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Anika sat down with Andrew Bolton, CEO and co-founder of Tech Rescue, to explore the massive cultural and corporate shift currently prioritizing artificial intelligence over human connection—and why it’s a losing bet. Starting from a moment of intense frustration while trying to help his grandmother with technology, Andrew bootstrapped a 24/7, human-only tech support company that has defied the "chatbot era" of Silicon Valley. Andrew’s journey offers a masterclass in recognizing the power of empathy in business, building culture in a service company, and why trusting the basics of customer care is the ultimate growth hack.

 

In This Episode

 

The origins of Tech Rescue: Why a simple email forward sparked a fast-growing business

How the tech industry has abandoned the 14% of Americans who struggle with modern devices

The psychological and physiological benefits of talking to a human over a robot

Why implementing a strict "no AI, no chatbots" policy became their greatest competitive advantage

Bootstrapping the company with his mother as CFO after getting rejected by traditional VCs

The connection between lowering a caller's cortisol levels and boosting corporate retention rates

Why the modern education system’s failures present a massive threat to the U.S. workforce

How Tech Rescue grew from answering calls at 2 AM to a team of 78 employees in three years

The danger of monopolies and the slow creep of corporate mediocrity

Why real success isn't just about billions—it’s about protecting creativity, connection, and culture

 

Timestamps

 

00:00 Introduction: Solving a human problem in an AI world

01:34 The origin story: Watching an 80-year-old struggle to forward an email

04:47 How the relentless pace of tech has left 14% of the population behind

09:21 The death of customer service: Why optimization actually means abandonment

11:24 The ultimate value proposition: Choosing humans over chatbots

16:01 Walking away from Wall Street to build a business with his mom

18:51 The fundamental truth: How you treat your customers is how they treat your wallet

22:15 Building a 24/7 call center powered by psychology majors, not IT techs

24:01 The science of empathy: Lowering cortisol to reduce call times and save money

26:27 Smacking the "Palo Alto 5-year plan" and proving empathy is profitable

33:13 Why hiring for emotional intelligence is harder—and more important—than hiring for tech skills

36:31 A warning about the U.S. education system and the future of the workforce

43:25 Why becoming a billionaire in a mediocre world means absolutely nothing

48:44 Conclusion: The core mission of connecting people

 

Key Insights & Takeaways

 

Insight 1: "Optimization" Often Just Means Abandonment

 

For the last decade, companies have used terms like "optimization" or "streamlining" to justify firing their HR, sales, and customer service departments, replacing them with endless phone trees and chatbots. This has created a massive void in the market where customers are desperate to speak with a real human—a void that human-centric businesses can easily and profitably fill.

 

Insight 2: Empathy is a Quantifiable Metric

 

Tech Rescue hires psychology and sociology majors rather than IT professionals because teaching tech is easier than teaching empathy. According to medical studies, simply addressing a caller by their name can lower cortisol and adrenaline levels by 13%. In a call center environment, a calmer customer translates directly to a conversation that ends seven minutes sooner, vastly reducing operational costs and boosting retention.

 

Insight 3: The "No Chatbot" Guarantee is a Growth Strategy

 

While VCs and marketing agencies constantly pressure companies to adopt AI to save money, Tech Rescue found that their greatest selling point is their strict refusal to use it. In a world where consumers are fatigued by automated voices and generic AI outputs, guaranteeing a human interaction builds a level of brand trust and loyalty that algorithms cannot replicate.

 

Insight 4: Generational Tech Gaps Require Psychological Safety

 

Older generations aren't just confused by rapidly changing tech (like Meta rearranging its settings menus multiple times a year); they are often embarrassed to ask for help. Tech Rescue provides a psychologically safe space for users to ask questions—whether it’s about online banking or setting up a dating profile on Bumble—without feeling rushed or condescended to.

