What if the biggest shift in labor isn't AI replacing workers—but workers finally owning their time? Jarah Euston, CEO of Workwhile, joins your host David Lee, Cofounder of Vanka AI to challenge everything we think we know about employment, from why your employer is holding an interest-free loan of your paycheck to why 80 million Americans working frontline jobs have never had more choice.

This conversation digs deep into the fractional labor revolution, the $800 billion payday loan trap, why CEOs might be replaced before warehouse workers, and what "ownership" really means when your only capital is your own energy and attention.

🔗 Workwhile: https://workwhile.ai

🔗 RISE Pay Index: https://workwhile.ai/rise

🔗 Learn more about Vanka AI: https://vanka.ai

CHAPTERS:

0:00 – Introduction: The tailwinds for blue-collar work

1:30 – What is Workwhile? 1.2M workers, 8M labor hours, zero recruiters

4:45 – Why CEO jobs might be replaced before warehouse workers

6:26 – The shift from salary mindset to ownership mindset

8:08 – What frontline workers actually experience (the point system)

9:45 – Why tech founders don't build for hourly workers

12:18 – "Unemployment Is Dead": The end of one person, one job

14:17 – Pushing back: Workers as owners of their own capital

17:06 – The limits of hourly pay: External factors and market swings

19:09 – Why flexibility alone isn't enough—income adequacy matters

21:40 – The case for simple ownership: Start a dog walking business

24:01 – From Workwhile earnings to buying an Airbnb

25:34 – Challenging the "ownership is hard work" assumption

27:40 – Creativity and depression: Why humans need to create

29:06 – Should workers invest in businesses or index funds?

31:01 – AI-driven efficiency: Eliminating recruiters, reducing waste

34:21 – The payday loan trap: $800B in interest from delayed pay

36:37 – Who's the real villain: Employers or payday lenders?

38:18 – The "In Time" dystopia: Limits of instant pay

41:26 – Forced savings vs. property rights: A philosophical debate

44:45 – The connected C-suite: Blue-collar roots in leadership

48:10 – The 3.5% float: Should it be a line item on paychecks?

52:24 – "You gotta use your own product": Jarah works shifts

54:45 – Creative destruction: AI will create more jobs than it destroys

58:32 – What jobs will AI create? The honest answer: We don't know

1:00:59 – Human provenance: The premium market for craftsmanship

1:02:08 – Hot take: White-collar workers are the tiny minority

1:04:42 – Blue-collar automation is coming faster than we think

1:07:35 – There won't be one solution—all things will be true

1:09:47 – The broader answer: Ownership as the path forward

#futureofwork #bluecollar #labormarket #fractionalwork #Workwhile #AI #entrepreneurship #ownership #gigeconomy #bossmodepodcast #vankaai

Bernie Sanders calls AI companies "demonic." Alexander Wang says young people should spend all their time with AI. Who's right? David Lee and Dee Deng unpack the nuance between pro-human values and technological empowerment, landing on a surprising conclusion: people with ADHD might actually be the evolved humans perfectly suited for this moment.

From SAT prep on Gemini to the industrial revolution's lessons for today's workforce, this episode explores why stepping away from the computer might be the most important skill in an AI-dominated world—and why the great migration to micro-enterprise could be humanity's next chapter.

🔗 Try Alpha School: https://alpha.school

🔗 SAT Prep on Gemini: https://gemini.google.com

🔗 Learn more about Vanka AI: https://vanka.ai

🔗 Learn more about Vanka AI: ⁠https://vanka.ai⁠

CHAPTERS:

0:00 – The Demonic Episode: Bernie Sanders vs. AI companies

1:17 – Bernie's quote: Young people getting emotional support from AI

2:11 – Counterpoint: Alexander Wang says spend ALL your time with AI

3:31 – What young people should actually do with their time

5:20 – The disconnect: Congress grilling tech CEOs

6:07 – Soundbites vs. substance: Why hyperbole wins media

7:42 – The value of long-form conversation

8:56 – Trump and the power of flooding the zone

10:37 – When to actually spend time with AI (in bursts)

11:41 – Vibe coding and the ADHD advantage

13:54 – The intimidation barrier for the average person

15:08 – Breaking free from the slave mentality at work

17:05 – The bartender's AI journey: Cocktails to content

19:21 – Why being a beginner feels uncomfortable for adults20:11 – Star Trek and the explorer within us

21:14 – Has ADHD been rising because humans are evolving?

