Katie and Beth on literacy, dyslexia, and the future of creativity in a tech-driven world.

In this episode: Technology isn't just reshaping how we work—it's transforming how we read, write, and understand the world. Beth and Katie delve into the complex and multifaceted intersection of literacy, dyslexia, and generative AI.

From personal reflections to provocative questions, they explore how AI can empower those with learning disabilities, shift the way we express ourselves, and reimagine what literacy looks like in the 21st century. But they don't stop at promise—they unpack the tension between authenticity and automation, and the risks of losing our humanity in the rush to digitize expression.

This conversation moves from ethics to empathy, from accessibility to artistic integrity, and lands in the heart of what makes us human: the need to be heard, understood, and connected.

Topics Covered

• The intersection of dyslexia, literacy, and generative AI
• Why writing with AI can feel like cheating—and why it might not be
• The evolution of reading, writing, and expression in a digital age
• Navigating authenticity in AI-generated content
• How AI can support creative expression for neurodivergent thinkers
• Transparency and ethics in AI communication tools
• Artistic integrity and the tension between automation and meaning
• Why reading still matters—even as the tools change
• Community, connection, and the future of communication

Key Takeaways

• Generative AI can unlock expressions for people with dyslexia and other learning and cultural differences.
• Authenticity and creativity are still possible, even when AI is part of the process.
• AI tools should enhance, not replace, our (and others) voice and effort.
• The ethical design of AI requires transparency, care, and input from the community.
• The future of literacy must prioritize access, dignity, and human connection.
• Human-created content still carries a kind of value—and soul—that algorithms can't replicate.

Chapters (Timestamps)

00:00 — Introduction and Personal Reflections

03:20 — Literacy, Dyslexia, and AI

06:13 — Generative AI and Its Impact on Communication

08:18 — The Role of AI in Writing and Creativity

11:26 — The Evolution of Language and AI

14:22 — The Future of Communication and Authentic Voices

17:18 — Navigating the Challenges of AI in Writing

20:16 — The Philosophical Implications of AI and Language

23:18 — The Balance Between Technology and Human Effort

26:22 — The Importance of Reading in a Digital Age

29:06 — Conclusion and Final Thoughts

31:19 — The Impact of Legislation on Health Insurance

33:51 — The Role of AI in Communication

36:53 — Human vs. AI: The Future of Reading and Writing

39:48 — The Cost of AI: A Discussion on Resources

43:03 — The Value of Human-Created Content

47:07 — Art and Authenticity in the Age of AI

50:41 — Navigating the Ethics of AI and Data Usage

54:57 — The Future of Community in a Tech-Driven World

Hosted by Beth Rudden and Katie Smith, two builders of systems and challengers of the status quo. Beth is CEO of Bast.AI and a globally recognized expert in trustworthy AI, with decades of experience leading data and ethics at IBM. Katie is the founder of Humma.AI, a strategist who drove innovation and revenue growth at major global brands before turning to human rights and technology for social good. Together, they make complex issues like AI and the impacts on everyday people clear, personal, and impossible to ignore.

In this episode: The future of work is already being rewritten by systems, not people. As AI accelerates labor displacement and concentrates wealth in fewer hands, Universal Basic Income (UBI) has returned to the spotlight. But Katie Smith and Beth Rudden aren’t here to romanticize it.

They break down what UBI really is, why it’s misunderstood, and how tech elites hijack the conversation. They challenge the moral logic of effective altruism and explore why true economic reform demands more than a payout—it requires listening to people on the ground and rewriting the social contract with the community at the center.

From epigenetics and AI ethics to the shrinking middle class, this is not a handout discussion—it’s a call to design something radically better, together.

Topics Covered

• What Universal Basic Income is—and what it isn’t
• AI’s role in accelerating economic collapse and job displacement
• The branding problem: Why “basic” isn’t helping the cause
• Effective altruism and the failure of top-down solutions
• Epigenetics, stress, and the physiological cost of poverty
• Why UBI must be tied to systemic reform—not seen as a silver bullet
• The future of work and the danger of being left behind
• Community-led responses to automation and inequality
• How reimagining contribution can strengthen the middle class

Key Takeaways

• UBI isn’t the finish line—it’s a starting point.AI disruption is forcing urgent questions about labor, value, and equity.
• Effective altruism often centers the donor’s equation, not the community.
• The branding of UBI must shift from “basic needs” to shared contribution.
• Long-term economic health requires investing in people, not platforms.
• Real reform must be community-driven, transparent, and just.

Chapters (Timestamps)

00:00 — Introduction to Universal Basic Income (UBI)

01:53 — Defining UBI and Its Implications

07:12 — The Floor vs. The Ceiling: Understanding UBI's Role

15:26 — Critique of Effective Altruism and Top-Down Solutions

24:54 — Systemic Issues and the Need for Reform

31:28 — Reimagining the Future of Work

34:47 — The Role of Universal Basic Income

37:29 — Understanding Epigenetics and Stress

41:47 — The Dangers of AI and Wealth Distribution

46:29 — Listening to Communities for a Better Future

50:08 — Evolving Capitalism and Effective Altruism

In this reflection episode, Beth and Katie look back on the first seven conversations—threads of grief, growth, tech, and care woven into something bigger. This is our origin story and a soft landing for new listeners.

We talk about the role of community in turbulent times, the power of moral imagination, and the systems we’re unlearning—capitalism, AI, and outdated social contracts. Whether you're here for critique, clarity, or curiosity, this episode sets the stage for where we’re going next.

Topics We Cover

• What we’ve learned across the first 7 episodes
• The role of AI in reshaping human interaction
• Rewriting the social contract for our time
• Capitalism, care, and the future of work
• Why transparency and purpose matter more than ever

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Recap of the Journey

01:17 The Importance of Community and Connection

03:48 Navigating Change in a Rapidly Evolving World

06:15 The Impact of AI on Human Interaction

08:33 Trust and Reality in a Changing Landscape

11:32 Reimagining the Social Contract

13:56 Exploring Power Dynamics and Technology

16:15 The Future of Work and Universal Basic Income

25:39 The Role of Media and Data in Shaping Reality

26:54 Understanding Machines: The Human Element in AI

31:37 The Movement Towards a New Social Contract

34:10 Building a Foundation for Dignified Work

37:51 The Ethics of Work and Value in Society

42:05 Reimagining Capitalism and Community

45:53 The Future of Work and AI's Role

49:47 The Importance of Community and Connection