Rumors of Grace with Bob Hutchins

This is a read of my latest article- The Soul in the Machine: A Spiritual Reflection on Articficial Intelligence. https://bobhutchins.substack.com/p/the-soul-in-the-machine-a-spiritual The following reflection is taken from my latest Substack piece, The Soul in the Machine, A spiritual reflection on AI. Lately, I've been sitting with some deeper questions—ones that don't always make the headlines but seem to live just beneath them. We're in a strange, significant moment. AI is evolving fast, yes—but so are we. Or at least, we're being invited to. This isn't a post about tech hype or fear. It's about attention. Presence. What we lose or forget when we rush ahead without asking: What is all this doing to us? Not just cognitively, but spiritually, emotionally, relationally. I wrote this as a kind of pause. A chance to reflect—not on whether machines are becoming more human, but whether we're remembering what it means to be fully human ourselves. Thanks for listening.

Online conversations have become a battleground—cheering certain words, booing others. Ideas and nuance are lost to labels that divide and dehumanize. When did we start trading dialogue for definitions?  In "The War of Words: Why Our Labels are Destroying Our Humanity," I explore how we've replaced genuine communication with tribal jargon and reactive outrage. More than ever, it's crucial to reclaim empathy, curiosity, and humility to bridge divides rather than deepen them. The words we choose shape our world. Let's choose wisely. I honestly would really love to hear your thoughts on this. #communication #words

Christopher Summerfield, Oxford Neuroscientist & Former DeepMind Researcher Episode Summary: In this episode, I sit down with Christopher Summerfield, an Oxford neuroscientist and former DeepMind researcher who has spent his career studying how human brains work and how AI models can replicate cognitive processes. His new book, These Strange New Minds: How AI Learned to Talk and What It Means, explores the evolution of AI from early chatbots to today's advanced language models. We discuss the key breakthroughs in AI, the parallels between human and machine reasoning, and the ethical questions surrounding AI's role in shaping our world. If you're curious about how AI is changing not just technology, but human thought itself—this conversation is for you. Key Takeaways:

In this episode, I sit down with Shideh Doerr, a natural connector and networking ambassador with over 25 years in healthcare. Shideh's journey took a turn when she co-founded JabberYak, a company designed to make networking more organic and meaningful. We explore her Persian-American roots, her transition from healthcare to entrepreneurship, and how JabberYak is revolutionizing human connection in business and education. Key Takeaways:

Guest Spotlight: David Whitesock, founder of Commonly Well and creator of the Recovery Capital Index, discusses his mission to bring data-driven insights to addiction recovery and mental health. From Struggle to Innovation: David shares his personal journey from addiction and incarceration to law school, leading him to develop a measurable approach to recovery. Beyond Sobriety Metrics: Commonly Well challenges traditional recovery models by integrating behavioral analytics, long-term strategy, and human-centered data to improve patient outcomes. The Wellness Industry's Blind Spots: David highlights the need to shift mental health care upstream, focusing on early interventions instead of only treating severe cases. Personalization vs. Universal Principles: The conversation explores how data can drive tailored wellness strategies while maintaining a shared foundation for mental health support. Future of AI in Behavioral Health: David envisions AI-powered insights, wearable technology, and psycholinguistics revolutionizing how therapists and organizations support recovery. •  Connect: Learn more at commonlywell.com or find David on LinkedIn.

In his third appearance on The Human Voice, media theorist and science fiction author Paul Levinson shares a fascinating conversation about the timeless relevance of media ecology, technology's role in human progress, and the myths surrounding information overload. Paul reflects on his seminal 1996 article On Behalf of Humanity and its argument that the issue isn't too much information but a lack of organizational tools.   Drawing connections between historical innovations and today's AI landscape, Paul explores the concept of “remedial media”—new technologies that solve problems created by previous ones—and how it applies to challenges like algorithmic bias and deep fakes. From his collaborations with media icons Neil Postman and Marshall McLuhan to his optimistic vision for technology as a force for good, Paul offers insights that resonate across decades.   The episode wraps up with Paul's thoughts on techno-pessimism, the power of storytelling, and a fun recommendation for mystery fans: A Perfect Couple. He also highlights his recent alternate history book, Real Life: An Alternate History of The Beatles, imagining a world where John Lennon was never assassinated.   Key Topics Covered: • Information overload vs. information organization • Remedial media as a framework for technological progress • AI, digital watermarks, and the future of human-machine collaboration • Why techno-pessimism often gains more attention • Recommendations for media and books   Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion that spans history, technology, and the enduring human connection to media.

