Brian interviews David Evan Harris, a Chancellor’s Public Scholar at UC Berkeley and a continuing lecturer at the Haas School of Business. The main topic of the conversation is the race to safeguard against the risks of artifical intelligence misuse.   David teaches courses including AI Ethics for Leaders; Social Movements & Social Media; Civic Technology; and Scenario Planning & Futures Thinking. Harris is an affiliated faculty member with the Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS); Center for Latin American Studies; Center for Equity, Gender, and Leadership (EGAL); and the Business and Public Policy Group at UC Berkeley.   In this episode, Brian and David discuss the current state of AI adoption and regulation. A key topic of conversation is the "dual use" of AI and the need for regulations to address both its civilian and weaponized applications. Harris emphasizes the importance of catching up with AI development and implementing guardrails to prevent misuse. He also discusses the regulation race between China and the European Union. In terms of AI's impact on democracies, Harris expresses concerns about deepfakes, AI-generated content, and the use of encrypted messaging platforms for election interference. The conversation covers the use of encrypted messaging platforms for disinformation, the controversy at OpenAI regarding governance issues, the balance between profit motives and ethics in AI companies, and the need for regulation in advanced AI development. In his previous role at Meta (formerly Facebook), David managed teams of quantitative and qualitative researchers working on responsible AI, social impact, and civic integrity. During his close to five years with the company, he and his teams covered topic areas including AI fairness and inclusion; AI governance and accountability; global election integrity; misinformation; coordinated inauthentic behavior; hate speech; human rights; political violence; harassment and online safety for activists, journalists, and politicians; community organizing; civic participation; racial justice; authoritative information; volunteering and non-profit organizations. At the Institute for the Future (IFTF), he served as research director, leading research on the future of media, philanthropy, governance, international development, and social movements from 2008-2018. Harris studied at the University of São Paulo (MS, Sociology) and UC Berkeley (BA, Political Economy of Environment & Development). As a student, he was an intern at the White House Council on Environmental Quality and a confidential assistant at the Office of Management and Budget, Natural Resources Division. To learn more about David Evan Harris: UC-BERKLEY BIO: https://haas.berkeley.edu/faculty/harris-david/ X: http://www.twitter.com/davidevanharris LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidevanharris/ Find more episodes like this at http://www.brianjmatos.com/ Question for Brian? Email: [email protected] or DM on Twitter @BrianJMatos

Brian interviews Matthew Ebert, founder and principal of Ebert Educational Consulting and a former Baltimore Public School principal, about the state of the education system in the U.S. Matthew has 20+ years of experience in education, primarily focused on school leadership in urban settings. Matthew's consulting is grounded in his experiences as a teacher, director of academic innovation, academy leader, and a decade of successful leadership as a public charter school principal.    The conversation starts with an overview of the fundamental structure and philosophy of the American education system including the distinction between neighborhood schools and charter schools as well as the role socio-economic factors play in determining school environment quality. Brian and Matthew explore the question of whether the current American education system is capable of meeting the demands of the modern economy.   Matthew and his consulting firm emphasize the importance of focusing on teacher care and development as a vital part of improving student achievement, especially in large, urban school districts. This topic is covered before the discussion shifts to addressing the challenges and opportunities in under-resourced schools and the need for improved early childhood education options tailored to the needs of diverse students.    Other topics include classroom size, tailoring education to students' strengths, the impact of technology in classrooms, the rise of homeschooling, and the multifaceted role of schools beyond education in modern society. The conversation concludes with a focus on school safety, curriculum development, and the questions to ask political candidates about their views on education. To learn more about Matthew Ebert and his consulting practice, visit his website and social media pages: WEBSITE: https://eberteducationalconsulting.com/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/eberteducationalconsulting/ X: https://twitter.com/eberteducation LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ebert-educational-consulting/ Find more episodes like this at http://www.brianjmatos.com/ Question for Brian? Email: [email protected] or DM on Twitter @BrianJMatos

Brian interviews Jennie Chan, a Chinese medicine practitioner, Qigong (pronounced chee-guhng) instructor and founder of Spectra Wellbeing, a wellness company promoting the practice of Qigong in individivual and group settings.  Brian and Jennie explore her personal story from high-powered, high-stress finance professional to traditional medicine practitioner. In this conversation, Jennie explains the different aspects of traditional Chinese medicine, including acupuncture, herbal remedies, and physical practices like Tai Chi and Qigong and their observed and potential benefits to our overall health. Qigong, specifically, is a mindfulness practice that combines movement, breathwork, and meditation to nurture and cultivate vital energy (qi). The practice can be particularly beneficial for managing health and wellness in high-stress environments. Jennie stresses the importance of adjusting diet and general exercise along with the unique benefits of movement therapy in promoting overall physcial, mental and emotional health by helping people achieve a state of relaxation and calm. She also explores the role of sound in healing and the integration of Qigong routines into daily life. The discussion also highlights the complementary nature of traditional Chinese medicine with Western medicine and the growing interest in Qigong as an alternative healing practice outside Asia. To learn more about Jennie Chan visit her website and social media pages: WEBSITE: https://spectrawellbe.com/ INSTAGRAM: @spectrawellbe FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/spectrawellbe/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spectra-wellbeing/ Find more episodes like this at http://www.brianjmatos.com/ Question for Brian? Email: [email protected] or DM on Twitter @BrianJMatos

