Automation should not drain creativity. It should restore it.

In this episode of the Rebellious Times Podcast, Chris Januszewski speaks with Isaac Hicks, CEO of Autonomi, about how intelligent automation is reshaping work. More importantly, they explore how AI can improve the human experience at work.

Isaac began his career in aerospace engineering. Over time, he moved into business transformation and consulting. That journey led him to found Autonomi, a company focused on eliminating repetitive, soul-crushing tasks through custom AI-powered automation.

Key Highlights:

Why understanding business processes matters more than tools

How automation improves employee experience

The difference between job descriptions and real work

Where AI delivers real ROI

Why sales and marketing are becoming more human again

How automation supports, not replaces, people

Perfect for:
• Founders and operators
• Sales, marketing, and HR leaders
• Companies exploring AI for ROI
• Teams overwhelmed by manual work

Isaac makes one thing clear.
AI fails when businesses skip fundamentals.

Before automation works, leaders must understand what work is actually happening. Job descriptions often miss the real tasks people perform every day. As a result, automation initiatives fall short.

When companies map processes correctly, AI becomes powerful. It removes friction. It restores focus. And it gives people time back.

As automation increases, something unexpected is happening.
Human interaction is becoming more valuable.

Isaac explains why sales and marketing are shifting back toward genuine conversations. Cold calling, once dismissed, is returning. Trust and relevance now matter more than volume.

AI handles the noise.
Humans handle relationships.

This episode reframes automation.
It is not about replacing people.
It is about giving them autonomy.

If your team is buried in administrative work, this conversation will change how you think about AI.

Autonomi links:

Hiring is one of the hardest problems in business.
For small companies, it is also one of the most expensive.

In this episode of the Rebellious Times Podcast, Chris Januszewski speaks with Josh Hill, CEO of SuperHired, about why traditional hiring processes fail and how a new mindset can change everything.

Josh brings a unique background to the HR world. He transitioned from military service into human resources, where he saw firsthand how broken hiring systems damage teams, culture, and performance. As a result, he now advocates for treating work as a product — something intentionally designed, not hastily filled.

Key Highlights

Why traditional hiring is inefficient and risky

What it means to treat work as a product

Why hiring should be a matchmaking exercise

How AI should act as a copilot, not a replacement

The real cost of bad hires for small businesses

Why diversity improves decision-making and outcomes

Perfect for:
• Founders and small business owners
• HR and people-ops leaders
• Startup executives hiring their first teams
• Anyone navigating AI in the workplace

Josh’s experience in the military shaped how he thinks about teams, accountability, and trust. However, when he entered the HR world, he noticed a major disconnect.

Too often, companies rush to fill seats. As a result, they hire good people into the wrong roles. Over time, this creates frustration, burnout, and attrition.

Instead, Josh argues that hiring should focus on fit, chemistry, and clarity. When work is intentionally designed, people can succeed — and teams become stronger.

AI is changing HR. However, Josh is clear about its role.

AI should augment human-led hiring, not replace it. At SuperHired, AI helps surface great candidates. Humans then do the hard work of connection, context, and trust-building.

This approach supports diversity, reduces bias, and leads to better long-term outcomes — especially for smaller teams where every hire matters.

The conversation closes on a lighter note. Josh shares his passion for gardening, which he describes as a meditative practice.

In many ways, it mirrors his hiring philosophy. Growth takes time. Results require patience. And strong foundations matter more than speed.

Josh Hill links:

Building strength is not just about lifting weights. It is also about building character.

In this episode of the Rebellious Times Podcast, Chris Januszewski sits down with John Solleder, host of The John Solleder Podcast, to explore what it takes to achieve at a high level in athletics, business, and life. John brings decades of experience across martial arts, powerlifting, sales, and mentorship, along with a rare ability to simplify complex ideas.

John is a world-record bench presser. He is also a lifelong martial artist with deep roots in judo and ground arts. However, his story goes far beyond competition. This conversation focuses on discipline, resilience, community, and self-development — values that carry from sports into business and family life.

