Episodes

  • Your Business Isn’t Stuck, You Are. Here is the AI Fix.

    Your Business Isn’t Stuck, You Are. Here is the AI Fix.
    Nov 25 2025
    You can’t build a scalable business on a broken operating system. Yet, that is exactly what most solopreneurs try to do. You journal, you meditate, and you "grind," but you keep hitting the same revenue ceilings and making the same fear-based decisions. The problem isn't your effort. The problem is the Hero Complex hardwired into your subconscious, convincing you that you have to do it all to be worthy. You are experiencing "bugs" in your decision-making software that no amount of willpower can patch. Today, I’m joined by Heather Morgan, a former FinTech leader turned Growth Mindset Mentor who has engineered a different approach. She isn't here to just talk about feelings; she’s the creator of "Breaking the Loop," an AI-powered system that acts as an objective, emotional mirror. Because AI lacks human bias and emotional charge, it can reflect your blind spots with brutal, necessary accuracy. In this episode, we architect a way to bypass your conscious mind’s defenses and finally identify the hidden loops keeping your business small. The AI Hat Podcast host Mike Allton asked Heather Morgan about: ✨ The "User Error" Trap: Why traditional self-reflection is biased and actually reinforces the patterns keeping you stuck. ✨ The AI Mirror Protocol: How to use artificial intelligence to bypass your ego and identify the data behind your emotional loops. ✨ Systemizing Your Breakthrough: Heather’s specific methodology for training your nervous system to accept success and stop the self-sabotage cycle. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Unpacking Limiting Beliefs with AI 02:16 Introduction to The AI Hat Podcast 04:06 Heather Morgan's Journey to Mindset Mentorship 06:22 Using AI as an Emotional Mirror 16:06 Breaking the Loop: Overcoming Limiting Beliefs 26:47 Overcoming Limiting Beliefs 27:48 The Role of AI in Personal Growth 28:32 Sponsor Message: Magai 29:30 Common Emotional Loops in Solopreneurs 31:38 The Fear of Success and Self-Sabotage 36:23 Holistic Approach to Business and Personal Growth 43:13 Understanding Client Mindsets 44:33 Practical Steps to Uncover Hidden Patterns with AI 51:08 Conclusion and Resources Learn more about Heather Morgan Connect with Heather Morgan on LinkedIn Wandering The Wild Mess Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks Build your own AI Work Buddy Follow Mike Allton on Threads and get more AI tips & Solopreneur advice Explore past episodes of the The AI Hat Podcast podcast SHOW TRANSCRIPT & NOTES: https://theaihat.com/your-business-isnt-stuck-you-are-here-is-the-ai-fix/ Tired of pouring your energy into a 'leaky bucket?' Pinpoint your biggest business bottleneck in just 2 minutes with my free diagnostic quiz. Get your free diagnosis and start plugging the leaks at: theaihat.com/diagnostic Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, founder of The AI Hat. He's a Business Systems Strategist who helps overworked solopreneurs and creators stop being employees in their own businesses. After building his own successful solo ventures for over a decade, Mike now teaches entrepreneurs how to build AI-powered operational systems that reclaim their time and allow them to finally scale. Interested in being a guest? We're looking for experts who help solopreneurs build better, more scalable businesses. Reach out to Mike to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    53 mins
  • Stop Lying to Yourself: How AI Reveals Your Real Time Investment

