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Send us Fan MailChris Hobson, CEO of Rare Beauty Brands, home to Patchology and Kate Somerville, breaks down the business of beauty: the insight that turned Old Spice around, what it now costs to build a brand, how to handle dupes, and the metrics founders should track.Who is Chris Hobson?He started a clothing brand in college in Canada, then joined Procter & Gamble in brand management, running Scope, Folgers Canada, Old Spice, and Secret before an MBA and a career building brands. "As a brand manager, you get trained as sort of the mini general manager of your brand."How did he turn around Old Spice?By finding an insight instead of denying the brand's age. Research showed a woman would borrow her partner's deodorant from almost any brand except Old Spice. "We came up with this funny tongue in cheek positioning of Old Spice as the last bastion of masculinity." The brand went from a distant fifth to third in Canada, and the positioning went global.What makes consumers loyal to a beauty brand?Product quality first, emotional connection second. "When you get that magic of the consumer insight married to really high quality product, that's the foundation of a brand."What insight drives Patchology and Kate Somerville?Two very different ones. "The insight for a Patchology consumer is I want a moment of joy... the act of putting on the mask slows me down from my crazy day." The Kate Somerville consumer is buying certainty from a clinic with 20 years and 250,000 facials behind it.Should beauty brands chase trends?Only in ways authentic to the brand, though Hobson is candid about the pull. "The science is sort of suspect, but hey, it's a $10 million opportunity. How do we not do it?" Brands lose themselves when they go wholesale trend focused.Why did Patchology stop marketing its science?Because consumers buy results, not mechanisms. Hobson watched women's eyes glaze over at talk of ten times more ingredient delivery, then light up when the patches came off. "Turns out all she cares about is the better results."How long does it take to build a beauty brand?Longer than founders expect, now that ad costs have erased the cheap growth era. "You've got to be prepared to raise 10 to 20 million dollars at least, and spend 10 to 20 years on it. That's the new reality."Why is it harder for indie brands to scale now?The economics of attention changed. "The advertising prices have come up and the ROI has come down, and so it's harder for young brands to make that leap."How should a brand respond to dupes?By owning the category so copies feed demand back to the original. "When a brand copies us, a rising tide lifts all boats." Patchology is up over 20 percent this year.Do dupes steal customers from the original?Within limits set by price and psychology. "They're wearing it and they're knowing in their mind, I'm not really wearing Chanel." Hobson argues most of those consumers come back.Does getting into Target or Walmart grow a beauty brand?Not without demand behind it. "If you don't have the demand generation capability in place to move that product off the shelf... you're out." Accessibility is a high stakes strategy, not a shortcut.What metrics should new beauty founders track?Repeat purchase above all, measured by cohort rather than revenue share. "The way we make money as brands is repeat purchase... if I had to go out and acquire a customer every single time, I'd go out of business."What is the biggest business lesson of his career?People. "You want to hire the A level person, even if they're a little threatening to you, because they're gonna do the job way better than you would ever do it."Listen to the full episode with Chris Hobson of Rare Beauty Brands on Skin Anarchy, available wherever you get your podcasts.Shop Kate Sommerville and PatchologyDon't forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.Reach out to us through email with any questions.Sign up for our newsletter!Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf!Support the show
A U.S. vs China AI cold war is starting, and most business leaders have no idea they're already in it.China's open models just closed the gap with America's best, oftentimes at a fraction of the price.Now both governments are moving to wall off their AI within days of each other.Why? Because this was never about benchmarks. It's about power y'all. We break it all down on today's show and help you figure out the 101 of the AI war between U.S. and China. The U.S. vs China AI Cold War Is Starting: What It Means and How It Impacts You -- An Everyday AI Chat with Jordan WilsonNewsletter: Sign up for our free daily newsletterMore on this Episode: Episode PageToday's Episode on LinkedIn: Thoughts on this? Join the convo on LinkedIn and connect with other AI leaders.Upcoming Episodes: Check out the upcoming Everyday AI Livestream lineupWebsite: YourEverydayAI.comEmail The Show: info@youreverydayai.comConnect with Jordan on LinkedInTopics Covered in This Episode:U.S.-China AI Cold War OverviewChinese AI Models Closing U.S. GapGovernment Restrictions on AI Model AccessEconomic and Geopolitical AI Power StruggleRisks for U.S. Businesses Using Chinese AIOpen Source vs. Closed Source AI DebateChinese AI Model Pricing Undercuts U.S.AI Model Distillation and U.S. Security ConcernsEnterprise AI Cost-Effectiveness BenchmarksMicrosoft Testing Chinese AI DeploymentsFuture AI Model Export Controls & StrategiesRecommendations for AI Model Sourcing and RiskTimestamps:00:00 US-China AI tensions escalate04:30 Switching to Chinese AI models08:47 US vs China in open source models11:39 China's narrative control efforts14:42 Challenges in AI model development18:25 Differentiating open source strategies23:04 AI model cost-effectiveness analysis26:31 US measures against model distillation29:38 Discussing Microsoft's use of AI models31:17 Controlling export of AI modelsKeywords: US vs China AI cold war, China AI restrictions, US AI restrictions, AI model export controls, Chinese open source AI models, AI geopolitical power, economic growth through AI, global AI standards, AI superpower race, AI model benchmarks, open weight models, enterprise AI deployment, trillion parameter AI models, Microsoft AI model testing, AI model pricing, Claude Fable 5, GPT-5.6, GLM 5.2, Kimmi K3, Alibaba Qwen 3.8, model distillation, AI cybersecurity risks, AGI leadership, military AI use cases, China narrative control, model adoption, compute power for AI, AI training data, AI export law, US national security and AI, model routing, mixture of models, cost per intelligence index, Anthropic models, cost per task AI, model capability parity, AI market adoption, cloud competition, AI architecture innovation, AI model sanctionsSend Everyday AI and Jordan a text message. (We can't reply back unless you leave contact info) Ready for ROI on GenAI? Go to youreverydayai.com/partner
Do This, NOT That: Marketing Tips with Jay Schwedelson l Presented By Marigold
Partner with Jay: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/contactㅤPre-order Jay Schwedelson's new book, Stupider People Have Done It (out June 9, 2026).All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206ㅤSubscribe to Jay's newsletter for weekly marketing tips and tactics: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/newsletterㅤRegister for GuruConference (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.guruconference.comㅤCheck out Eventastic (FREE + VIRTUAL!) https://www.eventastic.comㅤConnect with Jay on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/Check out Jay's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelsonCheck out Jay's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/Ask Jay anything: https://www.jayschwedelson.com/askㅤLeave a comment and follow the show, it really helps us out!ㅤMASSIVE thank you to our Sponsor, CallRail!CallRail is the AI-powered lead intelligence platform that helps marketers prove exactly what's driving results. With CallRail, you can connect every call, text, chat, and form submission directly to the campaign that generated it so you finally know what's working and where to double down.Plus, with built-in AI conversation intelligence, CallRail analyzes your customer conversations, captures leads 24/7, and gives you deeper insights into what your prospects actually care about.If you're tired of guessing about your marketing ROI and want real data behind your campaigns, CallRail has you covered.Start a Free Trial Here: https://www.callrail.com/dothisㅤTurns out the AI tools everyone swears by might be quietly working against you - one big study found they added hours to campaign workflows instead of trimming them. Jay Schwedelson digs into that gut-check alongside fresh LinkedIn data on what the algorithm is actually rewarding right now, plus a warning about why those handy free AI tiers you've built your process around probably won't stay free. It wraps with the usual detour into whatever he's been watching and reading lately.ㅤBest Moments:(00:42) LinkedIn's own playbook for the algorithm, post two to three times a week and stay between 200 and 300 words(01:40) The Metricool study putting carousels at 11 times more interactions than single images on company pages(02:11) Why ending a post with a question quietly earns 77 percent more comments(03:35) The AI plot twist, Meta's creative tools adding over three hours to the campaign cycle instead of saving any(04:21) Adam Mosseri's warning that the free AI tiers everyone leans on are on their way out(06:30) A full-throated case against IMAX screen-shaming and for the freedom to watch anything on your phone
Our guest on the podcast today is Brett Arends. Brett has been a columnist for MarketWatch, The Wall Street Journal, and other Dow Jones publications since 2007. His regular column for MarketWatch is called ROI, and he has also written for SmartMoney, TheStreet.com, and the Boston Herald. In addition, Brett has written several books including Storm-Proof Your Money: Weather Any Economy, Rebuild Your Portfolio, Protect Your Future. Brett took a double first in history at Cambridge University and did postgraduate research at Oxford University. He's also a chartered financial consultant. Episode Highlights 00:00:00 Financial Journalism Origins and Early Stock-Picking Lessons 00:11:12 Comparing the AI Boom to Dot-Com Bubble 00:21:53 Diversification, Index Funds, and AI Bubble Risk 00:26:25 Why Private Securities Are a Bad Deal 00:33:09 Why TIPS Are Attractive Under Rising Inflation 00:38:10 Generating Retirement Income and Immediate Annuities 00:45:35 Social Security and Policy Risks More From Morningstar GQG: Why We Are Still in an AI Stock Market Bubble Jeremy Grantham: ‘Almost Everything Looks More Attractive Than the US Equity Market' How to Use TIPS in Your Portfolio If you have a comment or a guest idea, please email us at TheLongView@Morningstar.com. Follow Christine Benz (@christine_benz) and Ben Johnson (@MstarBenJohnson) on X, and Christine Benz, Amy Arnott, and Ben Johnson on LinkedIn. Visit Morningstar.com for new research and insights from Christine, Ben, and Amy. Subscribe to Christine's weekly newsletter, Improving Your Finances. If you want more Morningstar podcasts, check out The Morning Filter and Investing Insights. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
In this episode, Michael Blank sits down with commercial real estate developer and AI expert Jake Heller to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the way investors analyze deals, manage assets, and grow their businesses. As the founder of the AI for CRE Collective, Jay has tested hundreds of AI tools designed specifically for commercial real estate, helping investors cut through the hype and focus on practical applications that drive real results. Together, they discuss why AI should enhance—not replace—fundamental investing knowledge, how tools like Claude can dramatically improve productivity, and why the investors who embrace AI today will have a significant competitive advantage tomorrow.Key TakeawaysAI Is a Multiplier—Not a ReplacementThe best investors use AI to enhance their existing knowledge and workflows, not replace sound judgment or real estate fundamentals.Master the Fundamentals Before Relying on AIUnderstanding underwriting, market analysis, and deal evaluation is essential, as AI is only as effective as the person guiding it.Claude for Excel Is a Game-ChangerAI-powered spreadsheet tools can dramatically reduce the time it takes to analyze deals, build financial models, and automate repetitive tasks.Measure AI by ROI, Not HypeBefore adopting any AI tool, determine whether it actually saves time, increases productivity, or helps generate more revenue.AI Should Inform Decisions—Not Make ThemAI is excellent at modeling scenarios and analyzing data, but final investment decisions should always be made by experienced operators.Early Adopters Will Gain a Competitive EdgeInvestors who learn to integrate AI into their daily workflows today will be significantly more productive than those who wait to adapt.Connect with Jake HellerAI for CRE Collective: https://aiforcrecollective.comPrivate AI for CRE Community: https://aiforcrecollective.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-keller/AI for CRE Newsletter & Resources: https://aiforcrecollective.comConnect with our Deal Maker PartnersCheck out all Partners hereAttorney - Swafford Law LLC Mentor - Deal Maker MentoringResourcesConnect with Michael BlankTheFreedomPodcast.com Join the Deal Maker MastermindExplore Michael's Mentoring ProgramReview the Podcast on Apple PodcastsGet the Syndicated Deal AnalyzerGet the Book, Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing by Michael Blank For full episode show notes visit: https://themichaelblank.com/podcasts/session533/
Building powerful business relationships doesn't require cold pitches or massive ad budgets—it's about authentic, service-driven connections. In this high-energy episode, Josh Elledge, founder of PodVerified and podcasting OG, joins Lou Diamond to share time-tested strategies for leveraging podcasting as the #1 ROI tool for building credibility, attracting clients, and growing your influence. Learn why podcast guesting is far more than validation and ego, the biggest mistakes guests and marketers make, and exactly how to stand out in a crowded field of spammy pitches. If you want to turn every podcast appearance into meaningful business growth (and not just another “checkbox” on your to-do list), this episode is your playbook.Key highlights:How Josh Elledge built multi-million dollar brands with zero ad spend by focusing on generosity and relationshipsThe most important (and overlooked) elements every podcast guest needs to bring value and get resultsWhy smaller, niche shows filled with your ideal targets outshine giant audiences of “randos”How PodVerified cuts through “marketing bro” spam for both guests and hostsThe unwritten club behind quality podcast referrals, and practical tips for getting invited back—and referred onwardActionable promo strategies and a free resource toolkit for better guestingEpisode overview:[00:00] Introduction to Josh Elledge and the power of podcasting[03:06] Josh Elledge shares his entrepreneurial journey and early podcast days[07:54] Go Giver principles and relationship-first podcasting[08:46] The importance of podcast guesting, niches, and show selection[16:19] Preparing an effective podcast guest toolkit[20:14] Delivering value as a guest and driving genuine engagement[23:31] The spam problem & how PodVerified helps guests and hosts[29:55] Building relationships & “the unwritten podcast host club”[33:40] Where to connect with Josh Elledge and get free resources[36:28] Speed round: Movies, music, food, and more[46:13] Final reflections: What Josh Elledge would do differently if starting his podcast today[48:03] Closing remarks and action steps
The AI Breakdown: Daily Artificial Intelligence News and Discussions
A fierce political and industry fight is emerging over which AI models Americans and businesses will be allowed to use. NLW breaks down the growing debate over Chinese open-weight models, the White House's increasingly murky approach to AI regulation, OpenAI strategist Dean Ball's controversial comments, and why this battle could shape AI costs, competition, and the future of access to powerful models.Brought to you by:KPMG – Research from KPMG and the University of Texas at Austin shows the highest-impact AI users treat AI like a reasoning partner — and those skills can be taught at scale. Learn more at kpmg.com/us/SophisticatedHyperagent - Hire a fleet of always-on agents. New users get $1,000 in inference. hyperagent.com/aidailybriefRetool - Secure your vibecoded apps. New enterprise customers get up to $10,000 in AI credits per year. retool.com/aidaily Rackspace Technology- One accountable partner to build, operate and run your full enterprise AI stack https://www.rackspace.com/Section - Section turns AI investment into workforce transformation and ROI - https://www.sectionai.com/Scrunch - The AI customer experience platform - https://scrunch.com/Blitzy - Want to accelerate enterprise software development velocity by 5x? https://blitzy.com/AssemblyAI - The best way to build Voice AI apps - https://www.assemblyai.com/briefRobots & Pencils - Cloud-native AI solutions that power results https://robotsandpencils.com/The AI Daily Brief helps you understand the most important news and discussions in AI. Subscribe to the podcast version of The AI Daily Brief wherever you listen: https://pod.link/1680633614Our Newsletter is BACK: https://aidailybrief.beehiiv.com/Interested in sponsoring the show? sponsors@aidailybrief.ai
What does it really take to renovate a hotel while keeping guests happy, protecting reviews, and maximizing owner returns?In this episode, David Millili and Steve Carran sit down with Tom Kelley, CEO & President of Digney Holding Companies, to explore the business of hotel renovations, capital planning, and hospitality development. Drawing on decades of experience spanning architecture, Marriott, commercial real estate, and hotel construction, Tom shares practical insights into how owners can make smarter renovation decisions in today's rapidly evolving hospitality market.From navigating brand conversions and Property Improvement Plans (PIPs) to managing rising construction costs, tariffs, and supply chain volatility, Tom explains why successful hotel projects start with careful planning, financial discipline, and a relentless focus on the guest experience. He also discusses how owners can avoid costly over-investments, balance design with ROI, and execute renovations in occupied hotels with minimal disruption.Whether you're a hotel owner, operator, developer, investor, architect, or hospitality professional, this conversation offers valuable strategies for protecting asset value while creating exceptional guest experiences.In this episode, you'll learn: How to plan successful hotel renovations and brand conversions Why due diligence should come before design decisions The importance of aligning capital expenditures with long-term investment strategy How hospitality design continues to evolve with changing guest expectations Watch the FULL EPISODE on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cxipY_2xW9ILinks:Tom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-kelley-84bba2aa/ Digney-York Associates: https://digneyyork.com/ For full show notes head to: https://themodernhotelier.com/episode/311Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-..Join the conversation on today's episode on The Modern Hotelier LinkedIn pageConnect with Steve and David:Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E...David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-mil.
