AI Your Business Podcast

What role should AI play in filmmaking - and where should humans stay firmly in the centre? In this episode of the AI Your Business Podcast, Kim Fernandez sits down with Craig Giles, filmmaker, producer, screenwriter, and co-founder of Central Coast Studios. Craig has spent more than 20 years across music, live events, television, screenwriting, and film production. He’s worked on major events, produced albums, created screen projects, and produced the feature film Get Free, a drama designed to raise awareness about human trafficking. But this isn’t just a conversation about film. Together, Kim and Craig unpack how AI is already being used inside creative workflows - from script analysis and research to proposals, distribution strategy, and production planning - without replacing the human craft of storytelling. They also explore the vision behind Central Coast Studios, a proposed film and television studio precinct on the NSW Central Coast that could support major productions, create local jobs, and strengthen Australia’s screen industry. This is a practical, nuanced conversation about AI, creativity, intellectual property, and what it takes to build something ambitious in a changing industry. In This Episode We Cover Why AI is controversial in the film and television industry The difference between using AI to replace creativity and using it to support better workflows Why screenwriters need to protect their scripts, ideas, and intellectual property How Craig uses AI for script analysis, story structure, audience alignment, and feedback Why human judgement still matters in storytelling, coverage, and creative decisions How AI can support research, funding proposals, distribution strategy, and business planning The vision behind Central Coast Studios and why the Central Coast is a strong location for screen production What the proposed studio precinct could mean for jobs, local talent, families, and the Australian film industry Why ethical AI adoption still needs clear boundaries, secure tools, and people at the centre   About Craig Giles: Craig Giles is a filmmaker, producer, screenwriter, and co-founder of Central Coast Studios. His career spans more than 20 years across music, television, live events, screenwriting, and film production. He has worked as a camera operator, live event director, label manager, album producer, and filmmaker across Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Craig is also the producer of Get Free, a feature film created to raise awareness about human trafficking. Alongside his wife Amanda and a growing team of advisors, Craig is helping lead the vision for Central Coast Studios - a proposed film and television studio precinct designed to support major productions, create local jobs, and position the NSW Central Coast as a serious destination for Australian and international screen production. About the Podcast: The AI Your Business Podcast, hosted by Kim Fernandez, helps established business owners, founders, and service providers understand how to adopt AI in a practical, human-centric way, and be inspired by ways AI is being used to solve real world problems - through real-world case studies, stories, and strategies. Links Mentioned Get Free - the film Central Coast Studios Petition of Support Largo AI Suno AI Craig Giles:   Websites: https://www.centralcoaststudios.com.au     https://www.aagilesberg.com.au LinkedIn Kim Fernandez LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-fernandezz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekimfernandez Website: https://ai-collab.com.au  

What does it actually take to build a tech company - when you’re not technical? In this episode of the AI Your Business Podcast, Kim Fernandez sits down with Jenny Rudd, founder of Dispute Buddy - a legal tech platform transforming messy, emotional communication into structured, lawyer-ready evidence. But this isn’t a typical startup story. Jenny didn’t come from tech. She was fired from a magazine role… then went on to buy the business, become an award-winning editor, sell it, and start again - this time in SaaS. Together, they unpack: The unproven beginning of building a startup from scratch What it actually looks like before there’s an MVP, funding, or clarity How non-technical founders navigate product, engineers, and early decisions The role of lived experience in building meaningful tech What it takes to earn trust in AI and legal-tech The realities of being a solo female founder in tech This is a grounded, honest look at building in uncertainty - and how founders actually get from idea to product.   In This Episode We Cover How Jenny Rudd went from being fired → to building and selling a business → to launching a SaaS startup The real story behind Dispute Buddy and the problem it solves What the “unproven beginning” of a startup actually looks like Why non-technical founders can successfully build tech companies How to approach MVPs, prototypes, and customer discovery The importance of staying in the problem space before building What founders get wrong about early-stage product development How to find (and attract) world-class technical talent The role of relationships, access, and community in startup growth What it takes to build a product in a trauma-informed, high-trust environment The realities of being a solo female founder in tech Why support systems (at home and in business) matter more than people admit About Jenny Rudd: Jenny Rudd is the founder and CEO of Dispute Buddy, a legal-tech platform designed to help individuals and lawyers transform complex, emotional communication into structured legal evidence. Before entering the tech world, Jenny built and sold a magazine business she was once fired from, going on to become a finalist for Best Editor in New Zealand. Now, she’s building a global SaaS company focused on improving access to justice through technology. About the Podcast: The AI Your Business Podcast, hosted by Kim Fernandez, helps established business owners, founders, and service providers understand how to adopt AI in a practical, human-centric way, and be inspired by ways AI is being used to solve real world problems - through real-world case studies, stories, and strategies. Tools Mentioned Dispute Buddy (App) The Lean Product Playbook – Dan Olsen Jobs to Be Done Framework Jenny Rudd:   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyjanerudd Kim Fernandez LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-fernandezz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekimfernandez Website: https://ai-collab.com.au

