In Episode 7 of AI on the Rocks, host Arian Green—AI consultant and entrepreneur—sits down with Emily Conklin, VP of Sales at Snider-Blake Personnel, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping modern sales, recruiting, and business relationships.

Emily shares her journey in sales leadership, how her team has adopted AI into their daily workflow, and why the human element remains the biggest competitive advantage in an AI-driven world. Together, they discuss practical AI applications, prompt engineering, automation, hiring, customer communication, and where AI still falls short.

The conversation also dives into the future of AI agents, robotics, trust, ethics, and what sales professionals need to do today to stay valuable tomorrow.

Whether you're a sales leader, recruiter, entrepreneur, or simply curious about AI's impact on business, this episode offers practical insights, real-world experiences, and thoughtful perspectives on the future of work.

Key Topics / Time Stamps

00:00 – 03:10 • Cheers, bourbon tasting, and introducing Emily Conklin

03:10 – 06:40 • Emily's background and the history of Snider-Blake Personnel

06:40 – 12:45 • How Emily built a career in sales and what makes great salespeople

12:45 – 17:10 • Emily's first experiences with ChatGPT and adopting AI into her workflow

17:10 – 23:50 • AI in recruiting, candidate outreach, and improving hiring speed

23:50 – 29:45 • AI's strengths—and why human relationships still matter in sales

29:45 – 36:40 • Prompt engineering, AI adoption, and getting better business results

36:40 – 43:50 • AI research, verifying information, and using AI responsibly

43:50 – 49:50 • AI agents, automation, and discussions around AI consciousness

49:50 – 55:50 • Robotics, AI in everyday life, and future adoption

55:50 – 59:50 • Advice for sales professionals preparing for an AI-powered future

59:50 – 1:01:53 • Final thoughts, rapid reflections, and closing remarks

Best Key Takeaways

"AI is an amplifier—not a replacement—for great sales professionals."

- Emily Conklin

Links & Resources

🎙 Listen to AI on the Rocks

• Spotify: AI on the Rocks

• YouTube: AI on the Rocks Youtube

• Apple Podcasts: AI on the Rocks Podcast

• Other Podcast Platforms: AI on the Rocks Amazon

Host: Arian Green – AI Consultant & Entrepreneur

Guest: Emily Conklin – VP of Sales, Snider-Blake Personnel

Live from the floor of Cincy AI Week, host Arian Green sits down with Dave Peterson—executive coach, fractional AI officer, and former E.W. Scripps media executive who once oversaw $600M in revenue. Pour a glass of EH Taylor and join the conversation as they break down what it truly means to navigate the rapidly shifting landscape of artificial intelligence from a non-technical perspective.

In this episode, Dave shares his journey from being a digital-native journalist to an AI builder, exploring the fascinating contrast between "Efficiency AI" (using automation to cut headcount) and "Opportunity AI" (empowering employees to grow the business). They dive deep into the cultural buzz of regional tech communities, the creativity found in the "toddlerhood" of generative tech, and the power of a collaborative ecosystem. To wrap things up, members of the live audience join in to craft a "living artifact"—blending local and legendary bourbons to represent the shared momentum of Cincy AI Week 2026.

Key topics/Time Stamp

00:00:00 - 00:02:22 | Show Intro & Tasting Notes: Sipping EH Taylor with Voice Assistant "Covington"

00:02:22 - 00:04:00 | Introducing Dave Peterson & The Cincy AI Week Experience

00:04:00 - 00:05:27 | Rethinking the Cost and Return on Tokens (ROI)

00:05:27 - 00:07:53 | A Non-Technical Leader's Journey & The First "Aha!" Prompting Moment

00:07:53 - 00:09:09 | Solo Entrepreneurship and Building Tools Without a Tech Team

00:09:09 - 00:11:01 | Bypassing the Gaslighting: Finding the Buzz in Local AI Communities

00:11:01 - 00:13:48 | Creating on a Blank Canvas in the "Toddlerhood" of AI

00:13:48 - 00:16:22 | Facing the Fears: Opportunity AI vs. Efficiency AI

00:16:22 - 00:17:58 | Lessons for Modern CEOs and Adapting to Historical Tech Revolutions

00:17:58 - 00:19:19 | Driving Top-Line Revenue Growth vs. Bottom-Line Cutting

00:19:19 - 00:21:30 | Encouraging Inclusivity on the AI Spectrum (Technical vs. Non-Technical)

00:21:30 - 00:23:01 | Breaking Down Complex Blueprints Without the Jargon

00:23:01 - 00:28:10 | Creating the Living Artifact: Audience Bourbon Pours (New Riff, Angel's Envy, Weller) & Outro

Best Key Takeaway

"Don't be afraid to figure out how AI can replace 100% of your current daily tasks. True innovation isn't about Efficiency AI—using agents to eliminate jobs to save money. It's about Opportunity AI—learning how to adapt, automate your own baseline workload, and free up your capacity to drive fresh revenue and scale your business."

