Advertise on podcast: Expert Intelligence with Paul Estes

Stephen Klein, founder of Curiouser AI and a Berkeley lecturer, was one of the earliest voices calling out what he memorably termed "hype as a service,” the marketing machine promising that AI would replace us all. In this sharp, contrarian conversation, Stephen explains why the AI job apocalypse is being "quietly canceled," why 95% of enterprise AI pilots have failed, and why the CFO has finally shown up to ask the questions that matter. Along the way, he reframes AI not as a magic productivity engine but as a trade, one where the thing we risk giving up is our own ability to think. From the commoditization of large language models to the myth of a solo founder who built a $10M company alone, Stephen makes an optimistic case for what becomes scarce and valuable in the AI era. If you've ever felt "left behind" by AI or wondered whether the tools are actually helping you, this episode is a refreshing dose of clarity. As Stephen puts it, the future of work is still human, and the companies winning right now aren't smarter; they're just early. You'll Learn: Why AI was designed to perform tasks and be liked, not to help you think better, and what a tool built for curiosity looks like instead Stephen's counterintuitive rule of thumb: if AI is slowing you down, you're probably using it right Why large language models have become "the most expensive commodities in history,” and what that means for cost, competition, and open-source models The truth behind the viral "solo founder" success stories and the "outlier problem" that makes everyone feel left behind How companies are quietly rehiring after over-aggressive AI-driven layoffs, and why they're hiding it Why creativity, judgment, trust, and imagination become your real competitive advantages in a world of commoditized intelligence What Stephen would tell his own kids (and yours) about thriving in an increasingly entrepreneurial economy Resources from this episode: “Mira Murati's Design” — guest post by Stephen Klein on Substack Stephen Klein’s Substack Subscribe to the Expert Intelligence podcast so you don't miss future conversations with the leaders and thinkers shaping how we work, create, and lead in the age of AI. Each episode brings you practical insight to navigate our rapidly changing world. Producer: David Grabowski Theme Music: Aleksey Chistilin

Charlotte Davies has been a copywriter her whole life. She wrote through a cancer diagnosis alone in a Thai hospital. She wrote student newspapers as a kid. Writing is who she is. So when people started asking her whether AI was going to take her job, it didn't feel like a career question. It felt like an existential one.  In this conversation, recorded live with Edward Vitalis, CEO of Invictus Education Trust, Charlotte and Paul Estes go somewhere most AI conversations don't: what it actually feels like to be human in a world that's changing faster than we can process. It's a conversation about what we risk losing if we're not paying attention, in our schools, in our families, and in ourselves. Paul shares why he's banned algorithmic content in his house (yes, including YouTube), Charlotte unpacks the unsettling idea that AI might be shrinking our world rather than expanding it, and Edward pushes both guests on what leaders and educators should actually do about it. You'll Learn: How Charlotte's cancer diagnosis in Thailand shaped everything she believes about human connection and creativity The difference between using AI as a crutch versus using it as a catalyst, and why it matters more than most people think What Paul means by "algorithmically infected" and why it's damaging friendships and family relationships How the internet expanded the world, why AI has the potential to shrink it, and what to do about it How AI's default settings (agreeable, symmetrical, smooth) are training us to accept a version of the world that isn't real Paul's household rules around technology and the crucial distinction between consuming content and creating it What leaders and educators should prioritize right now to build a genuinely human-first culture Subscribe to Expert Intelligence so you don't miss future conversations with the innovators, operators, and thinkers shaping the future of work and technology. Producer: David Grabowski | Theme Music: Aleksey Chistilin

