The Tech Humanist Show

where data and technology meet humanity

The Tech Humanist Show is a business podcast hosted by Kate O'Neill, with 79 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Kate O'Neill hosts The Tech Humanist Show, a business show with 79 episodes published.

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  The Tech Humanist Show

  When Weird Becomes Normal with Kate Marshall

  Jul 23, 202642 min

  What can weird fiction teach us about navigating a reality shaped by technology, environmental crisis, and the shifting boundaries between human and non-human perspectives? In this episode of the Tech Humanist Show, the conversation focused on the power of “weirdness” as both a signal from the future and a way to make sense of our rapidly changing world. Special guest Kate Marshall, professor of English at the University of Notre Dame and author of Novels by Weird: Tales and the 21st Century, joins to explore how weird fiction, genre hybridity, and non-human narration can offer unique insights into technology, scale, and what it means to stay human as reality grows stranger. Dive into how stories, genres, and the unexpected “weird” help us make sense of complex systems and imagine better futures. Topics Covere d Weirdness as a lens for the future The evolution of “weird fiction” and its historical context Non-human narration and narrative experiments Genre’s role in conceptual thinking Scale and the challenge of representing catastrophe The reading crisis and cultural shifts in reading AI, storytelling, and the transformation of narrative Speculative fiction as a thinking tool Weirdness as data and a signal from the future Balancing melancholy and optimism for the future Connect with Kate Marshall Website Linkedin Novels by Aliens: Weird Tales and the Twenty-First Century Episode Chapters 00:00: Introduction to the Tech Humanist Show and the concept of weirdness 01:55: Kate Marshall on taking weirdness seriously 04:40: How 21st-century novels are getting weirder 06:09: The rise of non-human perspectives in contemporary fiction 09:48: Genre as a space for novelists to wrestle with scale 13:54: Genre fragments as creative encounters with societal wreckage 16:00: Scale: Representing catastrophe and individual experience 20:27: Tension between decentering the human and human narration 23:18: How non-human perspectives shift agency and responsibility 25:50: The contemporary crisis in reading and criticism 28:03: AI, large language models, and the future of reading/writing 31:32: Genre, language models, and the future of literary creativity 36:16: Story moves for imagining and building better futures 38:56: Treating weirdness as data, not doom 40:46: Optimism, storytelling, and hope for the future 43:22: Outro and thanks

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  The Tech Humanist Show

  Algorithmic Justice with Rebekah Tweed

  Jul 16, 202641 min

  What does it really mean for AI governance to be more than just buzzwords—and how do we build systems that are worthy of our trust? This week on the Tech Humanist Show, we get candid with responsible AI expert and Algorithmic Justice League advisor, Rebekah Tweed. Together, we explore the not-so-glamorous (but oh-so-crucial) world of AI governance—think less “theater,” more real talk on trust, transparency, and protecting our privacy. Topics covered: The evolution of responsible AI as a corporate function Balancing safety and privacy in AI applications Algorithmic harms in everyday life (hiring, healthcare, security) Why harm in AI is more than just a technical bug Organizational trust and accountability in AI governance Practical evidence of responsible AI practices The importance of transparency, literacy, and public trust Building AI governance that is operational—not just performative Roles for government and open source in shaping responsible AI What gives hope for the future of AI and public infrastructure Connect with Rebekah Tweed Website LinkedIn AI Governance Course on LinkedIn Learning Episode Chapters: 00:04 Introduction to the Tech Humanist Show 00:17 Responsible AI Becomes an Organizational Norm 01:29 Rebekah Tweed’s Journey from Music Industry to AI Governance 03:36 AI’s Impact on the Creative Arts and Early Influences 04:57 The Rise of AI Governance Teams and Job Roles 06:12 Building Responsible Tech Career Development 07:38 What Responsible AI Means in Human Terms 09:36 Algorithmic Harms in Ordinary Life and Public Response 15:38 When AI Harm is a Deeper Systems Problem 18:57 How to Build Genuine, Non-Theatrical AI Governance 25:16 Evidence That AI Governance Is Real 29:12 Cultural Weirdness, Systems Strangeness, and Literacy 35:13 Speed, Trust, and What Leaders Need to Know 37:42 What Gives Hope for a Responsible AI Future 40:22 Outro and Credits

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  The Tech Humanist Show

  The Qualified Self with Lee Humphreys

  Jul 9, 202644 min

  How do our everyday digital traces—social posts, check-ins, photos—shape our identities, relationships, and the very nature of privacy in a hyper-connected world? Kate O’Neill sits down with Lee Humphreys, professor and Chair of the Department of Communication at Cornell University and author of The Qualified Self: Social Media and the Accounting of Everyday Life . The conversation explores the rich history and surprising continuity of documenting daily life, from centuries-old diaries and photo albums to today’s social media and sensor-driven platforms. Topics Covered: The history and meaning of phatic communication Social media as an extension of historical practices (diaries, notebooks, albums) Privacy, data, and the networked self The context collapse of online identities Location-based sharing and identity work Algorithmic identities and platform agency The impact of digital spaces on rituals and remote work Policy, power, and responsibility in platform design Hopeful uses of technology to build community Connect with Lee Humphreys Cornell Website LinkedIn ”The Qualified Self – Social Media and the Accounting of Everyday Life” Episode Chapters: 00:04 Introduction to the Tech Humanist Show & guest 00:17 The concept of phatic communication 02:27 Lee’s route into communication technology 04:42 From photo manipulation to tech distrust 06:00 Diaries, Twitter, and the origins of media accounting 12:10 Social reinforcement vs. narcissism in social media 13:33 Location sharing and its role in identity 16:35 Parasocial relationships and context collapse 19:53 Data, experience, and mismatched realities 22:33 The shifting meaning of place and time in data 24:31 Networked privacy and the collective dimension 27:39 Incentives, policy, and platform accountability 30:01 Algorithmic identity and the “qualified self” 35:26 Digital rituals, remote work, and connection 40:31 Closing thoughts: technology, humanity, and hope 41:04 Lee’s story of hope and innovation through tech 42:58 Episode wrap-up and thanks

