Drop The Mic with Jason Hunt

#250 – Daniel Francavilla: The Silent Founder Mistake That Hands Clients to Competitors

Daniel Francavilla built and exited a 12-year creative agency and launched two brands from scratch. In an AI-saturated market where 67% of B2B buyers now prefer to purchase without talking to a rep, and 45% use AI to vet vendors before their last purchase, your content is already doing the selling. And if you're a founder who's staying quiet, you're handing clients to whoever shows up. Daniel is the founder of Clarity Content, a Toronto-based brand strategy and content studio helping founders and leaders show up, build trust, and convert, starting with messaging. He created the "Ecosystem of You" framework, teaches personal branding at startup incubators and accelerators, and runs The Good Growth Company, a parallel practice for non-profits and social impact organizations. With over a decade in brand strategy across B2B and B2C, Daniel's clients include agency owners, founders, and enterprise leaders looking to stand out in a content landscape that AI is making noisier every day. He explains: Why your founder voice is no longer really optional and how staying quiet lets competitors and the market fill in that space on your behalf The "Ecosystem of You" framework: how to build a personal brand from the unique intersection of your skills, passions, and interests (not just your job title) Why DIY lead magnets attract DIYers, not buyers and the assessment-style approach that converts high-quality leads even at $100 a lead The 3-layer content ecosystem (founder-led, company content, and community UGC) that makes every paid ad you run actually work The AI tools Daniel uses every day: Crisp.ai for call transcription and noise reduction, and Opus Clip for identifying high-virality hooks in long-form video How Daniel used AI to audit a client's website and discovered it was speaking to three completely different audiences before a single content dollar was spent The Gartner stat reshaping B2B marketing: 67% of buyers prefer to buy without talking to a rep, and 45% used AI in their last purchase journey. Your content is your sales rep now Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 04:00 – Daniel's agency journey: from founder to acquisition, partnership, and going solo in 2025 09:00 – Why founder personal branding is no longer cringe — it's survival 14:00 – The "Ecosystem of You": building a brand from your unique combination of passions and skills 19:00 – How paid ads work as amplifiers — and the 3-layer content ecosystem that makes them convert 24:00 – Lead magnets: why how-to guides attract the wrong buyer, and what works instead 29:00 – The Clarity Content onboarding: audit, messaging framework, and LinkedIn optimization 33:00 – The AI tools Daniel uses daily (Crisp.ai, Opus Clip, and AI-powered messaging audits) 37:00 – The Gartner numbers: 45% of B2B buyers used AI in their last purchase — what it means for your content 41:00 – Getting found through ChatGPT, AEO, and where to connect with Daniel SUPPORT AND CONNECT: Website: https://jayhunt.social

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#249 – Pier Paolo Alberghini: Your Building Is Either Healing You or Slowly Destroying You

Pier Paolo Alberghini has spent 30 years designing and harmonizing spaces using an ancient science that most architects have never encountered. Every building you walk into is either working for your health or quietly working against it and the difference comes down to principles the ancient Romans, Renaissance masters, and Egyptian pyramid builders all understood. Modern architecture forgot all of it in 1700. And we've been paying for it ever since. Pier Paolo is Vice President of Biogeometry for Europe and a direct student of Dr. Ibrahim Karim, the founder of biogeometry. He has designed and harmonized buildings across Toronto, Geneva, and Florence, and has presented to thousands of practitioners across seven countries. One of his most documented cases: a client diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and given 2-3 years to live survived 13 more years inside a home he and Ibrahim harmonized — a case published in a 2013 Montreal architectural magazine. He is now the lead biogeometry architect on the Casitas at Kokomo Botanical Resort in Turks and Caicos, 16 buildings designed from the ground up to emanate healing energy to everyone inside and within a 5-kilometer radius. He explains: ◼️ Why every cathedral, pyramid, and ancient temple you've ever felt at peace in was built on a "power spot" — and why modern architects have no idea what that means or how to replicate it ◼️ The Parkinson's patient given 2-3 years to live who survived 13 more years inside a biogeometry-harmonized home in Toronto — and what that tells us about the spaces we're living in right now ◼️ Why 16 buildings at the golden ratio (1.618) create an energy field that heals everyone within a 5-kilometer radius — and how every single design decision at the Casitas flows from this number ◼️ The EMF truth your phone company doesn't want you thinking about: why using your phone or computer without a biosignature attachment is linked directly to long-term neurological damage ◼️ 13 things you can change in your home or office right now — starting with moving your bed and desk 40 centimeters from the walls to escape the EMF field running through them ◼️ Why sleeping under a cathedral ceiling "desiccates" you the same way a pyramid desiccates a mummy — and the one small fix that eliminates the effect entirely ◼️ How humanity lost its right-brain intuition in 1700 due to the Cartesian shift — and why Ibrahim Karim believes we are finally in the process of reclaiming it ◼️ How to find power spots anywhere in the world using pendulums available on Amazon right now — and exactly what to do once you've found one TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Intro 05:14 – What Is Biogeometry? Breaking Down BG3 Energy and Why It Matters 10:00 – Why Ancient Cathedrals Made You Feel Something (and Modern Buildings Don't) 15:40 – The Casitas at Kokomo: Designing 16 Buildings to Heal Their Inhabitants 20:33 – The Parkinson's Patient Who Lived 13 Extra Years in a Harmonized Home 25:00 – Power Spots: The Earth's Gift That Most People Walk Past Every Day 30:07 – 13 Ways to Make Your Home and Office Biogeometry-Friendly Right Now 35:00 – Cathedral Ceilings, EMF, and the Sleep Destroyers Hidden in Your Bedroom 40:00 – Ancient Builders Always Chose Their Sites Deliberately (Here's How They Found Them) 43:00 – The 1700 Cartesian Shift: How Humanity Stopped Trusting Its Intuition SUPPORT AND CONNECT: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/socialmediaspeaker/ Website: https://jayhunt.social

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#248 – Joshua Counsil: The $0 Event That Saved a Brewery

