Hosted by MiraCosta CSIT Faculty Steve Isachsen and Rick White, Still Human is an independent conversation series grounded in a simple idea: technology starts with people.
This is not a show about tools or hype. It’s a space for thoughtful conversations about how AI is reshaping learning, work, leadership, and identity—and what remains distinctly human as that change accelerates.
Each episode brings together educators, technologists, and industry leaders to reflect on what’s changing, what’s uncertain, and how we navigate it. Themes include agency, intention, judgment, and connection.
Still Human explores how we learn, lead, and stay grounded in purpose as technology evolves.
The views expressed are those of the participants and do not represent any single institution.
💡Episode 1: What Does It Mean to Be Still Human?
Episode 1 of Still Human launches the series with a wide-ranging, reflective conversation about technology, people, and the accelerating impact of AI on learning, work, and identity. Rather than focusing on tools or hype, the discussion centers on what remains distinctly human as our technologies grow more powerful—agency, intention, judgment, and connection. Through metaphors of velocity, friction, and uncertainty, the conversation explores how we learn, adapt, and make meaning in a world defined by rapid change. Drawing on experiences from education and industry, the episode argues that the most important work in the age of AI is not technical obedience, but cultivating self-understanding, ethical awareness, and the capacity to steer technology with purpose. This opening conversation sets the tone for future episodes: thoughtful, human-centered, and grounded in the belief that even as our tools evolve, the responsibility to choose, reflect, and care remains irreducibly human.
If any of the ideas in this episode lingered with you, explore more here:
▶️ Episode 1 Notes — Ideas, Context, and Concepts We Reference: https://bit.ly/3ZYWKsY
▶️ Episode 1 Slide Deck — Concepts, Models, and Visual Anchors: https://bit.ly/4qhtGaX
💡Episode 2: Leading Through Uncertainty as AI Accelerates?
Episode 2 of Still Human: Conversations About Technology, People, and Agency in the Age of AI continues the series with a grounded, real-world exploration of what it means to lead through uncertainty as artificial intelligence rapidly transforms how we work and make decisions. In a conversation with Andy Deninger, Chief Technology Officer at IPS Group, the episode moves beyond theory to examine how AI is actively reshaping products, teams, and leadership itself. Rather than framing AI as something to fully master, the discussion highlights the growing importance of adaptability, judgment, and a willingness to experiment. As the pace of change accelerates, leadership becomes less about certainty and more about navigating complexity—asking better questions, embracing ambiguity, and creating environments where teams can learn, iterate, and evolve. Through concrete examples—from integrating conversational AI into customer-facing systems to using intelligent tools in engineering and decision-making—the episode illustrates how AI is expanding human capability while challenging long-held assumptions about expertise, control, and efficiency. At the same time, it reinforces a central idea of the series: that curiosity, humility, trust, and perspective are not diminished by these tools, but made more essential. This conversation deepens the foundation of Still Human by exploring what it looks like to lead with clarity and purpose—even when the path forward is not fully defined.
