AI Beyond the Hype: Ethics, Work, and What Makes Us Human with Dr. Karen Boyd

AI Beyond the Hype: Ethics, Work, and What Makes Us Human with Dr. Karen Boyd

In this episode, Nathan sits down with AI researcher and economist Dr. Karen Boyd for a conversation that explore the AI related questions many of us are wrestling with. How is AI reshaping work, creativity, trust, and human connection? And why navigating these questions requires more nuance than either the enthusiasts or the skeptics often provide. Karen explains why many of the biggest concerns surrounding AI—from environmental impact and privacy to bias and job displacement—deserve careful attention without resorting to fear or false certainty. Along the way, the conversation expands into much bigger questions: What parts of our work actually give us meaning? Does effort have value beyond efficiency? How do we preserve authenticity in a world where machines can increasingly imitate human creativity? And if AI can do more of our work, what kinds of work should we value in the future? Whether you're excited about AI, deeply skeptical of it, or simply trying to figure out where you stand, this conversation offers a grounded, practical, and deeply human perspective on one of the defining technological shifts of our time. ---------------------------------------- ABOUT DR. KAREN BOYD Dr. Karen Boyd helps mission-driven organizations navigate AI with confidence. She is an economist at the Policy and Innovation Center in San Diego and co-founder of Our AI Futures Lab, where she has trained more than 300 nonprofit, government, and social-impact leaders on the thoughtful adoption of artificial intelligence. Her research focuses on AI ethics, machine learning documentation, and the future of work. Karen earned her PhD from the University of Maryland, where she studied how machine learning engineers identify and respond to ethical issues in training data, and she also holds an MBA from the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego. Karen serves on the San Diego Foundation's AI Council and is the author of Amplify Good Work: Effective, Ethical AI for Mission-Driven Work. Her work has been featured in leading academic conferences and publications, cited in hundreds of scholarly articles, and recognized by organizations across the nonprofit and technology sectors. She also hosts the upcoming Labor in the Loop podcast, exploring the future of work in the age of AI. ---------------------------------------- LINKS Karen Boyd * Website: https://drkarenboyd.com/https://drkarenboyd.com [https://drkarenboyd.com] * Newsletter: https://drkarenboyd.com/newsletter [https://drkarenboyd.com/newsletter] * Blog: https://drkarenboyd.com/blog [https://drkarenboyd.com/blog] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkarenboyd/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkarenboyd/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenboydauthor/ [https://www.instagram.com/karenboydauthor/] Resources Mentioned * Amplify Good Work: Effective, Ethical AI for Mission-Driven Work * Free Sustainability & AI Chapter: https://drkarenboyd.com/freechapter [https://drkarenboyd.com/freechapter] * Mission First Starter Kit: https://drkarenboyd.com/missionfirst [https://drkarenboyd.com/missionfirst] * Coming Soon: Labor in the Loop Podcast: https://www.laborintheloop.com/ [https://www.laborintheloop.com/]

