What if the biggest limitation to artificial intelligence isn’t computing power, money, or technology—but people?

In this episode of Born Before the Algorithm, I’m joined by Jon Wolheim, a talent and leadership executive who spent 20 years building teams inside companies including Apple, Amazon, and AI startups.

Jon built the talent function that helped take SoundHound AI public on the NYSE and later became the founding HR executive at a Cambridge AI company focused on scientific superintelligence.

His journey into AI took a major turn in 2019, when he interviewed Jeff Bezos and asked what he would study if he were starting college today. Bezos’s answer: machine learning.

That moment ultimately redirected Jon’s career.

Today, through Wolheim Group and AIfluent.Dad, Jon helps accomplished executives become more AI-fluent without getting lost in technical jargon.

In this conversation, we explore what Jon learned from being inside major technology companies and AI startups—and why he believes the AI revolution isn’t simply about machines becoming more capable.

It’s about whether humans and organizations are prepared to absorb what those machines can do.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why Jon believes the biggest constraint on AI is human
• What he learned from working inside Apple and Amazon
• His conversation with Jeff Bezos about machine learning
• What he saw inside an AI company building scientific superintelligence
• Why experience may actually become more valuable in the AI era
• Why judgment could become one of the most important human advantages
• How executives who aren’t technical can become AI-fluent
• The rise of “shadow AI” inside organizations
• How AI is changing hiring and the workplace
• Which jobs are genuinely vulnerable to AI
• Why some jobs may become more valuable instead
• What an AI-native HR organization looks like
• The relationship between technology, leadership, and human judgment
• What people who grew up before AI can bring to the future

Jon brings a perspective that sits directly at the heart of Born Before the Algorithm:

What can people who built careers before AI teach us about navigating a world where AI is becoming increasingly powerful?

🔗 Jon Wolheim — Contact Details

Jon Wolheim
Wolheim Group | AIfluent.Dad

LinkedIn

Jon Wolheim on LinkedIn⁠

Jon specifically described LinkedIn as the core of his influence strategy and lead magnet.

Website

Jon Wolheim's Website⁠

Email

[email protected]

AIfluent.Dad

AIfluent.Dad — Jon’s work helping experienced executives become AI-fluent without unnecessary technical jargon.

What if AI didn’t just help you work—but actually became part of the system that creates economic value?

In this episode of Born Before the Algorithm, I’m joined by Olga Popova, founder of SpacAd, a media holding built around a simple idea: “Money with robots’ hands.”

Olga runs her business with just two humans and a fleet of AI systems, supporting an audience of more than 205,000 people across 39 countries. She is also the author of 27 Minutes to the Future, published in four languages, and the creator of Treasury, a live software platform built around nineteen AI networks.

We explore what happens when AI moves beyond being an assistant and starts performing meaningful business work.

We talk about AI-powered entrepreneurship, solopreneurship, automation, the future of work, economic opportunity, and whether one person—or a tiny team—can now accomplish what once required an entire company.

Olga also shares her perspective on why building productive technology may ultimately create more economic opportunity than simply debating what the future of work will look like.

In this episode, we explore:

• What “Money with robots’ hands” actually means
• How AI can move from assisting to performing work
• Building a business with two humans and AI systems
• The nineteen AI networks behind Treasury
• AI-powered income and entrepreneurship
• The rise of the two-person company
• How AI could reshape traditional employment
• The future of solopreneurship
• Whether AI will create more economic opportunity
• The role humans still play when machines perform more work
• How audiences and content fit into an AI-powered business
• What the future of entrepreneurship could look like

The bigger question behind the conversation is:

When machines become capable of doing more of the work, what will humans choose to build—and who will own the systems creating the value?

🔗 Guest / Contact Details

Olga Popova
Founder of SpacAd
Author of 27 Minutes to the Future

Treasury

Treasury — Olga Popova's live AI-powered product⁠

This is the main resource Olga provided for listeners who want to explore her approach to AI-powered systems and “Money with robots’ hands.”

Book

27 Minutes to the Future — Olga Popova’s book exploring her perspective on the future, technology, and economic opportunity.

What happens to the American Dream when artificial intelligence begins changing the way we work, build businesses, and create wealth?

In this episode of Born Before the Algorithm, I’m joined by Brad Aman, entrepreneur, author, business strategist, and founder of the American Dream Book Series.

