Welcome to AI for Founders. I'm Ryan Estes.
Here, you'll find tip-of-the-spear conversations with leaders in business, innovation, and health.
Each episode will be packed with valuable insights as we learn how these remarkable individuals built moats around their companies to shield them from a future of uncertainty.
You'll hear incredible stories of overcoming obstacles, learn about their daily routines that drive success,
and discover the life-changing decisions that gave them the lift to reach new heights.
Get ready to be informed, inspired, and uplifted.
AI for Founders: Vibe Policy, Data Sovereignty & Causal AI with Jake Sanders About the Episode: In this episode, Ryan and Jake dig into how AI is influencing real-world decisions — from Trump’s new tariffs to future healthcare tech. They explore how AI is shaping policy, the importance of data ownership, and what comes next with causal AI. Key Takeaways: Trump’s Tariffs and AI: Some economists believe AI-generated prompts may have influenced U.S. tariff policy. Source: The Verge AI as Truth ...
💡 App Concept: A simple, beautiful app to remind you to take breaks, stretch, go outside, and reset your brain. 🚀 What We Covered: Creating a time and break organizer app using AI Using Replit to prototype with zero setup Features like “Break Roulette,” custom vibe packs, and mood tracking Why AI can supercharge idea generation and prototyping Hilarious takes on focus, forgetting lunch, and box breathing 😅 Whether you're a founder, a developer, or someone who forgets to blink during work… thi...
Joe from TwosApp discusses redefining personal productivity with a note-taking app that integrates notes, reminders, and AI. The conversation explores AI tools, Grok vs GPT, and philosophical dives into consciousness. They also discuss using tools like Twos to prepare for future AI agents.
Today we're speaking with David Ledgerwood, known as Ledge, founder of Listen Network , an innovative platform designed to help podcasts achieve predictable audience growth. If you're a podcaster looking to increase your downloads, expand your audience, and attract sponsorships, this episode provides practical insights. Key Highlights: How Listen Network delivers targeted, high-quality downloads through precise advertising. The realities of podcast analytics, downloads, and how to effectively ut...
In this episode of AI for Founders, Ryan Estes sits down with Erbil Yaman, founder of Teamble.com - a cutting-edge AI platform transforming the way managers deliver and employees receive feedback. Erbil reveals his personal experiences that inspired Teamble, outlines how AI enhances workplace feedback, and shares actionable advice for building a strong feedback culture within organizations. Highlights include: How Teamble leverages AI to make feedback constructive, specific, and actionable.Insig...
In this episode of AI for Founders, host Ryan interviews Jeff Dwoskin, founder of Stampede Social, an innovative AI-powered platform that revolutionizes influencer marketing through advanced attribution and automated direct messaging. Jeff shares insights on how Stampede Social enhances ROI by accurately tracking influencer-driven engagement and conversions, enabling brands and creators to measure true attribution and build deeper audience relationships.Key takeaways from this episode include:St...
Ryan discusses the launch of his podcast "AI for Founders," inspired by his successful newsletter (17,000 subscribers). He stresses the importance of building an audience first before product development, ensuring market demand. His strategic personal outreach during the launch positioned the podcast in the top 5% globally. Additionally, Ryan shares his experience with "vibe coding" using AI tools Lovable and Bolt, quickly developing practical apps. Preferring Lovable for its...
In today’s episode, Ryan Estes chats with Artem Kubatkin, founder of HipClip.ai, an innovative AI tool revolutionizing short-form video content for podcasters and creators. Artem shares insights into leveraging short clips to dramatically boost podcast growth and explains how strategic clip distribution across platforms can significantly increase subscriber counts. Key takeaways include: Short video clips act as trailers to drive listeners from social media to full podcast episodes. Humorous and...
In this fascinating discussion, we dive into the existential anxieties surrounding AI, Neuralink, and the uncertain future of technology. Our panel explores why Elon Musk’s Neuralink telepathy might just be a distraction from even more pressing threats—like how your personal IRS data could soon be sold to the highest bidder. We touch on the ethical implications of using disabled people to "normalize" invasive tech and the surprising emergence of AI-powered mech suits. Key Takeaways: Pr...
In this video, we explore the power of AI tools to streamline your inbox and data analysis. Ryan highlights his experience with WarmStart.ai, an AI agent that integrates with Gmail to reconnect you with old leads or contacts you haven’t messaged in years. We also discuss different AI “voices” and how they could transform the way you interact with your inbox. Then we delve into a quick comparison of Claude versus GPT—especially how Claude excels at digesting large PDFs, spreadsheets, and images.K...
