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What a season! In this special Season 11 Summary episode of The Tech Humanist Show, Kate O’Neill brings together standout moments from eight incredibly engaging conversations exploring the ever-evolving intersection of technology and humanity. From AI and innovation to leadership, communication, creativity, and the impact of technology on our everyday lives, this episode revisits the powerful ideas, fresh perspectives, and thought-provoking insights that made Season 11 so compelling. Consider it a highlight reel of the conversations that challenge us to think differently about technology—and what it means to stay human in a rapidly changing world. Want more? Be sure to check out all eight full episodes here on The Tech Humanist website or on YouTube! Topics Covered: Name confusion and shared interests among guests The “fat part of the bell curve” in AI and data interpretation Analytical vs. insight problem solving and creativity Beyond GDP: Measuring real prosperity, gross national happiness The human side of technology adoption Community decision-making about data centers Developing critical thinking and responsibility with technology Government fragility and the Jenga metaphor Balancing present execution with long-term vision in creative enterprises Season 11’s featured guests:Kate O’Neil, Tamsen Webster, Anu Bhardwaj, Lindsay Ann Wirthlin, Ben Green, Jess Pettitt, Vince Kadlubek Episode Chapters:00:04 – Introduction and Season 11 Wrap00:26 – Name Confusion, Shared Interests & LinkedIn Mix-ups01:15 – Personal Histories: Nashville & New York Intersections01:54 – AI, The Bell Curve, and Interpreting Data02:29 – Insight, Creativity, and Problem Solving versus Analytics04:17 – Measuring Prosperity Beyond GDP05:24 – The Real Meaning of Technology Adoption06:07 – Community Concerns Around Data Centers07:28 – Cultivating Skills for Tech Responsibility08:25 – The Jenga Metaphor: Government Fragility09:51 – Balancing Present and Future in Creative and Tech Projects11:01 – Season Close and What’s Next

What happens when immersive, handmade weirdness becomes both art and scalable business—can technology amplify, rather than hollow out, human experience? Join Kate O’Neill in this episode of The Tech Humanist Show as she sits down with Vince Kadlubek, co-founder and Chief Vision Officer of Meow Wolf—the groundbreaking immersive art collective. Dive into a deep and candid conversation about how Meow Wolf evolved from a DIY art community to a cultural phenomenon and scalable business that millions have experienced. Topics Covered: Art, entertainment, and the challenge of categorizing Meow Wolf Storytelling in nonlinear, immersive environments Balancing creativity with business growth Technology’s role in enabling, not overpowering, human experience AI and the value of human-made art Taste, gatekeeping, and aesthetic choices Absurdity and transformation in art Hope, imagination, and facing the unknown Connect with Vince KadlubekMeow WolfLinkedInInstagram Episode Chapters:00:04 Introduction to The Tech Humanist Show00:18 Experience-first philosophy and the role of technology02:09 Defining Meow Wolf: Art, entertainment, or something else?03:03 Storytelling in immersive spaces05:03 Nonlinear narratives and business models10:05 World-building and universe connections across Meow Wolf locations11:05 Navigating creative values and business scale15:03 Shifting from CEO to Chief Vision Officer19:23 Technology: Enhancing or diminishing meaningful human experiences?22:19 The use and limits of AI in Meow Wolf art27:38 Taste, aesthetics, and the role of hidden technology31:16 Success, gatekeeping, and artistic responsibility34:23 Absurdity, transformation, and challenging reality37:32 Where hope endures in a moment of uncertainty44:39 Credits and closing

What does it really mean to “count everyone”—and who decides how data shapes our democracy? In this episode, we uncover the politics, complexities, and human stories behind the U.S. Census with Danah Boyd. Topics Covered The evolving purpose and interpretation of the U.S. Census Data legitimacy and the social fabric around statistics Online manipulation and attempts to disrupt the 2020 Census The invisible infrastructure and complex processes of demographic data Geographies, census blocks, and mapping America Political battles over counting citizens vs. residents Jenga metaphor for U.S. agencies’ fragility AI’s dependency on civic data and community knowledge Concept collapse and the shifting meaning of “political” Hope in civil servants and the future of collective action Connect with Danah Boyd: Read danah boyd’s book, *Data Are Made, Not Found:* https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/D/bo277581183.html Submit a public comment on the proposed 2030 Census residence rules by November 2nd: https://handsoffourcens.us/ Social Media Website: https://www.danah.org Blog (Apophenia): https://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/ Newsletter: https://made-not-found-by-danah-boyd.ghost.io/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danahboyd/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/zephoria.bsky.social Episode Chapters 00:04 Introduction, framing the census as more than just counting01:14 Danah Boyd’s background and origin story03:03 Founding Data & Society and joining the Commerce Department’s Data Advisory Council04:40 Entering the Census Bureau and studying data legitimacy06:21 Discovering toxic online forums targeting the 2020 census09:20 Attending census meetings and understanding the phases of data-making12:29 Census blocks, the creation of geographies, and mapping17:39 The challenges of counting everyone and errors in data20:33 The 2020 Presidential Memorandum and battles over who counts25:51 New residence rules, Congress’s responsibility, and high-stakes policy debates27:34 The Jenga metaphor for agency fragility and infrastructure30:15 Census data and AI: foundational roles and vulnerabilities33:01 Data legitimacy: social fabric, trust, and the politics of information35:50 Vocabulary breakdown: “political” and the perception of civil servants39:30 Hope in civil servants, future action, and collective responsibility43:43 Appreciation for the census, the new book, and closing thoughts

