In this AI marketing podcast episode, Dan Sanchez and Travis Sanchez break down why 2026 is shaping up to be the “Year of Agents”—not as hype, but because agentic features are finally landing inside the tools marketers already use. They unpack what Claude Cowork, ChatGPT Codex, and Gemini in Google Drive signal about the near-future workflow shift: stop thinking in tasks, start thinking in systems.

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

 * Anthropic Claude Cowork (Engadget coverage) - https://www.engadget.com/ai/anthropic-opens-up-its-claude-cowork-feature-to-anyone-with-a-20-subscription-194000021.html
 * ChatGPT Codex vs Claude Code discussion (X thread) - https://x.com/robinebers/status/2014341356697911686
 * Google Gemini now in Google Drive (X post) - https://x.com/TawohAwa/status/2013986911225029020
 * Dan’s “Tasks to Systems” book launch list - https://aidrivenmarketer.com/systems
 * Poll: “Marketers, are you vibe coding yet?” - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/digitalmarketingdan_danchez-activity-7419851623406981121-U8Eq
 * Viral post: “The age of humans writing code themselves is going to end” (X post) - https://x.com/DeryaTR_/status/2013687570945704403

Timestamps

 * 00:00 — 2026 declared the “Year of Agents”: why it’s finally happening now
 * 01:39 — Claude Cowork opens to $20 tier: terminal access, file actions, and why that’s agentic
 * 05:00 — Early tests + failures: where Cowork still struggles (and where it shines)
 * 07:48 — Vibe coding momentum: why some think ChatGPT Codex may win for non-dev marketers
 * 10:35 — Gemini in Google Drive: fixing Drive search, finding/moving files, and creating docs as an agent
 * 13:30 — The bigger shift: marketers must move from tasks → systems (and why job security depends on it)
 * 15:01 — Sponsor spotlight: High Level as the “system” to consolidate marketing tools
 * 16:09 — Everyday AI: fast photo edits in Gemini; AI-assisted conflict coaching; oil filter recommendations via ChatGPT
 * 22:56 — Poll results: “Are you vibe coding yet?” (early adoption signal)

I’ve Mocked AI Agents for 2 Years. January 2026 Changed My Mind.

In this episode, Ken Freire sits down with Shay Sparks to explore her powerful journey from salon owner to purpose-driven entrepreneur, coach, and community builder. Shay shares how healing, faith, and speaking life into others became the foundation of her work—and how those same principles now guide her approach to AI, sales, and building meaningful communities for solopreneurs and creators.

Resources Mentioned

• Maker’s Machine Inner Circle – -no url mentioned-
• Military Creator Con – https://www.militarycreatorcon.com/
• The Shay Sparks Show Podcast – https://www.theshaysparksshow.com/
• Shay Sparks Website – https://www.shaysparks.com/

Timestamps

• 00:00–05:00 – Shay’s origin story: healing, faith, and finding her calling beyond the salon
• 05:00–07:30 – The power of speaking life and overcoming imposter syndrome
• 07:30–10:00 – What Shay’s business looks like today and working with high-level coaches
• 10:00–13:30 – Biggest myths about AI and how to use it with a “human-first” approach
• 13:30–18:30 – Serving vs. selling: integrity, journaling, and releasing attachment to outcomes
• 18:30–25:30 – The power of asking, flexible offers, and reframing sales
• 25:30–29:30 – The Maker’s Machine Inner Circle and why community matters for solopreneurs
• 29:30–37:30 – Fast Five: AI experiments, challenges, goals, industry shifts, and legacy
• 37:30–40:00 – Encouragement for discouraged entrepreneurs and how to reconnect with purpose

The Power of ASK: Close More Clients Without Selling

Get The Instapost Custom GPT: https://go.danchez.com/instapost/

In this AI marketing podcast [https://aidrivenmarketer.com/] episode, Dan Sanchez breaks down why most AI-generated content on LinkedIn feels like noise—and how to escape the AI slop trap. He walks through a simple but powerful way to use ChatGPT authentically: letting AI refine your thinking instead of replacing it. You’ll see exactly how Dan uses a free ChatGPT project and custom instructions to turn raw, human ideas into clear, punchy LinkedIn posts that actually build authority.

