Episodes

Branding, Vision Boards, and Ethical AI: Lindsay Hack on Using AI to Build ConfidenceOn AI Today, host Lou interviews transformational coach and branding expert Lindsay Hack about integrating AI into coaching and personal branding. Hack explains she began using AI imaging for vision boards after struggling to visualize, and seeing an AI-generated “future self” image helped her—and later clients—build confidence and show up more authentically. They discuss how AI quality depends on inputs and sel...

How Critical Propulsion Uses AI Agents to Replace Offshore Teams, Accelerate Sprints & Help SMBs Build FasterLou interviews Matt Davis (co-founder) and Jerry Duff (VP of Technology) from Critical Propulsion about their “anti-consulting” model that replaces traditional offshore delivery with agentic frameworks, distilling 7–12 person teams into 2–3 humans plus agents to improve speed and quality. They discuss vibe coding as a useful way for SMBs to prototype quickly, then harden into enterprise a...

Lou Bortone interviews inventor and AI pioneer Allan Francis Beechinor of EmergeGen about “secure AI” and preparing for the “Q date,” when quantum computing and AI converge. Beechinor says many businesses adopt AI without enough caution, safety frameworks, and guardrails, and emphasizes that AI must be applied with the right context rather than as a one-size-fits-all solution—especially for small businesses that can’t hire dedicated AI teams. He recommends reducing fear, using fast MVP-style tri...

Lou welcomes longtime friend and wardrobe consultant Dawn-Marie Mutell, the “Fashion Mistress,” to discuss why many people—especially over 40—hesitate to show up on video even though video builds trust and helps with AI findability. Dawn-Marie shares mindset advice to focus on helping one person, stop worrying about judgment, and use tools like re-recording and teleprompters to stay on track. She offers practical on-camera image tips, including using good lighting, choosing clothing colors that ...

Lou Bortone interviews Peter McCarroll (the “AI Accountant”) about how AI is rapidly disrupting accounting due to the industry’s transactional, repetitive work and large rules-based knowledge base, with major change expected within about two years. They discuss improved reliability from newer reasoning models, but stress AI still needs professional judgment, review, and accountability—AI vendors won’t cover penalties or liability if outputs are wrong. Peter explains why he focuses his content on...

On AI Today, host interviews Lisa Cole, CMO and AI Officer at 2X, a global B2B go-to-market subscription services provider that lets mid-market and enterprise teams subscribe to marketing talent without long-term contracts to add skills and flexible capacity without operational burden. Cole explains the “marketing resource paradox” and argues AI is worsening it by changing how buyers research and purchase—requiring brands to be findable and chosen by both humans and agents—while also fueling th...

Can you build custom software applications without knowing how to code? In this episode of AI Today, host Lou Bortone chats with digital pioneer Kim Doyal (founder of Spark Lab) about the power of "vibe coding" and how AI is democratizing app development for non-technical creators. Discover how Kim uses Claude Code, VS Code, and Supabase to build functional web apps, why your domain experience is your greatest asset, and how to create bespoke micro-tools for your audience. Key Topics Covered: ...

Is AI search killing traditional SEO? In this episode of AI Today, Kathryn Tsoukalas (Director of Marketing at Brick Marketing) explains how AI engines, top-of-page answers, and AEO/GEO are altering the way customers find your business online. Discover why visitors land on your site later in the buying process, how to conduct a brand cleanup so AI engines don't get confused, and how to optimize your content across directories, LinkedIn, and video transcripts.

Think AI is just a bright, shiny object? Think again. In this episode of AI Today, host Lou Bortone sits down with Brett Wallace, founder of Agent Discovery, to unpack how small and mid-sized businesses can use AI voice agents and automation to eliminate everyday operational bottlenecks. Brett shares his journey from creating a personal phone agent to field recruiter calls, to building sophisticated, multi-tool integrations with Claude Code. Learn the difference between standard automation and a...

Are you drowning in AI tools? You aren't alone. In this episode of AI Today, host Lou sits down with longtime marketing expert and AI Success Club co-founder Denise Wakeman to cut through the generative AI hype. Denise shares her journey from testing ChatGPT in its earliest days to shifting her focus toward building local-host applications. They dive deep into practical AI use cases for solopreneurs, content repurposing strategies, why Claude is outperforming ChatGPT as a writing partner, and t...

Are you wasting time as the "manual bridge" between your business tools? Marvin Martinez, co-founder of Bandsaw AI, joins Lou Bortone to break down the 3 layers of AI automation. Learn how to qualify leads in 60 seconds, use AI agents to manage your inbox, and why the "80/20 human-in-the-loop" rule is essential for scaling a small business without losing your mind

Is your business invisible to AI? SEO expert Darlene Killen joins Lou Bortone to break down Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). Learn why traditional keyword stuffing is dead and how to make your small business "findable" in the era of AI summary boxes and Gemini search.