Joshua Counsil is the co-founder of Good Robot Brewing in Halifax, a multi-award-winning hospitality and beverage company with three venues, national wholesale distribution, and The Beverage Factory, a co-manufacturing facility serving brands all the way to Costco. Good Robot Brewing was weeks away from insolvency. No ad budget. No agency. No playbook. Co-founder JOSHUA COUNSIL posted about a silent reading event on Facebook, and within 72 hours the taproom was at capacity. That single idea didn't just save the business, it became 5% of their website traffic for the next five years and helped fuel a $10M brand built almost entirely on earned media, raw authenticity, and doing the opposite of what every competitor was doing. He explains: ◼️ How one $0 Facebook post pulled a brewery back from the brink of insolvency ◼️ The "zig where they zag" framework that turned a corn beer into an award-winning product and a viral campaign ◼️ Why publicity is the most underrated marketing channel — and how to manufacture it without a PR budget ◼️ The brutal truth about running a business vs. opening one (and why most entrepreneurs get blindsided) ◼️ How Josh uses AI as a strategic thinking partner — not a content machine — to break through writer's block and sharpen product positioning ◼️ Why founder-led content still wins, and what happens to your brand when the founders stop showing up ◼️ The mindset shift that keeps entrepreneurs going when the fire hose of problems never turns off Timestamps 02:15 – Why Josh loves conferences more than most people love vacations 05:00 – Raised by murder mystery dinner theatre owners: how that shaped everything 09:30 – From engineering to entrepreneurship — quitting his job in Seattle for a brewery idea 14:00 – Landing in Halifax and the culture shock of a non-hustle market 18:30 – Weeks from insolvency: what the early days of Good Robot really looked like 23:00 – The silent reading event that packed the taproom in 72 hours 27:30 – Zigging where competitors zag: the corn beer campaign that no one expected 32:00 – Publicity over paid ads: why earned media builds brands that ads can't 36:30 – Knowing what you suck at — the most underrated business skill 40:00 – Using AI as a strategic partner, not a shortcut 🔗 Connect with Joshua Counsil on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/joshuacounsil 🍺 Good Robot Brewing: goodrobotbrewing.ca 📩 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe and leave a 5-star review. 🎓 Want the AI tools and strategies we use at Merged Media? Join the Amplify Your Brand community: skool.com/ayb Learn more about Jay: jayhunt.social

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#247 – Zivko Dodovski: Why AI Outreach is Killing Your LinkedIn Results

Everyone's automating their LinkedIn outreach. Everyone's using AI to personalize at scale. And almost everyone is getting ignored. Zivko Dodovski, CEO of DoneMaker, has built a thriving B2B lead generation firm by doing the exact opposite; zero automations, zero AI messages, and a manual outreach process that consistently books 8-10 qualified calls per month for his clients. Zivko started in radio broadcasting before pivoting into B2B sales, where he discovered that genuine human connection on LinkedIn outperformed every tool, shortcut, and automation he tested. He now runs DoneMaker, a LinkedIn organic outreach firm that has helped clients like J Baker Media land 5 clients in 2 months and Jones & Lamb LLC generate $14K in a single month — all without spending a dollar on ads. He explains: ◼️ Why "over-personalization" is the new spam — and how savvy buyers spot it in seconds ◼️ The exact connection message framework Zivko uses to start real conversations without pitch-slapping ◼️ Why LinkedIn's API suppresses automation tools and what that means for your outreach results ◼️ How to use Sales Navigator to build targeting so precise it turns outreach into a near 50/50 yes-or-no conversation ◼️ The profile optimization mistake most small businesses make — and why the "billboard approach" backfires ◼️ Why commenting on viral posts can generate more impressions than posting on your own feed ◼️ The dot-space LinkedIn trick that instantly reveals who's using automation to reach you ◼️ When LinkedIn simply won't work for your business — and what to do instead Timestamps: 02:00 – From radio broadcasting to B2B sales and founding DoneMaker 05:00 – Is radio advertising still relevant in 2026? 08:00 – How Zivko personally uses LinkedIn to grow his business 09:20 – The hot take: no AI, no automations — everything manual and why 12:00 – "Over-personalization" — the new red flag buyers can smell a mile away 15:00 – The exact connection message framework that starts real conversations 18:00 – Why Sales Navigator is the most underutilized LinkedIn tool 21:30 – From connection request to booked call — the full outreach sequence 24:00 – Profile optimization: what to do (and what to ditch) depending on your company size 26:00 – Where posting fits into the outreach strategy 29:00 – The commenting strategy that beats posting your own content 32:00 – Cadence, blog strategy, and the top/middle/bottom of funnel approach 36:00 – LinkedIn articles and newsletters — worth it or not? 38:00 – LinkedIn ads vs. Meta ads — why you should never test creative on LinkedIn 40:00 – The dot-space automation detection trick and when LinkedIn won't work for you Connect with Zivko: Website: donemaker.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/zivkododovski Connect with Jason: Website: https://jayhunt.social LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/socialmediaspeaker/

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#246 – Ronnie Malewski: The Marketing Shift That's Making Your Website Obsolete

NP Digital Canada Managing Director Ronnie Malewski reveals why most marketers are hiding behind vanity metrics while their competitors eat their lunch, how AI-powered conversational commerce is making your checkout page irrelevant, and why "impressions don't pay salaries — revenue does." Ronnie Malewski is the Managing Director of NP Digital Canada, one of the fastest-growing digital agencies in the country, built entirely on inbound leads under Neil Patel's brand. His dual background in psychology and marketing shapes everything from how he approaches clients to how his team builds AI workflows that competitors haven't caught on to yet. He explains: ◼️ Why vanity metrics (impressions, clicks, reach) are a deliberate hiding place — and the only number that actually matters in 2026 ◼️ The conversational commerce shift happening right now: how AI agents are taking over the entire buyer journey from research to checkout, without ever touching your website ◼️ How Ronnie's team audited their own time sheets to identify AI use cases — and built a media planning tool that made the role nearly obsolete overnight ◼️ Why "AI can create Shrek 1, 2, and 3 — but it can't create Shrek" — and what that tells you about where human creativity still wins ◼️ The exact 5-step framework for showing up in AI search engines (GEO/AEO) before your competitors figure it out ◼️ Why you need roughly 250 published documents for AI engines to trust your brand as a legitimate source — and how most businesses are nowhere close ◼️ The Campbell's Soup psychology experiment that doubled average purchase quantity overnight without changing a single thing about the product ◼️ Why saying no to the wrong clients is the real foundation of agency culture — not perks, not team-building, not personality Timestamps 05:00 – Ronnie's path from psychology student to WPP, Dentsu, and building NP Digital Canada 10:00 – How NP Digital runs on 100% inbound leads and what that means for the type of clients they win 15:00 – Vanity metrics are a lie: why impressions don't pay salaries and what to measure instead 20:00 – Conversational commerce and agentic checkout: the buyer journey has already changed 25:00 – How Ronnie's agency uses AI internally: vibe coding, media plan automation, and custom client portals 30:00 – Saying no, protecting your team, and why culture is built on what you refuse 35:00 – The timeless marketing psychology principles (loss aversion, IKEA effect, Campbell's limit experiment) that AI can't replace 37:00 – 5 tactics to win AI search right now, why GEO is just SEO evolved, and where marketing is headed into 2027

