Today I have the absolute pleasure of being in conversation with a very dear friend, Dr Aaron Balick. A long-time companion of the podcast, Aaron is an internationally recognised psychotherapist, keynote speaker, author, and business and media consultant who applies depth-psychology to help people better understand themselves, business, and culture in the digital age.

Specialising in the psychological impact of technology, AI, and social media, Aaron translates complex ideas into accessible insights for professional development, leadership, and business transformation.

With over 20 years of clinical and academic experience, he’s one of the most scintillating, thought-provoking and wise thought-leaders I’ve encountered in my many years on the speaker circuit. He’s a sought after keynote speaker, renowned for his poignant and actionable insights about how we meet and grow through our challenges, understand human relational dynamics, and navigate the myriad ways in which technologies are shaping our inner and outer lives.

A trusted media contributor and long-time collaborator with the BBC, Aaron also has a regular psychology column at GQ and his broadcast work includes the BAFTA-nominated Suicide and Me, BBC Radio 1’s The Surgery, and Radio 4’s The Moral Maze and The Digital Human. His insights have been featured in The Guardian, Wired, Newsweek, and beyond.

SUMMARY

In this conversation, Nathalie Nahai and Dr Aaron Balick discuss the complexities of the global human psyche, exploring themes of fear, the impact of AI on therapy, and the nature of synthetic relationships. They discuss the challenges posed by technology in human connection, the polarization of society, and the need for economic and social change. The dialogue also touches on the importance of interpersonal relationships, the search for meaning in discomfort, and the role of myths in navigating contemporary challenges. Ultimately, they emphasize the necessity of grounding oneself in reality and fostering genuine connections to navigate the complexities of modern life.

WEBSITES

https://www.aaronbalick.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/draaronb/

https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/profile/aaron-balick

BOOKS & RESOURCES

The Little Book of Calm: Tame Your Anxieties, Face Your Fears, and Live Free – Dr Aaron Balick (https://www.aaronbalick.com/books)

The Psychodynamics of Social Networking: Connected-up instantaneous culture and the self – Dr Aaron Balick

(https://www.aaronbalick.com/books)

The Trading Game: A Confession – Gary Stevenson (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/727417/the-trading-game-by-gary-stevenson/)

CHAPTERS

02:18 The Impact of AI on Therapy

05:28 Navigating Polarization and Media Influence

08:13 The Role of Community in Addressing Loneliness

11:15 The Dangers of Synthetic Relationships

14:25 The Importance of Pain in Growth

17:18 Philosophical Perspectives on Free Will and Relationships

29:57 The Nature of AI Relationships

30:52 Human Consciousness and Algorithms

33:33 Exploring the Unconscious Mind

37:35 The...

In this episode, I speak with Adam Hawkins – a Recruitment Industry Advisor, Strategic International Sales Leader and Non-Executive Director at LinkedIn.

A strategic thought leader and keynote speaker, Adam partners with the recruitment industry to shape talent solutions that augment opportunities on offer for workers in a dynamic, fast-changing world.

With 25 years of experience in executive roles across the full recruitment and talent ecosystem, Adam has advised on strategy, served on company boards, and led international high-performing teams across diverse global markets. Having joined LinkedIn seven years ago as an industry champion, Adam supports recruitment clients to deliver greater value in hiring, learning, and employee engagement alongside the world's largest professional network.

In his current role, he works to inspire and influence the future of talent by embracing new technologies and bringing people together to drive powerful dialogue as the industry shapes the road ahead.

SUMMARY

In this conversation, Adam Hawkins and Nathalie Nahai explore the rapid transformation driven by technology, particularly AI. They discuss the anxiety professionals face due to the pace of change, the role of AI in augmenting human tasks, and the importance of maintaining human agency in an increasingly automated world. The conversation also highlights the tools available for enhancing productivity, the essential human skills needed for the future, and the common mistakes organizations make in adopting AI. Ultimately, they emphasize the need for a balanced approach to technology that fosters creativity and human connection while navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by AI.

