First Sip

Hosted by Dekimbe Smith

Business Society Culture Health FitnessInterviews guests

Website RSS feed

Episodes

155

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Welcome to First Sip! I'm Dekimbe Smith, your host, and every week we sit down for curious conversations about building wealth, growing a business, and showing up in your career and life with intention. No fluff, and no gatekeeping. Just the kind of conversations you wish you were having with someone who gets it. Whether you're figuring out how to attract more clients, make smarter money moves, or just get more out of the work you're already doing, First Sip is where curious people come to level up. New episodes drop weekly. So grab your drink, press play, and as always...enjoy your first sip!

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 11, 2026Episode 15616 min

Anthropic Is Going Public While Customers Cut AI Spend | EP. 156

The Anthropic IPO is officially in motion. IPO season is back, and companies like Anthropic and SpaceX are leading the race to go public. Anthropic just filed confidentially with the SEC at nearly a trillion dollar valuation, and Claude has been dominating the AI conversation all year. Almost at the same time, two of their biggest customers, Microsoft and Uber, are quietly pulling back on how much they're actually spending on AI. That tension is what this episode is all about.Here's what we're sippin on:What an SEC filing actually means, and why the timing of Anthropic's IPO matters more than the numberWhy Microsoft and Uber are cutting AI spend even though the tools are workingWhat the Gartner forecast on AI budgets tells us about where this whole thing is headed, and what it means for anyone investing in AI right nowIf you've been watching the AI market and wondering what any of this means for you on the ground, this one is for you.A SpaceX deep dive is coming soon, so stay subscribed for that one.Thank you for listening, and as always... enjoy your first sip!Click here to watch the full episode on YouTubeWhat did you think about this episode?--------------------------------JOIN THE NEWSLETTER: Stay sharp on business, career, and life. First Sip Weekly delivers honest lessons, tips, and real conversations from the show to your inbox every week. https://firstsipweekly.beehiiv.com/CONNECT WITH DEKIMBE: YouTubeInstagram Facebook LinkedInFOLLOW THE PODCAST:InstagramApple PodcastsSpotifyFor podcast sponsorship & advertising opportunities please contact: firstsippod@gmail.com

May 28, 2026Episode 15519 min

AI Data Centers Are Coming. Guess Who's Paying For Them. | Ep. 155

Click here to watch the full episode on YouTubeAI data centers are popping up across the country at a pace nobody's really talking about, and they might be the reason your electric bill keeps climbing. This week we're getting into what these data centers actually are, who's really paying for them, and where the money is moving behind the scenes.Here's what we're sippin on:Why your electric bill is climbing even if you're cutting off every light in the houseThe companies getting billions in tax incentives to build in your backyard, and who ends up footing the billHow to position yourself on the right side of a $7 trillion shift instead of just paying for itIf you've noticed your bill going up and you've been wondering what's actually going on behind the scenes, this one is for you.Thank you for listening, and as always... enjoy your first sip!What did you think about this episode?--------------------------------JOIN THE NEWSLETTER: Stay sharp on business, career, and life. First Sip Weekly delivers honest lessons, tips, and real conversations from the show to your inbox every week. https://firstsipweekly.beehiiv.com/CONNECT WITH DEKIMBE: YouTubeInstagram Facebook LinkedInFOLLOW THE PODCAST:InstagramApple PodcastsSpotifyFor podcast sponsorship & advertising opportunities please contact: firstsippod@gmail.com