    Stop Lying to Yourself: How AI Reveals Your Real Time Investment
    Nov 18 2025
    How many times have you told yourself that podcast will only take an hour to record? Or that client proposal? Just thirty minutes, right? Here's the uncomfortable truth every solopreneur needs to face: you're lying to yourself about how long things actually take. And that lie is keeping you trapped in operator mode instead of scaling to owner mode. The problem isn't that you're bad at time management; it's that you've never truly measured what your workflows actually require. That's where today's guest comes in with a revelation that changed everything about how he runs his business. Rich Brooks discovered that his "one-hour" podcast actually consumed three full hours of his time. But instead of throwing in the towel, he used AI to map every minute of that process and create systems that handle the heavy lifting. As the founder of Flyte New Media and host of The Agents of Change Digital Marketing Podcast with over 600 episodes, Rich has mastered the art of turning time-intensive processes into AI-powered efficiency machines. He's the perfect guide to help you stop underestimating your workflows and start building systems that actually scale. The AI Hat Podcast host Mike Allton asked Rich Brooks about: ✨ Time Truth-Telling: Discover how to accurately track where your hours really go and why most solopreneurs underestimate by 200%. ✨ AI Workflow Mapping: Learn Rich's proven process for identifying time drains and building custom AI assistants to handle repetitive tasks. ✨ Scale Without Staff: See exactly how one conversation becomes ten pieces of content through systematic AI integration. Learn more about Rich Brooks Connect with Rich Brooks on LinkedIn Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode Flyte New Media Agents of Change Scalability Audit Fathom Descript AI Solopreneur OS Community Notion AI-Powered Blueprint for Solopreneurs CHAPTERS: 00:00 Winning with Quality Over Quantity 00:19 AI-Powered Proposal Writing 02:17 Introducing The AI Hat Podcast 02:40 The Reality of Time Management for Solopreneurs 03:09 Guest Introduction: Rich Brooks 04:31 Revelation: The True Time Cost of Podcasting 07:39 Time Tracking and Workflow Optimization 10:12 Automating Podcast Production with AI 10:42 Using Text Expander for Efficiency 12:34 Integrating AI in Podcast Production 16:38 SEO and AI: Enhancing Podcast Visibility 25:28 Evaluating AI-Generated Content 26:42 Comparing Major LLMs: Chat GPT, Gemini, and Claude 27:05 Customizing AI for Your Needs 27:34 SEO and Content Repurposing Strategies 30:09 AI in Proposal Writing 33:24 Recording and Utilizing Client Calls 34:14 LinkedIn Newsletters and AI Integration 36:19 Creating Accurate AI Voice Docs 3:56 Final Thoughts and Recommendations 45:55 Conclusion and Resources SHOW TRANSCRIPT & NOTES: https://theaihat.com/stop-lying-to-yourself-how-ai-reveals-your-real-time-investment/ Feeling stuck on the solopreneur hamster wheel? Diagnose your biggest bottleneck in just 15 minutes with my free Scalability Audit. Download it now at: https://theaihat.com/download/scalability/ Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, founder of The AI Hat. He's a Business Systems Strategist who helps overworked solopreneurs and creators stop being employees in their own businesses. After building his own successful solo ventures for over a decade, Mike now teaches entrepreneurs how to build AI-powered operational systems that reclaim their time and allow them to finally scale. Interested in being a guest? We're looking for experts who help solopreneurs build better, more scalable businesses. Reach out to Mike to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    48 mins
  • Stop Burning Money on AI Tools That Don't Generate Revenue

    Stop Burning Money on AI Tools That Don't Generate Revenue
    Oct 21 2025
    Stop burning money on AI subscriptions that aren't generating revenue. While Fortune 500 companies waste millions on AI implementations that never pay off, savvy solopreneurs are quietly building AI-powered revenue engines that work 24/7. Discover the enterprise framework that turns your $20 AI tools into profit machines. Most solopreneurs are drowning in AI subscription costs without seeing real returns. You're paying for ChatGPT Plus, Gemini Advanced, and multiple AI tools, yet you're still trapped in the same administrative quicksand that's killing your growth. Eva Dong, Lead of AI Value Realization at Google Cloud, reveals why this happens and how to fix it. With over a decade helping Fortune 500 companies unlock millions in AI value at McKinsey & Company and Visa, Eva knows the enterprise secrets that actually work. As a former entrepreneur herself, she understands the solopreneur struggle—every dollar must generate a return. In this mielstone 100th episode of The AI Hat Podcast, recorded live at MAICON 2025 with 1,500 AI leaders from 47 states, this episode exposes the critical mistakes killing your AI ROI and shares the proven framework that transforms AI expenses into profit centers. Learn why your agility as a solopreneur is actually your secret weapon against enterprise bureaucracy. Ready to stop wasting money on AI and start generating real revenue? Download the free AI Work Buddy template that helps you identify your highest-ROI AI use cases in under 10 minutes. https://theaihat.com/ai-work-buddy-guide/ Get it and start building your AI revenue strategy today. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Enterprise Bureaucracy vs. Solopreneur Agility 01:47 Introduction to The AI Hat Podcast at MAICON 2025 02:08 The Real Value of AI for Solopreneurs 02:41 Interview with Eva Dong: Enterprise AI Insights 03:55 Adapting Enterprise AI Strategies for Solopreneurs 09:16 Efficiency and Innovation: Two Buckets of AI Use 12:20 Avoiding Common AI Implementation Mistakes 23:29 Exploring Google AI Studio 23:43 Understanding Temperature Parameter 23:57 Creative Applications and Nano Bananas 24:30 Uploading and Synthesizing Data 24:53 Managing Data with Cloud Providers 25:28 Training AI and Measuring ROI 27:16 Adoption, Trust, and Acceleration Metrics 31:18 Solopreneurs vs. Enterprises: Speed and Agility 35:28 Future of AI: Less Human Touch, More Agents 38:38 Conclusion and Contact Information SHOW TRANSCRIPT & NOTES: https://theaihat.com/stop-burning-money-on-ai-tools-that-dont-generate-revenue/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    41 mins
  • Solopreneur's Guide to AI-Powered Social Media Automation

