The Adam Shilton Podcast

Ex-HubSpot Director: Will AI Make Corporate Careers Obsolete? The Rise of Fractional Specialists

In this insightful conversation, Adam and Sam Mallikarjunan, General Manager at Agent.ai, delve into practical AI adoption strategies beyond the hype. Sam outlines three key buckets for effective AI implementation: automating tedious tasks, accessing skills beyond your expertise, and enhancing human communication.What makes this discussion unique is their focus on how AI is leveling the playing field for small businesses, with Sam sharing real examples from a local pub using AI for inventory optimization to his 16-year-old nephew building sophisticated AI agents. The conversation builds toward a compelling vision of the future workplace—one where specialists thrive, fractional work becomes the norm, and genuine human connection becomes our most irreplaceable asset.—SHOW NOTES—Guest: Sam Mallikarjunan - General Manager at Agent.ai, former Head of Growth at HubSpot Labs- LINKS-- Agent.ai - https://agent.ai/ - Free platform for building AI agents- Agent.ai Community - https://community.agent.ai/ - Join the community of agent builders- Sam Mallikarjunan on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallikarjunan/- RESOURCES-- Dharmesh Shah - Founder of HubSpot and founder of Agent.ai- HubSpot - Marketing, sales, and customer service platform- Perplexity - AI search tool that Sam recommends over Google- Krisp AI - Meeting transcription tool- Zoom AI Companion - AI tool that provides meeting context and explanations- Made to Stick (book) by Chip and Dan Heath - About why some ideas are remembered- Decide (book) by Chip and Dan Heath - About making better decisions- Shoe Dog (book) by Phil Knight - Nike founder’s biography- “Special Forces Innovation” - Article about how DARPA designs and manages teams—CHAPTERS—- (00:02:00) - Why we should be both “scared and greedy” about AI adoption- (00:05:00) - The “artificially educated intern” phase of AI development- (00:09:00) - Spotting the difference between autonomous agents and AI workflows- (00:13:00) - Three practical buckets for effective AI implementation- (00:17:00) - Using AI to enhance cross-cultural communication and understanding- (00:24:00) - Connecting seemingly unrelated concepts like Japanese gift wrapping and sales- (00:31:00) - How AI is democratizing skills previously limited to large corporations- (00:38:00) - AI’s role in moving marketing beyond incremental improvements- (00:44:00) - Small businesses leveraging AI without technical expertise- (00:55:00) - Specialists vs generalists: Creating competitive advantage in the AI era- (01:07:00) - The power of perspective over polish in content creation- (01:12:00) - Trust and gratitude as irreplaceable elements in an AI-powered world- (01:18:00) - How Agent.ai is making powerful AI tools accessible to everyone

How to Be Irreplaceable in the AI Economy: Ex-CFO Explains the Importance of Domain Expertise

In this value-packed conversation, Adam Shilton and former CFO turned content creator CJ Gustafson debunk common misconceptions about AI's impact on business while sharing tactical insights about metrics that actually matter. CJ draws from his finance background to explain why AI is creating efficiency gains rather than replacing jobs, how companies misunderstand customer churn, and why giving your brain space to make connections is critical for success. The discussion seamlessly blends practical business advice with reflections on authenticity, revealing why being uniquely you remains the most powerful differentiator in a world obsessed with AI-generated content.--SHOW NOTES--- CJ Gustafson: Founder of Mostly Metrics newsletter and host of Run the Numbers podcast | (http://mostlymetrics.com)- Twitter: @CJGustafson222- LinkedIn: CJ Gustafson(https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/)- ReadWise: App mentioned for capturing newsletter insights and book (http://readwise.io)- Very Good Copy: Newsletter and book by Eddie Shleyner | (http://verygoodcopy.com)- "Steal Like an Artist" by Austin Kleon: Book discussed about creative process- Apollo.io: Sales engagement platform mentioned as example of good onboarding | (http://apollo.io)- Clay: Sales intelligence platform competing with Apollo | (http://clay.com)- Diary of the CEO: Podcast with Mr. Beast episode referenced- TEDx Talk: Adam's presentation "How Technology Can Enable a Rockstar Career That Makes Money"- GoDaddy: Discussion about their expansion beyond domains to help small businesses- Upstart: Publicly traded company where Sanjay Dadada (former Google executive) serves as CFO- Relay app: AI agent platform by Jacob Bank mentioned--CHAPTERS--(00:01:00) - The reality of AI in business: efficiency gains not job replacement(00:05:00) - Domain expertise matters: why AI can't replace industry knowledge(00:08:00) - Finding authenticity in content: the pitfalls of forced expertise(00:13:00) - The power of consistency and doing boring things repeatedly(00:1800) - Data analysis mistakes: how to avoid getting lost in metrics(00:21:00) - When technical experts need to develop presentation skills(00:27:00) - Grifters and scams: human nature hasn't changed with tech(00:33:00) - Run the Numbers podcast: the CFO playbook you wish you had(00:38:00) - Customer experience: the eight phases in the first 100 days(00:42:00) - Creative onboarding tactics: how companies fight against churn(00:45:00) - Building a newsletter business: finding audience-market fit(00:49:00) - Content creation process: developing your unique perspective(00:53:00) - The importance of letting your brain connect dots during downtime(00:58:00) - What it means to be irreplaceable in the age of AI

