WIT (What I Think) - with Derek Ting - Your edge in Artificial Intelligence

AI Agents and the Solopreneur: A New Era with Richard Hobbs

Building a One‑Person AI Agent Team: Agentic AI, Automation, and the Future of Agentic Commerce (with Richard Hobbs)Derek and co-host Olivia interview Richard Hobbs, a former fashion professional now building ventures in digital identity and agentic systems, about how agentic AI is transforming solo workflows and commerce. Richard explains his shift from early ChatGPT experimentation to building multi-agent setups after frameworks like Eliza OS (Nov 2024), emphasizing daily learning, debating outputs across models (Claude, Perplexity, Gemini), and keeping agents on a “tight rein” to control cost and mistakes. He describes running seven to eight specialized agents via tools like Nanobot, using Notion as a shared knowledge and memory layer, and turning manual processes into automated flows—cutting brand onboarding for his agentic commerce platform Real/Genuine from about an hour to 3–4 minutes. The conversation also covers trust infrastructure (e.g., 8004 registration, World ID), the shift from image-led shopping to enriched data, and a future where consumer and business agents negotiate and transact rapidly.00:00 AI Onboarding in Minutes00:27 Meet the Guests01:59 From ChatGPT to Agents04:15 Staying Ahead Daily05:14 Building Your Agent Team07:04 Richard’s Agent Stack08:40 Ground Zero Tools11:03 Autonomy and Agent Design13:30 Notion Memory and Automation14:55 Brand Onboarding Case Study18:06 Agentic Commerce Future19:33 High Ticket Negotiation Example23:11 Getting Started and Platforms26:10 Trust and Identity Layers28:45 Wrap Up and Thanks

Writing for the Vertical Age: Insights on Microdramas from Lauren Delisle

How to Write Vertical Microdramas: Cliffhangers, Retention Data & Adapting Chinese IP | WIT w/ Lauren DeLisleIn this episode of WIT, Derek talks with Lauren Delisle, a full-time writer at COL Group developing vertical microdrama series for the Fairflow app, about what it takes to create high-retention, emotionally impactful stories in 1.5–2 minute episodes across 45–50 episode seasons. Lauren explains how microdramas are often written solo with limited feedback, why the format parallels feature structure, and how studios use trending data and proven (often Chinese) IP to guide development, with adaptations focused on hooks, cliffhangers, cultural localization, and fully rewritten dialogue. She shares lessons from working with data engineers on attention drop-off points, outlines three effective cliffhanger types, discusses why vertical framing emphasizes faces and quick establishing cuts, and describes fast production realities, rewrites, and her career path from film school and podcasting to Pocket FM promos and vertical drama writing, plus where she sees the format heading alongside traditional TV and film.00:00 Hollywood Eyes Vertical00:24 Welcome And Guest Intro00:57 Solo Writing And Episode Math02:31 Briefs Trends And Proven IP04:32 Adapting China For US06:36 Retention Data And Cliffhangers09:38 Top Cliffhanger Types10:36 Writing For Vertical Frame13:10 Emotion On The Page16:07 Production Changes And Rewrites17:33 Speed Writing And Output20:08 Film School To Microdrama Career26:06 Future Of Vertical Drama31:04 Dream Shows And Influences33:04 Sponsor Thanks And Wrap

Ultra Marathon Mindset for HYROX: Derek Kwik on Getting Comfortable With Uncomfortable

