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If you have asked yourself (or your favorite AI tool) these questions recently, this podcast is for you. My CoolTimeLife podcast series focuses on the place where people, jobs, and technology collide. Each episode offers thoughtful, intelligent insight presented in a calm and relaxing style. We are in an age where our technologies should empower us with better ways to live and work, and not simply perpetuate bad habits from the past. All CoolTimeLife episodes are available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, Audible, iHeart, and YouTube as well as at podcast.show/cooltimelife/

How can I get more done?
How can I get more balance in my life?
Will AI take my job?

Most recent episodes

Here's a listing of my most recent episodes. There's also an Index further down.

How to Keep Up With AI: Eight simple habits that will keep you in the game

Episode drops Tuesday, May 26, 2026: AI is evolving faster than any technology in history, and many people feel overwhelmed by the pressure to keep up. In this episode of CoolTimeLife, we look at why AI fatigue is so common — and why you don’t need to master every new tool to stay relevant. You’ll learn eight simple habits that will keep you in the game to create a sustainable path forward.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

The Negotiated No: How to say "no" without damaging your relationships

We tend to fear that saying no to a spontaneous task request is impolite, maybe even damaging to our career. But the opposite is true. It’s a hallmark of leadership, personal brand management and a teachable lesson to others about the value of time.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Burnout Gets an Upgrade:
How modern work is quietly wearing you down

Modern burnout is no longer the old “too much work for too long” syndrome. It has evolved, accelerated by digital overload, constant notifications, and the erosion of mental downtime. Today’s workers are surrounded by tools meant to make life easier, yet we seem to be working more hours, and even vacations don’t fully recharge people anymore. This episode explores why burnout now feels chronic, identity based, and invisible. From ergonomic inflation to ambient anxiety, the modern workplace keeps people in a perpetual fight or flight loop, leaving little chance to absorb and process the information. You’ll learn practical strategies to regain control, rebuild cognitive space, and shift from reactive survival to proactive influence. This is a real antidote to new era burnout.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Just Keep Learning:
The career strategy most people ignore

Is AI going to take my job? That’s one of the most common questions people ask about the future of work. But an empowering solution is close to hand. Self-directed learning is your career insurance policy in an era of AI, automation, and constant technological change. Rather than waiting for company-prescribed formal training sessions, which are often overwhelming and inefficient, develop your own consistent self-directed learning habits. In this episode, you’ll discover why microlearning (just a few minutes of learning each day) can dramatically improve your ability to retain knowledge, and adapt to change, stay valuable in your current role, and reduce the fear that comes with rapid technological change.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

How Does AI Actually Work? Pulling back the curtain

In this episode I demystify how tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot and others actually work, explaining why they can answer across so many topics, adapt to your tone, suggest next steps, and feel surprisingly human without possessing awareness or understanding. You’ll learn how generative AI is built on prediction rather than knowledge, why context and language patterns matter so much, and most importantly, how much work this actually creates – rather than takes away – from humans.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Deepfakes, Deadlines, and Distraction: The art of staying aware

Most people live in reaction mode, constantly responding to emails, pings, and pop-ups. But every reaction costs attention and control. Just like a traveler who touches their wallet after seeing a “Beware of pickpockets” sign, we reveal too much when we react unconsciously. Unfortunately, pro-activity isn’t natural. It’s a learned skill. Our brains are wired to react first, think later. But when you shift from reaction to pro-action, you regain control of your choices, your time, and even your physiology. Proactive people anticipate. They ask questions. They slow down just enough to steer outcomes instead of being swept along by them. And most importantly, they regain control of their lives. Here's how you can, too.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, Audible, iHeart | YouTube | Blubrry.com

Agentic AI: A world where work starts without you

In a world where work can start without you, what happens to your role, your career, and your sense of control? This episode explores the rise of Agentic AI: a new generation of artificial intelligence that doesn’t just respond to prompts, but anticipates goals, plans multi-step actions, and executes them before you even ask. We’ll look at how this technology is already reshaping workplaces, the opportunities it opens for career growth, the risks we need to manage, and a real-world case study that shows the future in action.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Is This The Day I Get Fired by AI?

