If design has ever felt overwhelming, especially with AI tools popping up every five minutes, you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m joined by Maliha Khan, founder of Khanect the Dots, to talk about what’s really happening at the intersection of AI, Canva, and modern design workflows, and how creators can use these tools without spiraling into chaos.

Maliha has a great way of describing where many creators get stuck, the “messy middle” between strategy and execution. We dig into how AI can either help you move faster or push you straight into tactical overload, depending on how you approach it. From Canva’s latest AI features to building a tech stack that actually fits your brain, this conversation is all about clarity, consistency, and staying human in the process.

This episode is especially for creators who want their visuals to look intentional, on-brand, and professional, without spending hours tweaking templates or chasing every new trend. AI isn’t here to replace designers or creators, but it can absolutely make your workflow easier if you use it with purpose.

1. AI works best when strategy comes first: Tools are helpful, but without clarity around message and audience, they just create more noise.
2. Consistency beats chasing trends: You don’t need every new feature; you need a workflow you can repeat week after week.
3. Your input determines your output: AI needs context, brand voice, and direction; otherwise, everything it produces sounds generic.
4. Design doesn’t need to be perfect to be effective: Hitting 80 percent and shipping often beats endless tweaking.
5. Templates are a starting point, not the finish line: Mixing elements, animations, and brand assets helps your visuals stand out.
6. Brand voice matters as much as visuals: Clear guidelines help AI tools support your brand instead of diluting it.
7. AI should reduce friction, not add pressure: Use it to offload busywork, not to replace creative judgment.
8. The human layer still matters most: Taste, experience, and review are things AI can’t replicate.

1. Maliha Khan
2. www.khanectthedots.com
3. Canva Toolkit (Free Resource from Maliha)
4. www.khanectthedots.com/canvatoolkit
5. Khanect the Dots Workshops & Trainings
6. Strategy-first sessions covering Canva, AI workflows, brand voice, and content...

If you’ve noticed your content isn’t getting found the way it used to, you’re not imagining things. Search is changing fast, and AI is right in the middle of it. This week, I’m joined by my friend Rich Brooks, digital marketing veteran, agency owner, and host of the Agents of Change podcast, to break down what’s actually happening behind the scenes with search and what creators need to do next.

We talk about why informational SEO is taking a hit, how AI overviews and answer engines are changing traffic patterns, and why fewer visits doesn’t automatically mean worse results. Rich explains the shift toward higher-intent traffic, branded search, and why trust, authority, and clarity matter more than chasing rankings.

This episode is all about adjusting expectations and strategies without panicking. From optimizing service pages to thinking differently about PR, branding, and video content, Rich shares practical guidance to help creators and businesses stay visible, credible, and relevant in an AI-driven world.

• Informational SEO is losing ground: AI summaries often answer top-of-funnel questions before anyone clicks a website.
• Fewer visits can mean better leads: Traffic may drop, but intent is getting sharper, especially for service-based businesses.
• Optimize bottom-of-funnel pages first: Service and sales pages matter more than ever for conversions.
• Branded search is becoming critical: When people search for you by name, AI and search engines take notice.
• External citations matter: AI tools look at trusted directories, media outlets, and third-party sources to decide who to recommend.
• Consistency builds entity trust: Saying the same thing about your brand across your site, directories, and profiles helps AI understand who you are.
• Video and podcasting still matter: Showing up as a real human builds trust and authority AI can’t fake.
• Answer real questions clearly: FAQs, structured content, and clear explanations help both humans and AI understand your expertise.

• Connect with Rich Brooks on LinkedIn
• Agents of Change Podcast: www.theagentsofchange.com/podcasts
• Flight New Media: www.takeflight.com

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If you’ve ever wondered why your YouTube channel seems stuck (fewer views, flat growth, confused analytics), you’re not alone. In this episode, Jerry Potter joins us to break down what’s actually changed inside YouTube’s ecosystem in 2025 and why creators who “used to do everything right” are now struggling. Jerry has grown multiple successful channels and now teaches business owners how to build a thriving YouTube presence in just 90 minutes a week, without burnout.

Jerry explains the shift from keyword-based discovery to AI-driven understanding. YouTube is no longer relying on tags and titles alone; it can interpret the transcript, visuals, tone, and even emotional cues inside your video. That means creators who post too many unrelated topics send mixed signals, confusing the algorithm and limiting reach. Jerry introduces the “Magnetic Eight,” a strategy where you publish eight tightly focused videos in a row to retrain YouTube on exactly who your ideal viewer is.

We also unpack relevance, high-retention editing frameworks, and how creators can move faster by separating decisions from actions in their workflow. Jerry shares practical guidance on thumbnails, titles, and emotional connection, showing that creators don’t need fancier edits, just clarity and consistency. Whether you’re rebuilding a stalled channel or launching fresh in 2025, this episode offers a roadmap for regaining momentum and getting your videos recommended again.

• YouTube now understands your content holistically, not through keywords. The platform reads your transcript, your visuals, your delivery, and the emotional tone of your video to decide who it’s for and whether to recommend it.
• Mixed topics confuse the algorithm. If you talk to different audiences on the same channel, YouTube doesn’t know who to show your videos to, which slows growth dramatically.
• The “Magnetic Eight” can reset your channel. Publishing eight videos in a row around one hyper-specific topic signals to YouTube exactly who your ideal viewer is.
• Relevance beats everything else. A great thumbnail and title won’t save a video that doesn’t match the audience YouTube thinks you’re serving.
• Editing for retention matters more than fancy production. Viewers stay when the content feels clear and purposeful, not when it’s over-edited.
• Separate decisions from actions. Jerry’s system helps creators move faster by batching planning and recording, instead of trying to do everything at once.
• Your audience wants a guide, not a performer. Show up to serve a specific viewer with a specific problem, and YouTube will reward you.

Jerry's YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@mrjerrypotter

Grow your channel in 90 minutes a week: www.yt90roadmap.com

Jerry's Website: donebylunch.co

Creator Camp (but in the UK!!): tubefest.co.uk/creator-camp

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