 

Insight 5: You Can Make Money by Doing Good in the World

 

Andrew pushes back against the modern corporate mandate of "alpha at all costs," which he argues leads to monotonous, poor-quality products and a lack of innovation. His core philosophy—often repeated as "Business 101"—is that if you solve a genuine problem and treat people with respect, the financial success will naturally follow. Monopolies prevent competition, but incredible customer service shatters monopolies.

 

Resources & Links Mentioned

Tech Rescue

 

About Andrew Bolton

 

Andrew Bolton is the CEO and co-founder of Tech Rescue, a 24/7 human-powered tech support company. A Harvard-trained strategist with Wall Street roots, Andrew walked away from traditional corporate America to build a business centered entirely around empathy, trust, and connection. He co-founded the company alongside his mother after witnessing firsthand how the modern tech industry disregards the elderly and the less tech-savvy. Today, he manages a growing team of 78 employees out of a call center in Colorado, proving that human connection is the ultimate competitive advantage.

 

Connect with Andrew Bolton

Website: https://techrescue.io/

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Reclaiming Your Power: Surviving Workplace Chaos and Doing Great Work with Melissa Swift

 

Anika sat down with Melissa Swift, founder and CEO of Anthrome Insight, to tackle the reality of the modern workday: constant interruptions, hyper-emotional environments, and overwhelming chaos. Following the release of her new book, How to Do Great Work in a Fast Changing World, Melissa shares why systemic organizational changes are great, but individuals need actionable survival strategies now. Drawing on research from high-stakes professionals like firefighters and ER doctors, this conversation provides a practical framework for identifying your true strengths, dealing with chaotic colleagues, and recognizing when a job is fundamentally broken.

 

In This Episode

 

The COVID-era breaking point that inspired a shift from organizational strategy to individual empowerment

Breaking down the "Effectiveness Architecture": Knowledge, Methods, People, and Technology

The self-checkout paradox: why automating tech actually requires a massive increase in human "soft skills"

The four trends making us less effective at work, with a deep dive into navigating chaos

Natural chaos (the science of surprises) versus the frustration of people operating chaotically

The Muppet Theory of Management: knowing when to deploy your "Order Muppets" vs. "Chaos Muppets"

What corporate America can learn from firefighters about deep tech mastery and acute role clarity

How organizations inadvertently gaslight employees by hiring them for jobs the company culture actively rejects

Three concrete steps you can take this week to carve out space and reclaim your sanity

 

Timestamps

 

00:00 Introduction: Operating effectively in a fast-changing world

01:17 Why Melissa's audience demanded a book focused on individual survival strategies

02:52 The COVID breaking point and the metaphor of the empty Soviet streetcar

04:13 The Effectiveness Architecture: simplifying 30,000 skills into four core pillars

06:46 Why technology rollouts fail without the proper "people skills" training

09:38 Four trends destroying workplace effectiveness: intensification, emotion, transparency, and chaos

11:23 Natural chaos vs. human chaos (and the Muppet theory of team dynamics)

14:48 What white-collar workers can learn from the training habits of firefighters

19:51 The myth of the "skills gap" and the untapped power of self-directed learners

23:55 Identifying your superpower (Knowledge, Methods, People, or Tech) and overcoming stereotypes

29:45 Why role clarity is the first casualty of chaos and how to get it back

33:50 How to recognize if your job is fundamentally broken or set up to fail

39:08 Three actionable steps to reclaim your effectiveness and boundaries this week

43:35 Favorite quote: Oscar Wilde on the vital art of brevity

 

Key Insights & Takeaways

 

Insight 1: The Effectiveness Architecture Simplifies Work

Instead of getting bogged down in corporate frameworks boasting 30,000 different micro-skills, individual effectiveness boils down to four clear pillars: Knowledge, Methods, People, and Technology. Identifying which pillar is your natural superpower (and which is your weakest link) allows you to partner with complementary colleagues and combat workplace stereotypes.