Career coach and author Ozlem Brooke Erol spent years chasing the formula: good grades, impressive company name, solid title, only to feel completely hollow inside. In this candid conversation with Paul Estes, Brooke traces the history of work itself and makes the case that the systems are failing us, not the other way around. Her new book, You're More Than a Paycheck, is part permission slip, part workbook. If you've ever woken up Sunday night with dread already setting in, this episode is for you. You'll Learn: Why the 9-to-5 was a historical experiment, not a permanent design for human flourishing, and what that means for your career today The framework Brooke uses with clients to escape the either/or trap of financial necessity vs. meaningful work How to walk the four paths to purpose, including the first steps anyone can take today Why reflection is the most underused career tool, and the simple practices that make it accessible (even if sitting with discomfort feels impossible) How limiting beliefs are inherited, invisible, and nearly impossible to spot without an outside perspective What the Three Masons parable reveals about finding meaning in any job, even one you didn't choose The one piece of advice Brooke would give her 25-year-old self about self-doubt (and why it applies to anyone at any career stage) Subscribe to Expert Intelligence so you don't miss future conversations with the innovators, operators, and thinkers shaping the future of work and technology. Producer: David Grabowski | Theme Music: Aleksey Chistilin

Think about the last time you saw a company's marketing and actually felt something more than mild interest. Chances are you're struggling to come up with one. And that's not an accident. Vi Wickam has spent 30 years in digital marketing, helping companies fix this mistake. His premise is simple and kind of uncomfortable: honest marketing always wins, most companies aren't doing it, and AI is about to make the gap between the two a whole lot wider. But this conversation goes deeper than marketing. Vi and Paul get into something most people don't want to sit with: your creative thinking might be slowly dying. You probably haven't noticed because your social media feed has been doing your thinking for you. Just one example from the episode: Paul Simon didn't stay creative by consuming more of the same thing. He listened to different music. That’s it. And if that sounds too simple to matter, that's exactly the problem. You'll Learn: Why most companies don't actually have a brand, and the uncomfortable truth about what's missing The “10-80-10” framework for working with AI without letting it take over the parts that actually require a human How to uncover what your company genuinely stands for before you build a single word of marketing around it Why your one-star and three-star reviews are worth more than every five-star review combined The real reason your creative thinking has stalled (hint: it's not a lack of talent) What skills will still matter when AI has absorbed everything it can, and how to start building them now Why brand consistency isn't a marketing problem, it's a truth problem (and how to close that gap for good) Subscribe to Expert Intelligence so you don't miss future conversations with the innovators, operators, and thinkers shaping the future of work and technology. Producer: David Grabowski | Theme Music: Aleksey Chistilin

I spent an hour with Diana Wu David, a top 10 global futurist who advises Fortune 500s on what's next. She told me 95% of workers see value in using AI, but they don't trust their companies to ensure positive outcomes for them. So people automate parts of their job in secret. They become what Diana calls "secret cyborgs." We've created an environment where being more productive is something you have to hide. And the organizations that are actually succeeding with AI aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets, they're the ones doing "job crafting"—redesigning work in partnership with employees, not imposing AI from above. Diana also dropped a brutal insight on how AI gets adopted (poorly) at scale, why AI is making everyone busier, and the one skill your kids actually need in the AI age. What You'll Learn: What the AI trust crisis is costing organizations The three-year AI revolution: why this technology is integrating 3x faster than any general-purpose technology in history, and why most companies aren't ready Job crafting vs. job cutting: the specific approach companies that succeed with AI are taking (and why AI-native startups have it easiest) What the "capability absorption gap" means for your career The productivity paradox: why AI made your time more valuable, which made you busier than ever How the role of the middle manager has fundamentally shifted The one skill to teach your kids that schools won't Subscribe to the Expert Intelligence podcast so you don't miss future conversations with leaders at the forefront of technological transformation. Each episode brings you practical insights to navigate our rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Kevin Henrikson has built and sold companies for hundreds of millions, scaled teams at Microsoft and Instacart, and now runs an AI healthcare startup—and he called complete b******t on the productivity myth we've all been sold. The most unmovable meeting on his calendar? 8 PM: GO TO SLEEP. When people want late meetings, he says no. When he travels, his admin moves the sleep block. In his 20s, he was the "code until 2 AM" guy. Now? He protects his ability to think like his business depends on it. Because it does. But the biggest insight that stuck with me: "If you got in a car accident tomorrow and had to be out for three days, you'd cancel everything. People would understand. You need to give yourself permission to have that car accident periodically." What You'll Learn: Why AI is creating chaos instead of productivity—and the one habit that breaks the cycle The health stack that replaced Kevin's expensive concierge doctor Why teaching kids to self-regulate with technology beats helicopter parenting every time How voice AI is solving the work in healthcare that nobody actually wants to do Why blocking sleep on your calendar might be the most productive decision you'll ever make Kevin's framework for when to use AI and when to just close all the tabs and think

