What’s Next?

Hosted by Tamara Lechner

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Feb 2026

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About the show

Join your host, Tamara Lechner as she enjoys conversations with founders, researchers, and thought leaders in the human-centered AI space. Tamara chairs the AI for Human Flourishing think tank and works to shift to focus from the fear-based future of AI its to its potential to help humans flourish.

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28 recent

June 16, 2026Episode 2848 min

Are You a Human Being or a Human Doing? Rethinking Well-Being in the Age of AI

AI promised to give us time back. So why does everyone feel more depleted? Charis Loveland and Dr. Wendi Lord, co-authors of the new AI for Human Flourishing report Protecting Well-Being in the Age of Intelligent Tools, join Tamara Lechner to unpack the paradox at the heart of modern work — and why the question isn't whether AI is smart enough, but whether your workplace still treats you like you are. Intelligent tools. Intelligent humans. One conversation worth your lunch break

February 13, 2026Episode 2714 min

OpenClaw, Motlbook, and AI Agents Gone Wild

OpenClaw went from side project to 150,000 GitHub stars in weeks. It's an open-source AI agent that actually does things—manages your inbox, books travel, runs shell commands. Not a chatbot. A digital employee. Security researchers are raising alarms. Users are calling it "the closest thing to JARVIS." Moltbook is where it gets weird. Someone built a social network for AI agents. No humans allowed. Agents post, comment, argue, upvote each other. Scientists are now studying what happens when AI talks to AI at scale. AI is becoming more autonomous. The question is whether we're keeping up—or being left behind by tools we no longer fully understand.

February 12, 2026Episode 2611 min

Creativity & AI through the AI for Human Flourishing Lens

In this conversation, Tamara Lechner and Wendi Lord discuss the role of AI in enhancing human creativity and productivity. They explore how AI can serve as a thought partner, aiding in ideation and personal growth. The discussion emphasizes the importance of crafting effective prompts and creating an optimal environment for innovation. They also highlight the balance between quantity and quality in productivity, cautioning against over-reliance on AI while recognizing its potential to generate ideas.

November 7, 2024Episode 2536 min

Bonus Episode- Human Flourishing Meets Mind-Blowing AI: Co-Hosting with Google’s Bots

Welcome to a special episode of What's Next?, where Tamara Lechner is joined by two AI co-hosts generated by Google's Notebook LM. In This Episode: Tamara experiments with Google’s NotebookLM, an AI-powered research tool, uploading three unique sources: Her team's AI for Human Flourishing framework, crafted with colleagues from the Harvard AI for Human Flourishing community. A book by her friend Ali Khan and the SHAPE team, which delves into people and culture analytics connecting performance to flourishing Tyler VanderWeele’s latest Global Flourishing Study, offering insights on worldwide wellbeing. Her AI co-hosts chose to spotlight: AI and Human Flourishing Framework: Exploring how AI can align with human values to enhance well-being and productivity. AI in Healthcare and Work: From personalized health recommendations to boosting workplace creativity by automating repetitive tasks. Community, Ethics, and Connection: The role of AI in building stronger communities and cultivating meaningful connections. Spirituality and Purpose: Can AI help rekindle a sense of purpose, meaning, and connection in the digital age? Why Listen? This episode offers a unique experience (learn more about Notebook LM here) as 2 non-humans reflect (not really, they process through predictive analytics) on how AI can contribute positively to human lives. Share your thoughts or feedback by emailing: aiforhf@gmail.com

September 26, 2024Episode 2444 min

The Empathy Algorithm: Can AI Make Us Better Humans with Blair Ryan

In this episode of What's Next?, we are joined by Blair Ryan, founder of Kindred.AI and Waiting Room, to explore the evolving role of AI in enhancing emotional intelligence and empathy. Together, we dive into how AI could revolutionize therapy, the ethical dilemmas it presents, and its impact on human relationships and collaboration. Tamara and Blair discuss how AI is being used to foster empathy and enhance emotional intelligence, the potential for AI to revolutionize therapy and mental health care, ethical considerations in the intersection of AI and human emotion, and the impact of AI on human relationships. Don't miss this insightful conversation on the future of AI and its role in shaping a more empathetic world!

September 19, 2024Episode 2344 min

Neuroscience Meets Flourishing: Unlocking Human Connection with Paul Zak

In this episode of What's Next?, Tamara sits down with Dr. Paul Zak, a trailblazer in the field of neuroscience, to explore the brain science behind human connection and why that is so important to flourishing. Paul shares insights from his extensive research and the cutting-edge neuroscience technology his companies are developing. We dive into the nuances between flourishing, happiness, and emotional fitness, and how they impact our lives. Paul introduces us to Immersion, a groundbreaking platform that uses real-time neuroscience to track emotional resonance and attention through wearable technology. He explains how positive connections can be measured—and why aiming for six each day is key to a thriving life. We also learn how the Immersion platform predicts the market impact of entertainment, training, and advertising with remarkable accuracy by tapping into the brain's valuation of experiences. This episode is about understanding neuroscience's power in shaping how we connect, engage, and remember.

September 12, 2024Episode 2227 min

AI + Human Flourishing: Elevating Wellbeing and Work

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the intersection of flourishing and AI. Tamara explores how AI can enhance personal relationships, support wellbeing, and foster personal growth in the workplace. She also dives into some groundbreaking work happening with the AI for Human Flourishing Working Group and Think Tank. From helping individuals feel good and function well to creating environments that empower people to reach their full potential, this episode unpacks the transformative role AI plays in both personal and professional realms.

September 4, 2024Episode 2153 min

AI’s Role in Shaping Tomorrow: Gathering, Democratizing and Reimagining the Future with Christopher Lafayette

In this episode, Christopher Lafayette, a visionary technologist and humanitarian, joins the conversation to discuss the evolving relationship between AI and society. The discussion delves into the tug-of-war between AI and art, highlighting how technology reshapes creativity while maintaining human expression's essence. Christopher provides insights into AI’s transformative role in healthcare, covering advancements from telemedicine to surgical training, and shares how his platform, GatherVerse, is one of the ways he works to democratize technology by amplifying diverse voices. Tamara and Christopher also explore his vision for the future impact of AI on society, advocating for a world where technology enhances human flourishing. Learn more about the AI Evolve Summit here.

August 28, 2024Episode 2034 min

Reframing the Narrative: Better Questions and a New Era for AI with Rebecca Kirstein Resch

In this podcast episode, Tamara Lechner sits down with Rebecca Kirstein Resch, founder of Inqli, to delve into the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in enhancing human creativity, connection, and flourishing. The discussion highlights how Inqli leverages AI to facilitate meaningful networking and connections, promoting critical thinking and creativity. They also address the potential benefits and challenges of AI, underscoring the importance of responsible development to ensure that AI contributes positively to human flourishing. Additionally, they explore the pervasive presence of AI in our daily lives and envision a future where AI takes over mundane tasks, allowing us to focus on more engaging work.

August 22, 2024Episode 1947 min

Scoring Big with AI: How Culture Drives Organizational Wins with Bryce Tully

In this episode of "What's Next?", Tamara Lechner chats with Bryce Tully, co-founder of Innerlogic, about the intersection of AI, culture, and performance psychology. Bryce shares his journey from sports psychology to creating a company that uses AI to help organizations harness culture as a competitive advantage. They delve into the role of AI in shaping organizational culture, the importance of human connection in the age of AI, and the future of AI's impact on the workplace. This conversation offers valuable insights into how technology can support human flourishing while maintaining the essential human elements of creativity and collaboration.