Hines On Air Podcast

Level Up Your Leadership: Pete Srodoski on CEO Humility, Strategy & Building High-Performing Teams

Matt Hines welcomes Pete Srodoski to season three of Hines On Air to return to the show’s motivational roots for entrepreneurs and leaders. Srodoski, a former CEO/COO with 20 years of experience and author of Lead With Empathy, Build Kick Ass Teams, and The Small Business Playbook, explains the common pattern he sees among executives: despite outward confidence, many privately admit they don’t know what they’re doing and lack a playbook, making leadership lonely. He describes his Level Up Your Leadership training as a step-by-step framework focused on structure, vision, strategy, and accountable execution to stop “rudderless” decision-making that causes team whiplash, emphasizing that vision can be short-term (weekly or monthly) with KPIs and proactive incentives. They also discuss the role of coaching, luck versus preparation in business, Pete’s background across multiple industries, and self-publishing versus traditional publishing economics and distribution.
 
00:00 Season Three Welcome
00:21 Meet Pete Srodoski
01:50 No One Has a Playbook
03:45 CEO Ego and Loneliness
05:46 Why Startups Feel Hard
07:36 Luck and Preparedness
08:51 Structure Vision Strategy
13:40 Stress and Flying Blind
14:41 Short Term Vision Systems
16:23 Targets Incentives KPIs
17:16 Leading Metrics Mindset
18:55 Knowing What Good Looks Like
19:27 Why Coaches Matter
21:03 Ego Costs Real Money
21:47 Thinking Bigger Targets
22:47 Airplane View Strategy
24:22 Small Business Playbook
26:59 CEO COO Background
28:58 Failures And Scar Tissue
32:39 Coaching Model In Practice
34:52 Where To Find Pete
35:37 Self Publishing Economics
39:27 Final Wrap And Callouts
Sponsor by Hines Law https://hineslaw.org/
Sponsor by Bravos Leadership https://bravosleadership.com/#

How to Fix a Stagnant Business in 2026 (AI + KPIs + Simplified Systems) | Micah Logan

In this Season 3 episode of Hines On Air, host Matt Hines interviews business consultant Micah Logan about why building and growing companies stays difficult even for experienced entrepreneurs and how adapting, including to AI, requires constant learning. Logan predicts AI will be a net positive overall, replacing some jobs but enhancing and creating others, while arguing many industries will still demand a human touch. He shares a turnaround story from a small insurance agency stuck at six figures due to lack of goals, scattered software, weak leadership, and the owner focusing on operator tasks instead of growth. Logan explains using simplified KPI tracking, reducing the tech stack, and a “zero-based thinking” rebuild of processes, emphasizing ruthless implementation within 24–48 hours; the turnaround took about eight months and reduced staff from five to three. He closes with core advice: do ordinary things consistently better than others, and prioritize speed and action over perfection.
 
00:00 Season Three Welcome
01:06 Why Business Stays Hard
02:14 AI and Staying Relevant
03:55 AI Jobs and Human Touch
07:45 Business Turnaround War Story
10:18 Leadership Apathy and Systems
13:50 Be Extraordinary at Basics
15:33 Simplify and Track Numbers
21:16 Zero Based Thinking Framework
24:40 Turnaround Timeline and Costs
26:59 Two Principles for Entrepreneurs
30:06 Closing Thoughts and Call to Action
 
Soponsor by Hines Law https://hineslaw.org/
Sponsor by Bravos Leadership https://bravosleadership.com/#

How AI Is Transforming Climate Risk & Forecasting – Michael Ulin, CEO of Tenki AI

