Chris Daigle sits down with Michael Stelzner, founder of Social Media Examiner and host of the Social Media Marketing Podcast, to explore how AI is transforming content creation, audience building, and the future of media businesses. Michael shares how he and his team use AI to brainstorm, repurpose, and accelerate production—without losing the human connection that drives trust and creativity.

They discuss the balance between automation and authenticity, how AI fits into editorial workflows, and why leaders must stay curious instead of fearful when adopting new technologies. Michael also breaks down the evolving landscape of social media and SEO in the age of AI, explaining how creators and companies can stay relevant as algorithms and consumer behaviors shift.

This episode offers practical insights for marketers, executives, and entrepreneurs looking to integrate AI into their creative process while keeping the focus on human storytelling.

🔎 About Michael Stelzner

Michael Stelzner is the founder of Social Media Examiner and Social Media Marketing World, the industry’s largest social media marketing conference.
He is also the founder of the AI Business Society and the AI Business World conference.
Michael hosts the Social Media Marketing Podcast and the AI Explored Podcast, and is the author of two widely acclaimed books: Launch and Writing White Papers.

🎁 Exclusive Offer for Our Listeners

Michael has created a special discount for the Using AI at Work audience:
Get $100 off tickets to AI Business World or Social Media Marketing World All Access tickets.

Redeem here → http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/AIatWork

Offer valid through December 31st, 2025.

🔗 Find Out More About Michael Stelzner

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stelzner/ 

Social Media Examiner
 https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com

Social Media Marketing Podcast
 https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/shows/

🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned

ChatGPT
 https://openai.com/chatgpt

Notion AI
 https://www.notion.so/product/ai

Descript
 https://www.descript.com

Chief AI Officer Resources
 https://chiefaiofficer.com

📌 Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Michael Stelzner
 04:12 – How AI Is Changing Content Creation
 08:48 – Using AI for Brainstorming and Research
 13:35 – The Role of Human Judgment in Content Strategy
 19:20 – Balancing Efficiency and Authenticity
 24:50 – Repurposing Content with AI Tools
 31:10 – SEO, Social Algorithms, and AI Search Evolution
 37:05 – The Future of Media in the AI Era
 42:30 – Advice for Leaders Embracing AI
 46:55 – How to Connect with Michael Stelzner

Chris Daigle sits down with Etan Polinger, founder of Raize Digital, to discuss how AI is transforming marketing, customer journeys, and brand strategy. Etan shares how he helps companies implement AI tools that simplify operations, enhance personalization, and generate consistent creative output without replacing human insight.

They explore how to design AI systems that support marketing teams instead of overwhelming them, how to measure ROI from AI experiments, and how small businesses can leverage generative AI to compete with larger brands. Etan also explains how AI content generation, predictive analytics, and workflow automation create scalable, customer-focused growth while staying true to brand voice.

This episode is packed with actionable ideas for leaders looking to build stronger customer relationships through intelligent, human-centered automation.

🔎 Find Out More About Etan Polinger

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/etan-polinger/

🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned

ChatGPT
 https://openai.com/chatgpt

Jasper AI
 https://www.jasper.ai

Surfer SEO
 https://surferseo.com

Chief AI Officer Resources
 https://chiefaiofficer.com

📌 Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Etan Polinger
03:15 – How AI is Changing Marketing Strategy
07:42 – Designing AI Systems that Support Teams
12:30 – AI Content and Brand Consistency
17:08 – Balancing Automation with Human Creativity
21:55 – Building AI Workflows for Customer Experience
26:14 – Measuring ROI from AI Experiments
31:27 – AI Tools for Marketers and Small Businesses
37:10 – Future of Marketing and AI Leadership
41:45 – How to Connect with Etan Polinger

Chris Daigle sits down with Peter Cappelli, Professor of Management at the Wharton School, to explore how AI is changing how companies hire, train, and manage people. Peter breaks down the myths around job displacement, explains why most organizations misunderstand what AI can and cannot automate, and shares how leaders can adapt workforce strategies for the AI era.

They discuss the balance between efficiency and humanity in AI adoption, why prediction and decision-making should stay in human hands, and what executives need to know about reskilling and internal mobility as automation grows. Drawing from research and decades of experience, Peter provides an unfiltered look at what the future of work will truly require from both employees and employers.