22:46 – ADHD and dopamine: Why AI tools feel like a casino

24:57 – ADHD is not a disability—it's a superpower

26:03 – Finding what deeply engages you through rapid iteration

29:15 – Pharrell's synesthesia: Neurodivergence as gift

30:15 – The evolved humans: A new frame for ADHD

31:30 – Foundational models: Why ChatGPT isn't the only option

33:04 – Google's free SAT prep on Gemini (live demo)

38:08 – How will education change? The capitalism answer41:45 – South Korea's after-school academy model

45:39 – Alpha School: AI-powered learning comes to Boston

47:04 – The great migration: What happened to farmers in the industrial revolution?

48:22 – Rural flight in reverse: Migration away from office blocks

49:30 – AI data centers in space and energy independence

51:06 – Elon Musk's warning: Digital-only jobs are first to go

52:46 – If AI can do your whole job, you're training your replacement

53:59 – The great migration to micro-enterprise

55:59 – Are we returning to our native human state?

#AI #BernieSanders #ADHD #futureofwork #education #AlphaSchool #microenterprise #entrepreneurship #GeminiAI #bossmodepodcast #vankaai

What happens when a CEO decides to spend New Year's Day recreating The Matrix with nothing but AI tools and a laptop? Dee Deng joins David Lee to break down his viral AI-generated Matrix tribute, revealing which Chinese video models actually work, why infinite regenerations change everything, and how the barriers to filmmaking just collapsed. From Kling's kung fu scenes to Suno's two-prompt soundtrack, this episode is a masterclass in hands-on AI experimentation—complete with hilarious outtakes featuring third legs, floating backflips, and faces that merge into Christopher Walken.🎬 Watch Dee's Matrix video: https://www.instagram.com/reels/DQ1FhL9D6MK/

🔗 Try Higgsfield: https://www.higgsfield.ai

🔗 Learn more about Vanka AI: https://www.vanka.aiCHAPTERS:

0:00 – Introduction: Dee's viral AI Matrix video

1:49 – Breaking down the creation process

3:48 – Chinese video models: Why they're leading

4:35 – Higgs Field's unlimited image generation

7:11 – The visual singularity: Can you tell what's AI?

8:52 – Model selection: Kling vs. Seadance vs. VO3

10:09 – Which model for bullet time? Which for kung fu?

12:32 – CEO as experimenter: Why hands-on matters

16:15 – From manual prompting to team workflows

19:03 – Same thing, different chair: Directors in the AI era

21:21 – The joy of learning by doing

23:28 – Analyzing delivery like the Wachowskis

25:04 – The hilarious outtakes: Third legs and floating backflips

28:02 – Chinese models and martial arts training bias

31:03 – Iterating without actor fatigue

33:14 – Shovels, spoons, and excavators: The jobs debate

36:12 – Human provenance: Why the top 1% will thrive

40:56 – Job opportunity: Indie filmmaking democratized

43:14 – The atomization of the economy

44:11 – AI film festivals and the filmmaker's calling

45:44 – Suno for soundtracks: Two prompts to done

48:00 – The consumer only cares about the end product

54:00 – The dopamine hit of learning by creating

59:25 – Unlimited lives: How infinite iterations change everything

1:03:07 – AI is to creativity what cheat codes are to video games

1:04:13 – Vintage audio and the premium on human provenance

1:08:37 – Storytelling with human provenance

1:15:08 – Taste still matters: The human eye in AI creation

1:17:05 – The atomization of the three-minute film

1:20:09 – Superloading in enterprise: Fewer people, more output

1:22:36 – What would you do with unlimited lives?#AIvideo #filmmaking #HiggsField #Kling #Suno #generativeAI #contentcreation #entrepreneurship #futureofwork #vankaai #bossmodepodcast

What happens when a software engineer turned investment manager meets the AI-powered future of work? Dr. Adam Link of Fireweed Capital joins David Lee to explore why contrarian thinking beats optimization in markets, the real debate between diversification and concentration, and how AI might transform everyone into 10x entrepreneurs.

