Current projects and experiments.
I’m building, testing, and occasionally breaking things across business, AI, content, and tools. I care less about making it sound grand and more about finding what actually works.
Connect on LinkedInEntrepreneur / builder / experimenter
Hi, I’m Spencer Shaw.
I’ve spent most of my life starting things, figuring out how to make them work, traveling, investing, and following whatever I’m curious about.
Lately I’ve realized I’ve gotten pretty good at building small, profitable things. Maybe too good. So I’m experimenting more, sharing more, and deliberately thinking bigger.
The open door
Less résumé. More notebook.
I’m especially interested in AI, business, leverage, freedom, interesting people, and seeing more of the world. I’m trying to pay closer attention to what is useful, what is real, and what is worth building next.
This is where I’ll share what I’m building, testing, and learning, including the things that do not work. Some of it will be business. Some of it will be travel. Some of it will probably be half-formed, because that is usually where the honest thinking starts.
What I’m doing now
Three simple buckets.
Ideas, observations, and things I’m learning.
I’m trying to share more of the thinking while it is still alive. That includes AI experiments, business notes, travel reflections, and the occasional lesson I probably learned the hard way.
Read on SubstackPeople, places, technologies, and problems.
Curiosity has been a pretty useful compass for me. I like finding rooms, conversations, and questions that stretch how I think about work, family, responsibility, and freedom.
Follow on InstagramOpen threads
Things I keep coming back to.
AI as leverage, not theater.
I’m interested in AI when it helps people think clearer, move faster, build better systems, or get time back.
Small profitable things, then bigger bets.
I’ve learned a lot from building practical businesses. Now I’m trying to keep that discipline while raising the ambition.
Freedom with responsibility attached.
The parts of life I care most about usually involve both: family, responsibility, travel, and work that creates margin.
Homeschool in motion
We’re nowhere near finished seeing the world.
My wife, kids, and I homeschool, and we have traveled to 40+ countries together. The number is not the point. It is just one way our family learns, asks better questions, and remembers that the world is bigger than our routines.
Worldview
Long flights, small meals, new questions.
Travel keeps life from getting too theoretical. I like watching how people build, worship, eat, parent, sell, rest, and dream in places that do not work like home.
Perspective over passport counts.
The point is not collecting countries. The point is paying attention.
Make the world part of school.
Some lessons stay with you when the classroom is a country, a market, a coastline, or a table with new friends.
Leave room for unexpected conversations.
Later this year, travel may create chances for talks, dinners, or smaller gatherings. I’m holding that loosely.
Maybe in person
If our paths cross, I’m open to thoughtful rooms and real conversations.
I may be available for a few talks, podcast conversations, small gatherings, or founder/operator sessions as we travel later this year. This is not a big speaking push. It is just something I’m open to when there is a natural fit.
Best fit
Founders, families, operators, communities, or event hosts who want an honest conversation more than a performance.
Tone
Curious, grounded, practical, and willing to say “I’m still figuring this out.”
Format
Podcast conversations, small talks, dinners, workshops, private sessions, or a simple Q&A.
AI, without the theaterSmall profitable thingsBigger experimentsFamily travel and homeschoolingLeverage and freedomThe parts that do not work
Writing
Notes while I’m still figuring things out.
I’m using Substack as a place to share what I’m building, testing, learning, and noticing. Expect experiments, business notes, AI reflections, travel, and probably a few unfinished thoughts that still feel useful.
Spencer D. Shaw on Substack
Follow the experiments as they happen.
A few honest answers
The useful version, without making it too polished.
Who is Spencer Shaw?
I’m an entrepreneur, builder, experimenter, podcast host, husband, dad, and homeschool family traveler. Most of what I share here lives somewhere between business, AI, family, travel, and curiosity.
What do you like talking about?
Practical AI, small profitable businesses, experiments, leverage, freedom, family travel, homeschooling, and what I’m learning from people who build useful things.
Are you available for speaking?
Maybe. As our family travels later this year, I may be open to podcast conversations, small talks, workshops, dinners, Q&A sessions, or founder/operator conversations when there is a natural fit.
Start here
Come along, or say hello.
Follow the writing, listen to the podcast, or send a thoughtful note if there is a real reason to connect. Short is perfect.