The Alive Letter

From Production to Presence

James at Alive Institute — Thu, 21 May 2026 22:06:49 GMT

For most of human history, presence was not a skill. It was the only way to work.

Immediate feedback. Physical consequence. Learning by watching and doing. The environments humans occupied for nearly all of our existence were ones that demanded your full attention, right now. You could not abstract your way through reading a river or tracking an animal. Presence did not need to be practiced, it was the natural cognitive state.

Then came what I’ll call the “production revolutions.”

Agriculture, industrialization, the computer, knowledge work. Each automated the most repeatable layer of the previous era and pushed human labor, from physical to cognitive, into something more complex. More abstract. Further from the physical, deeper into the conceptual. The feedback loops stretched. The sensory anchors dissolved. Each revolution asked more of the mind and less of the body, less of the immediate moment.

We have been moving in that direction for ten thousand years. And now, for the first time, the direction might be changing.

AI does not push human workers into a new production layer. It compresses the entire production stack. The procedural — the codified, the documentable, the analytically correct — arrives faster and cheaper than any specialist could deliver it. What remains, after that compression, is the thing every revolution has been moving us away from.

Presence. Judgment. Genuine human relationship.

MIT Sloan researchers Isabella Loaiza and Roberto Rigobon recently tried to measure this shift at scale. Their EPOCH framework — Empathy, Presence, Opinion, Creativity, Hope — identifies the human capabilities that complement rather than compete with AI. Using network-based methods to map task interdependencies across all U.S. occupations, they found that new tasks emerging in 2024 carry significantly higher EPOCH scores than pre-existing tasks. Jobs with high EPOCH scores showed stronger employment growth from 2015 to 2023, higher hiring rates in 2024, and more favorable projections through 2034.

The P in EPOCH is Presence. The economy is already pricing it.

Last week, NPR ran a story about special education teachers using AI, and it is the clearest illustration of this I have seen in the news.

Special educators in the U.S. are overwhelmed. Forty-five states reported teacher shortages in the 2024-25 school year, and the paperwork burden is a major reason people leave. For each student with a disability, teachers must develop an Individualized Education Program — a detailed, legally required document tailored to that child’s specific needs. A teacher named Mary Acebu described spending 45 minutes developing just three or four IEP goals per student, cross-referencing a five-inch-thick binder of state standards.

She now uses AI for that. The time savings are real. But the reason the story matters is what she does with that time: she is with her students.

A researcher at the University of Central Florida who has been studying AI in special education put it plainly: the more face time a student with a disability has with a teacher, the better the outcomes, across every dimension. In Acebu’s class, a student who couldn’t read last year is now reading.

AI compressed the production layer. The presence layer expanded. Outcomes improved.

This is not a soft story about technology being helpful. It is a preview of what the economy is beginning to require. Presence as a hard skill.

Because using AI well — actually well, not just efficiently — also requires presence, the very capacity we have spent decades training away. You have to read AI output with genuine judgment. Know what good looks like before the analysis confirms it. Sense when the problem itself needs to be reframed, not just answered. A tool built on pattern recognition is structurally limited when the task legally requires individualization. You cannot catch that limitation without genuine discernment — and discernment is precisely what years of abstraction-heavy knowledge work quietly erodes. Concerningly, CDT’s research found that 15% of special education teachers are already relying on AI to develop IEPs entirely on their own.

My research on how environments shape cognition suggests that the presence underlying human judgment and relationship is not simply a matter of effort or intention. Sustained knowledge work trains abstraction as the default cognitive mode, progressively eroding the capacity for the concrete, present-moment processing that presence actually depends on. That erosion happens slowly, over years, and rest alone does not reverse it. The environment has to change.

We evolved for presence. The production era, for a relatively short moment in human history, moved us away from it. The AI era might make it economically indispensable again.

- James

Alive in May: Bridge

Kristen Fraley — Sat, 02 May 2026 16:03:35 GMT

“All things seem possible in May.” -Edwin Way Teale

A Seasonal Attunement:

May: the month of steadily lengthening days, mothers, and strawberry harvesting. A sublime bridge between spring and summer. Enjoy the sense of hope and anticipation that comes with the unfolding of seemingly endless warm days on the horizon.

An Historical Tidbit:

May is thought to be named for Maia, a Roman goddess, who signifies growth and fertility. It’s fitting, then, that we celebrate Mother’s Day this month, formally designated a U.S. holiday by Woodrow Wilson in 1914.

Alive in May:

A few seasonal aliveness offerings for this month:

In body:

Channel your inner child and dance around the maypole. Or celebrate Dance Like a Chicken Day on 5/14.
Celebrate the unofficial start of summer by taking a dip in the nearest body of water. Cold showers also count.

In nature:

With warming early morning temperatures, plan a sunrise hike or walk. Listen to the birds greet the day.
Find a cozy outdoor spot to sit and watch the bees and butterflies float from blossom to blossom.

In community:

Host a movie marathon to celebrate Star Wars Day on 5/4. May the fourth be with you.
Send a note or simple gift to an educator in your or your child’s life during Teacher Appreciation Week from 5/4-5/8.

In creativity:

Collect wildflowers to create a flower crown to wear or wreath to decorate your home with.
Plan your summer bucket list or seasonal bingo card. Here is an example for children or the young at heart.

In home:

Farmers markets begin to open in many areas this month. Visit one and use your haul to cook a homemade seasonal meal. Dine al fresco if you have access to outdoor space.
Let go of what doesn’t belong anymore. Whether it’s a major declutter and donate day or simply recycling a stack of old magazines, anything counts.

Take what’s useful, leave the rest, and let this new month meet you where you are.