What happens when we bring more humanity—and humor—into technology, leadership, and the systems that shape our world? In this episode, discover how we can do good better amidst complexity, disruption, and AI-driven change.In this episode, Kate O’Neill welcomes author, comic, and advisor Jess Pettitt to explore how imperfect people and organizations can “do good better.” Together, they tackle topics from confronting bias in technology and leadership, to creating cultures where dissent—and learning from failure—are possible. Jess Pettitt shares high-stakes humor and vulnerable stories, unpacking why “good enough now” is sometimes vital and sometimes not enough. Topics covered: Using humor to open up difficult conversations The limits of certainty and performance in leadership Organizational values and aligning intention with action The power of curiosity and the “Prepare, Recognize, Respond” framework Navigating positional power and fostering inclusive cultures Exposing neutrality and hidden power in technology and policy Redefining hope, agency, and responsibility in complex environments Generosity and actionable steps for failing together in the right direction Connect with Jess PettittWebsiteEpisode Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Welcome01:19 Guest Introduction: Jess Pettitt and Body of Work03:19 A Flamingo, Complexity, and Unexpected Human Moments05:21 Humor’s Role in Difficult Conversations09:11 Learning, Language, and Avoiding Performative Efforts12:16 Organizational Values, Shared Goals, and Truth Telling15:24 Discomfort with Complexity and the Realities of Safety17:00 Making Room for Dissent and Practicing Curiosity19:41 Feedback Loops and Real-Time Adjustment24:08 AI Tools, Accuracy, and Personal Responsibility26:44 Cultural and Conscious Response vs. Habitual Reaction29:42 “Good Enough Now”—Progress, Stakes, and Ethics33:24 Humanity, Everyday Generosity, and Self-Reflection36:30 Balancing Ego and Humility in Driving Change39:09 Power, Voice, and Cultural Structures in Organizations45:25 Recognizing Politics and Power Hiding Behind “Neutrality”51:59 Imagining a Hopeful, Human-Centered Future57:32 Reclaiming Coexistence and Forward-Looking Hope01:01:29 Closing Remarks and Takeaways

How do data science and AI impact social justice, and what happens when massive tech infrastructure lands in local communities?Assistant professor and author Ben Green joins Kate O’Neill on The Tech Humanist Show to discuss AI, data centers, and how technology impacts social justice, communities, and local governments. Hear insights on responsible data science, community resistance, and sustainable tech. Topics covered: The relationship between data science, AI, and social justice Algorithmic Realism and responsible data science methods Public resistance and organizing against data center expansion Impact of data centers on small towns and local governance Environmental justice and the burdens of tech development Power grid strain and electricity cost distribution The opaque economics and long-term sustainability of data centers The role of technologists and communities in shaping technology’s future Connect with Ben GreenWebsiteSignup for Algorithmic Realism Episode Chapters:00:04 Introduction to The Tech Humanist Show01:29 Conversation with Ben Green Begins02:05 Data Science and Social Justice: The Connection and Contradictions03:49 Algorithmic Realism: Rethinking Responsible Data Science06:13 Unlearning Optimization: Real Stories from Boston EMS09:31 Beyond Tech: The “Smart Enough City” Philosophy10:26 Hype, Policy, and the Expansion of Data Centers13:49 The Power Imbalance and Role of Public Resistance16:54 Key Findings from “What Happens When Data Centers Come to Town”21:36 Land Use, Community Decisions, and Generational Trade-offs24:55 Environmental Justice & Health: Who Bears the Burden?28:25 Data Centers, Power Grid Strains, and Electricity Costs33:17 Hardware, Supply Chain, and the Sustainability of Data Centers36:41 Heat Generation and Local Climate Effects38:09 How Community Organizing Shapes Technological Outcomes42:41 Building a Bridge: Technologists, Communities, and Hope for the Future46:21 Closing Thoughts and What Gives Hope

