He was laid off in COVID, down to his last penny, and taught himself to code on the night shift of a barbed-wire Colombian gold mine. Now he builds AI employees that run entire businesses. The lesson underneath it: while everyone chases the shiny agents, he mastered the fundamentals first — and that's the whole game.

🎧 Close more by striving less. Rewire your nervous system with the free DreamState audios → https://www.dreamstatelivin.com/future-authoring (or comment STATE on Instagram and I'll send them).

In this episode, Dan Gauerke breaks down the real path from zero to AI operator: how he went from make.com automations to building LeadLock (his voice-AI platform) and Big Dog (the AI employee that runs his go-to-market). We get into RAG, context engineering, the 3 stages of AI, why 80–90% of the work is planning, sub-agents and orchestrators, cron jobs and daemons, and where voice AI is headed in the next 12 months.

You'll walk away knowing exactly where you actually are on the AI curve — and the next move to make instead of getting overwhelmed and quitting.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

00:00 From the gold mine to the frontier of AI

00:30 20 on, 10 off: life inside an armored Colombian mine

01:48 No TV, no distractions: teaching himself code on the night shift

02:20 ChatGPT lands (Nov 2022) and everything shifts

02:50 Contract ends — forced into entrepreneurship

05:19 The path: make.com → n8n → agents → Claude Code

06:34 First client Max Toro & building the whole infrastructure

07:32 RAG explained: 400 videos into an AI that answers in your voice

09:32 The voice-AI gap → building LeadLock

10:20 Why emotion-aware speech-to-speech is the future

12:07 What LeadLock actually does for agencies

13:02 Voice agents for appointment setting: keep the scope small

15:26 AI employees & the trust problem: automate the boring admin first

18:02 What actually makes an agent an agent (tools, sub-agents, orchestrator)

21:06 Context engineering: why most of the work is planning

27:16 Beating overwhelm: think in systems, first principles

29:34 The 3 stages of AI — and where you actually are

32:29 Stage 3: commanding AI employees from your phone

37:12 Meet Big Dog: building a go-to-market AI employee

40:25 Rebuilding Big Dog inside the agentic OS (the 15-stage plan)

44:42 How agents run for hours: /loop, /goal & daemons

48:09 Where AI goes in the next 12 months

50:03 Are they getting us addicted? Fable, pricing & the honest close

🔗 GUEST — DAN GAUERKE

Instagram: https://instagram.com/danielgauerke

🛠️ TOOLS MENTIONED

Claude Code · Apify · ElevenLabs · Higgsfield · NotebookLM · S

👇 CONNECT WITH DREAMSTATE

Subscribe for more conversations on AI, state control & closing without the grind.

Book a call: https://www.dreamstatelivin.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ethantryx

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0qqtjisw9huL8HkxkXIRpy

#AIagents #ClaudeCode #AIautomation #DreamState #highperforman

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Spotify variant (shorter)

Dan Gauerke taught himself to code on the night shift of a barbed-wire Colombian gold mine after being laid off in COVID. Now he builds AI employees

that run entire businesses. In this episode he breaks down theI operator — his voice-AI platform LeadLock, Big Dog (hisgo-to-market AI employee), RAG, context engineering, the 3 stages of AI, and where voice AI is headed next. The through-line: master the fundamentals

before you chase the shiny agents.

Close more by striving less — get the free DreamState audios: in.com/future-authoring (or comment STATE on IG).

Guest: Dan Gauerke — https://instagram.com/danielgauerke

Book a call: https://www.dreamstatelivin.com

Every once in a while I bring a guest on the podcast and we just bounce off each other and I don’t run out of questions to ask. This conversation with Mike was one of them.

Mike Romano came on and we went deep on faith, surrender, identity, manifestation, stillness, sales, and what it really means to live in alignment with God.

We talked about the trap of trying to control everything, the illusion of “creating your own reality” without surrender, and why real power comes when you stop forcing and start listening. Mike shared the story of missing a major milestone in his solar career by one, how that shattered his identity, and how it ultimately led him into a deeper walk with God and a more aligned path.

We also got into Be. Do. Have., servant-led sales, dopamine detox, intuition vs logic, Neville Goddard, Abraham Hicks, visualization, and the difference between building from ego versus building from divine flow.

This one’s for anyone who’s felt that tension between ambition and surrender… between grinding for the life you want and trusting there may be a better one waiting for you.

Hope you guys enjoy the conversation.

Follow @ethantryx & @themikeromano for more content like this.

