Ready, Fire, Aim

Thad Barnes

Ready, Fire, Aim is a podcast for action-takers. Those who understand that imperfect action is better than no action at all. Hosted by Thad Barnes, founder of Epoch Digital Media, the show explores what it really takes to grow and adapt in today’s fast-moving world of business and technology. We talk with founders, operators, and thought leaders who know that waiting for perfect can kill momentum — and that launching fast, learning, and iterating is where real growth happens.

Episodes

  1. The 5 Levels of AI Nobody's Talking About with Victor Kovalev

    19 MAR

    The 5 Levels of AI Nobody's Talking About with Victor Kovalev

    🚀 What if your AI could THINK like a C-suite executive — not just follow instructions? In this episode of Ready, Fire, Aim, host Thad sits down with Victor Kovalev, AI scientist, 3x IPO veteran, and co-founder of Scale-Agentic, to unpack a completely new approach to go-to-market strategy. Victor reveals why the secret sauce behind his AI platform ISN'T a large language model — and breaks down the 5 levels of AI that most founders, marketers, and business leaders have never heard of. Whether you're a startup founder drowning in GTM tools, a sales leader trying to scale outbound, or just curious about where AI is ACTUALLY heading — this conversation will change how you think about artificial intelligence in business. 🔥 In this episode you'll learn: ✅ Why tool adoption fails — and what actually works instead ✅ The CFO lunch story that changed everything at Redbubble ✅ How Scale-Agentic's "Agent Scout" operates like a human GTM executive ✅ The difference between agentic AI and true strategic AI ✅ Victor's 5 levels of AI framework — and why most companies are stuck at level 1 ✅ How to get BCG-level market intelligence in 1 week instead of 3 months 💡 If you're building with AI, leading a GTM team, or exploring how to hire your first AI executive — don't miss this one. 👇 Connect with Victor Kovalev & Scale-Agentic: 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/kovalevvictor/ 👇 Connect with Thad Barnes: 🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/thadbarnes/ 📩 Want to be a guest on Ready, Fire, Aim? Reach out! ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 — Intro & Victor's background: from robotic search-and-rescue to Silicon Valley 01:29 — Running Yelp's mobile teams to a top-10 app in the world 02:18 — Moving to Australia to CTO a unicorn through IPO 03:15 — Why smart teams still fail at adopting technology 05:19 — The Redbubble story: tools failed, lunch meetings succeeded 06:18 — Aligning personal KPIs with company goals 07:46 — How a CTO bridges the gap between tech and business 08:29 — A tale of failure and success at Redbubble 10:10 — Embedding data scientists in teams instead of pushing tools 12:52 — The overlooked power of listening UP to your boss 14:06 — What Scale-Agentic is and why it exists 15:30 — Why people are drowning in GTM tools 17:11 — Building an AI executive, not another AI tool 18:01 — Meet Agent Scout: the AI GTM executive 20:27 — What's under the hood: LLMs vs. the real secret sauce 21:59 — How humans make high-stakes decisions with crappy data 22:28 — The evolutionary heuristics engine explained 23:36 — Your brain's "task scheduler" and why AI needs one too 27:28 — The 5 levels of AI: from copilots to superintelligence 30:18 — Why Scale-Agentic is two steps ahead of the industry 33:55 — Why single agents should do single tasks 36:12 — The founder spending half his time duct-taping GTM tools 38:35 — Iterative change: 6 months with a human vs. days with AI 40:01 — 24 research pieces in one week vs. 3 months from consultants 40:38 — What onboarding Agent Scout looks like 44:17 — Scale-Agentic's ideal customer profile 46:00 — Funding plans and what's next 48:31 — Final thoughts and where to connect #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #AIStartup #GoToMarket #GTMStrategy #AgenticAI #SalesAutomation #B2BSales #StartupFounder #AIExecutive #ScaleAgentic #LLM #AITools #GrowthHacking #TechStartup #SaaS #AIinBusiness #Entrepreneurship #ReadyFireAim #Podcast #VictorKovalev #Leadership #CTO #ProductLedGrowth #FutureOfAI #AIStrategy