    Solopreneur's Guide to AI-Powered Social Media Automation
    Nov 11 2025
    Are you spending hours manually responding to social media comments while your potential customers slip away because they never clicked that bio link? What if every comment could instantly become a direct message with your personalized link - automatically turning engagement into revenue while you focus on creating? Here's the thing: most solopreneurs are trapped in manual social media management, responding to comments one by one and hoping someone will take action. Meanwhile, AI can analyze every interaction, craft authentic responses, and convert casual commenters into paying customers - all without you touching your phone. Imagine your social media working like a 24/7 sales assistant that never sleeps and never misses an opportunity. Today I'm excited to introduce Jeff Dwoskin, founder of Stampede Social and a fascinating example of how unconventional backgrounds create breakthrough solutions. Jeff spent years as a comedian understanding what makes audiences tick, and he's channeled that insight into building AI tools that don't just automate responses - they amplify authentic connections. He's helping creators transform their social engagement into consistent revenue streams, and he's here to show you exactly how AI can become your most valuable business partner. The AI Hat Podcast host Mike Allton asked Jeff Dwoskin about: ✨ AI Revenue Conversion: Transform every social media comment into a direct sales opportunity through intelligent automation that sends personalized links straight to interested prospects' DMs. ✨ Smart Engagement Scaling: Use AI analysis to identify your most valuable interactions and automate responses that maintain authenticity while freeing up hours of manual work daily. ✨ Data-Driven Growth Strategy: Leverage AI-powered competitive analysis and reporting to make informed decisions about content, timing, and audience targeting that actually move the revenue needle. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Engagement Strategies 01:14 The AI Hat Podcast Introduction 02:44 Challenges of Manual Social Media Management 03:29 Guest Introduction: Jeff Dwoskin of Stampede Social 04:18 From Comedy to AI: Jeff's Journey 04:35 The Art of Audience Engagement 09:57 Automating Social Media Interactions 11:13 The Problem with Link in Bio 15:01 Benefits of AI-Driven Engagement 16:15 Introducing Stampede Social 19:16 Balancing Automation with Authenticity 24:47 Leveraging AI for Content Creation 25:13 Using AI for Podcast Show Notes 27:47 Competitive Analysis with AI 31:14 Automated DM Systems and Engagement 34:33 AI-Powered Data Reporting 35:41 Effective Social Media Strategies 42:56 Future of AI in the Creator Economy 45:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Learn more about Jeff Dwoskin Connect with Jeff Dwoskin on LinkedIn Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode Stampede Social Jenn Herman Agorapulse Notion Otter.ai Magai Grab the free Scalability Audit and find your leaky buckets Follow Mike Allton on Instagram and get more AI tips Explore past episodes of the The AI Hat Podcast podcast Show Notes & Full Transcript: https://theaihat.com/solopreneurs-guide-to-ai-powered-social-media-automation/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • How to Build a 6-Figure Business Working Just 25 Hours a Week with AI

