The Tech Humanist Show

Can mission-driven technology and AI truly work hand-in-hand to better serve humanity? Join Kate O’Neill as she brings The Tech Humanist Show live to the SAFe & AI Summit with a compelling conversation featuring Lindsay Ann Wirthlin, who leads enterprise agile transformation at the American Red Cross. Lindsay shares powerful stories about weaving technology into mission-driven work when...

What if true digital inclusion started by listening to those most often left out? In this episode of The Tech Humanist Show, Anu Bhardwaj—founder of Sheqonomi and The State of Women—joins Kate O’Neill to reveal how low-connectivity tech innovations and radically inclusive design can help unlock women’s economic power for the “bottom billion.” Discover stories, solutions, and a powerful new l...

Are you struggling to make complex ideas clear and drive real adoption in a world full of noise and rapid change? Tamsen Webster and Kate O’Neill dive deep to discover how leaders can design understanding, foster sensemaking, and communicate authentically—especially in the age of AI and cognitive overload. Topics Covered Designing understanding vs. leaving it to chance Avoiding manipulation and su...

What if AI could help managers see the whole human, not just the numbers? Discover how technology is reshaping performance management to be more personalized, supportive, and genuinely human-focused in this conversation between two Kate O’Neills (O’Neil and O’Neill). Topics covered: The confusion and connection of sharing a nearly identical name The mission and approach of Opre i...

What can weird fiction teach us about navigating a reality shaped by technology, environmental crisis, and the shifting boundaries between human and non-human perspectives? In this episode of the Tech Humanist Show, the conversation focused on the power of “weirdness” as both a signal from the future and a way to make sense of our rapidly changing world. Special guest Kate Marshall, pr...

What does it really mean for AI governance to be more than just buzzwords—and how do we build systems that are worthy of our trust? This week on the Tech Humanist Show, we get candid with responsible AI expert and Algorithmic Justice League advisor, Rebekah Tweed. Together, we explore the not-so-glamorous (but oh-so-crucial) world of AI governance—think less “theater,” more real talk on trust, tra...

How do our everyday digital traces—social posts, check-ins, photos—shape our identities, relationships, and the very nature of privacy in a hyper-connected world? Kate O’Neill sits down with Lee Humphreys, professor and Chair of the Department of Communication at Cornell University and author of The Qualified Self: Social Media and the Accounting of Everyday Life . The conversation explores...

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, the nation faces unprecedented challenges: political polarization, economic insecurity, climate change, and the complex influence of technology and AI. How can America rethink its long-term strategy—and rebuild trust—at this historic crossroads? Host Kate O’Neill is joined by strategist and author Patrick Doherty, co-author of “The...

Are our emotions shaped—and even expanded—by technology, or are we just becoming more disconnected and manipulated online? Dive into this episode as Kate O’Neill and Pamela Pavliscak explore the complicated emotional landscape of the digital world and what it truly means to “stay human.” Topics Covered How technology mediates and shapes emotions The evolution from tech optimism t...

How can deeper, more intentional listening help us stay human in an age of algorithm-driven music and AI-generated sound? Topics Covered: The connection between music and the human experience Defining and democratizing “musicality” Listening for versus listening to music The impact of corporate consolidation and streaming platforms on music discovery The difference between musical genr...

Are leaders thinking big enough—and human enough—in the AI era? Explore how AI and technology shape the human experience with Kate O’Neill and guest Brian Solis, Head of Global Innovation at ServiceNow. Discover the concept of cognitive Darwinism, AI transformation stories, leadership in the AI era, and how to drive growth while staying human-centric. Topics Covered: AI augmentation vs. auto...

Are you overwhelmed by nonstop change and wondering how to truly thrive in a world shaped by AI and information overload? Tune into the latest Tech Humanist Show episode, where Kate sits down with Frederick Marshall—gardener, CEO, and author of Thrive: The Antidote to Future Shock —to unearth how we can cultivate clarity, resilience, and actual human thriving in our tech-saturated world. Topics co...

