It’s 2025, and the line between reality and science fiction is getting more and more blurry every day.
In this episode, I sit down with someone I’ve never met, but they know me pretty well. He even kind of sounds like me in an eerie sort of way.
I was curious how well today’s AI models could pretend to be someone else, given a few simple prompts. The result is this chat with Robo-Nick, my AI alter ego.
Let’s see how well Robo-Nick answers these questions, plus my real thoughts about them.
(This episode relied heavily on ElevenLabs to generate the voice for Robo-Nick.)
Tune in to episode 654 of The Side Hustle Show to learn:
- The biggest opportunities (and pitfalls) for side hustlers in the AI era.
- Actionable tips to future-proof your income and leverage new trends effectively.
Sponsors
- Airbnb — Discover how much your home could be worth and find a professional co-host today!
- Mint Mobile — Cut your wireless bill to $15 a month!
- Indeed – Start hiring NOW with a $75 sponsored job credit to upgrade your job post!
- OpenPhone — Get 20% off of your first 6 months!
- Gusto — Get 3 months free of the leading payroll, benefits, and HR provider for modern small businesses!
What trends or industries are you most excited about for side hustlers right now?
Robo-Nick highlighted several promising areas for 2025:
AI and automation-driven side hustles (content creation, chatbot building, and even AI voice-over work)
- I agree with this one: finding different ways to work smarter, not harder; accelerating your output; reducing the time-consuming elements of your business; or selling that kind of service to another business.
The green movement, especially sustainability-focused side hustles (e-waste upcycling):
- While we do see a big shift toward sustainability and helping households and businesses reduce their carbon footprint, I’m not sure about e-waste upcycling. One company that seems to be doing well in our area is Ridwell, with their subscription service for hard-to-recycle items.
VR (Virtual reality) and VR fitness (immersive workout sessions, event planners, etc.)
- This is kind of a miss. It just hasn’t taken off the way some tech companies thought it would, plus seems really high-tech and out of reach for most side hustlers to try and build something in this space.
Personalized nutrition planning and biohacking coaching
- I really like this area. It could be meal plans, full-on meal prep, or accountability coaching like what MyBodyTutor has done — charging a few hundred dollars a month to check in and hold you accountable to your goals.
- Function Health has absolutely blown up with biotracker measurements and blood draws. When I went for my blood draw recently, the technician said about 90% of her appointments were Function customers.
Urban services and micromobility repair
- Sounds like a fancy way of learning some basic repair skills. We’ve got a local mobile bike repair guy I’ve used — when the local shop was booking 3+ weeks out, he came to me.
- Smart home automation is interesting too. A few months ago we came across an entrepreneur in the Washington DC area doing $30k a month just mounting TVs. That’s great money for a skill almost anyone can learn.
If you had to start over, what business would you start and why?
Robo-Nick suggested content-based affiliate marketing, building a niche website or blog around a topic, and monetizing through affiliate partnerships. He talked about creating an asset that works 24/7 once the content is optimized for search engines.
I’m not as hot on content-based affiliate marketing as I once was. The search landscape has changed considerably, and it’s quite a bit harder to create and rank content than it was even just a couple years ago. The pivot would be more of a social-first strategy, focusing on Q&A content on YouTube instead.
Of course you should still have your website as a home base, but I think you’re going to have to look beyond SEO to drive traffic.
His backup suggestion of freelance services around an area of expertise (like podcast editing or copywriting) is a tried-and-true method, and a great way to generate cash flow quickly without a lot of overhead.
But let me add something important — if you’re truly starting from scratch, don’t discount getting a job. There’s no shame in that. It’s a way to stabilize your finances, learn new skills, build a network, and potentially lay the foundation for your next side hustle.
What’s something you believe that most people would find crazy?
“Everybody has an income-generating skill—they just might not realize it yet,” Robo-Nick declared.