Ex-Google Director explains: The truth about AI agents (your new secret weapon)

Adam Shilton sits down with Jacob Bank, the Stanford AI lab alumnus, Ex-Google Product Director and founder of Relay app, to demystify AI agents and their practical applications. Jacob cuts through the hype to explain the meaningful differences between AI workflows, agents, and co-pilots, offering actionable advice for businesses looking to implement these tools. Their discussion moves beyond technical definitions to explore how AI is reshaping go-to-market strategies, with both agreeing that authentic human connection and trust will become increasingly valuable differentiators in an AI-saturated marketplace.-- SHOW NOTES --- Jacob Bank: Founder and CEO of Relay app | www.linkedin.com/in/jacobbank/- Relay app: AI workflow platform | www.relay.app - Matt Barker: Copywriter mentioned for content strategy | LinkedIn- Will Barron: Founder of Salesman.com podcast | salesman.com- "Market of One": Will Barron's upcoming book/training program- Magic Post: AI tool for LinkedIn content creation- Clay: Sales intelligence platform- Napkin AI: Graphics creation tool mentioned by Jacob- Make.com: Automation platform Adam uses for invoice management- Stanford AI Lab: Where Jacob studied- Timeful: Jacob's previous company (acquired by Google)- Google: Where Jacob worked as product director--CHAPTERS --(00:04:00) - AI agents vs. workflows: What business owners need to know(00:07:00) - Why "agent" terminology caught on despite its creepy connotations(00:10:00) - The fundamental difference between AI agents and co-pilots(00:13:00) - How AI reduces complexity in workflow creation(00:16:00) - Picking the right AI tool for different business tasks(00:20:00) - AI in sales outreach: Personalization vs targeting efficiency(00:24:00) - Why timing and trigger events matter more than message content(00:30:00) - Domain-specific AI tools like Magic Post for LinkedIn content(00:33:00) - How AI will transform product go-to-market strategies(00:37:00) - Building trust in the "Market of One" approach(00:43:00) - Creating valuable content vs chasing LinkedIn engagement(00:49:00) - Why YouTube tutorials drive more qualified traffic than LinkedIn posts(00:54:00) - What it means to be irreplaceable in the age of AI(00:58:00) - Finding value as the "creative director" of AI outputs

