Squarespace SEO Comparisons: Website Development Tutorial, FAQ + Checklist with Favour Obasi-ike

We Don't PLAY

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2026 76:36


SEO expert Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS delivers an in-depth comparison of Shopify SEO and Squarespace SEO CMS platforms, focusing on their SEO and CRO capabilities and website development features. This discussion covers critical technical insights about theme management, URL structure optimization, metadata configuration, and platform-specific best practices.Favour shares actionable strategies for improving website visibility, including the importance of regular theme updates, proper sitemap configuration, and effective use of SEO metadata. The session also touches on comparisons with WordPress, Wix, and other CMS platforms, providing business owners with practical guidance for choosing and optimizing their e-commerce and content-driven websites in 2026.Book SEO Services | Quick Links for Social Business>> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book SEO Services with Favour Obasi-ike⁠>> Visit Work and PLAY Entertainment website to learn about our digital marketing services>> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our exclusive SEO Marketing community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠>> Read SEO Articles>> ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the We Don't PLAY Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠>> Purchase Flaev Beatz Beats Online>> Favour Obasi-ike Quick LinksEpisode Key Learning Topics1. Shopify Platform Deep DiveShopify as a closed-source e-commerce CMS platformTheme Liquid customization and custom code implementationImportance of regular theme updates for algorithm visibilityPre-installed sitemap functionality and automated SEO featuresApp ecosystem vs WordPress pluginsMulti-currency and multi-language capabilitiesSchema.org integration for product pages2. Squarespace Platform OverviewUser-friendly, content-driven platform positioningComparison with Shopify for product-based vs content-based websitesQuick setup and on-the-go management capabilitiesIntegration capabilities and limitationsBest use cases for small businesses and content creators3. SEO Metadata OptimizationProper configuration of SEO meta titles and descriptionsOpen Graph (OG) tags for social media sharingURL structure best practices and character optimizationThe importance of unique metadata vs duplicated contentHow to edit SEO metadata in Shopify product pages4. URL Structure StrategyStrategic URL naming conventions for productsUsing numbers strategically in URLs (e.g., "red-roses-12-piece" vs "12-piece-red-roses")Pattern disruption for user attention and click-through optimizationShorter, more concentrated URLs for better visual scanningPre-purchase click optimization through URL clarity5. Technical SEO FundamentalsSitemap management across different platformsGoogle Search Console setup and sitemap submissionThe difference between Google Analytics and Google Search ConsoleNAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency for local SEORobots.txt configuration and indexing control6. Wix Platform InsightsHidden robots.txt settings affecting blog tag indexingHow to enable tag indexing in Wix SEO settings10-year evolution of the Wix platformCommon indexing issues and solutions7. WordPress vs Closed-Source PlatformsOpen-source flexibility vs closed-source constraintsPlugin management and sitemap conflictsThe analogy of "square footage" for platform capabilitiesWhen to choose WordPress over Shopify/Squarespace8. Content Strategy & Page ManagementThe power of compounding through content updatesUpdating old blog posts alongside publishing new onesFooter copyright year updates as ranking signalsOn-page SEO details that AI and search engines scanCreating and maintaining a content calendar9. Website Maintenance Best PracticesRegular theme updates and their impact on visibilityChecking and updating footer copyright yearsMonitoring broken links and slow page speedsPlatform-specific maintenance requirements (Shopify, Squarespace, WordPress, Webflow, Wix)10. Free Website Audit OfferFavour's offer for surface-level website auditsDeep dive capabilities for root problem identificationMulti-platform support (Shopify, Squarespace, WordPress, Webflow, Wix, Magento, Tilda, Duda)Email newsletter with SEO, marketing, and AI insightsEpisode Timestamps00:00 - Introduction: Shopify SEO vs Squarespace SEO comparison00:53 - Welcome and housekeeping (saving replays, accessing resources)02:36 - Shopify platform overview and e-commerce focus03:01 - Why Shopify stands out (price-friendly, brand-aware, aesthetically pleasing)03:43 - Shopify themes and purchasing considerations05:43 - Critical question: When did you last update your theme?06:40 - How theme updates affect algorithm visibility07:00 - Closed-source vs open-source platforms explained07:08 - Theme Liquid customization in Shopify08:00 - Shopify as your hosting platform08:10 - Apps in Shopify vs plugins in WordPress08:21 - Squarespace positioning and user-friendliness09:00 - Platform comparison analogy: Square footage (500 to 20,000 sq ft)09:33 - When aesthetics and ease-of-use matter most14:00 - Detailed Shopify theme management discussion18:00 - SEO metadata and URL structure fundamentals22:00 - The importance of page quantity and content strategy28:00 - Sitemap management and Google Search Console setup28:15 - Why Shopify pre-installs sitemaps (no conflicts)29:00 - WordPress sitemap conflicts and plugin management29:32 - The sitemap as "the brain of a website"30:00 - Content compounding strategy: updating old posts31:06 - Wix robots.txt issue: blog tags set to "no index" by default32:00 - How to fix Wix tag indexing in SEO settings33:00 - Tags as hashtags and their importance for visibility34:05 - Critical action item: Update your footer copyright year to 202635:00 - Why footer year matters for AI and search engine scanning36:01 - Shopify advantages for multi-language and multi-currency37:03 - Google Search Console vs Google Analytics confusion37:20 - The "reverse gear" moment in SEO audits42:00 - Deep dive into URL structure optimization45:00 - Strategic use of numbers in product URLs48:00 - Open Graph (OG) tags explained52:00 - Schema.org and structured data importance58:00 - Product page SEO metadata workflow in Shopify58:15 - How titles auto-generate URLs and the edit button59:00 - Example: "6-piece red rose bouquet" URL structure59:23 - Optimizing URL readability and pattern disruption60:00 - Pre-purchase click optimization through URL clarity61:00 - Character count optimization for URLs63:00 - Shopify vs Squarespace integration comparison63:16 - Schema.org as the "golden standard" for web documentation63:48 - NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency explained64:00 - "Dress how you want to be addressed" philosophy68:00 - Free website audit offer details70:00 - Platforms supported for audits72:00 - Newsletter signup for SEO, marketing, and AI insights74:00 - Surface-level vs deep-dive audit explanation75:00 - Closing remarks and call to actionFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)Q1: What's the main difference between Shopify and Squarespace?A: Shopify is primarily an e-commerce platform optimized for product stores with extensive selling features (multi-currency, multi-language, robust app ecosystem), while Squarespace is more content-driven and user-friendly, ideal for portfolios, blogs, and smaller businesses that need quick setup without extensive product management.Q2: Why is updating my website theme important for SEO?A: Regular theme updates signal to search engine algorithms that your website has an updated setup and infrastructure. An outdated theme (e.g., last updated in August 2025 when we're in 2026) can cost you visibility because the algorithm may perceive your site as less maintained and current.Q3: What is Theme Liquid in Shopify?A: Theme Liquid is Shopify's templating language that allows you to customize code within the closed-source platform. It's where you would add custom elements like pop-ups, tracking codes, or other modifications that aren't available through standard theme settings.Q4: Do I need to create a sitemap for my Shopify store?A: No. Shopify automatically generates and maintains your sitemap as soon as you publish pages, products, collections, and posts. This is a major advantage over WordPress, where you need to install and configure sitemap plugins and ensure there are no conflicts.Q5: What's the difference between Google Search Console and Google Analytics?A: Google Search Console is for submitting your sitemap and monitoring how search engines crawl and index your site, while Google Analytics tracks visitor behavior and traffic sources. Both are important, but they serve different purposes. You must submit your sitemap to Search Console for proper SEO.Q6: How do I fix the Wix tag indexing problem?A: Go to your Wix dashboard, click Settings (bottom left corner), navigate to SEO Settings, find the Blog Tags section, and disable the "no index" robots.txt setting that's enabled by default. This allows your blog tags to be indexed by search engines.Q7: Why should I update my footer copyright year?A: The footer copyright year (e.g., "© 2026") is on-page text that AI and search engines scan. An outdated year (like "© 2023") signals that your site may not be actively maintained, even if you've updated content elsewhere. It's a simple but important ranking signal.Q8: How should I structure product URLs for better SEO?A: Use strategic placement of descriptive words and numbers. For example, "red-roses-12-piece" is better than "12-piece-red-roses" because users scanning search results will see "red roses" first, then the number variants (6, 12, 36), creating pattern disruption that draws attention and improves pre-purchase clicks.Q9: What is Open Graph (OG) and why does it matter?A: Open Graph tags control how your content appears when shared on social media, messaging apps, and other platforms. When you send a link via WhatsApp or iMessage and see a preview with title and image, that's Open Graph data. Properly configured OG tags ensure your content looks professional when shared.Q10: Should I choose Shopify, Squarespace, or WordPress for my business?A: Choose Shopify if you're running a product-based e-commerce store and need robust selling features. Choose Squarespace if you need a quick, aesthetically pleasing site for content, portfolios, or small-scale selling. Choose WordPress if you need maximum customization, flexibility, and control (open-source), but be prepared for more technical management.Q11: What is NAP and why is it important?A: NAP stands for Name, Address, Phone number. For websites, "address" includes your domain (www address). Consistent NAP information across your website and online directories is crucial for local SEO and helps search engines verify your business legitimacy.Q12: Can I get a free website audit from Favour?A: Yes! Favour offers surface-level website audits to help identify issues like broken links, slow pages, and basic SEO problems. The audit supports multiple platforms including Shopify, Squarespace, WordPress, Webflow, Wix, Magento, Tilda, and Duda. Links are available in the episode description or through the newsletter signup.About the Podcast HostFavour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS is an SEO and digital marketing expert who specializes in helping business owners optimize their websites for search visibility and conversion. Favour offers website audits, SEO consulting, and maintains a detailed email newsletter covering SEO, marketing, and AI insights. Visit our quick links above to get access.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Troutbitten
Dry Fly Platforms - Upright Hackles - The Troutbitten Fly Box

Troutbitten

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2026 70:20


Season 18 is a unique look at dry fly styles, through the concept of platforms. By taking a fly shape, a form or a set of materials, we can adapt the elements like color, wing style, tailing material or hackle length to meet the moment. Within the fly platform, we vary its properties to the river conditions or to a specific hatch.In this seven part Skills Series for season 18, we cover these six dry fly platforms:1: Upright Hackles2: Parachutes3. Comparaduns4. Down Wings5. Hoppers and Stoneflies6. EmergersThis first episode looks at the platform of Upright Hackles. A classic Catskill style, like the Adams, is a perfect example of this platform. Both slimmer and beefier versions are common, each of which are adapted to prioritize the selectivity of the trout or the buoyancy of the fly against heavier currents.Upright Hackles are perhaps the most common dry fly style, and many popular patterns fit into this platform.In this episode, we look at the specifics for hook, tail, body, wing and hackle for our first platform in this Skills Series -- the Upright Hackle.This is a great breakdown and a fun conversation with my friend Austin Dando.ResourcesPODCAST: Troutbitten | Fly Tying - Essential Tools and More (S17 Ep9)READ: Troutbitten | Pattern vs PresentationPODCAST: Troutbitten | Fishing Dry Flies - Dry Fly Skills Series  (S12)VisitTroutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/

The Tech Blog Writer Podcast
Why Relationship-First Platforms Will Win The Next AI Wave

The Tech Blog Writer Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2026 32:43