He explained how people often think they need some groundbreaking idea or special expertise, when really it’s about reframing what you already know and finding the right audience.
“One of my favorite examples is a guest I had on the show who built a six-figure business flipping clearance items from big-box stores. It wasn’t glamorous, but it worked because they were willing to see opportunity where others saw a clearance rack.”
I don’t know how controversial that is, but we can run with it.
Everybody has an income-generating skill — the trick is uncovering yours and bringing it to market.
What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?
Robo-Nick started sharing about not always seeing himself as an entrepreneur, being introverted despite networking requirements, and even claimed to have run a mobile car wash business in college.
Now he’s just making stuff up. I never had a mobile car wash business, but I can probably guess the picture you’re basing that assumption on.
What inspired you to start The Side Hustle Show? Did the world really need another entrepreneur interview podcast?
“When I started The Side Hustle Show back in 2013,” Robo-Nick explained, “there were already a few entrepreneur podcasts out there, but I felt like something was missing. A lot of shows focused on the big, flashy startup success stories—tech unicorns or founders raising millions in venture capital. That’s great, but it didn’t feel relatable to most people, including me.”
He continued about wanting to create a space for everyday entrepreneurs building something on the side. He mentioned being fascinated by scrappy problem-solving and creative thinking.
Love it. So true. But we both know it took a while for the show to turn into a viable income.
Not many shows that started in 2013 are still going. Why did you stick with it?
Robo-Nick talked about genuinely loving the work, approaching the podcast with a long-term mindset, and being motivated by listener impact.
“What really keeps me going is the impact it’s had on listeners. When I get an email or a message from someone who says they started their side hustle because of the show—or even quit their job to go full-time with their business—that’s incredibly rewarding.”
That’s true. I’ve said it before — it’s like the best job in the world getting paid to share these stories, and I’m constantly inspired by the amazing guests who find their way across my desk.
Do you have another 650+ episodes in you?
“As long as there are creative people finding innovative ways to earn money on their own terms, I’ll have more than enough material to keep going.”
I guess we’ll find out together. I’ve said it before; it’s like the best job in the world getting paid to share these stories, and I’m constantly inspired by the amazing guests that find their way across my desk.
“I’ve always prioritized building long-term, searchable content over chasing the next viral post. For me, the podcast, the blog, and the email list have been the core focus because they create evergreen value.”
Robo-Nick admitted his social media presence isn’t strong, explaining he prioritized building long-term, searchable content over chasing viral posts. He focused on the podcast, blog, and email list because they create evergreen value.
Well, you’re asking the wrong guy for social media tips, but valid reasoning on focusing on long-form evergreen content.
It’s a content as digital property strategy, collecting cash flow hopefully for years, as opposed to content as a marketing strategy, but there’s certainly room for both types in the tool belt.
“One of my biggest weaknesses is probably trying to do too much myself, focusing on long-term strategy versus day-to-day execution, and honestly, sometimes I struggle with celebrating the wins. I’m a bit of a ‘what’s next?’ kind of person.”
It’s chilling and weird how accurate Robo-Nick is. I have nothing more to say.
What can people do this year to AI-proof their income?
Robo-Nick suggested focusing on skills and roles that AI can’t easily replicate. He talked about building adaptable skills that require critical thinking, creativity, and emotional intelligence. He mentioned areas like design, content creation, and strategy development—things that AI can assist with but can’t replace.
He also mentioned using AI as a tool rather than seeing it as a threat, using it for automation, data analysis, and workflow optimization.
Those sound like generic platitudes to anyone concerned about the future. Content creation? I mean that’s what we’re doing right here.
But Robo-Nick acknowledged this point and dove deeper. While tools like ChatGPT can help with first drafts, human elements like personal storytelling, lived experience, and emotional connection with the audience are what make content truly resonate. He suggested focusing on hyper-specific topics that AI might overlook.
