Can technology make us more human?
In this episode, author, entrepreneur and AI thinker Faisal Hoque unpacks his new book Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI.

From his OPEN and CARE frameworks to the idea of a true human-centric AI, Faisal shows leaders how to balance innovation with risk—and why optimism is non-negotiable.

📧💌📧

Tune in to get my thoughts and all episodes — don’t forget to subscribe to our Newsletter 👉 ⁠⁠beginnersguide.nl⁠

⁠⁠⁠📧💌📧

💡 Episode Highlights

• How a cancer-survivor story sparked Faisal’s AI research journey

• The OPEN framework (Outline, Partner, Experiment, Navigate) for rapid but responsible adoption

• The CARE framework and why “Catastrophize” isn’t pessimistic—it’s protection

• “AI as partner” vs. “AI as tool” and the ethics of digital twins

• Small bets, quick experiments and building an innovation portfolio

• Debunking Terminator & Matrix fears with real-world guardrails

  
  

👀 Quotes from the Episode

“We have to be radically optimistic—otherwise the human species ends.”
“AI isn’t just another tool; it’s a partner that forces us to decide what part of our humanity we want to keep.”

🧾 Chapters
00:00 Welcome & Faisal’s Personal Story
05:12 Why “Transcend” – The Human-Centric Promise of AI
14:40 Demystifying the OPEN Framework
24:05 CARE: Catastrophize, Assess, Regulate, Exit
34:18 Partnering with AI vs. Replacing Humans
42:30 Risks, Terminator Myths & Real-World Guardrails
49:55 Practical Next Steps for Businesses
55:10 Where to Find Faisal + Closing Thoughts

Where to Find the Faisal Hoque:

• You can start with his website: https://faisalhoque.com

• Or just follow him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faisalhoque/

• Get a good read, all the links to Transcend are on the book's website: https://nextchapter.org/transcend/

  
  

Music credit: "Modern Situations" by Unicorn Heads

Will AI Replace Marketers? Not If You Become a Centaur.

What happens when humans and AI stop competing and start collaborating? Professor GePhardT calls it Centaur Marketing — the future of creative strategy. In this lively episode of A Beginner’s Guide to AI, we explore how empathy meets algorithms and why brands like L’Oréal and Sephora are thriving thanks to human-AI teamwork.

📧💌📧

Tune in to get my thoughts and all episodes — don’t forget to subscribe to our Newsletter 👉 ⁠beginnersguide.nl

⁠📧💌📧

Learn how to brief AI tools like a pro, how to build your own hybrid workflow, and why the marketers who master this balance will shape the next era of advertising.

💬 Quotes from the Episode
➡️ “AI doesn’t replace creativity; it multiplies it.”
➡️ “The best marketers aren’t scared of AI; they’re the ones training it.”
➡️ “Centaur Marketing is about keeping the human steering the machine.”

⏱️ Chapters
00:00 Hook: Humans & Machines
00:00:32 Promo: AI for the 99%
00:01:23 Introduction: AI Joins Your Team
00:03:50 Main Concept: Centaur Marketing
00:05:58 Under the Hood: Prediction, Not “Thinking”
00:07:56 The Centaur Loop: Brief → Generate → Test → Learn
00:09:21 Call to Action: Newsletter
00:09:53 Case Study: L’Oréal & Sephora
00:12:38 Interactive: Build Your Centaur Workflow
00:14:18 Recap: Humans with Algorithms
00:15:33 Sign-off: The Centaur’s Creed
00:18:47 Promo: AI for the 99% (Again)

🎵 Music credit: "Modern Situations" by Unicorn Heads

Engineering the Future of AI with Chirag Agrawal: Context, Memory and Coordination

Artificial Intelligence isn’t just getting smarter—it’s learning to coordinate. In this episode, Chirag Agrawal joins Dietmar Fischer to unpack how modern AI agents handle context, memory, and decision-making inside complex multi-agent systems. Together they explore how engineering, orchestration, and memory-sharing shape the next generation of AI architecture.

📧💌📧Tune in to get my thoughts and all episodes—don’t forget to ⁠⁠subscribe to our Newsletter⁠⁠: ⁠beginnersguide.nl⁠📧💌📧

You’ll hear how Chirag’s fascination with search led him to build early prototypes of intelligent assistants, and how today’s LLM agents extend that idea far beyond simple queries. He explains why AI isn’t one giant super-brain but a constellation of specialized agents—each performing specific tasks with shared or isolated memory—and how this design mirrors human collaboration.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Why AI orchestration and context management are crucial for scalable systems

• The trade-offs between shared memory and independent agents

• What engineers mean by the ReAct Loop—reasoning and acting in tandem

• How multi-agent coordination is reshaping industries from healthcare to compliance

• Why the “AI supercomputer” myth ignores practical limits of context windows

  
  

🎵 Music credit: “Modern Situations” by Unicorn Heads

The Future of Mental Health: AI Meets the Human Brain with Katarina Maloney

What if an AI could scan your brain and help eliminate depression in weeks? In this episode, Dietmar Fischer talks with Katarina Maloney, founder of IQMind.ai, about how AI in healthcare is changing the way we understand and treat the mind.

