EP215 Gillian vs AI - the Newsletter Face-off!
Release Date: 05/16/2024
EP243 Canva, AI, and the Future of Design for Non-Designers with Emily Baillie
AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs
In this episode of AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs, I sit down with Emily Baillie, founder of Compass Content Marketing and longtime digital marketing strategist turned AI literacy expert. Emily has been helping businesses navigate digital change for over 15 years. When ChatGPT first launched, she quickly saw the impact AI would have and started teaching AI and marketing workshops - which are now her most requested service. We dive into: Canva’s AI superpowers: from the one-click background remover to magic resize, magic write, and even language translation. Where to start if you’re new...
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EP242 Prototype > Perfection - Deborah Carraro on Learning AI by Doing
AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs
This episode dives into the evolving space where entrepreneurship, education, and AI collide. Host sits down with , an educator, AI leader, and founder of ideborah, to unpack how early-stage entrepreneurs can approach AI with creativity, experimentation, and values alignment. Deborah, who also leads AI efforts at Coralus (formerly SheEO), shares her insights from working with founders and students navigating new tech - often for the very first time. 💡 Key Themes Confidence over perfection: The first step to AI literacy is giving yourself permission to try Small experiments > Big...
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EP241 Winning Mindset in the Age of AI with Melissa Lloyd
AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs
In this episode, , founder of Aigility Hub, joins host to explore the mindset-first approach to adopting AI. We unpack why tools and tactics should follow clarity, confidence, and intentional leadership. This conversation is a must-listen for entrepreneurs and leaders feeling overwhelmed by tech shifts and wondering how to bring human-centred strategy to their AI journey. 💡 Key Themes: Mindset before tools: Why jumping into automation without alignment is a fast path to failure From fear to fluency: A leader’s journey from AI-skeptic to AI-evangelist Overwhelm is optional: Practical ways...
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EP240 Why your Custom GPT Won’t Work (and the 48-Hour Rescue Mission)
AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs
Ready to stop cursing at that under-performing GPT (that you lovingly built - only to watch it spit out meh)? In this short episode, host breaks down five foundations every custom GPT needs before it can truly earn a spot on your team, plus a 48-hour challenge to tune-up (or totally transform) the bot you already have. What’s inside 🧑💻 The mindset flip: treat your GPT like a junior hire, not a piece of software. ⚙️ SOPs > prompts: why bolting on a clear, bullet-proof workflow instantly levels up output quality. 📚 Rules vs. knowledge base: the single most common structural...
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EP 239 How 3 founders use AI to think 100x
AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs
In this week’s ‘AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs’ I tap three founders who turned very human skill-sets - strategy, street-level video, personal style - into AI-fuelled growth engines. What we cover Quiz funnels that work while you sleep Growth strategist dissects why most quizzes flop, then shows how she drafts curiosity-packed titles in ChatGPT and lets Interact’s new AI builder spin out all the logic branches in minutes. From one hour of phone clips to 40+ assets , founder of Shutterb, explains how she’d turn everyday “content-paparazzi” into content for days. She walks us...
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EP238 Success, Space and Systems-Rebel Energy (with Bárbara Daroca)
AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs
‘AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs’ gets a role-reversal this week: host Susan is in the hot-seat, guesting on ’s Podcast and the convo was too good not to syndicate here. If you’re building a business on your own terms (and wondering how AI fits into that life-by-design plan), save this one for your next walk. Why listen: Susan’s origin story - from lifetime marketer, to chocolate-maker, to AI-agency founder The 4am Report pivot, and why podcasting early (and tiny) massively paid off (even inspiring Barbara to launch her own podcast. How generative AI really changes the writing game...
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EP237 AI for Impact - Jesse Clarke on Grant Writing, Equity and Smarter Funding
AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs
In this episode of ‘AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs’, Susan Diaz chats with - founder of and a strategic advisor to nonprofits and social impact entrepreneurs. With deep roots in both federal government and charitable sectors, Jesse brings a pragmatic, values-first lens to the role AI is beginning to play in nonprofit strategy. What to expect: How AI is quietly transforming grant writing and government funding workflows The ethical red flags nonprofits must consider as they adopt Gen AI Why 30-35% of orgs are already using AI (and more unofficially) How Jesse uses AI in her work - and her...