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
• Own the Show (book) – https://ownthe.show/
• Instapost Custom GPT – https://go.danchez.com/instapost/

Timestamps

• 00:00–01:10 – Why AI content is flooding feeds (and why it’s failing)
• 01:10–02:20 – The concept of “authentic AI” vs AI slop
• 02:20–03:40 – How Dan uses ChatGPT projects and instructions
• 03:40–05:05 – Turning raw human ideas into LinkedIn-ready posts
• 05:05–06:40 – Why systems thinking separates beginners from advanced AI users
• 06:40–07:40 – The right way to use AI for writing (refine, don’t replace)
• 07:40–09:00 – Free tools, Own the Show, and building human authority with AI

Build Once, Post for Months: A Practical AI Workflow for Authority

In this episode, Ken Freire unpacks the tension many young professionals feel between “work really hard” and “trust God”—and why that tension often produces anxiety, guilt, and burnout. Ken exposes the lie that “if I want something accomplished, I have to do it on my own,” then replaces it with a healthier, biblical operating system: grace-driven effort—working from acceptance, fueled by security and trust, instead of working for acceptance, fueled by fear.

Resources Mentioned

 * D.A. Carson — concept referenced: “grace-driven effort”
 * Bible passages referenced:
   Ephesians 2
   Philippians 2
   2 Peter 1
   Tower of Babel (Genesis 11)

Timestamps

 * 00:01–01:34 — Series context + the tension: Working hard vs. trusting God, and the fear of either striving too much or being lazy
 * 01:35–03:57 — The lie beneath burnout: “If I don’t push myself, nothing will happen” + the drivers (falling behind, comparison, proving worth)
 * 03:58–06:10 — The replacement operating system: Introducing grace-driven effort; grace as enabling power; working from acceptance
 * 06:11–07:54 — The pivot in real time: Moving from “What can I do to fix this?” to “God, how do you want me to address this?”
 * 07:55–09:57 — Resiliency comes from humility + dependence: Human effort can go far, but pride collapses; resilient mindset grows through relying on God’s strength
 * 09:58–10:33 — Close + activation reminder: Growth isn’t intensity; it’s being rooted in Christ and walking in the grace already given

Ep. 20 - How to Work Hard Without Destroying Your Soul

In this episode, Ken Freire sits down with performance coach Jon Lester to unpack his journey from high school educator to building an authentic, purpose-driven coaching business. Jon shares how listening to conviction, starting as a side hustle, and prioritizing service over sales helped him grow Relentless Pursuit 247. Together, they explore why community—not pushy tactics—has become Jon’s biggest lever for impact and growth, especially for men seeking leadership, accountability, and brotherhood.

Resources Mentioned
• Relentless Pursuit 247 (Skool Community) – https://www.skool.com/relentless-pursuit-247
• Atomic Habits by James Clear – https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits
• The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy – https://darrenhardy.com/thecompoundeffect/


Timestamps

• 00:00–02:35 – Jon’s background in education and the calling to pursue coaching
• 02:36–04:16 – Recognizing discontent and the conviction to change paths
• 04:17–05:56 – Why Jon chose a side hustle approach instead of quitting outright
• 05:57–08:38 – Landing his first client and realizing coaching was the right path
• 08:39–10:22 – Lessons learned from rejecting pushy sales tactics
• 10:23–12:35 – Community as the biggest lever for growth and transformation
• 12:36–15:22 – Balancing free value with paid coaching offers
• 15:23–18:14 – Using 21-day challenges to build discipline, trust, and momentum
• 18:15–23:56 – Encouragement for struggling entrepreneurs and playing the long game
• 23:57–29:59 – Rapid-fire business trends, advice for kids, and where to find Jon

The 21-Day Challenge That Books Coaching Clients

In this AI marketing podcast [https://aidrivenmarketer.com/] episode, Dan Sanchez breaks down why marketers are uniquely positioned to become the next wave of “vibe founders” (and intrapreneurs) as AI makes the non-marketing parts of building a business dramatically easier. He also covers what’s new with Google/Gemini personalization, why most marketers still overestimate their AI skill level, and a viral AI-enabled scam story that signals where trust online is headed.