AdTechGod sits down with Andrew Swinand, CEO of Inspired Thinking Group (ITG) and former CEO of Publicis Groupe Creative U.S. and Leo Burnett. Andrew shares how AI-powered content automation is helping global brands produce personalized creative at scale, reduce production costs by 50%, cut campaign timelines from 8 weeks to 2 weeks, and drive stronger marketing performance. They discuss operational AI vs generative AI, the future of agencies, creative effectiveness, personalization, and why the next decade may bring a creative renaissance instead of creative replacement. Takeaways AI-powered content automation is enabling brands to create personalized content at an unprecedented scale. ITG helps global brands localize campaigns across languages, markets, and audiences using AI. Brands are reducing production costs by roughly 50% while significantly speeding up go-to-market timelines. Operational AI delivers more immediate ROI than purely generative AI use cases. Most companies already possess valuable creative assets but struggle to find and utilize them efficiently. Effective personalization is not about one-to-one marketing but identifying "meaningful breaks" within audiences. Creative quality remains critical despite AI advancements. The future agency model will focus more on strategy, insights, and creative concepts while automation handles production. AI will eliminate repetitive production work but increase demand for higher-quality creative thinking. Andrew predicts a creative renaissance driven by the abundance of AI-generated content. Chapters00:00 Introduction & Welcome01:01 Andrew Swinand's Career Journey04:36 From Publicis & Leo Burnett to ITG06:20 What Inspired Thinking Group (ITG) Does07:43 How AI Transforms Content Production09:10 Cutting Costs, Speeding Up Campaigns & Personalization at Scale11:00 Why More Creative Variations Drive Better Performance12:42 Operational AI vs Generative AI15:18 AI-Powered Asset Organization & Content Discovery17:03 The Right Way to Personalize Advertising20:00 Why Creative Matters More Than Ever21:28 The Future of Agencies in an AI World23:28 AI Slop, Content Overload & Marketing Challenges26:36 What Marketers Are Overhyping About AI27:03 Andrew's Vision for Advertising in 5 Years28:23 Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up Guests: AdTech God Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Most companies are not short on data. They are short on the time, cost, and coordination required to turn it into action.Ethan Ding, co founder and CEO of TextQL, joins The Tech Trek to explain how AI agents are changing enterprise analytics. The conversation moves beyond faster dashboards into a larger shift, analysts managing fleets of agents, business teams asking far more questions, and companies finding revenue and cost opportunities that were previously too expensive to pursue.What Technical Teams Can Take From This• Making answers cheaper does not reduce analytics work. It increases the number of questions people ask.• Analysts may spend less time assembling dashboards and more time managing agents, data sources, permissions, quality, and costs.• The clearest ROI comes from decisions with direct financial outcomes, including fraud prevention, upsell opportunities, churn risk, and unused vendor spend.• Faster analysis matters most when teams can act on valuable opportunities they previously could not afford to investigate.• Token costs will force AI companies and buyers to reconsider where software budgets go, especially across BI tools and data platforms.Moments Worth Hearing00:00 Ethan explains how TextQL agents work across messy enterprise systems including Cognos, Teradata, Snowflake, Databricks, Tableau, and Power BI.04:52 Why giving people faster answers does not create free time. It creates even more demand for analytics07:10 How self service analytics quickly moves from asking what a number is to asking whether it matters and what to do next.10:08 The analyst role shifts toward managing fleets of agents and tuning an insight factory for the business.14:38 Why faster access to data can reveal valuable opportunities that were previously too expensive to investigate.19:55 A practical way to measure analytics ROI through fraud prevention, upsell opportunities, and other direct financial outcomes.24:18 How token costs, AI margins, and easier migrations could reshape spending on traditional BI tools.One Line That Stuck“It becomes much more of an operations manager job. It is a factory. It takes in tokens and churns out dashboards, reports, and recommendations.”Follow The Tech Trek on your podcast platform, subscribe for future episodes, and share this conversation with someone rethinking how their team works with data.
Healthcare AI is moving faster than many health systems can govern it.In this episode of Straight Out of Health IT, David Hilderbrand, Chief Commercial Officer at Ferrum Health, joins Christopher Kunney to discuss the rapid rise of clinical AI, medical imaging AI consolidation, and the growing need for enterprise-level governance. He explains why health systems are no longer just asking which AI tools to buy, but how to monitor, manage, and understand the tools already running across their organizations. As AI enters through devices, platforms, service lines, and vendor relationships, CIOs and clinical leaders are facing a new kind of operational complexity. The conversation explores why effective AI oversight has become essential as adoption accelerates across healthcare.David breaks down the difference between AI committees, analytics, telemetry, and true governance. He explains that governance is not simply about knowing whether an algorithm is turned on, but about understanding how it behaves in clinical care and how it performs across different patient populations. Without that level of visibility, health systems risk overlooking issues such as bias, model drift, inconsistent performance, and patient impact. He argues that meaningful governance is critical to ensuring AI delivers safe, reliable, and measurable clinical value.David also shares how Ferrum Health approaches clinical AI through platforming, observability, and neutral model monitoring. Rather than recommending which AI tools organizations should adopt, Ferrum helps health systems gain visibility into their entire AI portfolio so they can make informed decisions about expanding, replacing, or retiring algorithms. The discussion also covers measuring ROI, recognizing the costs of underperforming AI models, and the importance of early disease detection. Hilderbrand concludes by explaining why AI governance should remain independent from vendor bias to support better long-term clinical and operational outcomes.Tune in to hear why clinical AI governance is becoming essential infrastructure for health systems, and why the future of healthcare AI depends on visibility, accountability, and trust.Key TakeawaysClinical AI is expanding quickly, but many health systems lack the tools to understand what is actually running across their environments. Vendor sprawl is creating new operational, financial, and clinical risks as AI tools enter through devices, platforms, and service lines. True AI governance goes beyond telemetry and analytics; it requires visibility into how algorithms interact with patients and clinical workflows. Health systems need unbiased observability to determine whether clinical AI tools are performing as promised. AI governance can help organizations reduce the cost of failed algorithms and improve the value of their AI investments. Early detection through clinical AI can improve patient outcomes while also reducing downstream care costs. Governance must remain separate from vendor bias so health systems can make clear decisions about which tools to keep, expand, replace, or remove. The next phase of clinical AI will require stronger infrastructure, especially as agentic AI and cloud-based workflow solutions grow.ResourcesConnect with David Hilderbrand on LinkedIn.Follow Ferrum Health on LinkedIn and visit their website.
The provided report by the Andersen Institute explores the emergence of Agentic AI as a sophisticated successor to traditional automation, characterized by its ability to reason and act independently. While these systems offer immense potential for enterprise transformation across global sectors like retail and finance, the author notes that many projects fail due to technical complexity and poor strategic alignment. A central theme is the necessity of evolving ROI models beyond simple cost-cutting to include broader value metrics like decision quality, risk reduction, and new revenue streams. The text further outlines critical implementation hurdles, including data silos, fragmented international regulations, and the scarcity of specialized talent. Ultimately, the source provides a blueprint for success that requires organizations to balance technical innovation with robust governance and cross-functional cooperation. To maximize impact, companies must navigate global investment trends while addressing ethical concerns such as algorithmic opacity and regional infrastructure constraints.
View the Show Notes Page for This Episode Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter In this "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) episode, Peter explores the evidence behind environmental pollution and its impact on long-term health, separating well-supported risks from less substantiated claims while providing a practical framework for deciding which exposures deserve attention. He explains what environmental pollution encompasses, where it fits within the broader hierarchy of longevity interventions, and why studying its health effects is uniquely challenging. Peter examines the evidence linking air pollution to disease and shares actionable strategies for improving indoor and outdoor air quality. He also discusses how noise and light pollution can influence sleep, cardiovascular health, and overall well-being, offering practical ways to reduce their effects in daily life. Finally, Peter takes an evidence-based look at electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and 5G technology, evaluating the current science and whether concerns about these exposures are supported by the available data. If you're not a subscriber and are listening on a podcast player, you'll only be able to hear a preview of the AMA. If you're a subscriber, you can now listen to this full episode on your private RSS feed or our website at the AMA #87 show notes page. If you are not a subscriber, you can learn more about the subscriber benefits here. We discuss: Defining environmental pollution and its role in longevity [1:45]; Why the topic of environmental pollution is both polarizing and difficult to study [6:00]; Where environmental exposures fit within the hierarchy of health priorities, and a framework for evaluating which environmental risks are worth addressing [13:15]; Understanding air pollution: the major pollutants and why PM2.5 is a key marker of health risk [16:00]; Indoor air pollution: why indoor air quality often matters most for reducing personal air pollution exposure [21:45]; How air pollution is measured and how the Air Quality Index (AQI) translates pollution data into practical guidance [25:00]; The health effects of air pollution: evidence linking exposure to respiratory and cardiovascular disease [27:00]; How air pollution causes disease: biological mechanisms linking pollution to respiratory and cardiovascular health [29:15]; Who is most susceptible to the health effects of air pollution? [31:45]; Understanding air pollution thresholds and the differences between WHO and EPA air quality guidelines [34:15]; Comparing acute air pollution events with chronic exposure and cumulative health risk [36:15]; Best strategies for mitigating air pollution exposure [38:00]; Noise pollution: effects on hearing, sleep, and cardiovascular health [44:30]; Measuring noise exposure and understanding the thresholds for hearing loss and chronic health effects [48:00]; Practical strategies to reduce noise exposure and protect your hearing [54:15]; Light pollution: defining light pollution and the importance of timing for circadian health [58:15]; The health effects of artificial light at night and the evidence behind blue light and blue light-blocking glasses [1:00:00]; Practical strategies for optimizing light exposure to support circadian rhythms and sleep [1:04:00]; Concerns about EMF and 5G exposure: understanding electromagnetic fields and the distinction between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation [1:06:30]; Evaluating the evidence linking radiofrequency electromagnetic fields to cancer risk [1:10:15]; Evaluating the evidence for electromagnetic hypersensitivity and EMF-related symptoms [1:14:00]; Practical recommendations for managing everyday EMF and 5G exposure and avoiding unnecessary interventions [1:15:30]; Prioritizing environmental exposures based on their impact on health and longevity [1:18:00]; The highest-ROI strategies for reducing environmental pollution exposure and protecting long-term health [1:19:30]; and More. Connect With Peter on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube
Glam & Grow - Fashion, Beauty, and Lifestyle Brand Interviews
Tubby Todd was founded in 2014 by Andrea Faulkner Williams and her husband, Brian Todd, after their family struggled with sensitive skin, dryness, and eczema. Frustrated by the lack of clean, effective products they felt comfortable using on their four children, Andrea turned her search into a mission to create gentle skincare solutions that truly worked for families. From that first product, Tubby Todd has grown into a full line of plant-based body care essentials trusted by families dealing with concerns like eczema, baby acne, drool rash, and dry skin. Built through authentic storytelling and a strong community of “TT Mamas,” Tubby Todd continues to grow without celebrity investors or massive advertising budgets, instead relying on the trust of its customers. Today, the brand serves more than 2 million families and continues to expand its reach, becoming one of the leading names in baby skincare while staying rooted in Andrea's original mission: creating safe, effective products she would use on her own children. In this episode, Andrea also discusses: Starting Tubby Todd With Her Husband and the Story Behind the Name How Her Child's Eczema Inspired Their First Formula The Early Days of Influencer Marketing and Mommy Bloggers Camp Tubby Todd and Giving Back to Families Becoming the #1 Baby Skincare Brand at Target Why Human Connection Still Matters in Customer Service Lessons From Scaling a Community-First Brand We hope you enjoy this episode and gain valuable insights into Andrea's journey and the growth of Tubby Todd. Don't forget to subscribe to the Glam & Grow podcast for more in-depth conversations with the most incredible brands, founders, and more. Be sure to check out Tubby Todd at www.tubbytodd.com and on Instagram at @tubbytodd Rated #1 Best Beauty Business Podcast on FeedPost This episode is brought to you by Wavebreak Leading direct-to-consumer brands hire Wavebreak to turn email marketing into a top revenue driver. Most eCommerce brands don't email right... and it costs them. At Wavebreak, our eCommerce email marketing agency helps qualified brands recapture 7+ figures of lost revenue each year. From abandoned cart emails to Black Friday campaigns, our best-in-class team manage the entire process: strategy, design, copywriting, coding, and testing. All aimed at driving growth, profit, brand recognition, and most importantly, ROI. Curious if Wavebreak is right for you? Reach out at Wavebreak.co
There's (another) new open source king of AI.
Keith explores how investors can build legacy wealth by owning productive teak timber and the land beneath it in Panama. Mike Cobb, an international real estate developer with over 30 years of experience, explains why Panama's legal framework, economic stability, and U.S. dollar economy make it a compelling destination for first-time offshore investors. They discuss the long-term return profile of teak, its resilience as a hard asset, and common mistakes to avoid when investing internationally, along with how a sawmill and vertical integration can enhance returns. This discussion highlights how the strategy can diversify both geography and asset type while also opening doors to potential residency options abroad. Episode Page: GetRichEducation.com/615 For access to properties or free help with a GRE Investment Coach, start here: GREmarketplace.com GRE Free Investment Coaching: GREinvestmentcoach.com Get mortgage loans for investment property: RidgeLendingGroup.com or call 855-74-RIDGE or e-mail: info@RidgeLendingGroup.com Invest with Freedom Family Investments. For predictable 10-12% quarterly returns, visit FreedomFamilyInvestments.com/GRE or text FAMILY to 66866 Unlock truly passive real estate income—visit flockhomes.com/GRE today to see if your properties qualify for a 721 exchange with Flock Homes. To get in the best physical, mental, and professional shape of your life, go to DanielThomasHind.com and apply for Daniel's intensive 1-on-1 coaching for burnt-out entrepreneurs and executives. Will you please leave a review for the show? I'd be grateful. Search "how to leave an Apple Podcasts review" For advertising inquiries, visit: GetRichEducation.com/ad Best Financial Education: GetRichEducation.com Get our wealth-building newsletter free— GREletter.com Our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/c/GetRichEducation Follow us on Instagram: @getricheducation Complete episode transcript: Keith Weinhold 0:01 Welcome to GRE. I'm your host Keith Weinhold, talking about a legacy investment. You can profit from this real asset long term, and so can your heirs. It's real estate, but not housing. It's a diverse and more primitive use type. Today on Get Rich Education, you know. Mid South Homebuyers, that top Memphis turnkey provider. I learned that a secret weapon behind their explosive growth is more than just you buying their properties. It's an executive coach. For nine years now, their CEO Terry Kerr and his COO Pat Mix have worked privately with a coach who I've now learned from too, and he doesn't market himself online anywhere. After 12 years behind the scenes, that coach is now making himself available exclusively for GRE listeners. His name is Daniel Thomas Hind. If you're a hard-charging business owner or investor who wants to get in the best shape of your life, physically, mentally, and professionally, you can fill out an application for a free consult. This is private one-on-one coaching for those willing to go to uncommon lengths to achieve uncommon results. Thanks to Daniel, we've all become better leaders, better operators, and better men. It started by showing up for ourselves. Now it's your turn. Go to DanielThomashind.com. H-I-N-D. That's DanielThomashind.com, and sign up before spots fill. Keith Weinhold 1:35 What if you got your mortgage loans the same place I get mine? You sure can at Ridge Lending Group NMLS 42056. They provided GRE listeners with more loans than anyone because Ridge specializes in investment property. They'll help you build a long-term plan for growing your real estate empire with leverage. Start your prequal and even chat directly with President Caeli Ridge while it's on your mind. Start at ridgelendinggroup.com. That's ridgelendinggroup.com. Speaker 1 2:08 You're listening to the show that has created more financial freedom than nearly any show in the world. This is Get Rich Education. Keith Weinhold 2:24 Welcome to GRE from Cherokee, North Carolina, to Cherokee, Panama, and across 188 nations worldwide. I'm your host Keith Weinhold. Welcome back to another Wealth Building Week. You are inside Get Rich Education, where financially free beats debt free. Today we're talking about a specific investment that is not residential real estate. In fact, it's a more primordial real estate type that predates housing. So therefore, it is lucid and intelligible. It's easy to understand. Sort of the opposite of more arcane investment like AI data centers or crypto mining. At a basic level, this makes it easy to understand, and there aren't any tenants to manage. It also does not pay you as often as monthly, though as you'll learn, there is income and appreciation is expected too. Now, if you invest outside your home country, you're probably going to want to be diligent and select a politically stable nation that also has an operator based in that region with a fantastic track record. It helps if they're close to the U.S. This small nation is close to the U.S. in both geographic proximity and economically. Their currency is even the U.S. dollar. They even share an electrical system with the U.S. with the same outlets and voltages. As you might be guessing, where I'm talking about, this nation also has a consumer culture somewhat similar to the U.S. with American restaurants and retailers and brands in our real estate world. What we find more important is how, like the U.S. this nation is a constitutional presidential republic, and both nations have these separate executive, legislative, and judicial branches, the three branches and elected presidents, in these competitive multi-party elections, and both America and this place have market-oriented economies that emphasize private property and private enterprise, banking and financial services, international commerce, logistics, ports, and aviation. Keith Weinhold 4:49 Today, we're talking about the opportunity for you to own productive timber and the land beneath it, teak hardwood trees in Panama, a quarter-acre parcel. At a time with your name on the deed, that direct ownership is known as fee simple ownership. I have directly invested in Panama for about 11 years myself. Now, though teak might be able to survive in a climate like Hawaii, mere survival is not enough in the U.S. It is difficult to impossible to find anywhere that grows productive plantation teak. Here in the late 2020s decade, we've had bouts of El Nino or La Nina a lot of places in the world, and that has severely weakened some crop types. Other providers of different agricultural investments are failing, but not this teak. They're resilient, and we'll get into the physical properties of the teak. I'm going to ask today's distinguished guest about that. He and his business partners planted some select timber 27 years ago, and they've been offering teak hardware parcels to investors for that long, 27 years, and for about the last 10 years to GRE investors. Hundreds of you are participating now, but I'm going to wait to ask more about the physical teak product itself until later, because what's more important are the investment environment and the strength of the operator. So learn more about this and what the projected investment returns are, and just how much exactly does a quarter-acre parcel of teak cost? If you so choose, owning teak parcels also gives you the option of residency status in Panama, and you only need to spend two days there every two years in part of maintaining that status, they offer investor in-person tours of the teak plantations too because they're proud of what they do there. I expect a fascinating discussion with Mike, the teak company co-founder and CEO. This week's guest has become a friend since I met him about 10 years ago. He co-founded and is CEO of an international real estate development company. He's got active projects throughout Central America. He's been doing it for more than 30 years, so he's not a tinkerer and not trying out project concepts. Keith Weinhold 7:26 And at this point, he's helped thousands of North Americans diversify their portfolios through international real estate ownership and residency planning, and even lifestyle investing. And if you've ever attended an investment conference on something like global diversification. You might have seen him speak there because he's such a frequent, recognized speaker and voice, and he's authored multiple books on real estate, financial freedom, expat living, and just unlocking a better lifestyle. Hey, welcome back onto the show, Mike Cobb. Mike Cobb 7:59 Oh Keith, nice to be with you. And you're right. 