Women are significantly less likely than men to experiment with generative AI. But when you look closer, the explanation isn’t what many people assume. In this International Women’s Day episode, Kim Fernandez examines the research behind the AI gender adoption gap and explores what may actually be driving it - from constraints, risks and workplace structures, to how women evaluate new technologies. Importantly, this episode looks at what most businesses are overlooking: the largest productivity opportunities inside their own teams. Because the roles most capable of unlocking productivity with AI are often the roles women dominate. For business leaders and women in the workplace, this conversation reframes the AI gender gap as something far more important than a technology trend - it’s a signal about how organisations introduce change, where adoption gaps and opportunities exist, and how the future of work will actually evolve. In This Episode We Cover: The real reason behind the AI gender adoption gap Why the barrier to adoption is so nuanced How women evaluate AI Environments where women have statistically higher AI adoption than men The operational roles where AI productivity is highest What business leaders discover when AI unlocks capacity in teams Why the future of work is humans orchestrating + working alongside AI How AI adoption and representation impacts the future Research Links: Harvard Business School Digital Data Design Institute The Gender Divide in Generative AI https://d3.harvard.edu/the-gender-divide-in-generative-ai-a-global-challenge/ Economics Letters / Federal Reserve research on gender differences in generative AI use https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165176524002982 OECD Gender Data Portal — Time Use and Unpaid Work https://www.oecd.org/gender/data/ International Labour Organization — Unpaid Care Work Statistics https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_633135/lang--en/index.htm Boston Consulting Group — Women in Tech & Generative AI Adoption https://www.bcg.com/press/14may2024-women-leaders-in-tech-generative-ai-adoption PNAS Nexus — Gender Differences in Attitudes Toward Artificial Intelligence https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/5/1/pgaf399 Sensity AI — Deepfake Abuse Statistics https://www.sensity.ai/reports   Tools Mentioned AI Profit Finder - designed to help organisations estimate where generative AI could unlock time and productivity across different roles. Free productivity and opportunity calculator: https://ai-collab.com.au/ai-profit-finder AI Intensive - a transformational program that helps businesses identify AI productivity opportunities, implement role-based AI tools, and build safe, practical AI capability across their teams: https://ai-collab.com.au/ai-intensive AI Collab: https://ai-collab.com.au Kim Fernandez LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-fernandezz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekimfernandez

What if 85% of your behaviour isn’t conscious? Kim sits down with Nicole Gibson, Founder and CEO of In Truth Technologies - the first company in the world to successfully track emotional state in real time using advanced machine learning trained on proprietary clinical datasets. In doing so, Nicole hasn’t simply built a product. She has pioneered a new applied science at the intersection of neuroscience, emotional intelligence, and AI. Nicole’s journey into tech began in performance, mental health advocacy, and political reform. Through years of community work and policy exposure, she identified a fundamental truth: emotion drives behaviour, and behaviour shapes outcomes. Now, through wearable integrations and multimodal machine learning, the previously invisible emotional layer of decision-making is becoming measurable. This conversation explores what happens when subconscious data becomes visible - and what that means for leadership, teams, healthcare, privacy, and the future of human sovereignty in an AI-driven world. If you're interested in where AI meets emotional intelligence, leadership, and ethical design, this episode will expand how you think about intelligence itself. Guest: Nicole Gibson Nicole Gibson is the Founder and CEO of In Truth Technologies, a world-first platform capable of mapping emotional state in real time. A former mental health advocate, nonprofit founder, political reformer, and bestselling author, Nicole transitioned into AI to solve one of the most fundamental human challenges: emotional awareness at scale. Her work sits at the intersection of neuroscience, leadership, ethics, and artificial intelligence, with a mission to increase self-awareness while preserving individual sovereignty in a machine-driven world. In This Episode We Cover Why emotion drives 85% of human decision-making The difference between emotion, feeling, mood, and state Why information alone doesn’t change behaviour How In Truth integrates wearable sensor data through advanced machine learning What an emotional language model actually means Emotional co-regulation in teams and relationships Leadership empathy gaps at scale Privacy, biometric data, and digital sovereignty The future of self-sovereign health data The gender funding gap in AI startups Why female representation is critical in designing future AI systems Interview with a Founder This episode marks the beginning of a new Founder Series on AI Your Business, spotlighting women building purpose-driven AI companies that are shaping the future of technology. Released as we’re coming into International Women’s Week, this conversation explores leadership, representation, VC equity and responsibility in the age of artificial intelligence. In Truth Technologies Website: https://intruth.io Nicole Gibson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicgibson_ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicjgibson Kim Fernandez LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-fernandezz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekimfernandez   AI Collab: https://ai-collab.com.au