From the mountains of Alaska covered in fireweed to self-driving food trucks and the death of SYSCO-style mediocrity—this conversation covers serious ground until Adam's dog delivers the ultimate physiological reality check.

🔗 Learn more about Fireweed Capital: https://www.fireweedcapital.com

🔗 Learn more about Vanka AI: https://www.vanka.ai

CHAPTERS:

0:00 – Introduction: Meet Dr. Adam Link0:41 – Why "Fireweed"? Alaska origins & contrarian branding2:03 – Optimization vs. contrarianism in markets3:34 – Active management vs. passive indexing explained5:20 – Diversification vs. concentration: The real tradeoff7:43 – Warren Buffett's secret: Buying companies, not stocks9:38 – When does active management make sense?11:34 – Unpacking risk tolerance, bandwidth, and fees15:00 – The fee structure debate: What advisors actually charge22:00 – Why "safe" 60/40 portfolios aren't actually safe28:00 – Market timing: The myth and the math35:00 – AI tools for retail investors: Leveling the playing field?42:00 – The human-AI collaboration in investment decisions48:00 – Vanka AI: Building the post-employment operating system55:00 – The 10x engineer becomes the 10x entrepreneur1:02:00 – AI templates and the "stretchiness" of automation1:10:00 – Self-driving food trucks and the death of mediocrity1:13:26 – UBI reimagined: Cushioning creative iteration1:16:48 – When nature calls: Adam's dog ends the show

#investing #AI #entrepreneurship #activeinvesting #futureofwork #contrarian #fireweedcapital #vankaai #bossmodepodcast

IRL Events in the Post-Employment Economy | BOSS MODE #016

Ritesh Patel, CEO of Ticket Fairy and Y Combinator alum, joins David Lee to discuss why in-person human connection will matter more than ever in the AI era—and how his platform is revolutionizing the live events industry.

With 25 years of event production experience and over 400 events under his belt before founding Ticket Fairy, Ritesh shares hard-won insights on what it really takes to make events profitable, why most event organizers are barely breaking even, and how his platform delivers 20-25% revenue bumps through innovative referral mechanics.

The conversation explores the parallels between running events and building startups, the importance of saying "I don't know," what Y Combinator actually teaches founders, and Ticket Fairy's new capital program offering up to $3M in non-dilutive financing for events.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 – Introduction1:04 – Why in-person connection matters more than ever1:34 – What Ticket Fairy does and the challenges of the live events industry4:54 – The importance of opinionated, expert-driven tools for creators6:49 – The referral mechanic that drives 20-25% revenue increases9:59 – Why profitable events are rare and what changes the equation11:39 – Founder vision: working backwards from the future14:19 – Full-stack business orchestration and VC skepticism15:00 – AI, automation, and leveling the playing field for small teams19:00 – Finding your beachhead: land and expand strategy21:03 – From college house parties to 400 events and DIY live streaming in 200024:27 – The truth about building: every day is hard27:00 – Building founder muscle through hardship30:00 – Gen Z, college skepticism, and the broken social contract33:45 – Learning for curiosity vs. learning for a job38:09 – Cross-disciplinary insights that become products41:22 – The power of saying "I don't know"45:45 – Why lived experience creates better products54:19 – What makes Y Combinator actually work58:04 – Startup School, mentorship, and peer support at scale1:02:25 – Ticket Fairy's new capital program: up to $3M in event financing1:06:55 – How the financing works and why it matters

CONNECT

Ritesh Patel / Ticket Fairy: https://www.ticketfairy.comDavid Lee / Vanka AI: https://www.vanka.ai

David Lee sits down with Daria Kulachek, creator of the (Un)solicited Deck Peek newsletter and one of LA's go-to resources for tech events. They explore how AI is reshaping creativity, entrepreneurship, and the future of work—from the democratization of content creation to the declining need for startup capital.Topics include: the post-COVID return to in-person networking, AI fact-checking workflows, Netflix's algorithm-driven content strategy, solo founders building with AI tools, agentic commerce and consumer trust, immigration policy in an automated economy, and finding meaning in a world where jobs are disappearing.🔗 Subscribe to Daria's newsletter: https://unsoliciteddeckpeek.beehiiv.com/