🔎 Find Out More About Peter Cappelli

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-cappelli-14936a3/

Book by Peter Cappelli
https://www.pennpress.org/9781613631911/the-future-of-the-office-with-a-new-afterword-by-the-author/

🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned

ChatGPT
https://openai.com/chatgpt

Chief AI Officer Resources
https://chiefaiofficer.com

📌 Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Peter Cappelli
02:35 – How AI is Reshaping Hiring and Training
07:45 – Separating AI Hype from Workplace Reality
12:20 – Why Prediction Still Needs Human Judgment
17:15 – Redefining Workforce Planning in the AI Age
23:42 – What Executives Get Wrong About Automation
29:30 – Reskilling and Internal Mobility for the Future of Work
35:05 – AI Governance and Trust Inside Organizations
40:18 – Balancing Efficiency with Human Value
44:12 – Advice for Leaders Adopting AI Responsibly
48:20 – How to Connect with Peter Cappelli

Chris Daigle sits down with Chris Duffy, AI strategist and fractional Chief AI Officer, to talk about how companies can adopt AI in a way that is responsible, practical, and centered on people. Chris explains why most organizations do not need more tools. They need clarity, governance, and leadership alignment.

They discuss how to identify true bottlenecks in a business, how to design AI policies that actually get used, and why focusing on real workflow problems drives far more value than chasing shiny technology. Chris also shares how fractional AI leadership works in companies that are not ready to hire a full time CAIO and why the most successful AI programs start with listening before building.

This episode gives leaders a blueprint for implementing AI with intention, trust, and measurable impact.

Website
https://www.chrisduffy.ai

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisfduffy/

ChatGPT
https://openai.com/chatgpt

Perplexity
https://www.perplexity.ai

Chief AI Officer Resources
https://chiefaiofficer.com

00:00 – Introduction to Chris Duffy
02:10 – Why AI Transformation Starts With People
05:20 – Finding Real Bottlenecks vs Tool Chasing
09:44 – How to Build AI Policies That Work
14:35 – Shadow AI and Trust in the Workplace
18:50 – Leadership Alignment and AI Priorities
23:12 – The Role of a Fractional Chief AI Officer
27:40 – Listening Before Building: Discovery First
31:25 – Turning Problems Into Measurable ROI
36:58 – Helping Teams Use AI Safely and Effectively
41:10 – Where to Start With Responsible AI Adoption
45:55 – How to Connect with Chris Duffy

Chris Daigle sits down with Allen Martinez, founder of Noble Digital and Chief Growth Officer at Noble Vision, to talk about how AI is reshaping creative strategy, storytelling, and business growth. Drawing on his experience with global brands and data-driven campaigns, Allen explains how teams can use AI to enhance creativity, speed up decision-making, and find stronger brand-to-audience alignment.

They dive into how AI tools can turn raw data into powerful creative insight, how to balance human intuition with machine intelligence, and why the next generation of business storytelling will depend on those who learn to collaborate with AI rather than compete with it.

This episode offers a roadmap for leaders and marketers who want to use AI not just to automate, but to think more creatively, act more strategically, and scale their impact.

🔎 Find Out More About Allen Martinez and Noble Digital

Allen Martinez - https://linktr.ee/allenmartinez

Noble Digital Website
 https://nobledigital.com

🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned

ChatGPT ➡ https://openai.com/chatgpt

Claude ➡ https://claude.ai

ChiefAIOfficer Resources ➡ https://chiefaiofficer.com

📌 Chapters

00:00 – Intro to Allen Martinez
03:12 – How AI is Transforming Creative Strategy
08:24 – Human Intuition vs Machine Intelligence
14:17 – Data-Driven Storytelling with AI
19:45 – The Creative Process in an AI World
25:03 – Building AI-Powered Marketing Frameworks
31:42 – Balancing Speed and Quality in Content Creation
38:18 – Scaling Brand Impact with Automation and Insight
44:29 – How to Get Started Integrating AI into Creative Workflows
50:12 – Connect with Allen Martinez and Learn More

In this episode, Chris Daigle is joined by Kristin Ginn, founder of trnsfrmAItn, to discuss the real reason most companies fail with AI adoption. Spoiler: it is not the technology. It is the humans.

Kristin breaks down why AI productivity gains at the individual level rarely translate into measurable organizational outcomes and how to close that gap by activating employees through mindset shifts, habit building and better enablement strategies. You will learn how leaders can make AI visible from the top down and how champions can drive change from the bottom up so the entire organization benefits.

This conversation is a practical guide for business leaders who want AI to increase productivity, energy and competitive capability without leaving humans behind.