What are the biggest AI trends small and mid-sized businesses need to prepare for in 2026? In Part 2 of this AI trends series, Kim is joined by Rod Fernandez, Co-Founder and Head Developer at AI Collab, to unpack what’s actually happening inside AI adoption for SMBs in 2026 - beyond the hype. If you’re wondering: Is it safe for my team to use AI tools? Is AI putting my business data at risk? What’s happening with AI search and Google visibility? Are AI agents ready to replace workflows? How do I adopt AI without breaking my operations? This episode answers those questions directly. Kim and Rod explore responsible AI usage, cybersecurity risks, enterprise-grade AI environments, app-building with AI, and why “agent swarms” aren’t the silver bullet many businesses hoped for. They also break down the shift from traditional SEO to AI-powered search (AEO), and why visibility in ChatGPT-style search results is becoming non-negotiable for service-based businesses. If you run a professional services firm, consulting business, trade business, financial services practice, or growing SMB - this episode will help you think strategically about: AI governance Secure implementation Search visibility in an AI-first world Change management for AI adoption Practical next steps you can take now AI isn’t the problem. Poor implementation is. This episode will help you stay ahead - safely and strategically. Guest Co-Host Rod Fernandez - Co-Founder and Head Developer at AI Collab, Founder of web design agency Rod Fernandez Design Rod brings deep expertise in AI systems architecture, cybersecurity, and development. In This Episode We Cover: Why free AI tools can expose business data What “enterprise-grade AI” actually means for SMBs Responsible AI policies every business should implement The risks of building AI-powered apps without security validation The pendulum swing from developer-only builds to DIY AI app creation Deterministic vs probabilistic systems (and why that matters) Why massive AI agent swarms aren’t ready for most businesses How to introduce AI without overwhelming your team The shift from SEO to AI-powered search and AEO Why Google AI snippets and AI-native search tools are reshaping visibility Tradie Talk ProTM Links AI Collab - ai-collab.com.au Rod Fernandez Design - rodfernandezdesign.com Learn more about AEO for your website - rodfernandezdesign.com/aeo-packages Learn more about the AI Your Business Intensive → ai-collab.com.au/ai-intensive Experience Donna, the interactive AI voice concierge → ai-collab.com.au  Rod Fernandez LinkedIn Facebook - Rod Fernandez Design Facebook - AI Collab Kim Fernandez LinkedIn Instagram    

In this episode of the AI Your Business Podcast, host Kim Fernandez and guest co-host Rod Fernandez dive into the most important AI trends for small and mid-sized businesses in 2026. Together, they unpack how AI adoption is maturing - moving beyond generic tools into custom, secure, and industry-specific systems that drive real productivity and trust. They also explore the evolution of AI-powered content creation, why the future belongs to brands that balance authenticity with intelligent automation, and how AI voice agents are transforming the customer experience and having their moment in 2026. Whether you’re leading a growing team, providing trades and services, or coaching other businesses, this episode will show you how to integrate AI in 2026 with confidence, clarity, and measurable results. Key Topics Why the next wave of AI adoption is about specificity, not scale - and what that means for SMBs. How small businesses can safely integrate private, sovereign AI models for productivity and security. Why “AI-generated content” shifted from novelty to authenticity-first - and how to avoid being left behind by the pendulum swing. What’s next for AI agents (and how your clients will expect to interact with your business in 2026). How AI maturity differs between enterprise and SME adoption - and the next-level opportunities that are opening up. Guest Co-Host Rod Fernandez, Co-Founder and Head Developer at AI Collab, brings deep expertise in AI systems architecture, cybersecurity, and development. His perspective complements Kim’s strategic focus on marketing, messaging, and business adoption - together they explore where strategy, brand, and operations meets tech in the AI space. Links Join the waitlist of first movers to access RedyAI for secure business AI tools → ai-collab.com.au/contact  Learn more about the AI Your Business Intensive → ai-collab.com.au/ai-intensive Experience Donna, the interactive AI voice concierge → ai-collab.com.au   