May 12, 2026Episode 15421 min

Claude Has Taken Over the AI Race...For Now | EP. 154

Click here to watch the full episode on YouTubeMost of us picked one AI tool a couple years ago and never looked back. If that tool is ChatGPT, there is a real chance you’re leaving a lot on the table and you might not even know it yet. This week we’re getting into the AI race as it stands right now in 2026.Here's what we're sippin on:One company just lapped the entire industry and it happened faster than anyone expectedThe four major AI tools broken down so you actually know which one to use and whenHow the company behind Claude is building its own product differently than any tech company before itIf you have been using the same tool since the beginning and wondering why everyone else seems to be moving faster, this one is for you.Thank you for listening, and as always…enjoy your first sip! ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━TIMESTAMPS00:00 The AI race and why the conversation has changed01:13 Welcome and what we are sipping on today02:00 How Dekimbe has been using AI in his business and life03:00 Breaking down the four major players in the race right now04:43 What LLMs actually are and how they work05:40 Why Claude is the deep thinker and how it compares to ChatGPT07:18 ChatGPT's image generation and where it still wins07:38 Gemini and its integration across the Google Suite08:13 Why Gemini and NotebookLM are a powerful combo for content creators09:18 Grok and where real-time information gives it an edge09:35 How the race shifted and what happened to OpenAI's lead10:38 Anthropic's growth from $9 billion to $30 billion in four months11:12 Why it took Salesforce 20 years to do what Anthropic did in three11:47 Enterprise adoption and over 1,000 companies paying $1M or more a year13:28 Anthropic using Claude Code to write its own code14:24 The Elon and Anthropic data center deal and what it means15:48 How to pick the right AI tool for the right task16:15 The knife analogy breakdown for ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, and Gemini20:06 A simple challenge to compare tools on the same prompt this week21:14 How Claude connects to the tools you are already usingWhat did you think about this episode?--------------------------------JOIN THE NEWSLETTER: Stay sharp on business, career, and life. First Sip Weekly delivers honest lessons, tips, and real conversations from the show to your inbox every week. https://firstsipweekly.beehiiv.com/CONNECT WITH DEKIMBE: YouTubeInstagram Facebook LinkedInFOLLOW THE PODCAST:InstagramApple PodcastsSpotifyFor podcast sponsorship & advertising opportunities please contact: firstsippod@gmail.com

April 23, 2026Episode 15325 min

The Business Lessons Real Estate Taught Me That Nobody Talks About | EP. 153

Watch the full episode on YouTubeAfter 4 years as a real estate agent in Philadelphia, I'm being honest about what actually happened, what I earned, what I learned, and why I'm making a pivot now.This isn't a real estate episode. It's a business episode. I'm talking about the gap between the fantasy of being your own boss and the reality of building something sustainable, why doing the sales and the marketing at the same time will eventually break you, and how tying your identity to what you do can keep you stuck longer than you should be.I also get into how content marketing quietly worked behind the scenes even while the agent work wasn't, and what that proof of concept is pointing me toward next...If you've ever questioned a pivot, or felt like switching direction meant you failed, this one is for you.What did you think about this episode?--------------------------------JOIN THE NEWSLETTER: Stay sharp on business, career, and life. First Sip Weekly delivers honest lessons, tips, and real conversations from the show to your inbox every week. https://firstsipweekly.beehiiv.com/CONNECT WITH DEKIMBE: YouTubeInstagram Facebook LinkedInFOLLOW THE PODCAST:InstagramApple PodcastsSpotifyFor podcast sponsorship & advertising opportunities please contact: firstsippod@gmail.com

March 30, 2026Episode 15258 min

The LinkedIn Strategy That Gets You in Front of Decision Makers | EP. 152 ft. Ryan Conceicao