In a world drowning in AI-generated content, Joe Lazer is betting his career on the one skill machines can't replicate: authentic storytelling. The author of The Storytelling Edge and creator of a popular Substack newsletter walked away from an executive role at a fast-growing startup to pursue what he calls humanity's most essential superpower. In this candid conversation with Paul Estes, Joe reveals why he left stability to write his second book, how he built and sold his first media company, and why the "vortex of mid" is sucking the soul out of modern content. Understanding which skills will matter when machines can do almost everything else is crucial. Joe shares his framework for using AI ethically in the creative process, explains why neural coupling makes storytelling our most powerful business tool, and offers a radically different vision for preparing the next generation. From the neuroscience of oxytocin to the reputational damage of AI slop, learn why mastering storytelling might be the ultimate competitive advantage in an AI-saturated world. You'll Learn: Why AI creates a "vortex of mid" that traps content creators in mediocrity and how to avoid it The ideation-research-refine framework for using AI as a creative partner without losing your voice How storytelling triggers neural coupling, making listeners' brains sync with yours to build instant connection and trust Why the reputational damage from publishing AI-generated content is vastly underestimated by most professionals Lessons from building and selling a media company at 22 years old Why soft skills like storytelling, adaptability, and empathy will be lasting competitive advantages Subscribe to Expert Intelligence so you don't miss future conversations with industry leaders who are navigating the intersection of technology, creativity, and the future of work. Resources Mentioned: The Storytelling Edged by Joe Lazer and Shane Snow Dr. Paul Zak's neuromarketing research (Claremont University) Kyla Scanlon's newsletter on economics and narrative

What happens when you realize the career you're in isn't your future? For Alyson Griffin, that moment launched a three-decade journey from Silicon Valley PR agencies to becoming the marketing force behind State Farm's Emmy-nominated Super Bowl campaign and Intel's Cannes Lions-winning drone light show. In this revealing conversation with Paul Estes, Alyson shares how she navigated a dramatic career pivot, brought humanity to one of America's most iconic insurance brands, and is now leading her team through the AI revolution. From experimenting with AI-generated creative attempts that hilariously failed to building Jake from State Farm into a cultural phenomenon, Alyson offers a masterclass in balancing innovation with authenticity. She opens up about surviving breast cancer in the midst of her executive-level career, and how State Farm's risk-averse culture is learning to embrace cutting-edge technology. Whether you're considering a career transition or leading teams through technological change, this episode delivers actionable wisdom wrapped in honest storytelling. You'll Learn: How to recognize when it's time for a dramatic career pivot (and how to find the courage to make it happen) The critical difference between using AI as a tool versus expecting it to do all the thinking for you How practicing AI prompting on low-stakes personal projects (like vacation planning) builds skills for high-stakes work applications Why bringing your whole self to work—including health struggles and vulnerabilities—can strengthen rather than weaken your leadership How Jake from State Farm became an insurance mascot that people treat like a real celebrity The reason humanities and critical thinking skills matter more than ever in an AI-driven world Subscribe to the Expert Intelligence podcast today so you don't miss future conversations with leaders at the forefront of marketing, technology, and business transformation. Producer: David Grabowski Theme Music: Aleksey Chistilin

While headlines scream about AI replacing call center jobs, Chris Dumpleton reveals a different reality. As an executive at Limitless Technology, he's spent 20 years in telecom and contact centers—today he shares why organizations struggle to implement AI cost-cutting measures and how the gig economy model can create better outcomes for both companies and customers. With a storied career that includes helping eBay increase seller revenue by 24% using peer-to-peer expert coaching, Chris discusses how Limitless Technology evolved from "taking the Uber business model to contact centers" to becoming a key player in AI training through RLHF (Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback). Chris explains why outcome-based pricing creates better incentives than traditional employment models and how the same platform that connects customers with brand experts is now connecting AI companies with the specialized knowledge workers needed to train sophisticated language models. You'll Learn: Why contact center managers resist AI implementation despite corporate pressure to cut costs How gig economy experts with real product experience outperform traditionally trained agents The rating-driven excellence model that makes freelance workers more motivated than employees The explosive demand for specialized expertise in RLHF and AI model training Why outcome-based pricing aligns incentives better Subscribe to Expert Intelligence to get notified when future conversations are published.

