The Matthew Byrd Podcast

This is a solo episode, and a different one for me. I don't usually talk straight to camera, but with some recent announcements, including relaunching Nexus 3D Consulting while continuing to build Reality Capture Network, I wanted to take the time to unpack my story for you. I go all the way back. From a kid obsessed with football, to a head-on car accident at 16 that ended my path in sports, to touring in a rock band, to landing in land surveying almost by accident, working under my dad. I share how discovering laser scanning and LIDAR around 2009 reignited my passion, how that led to founding Nexus 3D Consulting in 2016 with no business background and no plan, and how an abundance mindset shaped the way I approached growth through collaboration from day one. I also walk through how Reality Capture Network and the RCON conference came to life in 2020 and 2021, what led to Nexus 3D going through an acquisition, what I learned during two years of separation from hands-on services, and why I've decided the right move now is to step back into services while continuing to grow the global community we've built. Not as competing efforts, but as one mission to grow opportunities in the industry and share them with the relationships we've built. If you're building a business, navigating a pivot, or just curious about the full story behind RCN and Nexus 3D, this conversation is for you.

What does it take to build a successful career, grow a personal brand, and stay consistent when nobody is paying attention? In this episode, Matthew Byrd sits down with Shane Larson—Marketing Director, podcast host of The Game Time Guru, coach, and entrepreneur—to discuss his journey from wanting to become an ESPN analyst to building a career in marketing leadership while growing a podcast that's been running consistently since 2017. Shane shares lessons learned from working at Bodybuilding.com, ClickFunnels, and alongside Russell Brunson, plus his insights on AI, content creation, personal branding, networking, leadership, and why most people quit too early. Whether you're an entrepreneur, marketer, creator, business owner, or someone trying to navigate your career path, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and inspiration. 👇 Connect with Shane Larson Instagram: @gametimeguru YouTube: The Game Time Guru ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 01:00 – Wanting to become an ESPN analyst 02:30 – College, boxing, and life's unexpected detours 04:00 – Early career at Scentsy and Bodybuilding.com 05:00 – Discovering ClickFunnels and Russell Brunson 06:15 – Learning marketing from Russell Brunson 08:00 – Starting in customer support and earning opportunities 10:00 – Why titles don't matter as much as growth 12:00 – Leadership lessons and taking initiative 12:45 – Becoming a marketing leader 14:00 – The power of networking and relationships 16:00 – Starting The Game Time Guru podcast 17:30 – The reality of podcasting and consistency 18:15 – "Nobody was listening" in the beginning 19:00 – The interview that changed everything 20:00 – Lessons learned from interviewing athletes 22:00 – Why family and friends won't scale your brand 23:00 – Finding mentors and learning from successful people 24:00 – Podcast inspiration, Gary Vee, and Grant Cardone 30:30 – Funny Grant Cardone story from ClickFunnels 31:30 – The quote that changed Shane's perspective on life 33:00 – AI, content creation, and the future of marketing 35:00 – SEO, AEO, and Answer Engine Optimization explained 36:00 – Why authentic content still wins 37:00 – How to optimize content for AI search 40:00 – Common marketing mistakes businesses make 42:00 – The importance of email marketing 43:00 – Zero-click marketing and social media strategy 44:00 – Why TikTok is changing e-commerce 46:00 – Founder-led content and personal branding 48:00 – Building trust through storytelling 50:00 – Why people overcomplicate content creation 52:00 – Marketing advice for small business owners 53:00 – Shane's vision for the future 54:00 – "Everything is figureoutable" 56:00 – Advice for young professionals 57:00 – Patience, opportunity, and enjoying the journey 59:00 – Why most people quit too early 01:01:00 – Final thoughts and where to find Shane 💡 Key Takeaways ✅ Consistency beats talent when building a brand or podcast. ✅ The best career opportunities often come from being willing to learn. ✅ AI is powerful, but authentic human content builds trust. ✅ Personal branding and founder-led content are more important than ever. ✅ Networking creates opportunities you can't predict. ✅ Most people quit before they see results. ✅ Patience and long-term thinking are competitive advantages. ✅ Stories connect, build trust, and ultimately sell.

