It's time to use AI to save you time and grow your business

In this episode of Build the Damn Thing, Kathryn Finney sits down with Cheryl Contee—tech futurist, serial entrepreneur, and author of AI for Nonprofits—to break down how underestimated founders can use AI right now to grow their businesses, save time, cut costs, and stay competitive.

Whether you’re running a small team, a solo hustle, or a community-based organization, this episode is packed with real-world examples, free tools, and no-BS advice on how to integrate AI into your workflow without selling your soul (or breaking the bank).

🎧 You’ll learn:

• The 3 types of AI you need to know (and which one matters most)

• How to use AI for content, customer service, bookkeeping, research, and more

• What “prompt engineering” actually means—and how to do it

• How to overcome fear, avoid burnout, and stay human in an AI-powered world

• The one mindset shift that separates businesses that grow from those that get left behind

💡 AI Tools Mentioned in This Episode:

• ChatGPT – content creation, research, and analysis

• Claude – AI chatbot by Anthropic for writing and productivity

• Gemini – Google’s AI assistant

• PopAI – instant slide deck generator

• Fathom – AI-powered meeting transcription and summaries

• Fireflies – automatic meeting notes and follow-ups

• Read.ai – meeting summaries and analytics

• There’s An AI For That – searchable AI tool directory

• Synesthesia (now Synthesia) – AI-generated human avatars for video

• Lovable.dev– AI voiceovers and media generation

• Perplexity – AI-powered search and research assistant

• ChangeAgent – AI for social impact content and storytelling

This isn’t about chasing the latest trend. It’s about building smarter, not harder—and making AI work for you.

🚀 Subscribe, share, and leave a review if you’re ready to grow your business and stay ahead of the curve. Let’s build the damn thing—together.