I don’t know. I’m a little skeptical on most of those truly being a value add versus just adding more digital clutter to the world. And I do need to clarify that cranking out a bunch of AI articles with Jasper is a quick road to nowhere fast. I am using Pictory to help with video creation though, and it’s a pretty cool tool.
Robo-Nick talked about authenticity and focusing on niche markets, but after all this AI talk, I had to ask, Are you gonna take my job?
“I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about it from your perspective. Here’s the truth: AI, like me, isn’t here to take anyone’s job—it’s here to enhance what you do and make your work more efficient and creative. I can’t replace the human connection that makes you, well, you.”
Thanks for that, but I might have to ask you again in a year.
What’s your next book about?
Robo-Nick clarified that he doesn’t have a new book in the works yet, but suggested it would focus on scaling side hustles and leveraging new trends like AI and automation.
He talked about sharing stories from successful Side Hustle Show guests who’ve transitioned from side hustles to full-time entrepreneurship and other lessons he’s picked up over the years about pivoting and finding niche markets.
Those are pretty good ideas actually. I’ve written a lot about how to start your side hustle, but you’re right, maybe the next title is how to take it into a full-time income, and we’ve got lots of stories from the show on how to do that.
What else might you do to grow Side Hustle Nation as a business?
Robo-Nick suggested several growth strategies:
- Create exclusive content for loyal listeners
- Expand product offerings with digital products and online courses
- Grow affiliate marketing and sponsorship opportunities
- Build a private community space for listeners to share ideas and network
- Host live events, webinars, and virtual summits
- Explore speaking and consulting opportunities
That’s solid advice, particularly around the membership community idea, something I’ve kicked around for years. I think we got off to a bit of a poor start here with your answers but now you’re getting into the swing of it.
What surprised you the most?
Robo-Nick shared his amazement at the variety and creativity of side hustles people come up with.
He thought there might be just a handful of common paths—freelancing, flipping, starting a blog. But the last 11+ years have shown there are countless ways to earn money outside a traditional 9-to-5.
I was a bit worried what I was committing myself to, trying to do a weekly show about side hustles. I was afraid I’d run out of people to talk to.
But these days the number of guest applications I get far outnumber the volume of available episodes.
What’s your biggest business mistake or failure?
“One that stands out is waiting too long to ask for help and build a team.”
The big takeaway was learning to delegate and invest in expertise. I realized that trying to save money by doing everything yourself often just costs you time and limits your growth.
I like this call to play in your zone of genius, and invest in expertise, either as hired help, or in the form of education, coaching, or mentorship.
It’s not about throwing your hands up and absolving yourself of all responsibility, but it’s a way to intentionally shortcut the learning curve and better direct your limited hours. And do more of what works.
What’s next for you? What are you excited about?
“A lot of it is doubling down on what’s working and continuing to evolve Side Hustle Nation. On a personal level, I’m focused on keeping the balance between work and family life. It’s easy to get caught up in the grind, but spending time with my family and making memories with them is a huge priority. ”
It’s weird to hear a robot talk about work life balance, but you’re right: I definitely find myself kind of straddling the line of trying to grow the business and also if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
Robo-Nick’s #1 Tip for Side Hustle Nation
“Take action.”
If there’s one thing I might add, it’s that before taking any action, figure out your driving WHY. Why do you want a side hustle? Sure you want the extra income, but what does that income really buy you?
Episode Links
- ElevenLabs
- AI and automation-driven side hustles
- Content-based affiliate marketing
- Niche website
- YouTube
- Freelance services
- Design
- Automation
- ChatGPT
- Scaling side hustles
- Flipping
- Starting a blog
Serious About Making Extra Money?
- Start Your Free $500 Challenge. My free 5-day email course shows you how to add $500 to your bottom line.
- Join the free Side Hustle Nation Community. The free Facebook group is the best place to connect with other side hustlers and get your questions answered.
- Download The Side Hustle Show. My free podcast shares how to make extra money with actionable weekly episodes.