🔗 Learn more about Vanka AI: https://www.vanka.aiFollow Daria:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariakulachek/

https://www.instagram.com/daria.kulachek

https://www.x.com/dariakulachekFollow David:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidyhlee

https://www.instagram.com/davidyhlee

https://www.x.com/davidyhleeFollow Vanka AI:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/vanka-ai/

https://www.instagram.com/vanka.ai

https://www.x.com/vanka-aiCHAPTERS00:00 Introduction & Daria's Newsletter Origins02:30 Post-COVID Networking & AI Freeing Up Time05:00 AI Fact-Checking and Fighting Hallucinations07:00 Netflix, Warner Brothers & Media Misinformation10:00 Algorithm-Driven Content & the BookTok Pipeline13:00 The Future of Personalized AI-Generated Stories17:30 Democratizing Creation: Anyone Can Make Movies21:00 Spotify for Video & Creator-Direct Platforms24:00 The Rise of Solo Founders27:00 Vanka AI & Building with AI Tools30:00 Why Startups Need Less Capital Now33:00 AI Agents as Consumer Representatives37:00 The Trust Problem with AI Commerce40:00 Who Can Afford $100/Month AI Tools?43:00 When AI Takes the Jobs: Immigration & Tech Careers50:00 Why Immigration Policy Is Tightening54:00 Global Access to Capital & VCs Going Worldwide58:00 The Vanka Pre-Seed Fund Model1:00:00 "The Bubble Is Labor" — Jobs as Side Effect1:04:00 The Case for Universal Basic Income1:06:00 Urgency: Sustenance and Meaning in Crisis1:10:00 Finding Meaning Through Community & Creation1:13:00 Time as the Most Precious Resource1:15:30 Closing: Entrepreneurship as the New MindsetAbout Vanka

Vanka AI is the operating system for autonomous company operation. You focus on the most human aspects of your business, while Vanka autonomously operates and keeps you in the loop. Solo founders and small teams with Vanka are positioned to compete -- and win -- in any market, against any competitor.

In this episode of the Boss Mode Podcast, David Lee sits down with Sam Hyun, the Director of Government Relations at the Asian American Foundation and co-founder of the sneaker brand 1587. They discuss the cultural significance of 1587, the challenges and opportunities faced by Asian Americans, the impact of automation on the job market, and the importance of resilience and mindset in navigating life's challenges. Sam shares insights from his personal journey, the role of community in building a brand, and the need for individuals to embrace entrepreneurship in a changing economy. The conversation emphasizes the importance of empathy, personal growth, and the power of creating value in today's society.TakeawaysSam Hyun emphasizes the importance of being unapologetically oneself.The sneaker brand 1587 was created to challenge stereotypes about Asian Americans.Building a community around a brand can lead to organic growth and brand ambassadors.The American dream is still alive, but it requires resilience and adaptability.Automation poses significant challenges to the job market, necessitating a shift towards entrepreneurship.Individualism can lead to isolation; community support is crucial.Resilience is key to overcoming challenges and finding purpose in life.Empathy should be balanced with empowerment, not enabling victimhood.Creating value is essential in a changing economy where traditional jobs are disappearing.Personal growth often comes from navigating failures and learning from them.Sound bites"We said, we're just going to do it ourselves.""The future of work is about creating value.""There's no losses. It's wins and lessons."Chapters00:00 Introduction to Sam Hyun and 1587 Sneaker Brand02:41 The Birth of 1587: Unapologetically Asian American05:33 Building a Cultural Brand and Community07:47 The American Dream: Opportunities and Challenges10:40 Automation and the Future of Work12:47 Community and Individualism in Modern Society15:27 Navigating Change and Resilience18:11 Empathy and Authenticity in Business20:25 The Role of Leadership and Collective Solutions23:03 Finding Purpose and Overcoming Adversity25:46 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Opportunity38:32 Building a Legacy for Future Generations39:06 The Power of Unconventional Stories41:02 The Act of Creation as a Human Necessity42:37 Mindset Shifts in a Changing Economy45:19 Overcoming Scarcity Mindset and Jealousy47:30 The Role of Education in Shaping Resilience51:24 The Importance of Personal Records in Competition54:00 Learning from Failure and Resilience59:30 Teaching Kids to Embrace Failure01:02:16 Navigating the Future of Work and Automation01:07:39 Empowering the Next Generation to Create