 

Insight 2: Automation Requires More "People Skills," Not Less

When companies automate roles (like introducing self-checkout lanes), they often underestimate the human element. The remaining workers suddenly have to act as IT support, security, and customer de-escalation all at once. Rolling out advanced technology—including AI—without training people on the soft skills required to manage the human friction around it is a recipe for burnout.

 

Insight 3: Not All Chaos is Created Equal

There is "natural chaos" (the inevitable surprises of a shifting economy or supply chain) and there is the unnatural chaos of colleagues operating erratically. You manage natural chaos through scenario planning, but you manage human chaos by building strict boundaries and strategically deploying the right personalities (your organized "Kermits" vs. your adaptable "Animals").

 

Insight 4: High-Stakes Professionals Prioritize Deep Mastery and Crisp Roles

Unlike corporate workers who switch between dozens of apps a day without truly mastering any, professionals like firefighters are given the time and space to completely master a single new tool before their lives depend on it. Similarly, in an ER or on a fireground, role clarity is acute. In corporate settings, blurred roles masquerade as "collaboration," but they actually drain creativity and cause systemic failure.

 

Insight 5: Your Job Might Be Fundamentally Broken

Sometimes your lack of effectiveness isn't your fault. If you are hired to be a "change agent" in a company that inherently rejects innovation, or if you are told to "lead through influence" without any actual resources or power, you are fighting gravity. Recognizing when a job is structurally broken is the first step in deciding whether to renegotiate your role or walk away.

 

Resources & Links Mentioned

How to Do Great Work in a Fast Changing World by Melissa Swift

Work Here Now by Melissa Swift

 

About Melissa Swift

 

Melissa Swift is the founder and CEO of Anthrome Insight, a leading organizational effectiveness consultancy. With an extensive background working with large global organizations like Mercer, Korn Ferry, Deloitte, and Capgemini, she is a recognized authority on the future of work and a regular columnist for the MIT Sloan Management Review. She is the author of Work Here Now and her latest release, How to Do Great Work in a Fast Changing World.

 

Connect with Melissa Swift

 

Website: Anthrome Insight

LinkedIn: Melissa Swift

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Anika sat down with Katie Krimitsos to explore one of the most counterintuitive business pivots in podcasting history. The conversation revealed the realities of walking away from a successful coaching business to launch the Women's Meditation Network, the process of recognizing the difference between intuition and fear, and how she scaled one podcast into a massive 24-show network. Katie's journey offers a masterclass in alignment, strategic audience building, and honoring your creative evolution while prioritizing family.

In This Episode
The origins of Biz Women Rock and the power of being a first-mover in the podcast space
The terrifying moment intuition told Katie to walk away from her first six-figure year
Why the most powerful business strategy is distinguishing between your true "voice" and the "noise"
The messy, 18-month transition of running two businesses while raising a toddler and a newborn
How to utilize paid ads, app features, and cross-promotions to guarantee podcast growth
The strategy behind building a 24-show network and why not every podcast has to be a massive moneymaker
Licensing content, internal product building, and creating a robust, high-converting funnel
Why creative expression—not just profit—must remain the driving force of your work

Timestamps
00:00 Introduction: The counterintuitive pivot to a 170-million listen empire
01:14 Discovering the power of podcasting in 2013 and launching Biz Women Rock
05:36 The defining moment of intuition: Walking away from a six-figure business
10:30 Launching the Women's Meditation Network and recognizing the open market gap
14:41 How to separate the true voice of intuition from the noise of ego
22:05 Tactical podcast growth: Using paid ads on smaller podcast apps
26:28 The power of cross-promotions and episode swaps for audience sharing
28:39 Expanding from one show to a 24-podcast network
38:08 Internal product building and licensing content to third-party apps
46:28 The mind-body-soul connection and finding new creative fulfillment
51:43 Favorite mantra: Why "It's all a game" is the best mindset for success

Key Insights & Takeaways

Insight 1: True Intuition Requires Stillness and Practice

The voice of intuition is often drowned out by the "noise" of ego, fear, and external expectations. Katie emphasizes that distinguishing between the two requires daily practice in small things—like listening to what your body actually wants to eat—so you can trust the voice when it asks you to make massive business pivots.