How do you actually live the righteous path as a man today?Stay connected:Instagram: @DreamStateLivinInstagram: @EthanTryXInstagram: @LawOfAttraction850Twitter/X: @ZamboGoHardIn this episode, Andrew Zambetti breaks down what it really means to live with discipline, faith, and intention — without falling into the traps that most people never escape.We talk about building real confidence through action, not talk. Cutting out distractions. And understanding that the same habits that can destroy you can also be redirected into power, focus, and purpose.This isn’t about sacrifice.It’s about alignment.When your actions match your values, everything starts to move — your health, your relationships, your money, your peace.Andrew shares his daily practices, the role of God in his life, and how discipline in one area transfers into every other area.If you’re serious about becoming someone you respect… this is for you.What we cover:What the “righteous path” actually meansWhy discipline creates real confidenceHow to eliminate distractions and take controlThe truth about addiction and redirected energyDaily habits that build strength, clarity, and purposeKey takeaway:Living the right way doesn’t take from you — it multiplies everything.

This one went deep.Ste is back for round 2, and this wasn’t just another podcast… this turned into a real conversation about life, responsibility, and what it actually means to grow.We started with a simple idea:Why do we train?And it led into something much bigger.⸻We talked about: • Training your body and mind to become more response-able in life • The gap between reaction and response—and how most people live stuck in reaction • Why being in your head is killing your peace (and how to come back to your heart) • Parenting, pressure, and how most people are unconsciously passing down trauma • Letting go of control and raising children with trust instead of fear • The difference between information vs. implementation (and why most people stay stuck) • Masculine vs. feminine energy—and why the world is out of balance right now • What real wealth actually is (and why money alone isn’t it)⸻This conversation is about awareness.It’s about stepping out of autopilot…Getting out of your head…And actually living your life with intention.Drop a comment and let us know if you want Ste back for round 3.⚡ Join DreamStatewww.dreamstatemastermind.com🔗 Connect with Ste: • Instagram: @thestelane • Podcast: Radical Health Radio (@radicalhealthradio)

In this episode, I sit down with Mike Rosenfeld — peak performance coach and co-founder of Centrada — whose mission is to rewire high performers from reactivity to regulation so they can execute with clarity, live in flow, and achieve real success.Mike has worked with world-class performers like Novak Djokovic, professional fighters, and Jamie Foxx, helping them access flow state and operate at the highest level.But this isn’t just about performance.We dive into Mike’s past — his struggles with addiction, the internal battles he faced, and how that path shaped who he is today.This is about getting out of chaos…and learning how to operate from clarity and control.⸻🔗 Connect with Mike: • https://www.centrada.co • Instagram: @mikejrosenfeld⸻🔥 Join DreamState:→ www.dreamstatemastermind.com@Dreamstatelivin on IG

In this episode of the DreamState Livin Podcast, Clayton Muehlstein shares his raw and transformative journey through adversity — including his time in LA County Jail and the lessons that led him to write Why Me.This conversation goes deep into the idea of mental jails — the invisible prisons created by fear, judgment, and self-perception — and how self-awareness is the key to breaking free.Clayton explains why pain is inevitable, but suffering is a choice, and how embracing discomfort, discipline, and self-love can completely reshape your life. We also explore his experiences living with monks, pushing physical limits, and why never quitting on yourself is the real difference between stagnation and transformation.If you’re navigating hardship, feeling stuck, or questioning your path — this episode will challenge your perspective and remind you what’s possible when you stay in the fight.⸻🔑 Topics Covered: • Overcoming adversity and personal hardship • Life lessons from LA County Jail • Breaking free from mental prisons • Self-awareness and self-love • Discipline, sacrifice, and growth • Living with monks and learning detachment • Physical challenges and mental resilience • Why perseverance changes everything

🚀 Breaking Free from the Rat Race — Living Life on YOUR Terms in Colombia 🇨🇴

Richard is one of those people I met while living in Colombia that I instantly connected with. One of the guys that reminds me why I love living abroad — you meet someone from a different upbringing, different culture… and somehow you vibe immediately. You learn from each other, challenge each other, and you are building a life in the same country for the same reason: freedom.

In this episode, I sit down with Rich (@richardcawkill) to break down what it really looks like to walk away from the rat race and design a life you actually want to live.

We get into:

• Escaping the 9–5 grind

• How remote work buys back your TIME

• Why Colombia is a hotspot for entrepreneurs

• Lower cost of living = higher creativity + courage

• The privilege of living abroad & giving back

• Cultural differences, presence, and slowing life down

• How lifestyle directly fuels productivity, purpose, and growth

If you’ve ever felt the pull to live differently… to break out of autopilot… to actually design your life… this one is for you.

Press play. Your new chapter might start here.

— Ethan (@DreamStateLivin) 🎙️

For the last 10 months I’ve been living a dream I wrote about years ago:

Leave the States. Move to South America. Learn Spanish. Build my own thing.

In this episode, I break down the real story behind that dream – the good, the brutal, and the sacred. This isn’t a travel vlog. It’s a debrief of a man redesigning his life from the ground up.

