𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄:

This week on 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘐 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵, Anne Murphy and Kyle Shannon sit down with Liz Miller Gershfeld to talk about what it actually means to “produce” AI-powered creative work. Spoiler: it’s not about tossing prompts into a black box and hoping for magic. It’s about protecting creative intent, building reliable workflows, and understanding what parts of the process AI can handle—without compromising what makes the work sing.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:

• What a creative AI producer actually does

• Why fidelity to creative intent matters

• How to integrate AI into production without losing your mind (or your vision)

• The wild story of a bear that only performed to “Piano Man”

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁:

Liz Miller Gershfeld is an AI producer, creative technologist, and the founder of Not Liz AI. After two decades producing shoots with everything from big brands to blood-slicked bowling balls, she’s now building AI workflows that don’t steamroll the creative process—they support it. Liz brings structure, taste, and just enough chaos to help creative teams do their best work with AI.

𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲, 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲!

The AI Readiness Project airs every Wednesday at 3pm Pacific, hosted by Anne Murphy of She Leads AI and Kyle Shannon of The AI Salon. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and join the conversation helping people prepare for what's next. Want to get a head start? Visit https://ruready4ai.com/ to check out the AI Readiness Training program.

Wrapping up Season 0 – We're almost ready to begin!

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄:

In this episode of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘐 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵, Jennifer Hufnagel joins Kyle Shannon and guest co-host Kellye Kamp to explore what it really means to be ready for AI. From her early days at Hootsuite to launching her own consultancy, Jennifer shares how her journey led her to AI and why many businesses still aren’t ready to take advantage of it. The conversation covers everything from managing AI overwhelm to building company-wide literacy—and the surprising ways rural companies are navigating the transition.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:

• Why AI readiness starts with curiosity—not expertise.

• The overlooked importance of digital literacy in rural businesses.

• What it means to think like a producer (or general contractor) in an AI-driven workflow.

• Why AI adoption is about solving real business problems, not chasing shiny tools.

• How to spot the people in your organization most likely to succeed with AI—and how to support them.

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁:

Jennifer Hufnagel is a veteran learning and development leader with a background in business analysis and corporate training. Her career has spanned from software companies to global events like the 2010 Olympics, and today, she helps businesses prepare for AI adoption through practical, operations-focused training. Based on Vancouver Island, she brings a uniquely grounded perspective to digital transformation, particularly in rural and under-resourced settings.

𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲, 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲!

The AI Readiness Project airs every Wednesday at 3pm Pacific, hosted by Anne Murphy of She Leads AI and Kyle Shannon of The AI Salon. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and join the conversation helping people prepare for what's next. Want to get a head start? Visit https://ruready4ai.com/ to check out the AI Readiness Training program.

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄:

In this week’s episode, Anne and Kyle welcome Jyunmi Hatcher to unpack a topic not often discussed outside of niche corners of the AI world: local AI models, personal computing, and why running AI on your own hardware might be more important than it sounds.

They start with a look at how Gen Z is engaging with AI—from skepticism to creative experimentation—and why showing up, literally and digitally, matters more than ever. Jyunmi then introduces the idea of AI agents that run on low-cost devices, and how that might change everything from privacy to access.

What begins as a technical deep dive turns into a conversation about ownership—of data, of devices, and of the ways we each relate to AI. It’s a thoughtful, sometimes nerdy, always candid episode that will leave you rethinking what “ready” actually means.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:

• 𝗚𝗲𝗻 𝗭’𝘀 𝗔𝗜 𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗺 is often rooted in concerns about authenticity, environmental impact, and real-time relationships.

• 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱, 𝗼𝗻-𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 offer control over data, lower latency, and practical security benefits.

• 𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is a growing skill set—and may be as important as typing in the near future.

• 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘂𝘀𝗲: Take an old piece of your work and reimagine it in a form you’re not “good” at. That kind of play can reveal new pathways.

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁:

𝗝𝘆𝘂𝗻𝗺𝗶 𝗛𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿 is a self-described multi-passionate generalist and systems thinker with deep roots in tech, media, and strategy. Co-host of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘈𝘐 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘸 and an early member of the AI Exchange, Jyunmi brings both technical curiosity and real-world insight to every conversation. His background in film, his current interest in single-board computing, and his steady focus on accessible, practical uses of AI all converge in a unique point of view: one that’s both deeply informed and refreshingly grounded.

𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲, 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲!

The AI Readiness Project airs every Wednesday at 3pm Pacific, hosted by Anne Murphy of She Leads AI and Kyle Shannon of The AI Salon. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and join the conversation helping people prepare for what's next.

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄:

Hosts Kyle Shannon and Anne Murphy talk with Sid Hargro about how personal stories connect with AI tools in fresh ways. From revisiting childhood writing to creating original art for his walls, Sid shows how curiosity and reflection can spark entirely new forms of creativity.

