The Tech Humanist Show

Hosted by Kate O'Neill

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Oct 2026

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where data and technology meet humanity

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October 15, 20261 hr 2 min

Doing Good Better

What happens when we bring more humanity—and humor—into technology, leadership, and the systems that shape our world? In this episode, discover how we can do good better amidst complexity, disruption, and AI-driven change. In this episode, Kate O’Neill welcomes author, comic, and advisor Jess Pettitt to explore how imperfect people and organizations can “do good better.” Together, they tackle topics from confronting bias in technology and leadership, to creating cultures where dissent—and learning from failure—are possible. Jess Pettitt shares high-stakes humor and vulnerable stories, unpacking why “good enough now” is sometimes vital and sometimes not enough. Topics covered: Using humor to open up difficult conversations The limits of certainty and performance in leadership Organizational values and aligning intention with action The power of curiosity and the “Prepare, Recognize, Respond” framework Navigating positional power and fostering inclusive cultures Exposing neutrality and hidden power in technology and policy Redefining hope, agency, and responsibility in complex environments Generosity and actionable steps for failing together in the right direction Connect with Jess Pettitt Website Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:19 Guest Introduction: Jess Pettitt and Body of Work 03:19 A Flamingo, Complexity, and Unexpected Human Moments 05:21 Humor’s Role in Difficult Conversations 09:11 Learning, Language, and Avoiding Performative Efforts 12:16 Organizational Values, Shared Goals, and Truth Telling 15:24 Discomfort with Complexity and the Realities of Safety 17:00 Making Room for Dissent and Practicing Curiosity 19:41 Feedback Loops and Real-Time Adjustment 24:08 AI Tools, Accuracy, and Personal Responsibility 26:44 Cultural and Conscious Response vs. Habitual Reaction 29:42 “Good Enough Now”—Progress, Stakes, and Ethics 33:24 Humanity, Everyday Generosity, and Self-Reflection 36:30 Balancing Ego and Humility in Driving Change 39:09 Power, Voice, and Cultural Structures in Organizations 45:25 Recognizing Politics and Power Hiding Behind “Neutrality” 51:59 Imagining a Hopeful, Human-Centered Future 57:32 Reclaiming Coexistence and Forward-Looking Hope 01:01:29 Closing Remarks and Takeaways

October 8, 202647 min

When Data Centers Come to Town

How do data science and AI impact social justice, and what happens when massive tech infrastructure lands in local communities? Assistant professor and author Ben Green joins Kate O’Neill on The Tech Humanist Show to discuss AI, data centers, and how technology impacts social justice, communities, and local governments. Hear insights on responsible data science, community resistance, and sustainable tech. Topics covered: The relationship between data science, AI, and social justice Algorithmic Realism and responsible data science methods Public resistance and organizing against data center expansion Impact of data centers on small towns and local governance Environmental justice and the burdens of tech development Power grid strain and electricity cost distribution The opaque economics and long-term sustainability of data centers The role of technologists and communities in shaping technology’s future Connect with Ben Green Website Signup for Algorithmic Realism Episode Chapters: 00:04 Introduction to The Tech Humanist Show 01:29 Conversation with Ben Green Begins 02:05 Data Science and Social Justice: The Connection and Contradictions 03:49 Algorithmic Realism: Rethinking Responsible Data Science 06:13 Unlearning Optimization: Real Stories from Boston EMS 09:31 Beyond Tech: The “Smart Enough City” Philosophy 10:26 Hype, Policy, and the Expansion of Data Centers 13:49 The Power Imbalance and Role of Public Resistance 16:54 Key Findings from “What Happens When Data Centers Come to Town” 21:36 Land Use, Community Decisions, and Generational Trade-offs 24:55 Environmental Justice & Health: Who Bears the Burden? 28:25 Data Centers, Power Grid Strains, and Electricity Costs 33:17 Hardware, Supply Chain, and the Sustainability of Data Centers 36:41 Heat Generation and Local Climate Effects 38:09 How Community Organizing Shapes Technological Outcomes 42:41 Building a Bridge: Technologists, Communities, and Hope for the Future 46:21 Closing Thoughts and What Gives Hope