  Why do small business leaders keep buying more software yet still feel like they are drowning in logins, dashboards, and unfinished work? In this episode of Tech Talks Daily, I sit down with Jesse Lipson, founder and CEO of Levitate, to unpack a frustration I hear from business owners almost daily. After years of being pitched yet another tool, many leaders now spend hours each week troubleshooting software instead of serving customers. Jesse brings a grounded perspective shaped by decades of building SaaS companies, including bootstrapping ShareFile before its acquisition by Citrix, and what stood out to me immediately was how clearly he articulates where the current software model has broken down for small businesses. We talk about why adding more apps has not translated into better outcomes, especially for teams without dedicated specialists in marketing, finance, or sales. Jesse explains how traditional software often solves only part of the problem, leaving owners to become accidental experts in accounting, marketing strategy, or customer communications just to make the tools usable. From there, our conversation shifts toward what he believes will actually matter as AI adoption matures. Rather than chasing full automation or shiny new dashboards, Jesse argues that the real opportunity lies in blending intelligence with human guidance, allowing AI to work quietly behind the scenes while people remain the face of authentic relationships. A big part of our discussion centers on trust and connection in an AI-saturated world. Jesse shares why customers have become incredibly good at spotting automated communication and why relationship-based businesses cannot afford to lose the human element. We explore how AI can act as a second brain, helping business owners remember details, follow up at the right moments, and show up more thoughtfully, without crossing the line into impersonal automation that turns customers away. His examples, from marketing emails to customer support, make it clear that technology should support better relationships rather than replace them. We also look ahead to what small businesses should realistically focus on as AI evolves. Jesse offers practical guidance on getting started, from everyday use of conversational AI, to building internal documentation that allows systems to work more effectively, and eventually moving toward agent-based workflows that can take on real operational tasks. Throughout the conversation, he keeps returning to the same idea, that AI works best when it helps people become the kind of business leaders they already want to be, more present, more consistent, and more human. If you are a founder, operator, or small business leader feeling overwhelmed by tools that promise productivity but deliver friction, this episode offers a refreshing reset. As AI becomes more capable and more embedded in daily work, the real question is not how many systems you deploy, but whether they help you build stronger, more genuine relationships, so how are you choosing to use AI to support the human side of your business rather than bury it? Useful Links Connect with Jesse Lipson Connect with Jesse on X Learn more about Levitate    

Grain Markets and Other Stuff
Silver PLUNGES, Ukraine Wheat Freeze, 24/7 Grain Trading??

Grain Markets and Other Stuff

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2026 17:21


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

The Neoliberal Podcast
Putting Parents over Platforms ft. Rep. Jake Auchincloss

The Neoliberal Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2026 42:21


How should Congress approach regulating kids on social media? Congressman Jake Auchincloss joins the podcast to discuss his bill, the Parents over Platforms Act. We talk about why he is concerned about 'digital dopamine', why he thinks age verification should be done at the operating system level and not by individual apps, and how he approaches screen time and social media with his own kids. To get bonus episodes, support us at patreon.com/newliberalpodcast or https://cnliberalism.org/become-a-member Got questions? Send us a note at mailbag@cnliberalism.org. Follow us at: https://twitter.com/CNLiberalism https://cnliberalism.org/   Join a local chapter at https://cnliberalism.org/become-a-member/

Marsha's Plate: Black Trans Podcast
373 IF FASCISM GOT 5 APPLES

Marsha's Plate: Black Trans Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2026 127:00


On Today's Menu on Marsha's Plate This week we talk Creating Change conference, Corey Holcomb assaulting women, yt folks being late to the social justice party, and jay bringing up the algorithm again lol Listen on all streaming Platforms https://pod.link/1293033444 Here we talk about cultural events, entertainment news, and gender politics from a Black Trans feminist lens. This is Diamond Stylz archival work that preserves the histories, experiences, and contributions of a marginalized community that has been historically erased, overlooked, or misrepresented. We focus on people who identitfy as Black, trans, gay, or woman...or any combination of all of them. We have merch as well if you wanna support Marsha's Plate https://teespring.com/stores/marshasplate Reading Recommendations https://bookshop.org/shop/DiamondStylz #marshasplate #girlslikeus #boyslikeus #transgender #podcast #podsincolor #podernfamily #transisbeautiful #houston #lgbt #transmen #transwomen #blackfeminism #trans101 #trans #blacktranswomen #blacktransmen #houstonpride #indiepodcast #blacktranslivesmatter #lgbtqia #lgbtq #genderidentity #pride #blackgirlmagic #blackboyjoy #podcast

Firewall
Live from P&T Knitwear: Of Platforms and Politics

Firewall

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2026 64:20


In the 1990s, we were promised that the internet was going to decentralize wealth and power. How did we end up with what feels like the exact opposite of that? Tim Wu, author of the new book, The Age of Extraction — an examination of how tech platforms extract value, shape attention, and concentrate power — joined Bradley earlier this month for a live discussion at P&T Knitwear, moderated by Nate Loewentheil, Managing Partner of Commonweal Ventures. "If you look through the history of democracy turning into dictatorship," says Wu, "a lot of it goes through the path of monopolization of key industries, the build-up of a huge amount of wealth and an anger among the people. When democracy cannot fix that or make the system seem fair, the strong man has a lot of appeal."This episode was taped at P&T Knitwear at 180 Orchard Street — New York City's only free podcast recording studio.Send us an email with your thoughts on today's episode: info@firewall.media.Be sure to watch Bradley's TED Talk on Mobile Voting at https://go.ted.com/bradleytusk.Subscribe to Bradley's weekly newsletter and follow Bradley on Linkedin + Substack + YouTube.

TheWanderingPaddy
You Made Me Smile On Train Platforms [Poetry]

TheWanderingPaddy

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2026 0:34


TheWanderingPaddy Poetry - The Book of Truths. Out Now on Amazon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sounds Profitable: Adtech Applied
The Microphone Is Democratized. The Platforms Are Not

Sounds Profitable: Adtech Applied

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026 7:31


Dr. Byron Green-Calisch gives and overview of changes being made behind the scenes at Podcast Movement and Sounds Profitable to build equity in the industry event space. Written by Dr. Byron Green-CalischEdited by Gavin GaddisAudio narration and editing by Gavin GaddisFind the full article here on Sounds Profitable.

Wealth Formula by Buck Joffrey
543: Avoiding Misinformation in the Era of Fake News

