The Long Game w/ Elijah Murray

Adam Nathan is the founder and CEO of Blaze.ai, a marketing platform built for solo entrepreneurs and small business owners. In this conversation, we explored Adam’s journey from big tech to startup life, the challenges of standing out in a saturated AI market, and how Blaze.ai empowers “teams of one” to compete like Fortune 500s.We also discussed key insights around VC dynamics, the mindset of a founder, and Adam’s vision of AI as a practical tool—not just hype.EPISODE LINKS:Blaze.ai Website: https://www.blaze.ai/Adam Nathan on Twitter: https://x.com/adampnathanAdam Nathan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adampnathan/TIMESTAMPS:(00:01:07) The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins(00:04:36) The Reality of Startup Life(00:10:40) Navigating Pivots and Market Challenges(00:11:22) Navigating Venture Capital and Business Pivots(00:17:25) Embracing AI and the Birth of Blaze(00:25:11) The Reality of Startup Life(00:26:56) Introducing Blaze: AI for Small Businesses(00:26:56) Introducing Blaze: AI for Small Businesses(00:30:05) The Future of AI in Business(00:39:17) The Role of AI in Enhancing Human CreativityCONNECT:Website: https://hoo.be/elijahmurrayYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurrayTwitter: https://twitter.com/elijahmurrayInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurrayLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurrayRSS: https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss

Mike Todasco, a former innovator at PayPal and current educator, dives into how AI is transforming coding and creativity. He discusses 'vibe coding,' where AI generates code from voice prompts, reshaping the software landscape. The rise of AI-powered solopreneurs and its implications for the job market are also examined. Todasco emphasizes the importance for new generations to embrace AI tools and highlights the potential for emotional connections with AI, especially in shaping future interactions.

Garrett Rice is a tech entrepreneur and AI hiring innovator who has spent 25 years building and scaling startups. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Callings.ai, a platform helping job seekers find meaningful careers.In this conversation, we explored:Lessons from Steve Jobs and the impact of NeXT on modern product development.AI’s role in job hunting, resume optimization, and standing out in the hiring process.Networking and career growth strategies in a competitive job market.EPISODE LINKS:Garrett Rice LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrettrice/Callings.ai: https://www.callings.ai/app/landingTIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Intro and background00:00:12 Working with Steve Jobs: A Grand Adventure00:01:11 The Visionary Impact of Next Machines00:05:06 Building Products: Lessons from Apple00:15:38 The Harsh Reality of Job Hunting00:19:32 Revolutionizing the Job Hunt with AI00:22:31 Using AI to Find Job Opportunities00:23:55 Balancing Effort and AI Assistance00:27:12 The Future of Job Markets and AI00:35:00 Standing Out to AI in Job Applications00:40:29 Networking and Final Tips for Job Seekers00:42:00 ClosingCONNECT:Website: https://hoo.be/elijahmurrayYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurrayTwitter: https://twitter.com/elijahmurrayInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurrayLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurrayRSS: https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss

Gregory Offner is the Founder and CEO of Global Performance Institute, an award-winning keynote speaker, and the author of The Tip Jar Culture: How to Re-Engage and Reignite Your Workforce.In this conversation, we explore his journey from dueling pianist to professional speaker, the career-altering vocal cord injury that forced him to pivot, and how he now helps leaders drive workforce engagement. We also dive into the evolving role of AI in workplace culture and discuss strategies for creating a more fulfilling employee experience.EPISODE LINKS:Gregory Offner’s Website: https://www.gregoryoffner.com/meeting-planners/Gregory Offner on Twitter: https://x.com/gregoryoffnerjrGregory Offner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregoryoffnerjr/The Encore Experience: https://vimeo.com/1041523578The Tip Jar Culture: How To Re-Engage and Reignite Your Workforce: https://a.co/d/c9QVsTITIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Intro and background00:01:18 The Art of Dueling Pianos00:12:52 Transition to Keynote Speaking00:16:43 The Power of Strangers and Seeking Help00:18:00 Taking the Leap: From Idea to Action00:21:00 Virtual Piano Bar: Innovating in Crisis00:22:00 Networking, Support and Authenticity00:25:00 Creating Impact: Speaking and Beyond00:27:00 Strategies for Keeping Employees Engaged00:30:00 ClosingCONNECT:Website: https://hoo.be/elijahmurrayYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurrayTwitter: https://twitter.com/elijahmurrayInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurrayLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurrayRSS: https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss

Brett Farmiloe is the Founder & CEO of Featured, a platform that connects experts with publishers for greater exposure. A serial entrepreneur, Brett previously founded Markitors, a digital marketing agency, and launched a career education startup that took him on a cross-country journey interviewing 300+ people about their careers.In this conversation, we explore:The role of creativity in AI businessesWhy new data is critical for AI productsSEO and content marketing trendsMarket validation, customer feedback, and scalingEPISODE LINKS:Brett’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettfarmiloe/Brett’s Website: https://featured.com/TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Intro and background00:11:04 Featured00:16:28 AI Landscape in Business00:20:33 Democratization of Content Creation00:21:33 The Need for Knowledge Sharing00:24:07 SEO and Niche Content00:26:12 Monetizing Unique Knowledge00:28:27 The Future of AI and Content Creation00:31:42 Featured in Action00:33:23 The Changing Landscape of Publishing00:38:18 Entrepreneurial Insights and Product Market Fit00:42:03 ClosingCONNECT:Website: https://hoo.be/elijahmurrayYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurrayTwitter: https://twitter.com/elijahmurrayInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurrayLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurrayRSS: https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss

Lucas Lovell is the Director of Product at Paddle, a global payments platform helping SaaS founders optimize their pricing, payments, and go-to-market strategies. He has firsthand experience launching and scaling startups across multiple international markets.In this conversation, we explore:The merchant of record model and its impact on SaaS businessesLocalization strategies for pricing, payments, and expansionThe decision-making process for international expansionHow AI is shaping the future of payments and automationLucas shares his personal experiences from running a startup through COVID, the pitfalls of not localizing correctly, and his insights on the evolving global SaaS landscape.EPISODE LINKS:Lucas Lovell on Twitter:https://x.com/lucas_lovellLucas Lovell on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucaslovell/Paddle:https://www.paddle.com/TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Intro and Background00:01:12 Paddle00:01:44 The Merchant of Record Model00:05:38 Localization Strategies for SaaS00:07:31 Importance of Currency and Language Localization00:10:22 Local Payment Methods and Pricing Strategies00:14:13 Expanding Internationally00:18:54 Prioritizing Global Expansion for SaaS00:19:30 When Should SaaS Founders Consider Global Expansion?00:20:21 Challenges and Strategies in International Markets00:22:18 Case Study: Multilingual Customer Support Platform00:24:10 Emerging Trends in the Payment Space00:26:10 AI and the Future of Transactions00:31:04 Paddle, AI and Customer Value00:38:31 Advice for SaaS Founders00:39:26 ClosingCONNECT:Website:https://hoo.be/elijahmurrayYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurrayTwitter:https://twitter.com/elijahmurrayInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurrayLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurrayApple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murraySpotify:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurrayRSS:https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss

Dan Curran is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of Chapters.io, an AI-driven publishing platform that helps individuals turn their experiences into books. With a background in content creation, multiple business exits, and leadership in entrepreneurship organizations, Dan shares his insights on how AI is reshaping publishing, the challenges of maintaining editorial integrity, and why storytelling matters.In this conversation, we explored: The role of AI in modern publishing and book creation How human editors and AI can work together for better storytelling The importance of preserving life experiences and wisdom How to build a business without venture capitalEPISODE LINKS:Dan’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/currandan/Chapters.io: https://www.chapters.io/TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Intro and background00:01:20 The Intersection of AI and Publishing00:02:30 Challenges and Innovations in Book Publishing00:04:05 The Process of Writing with Chapters00:05:49 Human-AI Collaboration in Storytelling00:11:09 Addressing AI Concerns and Ethical Considerations00:14:19 Lessons Learned from Building AI Applications00:19:10 Balancing Human and AI Elements in Writing00:22:34 Building with AI: Frameworks and Guidelines00:23:37 Tailoring Content for Different Audiences00:25:06 The Future of Content Creation00:26:32 Navigating the Rapid Changes in AI00:42:27 Entrepreneurial Insights and Advice00:45:39 ClosingCONNECT: Website:https://hoo.be/elijahmurray YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurray Twitter:https://twitter.com/elijahmurray Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurray LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/ Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/ Spotify:https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurray RSS:https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss

Anya Cheng is the Founder and CEO of Taelor, a leading men's clothing subscription service that provides personal styling and curated rentals, powered by expert stylists and AI. A Girls in Tech 40 Under 40 honoree, she previously led eCommerce and digital innovation teams at Meta, eBay, Target, and McDonald's.Experience effortless style with rental and personal styling services:Taelor: Get 25% OFF your first month of men's clothing subscription.Use code: PODCAST25Sign up at: https://taelor.style/pages/membershipArmoire: Get 50% OFF your first month of women's clothing subscription.Use code: ArmoirexTaelorSign up at: https://www.armoire.style/refer/ArmoirexTaelorGive the gift of time, convenience, and effortless style:Taelor Gift Cards: Get 10% OFF Use code: PODCASTGIFTPurchase at: https://taelor.style/products/menswear-rental-gift-cardIn this conversation, we explore:The transition from big tech to startup lifeHow AI and unique data give startups a competitive edgeChallenges of being an immigrant entrepreneurThe fast fashion dilemma and how Taelor is tackling itWriting as a tool for stress relief and legacy buildingEPISODE LINKS:Anya Cheng LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anyachengTaelor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/taelor/Taelor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taelor.style/Taelor Website: https://taelor.style/pages/membershipTIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Intro and background00:01:03 From Big Tech to Entrepreneurship00:03:20 Networking and Building Relationships00:05:38 Obstacles as an Immigrant in the US00:13:56 Taelor: AI-Powered Menswear Rental00:19:48 The Fast Fashion Conundrum00:20:20 Challenges in the Rental Fashion Market00:24:21 AI's Role in Fashion and Business00:24:38 Founding and Growing Taelor00:25:54 AI and Investment00:27:10 Unique Data00:36:03 Authoring Books and Giving Back00:40:14 ClosingCONNECT:Website: https://hoo.be/elijahmurrayYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurrayTwitter: https://twitter.com/elijahmurrayInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurrayLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurrayRSS: https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss

Aytekin Tank is the founder of Jotform, an automation enthusiast, and author. In this conversation, we explore his journey from rural Turkey to New York, building Jotform without outside funding, and the role customer feedback played in shaping the product. Aytekin also shares strategic insights on company culture, his approach to leadership, and how AI is shaping Jotform’s future. EPISODE LINKS: Aytekin’s Twitter: Aytekin’s LinkedIn: JotForm Website: TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Intro and background 00:00:17 The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins 00:00:35 Discovering a Passion for Computers 00:06:02 From Employee to Entrepreneur 00:08:06 Building JotForm: The Early Days 00:12:24 Facing Competition and Growth 00:20:46 Bootstrapping and Company Culture 00:25:00 Balancing Work and Personal Life 00:28:06 Team Collaboration and Culture 00:29:08 Balancing Work and Personal Life 00:30:15 Delegation and Leadership 00:32:08 Focus on AI Product Development 00:33:27 Introducing JotForm AI Agents 00:42:45 The Future of AI in Business 00:54:17 Closing CONNECT: Website: YouTube: Twitter: Instagram: LinkedIn: Apple Podcasts: Spotify: RSS:

Bryan Trilli is an AI expert, entrepreneur, and author of Soulless Intelligence. In this conversation, we explore the ethics and philosophical implications of artificial intelligence, focusing on: -The moral dilemmas of AI development. -Whether AI can ever become conscious. -How AI is changing our understanding of humanity, sentience, and value. EPISODE LINKS: Twitter: https://twitter.com/bryantrilli LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryantrilli Website: https://www.bryantrilli.com TIMESTAMPS: 00:00:00 Exploring Human Sentience and AI 00:03:34 The Ethics and Morality of AI 00:04:50 Philosophical and Religious Perspectives 00:13:25 Defining AGI and Its Implications 00:19:32 Consciousness and Near-Death Experiences 00:24:09 The Intelligence of Machines 00:25:22 Human Worth Beyond Intelligence 00:28:51 Moral Standards and AI 00:31:24 AI and Human Rights 00:38:37 The Future of AI in Physics 00:43:41 Misconceptions and Fears About AI 00:47:27 Closing CONNECT: Website: https://hoo.be/elijahmurray YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@elijahmurray Twitter: https://twitter.com/elijahmurray Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahmurray LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elijahmurray/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-long-game-w-elijah-murray/ Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elijahmurray RSS: https://anchor.fm/s/3e31c0c/podcast/rss