#245 – Sheldon Isaac: Headshots Are Dead; How AI Is Killing Professional Photography

Professional photographer Sheldon Isaac reveals the brutal truth about AI's threat to photography, why headshots and Christmas photos are already endangered, and the ONE thing that might save photographers from complete obsolescence. He explains: ◼️ Why headshots are in serious trouble: AI tools can now generate professional-looking headshots in seconds, and most people don't want to pay $1,000+ for what AI does for free ◼️ The Christmas photo crisis nobody's talking about: how one viral AI prompt showed families they can skip the photographer, save money, and avoid packing up screaming kids ◼️ The photographer backlash that went viral: when a major photo editing software company tried to release free AI headshot tools, photographers came for them so hard they had to pull the entire product ◼️ The experience economy vs. transactional photography: why wedding photographers are safe but headshot photographers are cooked (and the psychology behind it) ◼️ How AI is already saving photographers hours: the culling and editing tools that cut through 1,000+ event photos in minutes instead of days ◼️ The prompt engineering problem: why most people still won't use AI for photos (yet), and how long that protection might last ◼️ The guerrilla content strategy that wins clients: why Sheldon brings his camera to every trade show and records podcast episodes at vendor booths (instead of just exchanging business cards) ◼️ The secret to delivering 450 event photos in 24 hours: his exact workflow for organizing galleries by category so clients can actually USE the content immediately ◼️ Why LinkedIn loves authentic event photography: and how professional photos outperform stock images 10:1 on social media algorithms ◼️ The personality fit most photographers miss: you need the same extroverted, bubbly energy as a talk show host or you'll get ghosted by nervous clients ◼️ How he built a photography business using Facebook in 2007: posting consistently before anyone understood social media marketing TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Intro: Building a business on Facebook in 2007 01:00 – The guerrilla podcast strategy at trade shows 05:00 – Sheldon's origin story: From film camera to full-time photographer 10:00 – Getting mentored by industry legends in your 20s 15:00 – How AI is already revolutionizing photo editing and culling 20:00 – The planning process: Why pre-production meetings save shoots 25:00 – The personality equation: Why photographers need talk show energy 30:00 – Distribution strategy: Delivering 450 photos in 24 hours 34:00 – The AI threat: Why headshots and Christmas photos are dead 37:00 – Experience vs. transaction: Which photos AI will never replace 39:00 – Why humans still crave in-person connection (and what that means for photographers) 41:00 – Where to connect with Sheldon + the "Sheldon AI" moment Connect with Sheldon Isaac: 📸 LinkedIn: Sheldon A. Isaac 📸 Instagram: @sheldonisaacimages Subscribe to Drop The Mic for weekly conversations with entrepreneurs navigating AI, marketing, and business growth in 2026. @jayhuntofficial - IG https://www.linkedin.com/in/socialmediaspeaker/

#244 – Ema Fulga: How to Win AI Search Without Losing Your Brand Voice in the Process

Copywriter-turned-AI search expert Ema Fulga reveals how brands can dominate ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI results without sounding like generic AI slop—and why 60% of searches now end without a single click. Ema is the founder of decipher., a UK and UAE-based AI search optimization agency helping brands appear in AI-powered searches. With 8+ years as a freelance copywriter working with Publicis, NTT Data, and the World Intellectual Property Organization, she pivoted early to Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) when she recognized the seismic shift happening in search behavior. Based in Italy and operating across UK and UAE markets (where 58% of people use ChatGPT or Gemini—higher than most developed countries), Ema bridges the gap between creative storytelling and machine-readable content. She explains: ◼️ Why 60% of searches now end without a click—and how to win visibility in the zero-click era ◼️ The brutal truth about AI-generated content: why most of it is "garbage" and how to stand out ◼️ How to bake your brand voice into AI systems so they cite YOU instead of generic competitors ◼️ The simple technique for training ChatGPT on your personal stories, tone, and writing style ◼️ Why structured data and schema markup are the "secret handshake" with AI retrieval systems ◼️ How to optimize blog content so AI engines pull YOUR answers (not your competitors') ◼️ The biggest mistake small businesses make when writing for AI search ◼️ Why AI isn't killing creativity—it's actually making you think harder and smarter ◼️ The counterintuitive reason answering specific questions beats generic "pillar content" ◼️ How decipher. got clients appearing in AI search results in just 4 months ◼️ Why the UAE's 58% AI adoption rate makes it the perfect testing ground for AEO strategies ◼️ The future of copywriting: why human nuance and storytelling will become MORE valuable, not less [00:00] – Intro [02:15] – From affiliate marketing to copywriting to AI search optimization [07:30] – The "aha moment" that sparked decipher. and the AEO pivot [12:45] – Why 60% of searches never click and what that means for your brand [18:20] – How to train AI on your brand voice (the personal context strategy) [24:10] – The schema markup and structured data frameworks that make AI cite you [29:35] – Writing blog content that shows up in ChatGPT and Perplexity [35:50] – Why AI isn't outsourcing your brain (it's extending it) [41:20] – The UAE market insights and what high-adoption countries reveal about AEO [46:15] – Final insights & where to connect with Ema Connect with Ema: Website: decipher.agency LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ema-fulga-decipher Email: ema@decipher.agency Subscribe to Drop The Mic for weekly insights on AI, marketing strategies, and business growth frameworks that actually work Done for you marketing: Merged Media Learn more about Jason Hunt

