In this episode of The Long Game, host Elijah Wood talks with Michelle Thames—digital marketing strategist, podcast host, influencer, and former healthcare worker turned full-time entrepreneur.

After getting fired from her 9-to-5, Michelle turned her natural hair blog into a personal brand that built a massive following and launched a career. Today, she runs a boutique marketing agency, teaches multi-passionate women entrepreneurs, and builds digital products that sell in her sleep.

We explore how Michelle uses AI tools like ChatGPT to plan entire marketing campaigns, launch events, and organize her content calendar. We also break down what clarity in your personal brand really looks like, why simple content wins, and how to balance multiple income streams without burning out.

🎯 What You’ll Learn:

• How Michelle grew an Instagram following to 500K without a marketing degree

• Why your content doesn’t need a production team—just a smartphone

• How to build a personal brand around your life and interests

• Michelle’s tech stack: ClickUp, ChatGPT, Circle, and more

• A playbook for launching digital products and making them sell

• The importance of visibility, clarity, and long-term strategy in marketing

• How to think about AI as your business assistant, not your replacement

🎙️ “People will pay thousands just for your thoughts. You just need to package them right.” – Michelle Thames

Whether you're a solopreneur, content creator, or scaling your agency, this episode is full of real talk and actionable strategy.

In this episode of The Long Game, host Elijah Wood sits down with Sridhar Muppidi, CTO of IBM Security, to talk about the evolving landscape of AI threats, cybersecurity strategy, and quantum computing risks.

With over 30 years at IBM and deep expertise in enterprise security, Sridhar shares what keeps him up at night—and what gives him hope. From AI-powered phishing attacks to malware agents with decision-making abilities, we dive into how attackers are using the same tools defenders rely on, and why crypto agility is the key to surviving what’s next.

We also explore the future of quantum-safe encryption, the decline of ransomware, and how organizations can prepare for AI-driven cyber attacks before it’s too late.

🎯 Topics Covered:
• The rise of AI-powered phishing and why it’s growing 74% YoY
• IBM’s strategy for proactive vs reactive cybersecurity
• What “crypto agility” means in the post-quantum era
• Real-world attack vectors: LIDAR hacks, prompt injection, poisoned models
• How the dark web is evolving with generative AI
• The urgent need for cross-industry collaboration in AI defense

🔐 “Security today is too reactive. We need AI systems that protect AI systems.” – Sridhar Muppidi

If you're a CISO, technologist, founder, or just curious about the future of cybersecurity, this one’s a must-listen.

In this episode of The Long Game, host Elijah Murray sits down with Ajay Srivatsavai, a veteran asset management executive, to unpack why private equity firms are falling behind in the AI revolution - and what it means for the future of the $15 trillion industry.

Timestamps:(00:00) Risk factors in asset management and technology adoption(01:00) Introduction and guest overview(02:00) Asset management fundamentals and industry breakdown(04:00) Technology adoption challenges in finance(08:00) Private equity's lag in tech adoption(10:00) Unstructured data challenges in PE(13:00) Build vs buy technology decisions(17:00) Case study: Wealth management technology(20:00) Future of PE technology integration

Whether you're a PE professional, tech entrepreneur, or interested in the future of finance, this episode offers a rare glimpse into how artificial intelligence is reshaping one of the world's most profitable industries.

Follow The Long Game for weekly conversations about tech, AI, & entrepreneurship.

#privateequity #ai #fintech #assetmanagement #venturecapital #technology #finance #investing #business #entrepreneurship

Welcome to Episode #085 of The Long Game, where I have conversations about tech startups, AI, entrepreneurship, and the ideas and principles to make it all happen.

Kenneth Correra shares his groundbreaking experience of running his business with AI guidance, achieving 25% growth without increasing headcount.

From creating an AI board of directors to implementing multi-agent systems in various industries, Kenneth provides practical insights into the future of human-AI collaboration.