In this Season 3 episode of Hines On Air, host Matt Hines (Atlanta, GA) talks with Michael Ulin, co-founder and CEO of Tenki AI, about the rapid growth of AI startup companies and how AI is evolving from earlier “discriminative” models to today’s generative AI systems. Ulin shares his background on the founding team at Zesty AI, which builds climate risk models for property insurance, and explains why insurers are increasingly forced to model “secondary perils” like wildfire, hail, and wind risk as losses rise due to more severe events, building in riskier locations, and more expensive homes. He describes how Zesty’s AI wildfire underwriting models scored property-level risk using factors such as vegetation density, slope/elevation, and roof type, and notes Zesty raised over $78M and continues operating under other founders. Ulin explains Tenki AI (a Japanese term meaning “weather,” also “divine will” or “turning point”) and its focus on AI-driven probabilistic forecasting, starting with prediction markets and covering areas such as economics, politics, and sports, with weather as a future application. He discusses how forecasting has historically required specialized expertise, but can now be run quickly using AI and multi-agent research systems drawing from public internet data (with plans to incorporate private organizational data later).
He shares examples of forecasts, including a prediction about Maduro being gone by March 2026 that Tenki rated at 55% versus prediction markets at around 30%, and work on the likelihood of cannabis rescheduling, emphasizing regulatory timing and lobbying pressures. Ulin reports Tenki is three months old and currently achieving about 59% accuracy on higher-uncertainty questions compared to an expected 53% based on market pricing.
The episode closes with how to find Tenki at trytenki.ai and contact Ulin via X/Twitter or LinkedIn, plus a brief discussion of the emotional “rollercoaster” of startup building.
00:00 Welcome Back: Season 3 Kickoff + What to Expect
00:21 Meet Michael Ulin: AI Startup Builder & 10Key AI CEO
01:20 Climate Risk Reality Check: Insurance, Mortgages & Coastal Property
05:23 Inside Zesty AI: How Wildfire Risk Models Actually Work
06:58 Why ‘Secondary Perils’ Became a Big Deal for Insurers
08:07 What ‘Tenki’ Means + The Big Idea: AI-Powered Forecasting
11:43 Forecasting vs Stock-Picking: What AI Can (and Can’t) Predict
13:21 From Zesty to Paxton to Tenki: Building Companies in the AI Shifts
15:03 How Tenki Forecasts on Demand: Probabilities, Models, and Use Cases 17:56 Real Forecast Examples: Maduro, Elections, and Cannabis Rescheduling 24:45 Accuracy, Methodology, and the Data Pipeline (Public Now, Private Next) 29:09 Wrap-Up: How to Find Tenki + The Startup Rollercoaster
Sponsor By Hines Law https://hineslaw.org/
Sponsor By Bravos Leadership https://bravosleadership.com/#

The Truth About US Dietary Guidelines, SNAP & Food Policy | Expert Park Wilde Explains

In this episode, host Matt Hines sits down with Park Wilde, an expert in US food policy and nutrition. Wilde delves into important topics such as changes in federal nutrition assistance programs like SNAP and the new dietary guidelines for Americans. He provides insights into how these guidelines influence everything from military cafeteria standards to school meals, and discusses the nuances in recommendations on processed foods, red meat, and whole grains. Wilde also touches on food safety, farm subsidies, and the impact of tariffs on American farmers. Filled with rich information and thoughtful discussion, this episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of food policy and nutrition in the United States.
00:00 Introduction to Hines On Air Season Three
00:23 Meet Our Guest: Park Wilde, Food Policy Expert
01:17 Current Research and Dietary Guidelines
02:20 Changes in Dietary Recommendations
05:18 Debate on Processed Foods and Additives
19:22 Food Policy and Governmental Decisions
23:03 Farm Subsidies and Tariffs
35:45 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
 
Sponsor by Hines Law https://hineslaw.org/
Sponsor by Bravos Leadership  https://bravosleadership.com/#

The True Impact of Deportation: Legal Consequences, Human Cost & Real Stories

In this episode of Hines On Air, Matt Hines discusses the impacts of deportation and immigration policies in the U.S. Using a recent Minnesota incident as a case study, he examines the lack of due process for immigrants, both legal and illegal. Matt emphasizes the importance of constitutional rights and how their erosion affects everyone, not just immigrants. Tune in for an eye-opening conversation about immigration law, human rights, and the consequences of flawed legal system practices.
00:00 Introduction to Hines On Air Season Three
00:23 The Role of Our Law Firm
00:46 Case Analysis: Minnesota Incident
01:58 Issues with Deportation and Due Process
03:52 Constitutional Rights for All
05:42 The Impact of Misinterpretation
08:18 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
 
