Can you juggle? If you're a communications pro today, you'd better learn how. Just when you think you've got a good rhythm going, someone tosses you another responsibility. Maybe it's a new social platform. Maybe it's a cultural shift that changes how your audience thinks. Maybe it's AI lighting everything on fire. But you can handle it.

In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle sits down with Abenaa (Abby) Hayes, founder and CEO of Elysee Consulting, who's been perfecting this professional juggling act for over two decades, helping executives and organizations navigate inclusion and social impact communications without losing their footing. She doesn't just help companies say the right things; she helps them figure out how to authentically live their values in a fractured landscape where performative statements can and do backfire often.

What happens when the inclusion specialist walks out of the room? Ask American Eagle about their Sydney Sweeney campaign. Or better yet, listen as Abby breaks down why having the right people in the room matters more than ever, and why those people shouldn't be treated like cops, but as strategic advisors who help you achieve what you actually want to achieve. This conversation goes way beyond the DEI acronym to explore what it really means to show up authentically when everyone's watching, everyone's got an opinion, and the stakes keep getting higher.

Listen in and hear about...

Notable Quotes

On the Importance of Inclusion: "To me that's ultimately what it's about. And if I just look at the demographics, both of the US and globally, like we're truly operating in a multicultural and multiethnic world." - Abenaa Hayes [11:40 → 12:02]

On the Evolution of Media Relations: "Media relations is no longer the be all end all in terms of not only driving awareness but cultivating credibility. Right. You've got to take literally like a multi step approach in order to drive ultimately what I call brand engagement." - Abenaa Hayes [36:20 → 37:15]

On AI Literacy: "If you're really looking to future proof a career, your competency and know how to navigate everything that's coming, you have to actually understand how to use it and also be fluent in it." - Abenaa Hayes [50:03 → 51:50]

On AI in Communication: "My contention is that none of this is going to take your job because your job itself is going to be so much different that if you lose your job, it's kind of on you." - Dan Nestle [56:41 → 57:41]

Resources and Links

Dan Nestle

Inquisitive Communications | Website

The Trending Communicator | Website

Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack

Dan Nestle | LinkedIn

Abenaa (Abby) Hayes

Elysee Consulting | Website

Abenaa Hayes | LinkedIn

Timestamps

0:00 Intro: Juggling priorities as communicators

5:30 Abena Hayes: Navigating inclusion and social impact

11:39 The importance of authentic inclusion efforts

18:02 Media relations in a fractured landscape

25:01 Storytelling's role in effective communication

31:38 AI literacy and its impact on careers

38:15 The future of communications jobs

44:26 Generative AI and earned media strategies

50:02 Critical thinking in the age of AI

54:39 AI as a tool, not a replacement

1:00:36 The evolving role of communications professionals

1:06:32 Curiosity as a key skill for communicators

(Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and  Flowsend.ai )

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How many of us are stuck playing media relations hits-and-misses while the real opportunities to drive business transformation seem to be just out of reach?

In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle sits down with Kristel Valaydon, founder of KV Communications, to explore her revolutionary Five Spheres of Connection framework and our capacity to transform PR into a leadership strategy. After 25 years in the industry and 15 years developing her approach, Kristel challenges the traditional view that PR is a marketing function. Instead, she positions communications as a business strategy that creates community around ambitious founders and forward-thinking teams.

Their conversation digs into why most communications work is just broadcasting, how the fractured media landscape demands new approaches, and why AVEs (advertising value equivalents) need to disappear forever. Kristel shares insights from working with what she affectionately calls "rebels and misfits" – innovative leaders trying to shift minds, models, and markets while building genuine communities around their missions.