Insight 2: Strategic Investment is Necessary for Scale

While organic growth is important, Katie actively invested in paid advertisements on smaller podcast apps to acquire listeners at a defined cost-per-subscriber. She also leveraged cross-promotions and episode swaps with complementary shows (like sleep podcasts) to consistently bring in highly targeted new listeners.

Insight 3: The Network Model Allows for Niche Experimentation

Building a 24-show network means that not every podcast has to carry the financial weight of the business. Massive shows (like Sleep Meditation for Women) generate the primary revenue, which affords Katie the freedom to launch highly-niched shows (like Meditation for Panic Attacks or Meditation for Kids) that serve smaller, specific audiences without financial stress.

Insight 4: Your Product Can Be Monetized in Multiple Ways

Katie recognized early on that her meditations (the MP3/MP4 files) were the actual products. Instead of relying solely on podcast advertising (CPM), she distributes and licenses her content to third-party apps (like Insight Timer and Aura), creating multiple, passive revenue streams from the exact same content.

Insight 5: Creative Expression is the Ultimate Driver of Business

A business can be highly profitable, but if the founder feels "gray" or "blah," it's often a sign of suppressed creativity. Katie highlights the importance of continually evolving the business—such as incorporating physical well-being into her mind-soul offerings—to ensure the work remains fulfilling and energetically aligned.

Resources & Links Mentioned

Women's Meditation Network
Meditate to Magic Course

About Katie Krimitsos

Katie Krimitsos is the founder and CEO of the Women's Meditation Network, a massive media empire that has garnered over 170 million listens. A pioneer in the podcasting space, she previously hosted the successful Biz Women Rock podcast before making a radical pivot in 2018 to follow her intuition into the meditation space. Today, she manages a network of 24 distinct meditation podcasts while prioritizing time freedom and raising her two daughters.

Connect with Katie Krimitsos

Website: https://womensmeditationnetwork.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiekrimitsos/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womensmeditationnetwork
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womensmeditationnetwork

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Anika sat down with Tim Lindsay to explore what it really takes to build a publishing company from the ground up—starting with negative net worth and zero safety net. The conversation revealed the realities of bootstrapping Tellwell Publishing to over 6,000 books, the critical differences between traditional and self-publishing, and how a 128-day NICU crisis tested his leadership. Tim's journey offers a masterclass in resilience, scaling teams, and understanding the true strategic value of writing a book.

In This Episode

Quitting a day job with massive credit card debt and mastering the art of bootstrapping
The evolution of self-publishing and why traditional publishing gatekeepers are losing their grip
The three core motivations for writing a book: Give, Build, and Journey
Scaling a team from 1 to 12 (the honeymoon phase) versus the painful jump to 30 employees
Navigating a 128-day NICU crisis while keeping a growing business from collapsing
Why the "Guide" function is the missing link in the modern publishing landscape
Writing The Call to Authorship in just 30 minutes a day before the second cup of coffee
The importance of team cohesion and why traditional HR rules often miss the mark

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction: Bootstrapping a publishing company from nothing
01:34 The leap into self-employment with $50,000 in credit card debt
07:04 How Amazon and Print-on-Demand revolutionized the publishing industry
10:40 Understanding the real reasons people write books (Give, Build, Journey)
12:25 The incredible story of The 10-Year-Old Man and publishing for impact
21:44 The honeymoon startup phase and the chaos of scaling past 12 employees
29:29 The parallels between starting a business, writing a book, and starting a family
32:53 Tim's personal writing routine for The Call to Authorship
36:58 Surviving a 128-day NICU crisis without burning out the business
43:56 Why the "Guide" function became Tellwell Publishing's secret sauce
48:34 Redefining book success: visibility and strategy over royalties
51:14 Why team cohesion matters more than traditional management
55:08 Atomic Habits and a powerful William Blake quote on taking action