-Kristen

19 | Alive with Lauren Henkin | Curiosity is Fundamental to Being Human

James at Alive Institute — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:03:46 GMT

Lauren Henkin is a fine art photographer, former architect, and founder of The Humane Space — an app designed to help people live more curiously. Her path from architecture school to sculpture to a major show at the Contemporary Arts Center Cincinnati to wellness, and ultimately to building a technology product that insists on human craft at every layer, is itself a case study in what it looks like to follow curiosity across a lifetime. In this conversation, Lauren and I work through a question that circles the very heart of this podcast: what does it mean to reclaim curiosity in a world designed to suppress it? We get into the workplace as a space that systematically stifles curious thinking, the paradox of building a humane app in a world of AI-generated content, how space and scale shape how we think and feel, and what it actually costs us when we outsource our voice to a machine.

Connect with Lauren:⁠ ⁠⁠https://linkedin.com/in/laurenhenkin⁠

Humane Space Website: https://thehumane.space

Takeaways:

Curiosity isn’t a childhood trait or a creative luxury — it’s the fundamental expression of who we are as human beings. It runs from birth to death, and we’ve simply forgotten how to practice it as adults.
The modern workplace is structurally hostile to curiosity. The relentless drive toward efficiency and scale asks people to repeat the same steps over and over — and when employees do bring ideas, the instinct is to shut them down rather than follow the thread. Engagement and curiosity are deeply connected, and organizations are paying the price for that disconnect.
AI is pulling everything toward the mean. Its outputs reflect the average of what it was trained on. The greatest human innovations have always come from the outliers — from someone wondering about something in a way that couldn’t be predicted. That capacity is not something AI can replicate, and it’s becoming more visible as a competitive differentiator.
When Lauren started relying on AI for email, she noticed she was losing her voice. Not just thinking less — losing a felt sense of identity and connection. Going back to writing everything herself, she felt more alive and more present with the people she was writing to.

18 | Alive with Sandra Loughlin | AI is a Commodity, People are the Advantage

James at Alive Institute — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:56:54 GMT

Sandra Loughlin, PhD is Chief Learning Scientist at EPAM Systems — a company widely recognized for its skills-based approach to talent and its learning and development culture — and is writing a book on what it means to organize around human capability in an AI-native world. In this conversation, Sandra and I work through her central argument: AI is commoditizing — having it is table stakes, not an advantage. What AI is actually doing is eroding the knowledge-based moats entire industries have relied on for decades. We discuss what replaces them (organizational knowledge and people) and why it needs to be built strategically, and cannot be purchased. We also get into the paradox at the center of this moment: AI is forcing organizations to organize around human capability, exposing how badly they’ve neglected to develop it. We also talk about what it means to use AI as a genuine thought partner without offloading the cognition that makes you valuable.

Connect with Sandra: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandraloughlin/

Takeaways:

AI is commoditizing. If every organization has access to the same models, the model cannot be the competitive differentiator. The advantage has to come from somewhere else.
Two new sources of competitive advantage are emerging: organizational knowledge — the contextual understanding of your business that only exists inside your organization — and people, specifically the human capabilities AI cannot replicate.
Neither organizational knowledge nor people capability can be purchased. Both have to be built. Building them requires changing how organizations fundamentally operate.
The organizations now most at risk are those that spent decades optimizing around what AI can do and systematically underinvesting in what it cannot.

Alive in April: Open

Kristen Fraley — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:03:35 GMT

“April is the kindest month. April gets you out of your head and out working in the garden.” - Marty Rubin

A Seasonal Attunement:

Greetings, April. Trees and plants that were brown and bare just weeks ago burst with color and texture, each taking their place in the steady onward march of the season. Spring’s brief, blink-and-you'll-miss-it show reminds us to notice and savor each day.

An Historical Tidbit:

Thought to be derived from the Latin aperire (“to open”), April includes a number of seasonal celebrations. The origin of April Fool’s Day, celebrated on the first day of the month, remains a mystery, though a less popular theory suggests the holiday is related to Mother Nature “fooling” us with shifting and unpredictable weather during this time of year.

Alive in April:

A few seasonal aliveness offerings for this month:

In body:

Find a quiet spot to listen to (or dance in) the rain. If it’s a passing shower, make sure to look for the rainbow.
Take your regular workout or exercise routine outside or try something new like pickleball.

In nature:

Head to the woods to look for edible spring treats like ramps or wild garlic.
Peep returning migratory birds on a nature walk.

In community:

Grab your favorite people, some portable snacks, and a blanket, and head to the park in honor of National Picnic Day (4/23).
Celebrate Arbor Day (4/24) by planting a tree or mulching and cleaning up around the trees in your neighborhood.

In creativity:

Pick wildflowers, press them in a book or flower press, and frame or use them in a creative art project.
Go for a walk and try to find items in nature that match every color of the rainbow.

In home:

Make a spring dessert, such as carrot cake or lemon bars.
Spring clean just one thing in your home - mop the floors, wash the windows, clean out your closet - your choice!

Take what’s useful, leave the rest, and let this new month meet you where you are.

-Kristen

17 | Alive with Rachael Casterlin | You Can't Outthink Your Way Into Presence

James at Alive Institute — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 19:28:53 GMT

Rachael Casterlin is a facilitator and well-being practitioner who works with organizations to help people show up more fully, both at work and beyond. In this conversation, Rachael and I explore what it means to cultivate presence in environments that are structurally designed to pull us away from it. Rachael’s path into this work started with her own burnout, a period that taught her the difference between feeling stressed and being genuinely depleted, and how hard it is to recognize one from the other in the middle of it. We discuss how the habits that lead to burnout can masquerade as passion and drive, why intentional transitions between roles and spaces matter more than most people realize, and how something as simple as a 15-minute calendar block can become an act of genuine self-knowledge. At its core, this is a conversation about what it means to actually know yourself, and why that’s becoming one of the most important skills of our time.

