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Matt Stauffer talks with Reuben Johnson — aka YoBigRube — founder of Fly Duo, a storytelling studio specializing in high-trust narratives for complex and sensitive messaging. Reuben brings a perspective shaped by decades as a self-taught developer and outsider to the tech establishment.

They explore what it looks like to engage with AI when you have real criticisms of the industry — from choosing the least evil tool to running local LLMs, using AI as a writing accountability partner, and refusing to let a machine call itself human.

The conversation covers AI bias, abstracted accountability, the vulnerability of kids to AI characters, and why the answer to symbolic activism isn't more symbols — it's showing up in community, staying curious, and never deciding you've done enough.

• Matt Stauffer on Twitter
• Tighten Website
• FlyDuo | High-Trust Storytelling
  Reuben Johnson on LinkedIn
• Sam Cole Deep Fake Podcast
• The Tech We Want
• 404 Media
• Small Technology Foundation
• PBS
• Sex Tech N Chill
• Community Tweet

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Editing and transcription sponsored by Tighten.