Thumbprint CEO Tom Rector on founder mode, enterprise merch and AI lawsuits

Ground Game CEO Aman Brar on mind fitness centers, K-pop robots and technical founders

Host Jayson Manship explores the balance between artificial intelligence and human tradition on this episode of Authentic and Agentic. In the news segment, Manship details a new encyclical from the Pope focused on human dignity, autonomous warfare and keeping tech companies morally accountable. He also discusses a fully AI-driven entertainment park in South Korea featuring robot K-pop dancers and shares his thoughts on preserving human connection at the Indianapolis 500. Aman Brar, leader of the venture capital firm Ground Game, joins the podcast from the IBJ Power Education Breakfast. Brar discusses the intersection of AI and learning, suggesting that schools must evolve into fitness centers for the mind to prevent cognitive decline as technology advances. He also emphasizes the changing role of teachers, comparing future educators to athletic coaches for the mind. The conversation shifts to the venture capital landscape and the Indiana startup ecosystem. Brar advises founders to adopt an abundance mindset and focus on solving deep, complex problems rather than just building simple AI prototypes over a weekend. He explains the ongoing need for technical co-founders, comparing modern software startups to the early days of Apple. The episode concludes with a recap of the IBJ event, featuring insights from former Purdue University President Mitch Daniels on the future of four-year colleges.

How to build an AI podcast app with Claude, Replit and Whisper

Host Jayson Manship steps away from the standard interview format to build a custom artificial intelligence application in real time on this episode of Authentic and Agentic. Manship details how he uses tools like Claude Co-work and Replit to code an internal web platform for the IBJ Media Podcast Network. The episode provides a step-by-step guide to using voice dictation to outline a project scope and letting automated software agents design the database and user interface. Manship explains how the new application ingests RSS feeds, uses OpenAI Wispr to transcribe audio files and automatically generates cross-promotional topic suggestions for network hosts. He also details the technical process of chunking audio files to bypass the 25-megabyte size limit on OpenAI. Manship breaks down the exact operational costs of the project, noting the initial software build cost $7.82 and took less than an hour to complete. The conversation also covers the ongoing dispute between Replit and Apple regarding app store restrictions. Manship concludes by challenging business leaders to start using artificial intelligence to build custom software solutions for their own organizations.

Thumbprint CEO Tom Rector on founder mode, enterprise merch and AI lawsuits

Host Jayson Manship explores the legal and social implications of artificial intelligence on this episode of Authentic and Agentic. In the news segment, Manship details how courts are increasingly treating chatbot conversations as discoverable legal evidence, referencing the ongoing lawsuit between Elon Musk and OpenAI. He also discusses a Cambridge University study on AI-powered toys for toddlers and the growing role of corporate financial officers in making major technology decisions. Tom Rector, founder and CEO of Thumbprint, joins the podcast to share his entrepreneurial journey from selling shirts in college to leading a 103-person company that manages enterprise merchandise for Fortune 100 businesses. Rector details how Thumbprint stands out in a saturated industry by focusing on custom software integrations, direct product sourcing and clean customer data. The conversation dives into modern leadership and automation. Rector breaks down his approach to founder mode, emphasizing the importance of staying in the daily details of a functional organization without micromanaging employees. The episode concludes with a look at how Thumbprint uses AI to fix data mapping issues, streamline e-commerce orders and prepare for the eventual integration of automated warehouse robots.

TechPoint Mira Awards on Indiana tech, the OpenAI lawsuit and Claude Code

Host Jayson Manship explores the future of artificial intelligence and local innovation on this episode of Authentic and Agentic. Manship breaks down Elon Musk's lawsuit against Sam Altman regarding OpenAI's shift to a for-profit model. He also details how he used Claude Code to build custom software and replace expensive third-party Shopify applications for his e-commerce business. Additionally, Manship highlights the importance of human connection in local podcasting following a dinner with IBJ Media hosts. The episode features rapid-fire backstage interviews with winners at the TechPoint Mira Awards at the Palladium in Carmel. Manship speaks with Indiana technology leaders moments after they received their awards to discuss their innovations and integration of artificial intelligence. The interviews cover a wide range of organizations and industries. Highlights include Indiana University's massive Gen AI 101 course, Flexware Innovation's software for autonomous vehicles, FiberX's agricultural bio-refining and Syra Health's AI chatbot for rural behavioral healthcare.

Megan Ewing, from First Maker Space on adapting to AI, 3D printing and the OpenAI lawsuit

Host Jayson Manship explores the legal battle between Elon Musk and Sam Altman over the future of OpenAI on this episode of Authentic and Agentic. Manship compares the global artificial intelligence space race to the Manhattan Project, emphasizing the urgent need for technology governance as models scale at unprecedented speeds. Megan Ewing, director of secondary education at First Maker Space, joins the podcast to discuss the vital role of hands-on learning. Ewing details how schools and libraries use 3D printers, laser cutters and STEM kits to teach students the engineering design process and allow them a safe place to fail. She shares her initial fears of AI replacing jobs, explaining her organization's ultimate decision to embrace a mindset to adapt, move or die. The conversation covers the integration of AI in education, highlighting the development of custom chatbots and new online courses for teachers. Ewing and Manship also discuss the importance of preserving human connection in classrooms, protecting student privacy and encouraging children to build physical items rather than just consuming digital content