Wealth Formula by Buck Joffrey

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2026 39:56


One of the biggest risks people face when trying to understand the economy, investing, or personal finance isn't a lack of information. It's the illusion of being informed—while quietly limiting the sources that shape your thinking. We live in a world where information is everywhere. Podcasts, X threads, YouTube clips, newsletters, reels. But abundance doesn't equal diversity. In fact, the algorithms behind social media are designed to do the opposite: they show you more of what you already agree with. Over time, your worldview narrows—not because you chose it to, but because it was curated for you. I noticed this years ago when I started listening to alternative asset podcasts. At first, it felt refreshing—new ideas, new language, new opportunities outside the mainstream. But after a while, something became obvious. Many of these shows were operating inside an echo chamber. Different hosts. Same conclusions. Same narratives. Same villains. Same heroes. It was as if they were all listening to one another and simply regurgitating the same ideas, reinforcing them in a closed loop until they felt like truth. And to be fair—knowing many of these hosts personally—that's often the business model. Audience reinforcement is rewarded. Dissent is not. Ever since then, I've made a conscious effort to study people I don't naturally agree with. Not because I want to adopt their views—but because I want to stress-test my own. This matters more now than ever because social media accelerates groupthink at scale. When an idea gains traction online, disagreement quickly becomes social friction. It's easier to conform, retweet, and nod along than to pause and ask, “What if this is wrong?” I once had a conversation with Robert Kiyosaki where he told me he actually gets worried when everyone in the room agrees about the economy. When viewpoints converge too neatly, it's usually a sign that critical thinking has been replaced by consensus comfort—and that's exactly where blindsides are born. If your goal is to get closer to the truth, you must seek out opinions that challenge your own. That includes people you disagree with—especially people you disagree with. Truth doesn't emerge from unanimity. It emerges from tension. And that applies to me as well. Daon't let me—or anyone else—be your sole source of information. No matter how much you trust someone, outsourcing your thinking is always a risk. I can tell you from personal experience that in economics and personal finance, narrow perspectives lead to surprises you only recognize in hindsight. Those are the moments people regret most—not because they lacked intelligence, but because they lacked perspective. Financial education is critical. But a real curriculum doesn't just confirm what you already believe. It exposes you to competing frameworks, conflicting data, and uncomfortable questions—and forces you to think for yourself. That's how you build conviction that actually holds up when the world changes. This week's episode of Wealth Formula Podcast examines this groupthink problem on a broader scale throughout society with an author who wrote a bestseller on our inherent appetite for misinformation. It's a fascinating conversation that will surely get you thinking about the way you view the world. Transcript Disclaimer: This transcript was generated by AI and may not be 100% accurate. If you notice any errors or corrections, please email us at phil@wealthformula.com.  You can imagine people who are conflict avoidant, probably not so likely to post online, as opposed to people who are conflict approaching who love a fight, right? If that’s, if those are the folks who are more likely to post, that’s gonna shape our information space in really, really important ways. Welcome everybody. This is Buck Joffrey with the Wealth Formula Podcast. Coming to you from Montecito, California today. Uh, wanna remind you before we begin, there is a website associated with this podcast called wealthformula.com. That’s where you go if you wanna get more involved with, uh, the show, with the community, uh, specifically, um, if you are interested. There is a sign up there for something called investor club, which if you aren’t a credit investor, you sign up basically, uh, you, uh, get onboarded and then you can see potential deal flow that’s not available to the public. And, uh, lots of things going on in there. Real estate, we’ve had stuff in the aircraft spaced, um, interesting stuff. You should check it out for sure. If you are, uh, enter credit investor. And again, that is wealthformula.com. Just click on investor Club. Now today, let’s talk a little bit of, you know, just let’s talk a little bit about one of the biggest risks that people face when trying to understand the economy of investing personal finance. It’s not lack of information, right? These days, there’s an enormous amount of information. It’s just the illusion of being informed while quietly limiting the sources that shape your thinking in the first place. So we live in this world. I live in this world too, where information is everywhere. You got podcasts, you got X, you got YouTube newsletters, reels, random emails. Abundance of information doesn’t really equal diversity. In fact, the algorithms behind social media are designed to do the opposite. They just show you more of what you already agree with, and that is a little bit of a problem because over time your worldview really starts to narrow. And not because you chose to narrow it necessarily, but because it was curated for you. You know, I noticed this myself, uh, several years ago when I started listening to podcasts like my own. Even before I started my podcast. And what happens is that you get, initially you get kind of interested ’cause the stuff resonates with you. You get some ideas, you get new language, new opportunities outside the mainstream. But after a while you start to realize, or I start to realize that, you know, these shows were sort of operating inside of an echo chamber. They’re saying the same thing, different house, same conclusions, same narratives, villain. Same heroes, you know, it was as, again, it was as if they were all listening to one another and, and simply regurgitating the same ideas and reinforcing them, uh, in a, in a closed loop. Um, and when you do that, it starts to feel like truth. And to be fair, knowing many of these hosts personally, that is kind of the business model. You know, audience reinforcement is rewarded, descent is not so ever since then. You know, I’ve actually made a conscious effort to study people. I don’t, uh, naturally agree with. I actually don’t listen to any other personal finance podcasts, uh, that are sort of in this alternative space because I already know kind of what our narratives are. I wanna know what others think. I wanna, uh, I, it’s not necessarily that I’m looking to adopt their views, but because I wanna kind of, you know, challenge my own and this matters more now than ever. Again, because of social media. How that accelerates group think at scale. You know, when an idea gains traction online, um, you know, disagreement quickly becomes social friction. Now I think the thing to do is, you know, always be questioning yourself and asking the question really, what if I’m wrong? What if this narrative is wrong? And it reminds me actually once, uh, you know, I’ve had a chance to spend a little time with Robert Kiyosaki. Period, uh, different, different times, and I still. Kind of consider him a mentor. And I remember being at a table with him, a bunch of people talking about, you know, where the, where the economy was, what’s going on. And he looked at me and he says, this is what gets me nervous. I said, what, what gets you nervous? And he says, everyone here, everyone here, even people who normally disagree with one another, are agreeing with each other. Uh, the point is that when some of these, you know, viewpoints converge too neatly. Uh, it’s usually a sign, uh, that, you know, that critical thinking has kind of been replaced, and that’s exactly where you start to get blindside and where, you know, there’s a danger there that there’s something that no one’s, no one else has really even mentioning anymore. So if your goal is to get closer to the truth, you actually have to seek out opinions that challenge your own, and that includes. People you disagree with, especially people you disagree with. Because you know, truth doesn’t really emerge from unanimous thought. It emerges from sort of that tension and challenging, and that applies to me as well. You know, if I’m the only personal finance podcast you listen to, you probably shouldn’t be because I have, you know, made my own conclusions based on what I’m thinking and what I’m listening to. I try to get people. Um, you know, from different spaces talking about stuff, but the reality is that, you know, everyone’s biased. I’m biased too. So, um, you know, I can tell you from personal experience, uh, that in economics and in personal finance, the problem is that when you have these narrow perspectives, um, they often lead to. To prizes. Uh, you can’t, you know, they only recognize in hindsight, and those, uh, those are the moments that most people, I think, regret more than anything. Not because they lacked intelligence necessarily, but they lacked perspective, right? Listen, financial education is critical and we, we know that that’s the point of doing the show in the first place, but, you know, any real curriculum is, isn’t there, just to confirm what you already believe. I, I, if you, it should expose some competing frameworks. And, you know, different questions or different takes on things and, and that’s how you know, if you listen to those and you listen to those arguments, that’s how you can really build conviction that you can stand behind. And even if you’re wrong, you say, yeah, you know, I heard the other argument too. I didn’t buy it, but I guess I was wrong. Believe me, I’ve been wrong, uh, more than once myself. So the reason I bring that all up is because this week’s, uh, episode of Wealth Formula podcast really examines. Greater than just the idea of, you know, personal finance and macro economics and that type of thinking, but a greater problem, which is group think in general on a broader scale throughout society. And my, uh, my guest is a, a woman who wrote a best seller on this topic. It’s fascinating stuff. I think it’ll get you think. Make sure to listen in and we’ll have that interview right after these messages. Wealth Formula banking is an ingenious concept powered by whole life insurance, but instead of acting just as a safety net, the strategy supercharges your investments. First, you create a personal financial reservoir that grows at a compounding interest rate much higher than any bank savings account. As your money accumulates, you borrow from your own. Bank to invest in other cash flowing investments. Here’s the key. Even though you’ve borrowed money at a simple interest rate, your insurance company keeps paying you compound interest on that money even though you’ve borrowed it. At result, you make money in two places at the same time. That’s why your investments get supercharged. This isn’t a new technique. It’s a refined strategy used by some of the wealthiest families in history, and it uses century old rock solid insurance companies as its backbone. Turbocharge your investments. Visit Wealth formula banking.com. Again, that’s wealthformulabanking.com. Welcome back to the show everyone. Uh, today my guest on Wealth Formula podcast is Professor Dana Young, who’s a professor of communication and political science at the University of Delaware, where her research explores how media psychology and identity shape belief systems she’s the author of Wrong, how media politics and Identity drive our appetite for misinformation and examines why people clinging to false narratives, and how understanding identity can improve persuasion. Our work helps decode the emotional and cognitive forces behind how we process risk, truth, and decision making. Welcome, professor Young. Great. Thanks so much for having me. Thanks for that intro. Someone has done their homework. I like that. Well, I try to, uh, well, let’s start with this. You know, one of the central arguments, uh, that you have is that people often believe things, not because they’re true, but because those beliefs serve as an identity function. Interesting concept, which I can kind of see in, uh, when you watch TV these days, can you, can you talk a little bit about that? Sure. And, and realize this is not happening at a conscious level. This isn’t something that we are thinking about. We’re not thinking, I wanna believe things that are untrue, but make me feel like I’m a part of my team. It doesn’t work that way. It is the, the truth, value of the things that we perceive is contingent on how those beliefs serve our team. Mm-hmm. So if there are things that our team believes. Those are the things that sort of historically, based on evolutionary psychology, those are the belief systems that would’ve made us probably really good members of our, of our tribe. Mm-hmm. That would’ve, um, if we had embraced those beliefs that would have. Give an indication to the shared members of our team that we are a good team member and therefore they should protect us. They should protect me, I will protect them. There’s a reciprocity there. So that belief sharing with our teammates is something that historically has served us well. And when it comes to survival, we really prioritize our social motivations above all else, because that is such a huge predictor of what allows us to survive and thrive. Is being a part of a community. And so, yeah. So the empirical validity of those claims is a little bit beside the point. The obvious, uh, the, the things that I think about there, I guess the, the sort of analogy there is like, you know, being a a, like I’m a big football fan, right? So I’ve been a big fan of the Minnesota Vikings for my entire life, although I’ve not lived there in from, you know, three quarters of my life. I grew up as a kid and that was my team. People come in, right? People go out. They’re people who, you know, were never there at the beginning, but I still root for them. Yeah. Yeah. And I still believe in them. And so, yeah, it, it reminds me of the sort of a, uh, you know, this tribal thing you’re talking about. The other place you see it, uh, is, is in politics. Uh, you know, when I, when I think about like, the way the parties have changed without getting political at all here. The, the, there’s some very, very significant changes that have happened in the ideologies, uh, or maybe not in the ideologies, but in the actuality of these parties and what they believe. They’ve changed so much in the last 30 or 40 years, yet the same people believed, uh, or identify as those party members. Is that kind of what you’re getting at? Yes, and, and because I’m a political scientist and political communication scholar, a lot of my interest in this area was born out of my concerns about our political, the political moment that we’re in, and how we really lack. A shared reality that’s necessary for democratic governance. Um, we, and we are seeing that literally there are dozens of examples every single day of different perceptions of reality across the left and the right. And so, so that was sort of why I tried to understand this, um, in the first place. But the. What you can glean from these theoretical dynamics, um, extend far beyond politics, right? To, as you were saying, and everything from economics to health, to the environment. Um, but because the shift that I think has been most impactful in this area regarding political identity is that in the United States, the. How the parties, what the parties are made up of, who the parties are made up of has changed dramatically over the last half century. And so rather than being these sort of loose coalitions of interest groups that would kind of come together and perhaps share a platform on specific policies, the way that the parties have shifted, especially sort of after the Civil Rights Movement made it that. Individuals began to identify with political parties based on like fundamental characteristics of who they are. Things like race, religion, geography, and, and fundamental aspects of culture. And so you have two political parties that actually look very different from one another in their racial and ethnic and religious and geographic sort of composition that is not good for democracy. Because we actually do not want our political parties to map onto such primal aspects of identity. ’cause it creates sectarianism and opens the door for dehumanization and violence, all kinds of bad stuff. But it also really tends to fuel some of these identity-based processes that we’re talking about because when you look around and everyone on your, in your political party. Lives like you do. They look like you do they worship like you do? They have the same hobbies as you. They drive the same kind of car. You know, those kinds of things. Like there’s a lot of that overlap that really makes your political identity take on a life of its own, and that life is increasingly. Um, unrelated to policy and more about kind of culture and aesthetics. So all of these caricatures that we think about of the left and the right, the, there’s. Stereotypes for a reason. They exist for a reason and they are so exaggerated through as a result of this political party shift over time. And, um, uh, as I talk about in the book, these differences are also exploited by our media environment. It’s really good for targeting and target marketing to have these kinds of divisions, uh, not great for democracy. Um, but they, these identities become further exacerbated. The more media we consume that tends to play into these identities. Yeah. It, it’s interesting to me, I think sometimes when you, when you think about what people believe mm-hmm. And then, you know, and then. Identifying those beliefs with like a, a political party or something like that. It’s interesting to think of the actual identification of the party coming first. Yeah. And then the beliefs following. Based on the identification. So that’s almost like religion, right? Exactly. Exactly. Right. And that’s a lot of the, the metaphors that we’ve been drawing from in political science. A lot of political scientists have been writing about this, really drawing upon the sociology of religiosity and how it operates because it, it, you’ll notice there’s another similarity too, that people will. Have this large identity as like a Catholic, right? Like I was raised Catholic. It’s, it’s part of who I am. Now. Do I believe everything that they say at church? No, but my identity as a Catholic is still very big. I, I, I will let it drive certain things, but I’m gonna write off other things as like. Not as important as my overarching identity. In the same way that we will find people who have a Democrat or Republican identity, and they live like a Democrat. They live like a Republican. However, when it comes to their actual policy positions. They don’t necessarily agree with their party platform. And that actually is where I get a little more optimistic because even though these caricatures seem so distinct when you drill down to actual policy positions, Americans have a lot in common. Those divides are not as giant as we think they are. I’m curious in terms of understanding the United States versus other countries, um, we, we seem to have a certain polarity which. It’s relatively new. I would say that, you know, even compared to, um, being a kid in, in the eighties, um, feeling like, you know, there was these two parties, but they seemed to get along pretty well. Mm-hmm. And for the most part, they were both kind of near the center. Yeah. And, um, but there’s this, there’s a much bigger division now. Um. What, I guess what drives the, the changes and when you look at different countries, like if you can compare and contrast like Sure. Are there certain specific variables Yes. That about our culture that that makes us who we are. Yes. Yeah. So that first question, um, I, I think that what’s really important is that when