October 1, 202642 min

Why Mission Matters

Can mission-driven technology and AI truly work hand-in-hand to better serve humanity? Join Kate O’Neill as she brings The Tech Humanist Show live to the SAFe & AI Summit with a compelling conversation featuring Lindsay Ann Wirthlin, who leads enterprise agile transformation at the American Red Cross. Lindsay shares powerful stories about weaving technology into mission-driven work when every minute counts. Discover how the American Red Cross uses SAFe patterns and agile practices as the backbone for AI adoption and organizational change. Topics Covered Mission-driven technology at the Red Cross The role of SAFe patterns in AI adoption Prioritization in high-urgency organizations Tackling change and adoption fatigue Overcoming the human barriers to AI Partnerships between Agile and AI teams Measuring business value in technology transformation Practical workshops for AI intake and adoption Building trust and conflict resolution between teams Success stories and the importance of scaffolding The core of agile: people and relationships Connect with Lindsay Ann Wirthlin The American Red Cross Lindsay Ann’s Instagram Connect with Scaled Agile on LinkedIn SAFe by Scaled Agile, Inc AI-Native Training by Scaled Agile, Inc. Episode Chapters 00:04 Introduction and context at the AI Summit 01:13 Mission-driven technology in action 02:17 Technology and the human experience at the Red Cross 03:34 What is SAFe and why it matters for leaders 04:06 Prioritization in urgent, mission-critical settings 05:21 Integrating AI: fears, realities, and professional impact 07:01 Navigating AI and Agile priorities 08:38 Signals & strategies for closing collaboration loops 09:42 Adoption fatigue and the human side of new tech 12:01 Bridging AI and organizational change management 13:17 Agile transformation as scaffolding for AI 15:28 From idea to outcome: real-world application of agile + AI 17:40 Forging practical partnerships between Agile COE and AI 19:11 Team linkages, intake models, and coaching 22:02 Decision-making boundaries and conflict resolution 24:23 Measuring effectiveness across teams 26:10 The AI intake problem-solving workshop 29:03 Lowering the adoption threshold: demos and use cases 32:15 AI coaches and bridging team learning 34:17 Tooling innovations for backlog management 35:55 Practices for Monday: inspect, adapt, and connect 38:04 The heart of transformation: people as scaffolding 39:39 Sources of hope and looking ahead 41:23 Closing remarks & credits #SAFeSummitSanDiego #AINativeSAFe #SAFe

September 24, 202640 min

Building For The Bottom Billion

What if true digital inclusion started by listening to those most often left out? In this episode of The Tech Humanist Show, Anu Bhardwaj—founder of Sheqonomi and The State of Women—joins Kate O’Neill to reveal how low-connectivity tech innovations and radically inclusive design can help unlock women’s economic power for the “bottom billion.” Discover stories, solutions, and a powerful new lens on the future of tech and equity. Don’t miss this inspiring, actionable conversation! Topics covered: Digital inclusion and access for the bottom billion Designing tech for low-connectivity and basic devices The importance of listening to marginalized voices Data attribution vs. data extraction Indigenous wisdom and oral traditions Measuring prosperity beyond GDP: Gross National Happiness The role of language and localization in tech platforms The importance of men in supporting women’s economic power Aligning philanthropy, startups, and government for sustainable impact Lessons in resilience and adaptation as a social entrepreneur Personal practices for hope and perseverance Connect with Anu Bhardwaj SHEQONOMI STATE OF WOMEN INSTITUTE LinkedIn Episode Chapters: [00:00:04] Introduction to The Tech Humanist Show [00:00:37] Meet Anu Bhardwaj: Origin story and Sheqonomi’s mission [00:02:06] Homeschooling during COVID sparks global digital access questions [00:05:16] Designing technology for low-connectivity realities [00:07:10] Misconceptions about the “bottom billion” and true listening [00:08:44] Practical approaches to digital inclusivity [00:11:38] From data extraction to data attribution [00:12:45] Advancing women’s economic power and global policymaking [00:13:22] The difference between access and agency [00:14:39] Rethinking prosperity: From GDP to Gross National Happiness [00:16:19] Smartphone access as a default—and its pitfalls [00:17:41] Language, localization, and the global reach of tech [00:20:13] The crucial role of men in women’s economic empowerment [00:23:14] How organizations can audit AI for inclusion [00:27:27] Philanthropy, startups, government: Moving from aid to sustainability [00:30:38] Lessons from the social entrepreneurship journey [00:34:07] Staying grounded and hopeful in challenging times [00:36:43] Where to find more about Anu Bhardwaj and Sheqonomi [00:38:14] What keeps Anu hopeful and inspired [00:40:01] Closing and show credits

