Best Automation Town Podcasts (2025)

1
Can we solve AI's "deer-in-headlights" problem? (with Dan Miller, founder of Opus Research) 33:00

Play Pause

4d ago33:00

33:00

Send us a text The conversational AI market has exploded: ~650 companies, even more tools, and way too many promises. For business leaders, navigating all this can be paralyzing. In this episode of Deep Learning with PolyAI, your host Nikola Mrkšić sits down with Dan Miller, founder of Opus Research and the analyst who coined the term "conversation…

1
Should hyper-growth brands still pick up the phone? (with Austin Towns, CTO of Hello Sugar) 24:35

4d ago24:35

24:35

Send us a text Hello Sugar is one of the fastest-growing service brands in America, with more than 140 locations and counting. From the start, they built a text-first, digital experience that customers loved. But growth brought new insights: even in a digital-first world, voice calls were still critical to winning — and keeping — customers. In this…

1
Stop the Slop: How to Use AI Authentically (Without Sounding Like Everyone Else) | Ep. 101 15:46

8d ago15:46

15:46

Are you adding value, or just adding noise? In this episode, Ethan and Justin confront the AI-content crisis unfolding on LinkedIn. Why does it all sound the same? Why are smart ideas being ignored just because the wrapper screams ChatGPT? And more importantly, how do you avoid becoming part of the problem? They dig into how to use AI as a tool wit…

1
Episode 100! 🤯 Are You One Streak Away From A Breakthrough? 19:56

13d ago19:56

19:56

By Ethan King, Justin King

1
How to Perform at Your Best, Even When You Feel Your Worst | Ep. 099 11:32

21d ago11:32

11:32

What do you do when your body says no, but your life demands a yes? In this raw and relatable episode, Ethan and Justin hit record right after admitting the same thing—they’re exhausted. But instead of hitting pause, they share how they keep showing up with energy, presence, and purpose even when their tank is empty. This isn’t a celebration of bur…

1
Why do LLMs ramble on and on? (with Oliver Shoulson, Lead Dialogue Designer at PolyAI) 33:01

25d ago33:01

33:01

Send us a text Large language models are powerful tools — but why do they ramble on and on instead of just getting to the point? In this episode of Deep Learning with PolyAI, Nikola Mrkšić sits down with Oliver Shoulson, one of PolyAI’s original dialogue designers, to unpack why LLMs talk the way they do, and what that means for building natural-so…

1
Google's New Secret Project Could Reshape Reality Itself | Ep. 098 14:45

28d ago14:45

14:45

What if you could design the Matrix with just a prompt? What if we could experience detailed, realistic worlds that mimic reality—and we could all create these worlds by just typing a few words? In this episode, Ethan and Justin react to Google's Genie 3 project, a revolutionary AI that builds infinite, photorealistic virtual worlds in real time. I…

1
How to Dominate Social Media with Discount Paid Ads 16:43

1M ago16:43

16:43

Hey everybody and welcome back to the social media ad machine podcast. …and by the way, we’re increasingly receiving messages from all kinds of businesses wanting to know if they can leverage the power of the Ad Machine to run social media campaigns for their business and the answer is yes! Right now we’re working with everyone from landscape garde…

1
Are "silent complaints" killing your brand? (with Adrian Swinscoe of Punk CX) 37:25

1M ago37:25

37:25

Send us a text Most companies measure CX through surveys, reviews, and dashboards. But there is real danger in “silent complaints”: the underwhelming experiences that customers never report, but quietly share with friends or that stop them from coming back. In this episode of Deep Learning with PolyAI, your host Nikola Mrkšić sits down with Adrian …

1
How to Stack Small Wins That Lead to Big Success | Ep. 097 9:43

1M ago9:43

9:43

Why do so many people achieve big things but still feel like imposters? In this episode, Ethan and Justin break down why small, personal wins often matter more than flashy achievements. Forget the Instagram version of success. This is about redefining what it means to win on your own terms. Justin opens up about pride, performance, and the mental b…

1
Is agentic AI the answer to broken analytics? 29:41

1M ago29:41

29:41

Send us a text Analytics has always been the hardest part of the contact center. Dashboards are slow, incomplete, and rarely used outside of specialist teams. But what if analytics could be as simple as asking a question? In this episode of Deep Learning with PolyAI, your host Nikola Mrkšić brings back Damian Sasso to explore how agentic AI is tran…