🔎 Connect with Kristin Ginn

https://www.trnsfrmaitn.com/

Follow Kristin Ginn on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ginnkristin/

🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned

ChatGPT
https://openai.com/chatgpt

Microsoft Copilot
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot

Claude
https://claude.ai

Internal AI Assistants
(Company specific and not publicly linked)

📌 Chapters

00:00 Intro to Kristin Ginn
 02:21 Why AI adoption fails at the organizational level
 06:13 Human change vs technology rollout
 11:10 Employee fears and “AI is cheating” mindset
 15:44 Creating intentional AI habits
 21:09 AI champions and sharing wins
 26:28 Making AI visible through leadership
 31:47 Four AI mindsets for everyday work
 37:55 Changing culture with practical success stories
 43:28 Where to start with enterprise AI transformation
 49:02 How to connect with Kristin and get her AI e-book

Chris Daigle sits down with Zac Engler, Chief AI Officer and author of Turning On Machines, to discuss how organizations can adopt AI responsibly and practically while preparing their teams for a transformed future of work.

Zac shares his framework for helping companies move through the Crawl → Walk → Run stages of AI adoption, from getting every employee comfortable with large language models and prompting frameworks, to deploying agentic workflows that drive exponential productivity gains.

They discuss how leaders can address fear, risk, and confusion around AI tools, how to decide between infrastructure vs. operations strategy, and why delaying adoption means falling exponentially behind. Zac also gives a preview of his new book, Turning On Machines, exploring the three meanings behind the title: activation, rebellion, and connection, and how each reveals the complex relationship between humans and intelligent systems.

If you’re leading AI transformation or rethinking how humans and machines will work together, this episode delivers both frameworks and foresight.

🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• ChatGPT ➡ https://openai.com/chatgpt
• Perplexity ➡ https://www.perplexity.ai
• Notebook LM ➡ https://workspace.google.com
• Chief AI Officer Resources ➡ https://chiefaiofficer.com

📌 Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Zac Engler and Turning On Machines
02:30 – The Chief AI Officer Role and the People Side of AI
04:10 – The Crawl–Walk–Run Framework for AI Adoption
06:00 – Three Levers for 10% Instant Productivity Gains
09:00 – Infrastructure vs. Operations: Two Types of AI Strategy
12:00 – From Walk to Run: Deploying Agentic Workflows
14:00 – Why Waiting on AI Means Falling Behind
16:30 – Managing Risk and Choosing the Right Tools
19:00 – Favorite AI Tools: Copilot, Perplexity, Notebook LM
21:30 – Inside Turning On Machines: Three Meanings and Lessons
26:00 – Parallels Between the Printing Press and AI
30:00 – Pushback, Fear, and the Trifurcation of Work
33:00 – Becoming a “Machine Shepherd” and Future-Proofing Your Role
39:00 – Human-Only, Human + AI, and AI-Only Workflows
43:30 – Frameworks for Mapping Where AI Fits in Your Business
46:00 – Why Reflection Matters: Learning How to Think About AI
49:00 – Where to Get Turning On Machines and Connect with Zac

Chris Daigle sits down with Maria Elena Duron, fractional Chief AI Officer and marketing strategist, to explore how small and mid-sized businesses can successfully adopt AI without overwhelming their teams. Maria shares her experience helping businesses bridge the gap between awareness and real application — from her years training entrepreneurs on Google tools to guiding leaders through AI adoption today.

You’ll hear how she helps companies build AI councils, manage shadow AI risks, and develop AI use policies that protect both data and teams. Maria explains why change management is central to AI success, how to identify the “low-hanging fruit” for measurable results, and why executives must align goals with realistic timelines. With practical insights on governance, productivity vs. efficiency, and building custom role copilots with tools like Notebook LM and GPTs, this episode is a roadmap for leaders navigating AI adoption.