Follow Sam:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-hyun/

https://x.com/SamuelJHyun

https://www.instagram.com/samueljhyun/

Follow David:https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidyhleehttps://www.instagram.com/davidyhleehttps://www.x.com/davidyhleeFollow Vanka AI:https://www.linkedin.com/company/vanka-ai/https://www.instagram.com/vanka.aihttps://www.x.com/vanka-ai

Sam Hyun, 1587 Sneakers, Asian American culture, entrepreneurship, automation, American dream, resilience, social media, community building, personal growth, Vanka, AI, Vanka AI, autonomous company, solopreneur, authenticity

From Orphan on the Streets to Successful Entrepreneur: Eric McDaniel's Incredible Journey | Boss Mode PodcastIn this powerful episode of the Boss Mode Podcast, David Lee and John Lagerling sit down with Eric McDaniel—a Korean adoptee who was abandoned on the streets of Seoul at age 3, adopted by an American family, and later returned to Korea to build multiple successful businesses in nightlife and entertainment.Eric shares his remarkable story of transformation, from living on the streets to becoming an elite baseball player, and eventually building one of Korea's most successful nightlife venues. We dive deep into the mindset that allowed him to thrive despite incredible adversity, the role of grit and authenticity in entrepreneurship, and how AI is reshaping the way we build and create.This conversation explores what it truly means to hold a vision, face your shadows, and choose to be the hero of your own story.🎙️ **Guest:** Eric McDaniel - Entrepreneur, Brand Activation Specialist, Host of The Quiet Truth Official Podcast---**CHAPTERS:**0:00 - Introduction & Eric's Background2:45 - Returning to Korea in 2008: A Reverse Immigrant's Journey3:30 - The Vivid Memory of Abandonment5:00 - From Teaching English to Entrepreneurship5:45 - Fearlessness in the Face of Rejection6:30 - Grit: Lessons from Being a Student Athlete7:15 - Listening to the Right Part of Yourself9:00 - The Korean Adoptee Chef Who Got 2 Michelin Stars10:30 - Staying Positive Despite Life's Hardships12:00 - When to Walk Away: Knowing When to Pivot16:00 - The Connection Between Grit and Passion19:00 - Visualization & The Mind-Muscle Connection20:15 - The Art of Storytelling in Leadership22:00 - Survival as the Greatest Asset24:00 - World Building: Living in the Future Before It Happens25:30 - Holding Vision vs. Setting Goals28:00 - The Immigrant Advantage in Entrepreneurship33:30 - Why Immigrants Often Succeed as Founders36:30 - AI as a Tool for Unshackling Human Potential40:00 - Authenticity in the Age of AI42:00 - Why Authenticity is the Only Edge Left46:00 - Why 95% of Enterprise AI Projects Fail50:00 - How Eric Uses AI for Baseball Analytics & Brand Activations55:30 - Building Teams in the AI Era1:00:00 - Prompting AI Like an Entrepreneur1:01:30 - The Future: Neuralink, Telepathy & Shared Consciousness1:03:30 - Hero or Villain: The Choice is Yours1:05:00 - Embracing Your Shadow: Batman vs. Joker1:08:00 - Why Being Good is Harder Than Being Evil1:09:00 - Closing Thoughts & Gratitude---**Connect with us:**🔗 Vanka AI: https://www.vanka.ai🔗 Eric McDaniel / The Quiet Truth Official: https://www.youtube.com/@TheQuietTruthOfficial#entrepreneurship #koreanamerican #aiinbusiness #grit #authenticity #immigrantstory #bossmodepocast #vankaai

In this episode, Dee Deng (Founder & CEO of Right Hook Digital) takes us behind the scenes of a powerful marketing automation he built over a weekend using N8N. This is tactical, practical AI implementation at its finest.

