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  • How to Upskill and Make Yourself Irreplaceable in the Age of AI

    How to Upskill and Make Yourself Irreplaceable in the Age of AI
    2026/07/03
    If you've been avoiding AI because it feels too technical, too risky, or just not for someone like you, this episode is your permission slip to start. My guest, Gigi Karmous-Edwards, is a water technology consultant and researcher who has spent the last three years focused on how generative AI is reshaping an entire global industry. What struck me most about Gigi is where her thinking has landed, not on the fear side, not on the hype side, but on something much more grounding: the idea that AI, done right, should make us more human, not less. We get into the real difference between generative AI and traditional AI in a way that actually makes sense, how to start experimenting without needing a technical background, and where to pump the brakes on privacy and trust. But the conversation I didn't expect was the one about what we do with the time AI gives us back, and why most of us will just fill it with more work unless we're intentional about it. If you're AI curious, AI avoidant, or somewhere in between, Gigi will leave you with a clearer picture of what's possible and why now is the time to start.Key Takeaways:Generative AI and traditional AI are not the same thing, and understanding the difference changes how you approach it.The most powerful prompt isn't a perfect formula, it's a ramble.AI works best when you bring the ideas and use it as a thought partner, not when you ask it to think for you.When AI saves you time, what you choose to do with that time is the real question.Women are using AI 25 to 30 percent less than men, and that gap matters.Flourishing in an AI world might actually mean doing less, not more.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction05:30 Generative AI vs. Traditional AI10:01 Why experimenting beats perfecting13:22 How far should you let AI in16:58 Having AI push back on your work18:17 What AI’s rise means for society21:20 The risks people aren’t talking about23:55 Is AI actually bad for the environment?26:53 Envisioning a flourishing future36:39 The mindset shifts that changes everything39:06 OutroResources Mentioned:OpenAI: https://openai.com/ Gemini: https://gemini.google.com/app Claude: https://claude.ai/new Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/ Karmous Edwards Consulting AI Breakdown Connect with Gigi:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gigi-karmous-edwards-6539245/⁠ Connect with Me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/ Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf More About Building Thinkers: Building Thinkers is based on the realization that there is exponential impact in the things we build, from mindsets and behaviors to resumes and meal plans, but sometimes insights and impact seem out of reach or overly complex.In the Building Thinkers podcast, we explore how to build a flourishing life across different life domains: mental health, physical health, spiritual health, relationships, finance, career, play, and growth. Flourishing is something you can design, domain by domain, through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play.Every episode turns a conversation with an expert into something you can build with: a single, completable blueprint you can put to use right away, so the insight leaves with you instead of staying on the page.This podcast is for those who are actively designing a more intentional life, the multi-potentialites and high achievers who want real success and a life that feels good to live.Harness curiosity. Win your future.
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    41 分
  • The Skill That Makes Uncertainty Feel Less Scary

    The Skill That Makes Uncertainty Feel Less Scary
    2026/06/19

    If you've ever felt paralyzed by uncertainty or like the world is shifting too fast to keep up, this episode is going to reframe how you think about that feeling entirely.


    I sat down with Mathias Behn Bjørnhof, a futurist and founder of Anticipate, a strategic foresight consultancy based in Copenhagen, who has done this work with organizations like the United Nations, and he completely changed how I think about navigating the unknown. A futurist isn't someone who predicts the future, it's someone who helps you build the mental skills to move through many possible futures with more confidence and creativity.


    We talk about how to fight the algorithm, how to find a balanced news diet, and why imagination is actually one of the most practical and underrated professional skills you can develop right now. We also go deep on something I don't think we talk about enough in the context of work — love, empathy, and what it actually means to become a whole person.


    If you're a leader, a builder, or just someone trying to find your footing in a noisy world, I think this one will stick with you.


    Key Takeaways:


    The future is not predetermined, and you have more agency over it than you think.