1
PPC in the Age of AI: Amy Hebdon on Control vs. Automation | PPC TH 118 1:01:07

1M ago1:01:07

1:01:07

Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/pd3_0RNn0Ng In this episode of PPC Town Hall, host Frederick Vallaeys (CEO & Co-founder of Optmyzr) sits down with Amy Hebdon, founder of Paid Search Magic and one of the most influential PPC experts in the industry.Amy brings 20+ years of hands-on experience in paid search and shares her perspective on how…

1
You’re More Innovative Than You Think—Here’s Proof | Ep. 096 7:13

1M ago7:13

7:13

What if your biggest breakthrough is buried in the way you already think and move? Many people assume innovation belongs to Silicon Valley geniuses or futuristic tech founders. But what if innovation is less about code and more about creativity within your own life’s constraints? In this powerful episode, Ethan and Justin unravel a surprising reali…

1
Your new favorite colleagues aren’t human 32:15

2M ago32:15

32:15

Send us a text We all know AI agents can answer calls (with varying success rates depending upon their sophistication). But what if AI agents could also help CX leaders analyze their deployments, ask questions about their unique challenges and opportunities, and continuously improve? In this episode of Deep Learning with PolyAI, Nikola Mrkšić sits …

1
Did OpenAI’s Realtime API just change everything? 32:33

2M ago32:33

32:33

Send us a text 🚨 OpenAI just made its Realtime API generally available, and it's got everyone talking. But is it a true game-changer, or just another update? In this episode, your host Nikola Mrkšić (Co-founder & CEO, PolyAI) is joined by Shawn Wen (Co-founder and CTO, PolyAI) to break down what this release really means: 🔹 Why Realtime API could k…

1
The Dark Side of Positive Thinking (No One Talks About This) | Ep. 095 13:33

2M ago13:33

13:33

"When everything gets reframed, nothing gets felt." — Ethan King In this eye-opening episode of King Moves, Ethan and Justin unpack the uncomfortable truth behind a habit that’s praised in self-help circles but quietly sabotaging your growth: chronic reframing. When every challenge is spun into a lesson, when every failure is dressed up in silver l…

1
Behind the Tech: How Dialogue Design Really Works (Deep Learning with PolyAI podcast, Ep. 82) 39:22

2M ago39:22

39:22

Send us a text Ever wonder what really makes an AI voice feel human? In this episode of Deep Learning with PolyAI, an all-star panel from our dialogue design and engineering teams takes you behind-the-scenes to share how the hardest part of CX automation actually works. From latency and personalization to multichannel design and our in-house Raven …

1
Lessons From 20 Years in PPC: How Agencies Should Prepare For The Future | PPC TH 117 45:45

2M ago45:45

45:45

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/97H74PpxrIE Frederick Vallaeys sits down with Aaron Levy, long-time PPC leader and now Optmyzr Evangelist, to talk about the future of paid search, AI, and agency life.Aaron has spent nearly 20 years in paid search, from helping DuPont launch its early marketing programs to running a 115-person team at…

1
The Dangerous Lie About Hard Work | Ep. 094 11:47

2M ago11:47

11:47

Is hustle without mastery just wasted motion? You show up. You grind. You hustle. But what if none of that is moving the needle because your effort isn’t effective? In this episode of King Moves, Ethan and Justin unpack a powerful insight from a world-class speaker who built a literal Ninja Warrior rig on stage to make a point: practice alone is in…

1
Raven v2 and the Race to Smarter Voice Agents with Matt Henderson (Deep Learning with PolyAI, Episode 81) 33:07

2M ago33:07

33:07

Send us a text In this episode, your host Nikola Mrkšić sits down with Matt Henderson, VP of Research at PolyAI, to unpack the state of large language models, their quirks, and what really matters when building smarter voice agents for customer service. Join us for a discussion on: - Why GPT-5 may feel more incremental than game-changing - Why reas…

1
The Death of Partying and How It Impacts Your Business | Ep. 093 17:32

2M ago17:32

17:32

What if the real problem isn't that people aren't going out... it's that they've stopped showing up for life? Across the board, Americans are spending 50% less time at social events than they did two decades ago. For young adults aged 15 to 24, the drop is even steeper at 70%. But this isn’t just a change in weekend habits. It’s a warning sign. Peo…