Tom Davenport has been watching technology transformations for over 30 years, and he's not joining the AI hype wagon. As a distinguished professor at Babson College and author of 27+ books, Tom brings hard-earned wisdom to the AI conversation that's refreshingly realistic. While Silicon Valley promises instant transformation and a job apocalypse, Tom reveals why real AI success requires the unglamorous work of process redesign, patient leadership, and years of persistent effort. In this eye-opening conversation, Tom debunks the myth that AI will eliminate 50% of white-collar jobs while sharing practical insights on how organizations can actually capture value from AI. From his "super tech leader" framework to the critical mistake of not planning for entry-level hiring, Tom provides a clear and realistic vision of AI's true potential and timeline. You'll Learn: Why AI job replacement predictions have been consistently wrong for decades How to organize AI initiatives across departments How to use process mining and redesign to unlock real AI value in your organization Why citizen development and "vibe coding" are democratizing technology creation The critical role "boring," entry-level work plays in developing future expertise Which workflows every business should consider automating first Why persistence and patience matter more than speed in AI transformation Subscribe to Expert Intelligence so you don't miss any future conversations — these industry leaders separate signal from noise in this rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Brea Starmer helped build the future of work out of necessity. As founder of Lions and Tigers, she's unlocking millions in economic opportunity for independent workers, particularly women navigating caregiving responsibilities. When Brea was laid off seven months pregnant, facing workplace discrimination, and having to choose between career ambition and family flexibility, she discovered that the traditional employment system simply wasn't designed for people like her. What started as personal survival—self-funding her own maternity leave by billing 60 hours a week for 13 weeks—evolved into a movement reshaping how enterprises think about workforce planning. Brea's vision of "no more layoffs" is a practical blueprint for using blended teams of employees and independent workers to build more resilient, flexible organizations that can adapt to rapid change without devastating human costs. You'll Learn: How workplace discrimination during pregnancy led to building a multi-million dollar company serving independent workers Why an "everything's a project" mindset creates more security than traditional employment in today's economy The critical first question to ask when transitioning from employee to independent work: "Who do you want to serve?" Why enterprises are struggling with change management How to leverage your existing network when making the leap to independent work Subscribe to the Expert Intelligence podcast today so you don't miss future conversations with industry leaders at the forefront of technological transformation.

Iwo Szapar saw the future of work early—co-founding Remotely years before the pandemic transformed how we work. Now he's back with groundbreaking research through the AI Maturity Index, analyzing over 250,000 data points across 75 countries to reveal what's really happening with AI adoption in the workplace. The gap between AI winners and everyone else isn't just significant—it's shocking. In this conversation with Paul Estes, Iwo breaks down the stark reality behind AI adoption, from the top 1% who save 31 hours per week to the bottom 50% saving only six hours. He shares practical frameworks for immediate implementation, introduces "vibe coding" for non-technical professionals, and explains why the traditional consulting model is being disrupted by AI-powered productized services. You'll Learn: The shocking productivity gap between top AI users and everyone else (it's over 5x) Why the biggest AI opportunity lies in decision-making, not just content creation The simple STEP framework (Segmentation, Transition, Education, Performance) for AI implementation How "vibe coding" enables anyone to build software without technical expertise Why productized services are replacing traditional consulting models The "any task you do twice should be automated" rule that transforms productivity How to give AI the context it needs to become your most valuable thought partner Subscribe now so you don't miss any future conversations!