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

 * Ethan Mollick (vibe founding) — https://www.linkedin.com/posts/emollick_teaching-an-experimental-class-for-mbas-on-activity-7417291651468918785-6JlU?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAJq6gwB_q7tbdFevQk2MATQbXLntrfkInA
 * The Drum — https://www.thedrum.com/news/9-in-10-b2b-marketers-think-theyve-mastered-ai-but-are-they-really-in-control
 * LinkedIn (poll + viral post source) — https://www.linkedin.com/posts/digitalmarketingdan_danchez-activity-7417161637574471680-JY6k/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAJq6gwB_q7tbdFevQk2MATQbXLntrfkInA
 * Viral Post - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/stevenerorjr_aifun-promptingforjustice-creativeai-activity-7416534300365455360-ESP7/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAJq6gwB_q7tbdFevQk2MATQbXLntrfkInA

Timestamps

 * 00:00–01:10 — Why marketers make “dangerous” new founders as AI makes the rest of business easier
 * 01:10–05:44 — Ethan Mollick, vibe founding, and the rise of the intrapreneur (AI as a career accelerant)
 * 05:44–06:56 — Google/Gemini personalization rollout and why personalization keeps ChatGPT sticky
 * 06:56–09:31 — “9 in 10 B2B marketers mastered AI?” + Dan’s quick test for advanced usage (custom GPTs + projects)
 * 09:31–12:09 — Newsletter plug + sponsor: HighLevel (why it replaces a stack of tools)
 * 12:10–15:27 — Everyday AI: “hacking” YouTube with transcripts + using Projects for life/home context
 * 15:28–17:27 — LinkedIn poll results on AI maturity (beginner → intermediate → systems → tools/agents)
 * 17:28–20:02 — Viral scam post + AI image editing, and why identity verification will matter more than ever

Why Marketing Is Suddenly the Most Dangerous Founder Skill

In this episode, Rustam Irani shares a powerful personal experience from his time as a higher ed CMO, highlighting the hidden dangers of over communication in student marketing and admissions. He walks through a pivotal project where his team audited every piece of communication sent to students from inquiry to graduation and uncovered an overwhelming and chaotic messaging environment. Through this eye opening exercise, Rustam emphasizes the importance of aligning teams, reducing overlap, and crafting a streamlined, student centered communication strategy.

Resources Mentioned:• 

Miro Student Journey Framework - https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVK7WgQac=/?share_link_id=90885879347

Timestamps:• 00:00 – The disconnect between campaign performance and enrollment rates
• 01:30 – The chaos of overlapping campaigns across departments
• 03:00 – Launching a full audit of student communications
• 04:15 – Mapping communications in a giant conference room
• 06:30 – Realizing the sheer volume and redundancy of messaging
• 08:00 – How cross-team alignment sparked real change
• 09:20 – Rebuilding automations and streamlining messaging
• 11:00 – Navigating tough interdepartmental conversations
• 12:15 – Introducing a Miro-based framework for auditing communications
• 13:20 – Final challenge: take the first step to uncover your own opportunities

Invisible Problem

In this AI marketing podcast [https://aidrivenmarketer.com/] episode, Dan Sanchez breaks down how to stop using ChatGPT like a chaotic chat box and start using it like a strategic operating system for your life and work. He shows how ChatGPT Projects can turn scattered conversations into organized, context-rich systems that help you advance fitness, work, marketing, home management, and personal goals faster and smarter.

