Episodi

  • Ep163: The Phone-in-the-Box Experiment and the Speed of Truth

    Ep163: The Phone-in-the-Box Experiment and the Speed of Truth
    Jan 21 2026
    In this episode of Welcome to Cloudlandia, Dan and Dean explore the intersection of personal transformation and rapid global change in our technology-driven world. Dean reveals the profound results of his eight-week phone-in-the-box experiment, sharing how reclaiming 14 hours daily has restored his ability to read for extended periods and revolutionized his creative process. He discusses developing systematic approaches to manage ADHD, including mastering 50-minute focus sessions that consistently produce two fully-formed thought pieces. With Charlotte, his AI partner who can read his handwriting, Dean has created a sustainable rhythm for generating hundreds of insights annually. Dan shares unexpected breakthroughs from his stem cell treatments—while the 50-year-old knee injury heals slowly, his cognitive testing has improved 90% and his reflexes have returned to levels he hasn't experienced in decades. He discusses upcoming book launches, including The Greater Game with John Bowen, featuring original entrepreneurial research and interactive dashboards, plus the innovative four-by-four casting tool being developed as their first licensed internet product. The conversation shifts to examining how individual action amplified by technology can expose truth at remarkable speed. From Venezuela's Maduro being extracted to a Brooklyn jail cell to a lone citizen journalist uncovering $112 million in daycare fraud with just his phone and one day of investigation, we explore how Cloudlandia enables rapid revelation of hidden realities. We close by reflecting on the philosophical nature of AI use—how billions of people are each creating entirely unique cognitive signatures with their AI tools, as distinctive as fingerprints yet largely invisible to the world. It's a fascinating look at how technology simultaneously democratizes capability while making individual creative processes more private than ever. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Dean shares eight weeks of results from his daily experiment, revealing how eliminating phone access for 14 hours has fundamentally restored his ability to focus, dramatically improved his sleep scores, and brought back the hours-long reading sessions he thought he'd lost forever..Dan reveals the surprising results from eight stem cell treatments—while his 50-year-old knee injury progresses slowly, his brain health has skyrocketed with 90% improvement in cognitive testing.The remarkable story of Venezuela's Maduro—executed flawlessly in 30 minutes by Delta Force with 120 planes, no American casualties, and no equipment left behind.Dan's theory that if you interviewed half the world's population, you'd find four billion people working on four billion different things with AI—each creating cognitive signatures as unique as fingerprints, largely undetectable and fundamentally private despite the connected world we inhabit. Links: WelcomeToCloudlandia.com StrategicCoach.com DeanJackson.com ListingAgentLifestyle.com TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Dean Jackson: Welcome to Cloudlandia. Dan Sullivan: Mr. Jackson. How are you? Good, good. Had a great trip to London for- Dean Jackson: I didn't know you were going to London. Dan Sullivan: Yeah. Yeah. We just decided at the last moment, unfortunately, we got good flights and good rooms and some friends of ours from the DC area, they went and Steven Palter and his family were there. Oh, Dean Jackson: Nice. Dan Sullivan: So lots of great meals, lots of great place. Two out of three, which is good batting average. That gets you into Hall of Fame if you get two out of three. Exactly. Actually, if you get three out of 10, you've got a good chance. Dean Jackson: That's right. Dan Sullivan: If you play 20 years and have a 300 batting average, probably you're in consideration depending on Dean Jackson: Venture capital. Dan Sullivan: When the hits actually happened. Dean Jackson: Yeah. I got Babs texted on New Year's Eve and you guys were back from ... I didn't realize you were gone. Were you there for Christmas or after Christmas you went? Dan Sullivan: Yeah, we left on Christmas day night and flew overnight to London. And then boy, it was buzzing. London downtown doesn't matter what day it is, it's buzzing. Yeah. I just saw a video last night and it's one of these new AI films, which I think is really great where they'll take a sketch that was made of London 2000 years ago and then they'll animate it. And Speaker 3: It's Dan Sullivan: Really terrific. It's really terrific. For history buffs, it's terrific. I think this AI thing has uses. What do you think? I mean, are you noticing things that you wish you could have done five years ago more quickly? They're happening more quickly. Dean Jackson: Yeah. I'm working today on creating a better past. And the better past involves AI. Yeah. That's a really interesting thing. I watched over Christmas, there's a new series called Pluribus. Dan Sullivan: You ...