WEBSITES

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlawrencehawkins/

AI TOOLS

· Glean (note taking study tool) - https://glean.co/

· Gong (revenue intelligence platform) - https://www.gong.io/revenue-ai/

· Otter (for meetings, transcripts, summaries) - https://otter.ai/

· Google Notebook LM (summaries, note taking, research) - https://notebooklm.google/

· Gamma (design presentations, websites, social media posts) - https://gamma.app/

· HeyGen (AI video generator) - https://www.heygen.com/

CHAPTERS

00:49 The Global Human Psyche and Transformation

05:09 Anxiety in the Age of AI

09:59 The Role of AI in Work and Creativity

19:03 Tools for the Future: Embracing Technology

31:04 Finding Balance: Human Skills and AI Integration

32:23 Human-Centric Skills in a Tech-Driven World

37:18 Navigating Mistakes in Technology Adoption

43:02 The Importance of Workforce Strategy and Reskilling

49:11 Balancing AI Use with Human Capabilities

01:01:30 The Future of AI: Opportunities and Risks

Today, I’m delighted to speak with a truly exceptional guest - Caroline Chubb Calderon. A strategic advisor, futurist, humanist and executive “future coach”, Caroline is one of these remarkable leaders whose expertise and skill are deeply rooted in the ground of compassion, care and love for the living world.

Devoted to reimagining the future of humanity in the age of intelligent machines, her work focuses on the roles we humans can play in the coming redefinition of human-machine relationships, what it means to be human in a world of limitless algorithms, the future of work and society, and, most especially, how we might develop leaders to lead this revolution with integrity, ethics and a view towards multi-generational benefit.

With her team at HelloHumanity, Caroline works with future-shapers to enhance the qualities of humanity that are so critical at this juncture in the development of AI – those qualities that will continue to set us apart from robots, machines and algorithms, including ethical and moral decision-making, imagination, socio-emotional intelligence, and daring and visionary leadership.

Having spoken at TEDx and on prominent stages around the world, Caroline is actively involved with IEEE’s working groups defining the standards for Ethical AI, and she has contributed to two seminal books on disruptive leadership. She has also worked with some of the most imaginative organizations on the planet, guest lectured at many top MBA schools and leadership forums, and won awards for her work with Fortune 100 clients.

Caroline is also a senior meditation teacher and brings the ethics of western and eastern wisdom into her work. She fuses together the fields of innovation, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, ethics, purpose-driven leadership, behavioral science, and neuroscience to prepare executives to take their most important helm — to lead for humanity.

SUMMARY

In this conversation, Caroline Chubb Calderon and Nathalie Nahai explore the complexities of the global human psyche amidst rapid technological transformation. They discuss the importance of introspection, the need for collective action, and the role of technology in fostering human connection. The dialogue emphasizes empathy, compassion, and community as essential elements for navigating the challenges posed by AI and other disruptive forces. They envision a flourishing future that prioritizes regenerative economic models, equitable governance, and a deep understanding of interconnection within nature. Ultimately, they call for a shift in consciousness towards right relationships with life and a commitment to nurturing the planet and each other.

WEBSITES

https://www.carolinechubbcalderon.com/

https://www.hellohumanity.com/

BOOKS & RESOURCES

The AI Con (https://thecon.ai/) – Dr. Emily M. Bender & Dr. Alex Hanna

The Children’s Fire (https://amzn.to/4dnP0GT) – Mac McCartney

CHAPTERS

03:08 Introspection vs. Collective Action

06:05 The Role of Compassion in Action

08:43 Reconnecting with Nature and Community

11:55 Imagining a Flourishing Future with AI

14:52 Rethinking Economic Models in the Age of AI

28:12 The Power Dynamics of AI and Governance

29:33 Democracy in the Age of AI

31:17 Envisioning a Council of Life

33:48 The Ethical Implications of AI Technology

36:07 Transforming Power...