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 every minute counts. Discover how the American Red Cross uses SAFe patterns and agile practices as the backbone for AI adoption and organizational change. Topics Covered Mission-driven technology at the Red Cross The role of SAFe patterns in AI adoption Prioritization in high-urgency organizations Tackling change and adoption fatigue Overcoming the human barriers to AI Partnerships between Agile and AI teams Measuring business value in technology transformation Practical workshops for AI intake and adoption Building trust and conflict resolution between teams Success stories and the importance of scaffolding The core of agile: people and relationships Connect with Lindsay Ann WirthlinThe American Red CrossLindsay Ann’s InstagramConnect with Scaled Agile on LinkedInSAFe by Scaled Agile, Inc AI-Native Training by Scaled Agile, Inc.  Episode Chapters00:04 Introduction and context at the AI Summit01:13 Mission-driven technology in action02:17 Technology and the human experience at the Red Cross03:34 What is SAFe and why it matters for leaders04:06 Prioritization in urgent, mission-critical settings05:21 Integrating AI: fears, realities, and professional impact07:01 Navigating AI and Agile priorities08:38 Signals & strategies for closing collaboration loops09:42 Adoption fatigue and the human side of new tech12:01 Bridging AI and organizational change management13:17 Agile transformation as scaffolding for AI15:28 From idea to outcome: real-world application of agile + AI17:40 Forging practical partnerships between Agile COE and AI19:11 Team linkages, intake models, and coaching22:02 Decision-making boundaries and conflict resolution24:23 Measuring effectiveness across teams26:10 The AI intake problem-solving workshop29:03 Lowering the adoption threshold: demos and use cases32:15 AI coaches and bridging team learning34:17 Tooling innovations for backlog management35:55 Practices for Monday: inspect, adapt, and connect38:04 The heart of transformation: people as scaffolding39:39 Sources of hope and looking ahead41:23 Closing remarks & credits#SAFeSummitSanDiego #AINativeSAFe #SAFe

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 lens on the future of tech and equity. Don’t miss this inspiring, actionable conversation! Topics covered: Digital inclusion and access for the bottom billion Designing tech for low-connectivity and basic devices The importance of listening to marginalized voices Data attribution vs. data extraction Indigenous wisdom and oral traditions Measuring prosperity beyond GDP: Gross National Happiness The role of language and localization in tech platforms The importance of men in supporting women’s economic power Aligning philanthropy, startups, and government for sustainable impact Lessons in resilience and adaptation as a social entrepreneur Personal practices for hope and perseverance Connect with Anu BhardwajSHEQONOMISTATE OF WOMEN INSTITUTELinkedIn Episode Chapters: [00:00:04] Introduction to The Tech Humanist Show[00:00:37] Meet Anu Bhardwaj: Origin story and Sheqonomi’s mission[00:02:06] Homeschooling during COVID sparks global digital access questions[00:05:16] Designing technology for low-connectivity realities[00:07:10] Misconceptions about the “bottom billion” and true listening[00:08:44] Practical approaches to digital inclusivity[00:11:38] From data extraction to data attribution[00:12:45] Advancing women’s economic power and global policymaking[00:13:22] The difference between access and agency[00:14:39] Rethinking prosperity: From GDP to Gross National Happiness[00:16:19] Smartphone access as a default—and its pitfalls[00:17:41] Language, localization, and the global reach of tech[00:20:13] The crucial role of men in women’s economic empowerment[00:23:14] How organizations can audit AI for inclusion[00:27:27] Philanthropy, startups, government: Moving from aid to sustainability[00:30:38] Lessons from the social entrepreneurship journey[00:34:07] Staying grounded and hopeful in challenging times[00:36:43] Where to find more about Anu Bhardwaj and Sheqonomi[00:38:14] What keeps Anu hopeful and inspired[00:40:01] Closing and show credits

