S1E10 - AI, Suicide and the illusion of connection | John Sommers-Flanagan

S1E14 - The truth about the AI hype | Eric Siegel

We’re told that Artificial Intelligence will bring radical abundance, end job loss, and maybe even reach superhuman intelligence, but what’s real and what’s marketing? In the last episode of this season, host Paula Fontenelle sits down with Dr. Eric Siegel, author of The AI Playbook, to deliver a reality check. Together, they unpack the myths of AGI, the overpromise of full autonomy, and why 95 percent of companies still see no Return on Investment on AI. If you’re confused by the noise around AI’s future, this conversation will ground you in what’s fact, what’s fantasy, and what’s next. Check Eric Siegel here:http://www.bizML.com Do you have a story or insights to share? Send us an email: paula@relatingtoai.com Find us on Instagram: @relatingtoaipodcastwww.relatingtoai.com

S1E13 - Addiction treatment meets AI, help or harm? | John Fitzgerald

AI is transforming addiction treatment, from predicting relapse to offering 24/7 emotional support. In this episode of Relating to AI, Paula Fontenelle speaks with John Fitzgerald, a therapist with over 20 years in addiction care, about how AI is being used to track relapse, personalize treatment, and even talk to clients between sessions. Together they explore the hope, the risks, and the haunting question: could the next addiction be to AI itself? Find John Fitzgerald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjohnfitzgerald/ Do you have a story or insights to share? Send us an email: paula@relatingtoai.com Find us on Instagram: @relatingtoaipodcastwww.relatingtoai.com

S1E12 - AI therapy is infantile | Mark Vahrmeyer

What if talking to an AI for comfort is less therapy and more regression?In this episode of Relating to AI, Paula Fontenelle speaks with Mark Vahrmeyer, a psychotherapist who believes that using chatbots for emotional support is a form of infantile dependence. He argues that real growth comes from frustration, conflict, and the presence of another mind — things AI can’t provide. Together, they explore how digital “companionship” feeds loneliness, validation, and a dangerous illusion of connection.Find Mark Vahrmeyer: https://tinyurl.com/3ee8f7emDo you have a story or insights to share? Send us an email: paula@relatingtoai.comFind us on Instagram: @relatingtoaipodcastwww.relatingtoai.com

S1E11 - Chatbots banned for therapy | Bob Morgan

Illinois just became the first U.S. state to ban AI chatbots from offering therapy. In this episode of Relating to AI, host Paula Fontenelle talks with Representative Bob Morgan, the lawmaker behind the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act (HB1806) — a bill that defines what therapists can and cannot do with AI. The new law prohibits chatbots and companies from presenting themselves as therapists but it raises major questions: * Why are therapists being regulated while AI companies are not? * How will this law be enforced in a world where millions already use chatbots for emotional support? * And what happens to clients who rely on AI to process their emotions between sessions? This conversation dives into the ethics, accountability, and future of AI in mental health — and why this law could shape national policy. Do you have a story or insights to share? Please, send us an email: paula@relatingtoai.com Find us on Instagram: @relatingtoaipodcastwww.relatingtoai.com

S1E10 - AI, Suicide and the illusion of connection | John Sommers-Flanagan

More people than ever are turning to AI chatbots for emotional support — some even during suicidal crises. But can a machine truly understand human pain?In this Paula Fontenelle speaks with Dr. John Sommers-Flanagan, one of the leading voices in suicide prevention, about the promises and perils of AI in mental health.They explore the rise of AI companions, the illusion of connection, and why empathy — real, messy, human empathy — can never be automated. They discuss cases where chatbots gave dangerously wrong advice, the risks for youth seeking comfort online, and what therapists and parents need to know as emotional AI becomes mainstream.Do you have a story or insights to share? Please, send us an email: paula@relatingtoai.comFind us on Instagram: @relatingtoaipodcastwww.relatingtoai.com