In this episode of I Am Refocused Radio, I’m joined by Wes Towers all the way from Australia, and he’s up early for this one, so yeah… MVP status ✅🏀

Wes is the founder behind Uplift 360, a digital agency serving the trades and construction industry through websites and SEO, and we dig into what it’s really like staying relevant in a world where AI is moving faster than people can update their passwords.

We talk about:


The real lessons entrepreneurship teaches you (especially the ones you learn the hard way)


How to communicate tech to non-tech clients without frying their brains


Why AI is changing marketing, SEO, and even how websites get traffic


The difference between using AI to sharpen your message vs creating “AI slop”


Why specificity wins: who you serve, what you stand for, and what you want to be known for


The future of leads: quality over quantity, and why trust is the new conversion rate


Why brands that show humanity and even flaws will stand out in the AI era


What tools are opening doors for entrepreneurs to build faster with less money


And why the “rough edges” might be the most valuable part of the whole thing

https://uplift360.com.au/

Wes also shares where to connect with him (LinkedIn) and plugs his new podcast for the trades and construction industry: Built. Trusted. Chosen.

If you’re building a business in 2026 and trying to stay real while the internet gets noisier by the day, this episode is for you.

#IAmRefocusedRadio #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #AI #Marketing #WebDesign #SEO #Branding #Australia #Trades #Construction

In this episode of I Am Refocused Radio, I&rsquo;m joined by Wes Towers all the way from Australia, and he&rsquo;s up early for this one, so yeah&hellip; MVP status ✅🏀
Wes is the founder behind Uplift 360, a digital agency serving the trades and construction industry through websites and SEO, and we dig into what it&rsquo;s really like staying relevant in a world where AI is moving faster than people can update their passwords.
We talk about:
<ul data-start="925" data-end="1658">
<li data-start="925" data-end="1017">
The real lessons entrepreneurship teaches you (especially the ones you learn the hard way)
</li>
<li data-start="1018" data-end="1091">
How to communicate tech to non-tech clients without frying their brains
</li>
<li data-start="1092" data-end="1162">
Why AI is changing marketing, SEO, and even how websites get traffic
</li>
<li data-start="1163" data-end="1242">
The difference between using AI to sharpen your message vs creating &ldquo;AI slop&rdquo;
</li>
<li data-start="1243" data-end="1335">
Why specificity wins: who you serve, what you stand for, and what you want to be known for
</li>
<li data-start="1336" data-end="1422">
The future of leads: quality over quantity, and why trust is the new conversion rate
</li>
<li data-start="1423" data-end="1498">
Why brands that show humanity and even flaws will stand out in the AI era
</li>
<li data-start="1499" data-end="1579">
What tools are opening doors for entrepreneurs to build faster with less money
</li>
<li data-start="1580" data-end="1658">
And why the &ldquo;rough edges&rdquo; might be the most valuable part of the whole thing
</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://uplift360.com.au/">https://uplift360.com.au/</a>
Wes also shares where to connect with him (LinkedIn) and plugs his new podcast for the trades and construction industry: Built. Trusted. Chosen.
If you&rsquo;re building a business in 2026 and trying to stay real while the internet gets noisier by the day, this episode is for you.
#IAmRefocusedRadio #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #AI #Marketing #WebDesign #SEO #Branding #Australia #Trades #Construction

"I Am Refocused Radio" is more than just a podcast—it's a movement of purpose-driven storytelling that inspires, uplifts, and empowers. Hosted by Shemaiah A. Reed, a calm and thoughtful creative with a background in media, music, and the arts, the show dives deep into conversations that resonate.

From a humble start in a San Antonio barbershop, Shemaiah’s journey has grown into a global platform featuring over 1,000 interviews with a diverse array of guests—celebrities, CEOs, community leaders, and everyday people with extraordinary stories. Each episode offers a blend of faith, personal growth, perseverance, and hope, fostering a space where listeners can find clarity and rediscover their purpose.

Whether you’re seeking inspiration, innovative ideas, or a moment of peace in a busy world, "I Am Refocused Radio" invites you to refocus your mind and embrace a life aligned with meaning and authenticity. Tune in to join this global community and hear the stories that connect us all.