    46 min
  2. Ready Fire Aim Podcast — Jazib Ahmad on AI Context, Vibe Coding & Building Scouty

    17 MAR

    Ready Fire Aim Podcast — Jazib Ahmad on AI Context, Vibe Coding & Building Scouty

    Jazib Ahmad is a serial founder who's been deep in the AI trenches — from tackling the context window problem with his tool Open Context, to launching his newest startup Scouty in real time. In this conversation, Thad and Jazib dig into why bigger context windows aren't the real solution, how vibe coding is changing what one person can build, and why the best version of your product should probably embarrass you a little. Jazib shares how he went from struggling to find the right industry events for his first startup to building an AI-powered tool that finds them for you — and why distribution, not development, is the real bottleneck in 2026. 0:00 Welcome & Intro 0:22 The context window problem: why bigger isn't always better 2:12 Managing long conversations with AI 3:13 Open Context and visual conversation branching 5:14 Using GitHub repos to manage prompt context 6:25 Reinforcement learning agents that learn which context matters 7:26 AI startups raising millions on potential alone 9:10 Vibe coding vs. the hybrid approach 11:04 How AI changed frontend development overnight 12:53 Prompting strategies: examples, branching & experimentation 14:27 Branching conversations across AI platforms 16:13 The leap in AI coding tools recently 17:29 Simple language prompting finally works 19:33 What's next: physical AI, robotics & LLM limits 22:51 Why top AI scientists are leaving big companies 23:47 AI-powered startups transforming every industry 24:43 Introducing Scouty: AI event discovery for founders 28:29 How Scouty differs from Borty and Luma 33:01 The engineering challenge of scraping events at scale 36:22 Building a website in a day and an MVP in a week 37:34 Distribution is the new bottleneck 38:39 Habituation, attention & the evolving marketing landscape 44:24 Launch fast and let users guide you 45:48 Overcoming the fear of public failure 47:07 The obstacle is the path 49:28 Wrap-up & what's next for Jazib 🔗 Connect with Jazib: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jazib-ahmad-450/ Scouty: https://www.meetscouty.com/ 🔗 Connect with Thad: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thadbarnes/ 💬 Like this episode? Let us know! #AI #Startups #VibeCoding #ContextWindow #AItools #Founders #ReadyFireAim #Podcast

    47 min
  3. The Death of Websites: David Siegel on AI's New Economy

    24/11/2025

    The Death of Websites: David Siegel on AI's New Economy

    🔥 Welcome back to the Ready Fire, Aim Podcast! In this episode, Thad Barnes sits down with long-time technologist, AI pioneer, and founder of Redshift Labs, David Siegel — a man who was taking AI classes at Stanford back in 1983… before most people even knew what a computer was. This conversation goes deep into: The early days of AI (yes, before the internet)Why today’s LLMs work the way they doHow hallucinations really happen — and how to reduce themWhy attention is the “secret sauce” behind modern AIThe future of agents, the death of websites, and the agentic economyWhat business owners must do to survive the coming shiftWhy offers matter more than marketingHow AI will replace apps, OS’s, and how we buy/sell everythingThe rise of wearables, personal assistants, and on-the-fly agentic commerceDavid also explains why your business model, not your marketing, is what AI will judge… …and how the companies who adapt their offers (not their keywords) will win the next decade. If you care about business, AI, or the future at all — this is one of those conversations that hits hard. 🔗 Connect With David SiegelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-siegel-9786582a7/ Website (Redshift Labs): https://www.redshiftlabs.io/ 🔗 Connect With Thad BarnesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thadbarnes/ Website (Epoch Digital Media): https://epochdm.com 🎧 About the Ready Fire, Aim PodcastReady Fire Aim is where business owners, operators, and builders come to understand the evolving world of AI, marketing, and growth — without the fluff. Real conversations with real experts who are shaping the future. Timestamps: 0:00 — Intro 0:42 — David’s 1983 AI Origin Story 2:00 — Early Speech Recognition Madness 3:45 — How Transformers Actually Work 5:30 — Predictive Text → Modern AI 12:25 — Why AI Hallucinates 14:30 — Training Data Explained Simply 16:30 — Can AI “Think”? 32:00 — The Agentic Future (David’s 2010 Vision) 35:45 — AI-Generated Everything (Movies, Music, Games) 46:40 — How AI Really Finds Information 47:15 — The Death of Websites 55:20 — Why Offers Beat Marketing 57:15 — Agent-to-Agent Negotiation 58:50 — Marketing Can't Save a Bad Product 1:02:40 — Brand Loyalty & Product-Market Fit 1:04:10 — Personal AI Life Management 1:18:10 — Wearables & AI as the New OS 1:25:00 — Open Protocols & Global Infrastructure 1:30:00 — AI Eating the Legal Industry 1:35:20 — Self-Driving Reality Check 1:36:40 — The #1 AI Advice for Business Owners 1:44:00 — Redshift’s Agentic Sales System 1:46:00 — Final Thoughts