    Fighting the algorithm is a skill, and your news diet shapes how clearly you can think.


    Imagination is not fluffy; it is one of the most practical professional tools you are not using enough.


    Scenarios and strategic foresight are not just for big organizations; they are tools any individual can apply to their own work and life.


    Love and empathy are not soft skills to leave at the door at work; they might actually be the most critical ones we have.


    Timestamps:


    00:00 Introduction

    03:03 What “futures thinking” actually is

    04:17 How to deal with information overload

    7:39 How to intentionally break out of your echo chamber

    11:37 Why we are wired for doom & how to fight it

    15:11 Strategic foresight in action

    21:36 Imagination is your most underrated professional skill

    28:22 The skill anyone can learn regardless of their background

    30:03 Why love belongs at work more than you think

    35:18 Where to find Mathias & his hopes for the future

    Resources Mentioned:


    Anticipate - Strategic Foresight Consultancy

    The Futurists Guide to Foresight

    Harvard Human Flourishing Program

    Building Thinkers Newsletter


    Connect with Mathias:


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

    Website: https://www.anticipate.dk/


    Connect with Me:


    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/

    Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf


    More About Building Thinkers:


    I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.


    And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.


    If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.
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    39 分
  • What Your Employees Are Carrying That You Can’t See

    What Your Employees Are Carrying That You Can’t See
    2026/06/05
    ***Content Warning***Before we begin, this episode contains discussion of mental health and suicide. If you're struggling, please reach out to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.Some losses split your life into a before and an after, and this conversation is about what it actually looks like to keep living anyway.This week, I sit down with Cristie North, a longtime mortgage industry leader and founder of the Taylor Hagan Memorial Foundation, who lost her son, Taylor, to suicide in 2017. She speaks from nearly a decade of turning unimaginable pain into meaningful work at the intersection of grief, leadership, and healing. Together, we explore how prevention often begins with something much simpler and more human than people realize: creating spaces where people feel safe enough to be honest, vulnerable, and truly heard before their pain becomes isolation.We also talk about leadership in a way I think many people need right now, in a season when we're rethinking what good leadership even looks like. Cristie shares how losing Taylor changed the way she leads, teaching her that empathy, vulnerability, and connection are not "soft skills,” they are essential to trust, innovation, and lasting impact. One of the most meaningful parts of our conversation is around the idea of "collateral beauty," the unexpected depth, perspective, and compassion that can emerge through suffering without minimizing the loss itself.Key Takeaways:Prevention starts long before a crisis; it starts with the kind of presence you build every day.Results are the output, and the heart is what actually drives them.When a leader admits they’re not at their best, it doesn’t erode trust; it builds it.The goal isn’t to get over what you’re carrying, it’s to learn to carry it in a way that doesn’t break you.Being truly seen by people who understand your loss is what transforms grief.There’s a difference between being hopeful and being intentional about hope. One is passive, the other is a choice.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:37 Cristie’s story and the foundation03:15 What prevention actually looks like05:37 Leadership with heart10:47 Supporting employees through grief15:30 The role of vulnerability in leadership18:30 What to do with the parts of life we never asked to carry21:32 How to ask for help and find hope again24:34 Collateral beauty in loss28:07 Living your best life after loss31:32 If you’re struggling, here are resources to helpResources Mentioned:Taylor Hagen Memorial FoundationNAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)American Foundation for Suicide PreventionAll There Is Podcast by Anderson CooperCompanioning the Bereaved by Alan WolfeltOption B by Sheryl SandbergThe Wisdom of the Bullfrog by Admiral William McCravenTurn the Ship Around by L. David MarquetConnect with Cristie:Taylor Hagen Memorial Foundation: https://thmemorialfoundation.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristie-north-59a3419/ Connect with Me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/ Blueprint for Thought: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf More About Building Thinkers: I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.
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    34 分
  • Why AI Feels Fast But Doesn't Feel Easier