TOPICS:

• ​Building and implementing AI agent networks
• ​Real-world applications in pharmaceutical sales and manufacturing
• ​How AI augments rather than replaces human work
• ​The failed experiment of an AI boss
• ​Practical implementation of multi-agent systems

Chapters

(00:00) Welcome & Introduction

(01:43) The Year of AI Agents

(02:44) Defining AI Agents vs Traditional Software(06:11) Real-World Applications

(07:38) Case Study: AI in Pharmaceutical Sales

(17:38) AI Board of Directors Experiment

(24:26) Future of AI and Human Collaboration

(34:42) Specialized AI Assistants

(42:00) Case Study: AI in Meat Processing

(47:01) AI's Role in Job Optimization

(53:39) The AI Boss Experiment

(57:26) Closing Thoughts

#TheLongGame #AIAgents #DigitalTransformation #BusinessAutomation #AIImplementation#MultiAgentAI #AIBoard #BusinessInnovation #AIProductivity

• ​ Website: https://hoo.be/elijahmurray• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurray• Twitter: https://twitter.com/elijahmurray• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurray• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/

Kal Amin is the President at 1848 Ventures, bringing 25 years of experience from companies like Google, Spotify, and Flipboard. In this conversation we explored how venture studios are evolving with AI, focusing on key topics like building defensible AI companies, the upcoming transfer of SMB ownership to a new generation, and how technology is changing the landscape for small business owners.

EPISODE LINKS:• 1848 Ventures: https://1848ventures.com

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Intro

(02:00) What is an SMB? The $33M opportunity

(04:15) Why hasn't this been done before?

(07:23) How 1848 Ventures builds companies

(11:45) The venture studio advantage

(15:30) The great SMB transfer

(19:40) Building defensible AI companies

(23:15) Data as the new moat

(25:00) Kal's journey (AOL, Google, Spotify)

(31:45) What makes a great founder in 2024?

(36:20) Why building products isn't enough

(38:30) Finding and developing startup leaders

CONNECT:• Website: https://hoo.be/elijahmurray• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurray• Twitter: https://twitter.com/elijahmurray• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurray• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/• Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurray• RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss

Jenny Fielding is a veteran venture capitalist, entrepreneur, and Cornell professor bringing unique insights from multiple angles of the startup ecosystem. In this conversation, we explored the evolving landscape of startup funding, discussing how AI tools are changing the game for entrepreneurs, the return of bootstrapping as a viable strategy, and what VCs are really looking for in today's market.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro and Welcome(02:00) Current State of Venture Capital(05:00) Bootstrapping vs Traditional VC(09:30) Finding the Right Balance in Funding(13:00) Lessons from 2021's Funding Frenzy(16:00) What VCs Look for in Entrepreneurs Today(19:00) Evolution of Entrepreneurship Culture(24:00) Jenny's Book & Global Entrepreneurship(26:30) Key Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs(29:30) Women in Venture Capital(32:00) Building Diverse Networks in NYC(35:00) Looking Ahead to 2025(36:00) Closing Thoughts & Where to Find Jenny

EPISODE LINKS:Jenny's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyfielding/Jenny's Webpage: https://www.jennyfielding.com/Jenny's Twitter: https://x.com/jefieldingEveryWhereVC: https://everywhere.vc/

Adam Nathan is the founder and CEO of Blaze.ai, a marketing platform built for solo entrepreneurs and small business owners. In this conversation, we explored Adam’s journey from big tech to startup life, the challenges of standing out in a saturated AI market, and how Blaze.ai empowers “teams of one” to compete like Fortune 500s.

We also discussed key insights around VC dynamics, the mindset of a founder, and Adam’s vision of AI as a practical tool—not just hype.

EPISODE LINKS:

• Blaze.ai Website: https://www.blaze.ai/

• Adam Nathan on Twitter: https://x.com/adampnathan

• Adam Nathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adampnathan/

TIMESTAMPS:

(00:01:07) The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins

(00:04:36) The Reality of Startup Life

(00:10:40) Navigating Pivots and Market Challenges

(00:11:22) Navigating Venture Capital and Business Pivots

(00:17:25) Embracing AI and the Birth of Blaze

(00:25:11) The Reality of Startup Life

(00:26:56) Introducing Blaze: AI for Small Businesses(00:26:56) Introducing Blaze: AI for Small Businesses

(00:30:05) The Future of AI in Business

(00:39:17) The Role of AI in Enhancing Human Creativity

CONNECT:

• Website: https://hoo.be/elijahmurray

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurray

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/elijahmurray

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurray

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/

• Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurray

• RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss

Mike Todasco is a technologist, educator, and writer who led innovation at PayPal for over a decade and now teaches at the University of San Diego. In this conversation we explored how AI is reshaping code, creativity, and careers — focusing on key topics like AI-powered solopreneurs, vibe coding with voice prompts, and the evolution of storytelling in an AI-driven world.

