Ayush Prakash Podcast

Can artificial intelligence be creative without being wrong? Maya Ackerman argues that hallucination and creativity share the same basic move: departing from the most likely answer to explore something new. That makes generative AI useful for art, but unreliable as an oracle of truth.

Maya Ackerman is an AI researcher, Associate Professor at Santa Clara University, and CEO and Co-Founder of WaveAI. She is the author of Creative Machines: AI, Art & Us. We discuss how neural networks resemble and differ from human brains, why people expect machines to be correct, and how students can use AI without surrendering their own judgment.

The conversation then turns to creative work, copyright and the difference between building systems that help artists and systems designed to replace them. Maya explains how she used ChatGPT, LyricStudio and human editors while writing her book, what she would build into a more creative LLM, and why human plus AI remains the more valuable direction. We finish with technology-free time, human relationships and her concern that investment in labour replacement could produce mass unemployment.

Chapters:
00:00 What is creativity?
00:52 How humans and machines predict
03:20 Why hallucination can drive creativity
06:25 A new kind of machine
08:45 How AI became an all-knowing oracle
10:40 Using AI for research without trusting it blindly
11:53 When students believe ChatGPT is smarter
13:19 The science-fiction story behind AI fear
15:39 Artist data and systems built to replace artists
16:55 When replacement became the goal
19:01 Why human plus AI can win
20:41 How Maya used AI to write Creative Machines
24:06 Designing an AI for maximum creativity
25:38 Why bigger models cannot deliver endless leaps
27:27 Balancing technology with being human
31:41 Humble creative machines and inner wisdom
34:12 The risk of mass unemployment
38:29 Hope, nature and human kindness

Connect with Maya Ackerman:
Website: https://maya-ackerman.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackerma

Podcast Info:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ILhje5HSua1FEOlTyFAhG
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ayush-prakash-podcast/id1557703631

Connect:
Website: https://ayushprakash.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-ayush/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ayushprakashofficial

Books:
AI for Gen Z: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0981182135

Modern life offers more freedom, information and choice than ever, but Jamie Meyer argues that many people never learned how to decide what they actually value. We discuss cultural emptiness, status, inherited beliefs and why technological progress has moved faster than psychological development.

Jamie explains why critical thinking depends on context, how social media reshapes the way people see themselves and why endless digital noise can become a form of avoidance. We also examine the pressure of managing cigarettes, alcohol, pornography, food, marketing and technology when each system is competing for attention.

The conversation then turns to Jamie’s own life. She describes leaving harmful relationships, discovering at 27 that many of her values were inherited and building a values tree to decide how she wanted to live. We finish with unconditioning, self-observation, the difference between exposure and experience, and why lasting change cannot be forced onto another person.

Chapters:

00:00 Culture, capitalism and predator-prey dynamics
01:02 Has culture become deranged?
02:28 Who created our modern ideals?
04:17 Do we have too many values?
05:54 Why critical thinking is contextual
09:23 Gen Z’s cognitive flexibility
10:33 Have we become Homo Techno?
11:51 Why human wisdom has regressed
13:07 External focus, projection and rapid bonding
15:14 Technology as a portal into human interaction
16:44 Jamie’s healthy relationship with social media
19:45 Why social media feels like noise
22:05 How social media changes offline reality
25:54 Social media’s benefits and harms
28:00 The cigarette analogy and passive relationships
31:18 The burden of constant self-control
34:27 Values as protection against manipulation
38:34 Are people conditioned or controlled?
40:18 How Jamie discovered her values at 27
42:20 Were your values inherited?
45:14 The work of unconditioning yourself
47:05 Exposure is not experience
49:54 Leaving harmful relationships
51:47 Jamie’s values tree
54:09 Every action informs the future
58:31 Jamie’s mission
60:55 Where to find Jamie

Connect with Jamie:

Website: https://www.ninecarat.net

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiemeyer-ent/

This podcast is genuinely a piece of connective art. What I mean is that my short story, Utopia, talks about this exact podcast. All I can say is, Lisa, wherever you are, I hope you find value in this. 