Watch the Full Episode here on YouTubeImagine applying to dozens of jobs a week for months straight and getting zero interviews. Not one callback. Now imagine someone telling you that the problem was never the job market. It was your process the whole time.This weeks guest, Ryan Conceicao, has spent 11 years in medical sales and the last 8 helping people break into one of the most competitive and well-paying industries out there. He has sat in over 250 interviews himself, built a career coaching program, and is now helping others land their dream job through a job search strategy that actually works in 2026. Like a recent D1 athlete, that went from unemployed to a six figure medical sales offer at one of the most prestigious medical companies in the country in 15 days. Fifteen days.In this episode we get into why most job seekers are networking with the wrong people entirely, the LinkedIn networking tips that get you in the room before you even interview, how AI is quietly giving an unfair advantage to the people who are paying attention, and what it actually means to invest in yourself when time is the only currency that matters.If you have ever felt like the world was moving faster than you, and don't know how to catch up, this one is for you.━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ TIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro and Ryan's background in medical sales coaching02:00 How Ryan went from helping people one on one to building a course07:00 What Ryan says to people who complain the job market is too hard09:00 The 50/50 formula: networking and interviewing broken down10:30 The LinkedIn strategy that gets you in front of the right hiring manager12:00 How to create raving fans inside companies before you even interview20:00 The D1 athlete who landed a $100K+ medical sales job in 15 days23:00 Why time is the most undervalued currency27:00 Distractions, media noise, and how to stay locked in on what matters36:00 What parenting taught Ryan about self-awareness and behavior42:00 AI is not here to replace you. It is here to make you better43:00 How Ryan's brother built their entire website, funnels, and follow up with AI47:00 The Guyana business opportunity and where AI meets emerging markets52:00 Ryan's closing thoughts on purpose, validation, and why people struggleCONNECT WITH RYAN LinkedInInstagramWhat did you think about this episode?--------------------------------JOIN THE NEWSLETTER: Stay sharp on business, career, and life. First Sip Weekly delivers honest lessons, tips, and real conversations from the show to your inbox every week. https://firstsipweekly.beehiiv.com/CONNECT WITH DEKIMBE: YouTubeInstagram Facebook LinkedInFOLLOW THE PODCAST:InstagramApple PodcastsSpotifyFor podcast sponsorship & advertising opportunities please contact: firstsippod@gmail.com

March 20, 2026Episode 15115 min

Strait Up Closed: Why Gas Prices Are About to Explode | EP. 151

Watch the Full Episode on YouTubeWhy are gas prices going up again… and how can something happening across the world impact what you pay at the pump so quickly?In this episode, I break down why gas prices change, how global oil supply chains work, and how one narrow waterway (strait) can influence fuel prices almost overnight. Most people hear about war, supply issues, or politics… but the real impact comes from how oil moves around the world.After traveling and seeing gas prices jump firsthand, I wanted to understand what actually causes these shifts. This episode connects the dots between global events, oil transportation, shipping routes, and gas prices… in a way that actually makes sense.Timestamps00:00 – Coming back from Guyana and noticing gas prices00:44 – Intro01:19 – Back to gas prices and global impact02:00 – How global events affect gas prices03:30 – How oil supply chains actually work05:00 – Why gas prices react early06:30 – The role of shipping routes and straits08:00 – How disruptions impact fuel prices09:30 – Why gas prices feel unpredictable11:00 – How this affects your everyday costs12:30 – What to watch moving forward14:00 – Final thoughtsWhat did you think about this episode?--------------------------------JOIN THE NEWSLETTER: Stay sharp on business, career, and life. First Sip Weekly delivers honest lessons, tips, and real conversations from the show to your inbox every week. https://firstsipweekly.beehiiv.com/CONNECT WITH DEKIMBE: YouTubeInstagram Facebook LinkedInFOLLOW THE PODCAST:InstagramApple PodcastsSpotifyFor podcast sponsorship & advertising opportunities please contact: firstsippod@gmail.com