Dee walks through his custom-built workflow that transforms hours of manual research into automated competitive analysis for direct-to-consumer brands. The system automatically scrapes competitors' social media ads, analyzes messaging patterns, extracts insights, and generates strategic recommendations—all through a simple Google Form.

This conversation demonstrates why AI isn't a bubble: real business owners are building real automation that solves real problems, today. We explore creative strategy automation, the evolution of agency work, and why the future belongs to builders with high agency.Key Topics:N8N workflow automation for marketing researchAutomating competitive analysis for D2C brandsFeatures vs. benefits in performance marketingAPI integration across Meta, Instagram, TikTokMultimodal AI analysis (image + text)The death of traditional agency departmentsWhy labor costs are driving AI adoptionPredicting the future by building it🔗 Want this automation for your brand? Visit righthookdigital.comCHAPTERS00:00 - Introduction & Right Hook Digital00:53 - The Research Problem in Performance Marketing03:00 - Features vs. Benefits vs. Lifestyle Marketing05:49 - Brand Strategy Meets Creative Strategy06:45 - Automating the Agency: The Framework07:10 - Demo: The Google Form Interface08:08 - How the Automation Works for Employees09:30 - The Output: 50 Ads Analyzed Automatically09:52 - What Data Gets Extracted14:00 - Multimodal Analysis: Images + Text + Captions18:30 - API Integration: Meta, Instagram, TikTok22:15 - Processing Workflow in N8N26:45 - LLM Analysis & Strategic Insights32:20 - Cost Analysis: Pennies Per Brand Research35:40 - Time Saved: Hours to Minutes38:50 - Built Over a Weekend with Vibe Coding42:30 - The Professional Doom Scrollers45:15 - Extending Automation Across the Value Chain48:30 - Next Steps: More Workflow Automation52:00 - Nvidia Earnings & AI Bubble Discussion58:30 - Why Dee Built This as CEO59:32 - The AI Tipping Point1:00:47 - Labor Costs & The Service Economy Problem1:01:40 - The Meaning of Money in an AI Future1:03:07 - Don't Be the Samurai with a Sword1:05:38 - Predicting the Future by Building It1:06:11 - High Agency People Make Their Own Outcomes1:06:42 - Closing ThoughtsABOUT THE HOSTSDavid Lee - Co-Founder of Vanka AI, the autonomous company creation OS. Serial entrepreneur with two exits. Co-host of The Boss Mode Podcast exploring how AI enables everyone to activate CEO-level capabilities. www.vanka.aiDee Deng - Founder & CEO of Right Hook Digital, a performance marketing agency specializing in direct-to-consumer brands. Co-host of the Boss Mode Podcast. Builder, marketer, and AI automation enthusiast.

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy just dropped a bombshell: mass layoffs are "the new reality." In this Halloween episode of Boss Mode, we explore what happens when AI and robotics fundamentally transform the economy—from autonomous business creation to humanoid robots in your home.

David Lee (Co-Founder, Vanka AI) and Dee Deng (Founder, Hook Digital) discuss how AI is reshaping agencies, what founders should do after getting laid off, and why the top 1% of every industry needs to stop resting on their laurels. Plus: the wild future of miniature robots, AI-powered investment funds, and why Meta knows everything about you (but might still get it wrong).

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Amazon's 11,000 Layoffs: The New Reality

02:00 - What To Do When You Get Laid Off

04:00 - AI Tools Replacing Entire Teams at Agencies

09:00 - The Top 1% Problem: Expertise vs. AI Automation

13:00 - Investing in Clients: The July Luggage Story

18:00 - Evaluating Rocket Ship Brands: Data vs. Founders

24:00 - Why the Driver Matters More Than the Vehicle

26:00 - Vanka's AI-Powered Investment Fund Strategy

31:00 - Neo Home Robot & The Future of Domestic AI

40:00 - Black Mirror Scenarios: When Robots Go Wrong

47:00 - Mini Oompa Loompas: The Case for Tiny Humanoid Robots

52:00 - AI Agents & The Death of Traditional Commerce

Vanka AI: https://www.vanka.ai

Right Hook Digital: https://www.righthookdigital.com

David Lee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidyhlee

Dee Deng: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deedeng/