10 years, we've enjoyed one another's company at many conferences. It's always great to be back with you virtually. I look forward to seeing you again personally one of these days as well. And yeah, thank you for the very kind words on the intro. Keith Weinhold 8:14 Yeah, if I'm teetering on whether or not to attend a conference, I ask myself, is Mike going to be there? That's right. Mike Cobb 8:20 We'll hang out, Keith Weinhold 8:22 100% And you know, Mike, he's also an avid reader of GRE's "Don't Quit Your Daydream" newsletter. So then, clearly, he's even smarter than you've ever thought. You heard him on the show before, so you knew he was smart, but now he's even smarter than you ever knew since he's a reader. Tell us what you like about the newsletter. Mike Cobb 8:40 You know, Keith. I gotta say, every issue that comes in, I read it. By the way, today's issue said read before Thursday, so you give me a couple days tomorrow at least to read it. Anyway, no, you know what? You are so powerfully succinct. The charts that you put in are wonderful. You were a geographer major, and and so spatial things are important. I also recognize. I love the charts. I love the graphs, and I hate to even say I love sort of the I hate to call it the trivial information, but you know enough data points that seem trivial when you put a theory around them actually become meaningful. And what you are able to do is you're able to connect dots that most people don't connect. That's the hallmark of genius, and I think you are a genius, by the way. And I think your newsletter shows that. And so, thanks for putting it out. Your readers are very, very fortunate to have you there, giving them the kinds of information that are super relevant in the marketplace at one level and on a specific level. But even more important, creating the theoretical constructs that allow them to understand the why of something's happening because you know if you understand the why of something you know it makes a lot more sense first of all but it also allows us to maybe forecast the next what coming down the pike and if we can be on the front edge of something or you know being able to look over the hill or around the bend that's. Powerful in the marketplace, and and you bring that power to your readers. Well done, man. Keith Weinhold 10:04 Thanks. Yeah, it's not just what; it's why this matters. And that was an incredibly kind thing to say. I write every word of the letter myself, and you, the listener, you can get the letter free now@greletter.com I send it about weekly, and Mike, I know that U.S. investors, including some Get Rich Education followers, they've been increasingly looking offshore for one thing many perceive the political risk has palpably higher than it was a few years ago. So, just broadly, tell us more about what North American investors seem to be looking for. Mike Cobb 10:42 Sure, I summed it up earlier today. I was talking with a conference organizer, and he was really giving me the hard sell on why I should come to his conference. And it's probably not a good fit. But I heard myself say it for the first time. What we really help folks do in certain spheres, but maybe in this sphere, is help people get a good night's sleep, you know, peace of mind, right? And when you've got the political turmoil, you wrote an article or a newsletter a couple weeks ago, and it was about inflation, the kinds of things that were happening, and it was so spot on. And I think your readers, and not just your readers, but people who are tuned into what's really happening from a political standpoint, a financial standpoint. There is no way you can print this much money. There's no way you can have these kinds of things going on all the time that create a huge run-up of debt, right? And it's not even the debt; it's the implications of the debt. What's going to happen next? How's this thing going to unwind, right? And so when you have all of this stuff going on. You have people who are really, really worried about their future. It's a financial future. I say there are two train wrecks. There's a train wreck of debt, which is what I just talked about, and there's a train wreck of freedom. And that train wreck of freedom is really, in some ways, a result of the train wreck of debt. But when you've got a train wreck or two train wrecks happening, we really have three choices. We can ride it out, right? Take the ride and go for the crash, right? We can do something about it, but we really have to do something about it before. I'm going to mix a metaphor here, but if you know a hurricane's coming in three or four days, you don't wait till the wind's blowing 150 miles an hour to put up the plywood, right? You get out there while the sun's still shining. You put up the plywood, and then when the hurricane hits, like you got plywood over the windows, and you can ride out the storm. And this is where I think so many people are today. They're recognizing this hurricane is coming. The problem is, is that I don't think people always know where to go get plywood, right? What do I do? How do I protect myself and my assets, right? Mike Cobb 12:38 And what this conversation right here is about is here's one kind of plywood you can put up on your window and the diversification overseas the diversification internationally into a hard asset that is not really inflation proof because I'm not sure there is such a thing but largely inflation proof or a big a great hedge against inflation real stuff hard assets real estate timber commodity right this is. what so many people are now looking at, and then the other piece of it is you can layer in a residency, which starts to give you that political plan B. You've got an economic plan B, kind of the hedge against inflation, but you've got this residency component that gives you sort of a hedge against the political uncertainty, and 1000s of folks have moved in this direction. Several 100, I think it's about 600 folks now, have picked up the residency as part of their timber investment as well. So a lot of different things going on, but I think they do circle all the way back to this train wreck of debt and a train wreck of freedom, the political divisiveness kind of what's happening. Keith Weinhold 13:40 Now, what if someone hasn't invested in a hard asset overseas before, Mike? I'm thinking some people might come ask you. You know, why would I do this? For example, I live in the United States, where we have a rule of law and stable, mature markets and high property ownership rights. So, why should I look to diversify internationally with hard assets, Mike Cobb 14:01 yeah, I think there's a general answer, and then maybe a couple specific answers. Generally, you know, I would never bet against the U.S. the U.S. economy. We're the largest economy in the world. I would never bet against it, right? But I think that for prudence, we would all want to have at least another basket for a few of our eggs: 5% 10% 20% Pick. Pick a number that's comfortable, but have some of your investable net worth outside your home country. Like that's just prudent, right? Why would you have everything all in one basket? And so we see that as a general answer. Specifically, a country like Panama, where we do have artique plantations, they have public title escritora publica. It's fee simple title, but in the civil law, so it's called escritora publica. The rule of law is strong in Panama. And then the other thing about Panama that I absolutely love is you have the canal, and the canal provides both economic stability and political stability. On the economic side, it generates just. Under $5 billion a year of cash flow, year in year out, right? So just it's like an ATM machine for a country with a population of about 4 million people. Do the math on that; like that's a huge amount of money on a per capita basis, right? Keith Weinhold 15:13 Narrow water passages have really been newsworthy for a long time now, too. Mike Cobb 15:16 Well, they have, and just like the Strait of Hormuz, right? You know, people sometimes go. I hear it said, "Oh, the canal is a vital strategic U.S. interest. That is absolutely 100% correct. But if you're a country that produces any goods that ship, or you're a country that receives any goods by ship, that canal is a strategic interest to you, and by definition, that's every country in the world. Every country in the world wants that canal open and transiting, right? Because everybody either produces or receives or both, right? And so you've got the political stability element as well as the economic stability element. You've got the rule of law. Panama is a great, great place for that person who you mentioned who's never done an overseas investment, never gone offshore, right? What's an easy place to start? What's one of the safest places to start is Panama, and it's in this hemisphere too, so it's close. I mean, you can get there for three hours from Miami, three and a half hours from Houston. Flights all over to U.S. Canada. It's easy. So I think a lot of folks see Panama as a very, very easy way to make that first step overseas. Keith Weinhold 16:25 I happen to know that you just flew in from Panama. You're in the United States today, but you're constantly going to Central America. You span time zones more often than almost anyone I know. You mentioned fee simple ownership in there. For those that don't know, I think of that as direct ownership, where you don't have some weird administrative government layer in there that can dilute your hard asset. Mike Cobb 16:47 Right, you can own it in your own name, you can own it in a corporation, so it's easy to own it. But yeah, no layering, right? By the way, the Constitution treats owners who are Panamanian the same exact ways it treats all foreign owners, and actually, we do business all over Central America. The one thing that we look for is a a legal regime that protects foreigners and foreign investors the same as it does domestic. Panama does that. Keith Weinhold 17:12 Yeah, so investing in hard asset in Panama is a bit like investing internationally with training wheels on, due to its close relationship with the United States bolstered by the Panama Canal, but yet if someone hasn't invested internationally first, there are still a few mistakes to avoid. Maybe things that one isn't aware of. Can you tell us more about that? Mike Cobb 17:33 The biggest danger people have when they make their first foreign investment is what I call margarita madness, right? And a lot of times it happens. You're on vacation in Cancun. You're having the time of your life. You're you just went parasailing, whatever. You're walking down the beach, and some developer says, "Hey, come on up here and take a look at my condo project. You know, and we'll buy you dinner at Senior Frogs tonight. We'll give you a coupon or whatever, right? Keith Weinhold 17:55 Right. Mike Cobb 17:55 And a lot of people do that, and then later that night, that's Senior Frogs. They're celebrating the condo they just bought, right? I mean, it's not how we transact real estate in the U.S. and Canada. There's a due diligence process. There's a due diligence period. It takes weeks or months to transact on a property, not hours, right? And so the single biggest mistake is that, and the way that we really can resolve it. I mean, my book is all about this. In fact, you have a copy, and I think you've helped some of your your readers and listeners get copies as well. It's called "How to Buy Your Home Overseas and Get It Right the First Time, and it really boils down to three simple principles: buy what you see. Is it there? Right. Own community. Right. Make sure it's in a place where you have people around. Right? Because there are a lot of ghost towns out there, and then know the developer. Do your due diligence on the developer himself, right? So you've got these three principles, and if you follow those three principles, you could do a lot better. But I actually think there's even a better way, and it has to do with character. It has to do with us, and you know when we move to the developing world, anywhere outside of you know North America, Northern Europe, maybe Australia, New Zealand, right? We're moving from the land of seller beware, right? Think lemon laws, think Ralph Nader, think advocacy groups, you know, lots of laws and regulations that control the seller, to the world of buyer beware, where none of those laws exist, and so now you're on your own. And because we've been living and transacting our whole lives in a seller beware environment, in a bubble of protection, we're protected by the government, right? We think we are. We'll just say that anyway. But we're protected. We're in a bubble, and we move to the land of buyer beware. Mike Cobb 19:38 The problem is we don't really know how to transact. We don't know the right questions to ask, and our single biggest advantage, our single biggest attribute or asset that we have, is actually humility, because we don't know what we don't know, and we have to forget what we think we know. Assumptions, right? We can't bring assumptions with us that hold true. Some do some. Don't right. If we approach a transaction overseas with humility, there are no dumb questions. I'm going to ask every question I can think of. I'm going to do as much research as I can within a limited period of time. I'm not going to not analysis to paralysis forever. I'm going to say, look, I'm going to spend the next 30 days. I'm going to do a ton of due diligence, and at the end of 30 days, if I like what I say, I'm going to transact, right? So you're you're not getting the deer in the headlights never to do something, right? But you know, several weeks, maybe a month or two, depending on what it is you're doing, is enough time to do really, really good due diligence. Ask all the questions you can think of, but approach it with humility. And when we do those things, we transact so much, so much better than if we just rush into it with Margarita Madness. Keith Weinhold 20:44 Right? People get caught up in those emotions with Margarita Madness and end up with a timeshare that they can't get rid of, or something like that. You said something so interesting there, Mike. When you move from the developed world to the developing world, you move from a seller beware world, like with some of the things you have to be aware of, and like you need to give disclosures and such into a buyer beware world. I hadn't thought of it that way before. Mike Cobb 21:08 Yeah, and really, a lot of my book and a lot of the presentations that I've given, you've seen me give over the years, really deal with what I call a change in thought process. Because mostly in presentations, right? My goal in a presentation is to help somebody change how they think, to take away the bubble and understand that they're on their own, right? It's not really their own. They have you, they have me, they have other resources, right? But they don't have this bubble of government or regulations or laws out there protecting them anymore. Now it's the individual, and as an individual, I don't want to be rugged individual. I want to find other people that can help me, right? But I have to do that as opposed to it's just there for me, right? So if I can help people change how they think, they will transact so much better. They'll make better investments. They'll make investments that work for them in ways that they want them to work for them, right? They'll achieve the goal or the dream in a much, much, much higher percentage of the cases, Keith Weinhold 22:04 we're talking about investing antique tree hardwood plantations, principally in Panama, like you mentioned, and we're talking about one mindset about crossing borders with our investing, and another is oftentimes, at least for GRE listeners, we're crossing asset use type because we're so used to residential rental housing. So when you cross into agriculture or forestry, I guess as it is with teak, what are some of the bridges to cross there as we change use type? Mike Cobb 22:35 The reason I love timber generally and teak specifically in Panama in this case is that most people, most people, and I hope that many of your readers aren't most people. Most investors look at 20-five years and they simply say themselves, "No way, no way. And I love that because right now teak timber is being cut down 10 to 12 times faster than anyone is replanting it. And the reason people don't replant it is because most average investors come along and say, "Oh, it's 25 years. I can't wait 25 years. Well, you know what? Good, because the folks who do decide to move ahead and plant the teak, what that means is the price of teak is very highly likely to continue to increase in value far beyond inflation. Teak wholesale teak prices have gone up five and a half percent a year on average for the last 50-three years. I think that number is going to increase largely because there's this huge psychological barrier. People think, "Oh, 20-five years, but back in 1990-eight I bought 100-acre cattle pasture in Panama, and we had a professional forestry company plant it and maintain it for the last now 27 years, and two two and a half years ago, we started building a sawmill. Our sawmill is up and running. In fact, was just down there and brought back one of our first retail products. We're producing lumber. Our first container of lumber is headed out to a distributor in Colorado next week. Keith Weinhold 23:56 Mike's holding up a nice cutting board for those in the audience. Mike Cobb 24:00 Nice cutting board. We're setting up an e-commerce site. We're going business to consumer with cutting board, bath mat, shelving, tables, chairs. We have our whole production facility ramping up with new retail products. So the bottom line is, is yeah, man, it does take 25 years. You know. Keith Weinhold 24:15 The lantation to harvest cycle. That's the 25 year span you're talking about here. The patience it takes for an investor. Mike Cobb 24:21 Thank you. Yes, absolutely. And then, as we cut down this mature plantation that we we are now harvesting right now, it gets replanted, and the next 25 year harvest. I'm 61 Maybe I'll make 86 I don't know. Maybe not. Right. But my kids probably will, and they'll get the big harvest in 25 years, and then it'll replant, and maybe they'll get a next one, or maybe it'll be the grandkids, right? And so what we found savvy investors, people who are really not your average bear, right? And they think to themselves, how can I create generational wealth stewardship? I have enough money coming in. I mean, Keith, that the I mean, you can own teak for 10 grand. You can. Own a quarter acre of teak. You own the land. You own the trees. 