What We Talk About:

Notable Quotes

On the Evolution of PR: "I came out into the real world of business and an agency and I just noticed for pretty much the duration it was media relations. It was very much focused on celebrity." - Kristel Valaydon [6:50 → 7:05]

On Measuring PR Impact: "We're having those business conversations and discovering actually no one's measuring this. How are we measuring this? And as it turns out, what benefits are we giving the clients here?" - Kristel Valaydon [7:35 → 7:50]

On Working with Rebels: "We call them rebels and misfits, but it's a term of endearment. They don't call themselves that at all, but they're so creative and innovative and they are trying something completely different." - Kristel Valaydon [9:10 → 9:25]

On the Role of AI in Strategy: "I love AI from a strategic point of view. It's a strategic, you know, sort of sparring partner for me. It's really testing my ideas and really going, how can we make this better?" - Kristel Valaydon [59:00 → 59:10]

On Challenging Clients: "We're in services. We're not in servitude, and we are the experts." - Kristel Valaydon [1:06:13 → 1:06:14]

Resources and Links

Dan Nestle

Inquisitive Communications | Website
The Trending Communicator | Website
Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack
Dan Nestle | LinkedIn

Kristel Valaydon

KV Communications | Website
5 Spheres of Connection | KV Comms Website
Kristel Valaydon | LinkedIn

Timestamps

0:00 Intro: The future of communications

5:43 Kristel's journey from agency to entrepreneurship

11:29 Working with rebels and misfits as clients

18:51 How media companies are adapting to change

25:12 The five spheres of connection framework

34:28 Discoverers: Customers and early adopters

41:00 Pathfinders: External partnerships and media

46:43 Measuring success across the five spheres

53:05 Starting with an audit and prioritization

58:11 AI as an enabler for the five spheres

1:04:37 PR's role in building a better world

(Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and  Flowsend.ai )

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We can navigate a crisis, position a CEO, and craft messaging for millions of people. So why do so many brilliant communications professionals struggle when it comes to talking about themselves?

In this episode of The Trending Communicator, Dan sits down with Natalie Moran, founder of Comms Futurist, who's built her practice around this exact challenge. After managing crisis communications for millions and working at the highest levels of government, Natalie noticed a paradox: the same people who excel at strategic positioning for others often can't articulate their own evolving value.

It's the classic cobbler's children scenario . We've been trained not to be the story, especially those of us with journalism backgrounds. Natalie calls it what it is - we're simply unpracticed at talking about ourselves.

But when two AI-obsessed communicators get together to mull this problem, we (shockingly) discover that even cobblers can benefit from AI.

What We Talk About

Notable Quotes

On the Evolution of Personal Brand: "I quickly realized that there is a real market for coaching comms professionals on how to talk about themselves and how to promote themselves. Because by the time people realize they need to do it, it's too late." - Natalie Moran [41:32 → 41:50]

On the Challenges of Self-Promotion: "These are smart people, they're totally capable, but they just are not practiced at exploring kind of what makes them unique and what differentiates them until like the night before a big interview for a job or something." - Natalie Moran [47:04 → 47:26]

On the Importance of Online Presence: "I think being visible online and having an online presence is the new first impression times 100. You have to have an online presence and it's career insurance." - Natalie Moran [1:06:31 → 1:06:45]

On the Role of Micro-Influencers: "B2B companies especially are looking to people like us who have, you know, moderately sized followings but very hyper specific audiences to promote products and services, period." - Natalie Moran [1:07:30 → 1:07:45]

On the Value of Storytelling: "I think the premium on being a good storyteller is higher now than it's ever been. That is a very, very valuable skill, I think, in the world of AI." - Natalie Moran [53:32 → 53:45]

Resources and Links

Inquisitive Communications | Website

The Trending Communicator | Website

Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack

Dan Nestle | LinkedIn

Natalie Moran

Comms Futurist | Website

Natalie’s Prompt Pack for Comms Leaders | Notion

Natalie Moran | LinkedIn

Timestamps

0:00 Intro: Trust recession and evolving communications

5:23 AI's impact on personal branding in comms

11:44 Ethical considerations in AI-assisted communication

17:25 Overcoming resistance to personal branding

23:15 AI as a tool for human-centric communication

29:09 Redefining personal branding for communications professionals

34:03 Leveraging AI for strategic communications planning

39:21 The importance of online presence for communicators

46:24 Balancing personal brand with professional obligations

54:44 AI's role in unlocking personal content potential

1:06:31 The future of communications and micro-influencers

1:12:43 Upcoming "Reimagine" virtual event series

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What if empathy isn't just about being nice, but your secret weapon for building systems that actually work?

