Unlock the transformative power of AI in leadership with this riveting episode of the Self Aware Leader podcast, hosted by Jason Rigby. Joined by Troy Plota, founder of Plotaverse—the world's first all-AI social platform for creators—this conversation is a masterclass in high-agency leadership and resilience. From a 17-year-old "surf rat" photographer kicked out of his Florida home to a tech pioneer featured in GQ and Times Square, Troy's journey embodies the self-aware leader's ethos: own your path, serve others, and turn setbacks into systems that uplift.

After Apple's betrayal with his Plotograph app—a $6M giveaway followed by a lowball offer—Troy built Plotaverse to empower artists with customizable profiles, pixel-shifting patents, and equitable monetization, challenging Instagram's 7.5% creator payouts. He shares how AI amplifies creativity, debunking myths that it "cheapens" art, and envisions a future of democratized filmmaking and dynamic digital art. Leaders will learn actionable strategies to embrace AI tools like Runway and Stable Diffusion, reframe adversity, and build communities that prioritize service. Troy's collaboration with icons like Ellen von Unwerth and his Nvidia partnership for offline AI models highlight his visionary approach.

Perfect for entrepreneurs, creators, and self-aware leaders seeking to leverage technology for impact, this episode offers practical insights on resilience, innovation, and leadership in an AI-driven world. Discover how to transform pain into purpose, lead with authenticity, and join the Plotaverse revolution. Tune in now to unlock your creative superpower and take bold action. Subscribe to Self Aware Leader for weekly episodes on leadership, personal growth, and cutting-edge innovation. Download Plotaverse, follow Troy (@troyplota), and start building your legacy today!

Guest Bio

Troy Plota is a photography legend turned tech innovator with over 30 years in the creative industry. Known for dynamic, display-based imagery, he's worked with top celebrities and brands, earning features in GQ and pioneering a Times Square digital billboard shot with a digital camera. As founder of Plotaverse, Troy launched Plotograph, the world's first app to animate stills, hitting #1 in the App Store with over 10 million downloads. An early AI adopter, he now leads Plotaverse, the first all-AI social platform empowering artists. Troy is also a speaker, consultant, and host of The Why of AI, inspiring creators to embrace AI.

Website: troyplota.com
Plotaverse: plotaverse.com
Plotagraph Pro: plotagraphpro.com
X Handle: @troyplota
Instagram: @Plotagraph

Episode Overview

In this powerful Self Aware Leader episode, host Jason Rigby sits down with Troy Plota to unpack his mythic journey from a teenage outcast to a tech visionary. Troy shares how resilience, service, and AI-driven innovation fueled Plotaverse's rise as an artist-first platform. The conversation dives into overcoming betrayal, embracing AI as a leadership tool, and building systems that empower others—a blueprint for self-aware leaders to own their impact.

Key Moments & Topics

Troy's Heroic Origin (00:01 - 03:24)
- Troy reflects on his Florida "surf rat" days, defying his father's doubts to pursue photography at 17 with just a camera.
- His move to Miami and Atlanta sparked a career in fashion, advertising, and celebrity photography.
- Key Quote: "I just picked up my camera and I've never had another job ever since."
- Jason's Insight: "You started serving right off the bat… creating a ton of value."
Breaking into the Big Leagues (01:22 - 03:24)
- Troy's hustle organizing modeling agency portfolios led to paid shoots and high-profile clients.
- His work landed in GQ and on a pioneering Times Square digital billboard—the first shot with a digital camera.
AI: The Creative Superpower (04:12 - 06:02)
- Troy calls AI a "miracle," comparing it to the film-to-digital shift, and collaborates with Ellen von Unwerth to push boundaries.
- He argues AI enhances creativity, enabling dynamic stills and films.
- Key Quote: "If you don't embrace this, you're going to be left behind."
The Apple Crucible (06:55 - 09:42)
- Apple's promotion of Plotograph for the iPhone X launch led to a $6M giveaway, a lowball offer, and no promised exposure.
- A competitor copied his app, but Troy built Plotaverse, the first all-AI social platform.
- Jason's Take: "This is age-old—making a profit off an artist… there's always this boogeyman behind them."
Plotaverse: Empowering Creators (10:16 - 15:18)
- Plotaverse offers customizable profiles, pixel-shifting patents, and monetization, reinvesting ad revenue into artists.
- Key Quote: "I've designed the profile pages to be like your website… you dictate what goes first."
Unexpected Impact (12:14 - 13:34)
- Plotaverse helps hospital patients combat depression and powers visuals for electronic music shows.
- Highlight: "People would say, 'I was in bed for months and literally addicted to your app… it saved my life.'"
Debunking AI Myths (15:39 - 18:34)
- Troy addresses fears that AI makes art "too easy," emphasizing prompting skills and accessibility via open-source models.
- Jason's Insight: "Even the prompt… that should be monetized."
The Future of Creativity (20:11 - 23:19)
- Troy predicts AI will democratize filmmaking and transform static art into dynamic displays.
- Vision: "Things don't have to be stationary anymore… it's a combination of augmented reality and screens."
Data Visualization & Community (23:19 - 25:51)
- Plotaverse supports photographers, videographers, and data artists, amplifying innovative work like oceanographic visualizations.
- Troy's Take: "Art has always been about what it makes you feel… now it can move."
Getting Started with Plotaverse (26:25 - 29:26)
- Troy invites listeners to download Plotaverse, explore uncompressed imagery, and unlock pro features after 50 posts/comments.
- A desktop version with Runway, Pika, and Stable Diffusion is coming, backed by an Nvidia partnership.
- Call to Action: "Go on, find some artists you love, and get inspired."

Actionable Takeaways for Self-Aware Leaders

Own Your Path: Like Troy at 17, bet on yourself. Identify one bold move this week to pursue your vision, despite doubts.
Reframe Setbacks: Time-box 24 hours to process a recent failure, then list three ways to turn it into leverage. Act on one within 48 hours.
Embrace AI: Spend 30 minutes experimenting with an AI tool (e.g., Plotaverse, Stable Diffusion). Share one output with your network.
Serve First: Find one way to create value for someone in your field (e.g., share a resource). Track outcomes over two weeks.
Build Systems: Audit your projects. Tweak one process to give your team or clients more control, testing it in a one-week sprint.

Memorable Quotes

Troy: "In every way in life, it's about service and just having faith in doing what you love."
Jason: "This is how AI is supposed to work—it helps us, makes us better, allows us to be more creative."
Troy: "I'm curating the top tools in the world… it's not just about what we have in Plotaverse."

How to Connect

Download Plotaverse: Available on iOS and Android
Follow Troy: @troyplota on X, @Troyplota on Plotaverse
Learn More: plotaverse.com, troyplota.com
Plotagraph Pro: plotagraphpro.com

Final Thoughts

This episode is a rallying cry for self-aware leaders, entrepreneurs, and creators. Troy Plota's journey—from a teenage outcast to a tech visionary—shows how resilience, service, and AI can transform leadership. Plotaverse isn't just a platform; it's a movement to empower creators over algorithms. Download the app, join the community, and ask: What's my next bold move to own my impact? Subscribe to Self Aware Leader for more episodes that ignite your purpose and drive action.

Stay awake, stay in action. Jason Rigby Host, Self Aware Leader Podcast

080 - And There Was Much Rejoicing