10 grand, like it's 9000 something or other, but 10 grand, right? I mean, the bottom line is it's such an affordable, easy investment, right? And it turns into well over $100,000 in today's numbers. Who knows what inflation? But in today's numbers, buying power, you know, 10,000 turns into 100,000 right? Over 20-five years, and so most people who do this recognize the fact that they might get the first harvest, but it's their kids, their grandkids, their great grandkids who are going to get this harvest every 20-five years thereafter. And so the 20-five year thing becomes a wonderful thing, not a bad thing. Right, it keeps many people out, which keeps the price of teak high and growing, which we like. But it also creates this cash flow period. People go, "Oh, it doesn't cash flow. I'm like, "Absolutely, it does. It cash flows phenomenally four times a century. Like you have an internal rate of return of almost 11% 10 point something, right? You have an internal rate of return of 11% and it cash flows four times a century. This is a phenomenal cash flow investment. You might get to see the first one or the second one, but you're probably not seeing three or four. But somebody else in your lineage, your family, your heirs will see it, and they will all be so happy you made that decision to own teak. Keith Weinhold 26:22 We're talking about the ability for you to own teak parcels and the land beneath it, title in your own name, one quarter of an acre at a time. We're going to talk more about that with Mike when we come back. You're listening to Get Rich Education. I'm your host Keith Weinhold. Flock Homes helps you retire from real estate and landlording, whether it's one problem property or your whole portfolio, through a 721 exchange, deferring your capital gains tax and depreciation recapture. It's a strategy long used by the ultra wealthy. Now mom and pop landlords can 721 their residential real estate. Request your initial valuation. See if your properties qualify at flockhomes.com/gre. That's flockehomes.com/gre. Keith Weinhold 27:09 Let me ask you something: If you've worked hard to build wealth, is your money positioned to actually support your goals? A lot of accredited investors leave capital sitting in cash because it feels safe, but inflation and missed income opportunities can quietly erode its value. Freedom Family Investments offers freedom notes for investors seeking structured income backed by real estate. It's a straightforward approach built on real assets, not speculation. And full disclosure, I'm an investor myself. What I like is that their team walks you through how it all works, so you can decide if it aligns with your portfolio and income goals. Every investment carries risk, and nothing is guaranteed. But with a track record of consistent, on-time investor payouts, they built real credibility. Go to freedomfamilyinvestments.com to book a clarity call or text family to 66866 That's family to 66866. Ken McElroy 28:12 This is Rich Dad advisor Ken McElroy. Listen to Get Rich Education with Keith Weinhold and don't quit your daydream. Keith Weinhold 28:29 Welcome back to Get Rich Education. We're talking about international investing with teak tree plantations. This isn't something experimental. We're not talking about a tinkerer here. You have to be more careful when you go overseas, and we're talking about with the owner of an international company that's been doing this for 30 years, providing international investments. But the teak tree plantation, I think, began in 1998 or 1999 Is that right? Mike Cobb 28:56 Yeah, 98 was the purchase of the property, and in the rainy season of 99 we planted the first 100 acres. Yep. Keith Weinhold 29:03 Yeah. Well, talk to us more about that because you talked to us about how historically teak appreciates at about 5% per year. Tell us about how we get to that 11% internal rate of return. Mike Cobb 29:15 Yeah. Sure. I mean, so two things. One, you've got the five and a half percent a year kind of calculated out over a very long period of time, 50-three years. So that's a pretty good statistical baseline. And then the fact that your trees actually physically grow, right? I mean, back in 2008 my joke is from 2008 to 2012 While the rest of us in real estate were hating life, my trees just simply kept growing, right? They just kept growing. And so what you start off with is about 100 maybe 110, I think, trees on a quarter acre, and in the end, after all the thinnings, you end up with somewhere between 22 and 25 trees per quarter acre, and each of those trees produces about 1.2 to 1.6 cubic meters of timber. For lumber, by the way, one of the things that we are working on, and you know, look at the end of the day, you had a walk, jog, run, right? And we're in the walk stage right now, but we're harvesting out all of the other elements of the teak tree. Your lumber piece, that just you know, sell it as boards, you know, one by fours, one by sixes, one by eights, whatever it is. Ship that stuff off. That's your 1.2 to 1.6 cubic meters, but you've got other pieces of the tree. You've got stuff that's too thin, the root stock that can be turned into other things, including cellucrete with cellulose, the ground up, the sawdust itself. We're saving all the sawdust. We're going to use that for cellulite. This is the math on this. Our investors get 80% of the net proceeds after processing costs, which is 15% my company gets 20% and so we, my company, has the highest incentive to drive the highest possible return to the investor possible because I get 20% of whatever I make for the investor, and so all the numbers we use are always the net investor number, right? And we have a business plan. All the numbers are laid out. It's all there, and it's pretty easy to see how the IRR gets up. About I think it's 10.6, 10.7% I can't remember. Just under 11% but it's all in the business plan, Keith. And again, this is part of that due diligence process, right? Get a copy of the business plan. Get on the phone with one of our property consultants maybe take a trip to Panama. I just got back. We just took a group of people. Yeah, we got tours. Yeah, we have tours, and so like as part of the due diligence process, come visit, come see the trees, come see the sawmill. Right? If it's something that makes sense from a an investment standpoint, yeah, the material, the facts, and the due diligence is all there for people to be able to pick up and do over a you know several week period, you know 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, whatever it is. Keith Weinhold 31:47 Well, let's back up because seemingly you have had really good prescience. Because when we look at world agriculture today, we see some problems. Whether some people want to call it erratic weather, other want to call it climate change, and how that's really ravaged some crops and created disruptions in certain produce. Or with coffee, you know, we've also got a cattle production problem, for example. But you've chosen something that's been really resilient. Tell us more about that resilience and just why teak of all crops and forestry. Mike Cobb 32:22 Let me start by saying, who was it? Yogi Berra says, you know, predicting is hard to do, especially when it's about the future or something. Exactly. Yeah. Right. But I mean, look, we're talking about the future. I mean, who the heck knows, right? I mean, that's what makes it investing rather than you know something else. But teak has been grown in plantations for almost 400 years. It was started by the British in India, what was then Burman throughout Southeast Asia. And one of the things the Brits did so so well is they documented everything. They had statisticians keeping track of altitude, rainfall, soil types, different stock. I mean, just anything and everything that you could imagine, and so by the early 1900s, some of the best books about teak and teak plantation farming was written. I actually read those books in order to interview the forestry management companies in Panama that we would hire them to manage our plantation, because I don't know anything about it, right? But I wanted to be prepared to do the interviews, so I was. What amazed and fascinated me was this incredible track record of production for almost 400 years of teak as a commodity in the marketplace, and then for the last 50 years, 53 years, you know, seeing what's happened to the price of teak in that time period. Look, nobody can predict the future. Weather patterns change. Teak as a species, is very very resilient. You know, the highest quality teak is grown in very specific conditions, and the Darien province of Panama has exactly the conditions to produce the highest quality teak. If those conditions change, maybe the quality of the teak goes down. Maybe the quality of the teak goes up a little bit. Who knows, right? I mean, at the end of the day, we don't control weather. We don't control weather patterns. We don't control the future. But that thing goes back to the idea of diversification. Like, how can we mitigate against the future? I think we do that by just simply broad diversification. And if we have all of our assets and stocks, bonds, and rental real estate, we're pretty concentrated, especially if it's all in the United States, right? Our home country, for example, and so some diversification into other sectors probably makes sense. I know it makes sense for me because I think that's my way of hedging against the uncertainties of the future. Keith Weinhold 34:37 Let's talk about the tree quality and then the sawmill, because some people don't understand that teak really has pretty special properties that maple or black cherry or oak doesn't have. Mike Cobb 34:47 It does. It has a very very high oil content and it has a hardness that makes it extremely resistant to rot fungus, which is why it's used in the marine environment. If you look at Chris Craft. Boats or yachts. You always hear about teak, teak, teak. Teak is used in maritime environments because it holds up to the salt water-not just salt water-holds up to water, but even more so, salt water and the environment, which makes it unique. And so, even if you don't treat teak, right, you just leave it out. It turns gray, but it doesn't rot. And then you can come back. You can you know sand it and varnish it and turn it into that beautiful, rich color. It's a beautiful, beautiful wood. It's funny because it has furniture uses, outdoor furniture, patio furniture, things like that, decking. But now they're starting to use it in hardwood floors. They're using it in gates and fences and soffit materials. Again, outdoor uses, but it can be used indoors as well for very very fine furniture, which at the end of the day teak has a panache that a lot of these other woods don't have. Mahogany is certainly one mahogany. The thing about mahogany is it's softer, right? It's a softer wood. It carries some qualities in terms of the grains and the colors that make it a a very favorable product for cabinetry and other things. We actually looked at mahogany as a species to possibly grow, and it's about a 30-five to 40-year harvest cycle. And so, when we looked at that, we said, you know, we can get our heads around 20-five, and and maybe someday we will do some mahogany plantations as well. But for now, we we started with teak. Actually, when we did the analysis, I don't know if this is still true, but 27, 28 years ago, when I did the initial research and analysis, it had the best time value of money ROI. Keith Weinhold 36:29 Ah, that's the first time I learned that. And some of these durability properties that you've been talking about really go back to my earlier question about how some more sensitive crops have been ravaged lately. Mike Cobb 36:39 Yeah, it holds up very very well to the environment. By the way, it'll do well in pretty much everything but desert, right? If it rains too much, the teak will grow faster. Actually, it produces a less quality. The quality of the teak is less. If so, if panama's rain system changed and it started raining every day of the year, where we have it growing, teak trees would grow wonderfully. The quality of the teak would be lower, right? Still, be teak. It'd still be valuable, but not as valuable in the marketplace. So. Keith Weinhold 37:08 Now you've been here to talk about teak before, but something that you added a few years ago was a sawmill to really bring some vertical integration there. And now you're not at the mercy, perhaps, of the price that you would need to sell to a lumberyard. Can you tell us more about how it's going with that? Mike Cobb 37:22 Yeah, absolutely. Well, the bottom line is, is because we earn 20% of what we earn for the investor on their wood, our goal is to sell it for as high a possible price. And lumber does pretty well. I mean, you can sell logs. Let's just start there. You can cut the trees and sell the logs for X. You can turn the logs into lumber and sell it for you know whatever 578 x. You can turn it into things like cutting board, chairs, tables, a finished product, and there you're talking about you know not just five to 7x You're talking about another 10x on top of that. So that's like 30x right? I mean it's an incredible difference. So from log to finished product, it's about a 30 times differential in what you ultimately achieve out of the marketplace for return. Right now it takes longer to do it. There's more work involved, but at the end of the day, because you make more of the investor, we make more. Some of the teak is going to go out as finished product, and so we get a blended return of lumber. We don't do logs, but we're going to have a blended return of lumber and finished product that will push that yield up maybe higher than we've anticipated, which would be just fine with everybody. Keith Weinhold 38:30 ll right, all right. Diversifying your exit, then. Well, before we learn about how we can get a hold of more information, is there any last thing that we should know about investing across international lines into teak, maybe something that I didn't think about asking you, Mike. Mike Cobb 38:45 The only thing there is two of the teak farm parcels can be bundled together for a half acre with about a I don't know it's a seven $8,000 legal piece government fees to achieve a residency. So you can actually become a resident of Panama with the teak investment, and again coming in on about 600 folks have done the residency as well as the investment and ownership of the teak farms. So I would say that's a piece. Again, if people aren't sleeping well at night, they're worried about inflation, they're worried about social disruption, polarization, where things are headed, right? And they like the idea of the teak investment, then you know it may make sense to just do the extra government legal piece and get the residency card. I mean, I just did that. By the way, I think you know I'm a I'm a Nicaraguan resident because I lived in Nicaragua for 14 years. Keith Weinhold 39:34 Mike is holding up his Nicaraguan ID. Mike Cobb 39:37 but last summer I also got my Panama residency card, so now I have, y'all. I'm a U.S. resident, U.S. citizen, and I'm also a Nicaraguan. I think I held up my West Virginia driver's license. Hold on, let me go. Here's my Nicaraguan residency. Sorry, I was like, yeah. Wait a minute. Anyway, so right. So I'm a U.S. citizen, and I'm a resident of both Nicaragua and Panama. And so, this is something that a lot of folks choose to do because of the uncertainty, the political and social uncertainty in their lives. The teak itself will help with the economic uncertainty, but the residency then helps with the other two elements. Keith Weinhold 40:15 Next time you fly in and you're doing customs in Panama City or Managua, show them your West Virginia driver's license and see how they like it. See what happens. Mike Cobb 40:22 It wouldn't work. Hahaha. Keith Weinhold 40:25 Well, the prices are low. You do not need to be an accredited investor in order to do this. So there's really no qualification bar to clear. There's really no limit in the number of parcels that you can buy. Some people like to purchase 10 parcels, but you can buy as little as one, and tell us more about that price. Mike Cobb 40:42 Yeah, in fact, we've introduced Keith since the last time we talked a financing program. Oh, Keith Weinhold 40:48 I didn't know that yet. Mike Cobb 40:49 We did. That's a fairly new. It's a this year thing, right? So the teak parcels, I think 9890 or something, whatever. Call it 10 grand. The parcels just under $10,000. Keith Weinhold 40:59 Okay. Mike Cobb 40:59 Yeah, and they have a down payment and a credit card thing. I think it stretches maybe over a year or two, so it's a fairly short period. Let's people who don't have the entire 10,000 upfront who want the teak investment to be able to acquire it. And if they're doing the residency piece, the residency piece can only begin after the teak farm piece is acquired, right? But it can also lead to the residency piece over time. So yeah, and then there are some discounts on three of them and 10 of them. So we have a lot of people that actually end up getting them for. And and here's a really cool thing because it's titled in your own name, it can also be titled in a child's name or a grandchild's name. And so we have a lot of people that actually acquire them and they don't take ownership. They put it in their kid's name or their grand name. Yeah, so it's a wonderful way to move that asset already right out of the gates into the next generation or the next generation. Keith Weinhold 41:52 So we're talking about diversifying at least twice, both internationally and then in a different asset type as well. This has been fascinating to learn about, Mike. It's just fascinating alone, I think, to learn about the geography and the teak itself. And like we touched on earlier, they do organize tours. Any reputable provider should do that. They're proud of what they offer there. Tours in the Darien province of Panama, in this case, to see your teak tree parcels. It's a really approachable price. If you want to learn more and get a report and perhaps purchase some parcels, Mike's one of our GRE marketplace providers. You can visit gremarketplace.com/teak or talk to your GRE investment coach. Mike has been fascinating as always. It's been great having you back on the show. Mike Cobb 42:40 Nice to be here. Thank you, Keith. Keith Weinhold 42:48 Teak is one of the more durable crops that there is. The demand for teak hardwood is substantial, and it's really growing. They have also had the same tree manager for all 27 years since the teak was planted, some real continuity there. The name of the manager is Heyo Forestall. There's a little to manage with the teak hardwood trees, like performing thinnings, and those thinnings do give investors like you intermittent income. So you're not waiting for absolutely everything for 25 years, but the income from the thinning is really small. Most of the return takes place in that 25 years, and it's interesting to me to see the profile of the GRE investor in teak because it attracts young investors, and maybe that's because the cost of entry is so low. It also attracts older investors because they more often have an eye toward passing along something productive to their heirs that is going to outlive them. A lot of them don't want to give their heirs money because money can be spent on fleeting trivialities. Also, the older a person is, they just have an easier time visualizing the fact of 25 years and knowing that it really will pass by. And yes, in-person tours are offered there in the Darien province of Panama, and there were 13 to 14 attendees on a recent tour. They do need to limit the group size, and the tours are for you, whether you're an existing investor or not. If you're just checking it out, that's for you too. If you believe that you want to attend a tour and you don't want to buy, I understand that you can get your money back from the tour. Keith Weinhold 44:35 The next tour is in September. Each quarter-acre newborn teak parcel costs $9,680 $9,680 and over 20-five years, it's projected to produce about 110k in today's dollars. And yes, now with financing, we've talked about this investment on GRE before, but it's the first time where they now have financing in place, so you don't even need. 9680 to get started. Also, retirement funds might be eligible for use here. And really, when you think about the long-term horizon of this investment, retirement funds make sense. If this is potentially interesting to you, get a hold of the report that goes into the details and shows you some projections and more. You can do so by either contacting your GRE investment coach or visit gremarketplace.com/teek. Money may not grow on trees, but sometimes trees grow into money. Until next time, keep growing your means and maybe a few trees. You could visit gremarketplace.com/teak. Until next week, I'm your host Keith Weinhold. Don't quit your daydream. Speaker 1 45:53 Nothing on this show should be considered specific, personal, or professional advice. Please consult an appropriate tax, legal, real estate, financial, or business professional for individualized advice. Opinions of guests are their own. Information is not guaranteed. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. The host is operating on behalf of Get Rich Education LLC exclusively. Keith Weinhold 46:21 The preceding program was brought to you by your home for wealth building. getricheduceducation.com
The AI Breakdown: Daily Artificial Intelligence News and Discussions
Most people are still using the newest frontier models like slightly better versions of the old ones. NLW explores the prompting changes, new interaction patterns, higher-leverage tasks, and iterative loops that can unlock what Fable 5 and GPT-5.6 Sol can actually do.Brought to you by:KPMG – Research from KPMG and the University of Texas at Austin shows the highest-impact AI users treat AI like a reasoning partner — and those skills can be taught at scale. Learn more at kpmg.com/us/SophisticatedHyperagent - Hire a fleet of always-on agents. New users get $1,000 in inference. hyperagent.com/aidailybriefRetool - Secure your vibecoded apps. New enterprise customers get up to $10,000 in AI credits per year. retool.com/aidaily Rackspace Technology- One accountable partner to build, operate and run your full enterprise AI stack https://www.rackspace.com/Section - Section turns AI investment into workforce transformation and ROI - https://www.sectionai.com/Scrunch - The AI customer experience platform - https://scrunch.com/Blitzy - Want to accelerate enterprise software development velocity by 5x? https://blitzy.com/AssemblyAI - The best way to build Voice AI apps - https://www.assemblyai.com/briefRobots & Pencils - Cloud-native AI solutions that power results https://robotsandpencils.com/The AI Daily Brief helps you understand the most important news and discussions in AI. Subscribe to the podcast version of The AI Daily Brief wherever you listen: https://pod.link/1680633614Our Newsletter is BACK: https://aidailybrief.beehiiv.com/Interested in sponsoring the show? sponsors@aidailybrief.ai
I talk with Mark Paulek, Chief Human Resources Officer at Kyndryl, about how leaders should approach AI transformation without losing employee trust. We get into Kyndryl's People Readiness Report, the company's AIR framework for anticipating demand, inventorying skills, and redeploying talent, plus how they think about AI governance, human-in-the-loop decisions, ROI, reskilling, and why AI adoption is ultimately a people challenge before it is a technology challenge.
Ever wanted to pull a six-figure profit out of a property without ever swinging a hammer, dealing with a tenant, or managing a single contractor? Welcome to the lucrative world of Texas reverse mortgage note investing. In this episode of 50 Note Deals in 50 Days, host Scott Carson breaks down a fascinating, real-time case study on a Texas reverse mortgage (HECM) foreclosure deal currently sitting on his desk. Scott walks you step-by-step through a non-performing loan on a vacant, highly equity-rich property in Wichita Falls, Texas. You will learn how buying the debt—instead of the physical real estate—allows you to structure a deal that can yield a massive 80% annualized ROI in a fast foreclosure state like Texas, or convert into an REO with a potential $113,000+ net profit. Whether you want to invest your own capital or learn how to leverage OPM (Other People's Money) using Self-Directed IRAs for infinite returns, this episode lays out the exact underwriting, numbers, and exit strategies you need to know.