The conversation highlights the role of storytelling in self-discovery, the responsibilities of sharing others’ experiences with care, and why this moment is an invitation to explore skills you once thought were out of reach.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:

• Why the creative process starts with your own ideas before AI enters the picture

• How storytelling helped Sid reconnect with purpose and direction

• Simple ways to bring back old projects and breathe new life into them with AI

• Approaches to telling community stories without exploitation

• Why centering your full identity is the strongest readiness strategy

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁:

Sid Hargro is a social impact strategist turned AI storyteller, blending engineering roots with decades of nonprofit leadership. His “30 Days of Stories” series on TikTok shares personal moments that reveal how identity and creativity evolve over time.

𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲, 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲!

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘐 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 airs every Wednesday at 3pm Pacific, hosted by Anne Murphy of She Leads AI and Kyle Shannon of The AI Salon. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and join the conversation helping people prepare for what’s next.

What happens when someone who’s been a firefighter, CrossFit coach, nutrition entrepreneur and LinkedIn strategist finds his stride in AI? You get Brian Maucere — part tactician, part teacher and one of the most grounded voices in the field.

In this episode, Brian shares how his varied background made him unexpectedly ready for GenAI. We talk about what it means to be prepared for a future that’s already here and how Brian helps sales teams and enterprises build the practical side of AI readiness one task at a time.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀:

• Why “being ready” is more powerful than being an “expert”

• The difference between AI literacy and AI strategy and why both matter

• How to start change management by solving one annoying problem

• What Brian sees working across industries when it comes to team adoption

• A fresh perspective on AGI and why we might already be working with it

𝗧𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗜𝗻:

If you’re trying to get your team or yourself ready for the fast-moving changes AI brings to work, this episode is your new favorite meeting. Whether you’re in sales, leadership or just trying to stay ahead, Brian breaks things down without dumbing them down.

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁:

Brian Maucere is co-host of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘈𝘐 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘸, a weekday morning series with more than 500 episodes on GenAI. As an AI consultant at Skaled, he helps sales teams and enterprises apply AI in ways that work. A former firefighter, CrossFit gym owner and LinkedIn strategist, Brian is known for making complex ideas clear and guiding organizations toward AI readiness.

𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲, 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲!

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘐 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 airs every Wednesday at 3pm Pacific, hosted by Anne Murphy of She Leads AI and Kyle Shannon of The AI Salon. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and join the conversation helping people prepare for what’s next.

AI’s pace can feel overwhelming, especially when the skills you mastered last month suddenly feel outdated. What happens when even the most engaged users feel left behind? In this conversation, Anne, Kyle, and PJ talk candidly about the emotional side of learning in public, the discomfort of losing your footing, and the practices that make constant change easier to handle.

Key Takeaways:

• Ways to think about AI learning that go beyond memorizing features.

• How “good enough” AI might ease pressure rather than add to it.

• The value of play and experimentation when building confidence.

• Approaches to staying open to new tools without burning out.

Our Guest:

This week’s guest is PJ Loughran, co-host of the Daily AI Show, which has broadcast more than 500 live episodes. PJ’s background ranges from firefighting in Iraq to building businesses in fitness and nutrition, to now guiding teams as they adopt AI. His experience shows that adaptability comes from consistency, curiosity, and community.

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The future of work won’t wait for you to catch up. Tune in every Wednesday at 3pm for The AI Readiness Project with Anne Murphy of She Leads AI and Kyle Shannon of The AI Salon. Real conversations, practical insights, and a community learning how to stay ready together.

Show Overview:

Anne and Kyle sit down with Sam Swaim and Kristin Steele for a refreshingly honest conversation about what it means to stay connected in an increasingly polarized world. As seasoned event pros—and Kristin is a self-described skeptic— they’ve seen firsthand how easy it is to lose the human element in favor of efficiency. But could AI actually make space for deeper connection? That’s what they’re beginning to explore, cautiously but curiously.

They discuss how the fear (and occasional disdain) of AI can coexist with practical use, the emotional toll of AI changes, and the risk of losing clarity when people outsource their thinking. Sam shares how AI helped her reclaim time and better communicate her ideas, while Kristin outlines her evolving boundaries as a writer and creative. Together, they challenge the all-or-nothing narrative and advocate for thoughtful experimentation.

Takeaways:

• Why skepticism about AI isn’t just valid—it’s necessary

• How AI tools are showing up in nonprofit work and donor engagement

• What happens when people use AI to avoid real conversations

• Why starting a local meetup might be the most future-ready thing you do

• How boundaries, values, and even tomatoes fit into AI readiness

Call to Action:

Find a local event, host a conversation, or just talk to someone who disagrees with you about AI. These small acts of connection may be the most important part of building readiness.

Our Guests:

Sam Swaim and Kristin Steele are the dynamic team behind Swaim Strategies, where they’ve spent over two decades helping nonprofits turn fundraising events into moments that actually matter. As hosts of the Fundraising Elevator podcast, they’re no strangers to deep conversations about purpose and connection. Sam brings the systems-thinking mindset, always looking for ways to make gatherings more effective and inclusive. Kristin, a creative and writer, approaches technology with caution—but a growing curiosity. Together, they offer a grounded, real-world take on what AI might mean for people-first work.

New episodes of The AI Readiness Project air every Wednesday at 3pm, hosted by Anne Murphy of She Leads AI and Kyle Shannon of The AI Salon.

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