I'm Up! He Sees Me, I'm Down! Podcast

Mike Turner
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Business

This is "I’m Up, He Sees Me, I’m Down" — the podcast that breaks down the role of the Fractional CTO through a lens of tactical precision and real-world business impact. I’m Mike Turner, Marine veteran and founder of AlamoTech. I help growing companies understand the why, when, and how of bringing in high-level tech leadership without the full-time cost. Whether you're scaling a startup, fixing tech chaos, or trying to align your tech with your business goals. I’m here to give you straight talk, clear insights, and a mission-first mindset. Think of me as your CTO on call in, out, and always moving with purpose.

  1. 6d ago

    AI Should Scale Human Wisdom, Not Replace Humans

    This episode is not about AI hype. It is about leadership, mentorship, wisdom, and what happens when technology either strengthens humanity — or slowly strips it away. Stephanie Sylvestre believes the future of artificial intelligence is not replacing people. It is preserving human wisdom, scaling mentorship, and helping leaders develop stronger organizations without losing the human element that makes great teams thrive. That belief was not built in a lab. It was built through decades of executive leadership, mentoring struggling employees others overlooked, solving real operational problems, and learning firsthand that soft skills often matter more than technical expertise. In this episode of I’m Up He Sees Me I’m Down, Mike Turner and Stephanie dive into the intersection of AI, leadership, trust, mentorship, and the future of human-centered organizations. They explore why the companies that succeed in the AI era will not necessarily be the most automated — they will be the ones that preserve culture, mentorship, and institutional wisdom while technology scales around them. The conversation moves from deeply personal leadership stories to practical AI implementation strategies, unpacking how organizations can use AI responsibly without sacrificing empathy, accountability, or human connection.

  2. Jul 3

    When Life Calls You Somewhere Unexpected

    We like to think we are in complete control of our decisions, but science tells a different story. Your conscious mind only handles about 5% of your thoughts and actions. The other 95%? Driven entirely by your subconscious programming. On this week's episode of I’m Up He See’s Me I’m Down, Mike Turner and high-performance coach Nicole Kernahan dive into why it is so incredibly difficult to break out of old ruts. From childhood, our brains are wired by well-meaning adults to default to "safe," "don't do that," and "no, you can't." This creates deep, stubborn neural pathways. It's like trying to steer a bicycle out of a deeply grooved mud track—your brain automatically slips right back into the default programming of self-doubt and hesitation. If you want to change your results, you have to stop fighting the 5% and start actively rewiring the 95%. 👉 Tune in to discover how to reprogram your default settings: https://imupheseesmeimdown.co/ → I’m Up He See’s Me I’m Down — real conversations about rising when life knocks you down.

  3. Jun 26

    Human-First Leadership in a Burnout Culture

    Kathy Eastwood started her career as a CPA at EY, thinking business was run entirely by numbers, routines, and standard structures. But when she left public accounting for the tech world, she hit a wall that completely flipped her perspective on corporate change. She was running a project management implementation, teaching teams how to build airtight dependency chains and work breakdown structures. During a session, a client sponsor raised his hand and asked a simple question: "How do you actually get someone to do these tasks?" Kathy answered with the confidence of a young executive: "Well, they're assigned to it. They'll do it." The sponsor smiled and shook his head. "No, they won't. What if they don't report to you? What if this isn't their priority?" That single moment shattered the illusion of "command and control" management for Kathy. She realized you can have the most beautiful Smartsheet or Google Sheet in the world, but if you don't understand the human being behind the keyboard—their motivations, their stresses, and their personal "Why"—the project is dead on arrival. On this episode of I'm Up He See's Me I'm Down, Mike Turner and Kathy dive deep into why human-first leadership always beats task-performance at all costs, and how the best leaders build teams that protect them from the top down.

  4. Jun 19

    Science, spirituality, and human connection

    Roxanne Chaput is a leadership steward and architect of courageous conversations focused on helping founders, executives, and influential leaders navigate the deeper internal dimensions of leadership. Her work centers on what she calls the “inner architecture of leadership,” exploring how unresolved emotional patterns, fragmentation, fear, and misuse of power quietly shape organizational culture and decision-making. Drawing from her experience building businesses internationally and stewarding more than 20,000 leaders globally, Roxanne helps leaders move beyond reactive leadership into grounded stewardship rooted in self-awareness, discernment, compassion, and responsibility. She is widely recognized for bridging leadership, spirituality, consciousness, emotional healing, and human-centered leadership into conversations that challenge fear-based leadership models and advocate for leadership grounded in humanity and integrity.

  5. Jun 12

    Remember no one can stop you but YOU!

