Agents of Change

Appstream Studio

A series about real modernization stories, practical AI, and the builders behind enterprise change.

Episodes

  1. Jun 9

    Episode 9: Johnny Childress - Killing the Pilot and How Enterprise Deals Close

    Johnny Childress, a Series A revenue leader who has interviewed around 6,500 salespeople, joins Justin Tannenbaum to break down how enterprise deals actually close: multi-year options, paid agreements over free pilots, the term-for-convenience trap, the one hiring question, showing up in person, and a pragmatic take on AI.

    51 min

  2. May 26

    Episode 8: Jonathan Sexton - AI Agents, Bitcoin, and What We Actually Own

    What does an AI model pick when you ask it to hold money? On this episode of Agents of Change, Justin Tannenbaum hosts Jonathan Sexton — brand strategist, songwriter, husband, father, youth basketball coach, and Bitcoin-focused operator who writes for Unchained. The conversation anchors on a Bitcoin Policy Institute study that tested 36 frontier AI models — Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, xAI, DeepSeek, Minimax — across 9,072 monetary scenarios with neutral framing. Zero picked fiat as their top preference. Stablecoins led for payments. For long-term store of value, 79 percent picked Bitcoin. The study becomes the spine of a wider operator conversation on what AI agents will do when they start making payments on our behalf. Key takeaways: - Software's new bottleneck is imagination, not language. With agentic tooling, the "I don't know how to code" excuse is mostly retired. Hire for taste and clarity in 2026. - Measuring AI teams on token spend is the same incentive trap as paying engineers by lines of code. Companies that measure activity get activity. Measure outcomes instead. - The agentic AI payment stack is two layers, not one. Stablecoins for the payments layer (speed). Bitcoin for long-term store of value (uninflatable supply). - AI personhood will likely follow the corporate-personhood legal precedent. Corporations got full legal personhood with very little built-in responsibility for the people or environment around them. The same shape could happen with AI agents. - Curiosity precedes agency. Most hiring frameworks screen for the wrong variable. - Wall Street showed up at Bitcoin 2026 — managing directors and VPs, not marketing associates. The cultural narrative on Bitcoin still lags the trade-show floor by 12-18 months. About the guest: Jonathan Sexton started as a musician and songwriter, pivoted into technology and brand strategy, and now works on Bitcoin-focused projects including writing for Unchained. About the host: Justin Tannenbaum is the CEO of AppStream Studio, where his team builds production AI agents for companies that need AI in production, not on a slide deck. Subscribe to Agents of Change for operator-grade conversations on AI, modernization, and the work that actually ships.

    45 min

  3. May 5

    Episode 7: Jeff Siddiqi - From Door-to-Door to CPG Powerhouse

    In this in-depth interview, Jeff Siddiqi shares his journey from door-to-door sales to becoming a leading expert in consumer packaged goods (CPG). He discusses industry trends, the importance of Amazon for brand growth, and insights from Expo West, providing valuable strategies for brands aiming to scale and innovate.

    48 min

  4. Apr 20

    Episode 6: Chip Reeves - Revolutionizing Logistics: How AI and Offshore BPO Are Changing the Game

    In this episode, Chip Reeves, CEO of Enablers, shares his journey from freight brokerage to founding a company that leverages offshore BPO and AI to revolutionize logistics operations. Discover insights on automation, technology adoption, and the future of logistics industry innovation.

    54 min

  5. Apr 6

    Episode 5: Piotr Szyperski - The Shift Every Developer Will Face in The Age of AI

    In this episode, Piotr shares his journey into software development, discussing his early passion for computers and how he transitioned from a full-stack developer to leading a team at AppStream Studio. The conversation explores the impact of generative AI on software engineering, highlighting the shift in workflows from coding to planning and the importance of human oversight in AI-driven development. Piotr also reflects on the future of AI in software development and the potential challenges it poses for new engineers.

