In Episode 103 of the Digital Velocity Podcast, Erik Martinez sits down with Kaitlyn Study, entrepreneur and owner of South Street and Co., to explore what it really means to move from experimenting with AI to fully operationalizing it inside your business. Over the past year, Kaitlyn has automated "250 plus tasks across her business," transforming repetitive processes into structured, strategic systems. As Erik frames it, this conversation is about "automating and operationalizing AI in your business, not the nuts and bolts of which buttons to click, but why this matters strategically and how it becomes a real competitive advantage."

Kaitlyn's journey began with a simple realization: "How can I clone myself without using math and science?" After experiencing team turnover and the strain of repetitive operational work, she turned to tools like Zapier, N8N, and AI platforms to eliminate friction and create clarity. The result wasn't just time savings, it was precision. As Kaitlyn explains, "If the automation doesn't work, I know that I did something wrong and didn't correctly portray what I was trying to get out of it." That level of accountability changed how her agency manages hiring, time tracking, sales follow-ups, and capacity planning.

Listeners will gain practical, cross-industry insights, including:

· Why "auditing your time" is the first step toward meaningful automation

· How to identify "friction" points that signal automation opportunities

· Why "you have to test it and test it and test it" when integrating AI into workflows

· How freeing "brain space" allows leaders to focus on higher-level strategic thinking

· Why the goal "is not to replace people" but to "have you do better, higher level work that you're really great at"

For direct-to-consumer brands, agencies, and growth-focused executives, this episode offers a roadmap for scaling operations without sacrificing creativity or culture. Automation, when applied thoughtfully, becomes evolution, not revolution. As Kaitlyn emphasizes, "The goal is not to replace people. It's to have you do better, higher level work that you're really great at, and to have the nuanced, repetitive tasks taken care of." If you're serious about turning AI from a tool into a competitive advantage, this episode is a must-listen.

In Episode 102 of the Digital Velocity Podcast, Erik Martinez and Pat Barry have a candid conversation about one of the most common challenges businesses face with AI today: buying too many tools without a clear strategy. As AI capabilities explode, teams are overwhelmed by choices, and often mistake experimentation for progress.

Pat and Erik dig into why many organizations start with the question, "what tools do we need to buy?" instead of first defining the business problems they're trying to solve. As Pat explains, "Most clients that come to me start with what tools do we need to buy? My reaction is, let's see what you already have, because you might be able to accomplish a lot with what you've already got." The discussion reframes AI adoption around workflows, outcomes, and discipline—rather than novelty.

Listeners will learn:
• Why unchecked experimentation often leads to tool sprawl and wasted budget
• How to evaluate AI tools based on real business use cases and ROI
• Why existing platforms like Google Workspace and Microsoft often cover most needs
• How to balance team-level experimentation with organizational governance
• What questions leaders should ask before approving a new AI subscription

Throughout the episode, Erik emphasizes the importance of starting with the workflow, noting, "You've got to work on the use case. Which means you also need to understand the workflows, where it's going to be used." Together, they explore how most teams can handle the majority of their needs with core LLMs like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude—and when specialized tools actually make sense.

For marketers, operators, agency owners, and direct-to-consumer leaders, this episode offers a grounded framework for navigating the AI tool explosion without losing focus. The takeaway is clear: AI should make work more efficient and strategic—not more chaotic. Before buying the next shiny tool, make sure it ladders up to a real business goal.

In Episode 101 of the Digital Velocity Podcast, Erik Martinez is joined by Amber Goetz, founder of The Active Media, for a practical, no-fluff conversation about how SEO is really changing in 2026. With more than a decade of hands-on SEO experience, Amber shares what she's seeing in the data, what's no longer working, and where brands should focus their time and energy as AI reshapes how people search.

Amber explains that AI is changing SEO, but not replacing it. As she puts it, "AI is not replacing SEO by any means. I think it's reshaping it though." The conversation explores how Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), AI Overviews, and large language models are influencing search results—and why strong brand authority and consistency now matter more than chasing technical checklists or plugin scores.

