The Daniel Stih Podcast

My guest is Kelly MacLean, founder of The Kelly MacLean Achievement Center, where she works with students and families to navigate college and career decisions.

This conversation is not just about finding the "perfect school." It's about a deeper question:

How do you make good decisions about college and career paths when the stakes are high and the future is uncertain?

In this episode, we explore: • How to evaluate whether college is the right path • What actually matters when choosing a school or major • How to avoid costly mistakes in the decision process • How to think about career direction early—without locking into the wrong path • How cost, financial aid, and long-term outcomes should factor into decisions

This is an exploration of how to think about education and career choices—not a formula for picking the "right" path. In decisions like this, the biggest mistakes often come from solving the wrong problem too early.

SHOW NOTES:

Facebook group, CollegeMadeEasy https://www.facebook.com/groups/CollegeMadeEasy

The Kelly MacLean Achievement Center http://kelly-mac.com

My guest is Jill Sitnick, author of Rescuing Jill, who shares her experience with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as part of her recovery from childhood trauma and PTSD.

This conversation is not about promoting a treatment. It's about the question:

How do we evaluate emerging therapies when the evidence is still developing and the outcomes can vary?

In this episode, we explore: • What MDMA-assisted therapy is and how it's used in a clinical setting • How to think about anecdotal outcomes vs. broader evidence • What is currently known and unknown about effectiveness and risk • How regulation, approval processes, and access are evolving • What to consider when evaluating whether a treatment may be appropriate

This is an examination of how to think about new and unconventional treatments—not a recommendation or endorsement.

Notice: Neither the host nor guest are doctors. They are not giving medical advice. If you have a medical question, ask your doctor. If you need immediate help or you feel you might harm yourself, call 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also TEXT 988.

My guest is Maggie Mills, a professional ghostwriter who has helped bring hundreds of books—from business titles to memoirs—to life behind the scenes. This conversation focuses on a deeper question:

How do ideas become finished books, and why do so many never get there?

In this episode, we explore: • What ghostwriters do and why they're used • Why writing a book can be harder than expected • How ideas get stuck before they become something real • What makes a book successful • How to think about getting started—and finishing

This is not just about writing. It's about turning ideas into something that exists.

SHOW NOTES: Website: https://maggiemills.com Website: https://takemaggieswordforit.com

AI is increasingly being used in healthcare, from diagnosis to resource allocation.

The question is: What decisions should AI be involved in—and where should it stop?

My guest is Dr. Christian Yeasted, Chair of Ethics at St. Elizabeth Hospital, who has spent years studying the ethics of artificial intelligence in medicine.

In this conversation, we explore: • What bioethics is and how it differs from medical ethics • Where AI can improve healthcare outcomes • The risks of relying on AI for critical decisions • How systems might allocate scarce resources (organs, care, time) • What happens when technology fails or behaves in unexpected ways

This is not about fear or hype. It's about understanding where judgment belongs.

SHOW NOTES:

Dr Yeasted: Website: authorcyeasted.com

The Final Invention: The Ethics of AI in a Near Future Kindle Edition

Before you spend money on mold testing or remediation, let's make sure you're solving the right problem.

👉 Schedule a consultation: https://danielstih.com/healthy-living-spaces

Together we'll:

• Review your mold test results
• Evaluate recommendations and estimates for remediation
• Determine whether additional testing is needed
• Help you choose a remediation company
• Determine whether you can safely do the work yourself

The goal is simple: help you make informed decisions before spending thousands of dollars.

Episode Description

There's a lot of misinformation about mold in HVAC ( air conditioning ) systems and air ducts. Should you be concerned? Will sanitizing the ductwork solve the problem? In this episode, I break down the facts and debunk myths surrounding mold in your air conditioning and ventilation system. You'll learn how mold grows in HVAC systems, how to detect and test for mold in air ducts and—most importantly—how to remove mold effectively without wasting money on ineffective solutions such as sanitizers and UV light shinning in the wrong places. Your health depends on the air you breathe—make sure it's clean. Tune in to get the knowledge you need to protect your home and health.

My guest is Jeb Jarrell, a Certified Financial Planner and founder of Plentiful Wealth, specializing in retirement planning.

This conversation focuses on a question:

How do you decide what "enough" looks like for retirement—when the future is uncertain?

In this episode, we explore: • Why "how much do I need?" is harder than it seems • The role of lifestyle, timing, and risk • Common mistakes in retirement planning • How Social Security, healthcare, and taxes affect decisions • How to think about early retirement and bridging the gap

This is not about a single number.

It's about understanding how to make the decision.

My guest for this episode is Manas Talukdar, a senior industry leader in Data Infrastructure for AI. Talukdar has significant experience designing and developing products in artificial intelligence used in mission critical sectors across the world. You might call him a Software engineering polyglot, as he's comfortable programming in Java, C#, Python, and other languages.

He has bootstrapped multiple projects from ideation to prototype to product, is a senior member of IEEE, an AI 2030 Senior Fellow and Advisory, and Director of Engineering at a startup, building a data-centric AI platform. He has filed multiple patents in data processing and machine learning for AI, and has been invited to be an Ambassador at the AI Frontier Network.