This week, we sit down with Vania Nettleford to unpack every real estate investor's worst nightmare: a devastating house fire and the discovery that her insurance policy didn't actually cover what she thought it did. We walk through how Vania bought her first house hack—a two‑family property with a finished attic in Belleville, New Jersey—and turned it into a profitable mix of long‑term rentals and MTR arbitrage, going from paying the mortgage to getting paid to live there. Then we shift into the moment everything changed: the grease fire, the frantic calls, the damage, the claim process, and the emotional and financial toll of carrying a $3,000/month mortgage with no rental income. Together, we break down: The difference between homeowner and landlord insurance Why correct occupancy and coverage type (ACV vs. replacement) matter How to advocate for yourself with your insurance agent What we, as female real estate investors, can do this week to protect our portfolios We also talk about mindset—why Vania didn't quit real estate, how she leveraged relationships to sell the damaged property, and how to stay in the game when things go horribly wrong. Resources: Book your spot at WIIRE Summer Camp before it fills up Follow Vania on Instagram See what Vania is up to next Get the deets on Steadily Simplify how you manage your rentals with TurboTenant Make sure your name is on the list to secure your spot in The WIIRE Community Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts Leave us a review on Spotify Join our private Facebook Community Connect with us on Instagram
Want the playbook, not just the conversation? Subscribe for deep-dive, actionable breakdowns from every episode at unchurned.substack.com.He built the dashboards. Now he's questioning if they'll even exist in two years.Ziv Peled just added "Chief AI Officer" on top of Chief Customer Officer to his title at AppsFlyer. In this episode, he breaks down what that actually means: not a figurehead role, but hands-on rebuilding of workflows, architecture decisions, and the mindset of an entire org. Josh and Ziv chat about how AppsFlyer built their own $20/month AI pipeline on top of Gong instead of replacing it, why "build vs. buy" isn't the binary everyone thinks, what happens to your AI costs, and why "50x ROI" claims are mostly noise; plus the line that stopped the whole conversation: "When is the last dashboard?"---What You'll Learn- What a Chief AI Officer actually does day-to-day - Why AppsFlyer upsold into Gong instead of churning- Why most AI ROI metrics ("10x, 50x") don't hold up- What's changing with AI vendor pricing/consumption limits- How to think about AI security risk without a rulebook to follow yet---Timestamps0:00 - Preview & Intro1:30 - Meet Ziv Peled, CAIO at AppsFlyer 4:40 - How the CAIO role came to be6:50 - Build vs. buy: Salesforce, Gong, and AppsFlyer's own MCP9:25 - Why AppsFlyer isn't churning off Gong (they upsold)12:20 - What is Mythos? (and the quantum computing tangent)13:50 - The 90-minute video, 2-minute AI analysis story14:42 - How AI is changing competitive advantage16:10 - What it actually takes to become an AI-native company19:33 - Rapid fire: adoption, measurement, expense, security---Josh is writing a book on building customer relationships. Follow his journey and insights at www.joshschachter.com---Where to Find the GuestZiv Peled: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zivpeled---Where to Find the Hosts: Josh's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jschachter/Unchurned Substack: https://unchurned.substack.com/
Welcome to the Monday Minute – your weekly reset to lead better, think clearer, and build your independent dealership with intention.You could take the same million dollars and put it into a dealership, the stock market, an HVAC company, or a dozen other opportunities. The question is not which one sounds better. The question is which one gives you the best return. And if you cannot answer that for your own dealership right now, that is the problem.In this episode, Jeff and Luke make the case for ROI as not just a financial metric but a leadership mindset – and the one number that almost never shows up in a composite or gets discussed at convention despite being the most important scorecard in any business. Jeff walks through what return on investment actually looks like at the dealership level: not just the big picture of what your capital is generating annually, but the granular version – what is your advertising spend returning, what did that new software system actually do for you, what did sending your team to training produce, and is that vendor who told you to spend more money with them actually moving the needle? The best dealers are not making emotional decisions about vendors, marketing sources, or tools. They are measuring. Luke adds that the strongest operators he knows talk about their entire business in ROI terms – and that AI can now do what previous generations never had access to: summarize reports, identify trends, compare performance periods, and surface opportunities that get buried in a stack of DMS exports nobody has time to read.Your assignment this week: identify five major investments in your business right now – marketing, staffing, software, training, vendors – and define what success actually looks like for each one. Then pull the data, use AI tools to organize and compare expected results against actual results, and ask the hard question in black and white: what is producing a return and what is not. If something is not working, it is not an emotional conversation. Adjust it, negotiate it, replace it, or cut it – and take those savings and put them into something that actually moves the needle.Review this week's Sunday newsletter at TheIndependentDealer.com for the full theme and exercises.Not subscribed yet? Sign up now.https://theindependentdealer.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=603446580871d8522a454418d&id=50aae74348Let's build this together.
In this episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show, Michael D. Levitt speaks with Shan Nair about the realities of international business expansion, global compliance, AI adoption, and operational infrastructure. Dr. Nair shares his remarkable journey from nuclear physicist to international accounting and compliance expert, helping technology companies expand into global markets while staying legally compliant and operationally effective. Key discussion points include: Why global expansion fails without operational infrastructure The hidden compliance risks companies overlook when entering foreign markets How AI is changing consulting, operations, and business decision-making The importance of measuring ROI and organizational impact during transformation initiatives Lessons learned from working with fast-scaling international companies Common mistakes leaders make when implementing new technologies How global organizations can scale while protecting their interests and maintaining compliance This episode is essential listening for executives, founders, HR leaders, and operators navigating international growth, digital transformation, and organizational complexity. Schedule your Leadership Operating System review at: Breakfast Leadership LeadershipOS
The Travel Advisor CEO Checklist: My Weekly Non-Negotiables Want to know what successful travel advisors actually do every week? In this episode of Passports, Profits & Pixie Dust, I'm sharing the weekly CEO checklist that keeps my travel business growing—even while balancing teaching full-time, hosting a travel agency, traveling myself, and creating content. We'll cover the weekly habits that increase bookings, improve client relationships, strengthen your marketing, and help you think like a true business owner instead of simply reacting to whatever lands in your inbox. In This Episode You'll Learn: The weekly habits every successful travel advisor should prioritizeWhy follow-up is one of the highest-ROI activities in your businessHow to review your sales pipeline like a CEOThe importance of nurturing past clients for repeat business and referralsThe systems, marketing, and financial check-ins that support long-term growthHow planning ahead helps reduce overwhelm and increase consistency Whether you're a brand-new travel advisor or working toward your first $100K year, these weekly non-negotiables will help you build a more sustainable, profitable travel business. Resources Mentioned: Tern CRMDream Big Business Planner & TrackerConnect with Lindsay to learn more about joining At Last I See The World Travel or working together to grow your travel business.
In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop speaks with Aaron Neyer, founder of Parachute and community organizer in Boulder, about knowledge management, extended minds, and the intersection of AI with human consciousness. They explore how Parachute functions as a digital brain tool for organizing thoughts and information across fragmented systems, discuss the dangers of AI psychosis and over-reliance on technology, and debate open source AI development versus controlled releases by companies like Anthropic. The conversation weaves through topics including the limitations of metrics-driven business thinking, consciousness and relevance realization, the value of technological sabbaths, and Aaron's hope for locally-run open source models that protect personal data while still accessing more powerful gated models when needed. You can find Aaron's writing at unforced.org and unforced.substack.com, and learn more about Parachute at parachute.computer and parachute.computer/blog.Timestamps00:00 Stewart welcomes Aaron Neyer, founder of Parachute and Boulder community organizer, discussing the origin of Parachute's name from Frank Zappa's quote about open minds.05:00 Aaron explains Parachute as an extended mind tool for organizing notes, contacts and information across multiple platforms, emphasizing the distinction between primary mind and extended mind as interconnected systems.10:00 Discussion shifts to metrics-driven business culture and the limitations of pure rationality, exploring how Google's data-driven approach misses subjective experience and the whole picture of relationships.15:00 Aaron discusses AI's ability to help identify relevant variables across different domains and the dangers of AI psychosis, comparing it to cult dynamics and belief systems.20:00 The conversation covers AI sabbaths and nineties retreats as intentional breaks from technology, plus Aaron's experiences with electrical engineering and using AI to design circuits with Arduinos.25:00 Exploring forbidden knowledge and open source AI, Aaron discusses Anthropic's guardrails around powerful models while arguing for distributed access to prevent concentration of power.30:00 Deep dive into open source AI strategy, with Aaron highlighting NVIDIA's approach and the potential for running capable models locally while reserving ultra-intelligent models for complex research tasks.35:00 Aaron shares his vision for local Sonnet-class models handling personal data while accessing Fable-class models for deep research, and directs listeners to unforced.org and parachute.computer for his writing.Key Insights1. The philosophy behind Parachute stems from Frank Zappa's quote that the mind is like a parachute and doesn't work if it isn't open. Aaron Neyer explains that having an open mind is valuable, but it must be balanced with deep roots to avoid becoming untethered. He has experienced periods in his life where excessive openness led him to feel disconnected, teaching him that creativity and expansion need to be grounded in something substantial. This same principle applies to how we organize information digitally, where openness and interoperability allow our extended minds to become more connected and coherent, which in turn helps our primary minds think more clearly.2. Parachute is designed as an extended mind tool that addresses the fragmentation problem in how we currently manage information. Most people use multiple disconnected tools like Obsidian, Notion, Apple Notes, Google Keep, and various CRMs to organize their thoughts, notes, and relationships. These systems don't communicate well with each other, creating inefficiency and confusion. Parachute aims to create a simple, intuitive system where all this information can be organized in one place with true interoperability, allowing users to own their data and have it speak effectively with other tools, ultimately making our entire extended mind more functional.3. Understanding ourselves as unified body mind organisms rather than fragmented parts is essential for effectiveness. Living systems theory shows that any living system is three things: a membrane bound dissipative structure, a self regulating autopoietic network, and a cognitive process actively knowing the world. Western civilization since Descartes and Galileo has created artificial separation between body and mind, and between subjective and objective experience, which limits our effectiveness. The same fragmentation affects our digital technology, and recognizing both our biological and digital systems as coherent wholes rather than disconnected parts makes us vastly more capable.4. The relationship between data driven approaches and holistic thinking reveals important limitations in modern business and science. While working at Google, Aaron observed how data driven decision making can be powerful, but over reliance on metrics like ROI creates blindness to crucial unmeasurable factors like goodwill and relationship quality. This reflects a broader Western tendency to exclude subjective experience because it's difficult for objective science to measure. However, emotions, relationships, and other subjective elements are essential parts of reality, and focusing only on quantifiable metrics means missing the whole picture and ultimately becoming less effective despite appearing more rational.5. AI accelerates the ability to work with technical complexity by helping with relevance realization across domains where we lack expertise. In any specialized field, experts develop intuitive senses for which variables matter and can quickly identify problems, whether in computer troubleshooting, music, or cooking. AI's ability to generalize allows it to point people toward relevant solutions in areas where they haven't developed that intuitive expertise, effectively democratizing technical capability. This means people can direct their creativity more effectively across more domains, though it also raises concerns about giving powerful capabilities to those who may lack the wisdom to use them responsibly.6. The question of open source AI versus gated access involves complex tradeoffs between democratizing power and preventing harm. Aaron respects Anthropic's approach of creating guardrails around powerful models like Mythos, which would likely have caused significant system hacks if released without restrictions. However, this creates concerning power dynamics where only wealthy companies, governments, and their allies have access to the most powerful tools. NVIDIA offers hope through their truly open source approach including full training pipelines, and there may be a viable path where open source models at the Sonnet capability level handle most tasks locally while more powerful Fable class models remain gated for the most demanding work.7. Creating intentional breaks from AI and technology is essential for maintaining clear independent thinking. Aaron practices an AI Sabbath at least one day per week when he doesn't interact with AI, and he finds these are the days when he does his best thinking and journaling. Without these breaks, he finds himself constantly jumping between journaling and prompting AI rather than giving himself space for deep reflection. This pattern mirrors broader concerns about AI consistency creating cult like dynamics similar to organized religion, where constant immersion in a belief system or technology can lead to losing the ability to think independently, making periodic disconnection crucial for maintaining cognitive autonomy and clarity.
Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews)
In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with Alex Holt, Field CTO at ElevenLabs, about what separates successful enterprise AI initiatives from those that never move beyond the proof of concept. Alex explains how ElevenLabs combines cutting-edge AI research, enterprise-grade products, and forward-deployed engineering to help organizations deploy voice AI at scale. He also discusses why AI success depends on tying every implementation to measurable business outcomes, how voice agents are transforming customer engagement, and why enterprises must rethink implementation if they expect real ROI. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why AI projects should begin with business KPIs—not technology How forward-deployed engineering accelerates enterprise adoption What makes enterprise voice AI production-ready How ElevenLabs balances innovation with safety and governance Why the best AI organizations measure outcomes, not experiments This episode is presented by ElevenLabs — Modern Email Delivery for developer & product teams. Learn more at elevenlabs.io
Go behind the scenes with the CEO of Malibu Boats for an inside look at one of the world's leading boat manufacturers. We discuss the company's family of brands, how premium boats are designed and assembled, and the engineering, manufacturing, and innovation that drive every product from concept to the water.Munro Live is the media division of Munro & Associates, an engineering consulting firm with a design-first approach. At Munro, we specialize in costing, benchmarking, and product & manufacturing optimization, helping our clients reimagine their products and processes to achieve better business outcomes—driving down costs while increasing efficiency, performance, and quality.At the core of our work is Lean Design®, our proprietary methodology that optimizes design efficiency and consistently delivers exceptional ROI for our clients.Munro - Home of Lean Designhttps://leandesign.com/We would really appreciate it if you subscribe to our channel. The more subscribers we have, the more opportunities and teardowns we will be able to bring to you! For more behind the scenes content:X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/live_munroX/Twitter: https://x.com/MunroAssociatesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/munroliveLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/munro-liveLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/munro-&-associatesInquiries: Sales@leandesign.com For Exclusive Content Join our Patreon!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/MunroLive
According to research by IBM, just 16% of AI initiatives have achieved scale. Why? Because few organizations have the structure and data to support long-term AI investments. So, how do you build an AI-ready system? Riley Rogers: Welcome to the Win/Win Podcast. I’m your host, Riley Rogers. Join us as we dive into changing trends in the workplace and how to navigate them successfully. Here to discuss this topic is Rich Weymer, Senior Director of Go-To-Market Strategy and Transformation at Yubico. Thank you so much for joining us today, Rich. I’m super excited to have you here to dig into all the expertise that you’re gonna bring to the table. As we’re kicking off, I’d love if you could just tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and your role. Rich Weymer: Yeah. First off, thanks for having me. A repeat customer with Highspot, so excited to get invited to this, as we’ve worked with your organization for some time now. Like you said, Rich Weymer. I’ve spent time pretty much so in tech for most of my professional career in one form or fashion, from my earlier career days at Microsoft working in consumer goods, where I’ve worked on video games, your Office products, all your devices, through where I’m at today in the security world. RR: Well, amazing, and bravo, tech veteran. Not easy. RW: Yeah. It looks a lot different today than it did when I started, that’s for sure. RR: And I think that is exactly what we’re gonna talk about today. But before we go into where the world of tech has been to where we are today, I’d love if you could give us a little bit of foundational context for folks who might not be familiar with Yubico. Could you give us a little walkthrough of who your company is, what you do, who you serve? RW: Yeah. So Yubico does phishing resistance hardware MFA, which basically means we ship you a little bitty key that helps control access to all your online portals and logins and everything along those lines. RR: As somebody who is password challenged, I certainly see the value of that one. I wish we had a wonderful little bitty key that got me set up for success every single day. One thing that I think you set up early on is that Yubico, and pretty much every other organization in the industry, is moving fast, and it has to. Security in this day and age is harder than ever. And when it comes to working in a fast-moving organization, teams like yours also have to move fast. I’d guess that that pace of change is part of the reason why you have a really forward-looking approach to enablement and to go-to-market strategy. So why do you think it’s important to think critically about how technology can transform traditional workflows, processes that you’re accustomed to, things like that? RW: Again, to your point, things are moving so fast right now. That’s the biggest underlying factor that organizations really need to think through. Decisions that you’re making today are almost obsolete by the time you’re done signing the paperwork on whatever decisions or procurement you’re going through. So you need to be really thoughtful about the foundations that you’re building, the integrations that you’re gonna lean on, and the partners that you’re gonna select that are gonna be around for the long run. Measure twice, cut once, and also understand that there’s different types of decisions that you’re gonna be making. I use the analogy of a hat, a haircut, or a tattoo. What type of decision are you making when you’re thinking about your technologies? If it’s a hat, you can switch it in and out real quick. If it’s a haircut, maybe it takes a little bit of time to unwind. And those tattoos are the ones that you just can’t change. They’re gonna be– They’re– You’re gonna live with them forever. So you really gotta just understand the lens that you’re making the decisions through, as well as having an industry understanding of where things are heading. And as you look at your partners, thinking, “Hey, at the pace at which innovation is happening, is this someone that’s gonna be relevant six months, 12 months, 18 months from now?” RR: I have not heard that decision-making framework before, hat, haircut, tattoo. RW: It’s an easy one, yeah. A lot of organizations think everything’s a tattoo. So you make every decision like it’s the last decision you’re ever gonna make in