The Buck Stops Here Business Podcast

Are you buying software that isn't paying you back? In this reality-check episode of The Buck Stops Here , David Maples cuts through the Silicon Valley hype to expose the dark side of AI integration in business. Despite billions in enterprise investments, small and medium businesses are seeing a dismal 1% return on investment from AI. Why? Because instead of building better workflows, companies ar...

Are you only using Artificial Intelligence to do the same old things a little bit faster? In this crucial installment of our nine-part AI series, host David Maples explains why focusing solely on efficiency is a trap. Today, we are shifting gears to AI opportunity—using AI to do things that were previously impossible and, most importantly, generating net new revenue for your business. If you want...

Are you using artificial intelligence to replace entire roles in your business? If so, you might be setting your company up for a massive drop in morale and a dangerous spike in employee burnout. In this episode of The Buck Stops Here, host David Maples continues his nine-part series on AI and small business by diving deep into the true meaning of AI efficiency. Rather than viewing AI as a tool to...

Are you trying to manage artificial intelligence in your company by simply banning it? History shows that outright bans—like the ones we saw with social media in 2010—only push employees to use unauthorized tools behind your back. In this second part of our AI governance series, David Maples dives deep into the human element of AI governance to safely integrate AI into their teams without breaking...

Most business owners are moving a million miles an hour with no brakes. But when it comes to Artificial Intelligence, brakes actually create speed. If you are trying to figure out how to implement AI in business without exposing your proprietary data or falling victim to costly AI hallucinations, this episode is your starting line. David explores the "illusion of control" and the rising threat of...

"How do we expect anyone to follow expectations and rules that they don't know exist? And the answer is they don't. They can't, they won't." Did you know that over 60% of employees are secretly using free AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude for company tasks? The silent crisis is called "Shadow AI," and it could be leaking your most valuable intellectual property right out the front door. In this epi...

"Algorithms are not magic. And frankly, they aren't judging how you feel after you post... They are just cold, predictable logic loops." It’s a brutal feeling: you finally gather the courage to record an authentic, unscripted video for your company, you hit publish, and it gets exactly six likes—half of which are from your own employees. It makes you want to delete the app and never turn your came...

Quick Wins AI assessment tool: https://app.davidmaples.com/podcast Are we on the verge of an apocalyptic future where AI replaces the global workforce, or are we entering the greatest era of job creation in human history?  In this episode of The Buck Stops Here, David Maples cuts through the panic of the "AI washing" trend, breaks down how to use groundbreaking AI technology to do more work with t...

Quick Wins AI assessment tool: https://app.davidmaples.com/podcast Think large corporations have all the advantages? Think again. When it comes to adopting AI for small businesses, your size is actually your ultimate superpower. In this episode, David Maples explains why massive companies are like slow-moving aircraft carriers burdened by committees, while your small business is an agile speedboat...

Are you tired of the hype surrounding AI in business? In this episode of The Buck Stops Here , David Maples breaks down the realities of 2026 AI trends and how to safely implement AI in business today. Stop waiting for autonomous "robot kitchens" and start building reliable AI "toasters"—single-function tools that actually work. If you want to master AI in business, understanding 2026 AI trends is...

Welcome to The Marketing Graveyard. Are self-proclaimed industry gurus making you panic by claiming "SEO is dead" and pushing you to pivot your entire marketing budget to AI Overviews (AIO) and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)? Stop setting your hard-earned money on fire. In this episode of The Buck Stops Here, host David Maples cuts through the tidal wave of synthetic "AI slop" to reveal what...

And You May Ask Yourself, “Well, how did I get here?” Dr. Christy Swann, founder and CEO of R-Coast, joins David this week to discuss her non-traditional path to the sciences, climate change, and finding vulnerabilities on the coastline to implement mitigation strategies. Visit R-Coast: https://www.r-coast.com/ Find Dr. Swann and R-Coast on social media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-swann-c...

When You Trust Yourself and Do the Work, Everything Will Fall Into Place Building a business from the ground up when you have a secure job is risky, and because of this, many don’t try to follow their passion. But if you want to attempt to start a business, you need to take a leap of faith. Cynthia Fails, founder and CEO of LaunchCrate, joins David to talk about her departure from academia to star...

