If ChatGPT is still the only AI tool you’re using, this episode will help you take the next step.

In this episode of The Online Course Show, I’m sharing the AI tools I’m actually using in 2026. Not a giant list of random apps. Just the ones that are saving me time and changing how I work.

I talk about why I’ve been using Claude as my daily driver AI, how to get better results with simple prompting habits, why “do research” is one of my favorite phrases to add to a prompt, and how Wispr Flow has made it much easier to give AI the context it needs.

I also walk through Claude Cowork, how I use Rocky in my own business, why Pikzels has become part of my YouTube workflow, and why Claude Code is worth trying even if you don’t think of yourself as a coder.

If AI feels overwhelming, don’t try to learn everything at once. Pick one tool. Try one workflow. Build from there.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Why ChatGPT is only the beginning
• Why I’m using Claude as my main AI tool
• How to use “do research” to get better answers
• Why AI can sound confident and still be wrong
• How to use ELI5 prompts
• How to make AI review your work from your audience’s perspective
• Why Wispr Flow makes prompting faster
• What Claude Cowork does
• How Pikzels helps with YouTube thumbnails
• Why Claude Code is useful beyond coding

CHAPTERS

00:00 Why ChatGPT is only the beginning

01:57 Claude as my daily driver AI

05:42 Prompting tips that make AI more useful

08:54 A simple demo of AI guessing confidently

11:15 ELI5 and audience-review prompts

15:45 Wispr Flow and voice-first prompting

19:24 Claude Cowork and AI agents 22:36 Pikzels for YouTube thumbnails

25:30 Claude Code for apps and bigger projects

29:15 Where to start if AI feels overwhelming

LINKS AND RESOURCES

Claude: https://claude.com/download

Wispr Flow: https://wisprflow.ai/r?JACQUES92

Pikzels: https://pikzels.com/?via=jacques63

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AzQiZEiQF-8

Get your Personalized AI Game Plan: https://jacqueshopkins.com/ai-start

Some links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

I spent years in the online course world thinking ChatGPT was basically the whole AI story. It wasn't. In this episode, I talk about what changed when I finally went deeper and built a personal AI operator that helps run my business 24/7. I share what it actually does, why it has been such a game changer for me, and why I think this shift is going to matter for every digital product creator.

What does it actually look like to build a seven-figure course business that doesn’t depend on you being “on” all the time? In this episode, I sit down again with Lauren Bateman to talk about what’s changed since her last appearance—and how she’s grown to over $1M per year while keeping her workload lean.

We break down her YouTube consistency, simple but powerful A/B testing wins, how she structures her funnel, and why chasing viral content can distract you from the audience that actually buys. If you want a more predictable, sustainable course business, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways.

Watch the episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/VbDIaN68h_E

Lauren's Website: https://www.laurenbatemanguitar.com/

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Most course creators think the path to success is to go wide first — build a big audience, create a big course, launch to the masses. But what if that’s actually the slowest way to build momentum?

In this episode, I sit down with John Meese from Sell Your Smarts to unpack his “Go Wide, Go Deep, Go Long” framework — and why starting with depth (not scale) is often the smartest move. We talk about how to land your first high-ticket clients without ads or social media, how to craft a 10x promise that cuts through the noise, and why we’ve officially entered what John calls “The Age of Insight.” If you’re building (or rebuilding) your online course business in 2026, this conversation will challenge the way you think about offers, audiences, and growth.

Watch the episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/1zvGy_pI1NE

John's Website: meese.gift/course

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If you’ve ever found yourself answering the same questions over and over and thinking, “I should just turn this into a course,” this episode is for you. In today’s conversation, I sit down with Stephanie Gaffney, a live wedding painter who transformed a decade of experience into a premium online program — and did it in a way that actually serves her students and her life.

We dig into how Stephanie built The Wedding Painter’s Blueprint, how she priced it confidently at a premium level, and what really went into launching a high-touch course while juggling family life, client work, and a growing business. This is a behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to turn creative expertise into a sustainable, scalable offer — without cutting corners or burning out.

Watch the episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/cZsNzcrGv2A

Stephanie's Education Website: https://stephaniegaffney.com/

Stephanie's Artist Website: https://torregrossafineart.com/

🎓 Check out Genesis: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/genesis

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What if you could create 8 long-form videos a day and over 100 pieces of content daily with just a few minutes of your own time? That’s not a hypothetical — it’s exactly what my guest, Julian Goldie, is doing using AI, systems, and some pretty bold experimentation.

In this episode, we dig deep into AI avatars, content systems, SEO in the age of ChatGPT, and what authenticity even means anymore. I’ll be honest — I have mixed feelings about some of this. But Julian brings a thoughtful, transparent approach that made me seriously rethink how AI might fit into a modern course business. Whether you’re excited, skeptical, or somewhere in between, this conversation will definitely stretch how you think about content, scale, and leverage.

Watch the episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/lNP1_N8nP1g

Julian’s Website: https://www.skool.com/ai-profit-lab-7462/about

Join the AI Profit Boardroom: https://oc.show/aigroup

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You’ve probably heard it a thousand times: “Use AI or get left behind.” But if you’re a course creator, that advice can feel like a trap, because the fastest way to “use AI” is also the fastest way to sound generic and lose your voice. In this episode, I sit down with Dan Cumberland, who helps founder-led brands scale with AI without losing their soul, and honestly, this conversation felt like a giant exhale.

We dig into how to use AI in a way that keeps your content human, especially when it comes to marketing (the place most course creators get stuck). Dan shares a simple framework to help AI actually sound like you, plus practical examples of using AI inside your course experience to support students at a higher level, without turning your brand into “AI slop.”

Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/inOBNS15RfQ

Dan's Website: https://dancumberlandlabs.com/

Watch the Free Workshop: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/workshop

Sign up for Jacques’ Journal: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/
Apply for Coaching: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/coaching
Free Kajabi Course and 1 month Trial: http://everyclickkajabi.com/
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In this episode, I sit down with Benny Lewis from Fluent in 3 Months to talk about what it really takes to stand out in a crowded online course space. We dig into how he turned a simple PDF into a global brand, why timing isn’t the barrier people think it is, and what creators should focus on right now to grow.

We also get into positioning, pricing, viral content, and the mindset that’s helped Benny stay relevant for over a decade. If you’re wondering how to differentiate yourself or how to start today without feeling “too late,” this conversation is for you.

Watch the episode: https://youtu.be/uQqYSBXpZH8

Benny's Website: https://www.fluentin3months.com/

Sign up for Jacques’ Journal: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/
Apply for Coaching: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/coaching
Watch the Free Workshop: https://www.theonlinecourseguy.com/workshop
Free Kajabi Course and 1 month Trial: http://everyclickkajabi.com/
Free Skool Course and 14 day Trial: https://www.skool.com/refer?ref=c725cf8892fe42c8bb37dd7e5ffc2575
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