📧💌📧Tune in to get my thoughts and all episodes—don’t forget to subscribe to our Newsletter: ⁠beginnersguide.nl⁠📧💌📧

Katarina reveals how AI diagnostics and non-invasive brain treatments are transforming mental health—from PTSD and ADHD to athlete performance optimization.

✨ Highlights:

• The future of personalized brain health

• How AI diagnostics speed up treatment and accuracy

• Why brain energy and electricity matter more than chemistry

• Insights into neurofeedback, biofeedback, and real-world healing

  
  

🧠 Quotes from the Episode:

• “Our mission is to make brain health measurable, trackable, and fixable.”

• “AI is a tool—it saves lives because it diagnoses faster and more precisely.”

• “The old model of trial-and-error medicine is behind us.”

  
  

🎧 Chapters:
[00:00] Welcome & Introduction
[02:15] What AI Does to the Human Brain
[05:20] Diagnosing Depression and PTSD with AI
[10:10] The Science Behind Brainwave Training
[16:45] From Trial-and-Error Medicine to Personalized Brain Health
[21:50] How IQMind.ai Uses AI for Diagnostics
[28:00] Non-Invasive Treatments and Real-Life Results
[33:40] Peak Performance and Brain Optimization for Athletes
[38:20] Data Privacy and Ethical Concerns in Brain Tech
[43:50] The Future of AI in Healthcare and Human Potential

🌐 Where to find Katarina:
Website: IQMind.ai
LinkedIn: Katarina Maloney

🎵 Music credit: "Modern Situations" by Unicorn Heads

Unlocking AI’s Power in Business with Don Finley

Are you ready to discover how artificial intelligence is reshaping the business world—right now? In this insightful episode, host Dietmar Fischer sits down with AI and business expert Don Finley to explore how companies of all sizes can leverage AI to drive smarter decisions, boost productivity, and gain a competitive edge.

📧💌📧

Ready to take your business to the next level? Subscribe for more AI strategies, share your questions in the comments, and visit our website for free resources. Don’t miss exclusive content in our newsletter—sign up today: ⁠⁠⁠⁠beginnersguide.nl⁠⁠⁠⁠

📧💌📧

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, executive, or just curious about where AI is heading, you’ll find practical strategies, inspiring stories, and actionable advice throughout the conversation.

--- --- ---

And don't forget to support our sponsor 🚀

Get started with YOUR PREMIER LEAGUE AI GAME with ⁠John Munsell's book

➡️ ⁠Ingrain AI on Amazon⁠

Exactly the help you need right now ⛑️

--- --- ---

🚀 Episode Highlights:

- Real-world applications of AI in business, from startups to global enterprises

- The biggest challenges companies face with AI adoption—and how to overcome them

- Don Finley’s practical tips for implementing AI solutions today- Predictions for the future of AI and business transformation

- Step-by-step guidance to help you get started, no matter your company’s size

💡 Quotes from the Episode:

“AI isn’t just for tech giants any more - every business, no matter the size, can use it to make smarter decisions every single day.”

“The biggest mistake I see is waiting for ‘the perfect moment’ to start with AI. The best time to learn is right now, with what you already have.”

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction: Meet Don Finley & Today’s AI in Business Focus

(03:17) Real-World Business Applications of AI

(12:42) Overcoming Common AI Challenges in Business

(21:30) Practical Strategies for Implementing AI

(32:15) Don Finley’s Predictions for the Future of AI in Business

(38:50) Key Takeaways & Where to Connect with Don Finley

Where to find Don Finley:

🧑 On LinkedIn

🔗 Findustries Website

And don't forget to listen to his Podcast, "The Human Code"

Music credit: "Modern Situations" by Unicorn Heads

In this electrifying episode of A Beginner’s Guide to AI, we’re joined by Mohan Rao, co-founder of Knownwell and AI veteran since the ‘80s, who walks us through a rarely discussed frontier in AI: Predictive Communication Intelligence.

Forget dashboards full of red-green traffic lights—Mohan's platform reads real-time conversations, detects shifts in client sentiment, and flags problems before they explode.

--- --- ---

A Message from John Munsell of Bizzuka, who pays the bills for this season:

"The problem that I saw out there was that most of the books out there just talk about why it's important or what is important, but none of them really tell you how to make it happen."

