Adapt or Die: The Truth About AI in Business with Mike Koenigs Artwork

Inside the Speakeasy Podcast

Inside the Speakeasy with Eric Berman

Welcome to Inside the Speakeasy—where the doors don’t open for everyone.

Hosted by Eric Berman, this is the podcast for entrepreneurs, marketers, and empire-builders who are done with surface-level fluff and ready to unlock the real, gritty playbooks of the boldest business minds in the game.

We’re talking unfiltered conversations with the scrappiest, smartest, most unreasonably driven entrepreneurs in the U.S.—the ones scaling faster, failing forward, and rewriting the rules while no one’s watching.

You won’t find recycled advice or fake “10X hacks” here. You’ll find what actually works—from the war rooms, closed-door masterminds, and late-night “what the hell do I do now?” moments that most won’t admit to.

Because let’s be honest…
You’re smart.
You’re doing well.
But you know deep down you’re still playing small.

So stop pretending everything’s fine.
You’re not here for comfort—you’re here to evolve.

This is Inside the Speakeasy.
And once you’re in…
You don’t go back.

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Inside the Speakeasy Podcast

Adapt or Die: The Truth About AI in Business with Mike Koenigs

June 10, 2025 • Speakeasy Mastermind • Season 1 • Episode 7

There’s something wild about reaching a major milestone—like selling your company—only to realize you’re not sure who you are without it. That’s exactly where Serial Entrepreneur and 19x Bestselling Author, Mike Koenigs, found himself, and it sparked a whole new chapter. In this episode, we talk about how AI became a game-changer in his journey of reinvention, and how it can do the same for other founders feeling stuck, anxious, or wondering what’s next. Mike gets real about the pressure to stay relevant and the inner battles that almost all founders face.

We get into what it actually looks like to lead with AI instead of just reacting to it. Mike breaks down the difference between chasing shiny tools and building something sustainable—and why being a curious generalist might be your biggest edge right now. He also shares how a simple but profound insight from Dan Sullivan helped him stop living in a constant state of stress and start creating with more ease.

What makes this conversation special isn’t just the success stories—it’s the honesty about what it takes to start over when the world (and tech) is moving fast. We talk about his latest work, Your Next Act, and how to build a business that actually fits the life you want now. If you’ve been feeling behind or overwhelmed, this conversation might feel like a deep breath.

Key Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Introduction.

[00:03:34] Technology creating new job opportunities.

[00:12:40] The reality of business stress.

[00:14:38] Publish and Profit – spotting a market shift

[00:18:11] The greatest fear of founders.

[00:20:33] The dilemma majority of founders face after exit.

[00:24:23] Hiring a challenging COO.

[00:29:34] AI and its impact on business.

[00:32:40] Resourcefulness in the AI age.

[00:35:01] Elevating brand status and authority.

[00:38:29] Mental health and technology.

Memorable Quotes:

"Unresourceful people have no place in any position in any business any longer because you can learn how to do anything and refine your thinking with the help of AI." [00:32:45] – Mike Koenigs

"If you don't pay, you don't pay attention." [00:36:23] – Mike Koenigs

Links Mentioned:

The AI Accelerator: https://aiaccelerator.com/free

The AI Accelerator (AI Mic Version): https://mikekoenigs.com/AIpodcast

Your Next Act: https://mikekoenigs.com/free

Your Next Act Podcast: https://mikekoenigs.com/YNAPC

Super Power Accelerator: https://superpoweraccelerator.com/

Connect with Mike Koenigs:

Website: https://www.mikekoenigs.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MikeKoenigs/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/koenigs

Twitter/X: https://x.com/MikeKoenigsReal