    1hr 40min

  4. 24/09/2025

    Balancing, Fine-Tuning & Catastrophic Forgetting of AI

    AI Balancing, Fine-Tuning & Catastrophic Forgetting

    1 min
  5. Legacy Systems, AI Fear & Building Modular Workflows | Ruth Birman of Dysrupt Digital

    24/09/2025

    Legacy Systems, AI Fear & Building Modular Workflows | Ruth Birman of Dysrupt Digital

    In this episode of Ready, Fire, Aim, host Thad Barnes sits down with Ruth Birman, founder of Dysrupt Digital, to talk about navigating the rapidly evolving world of AI — and how businesses can thrive rather than freeze in fear. Ruth shares her journey from service design and UX to building modular AI workflows that help companies modernize legacy systems without being locked into vendors or unpredictable token pricing. We dive into: 🤖 AI & Legacy Systems – Why companies must re-think workflows, not just bolt on AI🏢 Getting Team Buy-In – Avoiding "AI top-down mandates" that fail💻 Open-Source LLMs & Self-Hosting – When it makes sense to roll your own model🔒 Security & Privacy – Anonymizers, compliance, and protecting business IP⚡ Faster Iteration – How AI can cut product cycles from months to days🔮 The Future of AI – Ruth’s take on whether we’re heading for an “AI winter”This conversation is packed with practical insights for business leaders, developers, and anyone trying to figure out how to responsibly (and profitably) integrate AI into their company. 🔗 Connect with Ruth Birman 🌐 Website: https://dysrupt.digital 🌐 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthbirman 🔗 Connect with Thad Barnes 🌐 Website: https://epochdm.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thadbarnes

    53 min

  6. 03/09/2025

    From PowerPoints for Obama to World-Class Weightlifting | Troy Stange on Design, AI & Reinvention

    In this episode of Ready, Fire, Aim, host Thad Barnes sits down with Troy Stange, founder of Brandpop and longtime design strategist, to explore a life and career full of unexpected turns. From creating keynote decks for Fortune 500 executives, Richard Branson, and even Barack Obama, to competing on the world stage in Olympic weightlifting at age 57, Troy’s story is one of reinvention, resilience, and curiosity. We dive into: 🎨 How a failed college start led to a 30-year design career with Microsoft, Google, and Adobe🏋️ Why CrossFit revived Olympic weightlifting and how Troy qualified for the World Championships🤖 How AI (and tools like Brandpop) are transforming stale lead databases into real revenue🍷 Stories from his family’s Oregon vineyard and lessons in business (and butter!)🔗 Why LinkedIn is still powerful—if you know how to use itThis conversation blends design, fitness, AI, and business growth with humor and storytelling you won’t want to miss. 🔗 Connect with Troy Stange Website: https://brandpop.ai LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/troystange 🔗 Connect with Thad Barnes Website: https://epochdm.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thadbarnes

    53 min
  7. AI Won’t Save Your Startup—But This Will | Ready Fire Aim Podcast with Matt Farmer of Cloud37

    18/08/2025

    AI Won’t Save Your Startup—But This Will | Ready Fire Aim Podcast with Matt Farmer of Cloud37