Chris Dauphin is an 18-year marketing and communications veteran, professional musician, sports fan, father, son, and human.  And he's a close friend. This was a fun interview that surfaced some deep truths about life, work, and the meaning of it all. Enjoy!

Some of my thoughts from an article I wrote for my Substack Newsletter about how we are all interconnected more than we know through this thing called the internet, technology, and AI. And we are mimicking what Obi-Wan was sensing.  “I felt a great disturbance in the Force as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.” -Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars

This is a reading of my Substack Article-  The Lost Art of Questioning: Can AI Bring It Back? https://bobhutchins.substack.com/p/the-lost-art-of-questioning-can-ai AI's evolving abilities highlight the humanness woven through good questions. (Prompts) As AI gets smarter, might it even start teaching us back by teaching us to ask those open-ended, thought-provoking questions that truly make us learn and grow? Here's a hopeful thought: perhaps AI can transcend mere information gathering, evolving into a catalyst for a culture that nurtures intellectual exploration. I unpack this more in my article.  

Kendra Jones is a Futurist.  With a rich history in high-tech strategic operations at Apple, and a strong academic foundation from MIT and the University of Houston, Kendra blends practicality with visionary thinking. Her endeavors span from hosting a futures-centric radio show to leading the Remote Futures Research Lab. Through her consultancy, LAKA,  Kendra embarks on exploring the intersections of technology, human interaction, and the uncharted waters of emerging tech, providing a nuanced perspective on the potential vistas of the future. We talk about her origin story, her career, media insights, AI, and her personal connection to Marshall McLuhan as a child.

Alex Kantrowitz is a veteran journalist who's interviewed some of the world's top CEOs, including Larry Ellison, Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Branson, and Jack Dorsey. His company, Big Technology, serves more than 100,000 newsletter subscribers and tens of thousands of podcast listeners, delivering accessible news about the tech industry in weekly installments. He's also an on-air contributor at CNBC. We discuss his journey as a tech journalist, include his time at BuzzFeed. We also discuss lessons learned, the future of tech and innovation, and why messaging apps are on the rise in popularity.

Dr. Paul J. LeBlanc is President of Southern New Hampshire University, the nation's largest nonprofit provider of online higher education. Under his leadership since 2003, SNHU has grown from 2,800 to over 220,000 learners. He has served as Senior Policy Advisor at the Department of Education and currently serves on the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity. An immigrant and first-generation college student himself, Dr. LeBlanc holds degrees from Framingham State, Boston College, and UMass. He directed a tech startup for Houghton Mifflin and was President of Marlboro College before coming to SNHU in 2003. We discuss his new book, Broken: How Our Social Systems are Failing Us and How We Can Fix Them . We also talk about technology and artificial intelligence as it affects social systems.

Jon Ricketts is a man of many talents, with a back ground that includes medical devices, aviation, and tech start-ups. He has a knack for innovation and a passion for making life better, one venture at a time.  We talk about the Ai start-up world, how e-commerce is changing, and how to build a go-to-market team that is creative, unique, and effective.  Jon holds a Doctor of Law (JD) degree from Lincoln Memorial University and  Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a specialization in Accounting and Finance   

CJ is a writer and media producer. He leads a messaging & production studio called Reculture and an award-winning kids media project called Ringbeller. He's had the privilege of traveling the world speaking to creative professionals at venues like Creative Mornings, TEDx, and STORY. He's also the author of the book- Get Weird, Discover the Surprising Secret to Making a Difference

Paul Levinson returns just in time to discuss the release of Robots through the Ages, published by Blackstone Publishing, it includes stories from some of the best writers of science fiction, both old and new. This anthology, with an introduction by Robert Silverberg, offers a sweeping survey of robots as depicted throughout literature.  Paul's story, Robinson Calculator, is included in this collection. We talk about the future of AI, should robots have rights, and what does the way we treat our technology say about us.

