Real people. Real stories. Real AI.

Promptly Speaking dives into how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we live, work, and think, one human story at a time.

Meet Sara & Dan Roberts — Sara’s an entrepreneur who’s helped scale some of Silicon Valley’s hottest startups. Dan’s a tech sales leader at Glean, where he talks every day with companies figuring out how to bring AI into their business.

Together, they’re exploring how AI is changing everything.

Follow now and get ready for the official launch on October 21 — and a first look at the stories shaping the AI era.

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Promptly Speaking, where hosts Sara and Dan Roberts delve into how AI is transforming our lives.

In this episode, they discuss why they started the podcast, their personal backgrounds in tech, and their aim to demystify AI for the everyday person. With insights from various industries and a focus on the human-AI partnership, they seek to provide practical advice and hope amidst the rapid technological changes.

Tune in, stay informed, and be part of the conversation. Send your thoughts to hello@promptlyspeakingpod.com. New episodes every Tuesday!

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:24 Why Another AI Podcast?

01:06 The Rapid Evolution of AI

02:06 Podcast Format and Guest Insights

02:46 Human-AI Collaboration

04:17 The Future of Work with AI

05:37 Getting Started with AI Tools

06:43 Engage with Us!

Follow Sara & Dan Roberts:

Sara: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saralynneroberts/

Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danroberts27/

Email: promptlyspeakingpod@gmail.com

In this guest episode of Promptly Speaking, hosts Sara and Dan Roberts dive deep into the transformative world of AI with guest Tiago Forte, a renowned entrepreneur and best-selling author.

Listen as Forte debunks common misconceptions about AI, reveals surprising industry applications, and outlines how AI can act as a thought partner rather than a simple task automator.

From cutting-edge projects at a sugar mill in Guatemala to AI’s potential to reshape personal finance and recruiting, this episode is packed with insights that challenge conventional thinking and inspire new possibilities.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:23 Meet Tiago Forte: Productivity Expert

01:04 Misconceptions About AI

03:33 AI as a Thought Partner

04:27 Accuracy and Citations in AI

07:33 Defining AI: A Mirror to Humanity

09:04 Fear of AI and Projections

10:38 Backlash and Sacred Cows

16:22 Adapting to Change in Business

16:32 Generational Shifts in Business

22:31 Global Technological Divide

23:12 Case Study: AI in a Guatemalan Sugar Mill

24:07 AI Adoption in Various Teams

24:36 Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up AI Implementation

25:12 Experimentation and Business Culture

26:57 Unique AI Use Cases Across Industries

28:57 Transformational AI in Small Businesses

32:13 AI in Recruitment and Candidate Sourcing

36:03 AI as a Financial Thought Partner

40:46 Finding Your AI Spark

42:43 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Tiago Forte:

⁠https://www.youtube.com/@TiagoForte⁠

⁠https://www.buildingasecondbrain.com/⁠

Follow Sara & Dan:

Sara: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/saralynneroberts/⁠

Dan: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/danroberts27/

Email: ⁠hello@promptlyspeakingpod.com

We talk a lot about what AI can do — but how often do we stop to ask how it thinks?

In this episode of Promptly Speaking, Sara and Dan build on insights from their conversation with Tiago Forte to explore how context-aware AI is reshaping the way we think, work, and create.

They break down the difference between deterministic and non-deterministic systems — and why that subtle distinction defines the future of intelligent tools. From winning competitive RFPs to solving frustrating real-life problems, they share how context-driven AI can turn data into insight and action.

