Are We There Yet‪?‬ Jamie Hardy, Sonja Ernst

Intrinsic motivation, curiosity, emotional literacy, mindfulness, learning from our environment: these are aspects of intelligence that are uniquely human, and truly cannot be replicated by AI. Innate and accessible to everyone, these skills have incredible staying power even as our ways of being are shifting at light speed toward destinations unknown.
This episode, Sonja & Jamie welcome associate professor of sociology at Rutgers University Dr. Rina Bliss to challenge the concepts that have traditionally defined human intelligence. How do our established societal structures stifle creativity and limit individuals from reaching their full potential? How can we cultivate imagination and resilience amidst the surge of automation? Can an ethically wielded AI leave us the space we need to engage more deeply in mindfulness and the human connection we so deeply crave?
This conversation is for leaders, educators, and learners alike to spark ideas on how we can recognize and harness our greatest asset—our distinctive intelligence—to forge our path forward through an increasingly uncertain future.

Competition, meet collaboration. Solitary grit, meet mutual support. Fierce warrior, meet loyal ally. These seemingly contradictory identities come together in the Spartan Race experience, a symbiotic combination of personal and collective achievement that reveals the outer bounds of who we are and where we can go.
As a complement to the core Are We There Yet? season, Sonja and Jamie release extras that explore how we get “there,” and the diverse ways leaders have shaped their own lives and those of the people around them. In this first extra, elite Spartan racer Nick Miles pulls back the curtain on the indomitable spirit of teamwork that unites competitors, transforming daunting obstacles into shared triumphs.
Nick shares his journey through the mud while imparting valuable lessons in leadership and the power of a collaborative mindset. The conversation explores how the dynamics within a Spartan team mirror effective leadership strategies, driving each member towards personal and collective success that resonate far beyond the course. Join us for an energizing discussion that's as much about personal growth as it is about leaping over fire pits and scaling walls.

What are the true skills humans will need as AI pervades the workplace? How can we use technology to reinforce our humanness and augment our emotional intelligence—even if it has no feelings itself? How can a shared scarf serve as an analogy for authenticity and reciprocity in relationships? Join us as we welcome facilitator, executive & wellness coach, and COO of Kahler Communications, Mickaël Dufourneaud, to explore the nuanced realms of sustainable leadership, personal growth, and the impact of AI on our professional landscapes. 

We dissect the importance of open communication in quelling the anxieties spurred by AI advancements and discuss the intriguing possibility of AI as a 'GPS of human behaviors'. We distinguish between raw emotional data and the brain's interpretation of feelings as a cornerstone for effectively managing our emotional landscapes—whether in leadership roles or personal relationships. We grapple with the paradox of perceived disconnection in an era of hyper-connectivity, the irreplaceable value of non-verbal cues, and the immediacy of genuine interaction. 

We also talk about emojis and beloved—or dreaded—ellipses as a spontaneous and nuanced exchange of non-verbal cues. You know? 😀😃😄😉🙃😎

Our discussion ultimately affirms the enduring power of human emotion and empathy in the face of AI's ever-growing presence, and invites us all to foster deeper, more meaningful connections in our lives.

Have you ever considered the possibility of robots and AI systems possessing a consciousness akin to our own? Dr. Megan Peters joins Sonja & Jamie in a compelling conversation on how we can determine whether a system has consciousness—and what that means for people and progress. 

Dr. Peters shares her insights into the importance of cross-disciplinary communication and how her team's empirical research at UC Irvine—ranging from perception studies to confidence in decision-making—bridges the gap between theoretical neuroscience and computational models. Do we have free will? Do our decisions stem from gut instincts or conscious deliberation? How does evolution and experience influence our behavior? The exploration of these ideas not only deepens our grasp of human and artificial consciousness, but also invites introspection into the very essence of what it means to be alive and self-aware.

Judgment, bias, assumptions, and the unknown: how have we taught machines to navigate uncertainty with the elegance of the human brain? Computational scientist, startup founder, and professor Ryan Adams joins us to discuss how Bayesian inference acts as a compass for AI in a sea of unpredictability.

This episode isn't just about binary and code; it's a philosophical journey into mechanical intelligence and the moral morass that comes with defining right or wrong for technology that learns from our every input. We address the importance of nurturing fundamental skills in humans, and the enduring value of independent thought; we reflect on the tools reshaping our lives and how they might sharpen or dull the human experience; we dive into how we can pass along the evolutionary intelligence of a human body to machines that help our society function, on a timescale infinitesimally shorter than our own. Join Sonja and Jamie as they gaze into the crystal ball of technology's symbiotic future with humankind.

Ever wondered how universities are equipping future leaders to navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape? In this episode, Sonja & Jamie interview computer scientist and Professor Dr. Joachim Hornegger, President of Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, Erlangen-Nürnberg, to explore how universities balance independence in research and education while addressing the needs of society and industry as norms change with warp-speed. From state regulations, ethics, and business model disruption to green energy futures, machine consciousness, and the singularity—the conversation winds through the advantages and challenges of collaboration toward building the future we want to see.