Key Insights & Takeaways

Insight 1: The Three Core Motivations for Authorship (Give, Build, Journey)

People don't just write books to make a profit. The drive to publish typically stems from three areas: "Give" (serving the reader or society), "Build" (using the book as a strategic tool to grow a business or speaking career), and the "Journey" (personal healing, expression, and meaning). Understanding your primary motivation changes how you write and market the book.

Insight 2: The "Guide" Function is the Missing Link in Publishing

While self-publishing offers higher royalties and creative control, it can be an isolating and overwhelming process. Tellwell succeeded by institutionalizing the "Guide" role—a mix of advice, project management, quality control, and emotional encouragement that empowers authors without removing their creative autonomy.

Insight 3: The Danger Zone of Scaling is Between 12 and 30 Employees

Growing a team to 12 people feels like a honeymoon phase where everyone communicates like a volleyball team in a huddle. But scaling past 20 requires building a functional management team. This transition drains cash flow, demands rigorous hiring, and risks creating a negative flywheel if bad hires lead to customer issues and low morale.

Insight 4: A Book is a Strategic Tool, Not a Lottery Ticket

Competing against millions of books and streaming platforms makes getting rich off royalties incredibly difficult. The modern author wins by using their book to gain visibility, establish credibility, and generate leads for speaking engagements or consulting services, rather than waiting to become the next Oprah book club pick.

Insight 5: Consistency Trumps Free Time

Tim wrote The Call to Authorship while running a scaling business and managing a family. His secret wasn't taking a sabbatical; it was dedicating 30 minutes a day to write 500 words before his second cup of coffee. Small, daily habits build momentum that eventually results in a completed 50,000-word manuscript.

Insight 6: The Soft Stuff is the Hard Stuff in Business

Reflecting on his journey, Tim realized he underestimated the importance of team cohesion. It isn't built at an annual retreat; it's forged in daily interactions, dropping guards, and building trust. Without that personal connection, communication breaks down and business decisions suffer.

Resources & Links Mentioned

TellwellPublishing.com
The Call to Authorship (Tim's book)
Free Guide to Self-Publishing
Atomic Habits by James Clear

About Tim Lindsay

Tim Lindsay is the founder and CEO of Tellwell Publishing. He bootstrapped the company over 11 years ago after quitting his day job to get himself out of $50,000 in credit card debt. Since then, Tellwell has published over 6,000 books across multiple genres. Tim is also the author of The Call to Authorship, a guide for aspiring writers. He operates his company out of Victoria, British Columbia, balancing entrepreneurship with family life, having navigated the turbulent waters of scaling a startup alongside a 128-day NICU journey with his newborn.

Connect with Tim Lindsay
TellwellPublishing.com
CalltoAuthorship.com
Tellwell Publishing on Social Media:
https://www.facebook.com/TellwellPublishing/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/tellwellpublishing/
https://www.instagram.com/tellwellpublishing/
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Position Your Nonfiction Book for Bestseller Success with Wiebke Tasch
Anika sat down with Wiebke Tasch to explore a hard truth in the publishing world: most nonfiction books fail not because the writing is bad, but because the positioning was wrong before the first word was ever written. Wiebke shares her journey from feeling stuck in a German PR agency to accidentally writing an Amazon bestseller about heartbreak, and how that success led her to found Digital Authors. The conversation reveals why a book is not just a vanity project, how data should dictate your book's direction, and why the "AI hype train" might be the worst thing to happen to your legacy.