Connect with Rachael: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-casterlin/⁠

Takeaways:

Burnout and stress aren’t the same thing. Stress has a natural recovery arc; burnout doesn’t. Rachael’s own experience, and her work with others, shows that recognizing the difference is what finally lets you hear the “burnout bus” coming before you get on.
Presence is built in transitions, not retreats. A breath before your next meeting, five seconds before you walk out of your home office. These small pauses are where the practice actually lives.
Your calendar reflects your values, whether you intend it to or not. Rachael encourages listeners to find one 15-minute block and protect it for something that reflects who they really are.

16 | Alive with David Chestnut | The Road to AI Readiness Starts with a Bicycle Not an F1 Car

James at Alive Institute — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 14:23:35 GMT

David Chestnut is Principal Director of Human + AI Talent Strategy at Accenture, where he helps organizations navigate the intersection of artificial intelligence, workforce transformation, and learning. In this conversation, David and I explore what the rapid rise of AI actually means for expertise, careers, and the future of work. David argues that the real danger of AI isn’t replacement, it’s the temptation to use these tools to go faster instead of getting better. Drawing on his work with large enterprises and his own research and writing, he explains why expertise still requires “reps and sets,” why organizations are beginning to drown in AI-generated “B+ work,” and why the real bottleneck in knowledge work is shifting from information processing to human judgment and accountability. We discuss how companies should introduce AI tools deliberately—starting with “bicycles before race cars”—why middle managers may face the greatest disruption as they learn to lead blended teams of humans and AI agents, and how organizations are beginning to rethink roles, workflows, and expertise development in an AI-enabled world. Along the way, David offers a hopeful but grounded perspective: in a world increasingly filled with artificial outputs, genuine human expertise, craft, and experience may become more valuable, not less.

Connect with David: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidchestnut/⁠

Takeaways:

AI readiness is about capability, not speed. The real risk isn’t that AI replaces people. It’s that organizations use it to move faster instead of using it to develop deeper expertise and better judgment.
Expertise still requires effortful learning. If AI removes the “reps and sets” that build real skill, organizations risk creating a workforce that can produce outputs quickly but lacks the understanding needed to evaluate or improve them.
The bottleneck in knowledge work is shifting to human judgment. As AI dramatically increases the speed of information processing and content generation, the most valuable human roles will increasingly center on discernment, accountability, and deciding what work is actually good enough to stand behind.

15 | Alive with Hanne Kristiansen | Holding Labels Lightly

James at Alive Institute — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:54:53 GMT

Hanne Kristiansen is a corporate innovator, founder of Creative ID, and researcher in partnership with the University of Sheffield. She has spent 18 years helping organizations understand what creativity actually is. In this conversation, we explore why the question “how creative are you?” shuts people down, while “how are you creative?” opens everything up. Hanne introduces the concept of creative intelligence, a foundational human capacity built on awareness, curiosity, and understanding your own creative preferences, and why in an era of AI, it may be the most important skill we’ve been neglecting all along.

Connect with Hanne: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannekristiansen/⁠

Takeaways

Creativity is often equated with artistic skills, but it encompasses much more.
Awareness is crucial for understanding one’s own creativity and work style.
The question should shift from ‘How creative are you?’ to ‘How are you creative?’.
Holding labels lightly allows for greater flexibility in self-identity.
Creative intelligence involves understanding one’s own preferences and those of others.
Mindfulness and awareness are foundational to enhancing creativity.
The interplay between routine and rhythm can lead to a more fulfilling work life.
AI should be leveraged creatively rather than seen as a separate challenge.
Understanding the ‘why’ behind actions is essential for meaningful engagement.
Collaboration benefits from recognizing and utilizing diverse creative styles. Awareness is essential but must lead to action.
Starting small in self-awareness can lead to curiosity about others.
Creativity is a skill that can be developed over time.
Human skills are crucial in the face of technological advancements.
Soft skills should be rebranded as hard-hitting skills.
Creativity is increasingly recognized as vital in various fields.
Education systems need to incorporate creativity into their frameworks.
Experiential learning is key to understanding creativity.
The journey of learning creativity should be tailored to individual needs.
Research is ongoing to understand barriers to accessing creative intelligence.

Chapters

00:00 The Rhythm of Work vs. Routine

06:22 Understanding Creativity and Awareness

12:55 The Importance of Labels and Identity

16:46 Creative Intelligence in the Age of AI

22:22 Questioning Assumptions and Creative Styles

32:04 The Interplay of Awareness and Action

35:05 Embracing Human Skills in the Age of Technology

38:58 Cognitive Flexibility and Creativity

43:07 The Role of Education in Fostering Creativity

57:01 Understanding Creative Intelligence

01:01:09 Research and Community Building for Creative Growth

14 | Alive with Jeff Arnold | Leaders Built for the Wrong Era

James at Alive Institute — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:45:12 GMT

In this conversation, Jeff Arnold (President of Leadership Adventures, leadership development strategist and coach, equine-assisted learning practitioner) and I explore the intersection of equine-assisted learning and leadership development, discussing how experiences with horses can enhance leadership skills. We delve into the evolving role of AI in organizations, the importance of resilience and adaptability in leadership, and the unique challenges faced by next-generation leaders. Our discussion emphasizes the need for experiential learning and behavioral change in developing effective leaders in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Takeaways

AI has matured and is now embedded in organizations.
Leadership models are changing due to AI’s influence.
Resilience and adaptability are crucial for modern leaders.
Next-gen leaders face unique challenges with technology.
Experiential learning significantly enhances retention and understanding.
Behavioral change is more impactful than knowledge acquisition.
Trust and integrity are essential in leadership today.
Organizations must adapt to the changing workforce dynamics.
Equine-assisted learning provides valuable insights into leadership.
The future of leadership will focus on uniquely human skills.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Equine Assisted Leadership