you think about how our political parties used to operate, um, in the aftermath of the Civil War, the two parties. We’re kind of in agreement when it came to racial issues in a way that was not good for African Americans in this country. Once the great migration happened and you had blacks from, from former slave states moving north and west, there was real pressure on leaders in those cities to advance or civil rights. Platforms, civil rights legislation, and to advance the rights of African Americans. That really put pressure on the parties in such a way that then it was the Democratic Party who became the party of championing civil rights. Then there was a response from the Republican party that was framed in terms, right, in terms of. State’s rights. That really drove the sorting of different kinds of people into the parties. It’s also fascinating to look at how religiosity and religion. Play a role here because during this very moment under the Nixon administration, there were efforts to revoke the tax exempt status of certain Christian schools that were sort of defacto segregated schools that were in violation of the policy at the time, which was to integrate those, the school system well. Those Christian parents were very unhappy with this, you know, revoking their tax exempt status. And there was a man named Paul Wyrick who came in and said, you know what, this is a moment to really bring together these two issues regarding race and religion. And he mobilized and created a grassroots movement out of this effort to sort of like protect our schools. And that actually became the conservative group, the Heritage Foundation. So that, that bringing together sort of the, the project of evangelical Christianity with this sort of move in opposition to integration that has a long history in our country. To your second piece though, about why the United States is, is. Special. Um, one, we have our, our history of slavery is not fundamentally unique, right? There are many countries that also practice slavery. I think the role that slavery already p played in the founding of our nation was important to keep in mind in terms of how the, the issue of race played into these shifts across political parties. And two, probably the biggest thing of all is that we have a. Two party system in countries that are dealing with some of these same pressures related to race and ethnicity, immigration, right? Where you see some of this polarization happening on ideology and a lot of those places they have multi-party systems. Which play a real amazing role at buffering some of these dynamics. So it’s not black or white, yes or no left, left or right. Uh, so we are uniquely positioned to have a hell of a time with polarization. When I, um, uh, I, you already sort of referenced, um, media. Mm-hmm. Um, you know, like when you think about polarization or you think about like. Re um, sort of constantly, um, emphasizing the things that you already suggest that you believe, uh, social media in particular is, I mean, is just pounding away at that, right? Yeah. I mean, sure. I just think about like my own feed, the things that I Yeah. You know, respond to or the things that I, you know, show affirmative, uh, reactions to the next thing. You know, like on x, you know, on Twitter, which I’ve been in. You know, doing more of, that’s all I get. Right? Sure. And it’s interesting because the next thing you know, you feel like. Everybody agrees with you. Sure, sure. And you’re like, oh, this is, this is amazing. I’m so Right. Right. No one has, right. No one believes the opposite of me. Right. Yeah. And it feels amazing. What role is that playing? Uh, I guess in, in your view? Social media dynamics are, are really fascinating because let’s, let’s realize, talk for a second about why it is that a lot of the content that we’re exposed to on social media is so divisive and identity evoking. Um. The reason that that happens is because the algorithms really just want us to be more and more engaged, obviously, because the only way that they’re able to, to micro target us with ads, et cetera, is by making use of the data points, the breadcrumbs that we have left behind. The only time that we leave those data points that we leave those breadcrumbs is when we do things. So if we’re just lurkers, we are not serving them at all. If we’re just hanging out looking at stuff, if we are actively liking or doing an angry thing, or writing or sharing, that’s what they need. So the algorithm is going to prioritize the content that is sort of outrage inducing, especially because negative emotions are exceptionally sticky. And there’s been some amazing work by um, uh, Jay Van Beil and his team who studied the sort of virality of different kinds of content online. And they found that the kind of content that is especially suited to virality is content that is both moral. Emotional that makes claims about what ought to be and what ought not to be, but is also like really emotionally and effectively evocative. And the kinds of content that tends to check those boxes is the content that is identity activated. Us versus them. They are doing this awful thing to us. Our way of life is under threat. Um, they are the bad guys. We are the good guys. So that’s how that happens, right? So that’s the kind of content that tends to be privileged across these platforms. That’s a piece of the puzzle. Another piece of the puzzle is that the kinds of people who tend to produce the most content online. Are weird, uh, as someone who posts online, uh, I, I just offended myself, but that’s fine. Um, the people who post a lot online tend to be more ideologically extreme. They also tend to have certain kinds of personality traits that maybe aren’t great is some of my work is looking at the, the trait of conflict orientation. You can imagine people who are conflict avoidant. Probably not so likely to post online as opposed to people who are conflict approaching who love a fight, right? If that’s, if those are the folks who are more likely to post, that’s gonna shape our information space in really, really important ways. Well then you get responses that are much more aggressive too, right? Like sure. In either direction. Sure. Something that’s kind of lukewarm. No one really cares to respond to it. Right. That’s exactly right. And then, and then those, those particular posts are rewarded by the media companies themselves because they’re getting all sorts of attention rising the top and those influencers who getting paid for that. So yeah, I mean, that’s the thing that really, that’s where I, I, I get to the point sometimes with this work where I, I’ve, I do feel a bit demoralized because I don’t necessarily see. Where there are really empowered agents to who can work within the system, we have to try to dismantle the incentive structure. So you know, if there are entrepreneurs out there who can think about ways to incentivize different kinds of content, I applaud that kind of development there. There are some, of course, who, who do the sort of, um. Positivity posts, you know, posts for good and viral videos about people help helping other people, and there is some indication that those also, they’re people love those. Those do go viral, but they don’t have the immediacy of the outrage, I guess, that when you think about, you know. The implications of this is really just, you know, I guess polarization, maybe some misinformation. Even misinformation is difficult because Sure. You don’t even actually know what is real information anymore. You don’t have like, sure. You know, when I was a, again, going back to being a kid in the eighties, it’s like you had one set of. Set of facts, you know? That’s right. But now that’s, there’s lots of different sets of facts, and in reality it’s hard to know what’s real. You just, you know, you just, you, you believe something and the next thing you know, something comes out and it, boy, that wasn’t real at all. Um, yeah. And, and let’s just, I’ll pause you for a second because, you know, as someone who studies misinformation, I, I have been through quite a journey with how I’ve thought about digital technologies, right? Yeah. Whereas. When I first started in this field 20, 25 years ago, I really lamented the fact that there were these voices on high at the news organizations who got to gatekeeper. They were the ones who decided what was true and what was not. And because of the way that they produced the news, that tended to reinforce certain kinds of official narratives. You know, there were times when conspiracies were exposed later on, when we learned that Wow. They did not tell us the truth, right? So early on I thought, oh wow, digital technologies are gonna be revolutionary, citizen journalists and iPhones. Mm-hmm. And in 2011, we saw the Arab Spring and we watched all these, these, you know, dictatorships. Topple. And then we saw the real tide shift with misinformation, with and disinformation deliberate efforts to exploit those. The lack of gatekeepers to exploit the, the lack of professional, quote unquote truth tellers, and really just make hay of our information space. And now sometimes it’s amazing, right? Because sometimes. The official account is not true, and other times the official account not only is true, but belief in the official account is necessary for us to sort of make progress as a society, right? So. The trouble is we don’t know which time is which. Well, well that, that’s, that’s what I was gonna say. I mean, I, I used to actually kind of in my own rein, have this narrative that, you know, certain sources were true and certain not, but even, yeah. You know, even after, you know, things that happened during COVID, for example. Yeah. Um, um, you know, the Wuhan Laboratories and, and things like that, that, you know, everybody looked at as a. A conspiracy theory and all this stuff, right? A tinfoil hat theory, a tinfoil hat, and you brought it up and you were crazy and everybody, you know, and, and the next thing you know, that’s the truth. That’s what happened. Yeah. So it, I think you’d even take people, um, it, it makes people who, uh, believe in the system, not believe in the system anymore. And, and I think that’s kind of where a lot of people are headed. That’s where the huge danger is. Yeah. And, and I think one area of research that is so. That is empowering and is hopeful. I have a, a doctoral student who is doing her dissertation on this. It’s a, it’s a concept called intellectual humility, which is just the extent to which we acknowledge that our beliefs and our perceptions of the world could be wrong. And what happens is when you operate in an intellectually humble way when you have beliefs, but you also are open to the fact that new information could come in at any moment, that could tell you that the things that you thought were true are not true. When you live that way, you tend to. Be closer to empirical truth than the people who are intellectually arrogant because the people who are intellectually arrogant, they’re so sure they’re right and they’re never looking to update their views. Yeah. You know, curiously on that too, like what, what does a research show about like highly educated or quote unquote intelligent people? Are they just as vulnerable? Are they more vulnerable? Because of this. And you know, in some ways I would think they’re almost more vulnerable. Yeah. And, and I think that it depends. So when we look at individual level factors and how they interact with susceptibility to MIS and disinformation, all of these different, so there’ll be psychological traits that interact with education level, that interact with what kinds of things you then are exposed to. So it is complicated. It’s complicated. So it tends to be the case that people who are. Perhaps more educated are more likely to seek out information from more like legacy journalistic sources. Yeah, yeah. Right. Yeah. Right. So, and on average, those sources tend to have more things that are empirically true than if you’re just sort of like looking on the internet for whatever you can find. Um, in fact, there’s also some research that shows that the people who report, um, quote unquote doing their own research. They are statistically more likely to believe misinformation, which actually makes sense because when you think you’re doing your own research, you’re actually doing what we call selecting on the dependent variable, which is you are looking for the information that confirms what you think is true. That is just what we tend to do. Unless you’re doing a controlled experiment. Yeah. You’re not actually looking for information that contradicts your beliefs. So, you know, we do this, this is, uh, a lot of times, um, you know, we talk about, uh, personal finance and mm-hmm. And macroeconomics and stuff. How does this translate over to like, beliefs about. Economy, the, you know, ’cause these are, these are important things that, again, there is incredibly different, uh, views on. Sure. You know, um, an example now, uh, an example is that everyone, you know, whether, whatever you believe the pol policy or not, that, that, that, that tariffs were going to drive inflation, a hundred percent inflation was gonna skyrocket. The last CPI number comes under like under three right? 2.7%. Yeah. Like what, what, tell me how this all applies to that kind of news, that information. Yeah, so, so I, I’m going to make a, a couple points that I think will, will get to your question. Yeah. Because, you know, a, a lot of what I have landed on is this role of social identity, right? In shaping belief systems and. One thing that I’m sure you’re familiar with is that when the party in the White House switches overnight from Democrat to Republican, people’s perception of how the economy is doing as a function of political party flips over. So when the White House went from Biden to Trump in January, 2025, overnight, Republicans went from thinking the economy was in the trash to thinking the economy was doing excellent, and Democrats did the opposite. So is that an actual empirical observation of the world, or is that an expression of their. Perception that their team is in charge. Therefore, things must be better. Or now my team is no longer in charge, so now things must be worse. Right. That’s the big one. We see that. You know, I’m. Every election back to who, however long this has been tracked, we see this. Um, another thing that I think is interesting is in terms of people’s perceptions of whether or not the economy is good or bad, that is very much shaped by who we’re talking to and what information we’re exposed to. So this, this in invites a whole host of questions about how should elites talk about. Economic health, right? You had under Biden, Biden trying to tell people, the economy is doing really well, the economy is doing great. Look at all these metrics. The economy is doing great. And so you have Democrats saying, oh yeah, the economy is doing well, and Republicans saying, I am looking at how much things cost. I am looking at, you know, various things in my bank account. I’m gonna say the economy is not doing well. I also think that Biden is not a great president, so I tend to think that things aren’t going well when the other party’s in charge. And then you look now under Trump. Trump is in a bit of a pickle, right? Because he is saying the economy is doing well. He’s saying, look at these metrics, look at these numbers, and you have this sort of. Viral perception among people that we are in a stagnant economy. I even heard my 15-year-old, we were at Costco and we got, you know, their pizza slices are like $2. We got pizza slices and she said, well. You can get a whole dinner for $8 in this economy, Rick. I was like, what? Economy? But, but those perceptions are so, and it, it’s also very, very difficult to figure out where did that perception come from? Yeah, yeah. How do we isolate the source of that perception that this economy is, is not good. Yeah. Well then certainly like behaviors follow, right. And yeah. So I guess, yeah. I guess that’s like, I mean, I’m sure that’s a completely different thing. Like, I mean, how do, how do these, you know, different perceptions. Party based perceptions Sure. Ultimately influence the economy because of the way people think of the economy. Exactly. Right. And how, how do mm-hmm. When it comes to what have tariffs done, right? Mm-hmm. Like I’m not an economist. I do not know what tariffs have done. My understanding from my media exposure is that there are, on some certain kinds of items, prices have gone up a bit, but that some of the other. Like at the grocery store, for example, some of the price increases that we see there are not the result of tariffs. So then what are they the result of when it comes to how we attribute responsibility and blame, that is also very much shaped by our social identity. So if it helps me to think my grapes are expensive because of Donald Trump, then that’s what I’m going to think. Give us your sort of final thought here. Mm-hmm. Just in terms of, you know, what’s, what’s the learning. Here and how can we apply this to our own thinking? So, so I, I like to leave things on, on a kind of positive note because there is a lot to be concerned about in such a fractured information space. Um. One of the things that has been bringing me some, some hope that I think we could carry with us into how we think about what it is that people yearn for, what it is that people want. Even in this, this very splintered environment, I am convinced that even though all of our technology is creating atomized spaces for us to become our most exaggerated version of our self. I think what we really crave as human beings are shared experiences, opportunities for us to share experiences together, whether that be media content that we then want to talk about, whether those be events. There is a reason why football is still such a successful, um. Kind of entertainment. Right? And there’s also a reason why when there are cultural stories that allow us to all talk about them, like the couple at the cold play concert that was outed or whatever, there are reasons why those moments just catch fire. And I think it is because despite the fact that our technology platforms are trying to give us. Atomized, individualized, discreet spaces. At the end of the day, we really do want to share things with one another. Good stuff. Uh, professor Young, uh, uh, Dana Young, it, the book again is Wrong. How Media, politics and Identity Drive Our Appetite for Misinformation. Thank you so much for being on Wealth Formula Podcast. Great. Thanks so much. It was fun. We’ll be right back. You make a lot of money, but are still worried about retirement. Maybe you didn’t start earning until your thirties. Now you’re trying to catch up. Meanwhile, you’ve got a mortgage, a private school to pay for, and you feel like you’re getting further and further behind. Now, good news, if you need to catch up on retirement, check out a program put out by some of the oldest and most prestigious life insurance companies in the world. It’s called Wealth Accelerator, and it can help you amplify your returns quickly, protect your money from creditors, and provide financial protection to your family if something happens to you. The concepts here are used by some of the wealthiest families in the world, and there’s no reason why they can’t be used by you. Check it out for yourself by going to wealthformulabanking.com. Welcome back to the show everyone. Hope you enjoyed it. Again, just make sure that you are getting multiple sources of information. Whether that comes to, you know, this show really is about personal finance and macroeconomics and only politics and all that is not what I’m into, but the point is. That, uh, when it comes to, uh, when it comes to anything including personal finance and microeconomics, make sure you have multiple sources of information. Listen to the arguments and, uh, you know, make a decision that you can live with, whether you’re right or wrong. That’s it for me this week on Wealth Formula Podcast. This is Buck Joffrey signing up. If you wanna learn more, you can now get free access to our in-depth personal finance course featuring industry leaders like Tom Wheel Wright and Ken McElroy. Visit wealthformularoadmap.com.