If any of the ideas in this episode lingered with you, explore more here:
▶️ Episode 2 Notes — Ideas, Context, and Concepts We Reference: http://bit.ly/3OIfY4h
▶️ Episode 2 Slide Deck — Concepts, Models, and Visual Anchors: https://bit.ly/3ON4nRp
💡Episode 3: Building Agentic Systems in the Age of AI
Episode 3 of Still Human: Conversations About Technology, People, and Agency in the Age of AI explores one of the defining ideas of the AI era: the rise of the builder. In a wide-ranging conversation with entrepreneur, product leader, and VibeKit founder Brian Boisjoli, the episode examines how artificial intelligence is dramatically lowering the barriers to creation and enabling individuals to build products, businesses, and systems that previously required large teams and significant technical resources. Drawing on his journey from computer science student to serial entrepreneur, Brian shares lessons learned through multiple ventures spanning e-commerce, software, Web3, and AI. The discussion highlights how today's AI tools are changing not only what can be built, but who can build it. Tasks that once required specialized expertise, extensive coding knowledge, or significant capital can increasingly be accomplished through conversation, experimentation, and intelligent collaboration with AI systems. The conversation also provides a practical introduction to the emerging world of agentic systems—AI agents that can remember, plan, use tools, and take action on behalf of users. Through examples from Ethoswarm and VibeKit, the episode explores how these systems are moving beyond simple chat interfaces toward becoming persistent collaborators capable of assisting with projects, workflows, decision-making, and digital creation. At the same time, the discussion reinforces a central theme of Still Human: that technology alone is not the story. While AI continues to expand human capability, qualities such as curiosity, initiative, resilience, and creativity remain at the center of meaningful progress. The tools may be changing rapidly, but the willingness to build, learn, and adapt remains fundamentally human. This episode offers an optimistic and accessible look at a future in which the power to create is becoming available to more people than ever before—and why the individuals who embrace a builder mindset may be best positioned to shape what comes next.
▶️ Episode 3 Notes — Ideas, Context, and Concepts We Reference: http://bit.ly/3OIfY4h
▶️ Episode 3 Slide Deck — Concepts, Models, and Visual Anchors: https://bit.ly/3ON4nRp
▶️ Special Offer from Brian Boisjoli and VibeKit: https://vibekit.bot/
Use promo code STILLHUMAN for 1 month free on the Builder Plan (first 50 users). Includes:
• 50 sessions
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💡Episode 4: When Does AI Become Your Coworker?
Episode 4 of Still Human: Conversations About Technology, People, and Agency in the Age of AI explores a pivotal moment in the evolution of artificial intelligence: the transition from AI as a tool to AI as a collaborator. In a wide-ranging conversation, Steve Isachsen and Rick White examine many of the most significant developments shaping the AI landscape today, including the emergence of intelligent agents, advances in memory and reasoning, multimodal voice interaction, and the growing infrastructure required to power the next generation of AI systems. The discussion traces the rapid evolution from traditional chatbots to agentic systems capable of planning, remembering, using tools, and completing complex tasks with increasing autonomy. Rather than simply answering questions, these new systems are beginning to function more like digital teammates—working alongside people, managing workflows, coordinating multiple specialized agents, and allowing individuals to accomplish projects that would have previously required entire teams. Throughout the episode, Steve and Rick connect these technological advances to broader questions about the future of work, learning, and society. They explore why concepts such as memory, agency, cognition, and intention are becoming central to both AI development and human success. The conversation also examines emerging ideas surrounding AI infrastructure—from high-bandwidth memory and specialized chips to the possibility of orbital computing systems that could one day provide the computational capacity needed for increasingly intelligent models. The episode also addresses some of the deeper ethical and philosophical questions emerging alongside these advances. As AI systems become more capable, what role should privacy, personal agency, and human values play? How should society think about access to increasingly powerful forms of artificial intelligence? And how do we ensure that technological progress continues to expand human potential rather than diminish it? As with every episode of Still Human, the conversation returns to the idea that technology is only one part of the story. While AI continues to accelerate at an extraordinary pace, qualities such as curiosity, purpose, creativity, empathy, and meaningful human connection remain the foundations of a fulfilling life. The tools are becoming more capable than ever before—but understanding ourselves, building authentic relationships, and intentionally shaping the future remain uniquely human responsibilities. This episode offers both an accessible overview of the latest developments in artificial intelligence and a thoughtful discussion about what these changes mean for education, work, and everyday life. It invites listeners to look beyond the headlines and consider not only where AI is going, but how we can move into that future while remaining, above all, still human.
▶️ Episode 4 Notes — Ideas, Context, and Concepts We Reference: https://bit.ly/3SVgaPt
▶️ Episode 4 Slide Deck — Concepts, Models, and Visual Anchors: https://bit.ly/4aMAmco