03:01 The Intersection of Horses and Leadership

06:07 Transitioning from Engineering to Leadership Development

09:06 AI’s Role in Modern Leadership

11:58 The Unique Challenges of Next-Gen Leaders

14:52 Resilience and Adaptability in Leadership

17:59 The Perfect Storm of Change in Leadership

21:08 Behavioral Change vs. Knowledge Acquisition

23:57 Experiential Learning in Leadership Development

27:04 The Future of Leadership in an AI-Driven World

13 | Alive with Britney Cole | AI Has a Voice But You Have the Vote

James at Alive Institute — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:29:27 GMT

In this conversation, Britney Cole (Chief Innovation Officer at Blanchard, co-founder of Bolster Leadership) and I explore the evolving relationship between identity and AI, emphasizing the importance of discernment and judgment in utilizing AI tools. We discuss the impact of AI on work expectations, the future of learning and development, and the necessity of maintaining authenticity and human connection in an increasingly automated world. Our discussion also highlights the empowerment of the next generation of workers, the role of leadership in navigating these changes, and the significance of human skills in the workplace. Ultimately, we reflect on the need for self-agency and personal growth in careers, as well as the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in organizations.

Connect with Britney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/britneyacole/

Takeaways

AI can enhance human creativity rather than replace it.
Discernment is crucial in deciding when to use AI.
Authenticity in communication remains vital despite AI assistance.
Organizations must adapt to the changing expectations of employees due to AI.
The future of work will require a focus on uniquely human skills.
Young people need guidance to redefine their value in the workplace.
Leadership development should be an ongoing journey, not a one-time event.
Self-agency is essential for individual contributors in their careers.
Education systems must evolve to prepare students for an AI-driven world.
The integration of AI in organizations requires careful consideration of accountability.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Identity in the Age of AI

03:06 The Integration of AI and Human Creativity

06:01 Discernment and Judgment in AI Utilization

08:57 The Impact of AI on Work Expectations

11:58 The Future of Learning and Development

15:01 Authenticity and Human Connection in AI

18:03 Empowering the Next Generation of Workers

20:56 The Role of Leadership in a Changing Workforce

24:02 Navigating the Challenges of AI in Organizations

26:54 The Importance of Human Skills in the Workplace

30:05 Self-Agency and Personal Growth in Careers

33:03 The Future of Work and Education

35:57 Embracing the Messy Middle of Innovation

12 | Alive with Betsy Gardner | Why AI Can't Replace the Human in the Room

James at Alive Institute — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:21:13 GMT

In this conversation, Betsy Gardner (CEO, advisor, author, speaker) and I explore the critical importance of soft skills in the modern workplace, particularly in the context of AI advancements. We discuss the disconnect between current training investments and the actual needs of businesses, emphasizing the necessity of trust, judgment, and presence as foundational elements for success. Betsy shares insights from her upcoming book “Human in the Room”, highlighting the need for mentorship and the human element in leadership, while also addressing the crisis of trust in various institutions.

Connect with Betsy: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/betsygardner22/⁠
Order Betsy’s book “Human in the Room” (use code Alive10 for 10% discount from March 3-27): ⁠https://www.betsygardner.com/store/p/human-in-the-room⁠
B Student podcast: ⁠https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOsTZD_zoKsvctm4ggdkelvfugZ70XaeU&si=4dps1RQ6FQ9-xFvZ⁠

Takeaways

Soft skills training comprises only 10% of learning and development budgets.
Leaders express frustration over people-related issues in their teams.
Trust and relationship capital are essential for navigating business challenges.
Young professionals often lack training in trust-building activities.
The educational system has over-indexed on technical skills at the expense of soft skills.
Mentorship is crucial for developing the next generation of leaders.
Presence in the workplace can significantly impact professional relationships.
AI is changing the landscape of work, necessitating a focus on human skills.
Organizations must create a culture that values and develops soft skills.
The crisis of trust in institutions affects workplace dynamics.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Olive and Betsy

02:45 The Importance of People Skills in Business

05:10 The Disconnect Between Spending and People Skills

11:22 Building Trust and Relationship Capital

15:09 The Three Pillars of Soft Skills

19:29 The Role of Presence in Professional Settings

23:30 Navigating Workplace Dynamics and Mentorship

30:38 The Human Element in Leadership

35:50 The Impact of AI on Human Skills

40:42 The Crisis of Trust in Modern Workplaces

Alive in March: Rebirth

Kristen Fraley — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 14:14:27 GMT

“In March the earth remembers its own name. Everywhere the plates of snow are cracking. The rivers begin to sing.” - Mary Oliver

A Seasonal Attunement:

Greetings, March. Daylight stretches a few minutes more each day, birds offer a tentative song, green shoots burst through the hard ground, and we begin to remember the bliss of the sun’s warmth upon our skin.

An Historical Tidbit:

March was originally the first month of the calendar year until the Romans added January and February as the first and second months around 450 BCE. So it’s no surprise, then, that the month that marks the return of the sun and the first days of spring is the one that actually feels like the beginning of a new year for many of us.

Alive in March:

A few seasonal aliveness offerings for this month:

In body:

Go for a walk in the rain or put on some boots and go puddle jumping.
Open the windows on a sunny day. Breathe the cool air and let it refresh your living space.

In nature:

Take a spring hike or walk in the woods and look closely for early signs of life.
Use a windy day to fly a kite at a local park.
Take a photo each week of the same tree or hillside and watch how it changes throughout the month.

In community:

Attend a maple syrup festival and learn about the time-honored art of syrup making.
Visit a St. Patrick’s Day event or parade and take in the sights and sounds of bagpipes and Irish dancers.