Brad spent decades building companies from the ground up, becoming a millionaire by 40 and eventually selling his primary business after growing it into a national leader in its industry. Today, he’s focused on helping everyday people understand how AI can become a tool for creating opportunity rather than simply something to fear.

His latest book, American Dream: Success in an AI World, explores how individuals can use artificial intelligence to increase productivity, adapt to economic change, and remain competitive in a rapidly evolving world.

In our conversation, Brad challenges what he calls the “head in the sand economy”—the tendency to ignore AI because its impact feels overwhelming or uncertain.

We explore what AI could mean for workers, entrepreneurs, businesses, and the middle class, and why Brad believes the coming transformation could create enormous opportunities for people willing to learn and adapt.

In this episode, we explore:

• The future of the American Dream in an AI-driven economy
• Why people shouldn’t simply ignore the rise of AI
• How AI can amplify human ability
• The opportunities AI could create for entrepreneurs and workers
• How businesses can adapt to technological change
• Why learning and adaptability may become essential skills
• AI, productivity, and economic growth
• What the AI revolution could mean for the middle class
• How individuals can prepare for a rapidly changing economy
• Why human ambition still matters in an increasingly automated world

Brad brings decades of entrepreneurial experience to a conversation about one of the biggest questions facing us today:

Will AI take opportunity away from ordinary people—or create an entirely new version of the American Dream?

🔗 Guest / Contact Details

Brad Aman
Entrepreneur | Author | Business Strategist
Founder, American Dream Book Series

Featured resource:
Brad Aman — AI & the American Dream Video⁠

The provided link features Brad discussing AI, accelerated economic change, and the opportunities he believes the technology can create.

What happens when leadership is tested in real time—when the pressure is high, mistakes are visible, and the outcome actually matters?

In this episode of Born Before the Algorithm, I’m joined by Silvia Rizzo, whose work sits at the intersection of high-performance sport and business.

Drawing from years spent in environments where pressure, decision-making, error management, and mental resilience aren’t theoretical concepts, Silvia shares a thoughtful perspective on what it really takes to lead when things don’t go according to plan.

We explore how leaders make decisions under pressure, what mistakes can teach us, why credibility matters, and how people can maintain resilience when the stakes are high.

This conversation goes beyond traditional leadership advice. It’s about the human side of performance—how we respond when we get things wrong, how we learn from difficult situations, and what separates effective leadership from simply appearing confident.

In this episode, we explore:

• Leadership under pressure
• Decision-making in high-stakes situations
• Learning from mistakes and managing errors
• Mental resilience
• Maintaining credibility when things go wrong
• Performance in sport and business
• How leaders respond when plans fail
• Making better decisions in complex environments
• Why leadership has to be tested in real situations—not just discussed in theory

If you’ve ever wondered what pressure reveals about a leader, this conversation offers plenty to think about.

🔗 Guest / Contact

Silvia Rizzo

For more on Silvia’s perspectives on leadership, performance, and decision-making under pressure, visit:

Silvia Rizzo's Leadership & Performance Blog⁠

CTA:
Listeners can explore Silvia’s writing and learn more about her perspective on leadership, performance, and strategic behavior in high-pressure environments.

In this episode of Born Before the Algorithm, Vicz sits down with Tom Fox—known as the Leading Voice in Compliance and founder of the award-winning Compliance Podcast Network.

Tom shares his journey across compliance, business ethics, leadership, and podcasting, including what he has learned from building multiple podcast networks and producing thousands of episodes. We explore why strong organizational culture goes beyond simply following rules, how leaders can create environments where people feel comfortable speaking up, and why trust and communication remain essential in a technology-driven world.

The conversation also dives into podcasting in the age of AI, the importance of authenticity when everyone can create content, and how professionals can develop a genuine voice instead of simply adding to the noise.

Tom Fox — Contact Details

🌐 Website: Compliance Podcast Network⁠

📧 Email: [email protected]

Tom’s official network provides access to his podcasts, compliance resources, books, and professional work.

What does it take to perform intentionally when the pressure is high? In this episode of Born Before the Algorithm, Victory sits down with Marty Strong, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, combat veteran, C-suite leader, bestselling author, and motivational speaker.

Marty shares lessons from more than four decades of leading elite teams and organizations, exploring discipline, resilience, decision-making, creativity, leadership, and the mindset required to perform when circumstances become difficult. The conversation also examines how those lessons translate from military environments into business and everyday life—and why intentional performance and human leadership matter even more in an increasingly technology-driven world.