February 16, 2026Episode 15024 min

How I Use AI to Save Time and Make More Money (and How You Can Too) | EP. 150

Click to watch the full episode on YouTube!What if you could offload the busywork that keeps piling up every week and get back hours of focus without hiring a full team? In this episode, I break down how I’ve been using AI tools as a practical “assistant” for content, real estate, and everyday workflows so tasks stop slipping through the cracks and your systems actually feel manageable.In this episode of the First Sip Podcast, I break down:- Why I started using AI as leverage- How I use tools to capture leads, organize conversations, and reduce the back-and-forth across platforms- Simple automations that handle repeat questions and route people into a CRM without manual work- How AI-powered content workflows turn one episode into multiple short clips and marketing assets- A real example of turning a voice note into a polished presentation using transcription and slide tools- How beginners can start using AI to move past analysis paralysis and build a “virtual assistant” that asks the right questionsHere’s the Master Prompt for you to create your own AI Assistant:[Executive Assistant Master prompt ](https://www.notion.so/Executive-Assistant-Master-prompt-2ff557a368e0813e9084c6c76ee132e7?pvs=21) Thank you for listening, and as always…enjoy your first sip! Timestamps:00:00 – Using AI as an assistant for weekly tasks and focuS02:38 – Real estate follow-ups, marketing, and the need for leverage03:31 – Using ChatGPT like a personal assistant and what you’ll get by the end04:00 – Turning repeatable weekly tasks into faster workflows04:41 – Using forms, chatbots, and automations to capture info upfront04:58 – Zapier example: sending form responses directly into your CRM05:17 – Instagram DM auto-replies and filtering inbound requests07:00 – Turning long-form episodes into short-form content at scale07:36 – Tools like Opus Clip and CapCut for transcript-based clipping09:32 – Why the future of sales is changing fast10:02 – Real example: building a presentation with AI instead of PowerPoint11:02 – Transcribing audio with Descript11:33 – Using NotebookLM to generate a slide deck from the transcript12:34 – Creating a master prompt with ChatGPT or Gemini 13:32 – Prompting explained: clear instructions lead to better outputs15:50 – Using transcripts to create marketing visuals and infographics16:40 – Starting AI as a beginner and finding your real starting point17:10 – AI for goals: fitness, money, business, and life planning20:32 – The “virtual assistant” master prompt and how it works22:43 – Content recommendation: pair tools with a specific YouTube tutorial23:13 – Practical AI use cases: bloodwork, financial planning, and personal goalsWhat did you think about this episode?--------------------------------JOIN THE NEWSLETTER: Stay sharp on business, career, and life. First Sip Weekly delivers honest lessons, tips, and real conversations from the show to your inbox every week. https://firstsipweekly.beehiiv.com/CONNECT WITH DEKIMBE: YouTubeInstagram Facebook LinkedInFOLLOW THE PODCAST:InstagramApple PodcastsSpotifyFor podcast sponsorship & advertising opportunities please contact: firstsippod@gmail.com

February 2, 2026Episode 14919 min

Market Drip: What a new Fed Chair could change about rates and housing | EP. 149

Click here to watch the full episode on YouTubeWe may finally know who could replace Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve Chair, and this decision could directly shape interest rates, inflation, housing costs, and the overall economy for years. A change at the Fed is not just political news. It can influence how affordable homes are, how secure jobs feel, and how much breathing room everyday budgets have.In this episode of the First Sip Podcast, I break down:Why Trump’s reported pick for the next Fed chair matters for regular people, not just marketsWho Kevin Warsh is and how his past experience during the financial crisis shapes his thinkingHow Fed decisions filter into housing affordability, mortgage rates, and buyer behaviorHow to think about your own 12 to 24 month plan if rates start moving lowerQuestion for you: If mortgage rates dropped by about one percentage point, would you feel ready to buy, refinance, or would you still wait things out?Timestamps:00:00 – Trump’s pick for the next Fed chair and why it matters02:24 – Jerome Powell’s recent legacy: inflation, rate hikes, and tough tradeoffs04:33 – Who Kevin Warsh is and the era that shaped his views06:34 – Warsh’s current stance on rates and shrinking the Fed balance sheet08:41 – What this could mean for housing and mortgage affordability10:56 – Why the era of easy money may not return quickly12:47 – Why a 1% rate drop can change buying power dramatically14:49 – Book recommendation: The Color of Law and housing history17:14 – Investing responsibly and understanding long-term impacts on communities19:09 – Final thoughts and wrap-upWhat did you think about this episode?--------------------------------JOIN THE NEWSLETTER: Stay sharp on business, career, and life. First Sip Weekly delivers honest lessons, tips, and real conversations from the show to your inbox every week. https://firstsipweekly.beehiiv.com/CONNECT WITH DEKIMBE: YouTubeInstagram Facebook LinkedInFOLLOW THE PODCAST:InstagramApple PodcastsSpotifyFor podcast sponsorship & advertising opportunities please contact: firstsippod@gmail.com