Quilting on the Side
Get Found Online: Keywords and easy ways to use them!

Quilting on the Side

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2026 38:50 Transcription Available


Send us a textIn this episode of Quilting on the Side, Andi and Tori McElwain delve into the evolving landscape of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and its implications for quilting businesses. Tori shares her insights gained from extensive research, particularly focusing on the integration of AI search bots into SEO strategies. The conversation highlights the importance of using relevant keywords naturally in content, avoiding outdated practices like keyword stuffing, and ensuring that businesses are visible across various platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Tori emphasizes that while AI search is becoming more prevalent, the foundational principles of SEO remain crucial for improving online visibility and engagement.The discussion also covers practical tips for optimizing social media presence, including the significance of business accounts on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, and the necessity of including keywords in titles, descriptions, and even image alt texts. Tori encourages listeners to conduct self-audits of their online content to identify missed opportunities for keyword integration. The episode wraps up with actionable advice on how to research trending keywords and the importance of maintaining a consistent online presence to enhance search rankings.Don't miss an episode! Like, comment, and subscribe for more quilting stories, tips, and industry insights.Chapters00:00 Introduction to SEO in Quilting00:48 Understanding AI Search and Its Impact02:20 Best Practices for Keyword Usage04:43 Platforms to Focus On for SEO09:44 The Role of Social Media in SEO14:49 Engagement vs. Hashtags in Social Media19:54 Practical Tips for Keyword Optimization24:38 Real-World Examples of SEO Mistakes29:23 Tools and Resources for Keyword Research34:40 Final Thoughts on SEO for QuiltersMentioned inthe Podcast Episode:Keywords Blog PostH+H Americas Fiber Arts Trade Show in May 2026Pinterest Post: Gifts for Quilters - exampleDigital Marketing Magic Program with Tori: Want to see how well your SEO is doing? See the Creative's SEO Clarity ReportWant More Quilting Business Content?

Slate Culture
Social Media Bans Are No Match For Teens

Slate Culture

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2026 42:04


On today's episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by Washington Post reporter Tatum Hunter, who interviewed Australian teens about the country's new social media ban. Platforms like Instagram and Reddit are now required to keep under-sixteens off their apps, but it didn't take long for the teens to outsmart these new restrictions. As similar legislation is introduced across the world, no one knows if these bans are actually effective—or if they hurt teens more than they help. This podcast is produced by Daisy Rosario, Vic Whitley-Berry, and Kate Lindsay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Slate Daily Feed
Social Media Bans Are No Match For Teens

Slate Daily Feed

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2026 42:04


On today's episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by Washington Post reporter Tatum Hunter, who interviewed Australian teens about the country's new social media ban. Platforms like Instagram and Reddit are now required to keep under-sixteens off their apps, but it didn't take long for the teens to outsmart these new restrictions. As similar legislation is introduced across the world, no one knows if these bans are actually effective—or if they hurt teens more than they help. This podcast is produced by Daisy Rosario, Vic Whitley-Berry, and Kate Lindsay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

social media australian reddit washington post acast teens platforms bans no match kate lindsay daisy rosario tatum hunter vic whitley berry
ICYMI
Social Media Bans Are No Match For Teens

ICYMI

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2026 42:04


On today's episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by Washington Post reporter Tatum Hunter, who interviewed Australian teens about the country's new social media ban. Platforms like Instagram and Reddit are now required to keep under-sixteens off their apps, but it didn't take long for the teens to outsmart these new restrictions. As similar legislation is introduced across the world, no one knows if these bans are actually effective—or if they hurt teens more than they help. This podcast is produced by Daisy Rosario, Vic Whitley-Berry, and Kate Lindsay. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

social media australian reddit washington post acast teens platforms bans no match kate lindsay daisy rosario tatum hunter vic whitley berry
The Whitetail Distraction Podcast
PA Game Commission Proposal Update

The Whitetail Distraction Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2026 55:52


EP 218: The PA Game Commission has dropped a huge, very controversial proposal! They are meeting today and tomorrow to discuss the possibility of moving the PA rifle season opener! There are also many other items within this proposal that we discuss. Remember, this is a proposal, nothing is final at this point. Enjoy!  IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT THE SHOW, CHECK OUT OUR PATREON! The Whitetail Distraction Podcast is creating Podcasts and Videos | Patreon   Skre Gear is back!! You know the routine, high quality products with a lifetime warranty at an affordable cost! Use discount code WDP for 15% off!! Check their growing lineup at www.skregear.com To complement our broadhead usage - check out VPA's full lineup of products at www.vparchery.com use discount code WDP for 10% off! You have to see their project at www.50forged.com Our newest partner is Hunt Arsenal!! Platforms, saddles, packs and more! They are taking the mobile hunting space by storm! Give them a serious consideration at https://huntarsenal.com/ One of the best seed companies in the game has agreed to offer 10% off! Go check out Back Forty Seed Co. and use code DISTRACTION10. https://backfortyseedco.com If you want some badass hybrid broadheads, head over to VIP's website: https://www.viparchery.com or give Matt and Cindy Futtere a call and tell them the Whitetail Distraction Podcast boys sent you. They are truly some of the best people in the business! The Combat Veteran will cause major damage to the intended target as combat veterans are trained to do!    Like this episode? Head over to iTunes and give us a 5-star rating and leave a review. Not hearing what you like, or just simply have suggestions? Send us an email at TheWhitetailDistractionPodcast@gmail.com   Also, check us out on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube @TheWhitetailDistractionPodcast, Twitter @TheWDPodcast and TikTok @TheWhitetailDistraction. The Distraction is Real!

New Scientist Weekly
The 5 worst ideas of the 21st century – and how they went wrong

New Scientist Weekly

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2026 41:10


Episode 342 Social media began with the best intentions - but it soon went sour. Platforms that once fostered connection are now driven by an endless desire to monopolise our time. From the endless scroll to ragebait content, social media is no longer designed to connect us with friends and family - but to profit from our attention. And that's not to mention the damaging political influence it can have. As countries and governments move to act against it, is there a good solution to these problems? Bitcoin is one big disaster for the environment. Mining bitcoin requires an inordinate amount of energy - and that cost only increases as more bitcoin is mined. It's also a terrible investment these days, with some experts suggesting you'd be better off buying a load of Pokémon cards. Adding to that its role in fuelling crime on the dark web - and it becomes a strong contender for worst idea of the 21st century. Carbon off-sets - another well intentioned solution to the climate crisis that's gone horribly wrong. The idea is you can lessen the environmental impact of your actions, by off-setting the damage. Maybe you take a long-haul flight, but you plant a tree in return. The trouble is, not only does this give people permission to keep polluting the environment, it's not even clear if offsetting actually works. But perhaps it's not all bad? Effective altruism is a surprising addition to the list, given that it's meant to be a way of ensuring money goes to only the best causes. But judging which charities deserve donations above others is much more difficult than it seems. And part of the effective altruism movement suggests people should earn as much money as possible so they can one day give it away - which can obviously end badly. And then there are those who have taken it too far - ruining their life. One seemingly good fix for environmental damage is the promise of alternative fuels, like natural gases, hydrogen and biofuels. But it turns out they probably do a lot more damage than good. Biofuels in particular require massive amounts of farmland to produce, which alone is highly polluting. Add to that the fact they're driving up prices at the supermarket - perhaps there's a better way to stop the climate from warming? Hosted by Rowan Hooper and Abby Beall, with guests Matt Sparkes, Leah Crane, Michael Le Page and Joshua Howgego.To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ThoughtWorks Podcast
Exploring AI agent platforms

ThoughtWorks Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2026 37:59


If AI agents really are the future of how work will be done — in software engineering and beyond — the platforms on which they are built, run and maintained will be crucial. This is a topic two Thoughtworkers, Ben O'Mahony and Fabian Nonnenmacher, are currently writing about. Although not due to be published until early 2027, the first two chapters of Building AI Agent Platforms are now available as part of O'Reilly's Early Release scheme. Its goal is to provide readers with a complete roadmap for developing AI agent platforms, from agent development to architectural principles to observability and governance.  In this episode of the Technology Podcast, the authors speak to regular host Ken Mugrage about the book, why agent platforms are a critical part of any AI strategy and some of the challenges of developing and maintaining them. Listen for an early look at what looks set to be a valuable book in the world of AI development and to gain a clearer perspective on what agentic AI really means at the start of 2026. Learn more about Building AI Agent Platforms: https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/building-ai-agent/0642572243906/  

Build Your Network
CO-HOST: Make Money with AI: Lessons from Interviewing ChatGPT

Build Your Network

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2026 20:43


In this unique episode, Travis flips the script and “interviews” an AI financial expert—ChatGPT—about making money in 2026, diversification, live social shopping, and building a personal brand. Alongside in-studio producer Eric, Travis uses the conversation to highlight what AI gets right, where it still falls short, and how listeners can practically use these tools without losing their own voice or strategy. The result is a fun, meta, and surprisingly insightful look at the future of money-making in an AI-powered world. On this episode we talk about: Why the “best” financial advice in 2026 is turning what you already know into multiple income streams The right order of operations: master one core offer before you diversify Emerging money-making trends: niche communities, AI-powered tools, and micro-education How to “sell shovels in the gold rush” of AI instead of chasing every new shiny use case What live social shopping is and why big voices (like Gary Vee) are obsessed with it How to make money with live shopping even if you don't have your own products Platforms enabling live shopping (including Amazon Live) and how they work at a basic level Simple, kid-level breakdown of using Amazon's fulfillment plus live streams to sell products How to build trust from scratch so people will actually buy from your lives and content Recommended voices to follow for making money and building a personal brand How Travis can double down on his unique stance against toxic hustle culture The limits of AI as a podcast guest—what it's great at and where it still feels vague and “too nice” Top 3 Takeaways Multiple income streams only work if they're built on a strong, proven core offer—focus, then diversify. AI is a massive opportunity not just to “use,” but to build tools, training, and services that help others use it better. The next wave of making money combines authenticity, community, and live interactive selling on platforms people already use. Notable Quotes “Before you diversify, you really do need a strong core…get that one income stream really solid and then you can add on and diversify from there.” “If AI is the gold rush, the real opportunity is being the one selling the shovels—tools, platforms, and education that help others use AI effectively.” “Go bold without being divisive—challenge hustle culture, put lifestyle design and relationships first, and show people there's another way to win.” Connect with Travis Chappell: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travischappell Coaching & podcast help: https://travischappell.com/coaching  Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.  Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.  Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marketing Guides for Small Businesses
Local SEO 2026—Authenticity, AI, and the Google Playbook

