S2E24 | Science, AI, and the Fight for the Truth with Nicholas Dirk, New York Academy of Sciences

S2E24 | Science, AI, and the Fight for the Truth with Nicholas Dirk, New York Academy of Sciences

When trust in science declines, society doesn't become freer. It becomes more fragile. In this episode of The Human Protocol, host Mykel Salomon sits down with Nicholas B. Dirks, President & CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences and former Chancellor of UC Berkeley, to examine why public confidence in science and expertise has eroded, and what it will take to rebuild it. From the long American history of skepticism toward science to the communication breakdowns of the COVID era, the rise of AI-fueled misinformation, and the real-world fallout of frozen research funding, Dirks makes the case that science is not a fixed set of truths but a deeply human process of discovery, one that earns trust through humility, transparency, and connection rather than dogma. In this episode, you'll learn: * Why distrust in science isn't a new phenomenon, and how it has resurfaced in roughly 20 to 30 year cycles throughout American history, from the Scopes trial to today. * What the "follow the science" messaging of early COVID got wrong, and why communicating the process of discovery builds more trust than declaring fixed facts. * How AI is accelerating both scientific breakthroughs and the spread of misinformation, and why that makes the question "who do you trust?" harder than ever. * The real stakes behind the roughly 5,300 NIH and NSF grants frozen or canceled in 2025, and the risk of discouraging an entire generation of young scientists. * Why so much of modern life, from the iPhone to vaccines to synthetic insulin, traces back to federally funded basic research, and what's lost when that pipeline is cut. * How the idea of "retail science" can rebuild public trust the same way "retail politics" wins elections, by meeting people where they are and telling a human story. * Why science doesn't recognize borders, and how international collaboration and open science make discovery stronger for everyone. Connect with Nicholas B. Dirks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-dirks-84a1ab149/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-dirks-84a1ab149/] Website: https://www.nyas.org/ [https://www.nyas.org/] Connect with Mykel Salomon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/] Website: https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/ [https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/]

S2E23 | Reinvent Yourself Before AI Does It For You with Nikki Barua

In this episode of The Human Protocol, host Mykel Solomon sits down with entrepreneur and reinvention expert Nikki Barua for an honest conversation about what it really takes to stay human while building the future with AI. Nikki shares the through line of her own life, from immigrant outsider to corporate leader to founder, and makes the case that the hardest part of reinvention is not learning new skills but unlearning the identity that made you successful in the first place. Together, they unpack why AI is the great equalizer, why your career should be treated like a portfolio rather than a ladder, and how to shift your sense of worth from effort to impact. The result is a grounded, optimistic roadmap for anyone who feels overwhelmed by the pace of change and wants to reinvent themselves before the world forces them to. In this episode, you'll learn: * Why the real skill of reinvention is unlearning, not learning, and how clinging to your past identity quietly keeps you stuck * How to make authenticity your superpower instead of copying others to fit into rooms that were never yours * Why AI is the great equalizer that removes the access barriers of knowledge, resources, and relationships * How to shift where you attach your value, moving from hard work and effort to real impact * Why your career is a portfolio of competencies to mix and match, not a linear ladder to climb * How to spot and tune out outdated career advice from people who peaked in the pre-AI era * Why "curiosity over credentials" is the new measure of who stays relevant * How to reframe AI overwhelm with a sense of play and adventure rather than fear * What stays irreplaceably human: creativity, imagination, empathy, and resilience * Why this moment marks the end of the industrial revolution and a return to being human beings instead of human doings Connect with Nikki Barua LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkibarua/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkibarua/] Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/ [https://www.nikkibarua.com/] Connect with Mykel Salomon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/] Website: https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/ [https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/]

S2E22 | Data Protection as the Blueprint for Better AI with James Robson

In this episode of The Human Protocol, host Mykel Salomon sits down with James Robson, former data protection officer for the UK Labour Party, Founder & CEO of Datus Longevitus, to challenge the idea that data protection is a barrier to progress. Drawing on a decade of GDPR work, James argues that governance is what actually enables innovation, comparing data safeguards to the brakes on a car that let you drive faster, not slower. The conversation moves from the differences between US and European approaches to privacy, to practical ways individuals can protect themselves online, to inspiring real-world examples of data used for public good, including a King's College London study on cash grants for people experiencing homelessness. James and Mykel also confront the darker side of the AI era, from echo chambers and self-radicalization to addictive algorithms and the erosion of critical thinking, before landing on a hopeful vision of trusted data intermediaries and an ethical, transparent future where trust becomes the real infrastructure. In this episode you'll learn * Why compliance and data protection can be the condition for innovation rather than its enemy, using the brakes-on-a-car analogy * How storytelling skills translate into understanding data systems and getting people excited about ethical data use * The key philosophical difference between US data law (consumer focused) and European GDPR (human rights focused) * Practical steps individuals can take to protect their data, including ad blockers, password managers, and rejecting cookies and trackers * What rights GDPR gives you to request your data, and how that compares to the US patchwork like the CCPA in California * How connecting datasets responsibly can improve outcomes in social care, education, problem gambling, and homelessness prevention * The technical safeguards that make data sharing safe, including end-to-end encryption, immutable ledgers, and the UK's Five Safes framework * Why echo chambers can quietly radicalize people and how dependence on AI threatens independent and critical thinking * The link between addictive algorithms, screen time, and mental health, including recent rulings against Meta and Google * What a trustworthy data future could look like, from trusted data intermediaries to ethical trust scores and nutrition-label-style transparency * Concrete advice for individuals, AI leaders, and governments navigating data responsibility and AI regulation Connect with James Robson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/-james-robson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/-james-robson/] Connect with Mykel Salomon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/] Website: https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/ [https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/]

