Start Small, Think Big.
A podcast and newsletter that guides business leaders on their AI and automation journey without turning practical work into hype.
All Episodes
#0035
Feb 27, 2026
The AI Operating Model: Governance, Brand Experience, and Execution for Business
In this episode of the Start Small Think Big podcast, Brad Groux and Allen Martinez delve into the intricate relationship between AI, governance, and brand experience. They discuss the importance of coherence in AI systems, the necessity of establishing a solid governance framework, and the role of accountability...
#0034
Feb 20, 2026
Vibe Coding vs Real Systems: The Truth About Shipping AI and AI Agents in Production
Building scalable digital systems doesn't require reinventing the wheel—it requires understanding what problem you're actually solving. In this episode, Brad Groux talks with Matt Dorman, co-founder of NDEVR, about the intersection of AI, automation, and business process optimization. They explore how mid-market...
#0033
Jan 27, 2026
How a Non-Tech Entrepreneur Uses AI 100 Times a Day, with Randy Gage
In this episode of the Start Small Think Big podcast, host Brad Groux welcomes Randy Gage, an entrepreneur and author with a unique perspective on the intersection of AI and personal growth. Randy shares his remarkable journey from a troubled youth, including time spent in jail, to becoming a successful coach and...
#0032
Jan 23, 2026
AI Automation That Pays Off: Speed-to-Lead and Reactivation with Michael Elliott
In this episode, Brad Groux and Michael Elliott discuss the transformative power of AI and automation in business. Michael shares his personal journey from struggling with depression to becoming a successful entrepreneur managing multiple seven-figure businesses. They explore the importance of authenticity in...
#0031
Dec 16, 2025
AI for the Mid-Market: How Small Wins, Private LLMs, and Automation Scale Businesses
In this episode of the Start Small Think Big podcast, Brad and Robert from Digital Meld engage with John Ohlwiler from Sentry Technology Solutions to discuss the transformative potential of AI and automation for mid-market businesses. They explore the importance of structured processes, the challenges smaller...
#0030
Dec 8, 2025
Engineering Intelligence: Safe AI, Smart Agents, & the Future of Collective Machines
In this episode, Brad and Robert engage with Craig A. Kaplan, a seasoned expert in AI, discussing the evolution of artificial intelligence from its inception to its current state and future implications. They explore the importance of human oversight, the concept of AGI and superintelligence, and the role of...
#0029
Dec 2, 2025
Aggie Innovators: How Texas A&M Students Are Igniting the Future of AI and Business
In this episode of the Start Small Think Big podcast, Brad Groux discusses the Aggie Innovators event at Texas A&M, which aims to foster innovation and collaboration among students interested in AI and entrepreneurship. The event features student ambassadors who share their projects and experiences, emphasizing the...
#0028
Nov 24, 2025
Designing the Future – How AI is Reshaping Digital Experience with Lucas Blondheim
In this conversation, Lucas Blondheim discusses the limitations of AI tools in generating user interfaces, emphasizing the need for a human touch in the design process. He highlights that while AI can get a project 80% complete, the final 20% requires human creativity and refinement to avoid producing subpar work,...
#0027
Nov 17, 2025
Scaling HR with AI – How Propulsion AI is Redefining People Ops with Scott Morris
In this episode of the Start Small Think Big podcast, Brad Groux and Scott Morris discuss the intersection of AI and human resources. Scott shares his extensive background in HR and how it led him to found Propulsion AI, a platform designed to democratize HR expertise through AI. They explore the importance of...
#0026
Sep 15, 2025
Lighting the Path to your Agentic AI Journey with Hanah Darley
Can AI agents make your business faster and safer? In this powerful episode of Start Small, Think Big , Brad Groux and Robert Groux sit down with Hanah-Marie Darley , Chief AI Officer at Geordie AI , to explore what it really means to use AI responsibly, and why governance, visibility, and trust must be the...
#0025
Sep 8, 2025
From Prompt to Product: The AI-Powered Path to Startup Success with Jon Levesque
What if your next big idea didn’t just stay an idea? In this empowering episode of Start Small, Think Big , Brad Groux and Robert Groux sit down with Jon Levesque , former Microsoft evangelist turned entrepreneur, to unpack how AI helped him turn a raw concept into a polished, user-ready app. The result? Seeq , a...
#0024
Aug 29, 2025
Hollywood Disrupted : AI, Creativity & Ethics with Filmmaker Nico Casavecchia
Can creatives embrace AI without losing the soul of storytelling? In Episode 0024 of Start Small, Think Big , host Brad Groux sits down with internationally acclaimed filmmaker and creative technologist Nico Casavecchia to explore this critical question. With a background in animation, design, VR, and branded...