What if we have been focusing on the wrong things to define what's ‘human' and ‘normal'? What if a shift in the definition of healthy human behavior and how time is best spent can be realized through our technology? This in no way minimizes or re-frames my concerns that I still have about AI or screen time in general. But several things can be true at the same time, and as a tech optimist, I am hopeful we can find our way forward in better and more beneficial ways. This is an audio version ( Me Reading) of my recent Substack post.  https://bobhutchins.substack.com/p/the-possibility-that-our-new-innovations

Karen Kelly has been a Founder, CEO and CMO in industries spanning advertising, healthcare, and technology. She is the former founder of one of Boston's most profitable media studios and speaks regularly at marketing and entrepreneur conferences nationwide. Most recently, Karen was the President of Tapple, a mobile-first technology platform used to engage consumers and gather first-party data in the physical world. Karen has a strong interest in the intersection of psychology and technology, and the emerging phygital marketplace

Don Donahue and I talk about the genesis of our new Mastermind and Coaching program- Creative Critical Thinking: Problem Solving for the Future . We discuss Principles of keeping your mind creatively engaged and expansive An active & creative brain is hard to replace In the workforce Making your skillset & new learnings bulletproof going forward 5 Generations in the workforce, keeping relevant with a creative mind Who is this for ? Workers in need of a career growth/mindset shift or new career Leaders tasked with Multi-generational staff learning styles Marketers & creators to establish leads, new business, & new thinking Artists considering life in the corporate world If you are interested in signing up or learning more, please email me at Bob@Humanvoicemedia.com

This is a fascinating discussion with Paul Levinson, an American author, singer-songwriter, and professor of communications and media studies at Fordham University in New York City. His novels, short fiction, and non-fiction works have been translated into sixteen languages. We discuss his relationship with Marshall McLuhan, time travel, Media Ecology, and why understanding the effects and power of media is so important.  -Created and Published by Human Voice Media 2023

Widely known as “Dr. Brian,” is a popular social media influencer, most prominently on TikTok. (3.4 Million Followers) His previous book, Perceptual Intelligence: The Brain's Secret to Seeing Past Illusion, Misperception, and Self-Deception shook the worlds of neuroscience and psychology, coining the acronym PI for Perceptual Intelligence and educating countless readers on how to better understand the world around them and make better decisions. The medical director of the Boxer Wachler Vision Institute in Beverly Hills and a staff physician at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, he has pioneered medical and surgical treatments that have become industry standard.Dr. Brian is one of only two influencers worldwide to be selected as a member of the Advisory Committee for Identifying Credible Sources of Health Information in Social Media for the National Academy of Medicine, Council of Medical Specialty Societies, World Health Organization. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and their twin teenage daughters, who encouraged him to become a social media influencer. Which he is now with 3.4 million followers on TIK TOK!

Terrance Williams is the Founder of Meta Wellness. The company provides affordable Virtual Reality platforms for mental health professionals to conduct telehealth sessions, group sessions, and training in the metaverse. You can learn more at https://www.metawellness.space/

Bestselling culture writer David Sax lays out the case against a false digital utopia—and for a more human future In The Future Is Analog, David Sax points out that the onset of the pandemic instantly gave us the digital universe we'd spent so long anticipating. Instant communication, online shopping, virtual everything. It didn't take long to realize how awful it was to live in this promised future. I discuss this new reality with David and the details of his new book- The Future is Analog.  David Sax is a writer, reporter, and speaker who specializes in business and culture. His book The Revenge of Analog was a #1 Washington Post bestseller, was selected as one of Michiko Kakutani's Top Ten books of 2016 for the New York Times, and has been translated into six languages. He is also the author of three other books: Save the Deli, which won a James Beard award, The Soul of an Entrepreneur, and The Tastemakers. He lives in Toronto.

Our book is out! Our Digital Soul: Collective Anxiety, Media Trauma, and Path Toward Recovery is up on Amazon.  On this episode my co-author, Jenny Black, reads the introduction.   If you want to get a copy now, here is the link https://www.amazon.com/Our-Digital-Soul-Collective-Recovery/dp/B0BK4WYLGB/ Thank you for your support!

Jeff served as a senior leader for two national healthcare companies (one NYSE, the other privately held) overseeing marketing, internal and external communications, patient experience, growth, and brand development. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Possibility Place - a day program that serves intellectually and developmentally disabled adults in Middle Tennessee. Previously, he led an organization that provides dental care to underserved people in Uganda, Haiti, and the United States. He also led an organizational initiative to help build a hospital in Haiti following the earthquake and for two years took teams of clinical volunteers to provide care to underserved Haitians. Jeff and Annette, his wife of nearly 30 years, have three grown daughters - Madison, McKenzie, and Macie. They live on a small farm on Atwood Lane, just outside of Nashville, Tennessee.