Episode Summary: GPT-5 has landed - and there’s a lot of noise about what it can and can’t do. In this episode of AI Your Business Podcast, I’m sharing my first 24 hours with the update, what it means for content creators, coaches, service-based small businesses, and anyone using AI for client delivery. You’ll hear: The real upgrades in GPT-5 that matter for your marketing and client experience Why specificity and context are now non-negotiable for great AI outputs A simple analogy that explains how GPT-5 “thinks” differently than GPT-4o The hidden feature that’s a massive time-saver for busy business owners What the industry reaction tells us about where AI tools are headed next Whether you’re building custom GPTs, using AI in your programs, or just curious about how to stay ahead, this episode gives you the insight - without the overwhelm - to make GPT-5 work for you. Links & Resources: Join The Brand Voice Upgrade Workshop (AI 2.0 Edition) → The Brand Voice Upgrade Follow me for daily AI & launch strategy tips Instagram: @thekimfernandez LinkedIn: kim-fernandezz Websites: www.kimfernandez.co ; https://ai-collab.com.au  

What if one custom AI tool could help you boost sales, reduce stress, and never miss a lead again? In this episode of the AI Your Business Podcast, Jessica Price shares how she helped generate a 40% increase in sales across two local service businesses - EcoKleen Solar and Clear Flow Gutter Cleaning - using a single custom AI tool we built together. Tune in to hear: → What gave Jess daily clarity and control → Why follow-up and lead flow improved instantly → The surprising impact on team communication and performance → What changed when they went from generic AI to custom-built tools → And why Jess says: “110%, I can say without any doubt - it’s purely down to this.” 🎧 See what’s possible when AI is built for your day-to-day business reality.   Links:  Kim Fernandez Website: https://www.kimfernandez.co AI Collab Website: https://ai-collab.com.au Kim Fernandez LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-fernandezz Kim Fernandez Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekimfernandez   Jessica Price LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-price-72b45a36b EcoKleenSolar Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EKSNewcastleLakeMacquarie EcoKleenSolar Website: https://ecokleensolarnewcastle.com.au Clear Flow Gutter Cleaning Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClearFlowGutterCleaning Clear Flow Gutter Cleaning Website: https://clearflowguttercleaning.com.au    

In this episode of AI Your Business Podcast, Kim Fernandez sits down with Andrew Forsyth, founder of Pemberton Productions, to explore how small businesses can leverage video, storytelling, and AI to transform their marketing. Andrew shares game-changing insights on "flipping the script" - a strategy that makes video the starting point for brand messaging, web copy, and social media content. With 15+ years of experience as a video producer and former senior roles at Microsoft and Canon, Andrew breaks down how advancements in AI tools, mobile tech, and storytelling craft are leveling the playing field for businesses of all sizes. If you’re ready to uplevel your brand story, produce captivating videos, and use AI to streamline your content creation, this episode is a must-listen. Practical Takeaway: Start Here: If you’re a small business owner, focus on one high-impact, simple solution with AI—like transcribing your video interviews to quickly generate website copy, headlines, or social media snippets. Start small, and build from there. Rate & Review: Enjoyed this episode? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe! Your support helps us share actionable AI and storytelling insights with business owners worldwide.   Links Mentioned: Pemberton Productions: Visit Andrew’s Website, Andrew's LinkedIn profile Tools for Video Creation: Munch: www.getmunch.com Okus Clip: Explore Opus Clip Storytelling Resources: Story by Robert McKee: Purchase the Book Storynomics by Robert McKee: Learn More Here AI Tools for Content Creation: Claude AI (Anthropic): Learn About Claude ChatGPT: Explore OpenAI’s Tools Dove Real Beauty Video Example: Watch the Dove Natural Beauty Campaign mentioned by Andrew for storytelling inspiration. Book Mentioned by Kim on Human Extinction Risks: The Precipice: Existential Risk and the Future of Humanity by Toby Ord    