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EP237 AI for Impact - Jesse Clarke on Grant Writing, Equity and Smarter Funding
AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs
In this episode of ‘AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs’, Susan Diaz chats with - founder of and a strategic advisor to nonprofits and social impact entrepreneurs. With deep roots in both federal government and charitable sectors, Jesse brings a pragmatic, values-first lens to the role AI is beginning to play in nonprofit strategy. What to expect: How AI is quietly transforming grant writing and government funding workflows The ethical red flags nonprofits must consider as they adopt Gen AI Why 30-35% of orgs are already using AI (and more unofficially) How Jesse uses AI in her work - and her...
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EP236 The Soul of Strategy - Human-Centered Growth in a Tech-Driven World with Liat Horovitz
AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs
In this heartfelt and thought-provoking conversation, host Susan Diaz sits down with - results coach, founder of Revival Retreats, and host of Podcast - to explore what it really means to grow a business (and a life) in the age of AI without losing your humanity. With a background in big tech and marketing, Liat walked away from corporate life to pursue a more connected, values-led path. In this episode, she shares what it takes to make a bold leap - and how we can embrace AI without sacrificing the human essence that makes us impactful leaders. 💡 In This Episode, we Cover Why Connection...
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EP235 AI 101 for Founder-Led Teams – The Building Blocks
AI Literacy for Entrepreneurs
In this foundational solo episode, host Susan Diaz breaks down the three core concepts every founder-led team needs to understand to build a meaningful relationship with AI. Whether you’re just dipping your toes into AI or looking to sharpen your implementation strategy, this is your no-fluff starting point. What you’ll Learn 📌 Why founder-led teams are uniquely positioned to thrive with AI - if they embrace literacy and implementation now. 📌 Why mindset is just as important as toolset. 📌 How to avoid the trap of chasing shiny new tools and instead build a strategy that aligns...
info_outline🎧 Welcome to The 4am Report, with me, your host Susan Diaz. As we continue to explore AI's role in content creation, my guest today is Gillian Kuriyan, Director of Mommy Connections Midtown Toronto - a thriving hub dedicated to supporting parents of young children. Gillian shares her journey from skepticism to practical use of AI in her business.
And perhaps most fun, if you listen to the end you’ll find a fun segment where Gillian walks us through her 3-step framework for winning newsletters that people read. And we compare that to a generic newsletter written by AI. Stay tuned to find out how the face-off goes!
Gillian and I talk about:
🔍 Gillian's Love for Newsletters (which I deeply share!)
Despite the growing popularity of AI tools for content automation, Gillian champions the personal touch in her newsletters, using them as a creative outlet to connect deeply with her community. She tells us how.
🤖 AI as a Supportive Tool
For many folks, AI has moved from being a daunting concept to a supportive tool. Gillian tells us her story on how she began using AI for automating standard messages about event dates and then moved to deeper uses.
📝 Evaluating AI Impact
We talk about how AI can be integrated into traditional content creation without compromising the authenticity that is crucial for community building.
👥 Community Building Insights
Gillian provides valuable insights into managing a vibrant community, emphasizing the importance of personal connections and maintaining quality interactions, even as technology like AI becomes more prevalent in operational tasks.
🛠️ Practical Tips from Gillian
Discover Gillian’s 3-step framework for winning newsletters that blend personal anecdotes with calls to action, ensuring content remains compelling and visually appealing.
📊 Gillian vs AI Demonstration
Listen in on a live demonstration where Gillian and an AI-generated newsletter go head-to-head, showcasing the differences and potential of AI in content creation; particularly where it comes to being able to meaningfully scale the creative writer’s mind
🔗 Connect and Learn More
Follow Gillian Kuriyan on Instagram @mommyconnections_mto for more insights on community engagement.
Connect with me, your host, Susan Diaz on LinkedIn to gain AI literacy insights in real time.
Whether you're AI-skeptical or AI-curious, this episode offers a nuanced perspective on integrating technology with a human touch.
And as you hit play, please leave us a 5 star rating. It goes far in helping us bring AI implementation strategies to more small businesses.
Like what you're learning about AI and community building? Join our Marketing Power Circle where we dive deeper into implementing AI in your small business marketing. Join Here