In creativity:

Use pinecones, peanut butter, and seeds (or other materials) to make a DIY bird feeder.
Create a new dish using green seasonal ingredients like asparagus or artichokes.
Sketch or paint your favorite early spring blooms like crocus or daffodils.

In home:

Create an energizing spring playlist to serve as the soundtrack for your spring cleaning.
Plant herbs or start seeds indoors for your spring garden.

Take what’s useful, leave the rest, and let this new month meet you where you are.

-Kristen

11 | Alive with Luke Montuori | Knowledge Is Cheap. Now What?

James at Alive Institute — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 11:47:37 GMT

In this conversation, Luke Montuori (PhD Behavioral Neuroscience, Psychometrician, Founder & Principal Researcher at Lumos Insight) and I explore the concept of embodied cognition, its implications for the future of work, and the evolving role of AI in cognitive processes. We discuss how cognition extends beyond the brain and is influenced by the body and environment, emphasizing the need for new frameworks to understand these changes. We also touched on the importance of individuality and motivation in a rapidly changing economy, as well as the design of human-AI interactions that support cognitive ergonomics.

Connect with Luke: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmontuori/⁠

Follow Luke’s thought leadership: ⁠https://www.lumosinsight.co.uk/posts⁠

Takeaways

Cognition is the transformation of information from one type to another.
Embodied cognition suggests that the body plays a crucial role in cognitive processes.
The future of work is tied to understanding new economies and cultural values.
AI challenges traditional notions of cognition and embodiment.
System zero represents a new layer of cognitive interaction with AI.
Motivation and individuality will be key differentiators in the future economy.
Designing for human-AI interaction requires understanding cognitive ergonomics.
Cognition is not limited to the brain; it includes the body and environment.
The ability to create and connect ideas will be essential skills.
Curiosity and personal resonance drive exploration and learning.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Embodied Cognition

06:05 The Future of Work and Value

12:45 Understanding Embodied Cognition

18:00 Cognition Beyond the Brain

24:02 The Role of AI in Cognition

30:06 Human-AI Interaction and Design

36:01 Motivation and Individuality in the New Economy

42:05 Conclusion and Reflections

10 | Alive with Agnieszka Jacobs | Optimal Cognitive Functioning? Nature Not Optional

James at Alive Institute — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 19:03:38 GMT

In this conversation, Aga Jacobs (architect and biophilic design expert, CEO & Founder at SQUARELY Copenhagen) and I explore the profound impact of AI on human communication and the increasing need for genuine human connection in the workplace. We delve into the concept of biophilic design, emphasizing how integrating natural elements into workspaces can enhance well-being, creativity, and cognitive performance. Our discussion highlights the importance of designing functional and inspiring environments that foster creativity and connection, while also addressing the challenges posed by corporate culture and the need for innovative approaches to office design. Ultimately, the conversation underscores the benefits of nature in the workplace and the importance of measuring its impact on creativity and productivity.

Connect with Aga: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/agnieszka-jacobs-ab030734/⁠

Learn about SQUARELY Copenhagen: ⁠https://www.squarely-copenhagen.com/⁠

Takeaways

AI replaces human interactions, leading to a loss of humanity.
The economy is shifting towards valuing human connection skills.
Biophilic design incorporates nature into architecture for better well-being.
Natural environments enhance cognitive performance and creativity.
Workspaces should be designed to foster creativity and connection.
Soft transitions in design can improve the work environment.
Natural materials reduce toxins and enhance well-being.
Corporate culture often prioritizes aesthetics over functionality.
Measuring the impact of nature on creativity is essential.
Organizations need to embrace innovative design principles.

Chapters

00:00 The Impact of AI on Human Communication

02:55 The Shift Towards Human Connection in Work

05:58 Understanding Biophilic Design

09:02 The Benefits of Nature on Human Wellbeing

11:56 Designing Workspaces for Creativity

14:58 The Role of Natural Elements in Office Design

18:05 Creating Functional and Inspiring Work Environments

20:52 The Future of Workspaces and Nature Integration

23:57 Measuring the Impact of Nature on Creativity

27:02 The Importance of Soft Transitions in Design

30:01 The Role of Sensory Experience in Design

33:04 Creating Spaces for Reflection and Introspection

35:57 The Need for Change in Office Design

39:02 The Challenge of Corporate Culture in Design

42:01 Innovative Approaches to Office Design

44:56 The Path Forward for Organizations

48:01 Conclusion and Future Collaborations

09 | Alive with Christie DeCarolis | The Heart of Learning

James at Alive Institute — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:41:13 GMT

In this conversation, Christie DeCarolis (Learning Designer, Adjunct Faculty at Rutgers, Learning Consultant) and I explore the multifaceted nature of learning, emphasizing the importance of emotional engagement, psychological safety, and the evolving role of AI in education. We discuss how learning is not just about content delivery but about creating meaningful experiences that foster connection and collaboration. Our conversation highlights the need for a holistic approach to learning design that prioritizes emotional and experiential elements, especially in a digital landscape. Looking towards the future of learning, Christie describes the need to find balance between personalized learning and collaborative experiences, advocating for a learning ecosystem that supports both individual growth and community engagement.

Connect with Christie:https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiedecarolis/

Christie’s website: https://christiedecarolis.journoportfolio.com/

Christie’s newsletter: https://teachingtech.substack.com/

Takeaways

Learning is not just about content; it’s about experience and emotion.
Emotional experiences in learning lead to better retention and understanding.
Psychological safety is crucial for effective learning environments.
AI can assist in content creation but cannot replace human insight in learning design.
The shift to online learning has forced educators to rethink their teaching methods.
Cohort-based learning can enhance emotional engagement and motivation.
Personalized learning should be balanced with collaborative experiences.
The learning ecosystem requires collaboration across different teams.
Connection and community are essential for effective learning.
Future learning design must prioritize emotional engagement.