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

• Blood work & biomarker tracking (Superpower) – https://dances.com/superpower
• Own the Show (book) – https://ownthe.show/

Timestamps

• What ChatGPT Projects are and why they matter – 03:10
• Using projects to organize life areas (fitness example) – 07:45
• Adding goals, personal data, and context via project instructions – 12:30
• Uploading blood work and optimizing health with AI – 18:20
• Applying projects to work, home, books, and marketing – 24:40
• How to properly start every new project with an interview prompt – 31:10

Why ChatGPT Finally Started Helping Me Hit My Goals

In this episode, Ken Freire sits down with Guy Stinson to explore a radically counterintuitive approach to business, faith, and impact. Guy shares his journey from growing up in South Africa to building businesses and ministries rooted in wisdom, integrity, and service—challenging the hype-driven, profit-first models common today. Together, they discuss why most businesses fail, how AI is reshaping the landscape for solopreneurs, and what it means to build an expert-led business aligned with God’s purposes rather than cultural shortcuts.

Resources Mentioned

• KCBME (Kingdom Chamber of Business Ministry & Education) – https://kcbme.com [https://kcbme.com/]

Timestamps

• 00:00–04:00 – Guy’s background in South Africa and early foundations in business, faith, and equality
• 04:00–09:30 – Praying for wisdom, questioning assumptions, and seeing business as a calling
• 09:30–12:30 – Failure, closed doors, and how God forms leaders through the process
• 12:30–18:40 – Why 95% of businesses fail and the danger of operating without true knowledge
• 18:40–25:30 – AI as a disruptive force, saturation, and the “Pied Piper” warning
• 25:30–31:40 – Authenticity, trust, and speaking to the heart instead of manipulating the market
• 31:40–38:30 – Vision, Joseph leadership, and building kingdom-centered business communities
• 38:30–44:50 – Legacy, entrepreneurship as ministry, and empowering others to change lives

95% of Businesses Fail Because of This Invisible Blind Spot

$100 Off Social Media Marketing World: https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/AI-Driven
I'll be speaking there!

In this AI marketing podcast episode, Dan Sanchez sits down with Michael Stelzner (Social Media Examiner) to unpack how to spot real megatrends vs. hype, why resistance is often the clearest early signal of a lasting shift, and what AI is likely to change (and not change) about marketing on the road to 2030.

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

• $100 Off Social Media Marketing World- https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/AI-Driven

Timestamps

• 01:46 — How Mike evaluates trends: excitement, resistance, and sustained adoption

• 03:25 — Clubhouse as the cautionary tale: viral moment vs. lasting megatrend • 05:42 — AI “sub-trends” & hype cycles: why “agents” talk doesn’t equal adoption (yet)

• 13:06 — The three AI “shock” moments: ChatGPT, voice interaction, and image breakthroughs

• 17:06 — Echoes of early social media: the Wild Wild West + competitive advantage for “know-how”

• 20:00 — The pattern break: big institutions pushing AI faster than consumers can absorb • 27:39 — 5–7 year outlook: the baseline for “good marketing” jumps; small teams scale massively

• 36:03 — Human advantage: discernment + emotional sensing (and lived experience) as the moat

• 39:36 — What becomes obsolete: search-as-we-know-it → “single best answer” intermediated by AI

• 44:11 — Thriving in 2030: training + experimentation as the unfair advantage

3-Signal Test to Spot the Next AI Mega Trend (Before Everyone Else)

Practical AI for real marketers. Tools, workflows, and honest conversations to help you move faster, build better, and stay human in the age of AI.

AI-Driven Marketer: Master Practical AI Marketing Skills

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

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.

ROI University: A Higher Ed Marketing Show

AI Marketing Toolbox is a fast, tactical show for marketers, founders, and agency owners who want to understand how AI is reshaping the craft of growth. Each short episode features a rapid-fire conversation with an AI tool founder who’s building the future of marketing, revealing the problems they’re solving, the playbooks that are working right now, and the roles and skills every marketer will need next.

We skip the hype and get right to the good stuff:

 * What problems AI tools are actually solving for marketers.
 * The features and workflows users rely on most.
 * The real, in-the-field growth strategies that are producing results.
 * How AI is changing hiring, team structure, and the marketer’s career path.
 * Signals from founders about where the market is heading.

This show is about building real intelligence across dozens of tools, founders, and use cases so you can stay ahead of the biggest shift in marketing since the internet.

If you want to understand the tools, master the playbooks, and future-proof your career, you’re in the right place.

Powered by AI-Driven Marketer.

Dan Sanchez

Shows