Steve Turney has worked across a range of verticals, including the complex healthcare industry and within full-service marketing agencies, SaaS-based startups and the leading press release distribution firm in the country. He is the Executive Director of the Mental Health Marketing Conference. Conference: http://www.mhmarketing.org

Dave Elitch first gained notoriety touring with the American progressive rock band The Mars Volta in 2009-2010. Since then he has lent his talents to Miley Cyrus, Justin Timberlake, M83, The 1975, Juliette Lewis, Big Black Delta, and many others. An established LA session player, Dave has performed on various records, syncs, and film scores for major motion pictures, including “Trolls" and “Logan." He also conducts masterclass lectures worldwide and keeps a busy private teaching practice in Los Angeles. Dave has developed a reputation as the technique/body mechanic specialist and has helped many of the industry's top players and educators expand their vocabulary, overcome physical/mental barriers and get out of their own way.

Sloane and I talk about her life journey, being a health care self-advocate, and what it means to watch the evolution of digital media and communication. Sloane is a Vice President at The Freeman Company.

Andrew McLuhan is a grandson of Marshall McLuhan, noted Canadian professor from the University of Toronto who was a pioneer in the field of Media/Communications studies. Andrew's father, Eric McLuhan, was Marshall's eldest son, who worked with Marshall from the mid-1960s until Marshall died in 1980.  This is a fascinating conversation about Marshall, Eric, and Andrew's work with the McLuhan Institute. We discuss media, philosophy, religion, and why the "media is the message".

A former college English teacher, Brian D. McLaren was a pastor for twenty-four years. Now he's an author, activist, public theologian, and frequent guest lecturer for gatherings in the U.S. and internationally. His work has been covered in TIME Magazine, Newsweek, USA Today, The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, and many other media outlets. The author of more than 15 books, including Faith After Doubt, Do I Stay Christian?, and A New Kind of Christian, he is a faculty member of The Living School at the Center for Action and Contemplation. McLaren lives in Florida.

Allyson Lewis is the founder and CEO of The 7 Minute Life. She is an author, speaker, trainer, and coach.  Her books have sold more than 130,000 copies and have been translated into Chinese, Turkish, Korean, and Spanish. Her YouTube channel has had more than 1.9 million minutes watched. Allyson is actively researching the neuroscience of happiness, productivity, and well-being in the workplace. For the last 29 years, Allyson has spent more than 10,000 hours researching, writing, speaking, teaching, training, and coaching the philosophy, principles, and practices of The 7 Minute Life. Allyson worked in the financial services industry for 30 years including 24 years with Morgan Stanley. Her clients include Kellogg's, Morgan Stanley, Northern Trust, IMCA, and the FBI. She has been a guest on CNN and Bloomberg Information TV. Her work has been seen in Investor's Business Daily, Advisor Today, Morningstar, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Sun Times, Woman's Day, Family Circle, Success Magazine, Real Simple Magazine, and Fast Company.

Don Donahue is the Founder of MOTN Agency. He's a 30+ year veteran of the entertainment and creative community in and around Nashville, Los Angeles, New York, and Austin. Don's passion has always been a tastemaker, introducing talent/artists/media and messaging to the world in new and unique ways. Known as a futurist and creative producer, he sees and hears his client's needs and brings a fresh perspective and diverse view to the conversation. For 15 years, Don was the president of Rocketown Records, a company he founded with Grammy award-winning artist Michael W. Smith. Rocketown sold over 10 million CDs over the span of its lifetime. He served as executive producer over a 2-year-long talent competition for Avon Cosmetics, working with artists from 73 different countries. Don has negotiated partnership/production deals with Live Nation, AEG, Marriott Hotels, Fort Lauderdale FL CVB, and many other corporate brands in live events, as well as marketing and messaging campaigns. Don's passion is found in business development with a creative slant, and he is not shy about leveraging his network for the betterment of his client's projects.  His website is at MOTNAgency.com

Jenny Black is a licensed marriage and family therapist. She is also my co-author of our new book, Our Digital Soul-Collective Anxiety, Media Trauma, and a Path Forward. We discuss quotes from the book about media trauma, social media platforms, mental health, and more. You can stay up to date by going to http://www.OurDigitalSoul.com

This episode features the audio of my recent Tedx Talk with a brief intro.  I have partnered with Soaak to create a 21 day program based on my talk. You can sign up for it here Growing Through Ambiguous Loss  Also, if you would like to watch the Tedx Talk on Youtube Here is a Link to watch it.

Josh is the National Director of Behavioral Health & Whole Person Care, Public Sector for SAS. We talk about the state of mental health in the work place, and how modeling well being is just as important as policies within organizations.  