September 17, 202644 min

Say What They Can’t Unhear

Are you struggling to make complex ideas clear and drive real adoption in a world full of noise and rapid change? Tamsen Webster and Kate O’Neill dive deep to discover how leaders can design understanding, foster sensemaking, and communicate authentically—especially in the age of AI and cognitive overload. Topics Covered Designing understanding vs. leaving it to chance Avoiding manipulation and supporting agency Sensemaking vs. persuasion Communicating complexity and change in organizations Framing messages for genuine adoption Human information processing and the role of curiosity AI-mediated communication: risks, opportunities, and bell curves Cognitive overload and capturing productive attention Transfer of ideas and the importance of commonly-held beliefs Transparency, uncertainty, and the power of theory-based communication Sensemaking vs. meaning-making What keeps us hopeful about the future of human connection Connect with Tamsen Webster Website ”Say What They Can’t Unhear” (book page) LinkedIn Instagram Episode Chapters 00:04 Introduction: The Tech Humanist Show and today’s challenge for leaders 02:15 Tamsen Webster’s journey into message design 05:48 Alignment and complexity in communication 07:01 Where leaders go wrong with complexity 09:18 Avoiding oversimplification—layering information 12:28 Persuasion vs. genuine sensemaking and learning 16:15 The cost of coercive persuasion and non-coercive approaches 21:00 Communicating in the age of AI: leaders’ new challenges 27:06 Human brains, AI, and the limits of insight 29:06 Coping with fragmented attention and cognitive overload 33:59 Building curiosity and harnessing reciprocity 34:20 Communicating uncertainty and theory-based leadership 38:44 Juxtaposition, innovation, and clarity 39:16 Where to find Tamsen’s work 40:00 Lightning round: favorite questions, books, and hope for the future 44:10 Closing and show credits

September 10, 202649 min

Two Kates, One Future: Managing Humanity in the Age of AI

What if AI could help managers see the whole human, not just the numbers? Discover how technology is reshaping performance management to be more personalized, supportive, and genuinely human-focused in this conversation between two Kate O’Neills (O’Neil and O’Neill). Topics covered: The confusion and connection of sharing a nearly identical name The mission and approach of Opre in performance management The challenges and insights from building an AI-powered HR tool How AI can complement (not replace) human judgment in management The pitfalls of traditional performance reviews Identifying and using the right signals for employee growth Addressing bias and ensuring fairness with AI in the workplace The impact of local culture (Nashville) on tech company building Dimensionalizing the human experience at work The importance of patience and hope in the future of work and AI Connect with Kate O’Neil Website LinkedIn Episode Chapters: 00:04 Introduction: The Two Kate O’Neills 03:07 Opre ’s Mission and Origins 05:36 Personal Story: Management Firsts and Professional Growth 07:41 What Software Hasn’t Helped With & Insights from Management Practice 10:09 Reimagining the Performance Review 12:10 What Signals Matter in Evaluating Performance? 14:14 Where Humans Must Take the Lead Over AI 17:09 Skills, Systems, Culture & Human Judgment 20:32 Addressing Power Dynamics and Bias in Performance Management 23:09 Improving Performance Without Flattening People 25:19 Dimensionality, Data, and Learning from Knowledge Graphs 29:51 Platform-Mediated Identity & Selfhood 36:00 Nashville’s Influence and the Power of Collaboration 42:10 The Future of Opre and What’s Still Hard at Work 46:24 What This Moment in Work and AI Asks of Us 48:19 Where to Connect with Opre 48:45 Credits and Closing