Does implementing AI in your business feel like something you’ll get to eventually? In this episode, Kim Fernandez dives into the transformative power of AI, sharing why waiting to adopt this technology is not only risky but could cost you your edge. You’ll learn how businesses are setting new standards using AI tools like Custom GPTs, and how even small steps toward adopting AI can simplify operations, elevate client experiences, and future-proof your business. Kim shares actionable strategies, a practical framework for where to start, and real-world examples of how AI is already helping businesses scale their impact today. If you’re ready to lead rather than play catch-up, this episode is for you. Rate & Review: If you loved this episode, please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe! Your support helps us reach more entrepreneurs ready to embrace the AI revolution.   Links Mentioned: Book Recommendation: The AI-Driven Leader by Geoff Woods Free Custom GPT Brainstorming Tools:  2 x 2 grid Implementation brainstorm Client Custom GPT Brainstormer  Build Your Own Custom GPT: Get started with a ChatGPT Plus account at OpenAI’s platform. Register now: AI Your Business Bootcamp - Client Edition Join the waitlist: AI Your Business Bootcamp - Productivity and Marketing  

In this episode of AI Your Business Podcast, host Kim Fernandez chats with Hope Livonne Trory, founder of Hopeworks Design, about simplifying SEO, harnessing AI, and turning buyer intent into actionable strategies. From architectural beginnings to SEO mastery, Hope shares her journey and reveals how AI tools are transforming the world of digital marketing—making SEO accessible, effective, and, dare we say, exciting. You’ll walk away with practical SEO hacks, keyword research shortcuts, and insights on AI tools that save time while delivering big results. Whether you’re SEO-shy or ready to scale, this conversation is packed with tips you can implement today to make your website rank higher, attract the right traffic, and generate real leads. Practical Prompts to Try Today: If you have 20 minutes, use this: “Give me 50 middle and bottom-of-funnel keywords I can rank for, categorized by informational, commercial, and buyer intent.” Rate & Review: Enjoyed this episode? Please rate, review, and subscribe! Your support helps us deliver actionable, AI-powered insights to business owners everywhere. Links Mentioned: Free Website Audit: Grab your SEO insights at hopeworksdesign.com/audit-your-website Connect with Hope: hopeworksdesign.com. SEO Tools Mentioned: Check out platforms like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Perplexity for advanced insights. AI Your Business Podcast on YouTube: Watch this episode here: youtube.com/@TheKimFernandez  

In this episode of AI Your Business Podcast, Kim Fernandez sits down with Donna McGeorge, global productivity expert and author of The ChatGPT Revolution. Donna shares her unique take on how AI isn’t just improving productivity—it’s creating space, time, and capacity for the things that truly matter. From AI-powered workflows that eliminate weekend catch-up work to rethinking what “success” looks like in a technology-driven world, Donna provides practical, relatable strategies that any business owner can implement today. If you’re ready to redefine productivity, stop glorifying busyness, and finally get your weekends back, this episode is for you. Practical Takeaway: Start Here: Identify one recurring task or process in your day-to-day work that you can streamline with AI—whether it’s drafting content, researching, or summarizing data—and reclaim that time for something you truly enjoy. Rate & Review: Love this episode? Take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe! Your support helps us empower more professionals with actionable insights on AI and productivity. Links Mentioned: Donna’s Website: www.donnamcgeorge.com Donna's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnamcgeorge Donna’s Book: The ChatGPT Revolution: Get Curious, Get Productive, Get Creative  AI Tools Mentioned: ChatGPT: OpenAI Platform Microsoft Copilot: Learn more at Microsoft Copilot. Rabbit R1: Explore the new AI hardware here.    

Welcome to the AI Your Business Podcast! In this introduction, host Kim Fernandez breaks down her own AI journey, what made her see the game-changing potential of AI, and why she's launching this podcast for thought leaders, coaches, service providers, entrepreneurs and small business owners like you, to make adopting AI into your business a practical, approachable, and fun journey.