The Brainiac Blueprint

Can AI Save the In-Store Experience? | Al Schuster & Heather Johnson of Sample Finder | The Brainiac Blueprint

Today on The Brainiac Blueprint Podcast by Left Brain AI, we sit down with Al Schuster and Heather Johnson, founders of Sample Finder - a brand new app changing the way everyday shoppers discover in-store brand experiences, sampling events, and product activations. They unpack why the in-person brand experience still can't be replaced, how AI fits into retail without taking over, and what it actually takes to bring consumers back into stores in an increasingly digital world. Al and Heather also share a perspective on AI that challenges the way most marketers are thinking about it right now.

How AI Is Transforming Authorship & Publishing | Julie Trelstad, Amlet AI & Paperbacks + Pixels | The Brainiac Blueprint Podcast

In this episode of The Brainiac Blueprint Podcast by Left Brain AI, we sit down with Julie Trelstad, Head of Publishing at Amlet AI and founder of Paperbacks and Pixels, to explore how AI is reshaping the world of authorship - from writing your first book to protecting your intellectual property in the age of large language models. Julie unpacks how AI companies trained their models on pirated book libraries without authors' consent, and how Amlet AI's digital fingerprinting technology is giving authors back control - letting them license, protect, or monetize their work in a new era of AI-driven publishing. She also shares how AI tools like Novel Crafter are helping aspiring authors find their voice faster, why strong differentiation matters more than ever, and how a simple Claude-powered story bank can keep your creativity flowing - even on a blank-page day.

Purposeful AI & Cultural Intelligence | Ian Cook of Qloo | The Brainiac Blueprint Podcast

In this episode of The Brainiac Blueprint Podcast, Kyle Lambert sits down with Ian Cook, SVP of AI Technologies at Qloo, to explore what it really means to use AI with intention.Ian breaks down why he believes “AI is overhyped but underappreciated,” how Qloo uses cultural data to power hyperpersonalization, and why experimentation matters more than chasing hype. From knowledge graphs and recommendation systems to adoption challenges and rapid prototyping, this conversation dives deep into practical, human centered AI.

AI-Powered PR Pitching & Visibility Systems | Rebecca Cafiero of PitchWell | The Brainiac Blueprint

In this episode of The Brainiac Blueprint Podcast, we’re joined by Rebecca Cafiero, Founder and CEO of PitchWell, to break down how PR, visibility, and earned media are evolving fast in the age of AI. Rebecca shares how she’s building Winsley (PitchWell’s AI publicist), why most pitches fail, and what it takes to earn credibility in a world where content is increasingly automated.

Resetting Sales Performance with AI | Wesleyne Whittaker, Transformed Sales | The Brainiac Blueprint

In this episode of The Brainiac Blueprint Podcast, Kyle Lambert sits down with Wesleyne Whittaker, Founder & Chief Transformation Officer of Transformed Sales, to break down what actually drives sustainable revenue growth - especially in complex, long-cycle sales environments. Wesleyne shares her journey from chemist → international sales leader → fractional CRO, and introduces her powerful BELIEF selling framework, designed to help sales teams reset their mindset, sharpen their execution, and stay consistent month after month. She also explains how she thinks about AI in sales training - and why the inputs matter more than ever.