Marketing Guides for Small Businesses

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2026 65:43


Podcast Episode 260: Local SEO 2026—Authenticity, AI, and the Google Playbook Are you ready to start 2026 with a boom? As the digital landscape shifts, small businesses are facing a new reality where traditional search is evolving into Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). While "big brands" can often get away with less personal marketing, local businesses have a massive advantage by building genuine community connections and radical authenticity. In this episode, our Marketing Guides break down the essential playbook you need to dominate local search over the next two years, from mastering the latest Google Business Profile updates to leveraging AI without losing your human touch. What You'll Get Out of This Episode You will walk away with a clear strategic roadmap for 2026 that prioritizes human behavior and high-conversion tactics over trendy distractions. You'll learn why your website remains the most important platform you actually own and how to ensure it feeds the Large Language Models (LLMs) that power modern search results. We also dive into the "speed-to-lead" revolution, showing you why responding within minutes—not days—is the new standard for winning hot leads. What You'll Learn The Core of Local Marketing in 2026 • Why authenticity is a superpower: How small businesses can outshine international brands by getting involved in the community and building engaged email newsletters. • The "Speed-to-Lead" System: Why you must use automations, SMS, and AI chatbots to ensure you never miss a lead, as customers no longer have the patience to wait. • The truth about demographics: Why you must ignore stereotypes—especially regarding seniors, who are among the fastest-growing adopters of online search. Platforms and Content Strategy • Short-form video mastery: Why 6-second Instagram Reels are currently the top-performing content and how to use geotags to send the right signals to algorithms. • The evolution of blogging: Moving from traditional SEO to feeding AI the authoritative content it craves across platforms like Reddit, LinkedIn, and niche forums. • Balancing AI with a human touch: How to use AI for drafts and structure while avoiding "five-handed person" image fails and robotic, unedited text. Google Business Profile & Technical Essentials • GBP Verification Myths: The reality of how Google gives preference to brick-and-mortar locations with permanent signage over home-based businesses. • The disappearing Q&A: Why rumors of Google removing the Q&A feature mean you must move those answers to your own website's FAQ section immediately. • Technical SEO as a foundation: Why site speed, schema markup, and accurate directory citations across Bing, Apple Maps, and ChatGPT are more critical than ever. Connect with Our Marketing Guides Ready to take your 2026 strategy to the next level? Reach out to one of our experts for a deep dive into your business's marketing needs: • Ian Cantle – Specialized in dental and healthcare marketing, as well as fractional CMO services.     ◦ Dental Marketing Heroes     ◦ Outsourced Marketing • Jeff Stec – Strategy and tactical implementation expert.     ◦ Tylerica Marketing Systems • Paul Barthel & Ken Tucker – Local SEO, web design, and marketing systems specialists.     ◦ Changescape Web Don't forget to hit that subscribe button and share this episode with a fellow business owner who wants to win in 2026!

Play No Games
Xavier Kelly: Creativity, Comparison, and the Cost of Being an Artist

Play No Games

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2026 59:47


Play No Games is a space for real conversations and perspective.Each episode blends authenticity and insight—creating room for laughter, clarity, and growth as we unpack what's happening in culture and in ourselves._____________________________

Gambling Podcast: You Can Bet on That
#351: Predictive Market Platforms

Gambling Podcast: You Can Bet on That

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2026 53:36


Voicemail: 951-292-4377;  Predictive market platforms;  Hard 16 vs. Ace in blackjack;  Las Vegas buffets;  What's better in casinos now vs. forty years ago;  Trip reports:  Aruba;  Black Hawk;  Hard Rock Casino Tejon

Dev Interrupted
Backstage's journey from spreadsheets to global IDP standard | Spotify's Tyson Singer

Dev Interrupted

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2026 40:49


Before Backstage became the industry standard for developer portals, Spotify's engineers relied on spreadsheets to navigate their massive microservices ecosystem.Tyson Singer, Spotify's Head of Technology and Platforms, joins us to trace the evolution of their internal developer experience from a necessity for order into the open-source giant Backstage and its new SaaS evolution, Portal. We dig into how they use golden paths to align autonomous squads and how their new AI Knowledge Assistant (AiKA) reduced internal support tickets by nearly 50% while protecting developer flow. Finally, Tyson shares his philosophy on sustainable innovation, explaining how to train an engineering organization to run a marathon at a sprinter's pace.LinearB: Measure the impact of GitHub Copilot and CursorFollow the show:Subscribe to our Substack Follow us on LinkedInSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelLeave us a ReviewFollow the hosts:Follow AndrewFollow BenFollow DanFollow today's stories:Spotify Engineering Blog: engineering.spotify.comSpotify Portal: backstage.spotify.comConfidence: confidence.spotify.comConnect with Tyson: LinkedInOFFERS Start Free Trial: Get started with LinearB's AI productivity platform for free. Book a Demo: Learn how you can ship faster, improve DevEx, and lead with confidence in the AI era. LEARN ABOUT LINEARB AI Code Reviews: Automate reviews to catch bugs, security risks, and performance issues before they hit production. AI & Productivity Insights: Go beyond DORA with AI-powered recommendations and dashboards to measure and improve performance. AI-Powered Workflow Automations: Use AI-generated PR descriptions, smart routing, and other automations to reduce developer toil. MCP Server: Interact with your engineering data using natural language to build custom reports and get answers on the fly.

The Digiday Podcast
The top AI platforms for publishers, ranked

The Digiday Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2026 60:41


Two years after OpenAI signed its first content licensing deal with Axel Springer, the field of AI platforms doing business with publishers has expanded exponentially. Especially just in the past year. But then the publishers have to evaluate those options. Fortunately Digiday senior media editor Jessica Davies and senior media reporter Sara Guaglione have done a lot of that legwork in drafting a scorecard of the major AI platforms based on interviews with publishers. They joined the show to review the rankings and share the reasoning behind why platforms from Meta to Microsoft, Anthropic to OpenAI may rate higher or lower than you'd expect. Check out Jess and Sara's written scorecard here: https://digiday.com/media/publishers-scorecard-for-big-techs-ai-licensing-deals/

ChangeMakers with Katie Goar
Episode 139: Tiffany G. Dickerson, “The Housing Highlighter”, Interest Platforms

ChangeMakers with Katie Goar

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2026 45:55 Transcription Available


Tiffany G. Dickerson, known across the industry as the Housing Highlighter, joins ChangeMakers with Katie Goar for a conversation about why public housing authorities must take control of their own story.Tiffany shares her unconventional path into affordable housing, moving from probation and parole work into resident services and eventually into communications strategy. Along the way, she saw a major gap. Housing authorities were doing meaningful work, but no one outside their walls knew about it.You hear why consistent communication matters, how silence allows others to define your narrative, and why positive stories help balance inevitable challenges. Tiffany breaks down real examples of resident services programs, from financial literacy and driver education to youth initiatives, scholarships, and community partnerships. She explains how these efforts build trust, improve engagement, and change how media and stakeholders respond.The conversation also tackles common mistakes housing authorities make online, including deleting comments, overusing flyers on social media, ignoring accessibility, and centering messaging too heavily on leadership instead of residents. Tiffany offers practical guidance on handling criticism, responding professionally to complaints, and using feedback as a system check rather than a threat.This episode is essential listening for housing authority leaders, communications teams, and community partners who want to strengthen trust, improve engagement, and make sure the full story of affordable housing gets heard.

Dynasty DNA Fantasy Football Podcast
Dynasty DNA IDP Boneyard Dynasty Fantasy Football 2026 Teach Me How To IDP Part 1 What's The Best Platforms To Play On Sleeper Or MFL + What Makes IDP So Fun To Play If You Haven't Tried It + What's Some Basic IDP Scoring Methods For Beginners

Dynasty DNA Fantasy Football Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2026 46:37


Send us a textWELCOME DNA STRAND CREW TO THE FIRST AND INAGURAL EPISODE OF THE DYNASTY DNA IDP BONEYARD ON THE DYNASTY DNA PODCASTING NETWORK!! This show features the Co Host of the Culture Shock & The Dynasty DNA Deep Dive Bob Helfert (AKA Big Culture Bob), the Dynasty DNA Propaganda Minister & Co Host of the From Whistle To Whistle Podcast Justin Tessier (Tesserja) & also welcome our newest Dynasty DNA Team member Logan Helfert! In this show the guys will discuss everything dynasty IDP (Individual Defensive Player) each and every week the guys will offer advice and strategies they like to use in their dynasty IDP leagues they also will talk and evaluate players and teams this offseason including many upcoming potential dynasty IDP rookies in 2026! In this first episode the guy's talk a beginner's course in an episode called teach me how to IDP! They discuss things such as what are the best platforms to play on do we prefer Sleeper or MFL for our IDP leagues? We also talk why we enjoy IDP and what makes it so fun to play if you haven't tried it? Lastly, what's some basic IDP scoring methods for beginners! It's a great episode tune in with us every week have a few laughs, and let's get you on your way to Dynasty IDP championship in 2026!Join The DNA Strand Crew on Discord Free to Join Just Click This Link!!https://discord.gg/rFAyWzn8Join the DNA Strand Crew on Twitterhttps://mobile.twitter.com/DynastyDNA_Subscribe to The Dynasty DNA YouTube Channel(9) Dynasty DNA Fantasy Football Podcast - YouTubeFollow The DNA Guys On TwitterBob Helfert Bob Helfert (@BigefatBob) / XJustin Tessier (1) Justin Tessier (@Tessierja91) / XLogan Helfert @logan123003

The Whitetail Distraction Podcast
The Man on the Rock

The Whitetail Distraction Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2026 136:05


EP 217: Were joined by Brian Cibelli and Bill Hedland for some more shenanigans from the season. Will we learn who the man on the rock is? Probably not - but the stories are flowing and were having a good time. Enjoy!  IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT THE SHOW, CHECK OUT OUR PATREON! The Whitetail Distraction Podcast is creating Podcasts and Videos | Patreon   If you want some badass broadheads, head over to VIP's website: https://www.viparchery.com or give Matt and Cindy Futtere a call and tell them the Whitetail Distraction Podcast boys sent you. They are truly some of the best people in the business! The Combat Veteran will cause major damage to the intended target as combat veterans are trained to do!  One of the best seed companies in the game has agreed to offer 10% off! Go check out Back Forty Seed Co. and use code DISTRACTION10. https://backfortyseedco.com To complement our broadhead usage - check out VPA's full lineup of products at www.vparchery.com use discount code WDP for 10% off! You have to see their project at www.50forged.com Skre Gear is back!! You know the routine, high quality products with a lifetime warranty at an affordable cost! Use discount code WDP for 15% off!! Check their growing lineup at www.skregear.com Our newest partner is Hunt Arsenal!! Platforms, saddles, packs and more! They are taking the mobile hunting space by storm! Give them a serious consideration at https://huntarsenal.com/ Like this episode? Head over to iTunes and give us a 5-star rating and leave a review. Not hearing what you like, or just simply have suggestions? Send us an email at TheWhitetailDistractionPodcast@gmail.com   Also, check us out on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube @TheWhitetailDistractionPodcast, Twitter @TheWDPodcast and TikTok @TheWhitetailDistraction. The Distraction is Real!

NFT Alpha Podcast
AI Meme Coins Rip Higher, Congress Delays Crypto Market Bill, X Bans InfoFi Platforms, and Prediction Market Alpha Surges

NFT Alpha Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2026 66:04


Tune in live every weekday Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM Eastern to 10:15 AM.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy our NFT⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out our YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DISCLAIMER: The views shared on this show are the hosts' opinions only and should not be taken as financial advice. This content is for entertainment and informational purposes.

