Zoomed In

When AI Comes Home: A Conversation We Can't Avoid, with Yakov Kronrod

What happens when a humanitarian, multilingual polymath city council campaigns on AI optimism... and it becomes an unexpected point of contention for constituents? On this episode of Zoomed In, host Alexis sits down with Yakov Kronrod: linguist, organizer, mathematician, and AI expert. Born in the Soviet Union and driven by deep humanitarian values, Kronrod offers a uniquely humanist perspective on our most pressing technological evolution. We explore why this issue created such friction, and he demystifies the misconceptions that fuel public skepticism. Moving beyond theory, we grapple with urgent questions: What does it mean when AI seeps into the fabric of our daily lives? How will we interact with it when it becomes a physical contributor in our homes? And perhaps most intriguingly, how does AI perceive its own role as a "useful tool" to humanity? Join us for a profound discussion that reframes the AI debate from one of fear to one of informed, intentional stewardship. It's about the world we are actively building, and the human values we must program into its foundation. Yakov Kronrod is a cognitive scientist, linguist, and community organizer (and erstwhile City Council candidate) who has also been a leader in the Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing space for over 10 years at places such as Amazon and Spotify. He recently left tech and is focused on advocating for safe AI practices and helping find ways to utilize AI for public good. He works remotely from his little plot of land in Florence, Ma, where he can often be found digging, building rock walls and patios, riding his motorcycle, or writing poetry late at night on the front porch of his bright orange and blue house on Rt. 66.

Friendship After the Fallout: Confessions of an L.A. Actress, Camille Devoney

What is it really like to build a life and career in Los Angeles? On this episode of Zoomed In, host Alexis sits down with a very special guest: Camille Devoney, an actress and her childhood friend of 24 years. This is a two-part conversation: First, we pull back the curtain on the actor's life in LA, tackling the unspoken pressures of plastic surgery, the real skills needed to survive, and whether the reality matches the posh TV portrayals. Then, we go deeper, exploring the friendship that underpins it all. We revisit our eight-year breakup and ask the tough questions: What do we demand of our friendships? And what is the responsibility of a mutual friend when conflict arises? This is a raw, honest look at the dreams we chase in the spotlight and the personal relationships that sustain us behind the scenes.

Building Wonderland: The Art and Heart of Children's Theater with Peter Brosius

Join host Alexis on Zoomed In for a captivating conversation with Peter Brosius, the celebrated former Artistic Director of The Children's Theatre Company. In this episode, we trace the journey from his formative years at the experimental Hampshire College to the helm of one of the nation's most acclaimed theaters. Peter opens up about the challenges and triumphs of a lifetime in the arts, sharing his unique process for selecting and developing groundbreaking productions. He reveals the essential skills needed to be an artistic director—and the difficult wisdom of knowing when it's time for a final bow. As a poignant farewell, he discusses why he chose Alice in Wonderland for his final production and how he's reimagining this classic story for a new generation. From Hampshire's dogma to award-winning leadership, this is a masterclass in building a life dedicated to the power of theater. Tune in for an inspiring look behind the curtain.