💡 You’ll learn:

- What makes AI context-aware (and why that’s a big deal)

- How deterministic vs. non-deterministic systems shape decision-making

- Why grounding, context windows, and multimodal AI are revolutionizing human–machine interaction

- The growing tension between personalization and data privacy

- How to experiment with AI in ways that create real-world impact

🎯 Whether you’re curious about the tech itself or how to use it practically, this episode reveals how good data — combined with critical reasoning — can turn AI from a novelty into a true advantage.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:33 Reflecting on Tiago's Insights

01:56 Understanding AI Terminology

03:44 Winning Business with AI

06:05 Using AI for Personal Projects

11:27 Financial Caution with AI

16:47 Practical AI Applications

23:32 Conclusion and Takeaways

Follow Sara & Dan:

Sara: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/saralynneroberts/⁠

Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danroberts27/

Email: ⁠hello@promptlyspeakingpod.com⁠

What happens when a data analyst turns a viral moment into a full-blown business?

In this episode of Promptly Speaking, Sara and Dan sit down with Jess Ramos — data analyst turned entrepreneur and one of LinkedIn’s most influential voices, with nearly half a million followers.

Jess shares how one viral post changed the course of her career, why she believes everyone should understand data, and how she’s using AI and ChatGPT to make analytics more human — and more accessible.

💡 You’ll learn:

- How Jess went from a corporate desk to full-time entrepreneurship

- Why learning SQL still matters (even in the age of AI)

- How she uses ChatGPT to simplify data, spark creativity, and scale faster

- The mindset shift that turns online influence into real business results

- Why taking imperfect action beats waiting for the perfect plan

🔥 Whether you’re curious about AI, building your personal brand, or finding the courage to bet on yourself — this episode is a masterclass in turning data and creativity into opportunity.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:19 Meet Jess Ramos: Data Analyst Turned Entrepreneur

00:58 Understanding Data Analytics and SQL

02:27 Jess's Journey: From Viral Post to Thriving Business

05:33 Balancing a 9-to-5 Job and Building a Business

11:38 The Leap to Full-Time Entrepreneurship

16:01 Discovering the Power of ChatGPT

18:19 Jess's AI Toolkit

18:51 Exploring Notion AI

19:27 AI Meeting Notes and Task Trackers

21:12 Using AI for Personal Projects

23:40 The Importance of Learning SQL

25:49 Generative AI and Cognitive Skills

30:52 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

35:00 Final Thoughts and Social Media Plugs

Jess Ramos:

https://www.youtube.com/@JessRamosData

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessramosmsba/

https://www.instagram.com/jessramosdata/

https://www.tiktok.com/@jessramosdata

https://linktr.ee/jessramosdata

Follow Sara & Dan:

Sara: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/saralynneroberts/⁠

Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danroberts27/

Email: ⁠hello@promptlyspeakingpod.com

Are we getting dumber because of AI? 🤖

In this episode of Promptly Speaking, hosts Sara and Dan Roberts explore how generative AI tools like ChatGPT are rewiring our brains. Drawing on new research from MIT, Science Advances, and Harvard Business Review, they unpack how these tools influence creativity, focus, and intrinsic motivation.

You’ll hear how AI can raise productivity while lowering originality, why brain engagement drops when we outsource thinking, and what that means for our ability to learn, create, and stay mentally sharp.

💡 You’ll learn:

- What MIT discovered about how AI impacts neural engagement

- Why using AI can boost quality but reduce creativity

- How to stay mentally active when tools do the “thinking” for you

- The hidden trade-off between efficiency and satisfaction

- Simple strategies to use AI without losing your edge

🔥 Whether you’re an AI optimist or skeptic, this episode offers a grounded look at how to keep your brain — and your creativity — alive in the age of automation.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:28 – Personal experiences with AI in daily life

05:27 – MIT study: how ChatGPT lowers brain engagement

10:51 – Can AI make us more creative—or just more average?