Lizabeth Wesely-Casella, CEO of L12 Services, spent her early career in construction wearing hard hats and reading blueprints in the 90s. She learned that communication wasn't just a nice-to-have—it was survival. That foundation led her to combine behavioral science, Lean Six Sigma, and internal communications into frameworks that create "clarity from chaos."

What We Dig Into

Why This Matters

In our fractured landscape where priorities multiply daily, Lizabeth's approach of disciplined focus and human-centered processes feels essential. Whether you're managing return-to-office mandates or trying to get teams to read internal communications, this conversation bridges strategy and tactics.

Notable Quotes

"Clear communication was going to be my superpower. And it was, it was really the foundation of all good projects." - Lizabeth Wesely-Casella [05:54 → 06:07]

Resources and Links

Dan Nestle

Lizabeth Wesely-Casella

Timestamps

0:00 Intro: Empathy as a strategic advantage

5:19 From construction to communications expertise

10:10 Combining behavioral science and Lean Six Sigma

17:06 Overly optimistic about multitasking capabilities

24:42 AI as potential enabler of bad behaviors

31:27 Challenges of AI summarizing internal comms

39:43 Reframing accountability as a positive tool

46:18 Creating common language around accountability

51:26 AI adoption causing process breakdowns

58:28 Using AI strategically in internal comms

1:04:52 The irreplaceable human element in communication

(Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and  Flowsend.ai )

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Here they are again—marketers and communicators worried that

In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle reconnects with Park Howell, the brain behind the Business of Story and creator of the Story Cycle Genie—an AI tool designed to amplify human storytelling rather than replace it.

While everyone's rushing to automate their content creation, Park and Dan explore why the brands winning in this fractured landscape are the ones doubling down on distinctly human narratives. They dig into the paradox

This isn't your typical "AI versus humans" conversation. It's about how communications professionals can use AI as their storytelling co-pilot while ensuring their brand narratives remain so authentically human that no algorithm could replicate them. Because in a world drowning in AI-generated content, being genuinely, unapologetically human might

Listen in and hear about...

Notable Quotes

On the Power of Storytelling: "A story is about a man

On Business Storytelling: "In business, the stories we need to tell are in solution to our customers problems. What are they going through, what are they experiencing, what do they want and why is it important to them?" - Park Howell [05:09 → 05:22]

On AI-Generated Stories: "It wasn't even my eyes at first. It was a feeling. I first had this feeling inside of me like, this doesn't feel right. Then I used my senses, my eyes, in my ears to scrutinize it." - Park Howell [12:28 → 12:39]

On the Importance of Brand Story: "Speed to market. I mean everything is accelerating around us and those that are dragging behind are going to lose out." - Park Howell [01:01:53 → 01:02:01]

On AI in Storytelling: "Instead of taking three months to define and refine your brand story. You can now do it in minutes, literally, instead of, and, and by the way, saving the tens of thousands of dollars it typically takes for you to do that down to a few hundred bucks." - Park Howell [01:02:01 → 01:02:21]

On the Value of Human Expertise: "The AI is only as good as the wisdom that lies behind it and the IP that lies behind it." - Dan Nestle [01:09:18 → 01:09:25]

Resources and Links

Dan Nestle

Park Howell

Timestamps

0:00 Intro: AI for self-inspection and storytelling

5:33 Defining story: Man in a hole analogy

12:50 AI's impact on storytelling and human touch

20:55 Using AI to understand your brand story

28:56 The power of dialogue in authentic stories

38:39 Introducing the Story Cycle Genie tool

47:28 Analyzing Dan's brand story with the Genie

54:59 Iterating and improving brand messaging

1:01:53 Speed to market with AI-powered storytelling

1:07:52 Integrating Story Cycle Genie in enterprises

1:10:16 Closing thoughts and where to find Park

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Humans are in a tough spot right now. Seems like everyone's talking about AI disruption, how to "stay human," why humans will be more or less important, and on and on. But one thing remains certain: business transformation will fail without a human-centric approach.

In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle sits down with change management and change communications legend Kate Bullinger, CEO of United Minds, to discuss the critical role of human-centric approaches in managing organizational change. With over two decades of experience partnering with senior executives on enterprise transformations, Kate shares her wisdom and insights on building purpose-driven cultures and high-performing teams.