In This Episode

How a personal crisis and a lack of available therapy led to Wiebke’s first bestselling book
The difference between a vanity project and a strategic credibility builder
Why "guessing" your book's niche is a recipe for failure—and how to use data instead
The cultural divide: Why European authors feel they must be an authority first, while US authors use a book to become one
Repositioning a business coach: How pivoting from "digital nomad" to "building a business" resulted in 9x more pre-sales
The "personal story formula": Why frameworks alone are boring and how to keep readers engaged
The role of AI in publishing: Why ChatGPT makes for terrible books but a great proofreader
A surprising market trend: Why the flood of AI books has created a unique opportunity for genuine human authors right now
The psychological mirror of writing: How becoming an author forces you to confront your fear of visibility
The "5-Day Amazon Window" and the secret to getting the algorithm to market your book for you
Crafting a 3-month launch strategy and why Sunday afternoon is the worst time to hit "publish"

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction: Why do most nonfiction books fail to find an audience?
01:24 From Berlin PR to digital nomad: The origin of Digital Authors
03:10 Writing Why Can't You Love Me? and accidentally hitting a bestseller niche
05:38 Learning from failure: Why the second and third books flopped
07:27 Market analysis: Using data to find demand before you outline the book
11:38 Europe vs. US publishing culture: "Who are you to write?" vs. "Write to become."
14:27 Case Study: Repositioning a "digital nomad" book to 9x the pre-sales
17:34 The writing process: Blending personal storytelling with actionable frameworks
23:28 The truth about AI in publishing: Use it to proofread, not to write your legacy
27:55 The personality development of writing: Overcoming the fear of being seen
32:01 The 5-Day Amazon Window: How to trigger the algorithm to push your book
36:31 A 3-month book launch strategy: Pre-sales, webinars, and launch parties
39:50 Positioning differences between established experts and brand-new authors
45:54 A special 25% discount offer for authors under 40
49:33 Favorite mantra: Trusting your own intuition above all else

Key Insights & Takeaways

Insight 1: Positioning Precedes Writing

Most authors write what they want to say without checking if anyone is actually searching for it. By running a data-driven market analysis first, you can identify high-demand, low-competition niches, ensuring your book has a built-in audience before you even outline the first chapter.

Insight 2: Frameworks Are Boring; Stories Stick

If your book is just a step-by-step guide, it should have been a PDF. To keep readers engaged in an era of scrolling and short attention spans, authors must blend their conceptual frameworks with deeply personal stories and actionable exercises. Readers need to see themselves in your journey.

Insight 3: The 5-Day Amazon Algorithm Window

Publishing your book quietly and starting marketing two months later is a death sentence for sales. Amazon gives new releases a 5-day window. If you can drive massive traffic and conversions during those first five days, the algorithm will pick up the book and essentially take over the marketing for you long-term.

Insight 4: AI is for Polishing, Not Creating

While the market was briefly flooded with ChatGPT-authored books, readers are rejecting the generic, soulless writing. A book is a timeless authority tool meant to last for decades. Use AI for final grammar checks or structuring thoughts, but the core ideas and the voice must remain deeply human.

Insight 5: Writing a Book is an Act of Personal Transformation

Writing a book forces authors—especially women—to confront their imposter syndrome and fear of visibility. The process of claiming your expertise on the page ultimately translates to how you show up in your business, handle speaking engagements, and price your services.

Resources & Links Mentioned
Digital Authors (Wiebke's Agency)

About Wiebke Tasch

Wiebke Tasch is the founder of Digital Authors and a publishing strategist who helps entrepreneurs and thought leaders turn their expertise into books that build authority and attract opportunity. Originally from Germany with a background in journalism and PR, Wiebke walked the hard path of publishing—first writing an accidental bestseller, followed by books that flopped. These experiences taught her the crucial importance of data-driven market positioning. Today, she helps authors identify demand, outline their frameworks, and execute high-impact book launches that leverage the Amazon algorithm.

Connect with Wiebke
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wiebke-tasch-%F0%9F%93%9A-43731b164/?locale=en
Digital Authors Website: www.digital-authors.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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