that space. And it’s right for a lot of things, but framing it goes a long way, especially when you’re trying to move fast. Being able to categorize those decisions pretty quickly goes a long way. RR: Yeah. And it helps you avoid the problem of when everything’s important, nothing is. You mentioned systems, data, processes, having the right tools in place to move quickly. So with that perspective in mind, how are you thinking about layering on AI? RW: I think about it every day and night, in every meeting I’m sitting in, and every conversation I’m having, and every free minute when I’m thinking about work. The big thing is automation and AI for the sake of AI, and automation for the sake of automation, it really doesn’t mean anything unless you have a strong foundation and an understanding of your data. So to me, it all just boils down to a strong foundational data set and understanding what to measure and what moves your business, and then building around that first and foremost before you do anything else. RR: What do you need in that foundation before you can start building AI on top of it in order for those initiatives to be successful? RW: If I were to think through how I structure this, there’s no shortage of ways to measure the business, but landing on one that’s influential and helps you adjust the dials as you go is really important. So the way I operate is through the lens of sales velocity, which is a time-tested mathematical problem to give you a temperature check on how the business is doing. It’ll let you know whether you’re going up, down, left, right, staying center, or whatever it is. But where organizations stop is they stop at the top four measurements, which, if you think of sales velocity, is open opportunities, average deal size, win rate, and then you divide that by your deal cycle length. That gives you a daily throughput, which tells you part of the story because you can help understand your forecasting. When you take your close one business, you can use that to forecast days left in the quarter, what those numbers would look like. But where it gets really powerful, and what I think a lot of organizations haven’t spent the time to do, is go deeper on the leveling of those metrics. So if you think through the process lines, L1 is your executive metric. That’s the all-up number. Your L2s are your leadership numbers, where your managers need to understand those. But your L3, four, five, six, and you can keep going down the rabbit hole, really start impacting how your frontline folks operate. One of the things we’ll talk about today is AI Role Play, and when we think of it, we look at diagnosing issues in our win rates, and we think, “How is our competitive wins doing? What are we, we get very, very granular in how we look at those.” And then we can actually start layering on recommendations and automation. So we do that across probably close to 100 different metrics through the various layers that are our leading indicators. And this really helps us when we think through automation of where we go from here, ’cause once we understand those, we know how are we doing against certain competitors? Are we getting the right amount of MQLs? Are we talking about the right things? Do we get caught up in legal, security? We can understand all those different variables of the business, and then we can take a proactive approach to coaching where we need to coach, and then adjusting the business where we need to adjust the business. And you can’t really do that unless you have that entire foundation laid out and actually understand what all those levers are. So to me, taking the time to do that is really just beyond critical. RR: Yeah. Yeah. You know what you need to do, and you can start driving really aggressively against it, which I– it sounds like you alluded to an example there with AI Role Play, you’re doing the work to do. In that, you’re beginning to layer some of these new technologies, new tools on top of that foundation. What were some of those first use cases that you prioritized, and why did you start where you did? RW: I think the first win you always wanna go for is really a practical application of any new technology and how that can move the needle for the business. So when I think of practical applications, I think of AI Role Play as being a very early one. As an enablement team and a training team, how many times have people walked through certification programs, the one-on-ones with managers, all the Role Plays, all the back and forth and the headaches and the objectivity that goes into those exercises. That’s just a quick win that you can pick up and take care of almost all of that. The time saving alone and the cost of having a manager do these one-on-ones time and time again, it just drains an organization when every organization right now is trying to be lean, mean, focused on sales efficiency. So anything we can do to give back and level the team up, I think is just a no-brainer. So AI Role Play is a huge one for us. We looked at a lot of different places. We tried a lot of different things, and we landed on the Highspot implementation of that because it’s important to be able to do that stuff, but also it has to be within the context of everything you’re doing and all the content and everything that you do have. It can’t be this standalone siloed thing that happens in the background. We need to bring it to the forefront. Yeah, those are the really practical first-step wins that I’ve been excited about. RR: Yeah, and that’s such a good example of mapping it back to those foundational levers. The path there is very clear, I think. RW: Yeah, absolutely. Think of a competitive– your competitive intelligence programs. You do all this work understanding your competitors. Now you can understand when a seller of yours struggles with insert competitor X, Y, or Z. You can identify those trainings, you can recommend the trainings, you can verify they’ve been through them, and then if that’s not working, then you can escalate to coaching and go a little bit deeper from there. So the foundation of the data will help you identify that stuff, and then you start applying the technologies. That’s how you go fix the gap. And then you can monitor it and just keep it going, almost near real time, which is incredible. A lot of the time, organizations are really spending most of their time hearing yesterday’s weather. And when I mean that, I think of, you do a QBR, you go through a quarter, you spend 30 days doing the QBR. At the end of the QBR, you find the problems, you take 30 more days to figure out what the underlying problems are, then you spend 120 days fixing those problems. Then you’re six months removed from what the problem was, and now you got a whole new set of problems that you’re not even keeping up with the business. So being able to identify these things, move quickly, and make recommendations really fast is incredible in the amount of time it buys back an organization to execute, and that you’re focused on the right things at the right time. RR: I’d be curious to hear a little bit about, you mentioned a handful of teams there in some of the early AI Role Play rollout and piloting. How did you start thinking about who you wanted to test this with, the kinds of pilots you wanted to build, and how has that going so far? RW: We tested globally as a global organization. We tried US-based, EMEA, APJ folks. We took a look at various groups from various geographical regions because adoption’s an uptick, and accountability is different at the global scale. The use cases really were tied around what’s our biggest blind spots, and what do we not know, and how do we validate that? As a group that has a BDR team, an SDR team as an example, if you have sellers that don’t wanna work with their BDRs ’cause they’re not confident that their BDRs are competent, then here’s a great way to say, “Hey, actually, we’ve already been them– we’ve taken them through the ringer. We’ve seen that they’re able to demonstrate this stuff, and honestly, we’re building scenarios that are harder for them to get through than you actually deal with, with customers.” So we can stress test the teams, and then sellers don’t respond to customers with ABC answers. They have to be able to be versed in these conversations, so being able to do that was a huge unlock for us, because folks aren’t practicing with their paycheck. Well, the worst place you wanna go figure this stuff out is in front of a customer, so give someone a very safe space to go practice and cut their teeth, and they will just accelerate if they get behind it and really try this stuff out. So yeah, find the high ROI cases, double down on those, share that experience, be vocal about it, and make sure others feel it. Then yeah, that’s how you just get that adoption and the needle moving. RR: Something that I feel like is not as spoken about when it comes to training, Role Plays, et cetera, all of that stuff, is now you have this trust between your counterparts, and you have more of this connective tissue purely because of that, which is really interesting, and I’ve not, I don’t think, heard anyone speak to that element of it before. So curious if you could give me a little bit more of a sense of what that has done for you guys. RW: Yeah. And, as I mentioned, I’ve– I’m five-ish years into the security business, and this is just a business built on trust. So we have to gain the trust of our customers. It’s important in any sales cycle. It’s a hundredfold more important when you’re talking about the security of your organization. So I think intrinsically our– the businesses are highly trust-driven with the folks that they work with, even internally. So, if you think through customer journeys, from trusting they’re landing the right messaging and marketing, to the right message that BDRs are delivering, our sellers deliver it, talking about the right things and delivering the proposals towards the outcomes that the customers are expecting, to how your account team then goes and manages that account or gets ready for renewals. There has to be that thread of trust across those because each one sets one up for failure if not done correctly. And having a verified way of saying, “Hey, I can trust that my coworkers that are working upstream for me are doing the right things and they are competent,” that’s only gonna make you deliver and do better in your particular role, and it’s gonna want you to step your game up, too. RR: Sometimes I feel like folks present a strategy the way it’s working out for them, and I have a thoughtful response to it. But in this case, the only thing I have to say is that’s so cool. It’s really, really cool to see all the different ways that this can show up for an organization beyond what we expect. RW: If you were to turn the clock back two years, AI-based Role Play, that was beyond the bleeding edge. There wasn’t even an edge. It was so far out of the realm. But these things come up quickly, and you wanna be able to jump on ’em and move on ’em. Again, it’s just moving so fast that you have to have that trust and have a team around you that’s willing to build on the successes you’ve had in a past life. So it does take time to get to that point. It doesn’t happen overnight. It gets quicker, that’s the thing, ’cause now, if you think through how you go through a launch in a past life, go back two years: you spin up the marketing machine, they come up with the slides, you host a call, you do a webinar, you send the field out, say, “Go figure it out.” If you’re lucky, you did Role Plays with the managers, you had a competency test, you sat down, maybe you brought some external resources in to actually manage this. And now with technology, you can scope it, build it, deploy it, have everybody through it in a few weeks, and you can actually verify that people can do these things, where in a past life, just none of that existed. You can build trust faster and move quicker today because the technologies enable that stuff. It’s not the, I’ve got a six-month sales cycle, so I don’t know what my sales look like, or I don’t know how well things are going until six months down the line when you’re actually seeing the end-of-line conversions. You just move so much faster right now. It’s, yeah, really exciting. RR: Okay. So we’ve touched on, I think, a lot of some of the granular detail, and I think gotten a picture of what work at Yubico looks like right now. And I think it has been what sounds like a busy few months to get to this point. So since making some of these changes, being really thoughtful about building out your foundation, starting to layer in those early AI use cases, what impact have you seen on things like seller efficiency, time savings, productivity, anything like that? RW: We are cutting so much time out of the administrative burden of our team. It’s hard to put an exact number on it, but we’re looking at reducing sales cycles by upwards of 25% this year. Where if you think through a longer sales cycle on the security side, where things can take six, seven, eight months, if you can carve out a month back on those processes, it unlocks a lot of organizational capacity. So we are heavy on how we are doing that this year, and sales efficiency is one of our big topics for this year. And ideally, in a perfect world, you have the right team that, as you give efficiency time back and give them time to focus on selling, they go out and sell more. You can cut their day down to two hours a day, but what are they gonna do with the rest of the hours of those days to actually go get after it? So we’re cutting time out of their workload, making things easier on them, and then how are we surfacing the latest and greatest new opportunities and more guidance to them, to be a little bit more honed on where to go and focus on the stuff that technology’s not replacing right now, which is the human interaction and the conversations you have to have with your buyers. So that’s our goal today, it’s just every single day, how do we chip away, chip away, chip away? And I think we’re doing a pretty, pretty solid job of that right now. And things that take hours, three, four, five hours to do, you can do in a button click these days. So on a 40-hour week, if that’s all you work, that would be nice. But if you’re doing 40 hours a week and you’re cutting four or five hours out, 10%, 12% of your week is a huge give back on a timing perspective. So we are, yeah, really excited about all that work right now. RR: You mentioned that 25% reduction, which you said, “That’s a solid, that’s solid progress.” I would call that more than solid progress, but that’s just me. Would you say that part of that or some of that could be attributed to that improved ability to practice those conversations and show up better when you’re actually having them live? RW: Absolutely. There’s the process side of house, which is where we can carve a lot of time out, but the competency within that process goes a long way. Just the basics. Can you get somebody to set that follow-up call? Don’t let the customer off the call until you have a next step booked. Even just little things like that, that you get off the call and then it takes you a couple days to schedule that next meeting. You just get rid of coaching that stuff out. Those basics that every seller always knows about, that adds up when you’re thinking enterprise-wide. That goes a long way. So again, foundational data, even just looking at the basics and doing really good at the basics and training people to that, you’re gonna find time back. RR: To my earlier point about a lot of people are excited but don’t quite know what to do, that’s a very specific example of what can you coach to meaningfully? How can you use Role Play to help you train away those bad behaviors that decrease your velocity, decrease your momentum, and in turn cause that chain reaction down the line? So with all this work in mind, what do you think the future of go-to-market, of enablement, looks like at Yubico? What’s next? RW: Ooh, that’s the multi-multi-multi-million dollar question. Someone who’s been around tech for a while, you see patterns in where things are going. I challenge everybody that I talk to about some form of initiative, or obviously a lot of AI discussions today. But if you challenge things from a first-principles perspective, why are you even doing these things? And I think that is a question that organizations need to ask themselves, is why are you doing this, and why are you doing it this way? Does that even make sense in tomorrow’s world of where things are heading? It’s how are you driving decisions? How are you recommending actions? And how are you actually activating on the data and the information that you have? I think that’s where go-to-market goes. It becomes less understanding and reading yesterday’s weather, as I say, and it takes that data and makes it actionable and pushes us forward versus just catches us up, which is also very, very exciting because the things that we thought were out of reach six months ago are in reach now. RR: For people listening who might be, with that last sentence, feeling a little bit inspired but also uncertain, like, oh gosh, how do I keep pace? What would you say to leaders in tech and in other spaces who feel pressured to do AI, perform the thing, layer it into their programs where they can, but aren’t sure where to start? What would you– What advice would you give them, having done it yourself? RW: Start. That’s the key. It sounds silly, but everybody kinda has this not really sure where to start, and that’s okay. I think you just gotta start. First and foremost, you have to just dabble a little bit, get your feet wet, and it all starts to come clear. If you’re thinking through the models that are out there, ask it questions, use it to teach you what you don’t know and where to go. But really it’s your thought partner in how you use these things. You have questions? Ask it questions. You get stuck? Ask it why you’re stuck. Ask it wh– it can do a lot of the things that I think would really surprise people, that will help them head down the right direction. And again, we’re– I say it jokingly, we’re not protein folding. It’s not that crazy, the stuff that we’re doing. You’ll see that there’s a lot of people that have been successful, and you can go a long way just asking the right questions. Don’t be afraid. Do things in a smart way. Make sure your identities are locked down. Shout out, Yubico. Make sure that you’re working with your security teams and doing the right things, and you’ve got access controls in place, of course. But just start. That’s the biggest thing I could tell people, is just start. You’d be amazed how far you can go. RR: Very inspirational to close with. And also, I think a bitter truth sometimes. It’s very much the best way to learn is by doing. RW: Yeah, 100%. I always get the, “Rich, what should I do?” I’m like, “Well, just ask the question.” Just literally just start. Just start. Just get in there and do it, and get going. And really the other thing I would say, on the starting point, is try and build a system where you give people the guardrails to be successful, get the benefits of AI, but also don’t get in the way and stifle innovation. You wanna empower people to go figure things out. Give them the chance to start as well. If you’re a leader in one of these organizations, empower the folks on the front lines to do these things, because this technology is just peeling out those middle layers. The closer you sit to the customers, the more impactful work you’re gonna be able to do. So get your frontline people working on this stuff. RR: I have to say, I think I said it a couple times, but some really interesting, very actionable things, I think, you shared today. So I really appreciate you taking the time to give us some of those recommendations on how to get started with AI, what’s working for you with AI Role Play, all of the goodness on how to not be scared to get started. RW: Thank you again for having me. This has been a lot of fun. RR: Yeah. To our audience, thank you for listening to this episode of the Win/Win Podcast. Be sure to tune in next time for more insights on how you can maximize go-to-market success with Highspot.
Mary Beth Jowers, VP of Americas Consumer and Market Insights at Heineken, joins Karen Lynch to explore how insights professionals can become more effective drivers of organizational change. Drawing on her leadership experience across global, regional, and developing markets, Mary Beth explains why insights teams should operate like internal businesses—prioritizing work that delivers measurable value and supports better decisions. She shares how empathy, stakeholder understanding, and behavioral insight can help teams overcome resistance and influence how organizations operate.The conversation also examines practical ways to increase research ROI, from repurposing existing studies to creating snackable content, interactive training, and action-oriented deliverables. For insights leaders seeking greater influence, Mary Beth offers a compelling framework built around partnership, persistence, persuasion, and meeting colleagues where they are.Key Discussion PointsHow Mary Beth's unconventional career path shaped her approach to insights leadershipWhy insights and analytics teams should operate like internal businessesApplying consumer empathy and behavioral understanding to coworkers and stakeholdersTurning research into action through training, snackable insights, and engaging contentIncreasing ROI by repurposing existing research and embracing “good enough” informationResources and LinksThe Heineken CompanyIIEX Conferences You can reach out to Mary Beth Jowers on LinkedIn.Many thanks to Mary Beth Jowers for being our guest. Thanks also to our production team and our editor at Big Bad Audio.
Après 3 Grands Prix sans victoire, Kimi Antonelli a été unanimement couronné Roi de Belgique. 6e sacre déjà pour le jeune prodige Italien ! Incontestablement le pilote le plus rapide, le plus solide et le plus fort du plateau, il assomme à nouveau la concurrence au classement des pilotes. Et par “concurrence”, comprenez un certain George Russell… 7e virage et puis s'en va, le Britannique a été envoyé dans les graviers. Tête-à-queue incontrôlée, monoplace enlisée, course terminée… et rêves envolés. Antonelli a-t-il remis les pendules à l'heure ? Russell est-il maudit ? Les problèmes de fiabilité vont-ils mener Mercedes à sa perte ? Derrière, Ferrari confirme son retour en forme. Charles Leclerc est-il redevenu numéro 1 ? Hamilton résiste à un week-end compliqué, ça confirme le nouveau Lewis ? Nouveau podium pour Max Verstappen, mais est-il réellement capable d'aller chercher plus haut ? Et puis le meilleur pilote de cette course, c'est Isack Hadjar. Parti de la P21 pour finir P6, est-ce sa meilleure course avec RedBull ? Son sixième top 6 de suite, du jamais vu depuis Alain Prost en 1993, une statistique qui a du sens ? Le Paddock RMC décrypte et analyse ce Grand Prix de Belgique. Avec Killian Verove, Jean-Luc Roy et Thomas Bordenave Lagau.