Ultra Marathon Mindset for HYROX: Derek Kwik on Getting Comfortable With UncomfortableThis health and wellness episode features Derek, a seasoned ultramarathoner and investor/operator with 25+ years of experience across Asia Pacific and the US, discussing how endurance training and mindset can translate to HYROX-style events. He describes progressing from 5Ks to 250km+ multi-day races, the self-supported 12–18kg gear load, and the six-day cycle of running, camp recovery, and accumulated fatigue. Derek explains why the Amazon jungle in Brazil was his toughest environment due to constant hazards and mental stress, reinforcing his theme of “getting comfortable with uncomfortable.” He shares unconventional training methods (weighted running, sandbags, treadmill 5K with 500 pushups), long-term jiu-jitsu practice, and practical approaches to rest, aging, travel, scheduling workouts, and prioritizing sleep.00:00 Comfort With Discomfort00:22 Welcome And Wellness Focus00:43 Meet Derek The Ultramarathoner03:17 Ultra Racing Basics And Gear04:27 Camp Life And Fatigue05:50 Worst Terrain The Amazon08:25 Why Chase Hard Things09:13 Hyrox Explained And Fitness Ethos12:02 Training Hacks For Hyrox14:47 Jiu Jitsu And Recovery Strategy16:44 Aging Tapering And Mindset20:15 Balancing Work Travel And Sleep24:11 Sponsor Thanks And Final Message

How Sebastien Borget plans to revolutionize the creator economy

This episode unpacks the creator economy beyond followers and ads, focusing on sustainability, ownership, and community-driven value. Sebastien Borget explains how creation has exploded with social platforms and AI, yet most creators earn only $100–$1,000/month and remain dependent on Web2 algorithms, delayed payouts, platform fees, and limited access to audience data. He argues creators need better education in financial literacy and data ownership, plus systems that reward loyal engagement over vanity metrics. SandChain aims to provide infrastructure for creator-run loyalty programs using points and “quests” that work on existing platforms via links/QR codes, enabling perks, tiers, and eventually an open market for points. The discussion covers converting platform audiences to owned channels (e.g., websites/email), potential partnerships, and broader challenges like banking access for creators and emerging young creators in ecosystems like Roblox.00:00 Sustainable Creator Economy00:21 Meet the Guests02:01 Defining the Creator Economy03:23 Web2 Monetization Problems07:20 Ownership and Platform Lock In11:59 Loyalty Programs for Creators18:03 Why Sand Chain Exists19:08 Points Quests and Creator Rewards23:48 Driving Engagement and Actions28:17 Making Blockchain Invisible29:43 From Social to Owned Media33:14 Point Value and Open Markets37:26 Roadmap and Future39:46 Global Creator Challenges43:16 Wrap Up and Sponsor Thankshttps://www.linkedin.com/in/borgetsebastien/https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivialee3/

AI can rent humans? Underground AI pimp my ride culture? Talking Culture and tech with innovator Lewis Lupton

AI, Creativity & Agentic Futures: Lewis Lupton on Tools, Dependency, and the Next MetaverseHost Derek and co-host Olivia Lee interview Lewis Lupton, a trilingual creative technologist leading sales at ID Nerd Studios and former chief digital officer at Shadow Factory, about AI’s impact on creativity, culture, and the metaverse. Lewis links early sci‑fi influences to today’s mainstream AI and compares doomsday narratives like Terminator with the more human, dependency-focused themes of the film Her. They discuss AI companionship, autonomous experiences, and emerging agentic setups like “Claude Bot” running on a Mac Mini with smart glasses, plus the concept of Rent a Human.ai for tasks requiring physical presence. The conversation explores generative music via Suno.ai, tensions around artistry, jobs, and IP, and argues AI is a tool that can accelerate learning while risking over-dependency. Lewis also explains how AI may reshape gaming by shrinking teams, raising standards, and empowering builders.00:00 Creators in the AI Age00:28 Meet Lewis and Olivia03:48 Why AI Feels Familiar05:41 From Skynet to Her10:27 AI as a Companion13:29 Autonomous Rides and Personalities16:13 Claude Bot and Life Hacking21:10 Suno and AI Music Making24:21 What Happens to Artists26:40 Tools vs Dependency29:42 AI Music Ethics30:53 Tech Creates New Jobs32:21 AI As Thought Partner33:54 Hype And Obsolescence35:36 Rent A Human Agents38:01 Who Controls Agents40:22 Culture And Control Fears45:09 Open Loop Safety47:46 Gaming As Culture51:22 AI Raises Gaming Bar55:46 Build Fast With AI58:03 Play For Joy Wraphttps://www.linkedin.com/in/lewis-m-lupton/https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivialee3/