Brian welcomes demographic consultant, Bradley Schurman, back to the series for an updated and in-depth conversation on how key demographic trends are likely to impact politics, business, culture and societies around the world in the years to come. Bradley stands at the forefront of navigating the complexities of demographic evolution as the visionary Founder and CEO of Human Change, an entity born from his earlier initiative, The Super Age. He is also Co-Founder of #NewRules Media a newsletter and forthcoming podcast centered around resilience, innovation, and new ways to navigate the complexities of our turbulent and sharply divided times. With a keen eye on the horizon, Bradley specializes in equipping leaders with the insights and tools necessary to tackle the multifaceted challenges that demographic shifts entail.  In this episode, Brian and Bradley discuss how demographics will play a significant role in the 2024 U.S. national election, including how age, the urban-rural divide, and ethnic/racial differences may impact voter's decisions on whether or not to vote and who to vote for. Generational shifts in political alignment are occurring, with younger generations becoming a larger share of the electorate around the world, but we don't know exactly how their voting habits will evolve or how political parties will adapt thier messages to reach this emerging voting bloc.  The conversation includes an important segment on creating an age-inclusive workplace for businesses to retain talent and adapt to the changing labor market. They topic of fragmented media consumption is also addressed including how challenging it is becoming for any single voice to reach a mass audience. You can purchase THE SUPER AGE: DECODING OUR DEMOGRAPHIC DESTINY anywhere you get your books including on his website: https://www.thesuperage.com/book and Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Super-Age-Decoding-Demographic-Destiny/dp/0063048752 Follow Bradley Schurman on your favorite social media platform: LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradleyschurman/ SUBSTACK: https://newrulesmedia.substack.com/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/bradleyschurman/ X: @bradleyschurman Find more episodes like this at http://www.brianjmatos.com/ Question for Brian? Email: [email protected] or DM on Twitter @BrianJMatos

Brian is joined by Carlo Ruzza, Senior Professor of Political Sociology at the University of Trento School of International Studies, for a conversation on populism, nationalism, the rule of law and their interplay in the global political landscape. Carlo provides insights into the definitions and interpretations of these concepts and discusses how populist parties, especially across Europe, challenge the traditional understanding of the rule of law. Brian and Carlo also examine the rise of populist, nationalist leaders and the potential impact of their policies.  Learn more about Carlo and his work: Websites: https://www.carloruzza.net/ and https://ecpr.eu/profile/CarloRuzza Recent Book: The Impact of Populism on European Institutions and Civil Society This is just a conversation starter. We invite you to join in and share this episode with your personal and professional network. Listen to the interview, then give us your perspective. Question for Brian? Email: [email protected] or DM on X @BrianJMatos or find Brian on your favorite social media platform. Find more episodes like this at our show website: http://www.brianjmatos.com/

Peyman Pouryekta is a consultant and advisor to tech industry startups, helping them create stronger, more focused teams and leaders. In recent years, Peyman has worked with venture capital firms, directly with startups as a strategic advisor and has served in C-Level positions. In these roles, Peyman coaches his clients how to set strategy, develop world class products and evaluate technology needs as they scale up their operations. Among his many career achievements, Peyman joined an AI company as one of the first employees and helped grow that company from the ground up as Director of Engineering. By the time he exited, the firm had grown to 90 employees with offices in New York, London and Berlin. In this episode, Peyman and Brian discuss the hype and substance of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on various industries. They highlight the importance of data use and ownership in AI models, as well as the role of government regulations and partnerships in critical infrastructure. Peyman highlights exciting use cases of AI in industries such as healthcare and addresses some of the challenges and common mistakes faced by startups in adopting AI. Other topics include the future of AI adoption, the need for AI education, and the ethical considerations of emerging AI technology. The conversation concludes with insights on globalization, technology, and responsible business practices. Learn more about Peyman and his work: Website: https://www.pouryekta.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peymanpouryekta/?originalSubdomain=de Instagram: @peymanman Twitter: @peymanman This is just a conversation starter. We invite you to join in and share this episode with your personal and professional network. Listen to the interview, then give us your perspective. Question for Brian? Email: [email protected] or DM on X @BrianJMatos or find Brian on your favorite social media platform. Find more episodes like this at our show website: http://www.brianjmatos.com/