#0023
Aug 25, 2025
At the TX AI Challenge by Pro-Forma at DFW Startup Week
What happens when hundreds of innovators, investors, and founders gather in one room with AI at the center of the conversation? You get an unfiltered, boots-on-the-ground look at where AI innovation is really happening, inside schools, startups, side hustles, and scrappy founder-led businesses. That’s what this...
#0022
Aug 15, 2025
AI as a Culture Shift: Building Smarter Businesses and Communities with Leon Coe
What does it mean to build an AI-first culture , not just in your business, but across an entire community? In this episode, Brad Groux and Robert Groux sit down with Leon Coe , founder of Houston AI Club and co-founder of AmplifyIntelligence.ai , to explore how artificial intelligence is moving beyond tools and...
#0021
Aug 4, 2025
Your First AI Hire: Automation for Construction & Skilled Trades, with Grant Fuellenbach
What if your next hire wasn’t a person, but an AI-powered toolkit that could free up your team’s time, eliminate repetitive admin, and make your business run smoother than ever? In this episode of Start Small, Think Big , Brad Groux sits down with Grant Fuellenbach , co-founder of GO First Consulting, to break down...
#0020
Jul 25, 2025
AI Edge Advantage: How Smart SMBs Are Turning Speed, and Strategy into Competitive Gold, with Lucas Erb
What happens when data-driven startups stop playing small and start thinking like billion-dollar enterprises? In this sharp and practical episode of Start Small, Think Big , Brad Groux , and Robert Groux sit down with Lucas Erb , founder of AIExperts.com , to unpack what it really means to scale a business with AI....
#0019
Jul 18, 2025
Imperfect Innovation: Why Courage Beats Perfection in AI Leadership – with Giorgio Natili
Can imperfect leadership drive perfect innovation? In this inspiring episode of Start Small, Think Big , Brad Groux sits down with Giorgio Natili , VP of Engineering at OPAQUE Systems and author of the upcoming book, The Imperfect Life of an Engineering Manager , to explore how small businesses, engineering teams,...
#0018
Jul 11, 2025
Built to Scale: How Small Businesses Can Use AI to Compete Like Giants, with Anthony Amunategui
What if the next wave of innovation isn’t led by Fortune 500 companies, but by small businesses that dare to be bold? In this episode of Start Small, Think Big , we sit down with Anthony Amunategui , founder of CDO Group, Inc. and host of the Future Factory Podcast , to talk about how small businesses are outpacing...
#0017
Jul 4, 2025
Don’t Start with ChatGPT: Sara Nay on Smarter AI for Small Business Marketing
In this episode of Start Small, Think Big , Brad Groux sits down with Sara Nay , the powerhouse behind Duct Tape Marketing , to unpack how small businesses can use AI not just for quick wins, but for sustainable growth, smarter workflows, and long-term strategic advantage. The Strategic Shift: Anti-Agency and AI as...
#0016
Jun 27, 2025
Lights, Camera, Algorithm: AI in Storytelling and Video Creation, with Erich Archer
What happens when Emmy-winning storytelling collides with cutting-edge artificial intelligence? In this episode of Start Small, Think Big , Brad Groux sits down with Erich Archer , creative strategist, technologist, and creator of Smarty Pants AI , to explore how AI is transforming the art and business of video...
#0015
Jun 21, 2025
AI Is the New Space Race: Energy, Ethics, and Global Impact – from WAC Houston
In Episode 0015 of Start Small, Think Big , we take a step back to look at the bigger picture of artificial intelligence, not just as a technological advancement, but as a global, economic, and societal force reshaping everything from boardrooms to classrooms to battlefields. This episode is based on Brad Groux ‘s...
#0014
Jun 13, 2025
From Hype to Help: How Smart Teams Actually Use AI, with Raj Singh, VP of Mozilla
In this episode, Brad Groux and Robert Groux are joined by product leader and AI strategist Raj Singh to unpack how teams and organizations can meaningfully adopt AI, without falling victim to hype cycles or decision paralysis. Raj shares his journey from successful startup exits to leading new product initiatives...
#0013
Jun 6, 2025
Before the AI Wave: How to Prep Your People, Processes, and Data featuring Lisa Talbot
If your organization is considering AI but your processes are a mess, your team is burned out, and your data lives in countless different spreadsheets, this episode is for you. In Episode 0013, Brad Groux sat down with Lisa Talbot , founder of True North PM Solutions and a veteran project leader across Fortune 500...