That's where John Munsell's book comes in: get ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ingrain AI on Amazon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--- --- ---

Together we unpack how AI can decode tone, track hidden client dissatisfaction, and highlight retention risks using natural language and large language models (LLMs). With examples from consulting, marketing, and tech services, Mohan reveals how AI is changing the way agencies stay human—at scale.

If you’ve ever juggled 25 clients, struggled to keep your team aligned, or simply want AI that acts like a chief of staff (not a spreadsheet), this episode is a goldmine.

---

What more? Ah yes, please tune in to get my thoughts and never miss and episode, ⁠subscribe to our Newsletter⁠!

---

🔑 Highlights in this episode:

Why traditional CRM data is “too little, too late”

• How AI analyzes unstructured data like Slack, Zoom, and email

• The barbell problem in consulting—and how AI fills the middle

• Why one angry email doesn’t matter—but three in a row does

• Mohan’s take on the Terminator question (Spoiler: he’s not worried)

• The real impact of LLMs on internal operations at Knownwell

  
  

💬 Quotes from the Episode:

“The purpose of AI is to elevate the human—not to replace them. We want to do creative, high-value work. AI just gives us a leg up.” — Mohan Rao

“When you're managing 25 clients, things fall apart. Our goal is to show the fire before it burns the house down.” — Mohan Rao

⏱️ Podcast Chapters:

00:00 Welcome & Introduction: Meet Mohan Rao
03:47 Why AI Is Finally Working for Professional Services
07:21 Predicting Client Risk Before It Happens
10:50 One Angry Call Doesn’t Mean a Fire—But a Pattern Might
14:18 AI, Empathy & Client Health Scores
18:02 80% Right Beats 100% Too Late: Embracing Imperfection in AI
21:34 From Spreadsheets to Signal Intelligence: Goodbye to “Yellow Clients”
25:10 Losing a Team Member? AI Could’ve Warned You
28:31 How the Knownwell Platform Actually Works
32:01 AI for Personal Growth: Mohan’s Favourite Use Cases
35:32 From Engineer to Idea Machine: LLMs as Coding Co-Pilots
39:00 Sign-off & Gratitude

🌐 Where to find Mohan Rao:

You can connect to him on LinkedIn!

And Knownwell, if you want to see his AI in action!

What more? Ah yes, please tune in to get my thoughts and never miss and episode, subscribe to our Newsletter!

Music credit: "Modern Situations" by Unicorn Heads

Loneliness has become one of the world’s quietest epidemics—and artificial intelligence has started whispering back. In this deeply human episode of A Beginner’s Guide to AI, Professor Gephardt explores how machines are being designed to fill emotional voids, comfort the isolated, and even simulate empathy. But can a system trained on data truly understand you—or is it only reflecting your own emotions back at you in high definition?

📧💌📧

Ready to take your business to the next level? Subscribe for more AI strategies, share your questions in the comments, and visit our website for free resources. Don’t miss exclusive content in our newsletter—sign up today: ⁠⁠⁠beginnersguide.nl⁠⁠⁠

📧💌📧

From the soft-spoken ElliQ robot keeping seniors company in empty kitchens, to chatbots like Replika creating digital friendships for millions, this episode unpacks how AI companions, emotional AI, and artificial empathy are reshaping what connection means in the 21st century. Listeners will hear real-world examples, ethical debates, and psychological insights that blur the line between comfort and code.

Professor Gephardt breaks down the mechanics of AI companions—how they listen, learn, and adapt to our moods. He discusses how chatbots and mental health tools offer temporary relief while posing long-term risks of dependence. The discussion also takes a hard look at AI in wellbeing, asking whether companionship should ever be designed as a product.

If you’ve ever found yourself talking to a voice assistant a little too often—or wondered if technology can make us feel less alone—this episode is for you. Engaging, funny, and grounded in real science, it’s a reminder that while AI can imitate empathy, it can’t replace the messy, irreplaceable warmth of human connection.

✨ Key Highlights

• How AI companions simulate emotional understanding through language models and sentiment detection

• The rise of social robots like ElliQ and their measurable impact on elderly wellbeing

• Why emotional AI can comfort but not care — and the ethical red lines designers face

• Psychological insights on why humans bond with machines

• The balance between technological support and emotional dependence

• A simple framework: Spot, Soothe, Stretch — how AI can help without replacing real relationships

  
  

💡 Whether you’re an AI beginner or a seasoned technologist, this episode blends science, ethics, and storytelling in a way that makes complex ideas feel human. Because the future of empathy might just depend on how we use our machines—and how much we still need each other.

🎵 Music credit: "Modern Situations" by Unicorn Heads

Get ready for an inspiring and thought-provoking conversation with Lisa Turner of CETfreedom!

In this episode, Lisa joins Dietmar Fischer to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, personal development, and spiritual growth.