From M&As to restructuring and leadership transitions, Kate and Dan examine the complexities of change management in today's constantly disrupted business environment. They explore how AI and technology can enhance communication strategies while emphasizing the importance of maintaining a human touch. Kate offers practical advice on creating effective change playbooks, addressing employee concerns, and navigating the challenges of fractured audiences within organizations.

Listen in and hear about...

Notable Quotes

Human-Centric Change: "Change can't happen if you don't

Communication During Uncertainty: "Even getting out

Employee Engagement: "The more people feel like they've had a voice or they've had some fingerprint on the process, the more they feel bought in." - Kate Bullinger [29:08 → 29:31]

Future Leadership: "When you think about 10 years from now, what is it going to look like to lead a large global organization? I don't. Those leaders won't be in their jobs anymore.” - Kate Bullinger [1:03:52 → 1:04:20]

Change Management: "It's not that people are processing faster, but that our ability to engage them in a meaningful and more targeted way that's stakeholder-centric. Even inside the organization, I think is where we want to lean into AI and technology." - Kate Bullinger [1:04:20 → 1:04:35]

Resources and Links

Dan Nestle

Kate Bullinger

Timestamps

0:00 Intro: AI content debate on LinkedIn

5:07 Human-centric approach in business transformation

10:37 Challenges of communicating during change

15:42 Creating a North Star vision for change

21:52 Types of business transformations

28:31 Leadership behaviors during organizational change

34:18 Navigating uncertainty as a communications leader

40:19 Using AI tools for employee sentiment analysis

45:11 Developing a modern change management playbook

51:53 Communications teams as organizational nerve centers

59:55 Unique skills gained from managing transitions

1:03:26 Future of leadership in evolving workplaces

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If you're thinking "cultural communications" is another way to say "DEI," you may want to broaden your perspective. Culture comms might just be the key to building trust when the stakes are high - especially in healthcare.

In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle connects with award-winning healthcare communicator Alicia Gibson Wright, founder of GW Health Public Relations, to challenge conventional wisdom about cultural communications in healthcare. They examine how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep-rooted trust issues and health disparities, pushing communicators to rethink their approach. Alicia shares insights from her extensive career, highlighting the importance of tailoring messages to diverse audiences while maintaining factual consistency.

The conversation extends beyond traditional DEI frameworks, examining how authentic storytelling and cultural understanding can enhance health outcomes and drive business success. This episode presents a fresh perspective on the future of healthcare communications, where flexibility and cultural fluency are not just nice-to-haves but essential tools for reaching and resonating with increasingly diverse and fractured audiences.

Listen in and hear about...

Notable Quotes

On the Complexity of Healthcare Communications: "There's so many layers in between those two things from the hospital and the pharmaceutical company. There's the providers, there's the policymakers, there's the patient, there are the loved ones. That whole kaleidoscope of different audiences that are connected to healthcare." - Aleisia Gibson Wright [13:00 → 13:21]

On the Importance of Trust in Healthcare: "I think the most important thing now with healthcare is the aspects of trust and understanding how important it is to not just understand what the medicine is, but to trust the source of the information of the actual product you're taking." - Aleisia Gibson Wright [17:38 → 17:55]

On the Challenges of AI in Healthcare: "I think once we are able to scrape or infuse accurate medical information into these AI tools then perhaps. But there's so many medical inaccuracies out there that live on the web and that will perpetuate through AI platforms that we can't 100% trust." - Aleisia Gibson Wright [45:38 → 45:57]

On the Power of Storytelling in Healthcare: "The more we can storytell, the more we can show real people, I think that too helps us sort of hurtle over the de and I aspect. If you're just storytelling, you're just showcasing a person's real life lived experience, that's just storytelling." - Aleisia Gibson Wright [53:31 → 53:48]

Resources and Links

Dan Nestle

Aleisia Gibson Wright

Timestamps

0:00 Intro: Navigating the communications minefield

5:25 Serendipitous networking and unexpected connections

10:51 Evolution of healthcare communications landscape

16:10 Patient expectations and trust in healthcare

23:27 Mass communication challenges in healthcare

32:37 Cultural aspects in healthcare communications

38:23 AI's potential and limitations in healthcare

46:31 Balancing AI and human interaction in healthcare

52:59 The power of storytelling in healthcare communications

58:36 Flexible approach to evolving healthcare landscape

(Notes co-created by Human Dan and Flowsend.ai )

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How do we work with AI in a way that keeps the human part intact? Because while AI can handle the process, it’s still on us to bring the perspective, the empathy, and the meaning that make communication matter.