In this episode I talk about:

• Landing in Colombia for a DreamState event and never really going back

• Santa Marta, Cartagena, Bogotá, Medellín – what I honestly think of each city

• Why Laureles > Poblado for the way I live

• My month in Bogotá: loneliness, culture shock, and being forced into Spanish

• Falling in love with Medellín – community, CrossFit, routine, and feeling “home”

• Running a brutal 75K ultra in San Juan, Argentina (and getting cut at 50K)

• Getting stuck at La Paz immigration at 4 a.m. after an ultra and using ChatGPT to escape

• La Paz, Bolivia – altitude, training like a savage, and climbing Pequeño Alpamayo in pure fear

• Hosting one of my favorite DreamState retreats in Peru and why that event was so special

• Coming back to Medellín for three of the most challenging months of my life

We also go deep on:

• The whole “passport bro” conversation: cost of living, respect, and gentrification

• How to live abroad without becoming a disrespectful caricature of a foreigner

• Learning Spanish as a 30-year-old: humiliation, brain fatigue, and tiny wins that change everything

• Dating in South America – language barriers, heartbreak, hyper-feminine women, and masculine tests

• The difference in femininity between Latin culture and the modern West

• Making friends abroad: run clubs, gyms, coffee shops, saying “yes” to life

• The dark side of cheap rent: when comfort turns into quiet laziness

• Being far from family, and why I’d rather be fully alive and present for 2 weeks a year

• The question I ask myself: What will 75-year-old me say about the life I chose?

This episode is for you if:

• You’ve thought about moving to Medellín, South America, or living abroad

• You’re curious about cost of living, danger, dating, and culture from someone actually living it

• You feel the pull to live a life by design, but you’re scared of leaving comfort

• You’re a man working on your emotional intelligence, purpose, and masculinity

If you want a deeper breakdown of a specific city (Medellín, Buenos Aires, La Paz, Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, etc.) drop a comment with the city name and I’ll film a dedicated episode.

🔔 Subscribe to DreamState Livin for more real conversations on Dharma, travel, masculine growth, retreats, and building a life that actually feels like yours.

👍 If this episode hits home, like the video and share it with a friend who keeps talking about “moving abroad someday.”

living in Medellin, living in Medellin Colombia, living in South America, expat life South America, digital nomad Medellin, Laureles vs Poblado, living in Bogotá, Cartagena vs Medellin, La Paz Bolivia altitude, Pequeño Alpamayo climb, Buenos Aires travel, running a 75k ultra marathon, San Juan Argentina ultra, DreamState Livin podcast, Ethan Tryhubczak, life by design, emotional intelligence for men, dating in Colombia, dating in South America, passport bros explained, cost of living Medellin, learning Spanish in Colombia, masculine and feminine energy, leaving the matrix, designing your life, remote work in South America, Medellin safety, Laureles neighborhood guide

#DreamStateLivin #Medellin #SouthAmerica #DigitalNomad #LifeByDesign #LearningSpanish #MensWork #EmotionalIntelligence

I came across Ste @thestelane a while back after he had my friend Steve co-owner of Nads on his podcast. I loved Ste’s delivery, his grounded energy, and the way he spoke with truth.Recently, after we both had Jacob Donahue on our podcasts, we connected deeper — and this conversation felt like meeting a future version of myself… just with a British accent.In this episode, we dive into what it really means to live life by design, the courage to face fear, and the power of vulnerability and community in healing. We talk about emotional expression, the illusion of separateness, and how physical challenges like CrossFit can forge resilience and connection.This one humbled me. It reminded me how much I still have to learn — and how beautiful that realization is.🎧 Follow Ste’s show: Radical Health Radio (@radicalhealthradio) (@thestelane) on instagram🎙 Follow DreamState Livin (@dreamstatelivin) and Ethan (@ethantryx)

Uncomfortable truths, Relentless discipline, Unforgettable life lessons.

In this episode, I sit down with my brother Steve Peck to dive into his journey from the Marine Corps into the police academy. What really stood out to me in this conversation is how training, whether it’s in the Marines or in the academy, gives you structure and discipline — but the focus and intensity are completely different. We talk about how mental toughness is often the biggest hurdle to overcome in high-stress environments, and how sobriety has given Steve more clarity, sharper performance, and an edge in both his personal and professional life.

We don’t shy away from the hard parts either. Policing carries an emotional toll that most people on the outside don’t see, and we dig into how important it is to acknowledge that reality while building emotional intelligence and empathy. We also explore how social media shapes public perception of law enforcement, and why physical fitness standards need to be addressed in a profession that demands so much from the body and mind.

For me, this conversation is about more than just careers or training. It’s about the commitment to personal goals, and how that commitment leads to growth. It’s about why real-world experience and the people you surround yourself with can often be more valuable than a degree. And ultimately, it’s about empathy — choosing to understand people, to connect, and to serve in a way that elevates both yourself and the community around you.