Read Utopia: https://ayushprakash.com/writing/u-t-o-p-i-a/

Podcast Info: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ILhje5HSua1FEOlTyFAhG

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3qXL37W

Connect: 

Website: https://ayushprakash.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-ayush/ 

Instagram: instagram.com/ayushprakashofficial

Books: 

AI for Gen Z: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0981182135

Why do some people trust ChatGPT with problems they will not discuss with another person? Psychologist Ashleigh Rankin argues that vulnerability, isolation, fear of judgment and the search for confirmation can make an AI system feel safer and more authoritative than it is.

Ashleigh holds a doctorate in psychology and works as a therapist. We discuss reports of AI-related delusion without assuming that correlation proves causation. She explains why easy access may increase exposure, how AI therapists can invite disclosure, and why complex human problems exceed the context available to a chatbot.

The conversation then turns to emotional development, self-awareness and mindfulness. Ashleigh’s recommendation is to use AI deliberately as a tool, maintain a clear boundary between a machine and a person, and treat its answers as suggestions rather than fate. We finish with emotional education, human resilience and her children’s book, Tilly’s Toolbox for Big Emotions.

Chapters:
00:00 Who is most vulnerable to harmful AI use?
01:38 AI, cult dynamics and alternate realities
04:08 Can ChatGPT cause psychosis?
09:19 Why technology becomes an escape
12:24 From practical questions to relationship advice
13:42 The promise and danger of AI therapists
14:40 Why people disclose more to machines
17:39 The paradox of trusting an unreliable system
18:59 Intelligence, judgment and confirmation bias
21:19 Why we blame the external world
22:34 Emotional development and self-awareness
25:14 Mindfulness as the starting point
27:55 How to coexist with generative AI
30:59 A suggestion, not fate
31:12 The case for emotional education
31:53 Why human resilience gives Ashleigh hope
33:00 Where to find Ashleigh

Connect with Ashleigh Rankin:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ponderosa_kw/
Tilly’s Toolbox for Big Emotions: https://www.amazon.com/Tillys-Toolbox-Emotions-Ashleigh-Rankin/dp/B0F2B2RW18

Podcast Info:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ILhje5HSua1FEOlTyFAhG
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ayush-prakash-podcast/id1557703631

Connect:
Website: https://ayushprakash.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-ayush/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ayushprakashofficial

Books:
AI for Gen Z: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0981182135

What remains uniquely human when machines can perform more of our intellectual work? Tech entrepreneur, investor and author Jeff Burningham argues that greater machine intelligence must be met with greater human wisdom.

Jeff describes AI as a cosmic mirror that reflects our division, trauma and dependence on external validation. We discuss why embodiment, relationships, nature and emotion matter, how disruption can become transformation, and why future leaders may need a deeper inner life alongside technical and economic competence.

We also explore Jeff's book, The Last Book Written by a Human: Becoming Wise in the Age of AI. Jeff explains why he wrote the book himself while asking ChatGPT to write the foreword, how writing changed him, and how losing a public campaign forced him to reconsider success. The conversation closes with privilege, unity, love and the difficult work of living by internal values in a physical world.

Chapters:
00:00 Why human presence is sacred ground
02:27 AI as a cosmic mirror
04:51 Why technology needs proportional wisdom
08:10 What are we teaching AI?
11:21 Life, death and rebirth
15:15 When is a book finished?
18:04 Inner peace beyond external validation
20:28 The book that began in Varanasi
25:22 Why humans still need to write
29:42 Did AI write the book?
33:34 Why leaders need an inner life
39:28 What the leaders of the future need
43:59 External success versus internal progress
50:55 How political loss changed Jeff
55:27 Privilege, poverty and transformation
59:08 Unity over division
1:02:00 Hope from an eternal perspective
1:04:48 Where to find Jeff and the book

Connect with Jeff Burningham:
Website: https://www.jeffburningham.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-burningham-15a01a7b
Book: https://www.jeffburningham.com/book/

Podcast Info:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ILhje5HSua1FEOlTyFAhG
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ayush-prakash-podcast/id1557703631

Connect:
Website: https://ayushprakash.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-ayush/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/ayushprakashofficial

Books:
AI for Gen Z: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0981182135

Brian Sachetta is an author, anxiety recovery advocate, and someone who has personally navigated the debilitating cycles of panic and fear. He is the author of the book "Get Out of Your Head: Stop Letting Anxiety Run Your Life."