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  The Tech Humanist Show

  America @ 250: Grand Strategy, Trust, and the Future

  Jul 2, 202646 min

  As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, the nation faces unprecedented challenges: political polarization, economic insecurity, climate change, and the complex influence of technology and AI. How can America rethink its long-term strategy—and rebuild trust—at this historic crossroads? Host Kate O’Neill is joined by strategist and author Patrick Doherty, co-author of “The New Grand Strategy,” and Brandyn Keating, founder of YOUnify and an expert in repairing civic trust. Together, they explore: America’s 250th anniversary and its significance The meaning and practice of grand strategy Historical context: past U.S. grand strategies Infrastructure and systems for the 21st century The erosion of trust and polarization Aligning economic engines, governance, and foreign policy The consequences of strategic incoherence Data, AI, and information environments Remedies for polarization and rebuilding trust Thriving conversations framework Bridging grassroots and national strategy The Global Flourishing Goals and Write the Future campaign Hopes for America’s future Connect with: Patrick Doherty Patrick’s Website X: @PatrickCDoherty LinkedIn The New Grand Strategy: Restoring America’s Prosperity, Security, and Sustainability in the 21st Century Connect with Brandyn Keating Brandyn’s Website LinkedIn Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction & Setting the Stage: America at 250 00:04 Grand Strategy Explainer with Patrick Doherty 00:46 Infrastructure, Generational Planning, and Lessons from Eisenhower 01:46 Trust, Polarization & the Grassroots Perspective with Brandyn Keating 03:38 Linking Grand Strategy to Community & Trust 05:04 Coherence Gaps and Economic Realities 09:38 Political Consequences & Declining Trust 13:00 Strategic Risks When Citizens Lose Faith 16:12 Remedies: Information Environments & Offline Connection 18:35 The Dilemma of Celebrating vs. Critiquing America 21:05 Overcoming Binary Thinking & Building Shared Values 24:04 Policy, Thriving Conversations & Bridging Local to National 29:05 Making Grand Strategy Inclusive 34:32 Global Flourishing Goals & Write the Future 38:01 Parallels to Tech Humanism & Organizational Strategy 39:06 Hopes for America’s Next 250 Years 44:05 Connect with the Guests & Closing Remarks

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  The Tech Humanist Show

  All The Feels with Pamela Pavliscak

  Jun 25, 202653 min

  Are our emotions shaped—and even expanded—by technology, or are we just becoming more disconnected and manipulated online? Dive into this episode as Kate O’Neill and Pamela Pavliscak explore the complicated emotional landscape of the digital world and what it truly means to “stay human.” Topics Covered How technology mediates and shapes emotions The evolution from tech optimism to algorithmic influence Common myths about screen time and digital well-being How emotional metrics differ from traditional digital metrics Shame, AI use, and the pressure to behave perfectly online New “neo emotions” and expanding emotional vocabularies The algorithmic amplification of outrage Persuasion vs. manipulation in emotional design Emotional externalities and digital ethics Future guardrails for emotionally-aware AI Human inventiveness in tech-mediated relationships Finding hope and vitality in the digital age Connect with: Pamela Pavliscak Pamela Pavliscak on LinkedIn All the Feels: How to Stay Human in the Digital World Instagram (@futurefeels) X / Twitter (@futurefeels) Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction & Heart of the Conversation 01:40 What is the Future of Feelings in Technology? 02:25 Why Emotions Matter in Design 04:43 A Butterfly Story: Tech & Personal Grief 05:17 Early Tech Optimism vs Today’s Realities 07:39 Debunking Myths About “Screen Time” 10:00 Diaries and Meaningful Online Experiences 12:55 Metrics Beyond Time: How to ‘Measure’ Digital Well-Being 14:46 Shame, AI, and Tech Purity Culture 18:04 Individual Responsibility vs Systemic Change 20:17 Living in a Tech Ecosystem: What Do We Do Now? 20:33 Emotional Life on the Internet vs. Emotional Life with AI 24:17 Navigating Social Norms with Generative AI 28:41 Are Neo Emotions Expanding Our Feelings? 36:37 Why Does Outrage Rule the Internet? 39:09 Persuasion vs. Manipulation in Emotional Interfaces 42:28 Should Tech Be Accountable for Emotional Harm? 45:00 Needed: Guardrails for Emotionally-Aware AI 49:35 Staying Hopeful & Staying Human 51:36 Outro & Where to Find the Book

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