Erika Ferszt is the founder of Moodally, providing mood management solutions for the workplace; improving employee well-being & performance. After having suffered a stress-related vision loss burnout incident in 2015 that forced her to leave her role as Global Advertising, Media & Digital Director at Ray-Ban, Erika returned to school to study the effects of stress on the mind, body & brain. 

Kate O'Neill is the CEO of KO Insights, also a Keynote speaker focused on the future of human experiences amid tech & other changes at scale. We talk about her new book, A Future So Bright, How Strategic Optimism and Meaningful Innovation Can Restore Our Humanity and Save The World.

Anthony Peterson and I talk about race and empathy. A professional educator and consultant, academic clients include Harvard university and Northwestern university. His corporate clients include Nike international, the American dental association, the country music association in Dallas children's theater. Tony's 2014 TEDx talk. What I am learning from my white grandchildren, truths about race has gained more than 3.5 million views.

Ian Cron and I discuss his new book, The Story of You, An Enneagram Journey to becoming Your True Self. We discuss our own personal journies of life and how the stories we tell ourselves become the people we are. But its never too late to re-write those stories.

Earl Hamilton is the COO of The National Center for Faith Based Initiatives. He has worked in the non profit sector, the finance sector, and in corporate operations.  He lives in West Palm Beach, Florida. We discuss what it was like to go to a predominately white school growing up, and how he practices seeing things through the eyes of others who may have very different life experiences.

I get interviewed on the podcast by my old friend Daniel Brown. We discuss growing up, changes in perspective, and what it means to leave a legacy.

Jeff Goins and I talk about the intersection of Creativity, Business, Philosophy, and Spirituality- and why it matters most. Jeff Goins is a bestselling author, podcaster, blogger, marketer, speaker, and a few other things. He is the author of five best-selling books including The Art of Work and Real Artists Don't Starve.

Daniel is a childhood friend that was brought up in the same religious setting as I. We discuss how we have grown, changed, and how he still holds on to his faith but also allows himself to learn and change in the midst of it. Daniel is one of those rare people that can hold certainty loosely.

"We have collectively gone through a “miscarriage” of hope the past year and half. And we are all grieving in different ways." Dr. Jerome D. Lubbe is referred to as the "Patient Doctor" because it was his own quest for neurological wellbeing that led him to specialize in complex, unresolved neurological cases. His practice explores how functional neurology, neuroplasticity, and tools like the Enneagram can improve holistic wellbeing.

"The world revolves around change and disruption." - Jared Geesey Jared Geesey is a technologist, a digital marketer, a film distributor, an entrepreneur, and a leader.  Over the last 15 years, he led the development of app ecosystems spanning from mobile to OTT streaming devices to powering major online retail / eCommerce, as well as powering an SVOD platform in South Africa. He helped pioneer social TV premieres on Facebook Live, reaching over 14 million people for one non-profit's weekly program broadcast. 

In the first episode of the new name for my podcast, I talk to Jenny Black about our upcoming book!  Jenny Black is the founder of Media Trauma Care. She has personally suffered from media trauma and is living proof that your phone doesn’t have to run your life. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Tennessee and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. We discuss media trauma and the intimate relationship we have with our online world.

Kristin Kobes Du Mez is Professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University. She holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame and her research focuses on the intersection of gender, religion, and politics. She has written for the Washington Post, NBC News, Religion News Service, Christianity Today, and The Daily Beast, and has been interviewed on NPR, CBS, and the BBC, among other outlets. Her most recent book is Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation.        

Dr Tara Swart is a neuroscientist, former medical doctor specialized in psychiatry, lecturer at MIT Sloan and author of best seller ‘The Source - The secrets of the universe, the science of the brain’. She is also trustee for the Lady Garden Foundation, a charity for gynecological cancers.   

I interview my oldest son, Riley Hutchins. He and his wife, Emily, live in Los Angeles. We talk about his life journey thus far, the experience of Covid lockdown, and what he wishes he could tell his younger self.  This was a fun interview, to get to interview my adult offspring, and learn some things.

David Dark is a professor at Belmont University who also teaches at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution. A resident of Nashville, Tennessee, he attempts to raise children and live a life of mindfulness with singer/songwriter Sarah Masen.

Steven Pressfield wrote for 27 years before he got his first novel published (The Legend of Bagger Vance). During that time he worked 21 different jobs in eleven states. Steve and I talk about the life of a creative, with references to his book- The War of Art. His new novel is called, A Man at Arms. We also take a deep dive into the personal experience and transformation of the hero's journey and what personal transformation looks and feels like.