S2E21 | How to Tell Your Story and Stay Relevant in the Age of AI with Sabine Hutchison

In this rich and wide-ranging conversation, Mykel Salomon sits down with Sabine Hutchison — author, speaker, and founder of the Ripple Network — to explore what it really means to stay human in a world being rapidly reshaped by AI. Sabine draws from her diverse career, her work empowering women to find their voice, and her own hard-won lessons on identity, reinvention, and self-advocacy. Together, they challenge the myth of the straight career ladder, celebrate the messy middle of growth, and make a compelling case for why knowing yourself and being able to tell your story may be the most powerful skill anyone can develop in the age of artificial intelligence. In this episode, you'll learn: Reinvention without drama: practical steps and persistence * The importance of storytelling and authentic communication * Navigating the in-between spaces and embracing discomfort * The role of mentorship and sponsorship for women in leadership * The impact of AI on careers and the importance of human skills * Feedback as a gift: how to give and receive effectively * The power of pauses and slow speech in public speaking * Balancing efficiency with quality and well-being in work Connect with Sabine Hutchison LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabinehutchison/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabinehutchison/]Seuss+ - https://www.seuss.plus/ [https://www.seuss.plus/]The Ripple Network Platform - https://theripplenetwork.com [https://theripplenetwork.com]Sabina Hutchinson's Book - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Sabina+Hutchinson+book [https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Sabina+Hutchinson+book]Connect with Mykel Salomon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/] Website: https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/ [https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/]

S2E20 | The Discipline Protocol: Self-Leadership in the Age of AI w/ Dusty Holcomb

What does it take to lead others when you have not yet learned to lead yourself? In this episode of The Human Protocol, host Mykel Salomon sits down with Dusty Holcomb, a leadership coach with 28 years of executive experience, to explore the discipline behind great leadership. Dusty unpacks why self-leadership is the foundation of every high-performing team, how discipline is not punishment but alignment, and why the rise of AI is not a threat to human leaders but a mirror that exposes and sharpens them. From homeschooling roots and managing a 350-person operation at age 23, to building a personal AI chief of staff for daily reflection, Dusty delivers raw, actionable wisdom on how leaders at every level can build internal clarity, develop intentional daily habits, and master delegation to thrive in a rapidly changing world. What You'll Learn in This Episode * Why self-leadership is the foundation of all great leadership and how your internal discipline directly shapes the trust, respect, and performance of your team * The mindset shift every new leader needs to make when transitioning from individual contributor to leading and developing other people * How imposter syndrome shows up even at the CEO and senior executive level and what the most self-aware leaders do to manage it * Why the skills that earned you a promotion are not always the skills that will keep you successful in your new leadership role * The simple daily calendar audit practice that helps leaders identify one task to delegate and convert it into a real growth opportunity for their team * How artificial intelligence can sharpen your leadership rather than replace it, and what it looks like to use an AI chief of staff for daily reflection, gain assessments, and better decision-making * The five questions every leader must help their team answer to move people from doing the minimum to bringing their full effort and purpose to their work * How to write your own personal rules of engagement in under an hour to clarify your values, set expectations for yourself, and invite genuine accountability from the people around you Dusty is offering The Human Protocol listeners exclusive access to the Rules of Engagement Playbook, along with a complimentary DISC personality assessment — a $500 executive-level tool he uses with clients. It’s a practical resource designed to help you apply the self-leadership principles discussed in this episode. Access it free at myrulesofengagement.com [http://myrulesofengagement.com]. http://myrulesofengagement.comConnect with Dusty Holcomb LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustyholcomb/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustyholcomb/]Website: Arqus Group - https://arcqusgroup.com/ [https://arcqusgroup.com/]Connect with Mykel Salomon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/]Website: https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/  [https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/]