What Is Mike Michelini Up To Now: August 9

I am back in Chiang Mai after an intense business trip to Bangkok with my son Miles. It was his second business trip this summer, and bringing him along has given me a completely different perspective on work, travel, and what children can learn by being present in the real world.

Mike Michelini and his son Miles overlooking the Bangkok skyline from King Power tower — Mike and Miles above Bangkok during their second father-son business trip of the summer. Click to view the larger optimized version.

Some moments were exciting. Some meetings were long. There was travel, waiting, factory visits, new people, product questions, and a little time above the Bangkok skyline. That mix is the point. Business is not one polished highlight reel; it is a series of conversations, observations, and decisions.

Twelve Years From Podcast Intro to Guest

One of the most meaningful moments was recording a Global From Anywhere podcast interview with Miles. He first appeared on the show when he was just born, with only a few words about him in the intro. Now, 12 years later, he sat down as a guest himself. It is wild to see that circle close.

Mike lying on the glass floor high above Bangkok — A lighter moment above Bangkok between the business meetings. Click to view the larger optimized version.

Miles lying on the glass floor high above Bangkok — Miles taking in Bangkok from a very different perspective. Click to view the larger optimized version.

Helping Young Makers Find Each Other

We are also working on something more local for him. Miles wants to meet other makers around Chiang Mai, so I am guiding him, with help from AI, as he develops ChiangMaiStudio.com into a club where kids can make things together. We are keeping the first step simple: bring a few curious young people together, build something real, and learn what they want the club to become.

What We Learned From Bangkok's Skincare Factories

The biggest business progress from Bangkok came from the skincare factory visits with Snook and Miles. We learned much more about the Thai manufacturing landscape and the work behind developing a men's skincare product: formulas, samples, certifications, testing, packaging, import and export questions, and quality control.

I now feel more comfortable working with Thai factories and supply-chain specialists as we develop the Excalibur Brothers men's skincare line. That does not mean we have selected a final factory or formula. We are still researching, comparing, and testing.

Giving Excalibur Brothers Skincare a Visual Identity

Luciano has also created some striking packaging concepts for the Daily Face Moisturizer. The amber bottle, gold details, and gift-style carton explore how skincare could still feel unmistakably like Excalibur Brothers. You can see the current Excalibur Brothers packaging concepts here.

Concept packaging for the Excalibur Brothers Daily Face Moisturizer amber bottle and gold carton — Concept direction for the Excalibur Brothers Daily Face Moisturizer, not final production art. Click to view the larger optimized version.

These visuals are concepts, not final production art. The formula, claims, compliance copy, materials, and manufacturing all still need to be validated. But a strong concept helps the team react to something concrete instead of discussing an abstract idea forever.

Inventors and Ecommerce Sellers at Cross Border Summit

Cross Border Summit is moving too. Paul Bassoo is joining the speaker lineup to discuss intellectual-property licensing and how inventors and ecommerce sellers can work together. He recently published The Solo Inventor Patent Success System, which makes the timing especially relevant. In an AI-accelerated world, understanding how ideas, patents, licensing, product development, and distribution connect could create valuable new partnerships.

A Better Human-and-Agent Flow

This work is also showing me how much better our human-and-agent collaboration is becoming. Janice, Billy, Arthur, Lisa, Snook, Luciano, and others are helping move research, context, questions, and decisions between specialists and the team. AI does not replace qualified factories, testing, compliance work, or human judgment. It helps us organize the complexity and ask better questions.

Back in the Chiang Mai Studio

This week I am back in the Chiang Mai studio. We will continue developing the product line, improving our AI-agent skills and workflows, refining some special ideas for Cross Border Summit, and helping Miles get the Chiang Mai Studio maker club moving.

I would love your feedback: which Excalibur Brothers packaging direction feels strongest? And if you are in Chiang Mai, what would you want a local kids' maker club to build first?

What Is Mike Michelini Up To Now: August 9 - 15, 2026