    How to Build a 6-Figure Business Working Just 25 Hours a Week with AI
    Nov 4 2025
    What if everything you believe about building a successful business is actually keeping you trapped? Most solopreneurs think more hours equals more money, but they're stuck in what I call the "hamster wheel of hustle" – running faster and faster while getting nowhere because they're doing everything manually. You become the bottleneck in your own business, and no matter how talented you are, there are still only 24 hours in a day. But what if you could flip the script entirely and build a thriving 6-figure business working just 25 hours a week? Today marks our 100th episode milestone, and I've brought you someone who's living proof this isn't just possible – it's proven. Meet Tim Cortinovis – a man who's been working with AI for 35 years and has cracked the code on anti-hustle entrepreneurship. Tim is a bestselling author of six books, including "Agentic Sales: AI and the Future of Sales," and he's recognized as a Top 10 Thought Leader in Agentic AI. But here's what makes Tim remarkable: he's built a 6-figure consulting business that runs almost entirely on autopilot, requiring just 25 hours of his time per week. His newsletter runs completely hands-free with 40% open rates, and he's created an AI assistant named "Rick" who handles all customer communications. Tim isn't just talking about the future of AI in business – he's living it every single day. The AI Hat Podcast host Mike Allton asked Tim Cortinovis about: ✨ AI-First Mindset: Shifting from viewing AI as a tool to seeing it as your business partner and primary operating system. ✨ Automation Architecture: Creating interconnected systems that handle research, content creation, customer communications, and lead nurturing without constant oversight. ✨ Strategic Time Investment: Understanding that working fewer hours requires more upfront planning and system design, but pays exponential dividends in freedom and scalability. Grab the free Scalability Audit and find your leaky buckets Follow Mike Allton on Threads and get more AI tips Explore past episodes of the The AI Hat Podcast podcast Show Notes & Full Transcript: https://theaihat.com/how-to-build-a-6-figure-business-working-just-25-hours-a-week-with-ai/ Chapters: 00:00 Introduction: The AI Debate 02:16 Podcast Introduction and Guest Welcome 02:38 The Anti-Hustle Business Model 03:14 Meet Tim Cortinovis: AI Pioneer 04:13 Tim's Journey with AI 06:26 Automating Business Operations 10:21 AI Tools and Techniques 21:15 Maintaining Human Connection in an AI-Driven World 35:55 Challenges and Overcoming Them 40:42 Final Thoughts and Contact Information Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 mins
  • Are you training your AI, or is your AI training you?

    Are you training your AI, or is your AI training you?
    Nov 1 2025
    Ever feel like you're spending more time teaching your AI tools how to work than actually getting work done? You're not alone. In this week's AI Hat Dispatch, I share the brutal moment I realized I'd become an unpaid trainer for yet another "revolutionary" AI video tool - and the eye-opening lesson that changed everything about how I approach AI in my business. If you've ever found yourself jumping between a dozen different AI platforms, each demanding you learn their language and work around their limitations, this episode is for you. We'll explore why the most successful solopreneurs don't actually use more AI tools - they use fewer, better, and smarter ones. More importantly, I'll show you the difference between being your AI's assistant versus being its boss, and why that shift is the key to finally building systems that work FOR you instead of against you. This isn't about adding another tool to your stack. It's about becoming the architect of your own AI-powered business. Join the AI Solopreneur OS community at https://theaihat.com/aisos CHAPTERS 00:00 The Harsh Reality for Solopreneurs 03:08 The AI Paradox: Tools or Chains? 03:23 The Early Railroad Analogy 03:31 Designing Systems Around Human Expertise 03:38 The Secret to Successful Solopreneurship Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    7 mins
  • AI for Introverts: Your Unfair Advantage