Key Highlights

Why ground arts and judo teach real-world resilience

The importance of fun in youth sports

How discipline grows through enjoyable challenges

Lessons from powerlifting communities and mentorship

Why simplifying complex products drives sales success

Balancing ambition with family and long-term health

Perfect for:
• Entrepreneurs and sales leaders
• Coaches and mentors
• Parents navigating youth sports
• Athletes transitioning into business
• Anyone focused on long-term personal growth

From Athletics to Business Discipline:

John explains that sports are a metaphor for life. The habits learned on the mat and under the barbell often translate directly into professional success. According to John, resilience is built when people learn to stick with hard things — especially when progress feels slow.

Later in the conversation, John shares how those same principles shaped his success in network marketing and product sales. By simplifying scientific products into messages people could understand, he helped bring complex solutions to everyday consumers.

Throughout the episode, one theme stands out: community matters.

John believes strong communities help people stay consistent, accountable, and healthy — whether in sports, business, or family life. He also emphasizes mentorship, reminding listeners that wisdom can come from anyone, regardless of title or status.

As John puts it, longevity is not about intensity alone. Instead, it is about balance, relationships, and showing up consistently.

This episode is also meaningful on a personal level. John hosts a well-established podcast and generously supported Rebellious Times by sharing his platform and experience. His willingness to help other creators reflects the same leadership mindset he brings to athletics and business.

John Solleder links:

Austin, Texas continues to shine as one of America’s fastest-growing startup hubs and The Rebellious Times Podcast is back with the second installment of the Austin Tech Series (ATX2) to highlight the innovators behind the movement.

In this episode, Chris Januszewski reconnects with Tiberiu Motoc, CTO and Co-Founder of CommerceShip, to explore how AI is transforming the shipping and logistics industry. From their early days working together in Palo Alto to building companies side-by-side in Austin, Chris and Tiberiu share a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, technology, and community.

CommerceShip helps brands reduce shipping costs by an average of 30%. The do this by providing intelligent insights that simplify one of the most complex parts of modern commerce — getting products from warehouses to customers efficiently and affordably.

Key Highlights

How AI is revolutionizing shipping logistics

Why the shipping industry’s complexity creates opportunity

CommerceShip’s mission to save brands time and money

Insights from Austin’s thriving startup ecosystem

The power of community and collaboration among entrepreneurs

Perfect for:
• E-commerce founders and operators
• Logistics and supply chain professionals
• Tech enthusiasts exploring AI in real-world industries
• Entrepreneurs inspired by Austin’s tech ecosystem

AI: The New Engine of Shipping Efficiency

As global commerce grows, shipping remains one of the most expensive and operationally complex areas for brands. CommerceShip simplifies this with a platform that connects stores, warehouses, and carrier networks. Their innovative solution leads with data-driven insights, automation and real-time recommendations.

Tiberiu explains how AI is a game changer for logistics optimization, allowing teams to dynamically adjust carrier mix, improve delivery times, and reduce costs. All while improving customer experience.

Austin Roots and Entrepreneurial Grit

Old friends Chris and Tiberiu have walked similar paths from Silicon Valley tech to Austin entrepreneurs. Their shared experience on the soccer field and in the startup trenches brings warmth and authenticity to this episode.

They reflect on how Austin’s startup culture encourages collaboration over competition and how community engagement often leads to the most meaningful product breakthroughs.

About CommerceShip

CommerceShip is a shipping optimization platform that helps brands and 3PLs make smarter shipping decisions. By connecting systems, CommerceShip provides analytics, intelligence, and automation that reduce shipping spend and improve delivery performance.

CommerceShip links:

Behind every AI model, every chatbot, and every connected device lies something invisible — the network infrastructure that makes it all possible.

In this episode of TheRebellious Times Podcast, Chris Januszewski sits down with Ryan Young, CEO of Kore-Tek, to discuss the unsung hero of the AI revolution: optical networking.

Ryan shares his unlikely journey from television production to leading a company that designs and manages the optical networks underpinning global data transmission — including undersea cable systems that keep our digital world connected.

This episode explores how AI’s explosive data requirements are reshaping the global networking landscape, and what it takes to build the next generation of resilient, high-speed digital infrastructure.

Key Highlights:

Why AI’s growth depends on advanced network infrastructure

The “second coming” of optical networking and its global impact

What it takes to deploy undersea cable systems

The evolving relationship between AI and data transmission

Lessons on leadership, resilience, and family balance

Perfect for:
• Tech and infrastructure professionals
• AI and data engineers
• Business leaders exploring digital transformation
• Students and entrepreneurs curious about the systems powering the internet

Work & Life: Beyond the technology, Ryan opens up about raising a child with Type 1 diabetes, balancing personal challenges with professional growth, and cultivating leadership within his team. This story illustrates how empathy, discipline, and adaptability create not just stronger networks but stronger leaders.

