We Were Programmed to Hate AI. Corporate America Did the Rest.

We Were Programmed to Hate AI. Corporate America Did the Rest.

Your company didn't downsize because of AI. They downsized because of a bad quarter, a bloated org chart, or a board breathing down their neck... and AI made a convenient press release. Don't take my word for it. Sam Altman said it. The National Bureau of Economic Research said it. Even the companies doing it are starting to admit it. But here's the part that gets overlooked: we were already primed to believe the worst about AI long before the layoffs started. Sixty years of Hollywood told us AI was coming for us. HAL 9000. Skynet. The Entity. The story was written before the technology even existed. So when the headlines hit, we didn't question them. We confirmed them. In this episode of The Rational Workforce, I'm breaking down how pop culture installed our fear of AI, why this tech disruption is playing out differently than every one that came before it, and why the companies using AI as a scapegoat are making a catastrophic mistake they won't be able to walk back. The technology isn't the villain. The people exploiting it are.

The Emerging Connections Between Work, Life, and Faith

Don't look now, but people have stopped looking to the workplace for meaning, value, and a sense of belonging. Not because they stopped needing those things. Employers just made it clear they couldn't be trusted with the responsibility The resurgence in church attendance. The rising number of LLC registrations. The number of content creators documenting how they're using AI to level the playing field and go their own way. They're all happening right now, and my gut tells me they're all connected. The workforce is done outsourcing its sense of meaning to a company that will tell them they're part of a family on Monday, then restructure them out on Tuesday without a second thought. I know faith and the workplace have historically been a third-rail combination - and I'm certainly not here to convert anyone - but I think one is quietly reshaping the other right now, and pretending otherwise is willful ignorance.

Why Companies Are Blowing Up Their Workforce to Chase AI

Every week, another wave of layoffs. Another breathless press release about AI transformation. Another batch of executives patting themselves on the back for being bold and visionary while their workers clean out their desks. Here's the part nobody's saying out loud: for most companies, the AI revolution isn't delivering. The ROI isn't there. The efficiency gains aren't there. And the humans who were supposed to be "augmented" by all this technology? They're just... gone. So why won't they stop? In this episode, we get into the mechanics of the AI hype machine — why companies keep doubling down even when the numbers don't add up, why layoffs are becoming the new corporate flex, and what's actually going on underneath all the buzzwords and boardroom bravado. But we also talk about what you can do about it. Because disruption creates motion, and motion creates opportunity — if you know where to look. This one's worth your time... but you might want to pour yourself a drink first.

Work, Joy & the Death of Cancel Culture

Let's face it - some people are just addicted to getting offended by everything, whether it impacts them or not. BUT... I think they're increasingly in the minority. Everywhere you look - politics, entertainment, pop culture - there are signs that Outrage, Inc. may be on the way out. This episode takes a look at some of the early indicators that, despite the odds, joy, hope, and levelheadedness just might be staging a comeback. Smart workplaces (and the HR pros who support them) will see the tide turning and react accordingly. Those who don't... well... from Bud Light to Target, we've seen how misreading cultural cues can hurt a business. No one is talking about abandoning principles, but a more rational approach just might win the day. 00:01 - Intro 02:24 - Jennifer Sey and the consequences of speaking up @ work 03:51 - Joy is staging a comeback 04:21 - Signs of rationality in politics 06:57 - Sports figures aren't taking the outrage bait 09:26 - Entertainment is trending away from the woke 13:34 - Using -ists and -isms as sword and shield 14:43 - A fork in the road: outrage fatigue @ work 21:06 - Closing

The Workforce Strikes Back

Tired of AI ghosting your job applications and being treated like garbage during your job search? In 2026, workers are fighting back! Some major class-action lawsuits against HR tech vendors, exposing hidden biases and secret scoring that reject qualified candidates (especially over 40) without a fair shot. Discover how these cases could level the playing field, why employers are scrambling, and real options like going independent to reclaim your career power. 00:01 - Introduction 01:51 - Corporate America & The Courts 02:35 - Workday Class Action Suit 04:01 - Worktech AI Systems 101 04:41 - Workday Class Action Suit (Continued) 05:58 - Eightfold.ai Class Action Suit 08:16 - What This Means for Job Seekers 08:59 - The Employer/Tech Provider Blame Game 10:00 - What This Means for HR & Employers 11:36 - How AI (and HR) Stacks the Decks Against Workers 15:02 - How YOU Can Fight Back 18:18 - Wrapping Up