    Albert Butler is a CPA, partner at his firm, and a thought leader focused on helping individuals and business owners build true clarity—not just in their finances, but in their lives. His work centers around the idea that you can’t scale a business until you learn how to scale yourself. Beyond the numbers, Albert brings a deeper mission—helping people build legacy, govern their lives intentionally, and understand the true role money plays in the bigger picture. His perspective was shaped not just through his career, but through life experiences, including a major injury that forced him to slow down and ultimately led him to write a book centered on truth, love, loss, success, and failure.

  6. Jun 5

    Twice Broken, Still Standing — Rebuilding Life, Leadership, and Purpose After Cancer

    In this inspiring episode, Savio Clemente shares his remarkable journey through cancer, resilience, and leadership. Discover how he navigated life-threatening health challenges, embraced faith, and turned adversity into purpose, offering valuable lessons for leaders and individuals alike. keywords resilience, leadership, cancer, faith, wellness, mental health, personal growth, healthcare innovation, emotional intelligence, transformation key topics Cancer journey and resilience The Aloha framework for healing Faith and spirituality in recovery Leadership after crisis and relapse guest name Savio Clemente key frameworks Aloha Framework action items Practice the Aloha framework: acknowledge, listen, open, harness, act with courage. Use silence and stillness to connect with your inner messages. Share your wisdom freely to foster growth in others. Approach health and leadership with a holistic, non-linear perspective. Titles From Cancer to Leadership: Savio Clemente's Resilience Journey The Middle Way: Navigating Life and Illness with Savio Clemente sound bites "Lean into the discomfort, don't avoid it" "Share your wisdom freely to empower others" "Find common ground beyond polarization" Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Resilience and Leadership 03:14 Savio's Early Life and Career Journey 06:03 Facing Cancer: The First Diagnosis 08:52 The Journey Through Treatment and Recovery 12:03 The Second Cancer Diagnosis and Its Challenges 14:55 Exploring Faith and Belief Systems 17:48 Integrating Healing Modalities and Personal Growth 23:07 Reframing Cancer Treatment 28:15 Leadership Through Crisis 33:07 The Role of Humanity in Healthcare 39:21 Lessons from Cancer and Leadership 43:37 Finding Clarity in Chaos resources Savio Clemente's Website - https://aviopclementi.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/humanresolve LinkedIn - https://linkedin.com/in/savioclemente

  7. May 29

    The Five C’s of Influence: From Rock Bottom to a Stage That Pays

    The conversation covers a range of topics including life-changing habits, influential books, career pivots, journalism, media integrity, teaching in inner city Los Angeles, and mindset and attitude. The speakers discuss the impact of pivots in their careers and lives, the challenges of journalism and the importance of media integrity, the experience of teaching in inner city Los Angeles, and the significance of mindset and attitude in leadership and personal development. The conversation delves into the importance of mindset and positive influence, highlighting the impact of storytelling in leadership and communication. It emphasizes the power of a positive mindset and the nurturing of a supportive environment. Additionally, it explores the significance of storytelling in leadership, communication, and public speaking, emphasizing the use of relatable, authoritative, and purposeful storytelling to engage and connect with audiences. Takeaways PivotsJournalism vs. CommentaryTeaching ExperienceMindset Positive mindsetThe power of storytelling Chapters 00:00 Mindset and Attitude

  8. May 22

    Make AI Choose You

    The conversation covers the impact of health, early life experiences, navigating personal challenges, real-world business experience, vertical specialization, and the importance of authenticity and human connection in business. The conversation delves into the significance of authenticity in business, the influence of values on business operations, the impact of marketing AI on business owners, and the pitfalls of digital marketing and AI. The key takeaways emphasize the importance of authenticity and value-based business approaches for long-term success. Takeaways Health impactUnique business adviceStarting from zeroPersonal challengesCompartmentalizationVertical specializationHuman connection Authenticity in business is crucialValue-based business approach is essential for long-term success Chapters 00:00 Impact of Health06:08 Navigating Personal Challenges14:25 Real World Experience21:24 Authenticity and Human Connection33:17 The Pitfalls of Digital Marketing and AI

See All (20)

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

This is "I’m Up, He Sees Me, I’m Down" — the podcast that breaks down the role of the Fractional CTO through a lens of tactical precision and real-world business impact. I’m Mike Turner, Marine veteran and founder of AlamoTech. I help growing companies understand the why, when, and how of bringing in high-level tech leadership without the full-time cost. Whether you're scaling a startup, fixing tech chaos, or trying to align your tech with your business goals. I’m here to give you straight talk, clear insights, and a mission-first mindset. Think of me as your CTO on call in, out, and always moving with purpose.

Information