We also dive into the future of agent-based communication, the societal shifts from automation, and how new generations can stay ahead by mastering AI tools.

EPISODE LINKS:

• Twitter: https://x.com/todasco

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todasco/

  
  

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 Introduction and background

00:00:54 Vibe Coding and AI Innovations

00:04:57 Rise of Solopreneurs and Niche Markets

00:08:38 AI Curiosity to AI Revolution

00:14:49 AI-Generated Art

00:17:30 Next Frontier: Agent-to-Agent Communication in AI

00:17:47 Agent-to-Agent Communication and Future Implications

00:24:05 The Inefficiencies of AI in Business

00:26:21 University Students and AI: Career Concerns

00:27:37 The Future of Entry-Level Jobs

00:28:45 The Power of AI Skills in Job Applications

00:31:04 Creating an AI-Enhanced Resume

00:35:08 Building Connections with AI

00:39:58 Voice Technology: Unlocking New Possibilities with AI Assistants

00:44:14 Closing

CONNECT:

• Website: https://hoo.be/elijahmurray

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurray

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/elijahmurray

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurray

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/

• Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurray

• RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss

Garrett Rice is a tech entrepreneur and AI hiring innovator who has spent 25 years building and scaling startups. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Callings.ai, a platform helping job seekers find meaningful careers.

In this conversation, we explored:

• Lessons from Steve Jobs and the impact of NeXT on modern product development.
• AI’s role in job hunting, resume optimization, and standing out in the hiring process.
• Networking and career growth strategies in a competitive job market.

EPISODE LINKS:

• Garrett Rice LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrettrice/
• Callings.ai: https://www.callings.ai/app/landing

TIMESTAMPS:

• 00:00:00 Intro and background

• 00:00:12 Working with Steve Jobs: A Grand Adventure

• 00:01:11 The Visionary Impact of Next Machines

• 00:05:06 Building Products: Lessons from Apple

• 00:15:38 The Harsh Reality of Job Hunting

• 00:19:32 Revolutionizing the Job Hunt with AI

• 00:22:31 Using AI to Find Job Opportunities

• 00:23:55 Balancing Effort and AI Assistance

• 00:27:12 The Future of Job Markets and AI

• 00:35:00 Standing Out to AI in Job Applications

• 00:40:29 Networking and Final Tips for Job Seekers

• 00:42:00 Closing

CONNECT:

• Website: https://hoo.be/elijahmurray
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurray
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/elijahmurray
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurray
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/
• Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurray
• RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss

Gregory Offner is the Founder and CEO of Global Performance Institute, an award-winning keynote speaker, and the author of The Tip Jar Culture: How to Re-Engage and Reignite Your Workforce.

In this conversation, we explore his journey from dueling pianist to professional speaker, the career-altering vocal cord injury that forced him to pivot, and how he now helps leaders drive workforce engagement. We also dive into the evolving role of AI in workplace culture and discuss strategies for creating a more fulfilling employee experience.

EPISODE LINKS:

• Gregory Offner’s Website: https://www.gregoryoffner.com/meeting-planners/
• Gregory Offner on Twitter: https://x.com/gregoryoffnerjr
• Gregory Offner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregoryoffnerjr/

• The Encore Experience: https://vimeo.com/1041523578
• The Tip Jar Culture: How To Re-Engage and Reignite Your Workforce: https://a.co/d/c9QVsTI

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00:00 Intro and background

00:01:18 The Art of Dueling Pianos

00:12:52 Transition to Keynote Speaking

00:16:43 The Power of Strangers and Seeking Help

00:18:00 Taking the Leap: From Idea to Action

00:21:00 Virtual Piano Bar: Innovating in Crisis

00:22:00 Networking, Support and Authenticity

00:25:00 Creating Impact: Speaking and Beyond

00:27:00 Strategies for Keeping Employees Engaged

00:30:00 Closing

CONNECT:

• Website: https://hoo.be/elijahmurray
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurray
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/elijahmurray
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurray
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/
• Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurray
• RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss