Shows
AI for foundersBuilding AI that makes you more human with Dave SifryGuest: Dave Sifry, Founder & CEO of Warmstart.aiHost: Ryan Estes, AI for Founders PodcastEpisode SummaryWe sit down with Dave Sifry, the legendary founder of Technorati and CEO of Warmstart.ai, to explore how AI can help founders reconnect with the relationships that matter. From building with empathy to managing personal evolution, Dave drops gems that every startup leader should hear.Key TakeawaysBuild products that solve problems or meet unmet needsAI should assist—not replace—human interactionReconnect with your network for organic deal...2025-05-0633 minAI for foundersGo-to-network is the new go-to-market with David Connors, CEO of The SwarmWhat if your next deal is already hiding in your network? In this episode, we sit down with David Connors, co-founder and CEO of The Swarm, the AI-powered relationship graph redefining outbound sales. From topping Product Hunt to integrating with platforms like Clay, HubSpot, and Gmail, David shares how to drive revenue through warm intros and network orchestration—no cold emails required.🔑 Key TakeawaysGo-to-Network > Go-to-Market: Cold outbound is saturated. Trust-based referrals are the future.The Great Ignore: Buyers are overwhelmed. AI tools must prioritize warm, authentic outreach.AI Assistants: Tools like Claud...2025-05-0334 minAI for foundersDayo: Get paid to log off with Corey ScholiboGuest: Corey Scholibo, Co-founder of Dayo.coHost: Ryan EstesTopic: Building a marketplace that pays users to use less social media🧠 Key TakeawaysDayo’s Mission: Reduce screen time by rewarding users with daily credits redeemable for products.Unique Model: Incentivizes non-action—logging off instead of engaging.Mental Health First: Designed around APA guidance and Surgeon General warnings.Reward System: $5/day earned by staying under 30 minutes on selected apps.Brand Marketplace: Features top-tier DTC brands (e.g., JBL, Patagonia) and Portland-based businesses.Revenue Model: Affiliate margins on redemptions, future plans for Day...2025-04-2940 minAI for foundersRedefining spreadsheets with AI: David Kircos of QuadraticRedefining spreadsheets with AI: David Kircos of Quadratic🔑 Key takeawaysQuadratic brings AI directly into spreadsheets, letting users analyze, manipulate, and visualize data with natural language and Python.Unlike black-box chatbots, Quadratic builds transparent methods of analysis, giving users visibility into every formula and line of code.Quadratic integrates with databases, PDFs, CSVs, and tools like HubSpot or Google Analytics, making advanced data analysis accessible to anyone.AI-powered code generation will soon be the norm. Quadratic lets non-coders interact with data using a full-featured Python environment.With 100K users and growing, Quadratic's growth is fueled by pro...2025-04-2727 minAI for foundersHow Omneky is rewriting the future of advertising with Hikari Senju🔑Key takeawaysAI has evolved from passive assistant to autonomous agent—comparable to a teenager ready to act independently.Full autonomy may lead to better outcomes in advertising, medicine, and driving—by removing human bias and delays.Traditional creative agencies are being replaced by scalable, AI-powered platforms that eliminate human bottlenecks.Omneky democratizes growth and creativity through accessible AI tools for ad generation and omnichannel distribution.With Omneky, campaigns can be launched using just a single paragraph—no platform logins or manual dashboards.🧠 Frameworks & ideas1. Agentic AI modelNow: Human-in-the-loop copilot systemsFutur...2025-04-2544 minAI for foundersVibe Coding in Real Time: Building a Podcast Follow-Up App🎙️ AI for Founders – Vibe Coding in Real Time: Building a Podcast Follow-Up AppHost: Ryan EstesGuest Collaborator: Fernanda (live co-build)📌 Episode SummaryThis episode of AI for Founders captures a live "vibe coding" session where Ryan and Fernanda attempt to build Follow-Up—an AI podcast companion that listens in real-time and suggests meaningful, context-aware follow-up questions.From hallucinated transcripts to real-time transcription APIs, the session dives into the technical and creative process of building a bionic assistant for podcasters. Along the way, they explore how conversational AI could soon become a whi...2025-04-2333 minAI for foundersScaling Content Creation for E-Commerce: Liz Giorgi on Building soona and Embracing AI🎙️ AI for Founders – Featuring Liz Giorgi of soona.coEpisode Title: Scaling Content Creation for E-Commerce: Liz Giorgi on Building soona and Embracing AIHost: Ryan EstesGuest: Liz Giorgi, Co-Founder & CEO of soona.co📌 Episode SummaryIn this episode, Ryan speaks with Liz Giorgi, founder of soona.co, a visual content creation platform for e-commerce brands. Liz shares how she bootstrapped the MVP, raised $56M over four rounds, and built a platform serving over 25,000 brands.They explore how AI tools are helping marketers save time, how sacred creative r...2025-04-2228 minAI for foundersBuild an audience you actually ownScaling Founder Series Part Two - AI for Founders 🎙️ Scaling Founder Series: Build an Audience You Actually Own In this episode of AI for Founders, host Ryan Estes explores how founders can build an audience they truly own—beyond the limitations of social platforms. This session, recorded live, introduces five frameworks for creating consistently and converting your audience into community and product. Subscribe to future events: ryanestes.info 🔑 Key Takeaways: Own the audience: Email, website, podcast feed Email list: Direct and permission-based connection Website: Full control, testing ground, and content hub Podcast: High-trust deep engagement Personal branding m...2025-04-2034 minAI for foundersBuilding Voice AI with Nikhil Gupta of Vapi.ai🎙️ AI for Founders: Building Voice AI with Nikhil Gupta of Vapi.aiGuest: Nikhil Gupta, Founder & CEO of Vapi.aiHost: Ryan Estes🔑 Key TakeawaysVapi.ai helps developers build real-time, voice-first AI agents with ultra-low latency.Raised $20M Series A after launching profitably and going through Y Combinator.Voice AI is becoming the default interface for businesses replacing outdated IVR systems.Use cases include AI receptionists, customer support agents, and local business tools.Future trend: AI agent...2025-04-1832 minAI for foundersBuilding AI Tools with Guardrails (Part 2 w/ Peter Holcomb)🎙️ AI for Founders: Building Secure AI Tools (Part 2 with Peter Holcomb)Guest: Peter Holcomb – AI Governance Expert, Founder of Optimal ITHost: Ryan Estes🔑 Key TakeawaysStart with Governance: Define security and compliance standards before adopting or building AI tools.Prompt Injection is Real: A top risk per OWASP; design with defenses in place.Test Before You Launch: Use red/blue team testing to secure your tool pre-market.Legal vs. Guardrails: Terms of service help, but secure code is better protection.Cross-Team Governance: Security, Legal, Privacy, and Engineering should all contribute.ryane...2025-04-1732 minAI for foundersThis ai expert says privacy in America is already deadGuest: Peter Holcomb, IT Security Leader, Fractional CISO, and Founder of Optimo ITHost: Ryan EstesPresented by: Kitcaster.comKey Takeaways:The Productivity vs. Privacy Dilemma — AI can drive massive productivity gains—but companies must weigh those gains against serious privacy, security, and ethical risks.The Real Risks of AI Right Now — Algorithmic bias, data breaches, hallucinations, and poor access controls are among the top concerns. Always sanitize inputs and outputs.Stop Feeding Sensitive Info to Chatbots — Don’t input PII or PHI into commercial LLMs unless using secure, enclaved systems.RAG + LLMs...2025-04-1431 minAI for foundersVibe policy is real and it’s running the tariffsAI for Founders: Vibe Policy, Data Sovereignty & Causal AI with Jake SandersAbout 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 VergeAI as Truth Detector: GPT can generate believable nonsense — but it can also help detect i...2025-04-0647 minAI for foundersWe built an AI wellness app in 10 minutes💡 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… this one's for you.__ryanestes.infoThe pod on TikTok...2025-04-0432 minAI for foundersAI, neuralink, and the soul of Twos - a notes appBuilding the Future of Note-Taking with Joe from Twos AppIn this episode, I’m joined by Joe from TwosApp.com, a super sleek, simple, and powerful note-taking app that’s redefining personal productivity. Joe shares how Twos is replacing clunky tools like Apple Notes with a smarter, faster, all-in-one solution for notes, reminders, calendar events, and even AI-powered suggestions. We also dive deep into the world of AI—what tools Joe is loving right now, how GPT has replaced Google Search in his daily life, and why the future of artificial intell...2025-04-0331 minAI for foundersTurn your podcast from obscure to viral: here's the blueprintToday 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 utilize accurate metrics. Ledge’s recommended AI tools for enhancing podcast creation and promotion. The essential role of paid promotion in your podcast growth strategy alongside earned, shared, and owned me...2025-03-3150 minAI for foundersFounders, STOP giving bad feedback; use this AI tool insteadIn 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.Insights into the highly successful Product Hunt launch strategy that earned nearly 1,000 upvotes.Best practices for effective feedback, including...2025-03-2839 minAI for foundersThis DM trick just killed 'link in bio' foreverIn 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:Stampede Social streamlines influencer campaigns by automating sales through Instagram and Facebook DMs, avoiding the friction of "link in bio" interactions.Accurate attribution is crucial for influencer marketing success, allowing creators and brands...2025-03-2643 minAI for foundersThe launch strategy that put this podcast in the Top 5% overnightRyan 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 ease of use, he commits to regular experimentation and highlights "Code Rabbit" for refining AI-generated code.Key Takeaways:Validate market demand through...2025-03-2111 minAI for foundersWhy 18,000 creators are obsessed with HipClip.aiIn 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 spontaneous content often outperforms meticulously crafted clips.Effective short clips extend the lifetime value of your content, tu...2025-03-1926 minAI for foundersWhy neuralink telepathy might not be the scariest ai threatIn 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:Privacy Crisis: Your sensitive data (financial, psyc...2025-03-181h 04AI for foundersThis new AI inbox hack reignited my dead leads, and it’s freakishly easyIn 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.Key TakeawaysWarmStart.aiAutomates re-engagement emails for people you haven’t spoken to in a long time...2025-03-1706 minAI for foundersAre robots really taking over our kitchens?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 of food, highlighting how technology and AI can enhance, rather than replace, the joy and cultural connection of cooking. Ro...2025-03-1128 minAI for foundersWhat it do: We vibe codingEver 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 business NEEDS to be there!)The hidden secrets behind high-ticket coaching funnels (and why most marketers get it wrong)Why your lead magnets might be killing your conversions—an...2025-03-0734 minAI for foundersThe AI Hype Machine Is Crashing: Time to Panic?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 episode of AI for Founders, we break down the economics of generative AI, th...2025-03-0604 minAI for foundersThe Dark Side of AI: When ChatGPT Takes You for a RideDescription: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 excellence. Plus, Ryan shares a sales call horror story that tested his patience and the exact strategy he...2025-02-2425 minAI for foundersHow a failed music career made me a better entrepreneurKey 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.Buddhist & Martial Arts Wisdom: Mindfulness, Vipassana meditation, and...2025-02-1432 minAI for foundersWhy your job is next on ai’s hit listHey 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 & PrivacyAI systems are built on massive pools of personal and creative work. Who profits from a...2025-02-1134 minAI for foundersTask Lists vs. Total Enlightenment: The Temptation to Skip All the StepsIn this episode, we explore the tension between two approaches to productivity and fulfillment:The Satisfaction of Incremental ProgressCelebrating 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 LeapImagining 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 work and daily tasks.Potential pitfalls of looking for shortcuts and bypassing the foundational steps.Balancing Both Wor...2025-02-1019 minAI for foundersDeepseek’s ai breakthroughWhat It DoEach 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 essential, and avoiding burnout.• AI Insights – Ryan’s take on “DeepSeek” shows the rise of efficient small language models challenging Big Tech.
Resources• Essentialism by Greg McKeown• Mailreach.co (email deliverabili...2025-02-0339 minAI for foundersFrom $2M to More: What it Do - Vision for Growth5 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 multiple businesses and working in podcasting, with plans to create a holding company to streamline operations.
Revenue Reflection & Goals:
Last year’s combined re...2025-01-2443 minAI for foundersIs OpenAI’s $200 Operator the Ultimate Life Hack?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 Integration: Learn how Operator combines GPT-4’s visual capabilities and partner integrations...2025-01-2422 minAI for foundersIf You're in Your Head, You're Dead: Finding Peace with Metta MeditationIn 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 breaking free.
The Metta Mantra: Discover the simplicity of Metta meditation. By repeating phrases like “May I be...2025-01-2204 min