In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle reconnects with seasoned media analyst, communications strategist, digital innovator, and social media OG, Steve Rubel. Steve - now EVP of Media Insights & Measurement at Burson, a role he began after recording this episode - shares his journey from the early days of social media to his current focus on AI's impact on communications, discussing the dual nature of AI as both a creator and a disruptor of value in the industry.

Steve and Dan discuss the challenges and opportunities AI presents, from its role in media analysis to its potential to redefine job functions. They highlight the importance of continuous learning and the need for professionals to become "companies of one," investing in their skills to stay ahead.

Listen in and hear about...

Notable Quotes

On AI's Impact on Communications: "AI could be a value creator, but it also has equal power, if not more power, to be a value destructor." - Steve Rubel [22:57]

On Disrupting Yourself: "It's disrupting yourself before somebody else disrupts you." - Steve Rubel [45:26]

On the Future of Communications: "I'm just very bullish about the communications industry and its prospects going forward, especially given what I talked about at the top about this tremendous societal, geopolitical and environmental changes that are in front of us right now and the need for good, solid counsel all around to advise how to navigate all that." - Steve Rubel [1:17:20]

On Adapting to AI: "Don't be afraid if it's destroying aspects of your work. There's nothing you can do about that other than figuring out how to also turn it and mirror it into a Net plus for you." - Steve Rubel [1:19:25]

On Learning with AI: "But what I love about the experience of sitting down with it is it just indulges my curiosity and my, like, my kind of fantastical ideas." - Dan Nestle [1:08:44]

Resources and Links

Dan Nestle

Steve Rubel

Timestamps

0:00 Intro

4:12 Discussion on "Seven Habits" and personal reflections

8:13 Steve Rubel discusses career evolution and blogging's impact

12:12 Dan Nestle discusses humility and change

16:19 Discussion on AI's Transformational Impact

19:07 Technological Change and Communications

24:44 Discussion on AI's impact on junior roles

27:23 Communications and Social Media Impact

29:51 AI and Workforce Adaptation

34:20 Leadership and AI's Role

37:13 Discussion on ANA AI Conference

41:01 Steve Rubel discusses AI experience

46:01 Steve Rubel discusses his role in qualitative research and adapting during the pandemic

49:04 Excel and Media Strategy

53:48 Experience and Evolution

57:08 Media Analysis and Strategy

1:01:20 Media and Client Expectations

1:05:40 Technological Revolution and Displacement

1:08:44 Curiosity and Learning with AI

1:12:03 Safe Use of AI Tools

1:17:20 Steve Rubel expresses optimism about the communications industry's future

1:19:25 Discussion on AI's impact on jobs

1:22:17 Outro

(Notes co-created by Human Dan and Flowsend.ai)

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Is AI a miracle, heralding an age of invention, or the harbinger of a dystopian civilizational collapse? The rise of short-form video on social platforms - empowering creators, or undermining society? The only certainty these days is uncertainty. But for curious minds, that's precisely what makes it exciting.

In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle catches up with Emanuel Rose, CEO of Strategic eMarketing and author of Authentic Marketing in the Age of AI, Authenticity: Marketing to Generation Z,  The Social Media Edge, numerous e-books, and children's books.  As a storyteller, marketer, and dubbed by Dan as a Renaissance man, Emanuel brings a unique perspective to the discussion on AI, generational differences in technology adoption, and the future of communication.

The conversation touches on the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in marketing and communications, with Emanuel sharing insights on how businesses can start integrating AI into their operations. They discuss the importance of maintaining human creativity in storytelling while leveraging AI tools, and the potential for AI to free up time for more meaningful pursuits.

Listen in and hear about...

