We are just 2 dudes... wait... 2 gems... wait... 2 guys who love Metroidvania games and love to talk about them. We are a podcast dedicated to the genre.
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Michael Kelso Podcasts
The Economy of Nothing is a show about building something real in a world that rewards nothing. Part podcast, part experiment, part transmission from the void—this is where ideas get tested, stories get shaped, and the impossible might get made. Join us each week as we work in public and try to make meaning from the mess.
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Discover how to harness the power of AI without losing the human touch. Hosted by Mike Montague, Founder of Avenue9, this podcast delivers actionable insights to help small and mid-sized businesses market like big brands. With expert interviews, relatable success stories, and practical tips, we show you how to amplify your marketing efforts with AI tools that enhance—not replace—human creativity and connection. Whether you're a business owner, marketer, or curious about the future of AI, thi ...
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Welcome back to the only sci-fi podcast brave enough to take Scrubs seriously and turn The Prince of Egypt into corporate canon. This week on The Economy of Nothing: Cheyenne becomes Bob Kelso. Captain Tracy walks like an overly sexy Moses. Mr. Green brands the ship and burns the kitchen down. Ryan tries to cook… metaphorically. Mike Allen gets col…
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Lesbian Scissoring Saves the Universe: Part II
1:37:35
1:37:35
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1:37:35We finally hit double digits... so naturally, we switched to Roman numerals instead. The only thing scarier than Episode Ten is the commitment to continuing. So we rebranded — X is cool, X is timeless, X has no expectations. It's a numeral now. Deal with it. We’re doing paperwork with Mississippi while Sailor Moon scissoring her way into queer cano…
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Infailable AI and Digital Acceleration with Chris Hood
35:23
35:23
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35:23Send us a text Are you feeling pressure to “keep up with AI”? You’re not alone and you’re not crazy for being skeptical. In this episode of Human-First AI Marketing, Mike Montague sits down with former Google strategist and author of Infailable, Chris Hood, to talk about what AI can actually do for small businesses and what it can’t. Spoiler: it’s …
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The Least Facebook Thing Becomes the Most Facebook Thing
2:01:11
2:01:11
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2:01:11https://economyofnothing.com/podcast/009-facebook In this episode of The Economy of Nothing, the crew descends into full Dispatch chaos: empathy overloads, elevator jingles, and a leaderboard system that runs on trinkets, trauma, and vibes. Captain Tracy nearly punches out a She-Joe Rogan. Mr. Green bribes an elevator operator with a Tamagotchi. An…
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AI-Powered Membership Communities with Nathalie Doremieux
31:53
31:53
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31:53Send us a text If you're building or thinking about building a membership community, this episode will change the way you approach it. Nathalie Doremieux, co-founder of The Membership Lab, joins Mike Montague for a human-first conversation on what really makes membership communities thrive. Spoiler: it's not content volume or fancy platforms; it's …
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Understanding Time & Relationships in the AI Era with Greg Wasserman
33:09
33:09
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33:09Send us a text Mike Montague sits down with Greg Wasserman, a self-proclaimed "relationship broker," to explore how AI is changing the way we build trust, make introductions, and grow our businesses. They unpack why automation isn’t enough, how referrals and warm intros still outperform cold leads, and why understanding context beats simply generat…
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Episode Page Description: What if a board game could bankrupt you and teach you how the economy works? In this episode, the crew designs the ultimate satirical game — part Mario Party, part Monopoly, part Squid Game — and accidentally stumbles into an entire TV episode. Plus: 🎲 The rules of "Economy of Nothing: The Game" 👀 Mr. Green’s mob boss era …
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Leveraging AI for Creative Storytelling with Tim Kalinowski
40:18
40:18
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40:18Send us a text What makes a story resonate? Tim Kalinowski, founder of Lore Creative, joins Mike Montague to unpack the storytelling strategies that actually connect with real people and how SMBs can use AI to amplify them without losing the human heartbeat of their brand. From five-star reviews as a narrative starting point to the “aha moments” th…
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When a ceremonial dragon egg vanishes from the palace vault, our crew is dispatched to recover it — or at least look like they’re recovering it. Cheyenne's secret orders, Mr. Green’s weaponized laser pointer, and Captain Tracy's ongoing breakdown collide in the messiest mission yet. This one has everything: rebel camps, wizards with interns, jungle…
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Crafting Your "Hell Yes!" Offer with Jessica Miller
31:45
31:45
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31:45Send us a text Most marketing teams pour time, money, and AI tools into tactics, email sequences, content engines, and funnel hacks without realizing their core offer is the real problem. In this episode, Mike Montague sits down with Jessica Miller, award-winning host of It’s Your Offer, to unpack how to create "Hell Yes" offers that act as the mos…
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How Mr. Green Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Economy
1:38:18
1:38:18
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1:38:18Mr. Green just wanted to make it home for dinner. Instead, he faces deep space scurvy, bureaucratic betrayal, and the uncomfortable truth that survival comes at a cost. In this episode of The Economy of Nothing, Mike, Mike Allen, and Ryan dive into Mr. Green’s fractured loyalty, Captain Tracy’s stubborn morality, and the myth of Deep Space Scurvy. …