#0012
May 31, 2025
Is AI Coming for Your Job? A Deep Dive into Automation Across Industries
In Episode 0012 of Start Small, Think Big , host Brad Groux tackles a timely and sometimes nerve-wracking question: how will AI transform the future of work? From the rise of autonomous trucks and Waymo's driverless taxis to the fast-changing world of digital art and Hollywood, Brad unpacks how AI is reshaping...
#0011
May 23, 2025
Ethics, Privacy, and Responsible AI: What Every Leader Needs to Know
In this essential episode of Start Small, Think Big , Brad Groux , Carrie Hundley , and Robert Groux take a grounded, no-hype look at what it really means to build responsible AI in today’s business landscape. The trio unpacks the real-world risks behind AI buzzwords, starting with algorithmic bias, how it forms,...
#0010
May 16, 2025
Artificial Intelligence Snake Oil: What AI Can and Can’t Do – Featuring Professor Arvind Narayanan
In this episode, Brad Groux , Carrie Hundley , and Robert Groux break down Princeton Professor Arvind Narayanan ’s influential framework on how to separate genuine AI innovation from empty hype. From predictive models in hiring and criminal justice to the misuse of public large language models (LLMs) in so-called...
#0009
May 9, 2025
Building Your AI Roadmap: From Vision to Execution
In this episode, the team breaks down how to move beyond AI buzzwords and actually build a strategy that delivers. Brad Groux , Carrie (Eggleston) Hundley , and Robert Groux walk through a 5-step roadmap - rooted in Gartner and McKinsey research - that helps businesses go from “great idea” to measurable outcomes....
#0008
May 2, 2025
AI Won’t Work Without People: The Culture Shift We Need
In this episode of Start Small, Think Big , Brad Groux , Robert Groux , and Carrie (Eggleston) Hundley dig into the often-overlooked barrier to successful AI adoption: culture . Drawing from the 2025 Microsoft Work Trend Index, they explore what it really takes for businesses to embrace AI - from building trust and...
#0007
Apr 26, 2025
AI and National Security: The Power Crisis featuring former Google CEO, Dr. Eric Schmidt
In Episode 0007 of Start Small, Think Big , we explore a critical reality shaping the future of AI and national security: energy, infrastructure, and global leadership are now inseparable from technological progress. To lead the AI revolution, the U.S. must act urgently to modernize its energy grid, protect...
#0006
Apr 18, 2025
Beyond IT: Making AI and Automation Everyone’s Business
In Episode 0006 of Start Small, Think Big , we explore a growing truth in the world of business transformation: AI and automation can’t live in the IT silo anymore. They must become part of the broader business strategy - owned, understood, and leveraged by every team. Start Small, Think Big: Episode 0006 - Show...
#0005
Apr 11, 2025
Automate to Innovate: Boost Efficiency and Data Quality Across Industries
In today’s fast-moving tech landscape, automation isn't just a convenience - it's a competitive advantage. In this episode, we explore how automation plays a critical role in enhancing data quality, streamlining operations, and paving the way for successful AI adoption. Start Small, Think Big: Episode 0005 - Show...
#0004
Apr 4, 2025
AI in Education with Texas A&M Mays Business School Assistant Dean of AI, Arnold Castro
Welcome to this week's edition of Start Small, Think Big, your guide to practical AI, automation, and business growth insights. In Episode 0004, we're excited to be joined by Arnold Castro , the Assistant Dean of AI at Mays Business School - Texas A&M University . Arnold shares invaluable insights into Texas A&M...
#0003
Mar 28, 2025
Practical AI Use Cases for Businesses
Welcome to this week's edition of Start Small, Think Big , your guide to practical AI, automation, and business growth insights. New episodes are released every Friday across all major podcast platforms (direct links below), with video available on Spotify and YouTube — follow along to empower your AI journey! In...
#0002
Mar 21, 2025
Mastering Your Data for Effective Automation and AI
Welcome to this week's edition of Start Small, Think Big , your guide to practical AI, automation, and business growth insights. New episodes are released every Friday across all major podcast platforms (direct links below), with video available on Spotify and YouTube — follow along to empower your AI journey! In...
#0001
Mar 14, 2025
Introducing Start Small, Think Big – A podcast and newsletter that guides you on your AI and Automation journey.
Thank you for the tremendous support as we launch the " Start Small, Think Big " podcast! Your enthusiasm has been incredible, and we're excited to announce that our very first episode is now available. Each week we'll dive into practical ways businesses of all sizes can leverage AI, process improvement, and...
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