#243 – Scott Ward: Why Most Founders Fail at Execution

Scott Ward is the founder of HabitStack, a coaching system designed to help founders and leadership teams turn strategy into consistent weekly execution. After decades in the startup trenches including scaling companies, navigating acquisitions, and leading through chaos, Scott built a framework that solves the execution gap plaguing most businesses. His clients go from reactive firefighting to proactive focus in weeks, not months. Scott reveals why 80% of founders have brilliant strategies but terrible execution, how a simple weekly cadence system transformed struggling leadership teams into high-performing machines, and why your Monday morning chaos is actually a systems problem, not a people problem. ◼️ The brutal truth about why strategic planning sessions fail within 48 hours (and the one shift that makes strategies actually stick) ◼️ How to build a leadership team that executes in lockstep—without micromanaging or endless status meetings ◼️ The "Monday morning problem" every founder faces: knowing you need to prioritize but having zero clarity on what actually matters this week ◼️ Why habits beat goals every single time—and how to stack the right habits to scale faster with less friction ◼️ The exact weekly cadence system HabitStack uses to keep founders focused: daily check-ins, weekly reviews, and why this doesn't become "just another meeting" ◼️ The #1 mistake founders make when trying to align their team (hint: it's not communication—it's something deeper) ◼️ How AI is changing accountability systems—what can be automated and what must remain human when it comes to execution coaching ◼️ The pattern separating 10x execution from mediocre follow-through: it's not discipline, it's this counterintuitive mindset shift 00:00 – Intro 05:15 – Why 80% of founders have great strategy but terrible execution 10:30 – The Monday morning problem: strategy vs. reality 15:45 – Building the weekly cadence system that actually works 20:20 – How to align your leadership team without micromanaging 25:10 – Habits vs. goals: why HabitStack focuses on systems, not targets 30:35 – The biggest mistake founders make with team alignment 35:50 – AI's role in accountability (and what can't be automated) 🔗 HabitStack: habitstack.io 🔗 Jason Hunt: jayhunt.social

#242 – Dr. Eugene K. Choi: Why 90% of Your Brain Is Running on Autopilot (And How to Rewire It)

Dr. Eugene K. Choi is a former healthcare leader turned performance coach who supervised 6 major hospitals and 250+ clinics until he discovered the hidden neuroscience keeping even the best leaders stuck. After walking away from a six-figure pharmacy career to become a filmmaker (generating 30+ million views), then coaching hundreds of entrepreneurs, he uncovered a brutal truth: 90% of clients already know what to do, they're just not doing it. The reason? By age 35, 90-95% of your brain runs on autopilot, keeping you trapped in survival mode instead of accessing executive-level thinking, creativity, and decision-making. He explains: ◼️ Why your brain's "executive state" is turned off 70% of your adult life—and the exact neuroscience behind feeling stuck, anxious, or burned out ◼️ The difference between survival brain versus executive brain—and how to recognize which state you're operating from right now ◼️ How he went from six-figure pharmacist → broke filmmaker → viral content creator (30M views) → business coach—and the pattern he noticed in every failed execution ◼️ Why stress literally shuts down your ability to make good decisions, solve problems creatively, and connect with people (and how to reverse it) ◼️ The "know versus do gap"—the neurological reason you understand the strategy but don't execute (hint: it's not laziness or lack of discipline) ◼️ Why cold exposure, discomfort, and stress tolerance are the secret weapons for building entrepreneurial resilience ◼️ The dangerous AI trap: why people are forming emotional bonds with AI therapists and robots—and what happens when Gen Z prefers AI relationships over messy human ones ◼️ How to break the autopilot loop by age 35 when your brain defaults to thinking the same 70,000 thoughts per day (90% are repeats) ◼️ The science-backed practice to activate your executive brain at will—even in high-pressure, unpredictable situations ◼️ Why "you can't teach an old dog new tricks" is scientifically false—and how your brain can rewire itself until its dying breath TIMESTAMPS: 05:15 – From six-figure pharmacist to broke filmmaker: the leap 10:30 – Why 90% of coaching clients know what to do but don't execute 15:45 – The 70% survival state problem: your brain is turned off 20:20 – Survival brain vs. executive brain: the difference 25:10 – The neuroscience behind "I know it's good for me but I don't feel like doing it" 30:35 – Cold exposure and stress tolerance for entrepreneurs 35:50 – Viral content secrets: 30 million views and the psychology behind it 40:15 – The AI dystopia: humans dating robots and losing resilience 45:30 – How to rewire your autopilot brain after age 35 CONNECT WITH DR. EUGENE K. CHOI: 🌐 Website: neurohackingschool.com 📸 Instagram: @eugenekchoi 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/eugenekchoi Follow Jason Hunt: Website: https://jayhunt.social Amplify Your Brand Community: https://www.skool.com/ayb Instagram: @jayhuntofficial LinkedIn: /socialmediaspeaker TikTok: @jayhuntofficial Done for you marketing

#241 – Rob Pacinelli: AI Video Revolution, Lead Reactivation and Custom GPT Clones