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Scaling Trust, Not Clicks for B2B Growth with Eric Eden
38:09
38:09
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38:09Send us a text Mike Montague interviews Eric Eden, CMO at Workforce and host of the Remarkable Marketing Podcast, about how CROs and B2B leaders can cut through the noise of vanity metrics, bots, and fake engagement, and use AI to scale trust, not just clicks. Eric shares how he uses over 25 AI tools to create a full podcasting and content engine a…
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In our most chaotic (and somehow also deepest?) episode yet, we celebrate Mike Allen’s birthday while unraveling the character of Captain Tracy — war vet, space trucker, wannabe legend. Does he deserve to be the protagonist of The Economy of Nothing? Or is he just the loudest guy in the room? Along the way, we debate birthdays, bathroom logic, what…
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AI Marketing Optimization with Badri Veera and John Karl from Crigloo
34:35
34:35
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34:35Send us a text The Unified Marketing Playbook CMOs Shouldn't Ignore In this episode of the Human-First AI Marketing podcast, Mike Montague sits down with Badri Veera and John Karl from Crigloo to explore how CMOs and marketing leaders can stop managing disjointed channels and start orchestrating unified campaigns with contextual AI. They dive into …
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Epidoes 003 https://economyofnothing.com/podcast/the-cheyenne-episode-003.html e-mail: [email protected] In this glorious descent into glitter and chaos, we go full girlboss. This week’s focus: Captain Cheyenne — pilot, captain, and capitalist icon of the Sunshine. The crew breaks down her ship, her motivations, and her secret army of unpai…
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Search Ranking in a Post-Google World: AI Optimization with Michael Buckbee
34:45
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34:45Send us a text In this episode of the Human-First AI Marketing Podcast, Mike Montague sits down with Michael Buckbee, founder of Knowatoa, to explore how the rise of AI assistants like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity is reshaping the rules of discoverability. Michael challenges the idea that SEO is dead and instead reframes it as evolving—fast. The…
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Too Many Factions, Not Enough Sandwiches
1:01:39
1:01:39
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1:01:39This week, the team digs into the chaos of the Economy of Nothing From bounty hunters and robot sheriffs to deep space scurvy and what the Rangers *actually* think of all this—this is worldbuilding at its weirdest. TAS: Episode 1 Page: https://economyofnothing.com/episodes/season-1/episode-001 We explore motivations, faction dynamics, the cowboy pl…
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Stacking AI Marketing Tools Like a Pro with Lisa Oda
32:01
32:01
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32:01Send us a text Lisa Oda, founder of HiveStir and Director of AI at Infinite Marketing, explores how AI is transforming modern marketing practices. Mike and Lisa dive into practical applications, including content repurposing, funnel optimization, prompt engineering, and persona-driven strategies. They also discuss how to effectively stack AI tools …
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In this inaugural episode, Michael and Ryan go way too deep into the show’s theme song. Spoilers, satire, and existential dread included. economyofnothing.com 🕒 Timecodes 0:00 – Intro Fumbles & Space Talk 3:00 – What Is The Economy of Nothing? 4:30 – The Theme Song Mission Statement 6:30 – Theme Song Plays In Full 8:00 – Structural Breakdown 10:30 …
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AI Entrepreneurship with Måns Näsman: Building Bigger Impact with Collective Intelligence
33:32
33:32
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33:32Send us a text What if your AI could do more than just answer questions? In this episode, Måns Näsman shares a powerful new vision of “dualistic AI,” where multiple humans and AI agents collaborate in real time to solve bigger problems, scale communication, and build startups faster than ever before. Instead of relying on narrow, task-based AI tool…
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Human Touch in a High-Tech World: Duct Tape Marketing with John Jantz
31:30
31:30
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31:30Send us a text Marketing legend John Jantz from Duct Tape Marketing brings his experience and unique insights, unraveling the complex relationship between traditional marketing, the human touch, and the rise of AI technology. We explore how AI is revolutionizing marketing strategies while underscoring the timeless value of leadership and strategic …
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How AI and Blockchain Is Reshaping the World with Heather Leigh Flannery
44:36
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44:36Send us a text Heather Leigh Flannery, the visionary founder and CEO of AI Mindsystems Foundation, joins us for an insightful conversation about the future of AI and humanity's integral role within it. We navigate the complex terrain of privacy, data rights, and ethical data usage in our increasingly digital-first society, highlighting the tension …
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Authentic Marketing in the Age of AI with Emanuel Rose
32:03
32:03
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32:03Send us a text Emanuel Rose, founder of Strategic eMarketing, shares his unique insights into the rapidly shifting landscape of marketing influenced by AI technologies. Together, we unpack the delicate balance between automation and authenticity, emphasizing that while AI tools like ChatGPT are revolutionizing content creation, the human touch in s…
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The Intersection of AI Creativity and Purpose with Dan Cumberland
31:44
31:44
