Becoming a Dad, AI Disruptions, and Wes’ Latest Life Opti...

What this episode covers

In this episode of WORK IN PROGRESS, Ian and Wes cover a mix of personal milestones, business insights, and AI-driven industry shifts: Fatherhood and Life Changes – Ian shares the news of becoming a dad, and Wes reflects on his own journey as a parent, including the unexpected realities of raising a child. DeepSeek AI and OpenAI’s Competition – A discussion on DeepSeek’s rise, its cost advantages, and whether it truly threatens AI incumbents like OpenAI The Future of Compliance & AI Automation – Wes breaks down how AI is set to transform compliance-heavy industries, reducing inefficiencies and eliminating outdated workflows. The YC 2025 Startup List – Ian and Wes review Y Combinator’s latest funding priorities, including AI-driven automation and vertical SaaS, debating whether these trends are actually groundbreaking. AI Agents in Recruiting – The duo discusses Bordy, an AI-driven recruiter, and the inevitable automation of human-first industries. Wes’ Obsessive Optimization Phase – Another episode, another diet and lifestyle overhaul. Wes explains his latest extreme self-improvement regimen, Ian roasts him for it, and they both agree that placebo might be 90% of the battle. With humor, sharp analysis, and deep reflections, this episode covers some of the most relevant shifts in tech, business, and life—while reminding us all that Wes will never stop finding the ultimate way to live. Timestamps:(0:00) Intro and banter(2:14) Ian announces he's becoming a dad(8:37) Parenting reflections and dad jokes(14:52) Wes’ latest life and diet optimization obsession(22:25) DeepSeek AI and the competition with OpenAI(32:18) AI's impact on compliance and regulatory automation(42:47) The rise of AI recruiters and automated hiring(50:33) Breaking down YC’s 2025 startup trends(55:46) Closing reflections The WORK IN PROGRESS podcast hosted by Ian Piepenbrock and Wes Botman, two founders who are scaling and refining their businesses every day. Wes Botman is founder and CEO at ⁠⁠Eli5⁠⁠ (https://eli5.io), a software studio making complex ideas simple and accessible. Ian Piepenbrock is CEO at ⁠⁠Noco⁠⁠ (https://noco.agency), an agency dedicated to helping B2B SaaS and tech companies grow through strategic web design and branding. Watch/listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2cOqBRMjjgcXKSDDIboKrt?si=6990da66e09e4ef2 Follow us on X for more raw insights, thoughts, and a good dose of founder reality: Wes: ⁠⁠@wesbotman⁠⁠ (https://x.com/wesbotman) Ian: ⁠⁠@lamswolprins (https://x.com/lamswolprins)

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of WORK IN PROGRESS?

This episode is 59 minutes long.

When was this WORK IN PROGRESS episode published?

This episode was published on February 1, 2025.

What is this episode about?

In this episode of WORK IN PROGRESS, Ian and Wes cover a mix of personal milestones, business insights, and AI-driven industry shifts: Fatherhood and Life Changes – Ian shares the news of becoming a dad, and Wes reflects on his own journey as a...

Can I download this WORK IN PROGRESS episode?

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