Rob Pacinelli is the VP and co-founder of The Best Media. In this episode, we explore Rob's journey from starting in his parents' basement to building an agency that's worked with 70-80 employees over the years, his evolution from e-commerce to full-service digital marketing, and how he's now pioneering AI-powered lead reactivation through their innovative "Sales Android" technology. Rob shares hard-won lessons about hiring experts over beginners, the costly mistakes of trying to wear too many hats, and why he'd rather pay more for professionals than waste time training. We dive deep into The Best Media's transformation toward AI automation, exploring their custom GPT solutions, AI video production workflows using Sora and HeyGen, and how they're helping clients convert dead leads into sales with 24/7 automated systems. If you're an agency owner, entrepreneur, or marketer looking to understand how AI is reshaping digital marketing operations—from lead reactivation to video production—this conversation delivers tactical insights you can implement immediately. Building a digital marketing agency from scratch in a parents' basement The evolution from e-commerce to full-service agency over 23 years Hiring lessons: Why paying experts more saves money in the long run Managing 70-80 employees over time and what Rob Learned AI-powered lead reactivation and the "Sales Android" concept Custom GPT development for business automation AI video production using Sora, HeyGen, and Runway The future of videographers in an AI-driven world Notebook LM for content repurposing and brand voice extraction Balancing human creativity with AI efficiency 01:22 – Rob's Oakville connection and early client stories 03:46 – Starting in the parents' basement after university (2000) 05:11 – First client: An e-commerce business, not an agency client 07:32 – Hiring the first employee: A high school friend as web developer 09:12 – Managing multiple services: SEO, paid ads, websites simultaneously 11:47 – The expert-only hiring philosophy: Why Rob stopped training beginners 14:23 – 70-80 employees over 23 years: Key lessons on delegation 26:42 – AI video production workflow: Sora, HeyGen, and Runway integration 29:33 – Creating videos from two photos: The AI video revolution 32:17 – Overcoming Sora's content restrictions: The Godzilla vs King Kong example 35:20 – The "resubmit hack": Getting rejected AI prompts accepted 37:44 – Will AI replace videographers? Rob's perspective on evolution vs replacement 40:28 – The modern videographer: Combining in-person shoots with AI tools 43:15 – Notebook LM deep dive: Extracting grammar and speaking style for AI Contact: Website: TheBestMedia.com Email: roberto@thebestmedia.com LinkedIn: Roberto Pacinelli Drop The Mic with Jason Hunt - Where marketing meets AI, storytelling, and real business results. Digital Marketing Done For You

#240 – Rick Delisi: Customer Effort Beats Satisfaction, AI Eliminates Bad Service

Rick Delisi is a customer experience researcher, author, and thought leader who has spent over 20 years studying customer service from the rotary phone era to today's AI-powered solutions. As co-author of The Effortless Experience and Digital Customer Service, Rick has pioneered the understanding that reducing customer effort—not maximizing satisfaction—is the key to building loyalty. In this episode, we explore how AI is finally making it possible to eliminate bad customer service interactions entirely. Rick breaks down the concept of "AI for All" at Glia, where AI handles routine inquiries while empowering human agents with supercharged tools for complex, emotional interactions. We discuss the balance between efficiency and experience, the dangers of AI dependency, and why the best creativity now comes from asking questions no one's thought to ask before. 🔑 Topics Covered: Why customer effort predicts loyalty better than satisfaction or NPS The dual role of AI: external automation + internal agent empowerment How AI can create both efficiency and exceptional experience simultaneously The "channelest platform" that seamlessly blends digital, voice, and AI Overcoming fears about AI replacing human connection in customer service Using AI as a journalist and creative professional without losing authenticity The importance of industry-specific AI vs. horizontal approaches Voice AI and meeting customers across all demographics ⏱️ Timestamps: 03:15 – Rick's 20-year journey researching customer service 05:45 – The singular passion: eliminating bad customer service 08:30 – Why AI is the hero of the customer service story 11:20 – The learning curve: Can AI really provide better service than humans? 14:40 – "AI for All" at Glia: External automation + internal empowerment 18:25 – How the channelest platform works in practice 22:10 – Customer effort: The best predictor of loyalty 26:35 – How journalists can use AI without losing their craft 30:50 – The danger of AI dependency stifling creativity 35:20 – The new creativity: Asking questions no one's thought to ask 🔗 Connect with Rick: Website: glia.com Books: The Effortless Experience & Digital Customer Service 📩 Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe and leave a 5-star review to stay updated with new episodes every week! - https://jayhunt.social

#239 – Nick Musica: AEO Is Just Hype, SEO Fundamentals Still Win

Nick Musica was running a CBD publisher when Google's May 2019 algorithm update wiped his traffic overnight—dropping from page 1 to oblivion. With four weeks until he'd need to fire his entire team, he made a decision that would never make it into a Harvard Business Review case study: quit with zero contracts lined up and figure it out as he went. AEO vs SEO: The Numbers Don't LieWhen answer engines drive 1% of traffic and traditional search drives 16%, where should your budget actually go? Nick dismantles the AEO hype with real traffic data and marketing mix strategy. The "Zero Contracts" Launch StrategyHow quitting his job with literally no clients lined up led to 60 billable hours per week within two weeks. His entire business plan: "I'm going to make this work." When SEO Becomes Your Business Model (The Risk)Why affiliate sites and publishers live and die by algorithm updates, and how to build a more resilient business that uses SEO as a channel, not a crutch. AI Content's Fatal FlawThe "vanilla problem" with AI-generated content and why it's creating a race to mediocrity in search results. Spoiler: Google can detect patterns. From SEO Consultant to Executive CoachThe Harrison Assessment revelation that changed everything, and why most "SEO problems" are actually organizational dysfunction in disguise. Nick's Website: https://nickmusica.com Website: https://jayhunt.social Amplify Your Brand Community: https://www.skool.com/ayb Instagram: @jayhuntofficial LinkedIn: /socialmediaspeaker TikTok: @jayhuntofficial 💬 Drop your truth: What percentage of your marketing budget is going to AI hype versus proven channels like SEO? Be honest in the comments. 🎙️ Subscribe for unfiltered conversations with marketers who've survived algorithm apocalypses and lived to tell the tale. 00:00 — Intro: Google algorithm wipes CBD publisher overnight02:15 — The "I'm going to make it work" business plan (zero clients to 60 hours/week)03:35 — Digital marketing background since 2003, SEO agency journey04:22 — $6K/month SEO firm disaster & pivot to training06:28 — SEO career evolution & learning from Shari Thurow mentorship08:15 — Google algorithm changes & position sensitivity explained10:12 — Why using SEO as your business model is dangerous (affiliates/publishers)11:35 — AI overviews as billboard advertising vs click-generating funnels13:42 — Answer engines are just SERP extensions, not replacements15:15 — "Shitty SEO" reality check — the basics still haven't changed18:28 — The AEO vs SEO debate: structure for readers, not algorithms20:45 — Marketing mix truth bomb: 16% SEO traffic vs 1% ChatGPT traffic23:28 — AI-generated content's "vanilla problem" & detection patterns26:15 — Local SEO simplification: focus on Google Business Profile fundamentals29:42 — Marketing mix strategy: balancing short-term wins vs long-term growth32:15 — Direct response crisis mode for lawyers & real estate agents35:08 — SEO timeline expectations: process vs performance metrics38:22 — Coaching transition story via Harrison Assessment behavioral tool41:35 — Organizational dysfunction masking itself as "SEO problems"44:08 — Identity shift: from "SEO guy who coaches" to "coach who runs SEO"

