The Matthew Byrd Podcast

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

Harrison George grew up on a thousand acres in the California Bay Area, the son of the founder of CMG, one of the largest privately held mortgage companies in the United States. But his path into the family business was anything but a straight line. In this episode, Harrison shares how he found his footing through failure, why he calls CMG the "anti-bank bank," and how a product called the All-in-One loan is helping homeowners pay off their mortgages years early. He also breaks down his own real estate investment strategy, the mindset behind choosing default happiness, and why sitting with failure is the most underrated growth tool most people skip. If you are thinking about buying a home, building wealth through real estate, or just trying to figure out how to enjoy the journey, this one is for you.  TIMESTAMPS [00:00:37] — CMG Mortgage, the family business and getting licensed in 48 states [00:02:18] — Buying a bank: what Bank CMG is and why it matters [00:03:29] — Growing up: The culinary school detour [00:04:25] — How one campus visit changed everything [00:06:35] — Life on a thousand acres in the Bay Area [00:08:03] — Failing the loan license exam and what he learned from moving back home [00:09:41] — Moving to Boise on 45 days notice with a U-Haul and woodworking equipment [00:10:13] — A home, another and then a duplex: How he built his portfolio [00:15:27] — The 2008 housing crash as the son of a mortgage company founder [00:23:27] — What it is actually like to have your dad as your boss

From Music Studios to LiDAR Systems | How Curiosity Built a Drone Career with Mark Martin  Mark Martin has reinvented himself more than once… air traffic control, music production, heavy equipment, drones, and now LiDAR at a large Midwest engineering firm. All of it is connected by a habit of  continual learning, doing and showing up before anyone expects you to. Mark gets into what it actually takes to build a drone program inside an engineering firm, why AI in geospatial is coming whether you like it or not, and the advice he gives anyone trying to break in. If you're curious about where drone technology is heading and what it takes to grow in this space, this episode is for you.  TIMESTAMPS [00:00:39] — What Mark does now: building a UAS program at Prairie Engineers [00:01:52] — Air traffic controller at 19 and the road into music [00:02:31] — Moving to Nashville, interning for free and earning five platinum records [00:03:04] — Digital downloading kills the studio business and what came next [00:04:29] — Buying a Mavic to film Frisbee dogs and accidentally discovering drones [00:05:00] — From hobbyist to geospatial: teaching himself photogrammetry from scratch [00:09:07] — What the music industry taught him about curiosity, showing up and being seen [00:11:07] — What a drone program actually solves for an engineering firm [00:14:11] — Why firms spend $300K on equipment and never use it [00:25:29] — Solid state batteries, hydrogen drones and what Mark plans to fly next [00:29:54] — AI in data processing: what it's replacing and what it's not  [00:32:44] — Embracing AI: the drum machine lesson and why resistance never wins [00:37:44] — Career advice for breaking into geospatial: certifications, project resumes and flight hours [00:40:12] — Scanning SpaceX at Boca Chica and what he saw standing 100 feet from the rocket [00:42:25] — Mounting an MX9 to a train and scanning 60 miles of railroad track [00:43:41] — Using a 360 camera and a bullhorn to count birds for the Department of Natural Resources [00:49:07] — Life advice: find someone doing it, show up, carry the battery cases