Link & Resources

Subscribe to the Podcast: https://aiontherocks.nky.ai/

Learn more about regional tech events: @CincyAIWeek

Featured Bourbon: Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch

#AIontheRocks #CincyAIWeek #EHTaylor #CincinnatiAI #NorthernKentucky #Podcast #GenerativeAI #TechCommunity

Can lawyers trust AI?

In this episode of AI on the Rocks, host Arian Green sits down with Matthew Taulbee, President of the Northern Kentucky Bar Association, to discuss the growing role of artificial intelligence in the legal profession and why human judgment still matters.

As AI tools like ChatGPT become increasingly common in professional environments, many users are beginning to rely on AI-generated answers without verification. But what happens when AI gets it wrong?

Matthew shares real-world insights on AI hallucinations, legal ethics, professional accountability, and the risks of becoming overly dependent on technology.

Whether you're an attorney, entrepreneur, business leader, or AI enthusiast, this conversation provides practical insights into responsible AI adoption and the future of professional work.

Topics Covered:

• AI in the legal profession

• ChatGPT and legal research

• AI hallucinations and misinformation

• Professional responsibility and ethics

• Critical thinking in the AI era

• Why lawyers must verify AI outputs

• Future of AI for professionals

• Human expertise vs artificial intelligence

Key takeaway:

"Professionals remain responsible for the accuracy of their work, regardless of whether AI assisted in creating it." — Matt Taulbee

Connect & Learn More

NKY.AI

⁠https://www.nky.ai/⁠

The Fort NKY

⁠https://www.thefortnky.com/⁠

Northern Kentucky Bar Association

⁠https://nkybar.com/⁠

13th Colony Distillery

⁠https://www.13thcolonydistillery.com/products/2026-cask-strength-southern-bourbon/⁠

Subscribe for more conversations about AI, entrepreneurship, leadership, technology, innovation, and bourbon.

👇 What do you think?

Should professionals trust AI-generated answers without verification? Share your thoughts in the comments.

#AIOnTheRocks #ArtificialIntelligence #Lawyers #LegalTech #ChatGPT #Attorney #BusinessLeadership #AI #LegalInnovation #Podcast

Title: AI, Bourbon, & Executive Coaching | Why True Leadership Requires Tech and Intuition

About the Episode: What does elite leadership look like in the age of automation? In this episode of AI on the Rocks, executive coach Dave joins Arian at "The Fort" to break down the psychological and tactical shifts required to lead modern teams.

Over a premium glass of Blanton’s Bourbon, they unpack why the traditional "command and control" corporate structures are failing, how high-performing executives are using AI to eradicate administrative noise, and why true human intuition can never be replicated by a machine. If you want to scale your output without losing your sanity or your human edge, this deep-dive coaching session is for you.

Key Topics:

• The Pour: Blanton's Bourbon. Savoring the smooth notes of creamy vanilla, caramel, butterscotch, and honey with a touch of rye spice.

• The Legacy Trap: Why many corporate executives are still trapped in old-school, assembly-line habits that destroy productivity.

• Coaching the Modern Leader: Dave shares the common blind spots high-earning leaders face when adapting to 2026 workflows.

• AI as the Ultimate Filter: How to use technology to handle data processing, allowing you to focus entirely on human strategy and relationships.

• The 2026 Workforce Paradox: Balancing radical efficiency with genuine empathy to keep your team motivated.

Takeaway Quote: "Technology shouldn't replace the executive's vision; it should remove the friction so they can execute it flawlessly."

Visit The Fort NKY: https://www.thefortnky.com/

Connect with Dave: dave@gruntledleadership.com

Connect with Arian: ariangreen@icloud.com

Blanton's Bourbon: https://www.blantonsbourbon.com/

NKY.AI: https://www.nky.ai/

Title: AI, Bourbon & Mom: A Mother’s Day Special | AI on the Rocks

About the Episode:

In this heartfelt and humorous Mother's Day special, Arian sits down with the woman who raised him—his mom—at "The Fort" speakeasy. Coming from Kentucky, she admits she’s not exactly a Bourbon connoisseur, so Arian takes her on a "Bourbon journey" starting with a lesson on how to properly prep the palate for a high-proof pour.