#238 – Michael Walsh: Why the Machine Mindset Kills Growth

Michael Walsh spent 30 years helping businesses scale to $50M+ and discovered something that contradicts everything you've been taught: treating your team like a "well-oiled machine" destroys the exact expertise your clients pay for. After burning out in 1996 with zero vacation days, he redesigned his entire approach. Now, he takes 18 weeks off annually while his consultancy thrives. In this conversation, Michael breaks down why 20th-century industrial thinking fails in expertise-based businesses, the ecosystem approach that unlocks sustainable growth, and how AI is accelerating the shift from information work to creative work. Key Insights: The hidden cost of the machine mindset: why systemizing people like interchangeable parts kills creativity and innovation in marketing, consulting, and service businesses The 3 Freedoms framework: Freedom IN your business (doing work you love), Freedom FROM your business (it runs without you), and Freedom BECAUSE OF your business (funds the life you want)—and why getting the sequence wrong keeps you trapped Michael's transformation story: from working 52 weeks straight to taking the last week of every month off, and how his income skyrocketed as a result The Phil Jackson approach: how championship coaches built winning teams by customizing systems around individual strengths instead of forcing uniformity Four elements of human behaviour that make employee motivation obvious: survive, thrive, connect, adapt and how understanding these removes the mystery from team performance The social contract that creates loyalty: why traditional command-and-control management fails with knowledge workers, and what replaces it Resources mentioned:Get Michael's complete hiring system free at freedombydesignbook.com Connect with Jay Hunt: Website: https://jayhunt.social Episode Timestamps: 1:00 - Freedom by Design book & strategic LinkedIn outreach 1:50 - 30-year transformation: from zero vacation to 18 weeks off 2:21 - The 1996 turning point: forced Mexico vacation 4:01 - 16-hour exhaustion crash 4:44 - Post-vacation revenue spike: $10K in one month 6:09 - Scaling to 18 weeks off annually 7:29 - The 3-week work, 1-week off rhythm 8:05 - How clients adapted to compressed schedule 10:19 - Managing guilt & forced disconnection 13:19 - Freedom by Design framework deep dive 13:55 - Machine mindset origins: assembly lines & industrial revolution 15:03 - How unions formed in response to cog-in-machine treatment 16:23 - Why information services require different management 17:28 - Machine built for owners vs ecosystem for everyone 18:19 - The illusion of control through systems 19:14 - Supporting people's strengths vs forcing compliance 21:06 - Sales team ecosystem: customizing for different personalities 22:37 - Building support structures around individual strengths 24:32 - Hiring assessment tools: MBTI, StrengthsFinder, Kolbe, Wonderlic 28:16 - The human element vs cheap offshore labor trap 29:24 - Four aspects of human behavior: survive, thrive, connect, adapt 33:28 - AI completing the information age, entering creativity age 36:21 - Why AI forces authentic human storytelling 38:26 - The 10%-80%-10% AI collaboration model 41:28 - AI efficiency example: presentations from 3-4 days to 1.5 hours Subscribe to Drop The Mic for conversations with entrepreneurs, authors, and leaders who've built businesses that serve their lives and not consume them.

#237 – Dani Dufresne: How AI Exposed $25M in Wasted Ad Spend

Dani Dufresne is an Emmy-winning producer and founder of The Aux Co, bringing over a decade of experience cleaning up creative disasters for major brands. In this episode, we explore why beautiful, expensive productions often deliver empty results and how production expertise at the beginning—not the end—of creative development changes everything. Dani's journey from film school to becoming a fractional executive producer reveals a fundamental flaw in how agencies and brands approach creative: they develop the idea first, then figure out how to produce it. This backwards process leads to blown budgets, compromised creative, and campaigns that look stunning but deliver nothing. The Movie Poster Test: If you can't explain your brand message in one sentence, your creative has already failed Why agencies fail: The fatal flaw of developing creative without production expertise in the room AI's brutal exposure: How artificial intelligence revealed $25 million in wasted programmatic ad spend from Q2 alone Community vs influencers: Why borrowing audiences through influencer marketing is dying, and authentic community building is the future The burnout trap: How being the "problem solver" trains clients to only call you when things break Cinematic storytelling trends: The rise of MOS (music-only) filmmaking and why vintage/Y2K aesthetics signal authenticity Fractional production model: How The Aux Co embeds expertise into agency teams without the overhead Simplicity wins: Why attention spans demand one-sentence messaging, not 50-page decks Timestamps: 00:00 – Film school journey & production company origins 02:47 – Transition from film editing to production work 03:32 – Discovering producer role through problem-solving 06:24 – Film development to advertising pivot 07:36 – Agency vs production company dynamics 08:36 – Founding The Aux Co as fractional production team 10:50 – Building trust through small wins approach 11:32 – Early involvement prevents costly mistakes 13:11 – Results-focused creative evaluation 14:40 – Longer-form branded entertainment opportunity 15:54 – Community building over influencer borrowing 17:52 – AI enabling real human connection work 18:24 – Programmatic ad waste analysis ($25M Q2) 19:28 – Vintage/Y2K aesthetic as authenticity signal 21:01 – AI for rapid ideation & creative iteration 22:43 – Cinematic storytelling & MOS filmmaking trend 26:28 – Simplicity as ultimate creative power 29:41 – Attention span decline requiring simple messaging 31:33 – Evolution of director vs agency creative roles 34:22 – Fractional executive producer model breakdown 37:12 – Managing burnout & client selectivity 38:23 – Letting go of problem-only clients 40:56 – Partner dynamics & production software venture We explore the dramatic shift from influencer marketing to community building, the role AI plays in exposing waste and enabling genuine human connection, and why the most powerful creative ideas pass the "movie poster test"—explainable in a single sentence.