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31:44Send us a text Dan Cumberland, founder of The Meaning Movement, opens up about his captivating transition from ministry to entrepreneurship. In our conversation, Dan shares his personal journey through a quarter-life crisis that led him to study theology and psychology, ultimately sparking his interest in entrepreneurship. He discusses the foundati…
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AI Digital Safety and Cybersecurity with Burton Kelso
29:58
29:58
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29:58Send us a text Burton Kelso, technology expert at Integral, joins us in unraveling the complexities of AI cybersecurity. Burton's infectious enthusiasm and expertise shine as we explore the intersection of digital safety and human interaction with AI. We talk about the art of translating advanced tech concepts into relatable terms, tackling everyth…
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Send us a text Susan Frew, a leading voice in AI innovation for businesses, shares her transformative journey of integrating AI into her plumbing business. Susan opens up about how a personal health scare became a catalyst for change, leading to significant cost savings and efficiency improvements. Her philosophy of competing on "awesome" rather th…
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Navigating the AI-Powered Sales Landscape with Jordan Ledwein
27:02
27:02
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27:02Send us a text Jordan Ledwein, the AI Sales Guy, joins us for a look into the world of AI-enhanced sales. We explore the human-first approach, where AI serves to amplify human interaction, not replace it. Discover how AI can sharpen vital skills like listening and alleviate mundane tasks, allowing sales professionals to forge authentic relationship…
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Robots vs. Humans: Marketing Analytics with Jim Gordon
40:18
40:18
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40:18Send us a text With our special guest, Jim Gordon from Jimalytics, we navigate the evolving landscape of digital commerce, exploring how companies can harness AI to transform their marketing strategies. The episode dives into the intriguing challenge of distinguishing humans from AI-generated traffic, a critical issue as AI agents become more preva…
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Send us a text Can AI genuinely enhance our human experience, or is it merely another tool in our digital toolbox? Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Jacki Leahy, Head of Go-To-Market at Activate the Magic. Jacki is not just integrating AI into her strategic vision; she's redefining it by keeping a human-first approach at the forefront. L…
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Send us a text Unlock the secrets of storytelling and Human-First AI marketing with Dustin Reichmann from 7-Figure Leap. Explore Dustin’s fascinating journey from selling meat sticks to building a seven-figure brand builder, all through the power of personal storytelling and strategic podcast guesting. Learn how his new app, Dustin AI, offers a per…
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Using AI to Boost Your Brand with Mark de Grasse
31:36
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31:36Send us a text Unlock the secrets to transforming your brand with AI as we sit down with Mark de Grasse, CEO of the AI Branding Academy and former president of Digital Marketer. Discover Mark's inspiring journey of personal transformation, overcoming long-term health challenges, and shedding a corporate identity to embrace genuine human expression.…
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From Ancestry to the Future of AI with Paul Allen
33:44
33:44
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33:44Send us a text Can the rapid rise of AI technology truly uplift humanity without compromising our core values? Join us as we explore this question with Paul Allen, CEO of SOAR AI and former co-founder of Ancestry.com. Paul takes us on an insightful journey from his initial skepticism about business to becoming a successful entrepreneur, all while m…
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Welcome to the Human-First AI Marketing Podcast with Mike Montague
11:27
11:27
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11:27Send us a text Ready to unlock the secrets to harnessing AI as a catalyst for human creativity and storytelling in marketing. Ever wondered if AI could transform you into a superhero of your marketing roll? Join me, Mike Montague, on the new Human First AI Marketing Podcast as we explore thought-provoking perspectives from pioneers in artificial in…
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Michael and Nick are back! A somewhat sleeper pick (this game is a metroidvania???), but totally worth your time. Tune in to hear the bros gush about this little kitty. Current Rankings: 1. Guacamelee! 2. Super Metroid 3. Steamworld Dig 4. Cave Story 5. Gato Roboto Games we talked about on the show: – Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night – Timespinner…
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Current Rankings: 1. Guacamelee! 2. Super Metroid 3. Steamworld Dig 4. Cave Story 5. Castlevania: Circle of the MoonBy Michael Kelso & Nick Stephens
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Current Rankings: 1. Guacamelee! 2. Super Metroid 3. Steamworld Dig 4. Castlevania: Circle of the Moon 5. Dust: An Elysian TailBy Michael Kelso & Nick Stephens
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Current Rankings: 1. Guacamelee! 2. Super Metroid 3. Castlevania: Circle of the Moon 4. Dust: An Elysian TailBy Michael Kelso & Nick Stephens
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Current Rankings: 1. Guacamelee! 2. Super Metroid 3. Castlevania: Circle of the MoonBy Michael Kelso & Nick Stephens
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Current Rankings: 1. Guacamelee! 2. Super MetroidBy Michael Kelso & Nick Stephens
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Current Rankings: 1. Super MetroidBy Michael Kelso & Nick Stephens
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In this introductory episode, Michael and Nick discuss the format of the show. They also describe metroidvanias as they see them and what types of games you can expect on the show.By Michael Kelso & Nick Stephens
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