In this "presidential summit," Brian Miller talks with Brent Sleasman, president of Winebrenner Theological Seminary, about why human-to-human interaction is becoming more important—not less—in an age of remote work, economic pressure, and accelerating AI. They explore the surprising value of presence (even silent presence on Zoom), the tradeoffs between convenience and community, and why the future threat may not be "AI takes over," but "we accept a life where we don't have to show up." Brent offers practical "resistance" practices: choose the right communication medium for the message, and become aware of how environments (digital and physical) quietly shape relationships.

Big Ideas & Takeaways

• Presence is doing more work than we can explain. Brian describes long silent pauses on Zoom with close friends—awkward on paper, deeply meaningful in reality.

• Remote work is rational…and still costly. Brent names the tension: economics, childcare, and flexibility push us away from in-person life, even though we're built for connection.

• "Soft skills" aren't soft. They're survival skills. Can you make a phone call? Handle conflict politely? Speak to a real human when it's uncomfortable? Employers increasingly care.

• AI's superpower is efficiency—our humanity includes limits. Brent warns that AI can outpace human pace, tempting us to treat limits as defects instead of features.

• The bigger danger may be delightful surrender. Brian pushes back on the fantasy that it would be "great" if AI removes the need for human responsibility, effort, and showing up.

• Fear sells. Pay attention to who benefits. Brent cautions that AI panic can become a marketing strategy: frighten people, then sell them the solution.

• The cultural fork: Orwell vs. Huxley. Brent references Neil Postman: the threat may not be suppressed truth (1984), but being anesthetized by pleasure and convenience (Brave New World).

Memorable Moments / Quotes (paraphrased)

• "We're just sitting there…quiet…looking at each other…and it feels important."

• "It makes no sense financially to go in person… and yet I feel like I need to go."

• "AI is off-the-chart efficient. What if humans aren't designed to be highly efficient?"

• "You're still the one hitting send."

Practices Brent Recommends

1. Match the medium to the message. Ask: Is this a text? An email? A call? A visit? Don't force one tool to do another tool's job.

2. Raise your awareness of your environments. Tech and space shape relationships. Rooms, furniture, screens, workflows—none are neutral. They were designed, so they can be redesigned.

Conversation Outline (Timestamp-ish)

• 00:00–02:30 Why human-to-human interaction will matter more (remote work, AI, lived experience)

• 02:30–06:00 The strange value of silence and presence (Zoom pauses, men's group)

• 06:00–10:40 Remote work tension + economics as a force pulling us away from in-person

• 10:40–18:50 Seminary/community: what changes, what doesn't; hybrid connection and annual in-person "anchor" time

• 18:50–27:40 AI: efficiency vs. humanity; the temptation to avoid real people; "I don't want AI to write—I want to write"

• 27:40–30:00 Postman, Brave New World, and resisting "pleasant" dehumanization

• 30:00–34:05 Practical resistance: medium choices + environmental awareness; close and call to action

Listener Reflection Questions

• Where have you traded presence for convenience—and what has it cost you?

• What relationships need a phone call or a coffee instead of one more email?

• What "environment" (phone, office layout, family rhythms, tech stack) is shaping you more than you're shaping it?

• Where are you letting efficiency define what "good" looks like?