Marty Strong — Contact Details

🌐 Website: martystrong.com⁠

His website is the main place to learn about his leadership work, books, speaking, consulting, and the upcoming Intentional Performance: Inside the Navy SEAL Mindset.

Artificial intelligence is transforming the way businesses operate—but technology alone isn’t enough.

In this episode of Born Before the Algorithm, Vicz sits down with Jason Jakus, Founder and CEO of Brexus Solutions, bestselling author, leadership strategist, and technology executive, for a conversation about leading organizations through one of the biggest technological shifts of our time.

Drawing from more than 20 years of experience as a brokerage owner, MLS executive, business coach, and consultant, Jason explains why leadership—not technology—is the true competitive advantage in today’s AI-driven world.

Together, they explore:

• How AI is reshaping business and decision-making
• Why leadership matters more than ever during disruption
• The future of search and Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)
• Building organizations that adapt and thrive
• Real estate, technology, and what’s coming next
• How trust remains the foundation of every successful business

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, executive, business owner, or simply curious about the future of AI and leadership, this episode offers practical insights that will help you stay ahead in a rapidly changing world.

📞 Guest Contact Details

Jason Jakus
Founder & CEO, Brexus Solutions

🌐 Website: https://brexussolutions.com/

📘 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonjakus

📖 Bestselling Author of:

Cracking the Real Estate Code

• Six Barriers to Effective Teams
• 🎤 National Speaker | Business Coach | Leadership Strategist | AI & Answer Engine Optimization Consultant

Why do successful businesses suddenly begin to decline?

Is it the economy… competition… or something happening inside the organization that leaders fail to recognize?

In this episode of Born Before the Algorithm, I sit down with Larry Mandelberg—business consultant, speaker, fifth-generation entrepreneur, and author of Businesses Don’t Fail, They Commit Suicide.

Drawing from more than three decades of research and firsthand experience building, buying, turning around, and even losing businesses, Larry explains why most companies don’t collapse because of external forces—they fail because of decisions made from within.

We explore the hidden patterns that destroy organizations, why success often creates the conditions for failure, how leaders can recognize warning signs before it’s too late, and what it takes to build a business that can survive constant change in the age of AI.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, executive, founder, or aspiring business owner, this conversation offers timeless lessons on leadership, adaptability, and sustainable growth.

📞 Connect with Larry Mandelberg

🌐 Website: https://larrymandelberg.com (or the website Larry shared with listeners during the episode)

📘 Book: Businesses Don’t Fail, They Commit Suicide: How to Survive Success and Thrive in Good Times and Bad

💼 Learn more about Larry’s consulting, speaking, workshops, and business leadership insights through his website.

What if most leadership problems aren’t actually leadership problems?

In this episode of Born Before the Algorithm, retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major, leadership professor, and award-winning scholar Dustin Shepherd explains why trust, communication, and perception—not leadership itself—are often the real issues holding people and organizations back.

Drawing on 29 years of military leadership, higher education, and research into human behavior and artificial intelligence, Dustin shares practical lessons on building trust, making better decisions, leading through uncertainty, and preparing for a future where AI is transforming the workplace.

Whether you’re a leader, entrepreneur, student, or simply curious about the human side of leadership in the age of AI, this conversation offers timeless insights that technology alone can never replace.

🔗 Guest Contact Details

• Website: https://toa4peace.com/wayfinder/
• Campaign: The Wayfinder Campaign, where you can share a story about someone whose kindness, mentorship, or encouragement made a lasting impact on your life. It celebrates the everyday moments of grace that shape who we become.

What happens when artificial intelligence can create almost anything—but can’t replace the human experience behind true creativity?

In this episode of Born Before the Algorithm, James Hand shares his journey as a musician, songwriter, filmmaker, author, and educator with more than three decades of creative experience. Together, we explore why storytelling, emotion, and lived experience remain the greatest competitive advantage in an AI-driven world.

From music and filmmaking to creativity, reinvention, and the future of human expression, this conversation challenges us to think beyond technology and rediscover what makes creativity uniquely human.

🔗 Contact Details

• Website: jameshand.com.au
• Call to Action: Visit jameshand.com.au to learn more about James Hand’s music, films, books, creative projects, and latest work.