July 23, 202641 min

When Weird Becomes Normal with Kate Marshall

What can weird fiction teach us about navigating a reality shaped by technology, environmental crisis, and the shifting boundaries between human and non-human perspectives? In this episode of the Tech Humanist Show, the conversation focused on the power of “weirdness” as both a signal from the future and a way to make sense of our rapidly changing world. Special guest Kate Marshall, professor of English at the University of Notre Dame and author of Novels by Weird: Tales and the 21st Century, joins to explore how weird fiction, genre hybridity, and non-human narration can offer unique insights into technology, scale, and what it means to stay human as reality grows stranger. Dive into how stories, genres, and the unexpected “weird” help us make sense of complex systems and imagine better futures. Topics Covere d Weirdness as a lens for the future The evolution of “weird fiction” and its historical context Non-human narration and narrative experiments Genre’s role in conceptual thinking Scale and the challenge of representing catastrophe The reading crisis and cultural shifts in reading AI, storytelling, and the transformation of narrative Speculative fiction as a thinking tool Weirdness as data and a signal from the future Balancing melancholy and optimism for the future Connect with Kate Marshall Website Linkedin Novels by Aliens: Weird Tales and the Twenty-First Century Episode Chapters 00:00: Introduction to the Tech Humanist Show and the concept of weirdness 01:55: Kate Marshall on taking weirdness seriously 04:40: How 21st-century novels are getting weirder 06:09: The rise of non-human perspectives in contemporary fiction 09:48: Genre as a space for novelists to wrestle with scale 13:54: Genre fragments as creative encounters with societal wreckage 16:00: Scale: Representing catastrophe and individual experience 20:27: Tension between decentering the human and human narration 23:18: How non-human perspectives shift agency and responsibility 25:50: The contemporary crisis in reading and criticism 28:03: AI, large language models, and the future of reading/writing 31:32: Genre, language models, and the future of literary creativity 36:16: Story moves for imagining and building better futures 38:56: Treating weirdness as data, not doom 40:46: Optimism, storytelling, and hope for the future 43:22: Outro and thanks

July 16, 202641 min

Algorithmic Justice with Rebekah Tweed

What does it really mean for AI governance to be more than just buzzwords—and how do we build systems that are worthy of our trust? This week on the Tech Humanist Show, we get candid with responsible AI expert and Algorithmic Justice League advisor, Rebekah Tweed. Together, we explore the not-so-glamorous (but oh-so-crucial) world of AI governance—think less “theater,” more real talk on trust, transparency, and protecting our privacy. Topics covered: The evolution of responsible AI as a corporate function Balancing safety and privacy in AI applications Algorithmic harms in everyday life (hiring, healthcare, security) Why harm in AI is more than just a technical bug Organizational trust and accountability in AI governance Practical evidence of responsible AI practices The importance of transparency, literacy, and public trust Building AI governance that is operational—not just performative Roles for government and open source in shaping responsible AI What gives hope for the future of AI and public infrastructure Connect with Rebekah Tweed AJL Website AJL United LinkedIn Rebekah’s LinkedIn Episode Chapters: 00:04 Introduction to the Tech Humanist Show 00:17 Responsible AI Becomes an Organizational Norm 01:29 Rebekah Tweed’s Journey from Music Industry to AI Governance 03:36 AI’s Impact on the Creative Arts and Early Influences 04:57 The Rise of AI Governance Teams and Job Roles 06:12 Building Responsible Tech Career Development 07:38 What Responsible AI Means in Human Terms 09:36 Algorithmic Harms in Ordinary Life and Public Response 15:38 When AI Harm is a Deeper Systems Problem 18:57 How to Build Genuine, Non-Theatrical AI Governance 25:16 Evidence That AI Governance Is Real 29:12 Cultural Weirdness, Systems Strangeness, and Literacy 35:13 Speed, Trust, and What Leaders Need to Know 37:42 What Gives Hope for a Responsible AI Future 40:22 Outro and Credits