14:53 – The “Google Effect” and how memory changes with technology

16:00 – The productivity paradox: getting more done but caring less

19:08 – Intrinsic motivation and AI fatigue

24:46 – Balancing AI assistance with human intuition

26:32 – Final reflections and takeaways

Follow Sara & Dan:

Sara: linkedin.com/in/saralynneroberts/

Dan: linkedin.com/in/danroberts27

Email: ⁠hello@promptlyspeakingpod.com⁠

📚 References & Further Reading

1. Sparrow, Liu & Wegner (2011) — Google Effects on Memory: Cognitive Consequences of Having Information at Our Fingertips. Science.

https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/dwegner/files/sparrow_et_al._2011.pdf

2. MIT Media Lab (2024) — EEG study on neural engagement during essay writing with ChatGPT and Google (reported by Time).

https://time.com/7295195/ai-chatgpt-google-learning-school/

3. Doshi & Hauser (2024) — Generative AI Enhances Individual Creativity but Reduces Collective Diversity. Science Advances.

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adn5290

4. Harvard Business Review (2025) — GenAI Makes People More Productive—and Less Motivated.

https://hbr.org/2025/05/research-gen-ai-makes-people-more-productive-and-less-motivated

5. Science (2023) — Experimental Evidence on the Productivity Effects of Generative AI.

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adh2586

6. Nature Scientific Reports (2025) — Cognitive Offloading in AI-Assisted Work: Impacts on Engagement and Attention.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-98385-2

7....

How do we use AI without losing what makes us human?

In this episode of Promptly Speaking, hosts Sara and Dan Roberts sit down with Dr. Ravit Dotan, PhD — a practical philosopher and AI ethicist — to unpack the cognitive, ethical, and emotional effects of our growing reliance on AI.

💡 You’ll learn:

- Why using AI can actually reduce brain engagement — and how to prevent it

- How to apply ethical reasoning in everyday AI use

- The “Chef Approach” to AI — a framework that keeps humans in control

- What skills will matter most in the next decade of AI-driven work

🧠 Whether you’re an AI optimist or a cautious skeptic, this episode explores how to stay curious, ethical, and fully awake in the age of intelligent machines.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Welcome to Promptly Speaking

00:20 – Meet Dr. Ravit Dotan: From philosophy to AI ethics

03:50 – The gray zones of AI ethics

07:49 – What AI does to your brain

16:58 – How to brainstorm *with* AI (not let it think for you)

25:16 – Ethical adoption in business

30:37 – How to build trust into AI workflows

36:12 – The “Chef Approach” explained

39:35 – Custom chatbots, agents, and the next frontier

45:42 – The skills your brain needs for the future of work

51:11 – Final reflections

Dr Ravit Dotan:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravit-dotan/

https://www.techbetter.ai/

Follow Sara & Dan:

Sara: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/saralynneroberts/⁠

Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danroberts27/

Email: ⁠hello@promptlyspeakingpod.com

Are AI companions making us more lonely?

In this episode of Promptly Speaking, Sara and Dan explore how AI is reshaping not only how we think - but how we feel.

From chatbots like Replika and Character.AI to Instagram’s synthetic influencers, they unpack what happens when emotional AI starts filling our social gaps - and what we lose when simulated empathy replaces real human friction.

This episode contains brief discussion of suicide and loneliness in the context of AI companionship. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 (U.S.) for free, confidential support.

💡 You’ll learn:

- How AI companions are changing our emotional landscape

- Why loneliness isn’t always a problem to fix - and what it can teach us

- The difference between empathy and sympathy (and why it matters)

- When it’s healthy to lean on AI for support - and when it’s time to log off

- Practical ways to stay grounded, connected, and human in an AI-driven world

🧠 Whether you’re curious about emotional AI or concerned about its impact, this conversation dives deep into the psychology of connection - and how to keep your humanity intact as technology gets more personal.

⏱️ Timestamps:

00:27 – AI and Mental Health: The New Frontier

00:52 – The Role of AI Companions

01:54 – Loneliness and Technology

02:27 – The Importance of Human Connection

07:22 – Empathy vs. Sympathy

08:25 – The Impact of AI on Friendships

12:48 – Using AI for Emotional Support

14:48 – Final Thoughts and Takeaways

19:33 – Closing Remarks

Follow Sara & Dan:

Sara: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/saralynneroberts/⁠

Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danroberts27/

Email: ⁠hello@promptlyspeakingpod.com