How can leaders harness AI in their communication without losing their authentic human touch? Topics covered: The meaning and value of authenticity in leadership The risks and rewards of using AI for executive communication Building trust and executive presence in an AI-mediated world The difference between confidence and certainty for leaders Coaching for on-camera executive presence Communicatin...

How can organizations confront their histories of harm before being forced to reckon with them? In this episode, Kate O’Neill is joined by Sarah Federman as they explore the crucial difference between deferred and acknowledged harm, and what real accountability can look like—especially amid today’s AI boom. Topics covered: Reckoning work vs. apologies, CSR, and ESG Corporate accountability f...

Are you overwhelmed at work but can’t pinpoint why? Discover how “thought load”—not just workload—may be sabotaging productivity, innovation, and well-being in the tech-driven workplace. Kate O’Neill sits down with Liane Davey—the brilliant mind behind the new book Thought Load —to unpack why work isn’t working for so many of us. Topics covered: The concept of thought load and it...

Are we truly understanding global trade, or just reacting to headlines? Step into a timely, eye-opening conversation on trade, geopolitics, and the systems shaping our global economy with Dmitry Grozoubinski, hosted by Kate O’Neill. Topics Covered: Why global trade is more misunderstood than ever The real forces driving today’s trade tensions and disruptions How policy, politics, and economi...

Are we letting technology shape our lives, or are we actively choosing how it fits in? Dive into an essential conversation about techno-chauvinism, AI’s real-world impacts, and what responsible innovation looks like with Meredith Broussard. Topics Covered: The difference between technological and social decisions The AI hype cycle and shifting perceptions of AI Techno chauvinism and using the righ...

What happens when AI makes us more creative—does it also make us more human? Dive into this episode to explore how blending technology and creativity can unlock new potential for individuals, teams, and businesses. Topics covered: Super Creativity: Augmenting human creativity with AI Unlocking creativity in “hidden figures” and backstage roles AI’s impact on solo creators vs. tea...

What does it really mean to build ethical and inclusive AI—and who gets to decide which problems we solve with technology? Dive into this conversation with Tess Posner as she and Kate O’Neill explore how education, ethics, and diverse voices shape the future of AI. Topics covered: The intersection of AI, education, and responsible technology Early experiences shaping ethical perspectives in tech C...

What happens when technology doesn’t just restore light sensitivity, but actually brings back the ability to perceive forms, patterns, and meaning for those who’ve lost their sight? Dive into this episode as we explore how breakthroughs in retinal prostheses are reshaping human experience. Topics covered: The difference between light sensitivity and form vision How the Prima retinal pr...

What does it truly mean to see—and how close are we to restoring sight for those who have lost it? Dr. Lauren Ayton shares her journey at the frontier of vision restoration, from leading Australia’s first bionic eye trial to navigating the ethical, scientific, and personal dimensions of bringing sight back. Topics covered: The meaning of “seeing” and how the brain constructs visi...

What does it truly mean to see—and how can technology restore one of our most essential human senses? In this episode, Dr. José-Alain Sahel joins Kate O’Neill to reveal the breakthroughs in vision restoration, and how these innovations are shaping the future of human experience. Topics Covered: Optogenetic therapy and vision restoration Artificial retina technology Scientific and patient jou...

What if the real future-of-work crisis isn’t about technology replacing humans—but organizations pushing out workers just when their wisdom is needed most? In this episode, Kate O’Neill and Dan Pontefract explore the urgency of rethinking age in the workplace, longevity, and designing meaningful work for six-decade careers. Topics covered : Age and longevity in the workforce Fluid vs. crystallized...

What if the “soft skills” we often overlook are actually the most strategic—and essential—in the age of AI? In this episode, leadership expert Dr. Bushra Khan and host Kate O’Neill explore the power and business impact of emotional intelligence, challenging outdated leadership myths and redefining what skills matter most for future-ready teams. Topics Covered: Why “soft skills” s...

What are the questions only humans can ask in an age where AI seems to have all the answers? In this episode, Kate O’Neill and futurist Ben Pring dive deep into the uniquely human skills and judgments that technology can’t replicate, and explore how leaders and organizations can navigate uncertainty, ask better questions, and shape a more human-centered future. Topics covered: Placing...