170 | AI + LinkedIn: Becoming a Thought Leader (Without Living on the App) with Al Kushner

Episode Summary

If LinkedIn still feels like “that place bankers go to hire people,” this episode will change how you see it.

Rodric sits down with Al Kushner, author of The AI LinkedIn Advantage, to break down how to use AI + LinkedIn together to save time, show up strategically, and position yourself as a thought leader — without living on the platform 24/7.

Al has been on LinkedIn for over 20 years. He’s watched it shift from stiff online résumé storage to a powerful professional social network where content, video, and personal branding actually matter.

They talk about how to optimize your profile, use AI to generate content ideas, newsletters, and video scripts, and how business owners, entrepreneurs, and job seekers can all use LinkedIn more intentionally to open doors and opportunities.

🔑 In This Episode, You’ll Learn

1. Why content is still king on LinkedIn
2. And how AI can help you generate article ideas, newsletter topics, and even scripts for short, engaging videos.
3. How to use AI to show up as a thought leader
4. Not to fake expertise, but to organize your ideas, polish your messaging, and stay consistent.
5. The foundation: your profile
6. Why your profile is your first impression, why it needs to be updated at least quarterly, and which sections matter most (headline, photo, banner, About, and more).
7. How business owners should really be thinking about LinkedIn
8. It’s not just for job seekers — it’s for prospecting, partnerships, recruiting, and credibility.
9. What The AI LinkedIn Advantage book will help you do
10. From choosing the right photos and headlines to using premium tools like Sales Navigator and doing strategic outreach.
11. Why being active matters more than being perfect
12. Posting, commenting, and engaging regularly beats having a “perfect” profile you never touch.
13. A simple mindset shift if you “hate LinkedIn”
14. How to see it as a tool to showcase your real-world abilities and connect with real humans, not just a place to upload your résumé.

⏱️ Highlights & Timestamps

(Times are approximate and based on the flow of the conversation.)

[00:00] Content is king (especially on LinkedIn)

Al opens with why content drives everything on LinkedIn — and how AI can brainstorm article ideas, draft newsletter content, and write scripts for the videos LinkedIn loves.

[00:45] Welcome to Million Dollar Flip Flops

Rodric frames the podcast for new...