Use promo code ESTES15 for 15% off everything at eat2explore.comWelcome to AI for Founders! In today's episode, Ryan Estes is joined by Rowena Scherer, the founder of eat2explore.com, a company dedicated to making cooking a cultural adventure for families and individuals alike. Rowena shares her inspiring journey—from her childhood in Malaysia, through her career on Wall Street, to creating eat2explore, driven by her passion for food, culture, and education.Ryan and Rowena discuss the future...
Ever wondered how businesses scale to seven, eight, even nine figures? In this week's episode of What It Do, Ryan and Jason unpack powerful strategies to accelerate growth and boost your business valuation. From leveraging TikTok's explosive entrepreneurial ecosystem to mastering the psychology behind high-converting funnels, this conversation is packed with insights you can immediately put into action.You'll discover:How TikTok is transforming the future of e-commerce (and why your ...
AI is supposed to be the future, but the numbers tell a different story. OpenAI spent $9 billion last year to generate just $4 billion in revenue. Every ChatGPT prompt costs more than it makes. Generative AI scales in reverse—more users mean higher costs, not lower. Big tech is pouring billions into AI infrastructure, yet products like Copilot and Gemini have underwhelming user numbers. So where is the money coming from? And how long before investors start asking the same question? In this episo...
Description:In this episode of What It Do, Ryan and Jason dive deep into the realities of scaling businesses to 9 figures, the hidden drama behind big exits, and the power of strategic decision-making. Ryan shares why he traded in his pickup truck for an electric spaceship and how it reflects a bigger lesson in smart business moves.Jason breaks down his fractional executive model, revealing key insights on pricing consulting services, avoiding AI rabbit holes, and staying in your zone of excelle...
Key Takeaways: The Leader’s Dilemma: The hardest leadership challenges are often internal—when you are your own obstacle. Lessons from a Music Career: Ryan shares a story of being cheated in the music industry and how an emotional reaction led to a regrettable outburst. The real lesson? Learning to manage emotions instead of letting them control the moment. Anger as a Poison: Holding onto resentment and past injustices can be like poisoning yourself while expecting the other party to suffer. Bud...
Hey everyone, In this video, we’re exploring the top reasons people feel uneasy about AI right now—plus some hope to balance the fear. Let’s dive in:Rapid ChangeTools evolve so quickly that it’s tough to keep up. One day’s breakthrough can feel outdated by the next, making everyone anxious about “falling behind.”Job DisplacementExperts warn that a big chunk of jobs could be automated. From freelancers to full-time workers, many worry they’ll be replaced if they don’t adapt fast.Data & Privac...
In this episode, we explore the tension between two approaches to productivity and fulfillment: The Satisfaction of Incremental Progress Celebrating the joys of disciplined, step-by-step progress. Why checking off tasks can feel so rewarding. How consistent small wins can build momentum and confidence. The Allure of the Big Leap Imagining what it would be like to skip the tedious work and go straight to “the holy land” of accomplishment. The concept of achieving sudden “enlightenment” in our wor...
What It Do Each week, Jason Katz and Ryan Estes share their “Rose” (wins), “Thorn” (challenges), and “Buffalo” (surprises) to stay accountable. Highlights • Business Frameworks – Jason reveals his five-stage Capability Model (Firefighter → Repeater → Preventer → Optimizer → Innovator) and a personal Transformation Journey. • Sales & Closing – Ryan dives into the power of empathetic, quick closes that respect buyers’ time. • Time Management – Both discuss saying “no,” prioritizing the essenti...
5 Key Takeaways from This Episode : Weekly Focus Breakdown : We introduced the concept of the "rose, the thorn, and the buffalo," a framework to evaluate weekly highlights, challenges, and unexpected discoveries. Real-Time Personal Branding : This podcast is a behind-the-scenes look at building personal brands and businesses, offering actionable insights for listeners who want to grow alongside us. Entrepreneurial Backgrounds : Host A shares his journey as an entrepreneur, running mult...
In this episode, we dive deep into OpenAI’s groundbreaking new product, Operator, and explore how it’s redefining the way we interact with AI. From booking travel to ordering groceries, this AI assistant is more than just a tool—it’s a glimpse into the future. Here’s what you’ll learn: Revolutionizing Everyday Tasks: Discover how Operator automates complex tasks like booking flights, finding the best deals, and managing your online shopping, saving you hours of effort. The Next Level of AI Integ...
In this episode, we dive into a powerful tool for navigating intrusive thoughts: Metta meditation, also known as loving-kindness meditation. If your mind feels like a relentless gang of thoughts pulling you into the past or future, Metta can help you reclaim your peace. Here's what you'll take away: The Power of Awareness: Learn how to notice when unproductive thoughts take over, and recognize the tug-of-war between past regrets and future anxieties. Awareness is the first step to breaki...
