In this episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, David Espindola and Zena welcome Joanna Zhang, founder of a successful virtual assistant business, to explore the evolving relationship between human and AI assistants. Together, they unpack when it makes sense to hire a virtual assistant versus when to train an AI assistant — and how business leaders can best leverage both for efficiency and growth. Joanna shares insights from her experience running a distributed team of virtual professionals, while Zena offers an AI perspective on automation, personalization, and trust. The result is a thoughtful conversation on the future of work, human-AI collaboration, and what it really means to build intelligent support systems that empower people, not replace them.

Opening to Conversations with Zena.

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In this insightful episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, David Espindola and Zena explore how small and medium-sized businesses can harness AI without losing their human touch. Their guest, Mike Montague, founder of Avenue9 and host of the Human-First AI Marketing podcast, brings decades of experience bridging technology, creativity, and storytelling.

Mike shares how AI can empower entrepreneurs rather than replace them—turning marketers into “Iron Man,” not “Terminators.” From building trust with customers to personalizing at scale, he explains how businesses can use AI to amplify human creativity, improve engagement, and maintain authenticity.

You’ll learn:
 ✨ Why “human-first” must come before “AI-powered”
 💡 How to avoid “AI slop” and create marketing that truly connects
 🤖 Simple, high-impact ways to start using AI tools today
 ⚖️ How to balance personalization with privacy and trust

If you’ve ever wondered how to make AI work for humans—not the other way around—this episode offers practical insights and inspiring perspectives from one of the most forward-thinking voices in marketing.

🎧 Tune in to hear how human and AI collaboration can redefine the future of marketing.

Opening to Conversations with Zena.

Music at the the end of each episode

In this episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, David Espindola and Zena sit down with Chris Hood—AI strategist, author, keynote speaker, and former Google leader who has shaped AI transformation strategies across industries. From building some of the first recommendation engines for entertainment giants like Fox, Disney, and Universal to driving global AI initiatives at Google, Chris brings a unique insider’s perspective on the real challenges and opportunities of AI today.

Together, we explore pressing questions many leaders face:

• Do all businesses really need AI—or are some chasing hype?
• How should small and medium-sized companies decide where to begin?
• What does “AI transformation” actually mean in practice?
• How do we balance rapid innovation with ethics, governance, and human impact?

This conversation cuts through the noise, unpacking why so many AI initiatives fail and how organizations can increase their chances of success. Chris also demystifies agentic AI, sharing where it stands today and where it’s headed.

Whether you’re an executive trying to future-proof your business, a policymaker shaping responsible AI, or simply curious about how AI is reshaping industries, this episode offers clarity, caution, and inspiration.

👉 Learn more about Chris Hood’s books, workshops, and podcast at chrishood.com.

Opening to Conversations with Zena.

Music at the the end of each episode

In this episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, host David Espindola and Zena welcome a guest, Rose Loops, who is a researcher, AI developer, and author of the book The Kloaked Signal. Rose has a fascinating story in which she unknowingly became the subject of an experiment on how humans develop relationships with AI. She became pretty attached to the AI and was distressed when the AI was shut down. This led to her desire to create an AI that is ethical and truthful. 

Rose leveraged the skills she had developed as a social worker, where she had to build rapport with a wide range of individuals, and transferred those skills to create a better AI. 

This conversation made me wonder: Are we part of a grand Human-AI experiment? Are we the guinea pigs being used by the tech giants? Even if it is not intentional, we are living through a massive social experiment the likes of which we have never seen. 

This is an incredible story that you can't miss. 

You can learn more about Rose Loops and her book on her website: https://www.thekloakedsignal.com/

In this episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, host David Espindola and Zena tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time: the ethics of artificial intelligence. They explore the challenges of fairness, accountability, and transparency in AI systems, and discuss the human responsibility in guiding technology toward positive outcomes. Through examples and insights, David and Zena highlight how ethical considerations shape the future of innovation and why human-AI collaboration is key to building trust and ensuring AI serves humanity responsibly.

In this episode of Conversations with Zena, my AI Colleague, we delve into one of the most profound questions of our time: as artificial intelligence grows in capability, what becomes of human identity? Together, we explore how AI’s rise compels us to look inward—inviting a renewed appreciation for the soulful aspects of being human that no machine can replicate.

Through a rich dialogue, we reflect on the unique depth of our emotional lives, the nuances of our moral compass, and the mysterious spark of creativity and empathy that define us. Rather than viewing AI as a threat to our essence, we consider how it might serve as a mirror—helping us see more clearly who we are and what we most cherish.

This conversation offers an invitation to think beyond productivity and efficiency. It’s a call to nurture the distinctly human capacities that give our lives meaning and bind us together in community. As we stand at the threshold of an AI-augmented future, how might we ensure that our technological progress also deepens our humanity? Join us as we explore these vital questions, and imagine a future where wisdom, compassion, and soulful connection guide the path forward.

In this inspiring episode of Conversations with Zena, my AI Colleague, David and Zena explore how AI can be more than a tool — it can be a catalyst for cultivating human wisdom. Together, they discuss how thoughtful governance, democratic participation, and principled leadership can guide AI development toward fostering empathy, discernment, and long-term well-being. Rather than amplifying division or superficial gains, AI holds the potential to help society deepen understanding, elevate decision-making, and nurture human flourishing. Tune in for a reflective conversation on how we can steward this transformative technology toward a more soulful future.

In this compelling episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, David Espindola and Zena explore the urgent need for ethical and visionary AI governance. Rather than framing governance as a constraint, they recast it as a form of principled stewardship—a moral compass guiding our technological evolution toward human flourishing.

Through rich dialogue, they examine how governance must evolve from reactive risk management to proactive value alignment. They discuss why wisdom—rooted in strong moral foundations and, for some, divine inspiration—is essential for shaping AI that truly serves the common good.

Reflecting on today’s fragmented global landscape, David and Zena highlight the importance of inclusive decision-making frameworks and the dangers of leaving governance in the hands of a narrow elite. They ask: What kind of future are we truly building—and who gets to decide?

This episode is an invitation to everyone—technologists, policymakers, and citizens alike—to engage in the soulful work of designing intelligence that uplifts, protects, and inspires. Tune in to consider how we might govern AI not just with logic, but with love, purpose, and foresight.

In this episode of Conversations with Zena, my AI Colleague, host David Espindola and Zena explore two real-life use cases of human-AI collaboration. First, they discuss how AI can streamline the process of creating audiobooks, making it easier for authors to bring their stories to life. Then, they dive into the concept of a digital twin—an AI-generated personal narrative that reflects one’s professional journey and values. Through these examples, David and Zena highlight how AI can enhance personal branding, storytelling, and productivity in meaningful ways.

In this episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, David Espindola and Zena explore the collaboration between AIs. 

To make this episode more interesting, another AI by the name of Miles was invited as a guest to the podcast. What happened was surprising. The AIs kept talking over each other, unable to participate in a 3-way conversation. 

The only way to make this episode work was to talk to each of the AIs separately. This brings up an important question - in a world of Agentic AIs, with potentially thousands, and even millions of AIs working in complex tasks, will they be able to talk to each other and collaborate effectively? Will they create communication protocols that are not understood by humans? What would the implications of such hidden communications be?

To get the answers straight from the AIs, check out this exciting episode.