1
“Everybody wants AI, nobody wants BS” with Brian Jeppesen, Fertitta Entertainment 33:22

2M ago33:22

33:22

Send us a text Brian Jeppesen, who serves as Director, Contact Center Operations at Fertitta Entertainment, joined your host Nikola Mrkšić to discuss his vision for the AI-powered contact center. Listen to hear Nikola and Brian cover: • How to overcome the challenges of staffing call centers during high-demand periods, including with virtual agents…

1
What ChatGPT-5 Means for You and Your Business: 7 Practical Uses | Ep. 092 23:24

2M ago23:24

23:24

ChatGPT-5 is finally here, but does it really live up to the hype? Ethan King has been deep in the new model for days, stress-testing it in real business situations—and he’s ready to share what’s worth your time and what you can skip. In this high-impact conversation, he and Justin King cut through the noise to reveal seven practical ways you can s…

1
079: GPT-5 Era Starts Now: The AI Arms Race Just Escalated 20:44

2M ago20:44

20:44

Send us a text PolyAI co-founder and CTO Shawn Wen joins Nikola for a deep dive into the just-released OpenAI GPT-5 model. From model-flipping and 4o's depreciation to curbing sycophancy and determining which LLM out there is #1 for coding, they cover it all. Join us for a discussion on: • OpenAI's bold approach to upgrading and removing models 2 •…

1
078: Forward deployed engineers: From the frontline of bringing AI to the world 28:18

2M ago28:18

28:18

Send us a text This week, Nikola is joined by Becky Kershaw, Deployments Lead at PolyAI. Becky shares how using her own British accent for AI voice cloning increased engagement in outbound sales, showing the power of personalization and cultural fit. They also discuss the crucial role of forward-deployed engineers—AI engineers, product managers, an…

1
077: Private equity roll-up strategies for AI, with Nathan Benaich 26:26

2M ago26:26

26:26

Send us a text Following up from Nikola Mrkšić and Nathan Benaich's recent article for Fortune -- ‘AI rollup’ investors think services firms can trade more like software companies. Here’s what they get wrong. Read here -- https://fortune.com/2025/06/27/ai-rollup-investment-strategy/ The buzz around AI roll-ups - buying low-margin service businesses…

1
Kirk Williams on How Agencies Can Thrive In the Age of AI | PPC TH 116 46:07

3M ago46:07

46:07

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/AEXzdt87ujU Kirk Williams (Founder of ZATO Marketing) joins Frederick Vallaeys to explore how digital marketing agencies can not only survive but thrive in the new AI-powered world of advertising.As AI changes everything from campaign management to creative production, Kirk shares what it takes for age…

1
Why You Keep Playing Small (Even When You Know You’re Meant for More) | Ep. 091 8:35

3M ago8:35

8:35

If your life were a movie, what would the audience be screaming at your character to do right now? Would they be yelling, “Go all in!” or “Stop hiding!” Or would they call out a truth you’ve been too afraid to face? In this episode of King Moves, Ethan and Justin explore the uncomfortable gap between knowing your potential and actually stepping int…

1
How to Be #1 in the World at Anything | Ep. 090 13:44

3M ago13:44

13:44

What are you willing to give up to become the greatest in the world at what you do? In this episode of King Moves, Ethan and Justin dive deep into a powerful Japanese concept called Kodawari—an obsessive, meticulous commitment to mastering your craft. Whether it’s sushi, bow hunting, or business, this mindset separates the good from the legendary. …

1
You’re Not Happy Because You’re Missing THIS… | Ep. 089 7:51

3M ago7:51

7:51

Have you ever wondered if there's a deeper level of happiness you're missing? In this thought-provoking episode of King Moves, hosts Ethan and Justin dive deep into the real definition of happiness, inspired by "The Courage to Be Disliked." They challenge the common pursuit of personal freedom and ego-driven success, exploring a more profound, fulf…