Social media expert Katie Brinkley joins Lou Bortone to discuss "The Social Shift." Discover why engagement is hitting record lows despite AI making content easier to produce, and learn Katie’s strategy for using podcasts as a content engine without losing your human touch.

Are you "circling" AI but not actually using it to run your business? In this solo episode, Lou Bortone breaks down the "AI Confidence Gap" and introduces a month-long immersive experience designed to move you from guessing to doing. No homework, no complex courses—just real-time AI integration.

Are your AI tools secretly putting you at risk for a lawsuit? ⚖️ In this episode of AI Today, Lou Bortone sits down with "Legal Website Warrior" Heather Pearce Campbell to discuss the rising trend of mass arbitration and why your AI chatbot might be violating wiretapping laws. Watch here: https://youtu.be/zeheR2YzODY We’re covering: The "Short List" of Cringeworthy AI Practices: Why plaintiff's attorneys are targeting small businesses right now. The Consent Crisis: Why you MUST get explicit co...

Are you the driver or the passenger in your AI workflow? In this episode of AI Today, Lou Bortone welcomes visual storyteller Rosie Battista to discuss the "magic sauce" of image crafting. Watch here: https://youtu.be/KR7_GkXcX9k We’re covering: The Expert Stack: How Rosie uses Midjourney, Canva, and layering techniques. "Shaking the Book": A unique method for turning book methodologies into visual archetypes. The Ethics of AI Art: Why maintaining your "artistic edge" matters in a world of g...

Lou Bortone sits down with Ian Cook, SVP of AI at Clue, to discuss how to stay grounded in an era of dizzying AI breakthroughs. Ian explains why AI should be viewed as an "amplifier" for your business rather than a replacement for your staff. In this episode, you'll learn about the latest "Low-Code" and "No-Code" tools like Lovable and Claude Code that allow anyone to build custom software in minutes. Whether you're a solopreneur or a tech leader, Ian’s insights on focusing on "The Why" will he...

Can AI save the music industry? Host Lou Bortone talks with Brad Stewart, founder of Music Mogul AI, about how technology is finally fixing the "broken" traditional agency model. Brad explains why modern A&R starts with data—specifically ticket sales—and how he is using agentic AI to automate the "grind" of booking and tour management. If you are an artist, manager, or industry pro, this episode is a blueprint for how to survive the new landscape where data is king. Topics discussed: Why talen...

In this episode of AI Today, Lou connects with long-time friend and sales expert Jon Schumacher to discuss the evolution of the "AI Space Race" and how to move from basic prompting to building sophisticated AI-powered business systems. Jon shares his philosophy on solving business bottlenecks rather than just chasing the latest tool releases. He also gives us a deep dive into his personal "No-Code" tech stack, explaining why he’s leaning into Gemini 1.5 Pro and how he uses MindPal to create cus...

Is AI the end of human connection, or the beginning of a new Renaissance? Karin Volo joins the show to discuss why trust is the "secret sauce" for successful AI implementation in business. In this episode, Karin shares her incredible journey from a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis to becoming a leading voice in AI certification. We explore the "Utopia vs. Dystopia" crossroads, why leaders must prioritize human values over "AI slop," and how tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gamma are changing the way we ...

Is NotebookLM the "smarter, dumber assistant" we’ve all been waiting for? In this episode, Lou Bortone sits down with the mother-son duo Sue and Matt Guiher to discuss how they are using Google’s NotebookLM to revolutionize business systems and academic research. From "source grounding" to the "Writing Wingman," learn how to use AI as a tool rather than a replacement.

Is AI making you more productive or just more "busy"? Dr. Ana Melikian, host of the Mindset Zone podcast, joins Lou Bortone to discuss how to navigate the "100-foot wave" of AI without losing your humanity—or your mind. What You’ll Learn: The ACE Framework: A simple, 3-step method (Act as, Context, Engage) for high-impact prompting. The Savant Intern Mindset: Why you should treat AI like a brilliant assistant—but never accept the first draft. The 4 Rules of Co-Intelligence: From acknowledging...

Think AI is too generic for your brand? Rob Schultz joins Lou Bortone to explain why the problem isn't the AI—it's your willingness to push it further. What You’ll Learn: The "Jump Through Hoops" Philosophy: Why you should never settle for the first AI response. Contextual AI: How to use transcripts to teach ChatGPT your specific voice, tone, and point of view. Visual Storytelling: A look at the tools bridging the gap between text and high-end video production. The "Take 48" Mindset: Why eli...

Are you overwhelmed by the "tool-of-the-week" fatigue? Jen Lehner joins Lou Bortone to pull back the curtain on how to actually integrate AI into your business workflow rather than just playing with it. What You’ll Learn: The Meta-Prompting Secret: How to make ChatGPT interview you to build a perfect business knowledge base. Google Workspace Studio: How to use the "Zapier-killer" built directly into your Gmail. Custom "Gems": The difference between automation and AI, and how to use Gems as sp...