“If You Are Not Looking at AI Today, You Are Going to Find Yourself Woefully Behind Tomorrow.” Would you have thought AI could transform the cattle ranching industry two years ago? AI is here, and it’s radically reshaping every industry. No exceptions. David has Shekhar Gupta, CEO and Founder of MyAnIML, on the show to talk about how he’s using AI to transform the cattle industry and detect diseas...

“As Long as You Are Willing to Adopt Change in Your Business, Then You’re in the Right Place.” How do you implement change in your organization so you aren’t caught by surprise when inevitable change arrives at your doorstep? In this episode, David takes a deep dive into agile frameworks and how to apply them in your business. Sign up for our newsletter to win a vinyl copy of ‘2112’ by Rush: https...

"To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often." With radical changes in business, such as AI or remote work, the big question is how companies adapt to these changes. Overcome and embrace change with determination and grit when you adopt mental mettle and fortitude to become an agile business. In the first episode of Season 3, David describes an agile business and breaks down agile fr...

“Courage and grit in the face of adversity and change.” That’s what you can expect from Season 3 of The Buck Stops Here – The Mettle Season. That’s right! The wait is finally over. Experience new episodes when we debut the new season on November 20, 2023. Get ready to rock n’ roll! Catch up on all your favorite episodes here on YouTube or at https://thebuckstopsherepodcast.com/e... , and don’t for...

A podcast that doesn't pull any punches? Actionable business advice that's smart, hard-hitting, and always accountable? Yes, please. Skip the silver bullets and snake oil and embrace real results. In every episode, The Buck Stops Here will make you a better leader and give you practical insights to adapt to fast-changing markets. You'll thank us for it. Watch as David Maples, CEO & Founder of...

Reflect on where you’ve been, take stock of where you are, and look to the future to see where you are going. For the season 2 finale, David talks about the dangers of fossilization to your business and taking the time to take out the figurative trash preventing growth. He also emphasizes the importance of analyzing old processes and eliminating or rethinking them to your benefit. In this episode,...

“Trust, but verify” must be replaced with “Verify, before you trust” in this brave new world. In the final part of this series on AI, David goes over the problems presented by AI and what to look out for when you start using it in your business. In this episode, David goes over five essential points when introducing and using AI in your business: Introduce AI to your team, explaining how it works...

The future of your business is learning to work with the machines. If you don’t, you are setting yourself up for failure. In the second part of our series on AI, David talks about the positive ways you can use AI in your business and how you can introduce it to your team. In this episode, David goes over the positive ways you can use AI in your business and how you can introduce it to your team. –...

AI will reshape entire industries. Will you adapt, or will you be another dinosaur? AI will radically reshape entire industries. The question is whether the future will look like Wall-E or Terminator. In this first part of our series on AI, David goes over AI software, like Chat GPT, and how you can incorporate them in your business and why you should. Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive cont...

You have to go on that first date. This is a long-term relationship. Visit Dorothy Butler Law Firm at https://dorothybutlerlawfirm.com/ Follow Dorothy on Instagram: @yourtrendylawyer Why do business owners complain about their accountants? When do you hire or fire bookkeepers and accountants? Both these questions are answered and more in the second part of our interview with tax attorney Dorothy B...

If you owe Uncle Sam, they’re coming after you forever. Visit Dorothy Butler Law Firm at https://dorothybutlerlawfirm.com/ Follow Dorothy on Instagram: @yourtrendylawyer David brings on tax attorney Dorothy Butler Lawrence to discuss the landmines, tripwires, and pots of gold in the wonderland of the IRS. Sign up for our newsletter for exclusive content: https://thebuckstopsherepodcast.com/ Never...

An executive assistant needs a Swiss Army knife of skills. Visit Simply Living at https://www.simplyliving-kc.com/ If you start missing important meetings and deadlines, it may be time to bring on an executive assistant. David talks to Gretchen Moran once again to discuss finding, hiring, and training that crucial lynchpin in your organization to organize your time and triple or quadruple producti...