Chapters

00:00 The Heart of Learning: An Introduction

03:00 Understanding Learning: Experience vs. Content

05:50 The Role of Emotion in Learning

08:52 The Importance of Psychological Safety

11:57 AI’s Impact on Learning and Content Creation

15:05 The Evolution of Learning in the Digital Age

17:56 Designing for Emotional Engagement in Learning

20:55 The Future of Learning: Personalization vs. Collaboration

24:09 Building a Learning Ecosystem

26:59 The Role of Connection in Learning

29:55 Looking Ahead: The Future of Learning Design

08 | Alive with Derek Mitchell | ROI for L&D

James at Alive Institute — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 22:11:36 GMT

In this conversation, Derek Mitchell (L&D Analytics Leader, Director of People Analytics at Gallus Insight) discusses the critical need for effective measurement in Learning and Development (L&D) to demonstrate ROI. He emphasizes the intersection of AI and behavioral science in shaping modern L&D strategies. Derek shares his background in data analytics and the challenges faced in measuring learning outcomes. He advocates for standardization in metrics and the importance of understanding barriers to applying learned skills in the workplace. The discussion highlights the evolving role of AI in L&D and the necessity for collaboration across departments to enhance learning effectiveness.

Connect with Derek: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derekmitchelluk/

Takeaways

Derek emphasizes the importance of measuring ROI in Learning and Development (L&D).
AI is transforming the landscape of L&D, making it essential to adapt measurement strategies.
A background in behavioral science can enhance data analytics in L&D.
Current frameworks for measuring learning outcomes are outdated and need modernization.
Standardization of metrics is crucial for effective measurement in L&D.
Learner confidence in a subject correlates strongly with actual performance outcomes.
Barriers to applying learned skills must be identified to improve training effectiveness.
Collaboration between L&D and other departments can enhance learning outcomes.
Data-rich environments in organizations are underutilized for employee analytics.
The future of L&D relies on integrating AI and data science with behavioral insights.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Learning and Development Analytics

02:59 The Intersection of AI and Learning Development

05:57 Derek’s Background and Experience in Data

08:50 Challenges in Measuring ROI in L&D

11:55 The Importance of Behavioral Science in Data

14:56 Current Trends and Future of L&D

17:47 Frameworks for Measuring Learning Outcomes

21:09 The Need for Standardization in L&D Metrics

24:02 The Role of AI in Learning and Development

27:02 Derek’s Growth Model for Measuring Learning

29:54 The Importance of Confidence in Learning Outcomes

32:47 Barriers to Applying Learning in the Workplace

35:54 The Need for Collaboration Across Teams

39:06 Final Thoughts on the Future of L&D

07 | Alive with Susan Caesar | Empowering People at the Edges

James at Alive Institute — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 16:15:33 GMT

In this conversation, Susan Caesar (Director of AI at the International Coaching Federation) and I explore the evolving landscape of work, particularly in the context of AI and human connection. We discuss the relevance of Airbnb’s innovative workspace design, the importance of community, creativity, and collaboration in the workplace, and how AI can serve as a catalyst for reimagining human roles in organizations. Susan emphasizes the need for organizations to empower individuals at all levels and the critical role of coaching in navigating the complexities of the modern workforce. Our discussion also touches on ethical decision-making, the shift from knowledge work to collaboration, and the importance of storytelling in fostering human connection.

Connect with Susan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susancaesar/

Takeaways

The workspace design at Airbnb fosters community and creativity.
AI can help reimagine human roles in organizations.
Empowering individuals at the edge of organizations is crucial.
Coaching plays a vital role in navigating AI’s impact on work.
Ethical decision-making will be increasingly important with AI.
The future of work emphasizes collaboration over knowledge work.
Storytelling is essential for human connection.
Organizations need to adapt to the changing landscape of work.
Value exchange in work may shift back to bartering systems.
The collective human experience is enriched by diverse voices.

Chapters

00:00 Redefining Workspaces: The Airbnb Experience

03:03 The Future of Work: Community, Creativity, and Collaboration

05:56 The Human Element in Organizations

08:54 AI as a Catalyst for Human Reconnection

11:50 Empowering People at the Edge of Organizations

14:47 The Role of Coaching in the Age of AI

18:04 Navigating Ethical Decision-Making with AI

20:52 The Shift from Knowledge Work to Collaboration

24:02 The Future of Work: Embracing Adaptability

27:02 The Importance of Storytelling in Human Connection

30:13 The Value Exchange: Rethinking Money and Work

32:59 The Collective Human Experience in the Age of AI

4 Chats, 5 Insights

James at Alive Institute — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 11:02:41 GMT

The Alive Institute exists to explore a question that matters more now than ever:

What does it mean to stay fully human in an increasingly abstract world?

As AI becomes embedded in nearly everything we do, that question becomes urgent. Not “how to use AI better” or “which tools to adopt.” The deeper question: What makes us feel truly alive? And how do we cultivate that as the ground shifts beneath our feet?

The Alive Conversations is our way of exploring this in real time - sitting down with researchers, practitioners, educators, and leaders who are grappling with these questions from different angles.

These first four conversations revealed something unexpected. Despite coming from completely different domains - psychology, AI training, cognitive science, learning and development - these guests kept circling back to similar truths.

Here’s what’s emerging.

The First Four Guests

These are the people who kicked off The Alive Conversations. Each brought a different lens to the same question:

Hile Rutledge - Organization development consultant with 25+ years helping people find their authentic truth through tools like Myers-Briggs and emotional intelligence assessments.

Steffi Kieffer - AI readiness trainer who runs workshops combining AI skills with nature immersion (breath work, ice bathing, trail running) in Munich. Host of the Insanely Human podcast.