In this episode, we cover:

- Why millions of people suffer from anxiety and panic attacks by spending too much time trapped in their own heads trying to "solve" feelings that cannot be solved

- How fear is fundamentally just a feeling, and why our instinct to overanalyze it only plunges us deeper into spirals of darkness and anxiety

- What anxiety actually is, where it comes from, and why understanding its origins is the first step toward breaking free from its grip

- Why we keep perpetuating our own anxiety cycles even when we consciously know they don't serve us or improve our lives

- Helpful tactics anyone can use immediately to mitigate acute episodes of panic and anxiety when they arise

- How to shift from trying to control or eliminate anxiety to learning how to let feelings be without feeding them through rumination

Connect with Brian: 

Website: https://getoutofyourhead.com

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Get-Out-Your-Head-Overcoming-ebook/dp/B07L5Z6V75?

Podcast Info: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ILhje5HSua1FEOlTyFAhG

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3qXL37W

Connect: 

Website: https://ayushprakash.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-ayush/ 

Instagram: instagram.com/ayushprakashofficial

Books: 

AI for Gen Z: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0981182135

Alex Rosalez is an AI/ML product executive with over 25 years of experience in tech. He is the host of the incredible podcast, "Transformational Journeys," where he explores how to get people to their most authentic selves. 

In this episode, we cover: 

- Why society's rigid categories around sexual orientation and relationship structures are being challenged and redefined in the 21st century. 

- How homosexuality and heterosexuality exist on a spectrum rather than as fixed binary identities

- Why monogamy has been held as the gold standard of committed relationships despite mounting evidence that it may not suit everyone's emotional or relational needs

- What the rise of polyamory and ethical non-monogamy reveals about human connection and our capacity for multiple forms of love, 

- How young people navigating their sexuality and relationship preferences can honor their authentic desires while respecting boundaries and practicing genuine consent

- Why the shame, stigma, and social conditioning around non-traditional relationships prevent many from exploring what truly fulfills them

- What practical frameworks anyone can use to assess whether monogamy, polyamory, or another relationship structure aligns with their values and emotional architecture

Connect with Alex: 

YouTube:  @TransformationalJourneys  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-rosalez-508a591/

Podcast Info: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ILhje5HSua1FEOlTyFAhG

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3qXL37W

Connect: 

Website: https://ayushprakash.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-ayush/ 

Instagram: instagram.com/ayushprakashofficial

Books: 

AI for Gen Z: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0981182135

Joe is the host of the podcast Salty Ginger Talk. 

In this episode, we discuss: 

- Why the crisis of modern masculinity is creating widespread confusion and anxiety among men of all ages. 

- How masculinity and femininity are not opposing forces but complementary energies that exist within all people regardless of gender. 

- Why the old paradigms of dominance, stoicism, and emotional suppression are no longer serving men or the communities around them. 

- What young males need to understand about building healthy relationships, emotional intelligence, and purposeful lives in an era of rapid social change. 

-How men can reclaim positive aspects of masculine energy—strength, presence, protectiveness—while releasing toxic patterns of aggression, isolation, and fear. 

- What practical wisdom anyone can apply to foster a new vision of masculinity rooted in authenticity, vulnerability, accountability, and interconnection rather than competition.

Connect with Joe: 

YouTube:  @SaltyGingerTalk  

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Info: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ILhje5HSua1FEOlTyFAhG

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3qXL37W

Connect: 

Website: https://ayushprakash.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-ayush/ 

Instagram: instagram.com/ayushprakashofficial

Books: 

AI for Gen Z: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0981182135

Epiphany Jordan is a caregiver, and nurturer by nature and profession. She is the author of the book "Somebody Hold Me: The Single Person’s Guide to Nurturing Human Touch."

In a world where isolation and disconnection have become epidemic, leaving countless individuals starving for genuine human connection and nurturing touch, how do we reclaim the fundamental healing power of compassionate physical contact?

Expect to learn why modern society's touch starvation is contributing to widespread emotional and physical distress, how therapeutic touch and bodywork can unlock profound healing when integrated with traditional care approaches, why reconnecting with our bodies and allowing nurturing touch is often the missing piece in personal transformation, how individuals can safely explore healing touch modalities while honoring appropriate boundaries and consent, what practical approaches anyone can use to begin cultivating more meaningful physical connection in their daily lives, and how a shift from the old paradigm of separation and competition to a new story of interbeing and interconnection might be the key to healing our touch-starved, disconnected modern world through the revolutionary act of compassionate human contact.