Masculinity, Relationships, and the Courage to Grow with Dave Lishansky

What does it really mean to become a man in a world that offers plenty of expectations but a lot of contradictory direction. In this episode, Nathan sits down with men's relationship coach Dave Lishansky for a wide-ranging conversation about masculinity, relationships, emotional growth, and the work of becoming more fully human. Together they explore why so many men are taught grit, responsibility, and self-sacrifice, yet rarely given the tools to understand themselves, express vulnerability, or build meaningful emotional support systems. Drawing from his own relationship journey and years of coaching men, Dave shares how intimate relationships often become mirrors that reveal the parts of ourselves that are unfinished, wounded, or longing for growth. The conversation explores the difference between reacting and responding, the role of anger and people-pleasing in men's lives, and why many of the patterns that create conflict in relationships begin long before we ever meet our partners. Nathan and Dave also dive into larger cultural questions: the disappearance of meaningful rites of passage, the ways modern work and capitalism have replaced traditional forms of initiation, and how many men unconsciously sacrifice themselves to expectations they never consciously chose. Throughout the discussion, they return to a central theme: growth is not about reaching a finish line, but about continually waking up to ourselves, our relationships, and the opportunities life gives us to become more present. Whether you're navigating a relationship, questioning old definitions of masculinity, or simply curious about what it means to live with greater intention, this conversation offers a thoughtful and deeply human exploration of courage, connection, and personal transformation. ---------------------------------------- ABOUT DAVE LISHANSKY Dave Lishansky is a men's and relationship coach and the host of the Reclaiming the Gentle Man podcast. He helps men find their inner steadiness in the moments relationships test them most—when everything inside wants to shut down, withdraw, or fight back—and discover what becomes possible when they remain open and present instead. Drawing from both personal experience and years of coaching, Dave helps men develop greater self-awareness, emotional resilience, and deeper connections in their relationships. He and his wife spent more than a decade building their relationship before getting married in November 2025, an experience that continues to inform his work and perspective on growth, intimacy, and partnership. ---------------------------------------- LINKS Connect with Dave * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dave_lishansky/ [https://www.instagram.com/dave_lishansky/] * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dave_lishansky [https://www.youtube.com/@dave_lishansky] Dave's Podcast * Reclaiming the Gentle Man: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reclaiming-the-gentle-man/id1813031348 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reclaiming-the-gentle-man/id1813031348] Free Relationship Assessment * Discover what may be causing your relationship conflicts to escalate "out of nowhere": https://your-reconnection-code.lovable.app [https://your-reconnection-code.lovable.app]

Science, Skepticism, and Public Trust with Lola Akapo

In this episode of Braver New Worlds, Nathan sits down with Lola Akapo, founder of Benchtop to Boardroom, a biotech communications consultancy specializing in mRNA therapeutics and biologics. Drawing on nearly a decade of vaccine and drug development work, Lola argues that the biotech companies shaping the future of medicine can’t simply rely on building breakthrough technologies. They also need to be proactive towards building trust. Lola shares the concept of a "trust infrastructure" which includes the partnerships, educational efforts, and coalition-building that all serves to help investors, regulators, advocacy groups, and the public understand why scientific work matters long before a therapy reaches the market. The conversation also dives into the tension between healthy skepticism and public trust, the challenge of communicating complex science to non-scientists, and whether society needs more "translators" who can bridge the gap between researchers and the wider world.  Along the way, Nathan and Lola discuss scientific literacy, risk, regulation, storytelling, and how societies decide what—and whom—to trust. ABOUT LOLA AKAPO Lola Akapo has spent nearly a decade inside mRNA vaccine and biologics programs, where she saw firsthand how brilliant science and fragmented narratives can prevent early-stage teams from communicating their impact effectively. She is the founder of Benchtop to Boardroom, a consulting practice focused on helping biotech organizations build the internal scientific literacy infrastructure needed to communicate clearly with boards, regulators, manufacturers, investors, advocacy groups, and eventually the public. Her work helps early-stage teams align around a shared understanding of their mission, impact, and scientific story. LINKS Lola Akapo (LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/damilola-akapo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/damilola-akapo/] Benchtop to Boardroom Website https://benchtoptoboardroom.com/ [https://benchtoptoboardroom.com/] Benchtop to Boardroom Substack https://benchtoptoboardroom.substack.com/ [https://benchtoptoboardroom.substack.com/] Instagram https://www.instagram.com/benchtoptoboardroom/ [https://www.instagram.com/benchtoptoboardroom/] Learn more about Lola's consulting work, speaking engagements, and scientific communication resources through the links above.

