Podcast Summary: The ChatGPT Experiment - Ep 84

Why Curious Minds Are Winning in the Age of AI: An Interview With Michael Stelzner
Host: Cary Weston
Guest: Michael Stelzner (Founder, Social Media Examiner & AI Explored Podcast)
Air Date: September 2, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

In this episode, Cary Weston interviews Michael Stelzner to dig into how curiosity and adaptability fuel success in the rapidly evolving world of AI. The conversation equips listeners—especially marketers, creators, and business owners—with frameworks for approaching AI adoption, building skills, leveraging tools, and staying relevant. Stelzner shares strategies from his own journey, the parallels between past technological waves, and how curiosity is a superpower for thriving amid change. Both focus on translating complex AI concepts into practical, approachable guidance for everyday users.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Michael Stelzner’s Mission & Podcast Approach

[01:49] – [05:09]

• AI Explored Podcast Focus: Demystifying AI for marketers, creators, and entrepreneurs, showing real-world productivity and competitive strategies.
• Empathy & Clarity: Ensures every episode stays practical for listeners at all stages, breaking down technical topics and asking clarifying questions for the audience.
• Value-Driven Content: "I want them to feel like they have to pull their car over if they're driving and stop or rewind... I want them to feel like they got something." — Michael Stelzner (05:09)

2. Structuring Content for Maximum Learning

[07:59] – [08:39]

• Guidance & Structure: Outlines topics in advance to help busy listeners know the “what’s in it for me.”
• Marketing Mindset: Mirrors approaches learned from influential marketers like Marcus Sheridan—clarity of intent is critical.

3. The AI Wave vs. Past Technology Shifts

[09:41] – [12:01]

• Historical Parallels: Draws connections between the adoption pain points of social media (2009) and AI now. Both offered free/low-cost disruption during times of economic uncertainty.

• Modern AI Platforms: ChatGPT as “the Facebook” of AI, Gemini as “the LinkedIn,” and Claude as “the Twitter.”

  "It's exactly the same kind of situation we're dealing with right now. All the money was rushing in... it’s just that this is much faster and much larger." — Michael Stelzner (11:16)

4. How to Identify & Surf Major Trends

[12:45] – [18:32]

• Observation & Experimentation: Emphasizes surveying audiences and slowly investing in emerging trends to avoid the “too early” trap (e.g., Web3).
• Running Experiments: Launched his AI podcast only after seeing solid demand, with continuation based strictly on audience response metrics.
• Scaling Responsibly: Steps up investment in AI offerings only once each initiative demonstrates engagement.

5. Application of AI in Daily Work & Team Building

[20:37] – [24:02]

• Personal Use: Heavy user of Claude for copywriting and strategic messaging; leans on ChatGPT for creative ideation/art direction.
• Tool Comparison: Finds Claude superior for writing—"There's an eloquence to Claude that I don't find in ChatGPT." — Cary Weston (22:49)
• AI as “Team Member”: Moves creative projects between AI tools to leverage each one’s strengths.

6. Hiring and Team Strategy in the AI Era

[24:02] – [29:46]

• Rethinking Roles: Advises starting with AI solutions before hiring, using humans as targeted specialists/contractors for high-level tasks.
• Shifting Mindsets: "Right now you should not need to go out and hire someone full time. That's an old mindset." — Michael Stelzner (26:34)
• Best Investment: "If you do invest in one person full time, you invest in someone who understands AI... to create you an AI marketing department." — Michael Stelzner (27:57)
• Curiosity > Tool Use: The success AI leads are the strategically curious—not just power users.

7. The Power of Listening, Surveying, and Adaptation

[12:45] – [18:32], [30:22] – [30:45]

• Pivoting with Data: Combine listening, formal surveys, and real-world testing to evolve offerings.
• Future-Focused: Connects the dots from past trends to forecast where industries are heading.

8. AI Adoption: The Real Opportunity (It’s Not Too Late)

[30:49] – [34:28]

• Long Runway: Most of the world is still not using advanced AI features; vast latent demand for guidance.

• Massive Greenfield: Teaching, consulting, and agency work in AI will be in demand for years to come.

  "Don’t let your mindset say, ‘oh, it’s overcrowded, I’m too late.’ No, you are way early." — Michael Stelzner (33:46)

• Learning = Legos: "Just learn one thing that's really helpful for you. Master it. Then... start clicking these things together until it makes total sense to you." — Michael Stelzner (34:28)

9. Staying Current & Authentic with Technology

[35:18] – [41:19]

• Change Fatigue: Both hosts note constant evolution of AI tools can be overwhelming and sometimes things "get stupider" before improving.
• Insider View: AI companies themselves are still experimenting—expect volatility.

10. Authenticity in the Age of AI

[37:58] – [41:19]

• Anti-AI Backlash: As AI-generated content becomes rampant, human authenticity and transparency become superpowers.
• Storytelling & Vulnerability: "Talk about things that AI would never talk about—the struggle, the problems that you’re facing… authenticity will be like the thing that will, like a magnet, attract people to you." — Michael Stelzner (38:19)
• Community & Experience: Forecasts a boom in real-world connections, meetups, and travel as people crave human interaction and experiences.

11. Personal Notes & Values

[41:29] – [42:20]

• Faith & Family: Michael shares his Christian faith and talks openly about his family transitions as an “authentic” moment.
• Desire for Experience: Looking to travel and connect meaningfully in the next life stage.

Standout Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Innovating for Audiences:
  "What I'm seeking is clarity for my audience. First and foremost, I want them to walk away feeling like they got something." — Michael Stelzner (05:09)

• On Parallel Tech Waves:
  "AI, for the most part, is free... We're in a place right now where there's a lot of economic uncertainty. Like there was in ‘08... it's exactly the same kind of situation we're dealing with right now." — Michael Stelzner (10:13-11:16)

• On Experimentation Before Commitment:
  "If you’re too early and you can’t draw an audience to you, you will end up bailing... I waited till I thought I was at the just right moment." — Michael Stelzner (16:13)

• On AI Adoption Opportunity:
  "It’s going to take literally... a decade-long thing you could plant your flag into. Because people take time to change." — Michael Stelzner (31:27)

• On Human Value in an AI World:
  “Authenticity is going to be like the thing that will, like a magnet, attract people to you.” — Michael Stelzner (38:19)

• On Learning AI Skills:
  "Just learn one thing that's really, really helpful for you. Master it... and just slowly, like Lego blocks, start clicking these things together." — Michael Stelzner (34:28)

• On Family & Superpower:
  “My superpower that I bring to my company is I'm a master copywriter. So I use Claude almost every single day.” — Michael Stelzner (21:26)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------| | 01:49 | Michael Stelzner introduces his approach & podcast | | 05:09 | Empathy and clarity for audience value | | 09:41 | Social media and AI technology wave parallels | | 12:45 | Surfing trends and running 'experiments' | | 20:37 | Using AI personally (Claude, ChatGPT) | | 24:02 | AI vs. traditional hiring—new models | | 27:57 | Smart full-time hiring: AI-savvy team builder | | 30:49 | The untapped opportunity in AI education & consulting | | 37:58 | Authenticity as a counterweight to AI fakeness | | 41:29 | Michael shares personal values and family stories |

Final Resources

• Michael Stelzner & Social Media Examiner: socialmediaexaminer.com
  (Podcasts, AI Business Society, conference, and more)
• Connect: Facebook, LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter)

Overall Tone

Friendly, practical, and motivational. The conversation is candid, often introspective, and generously focused on ensuring listeners feel empowered—never behind—in learning and leveraging AI. Both host and guest keep the energy high and the jargon low, making the episode inviting to curious beginners and seasoned professionals alike.

Memorable Closing:
"Everything is changing except human nature... but what we're really after is to be liked, thanked, respected, listened to, appreciated, loved. And we're still there." — Cary Weston (43:21)

Stay curious, keep experimenting, and remember: authenticity is your competitive edge in the age of AI.