Notable Quotes

On Staying Curious: "I just, I follow the rabbit holes and that's kind of what I think is the joy of being a human. And we have access to so much information now, we can learn anything we want. And the secret is to stay curious." - Emanuel Rose [3:41 - 4:05]

On Human Consciousness and Technology: "Our job is not to click buttons any more than it is to swing a hoe. Right. So we have to get out of our Cartesian framework." - Emanuel Rose [9:42 - 9:50]

On Generational Differences in Technology Adoption: "The Z's just. They just absorb this stuff and, you know, and then, you know, they were all. All the way down to the alphas. Now they're. You know, they're like 8, 9, 10, that range. And so it's like they're going to absorb it in the same kind of way." - Emanuel Rose [17:23 - 17:35]

On the Role of Humans in AI-Generated Content: "I think the human in the loop is the critical part of this. And it's kind of like, could I have my doppelganger, my video doppelganger, do all my zoom calls for me? Well, yeah, I can. I can do that now." - Emanuel Rose [40:25 - 40:35]

Resources and Links

Dan Nestle

Emanuel Rose

Timestamps for your convenience (as generated by Flowsend.ai)

0:00 Intro: Embracing chaos and technological change

5:10 Rise of AI agents and retail-level automation

9:42 Philosophical approach to AI and human purpose

15:51 Generational differences in technology adoption

20:18 Managing screen time and digital detox

25:07 Lack of AI adoption in small businesses

30:39 The future of voice-activated AI assistants

35:42 Importance of effective AI prompting skills

40:25 Balancing AI capabilities with human values

45:18 Leveraging existing content with custom GPTs

49:59 Automating tasks to focus on creativity

(Notes co-created by Human Dan and a variety of AI helpers, including Fireflies.ai and Flowsend.ai)

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Is AI a miracle, heralding an age of invention, or the harbinger of a dystopian civilizational collapse? The rise of short-form video on social platforms - empowering creators, or undermining society? The only certainty these days is uncertainty. But for curious minds, that's precisely what makes it exciting.

In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle catches up with Emanuel Rose, CEO of Strategic eMarketing and author of Authentic Marketing in the Age of AI, Authenticity: Marketing to Generation Z,  The Social Media Edge, numerous e-books, and children's books.  As a storyteller, marketer, and dubbed by Dan as a Renaissance man, Emanuel brings a unique perspective to the discussion on AI, generational differences in technology adoption, and the future of communication.

The conversation touches on the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in marketing and communications, with Emanuel sharing insights on how businesses can start integrating AI into their operations. They discuss the importance of maintaining human creativity in storytelling while leveraging AI tools, and the potential for AI to free up time for more meaningful pursuits.

Emanuel and Dan also examine the generational divide in AI adoption, particularly focusing on Gen X and Gen Z, and how different age groups approach new technologies. They consider the impact of screen time on younger generations and the potential long-term effects on communication skills and social interaction.

Throughout the episode, Emanuel emphasizes the need for businesses to embrace change and automate processes to remain competitive. He shares practical advice on tools for automation and discusses the concept of "retail-level" AI agents that could revolutionize how we work.

This episode offers valuable insights for communicators, marketers, and business leaders looking to navigate the rapidly changing technological landscape. Whether you're an AI enthusiast or skeptic, you'll find food for thought in this engaging discussion about the future of work, creativity, and human interaction in an AI-driven world.

Listen in and hear about...

• Embracing chaos in an era of rapid technological change
• Generational differences in AI adoption and digital habits
• Leveraging AI for content repurposing and brand storytelling
• Automating mundane tasks to focus on creative pursuits
• Balancing screen time and digital detox for mental well-being
• Adapting communication strategies for Gen Z audiences
• Exploring the future of voice-activated AI assistants

Notable Quotes

On Staying Curious: "I just, I follow the rabbit holes and that's kind of what I think is the joy of being a human. And we have access to so much information now, we can learn anything we want. And the secret is to stay curious." - Emanuel Rose [3:41 - 4:05]

On AI and Automation: "We're actually able to build, very simply build automations, which maybe not is really AI, but at least we're able to connect things via ZAP and via MAKE and some of these kind of activities." - Emanuel Rose [5:10 - 5:22]

On Human Consciousness and Technology: "Our job is not to click buttons any more than it is to swing a hoe. Right. So we have to get out of our Cartesian framework." - Emanuel Rose [9:42 - 9:50]