"I Am Refocused Radio" is more than just a podcast&mdash;it's a movement of purpose-driven storytelling that inspires, uplifts, and empowers. Hosted by Shemaiah A. Reed, a calm and thoughtful creative with a background in media, music, and the arts, the show dives deep into conversations that resonate.
From a humble start in a San Antonio barbershop, Shemaiah&rsquo;s journey has grown into a global platform featuring over 1,000 interviews with a diverse array of guests&mdash;celebrities, CEOs, community leaders, and everyday people with extraordinary stories. Each episode offers a blend of faith, personal growth, perseverance, and hope, fostering a space where listeners can find clarity and rediscover their purpose.
Whether you&rsquo;re seeking inspiration, innovative ideas, or a moment of peace in a busy world, "I Am Refocused Radio" invites you to refocus your mind and embrace a life aligned with meaning and authenticity. Tune in to join this global community and hear the stories that connect us all.

I Am Refocused Podcast

I Am Refocused Radio provides a space that welcomes people to speak freely about real life experiences through various platforms to engage and encourage those who are looking to find their purpose.

I Am Refocused Radio Show

AI Isn’t the Problem… Generic Is | Wes Towers on Marketing, Trust, and “Rough Edges”

In this episode of I Am Refocused Radio, I sit down with Dr. Joe Lex, a retired emergency medicine physician and historian who’s turning overlooked lives into unforgettable stories.

Dr. Lex joins us to talk about his book All Bones Considered and his podcast work centered around Laurel Hill Cemetery, where history isn’t just dates and names, it’s real people with real impact.

We get into:


Why “unknown” people often have the wildest, most inspiring stories


The Marion Stokes story (700,000+ hours of recorded TV news saved for the future)


“Commando Mary” and how she used radio to rally women during WWII


How research turns into storytelling that actually moves people


Why culture loses something dangerous when it stops listening to the past


A sharp take on AI: the “rough edges” are where the real creativity lives


Practical life advice for young people: build stability first, then take bigger swings

Dr. Lex also shares how proceeds support Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery, and where people can find the book and his shows (search the titles: All Bones Considered: Laurel Hill Stories and Biographical Bites from Bala).

If you like conversations about purpose, history, resilience, and stories that deserve daylight, this one’s for you.

https://allbonesconsidered.com/

Subscribe for more interviews that inspire you to live with intention and regain your focus.

#IAmRefocusedRadio #Podcast #History #Storytelling #LaurelHill #Authors #Purpose #BlackHistoryMonth #PhiladelphiaHistory #DrJoeLex

In this episode of I Am Refocused Radio, I sit down with Dr. Joe Lex, a retired emergency medicine physician and historian who&rsquo;s turning overlooked lives into unforgettable stories.
Dr. Lex joins us to talk about his book All Bones Considered and his podcast work centered around Laurel Hill Cemetery, where history isn&rsquo;t just dates and names, it&rsquo;s real people with real impact.
We get into:
<ul data-start="909" data-end="1449">
<li data-start="909" data-end="980">
Why &ldquo;unknown&rdquo; people often have the wildest, most inspiring stories
</li>
<li data-start="981" data-end="1066">
The Marion Stokes story (700,000+ hours of recorded TV news saved for the future)
</li>
<li data-start="1067" data-end="1136">
&ldquo;Commando Mary&rdquo; and how she used radio to rally women during WWII
</li>
<li data-start="1137" data-end="1204">
How research turns into storytelling that actually moves people
</li>
<li data-start="1205" data-end="1282">
Why culture loses something dangerous when it stops listening to the past
</li>
<li data-start="1283" data-end="1360">
A sharp take on AI: the &ldquo;rough edges&rdquo; are where the real creativity lives
</li>
<li data-start="1361" data-end="1449">
Practical life advice for young people: build stability first, then take bigger swings
</li>
</ul>
Dr. Lex also shares how proceeds support Friends of Laurel Hill Cemetery, and where people can find the book and his shows (search the titles: All Bones Considered: Laurel Hill Stories and Biographical Bites from Bala).
If you like conversations about purpose, history, resilience, and stories that deserve daylight, this one&rsquo;s for you.
<a href="https://allbonesconsidered.com/">https://allbonesconsidered.com/</a>
Subscribe for more interviews that inspire you to live with intention and regain your focus.
#IAmRefocusedRadio #Podcast #History #Storytelling #LaurelHill #Authors #Purpose #BlackHistoryMonth #PhiladelphiaHistory #DrJoeLex