The fear of artificial intelligence replacing human jobs is real. But what about the threat?In this episode I tackle the question head-on: should you be afraid of AI?

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Index

Search by topic heads through the index below, or review all episode titles and summaries at your preferred podcast platform:

iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, Audible, iHeart, YouTube,or at podcast.show/cooltimelife/

Below are brief summaries of our episodes, with links to their transcripts. Some episodes appear in more than one category.

This index is in progress, due to be completed by June 2026.

AI, Gen-AI and Artificial Intelligence

Agentic AI - A World Where Work Can Start Without You: Exploring a new generation of artificial intelligence that doesn’t just respond to prompts, but anticipates goals, plans multi-step actions, and executes them before you even ask. Will it work for you? Keywords: agentic AI, future of work, change management, difference between generative AI and agentic AI, AI for meeting scheduling and reporting, business productivity.

AI’s Ergonomic Inflation - The Hidden Cost of AI Productivity Tools: There’s no question that AI and generative-AI can do a lot of great things, with more being developed every day. But humans have a terrible knack of falling prey to “induced demand” and “ergonomic inflation,” both of which hold the potential of stealing away all the productivity that AI promised to deliver. It will make people busier than before, but there's a strong possibility that will not translate to the type of efficiencies that companies are hoping for.

Deepfakes, Deadlines, and Distraction - The Art of Staying Aware: Falling for deepfakes is similar to getting tricked by a pickpocket. It's a crime of distraction. Learn more about deepfakes, how to protect yourself from them, and how to stay more aware in a world filled with distractions.

Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, Audible, iHeart , and YouTube | podcast.show/cooltimelife/ | Transcript

Help is On the Way! How Generative AI Fosters Personal Creativity by Cancelling Fear: A look at how Generative AI is becoming a powerful tool for boosting human motivation, unleashing creativity, and reducing the fear of failure. This thought-provoking narrative that looks at the emotional side of creativity. Steve makes the case that the real value of generative AI lies not in replacing human effort, but in enhancing confidence, reducing creative blocks, and providing a safe, judgment-free space for people to try new ideas. Whether writing a song, designing a business plan, or exploring new ways of thinking, AI can act as a motivational partner, helping people take that crucial first step.

How Does AI Actually Work? Pulling back the curtain: Demystifying how Gen-AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot and others actually work; explaining why they can answer across so many topics, adapt to your tone, suggest next steps, and feel surprisingly human without possessing awareness or understanding. You’ll learn how generative AI is built on prediction rather than knowledge, why context and language patterns matter so much, and most importantly, how much work this actually creates – rather than takes away – from humans.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Is This The Day I Get Fired by AI? The fear of artificial intelligence replacing human jobs is real. But what about the threat?In this episode I tackle the question head-on: should you be afraid of AI?

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Career Management

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Just Keep Learning:The career strategy most people ignore: Self-directed learning is your career insurance policy in an era of AI, automation, and constant technological change. Rather than waiting for company-prescribed formal training sessions, which are often overwhelming and inefficient, develop your own consistent self-directed learning habits. Microlearning (just a few minutes of learning each day) can dramatically improve your ability to retain knowledge, and adapt to change, stay valuable in your current role, and reduce the fear that comes with rapid technological change. Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Your Personal Career Steering Wheel: How To Take Control Over Your Professional Future In an increasingly mobile marketplace. career independence and self-determination are more valuable and more appreciated than ever. There has never been a better time to explore your options. Chris Fontanella is here to share his story and his wisdom.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Communication Skills

The Lost Dimension: How Reconnecting with Physical Space Enhances Learning and Communication Exploring the profound impact of three-dimensional awareness on our ability to learn, communicate, and engage with others, something currently lacking in online meeting rooms.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Workplace Culture

Crossing the Equator: Building and Managing High Performance Distributed Teams | In A Return-To-The-Office Culture There’s a big difference between “remote work,” hybrid work, and “distributed teams,” and this has as much to do with how the team members interact from their separate locations. A conversation with author and executive Alberto Silveira.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Visit Alberto’s site at CrossingTheEquator.com

