Ep 84 - Why Curious Minds Are Winning in the Age of AI: An Interview With Michael Stelzner

Ep 84 - Why Curious Minds Are Winning in the Age of AI: An Interview With Michael Stelzner

Author: Cary Weston September 2, 2025 Duration: 44:21

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Episode Summary

In this episode of The ChatGPT Experiment, Cary welcomes Michael Stelzner, founder of Social Media Examiner and host of the AI Explored podcast. Michael shares his journey from launching Social Media Examiner to becoming a leading voice in helping marketers and entrepreneurs understand and apply AI. They dig into how AI mirrors the early days of social media, the importance of empathy and clarity in podcasting, and how to smartly navigate emerging trends without getting overwhelmed. It's a deep, honest, and practical conversation for anyone looking to stay ahead in a changing world.


3 Key Takeaways

  • Empathy Leads the Way: Whether podcasting or creating content, always bring it back to the listener's level. Make things clear, practical, and useful—especially when the topic (like AI) can be overwhelming.

  • Experiment Before You Invest: Michael's approach to new trends—like AI—is to test, track, and validate before going all in. From podcasts to events, he uses surveys and behavior data to guide decisions.

  • Hire for Strategy, Not Just Tasks: Instead of filling a role with one person, think AI-first. Use tools to handle the busywork, and if you do hire, make it someone who can build AI-enhanced systems and strategy.


About Michael Stelzner

Michael Stelzner is the founder and CEO of Social Media Examiner, one of the most trusted sources for marketing insights and trends. He's the host of two top-rated podcasts: Social Media Marketing and AI Explored, where he breaks down complex topics into digestible, practical advice. Michael is also the creator of Social Media Marketing World, a major annual event that brings together marketers from around the globe. Known for his deep curiosity and clear teaching style, Michael is a longtime guide for marketers navigating change—now with a strong focus on AI.

Explore more of Michael's work at Social Media Examiner


Cary offers customized one-on-one ChatGPT training in 60 minute sessions. Find out more information on the sessions, answers to frequent questions, and how to register at www.ChatGPTExperiment.com

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MUSIC CREDITS

The instrumental music used in this podcast is called "Curious" by Podington Bear.


Ever wondered how AI tools like ChatGPT could actually fit into your daily work or creative projects without the technical overwhelm? The ChatGPT Experiment-Simplifying Chat GPT For Curious Beginners is built for that exact moment of curiosity. Host Cary Weston demystifies artificial intelligence in a way that feels like a helpful conversation, stripping away the jargon to focus on practical, actionable steps. This podcast moves beyond theory, offering listeners a chance to hear how prompts are crafted and how responses can be shaped for real tasks in business, marketing, education, and personal growth. Each episode feels like a guided session, where Cary’s approachable style turns abstract concepts into clear tools you can use immediately. Whether you're looking to streamline a workflow, generate fresh ideas, or simply understand the buzz, the content meets you where you are. The natural flow of the podcast makes complex topics accessible, ensuring that every listener, regardless of their starting point, can build genuine capability. It’s about transforming that initial interest into tangible skill, one straightforward explanation at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The ChatGPT Experiment - Simplifying Chat GPT For Curious Beginners
Podcast Episodes
Ep 103 - Let's Talk About You [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:05
Episode Summary In this solo episode, Cary talks about a simple idea that can make AI tools way more useful: teaching them who you are. He explains that if ChatGPT, Claude, or another tool does not really know your perso…
Ep 101_A - Providing An Example For The Scoring Matrix To use [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:02
Episode Summary Cary shares a quick follow-up to last week's episode about using a scoring matrix for writing. After a listener asked for a real example and template, he put together a sample document and article that li…
Ep 101 - Creating Your Own Personal Review Editor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:47
In this solo episode, Cary introduces a practical way to use ChatGPT as a consistent review and scoring tool for work you produce or evaluate over and over again. The idea is simple: most of us review things on instinct…
Ep 100 - How AI Is Changing Public Relations With Nancy Marshall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:44
Episode Summary In this episode, Cary sits down with Nancy Marshall, also known as the PR Maven and founder of Marshall Communications, celebrating 35 years in business. Nancy shares stories from her early days in public…
Message From Cary [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11
A message from Cary - he's away for a couple weeks so there's a gap in podcast episodes. Also -a reminder to sign up to win the free ticket giveaway to AI Business World, taking place April 29th & 30th in Anaheim, Califo…
Ep 99 - Practical AI Advice For Business [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:00
Episode Summary In this solo episode of The Chat GPT Experiment, host Cary Weston dives into two real conversations he had with business owners—one looking to implement AI into their operations and the other trying to pi…
Ep 98 - Find Your One Thing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:18
Episode Summary In this episode, host Cary Weston checks in from Atlanta after his travel plans were disrupted by snow on the East Coast. He had just wrapped up presenting at a transportation and logistics conference and…
Ep 97 - ChatGPT Health, Ads, and Listener Questions Answered [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:57
Episode Summary In this solo episode, host Cary Weston shares updates on two major announcements from OpenAI: the launch of ChatGPT Health and the upcoming integration of ads into ChatGPT. Cary breaks down what these upd…