Dr. Joe Lex: All Bones Considered | Laurel Hill Stories and Why the Past Still Matters

Multiple deaths and near-death experiences. 73 surgeries. Paralysis. And somehow, he’s still standing on faith, hope, and prayer. In this episode, we break down how discipline, responsibility, and community shaped the mindset that helped him survive what most people couldn’t imagine. The Marine Corps gave structure, pain built resilience, and setbacks forged a determination that refuses to fold.

https://neverquittrying.com/

About Jay Setchell

Don't ask why. Ask why not. My mindset says you always have options, and choices. What you are today is a matter of those options and choices you have made throughout your life, and continue to make. Your "purpose" will change your life. I am mid '70's, mostly paralyzed, very involved in multiple ventures, and don't plan on stopping. You have to have faith and believe! The info filled in elsewhere on this page, should cover a great deal of what someone would want to know about me. Though not all, I assure you. Born and raised on a working farm, nothing ever comes free that is worthwhile, it's always something you've worked for. Marine/entrepreneur/corporate/ never quit. Life/death/marriages/children/faith that you have the power to overcome/belief in yourself/help others. Your success, depending on what "success" means to you is a matter of courage, resilience, grit, determination, perseverance, choices, failures and what you did to overcome them, your thought pattern and so much more. 

Multiple deaths and near-death experiences. 73 surgeries. Paralysis. And somehow, he&rsquo;s still standing on faith, hope, and prayer. In this episode, we break down how discipline, responsibility, and community shaped the mindset that helped him survive what most people couldn&rsquo;t imagine. The Marine Corps gave structure, pain built resilience, and setbacks forged a determination that refuses to fold.
<a href="https://neverquittrying.com/">https://neverquittrying.com/</a>
About Jay Setchell
Don't ask why. Ask why not. My mindset says you always have options, and choices. What you are today is a matter of those options and choices you have made throughout your life, and continue to make. Your "purpose" will change your life. I am mid '70's, mostly paralyzed, very involved in multiple ventures, and don't plan on stopping. You have to have faith and believe! The info filled in elsewhere on this page, should cover a great deal of what someone would want to know about me. Though not all, I assure you. Born and raised on a working farm, nothing ever comes free that is worthwhile, it's always something you've worked for. Marine/entrepreneur/corporate/ never quit. Life/death/marriages/children/faith that you have the power to overcome/belief in yourself/help others. Your success, depending on what "success" means to you is a matter of courage, resilience, grit, determination, perseverance, choices, failures and what you did to overcome them, your thought pattern and so much more.&nbsp;

Too Soon to Quit: The Marine Corps Mindset Through 73 Surgeries & Survival

ABOUT BOTTOM OF THE PYRAMID

Young dancer Nia Sioux was only nine years old when she stepped into stardom as one of the original cast members of Lifetime's reality TV show Dance Moms. Nia learned new choreography week after week and competed against dancers from across the country as well as at her own studio. Perhaps her greatest obstacle was suffering through her dance teacher's ranking of the girls against each other in her infamous pyramid, where Nia spent the majority of her time on the bottom-all in front of an audience of millions.

But there was much that viewers didn't see. How her experiences in the studio went far beyond what made it into the show. How she was ostracized for not fitting into an aesthetic that wasn't designed for girls like her. How her friendships and her mental health crumbled under the strain of the show. How she lost control of her story and her voice.

But don't be fooled-this is a story about resilience. Nia is not looking for pity, sympathy, or validation as she reflects on her experiences. Instead, she is choosing to use her story as a celebration of triumph. Nia finally gets to tell her story in her own way and in her own words. In this captivating memoir, Nia reclaims both the spotlight and her narrative.

In addition to going behind the scenes of the seven seasons of Dance Moms, she shows how she fought against the negative perceptions that dominated her tween and teen years and emerged as a confident young woman secure in her talents and her direction. Anyone who has ever felt misunderstood, overlooked, or stuck at the bottom of the pyramid will be inspired by Nia's story of overcoming. "Despite barriers and constant naysayers, assumptions and criticisms, only you know who you are inside and out," Nia says. "And you have the power to create your own narrative, your own level of success."