On Generational Differences in Technology Adoption: "The Z's just. They just absorb this stuff and, you know, and then, you know, they were all. All the way down to the alphas. Now they're. You know, they're like 8, 9, 10, that range. And so it's like they're going to absorb it in the same kind of way." - Emanuel Rose [17:23 - 17:35]

On the Future of Voice Interaction: "We're very close. I'd say three months. We will have a complete voice activated operating system and be able to do probably 90% of our work by voice." - Emanuel Rose [33:15 - 33:23]

On the Role of Humans in AI-Generated Content: "I think the human in the loop is the critical part of this. And it's kind of like, could I have my doppelganger, my video doppelganger, do all my zoom calls for me? Well, yeah, I can. I can do that now." - Emanuel Rose [40:25 - 40:35]

On Automation and Work-Life Balance: "Well, I really am thinking about what I can automate. No matter how big of a string of activities, I want to automate all the stuff that is not creative so that I can spend more time playing my guitar and more time meditating and more time taking long walks and maintain the level of professional standards that I have." - Emanuel Rose [49:59 - 50:17]

On the Chaos of Technological Change: "I'm enjoying the chaos of the moment. Now hang on. Easy does it. I'm not talking about foreign or domestic affairs or politics. I mean, we live in an age where we simply don't know what's coming. Great for curious people." - Dan Nestle [0:00 - 0:13]

On the Potential of AI in Storytelling: "I think it comes down to storytelling, you know, and no, I mean, AI could tell a story. You give it a framework, right? Say, hey, I want you to follow this framework. But is there that innate capability There isn't yet to outpace humans or outdo humans in this idea of storytelling, whether it's creative storytelling or brand storytelling." - Dan Nestle [38:02 - 38:22]

Resources and Links

Dan Nestle

• Inquisitive Communications | Website
• The Trending Communicator | Website
• Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack
• Dan Nestle | LinkedIn
• Dan Nestle | Twitter/X

Emanuel Rose

• Emanuel Rose | Website
• Strategic eMarketing | Website
• Books by Emanuel Rose | Website
• Emanuel Rose | LinkedIn

Timestamped key moments from this episode (as generated by Fireflies.ai)

🎙️ Introduction and Overview of Emanuel Rose (00:00 - 04:35)

• Emanuel Rose introduced as CEO of Strategic E Marketing.
• Discussion on shared interests in AI and technology trends.
• Both hosts are Gen Xers observing rapid changes.

🤖 The Rise of Agentic AI (04:36 - 10:32)

• Emanuel discusses 'agentic AI' and its independent actions.
• Highlights Anthropic's Model Context Protocol (MCP).
• Predictions on automation in podcast production.

💡 Philosophy of AI and Generational Technology Adoption (10:33 - 21:35)

• Automation should free humans for deeper experiences.
• Generational differences in tech adoption discussed.
• Gen X slower to adopt compared to Millennials and Gen Z.

🏢 Business Adoption of AI and Generational Differences (21:36 - 32:08)

• Surprise at slow AI adoption among small businesses.
• 'Lunch and learn' workshops to educate clients.
• Focus on business needs before selecting tools.

🗣️ Conversational AI and Voice-Based Systems (32:09 - 42:33)

• Examples of voice-based AI systems shared.
• Predictions on voice-activated operating systems.
• Importance of prompting skills discussed.

📖 AI and Storytelling, Future Outlook (42:34 - 53:42)

• AI's role in storytelling emphasized.
• Human element remains essential for emotional connection.
• Encouragement to embrace technological change.

Timestamps for your convenience (as generated by Flowsend.ai)

0:00 Intro: Embracing chaos and technological change

5:10 Rise of AI agents and retail-level automation

9:42 Philosophical approach to AI and human purpose

15:51 Generational differences in technology adoption

20:18 Managing screen time and digital detox

25:07 Lack of AI adoption in small businesses

30:39 The future of voice-activated AI assistants

35:42 Importance of effective AI prompting skills

40:25 Balancing AI capabilities with human values

45:18 Leveraging existing content with custom GPTs

49:59 Automating tasks to focus on creativity

(Notes co-created by Human Dan and a variety of AI helpers, including Fireflies.ai and Flowsend.ai)