Sponsor by Hines Law https://hineslaw.org/
Sponsor by Bravos Leadership https://bravosleadership.com/#

Why Trump Really Targeted Venezuela: Oil, Regime Change & What They’re Not Telling You

In season three of Hines On Air, host Matt Hines discusses the recent U.S. invasion of Venezuela, led by Trump, focusing on the primary motive—oil. Hines critically examines the lack of evidence regarding claims of drug trafficking and compares this event with previous instances of U.S.-led regime changes, such as in Guatemala and Libya. Cautioning against the historical failures of such interventions, Hines hopes for a positive outcome for the Venezuelan people, while expressing skepticism about the Trump administration's approach. He encourages viewer interaction and feedback throughout.
00:00 Introduction to Hines On Air Season Three
00:19 The Venezuela Invasion: Trump's Motives
01:03 Questioning the Drug Narrative
02:19 Impact on Venezuelans and the Future
03:18 Historical Context of US Regime Changes
04:05 Case Study: Guatemala and United Fruit Company
06:00 Case Study: Libya and Mummar Kadafi
08:26 Reflections on Regime Change and Its Consequences
11:01 Conclusion and Viewer Interaction
 
Sponsor By Hines Law https://hineslaw.org/
Sponsor By Bravos Leadership  https://bravosleadership.com/#

Trump, Venezuela & the Truth the Media Won’t Tell You | Real Venezuelan Voices

In this special episode of Hines on Air, host Matt Hines invites Venezuelan expatriates Andreina Martinez and Ed Morales to discuss the recent political upheavals involving Donald Trump and Venezuela. They provide a deep dive into the historical and current political landscape of Venezuela, from the rise of Hugo Chavez to the present-day challenges under Maduro's regime. They share personal anecdotes about life under different governments, the impact of Chavez's policies, and their perspectives on the recent American intervention. The conversation addresses economic struggles, the mass exodus of professionals, and the current realities facing Venezuelan citizens. Tune in for an insightful dialogue that cuts through the media noise, delivering real experiences and opinions of Venezuelans directly affected by these changes.
 
00:00 Introduction to Hines On Air Season Three
00:23 Special Episode: Trump's Actions in Venezuela
01:22 Introducing the Guests: Venezuelan Perspectives
01:59 Life in Venezuela: Historical Context
05:12 Chavez's Rise to Power
16:38 Impact of Chavez's Policies
21:08 Cuba's Influence and Oil Trade 21:52 Venezuela's Oil Crisis
23:00 Economic Collapse and Black Market
24:30 Chavez's Policies and Their Impact
26:48 Education and Knowledge Control
28:10 Mass Migration and Desperation
32:00 Corruption and Insecurity
39:09 Hope for Change in Venezuela
45:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
 
Sponsor by Hines Law https://hineslaw.org/
Sponsor by Bravos Leadership https://bravosleadership.com/#

The Truth About U.S. Politics No One Talks About | Senate Candidate Speaks Out

In this exciting episode of Hines On Air, host Matt Hines welcomes Marissa Simoni, a candidate running for the US Senate from Minnesota. Together, they dive deep into the complexities of the political landscape, discussing the transformative effects of entering politics, the influence of financial incentives, and systemic challenges. Marissa shares her motivations, experiences, and her vision for a fairer political system that aligns with the people's interests. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation about politics, integrity, and making a positive change.
00:00 Introduction to Hines On Air Season Three
00:18 Special Guest: Marissa Simoni
00:49 The Fascination with Politics
01:53 Challenges in Politics
06:04 Game Theory and Political Incentives
09:23 Media and Political Conflict
12:41 Elon Musk and Political Influence
18:34 Corruption and Whistleblowers
20:59 Navigating a Lose-Lose Situation
21:22 Realigning Incentives for a Win-Win
22:18 Political Tug-of-War
24:36 The Epstein Scandal and Its Implications
25:45 Protecting Families Amidst Corruption
28:54 Challenges in Political Campaigns
34:09 Affordable Housing Crisis
37:05 Balancing Interests: Individuals vs. Investors
40:21 Final Thoughts and Farewell
Sponsor by Hines Law
Sponsor by Bravos Leadership