Nick Kabrel - Doctoral researcher at University of Zurich studying cognitive maps and how people actually experience GenAI in the workplace.

Brittany Aubin - Learning and development expert with journalism background, focused on how digital technologies are literally changing our brains.

Five Things That Keep Showing Up

During these first four conversations, certain themes keep surfacing. Not identical takes - but complementary perspectives on the same underlying truth.

1st Insight. AI is forcing us to become MORE human, not less

This one is surprising at first but makes complete sense upon reflection. It is also very promising and inspiring, fingers crossed that this is how it plays out.

In most conversations I brought up MIT’s Sloan business school’s research showing that the economy is already shifting towards “uniquely human capabilities”, they term these capabilities EPOCH:

Empathy/emotional intelligence
Presence (specifically in developing human connection)
Opinion (especially regarding moral and nuanced decision making)
Creativity (and curiosity)
Hope (and the ability to inspire, and paint visions of what’s possible)

Hile, who admits he avoids AI “like taking medicine,” put it starkly: “AI doesn’t have any core truth. AI just wants to steal from everything that’s out there and give me what I think I want. And that’s what I’ve been trying to convince my clients not to do for the last 25 years.”

Nick saw the flip side: “I feel that the world adjusted to my skills a bit more. It’s a more suitable place for what I can bring to this world.” The shift toward human skills favors people who’ve been working on the subjective, relational side all along.

2nd Insight. Easy isn’t always good

Brittany told me about trying to remember an Excel formula while using ChatGPT. The AI made it so frictionless that even after using the formula five times, she still couldn’t remember it. “Not everything that is easy is good,” she said.

Steffi echoed this through a different lens: ice swimming. “It’s uncomfortable every single day, but the reward is great.” Learning to be comfortable with discomfort is becoming the meta-skill.

3rd Insight. You can’t do this alone

Every single conversation came back to connection.

Steffi: “Never prompt alone” - her workshops emphasize collaborative learning over isolated AI use.

Nick: When studying workplace AI adoption, he found people felt MORE competent with AI, not less, because of that “second pair of eyes.” But the real growth came from talking to people with different perspectives.

Hile: His “four burner model” (work, family, self, friends) highlighted how modern life forces us to turn burners down - and male friendship in particular is suffering.

Brittany: “It would be amazing if some of the work we’re freeing up by not having to memorize Excel formulas can be focused on helping us all to be better at being human.”

4th Insight. Resistance might be wisdom (or a tiger)

Here’s what struck me most: Hile’s reluctance to embrace AI isn’t technophobia - it’s integrity.

He’s spent his career helping people find their authentic truth, not perform for others. AI’s fundamental purpose - to pattern-match and give you what you want - directly contradicts that mission.

Meanwhile, Steffi would say that resistance is often a “tiger response” - your brain seeing AI as an existential threat. Both might be right.

5th Insight. We’re dancing in the fog

Steffi had a metaphor that captures this moment perfectly: “It all looks very foggy to me. I’ve become friends with the fog... We’re not waiting by the sidelines for the fog to clear. It’s not going to happen anytime soon.” - we named the episode Learning to Dance in the Fog.

Nick talks about expanding mental maps into unknown territory. Brittany admits “we don’t fully know yet” what students need. Hile sees people struggling to turn burners back on that they’ve left off too long.

Nobody knows where this is going. The human move is to stay present and adapt. Dance in the fog, as Steffi would encourage us to do.

What’s Emerging

Four conversations. Four very different people. And yet they’re all circling the same truth:

AI isn’t the enemy of humanity. It’s the mirror that reveals what we’ve already lost - and the catalyst for reclaiming it.

The skills we need aren’t new. They’re old. Really old:

Asking good questions (Brittany’s journalism training)
Connecting authentically with others (Hile’s life’s work)
Staying flexible and questioning your assumptions (Nick’s cognitive maps)
Creating rather than consuming (Steffi’s workshops)
Embracing productive struggle (all four)

We didn’t need AI to know these things mattered. We needed AI to make us feel how much we’d let them atrophy.

Where This Goes Next

These are just the first four conversations. Already, a pattern is emerging - but patterns need more data points to become clear.

The work of The Alive Institute is about more than understanding AI’s impact. It’s about reclaiming what makes us feel fully human in a world that’s increasingly abstract and disconnected from embodied experience. The Alive Conversations is one way we’re doing that - creating space for the people living in this tension to share what they’re learning.

Brittany reminded me: “Throughout the arc of human history, our trajectory has always been upward.”

Nick found that people using AI feel MORE competent, not less.

Steffi sees curious improvers everywhere, ready to experiment.

Hile knows people can show up Thursday doing something they weren’t doing Wednesday.

The question isn’t whether humans can adapt. We will.

The question is: Will we use this moment to become more fully human, or will we just become more efficient machines?

The answer won’t come from any one perspective. It’s emerging from the conversation itself.

And we’re just getting started.

-James

Working with The Alive Institute: I help individuals and organizations restore cognitive flexibility through workshops, training programs, and assessments grounded in peer-reviewed research.

Learn more at TheAlive.Institute

Email James@TheAlive.Institute for inquiries.

Note on AI collaboration: The Alive Letter explores how humans can stay fully human while learning to work with modern technology. In that same spirit, I collaborate with AI in the creation of these articles. As an industrial/organizational psychologist who studies human-AI collaboration, I carefully guide, refine, and evaluate AI outputs. At its best, this partnership helps me more clearly and authentically communicate my own thoughts and perspectives than I am able to alone.

06 | Alive with Brittany Aubin | What We Must Not Forget

James at Alive Institute — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 11:02:28 GMT

In this conversation, Brittany Aubin (learning experience leader specializing in EdTech, AI-powered learning, and instructional design) and I explore what we must not forget when AI makes learning frictionless.