#236 – Cristian Ionescu: Why 10-Year Experts Can't Find Work

Cristian Ionescu is the creator of CatStats.ai, an AI-powered intelligence platform for affiliate networks. Before building his own SaaS, he deployed analytics systems for Samsung Europe and worked across automotive, telecommunications, and digital marketing. In this episode, we explore the harsh realities of AI's impact on experienced professionals, the "7-day startup" philosophy that gets products to market before competitors catch up, and how Netflix-style recommendation algorithms are being weaponized for affiliate marketing. 🔑 Key Topics Covered: [03:45] From aerospace engineer to data analytics expert—Cristian's unconventional journey into discovering you can "program math" [06:20] Behind the scenes: Building analytics dashboards for Samsung Europe's phone launches and tracking retailer visibility across markets [11:15] The analytics blind spot: Why small businesses waste money on expensive marketing experiments instead of being strategically picky [15:40] The unglamorous truth: Why updating your Google Business Profile matters more than exotic marketing strategies [19:50] AI adoption paradox: Why fewer businesses are using AI in 2025 than 2024 (paralysis by analysis) [24:30] The ChatGPT M-dash problem: Why AI-generated ad copy loses to human copy in Meta A/B tests—and how to fix it [28:15] How LLMs are teaching us to write better: When to skip AI altogether and post authentically [31:40] Ross Simmonds' "Create Once, Distribute Forever" strategy: The hierarchy approach to repurposing long-form content [36:25] Why pre-planned content calendars kill authenticity (and what to do instead) [39:10] Inside CatStats.ai: How Netflix-style recommendation algorithms match affiliates with winning offers [45:20] The "7-Day Startup" philosophy: If you're not ashamed when you launch, you launched too late 🔗 Connect with Cristian: CatStats.ai: https://catstats.ai Instagram: @affiliatedatainsider 📲 Follow Jason Hunt: Instagram: @jayhuntofficial LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/socialmediaspeaker Website: jayhunt.social Join Amplify Your Brand Community: https://www.skool.com/ayb Subscribe to Drop the Mic for unfiltered conversations with founders, marketers, and tech leaders redefining the digital landscape.

#235 – Doug Weitzbuch: 2 Million Plays with Zero Marketing

From producing unscripted shows with Gordon Ramsay and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to creating a viral real estate game that hit 2 million plays without spending a dollar on marketing, Doug Weitzbuch's journey reveals the power of authentic community-driven growth over manufactured virality. In this episode, Doug shares behind-the-scenes insights from 20 years in television production, his pivot to gaming, and the exact strategies that led to organic viral success through genuine storytelling and community building rather than paid advertising. 🔑 Topics Covered: The Netflix "Buy My House" show development process and real estate market insights How one Business Insider article generated massive viral growth with zero paid promotion The Barstool Sports organic feature that transformed everything overnight Why authentic community-driven growth beats manufactured virality every time YouTube Playables beta opportunity and strategic platform expansion Building engaged gaming communities versus chasing meaningless vanity metrics The future of casual gaming and micro-content consumption trends Behind-the-scenes stories from producing major network shows with A-list celebrities Transitioning from established TV career to entrepreneurial app development Strategic PR outreach and media relationship building for organic growth 🎯 Key Insights: How a Wordle obsession sparked the creation of Houzel (real estate Wordle) The naivety factor advantage when entering new industries Celebrity authenticity: Dwayne Johnson vs Gordon Ramsay's on-set personas Small team operations and strategic scaling decisions Brand partnership opportunities in the gaming space Creator-to-mainstream media crossover trends Casual gaming's potential for habit formation and daily engagement 🎮 Featured Strategies: Calculated PR outreach for media coverage Leveraging viral content for strategic paid promotion Real estate agent lead magnet potential through gaming Platform diversification with YouTube Playables Community-first approach to product development Authentic storytelling for organic audience growth ⏰ Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – TV producer background (Gordon Ramsay, Duck Dynasty, JLo, The Rock) 02:00 – Dwayne Johnson's authenticity & accessibility on set 03:22 – Gordon Ramsay's controlled persona vs real personality 04:25 – Team building & empowering freelance talent 05:42 – Transition from TV producer to app creator 06:32 – Wordle obsession sparking Houzel idea 07:40 – "Buy My House" Netflix show real estate deep dive 09:52 – Real estate Wordle concept development 10:20 – Software development decision & naivety factor 12:25 – "Stranded with My Mother-in-law" missed opportunity 15:12 – Two million plays with zero marketing spend 15:43 – Business Insider feature & calculated PR outreach 19:11 – Manufacturing virality vs authentic content 22:47 – Small team operations & future scaling needs 24:20 – Brand partnership opportunities (Rocket Mortgage) 24:46 – YouTube Playables beta launch 25:18 – Real estate agent lead magnet potential 27:17 – Barstool Sports organic podcast feature 30:22 – Leveraging viral content for paid promotion 34:28 – Creator-to-mainstream media crossover trend 37:03 – Casual gaming's ritual-forming potential 38:20 – Micro dramas trend & shrinking attention spans Check out Housle: https://housle.house/

#234 – Vance Morris: From Disney Executive to Direct Response Master

Former Disney executive turned entrepreneur Vance Morris reveals the systematic approach that transformed his carpet cleaning business into a million-dollar operation and how any business owner can apply Disney's legendary customer experience principles to command premium prices and create lifelong client relationships. In this episode, Vance breaks down his famous $125K auto parts campaign, shares Disney's systematic approach to business operations, and reveals his proven "10-10-10" prospecting method that generates 73% response rates while competitors struggle with digital noise. 🔑 Topics Covered: Disney's systematic approach to customer experience and why systems create business freedom The complete breakdown of Vance's $1,000 investment that generated over $1 million in revenue Physical mail strategies that cut through digital overwhelm and get real responses The "10-10-10" prospecting formula: 10 prospects, 10 touches, 10 weeks for consistent sales Power base marketing with relationship-building tactics that keep you top-of-mind How to select and research high-value prospects using VAs and AI tools Creative gatekeeper strategies and controversial content that generates engagement The "50-mile famous" approach to dominating your local market Why customer retention beats acquisition and how to implement both systematically 🎯 Perfect for:Entrepreneurs, business owners, agency leaders, and marketers who want to stop competing on price, build premium positioning, and create systematic approaches to client acquisition and retention. 📈 Key Strategies Discussed: Systematic Magic™ framework for business operations Disney bootcamp 10-step campaign sequence Newsjacking techniques for timely engagement Candy bowl power base marketing system Physical mail vs. digital marketing integration Sales cycle management (30 days to 3+ years) ⏰ Episode Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: Vance's Disney background & entrepreneurial journey 02:58 – Disney's biggest business lesson: systems and processes 04:40 – How systems create operational freedom 06:51 – The legendary $125K auto parts campaign breakdown 09:17 – Physical mail marketing strategies and persistence tactics 13:19 – Creative approaches for getting past gatekeepers 16:43 – Disney bootcamp 10-step campaign sequence revealed 19:29 – The "10-10-10" prospect strategy explained 22:36 – High-value prospect selection criteria and research methods 25:19 – Delegating to VAs and using ChatGPT for prospect research 28:26 – Understanding sales cycles: 30 days to 3 years 30:14 – Standing out with controversial and engaging content 31:24 – Newsjacking technique for timely market engagement 36:11 – "50-mile famous" local business domination strategy 37:32 – Power-based marketing with the candy bowl system 40:52 – Customer retention vs. acquisition cost analysis 43:04 – Staying top-of-mind without being pushy or annoying Connect with Vance Morris: Website: https://www.deliverservicenow.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vance.morris.9/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vancemorris/ Connect with Jason Hunt: Website: https://jayhunt.social