    AI for Introverts: Your Unfair Advantage
    Oct 28 2025
    As a solopreneur, have you ever felt like your energy is your most limited resource? You can handle the client work, the creative thinking... but it's the constant pressure to be "on"—the networking, the social media, the self-promotion—that leaves you completely drained. It's a frustrating trap. You know you need to be visible to grow, but the very act of putting yourself out there feels like a performance that goes against your nature. You end up thinking that to succeed, you have to become someone you're not: a loud, extroverted marketer. So you hit a wall, convinced that your quiet nature is a business liability. But what if that's completely wrong? What if your introversion is actually your unfair advantage? Today, we're going to flip the script and show you how to use AI to build a business that doesn't just accommodate your introverted strengths, but is actively powered by them. And there is no one better to guide us through this than Goldie Chan. Goldie is known as the "Oprah of LinkedIn" for a reason - she's a world-renowned keynote speaker, a contributor to Forbes, and the founder of a top-tier social media strategy agency that's worked with major brands. She is a master of building powerful personal brands, and with her new book for introverts, she's the perfect expert to show us how to stop fighting our nature and start using it to win. The AI Hat Podcast host Mike Allton asked Goldie Chan about: ✨ Identify Your Superpowers: Pinpoint the natural strengths of introverts that are critical for business success. ✨ Build Your AI Co-Pilot: Learn how to automate the marketing and networking tasks that drain your energy. ✨ Scale Without Small Talk: Discover a practical framework for growing your business authentically. Learn more about Goldie Chan Connect with Goldie Chan on LinkedIn Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode Personal Branding for Introverts H.U.M.A.N. Framework for AI Adoption Acrobat Studio AI as Your Co-Host: Unleashing NotebookLM’s Potential in Content Marketing Notion Custom GPTs for Marketers: Work Smarter, Not Harder Build your first AI assistant, an AI Work Buddy GoldieChan.com Diagnostic Quiz Explore past episodes of the The AI Hat Podcast podcast Chapters: 00:00 The Power of Automating the Right Tasks 01:16 Introduction to The AI Hat Podcast 02:45 The Struggles of Solopreneurs and Introverts 03:27 Meet Goldie Chan: The Oprah of LinkedIn 04:13 Goldie's New Book and the Writing Process 06:12 Introvert Superpowers in Business 14:03 AI Tools for Introverts 22:24 Content Creation Strategies for Introverts 30:34 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways 35:14 Conclusion and Resources Show Notes & Transcript: https://theaihat.com/ai-for-introverts-your-unfair-advantage/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • The Single AI Tool You Need (and the 5 That Are Stealing Your Time) - A Saturday Short

    The Single AI Tool You Need (and the 5 That Are Stealing Your Time) - A Saturday Short
    Oct 25 2025
    Paying for eight different AI tools but only using two of them? Feeling guilty every time you see those subscription charges hit your credit card? You're not alone - and you're not broken. You're experiencing what I call "AI ADHD": Tech Overwhelm masquerading as opportunity. In this Saturday Short, I walk you through the exact 4-step audit I use with my clients to eliminate the subscriptions stealing their time, money, and mental energy. You'll learn how to identify the one AI tool that actually matters for your business, and more importantly, how to transform it from a generic assistant into a strategic digital teammate who knows your business inside and out. In This Episode: Why "AI ADHD" is costing you more than money (and how to break the cycle) The 4-step tool audit that reveals exactly which subscriptions to kill How to identify your single anchor tool - and why depth beats breadth every time The critical difference between having AI tools and having an AI teammate A real case study: How one consultant eliminated overwhelm and built a streamlined system This episode is for you if: You have more than 5 AI subscriptions but can't remember the last time you used half of them You feel guilty about "wasting money" on tools you meant to explore You're constantly switching between platforms and losing focus You want a clear, actionable plan to simplify your tech stack TODAY Resources Mentioned 🔧 AI Work Buddy Turn your existing LLM into a strategic business partner with custom training → theaihat.com/aiworkbuddy 💬 Join the Conversation If you could cancel just ONE subscription right now, which would it be? Reply to my next email or message me on Threads @Mike.Allton Chapters 00:00 Introduction: The AI Overload 02:13 The Real Cost of Too Many Tools 03:39 The Four-Step Process to Simplify Your AI Stack 05:45 Transforming Your AI Tool into a Teammate 08:31 Action Steps and Resources 09:43 Conclusion and Next Steps Show Notes & Transcript: https://theaihat.com/the-single-ai-tool-you-need-and-the-5-that-are-stealing-your-time/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    11 mins