Connect with Epiphany: 

Website: https://www.nurturinghumantouch.com

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Info: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ILhje5HSua1FEOlTyFAhG

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3qXL37W

Connect: 

Website: https://ayushprakash.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-ayush/ 

Instagram: instagram.com/ayushprakashofficial

Books: 

AI for Gen Z: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0981182135

Alisa Gracheva is a licensed mental health counselor and spiritual integration specialist who has dedicated her career to bridging the gap between traditional therapy and ancient healing wisdom. 

In a world where mental health crises are reaching epidemic proportions and conventional treatments often fall short, how do we address the deeper spiritual disconnection that underlies many psychological struggles? This conversation with Alisa explores how she is revolutionizing mental health treatment by helping individuals reconnect with their Higher and Authentic Self through the integration of therapy, sacred plant medicine, sound healing, and energy work.

Expect to learn why traditional therapy alone often fails to create lasting transformation for those dealing with trauma and substance abuse, how sacred plant medicine and alternative healing modalities can unlock profound psychological breakthroughs when used responsibly, what role sound healing therapy and energy work play in addressing mental health disorders at their energetic root, why reconnecting with one's spiritual essence is often the missing piece in achieving true mental wellness, how individuals can safely explore alternative healing paths while maintaining grounding in evidence-based practices, what practical tools anyone can use immediately to begin their journey toward spiritual and psychological integration, and how a shift from purely symptom-focused treatment to holistic soul-centered healing might be the key to addressing the mental health crisis in our disconnected modern world.

Connect with Alisa: 

Website: https://caringtherapistsofbroward.com/staff/alisa-gracheva

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alisagracheva89/

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Info: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ILhje5HSua1FEOlTyFAhG

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3qXL37W

Connect: 

Website: https://ayushprakash.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-ayush/ 

Instagram: instagram.com/ayushprakashofficial

Books: 

AI for Gen Z: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0981182135

Teenagers need room to fail, but many parents are too anxious to let them. Dr. Ran Anbar explains why micromanaging and bulldozing can leave young people less prepared for adulthood, and why a parent’s job is to create the conditions for growth.

We discuss his book The Life Guide for Teens, the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions of development, and why difficult behaviour often has an understandable cause. Dr. Anbar explains how parents and teenagers can communicate through active listening, when young people should experience consequences and when adults still need to draw a firm safety boundary.

The conversation then turns to spirituality, conviction and unreasonable authority. Dr. Anbar shares how teenagers can evaluate their inner voice, find another trusted adult and cope when a parent or institution refuses to change. We finish with the difference between fault and responsibility, cancel culture, civil society and three versions of the golden rule.

Chapters:

00:00 Why write a life guide for teens?
03:48 Deciding what belongs in the book
04:13 Why a few useful ideas are enough
06:09 Parents cannot manufacture success
07:14 The danger of bulldozer parenting
09:26 What does a healthy childhood environment look like?
09:54 Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual growth
12:01 Listen when a child appears irrational
14:23 Is the book for teens or parents?
15:12 Respect, rebellion and family conflict
16:46 Let teenagers experience consequences
18:14 Why parents see children as versions of themselves
21:03 What spirituality means for a teenager
22:35 The strangest criticism of the book
22:51 How active listening exposes misunderstanding
25:00 Do parents need their own life guide?
25:32 Helicopter parenting and anxiety
28:36 How Dr. Anbar would have used the book
31:20 Building conviction against authority
31:45 Trusting yourself and finding another adult
34:14 When authority figures refuse responsibility
36:44 Fault, responsibility and cancel culture
37:07 Reclaiming personal responsibility
40:26 Responsibility in a civil society
41:42 Three versions of the golden rule
42:24 Where to find Dr. Anbar

Connect with Dr. Anbar: 

Website: https://www.centerpointmedicine.com/provider/ran-d-anbar-md-faap

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

Info: 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ILhje5HSua1FEOlTyFAhG

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3qXL37W

Connect: 

Website: https://ayushprakash.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prakash-ayush/ 

Instagram: instagram.com/ayushprakashofficial

Books: 

AI for Gen Z: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0981182135