    Why AI Feels Fast But Doesn't Feel Easier
    2026/05/22
    If you've been using AI tools and quietly wondering whether they're actually saving you time, or whether you're just doing the same work in a different order, this conversation is for you. I sat down with Max Kirchoff, a principal technologist and product-focused engineer who writes about the intersection of humans and machines on his Substack, Human of the Loop. What I love about Max is that he's not afraid to say most of us have been getting AI wrong, not because the tools aren't powerful, but because we keep bolting them onto the way we already work instead of pausing to rethink the work itself. We get into the four layers of work and where AI actually pays off, why "building trust with AI" is the wrong frame, and what leaders are missing when they chase efficiency instead of growth. If you've been feeling the dissonance between how fast AI lets you start things and how the work itself doesn't always feel easier, you're going to find a lot here.Key Takeaways:AI doesn’t fail because the tools are weak; it fails when you bolt it onto workflows you haven’t rethought.Most people apply AI at the task level; the real leverage is at the workflow layer and above.You can’t build trust with an LLM the way you build it with a person.The shift that’s making everyone anxious isn’t AI itself.Leaders who chase AI for efficiency miss the bigger opportunity: growth.Adoption follows the leader. If you want your team to learn AI, demonstrate that you’re learning it too.The most underrated skill in the AI era is curiosity.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction01:46 Who is Max Kirchoff?03:00 What “human in the loop” actually means05:15 How to navigate AI tools effectively10:37 Why you can’t trust AI the way you trust a person15:48 The 4 layers of work19:22 How to spot assumptions running your workflow22:40 The evolution of programming languages and abstraction layers28:31 The shift that’s making everyone anxious29:36 What leaders keep getting wrong about AI adoption31:39 Investing in human skills for AI integration33:28 Why “let them fail” is an AI strategy37:36 Curiosity as the self-starter skill41:21 If only people knew…42:35 Where to find MaxResources Mentioned:AI Broke the Rhythm of WorkHigh Output Management by Andrew GroveClaude AI ModelChatGPT by OpenAIPerplexity Search EngineConnect with Max:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maxkirchoff/ Human of the Loop Substack: https://www.humanoftheloop.com/Connect with Me:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/ Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf More About Building Thinkers: I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.
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    44 分
  • What the World Actually Needs From You

    What the World Actually Needs From You
    2026/05/08

    The world doesn't need more information. It needs more conscious humans, and this conversation with Mentor Dida might be the most important one I've had on this show.


    Mentor is a Kosovo war survivor turned global changemaker who co-founded three nonprofits, led movements at Arizona State University, and now works with Ashoka, the world's pioneer network of social entrepreneurs, to help individuals and communities find the power inside themselves to create real change.


    In this episode, we get into why inner transformation is the foundation of everything, leadership, innovation, community, and society itself, and why developing the "I" matters far more than upgrading your iPhone. You'll hear us talk about what it actually looks like to build meaningful community from the ground up, why our obsession with scaling solutions is getting in the way of starting locally, and what it means to move from back porch to front porch, literally and figuratively.


    If you've ever felt the tension between striving to make a big impact and wondering whether the small, human moments right in front of you are enough, this episode will sit with you. Mentor left me with a question I'm still turning over: what kind of human do you need to become for your future to thrive?


    Key Takeaways:


    Why emotional regulation is the skill no one taught you but everyone needs


    How the labels you wear might be limiting the life you can live


    Why changing your neighborhood might matter more than changing the world


    What most impactful social entrepreneurs know that most leaders don’t


    The simple shift that could make communities actually feel human again


    Timestamps:


    00:00 Introduction

    01:50 Mentor’s journey and background

    05:53 Where to begin if you want to be a change maker

    09:28 Who are you without all the labels?

    13:53 The difference between doing and being the change

    15:18 Lessons from social entrepreneurs

    16:45 How one person’s inner work changes everything

    19:51 Building community connections

    24:46 Interdependence in times of crisis

    31:01 Are we measuring the wrong things in education?