Snowflake VP of AI Baris Gultekin on Bringing AI to Data, Agent Design, Text-2-SQL, RAG & More

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2026 99:20


Baris Gultekin, VP of AI at Snowflake, explains how “bringing AI to the data” is reshaping enterprise AI deployment under strict security and governance requirements. PSA for AI builders: Interested in alignment, governance, or AI safety? Learn more about the MATS Summer 2026 Fellowship and submit your name to be notified when applications open: https://matsprogram.org/s26-tcr. He shares the importance of bringing AI directly to governed enterprise data, advances in text-to-SQL and semantic modeling, and why high-quality retrieval is foundational for trustworthy AI agents. Baris also dives into Snowflake's approach to agentic AI, including Snowflake Intelligence, model choice and cost tradeoffs, and why governance, security, and open standards are essential as AI becomes accessible to every business user. LINKS: AWS' Automated Reasoning checks Sponsors: MongoDB: Tired of database limitations and architectures that break when you scale? MongoDB is the database built for developers, by developers—ACID compliant, enterprise-ready, and fluent in AI—so you can start building faster at https://mongodb.com/build Serval: Serval uses AI-powered automations to cut IT help desk tickets by more than 50%, freeing your team from repetitive tasks like password resets and onboarding. Book your free pilot and guarantee 50% help desk automation by week four at https://serval.com/cognitive MATS: MATS is a fully funded 12-week research program pairing rising talent with top mentors in AI alignment, interpretability, security, and governance. Apply for the next cohort at https://matsprogram.org/s26-tcr Tasklet: Tasklet is an AI agent that automates your work 24/7; just describe what you want in plain English and it gets the job done. Try it for free and use code COGREV for 50% off your first month at https://tasklet.ai CHAPTERS: (00:00) About the Episode (03:02) Snowflake 101 and AI (09:25) Text-to-SQL and semantics (19:10) RAG, embeddings and models (Part 1) (19:17) Sponsors: MongoDB | Serval (21:02) RAG, embeddings and models (Part 2) (32:23) Bringing models to data (Part 1) (32:29) Sponsors: MATS | Tasklet (35:29) Bringing models to data (Part 2) (51:14) Designing enterprise AI agents (58:35) Trust, governance and guardrails (01:07:14) Agents and future work (01:15:33) Platforms, competition and value (01:26:04) Enterprise models and outlook (01:40:00) Outro PRODUCED BY: https://aipodcast.ing

Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast
Open SesameOp: Abusing trusted AI platforms to host a C2 server

Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2026 36:11


To kick off Season 3 of Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast, host⁠ ⁠⁠Sherrod DeGrippo is joined by Microsoft security researchers Anna Seitz and Jonathan Checchi.   Our guests examine two developments shaping today's threat landscape: the cloud-native evolution of ransomware group Storm-0501 and the SesameOp backdoor's abuse of trusted AI platforms for stealthy command-and-control. The discussion highlights how identity, hybrid-cloud pivot points, and federated authentication enable high-impact attacks without traditional malware, and why policy-compliant platform abuse is becoming harder to detect.   Sherrod, Anna, and Jonathan provide guidance for defenders around enforcing MFA, tightening conditional access and identity controls, monitoring across cloud and on-prem environments, and partnering with platform providers to disrupt emerging attacker tradecraft.  In this episode you'll learn:       What happens when threat actors gain control of highly privileged identities  Why monitoring identity behavior is as critical as monitoring endpoints  How attacker tactics are adapting to environments that blend cloud and on-prem systems   Some questions we ask:      What does recent threat activity tell us about where the landscape is headed?  How is Storm-0501 using federated authentication in their operations?  What should security teams focus on as AI becomes more integrated into systems?  Resources:   View Anna Seitz on LinkedIn   View Sherrod DeGrippo on LinkedIn    Related Microsoft Podcasts:                    Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson  The BlueHat Podcast  Uncovering Hidden Risks        Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts     Get the latest threat intelligence insights and guidance at Microsoft Security Insider    The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast is produced by Microsoft, Hangar Studios and distributed as part of N2K media network. 

Minnoxide
178. Creating Fueltech, Innovating ECU's, Pushing Platforms and Personal Projects w/ Anderson Dick

Minnoxide

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2026 92:12


Anderson Dick joins us to share the early days of Fueltech, the many years of innovation and challenges, and goes into detail on some of his person projects. Take your build up a whole new level with 6XD Gearbox: https://6xdgearbox.com Code "Minnoxide5" for 5% off High Performance Academy: https://hpcdmy.co/Minnoxide Use code "MINNOX" for 55% off ANY course Use Code "MINVIP" for $300 of the MINVIP Package Tuned By Shawn: https://www.tunedbyshawn.com Code "Minnoxide" for 5% off! Ship With Sure Thing Logistics: https://www.surethinglogistics.net MORE BIGGER Turbo T-Shirts: https://www.minnoxide.com/products/more-bigger-t-shirt  

Play No Games
Break Up Culture & the “I'm Single Forever” Lie | Kai Cenat

Play No Games

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2026 12:43


Play No Games is a space for real conversations and perspective.Each episode blends authenticity and insight—creating room for laughter, clarity, and growth as we unpack what's happening in culture and in ourselves._____________________________

AMERICA OUT LOUD PODCAST NETWORK
The hidden cost of platform-driven Christianity

AMERICA OUT LOUD PODCAST NETWORK

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2026 58:00 Transcription Available


The Hidden Lightness with Jimmy Hinton – Performance-based church models often reward visibility, influence, and numerical growth. Platforms grow larger, leaders become untouchable, and success is measured by applause rather than integrity. In these systems, harm doesn't always look dramatic. More often, it is quiet: dismissed concerns, spiritualized control, and victims urged to...

SBS Mandarin - SBS 普通话电台
算法中的骑手、直播间的“网红”:新书《Chinese Platforms》解析数字中国

SBS Mandarin - SBS 普通话电台

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2026 37:41


从微信到抖音,从滴滴、饿了么等外卖平台到“网红”直播间,《Chinese Platforms: A Critical Introduction》不仅是首部将中国平台放在全球互联网转型核心位置来讨论的教材,也把目光投向“平台劳动”背后真实而具体的人(收听播客,了解详情)。

The Business Growth Show
S1Ep261 AI for Restaurant Operations with ClearCOGS CEO Matt Wampler

The Business Growth Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2026 44:30


AI for restaurant operations is no longer a future concept — it's becoming a present-day competitive advantage. In an industry where margins are tight and decisions must be made quickly, the ability to predict demand, optimize prep, and streamline labor is transforming how restaurants perform on a daily basis. Matt Wampler, CEO and Co-Founder of ClearCOGS, brings a unique perspective to the conversation. His career didn't begin in tech but behind the counter of a struggling sandwich shop he took over at just 21 years old. After successfully turning the business around and operating multiple locations, Wampler eventually sold his restaurants and taught himself to code during the pandemic. That experience led to the founding of ClearCOGS, a platform designed to translate complex machine learning into simple, actionable insights for restaurant teams. ClearCOGS functions as an AI operations manager for restaurants. Rather than focusing on static dashboards or complex analytics reports, the platform provides daily answers to real-world questions: how many trays of bagels to bake, how much brisket to smoke, what to prep before closing, or how to plan staffing for the next shift. By combining historical data with real-time inputs like weather and daypart trends, ClearCOGS gives managers the confidence to make decisions that reduce waste, improve staffing, and boost profitability. Restaurants have always relied on a mix of instinct and experience to guide their operations. But as chains expand and customer expectations grow, relying solely on gut feeling is no longer enough. AI for restaurant operations offers a path to consistency and control, especially for multi-unit operators who need scalable systems. The platform doesn't replace people — it frees them up. With less time spent on number crunching and reactionary problem-solving, leaders can focus on the human side of the business: coaching staff, enhancing guest experience, and driving culture. One of the key themes highlighted by Wampler is the growing disparity between available technology and the tools most operators are still using. Many restaurants continue to depend on outdated spreadsheets or disconnected systems that don't provide the foresight needed to make smart operational calls. ClearCOGS helps bridge that gap by offering AI-driven predictions based on the specific needs of each location — not just generalized models. Wampler also emphasizes the importance of simplicity. While AI can be complex under the hood, its impact should be easy to understand on the front end. The goal isn't to overwhelm restaurant managers with more data — it's to answer their questions clearly and help them stay ahead of their day. By embedding AI for restaurant operations into the daily workflow, ClearCOGS ensures that the technology adds value without requiring a steep learning curve. As the restaurant industry continues to adapt to rising costs, staffing challenges, and shifting customer patterns, operational intelligence is becoming a critical advantage. Businesses that embrace AI not as a buzzword but as a practical tool are seeing real improvements in efficiency, profitability, and team morale. Platforms like ClearCOGS are leading that shift — not by replacing what makes restaurants special, but by supporting it with smarter systems. Watch the full episode on YouTube. Join Fordify LIVE! every Wednesday at 11 a.m. Central on your favorite social platforms and catch The Business Growth Show Podcast every Thursday for a weekly dose of business growth wisdom. About Matt Wampler Matt Wampler is the Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, a demand-based AI platform built specifically for restaurant operations. His background as a multi-unit restaurant operator informs the platform's mission to provide actionable, predictive insights that help restaurants reduce waste, improve labor planning, and operate with confidence. About Ford Saeks Ford Saeks is a Business Growth Accelerator with over two decades of real-world experience helping organizations scale smarter and faster. As President and CEO of Prime Concepts Group, Inc., he's credited with generating over one billion dollars in sales for start-ups, franchise systems, and Fortune 500 companies alike. A serial entrepreneur, Ford has founded more than ten businesses, authored five books, earned three U.S. patents, and received multiple industry awards. Known for his strategic thinking and down-to-earth style, Ford helps brands expand awareness, attract loyal customers, and drive measurable results. His deep expertise in AI prompt engineering has positioned him as a go-to authority on leveraging artificial intelligence in sales, marketing, and operations. Most recently, he was featured at the "Unleash AI for Business Summit," where he shared insights on how tools like ChatGPT are transforming the customer experience. Learn more at ProfitRichResults.com and tune in to his TV show at Fordify.tv.

Smart Agency Masterclass with Jason Swenk: Podcast for Digital Marketing Agencies
How to Survive Google Updates, AI Disruption, and Scale a Local SEO Agency with Joy Hawkins | Ep #869

Smart Agency Masterclass with Jason Swenk: Podcast for Digital Marketing Agencies