Kelly Monahan, Managing Director of Upwork's Research Institute and co-author of Essential, reveals why 77% of employees feel AI makes work harder, not easier—and what leaders can do about it. In this eye-opening conversation with Paul Estes, Kelly breaks down the real forces behind today's labor market shifts, from inflation and capital costs to the pandemic's lasting impact on customer behavior. From her research on the frontlines of the future of work, Kelly shares practical frameworks for moving beyond resilience to "anti-fragility"—the ability to adapt and evolve when systems face stress and shock. Whether you're a leader trying to implement AI effectively or a professional wondering how to stay relevant, this conversation offers actionable insights on navigating our rapidly changing work landscape while keeping human creativity and relationships central. You'll Learn: Why the AI productivity paradox is happening and how to overcome it The difference between AI as a tool versus AI as a teammate, and what it means for your workflow How to move from fragile to anti-fragile thinking when facing career disruption Why skills are becoming more valuable than degrees and how to credential them effectively The "configuration mindset" that separates AI power users from frustrated beginners How to preserve cognitive capacity for creativity in an increasingly automated world What successful organizational AI strategies look like beyond mere cost-cutting References Mentioned: Essential by Christie Smith and Kelly Monahan Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman Subscribe to Expert Intelligence so you don't miss future conversations with industry leaders at the forefront of technological transformation. Each episode brings you practical insights to navigate our rapidly evolving digital landscape. Producer: David Grabowski Theme Music: Aleksey Chistilin

Generation X professionals are navigating an unprecedented perfect storm: young children at home, peak career responsibilities, and a business landscape in constant flux. Executive coach Samia Kornweibel joins Paul Estes to explore why so many mid-career leaders are experiencing what she calls "career meltdowns"—and how they can build resilience in an era where roles keep shifting. Fresh from completing her AI coaching certification, Samia shares how she's helping leaders navigate the ethical integration of AI tools while maintaining the human connection that drives real transformation. Using Microsoft's suite of tools and her innovative CHAIR model (Clarity, Humanizing, Aligning, Integrating, Realizing), she demonstrates how coaches can responsibly leverage technology to enhance the coaching relationship. You'll Learn: Why Generation X is experiencing "career meltdowns" at the intersection of family, career peak, and rapid change The "musical chairs" reality of modern corporate life and how to build resilience when stability isn't an option How to create and maintain psychological safety as an intentional daily practice, not a one-time achievement The CHAIR model for responsible AI integration in professional coaching and development Why human accountability and connection remain irreplaceable in an AI-enhanced world Practical strategies for using tools like Microsoft Viva Insights to enhance coaching conversations and time management How to move from peripheral AI conversations to focused, ethical implementation Subscribe to Expert Intelligence so you don't miss future conversations with industry leaders at the forefront of professional development and workplace transformation. Each episode brings you practical insights to navigate our rapidly evolving career landscape. Producer: David Grabowski Theme Music: Aleksey Chistilin

Peter Relan, founder of the YouWeb Incubator and initial Discord investor, joins Paul to discuss how AI transforms math education through his latest venture, MathGPT.ai. Growing up in poverty with parents who believed in education's transformative power, Peter is now paying it forward by creating around-the-clock math coaching for students facing critical academic hurdles. In this eye-opening conversation, Peter reveals how his platform combines AI tutoring with human instructor oversight to address math numeracy challenges while maintaining academic integrity. From Peter's journey as a UCLA math tutor to his vision of personalized learning through AI coaches, discover how technology creates accessible, accurate, and cheat-proof math education that helps students overcome gateway barriers to their chosen careers. You'll Learn: How math courses often become gateway blockers that prevent students from entering their chosen careers Why "innumeracy" is becoming a critical societal challenge comparable to illiteracy The instructor-led approach that makes MathGPT.ai cheat-proof while still helping students learn How AI can provide personalized learning experiences based on students' unique interests Why the future of education lies in the partnership between human wisdom and artificial intelligence The analytics dashboard that helps instructors identify struggling students in real-time How AI can automate time-consuming workflows while preserving the irreplaceable human touch in education Subscribe to the Expert Intelligence podcast so you don't miss future conversations with industry leaders.