Kore-Tek was founded with a simple mission — to make complex, next-generation network transformations simple. From fiber network design to multi-technology optical systems, the company has built a reputation for reliable, scalable network infrastructure.

Ryan explains how the surge in AI adoption is driving massive demand for optical capacity. This has created what what he calls “a mini arms race of who can build faster.” His team’s expertise spans routing, switching, and high-performance architectures that keep organizations ahead in the race for bandwidth and speed.

Kore-Tek simplifies next-generation network transformation through unmatched optical engineering expertise. Trusted by major equipment manufacturers and technology service providers, Kore-Tek engineers plan, design, and manage the world’s most relied-upon networks.

Kore-Tek links:

“AI isn’t just a tool — it’s a team member.”

In this episode of The Rebellious Times Podcast, Chris Januszewski speaks with Matt White, CEO of Qebot, about how artificial intelligence is reshaping small-business operations.

Matt’s path from healthcare executive to tech founder offers a candid look at the challenges entrepreneurs face when adopting new technology. He explains how KeyBot and its parent platform, Qebot Marketplace, simplify the process by integrating essential business software into one smart, connected system.

Key Highlights

How KeyBot is making AI practical and affordable for SMBs

Why AI should be viewed as a collaborative team member

The importance of networking for entrepreneurial growth

Balancing innovation and work-life as a CEO

Future AI trends and their impact on small businesses

Perfect for:
• Small-business owners exploring AI
• Tech-curious entrepreneurs
• Startup founders balancing growth and simplicity
• Business consultants helping SMBs adopt technology

Tech:The future of entrepreneurship belongs to those who can blend automation with authentic customer connection. By treating AI as a team member, not a replacement, small businesses can compete with larger organizations and reclaim their most valuable resource — time.

Qebot was born from Matt White’s mission to help small businesses work smarter. Through Qebot’s integrated SaaS Marketplace, Qebot connects AI, marketing, automation, and operations tools into a single platform. This eliminates the need for multiple subscriptions and disconnected systems.

Matt emphasizes that entrepreneurs don’t need a data-science background to benefit from AI. Instead, they need technology that feels intuitive and human — helping them save time, improve customer engagement, and grow efficiently.

Qebot, powered by the Qebot Marketplace, is revolutionizing how businesses manage technology. By centralizing AI, automation, marketing, and communication tools into a single secure platform, Qebot helps teams reduce costs and boost productivity without sacrificing simplicity.

Qebot links:

Austin, Texas isn’t just home to live music and great barbecue, it’s also one of the fastest-growing startup ecosystems in the United States.

In this first episode of the Austin Tech Series (ATX1) from The Rebellious Times Podcast, Chris Januszewski sits down with Shivam Sheel, CEO of ProduceX. They explore how technology, trust, and innovation are transforming the fresh produce supply chain.

Shivam shares his journey from Pittsburgh to Austin. His story highlights how the city’s entrepreneurial energy and institutions like Capital Factory have supported his mission to build a more transparent and efficient food system.

Key Highlights

How Austin’s startup ecosystem supports innovation and collaboration

The technology behind ProduceX’s autonomous operating system for fresh produce

Solving supply chain challenges through trust, data, and visibility

The importance of resilience and mentorship for founders

Building a balanced life while scaling a startup

Perfect for:
• Austin founders and investors
• Supply chain and agtech innovators
• Entrepreneurs navigating the early-stage startup journey
• Anyone curious about Austin’s vibrant tech scene

As part of the Austin Tech Series (ATX), this episode celebrates the city’s culture of collaboration and innovation. Shivam shares how being surrounded by mission-driven founders and mentors has helped ProduceX scale with purpose.

ProduceX is on a mission to fix one of the world’s most overlooked problems: food waste caused by inefficiency and fragmentation. Up to 40% of fresh food is lost between the farm and the fork. Shivam and his team have built an AI-powered platform that brings clarity, automation, and accountability to every step of the produce journey.