July 9, 202643 min

The Qualified Self with Lee Humphreys

How do our everyday digital traces—social posts, check-ins, photos—shape our identities, relationships, and the very nature of privacy in a hyper-connected world? Kate O’Neill sits down with Lee Humphreys, professor and Chair of the Department of Communication at Cornell University and author of The Qualified Self: Social Media and the Accounting of Everyday Life . The conversation explores the rich history and surprising continuity of documenting daily life, from centuries-old diaries and photo albums to today’s social media and sensor-driven platforms. Topics Covered: The history and meaning of phatic communication Social media as an extension of historical practices (diaries, notebooks, albums) Privacy, data, and the networked self The context collapse of online identities Location-based sharing and identity work Algorithmic identities and platform agency The impact of digital spaces on rituals and remote work Policy, power, and responsibility in platform design Hopeful uses of technology to build community Connect with Lee Humphreys Cornell Website LinkedIn ”The Qualified Self – Social Media and the Accounting of Everyday Life” Episode Chapters: 00:04 Introduction to the Tech Humanist Show & guest 00:17 The concept of phatic communication 02:27 Lee’s route into communication technology 04:42 From photo manipulation to tech distrust 06:00 Diaries, Twitter, and the origins of media accounting 12:10 Social reinforcement vs. narcissism in social media 13:33 Location sharing and its role in identity 16:35 Parasocial relationships and context collapse 19:53 Data, experience, and mismatched realities 22:33 The shifting meaning of place and time in data 24:31 Networked privacy and the collective dimension 27:39 Incentives, policy, and platform accountability 30:01 Algorithmic identity and the “qualified self” 35:26 Digital rituals, remote work, and connection 40:31 Closing thoughts: technology, humanity, and hope 41:04 Lee’s story of hope and innovation through tech 42:58 Episode wrap-up and thanks

July 2, 202645 min

America @ 250: Grand Strategy, Trust, and the Future

As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, the nation faces unprecedented challenges: political polarization, economic insecurity, climate change, and the complex influence of technology and AI. How can America rethink its long-term strategy—and rebuild trust—at this historic crossroads? Host Kate O’Neill is joined by strategist and author Patrick Doherty, co-author of “The New Grand Strategy,” and Brandyn Keating, founder of YOUnify and an expert in repairing civic trust. Together, they explore: America’s 250th anniversary and its significance The meaning and practice of grand strategy Historical context: past U.S. grand strategies Infrastructure and systems for the 21st century The erosion of trust and polarization Aligning economic engines, governance, and foreign policy The consequences of strategic incoherence Data, AI, and information environments Remedies for polarization and rebuilding trust Thriving conversations framework Bridging grassroots and national strategy The Global Flourishing Goals and Write the Future campaign Hopes for America’s future Connect with: Patrick Doherty The Center for the Constitution & Grand Strategy: https://ccgstrategy.org/ Long Haul Capital: https://www.longhaulcapital.com/team X: @PatrickCDoherty LinkedIn The New Grand Strategy: Restoring America’s Prosperity, Security, and Sustainability in the 21st Century Connect with Brandyn Keating YOUnify: https://www.younify.org/ LinkedIn Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction & Setting the Stage: America at 250 00:04 Grand Strategy Explainer with Patrick Doherty 00:46 Infrastructure, Generational Planning, and Lessons from Eisenhower 01:46 Trust, Polarization & the Grassroots Perspective with Brandyn Keating 03:38 Linking Grand Strategy to Community & Trust 05:04 Coherence Gaps and Economic Realities 09:38 Political Consequences & Declining Trust 13:00 Strategic Risks When Citizens Lose Faith 16:12 Remedies: Information Environments & Offline Connection 18:35 The Dilemma of Celebrating vs. Critiquing America 21:05 Overcoming Binary Thinking & Building Shared Values 24:04 Policy, Thriving Conversations & Bridging Local to National 29:05 Making Grand Strategy Inclusive 34:32 Global Flourishing Goals & Write the Future 38:01 Parallels to Tech Humanism & Organizational Strategy 39:06 Hopes for America’s Next 250 Years 44:05 Connect with the Guests & Closing Remarks