#233 – Anna Granic: From Cold Calls to LinkedIn Authority & Trust-First Sales

Anna Granic is a business development strategist at Servicare Interiors and a brand ambassador who's mastered the art of turning personal storytelling into powerful sales results. In this episode, we explore how she transformed from traditional sales tactics to building authentic relationships through consistent LinkedIn content and a service-first mindset. Anna reveals her systematic approach to personal branding that's converted cold prospects into warm leads, built industry credibility, and established her as a go-to voice in facilities management. From her 4:30 AM morning routine to her content planning system, she shares the daily habits and strategic thinking that drive real business results. 🔑 Topics Covered: How personal branding on LinkedIn drives actual sales results The "listening first, selling second" approach to client relationships Building trust through storytelling instead of traditional sales pitches Daily content systems: planning 5 days of LinkedIn posts ahead Converting LinkedIn visibility into warm sales conversations Morning routines and micro-goals for consistent growth LinkedIn algorithm insights and engagement strategies ⏰ Key Timestamps: 3:11 – Selling Trust Over Cleaning Services 8:12 – Purpose-Driven Mindset & Living with Intention 18:43 – Daily LinkedIn Posting System 24:58 – Turning Cold Calls into Warm Leads via LinkedIn 29:00 – LinkedIn Algorithm Experiments & Findings 34:00 – Optimize Cover Photo & About Section 39:05 – Direct Messaging Tactics for Leads 🔗 Connect with Anna: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annagranic/ 📩 Subscribe and leave a review to stay updated with new episodes every week! 🎥 Full episode with timestamps available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. Connect with Jason Hunt: Website: https://jayhunt.social LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/socialmediaspeaker/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayhuntofficial TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jayhuntofficial Sponsor: https://chatello.ai

#232 – Dana Hork: Sprint-Based Marketing & the 5-Day Campaign Revolution

Dana Hork is the founder of Beers With Friends and formerly lead social media marketing for Walmart. She discussed her model that's transforming how brands approach marketing campaigns. In this episode, we dive into her revolutionary 5-day sprint methodology that's helping brands move faster and execute smarter in today's crowded digital landscape. Dana brings years of experience leading social media at Walmart and Jet.com, where she built scalable content systems and managed viral moments like the famous Walmart Yodel Boy. Now she's channelling that expertise into an agile agency model that blends creativity, strategic insight, and AI tools to deliver breakthrough campaigns in record time. 🔑 Topics Covered: The Beer Run Sprint model: 5-day campaign breakthroughs explained Real case studies from Walmart to startup brands AI tools and automation in agency operations Why curiosity and agility beat long-form planning cycles Building brand systems that scale with speed From corporate social media to agency founder journey The future of productized agency services ⏰ Key Timestamps: 3:41 – Leading Social at Walmart 10:03 – Viral Moment: Walmart Yodel Boy 13:14 – Beer Run Sprint Model Explained 16:44 – Dinner Deserves Dinner Case Study 24:01 – AI & Automation in Agency Ops 30:00 – Productizing Agency Services 36:53 – Curiosity & Creativity in 2025 🔗 Connect with Dana: Beers With Friends 📩 Subscribe and leave a review to stay updated with new episodes every week! 🎥 Full episode with timestamps available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. Connect with Jason Hunt: Website: https://jayhunt.social LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/socialmediaspeaker/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayhuntofficial TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jayhuntofficial Sponsor: https://chatello.ai

#231 – Anthony Leung: AI vs. Authenticity & Keeping LinkedIn Human

Anthony Leung is a social media strategist and founder who's built his reputation on authentic storytelling in the digital age. In this episode, recorded live from London, Anthony breaks down why human connection is beating AI-generated content on LinkedIn and how to build trust in an automation-obsessed world. Anthony has worked with Fortune 500 companies and speaks internationally on social media strategy. He's the founder of his own social media consultancy and is widely recognized for his approach to humanizing brand communication in the AI era. Topics Covered: Why authentic storytelling is the new LinkedIn strategy that cuts through AI noise The Conan O'Brien approach to personal content on professional platforms How AI makes mediocrity easy, but authenticity creates a competitive advantage Smart content repurposing strategies that maintain emotional context The risks of fully automated AI content and ghostwritten posts Why founder-led brands build deeper trust than corporate accounts Intent over volume: posting less but engaging more meaningfully Connect with Anthony: LinkedIn: Anthony Leung The Big Question: Are you leaning too hard on automation, or are you showing up as you? 📩 Subscribe and leave a review to stay updated with new episodes every week! Key Timestamps: 00:05 – Live from London near O2 Arena01:08 – Toronto to London: Founder story03:41 – LinkedIn disruption with personal content05:39 – From automation to authenticity08:13 – Realness & imperfection in video content12:05 – Trust is the new currency19:06 – Posting less, engaging more28:13 – AI-assisted personal LinkedIn strategy33:45 – Founder-led brands build deeper trust Connect with Jason Hunt: Website: https://jayhunt.social LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/socialmediaspeaker/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayhuntofficial TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jayhuntofficial Sponsor: https://chatello.ai