Brittany shares a deceptively simple example: using ChatGPT to generate Excel formulas. She could get the answer instantly, but after copying and pasting it five times in one day, she still couldn’t remember it. When she forced herself to practice retrieval—actually trying to recall the formula—she finally retained it. The insight: friction isn’t a bug in learning, it’s a feature.

We discuss how AI is changing our relationship to knowledge acquisition, why “desirable difficulties” matter for retention, and emerging research showing reductions in critical thinking with generative AI use. Brittany reveals how her journalism background—asking good questions, tracking down the why, curating information—has become more relevant than ever in the AI age.

The conversation moves from individual learning to organizational implications: as the economy restructures around uniquely human skills, on-the-job learning becomes crucial. The question isn’t whether to create new digital content on emotional intelligence—it’s whether performance management systems can provide meaningful feedback on skills that suddenly matter more.

Throughout, Brittany emphasizes a pressing truth: AI will change students’ brains. That’s a given. But she remains bullish on humanity—hoping this transition gives us more time and space for what’s truly uniquely us.

Connect with Brittany Aubin: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-aubin/⁠

Takeaways

Frictionless access to information through AI reduces retention and recall.
Friction in learning is a feature, not a bug—it creates the difficulty that drives retention.
Desirable difficulties and retrieval practice are essential for deep learning.
Early research suggests AI use may reduce critical thinking skills.
Journalism skills—asking good questions, curating information, tracking the why—are increasingly relevant.
The economy is restructuring around uniquely human skills, not technical knowledge.
On-the-job learning and performance feedback may become primary development mechanisms.
Performance management systems need rubrics for human skills like adaptability and emotional intelligence.
AI will change students’ brains—educators have a mandate to prepare them thoughtfully.
Self-directed learning skills matter more as AI handles routine knowledge work.
The hope: AI frees us to focus on what’s uniquely human.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Brittany Aubin and Learning in the AI Age

01:17 From Journalism to Learning and Development

04:19 The Excel Formula Problem: When Learning Becomes Frictionless

07:01 Friction as a Feature: Why Easy Access Reduces Retention

12:00 Desirable Difficulties and Retrieval Practice

18:00 Critical Thinking in the Age of AI

24:00 What Journalism Taught About Working with AI

30:00 The Closet Metaphor: What Knowledge Do We Actually Need?

36:00 From Knowledge Retention to Uniquely Human Skills

42:00 The Economy Restructuring Around Human Capabilities

45:00 On-the-Job Learning and Performance Management

47:48 What We Must Not Forget About Learning

49:54 Their Brains Will Change: The Educator’s Mandate

50:19 Bullish on Humanity: Hope for What’s Uniquely Us

05 | Alive with Nick Kabrel | Updating Our Mental Maps for the Age of AI

James at Alive Institute — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:51:05 GMT

In this conversation, Nick Kabrel (doctoral researcher at the University of Zurich and member of the Digital Society Initiative) and I explore the science of cognitive maps—how we navigate the mental territories of our minds, and what happens when those territories expand.

Nick shares insights from his research on mental navigation, sparked by his own phenomenological experience in coaching where each new realization felt like “expansion of the mental territory” he could explore. We discuss how people naturally use spatial metaphors when describing their thinking, how cognitive rigidity can trap us in familiar corners of our mental maps, and why the ability to expand and flexibly navigate our conceptual space may be one of the most crucial skills for the AI age.

Nick reveals surprising findings from his current research on AI adoption—including that people often feel more competent when using AI tools, not less, because they have “a second pair of eyes” that validates their work. The conversation touches on why we resist questioning our own ideas, how interdisciplinary thinking expands our maps, and practical ways to challenge our mental models through AI-assisted reflection and human conversation.

Throughout, we explore how cognitive flexibility—the ability to navigate, expand, and reconstruct our mental maps—may be the foundational capacity underlying all uniquely human skills like creativity, connection, and adaptive thinking. As Nick observes, the shift toward uniquely human capabilities creates space for those who work on “the human stuff.”

Connect with Nick Kabrel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-kabrel/

Link to Nick’s paper discussed in this episode: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/17456916251378430

Takeaways

Cognitive maps represent how we navigate conceptual space in our minds.
Every new idea or realization expands the mental territory we can explore.
People naturally use spatial metaphors when describing their thinking and growth.
Cognitive rigidity keeps us trapped in familiar areas of our mental maps.
Cognitive flexibility may be the foundational capacity underlying all uniquely human skills.
AI adoption research reveals people feel more competent with AI tools, not less.
Using AI for critical reflection—not just content creation—expands mental flexibility.
We have cognitive biases that prevent us from questioning our own ideas.
Speaking our thoughts aloud helps us discover what’s already in our mental maps.
Interdisciplinary thinking naturally broadens our conceptual space.
The shift toward human skills makes the world more suitable for humanistic expertise.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Nick Kabrel and Cognitive Maps

03:13 Nick's Work at the Digital Society Initiative

05:15 The Holmes Quote: Minds Stretched by New Ideas

07:12 From Personal Experience to Scientific Framework

12:00 Mental Navigation and Expanding Conceptual Space

18:00 Cognitive Rigidity and Getting Stuck in Mental Corners

24:00 AI, Organizations, and the Change Management Challenge

30:00 How Conversation Expands Mental Territory

36:00 Multiple Perspectives and Map Limitations

42:00 Research on AI Adoption: Surprising Findings on Competence

45:00 Deeper Qualitative Research on GenAI at Work

48:25 The World Adjusting to Human Skills

49:35 Practical Tips: Using AI to Challenge Your Mental Models

51:54 Final Recommendations: Talk, Question, Expand