January 21, 2026Episode 1481 hr 0 min

Is Buying a Home Still Worth It in 2026? Here's the Truth ft. Jarred Smith | EP. 148

Watch the full episode on YouTubeIs homeownership still the "American Dream"…or has the math and lifestyle completely changed for younger generations?In this episode of the First Sip Podcast, I'm sitting down with Jarred Smith to have a balanced conversation about whether buying a home still makes sense in today’s economy. With rising prices, higher interest rates, and more people prioritizing flexibility, the rent vs buy debate looks very different than it did for previous generations.This is not a sales pitch for buying a home and it's not an argument against renting. It's a real discussion about timing, strategy, and what people are actually optimizing for in this stage of life.We break down:- Why more people are questioning homeownership today- The real tradeoffs between renting and owning- Stability vs flexibility and commitment vs optionality- When buying a home can be a smart move and when it might not be- Why homeownership should be viewed as a strategy, not a milestoneIf you are renting, thinking about buying, or feeling stuck in between, this episode will help you think more clearly about the decision without pressure or hype.Listen through the end and ask yourself one simple question:What am I optimizing for right now?Thank you for listening, and as always...enjoy your first sip!------Join the First Sip community:I’m here to help you make these complicated financial concepts make sense in your own life. If you're ready to stop playing it safe, and start building a life you actually enjoy, subscribe to the newsletter. Every week I dive deeper into the topics of business, money, and real estate, breaking down the proven systems we'll need to win the long term game.What did you think about this episode?--------------------------------JOIN THE NEWSLETTER: Stay sharp on business, career, and life. First Sip Weekly delivers honest lessons, tips, and real conversations from the show to your inbox every week. https://firstsipweekly.beehiiv.com/CONNECT WITH DEKIMBE: YouTubeInstagram Facebook LinkedInFOLLOW THE PODCAST:InstagramApple PodcastsSpotifyFor podcast sponsorship & advertising opportunities please contact: firstsippod@gmail.com

January 14, 2026Episode 1479 min

Market Drip: Can Trump’s $200B Plan Lower Mortgage Rates? | Ep. 147

A $200 billion plan tied to mortgage rates just made headlines, and it’s coming from Donald Trump. The idea is that by buying mortgage bonds, borrowing costs could come down without cutting rates directly through the Federal Reserve. It sounds promising, but how does it actually work, and what does it really change for everyday people?In this episode, I break down the mechanics behind mortgage bonds, the role of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and why government money flowing into these markets can influence mortgage rates. We also talk about the early market reaction, including recent rate movement and a spike in refinance activity, and where things are still unclear.This episode isn’t about politics. It’s about understanding the system so you can make better decisions around buying, refinancing, or waiting. If you’re watching the market and trying to figure out your next move, this conversation gives you the context most headlines leave out.Thank you for listening, and as always… enjoy your first sip.Watch the full episode on YouTube📉 Trump’s $200B Mortgage Rate Plan Explained 🏡💰00:00 – Trump Announces $200B Plan to Lower Mortgage Rates01:10 – Housing Affordability and Trump’s Recent Ideas02:10 – Where the $200B Comes From: Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac02:55 – Early Market Reaction and Mortgage Rates Near 5.99%04:28 – How Buying Mortgage Bonds Can Lower Mortgage Rates05:30 – Mortgage Rates Then vs Now and What’s Changing06:51 – Is This a Real Plan or Just Hype? Election-Year Context07:55 – Why Some Housing Ideas Never Materialize09:12 – Refinance Surge, Buyer Activity, and Next StepsWhat did you think about this episode?--------------------------------JOIN THE NEWSLETTER: Stay sharp on business, career, and life. First Sip Weekly delivers honest lessons, tips, and real conversations from the show to your inbox every week. https://firstsipweekly.beehiiv.com/CONNECT WITH DEKIMBE: YouTubeInstagram Facebook LinkedInFOLLOW THE PODCAST:InstagramApple PodcastsSpotifyFor podcast sponsorship & advertising opportunities please contact: firstsippod@gmail.com