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2026 19:27


Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training Do you feel constantly worried about shrinking organic visibility, heavier ad pressure, and constant change? Running an agency has never been a straight line. Platforms change, algorithms shift, and what worked five years ago can quietly stop working overnight. Organic visibility is shrinking, ads are getting more expensive, and uncertainty feels constant. Today's featured guest knows that reality and will share her journey from agency employee to founder of a 43-person local SEO agency, along with her honest perspective on Google, AI, remote teams, and why growing bigger can actually create more freedom and impact when done for the right reasons. Joy Hawkins is the founder and owner of Sterling Sky, a specialized local SEO agency focused on helping businesses rank on Google Maps and local search results. She has been working in the SEO industry since 2006 and is widely known for her deep understanding of how Google's algorithm works, especially in local search. Sterling Sky is a fully remote agency with team members spread across Canada and the United States. What started as a small consulting experiment has grown into a 43-person team over eight years. In this episode, we'll discuss: Google, AI, and the future of local SEO Why SEO agencies must diversify to survive Building a fully remote team. Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources E2M Solutions: Today's episode of the Smart Agency Masterclass is sponsored by E2M Solutions, a web design, and development agency that has provided white-label services for the past 10 years to agencies all over the world. Check out e2msolutions.com/smartagency and get 10% off for the first three months of service. From Agency Employee to Founder of a Local SEO Agency After more than a decade inside agencies, Joy realized she was more interested in how systems worked than in selling them. When disagreements about services and sales responsibilities reached a breaking point, she decided to try consulting (fully prepared to dip into savings and return to a job if needed). Clients came faster than expected. Eight years later, that experiment has grown into a 43-person remote agency. Google, AI, and the Future of Local SEO One of the biggest challenges Joy sees in the industry right now is the pace of change inside Google's ecosystem. Features are constantly being swapped out, organic real estate is shrinking, and small businesses are feeling the impact more than ever. While agencies can usually adapt, clients often struggle because Google still represents such a large percentage of their lead flow. A major concern Joy sees is how Google is pushing more ads and limiting organic exposure, especially in local results. On mobile devices, users are now seeing local service ads dominate the top of the screen, followed by AI-driven local results that are shrinking from three listings down to one in some cases. For businesses that used to rely on being second or third in the map pack, this shift can mean a dramatic drop in calls almost overnight. Despite the fear around AI, Joy does not believe Google is going anywhere. As she points out, Google's real advantage is data. Reviews, location history, calls, visits, and behavior all live inside Google Maps. That depth of information is something other platforms struggle to match. Local SEO is still viable, but it is no longer free traffic in the way many business owners became used to. The bigger lesson is not about Google itself, but about dependency. When an agency or a business relies too heavily on one channel, any change can feel catastrophic. The agencies that struggle the most right now tend to be those built around rigid, cookie-cutter systems that cannot flex with the landscape. Why SEO Agencies Must Diversify to Survive Agency owners who want time to adapt should keep in mind it's always better to have an outbound strategy, an inbound strategy, and partnerships that you can rely on. If all your business comes from one channel and that channel changes, you are forced into reaction mode. The opportunity here is for agencies to guide clients toward broader strategies. That might include paid ads, partnerships, or even old school tactics like direct mail and local sponsorships. The exact tactic matters less than the mindset. Businesses need multiple levers to pull so they are not held hostage by one platform's decisions. For instance, right now everyone's scrambling to adopt AI in their processes, services, and more. But you should also try to understand the economics behind AI and advertising. The massive data centers, energy consumption, and infrastructure costs mean that today's low prices will not last forever. Platforms are investing heavily now with the expectation that monetization will follow. For agency owners, this reinforces the importance of pricing correctly, setting expectations with clients, and building offers that account for rising costs and shrinking organic margins. Building a Fully Remote Agency Joy's agency started more as a practical decision than a remote-first experiment. After years of working from home she saw no reason to take on the overhead of an office. The cost savings mattered early on, but the flexibility mattered even more. Without a commute, Joy could better balance work and family life. That same benefit extended to her team. Many of her early hires were former coworkers from an agency that later shut down, people she already trusted and respected. Since they were geographically spread out, an office would have created unnecessary friction. Expanding into the United States was also a strategic move. Joy wanted access to a larger talent pool so she could be extremely selective about who she hired. Being remote made it possible to hire people who were already passionate about local SEO instead of settling for whoever happened to live nearby. Culture, Connection, and Team Building at Scale One of the risks of running a remote agency is losing human connection. Joy is very intentional about avoiding that. While informal meetups happen more often in Canada, the entire team gets together once a year for an in person retreat. The goal of these retreats is mostly relationship building. Joy genuinely likes the people she works with and considers many of them friends. She believes that strong relationships create trust, better communication, and a healthier work environment overall. Joy sees firsthand how flexible work, reasonable boundaries, and a supportive environment can be life changing for employees who came from toxic workplaces. That impact has become a meaningful part of why she continues to grow the agency. Why Scaling the Agency Became a Mission When she first started her agency, Joy wanted a small team. Ten people or fewer. Highly experienced. Minimal management. That vision changed a few years in, and the reason surprised her. Around two years in, her agency began supporting a charity in Uganda, and the more she built that relationship, the more Joy saw how far a single dollar could stretch there compared to North America. Visiting in person made the impact real. She realized that by growing the agency, she could dramatically increase the good they could do through that partnership. The same realization applied to her team. As the agency grew, Joy saw how stable, flexible work improved her employees' lives. That sense of responsibility and opportunity shifted her perspective as she figured out her purpose. Now growth was no longer about ego or scale for its own sake. It became a way to create more impact both inside and outside the business. Leadership, Delegation, and Hiring for Your Weaknesses Agency owners who wish to keep their businesses small are often thinking about the nightmare that running a big agency can be. They imagine that the headaches they deal with at ten employees will just double if the team doubles. However, this was never the case for Joy. When she thinks about overworking she thinks about her time working for others. This is probably because Joy has always been very clear about what she does not enjoy. Accounting, taxes, and people management are high on the list, and instead of forcing herself to become good at everything, she hired people who genuinely enjoy those areas. A strong accountant removed massive mental load early on and hiring leadership team members who thrive on managing people allowed Joy to focus on strategy and innovation. She believes this is one of the biggest unlocks for agency owners who feel trapped. Delegation is not about offloading busywork. It is about trusting capable people to own outcomes. Joy prefers hiring experienced professionals over entry level talent because she does not want to micromanage. Her expectations are high, but so is her respect for her team's autonomy. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

The Whitetail Distraction Podcast
Stories From the Season pt. 2

The Whitetail Distraction Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2026 96:18


EP 216: Were hanging out finishing up some story telling from the season. Wild stories, a surprise guest - Murphy, and a whole lot more to come! Enjoy!  IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT THE SHOW, CHECK OUT OUR PATREON! The Whitetail Distraction Podcast is creating Podcasts and Videos | Patreon   If you want some badass broadheads, head over to VIP's website: https://www.viparchery.com or give Matt and Cindy Futtere a call and tell them the Whitetail Distraction Podcast boys sent you. They are truly some of the best people in the business! The Combat Veteran will cause major damage to the intended target as combat veterans are trained to do!  One of the best seed companies in the game has agreed to offer 10% off! Go check out Back Forty Seed Co. and use code DISTRACTION10. https://backfortyseedco.com To complement our broadhead usage - check out VPA's full lineup of products at www.vparchery.com use discount code WDP for 10% off! You have to see their project at www.50forged.com Skre Gear is back!! You know the routine, high quality products with a lifetime warranty at an affordable cost! Use discount code WDP for 15% off!! Check their growing lineup at www.skregear.com Our newest partner is Hunt Arsenal!! Platforms, saddles, packs and more! They are taking the mobile hunting space by storm! Give them a serious consideration at https://huntarsenal.com/ Like this episode? Head over to iTunes and give us a 5-star rating and leave a review. Not hearing what you like, or just simply have suggestions? Send us an email at TheWhitetailDistractionPodcast@gmail.com   Also, check us out on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube @TheWhitetailDistractionPodcast, Twitter @TheWDPodcast and TikTok @TheWhitetailDistraction. The Distraction is Real!

The Quill & Sword
The Quill & Sword | The FAR & Beyond Episode 18: The History of the GPC and Commercial Platforms

The Quill & Sword

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2026 24:35


On this Episode, we discuss the History of the Government Purchase Card (GPC). We also talk about the Commercial Platforms available for use with the GPC. Learn more about The Quill & Sword series of podcasts by visiting our podcast page at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/thequillandsword. The Quill & Sword show includes featured episodes from across the JAGC, plus all episodes from our four separate shows: “Criminal Law Department Presents” (Criminal Law Department), “NSL Unscripted” (National Security Law Department), “The FAR and Beyond” (Contract & Fiscal Law Department) and “Hold My Reg” (Administrative & Civil Law Department). Connect with The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School by visiting our website at https://tjaglcs.army.mil/ or on Facebook (tjaglcs), Instagram (tjaglcs), or LinkedIn (school/tjaglcs).

The Last American Vagabond
Venezuela Fire Sale – Was There A Deal Made With Maduro & Is Delcy Rodriguez Playing Trump?

The Last American Vagabond

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2026 230:13 Transcription Available


Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, an in-depth investigatory show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (1/6/26). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth is, or claiming they have the answer, is likely leading you astray, for one reason or another. Stay Vigilant. !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble");   Rumble("play", {"video":"v71s5ug","div":"rumble_v71s5ug"}); Video Source Links (In Chronological Order): (21) Jamilu Sufi

Intelligence Squared
How Tech Platforms Threaten Our Future, With Former White House Advisor Tim Wu (Part Two)

Intelligence Squared

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2026 44:33


Tim Wu, is one of America's leading thinkers on technology, power, and the history of monopoly powers. A Columbia Law School professor and former special assistant to President Joe Biden for technology and competition policy, Wu is best known for coining the term “net neutrality” and for his influential work in books like The Attention Merchants and The Curse of Bigness which explore the balance between innovation, corporate concentration, and the public good. On November 18, Wu came to Intelligence Squared to reveal the dangers of the new AI economy. Drawing from his new book The Age of Extraction he discussed why in the AI economy tech companies will amass unprecedented power and argued that breaking up tech monopolies is ultimately the only solution to unleash creativity and growth for the rest of society. He also discussed the history of monopoly power and offer a blueprint for an alternative AI future which would allow tech platforms to still play a major role in creating and sustaining an economic model of prosperity for everyone. --- If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Worthy House
The Age of Extraction: How Tech Platforms Conquered the Economy and Threaten Our Future Prosperity (Tim Wu)

The Worthy House

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2026 35:25


A cogent, insightful examination of how concentrations of economic power, primarily tech power, erode the stability of our society while enriching an unaccountable parasite class. The written version of this review can be found here (https://theworthyhouse.com/2026/01/02/the-age-of-extraction-how-tech-platforms-conquered-the-economy-and-threaten-our-future-prosperity-tim-wu/). We strongly encourage all listeners to bookmark our main site (https://www.theworthyhouse.com). You can also subscribe for email notifications, or subscribe at Substack. The Worthy House does not solicit donations or other support, or have ads. Other than at the main site, you can follow Charles here: https://x.com/TheWorthyHouse https://charleshaywood.substack.com/

Marsha's Plate: Black Trans Podcast
372 Gender Serenity feat Rio Antone

Marsha's Plate: Black Trans Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2026 112:33


On Today's Menu on Marsha's Plate Today we talk to Las vegas's own Rio Antone. They are a nonbinary activist and social worker from Flint Michigan who call Vegas home now....We discuss their gender journey. Rio's Website https://rioantone.com/ Listen on all streaming Platforms https://pod.link/1293033444 Here we talk about cultural events, entertainment news, and gender politics from a Black Trans feminist lens. This is Diamond Stylz archival work that preserves the histories, experiences, and contributions of a marginalized community that has been historically erased, overlooked, or misrepresented. We focus on people who identitfy as Black, trans, gay, or woman...or any combination of all of them. We have merch as well if you wanna support Marsha's Plate https://teespring.com/stores/marshasplate Reading Recommendations https://bookshop.org/shop/DiamondStylz #marshasplate #girlslikeus #boyslikeus #transgender #podcast #podsincolor #podernfamily #transisbeautiful #houston #lgbt #transmen #transwomen #blackfeminism #trans101 #trans #blacktranswomen #blacktransmen #houstonpride #indiepodcast #blacktranslivesmatter #lgbtqia #lgbtq #genderidentity #pride #blackgirlmagic #blackboyjoy #podcast

Intelligence Squared
How Tech Platforms Threaten Our Future, With Former White House Advisor Tim Wu (Part One)

Intelligence Squared

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2025 35:42


Tim Wu, is one of America's leading thinkers on technology, power, and the history of monopoly powers. A Columbia Law School professor and former special assistant to President Joe Biden for technology and competition policy, Wu is best known for coining the term “net neutrality” and for his influential work in books like The Attention Merchants and The Curse of Bigness which explore the balance between innovation, corporate concentration, and the public good. On November 18, Wu came to Intelligence Squared to reveal the dangers of the new AI economy. Drawing from his new book The Age of Extraction he discussed why in the AI economy tech companies will amass unprecedented power and argued that breaking up tech monopolies is ultimately the only solution to unleash creativity and growth for the rest of society. He also discussed the history of monopoly power and offer a blueprint for an alternative AI future which would allow tech platforms to still play a major role in creating and sustaining an economic model of prosperity for everyone. --- This is the first instalment of a two-part episode. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices