AI for Revenue Leaders: The AI Hat Podcast
Mike Allton
Your revenue team is brilliant, but they are trapped in quicksand.
Research shows that high-performing sales and marketing professionals waste nearly 70% of their time on "Admin Drag" - the non-revenue generating tasks like data entry and meeting prep that kill momentum. You are paying for top-tier talent, but you are getting expensive data entry.
Meanwhile, you are facing a "Year of Reckoning." You know you need to adopt AI, but you are stuck in "Pilot Purgatory," worried about the "Shadow AI" risks your team is already creating in the background.
"AI for Revenue Leaders" is your operational blueprint for the Agentic Era.
Hosted by Mike Allton - a Revenue Architect and Director of Partner-led Growth - this show moves beyond futuristic hype to focus on the practical reality of leading high-performance teams. We don't just talk about tools; we help you build the "Digital Crews" that work alongside your humans.
In each episode, we break down:
The Agentic Shift: Moving from simple chatbots to autonomous AI agents.
Sanctioning the Shadow: Turning security risks into competitive advantages through governance.
The Human+AI Hybrid: Automating the "robot work" so your team can double down on trust, empathy, and closing deals.
Stop guessing. Start architecting.
Secure your team: Download the Executive Guide to Shadow AI: From Security Risk to Competitive Advantage at TheAIHat.com/shadow-ai.
Connect with Mike: Join the conversation on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mikeallton for daily insights on leading the AI-enabled workforce.
Research shows that high-performing sales and marketing professionals waste nearly 70% of their time on "Admin Drag" - the non-revenue generating tasks like data entry and meeting prep that kill momentum. You are paying for top-tier talent, but you are getting expensive data entry.
Meanwhile, you are facing a "Year of Reckoning." You know you need to adopt AI, but you are stuck in "Pilot Purgatory," worried about the "Shadow AI" risks your team is already creating in the background.
"AI for Revenue Leaders" is your operational blueprint for the Agentic Era.
Hosted by Mike Allton - a Revenue Architect and Director of Partner-led Growth - this show moves beyond futuristic hype to focus on the practical reality of leading high-performance teams. We don't just talk about tools; we help you build the "Digital Crews" that work alongside your humans.
In each episode, we break down:
The Agentic Shift: Moving from simple chatbots to autonomous AI agents.
Sanctioning the Shadow: Turning security risks into competitive advantages through governance.
The Human+AI Hybrid: Automating the "robot work" so your team can double down on trust, empathy, and closing deals.
Stop guessing. Start architecting.
Secure your team: Download the Executive Guide to Shadow AI: From Security Risk to Competitive Advantage at TheAIHat.com/shadow-ai.
Connect with Mike: Join the conversation on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/mikeallton for daily insights on leading the AI-enabled workforce.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 27, 2026 • 36min
80% Lead Conversion Without AI: What Sales Expert Aleasha Bahr Knows That You Don't
Aleasha Bahr, sales strategy and messaging expert and author of Black Sheep Sales, helps teams build repeatable, authentic processes that boost conversion. She explains why automating broken workflows fails, how to spot admin drag vs relationship moments, and which diagnostic checks reveal hidden conversion leaks. Also: where AI truly helps and why fewer, higher-quality calls can win more deals.
10 snips
Jan 20, 2026 • 17min
Hiring Your First Digital Crew Member: The Sales Prep Agent
Discover the power of an AI-driven pre-flight agent that transforms sales prep. Learn how to automate research so your reps walk into meetings fully informed. Explore the essential three-component architecture: Trigger, Brain, and Action. Uncover the safety protocols that ensure only public data is used. Mike illustrates the ROI, revealing how just five hours saved weekly can dramatically boost your sales pipeline. Imagine a future where your digital crew expands to include roleplay and proposal agents, enhancing efficiency beyond belief!
Jan 13, 2026 • 16min
Your Team Is Already Using AI. Here's How to Make It Safe.
Discover the hidden world of 'Shadow AI' where 90% of employees are using personal AI tools without corporate oversight. Learn why the traditional ban on AI usage backfires, driving it underground and increasing risks. Mike Allton reveals alarming data leak scenarios that could jeopardize sensitive information and how desperation, not malice, fuels this trend. He introduces a practical 'Traffic Light System' for safe AI use and suggests a 30-Day Amnesty Program to embrace these tools responsibly rather than push them away.
11 snips
Jan 6, 2026 • 15min
The 2026 Sales Reckoning: Why 95% of AI Pilots Fail
Sales teams are wasting time on tasks AI could handle in minutes. Discover the concept of 'Admin Drag,' which turns skilled reps into clerks. Learn why layering AI on broken workflows leads to failure and the importance of fixing processes first. Explore the 'GenAI Divide' between companies leveraging AI effectively and those stuck in pilot purgatory. Finally, find out how to conduct an 'Admin Audit' to reclaim valuable time for revenue generation.
8 snips
Dec 23, 2025 • 4min
Welcome to the Agentic Era: The Next Chapter
Revenue teams are being overburdened by non-revenue tasks, wasting valuable talent. Discover the shift from traditional chat tools to AI agents that enhance productivity. Learn how to manage 'Shadow AI' effectively, transforming risks into competitive advantages. With practical strategies for improving sales and marketing workflows, this is a vital guide for revenue leaders navigating the Agentic Era. Get ready to enhance your team's efficiency and embrace the future of AI in operational roles.
26 snips
Dec 9, 2025 • 50min
A CEO's Essential AI Tool Stack That Actually Works
In this insightful conversation, Kevin Williams, CEO and co-founder of an AI enablement company, shares his expertise on building effective AI tool stacks. He discusses the pitfalls of accumulating too many tools without strategy, emphasizing the need for integrated solutions. Kevin reveals his preferred applications like n8n for workflow automation, Gamma for fast presentations, and WhisperFlow for efficient dictation. His philosophy of 'adventure, education, automation' guides listeners in selecting the right tools to enhance productivity without the clutter.
Dec 2, 2025 • 55min
Why This 16-Year Industry Veteran Says 2026 Is Make-or-Break for AI Marketing
In this captivating discussion, Michael Stelzner, founder of Social Media Examiner and an expert in AI marketing, shares why 2026 could be a pivotal year for marketers. He reveals that while 90% anticipate AI will transform the industry, many are slow to adapt. With insights from over 730 marketers, he emphasizes the need for strategic AI integration to thrive. Michael also explores how small businesses can leverage AI for efficiency and highlights innovative tools and the importance of networking at events like AI Business World.
20 snips
Nov 25, 2025 • 53min
Your Business Isn’t Stuck, You Are. Here is the AI Fix.
Heather Morgan, a growth mindset mentor and creator of the AI system Breaking the Loop, shares her journey from fintech to helping solopreneurs. She reveals how traditional self-reflection can reinforce limiting patterns instead of breaking them. Discussion highlights include using AI as an emotional mirror to identify fears and perfectionism that hold entrepreneurs back. Heather also shares her methodology for retraining the nervous system and offers practical AI prompts to uncover blind spots, empowering listeners to unlock their true potential.
12 snips
Nov 18, 2025 • 48min
Stop Lying to Yourself: How AI Reveals Your Real Time Investment
Rich Brooks, founder of Flyte New Media and host of the Agents of Change podcast, shares his journey in transforming time management through AI. He reveals the common trap solopreneurs fall into by underestimating task durations, often grossly miscalculating how long processes like podcasting really take. Rich discusses how he used AI for workflow mapping and efficiency, creating systems that handle repetitive tasks. He also covers the benefits of content repurposing and AI-driven tools for improving quality and outcomes, ultimately guiding listeners on starting their own AI journeys.
28 snips
Nov 11, 2025 • 47min
Solopreneur's Guide to AI-Powered Social Media Automation
Jeff Dwoskin, founder of Stampede Social and former stand-up comedian, shares his journey from comedy to creating AI tools that revolutionize social media engagement. He explains how AI can turn comments into direct sales opportunities without micromanagement. Jeff emphasizes the importance of automating DMs to simplify customer interactions, outlines key insights from comment analysis, and discusses the balance between automation and authenticity. With practical advice for solopreneurs, he reveals the potential of AI to transform social media into a continuous revenue stream.