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    58 min
  • Ep162: Why Creating Value First Changes Everything

    Ep162: Why Creating Value First Changes Everything
    Jan 14 2026
    In this episode of Welcome to Cloudlandia, we explore how Miles Copeland, manager of The Police, turned Sting's unmarketable song "Desert Rose" into a 28-million-dollar advertising campaign without spending a dime. The story reveals a powerful principle most businesses miss—the difference between approaching companies at the purchasing department versus the receiving dock. Dan introduces his concept that successful entrepreneurs make two fundamental decisions: they're responsible for their own financial security, and they create value before expecting opportunity. This "receiving dock" mentality—showing up with completed value rather than asking for money upfront—changes everything about how business gets done. We also explore how AI is accelerating adaptation to change, using tariff policies as an unexpected example of how quickly markets and entire provinces can adjust when forced to. We discuss the future of pharmaceutical TV advertising, why Canada's interprovincial trade barriers fell in 60 days, and touch on everything from the benefits of mandatory service to Gavin Newsom's 2028 positioning. Throughout, Charlotte (my AI assistant) makes guest appearances, instantly answering our curiosities. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS How Miles Copeland got $28M in free advertising for Sting by giving Jaguar a music video instead of asking for payment.Why approaching the "receiving dock" with completed value beats going to the "purchasing department" with requests.Dan's two fundamental entrepreneur decisions: take responsibility for your financial security and create value before expecting opportunity.How AI is accelerating adaptation, from tariff responses to Canada eliminating interprovincial trade barriers in 60 days.Why pharmaceutical advertising might disappear from television in 3-4 years and what it means for the industry.Charlotte the AI making guest appearances as the ultimate conversation tiebreaker and Google bypass. Links: WelcomeToCloudlandia.com StrategicCoach.com DeanJackson.com ListingAgentLifestyle.com TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Dean Jackson: Mr. Sullivan, Dan Sullivan: Good morning. Good morning. Dean Jackson: Good morning. Good morning. Our best to you this morning. Boy, you haven't heard that in a long time, have you? Dan Sullivan: Yeah. What was that? Dean Jackson: KE double LO Double G, Kellogg's. Best to you. Dan Sullivan: There you go. Dean Jackson: Yes, Dan Sullivan: There you go. Dean Jackson: I thought you might enjoy that as Dan Sullivan: An admin, the advertise. I bet everybody who created that is dead. Dean Jackson: I think you're probably right. Dan Sullivan: Yeah. I was just noticing that. Jaguar, did you follow the Jaguar brand change? Dean Jackson: No. What happened just recently? Dan Sullivan: Yeah. Basically maybe 24. They decided to completely rebrand. Since the rebranding, they've sold almost no cars and they fired their marketing. That's problem. Problem. Yeah. You can look it up on YouTube. There's about 25 P mode autopsies. Dean Jackson: Wow. Dan Sullivan: Where Dean Jackson: People are talking mean must. It's true. Because they haven't, there's nothing. It's pretty amazing, actually, when you think about it. The only thing, the evidence that you have that Jaguar even exists is when you see the Waymo taxis in Phoenix. Dan Sullivan: Is that Jaguar? Dean Jackson: They're Jaguars. Yeah. Dan Sullivan: I didn't know that. Yeah. Well, yeah, they just decided that they needed an upgrade. They needed to bring it into the 21st century. Couldn't have any of that traditional British, that traditional British snobby sort of thing. So yeah, when they first, they brought out this, I can't even say it was a commercial, because it wasn't clear that they were selling anything, but they had all these androgynous figures. You couldn't quite tell what their gender was. And they're dressed up in sort of electric colors, electric greens and reds, and not entirely clear what they were doing. Not entirely clear what they were trying to create, not were they selling something, didn't really know this. But not only are they, and then they brought out a new electric car, an ev. This was all for the sake of reading out their, and people said, nothing new here. Nothing new here. Not particularly interesting. Has none of the no relationship to the classic Jaguar look and everything. And as a result of that, not only are they not selling the new EV car, they're not selling any of their other models either. Dean Jackson: I can't even remember the last time you saw it. Betsy Vaughn, who runs our 90 minute book team, she has one of those Jaguar SUV things like the Waymo one. She is the last one I've seen in the wild. But my memory of Jaguar has always, in the nineties and the early two thousands, Jaguar was always distinct. You could always tell something was a Jaguar and you could never tell what year it was. I mean, it was always unique and you could ...
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    53 min
  • When AI Becomes Your Thinking Partner

    When AI Becomes Your Thinking Partner
    Aug 27 2025
    AI becomes a thinking partner, not a replacement, as Dan Sullivan and Dean Jackson compare their distinct approaches to working with artificial intelligence. In this episode of Welcome to Cloudlandia, we explore how Dan uses Perplexity to compress his book chapter creation from 150 minutes to 45 minutes while maintaining his unique voice. Dean shares his personalized relationship with Charlotte, his AI assistant, demonstrating how she helps craft emails and acts as a curiosity multiplier for instant research. We discover that while AI tools are widely available, only 1-2% of the global population actively uses them for creative and profitable work. The conversation shifts to examining how most human interactions follow predictable patterns, like large language models themselves. We discuss the massive energy requirements for AI expansion, with 40% of AI capacity needed just to generate power for future growth. Nuclear energy emerges as the only viable solution, with one gram of uranium containing the energy of 27 tons of coal. Dan's observation about people making claims without caring if you're interested provides a refreshing perspective on conversation dynamics. Rather than viewing AI as taking over, we see it becoming as essential and invisible as electricity - a layer that enhances rather than replaces human creativity. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Dan reduces his book chapter creation time from 150 to 45 minutes using AI while maintaining complete creative controlOnly 1-2% of the global population actively uses AI for creative and profitable work despite widespread availabilityNuclear power emerges as the only viable energy solution for AI expansion, with one gram of uranium equaling 27 tons of coalMost human conversations follow predictable large language model patterns, making AI conversations surprisingly refreshingDean's personalized AI assistant Charlotte acts as a curiosity multiplier but has no independent interests when not in use40% of future AI capacity will be required just to generate the energy needed for continued AI expansion ​ ​ Links: WelcomeToCloudlandia.com StrategicCoach.com DeanJackson.com ListingAgentLifestyle.com ​ ​ ​ TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Speaker 1: Welcome to Cloud Landia, Speaker 2: Mr. Sullivan? Speaker 1: Yes, Mr. Jackson. Speaker 2: Welcome to Cloud Landia. Speaker 1: Yes. Yeah. I find it's a workable place. Cloud Landia. Speaker 2: Very, yep. Very friendly. It's easy to navigate. Speaker 1: Yeah. Where would you say you're, you're inland now. You're not on Speaker 2: The beach. I'm on the mainland at the Four Seasons of Valhalla. Speaker 1: Yes. It's hot. I am adopting the sport that you were at one time really interested in. Yeah. But it's my approach to AI that I hit the ball over the net and the ball comes back over the net, and then I hit the ball back over the net. And it's very interesting to be in this thing where you get a return back over, it's in a different form, and then you put your creativity back on. But I find that it's really making me into a better thinker. Speaker 3: Yeah. Speaker 1: Yeah. I've noticed in, what is it now? I started in February of 24. 24, and it's really making me more thoughtful. Ai. Speaker 2: Well, it's interesting to have, I find you're absolutely right that the ability to rally back and forth with someone who knows everything is very directionally advantageous. I heard someone talking this week about most of our conversations with the other humans, with other people are basically what he called large language model conversations. They're all essentially the same thing that you are saying to somebody. They're all guessing the next appropriate word. Right. Oh, hey, how are you? I'm doing great. How was your weekend? Fantastic. We went up to the cottage. Oh, wow. How was the weather? Oh, the weather was great. They're so predictable and LLME type of conversations and interactions that humans have with each other on a surface level. And I remember you highlighted that at certain levels, people talk about, they talk about things and then they talk about people. And at a certain level, people talk about ideas, but it's very rare. And so most of society is based on communicating within a large language model that we've been trained on through popular events, through whatever media, whatever we've been trained or indoctrinated to think. Speaker 1: Yeah, it's the form of picking fleas off each other. Speaker 2: Yes, exactly. You can imagine that. That's the perfect imagery, Dan. That's the perfect imagery. Oh, man. We're just, yes. Speaker 1: Well, it's got us through a million years of survival. Yeah, yeah. But the big thing is that, I mean, my approach, it's a richer approach because there's so much computing power coming back over, but it's more of an organizational form. It's not just trying to find the right set of words here, but the biggest impact on me is that somebody ...
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    52 min
  • Ep160: AI and the Future of Creative Work

    Ep160: AI and the Future of Creative Work
    Jul 16 2025
    In this episode of Welcome to Cloudlandia, we discuss our experiences working alongside an AI assistant named Charlotte. We explore how Charlotte helps us create personalized emails, enhancing our creativity and productivity. Through funny stories and thoughtful discussions, we see how AI is changing professional and creative landscapes. We also talk about the art of time management. The idea is to treat life like a game, where the goal is to achieve personal milestones within the time you have each day. By focusing on three main tasks and celebrating small victories, you can feel more accomplished. The conversation shifts to self-awareness and leadership in a virtual world. We discuss the importance of breaking away from predictability and using mental frameworks to capture and apply new ideas. The episode ends with a look at evolving creative partnerships, emphasizing the power of collaboration and being present with your audience. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS In this episode, Dan and I discuss the revolutionary impact of AI on creativity and productivity, highlighting how our AI assistant, Charlotte, crafts personalized emails that reflect our personalities.We explore the concept of time management as a game, where achieving daily goals brings a sense of accomplishment and managing time effectively can alter our perception of time itself.The conversation touches on the balance between digital engagement and real-world experiences, emphasizing the impact of excessive screen time on teenagers' mental health.We delve into the importance of self-awareness and leadership in a virtual world, using a mental framework to navigate internal dialogues and embrace creativity.There's a fascinating discussion on the role of virtual platforms like Zoom during the pandemic, which have reshaped brainstorming and productivity by facilitating more focused and reflective sessions.Our guests share their experiences of evolving creative partnerships, emphasizing the shift from idea curation to output command, and the benefits of structured playfulness in enhancing creative capabilities.Finally, I reflect on the potential of AI to deepen personal and professional growth, highlighting the anticipation of continued collaboration with Charlotte for fresh insights and experiences. Links: WelcomeToCloudlandia.com StrategicCoach.com DeanJackson.com ListingAgentLifestyle.com TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Dean: Mr Sullivan. Dan: Mr Jackson, it's always good to hear your voice. Dean: Always wonderful, and it seems like this week went fast, faster than usual. But we all know, dan, it actually moved at the speed of reality, the speed of reality 60 minutes per hour. Speed of reality moved at the speed of reality, the speed of reality 60 minutes per hour. Dan: Speed of reality is like the law of gravity. That is the truth. Dean: Yeah, charlotte made me laugh out loud today. Dan: That's a good sign. Dean: actually, I'll tell you what I asked Charlotte this morning. I said what are the top 10 impacts you could have in my life? And she said here's a prioritized list of the top 10 impacts I can have, mapped by impact versus effort, with examples from your world. And it was so funny. She listed all these things. You know daily email companion. You know you talk, I type, I shape, title and polish. You know all of these things curate and repackage your IP, brainstorming and naming partner. You know all these high insight leverage. Dan: Then she started I said tell me more about that. Sounds to me like Charlotte wants this to be lifetime a lifetime relationship. Dean: I agree, and it's so funny. Dan: She included herself in all of your impact. Dean: Oh, yeah, and. But she referred back to all of our history. Right, I said tell me more about number one, right, my daily email companion. And she said you know you talk. I go straight. This is the highest impact, lowest friction thing we can do, because you already generate so many brilliant observations, frameworks, stories and examples just by being Dean Jackson. You live in a state of constant insight. My job is to harvest that in real time and shape it into daily emails that strengthen your relationship with your list, cement your authority as the world's most interesting marketer, create a growing archive of evergreen content, seed future books, offers, talks and more Boy. Dan: I mean Boy talk about a plug for online dating. I mean really types of emails we can create. Dean: an example that made me laugh out loud was, you know, personal notes, observations, story based personal notes, and the subject she had for that was I had eggs, bacon and clarity this morning Eggs, bacon and clarity. Dan: Yeah, eggs, bacon and clarity. Dean: Like that is legitimately funny Dan. Dan: I mean it's so like that is legitimately funny. Then, yeah, well, she's. You know. They say that I want you to take this in the right way, but that dogs take on the personality of their ...
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    59 min
  • Ep159: Unlocking the Future of Learning

    Ep159: Unlocking the Future of Learning
    Jul 8 2025
    In this episode of Welcome to Cloudlandia, we explore the shifting landscape of expertise in the digital age. Our discussion starts by examining the sheer volume of digital content and how it challenges traditional learning and expertise. With AI playing a significant role, we consider how this technology might disrupt long-established institutions like universities, allowing individuals to gain expertise in new ways. We then take a historical journey back to the invention of the printing press, drawing parallels between past and present innovations. Using AI tools like ChatGPT, we uncover details about Gutenberg's early legal challenges, showcasing how AI can offer new insights into historical events. This approach highlights how asking the right questions can transform previously unknown areas into fields of expertise. Next, we discuss the changing role of creativity in an AI-driven world. AI democratizes access to information, enabling more people to create and innovate without needing institutional support. We emphasize that while AI makes information readily available, the challenge of capturing attention remains. By using AI creatively, we can enhance our understanding and potentially redefine what it means to be an expert. Finally, we consider the impact of rapid technological advancements on daily life. With AI making expertise more accessible, we reflect on its implications for traditional expert roles. From home renovation advice to navigating tech mishaps, AI is reshaping how we approach problems and solutions. Through these discussions, we gain a fresh perspective on the evolving landscape of expertise and innovation. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS We discuss the overwhelming volume of digital content and how it challenges the utility and comprehension of information in the modern age.Dean talks about the potential impact of artificial intelligence on traditional educational institutions, like Harvard, and how AI might reshape our understanding of expertise.Dan describes the intersection of historical innovation and modern technology, using the invention of the printing press and its early legal battles as a case study.We explore how AI democratizes access to information, enabling individuals to quickly gather and utilize knowledge, potentially reducing the role of traditional experts.Dean shares humorous thought experiments about technological advancements, such as the fictional disruption of electric cars by the combustion engine, highlighting the societal impacts of innovation.Dan critically examines energy policies, specifically in New York, and reflects on creative problem-solving strategies used by figures like Donald Trump and Elon Musk.We reflect on the evolving landscape of expertise, noting how AI can enhance creativity and transform previously unexplored historical events into newfound knowledge. Links: WelcomeToCloudlandia.com StrategicCoach.com DeanJackson.com ListingAgentLifestyle.com TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Dean: Mr Sullivan. Dan: But who's going to listen to all the transcriptions? That's what I want to know. Who's going to read them yeah, but what are they going to do with them? I don't know, I think it's going to confuse them actually. Dean: They're on to us. They're on to us. They're on to us and we're on to them. Dan: Yeah but it's a problem. You know, after a while, when you've overheard or listened to 3 million different podcasts, what are you doing with it? I know, is it going anywhere? Is it producing any results? You know, I just don't know that's really. Dean: It's funny that you say that right. Like there's, I and you have thousands of hours of recorded content in all of the podcasts. Like between you know, podcasting is your love language. How many five or seven podcasts going on at all time. And I've got quite a few myself. Dan: I have eight series. Dean: You've got eight series going on regularly 160 a year times, probably 13 years. Yeah, exactly. Dan: Let's say but there's 1,600. Let's say there's 1,600 and it adds up. Dean: Let's call that. We each have thousands of hours of on the record, on the record, on your permanent record in there. Yeah, because so many people have said uh you know, you think about how much people uh talk, you think about how much people talk without there being any record of it. So that body of work. I've really been trying to come to terms with this mountain of content that's being added to every day. Like it was really kind of startling and I think I mentioned it a few episodes ago that the right now, even just on YouTube, 500 hours a minute uploaded to YouTube into piling onto a mountain of over a billion available hours. Dan: It's more than you can. It's really more than you can get to. Dean: And that's when you put it in the context of you know, a billion. I heard somebody talk about. The difference between a million and a billion is that if you had,1 a second each second, for if you ...
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    1 ora e 2 min
  • Ep158: AI's Role in Shaping Global Dynamics

    Ep158: AI's Role in Shaping Global Dynamics
    Jul 2 2025
    Today on Welcome to Cloudlandia, Our discussion unravels the surprises of Ontario's geography, the nuances of tariff wars, and the timeless drive for ambition, ensuring you're well-equipped with insights into how technology continues to redefine the global landscape. Discover how NuCom's innovative app is revolutionizing sleep and relaxation. We dive into the specifics of how its unique audio tracks, like "Summer Night," are enhancing REM and deep sleep, all while adding a humorous twist with a comparison to Italian driving laws. With separate audio for each ear and playful suggestions for use, you'll learn how this app is setting new standards for flexibility and effectiveness in achieving tranquility. Finally, we ponder the evolving nature of trust in a world increasingly dominated by AI and digital interactions. Drawing inspiration from thinkers like Jacques Ellul and Thomas Sowell, we discuss the societal shifts driven by technological advances and the potential need for encryption to verify digital identities. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS We discuss the intriguing journey from Ontario's cottages to the realm of international trade, focusing on how AI is reshaping trade agreements and challenging the predictability of global politics.Dean explores NuCom's innovative app designed to improve sleep and relaxation through unique audio tracks, highlighting its effectiveness in enhancing REM and deep sleep.We ponder the evolving nature of trust in a digital world increasingly dominated by AI, exploring how we can maintain authentic human interactions amid rapidly advancing generative tools.Dan shares a humorous story of two furniture companies' escalating marketing claims, setting the stage for a discussion on capitalism and the importance of direct referrals in business.We delve into the impact of technology on society, drawing insights from Jacques Ellul and Thomas Sowell, and compare AI's transformative potential to historical technological advancements like the printing press.Dean highlights the importance of personalized market strategies, exploring how personal solutions can evolve into valuable products for a wider audience.We explore the concept of ambition and agency, discussing how adaptability and a forward-looking mindset can help navigate new realities and unpredictable changes in the world. Links: WelcomeToCloudlandia.com StrategicCoach.com DeanJackson.com ListingAgentLifestyle.com TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Dean: Mr Sullivan. Dan: Ah, Mr Jackson. General Jackson. General Jackson. Dictator Jackson Dean: Now there's two thoughts that are hard to contain in the brain at the same time. Are you in Toronto or at the cottage today? At the cottage, look at you, okay. Dan: Yeah, all is well, very nice day, yeah, except our water went out and so we can't get it fixed until tomorrow morning because it's cottage country. Till tomorrow morning because it's cottage country. And you know, this is not one of those 24-7 everybody's available places on the planet. Dean: Where do people in cottage country go to get away from the hustle and bustle of cottage country on the weekends? Dan: Yeah, it's a good question. It's a good question. It's a good question they go about two hours north. Dean: It feels like that's the appropriate amount of distance to make it feel like you're getting away. Dan: In the wild. Dean: Yeah. Dan: So we're having to use lake water for priming the vital plumbing. Dean: The plumbing you have to do. Dan: You have to have pails of water to do that and we'll do. Even though it feels like a third world situation, that's actually a first world problem. Dean: You're right, you're exactly right. Dan: Yeah, yeah, beautiful day, though. Nice and bright, and the water is surprisingly warm because we had a cold winter and the spring was really cold and we have a very deep lake. It's about um the depth meters on the boats go down to 300 feet, so that's a pretty deep lake that's a deep lake. Yeah, yeah, so here we are here's a factoid that blew my mind. The province of Ontario, which is huge it's 1,000 miles north to south and it's 1,200 miles east to west has 250,000 freshwater lakes, and that's half the freshwater lakes on the planet. Isn't that amazing? Dean: Yeah, I heard a little. There's some interesting Ontario facts. I remember being awed when I found out that you could drive the entire distance from Toronto to Florida north and still be in Ontario. Dan: Yeah. Dean: Yeah, yeah. Dan: Yeah, If you go from the furthest east, which is Cornwall a little town called Cornwall to the furthest west, which is a town called Kenora Right, kenora to the furthest west, which is a town called canora right, uh, canora. It's the same distance from that as from washington dc to kansas city. Oh, that's amazing yeah I had a good. Dean: I had a friend who was from canora. He was an olympic decathlete, michael sm. He was on the Olympic decathlon team and that's where ...
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    1 ora e 2 min
  • Ep157: Unveiling Toronto's Dual Identity

    Ep157: Unveiling Toronto's Dual Identity
    Jun 25 2025
    In this episode of Welcome to Cloudlandia, I reconnect with Dan Sullivan for another wide-ranging conversation that blends current events, history, technology, and human behavior. We start by reflecting on the safety and comfort of life in Canada while discussing the news of missile strikes in Israel. From there, we explore the idea that innovation often advances when entrenched leaders move on—whether in science, business, or geopolitics. Dan brings up Thomas Kuhn’s idea that progress happens after the old guard exits, creating room for new ways of thinking. Our conversation shifts into the role of AI as a horizontal layer over everything—similar to electricity. We compare this shift to earlier transitions like the printing press and the rise of coffee culture. Dan shares his belief that while AI will transform systems, the core of human life will still revolve around handled needs and personal desires. We wrap by talking about convenience as the ultimate driver of progress. From automated cooking to frictionless hospitality, we recognize that people mostly want things to be “handled.” Despite how fast technology evolves, it’s clear that unless something is of deep personal interest, most people will let it pass by. As always, the conversation leaves room for reflection and humor, grounded in the reality that technological change doesn’t always mean personal change. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Dan and I explore the complexities of living in a "world-class" city like Toronto, discussing its cultural vibrancy against the backdrop of global geopolitical tensions.Dan delves into Toronto's significant role as a financial and technological hub, emphasizing its strategic importance in trade with the United States, where a substantial portion of Canadian exports cross the border.We discuss the transformative potential of AI in today's digital revolution, drawing parallels with historical innovations like Gutenberg's printing press, and how these advancements continuously redefine our society.We examine the evolution of Starbucks, from a unique third space with artisanal baristas to a more automated environment, and ponder the implications of this shift on quality and customer experience.The conversation shifts to the rise of independent coffee shops, highlighting how they meet the demands of discerning customers by offering premium experiences.Dean reflects on our relentless pursuit of convenience in modern urban life, where technological advancements shape our daily routines and enhance our quality of life.We conclude with a discussion on habit formation and the role of technology in reinforcing existing habits, while considering the balance between maintaining old routines and embracing new ones. Links: WelcomeToCloudlandia.com StrategicCoach.com DeanJackson.com ListingAgentLifestyle.com TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Dean: Mr Sullivan, Dan: Mr Jackson, I hope the rest of your day yesterday went well. Dean: Oh, delightful, I learned stuff yesterday. That was a very nice day, beautiful, beautiful weather today. You know what, dan, if you could, as an option at the Hazleton, upgrade to include your perfect weather for $1,000, this is what you'd order, it's this kind of day. Yeah, mid-70s perfect white fluffy clouds. Yes, it's why. Dan: Living in a safe, globally unimportant country. That's exactly right. Holy cow, I don't know if you've seen, yeah, what's uh? I woke up like literally just a few minutes ago seeing all the, uh, the raining missiles on israel right now from Iran. Have you seen that this morning? Dean: Oh yeah, there's a lot of them. Most of them don't hit anything and most of them are shot down, but still it puts some excitement in your day. Dan: I mean really, yeah, these ones look like. They're something unique about these ones that they're supersonicersonic and many of them are hitting, yeah, different than what we've normally seen. Like normally, when you see it, it's the, the iron dome or whatever is, you know, intercepting them, which is always interesting, but these ones are like Direct, like you can see them hitting in inrael that's. I mean, could you imagine, dan, like you, just look at how geographically we are. You know we've won the geographic lottery in where we're positioned here, you know, just realizing that's never. Even though you can, all you know you always take precautions with the umbrella above us, over the outside. Dean: But I mean still that today. I've lived in Toronto for 54 years now, just past the anniversary, the 54th anniversary and I think that, first of all, when you have a really large city like Toronto, the center of a lot of things that go on in Canada, A world-class city like Toronto. Well, it's not a world-class city. But yeah, they have to go five years. I'm putting a new rule in for world-class cities. You have to go five years without ever saying the words. Dan: Yeah, we're a world-class city. Dean: ...
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    46 min
  • Ep156: Convenience Versus Tradition

    Ep156: Convenience Versus Tradition
    Jun 16 2025
    In this episode of Welcome to Cloudlandia, Dan and I talk about how much AI is reshaping everyday life. I share how new tools like Google’s Flow V3 are making it easier than ever to create video content, while Dan explores how AI could tackle complexity—like managing city traffic or enhancing productivity—when it's applied intentionally. We also look at how people are adapting to the massive increase in content creation. I ran some numbers: Americans spend around 450 minutes per day on screens, but YouTube alone sees 500 hours of content uploaded every minute. So while AI makes it easier to create, attention remains limited—and we’re all competing for it. Another theme is “agency.” We discuss how autonomous vehicles, digital payments, and convenience tools reduce friction, but can also make people feel like they’re giving up control. Dan points out that even if the technology works, not everyone wants to let go of driving, or of how they interact with money. Lastly, we reflect on what it really means for tools to be “democratized.” I talk about Hailey Bieber’s billion-dollar skincare brand and the importance of vision, capability, and reach. The tools might be available to everyone, but outcomes still depend on how you use them. We end with thoughts on tangibility and meaning in a world that’s becoming more digital by the day. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS In this episode, we delve into Canada's evolving identity, sparked by significant events such as the King's visit and U.S. tariffs, which have prompted provinces to reevaluate internal trade barriers.Dan explores the challenges and comparisons between Canada and the U.S., particularly in areas like cannabis legalization and its broader implications on issues such as prison reform.We discuss the health concerns surrounding the rise of vaping, particularly its impact on youth, and how it is becoming a focal point in societal discussions.We navigate the transformative role of energy innovation and artificial intelligence, examining their impact on industries and economic power, particularly in the context of U.S. energy consumption.Dean shares personal experiences to illustrate AI's capabilities in reshaping information consumption, emphasizing technology as a powerful change agent.The intersection of technology and consumer behavior is dissected, with a focus on convenience trends, including the selective demand for electric vehicles and limousine services in luxurious locales.We conclude with a humorous anecdote about students using tape-recorded lectures, reflecting on the broader implications of convenience and technology in education. Links: WelcomeToCloudlandia.com StrategicCoach.com DeanJackson.com ListingAgentLifestyle.com TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Dean: Mr Sullivan. Dan: How are things in Florida Hot? Dean: Hot, it's hot. Dan: It's hot. Dean: They're heated up. Dan: It's normal. Dean: Yeah, no, this is like it's unusual. It went from perfect to summer, All just overnight. I'm looking forward to coming to. I'm looking forward to coming to Toronto, to coming to. I'm looking forward to coming to Toronto Two weeks right, Two weeks here. Dan: Friday. I'm actually uh, You're going to spend a week. Dean: Yeah, I'm in. Dan: Chicago. I'm in Chicago next week. Dean: Yeah, I'm in. So I'm. Yeah, I'm coming for three weeks. Dan: You're holding court. You're holding court. Dean: I'm holding court every which way I arrive on Friday, the 6th, and I leave on the 29th, so there. So you are going to be in Chicago next Saturday. Dan: Next Saturday you're in Chicago, yeah, until the Friday and then back home and we'll have our. Whether it's table 9 or not, it's going to be table 9. Let's just call it table 1, because it'll be at restaurant one. Dean: That's exactly right. Dan: It'll probably be nice to maybe even sit outside, which is a very good restaurant. Yes, on the patio. Yeah, yeah, that's great. Well, canada is going through profound changes. Dean: That's what I hear, so prepare me. I'm already prepared that I will be ordering Canadians with breakfast instead of Americanos. Dan: They've already conditioned me for that. I've been here 54 years in Toronto 54 years and over 54 years I've never gotten a good answer about what a Canadian is. Dean: Okay. Dan: Okay, except that we're not Americans. We're not Americans. And to prove it, and to prove it, they brought the King of England over to tell them Okay, ah that's funny. Dean: I didn't see anything about that. Is that just that yeah? Dan: we came over. They have a thing called the throne speech. When parliament resumes after an election, it's called the throne speech. Dean: Okay, just a reminder. Dan: Yeah, and so just to tell you that we're an independent, completely independent country, we got the King of England to come over and talk to his subjects. Dean: And. Dan: I guess that's what caused the division in the first place, wasn't it? Dean: ...
    Mostra di più Mostra meno
    53 min