FORTUNE’s Bearded Slacker: The Danger Of Making Assumptions Based on Appearance | In June 2023, FORTUNE magazine published a piece entitled “Bosses are fed up with remote work for 4 main reasons. Some of them are undeniable.” The image they chose was of a bearded 20-something man working on his computer while still in bed. The article is now a couple of years old, but the attitudes, sadly, have not faded away. Here's my rebuttal to FORTUNE's bias.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

The Future of Workplace Fear: How Human Reflex Stands In The Way Of Digital Transformation | A description of my new book, published by Apress, discussing how fear and resistance can stand in the way of workplace digital transformation.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Lead and Let Live: Leadership Strategies for the Hybrid Workspace | Barbie Brewer has been instrumental in establishing successful hybrid work environments. Here's what she recommends for leaders who are struggling with the concept of hybrid work at their own locations.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Poisonous Leadership: What Happens To Companies And Their Employees | It only takes one person with one drop of poison to cause enormous and lasting damage to an organization. My guest, Sean Lemson, discusses the poisonous leader problem.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Welcome to the Officeverse: How The Future of Work Includes Changing “Office” To A Verb | Futurist Bob Johansen discusses his book, Office Shock and shares his views on the future of work, the impact of AI on careers, the way we handle change, and much more, all through the lens of his special brand of future-back thinking.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Why Are So Many Businesses Really, Really Bad At Culture? | Although there are exceptions it’s generally just not a thing that corporate leaders think about. My guest, Drew Jones, discusses the problem.Why do most firms struggle with culture? It is rarely a priority for executives. Expert Drew Jones joins us to examine this pervasive corporate issue.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Customer Service

Comfort as a Superpower | In today’s fast-paced business environment, delivering comfort is one of the most overlooked yet transformative aspects of customer service and relationship-building. Explore the profound impact that comfort can have on both personal and professional interactions, making it an essential tool for success. This episode explores how comfort differs from satisfaction, why it must precede satisfaction, and how it serves as a currency for building lasting trust with customers, clients, and teams.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Listen to the podcast at our podcast host, Blubrry.com, or find it on your platform of choice, including iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, Audible, iHeart, and YouTube.

Change Management

The Future of Workplace Fear: How Human Reflex Stands in the Way of Digital Transformation | A description of my book, published by Apress, discussing how fear and resistance can stand in the way of workplace digital transformation.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Listen to the podcast at our podcast host, Blubrry.com, or find it on your platform of choice, including iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, Audible, iHeart, and YouTube.

The Future of Work

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Health

Burnout Gets an Upgrade: How modern work is quietly wearing you down | Modern burnout is no longer the old “too much work for too long” syndrome. It has evolved, accelerated by digital overload, constant notifications, and the erosion of mental downtime. This episode explores why burnout now feels chronic, identity based, and invisible. You’ll learn practical strategies to regain control, rebuild cognitive space, and shift from reactive survival to proactive influence.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Sleep: Our most underrated productivity tool

Explore why sleep is the hidden engine behind clear thinking, emotional regulation, and creativity.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Life as a Night Owl : The Challenges and Bright Future for Those Wired for the Night | Night owls have always had a tough time working in an environment designed by and made for “morning people.” Why are some people aligned to a later body clock and what does the new normal hold for them? It’s good news.

Read the transcript here or check out the episode on these platforms:

Blubrry.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, Audible, iHeart, and YouTube.

More episode summaries to come in June 2026...

How can I get more done? How can I get more balance in my life? Will AI take my job?

Most recent episodes

How to Keep Up With AI: Eight simple habits that will keep you in the game

The Negotiated No: How to say "no" without damaging your relationships

Burnout Gets an Upgrade: How modern work is quietly wearing you down

Just Keep Learning: The career strategy most people ignore

How Does AI Actually Work? Pulling back the curtain

Deepfakes, Deadlines, and Distraction: The art of staying aware

Agentic AI: A world where work starts without you

Is This The Day I Get Fired by AI?

Index

AI, Gen-AI and Artificial Intelligence

Career Management

Communication Skills

Workplace Culture

Customer Service

Change Management

The Future of Work

Health

Sleep: Our most underrated productivity tool

How can I get more done?
How can I get more balance in my life?
Will AI take my job?

Burnout Gets an Upgrade:
How modern work is quietly wearing you down

Just Keep Learning:
The career strategy most people ignore