    What does it really take to build a startup that blends AI innovation, leadership, and resilience in today’s fast-changing world? In this episode of the Ready, Fire, Aim Podcast, I sit down with Matt Farmer, founder of Moment 37, to unpack his journey from the early days of bootstrapping to building a business that thrives in uncertainty. Matt shares how he’s leveraged Artificial Intelligence, culture-driven leadership, and sheer grit to push through the roadblocks that take down most startups. 👉 If you’re an entrepreneur, innovator, or leader trying to navigate growth in the AI era, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. What you’ll learn in this episode: Why resilience beats strategy in the first years of a startupHow AI is shaping smarter, leaner companiesThe leadership lessons Matt wishes he knew at the startThe role of culture in surviving downturnsPractical tips for founders building from zero 🔗 Connect with Matt Farmer Website: https://www.cloud37.ai/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mattfarmerai 🔗 Connect with Thad Barnes Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thad.e.barnes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thadbarnes/ 📅 Want to be a guest on the Ready, Fire, Aim Podcast? Schedule here → https://calendly.com/thad_barnes/pre-podcast-chat 🎧 Listen on Spotify: Here 🎧 Apple Podcasts: Here

    1hr 2min
  8. Breaking Into Product Management: John Fontenot’s Path2Product Revolution | Ready Fire Aim Podcast

    16/08/2025

    Breaking Into Product Management: John Fontenot’s Path2Product Revolution | Ready Fire Aim Podcast

    Join host Thad Barnes on the Ready Fire Aim Podcast as he sits down with John Fontenot, co-founder and chief product officer of Path2Product.io. John shares his journey from struggling to break into product management to creating a platform that helps aspiring PMs gain hands-on experience and land their dream roles. Discover how Path2Product cuts through the noise with a practical curriculum, portfolio projects, and AI-driven tools to bridge the experience gap. Whether you’re pivoting careers or starting fresh, this episode is packed with insights to kickstart your product management journey! Connect with John on LinkedIn or at john@path2product.io. #ProductManagement #CareerChange #Path2Product Subscribe for more entrepreneurial insights and stay ready to fire and aim!

    30 min

  9. 14/08/2025

    Get to know the host - Thad Barnes

    Get to know a little about the host Thad Barnes.

    5 min
  10. This Lesson Took Him 39 Years to Understand | Ready, Fire, Aim Podcast with Trevor Muir

    14/08/2025

    This Lesson Took Him 39 Years to Understand | Ready, Fire, Aim Podcast with Trevor Muir

    From Near Bankruptcy to $125M: Trev Muir’s Leadership & Resilience Story | Ready, Fire, Aim Podcast Ep. 001 What happens when your company is on the brink of collapse, your personal life is falling apart, and the future is uncertain? For Trev Muir, co-founder and former CEO of Surepoint Group, the answer was radical transparency, vulnerability, and a culture of caring. In this episode of the Ready, Fire, Aim Podcast, Trev shares how he helped steer Surepoint from the edge of bankruptcy to $125M in revenue—not once, but twice. From navigating oil crashes and private equity buyouts to leading through the COVID-19 pandemic without layoffs, Trev’s story is an inspiring blueprint for resilient leadership. We also dive into his personal battle with mental health, the life-changing moment that pulled him back from the brink, and why he believes vulnerability is one of the most underutilized strengths in leadership today. You’ll learn: How a “gift of forbearance” changed his company’s fate in 2013 Why caring can be a competitive advantage in business How to lead through crisis without losing your people—or your soul The parallels between personal recovery and business turnaround Why healthy leaders build healthy teams, families, and communities 📌 Connect with Trev Muir LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevor-muir-b7231356/ Want to be a guest on the show? 📅 Book a call with Thad to see if we'd be a good match: https://calendly.com/thad_barnes/pre-podcast-chat

    35 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

Ready, Fire, Aim is a podcast for action-takers. Those who understand that imperfect action is better than no action at all. Hosted by Thad Barnes, founder of Epoch Digital Media, the show explores what it really takes to grow and adapt in today’s fast-moving world of business and technology. We talk with founders, operators, and thought leaders who know that waiting for perfect can kill momentum — and that launching fast, learning, and iterating is where real growth happens.

Information

  • Creator
    Thad Barnes
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Thad Barnes
  • Show Website
    Ready, Fire, Aim