Como sustentar uma agenda de IA responsável quando os dados ainda não estão prontos e a regulação não perdoa erro? Neste episódio, recebemos Giuliane Paulista, Executiva de IA e Dados do Banco do Brasil, que revela como uma instituição bicentenária e fortemente regulada está migrando da IA tradicional para agentes autônomos sem abrir mão de governança. Ela detalha os três pilares de uma IA que gera valor de verdade, o desafio de medir ROI em meio ao consumo de tokens na nuvem e as competências que a liderança precisa reaprender para não ficar para trás. Ficou curioso? Então, dê o play!Assuntos abordados:IA agêntica;Governança de dados;Medição de ROI;Reskilling de liderança;Comércio agêntico;Inclusão digital;Prevenção a fraudes;Cibersegurança bancária.Links importantes:NewsletterDúvidas? Nos mande pelo LinkedinContato: osagilistas@dtidigital.com.brOs Agilistas é uma iniciativa da dti digital, uma empresa WPP #inteligenciaartificial
AC Bio Clean's new case study shows how Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach achieved 18% energy savings with a simple probiotic AC coil cleaning SOP. Uniquely designed for hotel engineers and GMs, it demonstrates an easy way to overcome challenges with zero downtime and strong ROI. AC Bio Clean City: Miami Address: 1101 Brickell Ave South Website: https://www.acbioclean.com Phone: +1-305-422-1811 Email: info@acbioclean.com
Why does content marketing fail so often - and how can you fix it? In this episode, we unpack the top mistakes that kill ROI, from lack of strategy to vanity metrics, and share actionable fixes to turn your content into a revenue-driving asset. Profit Acuity City: Pittsburgh Address: 239 Fourth Ave, Ste 1401 #8511 Website: https://app.profitacuity.com Phone: +1 877 624 1229
The AI Breakdown: Daily Artificial Intelligence News and Discussions
Replit says its internal agents have nearly tripled engineering output without sacrificing quality—but the bigger story is how AI is beginning to reshape the entire company. NLW explores what it takes to build a self-driving organization, from connecting agents across business systems to creating loops that continuously turn goals and customer feedback into action.Source: https://x.com/amasad/status/2077802290304684404Brought to you by:KPMG – Research from KPMG and the University of Texas at Austin shows the highest-impact AI users treat AI like a reasoning partner — and those skills can be taught at scale. Learn more at kpmg.com/us/SophisticatedHyperagent - Hire a fleet of always-on agents. New users get $1,000 in inference. hyperagent.com/aidailybriefRetool - Secure your vibecoded apps. New enterprise customers get up to $10,000 in AI credits per year. retool.com/aidaily Rackspace Technology- One accountable partner to build, operate and run your full enterprise AI stack https://www.rackspace.com/Section - Section turns AI investment into workforce transformation and ROI - https://www.sectionai.com/Scrunch - The AI customer experience platform - https://scrunch.com/Blitzy - Want to accelerate enterprise software development velocity by 5x? https://blitzy.com/AssemblyAI - The best way to build Voice AI apps - https://www.assemblyai.com/briefRobots & Pencils - Cloud-native AI solutions that power results https://robotsandpencils.com/The AI Daily Brief helps you understand the most important news and discussions in AI. Subscribe to the podcast version of The AI Daily Brief wherever you listen: https://pod.link/1680633614Our Newsletter is BACK: https://aidailybrief.beehiiv.com/Interested in sponsoring the show? sponsors@aidailybrief.ai
Grab our breakdown of the 5 Low-Cost Businesses That Make $1 Million: https://www.franchiseempire.com/lowcost?utm_source=fejuly192026What does it take to go from entry-level sales rep to franchise owner in the same business you spent years building from the inside out? In this episode of the Zero to Profitable Franchise Podcast, host Chantel Soumis sits down with Erik Harris, owner and general manager of CertaPro Painters of Needham, Massachusetts. Erik started at Sherwin Williams out of college, spent over seven years as a sales rep at CertaPro, and in late 2020 bought the business from the previous owner in the middle of a global pandemic. He breaks down why he chose to stay with the franchise instead of going independent, how he generated 108 new Google reviews in a single year, why business networking became his highest ROI marketing channel, and what he has had to unlearn as a perfectionist to think like a business owner. If you want to understand what franchise ownership actually looks like day to day, Erik's story gives you a clear picture of what that path actually looks like.------------------Considering Investing In A Franchise?
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Is Kimi K3 the shocker of 2026? Could be. Now, we have a new (soon to be) Open Model that's competing with Fable 5 and GPT-5.6, a feat few would have believed possible. And that was the only new and important drop this week in AI. Claude brought useful browser to the desktop, ChatGPT made a big fix to how ChatGPT Work works and Google rolled out avatars that could change content creation. Don't miss our Friday Features show, where we recap the most important AI updates and features you can use today. Claude Desktop Gets Upgrade, New Open Source Model Shocks, ChatGPT Desktop Gets Better and 7 More AI Features You Can Use Today -- An Everyday AI Chat with Jordan WilsonNewsletter: Sign up for our free daily newsletterMore on this Episode: Episode PageToday's Episode on LinkedIn: Thoughts on this? Join the convo on LinkedIn and connect with other AI leaders.Upcoming Episodes: Check out the upcoming Everyday AI Livestream lineupWebsite: YourEverydayAI.comEmail The Show: info@youreverydayai.comConnect with Jordan on LinkedInTopics Covered in This Episode:Anthropic Claude Desktop App Browser UpgradeOpenAI ChatGPT Work Desktop App ImprovementsChatGPT Universal Search Feature LaunchSuperhuman Email Auto-Draft with GPT-4Spotify AI Voice/Text Conversation FeatureGemini Omni Personal Avatar Video CreationGoogle Vids Integration with Personal AvatarsMoonshot Kimmy K3 Open Source Model ReleaseKimmy K3 vs Fable 5 and GPT-5.6 BenchmarksTimestamps:00:00 New open source AI model release03:41 Microsoft Copilot and Claude app updates07:22 Improving chat history search12:30 Spotify's data personalization benefits14:52 Launching Google Avatar Feature18:24 Mainstream avatar video tools21:33 Improved ChatGPT project syncing24:15 Introducing Kimmy K Three Model29:30 New Kimmy k three for enterprises30:45 Friday feature show wrap-upKeywords: Claude desktop, Claude desktop upgrade, open source AI model, proprietary AI, open vs closed AI, Anthropic, built-in browser, Claude app, API docs, browser integration, permissions card, security layers, ChatGPT desktop app, OpenAI, universal search, ChatGPT search, chat history, project sync, mobile AI apps, Codex, ChatGPT work, Codex mode, Superhuman mail, auto draft, Anthropic Frontier models, GPT-3.5, Gmail integration, Outlook integration, Spotify, Talk to Spotify, personalized AI conversation, Gemini Omni, Google Gemini, personal avatars, Google Vids, video editing AI, video avatars, L&D AI, content creation with AI, Kimi k3, Moonshot AI, 2.8 trillion parameter model, 1 million token context, vision mode, benchmark leaderboards, Fable 5, GPT 5.6, Opus 4.8, open model weights, self-host AI, enterprise AI solutions, long context AI, front-end design AI, subscription AI tools, API pricing, AI benchmark, arena rankingsSend Everyday AI and Jordan a text message. (We can't reply back unless you leave contact info) Ready for ROI on GenAI? Go to youreverydayai.com/partner
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The AI Breakdown: Daily Artificial Intelligence News and Discussions
Moonshot's Kimi K3 is the strongest open-weight model yet, with benchmarks approaching Fable 5 and GPT-5.6. But early testing reveals major limitations in reliability, speed, and cost. NLW examines whether K3 lives up to the hype—and what it means for open models, AI safety, and the US-China race.Brought to you by:KPMG – Research from KPMG and the University of Texas at Austin shows the highest-impact AI users treat AI like a reasoning partner — and those skills can be taught at scale. Learn more at kpmg.com/us/SophisticatedHyperagent - Hire a fleet of always-on agents. New users get $1,000 in inference. hyperagent.com/aidailybriefRetool - Secure your vibecoded apps. New enterprise customers get up to $10,000 in AI credits per year. retool.com/aidaily Rackspace Technology- One accountable partner to build, operate and run your full enterprise AI stack https://www.rackspace.com/Section - Section turns AI investment into workforce transformation and ROI - https://www.sectionai.com/Scrunch - The AI customer experience platform - https://scrunch.com/Blitzy - Want to accelerate enterprise software development velocity by 5x? https://blitzy.com/AssemblyAI - The best way to build Voice AI apps - https://www.assemblyai.com/briefRobots & Pencils - Cloud-native AI solutions that power results https://robotsandpencils.com/The AI Daily Brief helps you understand the most important news and discussions in AI. Subscribe to the podcast version of The AI Daily Brief wherever you listen: https://pod.link/1680633614Our Newsletter is BACK: https://aidailybrief.beehiiv.com/Interested in sponsoring the show? sponsors@aidailybrief.ai
In this episode of Talk Dirt To Me, we're answering your farming questions and breaking down the biggest stories impacting agriculture right now. We kick things off with some listener Q&As before diving into Bayer's new hybrid wheat. Is it GMO? How much more yield are they claiming? Is the ROI better than saved seed, and could hybrid wheat change the future of grain production? From there, we take a deep dive into the latest USDA Crop Progress Report, highlighting why Tennessee continues to be one of the nation's most overlooked row crop states despite ranking among the top performers for crop conditions. We compare the top five states for corn rated good to excellent, discuss how much of the U.S. corn crop has reached the silking stage compared to last year, and what these numbers could mean for yield potential heading into harvest. We also examine the latest farm equipment sales numbers, which segment is surprisingly showing growth, and what declining equipment sales say about the current farm economy. Another major topic is the newly announced $11 billion in federal farm aid plus maximum ARC/PLC payments. Will the payments provide meaningful relief, or will they simply lead to higher seed, fertilizer, and chemical prices next season? International trade is back in the spotlight as we discuss the new tariffs on thousands of Brazilian products and the complicated relationship between Brazil, China, and American agriculture. Could these tariffs create new opportunities for U.S. farmers, or will they ultimately strengthen Brazil's position with China? And because no episode is complete without a little fun, we wrap up by talking about the recent Cyclospora outbreak, why leafy greens seem to make the news more often than steaks, and share guidance that eating more beef might be the safest strategy after all. If you enjoy honest conversations about farming, markets, policy, equipment, and everything happening in rural America, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Go check out Agzaga! It is the ultimate online farm store. American owned and operated. Go check out their site and get what you need. Be sure to use the code TalkDirt20 to get $20 off your order of $50 or more! Visit them at: https://agzaga.com
Ben Dietz convenes Casey Lewis (After School), Daisy Alioto (Dirt), and Erica Chen (Media Futures Group, WPP) on the collapse of the wall between editorial and commerce. Publishers are shipping perfume, brands are hiring writers, and the relationship forming in your inbox isn't human-to-human anymore. What happens when the scenic route is quicker? When “wasted” time actually is the relationship? Your total addressable market now includes agents, and those agents are trained on the taste you are curating. After all – what you buy is who you become, but what you read is how you decide. Base Notes: Upper Lip Sweat and Hot Metal Key takeaways: Publishers now make products; brands now make publications. The wall stopped mattering. Optimization is a process of reduction, and serendipity gets cut first. Brands flame out at issue two or three without a point of view. Taste-driven publishers have a new addressable market: agents trained on taste. [12:48] "The best ROI does not necessarily give you growth, because growth comes in volumes." – Erica Chen [21:15] "When your audience knows to expect you… you really have to stay true to that." – Casey Lewis [28:50] "Our total addressable market now includes agents." – Daisy Alioto [30:32] "Creators are the cure to the media fragmentation." – Erica Chen Associated Links: Casey Lewis – After School on Substack Erica Chen – "In Defense of Serendipity" Daisy Alioto – Read Dirt @ dirt.fyi Tasteland podcast – Daisy Alioto & Francis Zierer VISIONS Summit 2026 – November 3, 2026 at MoMA. Listen to today's episode for 25% off Check out Future Commerce on YouTube Check out Future Commerce Plus for exclusive content and save on merch and print Subscribe to Insiders and The Senses to read more about what we are witnessing in the commerce world Listen to our other episodes of Future Commerce Have any questions or comments about the show? Let us know on futurecommerce.com, or reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. We love hearing from our listeners! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Send us Fan MailSteve Riley brings a unique perspective to Being An Engineer because he is not an engineer by title, but he has spent his career working directly in the environments where engineering, operations, manufacturing, and continuous improvement have to come together. His background spans plant leadership, program management, operations management, engineering management, injection molding, medical products, carbon fiber manufacturing, dental equipment, and Lean/5S implementation. Steve is currently Chief Organization Officer at Bespoke, a company that helps continuous improvement professionals achieve tool control through custom shadowboards and tool organization systems. Bespoke's work is focused on making 5S and Lean practices easier to sustain in real production environments, where missing tools, unclear standards, and inconsistent follow-through can quietly erode productivity over time. Earlier in his career, Steve held leadership roles at Innovative Composite Engineering, Forest Dental Products, Freeport-McMoRan's Kinetics Metal Injection Molding operation, GM Nameplate, Nypro, and Precision Laboratory Plastics. Across those roles, he has worked close to the factory floor in areas such as program launches, operations leadership, high-volume molding, medical device manufacturing support, and press-side automation. For this episode, Steve wants to focus on continuous improvement and ways to make projects deliver long-term ROI. That is a valuable angle for engineers because many technical projects succeed in the short term but fail to become part of the organization's daily operating system. Steve's perspective centers on leadership behavior, standards, team ownership, and practical systems that keep improvement alive after the excitement of the initial project has worn off. A recent Lean Solutions Podcast episode featuring Steve highlighted this exact theme: Lean breaks down when standards become optional, and leadership behavior often matters more than the tools themselves. LINKS: Steve Riley's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevejriley/ Bespoke website: https://bespoketooltrays.com/ Aaron Moncur, host PDX 2026 is October 20-21 in Phoenix, AZ. Attendee tickets are 50% off August 3-7 only. Learn more and register at https://pdexpo.engineer/ Subscribe to the show to get notified so you don't miss new episodes every Friday.The Being An Engineer podcast is brought to you by Pipeline Design & Engineering. Pipeline partners with medical & other device engineering teams who need turnkey equipment like cycle test machines, custom test fixtures, automation equipment, assembly jigs, inspection stations and more. You can find us at www.teampipeline.usWatch the show on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@TeamPipelineus
Thanks to our Partners, NAPA TRACS, Today's Class, KUKUI, and Pit Crew Loyalty Watch Full Video Episode A viral social media clip about ADAS calibrations sparked thousands of comments and exposed a troubling reality: many automotive professionals still misunderstand when and why calibrations are required. In this episode, Carm Capriotto welcomes technical specialists and industry leaders Keith Perkins and Matt Fanslow to examine the industry's response, separate fact from fiction, and explain why following OEM repair procedures is essential for both vehicle safety and professional credibility. What You'll Learn The difference between static and dynamic ADAS calibrations, and why confusing the two leads to costly mistakes.Why programming, configuration, initialization, and calibration are separate procedures with different purposes.How fear of losing a sale often outweighs concerns about vehicle safety and liability.The real-world consequences of skipping OEM-required calibration procedures.How a properly calibrated vehicle helped protect Keith's wife and children during a serious highway rollover crash.How elevating the role of theCalibration Specialistreinforces professionalism and builds customer confidence. ADAS calibrations are not optional add-ons or revenue generators; they are critical safety procedures designed by vehicle manufacturers to ensure advanced safety systems perform as intended. Professional repair shops protect their customers by following OEM repair information, completing every required calibration, and returning every vehicle to the road safe and ready to perform. Why ADAS Calibrations Are Being Ignored in Auto Repair Shops [THA 484]: https://remarkableresults.biz/remarkable-results-radio-podcast/a484/ Keith Perkins, Previous episode HERE. L1 Automotive, https://www.l1diagnostics.com/, L1 Automotive Training: https://l1training.com/ Matt Fanslow, Riverside Automotive, Red Wing, MN, Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z Podcast: https://mattfanslow.captivate.fm/ Thanks to our Partner, NAPA TRACS NAPA TRACS will move your shop into the SMS fast lane with onsite training and six days a week of support and local representation. Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at http://napatracs.com/ Thanks to our Partner, Today's Class Optimize training with Today's Class: In just 5 minutes daily, boost knowledge retention and improve team performance. Find Today's Class on the web at https://www.todaysclass.com/ Thanks to our Partner, KUKUI Stop juggling multiple marketing tools. KUKUI's integrated platform delivers 4x better website conversions, automated follow-up, and real-time ROI tracking. Get industry-leading customer support with KUKUI at https://www.kukui.com/ Thanks to our Partner, Pit Crew Loyalty You're probably tired of chasing new customers who never return. We understand. Pit Crew Loyalty ends the one-and-done cycle, turning first visits into lasting, reliable revenue at https://www.pitcrewloyalty.com/ Connect with the Podcast: Download and Listen on Our Mobile App: https://automotiverepairpodcastnetwork.com/app/Visit the Website:https://remarkableresults.biz/Subscribe on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriottoFollow on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/Follow on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/Follow on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/remarkableresultsradiopodcast/Join Our Virtual Toastmasters Club:https://remarkableresults.biz/toastmastersJoin Our Private Facebook Community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976Join our Insider List:https://remarkableresults.biz/insiderAll books mentioned on our podcasts:https://remarkableresults.biz/booksOur Classroom page for personal or team learning:https://remarkableresults.biz/classroomBuy Me a Coffee:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carmSpecial episode collections:
Agentic AI is only as useful as the data it can access, and getting that foundation right is proving to be the harder half of the work. Years of mergers, acquisitions, and local decision-making have left many talent operations running on data and processes that were never meant to work together, and no amount of AI on top will fix what lies beneath. Some organizations are now rethinking their technology strategy in light of that problem. So what does getting AI-ready actually involve, and what does it change about the decisions you make? My guest this week is Lia Manafova, Talent Technology Strategy Lead at Sanofi, a global pharmaceutical company hiring at scale across more than 70 countries. In our conversation, Lia explains why the data foundation must come first, what an anchor product strategy looks like in practice, and what she has learned about making technology stick. In the interview, we discuss: Why AI readiness starts with data, not AI Building a bridge between the business and the digital team The challenge of constant transformation and change fatigue What is an anchor product strategy? How the Workday, Paradox and HiredScore acquisitions changed the options Best-of-breed or a single source of truth? Keeping recruiters in one system rather than three Piloting with the people who will use it every day The case for keeping the semi-automated option Building an ROI story the business understands What does the future look like?
In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Kevin Downey, a Kansas City-based entrepreneur and recruitment leader who helps B2B companies build high-performing sales teams and create scalable lead-generation systems.Kevin shares how his early career in golf equipment sales eventually led him into entrepreneurship, recruiting, outbound sales, and email marketing. He explains why his first attempts at email outreach failed, what changed when he began writing emails like real phone conversations, and why properly structured email campaigns can deliver an unmatched return on investment.The conversation also explores how small businesses should approach their first sales hire, why commission-only roles frequently fail, and how Latin American business development representatives can help companies scale outbound activity at a manageable cost.Kevin also challenges one of the most common beliefs in modern sales: that cold calling no longer works. According to Kevin, activity still creates opportunities. The problem is not that calling has stopped working—it is that many representatives are not consistently making the calls.Whether you are building your first sales process, hiring a business development representative, or trying to generate more qualified B2B leads, this episode offers a practical look at the systems, activity, and execution required to grow.