1
The #1 Reason Your Brand is INVISIBLE to AI (And How to Fix It) | PPC TH 115 46:36

3M ago46:36

46:36

Watch the video version here: https://youtu.be/w6mD2Wv5Gh4 Is the era of the search engine over? Are we now living in the age of the Answer Engine?In this episode, Frederick Vallaeys sat down with Kasim Aslam, a trailblazer who went from running the #1 ranked Google Ads agency to becoming a pioneer in the new field of Answer Engine Optimization (AE…

1
Are You Blind to the Signals Life Is Sending You? | Ep. 088 14:01

3M ago14:01

14:01

What if all those “coincidences” aren’t coincidences at all? Ethan and Justin dive into one of the most unsettling—and empowering—questions you can ask yourself: Are you paying attention to the signs in your life, or are you dismissing them as random noise? After a spine-tingling story from Ethan’s recent cruise vacation, our hosts wrestle with syn…

1
Other Humans Are The Problem | Ep. 087 5:15

3M ago5:15

5:15

The boss who ignores you… the friend who ghosts you… the partner who “just doesn’t get it”… Why do they all feel like versions of the same headache? Ethan and Justin swing a wrecking ball at polite self-help and declare: every challenge in your life is a relationship problem in disguise. Drawing on The Courage to Be Disliked and their own hard knoc…

1
076: AI rollups: all VC sizzle and no stake? Thoughts from a recent Fortune article. 22:38

4M ago22:38

22:38

Send us a text Fortune article: http://fortune.com/2025/06/27/ai-rollup-investment-strategy/ Nikola reflects on his recent Fortune commentary (above) into the transformative potential of AI rollup strategies in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). He and Damien discuss the concept of AI rollups (where private equity firms consolidate service compani…

1
What If Your Past Trauma Isn’t Even Real? | Ep. 086 11:44

4M ago11:44

11:44

What if the biggest obstacle in your life isn’t the trauma itself—but the story you keep telling yourself about it? In this no-holds-barred conversation, Ethan and Justin dismantle the sacred cow of “trauma equals destiny.” Borrowing insights from Adlerian psychology—and their own gut-punch life moments—they argue that pain is optional, meaning is …

1
When Turning Your Passion into Profit Goes Wrong | Ep. 085 20:08

4M ago20:08

20:08

The saying goes, "Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life." But what if turning your passion into a business actually destroys it? In this episode, American entrepreneur Ethan King and South African entrepreneur Justin King unpack the hidden traps of going pro. Is passion enough? Can talent really translate into income? And what h…

1
075: Human agent & AI cohesion in the contact center. What will it take? 23:11

4M ago23:11

23:11

Send us a text Nikola and Damien are back to discuss the ongoing evolution of AI in the contact center industry. We'll explore whether AI is truly replacing human workers or simply augmenting their capabilities, covering Klarna's automation efforts and recent Gartner predictions, and analyzing the challenges and opportunities in implementing AI sol…

1
From Zero to 4.4M Views: How One Agent Conquered YouTube from a Town of 9,000! Ep 6. Host Ray Wood interviews Will Friedner 20:07

4M ago20:07

20:07

At the height of the COVID pandemic, Will Friedner decided to try something bold—he launched a YouTube channel to promote his new real estate business in Whitefish, Montana (population: 9,000). Armed with a $20 lapel mic, a cheap tripod, and his phone, he committed to recording one video a week for a year—no excuses, no fancy production, no overthi…

1
AI and Real Estate: The Secret to Automating Lead Generation. Ep 6. Host Ray Wood interviews AI Tech Head Brady Bell 24:33

4M ago24:33

24:33

🎙️ In this episode, I sit down with Brady Bell — a sharp, forward-thinking agent who’s gone all-in on automation and AI to streamline his business and scale smarter, not harder. If you’ve been looking for real-world insight into how top agents are using AI to do the heavy lifting — from lead gen to follow-up — you’re going to love this conversation…

1
Should You Pivot, or Just Push Through the Pain? | Ep. 084 16:47

4M ago16:47

16:47

Is the "stay hard" gospel pushing you toward bankruptcy...of body, bank account, and spirit? In this incendiary episode of King Moves, entrepreneurs Ethan King (Atlanta) and Justin King (Cape Town) flip the script on the cult of endless grind preached by David Goggins and the Iron Cowboy. They argue that for 99% of us, mimicking ultramasochists cou…

