Powered by RND
PodcastsTechnologyAggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & Automations

Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & Automations

Meg Casebolt & Jessica Lackey
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & Automations
Latest episode

Available Episodes

5 of 22
  • The Case For Curation before Creation
    “Nickelback had the last big rock song of our generation because songs just aren't counted the same way. So I feel like this is actually a fairly good example of: what is popular is Nickelback, but it's not the best music. It's not the critically acclaimed music. This is what gets played on the radio because it can be played while you're barbecuing and it's non-offensive.And that's what AI-curated content is, it's the Nickelback of content.” - MegThere’s a lot of pressure in online business to be original. To create something new. To be the thought leader with the freshest take. But much of what passes for “thought leadership” online is just recycled content, AI regurgitation, or the same tired takes with slightly different branding.In this philosophy episode of Aggressively Human, we make the case for starting with curation, not creation, to avoid flat, forgettable content where we’re simply competing through the volume of our ideas (h/t Jay Acunzo).We explore what it really means to be a thoughtful curator, how building taste builds your expertise, and why citing your sources doesn’t make you less of a thought leader but actually strengthens your positioning. We talk about what it actually means to curate well, why human curiosity is the root of all curation, the messy process of composting ideas, and how to make time—and intention—for escaping the algorithmically-driven echo chamber of ideas. Plus hear us develop (in real time!) the five-step framework for becoming a trusted creator, why your “whisper of discontent” might be your next learning quest, and what it looks like to embrace your expertise without pretending to know it all.If you’re tired of thought leaders who have more LinkedIn carousels than actual ideas, this episode is an invitation to reconsider curation as an integral pillar.* Why consumption must come before curation—and why curiosity comes before both* How to develop taste by reading, listening, and observing widely* Our 5-stage content development process* The difference between AI curation and human curation (and why AI flattens nuance)* How “whispers of discontent” can guide your next learning quest* Why citation is essential to expert thought leadership* Curation as care: how to refer, recommend, and connect as a value-add to your ecosystem* Why your best business moves might come from knowing the right referrals—not from knowing it all yourselfThere's value in saying, “Here's a list of the different software that I've tried, but here's the best project management tool for this circumstance and for this circumstance and for this circumstance.” And there's an expertise in being able to help people strategize what the best choice is for them based on.Your lived experience, your client experience: don't work with this person, work with this person. Don't read this book, read this book. I think that that's a huge part of what you and I do, especially in group coaching programs where we're able to say in real time, “Oh, because you are running this type of business, you should be running this type of marketing strategy, or you should have this sort of accounting practice in place.” - MegPrior Episodes Mentioned:Resources:* James Clear – cited the Helsinki Bus Theory (not the Stockholm Bus Theory!)* Jay Acunzo – idea of “don’t be the best, be their favorite”* Ira Glass – inspiration for early content creation and taste development* Rob Harvilla – host of 60 Songs That Explain the '90s, used as a curation example* Chris Guillebeau – founder of World Domination Summit, mentioned by Jessica* Dani Gardner – coined “whisper of discontent,” mentioned from her book Quiet Marketing* Lacy Boggs – mentioned for her conversation on what defines thought leadership* Malcolm Gladwell – concept of “mavens” from The Tipping Point* Kate Raworth – author of Doughnut Economics* Rebecca Henderson - Reimagining Capitalism in a World on FireConnect with UsListen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meg and JessicaMeg CaseboltJessica Lackey This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aggressivelyhuman.substack.com
    --------  
    48:08
  • Owning Your Work in the Age of AI: Intellectual Property with Erin Austin
    In the age of AI-generated content, content repurposing, and ideas being “created” with a screenshot of your site, the question of ownership is more urgent than ever:How do you protect what you’ve created when so much of what you’re creating lives online?In this episode of Aggressively Human, we’re joined by Erin Austin, founder of Think Beyond IP, to dig into what intellectual property really is, what you can protect, and how to turn your expertise into an asset—not just a deliverable.If you’ve been asking, “How do I protect my ideas?”—this is the episode for you.* What counts as intellectual property under U.S. law (and what doesn’t)* The difference between copyright, trademark, patent, and trade secret* “But what if someone steals my stuff?”* The moment a copyright becomes enforceable (and how to register it)* What happens when you use AI to write, create, or ideate (and what that means for copyright)* Why most service providers accidentally give away their IP in contracts, and how to fix it* When and how to cite your sources ethically (even when it’s not legally required)* How IP turns your expertise into leverage, whether you're licensing, scaling, or stepping out of the roomAbout our GuestErin Austin, LinkedInThink Beyond IP AI WorkshopWant to be the first to know when the next Masterclass cohort opens? Join the Priority Access List to receive early notifications and secure your spot before public enrollment opens. The paid masterclass is a three-session live training designed for experts with corporate clients who want to harness AI confidently—without legal headaches. Space is limited to ensure a premium, high-value, small-group experience so you get in depth, practical tools and expert legal guidance.Other ResourcesThe Rookie SongConnect with UsListen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meg and JessicaMeg CaseboltJessica Lackey This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aggressivelyhuman.substack.com
    --------  
    57:49
  • What's "enough" for you? Exploring the Zone of Enoughness
    More money. More growth. More scale. It’s not enough to be a six-figure business, you have to be a “seven-fig mentor” and even a billion-dollar creator. The online business world feeds us a constant stream of messages about needing to do more, earn more, and be more.But what if you don’t want a million-dollar business? What if you want a smaller business that’s satisfying?In this episode, co-host Jessica shares her framework for the “Zone of Enoughness”—a way to reimagine business growth not as endless expansion, but as aligned sustainability. Jessica and Meg talk about letting go of business models that don't fit, the very real trade-offs of growth, and why sufficiency might be more radical than abundance. * Why “abundance” is still about chasing more—and how “sufficiency” offers a different way to feel at peace with your business.* Jessica’s four-part Enoughness framework: money, time, flexibility, and creative autonomy.* Why your business might look successful but still feel misaligned.* The internal (and household-level) work of defining your minimums and maximums.* Why responsibilities to your clients, team, and community shape your Enoughness Zone.* How Jessica’s corporate background shaped her hustle—and how she’s learning to unwind it.* What happens when your business hits its revenue high point and you still feel burned out.* Why “seasonal” Enoughness matters: how your priorities shift over time (and why that’s OK).* The emotional and energetic costs of infinite growth—and why rest is critical.Resources MentionedKate Holly’s The Space Beyond ScarceRobin Wall Kimmerer: Braiding Sweetgrass, The ServiceberryStaying Solo by Maggie PattersonConnect with UsComment on SubstackMeg CaseboltJessica Lackey This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aggressivelyhuman.substack.com
    --------  
    45:14
  • Stay or go? Social media, compromise, and contradictions with Illana Burk
    Should we stay or should we go?Leaving social media has been an increasingly popular choice in the past few years. But is leaving always the most impactful choice?In this episode, we sit down with Illana Burk, business coach and advocate for human-first business, to talk about the messy middle of visibility, values, and doing business inside systems you didn’t build.Illana shares why she’s choosing to stay on social media; not because she’s ignoring the harm, but because of how social media is an important place our voices can be heard.We unpack the compromises and contradictions that come with trying to do business ethically in a digital world—where every platform is flawed, no choice is pure, and the desire to get it “right” can quietly become a trap. Illana offers a grounded, generous perspective on what it means to market with integrity and show up with care.* Why “just leaving” social media isn’t always the impactful move (and who wins if we do)* The difference between marketing, community, connection, and consumption—and how social media serves each differently* Why nuance, dialogue, and moral compromise are necessary parts of human business* Why being ethical in business doesn't mean doing it perfectly, and what that actually looks like in practice* Why presence—not performance—might be the best use of platforms in 2025* The value of showing up in systems you don’t fully endorse, and how to do so with intentionAbout our GuestIllana BurkIllana Has ThoughtsBread and ButterThe Good Business Podcasthttps://illanaburk.substack.com/p/i-dont-really-love-social-media-butResources MentionedRe-imagining Online Business | Brooke Monaghan & Tristan KatzThe Digital Watercooler is Gone | Amanda NatividadLizzy GoddardConnect with UsJoin us on SubstackMeg CaseboltJessica Lackey This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aggressivelyhuman.substack.com
    --------  
    59:47
  • The myth of "set it and forget it": The realities of launching with Dusti Arab
    You have the right offer. The right audience. A launch plan you’ve run before. So why… isn’t it working?This week, we go behind the scenes of a real launch with Dusti Arab, founder of Referral Worthy and longtime marketing strategist, to talk about what happens when a launch starts strong—and then doesn’t go to plan. Dusti walks us through what she planned for her latest launch, what actually happened, and how she adapted in real time by listening to her audience, adjusting her messaging, and staying rooted in what actually matters: relationships and referrals.* Why Dusti built Referral Worthy for small business owners stuck in the feast-or-famine cycle* What worked—and what didn’t—in her recent launch (plus what she’d do differently next time)* How she used affiliate marketing to fill her challenge (and why it outperformed social)* The realities of evergreen offers and how to make them successful* The tradeoffs of free vs. paid launch events—and how to pick the right one for your goals* How to serve different tiers of clients without burning out or diluting your offers* Why thought leadership needs to come before a big launch* The difference between a launch that flops and a launch that feeds your business in other waysAbout our GuestDusti ArabReferral WorthyResources MentionedBehind the LaunchMike GaninoConnect with UsListen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsSubstack: https://aggressivelyhuman.substack.com/Meg CaseboltJessica Lackey This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aggressivelyhuman.substack.com
    --------  
    48:54

More Technology podcasts

About Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & Automations

In a world focused on more: more content, more followers, more marketing, more scale, more noise… we’re facing less trust, less contact, less reach. We’re drowning in AI-generated slop, being pitch-slapped by “personalized” email funnels that couldn’t be farther from authentic, and struggling to be seen by a pay-to-play algorithm. It’s never been easier to create and connect more cheaply and at more scale, with less trust and more skepticism. But for experts and service-based businesses? We’re seeing the pendulum swing back. The answer isn’t to play by these trends. It’s to be **aggressively human.** aggressivelyhuman.substack.com
Podcast website

Listen to Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & Automations, Lex Fridman Podcast and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app

Get the free radio.net app

  • Stations and podcasts to bookmark
  • Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
  • Supports Carplay & Android Auto
  • Many other app features
Social
v7.16.2 | © 2007-2025 radio.de GmbH
Generated: 4/26/2025 - 5:36:39 AM