The Difference Maker Revolution Podcast

Episode: "You Can't Stop This Rocket... But There's Still A Seat For You..."

Date: January 26, 2026
Hosts: Ronan Ryle, Jonathan (Jono) Ryle, Jeanine McLeod

Overview

This episode addresses the seismic changes impacting the photography industry due to advances in artificial intelligence (AI). The hosts discuss the accelerating pace of change, the futility of resisting technological disruption, and how photographers must reinvent themselves to survive and thrive. Through analogies, personal stories, and industry wisdom, they illustrate why embracing AI is not only necessary but also an incredible opportunity for photography entrepreneurs.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Acceleration of Change: The Rocket Ship Analogy

• Pace of Industry Transformation
  • Change, once slow, is now exponential. What might have taken a decade now takes a year or even a month.
    • “You don’t have a lot of time to actually jump on this rocket ship because once it’s gone, it’s gone.” — Ronan [00:20]

2. The "Death" of Photography (and Training)

• AI's Disruption of the Industry
  • Viral memes and AI-powered companies now offer direct-to-consumer headshots, causing unease among traditional photographers.
  • Many photographers focus solely on the image's artistic quality, failing to see the greater potential of AI as an industry tool.
  • Core Takeaway: AI is not killing photography for those who shift from a craft-centric to a client value-centric mindset.
    • “If that (the photo) is your value proposition, AI is coming for your business.” — Ronan [01:44]

3. The Futility of Resisting AI

• Protesting Will Not Work
  • AI's skills are outpacing human achievement in weeks versus years. Resisting is futile; adaptation is critical.
  • Quote: “You are not going to stop AI. And there will be a point in time when I can create a better quality photograph than photographers for clients.” — Jono [04:20]
• Reframing the Business: Transition from the business of photography to the business of people and wellness.

4. Lessons from the Music Industry

• Parallel Industry Disruption
  • Entire chart-topping songs are now being created by AI without human input.
  • Artists who thrive understand and adapt to the new entertainment model; those who cling to legacy models (like record sales) are left behind.
    • Quote: “Those who hold on to ‘this is the way it’s always been’ are the ones that are going to struggle.” — Jeanine [07:26]

5. The Pain and Opportunity of Change

• Understanding Fear of Change
  • Attachment to craft or ego can trigger a fight-or-flight response when facing industry threats.
    • “When you have attached your ego to something and that’s under threat... the natural response as a human is to fight or to flee.” — Ronan [09:01]
  • Rationalizing fear allows you to assess strategically and evolve.
• The Evolution from Science to Art to Technology
  • Photography has moved from a scientific to artistic focus, and now, back to a tech-driven industry.
    • Quote: “If you can answer: ‘How does the work you co-create with your client make your client feel today, tomorrow and forever?’ then you’re on the right track.” — Ronan [11:10]

6. Cannibalizing Yourself—Learning from Business Giants

• Embrace Self-Disruption
  • Drawing parallels from Apple and Google, cannibalizing your own business before competitors do is essential to survival.
    • “You’ve got to cannibalize yourself before your competition cannibalizes you.” — Ronan (referencing Steve Jobs) [12:59]
  • Kodak and Blockbuster are reminders of the cost of failing to adapt.

7. Real-World AI Application: The Nano Banana Story

• AI as a Tool for Emotional Value
  • Jeanine shares a heartfelt story (the "Nano Banana" story) of using AI to add a missing family member to a Christmas photo—creating priceless joy for the client, despite initial hesitation as a photographer.
    • “She cried. She legit cried. She gave me a big hug and she told me I saved her Christmas.” — Jeanine [19:38]
  • Discussion: The “real” value for clients is emotional, not technical authenticity.
    • “The experience that the clients are having is real. The end emotion that they have when they receive their artwork, it's real.” — Jeanine [21:38]
    • “[Clients] want it done and they want it done now.” — Jono [23:41]

8. Launching Accelerator AI: Reinventing the Coaching Model

• Training is Dead, AI Coaching is Here
  • The team is replacing traditional training with Accelerator AI—a virtual coach programmed with their combined knowledge and available 24/7, allowing personalized, at-scale mentorship.
    • “Nobody has ever been able to scale coaching and helping of photographers to make to go on the journey they need to go on… AI and Accelerator AI by Difference Maker Revolution now makes that possible.” — Ronan [25:19]
  • This shift is not about increasing competition but creating abundance and new opportunities in the changing world.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "You don’t have a lot of time to jump on this rocket ship because once it’s gone, it’s gone." — Ronan [00:20]
• "Training is dead. Long live AI." — Jono [00:39]
• "No amount of protests, you are not going to stop AI." — Jono [04:20]
• "If you continue to focus on the photo… you can’t use that to build a successful business." — Jono [05:20]
• "Those who hold on to, ‘this is the way it’s always been,’ are the ones that are going to struggle." — Jeanine [07:26]
• "You’ve got to cannibalize yourself before your competition cannibalizes you." — Ronan [12:59]
• "How does the work you co-create with your client make your client feel today, tomorrow and forever?" — Ronan [11:10]
• "She cried… She told me I saved her Christmas." — Jeanine, on using AI for a family photo [19:38]
• "The experience that the clients are having is real. The end emotion that they have when they receive their artwork, it's real." — Jeanine [21:38]
• “Nobody wants an actual drill to make a hole in the wall. They want a hole.” — Jono [23:41]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:20] — The rocket ship analogy: The pace of change
• [01:44] — AI "killing photography" meme and the photographer’s response
• [04:20] — The futility of resisting AI's advance
• [05:20] — The shift from photography to a difference maker business model
• [07:26] — Music industry disruption by AI: lessons for photographers
• [09:01] — Fear of change, the ego response, and rational assessment
• [11:10] — The crucial client experience question
• [12:59] — Cannibalizing your own business: Apple, Google, and Kodak lessons
• [15:22] — Photography’s shift back to technology
• [16:03 – 19:38] — Jeanine’s Nano Banana story: using AI to save a family’s Christmas
• [21:38] — The reality of client emotions and value
• [23:12] — Accelerator AI: the next step in coaching
• [25:19] — Scaling the difference maker revolution with AI

Conclusion

The photography industry is changing irreversibly—and fast. Photographers who resist AI and cling to tradition will fall behind, while those who embrace self-reinvention and see themselves as creators of real emotional value (not just images) will thrive. The episode is a clarion call: get on the rocket ship now, use AI to enhance client impact, and recognize that the real business is about people, not pixels.

Final Call-to-Action:

• Apply for the Inner Circle to access the Accelerator AI Virtual Coach and become a true "difference maker" in today's rapidly evolving photography landscape. [27:48]