Our Featured Guest for June 21, 2026 is Ian Utile and our Entrepreneur Spotlight Guests are Nelson Bruton and Courtney Peebles
Artificial intelligence, Web3, blockchain technology, digital ownership, advanced manufacturing, and educational innovation are transforming the way entrepreneurs build businesses. In this episode of Passage to Profit, Richard and Elizabeth Gearhart sit down with three innovative founders who are leveraging emerging technologies and creative thinking to solve real-world problems and create new opportunities for growth.
Featured guest Ian Utile, founder of ÂTTN.LIVE, shares his vision for the future of Web3, AI-powered content creation, digital ownership, and decentralized communities. He explains how blockchain technology can help creators protect intellectual property, verify ownership of digital content, and participate more directly in the value they create online. Ian also discusses why he believes audio will play a major role in the future of digital engagement and how entrepreneurs can prepare for the next wave of technological change.
Next, Nelson Bruton, President of Manufacturing Chats and Interchanges, reveals how real human conversations continue to outperform automation in many B2B sales environments. Drawing on more than two decades of marketing experience, Nelson explains how live chat solutions help manufacturers generate more qualified leads, improve customer engagement, and increase sales while strategically incorporating AI where it adds value.
The show also welcomes Courtney Peebles, Co-Founder of Solobo Toys, an award-winning educational toy company focused on emotional intelligence, communication skills, and learning through play. Courtney shares how her company grew from a startup to an award-winning brand with more than 40 products, how AI helps streamline operations, and how she successfully pivoted into 3D printing to navigate supply chain and tariff challenges while continuing to scale.
Throughout the episode, listeners will discover valuable insights on entrepreneurship, innovation, intellectual property, AI adoption, business pivots, community building, manufacturing, and the mindset required to succeed in rapidly evolving industries.
Whether you’re a startup founder, creator, marketer, manufacturer, educator, or technology enthusiast, this episode offers practical lessons and forward-looking perspectives from entrepreneurs building the future today.
Ian Utile
Founder, ÂTTN.LIVE
Website: https://www.attn.live
Ian Utile is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, investor, and technology innovator focused on the intersection of Web3, blockchain, artificial intelligence, intellectual property, and creator monetization.
As founder of ÂTTN.LIVE, Ian is building a platform that helps content creators authenticate, protect, distribute, and monetize their digital content through blockchain-based verification and ownership technologies. During the interview, he explains how Web3 represents a shift from centralized platforms toward user-owned digital ecosystems, where creators and consumers have greater control over their data and assets.
Ian discusses:
- The evolution from Web1 to Web2 to Web3
- Blockchain technology and decentralized ownership
- Intellectual property protection for creators
- AI-powered content creation and distribution
- The future of digital communities
- Why audio content may become increasingly dominant
- Creator monetization strategies
- Building the Kiki intellectual property universe
- Entrepreneurship lessons learned from co-founding multiple companies
His insights provide a fascinating look at how emerging technologies may reshape content creation, commerce, and digital ownership in the years ahead.ng glimpse into how technology may reshape content, commerce, and creator economies over the next decade.
Nelson Bruton
President, Manufacturing Chats
Website: https://manufacturingchats.com/
President, Interchanges
Website: https://www.interchanges.com/
Nelson Bruton is a B2B marketing expert and entrepreneur who has spent more than 20 years helping industrial companies generate qualified leads, improve customer engagement, and drive revenue growth.
Through Manufacturing Chats, Nelson provides live human chat solutions specifically designed for manufacturers and industrial businesses. Rather than relying solely on automated chatbots, his team helps companies connect website visitors with knowledgeable professionals who can qualify opportunities and facilitate stronger customer relationships.
In this episode, Nelson discusses:
- The importance of human connection in B2B sales
- How live chat improves website conversion rates
- Lead generation strategies for manufacturers
- Search engine optimization and digital marketing
- Building stronger customer experiences
- Identifying profitable niche markets
- Pivoting a business for long-term growth
- AI infrastructure, energy management, and data centers
- Entrepreneurship lessons learned over two decades
His practical advice offers valuable guidance for entrepreneurs seeking to improve marketing effectiveness and increase customer engagement.
Courtney Peebles
Co-Founder, Solobo Toys
Website: https://solobotoys.com/
Courtney Peebles is the Co-Founder of Solobo Toys, an innovative educational toy company dedicated to helping children develop emotional intelligence, communication skills, and social-emotional learning through play.
Since launching the company in 2022, Solobo Toys has expanded from a small startup into an award-winning brand with more than 40 products. The company recently earned Best Plush Toy of the Year honors at Toy Fair, one of the toy industry’s most prestigious awards.
During the conversation, Courtney shares:
- How SoloBo Toys uses play to teach emotional intelligence
- The success of products such as the Emotion Coin Drop and Emotion Friends
- Building a loyal and engaged customer community
- Growing a product-based business from the ground up
- Using AI tools to streamline operations
- Expanding into 3D printing and domestic manufacturing
- Navigating tariffs and supply chain challenges
- Scaling a business while maintaining quality and mission alignment
- Lessons learned as a rapidly growing entrepreneur
Courtney’s story demonstrates the power of innovation, adaptability, customer feedback, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Web3?
Web3 refers to the next generation of the internet that uses blockchain and decentralized technologies to give users greater ownership of their data, digital assets, and online identities.
What does ÂTTN.LIVE do?
ÂTTN.LIVE helps creators protect, authenticate, distribute, and monetize digital content using blockchain and Web3 technologies while strengthening relationships with their audiences.
Why does Nelson Bruton use human chat teams instead of chatbots?
For complex B2B sales environments, human conversations often generate higher-quality leads, build trust more effectively, and create better customer experiences than fully automated systems.
What is Manufacturing Chats?
Manufacturing Chats provides live human chat services for manufacturers and industrial companies to improve website engagement, qualify leads, and increase sales opportunities.
What makes Solobo Toys unique?
Solobo Toys creates educational products that help children learn emotional intelligence, communication skills, and social-emotional learning through engaging, hands-on play experiences.
How is AI helping small businesses grow?
AI can automate repetitive tasks, streamline workflows, improve efficiency, assist with content creation, and help small teams accomplish more with limited resources.
Why is intellectual property important in the age of AI?
As AI-generated content and digital assets become more common, creators and businesses need effective ways to establish ownership, protect their work, and monetize their intellectual property.
What entrepreneurial lessons are highlighted in this episode?
The guests emphasize the importance of discipline, continuous learning, adaptability, strategic partnerships, innovation, and maintaining focus on long-term goals.