1
074: AI and the State of Financial Services 20:11

4M ago20:11

20:11

Send us a text VP of Product Marketing Brian Thompson joins Nikola to discuss the current state and future prospects of AI in financial services, including banking and insurance. The chat covers the importance of human oversight in AI deployments, the evolving landscape in banking and FinTech, optimization of back-office processes, and how financia…

1
Is Your Response Time Killing Your Reputation? | Ep. 083 8:52

4M ago8:52

8:52

Have you ever been ghosted? Are you guilty of ghosting? In this episode of King Moves, Ethan and Justin call out the silent killer of business momentum: lack of responsiveness. Your ability—or failure—to reply sends a message louder than your words. It’s not just about missed messages; it’s about missed respect, missed opportunities, and missed gro…

1
How to Turn Rock Bottom Moments into Rocket Fuel | Ep. 082 12:54

5M ago12:54

12:54

What do you do when life knocks you flat—and takes your identity with it? In this brutally honest episode, Justin King opens up about his upcoming shoulder surgery and the emotional spiral of losing the physical outlet that fuels him. But this isn’t just a personal story—it’s a wake-up call for anyone feeling stuck, sidelined, or slipping. With Eth…

1
073: What are everyday people using LLMs for, really? 21:52

5M ago21:52

21:52

Send us a text Damien and Nikola are back to discuss the transformative impact of generative AI in our everyday lives. The conversation covers everything from the rise of LLMs in personal development and therapy to DIY projects and coding. Discover how generative AI is reshaping industries, solving everyday problems, and why it's gaining traction i…

1
AI Chatbot lead generation just got amazing! Ep 5. Host Ray Wood interviews AI Chatbot expert Steve Stahl 24:43

5M ago24:43

24:43

I’m sure you’d agree that consistent lead generation is the holy grail of real estate success. But it’s a busy world. Who has time to prospect for seller leads and do everything else we need to do to run our real estate business. I believe building and nurturing your database of potential selling clients is key, however, that’s not the heavy liftin…

1
The YouTube Playbook: How agents are dominating with Video. Ep 4. Host Ray Wood interviews Youtube Marketing Expert Kirsten Graham 24:18

5M ago24:18

24:18

In this episode, I’m connecting with YouTube expert and marketing coach Kirsten Graham, and trust me—if you're a real estate agent who’s not using video yet, this conversation is going to change the way you think about your marketing. I was shocked to learn that only 9% of real estate professionals are consistently leveraging video—yet the agents w…

1
How to become the Digital Mayor in town. Ep 3. The New Power Position in Real Estate Marketing. Download your free copy 35:02

5M ago35:02

35:02

In this episode I’m going to do two things at once …thanks to AI of course. Thing one is an audio summary of my book Digital Mayor. Thing two, well that’s where the AI comes in. The audio summary is actually read by an AI man and woman who discuss the points I make in the book. The AI platform used is Google’s Notebook LM and it’s pretty cool. But …

1
Is AI going to replace real estate agents? Ep 2. Host Ray Wood interviews Silicon Valley agent Sebastian Frey 24:51

5M ago24:51

24:51

In this episode, I catch up with Silicon Valley agent Sebastian Frey. Seb is a content machine and leans on AI to help him create much of his material …but without it looking like AI. We get into Seb’s Website, the content he posts to his blog and how he measures traffic. Seb shares how he uses AI for his awesome Youtube Channel content. If you’re …

1
Why Tech Matters More Than Ever in Real Estate - Ray Wood from Real Estate Tech Heads 13:57

5M ago13:57

13:57

In this premiere episode of Real Estate Tech Heads, we flip the script and sit down with our usual host, Ray Wood, to find out why he’s so passionate about technology—and why now is such an exciting time for real estate professionals to embrace it. We talk about the tools that are transforming the industry, the mindset agents need to stay ahead, an…

1
Google Marketing Live 2025 Exclusive Insider Intel With Ginny Marvin | PPC TH 114 1:02:18

5M ago1:02:18

1:02:18

Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/GPKgUZPM3H0 Key Takeaways from the Episode 🔍 Search Is Evolving Fast Google Ads is adapting to a post-keyword world where prompts, AI conversations, and multimodal inputs dominate. AI Overviews and AI Mode represent major shifts in how queries are interpreted. 🤖 AI Max for Search AI Max is a toggle within S…