Lisa shares her unique journey from systems engineering to coaching, revealing how she’s leveraged her expertise to develop over 40 AI-powered tools designed to help coaches, leaders, and individuals unlock their potential.

Discover Lisa’s early impressions of AI, how she overcame skepticism, and her playful “Doctor Who” philosophy—embracing the unknown and pushing boundaries in the world of AI.

Dive into practical examples, from busting procrastination and imposter syndrome to creating custom hypnosis scripts and empowering journaling prompts.

Whether you’re a coach, tech enthusiast, or simply curious about the future of personal growth, this episode is packed with actionable insights and real-world stories.

Go to Lisa's website and get a free book (a real one!!!) there!

Also, you can follow her on Tiktok, Insta, Facebook or LinkedIn!

---

Tune in to get my tips & tricks and never miss an episode: Subscribe to our Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Want to get in contact? Write me an email: [email protected]

Music credit: "Modern Situations" by Unicorn Heads

In this episode, Anirudh Narayan of Lyzr joins us to explore the exciting world of AI agents, marketing innovation, and growth hacking in the digital era.

📧💌📧

Ready to take your business to the next level? Subscribe for more AI strategies, share your questions in the comments, and visit our website for free resources. Don’t miss exclusive content in our newsletter—sign up today: ⁠⁠beginnersguide.nl⁠⁠

📧💌📧

From designing AI-powered tools to transforming sales strategies, Anirudh shares practical insights, creative experiments, and lessons learned from years of working at the intersection of tech and entrepreneurship.

Whether you’re a marketer, founder, or tech enthusiast, this conversation will give you a fresh perspective on how AI can amplify your business impact—today and in the future.

🌟 Key Highlights:

• AI Marketing Agents: How they’re reshaping sales and customer engagement.

• Building AI Agents for Business Growth: From ideation to implementation.

• Content Creation in the AI Era: Strategies that convert attention into action.

• Real-World Case Studies: Applying AI tools for measurable results.

  
  

💬 Quotes from the Episode:

• 1. A one-billion-dollar business with agents and AI tools—that’s when we said, in a gold rush, you want to build shovels, so why not build a platform?
  2. "And for non-developers, it’s like—oh, I already have a template, a pre-built agent I can plug and play and start using immediately."

  
  

  ⏱ Chapters (experimental):

  00:00 Introduction and Welcome with Anirudh Narayan

  03:17 How AI Agents Are Changing Marketing and Sales

  09:45 Building AI-Powered Tools for Business Growth

  15:32 Content Creation Strategies in the AI Era

  21:10 Real-World Use Cases and Success Stories

  27:55 The Future of AI in Marketing and Entrepreneurship

  
  

  📍 Where to find Anirudh Narayan:

  • Website: lyzr.ai

  • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/anirudh-narayan/

  
  🎵 Music credit: "Modern Situations" by Unicorn Heads

In this episode of Beginner’s Guide to AI, Wendy Keir shares practical ways small business owners can use AI tools to save time, reduce decision fatigue, and build a “team” of custom GPT agents. From naming her CEO agent “Lucas” to a dead-simple rule — one GPT, one job — Wendy shows how entrepreneurs can turn AI into a reliable thinking partner for growth in 2025. 🚀

📧💌📧

Tune in to get my thoughts and all episodes, don't forget to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠subscribe to our Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠beginnersguide.nl⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📧💌📧

💡 Key highlights

• Practical AI tools for small businesses: email drafting, planning, campaign support, weekly reviews

• Custom GPTs / agents: why one GPT, one job beats generic prompting

• AI productivity & time savings: ~7 hours/week saved; ~£1,000/week during campaigns

• Adoption mindset: staying in the driver’s seat; context > canned prompts

• Accessibility & inclusion: how AI levels the playing field for solopreneurs and small teams

• Beginner’s Guide to AI takeaways: concrete workflows any entrepreneur can start today

  
  

➡️ Quotes from the Episode

• “I don’t encourage anyone to prompt — I encourage them to create an agent that fulfills a specific role.”

• “One GPT, one job. You don’t want multiple personalities in one agent.”

• “AI levels the playing field for everybody; it meets you where you’re at.”

🧾 Chapters (experimental)
00:00 Welcome & intro to Wendy Keir
03:45 Why AI clicked for a dyslexic entrepreneur
08:30 From prompts to agents: one GPT, one job
14:20 Building a family of business agents (CEO, coach, marketing, sales)
20:15 Daily workflow with “Lucas” the CEO agent
27:40 Time and money saved with AI in campaigns
34:10 Overcoming resistance and starting small
40:00 Personal aha moments, patterns, and “coding” change
43:11 Where to find Wendy Keir & closing

Where to find the Wendy?

• Best way is to go to her website: wendykeir.com

Music credit: "Modern Situations" by Unicorn Heads 🎧✨