Listeners will learn:
• Why brand voice and consistency across channels are becoming critical ranking factors
• What SEO tactics are becoming outdated—and which fundamentals still matter
• How citations, schema, and podcasts influence AI-powered search results
• Why human-led strategy paired with AI-driven efficiency is outperforming automation alone
• How local, national, and eCommerce brands can prepare for agentic shopping and reduced website traffic

Amber also breaks down how SEO needs to evolve inside organizations. She challenges teams to move away from siloed execution and toward shared ownership across content, development, PR, and social. As she notes, "Anyone can do SEO. I don't know if they can do it well, but they can." The difference, she explains, comes from pulling real expertise out of the business and turning it into content people—and AI systems—can trust.

For marketers, founders, and direct-to-consumer leaders, this episode offers a grounded roadmap for modern SEO—one rooted in clarity, original thinking, and brand authority. Instead of chasing every new trend, Amber's advice is clear: use AI to improve efficiency, stay focused on what makes your brand different, and build visibility where both people and AI are actually paying attention.

In Episode 100 of the Digital Velocity Podcast, Erik Martinez is joined by Pat Barry, President of AI Consulting Partners, for a forward-looking conversation on where artificial intelligence is headed as we move into 2026. After several years of experimentation, this episode focuses on what it looks like when AI shifts from novelty to something embedded in everyday business operations.

Pat brings more than two decades of experience in data science and AI, having worked with organizations like Discovery Channel, Google, and Fortune 100 brands including Unilever, McDonald's, and UnitedHealthcare.

Together, Erik and Pat discuss why 2026 will be defined less by new tools and more by automation, confidence, and real operational change. As Erik notes, "I think it's going to be the year of automation," and Pat describes how advanced organizations are already managing AI as a "digital employee" supported by agents and sub-agents.

Listeners will learn:
• Why automation and AI agents are becoming practical tools for daily business use
• How organizations are applying AI to improve communication, workflows, and clarity
• Why measuring AI success may shift away from traditional ROI models
• The risks of shadow AI and the need for clear training and policies
• What agentic shopping and AI-powered search could mean for marketers and brands

Throughout the conversation, Erik and Pat stress that progress with AI starts with intention. Pat cautions businesses to avoid rushing into tools and instead recommends experimenting within existing platforms and focusing on training. They also reinforce the importance of keeping a human in the loop to maintain quality and accountability.

For marketers, operators, and executives across industries this milestone episode offers a practical look at how AI adoption is evolving heading into 2026. The takeaway is clear: focus on real problems, build confidence with the Large-Language Model tools, and prepare for a future where automation supports, not replaces, human work.

In Episode 99 of the Digital Velocity Podcast, Erik Martinez sits down with Chris Seminatore, founder of GetGeofencing.com, to unpack how location-based targeting can help brands stop wasting budget and start reaching the people most likely to buy. As Chris puts it, "Location is the strongest indicator of buying intent."

For direct-to-consumer teams without a retail footprint, the key shift is thinking about location as a signal—not a storefront. Instead of geofencing "your" locations, you can target the places where your best customers already reveal intent: brick and mortar competitor locations, industry events and trade shows, and life-style locations that align with your customer's persona.

In this conversation, you'll learn:

· How geofencing works in plain English—and why it's best used to narrow your audience to the moments that matter most.

· Practical ways DTC brands can apply the same playbook across industries, even without physical stores of their own.

· Why "addressable geofencing" can be a powerful CRM companion: layer location targeting onto a direct mail or customer list to reinforce messaging across channels.

· How to use events and trade shows as a DTC growth lever by capturing attendees and continuing to reach them after they leave.

· What to watch for in programmatic so your spend doesn't disappear into low-value placements (and how Chris approaches blocking common sources of waste).

If you're a DTC marketer, brand leader, or agency strategist looking for smarter signals to find more customers, this episode offers a clear, practical framework for using location to reduce waste, increase relevance, and improve performance.

In Episode 98 of the Digital Velocity Podcast, Erik Martinez sits down with Jen Neumann, CEO and owner of deNovo Marketing, to break down the findings from the 2025 AI Consumer Survey—a study her team launched to understand how real people feel about AI showing up in ads, emails, and digital content. The results reveal a mix of curiosity, confusion, and contradiction that every brand—especially DTC brands—should pay attention to.

One of the biggest surprises? Marketers think they're great at spotting AI, but the survey shows they actually scored lower than non-marketers.

With AI-generated images looking more polished and more realistic than ever, many consumers now assume most content is AI—even when it's not. And in a moment where trust is already running low, that assumption can change how people interpret and react to a brand's message.

Listeners will learn:
• Why consumers say AI matters to their decisions—but don't always act that way
• How AI-generated content can unintentionally "make a brand look cheap"
• Why authenticity and a less-polished aesthetic are gaining importance
• The difference between impulse buys, necessities, and higher-stakes "considered purchases"
• What Agentic Shopping could mean for brand awareness and attribution

Jen shares why brands need clear boundaries around AI use, starting with an internal policy that aligns with who they are and how they want to show up in the market. Whether your brand is mass-market or premium, digital-first or experiential, the real takeaway is simple: consumers are paying attention, and AI can help—or hurt—depending on how thoughtfully it's used.

For brand leaders and marketers across industries, this episode offers a grounded look at what's shifting in consumer perception and how to stay authentic, trustworthy, and strategic as AI becomes a bigger part of the customer journey.

In Episode 97 of the Digital Velocity Podcast, Erik Martinez welcomes back Carla Johnson, globally recognized innovation architect, keynote speaker, and author of Rethink Innovation. Together, they explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping creativity, collaboration, and business innovation — and why human curiosity remains the ultimate competitive advantage.

Carla introduces her framework, the "Curiosity Compass," which helps leaders and teams shift from using AI solely for efficiency to harnessing it as a catalyst for imagination and strategic thinking. As she explains, "If innovation and creative thinking is all about connecting the dots, AI gives us the opportunity to collect an exponentially larger pool of dots to help us prompt that process." By distinguishing between the Efficiency Zone (tactical and logistical use) and the Imagination Zone (strategic and exploratory thinking), she reveals how AI can spark deeper creative inquiry rather than replace it.

The conversation explores how AI is reshaping the innovation process by helping people think more broadly, test ideas more confidently. Rather than relying on AI only for efficiency, Carla explains that the real opportunity lies in using it within the "imagination zone," where more strategic and exploratory questions unlock deeper insights.

Listeners will learn:
• How to use AI to move beyond tactical efficiency into strategic innovation
• Why creativity and curiosity are essential to human-AI collaboration
• How to apply the Curiosity Compass to everyday business challenges
• Why the next wave of AI will accelerate prototyping, entrepreneurship, and creative thinking across all industries

For business leaders, sales & marketing professionals, and operational teams, this episode offers a roadmap for building curiosity-driven cultures that leverage AI to expand — not limit — imagination. As Carla reminds us, "It's not that AI that will replace your job, but somebody who knows AI absolutely will." Whether you're leading a marketing team, launching new products, or designing smarter systems, this episode is a must-listen for anyone eager to redefine what innovation means in the AI era.

In Episode 96 of the Digital Velocity Podcast, Erik Martinez welcomes Alane Boyd, co-founder of BiggestGoal.ai, to explore how "agentic AI" is transforming the way businesses automate, scale, and innovate. As a serial entrepreneur and automation expert who has built and sold companies across marketing and technology, Alane has a clear mission: to make workdays easier and help teams focus on what truly drives growth.

Alane breaks down what sets agentic AI apart from traditional automation or generative tools like ChatGPT. Instead of relying on constant prompts, these "skilled intern" systems can independently manage workflows—from content production and customer service to data management and training documentation. As Alane explains, "Automation only works when it's built on a process that's already clear and consistent."

Throughout the conversation, Alane shares real-world examples of how companies are using AI agents to eliminate busywork and unlock strategic capacity. From podcast production to eCommerce customer support, businesses are freeing up their workload by embedding AI into repeatable tasks. She also explains why documenting processes manually before automating them is critical to avoid magnifying inefficiencies.

Listeners will learn:
• What "agentic AI" is and how it differs from generative AI tools
• How to document and standardize processes before introducing automation
• Practical examples of AI agents used in marketing, data, and operations workflows
• The risks of data misuse in free AI tools—and how to maintain security through closed-loop systems
• Why ongoing AI training and change management are now essential for every organization

For all businesses, the message is especially clear: as competitors embrace automation, those who fail to evolve risk being left behind. Alane emphasizes that AI isn't about replacing people—it's about empowering teams to work smarter, reduce burnout, and focus on creative, revenue-driving work. Whether you're leading a marketing department, optimizing operations, or modernizing a service business, this episode provides a playbook for turning AI from a buzzword into a true business advantage.