As AI continues to change how we work, I’ve been paying close attention to the one thing it can’t replicate: taste. In this conversation, I share why I believe cultivating discernment is the real differentiator, how I’m personally practicing it, and what you can do to sharpen yours in business, branding, and creativity.

• Why I think AI can replicate skills but not intuition—and why that excites me.
• How Rick Rubin and Johnny Cash helped me see taste in a whole new way.
• The way I curate my inputs to sharpen my instincts and creativity.
• Why I’ve learned subtraction is just as important as addition in great work.
• The feedback loops I rely on to refine my eye and get better over time.

Join me at my upcoming (free!) You Are the Brand AI Summit at youarethebrand.ai and learn how to turn your voice into your ultimate competitive edge.

Connect with Me:

• Website
• Instagram
• TikTok
• X (Twitter)
• LinkedIn
• Facebook

Content alone won’t set you apart anymore. AI can create more words, images, and videos than you could in a lifetime—but it can’t replicate your voice, your perspective, or the way you connect with people. That’s why what you say, how you say it, and the stories you share are about to become your most valuable assets.

I’ve just spent weeks deep in conversations with some smart entrepreneurs, creators, and leaders I know for my upcoming You Are the Brand AI Summit.

One very common theme: the people who win in this next wave will be the ones who double down on authenticity, not automation. A few more shares from this episode:

• The “authenticity premium” that’s making human connection more valuable than ever
• Why live, in-person events are exploding right now
• Why professional speakers aren't afraid of AI (this was cool)
• Why your unpolished, uncomfortable stories are often your biggest differentiator

The summit kicks off August 25—and it’s completely free. When you register, you’ll get my personal field notes from every conversation, plus an exclusive 90-minute live workshop where my team and I will show you exactly how we built the summit using AI (and where we didn’t).

Secure your spot now at youarethebrand.ai and learn how to turn your voice into your ultimate competitive edge.

Connect with Me:

• Website
• Instagram
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• X (Twitter)
• LinkedIn
• Facebook

When my friend Eugene Choi dropped by my place last week, we had one of the rawest conversations I’ve ever had about my business. For the first time, I opened up about the wins I’ve kept quiet, the mistakes that nearly sunk me, and the moments—and people—that altered my path forever.

This is the unfiltered backstory I’ve never fully shared, until now. Tune in and, you’ll hear:

• 1:56 - Why my mastermind is (apparently) an anomaly
• 6:56 - How my mastermind helped me go full-time
• 15:09 - Surviving divorce and a big business blunder
• 19:08 - Ray Edwards' belief
• 26:11 - Donald Miller's kindness
• 31:09 - Todd Herman, Mary Valloni, so many others
• 42:37 - The providence of God
• 45:45 - My master plan for an IP empire
• 51:53 - Ann Ahn, an early hero
• 58:38 - Join me for You Are the Brand AI Summit

Episode Resources:

• You Are the Brand AI Summit »
• Eugene Choi on Instagram »

Connect with Me:

• Website
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• X (Twitter)
• LinkedIn
• Facebook

As solopreneurs, so much of what we build is deeply personal. Our businesses are often born from the gaps in our own stories.

In this solo episode, I reflect on the recent death of my father and the quiet grief that followed for the connection we never fully had. It made me confront how much of my business drive was rooted in fear and pain.

This isn’t a business episode in the traditional sense, but it’s a human one. If you’ve ever built something to feel safe, seen, or in control, I think you’ll find something here.

In this episode, I talk about:

• How grief can show up as ambition, productivity, or perfectionism
• Why many founders build strong brands from unresolved pain
• The hidden costs of being self-reliant for too long
• What it looks like to love someone through action, not nostalgia
• How to keep creating when the story doesn’t end neatly

CONNECT WITH ME

• Website
• Instagram
• TikTok
• X (Twitter)
• LinkedIn
• Facebook

Watch this talk on YouTube »

Entrepreneurs and high achievers like to talk a lot about how to rewrite their life story, especially in the context of their external accomplishments.

I've found that growth more happens in the unseen moments - the times of pain, heartache, and the decisions we face that require courage, forgiveness, and presence.

When I got the call that my dad was dying, I knew I had to share this story—our story. This is a talk I gave at Growth Now Summit Live, and with special permission from host Justin Schenck, I’m sharing it here.

It’s about reconciliation, grief, identity, and the raw, often ugly road to healing. Whether or not you’re navigating loss or family conflict, I hope this message invites you to reconnect—with yourself or someone else—before it’s too late.

CONNECT WITH ME

• Website
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• X (Twitter)
• LinkedIn
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There's been a lot going on lately, so I thought I'd pop in and give you an update. Sorry I've been missing my podcasts...

If you’re a solopreneur, you already wear every hat: marketing, sales, content, client delivery. But there’s one skill that ties it all together –– persuasion.

In this episode, I sit down with Ellin Sidell, Fortune 500 leader-turned-author of The Influence Advantage. In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why persuasion is a skill you can master—even if you're introverted or uncomfortable with sales
• How Ellen got her boss to complete her overdue review using nothing but humor and a fake invoice (true story)
• What solopreneurs can learn from Costco’s grassroots mentorship program and how to replicate it in your brand
• The difference between mentorship and sponsorship—and why both matter for your growth
• Why self-leadership is your greatest competitive edge in today’s content-heavy world

Get Ellin's book, The Influence Advantage »

Connect with Ellin:

• ellinsidell.com
• LinkedIn
• YouTube

Want to build a network that actually works for you — without faking extroversion or burning out?

Today, Selena Soo joins me to talk about what it really takes to build a million-dollar network in today’s world. From defining your inner circle to learning how to ask for help, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and hard-won insight.

• Why introverts can often be great relationship builders—and how Selena leveraged this to create a thriving network
• The 3-phase framework of building Rich Relationships: Align, Attract, Activate
• How to sort your network into 6 circles—and why this protects your time, energy, and values
• The vulnerable story of how Selena ended a million-dollar relationship with a mentor who crossed the line

Don’t just listen—put this into action. Get Selena’s free scripts, preview the book, and enter to win $1,000: richrelationshipsbook.com/mikekim

Get Selena's book, Rich Relationships, on Amazon here »

Connect with Selena:

• Website - https://www.selenasoo.com
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selena_soo
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/selenasoo
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/selenasoo