By combining agentic AI with deep agricultural and supply chain expertise, ProduceX transforms a disconnected ecosystem into a unified, intelligent network where data flows seamlessly and trust is verifiable.

ProduceX is building the autonomous operating system for fresh produce. It is a unified platform where AI agents move data seamlessly across the value chain. The company’s mission is to create a transparent, intelligent, and sustainable food system by solving the information problem at the heart of the global supply chain

ProduceX links:

“AI is no longer just a technical discussion — it’s a strategic imperative.”

In this episode of The Rebellious Times Podcast, Chris Januszewski speaks with David Espíndola, founder and CEO of Brainyus, about helping small and medium-sized businesses navigate the fast-moving world of artificial intelligence.

A former Oracle executive and Chief Information Officer, David shares how his global career inspired the creation of Brainyus — a company that blends AI governance, education, and advisory services to help organizations transform responsibly. He explores why policies, trust, and culture are just as vital as technology itself.

Key Highlights:

The evolving role of CIOs in the age of AI

Why AI governance is essential for small businesses

How to build trust and reduce AI hallucinations

Preparing employees for change through training and transparency

What “technology with soul” means in a human-AI partnership

Perfect for:
• Business leaders adopting AI
• CIOs and IT directors modernizing strategy
• SMB owners exploring AI governance
• Consultants in digital transformation

Tech: The Human Side of AI Governance

True AI adoption isn’t about speed, it’s about alignment. Espíndola believes that trustworthy AI requires sound policy, strong leadership, and empathetic communication. For small businesses, AI governance ensures responsible use of technology while empowering employees to embrace change.

David Espíndola’s journey began in Silicon Valley as an engineer before rising to CIO roles and eventually founding Brainyus. His career taught him that technology alone cannot guarantee success — people and principles must guide every innovation.

At Brainyus, he helps leaders develop ethical AI strategies that balance innovation with trust. Through its three pillars — Media & Education, Advisory Services, and Technology Ventures — the company equips organizations to thrive in the age of AI without losing their human focus.

Brainyus helps humans and organizations thrive in the age of AI. Their consulting and educational services focus on AI governance, strategy development, and change management. By combining media, education, and advisory insights, Brainyus guides leaders to leverage AI responsibly and create lasting social impact.

Brainyus links:

“Diversity in the customer base is key.”

In this episode of The Rebellious Times Podcast, Chris Januszewski speaks with Dave Hall, CEO of Hallfield Controls, about building a resilient engineering company that thrives across economic cycles.

Dave’s story moves from starting a controls-engineering firm during the 2008 recession to leading a diverse, multi-industry business today. His journey reveals what engineering entrepreneurship looks like when it’s guided by adaptability, long-term thinking, and a deep commitment to people and community.

Key Highlights

Lessons from launching during a recession and surviving downturns

Why customer-base diversity keeps companies strong

How hardware + software collaboration drives innovation

The importance of building a versatile, values-driven team

Mental-health advocacy and mentorship in engineering culture

Perfect for:
• Engineers aspiring to start their own firm
• Business owners focused on resilience and growth
• Leaders balancing technology with people skills
• Entrepreneurs in manufacturing or automation

Tech: Blending Hardware and Software Innovation

Today’s engineering success relies on collaboration between physical systems and intelligent software. Hallfield Controls embodies that blend—delivering complex controls applications that solve real-world problems across manufacturing, testing, and defense.

Dave believes that great engineering entrepreneurship balances innovation with empathy. “Helping people resonates with me,” he says, emphasizing that technical excellence must go hand-in-hand with community service and mental-health awareness.

Dave Hall built Hallfield Controls from the ground up with a mission to deliver precise, reliable engineering solutions. Starting small in Big Lake, Minnesota, he learned to adapt services and strategy as markets shifted.

Hallfield Controls now provides customized industrial-automation and control-systems engineering for industries such as medical devices, aerospace, and fluid-control systems. Dave credits the company’s longevity to hiring talented people, diversifying markets, and continually learning new technologies.

Founded in 2009, Hallfield Controls is a Minnesota-based engineering company specializing in customized control systems for industries nationwide. With expertise in industrial automation, fluid control, test & measurement, aerospace, and medical manufacturing, Hallfield Controls provides long-term, results-driven solutions tailored to each client’s needs.

Aces Nation links: