In this AI marketing podcast [https://danchez.com/ai-marketing-podcast/] episode, Dan Sanchez dives headfirst into the whirlwind of reactions surrounding ChatGPT-5. With some marketers thrilled and others furious, Dan cuts through the hype to offer a grounded take on what's really happening with this major AI update. He explains why GPT-5 is a massive leap forward, how OpenAI's strategy democratizes access to advanced AI, and what practical steps you can take as a marketer to get the most from this new model.

My Favorite AI Tools

 * Tella (AI screen recording app I record all my solo episodes with) - https://danchez.com/tella
 * High Level (My all in one marketing platform) - https://danchez.com/highlevel
 * Zencastr (Best AI podcast tool) - https://danchez.com/podtools
 * n8n (my favorite AI automation tool) - https://danchez.com/n8n

Resources Mentioned

 * Full Guide On Customizing ChatGPT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-n0IuKpo6A
 * Giovanni Beggiato's OpenAI Agent Guide Slide Deck — https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7360626057139433472/
 * Nicole Leffer's Prompt Strategy — https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nicoleleffer_if-you-use-chatgpt-it-is-gold-to-understand-activity-7360804026424147968-krdW?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAJq6gwB_q7tbdFevQk2MATQbXLntrfkInA
 * InstaPost GPT for LinkedIn Content — https://go.danchez.com/instapost

Timestamps

 * 00:00 – The polarizing reaction to ChatGPT-5
 * 01:30 – Results from Dan's LinkedIn poll
 * 03:00 – Why OpenAI hyped GPT-5 (and what actually changed)
 * 05:00 – The real power of GPT-5: better access, streamlined experience
 * 06:30 – Personality backlash: users missing old affirming behavior
 * 09:00 – The importance of AI pushing back, not affirming everything
 * 11:00 – Bugs, glitches, and rollout pains
 * 13:00 – OpenAI’s response and fixes
 * 15:00 – How to organize your ChatGPT account for best results
 * 18:00 – Context Engineering: give it the right data, not all the data
 * 20:00 – Tuning how much GPT-5 "thinks" with reasoning prompts
 * 22:00 – Beginner guide to AI agents and why they matter now

Mastering ChatGPT-5 Like a Pro: The Ultimate Guide

Join me at the Solo: Scaled live event at: https://soloscaled.com/event

In this AI marketing podcast [https://danchez.com/ai-marketing-podcast/] episode, Dan Sanchez shares an exciting personal update about the future of the show and his latest ventures. He reflects on the journey of AI Driven Marketer, announces his part-time shift at Social Media Examiner, and reveals three major projects: a new YouTube series called AI Explored, a podcast automation tool called Smack.fm, and a hybrid podcast agency and coaching program called SoloScaled. These initiatives are designed to help marketers, solopreneurs, and consultants harness AI for content creation, lead generation, and business growth — all while maintaining consistency without burnout.

My Favorite AI Tools

 * Tella - https://danchez.com/tella
 * High Level - https://danchez.com/highlevel
 * Zencastr - https://danchez.com/podtools
 * n8n - https://danchez.com/n8n

Resources Mentioned

 * AI Explored YouTube Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIglN6SkRDM&list=PLITe1ltD-mS213yIHUe96UA9D6cJYX_ZT
 * Smack.fm - https://smack.fm/
 * Solo: Scaled live event - https://soloscaled.com/event

Timestamps

 * 00:00 – Reflecting on the AI-Driven Marketer journey and audience growth
 * 01:47 – Joining Social Media Examiner as Senior AI Marketing Strategist
 * 02:36 – Launch of AI Explored YouTube series with Social Media Examiner
 * 03:53 – Shifting to part-time at Social Media Examiner to focus on personal ventures
 * 04:14 – Introducing Smack.fm: AI-powered podcast content distribution tool
 * 07:26 – Lessons from building SaaS and plans for Smack.fm beta launch
 * 07:53 – Launching SoloScaled: hybrid podcast agency and coaching program
 * 10:20 – How SoloScaled helps solopreneurs overcome feast-and-famine cycles
 * 11:08 – Co-founding with Ken Ferrer and details on the live event launch
 * 12:23 – The evolving agency model and future of founder-led content marketing
 * 13:47 – Closing thoughts on AI’s role in transforming marketing

Finally… The Announcement I’ve Been Waiting to Make

Get your free 30 day trial of High Level: https://danchez.com/highlevel/  [https://danchez.com/highlevel/%C2%A0]

In this AI marketing podcast episode, Dan Sanchez and his brother Travis Sanchez unpack the much-anticipated release of ChatGPT 5 — separating the real value from the hype. They share first impressions, discuss how different types of users will experience the upgrade, and explain why this release is more about accessibility than flashy new features. The conversation also covers OpenAI’s first open weights model and its implications for marketers working with proprietary data, plus an exploration of AI-generated ads and the ethical debates they spark.

My Favorite AI Tools

 * Tella - https://danchez.com/tella
 * High Level - https://danchez.com/highlevel
 * Zencastr - https://danchez.com/podtools
 * n8n - https://danchez.com/n8n

Resources Mentioned

 * Video Ad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7358142219003858944/?updateEntityUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_updateV2%3A%28urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7358142219003858944%2CFEED_DETAIL%2CEMPTY%2CDEFAULT%2Cfalse%29

Timestamps

 * 00:01 – First impressions of ChatGPT 5 and how it compares to previous versions
 * 03:53 – How beginners, intermediate users, and pros will experience the update differently
 * 06:05 – Missing features and what OpenAI didn’t release with ChatGPT 5
 * 10:06 – Model selection changes and the shift to “thinking” mode
 * 10:56 – Why this release focuses on accessibility and mass adoption
 * 16:21 – OpenAI’s first open weights model and its potential for marketers
 * 18:35 – Benefits and limitations of running local AI models
 * 21:03 – High Level’s value for agencies and marketers
 * 22:42 – Everyday AI: How Dan and Travis used AI this week
 * 26:37 – Viral AI-generated ad and public backlash over authenticity
 * 33:14 – Ethical considerations for AI in advertising
 * 34:43 – Closing thoughts on marketing ethics and AI

What ChatGPT 5 Means for All of Us

In this AI marketing podcast episode, Dan Sanchez dives into a highly curated list of AI books every marketer should know. Rather than just follow trends on social media or binge-watch YouTube explainers, Dan shares why books remain the most powerful medium for deep learning on AI. He breaks down his top three must-reads for different stages of the AI journey—beginner, practitioner, and advanced leader—and gives bonus recommendations and a few titles to avoid. Whether you're just wrapping your head around AI or you're ready to implement advanced strategies, this episode is your ultimate AI reading guide.

My Favorite AI Tools

 * Tella - https://danchez.com/tella
 * High Level - https://danchez.com/highlevel
 * Zencastr - https://danchez.com/podtools
 * n8n - https://danchez.com/n8n

Resources Mentioned

 * Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick - https://amzn.to/3HcV75s
 * AI Human Fusion by Leanne Shelton - https://amzn.to/45Fiwpi
 * The AI-Driven Leader by Geoff Woods - https://amzn.to/45L5XrJ
 * Empire of AI by Karen Hao - https://amzn.to/47oUkJ4
 * Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson - https://amzn.to/458HKMI  [https://amzn.to/458HKMI%C2%A0]

Timestamps

 * 00:00 - Why books still matter for mastering AI
 * 01:30 - Dan's book preview-review system for getting the most out of reading
 * 03:30 - Book #1: Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick (best intro book)
 * 05:00 - Book #2: AI Human Fusion by Leanne Shelton (best for practitioners)
 * 06:15 - Book #3: The AI-Driven Leader by Jeff Woods (top pick for leaders)
 * 08:00 - Bonus biographies and big-picture books: OpenAI, Elon Musk, Nvidia
 * 11:00 - Books that didn’t make the cut (and why you can skip them)
 * 13:00 - Upcoming reads on Dan's radar
 * 14:00 - How to suggest books or send yours to Dan directly

Would you like me to move on to the next step and write 10 title options for this episode?

3 AI Books Every Marketer Needs to Read (Plus What I'm Reading Now)

Get your 1-month trial of High Level - https://danchez.com/highlevel

In this  AI marketing podcast [https://danchez.com/ai-marketing-podcast/] episode, Dan Sanchez dives deep into the newly released ChatGPT agents and how marketers can actually make them useful today. While many early users find the agents unreliable, Dan shares three specific tips to make them work more consistently in real-world marketing workflows. From SOPs and login best practices to using agents to trigger automations, he breaks down how to go from hype to helpful. He also covers ChatGPT's new study mode, a privacy warning about shared chats being indexed by Google, and explores the creative potential of AI-generated video ads.

My Favorite AI Tools

 * Tella - https://danchez.com/tella
 * High Level - https://danchez.com/highlevel
 * Zencastr - https://danchez.com/podtools
 * n8n - https://danchez.com/n8n

Resources Mentioned

 * Simon Sinek on Diary of a CEO Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3WUiD8HYn8
 * LinkedIn Poll on AI guiding crucial conversations - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/digitalmarketingdan_danchez-activity-7353015750447489025-aEie?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAJq6gwB_q7tbdFevQk2MA [https://www.linkedin.com/posts/digitalmarketingdan_danchez-activity-7353015750447489025-aEie?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAJq6gwB_q7tbdFevQk2MATQbXLntrfkInA]TQbXLntrfkInA
 * Google Veo 3 - https://deepmind.google/models/veo/
 * Viral Ikea ad - https://x.com/Salmaaboukarr/status/1946530149299634618

Timestamps

 * 00:00 - ChatGPT Agents Are Here: First impressions and skepticism
 * 01:16 - What AI agents really are and why they underperform
 * 03:18 - Tip #1: Use step-by-step SOPs to guide agents effectively
 * 06:24 - Tip #2: Login credentials and how to safely give agents access
 * 09:22 - Tip #3: Bypass limitations using automation triggers via form fills
 * 10:43 - Shared ChatGPT links are now indexed by Google (privacy alert)
 * 12:13 - New ChatGPT Study Mode and how it helps with mastery
 * 16:13 - Poll: Is using ChatGPT for hard conversations inauthentic?
 * 21:29 - Viral AI Ad of the Week: Ikea explosion box made with VO3

3 Tricks That Make ChatGPT Agents Actually Useful

In this episode, Ken Freire and Patrick Lowndes introduce the heart behind the Buried Talent podcast and tackle the critical question: why another faith and work podcast? They expose the common disconnect Christian professionals feel between their faith and their daily work, confronting the sacred-secular divide that often leaves believers feeling like their 9-to-5 doesn’t matter to God. Instead, Ken and Patrick argue that your workplace is not a detour from your calling—it's where your calling is meant to be lived out.

Timestamps

 * 0:00 - Why another podcast?
 * 1:05 - The faith and work integration gap
 * 2:15 - The sacred-secular divide and cultural lies
 * 4:22 - Beyond entrepreneurship: activating the 95%
 * 6:10 - Reclaiming Avodah: work as worship
 * 7:23 - You matter now: purpose in "small" roles
 * 8:35 - Think like an operator, not just an employee
 * 10:14 - Finding clarity, alignment, and the right opportunities
 * 12:08 - Calling, Capacity, and Character: the 3 key themes
 * 13:33 - Building a relational, interactive podcast community
 * 14:56 - Encouragement for young professionals to live sent

How the Sacred/Secular Divide Is Killing Your Purpose

In this AI marketing podcast [https://danchez.com/ai-marketing-podcast/] episode, Dan Sanchez joins Mike Montague on the Human First AI Marketing Podcast for a high-energy, insightful conversation about how AI is redefining what’s possible for marketers in 2025. Dan shares his personal journey from burnout to breakthrough by embracing AI tools, and he unpacks practical frameworks, advanced prompting strategies, and the future of automation for small marketing teams. The episode is a deep dive into how marketers can do more with less—without sacrificing creativity or humanity.

My Favorite AI Tools

 * Tella (AI screen recording app I record all my solo episodes with) - https://danchez.com/tella
 * High Level (My all in one marketing platform) - https://danchez.com/highlevel
 * Zencastr (Best AI podcast tool) - https://danchez.com/podtools
 * n8n (my favorite AI automation tool) - https://danchez.com/n8n

Resources Mentioned

 * Element451 CRM - https://element451.com [https://element451.com/]
 * Animatrix (Matrix prequel short films) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0328832/
 * "Your Music and People" by Derek Sivers - https://sive.rs/ym
 * Avenue9 AI Marketing Services - https://avenue9.com [https://avenue9.com/]
 * Dan's AI Fundamentals Course - https://danchez.com/courses
   

Timestamps

 * [00:00] Introduction and the state of AI adoption in marketing
 * [02:24] Why AI is more than just efficiency—it’s innovation
 * [04:58] Dan’s turning point: financial struggle and an AI awakening
 * [07:46] The lack of good AI education resources and how Dan filled the gap
 * [10:05] Advanced prompting strategies: chain prompting and edits
 * [12:57] AI-generated images and the thumbnail dilemma
 * [15:36] Is AI the considerate choice for customer service?
 * [19:30] Human vs AI in support: What’s actually more helpful?
 * [25:29] What marketers are missing: Thinking in systems
 * [29:02] The value of custom GPTs and automation in your workflow
 * [30:38] Children’s books, personal branding, and AI as a creative tool
 * [31:30] Utopia or Matrix: Predictions for AI and human behavior

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What It Means to Be AI-Driven in 2025

Watch: How to Be the Marketer AI Can't Replace: https://danchez.com/marketers-this-is-how-you-dont-get-replaced-by-ai-human-edge-framework/

In this AI marketing podcast [https://danchez.com/ai-marketing-podcast/] episode, Dan Sanchez interviews 18-year-old AI prodigy Gray Mitchell, a young entrepreneur who's already building advanced AI systems that rival those of veteran marketers. Gray shares his journey from launching a dropshipping business at 15 to founding a cold email agency and now leading an AI implementation firm. His story is packed with hustle, technical deep dives, and tactical insights that show exactly how AI can revolutionize marketing through personalized outreach, content automation, SEO, and ad creation.

My Favorite AI Tools

 * Tella (AI screen recording app I record all my solo episodes with) - https://danchez.com/tella
 * High Level (My all in one marketing platform) - https://danchez.com/highlevel
 * Zencastr (Best AI podcast tool) - https://danchez.com/podtools
 * n8n (my favorite AI automation tool) - https://danchez.com/n8n

Resources Mentioned

 * Gray's LinkedIn Profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/realgraymitchell/
 * Igress (Gray's AI implementation agency) - https://igris.com [https://igris.com/]
 * Clay (AI contact enrichment tool) - https://www.clay.com [https://www.clay.com/]

Timestamps

 * 00:01:00 - Why Dan believes AI mastery is a marketer's survival skill
 * 00:02:00 - Introducing Gray Mitchell: the teen AI prodigy
 * 00:03:30 - Gray's entrepreneurial beginnings: TikTok dropshipping at 15
 * 00:08:00 - Transitioning from D2C to B2B cold outreach
 * 00:13:00 - Discovering AI and the early days of ChatGPT
 * 00:16:30 - Scaling a cold email agency with AI automation
 * 00:23:00 - Pivoting to a full-blown AI implementation agency
 * 00:29:00 - Gray's learning process: n8n, YouTube, and hundreds of hours of study
 * 00:35:00 - Automation vs agents: how Gray frames AI systems
 * 00:46:00 - Real client results: AI SEO, ad creation systems, and more
 * 00:55:00 - Custom tools vs SaaS: the future of AI marketing implementation
 * 01:00:00 - Final thoughts on where AI in business is heading

Learning AI From a 18-Year-Old Master

Get Access to My High Level AI Automation Vault: https://aiautomationvault.com/

In this AI marketing podcast [https://danchez.com/ai-marketing-podcast/] episode, Dan Sanchez unveils the groundbreaking launch of ChatGPT’s new AI agent toolset — the moment we've all been waiting for. With Travis out on summer vacation, Dan dives solo into the most important AI news marketers need to know, including how AI agents are shifting marketers from prompt engineers to task delegators. He explores what the new ChatGPT agent can actually do, previews of Perplexity’s new AI-first browser, Grok’s rising competition with OpenAI, and how custom GPTs are evolving LinkedIn content creation. Plus, Dan shares new poll results and a must-read viral post from Marcus Sheridan.

My Favorite AI Tools:

 * Tella (AI screen recording app I record all my solo episodes with) - https://danchez.com/tella
 * High Level (My all in one marketing platform) - https://danchez.com/highlevel
 * Zencastr (Best AI podcast tool) - https://danchez.com/podtools
 * n8n (my favorite AI automation tool) - https://danchez.com/n8n

Resources Mentioned:

 * ChatGPT Agents demo videos – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wzGS_WUZYQ&list=PLOXw6I10VTv_9xLWUFMRDL6DWwVRg0Ts7
 * The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss – https://fourhourworkweek.com/
 * Perplexity Browser (Comet) – https://comet.perplexity.ai/
 * XAI & Grok – https://x.ai/
 * Dan’s free AI course – https://danchez.com/course

Timestamps:

 * 00:00 – AI Agents have arrived: Dan previews ChatGPT’s groundbreaking new feature
 * 01:46 – Combining Deep Research, Operator, and O3 into a super-agent
 * 04:30 – Why marketers will soon be managing teams of AI
 * 06:58 – What these AI agents can actually do today
 * 09:27 – Example use cases: from image stickers to spreadsheet automation
 * 10:18 – Delegating is the next big skill, not prompting
 * 12:34 – Other AI news: Perplexity's browser, Grok 4, and more
 * 16:35 – How Dan’s custom GPT + HighLevel are transforming LinkedIn scheduling
 * 19:13 – AI usage poll: Most marketers now use AI daily
 * 21:47 – Viral post from Marcus Sheridan: Are you in the 95%, 5%, or 1%?

OpenAI Just Launched ChatGPT Agents — Here’s What That Means

In this powerful kickoff to a new series, guest host Ken Freire interviews Exponential Mindset® creator Ron Minatrea about the moment everything changed in his leadership journey. From skyrocketing through the corporate ranks to crashing into imposter syndrome and burnout, Ron shares how his lowest point became the seed for a whole new way of thinking.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by leadership or stuck in a role that’s “too big,” this episode offers hope, clarity, and a roadmap for real transformation.

🕒 Timestamps & Highlights

 * 00:55 – Ron’s fast rise in corporate America
 * 02:32 – The assignment that exposed his limits
 * 03:48 – “I felt responsible for everything but had the ability to control nothing.”
 * 05:22 – When success stops and self-doubt creeps in
 * 09:12 – The hallway moment that shifted Ron’s entire perspective
 * 10:25 – “If you treat everyone like they report to you, good people will follow.”
 * 14:34 – A powerful reminder to prioritize family
 * 16:21 – Feed faith, not fear
 * 20:52 – The journal entry that revealed Ron’s future
 * 24:24 – “We grow accidentally and incrementally—unless we choose to grow intentionally and exponentially.”

💬 Memorable Quotes

“People follow you for who you are, how you treat them, and how well you connect them to meaningful work.”“We all have a vocational DNA as unique as our biological DNA.”“The best leaders don’t operate from control; they lead with influence and clarity.”

🧠 Key Takeaways

 * Identity comes before impact. If you don’t believe in yourself as a leader, others won’t either.
 * Lead with presence, not pressure. The most impactful leaders don’t work harder—they lead differently.
 * Success requires life balance. Your personal life fuels your professional performance.
 * Sustainable growth starts with intentional mindset shifts.

Why Climbing the Ladder Nearly Crushed Me

I'm just a marketer on a mission to master AI in 2025 by interviewing AI tech founders, AI leaders, and marketing practitioners who are getting great results with AI today. 

Let's master this thing together. Follow this show to join me on the journey.

#danchez

AI-Driven Marketer: Master AI Marketing To Stand Out In 2025

Solo:Scaled is the podcast for ambitious solopreneurs who want to grow a 7-figure business without building a big team. Hosted by Dan Sanchez and Ken Freire, this show explores how AI, smart systems, and lean strategy are unlocking a new era of solo success. Whether you're scaling your coaching business, consulting practice, or content brand, you'll get real talk, expert interviews, and behind-the-scenes updates on our own journey to build a powerful, profitable business—with freedom, not burnout.

Solo:Scaled

10‑minute weekly mindset shifts for ambitious leaders. Fortune‑100 veteran Ron Minatrea helps you multiply impact without multiplying hours—one story, one practical move, every Monday. Tune in to trade burnout for clarity, influence, and more time where it matters most.

The Exponential Mindset: A Leadership Podcast

You were called to serve, not just in church, but at work. Buried Talent is a weekly podcast for Christian young professionals who feel called to meaningful impact for Christ during their 9-to-5. Each episode dismantles a false belief about faith and work, exposing the lie, replacing it with liberating biblical truth while offering a small action to activate your God-given purpose right where you are. Hosted by entrepreneur and faith-driven operators Patrick Lowndes and Ken Freire, this show helps you unbury your workplace calling and live sent on Monday just as much as Sunday.

Buried Talent

ROI University is the podcast for higher-ed marketers ready to lead meaningful change. Hosted by Rustam Irani, this solo series helps you unlock higher enrollment, deeper student connection, and the internal clarity to do your boldest work. It’s not just about tactics, it’s about becoming the kind of leader your institution needs. Get ready to raise outcomes across the board: for your students, your team, and yourself.

Dan Sanchez

Shows