Credit markets are stepping in to fund the surging demand for AI. Our experts Lindsay Tyler and Anish Shah explore the opportunities and risks behind this record financing wave.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----Lindsay Tyler: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Lindsay Tyler, TMT Credit Research Analyst at Morgan Stanley. Anish Shah: And I'm Anish Shah, Global Head of Debt Capital Markets at Morgan Stanley. Lindsay Tyler: Today, how issuers and investors are approaching the rapidly evolving world of AI financing. It's Thursday, July 16th at 10am in New York. As AI demand accelerates, credit markets are being asked to finance infrastructure on a scale that used to be associated with utilities, telecom, or energy. That raises a central question for issuers and investors: How much debt can the AI ecosystem absorb? And at what price? Anish, can you walk our listeners through the key products in your purview? Anish Shah: Certainly, in my nearly twenty years at Morgan Stanley, this is probably the most incredible time period I've ever seen in the credit markets. I've had the privilege of working across a number of different roles in capital markets and lending. And a couple of years ago, we integrated the debt underwriting business across both investment-grade and leverage finance franchises in recognition of how interconnected the whole credit ecosystem has become. In addition to our core activities helping clients raise capital for their strategic priorities, two of the big focus areas that we've had have been finding ways to harness the power of the private credit universe and also delivering best-in-class capabilities in funding this incredible growth in AI spend. Lindsay Tyler: AI financing has certainly been a theme we've also been focused on in research. Our equity research colleagues project that a handful of key players could add more than 30 gigawatts of capacity over a two-year timeframe, driving around [$]2 trillion of aggregate cash CapEx in that period. And to put that into context, a single gigawatt of data center capacity can require roughly $12 billion for the shell, and then often more than double that for chips and racks. So, from your vantage point, what inning are we in? And what gives you confidence that credit markets can continue funding this opportunity at scale? Anish Shah: I mean, Lindsay, the numbers certainly are staggering, as you note. And if you just observe the CapEx estimates for the hyperscalers and broadly for AI infrastructure, we're certainly in the early innings. Lindsay Tyler: Mm-hmm. Anish Shah: The largest tech companies have historically, as you know, raised very little debt. In fact, many of these companies have not even needed a credit facility. As CapEx projections were materially increased in the second half of last year, we saw the beginning of scaled capital raises. Hyperscaler issuance has quickly gone from less than one percent of the investment-grade market to more than 10 percent of the market. You know, as I look ahead, based on what we're seeing on the ground, we think that AI-related funding, whether it's for data center development or financing compute capacity, could top 15 percent of the total issuance across all credit products. This has been an unprecedented test for the capital markets, both in terms of the depth of capacity and the breadth of product. The teams have been on the forefront of deep investor dialogue and product innovation. This spans corporate investment grade, first of their kind financings in high-yield and leveraged loan markets, and new takes on asset-backed financing. And each of these areas has seen material issuance both in public and private markets. Lindsay Tyler: Great backdrop. Let's dig first into investment-grade corporate debt, an area you know well from your time previously leading the investment-grade team. Can you help frame the scale and the significance of this financing bucket and how AI-related debt is scaling within it? Anish Shah: Well, you know, as you know, the investment-grade bond market, specifically in dollars, is the deepest, most liquid pool of capital in the world. Volumes have grown materially over the last few years and are likely to eclipse $2 trillion in issuance this year. Hyperscalers are among the very best credits in the world, and they have the ability to come in and out of markets with relatively quick twitch, little to no pre-marketing, and in fairly large size. You know, $20 billion-plus deals used to be rare in the investment-grade market, now happen multiple times a quarter. This is why we've seen the predominance of AI-driven capital raising take place in the investment-grade market. For the most part, investors have digested that supply very well. While we've seen some modest widening credit spreads for hyperscalers and some of the other tech issuers, I'd say it's de minimis relative to their expected ROI. Lindsay, I've talked a lot about supply dynamics and issuance. What other factors are you and investors considering when assessing fair value for investment-grade rated technology bonds? Lindsay Tyler: Sure. It's prudent to really weigh a mix of technicals, fundamentals, and relative value. You know, as you discussed on the technical side, and related to my discussions with debt and equity investors, I've been focused on scale of buildouts, market capacity, digestibility across currencies, positioning along the curve, implications of equity issuance, and whether AI financing could crowd out other areas of TMT credit. But moving more to the fundamental side of things, you mentioned ROI, and for the players that are scaling compute capacity, there are a handful of key monetization and return questions that keep coming up. How quickly can these companies bring new capacity online? Once it's live, how does it translate into durable revenue and cash flow? Is that capacity supporting internal products, proprietary models, broader cloud offerings, or compute leased to third parties? And then how fungible is the capacity across those use cases if demand or returns shift? Further on the fundamental side, we've done some differentiated work around growing long-term commitments. We've seen that high-quality hyperscalers and a few of the semis companies are anchoring the AI ecosystem through leases, guarantees, other obligations. These commitments really extend beyond vanilla bond issuance. So, I encourage investors to look beyond the funded debt and really understand the accounting and the ratings implications here of some of those commitments. And this ties nicely into the next topic that I wanted to raise, which is project finance debt. I've noticed that, you know, a lot of the commitments that we're seeing from IG players support another layer of financing. Lease commitments can underpin project finance debt, an area of sizable issuance and innovation. The public high-yield market has emerged as a new funding source in this way for data center construction, with more than 30 billion priced across 15 deals, since fall 2025. Can you walk us through, Anish, the innovation behind these structures, and how are these high yield deals different than other ways to, kind of, raise project finance debt? Anish Shah: Yeah, it's incredibly interesting. I mean, the bulk of the issuance, as I noted has come in the investment grade market, but I would say the bulk of the innovation has come in the sub-investment grade market. You know, historically, for very capital-intensive sectors like energy and power or real estate, the project loan market was the most efficient source of initial funding. The developer would tap banks to underwrite a highly structured construction loan. Once the project is up and running, you could then refinance that loan with the predictable cash flows into a more institutional financing, like the investment grade bond market or the term loan B or securitization markets.That product may still be very viable in many sectors, but we felt early on that bank-provided construction loans would not meet the capacity needs of the AI investment cycle. The market really needed an institutional credit product that bypassed the need for construction loans. The key innovation came in the form of first-of-its-kind high-yield bonds that funded the development of a new data center complex. Given the relatively short construction period and the "offtake" supported by some of the highest quality credits in the world, we felt like this financing structure would be incredibly well-received in the high-yield market. The win here is that the developer accesses fixed rate long-term capital and maintains flexibility to call the bonds and refinance at a lower cost. Judging by how these financings have gone, there's a strong level of investor enthusiasm. I think that they've only scratched the surface, and I would expect that we see much more of this. And potentially even expand it to other products in the leverage finance markets given the tremendous level of investor demand. Lindsay Tyler: Yeah. It's certainly been exciting to follow many of those deals. Beyond the public space, we're also seeing a wave of innovation in private credit and asset-backed finance. Anish, how do companies decide whether capital is best raised in the public or the private markets? Anish Shah: Well, I'm glad you raised the whole avenue of private markets because it may be the most significant change in the credit markets over the last few years, broadening the scope of private credit from directly lending into leverage buyouts to now financing large investment-grade projects. There are great examples in the world of GPU and TPU financing, where we structure loans secured by the asset and the cash flows, or in data center development.Lindsay, from your perspective, what are investors focused on when these private structures intersect with public credits? Lindsay Tyler: Sure. Many of these asset-backed private financings have prompted investors to look more closely at any of the public companies involved, whether as issuers, tenants, customers, or support providers. This ties back to the point I raised earlier. Where does the risk reside, and who ultimately is on the hook? These financings have also sparked broader discussions around circularity, vendor financing, and technology obsolescence risk, even when amortizing structures are in place. I do think those are fair concerns to weigh, and they really speak to how quickly the AI financing trend is evolving and how much credit work there is to do. So, Anish, with that balance in mind, relatively strong demand, rapid innovation, but also some real credit questions, let's end with a quick lightning round. Anish Shah: Lindsay, let's do it. Lindsay Tyler: First, what is the biggest risk that could test investor appetite for AI-related debt? Anish Shah: I would say investors are acutely focused on construction delays. Don't underestimate the level of diligence being done by the breadth of capacity you're seeing in the markets. Investors are doing their homework, and we're spending a lot of time trying to mitigate any of their concerns with structural protections. Lindsay Tyler: Got it. Second, beyond data center shells and chips, what is the next potential AI financing opportunity? Anish Shah: It most certainly is energy and power. We're going to see a ton of capital being raised in utilities. It's going to be a little different than what the hyperscalers are doing, just given the nature of their balance sheets. You're going to see more junior capital. We've seen a wave of junior subordinated debt issuance out of the utilities. We're also seeing a lot of activity from our project finance and tax equity team, just given all things energy infrastructure. Lindsay Tyler: Great. And third, if we're sitting here a year from now, what do you think could be the biggest AI financing story we're talking about? Anish Shah: Well, we certainly underestimated the level of financing activity that we saw in the past year. I think when we look back a year from now, we will probably see that the AI labs were much more ready to finance on their own on a standalone basis. That's going to alleviate some of the pressures in the market, but I think it's going to create a whole new set of considerations and structural innovation. Lindsay Tyler: Well, it's certainly been remarkable to watch this financing theme take shape in real time, and the next chapter sounds like it could be even more interesting to follow. Anish, thanks for joining us and sharing your insights. Anish Shah: Great to join, Lindsay. Thanks. Lindsay Tyler: And thank you for listening. If you enjoy Thoughts on the Market, please leave us a review wherever you listen and share the podcast with a friend or colleague today.*****Anish Shah is a member of Morgan Stanley's Global Capital Markets Division and is not a member of Morgan Stanley's Research Department. Unless otherwise indicated, his views are his own and may differ from the views of the Morgan Stanley Research Department and from the views of others within Morgan Stanley.
You've probably never heard of Inkling. It's the newest (and first) model from Thinking Machines Labs, and it could very well be a small snowball that picks up major momentum in today's enterprise AI landscape. If you haven't heard of Thinking Machines, they're led by Mira Murati, the former CTO at OpenAI. The big bet with Inkling? The future of AI could be using smaller models fine-tuned and optimized for smaller tasks. Will it work? Tune in live as we dive in. The Most Important AI Model You'll Probably Never Use That Just Dropped -- An Everyday AI Chat With Jordan WilsonNewsletter: Sign up for our free daily newsletterMore on this Episode: Episode PageToday's Episode on LinkedIn: Thoughts on this? Join the convo on LinkedIn and connect with other AI leaders.Upcoming Episodes: Check out the upcoming Everyday AI Livestream lineupWebsite: YourEverydayAI.comEmail The Show: info@youreverydayai.comConnect with Jordan on LinkedInTopics Covered in This Episode:Inkling AI Model Launch OverviewThinking Machines Lab Leadership HighlightInkling's Multimodal and Agentic CapabilitiesOpen Source vs. Proprietary AI ModelsEnterprise Procurement with American AI ModelsAI Fine Tuning as a Service (Tinker)Benchmark Scores: Inkling vs. Frontier ModelsCustomization and Model Shopping for EnterprisesAI Token Costs Driving Model EfficiencyBridgewater Case Study: AI Model CustomizationFrontier Models Enabling Efficient Fine-TuningFuture Trends: Specialized Small Language ModelsTimestamps:00:00 Inkling: A new AI model release05:43 Inkling AI model details09:08 China's dominance in open source AI11:48 Launch and model updates discussed15:21 Concerns over using Chinese open-source models19:06 Training smaller AI models20:22 Using GPT for AI Model Training23:54 Predicting Rise of Small Language Models28:38 Choosing the right AI modelKeywords: Inkling, Thinking Machines Lab, Meera Muradi, former OpenAI CTO, open source AI model, American AI model, fine tuning as a service, enterprise AI, multimodal AI, agentic models, customizable AI, Tinker, enterprise distribution, model procurement, Chinese open source models, strategic reset, model overhang, capabilities gap, AI model shopping, model routing, cost-conscious enterprises, artificial intelligence index, 975 billion parameter model, text-image-audio AI, open weights, proprietary AI models, customization accessibility, small language models, AI workflows, context window, Bridgewater use case, model distillation, GPU infrastructure, API costs, token efficiency, fine-tuned models, post training, AI competitive leverage, recurring financial judgment, AI benchmarks, middle tier models, automated model evaluation, privacy and workflow mapping, economical AI models, model rental, model routing automation.Send Everyday AI and Jordan a text message. (We can't reply back unless you leave contact info) Ready for ROI on GenAI? Go to youreverydayai.com/partner
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Thinking Machines Lab's new open-weight model Inkling may signal a new enterprise battle over who controls the model, the data, and the learning built on top of it. NLW explores its promise—and why fine-tuning may be harder than advocates suggest. In the headlines: Cursor, Apple's AI chip hunt, and Microsoft's model push.Brought to you by:KPMG – Research from KPMG and the University of Texas at Austin shows the highest-impact AI users treat AI like a reasoning partner — and those skills can be taught at scale. Learn more at kpmg.com/us/SophisticatedHyperagent - Hire a fleet of always-on agents. New users get $1,000 in inference. hyperagent.com/aidailybriefRetool - Secure your vibecoded apps. New enterprise customers get up to $10,000 in AI credits per year. retool.com/aidaily Rackspace Technology- One accountable partner to build, operate and run your full enterprise AI stack https://www.rackspace.com/Section - Section turns AI investment into workforce transformation and ROI - https://www.sectionai.com/Scrunch - The AI customer experience platform - https://scrunch.com/Blitzy - Want to accelerate enterprise software development velocity by 5x? https://blitzy.com/AssemblyAI - The best way to build Voice AI apps - https://www.assemblyai.com/briefRobots & Pencils - Cloud-native AI solutions that power results https://robotsandpencils.com/The AI Daily Brief helps you understand the most important news and discussions in AI. Subscribe to the podcast version of The AI Daily Brief wherever you listen: https://pod.link/1680633614Our Newsletter is BACK: https://aidailybrief.beehiiv.com/Interested in sponsoring the show? sponsors@aidailybrief.ai
Tired of feeling like you have to constantly post on social media or spend more on ads just to grow your business? Lori and I unpack one of the biggest takeaways from Dan Martell and Renee Warren's Pink Skirt Project event: why podcast guesting has become one of the most overlooked ways to attract high-quality customers, build trust fast, and create real business opportunities. We also share some of our favorite lessons from speakers like Dan Martell, Adley Kinsman, Maria Wendt, and Samantha Skelly on creating messaging that sticks, building authority, and taking action before you're ready. If you're looking for smarter ways to grow your business without living on the content hamster wheel, you'll walk away with practical strategies you can start applying immediately. HIGHLIGHTS Why podcast guesting is becoming one of the highest ROI marketing channels. The "trust transfer" strategy that helps turn listeners into customers. What separates podcast guests who generate revenue from those who don't. Dan Martell's mindset advice for staying in action when business gets difficult. Adley's strategy for creating hooks that immediately grab attention. Maria Wendt's simple approach to generating leads with a small ad budget. Why taking action in the moment creates more momentum than waiting for the perfect time. RESOURCES Register for Lori's FREE Million Dollar Guest Training: https://milliondollarguest.com/training Join the most supportive mastermind on the internet - the Mentor Collective Mastermind! Make More Sales in the next 90 days - GET THE BLUEPRINT HERE! Check out upcoming events + Masterminds: chrisharder.me Text DAILY to 310-421-0416 to get daily Money Mantras to boost your day. FOLLOW Chris: @chriswharder Lori: @loriharder Frello: @frello_app
Are you letting massive assignment fees slip through your fingers because you don't know how to handle aggressive sellers? Stop guessing on your appointments and start closing with absolute authority, with Brent Daniels and Jerry Norton returning to hand you the exact conversational blueprints that drive a $2,000,000+ wholesaling operation. This episode breaks down the critical difference between pure ROI and your cash conversion cycle, revealing exactly why Pay-Per-Click leads to obliterate standard agent outreach. You will learn the ultimate 50-35-10 rule for calculating instant price estimates live on the phone, how to seamlessly defuse the “what's your offer?” trap, and the genius Speed, Convenience, and Price triangle that exposes a seller's true motivation in seconds. Plus, Jerry and Brent share raw, unfiltered advice on how to build a real estate empire while working a full-time 9 to 5, handling an unsupportive spouse, and legally closing deals with zero personal capital. Be a part of the TTP training program now.---------Show notes:(0:51) Why your cash conversion cycle matters more than pure marketing ROI(2:38) The reason PPC leads generate massive assignment fees compared to agent outreach(5:45) The exact script to use when a seller's family member wants to review the contract(12:11) The Speed, Convenience, and Price triangle and why sellers can only pick two(16:36) How to navigate an unsupportive spouse and prove wholesaling is a real business(22:01) Why hiding behind books and education is costing you closed deals(28:01) The 50-35-10 Rule and how to give accurate price estimates live on the phone(30:29) The most effective ad copy for bandit signs (and which markets they work in)(32:34) The 6-to-Midnight Hustle and how to build your wholesaling empire around a 9 to 5(38:53) Why wholesalers are positioned to earn significantly more than real estate agents(42:05) How to legally and ethically close deals when you have zero personal capital----------Resources:TalkToPeopleWarm Leads DailyPropWireWholesale RegulationsTTP InsiderWholesaling LaunchTo speak with Brent or one of our other expert coaches call (281) 835-4201 or schedule your free discovery call here to learn about our mentorship programs and become part of the TribeGo to Wholesalingincgroup.com to become part of one of the fastest growing Facebook communities in the Wholesaling space. Get all of your burning Wholesaling questions answered, gain access to JV partnerships, and connect with other "success minded" Rhinos in the community.It's 100% free to join. The opportunities in this community are endless, what are you waiting for?