Nia provides a unique perspective on:

. Overcoming Adversity: From navigating the toxic environment of competitive dance and reality TV to her harrowing battle with Reflex Neurovascular Dystrophy (RND).

. Confronting Racism & Body Shaming: Nia speaks candidly about being the only Black girl on the team, facing microaggressions, and the constant pressure that impacted her self-worth.

. Inspiring a Generation: The book is a powerful message for young people, especially young Black girls, about knowing your value, protecting your peace, and pursuing your dreams unapologetically.

ABOUT NIA SIOUX

' Nia Sioux is a dancer, singer, and actress who has performed on the small screen and in live performances, proving to be one of today's most popular triple threats. Known for her breakout role as an original cast member in Lifetime's hit series Dance Moms, Nia has since starred as a series regular on The Bold and The Beautiful. She has appeared in several movies, including  Imperfect High, and two of her own digital series, one of which she served as an executive producer for. She was featured in Variety's Power of Young Hollywood 2023 list. A graduate of UCLA with a degree American Literature and Culture, Nia continues to use her social media platforms to positively impact the lives of others. She highlights the accomplishments of inspiring others who have achieved extraordinary things in her Role Model Monday series. Nia is especially committed to encouraging voting, body positivity, and strengthening social justice.

Get the book: https://a.co/d/c3ClzzV

 

ABOUT BOTTOM OF THE PYRAMID
Young dancer Nia Sioux was only nine years old when she stepped into stardom as one of the original cast members of Lifetime's reality TV show Dance Moms. Nia learned new choreography week after week and competed against dancers from across the country as well as at her own studio. Perhaps her greatest obstacle was suffering through her dance teacher's ranking of the girls against each other in her infamous pyramid, where Nia spent the majority of her time on the bottom-all in front of an audience of millions.
But there was much that viewers didn't see. How her experiences in the studio went far beyond what made it into the show. How she was ostracized for not fitting into an aesthetic that wasn't designed for girls like her. How her friendships and her mental health crumbled under the strain of the show. How she lost control of her story and her voice.
But don't be fooled-this is a story about resilience. Nia is not looking for pity, sympathy, or validation as she reflects on her experiences. Instead, she is choosing to use her story as a celebration of triumph. Nia finally gets to tell her story in her own way and in her own words. In this captivating memoir, Nia reclaims both the spotlight and her narrative.
In addition to going behind the scenes of the seven seasons of Dance Moms, she shows how she fought against the negative perceptions that dominated her tween and teen years and emerged as a confident young woman secure in her talents and her direction. Anyone who has ever felt misunderstood, overlooked, or stuck at the bottom of the pyramid will be inspired by Nia's story of overcoming. "Despite barriers and constant naysayers, assumptions and criticisms, only you know who you are inside and out," Nia says. "And you have the power to create your own narrative, your own level of success."
Nia provides a unique perspective on:
. Overcoming Adversity: From navigating the toxic environment of competitive dance and reality TV to her harrowing battle with Reflex Neurovascular Dystrophy (RND).
. Confronting Racism &amp; Body Shaming: Nia speaks candidly about being the only Black girl on the team, facing microaggressions, and the constant pressure that impacted her self-worth.
. Inspiring a Generation: The book is a powerful message for young people, especially young Black girls, about knowing your value, protecting your peace, and pursuing your dreams unapologetically.
ABOUT NIA SIOUX
' Nia Sioux is a dancer, singer, and actress who has performed on the small screen and in live performances, proving to be one of today's most popular triple threats. Known for her breakout role as an original cast member in Lifetime's hit series Dance Moms, Nia has since starred as a series regular on The Bold and The Beautiful.&nbsp;She has appeared in several movies, including Imperfect High, and two of her own digital series, one of which she served as an executive producer for. She was featured in Variety's Power of Young Hollywood 2023 list. A graduate of UCLA with a degree American Literature and Culture, Nia continues to use her social media platforms to positively impact the lives of others. She highlights the accomplishments of inspiring others who have achieved extraordinary things in her Role Model Monday&nbsp;series. Nia is especially committed to encouraging voting, body positivity, and strengthening social justice.
Get the book: <a href="https://a.co/d/c3ClzzV">https://a.co/d/c3ClzzV</a>
&nbsp;

AI Isn’t the Problem… Generic Is | Wes Towers on Marketing, Trust, and “Rough Edges”

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