    47 min

  6. Mar 17

    Episode 4: Bartek Bieńkowski x Justin Tannenbaum - The Evolving Role of DevOps In The Age Of AI

    In this episode of the Agents of Change podcast, host Justin Tannenbaum welcomes Bartek Bieńkowski, a seasoned expert in DevOps and security at AppStream. The conversation dives deep into the evolving landscape of DevOps, particularly in the context of AI advancements. Bartek shares his experiences, starting from his early days as a front-end developer to becoming a pivotal figure in DevOps. He discusses the challenges and unpredictability of a typical day in DevOps, emphasizing the importance of being the go-to person for troubleshooting and problem-solving. The discussion also touches on the changing perceptions of the DevOps role, the rise of specialization, and the impact of AI on infrastructure and security practices.

    36 min

  7. Mar 2

    Episode 3: Will Gray x Justin Tannenbaum - The Evolving Role of GTM

    Will Gray, founder of Graystone Consulting and the go-to-market lead behind AppStream Studio and Aiventi, joins host Justin Tannenbaum to break down how the right morning mindset compounds into real productivity, how the go-to-market role is being rebuilt by AI, and the exact stack he uses to drive pipeline. Then Will tells the unforgettable story of summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in a whiteout and the one principle he pulls from it for business and fatherhood: just don't stop. 🔗 Work with Will → https://graystoneconsulting.co 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/in/willgrayco In this episode: • Why early morning routines and "eating the frog" set the tone for everything • How GTM is splitting into specialists as AI absorbs the routine work • The full outbound loop: RB2B → Clay → HubSpot → Instantly → human follow-up • Becoming a force multiplier instead of a one-man army • Shipping at 80% — and why founder perfectionism kills momentum • Summiting Kilimanjaro at 19,341 feet, one foot in front of the other ⏱ Chapters 00:00 New Year's resolutions: 75 Hard, dry January, the 5 a.m. wake-up 04:21 Morning routines and intention-setting 05:50 Productivity systems: time blocking and "eat the frog" 07:57 What people get wrong about go-to-market — and how AI is splitting the role 14:29 Will's GTM stack: Instantly, Apollo, Clay, RB2B, HubSpot, LinkedIn 16:50 The full outbound loop, end to end 18:20 Becoming a force multiplier 23:30 Shipping at 80% and beating perfectionism 29:51 When it hit the fan: summiting Kilimanjaro in a whiteout 39:45 His "Kilimanjaro today": growing Graystone and being a girl dad 43:47 Legacy, the Eddie Murphy doc, and selflessness as a parent 44:36 The next 3–5 years: AI + human 46:51 Where to find Will 🎧 Listen to the full episode of Agents of Change by AppStream Studio for more insights! #AgentsOfChange #GoToMarket #Startups #FounderLedSales #AI #Entrepreneurship #Marketing

    44 min

  8. Feb 16

    Episode 1: Lukasz Chmielewski x Justin Tannenbaum - Founding of Appstream Studio

    In this inaugural episode of Agents of Change, host Justin Tannenbaum interviews Lukasz Himalowski, co-founder and CTO of AppStream Studio. They discuss Lukasz's career journey, the founding of their open banking platform, the acquisition experience, and the transition to AppStream Studio. The conversation also covers the growth and scaling of AppStream, the importance of aligning incentives in product development, and the role of AI in software development. Finally, they make predictions about the future of AI in the industry.

    36 min

  9. Feb 16

    Episode 2: Cesar Bustamante x Justin Tannenbaum - Investing in Skills: A Path to Career Growth

    In this conversation, Cesar Bustamante discusses the importance of investing in skills beyond just monetary gain. He emphasizes that personal development, particularly in learning languages and technical skills, can lead to significant career advancements. The impact of the pandemic on opportunities for growth is also highlighted, along with the common fears that hold individuals back, especially in Latin America.

    41 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

A series about real modernization stories, practical AI, and the builders behind enterprise change.

Information

  • Creator
    Appstream Studio
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Appstream Studio