Peter Swain has spent his life at the forefront of technological disruption. From becoming one of the world’s first web developers, to helping shape early mobile app strategy with Apple and Steve Jobs, to now advising entrepreneurs on artificial intelligence, Peter has built a career around seeing what’s coming before the rest of the world catches up. In this episode, Peter shares why AI is fundamentally different from every technology shift before it, why he believes the next five years will completely reshape business and society, and why entrepreneurs who ignore AI may not survive what’s coming next. But this conversation goes far beyond automation and business strategy. Peter dives into parenting in an AI world, human connection, creativity, education, relationships, and the deeper question of what still makes us human when AI can do almost everything better than we can. From autonomous weapons and deepfakes to solopreneur millionaires and AI-powered businesses, this is one of the most fascinating and thought-provoking conversations we’ve had on the podcast. If you are curious, excited, skeptical, or even terrified about the future of AI, this episode is for you. TIMESTAMPS [00:01:30] — From coding at six years old to becoming one of the world’s first web developers [00:04:18] — Working with Steve Jobs and helping Apple shape app strategy [00:05:11] — Why AI is fundamentally different from every technology before it [00:10:40] — Why Peter believes humanity is completely unprepared for AI [00:16:36] — AI-discovered medicine and the unintended consequences nobody talks about [00:22:44] — Peter’s prediction for how quickly the world will transform [00:29:07] — Deepfakes, regulation, and Peter’s most controversial opinion [00:35:34] — The three things AI can never replace: connection, community, and charisma [01:03:45] — Why entrepreneurs need to adopt AI immediately [01:16:02] — “You can be proud or rich, but you can’t be both.”

RCN 2026 is leveling up in a massive way. In this episode, Matthew Byrd and Phillip Ellering break down the biggest changes coming to this year’s conference, including the move to the Boise Centre, a 70-booth expo hall, hands-on technical workshops, the new Innovation Village & Hackathon, upgraded VIP experiences, and the community-focused networking that has made RCN one of the most unique events in the reality capture industry. From LiDAR, drones, surveying, BIM, digital twins, robotics, and AI to startups, enterprise companies, and career opportunities, this conversation dives into why RCN is more than a conference — it’s a growing ecosystem built to connect people, spark innovation, and create real opportunities across the industry. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & why this year feels different 01:00 – From small venues to the Boise Centre 03:30 – Building the conference & improving every year 04:45 – The new expo hall experience 05:45 – Hands-on workshops & technical training 07:00 – Gamifying growth & solving challenges 09:15 – Lessons from the first conference 11:15 – Why RCN feels different from other events 12:00 – Innovation Village & Hackathon announcement 14:15 – Solving industry problems through collaboration 15:00 – Venue accessibility & attendee experience 16:30 – VIP lounge & networking upgrades 18:00 – Growth in exhibitors & attendance 19:00 – Why RCN happy hours are legendary 21:00 – The power of networking outside the conference room 23:00 – Real career & business opportunities created through RCN 24:00 – Who attends RCN? 26:00 – The mission behind the conference 28:00 – Matthew’s personal approach to building community 30:00 – Why the team goes all-in on marketing 31:00 – Ticket options & conference flexibility 34:00 – Final thoughts & what to expect this year 🎟️ RCN 2026 📍 Boise Centre — Boise, Idaho 📅 October 12–15

Nate Amidon didn't plan on starting a company. He flew C-17 cargo planes for 12 years on active duty, transitioned out of full-time service, and landed a program management role at Microsoft, where he quickly realized his military skills were a perfect fit for the tech world. When his firm wouldn't hire his fellow veterans, he built Form 100 Consulting to do it himself. In this episode, Nate breaks down what military leaders bring to corporate teams that no resume or interview can reveal, how to run meetings worth having, and why companies that approach AI with a human-first mindset will outpace everyone else. If you lead a team, run a business, or want to think more clearly about getting things done, this one delivers.  TIMESTAMPS [00:00:00] Introducing Nate Amidon and Form 100 Consulting [00:01:39] Growing up in Minnesota and joining the  Air Force Academy [00:05:07] What bootcamp was actually like  [00:08:37] What kept him going through training and into pilot school [00:09:22] Flying the C-17 and 23 years of military service [00:10:37] What the military teaches you that business cannot [00:15:21] Transitioning out of active duty and taking a 50% pay cut [00:17:24] Seeing the gap, starting Form 100, and having no idea what he was doing [00:21:44] Why alignment and communication are the real problems inside every tech company [00:25:16] Finding the right balance between structure and engineering freedom [00:29:07] The program execution chart every organization is missing [00:31:06] Death by meetings and fixing the problem [00:36:07] How to run one-on-ones that actually build relationships [00:43:10] The AI reality check: most companies are nowhere near real ROI [00:50:05] A human-first framework for implementing AI incrementally [01:02:41] Authenticity, AI avatars, and why people still want people [01:13:17] Final advice: lean into the hard thing, fail forward, and find mentors