🔎 Find Out More About Maria Elena Duron
Instagram: Marketing Coach Maria ➡ https://www.instagram.com/marketingcoachmaria
Website: SmartBrandSystem.com ➡ https://smartbrandsystem.com

🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode
ChatGPT ➡ https://openai.com/chatgpt
Notebook LM ➡ https://notebooklm.google

📌 Chapters
00:00 – Introduction to Maria Elena Duron
03:00 – Lessons from Early Tech Shifts: Internet, Social Media, and AI
05:56 – Helping Small Businesses Understand Google and Visibility
08:31 – AI Adoption Parallels: Google Search vs. Generative AI
11:04 – Starting with Leadership: Goals, Fears, and Change Management
12:31 – Overcoming Team Fear and Shiny Object Syndrome
13:59 – Positioning AI as Investment in People
14:57 – Interviewing Teams and Vendors to Build Roadmap Reports
21:00 – Who Owns AI in a Company? Building AI Councils
24:07 – Establishing AI Use and Tool Policies for Security
26:28 – Setting Priorities and Roadmaps with Leadership
31:03 – Where to Start: Pilots and Low-Hanging Fruit
32:19 – Building Role Copilots with Custom GPTs and Notebook LM
34:53 – Using Notebook LM for Knowledge Retrieval and Productivity
40:19 – Defining Success: Efficiency vs. Productivity vs. Effectiveness
42:09 – Managing Expectations and Avoiding Unrealistic Timelines
44:22 – Webinar Wednesdays and Community Training 

Episode tags:
AI in small business, AI in the workplace, AI adoption strategies, Change management and AI, Workplace AI governance, Non-technical AI leadership, AI use policies, AI productivity tools, Real-world AI applications, Executive AI training, AI transformation stories, AI councils in business

Chris Daigle sits down with Jim Curry, co-founder and investor at BuildGroup, to explore how AI is reshaping business strategy and organizational design.

Jim breaks down why SaaS companies have unique advantages in the AI era, and how AI adoption mirrors past infrastructure shifts like the rise of cloud and open source. He explains why most businesses shouldn’t chase AI-native hype, but instead focus on workflow transformation that drives measurable results.

This episode dives into:

    • How to view AI adoption through the lens of past technology waves
    • Why SaaS businesses are best positioned to integrate AI
    • The organizational shifts AI will create, from agents to evolving job roles
    • Balancing efficiency gains with true competitive differentiation
    • How leaders should approach AI adoption without falling into the “shiny object” trap

Key Insight: AI is less about replacing businesses and more about re-architecting how they operate — and the winners will be those who align people, process, and technology together.

🔎 Find Out More About Jim Curry
BuildGroup ➡ https://www.buildgroup.com
LinkedIn ➡ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimncurry/

🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode
ChatGPT ➡ https://openai.com/chatgpt

📌 Chapters
00:00 – Introduction to Jim Curry
04:13 – AI as the next infrastructure wave
09:00 – Why SaaS companies are best positioned for AI adoption
13:01 – Efficiency vs differentiation in AI strategy
18:13 – Organizational shifts: agents, workflows, and new roles
23:07 – Avoiding the shiny-object trap with AI tools
36:16 – Lessons from cloud and open source adoption
42:59 – Building AI-driven organizations with sustainability
44:42 – How to connect with Jim Curry 

Episode tags:
AI in the workplace, AI for business leaders, Generative AI at work, Real-world AI applications, Workplace AI adoption, Executive AI training, AI productivity tools, AI transformation stories, Ethical AI business, AI strategy for executives, SaaS and AI adoption, AI in organizational change

Chris Daigle sits down with Bruce Clay, widely regarded as the Father of SEO, to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping search, rankings, and content strategy.

With more than 30 years pioneering SEO, Bruce shares why AI isn’t replacing SEO but instead changing how businesses must approach visibility. He explains how Google’s AI Overviews still rely on strong SEO signals, why AI-generated writing leaves footprints, and what companies should do to balance speed with authenticity.

🔎 Find Out More About Bruce Clay
https://bruceclay.com
Prewriter.ai - https://www.prewriter.ai
http://seotraining.com

🛠 AI Tools and Resources Mentioned in This Episode
ChatGPT ➡ https://openai.com/chatgpt
Prewriter.ai ➡ https://prewriter.ai

📌 Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to Bruce Clay
05:15 - SEO in the age of AI
12:48 - Why Google AI Overviews still rely on SEO signals
19:37 - Detecting AI-generated content footprints
26:10 - Why unedited AI content risks lower rankings
33:42 - Using AI as a research assistant, not a writer
41:18 - Prewriter.ai and optimizing AI content
48:05 - Google vs Perplexity and the future of search
55:20 - How to connect with Bruce Clay

Episode tags:

AI in the workplace, AI for business leaders, Generative AI at work, Real-world AI applications, AI in operations management, AI strategy for executives, AI in marketing attribution, AI productivity tools, AI for process improvement, AI transformation stories, Ethical AI business, AI case studies, SEO in the AI era, AI and content strategy