When Audiochuck, the podcast media company behind the #1 true crime podcast Crime Junkie, reviewed its AI adoption metrics in mid-2024, it saw a familiar pattern: tools deployed, minimal transformation. Employees had access to ChatGPT Business, but only about 10% used it, and those who did hid their usage out of fear.

The barrier wasn’t technical. It was cultural.

Within 90 days of partnering with Pragmatico, Audiochuck transformed from AI-stuck to AI-native, with 95% active adoption, employees saving 8-12 hours per week, and 30% of the organization submitting new AI use cases. Here's how they did it.

The Challenge: AI Implemented,
Value Unrealized

Audiochuck's leadership team knew AI could be transformative. They had invested in ChatGPT Business at $37,000 annually for their team of nearly 100 employees. But the reality fell far short of the vision.

"We had the tools, but approaching AI like an IT rollout wasn’t working," explained Bob Baird, COO at Audiochuck. "People were afraid. They didn't know the rules. And the few who were using it were doing so quietly."

The symptoms were textbook:

• Only ~10% of employees actively use AI tools
• Confusion and fear from a lack of a formal AI policy. Employees are hiding their usage out of job security concerns.
• Power users remained in the shadows; new adopters weren't being created
• Executive team is uncertain about how to lead the change

Audiochuck had deployed AI. They hadn't transformed.

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The Solution: Cultural Transformation First, Technology Second

Pragmatico's approach recognized what most organizations miss: AI adoption is fundamentally a change-management challenge, not a technology one. The solution required three distinct phases executed over 90 days.

Phase 1: Align & Architect

Before any training could begin, Audiochuck needed the foundation that enables adoption.

AI Manifesto: Created a clear vision that addressed fear head-on. The manifesto positioned AI as elevation, not replacement: "This technology makes you more capable, not less necessary."

AI Policy: Established guardrails that enabled experimentation rather than restricting it. Employees finally knew the rules, which created a sense of psychological safety to try new things.

"The manifesto and policy communications were huge," said Baird. "Once people knew the rules and understood this wasn't about replacing them, the fear started to dissolve. That's when real experimentation began."

Leadership Alignment: The Executive Leadership Team (ELT) received dedicated training first, ensuring leaders could model the behavior they wanted to see.

Phase 2: Activate Behaviors (Weeks 7-9)

With the foundation in place, Pragmatico implemented a multi-level training program designed for behavioral activation, not just information transfer.

3-Level Customized Training: Levels 1-2 built shared fundamentals like structured prompting, trained projects and intentional privacy settings. Level 3 focused on department-specific mastery and cross-functional collaboration in AI tools.

Shared Projects: Teams identified high-impact AI applications specific to their work. Content teams explored production workflows. Podcast fan engagement teams built listener interaction tools.

"Fan engagement was a home run. The content team sessions were really good. Once we went micro with focused, facilitated breakout groups, that's when the magic happened."

$1,000 Monthly Innovation Awards: Recognition programs rewarded experimentation and innovation, creating positive peer pressure and momentum. 30% of all employees submitted AI use cases!

Phase 3: Operationalize & Sustain (Weeks 10-12+)

The final phase embedded AI into Audiochuck's operational DNA:

• AI proficiency integrated into culture and employee experience
• Champion networks established across departments
• Ongoing “AI Together” Slack channel for peer support
• Quarterly policy updates and best practices sharing
• Upgraded to ChatGPT Enterprise for analytics and oversight

Usage Analytics Tell the Story

The behavioral change went far beyond what employees self-reported. ChatGPT Enterprise analytics revealed the true scale of transformation:

• 587% increase in messages (1,504 to 10,334 monthly)
• 323% increase in daily active users (22 to 93)
• ‍26x growth in advanced tool usage (file analysis, custom GPTs, data interpretation)

"The perception gap was fascinating. Employees were using AI far more than they realized. That's when you know adoption has truly worked."

The Critical Insight: Why Traditional Approaches Fail

Audiochuck's success illuminates why most organizations struggle with AI adoption despite significant investment. The difference came down to four critical factors:

1. Psychological Safety Before Skills: The AI Manifesto and Policy came before training. Without psychological safety, people won't experiment.

2. Leaders Before Teams: ELT training happened first. Leaders modeled the behavior and could speak authentically about their own AI journey.

3. Incentives Drive Behavior: The $1,000 monthly innovation award created positive peer pressure. 30% participation in innovation submissions proves that incentives work.

4. Integration Over Events: AI proficiency became part of performance reviews. Adoption wasn't a program; it became part of Audiochuck's way of working.

The formula is proven: Clear vision + psychological safety + skills + incentives = sustainable adoption.

What's Next: From Adoption to Acceleration

With Phase 1 complete, Audiochuck has moved from wondering "will people use this?" to "how do we use it better?" The conversation has fundamentally shifted.

The organization is now focused on:

• Deepening role-specific skills across departments
• Building custom AI automations for high-value workflows
• Expanding peer learning opportunities through office hours
• Continuous evolution as AI capabilities advance

‍"Teams are no longer asking whether to use AI. They're asking how to use it better for their specific functions. That's successful adoption. Now we're focused on turning unconscious usage into conscious mastery."

Ready to transform your organization from AI-stuck to AI-native?

Learn more at www.pragmatico.ai

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