You are listening to 2ZQ Hot Takes. This time, I’ll be talking about The intentional dissonance between the news about AI and the increasingly stressed workforce, job scams, AI job scams, 'stress testing' human/drone swarm ratios, 'vibe coding' 'package hallucination' scams, Agentic AI, cocktail party AI buzzwords, the rapid elimination of jobs; 'Frontier Firms,' 'Synthetic Brains" the number of new 'tech unicorns in 2025 so far, and we are far from prepared for the multiple armies of robots about to be deployed in our midst. Puny. Humans.

#AI

#AIbuzzwords

#AIjobscams

#Robotics

#2ZQHT

#theveryhandsomeTimKirk

#LGBT

#Pride

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You are listening to Two Zero Q – 20 Questions With Interesting People, where we learn the 'Origin Story' of Author Sharon Flake.

Sharon G. Flake is a celebrated author with multiple honors, including two Coretta Scott King Honor Awards and author of THE FAMILY I’M IN, the third installment in the I’m In series, following her groundbreaking debut The Skin I’m In (2000) and sister novel The Life I’m In (2021).

The Family I’m In explores the complex relationship between Black boys and their fathers, highlighting the challenges they face while growing up and defining what it means to be a man amidst societal pressures. John-John and Caleb, childhood friends, navigate common struggles like family illness, divorced parents, school, and crushes, while dealing with their labels as “nice boys”. Sharon wrote this novel in honor of all the young Black boys who wish to feel seen and heard.

I spoke with Sharon about her life, her understanding of YA mindsets, work and her influences.

“Readers will find much to appreciate about John-John’s meandering journey, which doesn’t spell out lessons but trusts them to reflect independently. [His] central relationships are well developed and poignantly described, and Flake renders his growing pains on the road to maturity in an authentic and accessible voice that will make readers root for him. A thought-provoking portrayal of growing up and defining yourself as a young man. – KIRKUS REVIEWS

#TwoZeroQ

#SharonFlake

#theskinimin

#thelifeimin

#thefamilyimin

#YANovels

#theveryhandsometimkirk

#Gay, #PRIDE, #LGBT

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You are listening to Two Zero Q – 20 Questions With Interesting People, where we learn the 'Origin Story' of Author Rio Cortez

From the New York Times bestselling creative team behind The ABCs of Black History comes a statement-making follow-up that celebrates women, their history, and their future. THE ABC’S OF WOMEN’S HISTORY by Rio Cortez and Lauren Semmer centers on the diversity of the disruptors who blazed a path forward for everyone, for readers aged 5 and up.

I spoke with Rio about her life, her work and her influences.

In a beautiful picture book in verse brimming with G for Groundbreaking women, National Book Award nominee Rio Cortez and illustrator Lauren Semmer celebrate all the joys, challenges, and historic forward movement of American women’s history, with a special focus on the Black women, brown women, transwomen, and other changemakers.

The ABCs of Women's History is perfect for providing a conversation starter about equality, women’s rights, and the brilliant women who shape our world. It’s about historic moments—Kamala Harris being sworn in as the first African-American and first Asian-American Vice President of the United States; Title IX passing through Congress; Seneca Falls, where the first women’s rights convention was held; the Riot Grrrls movement; and so much more. The book is complete with backmatter that shares the details and historical context of the women featured.

Rhymes and rhythm move readers energetically through the selected milestones and figures...A rainbow of hues and variations of composition and perspective keep the art fresh and eye-catching... An inclusive and inspiring look at significant aspects of women’s history.―Kirkus Reviews

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#RioCortez

#NYTimesBestSeller

#TheABCsofWomensHistory

#addiction

#redemption

#theveryhandsometimkirk

#Gay, #PRIDE, #LGBT

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