In this episode we talk about:

• Why AI won't be smarter than you.
• How instead of taking over the world, AI has the potential to help you get a better job, making the work you do more creative and useful.
• Why you might want your personal data to be included in big data sets.
• Privacy issues - Who's responsible for keeping information private.
• General myths and truths about AI (Artificial Intelligence)
• Why, when faced with the task of choosing between two alternatives, autonomous vehicles known as driverless or self-driving cars, cannot decide whether to hit an old man or a child.

Please note that content for this show and on Talukdar's website, have nothing to do with his employers, past and present, nor does any such content constitute an endorsement of anything of any kind by Talukdar.

Connect with Manas Talukdar: manastalukdar.github.io

My guest is Frank King, a speaker and mental health advocate who has spent years helping people understand and respond to suicide risk.

This conversation focuses on a critical question:

How do you recognize when someone may be struggling—and what helps in that moment?

In this episode, we explore: • Signs that someone may be thinking about suicide • What to say and what to avoid • Why people often miss or misinterpret warning signals • How to approach difficult conversations with clarity and care

This is a discussion about awareness and response—not a substitute for professional care. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please seek help from a qualified professional or a crisis resource.

SHOW NOTES:

Connect wwith Frank King Website: The Mental Health Comedian

The QPR Institute Question, Persuade, Refer:: 3 simple steps to help save a life from suicide. Just like being trained in CPR. Website:The QPR Institute

Signs of someone thinking about suicide:

• You catch them Googling death, dying or how to die by suicide.
• They are getting their personal affairs in order.
• They are giving their stuff away, especially prized possessions
• They are gathering the means: stock piling medication, buying a firearm or such.
• They've been depressed for a long time, and suddenly are happy for no apparent reason. You're happy they are happy. BUT they are only happy because they have chosen the time, place, and method, and they know that the pain is about to come to and end.

When you see someone exhibiting signs or symptoms, ASK. Go with your gut. If you can't do it, get their phone number, call me or Frank, and we will ask them for you.

ASK: "Are you having thoughts of suicide?"

Studies show if you mention the word "suicide" out loud, someone is LESS likely to die by suicide. If you're not comfortable using the word suicide, say: "Are you having thoughts about harming yourself?"

If they say "Yes" ask: "Do you have a plan?"

If they say "Yes" ask: "What is your plan?"

If the plan is detailed (time, place, method) do your best to get them to a mental health facility or CALL 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). You can also TEXT 988.

If their plan is not detailed, tell them, "OK, tell me about it. Are you going to kill yourself?"

If they say ,"No (I don't have a plan)", ASK: "Tell me why not?" Make them give voice to whatever is keeping them here. Something is. The majority don't want to die. They simply want to end the pain.

Do not say "brush it off, get tough, and get over it". That can have the opposite effect. Instead say: "I'm here for you and I mean it. I know you're not lazy, crazy, or self-absorbed. I know depression is a mental heath issue. But here's the good news - with time and treatment things will get better. And I'll take the time, I'll help you get the treatment."

To those BEING ASKED: If you are not having thoughts of suicide, do not take it personally. They care. If they did not care, they wouldn't have asked. Start your reply with, "Thank you for asking." Then if you like, tell them what's up.

PREVENTION

Self-care plan: Everyone should have a self-care plan, things you do every day that has nothing to do with what you do for a living. Make these things you have control over: what you eat, how much you sleep.

Everyone should have ONE thing you do every day to keep yourself mentally healthy it's your NON-Negotiable. You do this everyday, regardless of what else you do. For Frank it's going to the gym - that's his non-negotiable. What's yours?

This conversation is not just about The Beatles—it's about a deeper question: How do stories, history, and firsthand accounts shape what we believe is true—and where does that understanding break down?

My guest is David Bedford, a Beatles historian and author of several books about The Beatles. He spent twenty years researching, interviewing and writing about the group that started as The Quarrymen and went on to become the Fab Four.

David's first book, "Liddypool: Birthplace of the Beatles", is said to be the most comprehensive guide to the Beatles' Liverpool published. He is the historian and Associate Producer of the documentary, "Looking for Lennon", a film nominated for a National Film Award.

SHOW NOTES: Connect with David Bedford at: http://www.liddypool.com⁠⁠⁠

My guest is Stephen Short, CEO of CareerFit and a career strategist focused on helping people make better decisions about their work.

This conversation is not about chasing a "dream job." It's about a deeper question:

How do you decide when to stay in a career—and when to leave?

In this episode, we explore: • How to evaluate whether a role is truly a poor fit or just difficult • How to distinguish between a passing interest and something worth pursuing • What actually goes into making a successful career transition • How to think about the future of work and the role of AI • How to approach career decisions when the path forward isn't obvious

This is an exploration of how to think about career decisions—not a formula for finding the "perfect job." In decisions like this, the hardest part is often not choosing a path—it's understanding what problem you're actually trying to solve.