    34:00 Creating spaces for human connection

    40:05 The power of identity and the collective intelligence

    43:08 Outro


    Resources Mentioned:


    Ashoka - https://www.ashoka.org/

    Blueprints for Thought: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf


    Connect with Mentor:


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

    Website: https://mentordida.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentordida/


    More About Building Thinkers:


    I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.


    And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.


    If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.
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    45 分
  • Breaking the Cycle of High-Functioning Anxiety

    Breaking the Cycle of High-Functioning Anxiety
    2026/04/24

    If you've ever felt like slowing down is somehow dangerous, this episode is for you.


    I sat down with Tati Garcia, therapist, anxiety specialist, and the voice behind the Coping Calmly with Tati podcast, to talk about something I think a lot of high-achieving women are quietly dealing with but rarely name out loud: high-functioning anxiety. We get into why perfectionism and that constant sense of urgency aren't just personality traits, they're learned patterns with real emotional roots.


    Tati shares her own journey navigating these patterns, and what it actually looks like to build a life where rest isn't a reward, it's part of the work. If you're someone who's always on to the next thing before you've even acknowledged what you just accomplished, this one will hit close to home.


    Key Takeaways:


    High-functioning anxiety often leads to feelings of being behind despite accomplishments.


    Perfectionism can manifest as all-or-nothing thinking, leading to self-criticism.


    Societal expectations can reinforce overworking and perfectionist tendencies.


    Ambition is not inherently negative, but it should be balanced with self-care.


    Setting clear boundaries can alleviate the pressure of urgency.


    Rest is essential for mental health and should not be viewed as unproductive.


    Negative thought patterns can be shifted by recognizing their impact on well-being.


    Timestamps:


    00:00 Introduction

    03:14 Where perfectionism actually comes from

    05:34 The hidden driver behind high-functioning anxiety

    10:37 Why everything feels so urgent

    14:27 When ambition becomes a trap

    18:54 Finding balance without killing your drive

    23:58 Passive vs. active rest: which one works best for you?

    28:48 Decoupling your worth from your output

    32:08 What anxiety regulation actually looks like in real life

    41:42 If only people knew this about high-functioning anxiety

    42:54 Outro


    Resources Mentioned:


    Take Tati’s quiz: https://www.becalmwithtati.com/high-functioning-anxiety-quiz/


    Connect with Tati:


    Website: https://www.becalmwithtati.com/

    Podcast: https://www.becalmwithtati.com/podcast/

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

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CalmlyCoping/featured

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tatianaglpc


    More About Building Thinkers:


    I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.


    And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.


    If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.
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    45 分
  • How to Build a Flourishing Life: Insights from Harvard's Human Flourishing Project