Beyond the spirits, they dive into a generational look at technology. From the "WTF" moment of first hearing dial-up internet to the modern era of ChatGPT, Arian’s mom shares her candid thoughts on how AI is changing everything from college papers to the field of Social Work.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• The Pour: Weller Special Reserve. Covington describes the notes of soft vanilla, light caramel, and honey that make this a smooth, beginner-friendly choice.

• Bourbon 101: Arian’s mom learns the "mouthwash" technique and how to identify scents like vanilla and oak.

• Generational Tech Gaps: A nostalgic look back at writing physical checks, mailing stamps, and the "scary" experience of navigating the massive University of Kentucky library.

• AI & Social Work: How AI can act as a resource-finding tool for psychology, rehab centers, and helping others.

• The "Think Too Hard" Rule: A refreshing take on why using AI to maximize efficiency isn't just for techies—it's for anyone who wants to buy back their time.

  
  

Takeaway Quote:

"I like not having to think too hard... if I could produce a paper for a college class [using AI], I would probably go that route."

Links & Resources:

The Fort NKY: https:/⁠/www.thefortnky.com/

AI on the Rocks: ⁠https://www.nky.ai/

W.L. WELLER SPECIAL RESERVE: https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/our-brands/w-l-weller/w-l-weller-special-reserve/?srsltid=AfmBOorIMm7ZsI2rz8cgf8svN8c986SNHQeaBwR4CeBw4fKj-x0ieWDG

About the Episode:

What does it take to move from a college soccer coach to a principal broker managing over 40 agents? BJ Santiago, owner of Haven Homes Group, joins us at "The Fort" to discuss the evolution of the real estate industry in 2026. We explore his unique brokerage model, which prioritizes agent autonomy and higher profit margins for experienced professionals over traditional hand-holding.

BJ shares how he navigated industry skepticism to build a top-performing office in Northern Kentucky and why he believes the next phase of growth involves a heavy reinvestment in technology and community partnerships.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• The Pour: A generous "holiday pour" of Old Forester 1:17 Series Prohibition Era Still Proof—a bold 130-proof conversation starter.

  
  

• The Soccer Connection: How recruiting and patience translate from the pitch to the brokerage.

  
  

• Proving the Model: The reality of surviving and thriving in a "non-traditional" real estate model that critics said wouldn't work.

  
  

• The AI Superhero: Why the agents who embrace AI in 2026 will look like superheroes to the rest of their industry.

  
  

• Reclaiming Family Time: How flexibility in real estate allows BJ to be present for his identical twin boys.

  
  

Takeaway Quote:

"The people who utilize it [AI] well are gonna look like superheroes to the rest of the world in their industry."

Links & Resources:

The Fort NKY: https://www.thefortnky.com/

Haven Homes Group: www.havenhomesgroup.com

AI on the Rocks Sponsorship: https://www.nky.ai/

About the Episode:

In this episode of AI on the Rocks, we sit down with co-founder of ABS Communications and multi-franchise owner Britt Grubbs. Recorded at "The Fort NKY"—a unique community speakeasy and co-working space—this conversation explores the intersection of traditional business values and the hyper-efficiency of 2026.

Britt shares his journey from starting a business in coffee shops to scaling a franchise empire, including his role as the first franchisee for Better Blend. We discuss why he offers his premium co-working space on a donation basis to foster community, and why he believes curiosity is the most valuable currency for the next generation.

Key Topics:

• The Buffalo Trace Standard: Opening the show with a classic 90-proof pour and a commitment to brand accuracy.

• The "Fort NKY" Story: How a 3,000-square-foot extra space became a tribute to the community and the folklore of the "Walking Man".

• Building a Stand-Alone Brand: Insights from scaling ABS and how those lessons applied to growing Better Blend to 16 stores.

• The Mission-Driven Paradigm: Why business isn't just about profit, using the "Hospital Analogy" to explain how AI can free us to focus on our true mission.

• Redefining Education: Britt’s take on trade work, curiosity, and his advice to his daughters regarding college in an AI-driven world.

  
  

Takeaway Quote:

"AI cannot replace the true learning of things... if you're letting it replace your mind, you’re robbing yourself."

Links & Resources:

The Fort NKY: https:/⁠/www.thefortnky.com/⁠

AI on the Rocks Sponsorship: ⁠https://www.nky.ai/

Better Blends: https://betterblends.com/

The world is changing faster than a pour of high-proof bourbon. Are you ready for it?

Join Arian Green, founder of NKY.AI, for the premiere of AI on the Rocks. We’re stripping away the jargon and sitting down for a drink to discuss how Artificial Intelligence is quietly—and powerfully—reshaping our daily lives for the better. From streamlining your business to enhancing your lifestyle, we’re exploring the positive frontier of the AI revolution.

Grab a glass, settle in, and discover why the future is something to toast to. Subscribe now—the first round is on us.