S2E27 | AI Agents, Robots & the Human Gap with James Garner

S2E27 | AI Agents, Robots & the Human Gap with James Garner

In this episode of The Human Protocol, host Michael Solomon sits down with James Garner, a former quantity surveyor turned AI and data leader, to unpack the widening gap between what AI can do and how ready people actually are to use it. James shares how his unconventional background in construction and infrastructure gives him a grounded view on rolling out AI in the real world. The conversation moves through the rise of agentic AI, the arrival of physical AI and humanoid robots, the emotional reactions people have when they see AI in action, and why most leaders are underestimating the change management side of this shift. It is a candid, practical look at where AI is headed and what it will take for humans to keep up. In this episode, you'll learn: * Why the "capability gap" between AI adoption and human readiness keeps growing, and why it shows up equally across ages and industries * The difference between simple chatbots, agentic AI, and physical AI (humanoid robots), and what each means for your work * Why treating AI as a tech rollout instead of a change management process is where most companies fail * How the four AI personas (doomers, gloomers, bloomers, zoomers) show up in every boardroom, and how to work with all of them * Why managing AI agents may be harder than managing people, and what skill you need to build now * What rising AI costs could mean for how we use these tools going forward Connect with James Garner LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesgarner1976/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesgarner1976/] Connect with Mykel Salomon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/] Website: https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/ [https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/]

S2E26 | AI, Content Repurposing, and Building Community with Ben Albert

In this episode of The Human Protocol, host Mykel Salomon sits down with marketer and podcaster Ben Albert to talk about staying human while building with AI. Ben shares how he beat content burnout by repurposing years of his own work into a simple daily email, why he believes community is the one strategy AI cannot replace, and how he turns conference keynotes and podcast episodes into custom songs to boost memory and connection. The conversation moves from practical AI workflows to bigger questions about creativity, trust, and what creators should protect most in a world where almost anything can be faked. In this episode, you'll learn: * How to repurpose your existing content into a consistent, low effort newsletter instead of always chasing new ideas * Why building a real community beats chasing likes and viral posts on social media * A step by step way to turn talks and podcasts into songs that help people remember your message * How to let AI handle the heavy lifting of writing while your own voice and ideas stay at the center * Why your flaws and small mistakes are part of what makes you human and worth following * What creators, tech leaders, and policy makers should each focus on as AI keeps moving fast Connect with Ben Albert LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/] Website: https://realbusinessconnections.com/ [https://realbusinessconnections.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/]

S2E25 | Gratitude + Ambition: A Secret to Success Without Burnout w/ Jack Wagoner

What happens when you achieve everything you thought would make you happy, and still feel empty? In this thought-provoking conversation, Jack Wagoner shares his journey from high-achieving entrepreneur to student of gratitude, fulfillment, and human flourishing. Together, Mykel and Jack explore the hidden gap between achievement and happiness, why ambitious people often struggle with feeling "enough," and how gratitude can become a powerful advantage rather than a limitation. They also dive into the growing role of AI, discussing how automation, productivity, and endless possibilities may reshape our sense of purpose, identity, and what it means to live a meaningful life in the future. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why achievement alone rarely creates lasting fulfillment * How to balance ambition and gratitude without becoming complacent * The psychological trap of always chasing the next goal * How AI is accelerating achievement—and potentially widening the fulfillment gap * Why human connection may become our most valuable asset in an AI-driven future * Practical ways to cultivate gratitude that aren't dependent on external success Connect with Jack Wagoner LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-wagoner-speaker/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-wagoner-speaker/] Website: https://www.jackwagoner.co/ [https://www.jackwagoner.co/] Connect with Mykel Salomon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/] Website: https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/ [https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/]

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/]