    How to Build a Flourishing Life: Insights from Harvard's Human Flourishing Project
    2026/04/10
    What does it mean for humans to flourish? Not just to be happy, not just to check the boxes of a good life, but to genuinely thrive across every dimension of what it means to be a person?That's the question Harvard researchers and their collaborators have been rigorously pursuing, and the early findings are challenging some of our deepest assumptions. When the Global Flourishing Study, a landmark longitudinal project surveying over 220,000 people across 22 countries, released its first wave of data, what emerged wasn't what anyone predicted. The wealthiest, most developed nations weren't leading. Indonesia topped the composite flourishing score. Japan, a major economic power, ranked among the lowest. Young people's well-being globally has compressed from a U-curve into something closer to a J. And one of the strongest predictors of later-life flourishing? Whether a young person attended religious services, across every major religion studied.In this episode, I'm joined by Reece Brown, Associate Director of Impact at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program. Reece came to this work through an unlikely path: from investment analysis to research assistant to Arthur Brooks at the Harvard Kennedy School's Leadership and Happiness Laboratory, and now sits at the intersection of rigorous science and real-world application, working to translate what the research reveals into something that people, institutions, and policymakers can use.We get into what flourishing means across its five (and really six) domains, why the satisfaction dilemma keeps even successful people feeling stuck, how measurement shifts when you move from the individual to the population level, what the Global Flourishing Study is and how it differs from the World Happiness Report, and what the data is showing us about meaning, community, forgiveness, and love.That last one is where Reece takes us, and the research behind it is anything but soft. Across every project at the program, from forgiveness workbooks built on cognitive behavioral therapy to academic flourishing surveys to emerging work on AI and human thriving, the same thread runs through: love, connection, and community are measurable, researched, and far more within reach than most of us assume.Key Takeaways:Flourishing is defined by five domains: happiness, health, meaning, character, and relationships.Measuring flourishing involves psychometric assessments and surveys.Data signals that young people's happiness is declining globally, indicating a need for intervention.Love and connection are essential for human flourishing.The importance of community in fostering individual flourishing.Behavioral change is challenging but necessary for achieving happiness.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction05:22 What does “flourishing” mean?08:42 How to measure human flourishing19:03 Current status of the Human Flourishing Program26:51 Insights from the Global Flourishing Study29:27 The impact of childhood adversity 31:18 Exploring spiritual dimensions in flourishing36:08 Community and connection in flourishing 37:27 The science of forgiveness42:11 Bridging research and practical impact51:57 The power of love in flourishing53:45 OutroResources Mentioned:How Children Succeed by Paul ToughThe Coddling of the American Mind by Jonathan HaidtMan’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. FranklThe Daily Stoic by Ryan HolidayThe Human Flourishing ProgramHarvard’s Global Forgiveness MovementConnect with Reece:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reece-brown/
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    55 分
  • A Tough Season Doesn’t Mean You're Failing

    A Tough Season Doesn’t Mean You're Failing
    2026/03/27

    What if the hardest season of your life is actually your launchpad?


    I’m so excited to share today’s episode with you because we’re unpacking what it really means to handle hard better. My guest, Eileen Suarez, is a transformation and mindset coach who works with high-achieving women navigating big life and career transitions. She helps women go from stuck to unstoppable using brain-based strategies that rewire how you think, act, and tell your story.


    We dive into how to reframe rejection, move through fear, and embrace failure as a growth opportunity. Eileen shares actionable ways to harness your strengths, build confidence through action, and use human connection (even in a world dominated by tech) to propel yourself forward.


    If you’ve ever wondered how to take the leap during a career shift, navigate uncertainty, or make big changes without losing yourself, this episode is for you.


    Key Takeaways:


    Failure should be viewed as a growth opportunity, not a setback.


    Embracing hard experiences can lead to personal growth and resilience.


    Networking and human connection are vital in times of change.


    Understanding and utilizing one's strengths can enhance job satisfaction and engagement.


    It's important to prepare for potential career changes in advance.


    Taking small steps can help overcome fear and self-sabotage.


    Community and support are essential for navigating transitions.


    Timestamps:


    00:00 Introduction

    00:57 How to reframe rejection

    03:49 Growth in disguise

    08:33 The role of AI in careers

    11:40 Networking that actually moves you forward

    15:19 Confidence comes from action, not comfort

    17:52 Eileen’s layoff to liftoff story

    20:25 Facing fear without freezing

    23:35 Small steps that lead to big change

    24:22 Discovering what truly drives you

    25:06 Leveraging strengths to make goals reality

    26:12 Intentional moves that create momentum

    28:28 Wrapping up


    Resources Mentioned:


    Take the Gallup CliftonStrengths!

    Intelligent Failure by Amy Edmundson

    Download your Blueprint for Thought


    Connect with Eileen:


    Website: https://peakconfidencegroup.com/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eileensuarez1/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eileensuarez.coachsulting/


    More About Building Thinkers:


    I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.


    And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.


    If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.
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    29 分