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 chanceAvoiding manipulation and supporting agencySensemaking vs. persuasionCommunicating complexity and change in organizationsFraming messages for genuine adoptionHuman information processing and the role of curiosityAI-mediated communication: risks, opportunities, and bell curvesCognitive overload and capturing productive attentionTransfer of ideas and the importance of commonly-held beliefsTransparency, uncertainty, and the power of theory-based communicationSensemaking vs. meaning-makingWhat keeps us hopeful about the future of human connection Connect with Tamsen Webster Website”Say What They Can’t Unhear” (book page)LinkedInInstagram Episode Chapters 00:04 Introduction: The Tech Humanist Show and today’s challenge for leaders02:15 Tamsen Webster’s journey into message design05:48 Alignment and complexity in communication07:01 Where leaders go wrong with complexity09:18 Avoiding oversimplification—layering information12:28 Persuasion vs. genuine sensemaking and learning16:15 The cost of coercive persuasion and non-coercive approaches21:00 Communicating in the age of AI: leaders’ new challenges27:06 Human brains, AI, and the limits of insight29:06 Coping with fragmented attention and cognitive overload33:59 Building curiosity and harnessing reciprocity34:20 Communicating uncertainty and theory-based leadership38:44 Juxtaposition, innovation, and clarity39:16 Where to find Tamsen’s work40:00 Lightning round: favorite questions, books, and hope for the future44:10 Closing and show credits

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 in performance management The challenges and insights from building an AI-powered HR tool How AI can complement (not replace) human judgment in management The pitfalls of traditional performance reviews Identifying and using the right signals for employee growth Addressing bias and ensuring fairness with AI in the workplace The impact of local culture (Nashville) on tech company building Dimensionalizing the human experience at work The importance of patience and hope in the future of work and AI Connect with Kate O’NeilWebsiteLinkedIn Episode Chapters:00:04 Introduction: The Two Kate O’Neills03:07 Opre’s Mission and Origins05:36 Personal Story: Management Firsts and Professional Growth07:41 What Software Hasn’t Helped With & Insights from Management Practice10:09 Reimagining the Performance Review12:10 What Signals Matter in Evaluating Performance?14:14 Where Humans Must Take the Lead Over AI17:09 Skills, Systems, Culture & Human Judgment20:32 Addressing Power Dynamics and Bias in Performance Management23:09 Improving Performance Without Flattening People25:19 Dimensionality, Data, and Learning from Knowledge Graphs29:51 Platform-Mediated Identity & Selfhood36:00 Nashville’s Influence and the Power of Collaboration42:10 The Future of Opre and What’s Still Hard at Work46:24 What This Moment in Work and AI Asks of Us48:19 Where to Connect with Opre48:45 Credits and Closing

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, professor of English at the University of Notre Dame and author of Novels by Weird: Tales and the 21st Century, joins to explore how weird fiction, genre hybridity, and non-human narration can offer unique insights into technology, scale, and what it means to stay human as reality grows stranger.Dive into how stories, genres, and the unexpected “weird” help us make sense of complex systems and imagine better futures. Topics Covered Weirdness as a lens for the future The evolution of “weird fiction” and its historical context Non-human narration and narrative experiments Genre’s role in conceptual thinking Scale and the challenge of representing catastrophe The reading crisis and cultural shifts in reading AI, storytelling, and the transformation of narrative Speculative fiction as a thinking tool Weirdness as data and a signal from the future Balancing melancholy and optimism for the future Connect with Kate MarshallWebsiteLinkedinNovels by Aliens: Weird Tales and the Twenty-First Century Episode Chapters00:00: Introduction to the Tech Humanist Show and the concept of weirdness01:55: Kate Marshall on taking weirdness seriously04:40: How 21st-century novels are getting weirder06:09: The rise of non-human perspectives in contemporary fiction09:48: Genre as a space for novelists to wrestle with scale13:54: Genre fragments as creative encounters with societal wreckage16:00: Scale: Representing catastrophe and individual experience20:27: Tension between decentering the human and human narration23:18: How non-human perspectives shift agency and responsibility25:50: The contemporary crisis in reading and criticism28:03: AI, large language models, and the future of reading/writing31:32: Genre, language models, and the future of literary creativity36:16: Story moves for imagining and building better futures38:56: Treating weirdness as data, not doom40:46: Optimism, storytelling, and hope for the future43:22: Outro and thanks

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 […]

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 […]

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 New Grand […]

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 Connect with: Pamela PavliscakPamela Pavliscak on LinkedInAll the Feels: […]

How can deeper, more intentional listening help us stay human in an age of algorithm-driven music and AI-generated sound? Topics Covered: Connect with Craig HavighurstWebsiteSubstack – StringTheories Episode Chapters:00:04 – Welcome and introduction to Craig Havighurst01:22 – The relationship between music and being human 04:15 – Craig’s first memorable music experience 07:28 – What is […]