Brian wraps up season 1 with his reflections on the topics covered over the past year and some memorable interviews with his guests. He takes a few minutes to share the most popular episodes based on downloads from season 1 as well as important conversastions included in his "Innovation Series".  Brian then takes a few minutes to follow up on the topic of healthy aging, covered in episodes 18 and 23 with Tina Woods and Nic Palmarini. He has a special request of his middle age and younger listeners related to the topic of aging and seeking council from elders. Finally, Brian previews season 2 which will feature topics such as environmental issues and global persepctives on healthcare policy while also welcoming back returning guests on evolving topics such as mass media and AI.  We invite you to join our growing community of curious minds and share this episode with your personal and professional network. Listen to this show, then give us your perspective. Question for Brian? Email: [email protected] or DM on X @BrianJMatos or find Brian on your favorite social media platform. Find more episodes like this at our show website: http://www.brianjmatos.com/ and subscribe to the YouTube channel for the latest clips and exclusive content: www.youtube.com/@brianjmatospodcast

 Brian interviews Alexander Motyl, Rutgers University political science professor and deputy director of the school's Division of Global Affairs. Alexander is noted for his prolific writings on contemporary politics in Eastern Europe, Ukraine, and Russia, as well as for more theoretical explorations into the nature of nationalism, empire, and revolution. Over the past two and a half decades, he has written six books of nonfiction and contributed dozens of articles to academic and policy journals, newspaper op-ed pages, and magazines.     This conversation explores the state of the conflict in Ukraine as of early 2024, the perspectives of the combatant leaders and governments, the potential long term goals of Russia in Eastern Europe, and the overall regional dynamics in the area including commentary on the Baltic nations, Hungary and Serbia. Brian and Alexander also discuss the lack of a unified international condemnation of the Russian invasion and the potential outcomes of the conflict.   Alexander also offers a bold, but informed, prediction about where the conflict is likely headed by 2025 and beyond and the potential consequences for the entire world.   To learn more about Alexander: Website: Rutgers University profile  Novels Mentions in the Show: Vovochka: The True Confessions of Vladimir Putin's Best Friend and Confidant and Pitun's Last Stand: An Entertainment about the Fall of Russia X: https://twitter.com/alexanderjmotyl LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-motyl-9847877 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aleksandrmotyl/ This is just a conversation starter, we invite you to join in and share this episode with your personal and professional network. Listen to the interview, then give us your perspective. Question for Brian? Email: [email protected] or DM on X @BrianJMatos or find Brian on your favorite social media platform. Find more episodes like this at our show website: http://www.brianjmatos.com/

Brian interviews Louisa Ha, Ph.D., professor in the School of Media and Communications at Bowling Green State University in the U.S. state of Ohio. She is the Founding-Editor-in-Chief of Online Media and Global Communication, and also the former editor of Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, the flagship journal of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. She is the founder and chair of the Emerging Media Research Cluster in the School of Media and Communication.  Her vast research expertise includes misinformation, social media influencers, online videos, new media business models, social and mobile media use, international conflicts and comparative communication, online and international advertising, and audience habits. This conversation explores the impact of new media on traditional media, focusing on the emergence of influencers and the loss of trust in traditional channels. Brian and Louisa discuss the characteristics of successful influencers and the challenges faced by traditional media companies in adapting to new platforms. The conversation also delves into the fragmentation of media channels and the future of media business models as well as the influence of advertisers, the spread of propaganda, and the responsibility of newly minted influencers.  To learn more about Louisa: Websites: Bowling Green State Univesity profile and https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Louisa-Ha Book: The U.S.–China Trade War: Global News Framing and Public Opinion in the Digital Age (US–China Relations in the Age of Globalization) X: https://twitter.com/louisahabgsu?lang=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisa-ha-a8454b2 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louisa.ha.395/ This is just a conversation starter, we invite you to join in and share this episode with your personal and professional network. Listen to the interview, then give us your perspective. Question for Brian? Email: [email protected] or DM on X @BrianJMatos or find Brian on your favorite social media platform. Find more episodes like this at our show website: http://www.brianjmatos.com/

Brian interviews Grace McNamara, CEO of Exercise Intelligence, about her company and its personalized healthcare app, one that can be prescribed by a doctor who can use it to monitor adherance to a care plan. Grace emphasizes the need for personalized exercise programs and meaningful incentives to encourage adherence. Grace highlights the powerful role of exercise in managing various conditions and the need for proven behavior change methodologies. She also discusses the integration of exercise into healthcare systems and the barriers faced in doing so. Grace also shares advice for entrepreneurs and the importance of finding a work-life fit.  To learn more about Grace: Website: https://www.exi.life/us/ EXI - Exercise Prescription app: Apple App Store or Google Play X: https://www.twitter.com/exitherapeutics LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-mcnamara-irelandandlondon/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exitherapeutics Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EXiTherapeutics This is just a conversation starter, we invite you to join in and share this episode with your personal and professional network. Listen to the interview, then give us your perspective. Question for Brian? Email: [email protected] or DM on X @BrianJMatos or find Brian on your favorite social media platform. Find more episodes like this at our show website: http://www.brianjmatos.com/