AI Parenting: Raising Children Who Will Outthink Us All

In this thought-provoking conversation, Adam speaks with Kunal Dalal, AI expert in education and author of "The AI Parent." They explore how AI is transforming education and parenting in profound ways. From discussing the outdated model of competitive education to examining how indigenous wisdom might guide our approach to technology, Kunal shares insights on helping children find purpose in an AI-driven world where human connection matters more than digital achievements.—SHOW NOTES--- Kunal Dalal's book: "The AI Parent" - how to parent children in an AI-driven world- Orange County Department of Education - where Kunal heads up Artificial Intelligence- Indigenous AI concepts - Wakani Hoffman's work on infusing AI with indigenous values- Ray Kurzweil's book: "The Singularity is Nearer" - discussed around 32:00- Mo Gawdat - former chief business officer at Google X and author of "Solve for Happy" - https://www.mogawdat.com/- Hassan Kubba - helps authors, appeared on Slow Mo podcast (Mo Gawdat's podcast)- Documentary: "Happy" (2012) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1613092/- "Blue Zones" project by Dan Buettner - Netflix documentary about longevity and community- Ikigai - Japanese concept of finding purpose discussed in relation to longevity- Palace of Knossos - ancient Greek engineering mentioned as example of historical intelligence- Göbekli Tepe in Turkey - ancient archaeological site mentioned—CHAPTERS—(00:03:00) - Kunal discusses biggest misconceptions about AI in education globally(00:07:00) - Exploring rigid educational systems versus entrepreneurial culture mismatch(00:11:00) - Adam shares personal educational experiences and finding identity through music(00:15:00) - Discussion on youth feeling disillusioned about their future in today's world(00:19:00) - Mo Gawdat's story and finding purpose after personal tragedy(00:23:00) - How becoming a parent shifts one's perspective on purpose and meaning(00:27:00) - Reframing children's purpose as healing the world rather than competition(00:31:00) - Exploring the concept of hive mind and Ray Kurzweil's singularity ideas(00:35:00) - Ancient engineering intelligence examples from Knossos and historical civilizations(00:43:00) - Indigenous wisdom offering collaborative rather than competitive societal models(00:47:00) - The psychological impacts of chasing social media metrics and validation(00:53:00) - Mental health challenges from comparing oneself to others online(00:57:00) - The value of human connection versus digital achievements and relationships(01:03:00) - Documentary "Happy" and lessons about community versus material success(01:09:00) - The importance of being present with children versus digital distractions(01:13:00) - Adam shares heartwarming "mini high five" ritual with his son(01:17:00) - Kunal's final thoughts on what makes humans truly irreplaceableFor more, head over to www.adamshilton.com

How to Use AI to Gain a Human Edge: My 3-Pillar Approach to Staying Ahead [Future Finance Podcast]

In this thought-provoking episode, Adam Shilton joins Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper to explore the current state of AI content creation. They examine AI-generated podcasts, synthetic data risks, and why AI still struggles with creating authentic, non-sterile content. The hosts share practical insights on how to effectively work with AI tools for learning, thinking, and doing tasks, rather than trying to outsource skills entirely. Adam's approach to AI as a supportive mechanism rather than a standalone entity offers valuable perspective for anyone looking to remain irreplaceable in an AI-driven world.The conversation also follows Adam's personal journey from corporate finance to entrepreneurship after his July TEDx talk. He candidly discusses building a business without a large savings cushion, finding problems worth solving rather than just having "good ideas," and his mission to help others build careers around their passions. His refreshing take on using technology to break down barriers and level the playing field provides inspiration for listeners considering similar transitions.Originally published on the Future Finance Podcast:- Website - https://www.thefpandaguy.com/future-finance- Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2fwR53Rio39P6p7u7L73Fu— SHOW NOTES —- Information about Adam Shilton, founder, technologist, and TEDx speaker: [https://adamshilton.com](https://adamshilton.com/)- Rob Lennon's AI podcast host mentioned by Adam: Search "Rob Lennon AI podcast host"- Google's Notebook LM, an AI tool discussed by the hosts: https://deepmind.google/technologies/gemini/notebook/- OpenAI Playground for testing prompts and voice bots: https://platform.openai.com/playground- Meta (Facebook) AI avatar profiles mentioned in the discussion: Search "Meta AI avatar profiles"- Ethan Mollick's book "Cointelligence" referenced by Adam: Search for "Ethan Mollick Cointelligence book"- Paul's training partner Ron Montero's book "Love Mondays": Search for "Love Mondays Ron Montero book"— CHAPTERS —(00:03:25) - Discussion about AI-generated podcasts and cloned voices.(00:06:30) - Exploring risks of AI learning from its own synthetic data.(00:10:15) - Glenn's perspective on limitations of synthetic data for AI training.(00:16:32) - Why AI still struggles with authenticity in writing and content.(00:20:45) - Using AI for improving content rather than creating from scratch.(00:24:10) - How to learn new skills with AI as a teaching assistant.(00:29:40) - The importance of domain expertise when working with AI.(00:35:20) - Adam's experience with creating "Franken-code" through AI assistance.(00:38:30) - Adam discusses his TEDx talk about technology and passion careers.(00:41:45) - Adam's journey into entrepreneurship without a traditional savings runway.