Religion, Power, and the Stories That Shape Who We Are with Kaia Badger

What happens when the worldview that shaped your identity, relationships, and understanding of reality no longer makes sense? In this episode of Brave New Worlds, Nathan sits down with Kaia Badger—former ministry leader, biblical studies scholar, and content creator under the handle of Reconstructing Kaia—for a conversation about faith, doubt, identity, power, and the challenge of rebuilding a meaningful life after deconstruction. Drawing from her experience growing up in evangelical Christianity, earning a degree in biblical studies, working in ministry, and later transitioning as a trans feminine non-binary person, Kaia shares the personal journey that led her to question not only her faith, but the systems and structures that shaped it.  The conversation explores the social and historical forces that influence religious belief, the emotional cost of leaving tightly knit communities, and the difficulty of separating the positive aspects of religion from the power structures that often accompany them. ABOUT KAIA BADGER Kaia Badger is a content creator, biblical studies scholar, and former ministry leader exploring the intersections of religion, power, gender, and identity. After spending more than a decade in ministry and earning a degree in biblical studies, Kaia began a personal journey of questioning, deconstruction, and reconstruction that ultimately reshaped both her worldview and her sense of self. Today, she creates content through Reconstructing Kaia, where she examines religious narratives, institutional power, and the ways belief systems influence culture, relationships, and identity. Her work is driven by a desire to create a world where religion is no longer weaponized to reinforce harmful hierarchies—particularly around gender and sexuality—while helping people approach their beliefs with curiosity, humility, and compassion. LINKS Follow Kaia Badger: Instagram: @reconstructingkaia [https://www.instagram.com/reconstructingkaia] TikTok: @reconstructingkaia [https://www.tiktok.com/@reconstructingkaia] YouTube: @reconstructingkaia [https://www.youtube.com/@reconstructingkaia] Threads: @reconstructingkaia [https://www.threads.com/@reconstructingkaia] Bluesky: @reconstructingkaia [https://bsky.app/profile/reconstructingkaia.bsky.social] If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share the episode with someone who enjoys thoughtful conversations about belief, identity, culture, and creating a braver new world.

Engaging Universities Towards Solving Real Community Challenges, with Professor Jessica Barlow

EPISODE SUMMARY What if universities weren't just places where knowledge is created, but places where knowledge is actively put to work in service of local communities? In this episode of Brave New Worlds, we sit down with Professor Jessica Barlow, Professor of Sustainability at San Diego State University and Executive Director of the Center for Regional Sustainability. Together, they explore how universities can play a more meaningful role in addressing real-world challenges while preparing students for life beyond the classroom. Jessica shares the story behind The Sage Project, an internationally recognized model that connects university courses with community priorities. Through partnerships with cities, nonprofits, and local organizations, students work on real projects ranging from environmental justice and urban planning to branding, accessibility, and community development. Along the way, they gain hands-on experience navigating the messy realities of public problem-solving, collaboration, and civic engagement. The conversation also explores larger questions about the future of higher education. Why are universities often disconnected from the communities around them? How can researchers better communicate their work beyond academic journals? What happens when scholars move beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries to focus on society's most pressing challenges?  Jessica reflects on her own journey from linguistics to sustainability and environmental justice, and shares why she believes community-engaged scholarship should become the norm rather than the exception. ---------------------------------------- ABOUT JESSICA BARLOW Jessica Barlow is Professor of Sustainability at San Diego State University and Executive Director of the Center for Regional Sustainability. Trained as a linguist and phonologist, her work bridges language, community, and environmental justice. She is co-founder of The Sage Project, an internationally recognized program connecting universities with communities to address real-world challenges through collaborative, place-based research. Her interdisciplinary work spans climate resilience, community-engaged scholarship, and the role of language in shaping how we understand and respond to global crises. Barlow's career reflects a commitment to linking knowledge with action to build more equitable and sustainable futures. Outside of work, she plays viola, violin, and occasionally guitar in local musical ensembles—and is an enthusiastic bird lover. ---------------------------------------- LINKS Center for Regional Sustainability (San Diego State University) https://crs.sdsu.edu [https://crs.sdsu.edu] Jessica Barlow on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-a-barlow/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-a-barlow/] Learn More About The Sage Project https://sage.sdsu.edu [https://sage.sdsu.edu] ---------------------------------------- If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe, leave a review, and share the episode with someone interested in education, community building, sustainability, or creating meaningful change where they live.