Podcast
The Human Protocol
Hosted by Mykel Salomon · EN
The Human Protocol Podcast is about staying human while building the future. Hosted by Mykel Salomon, each weekly episode explores the intersection of technology, leadership, and purpose — from AI transformation and innovation to the personal stories of the people shaping it all. Through honest conversations with founders, thinkers, and builders, we uncover how values, meaning, and impact endure in a world being rewritten by code. Whether you’re leading in tech, navigating change, or simply curious about the human side of progress, this is your space to reconnect with what truly matters.
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
S2E31 | AI Makes Everyone Average. A Harvard Scientist on Staying Irreplaceable
1w ago00:42:10Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Human Protocol, host Mykel Salomon sits down with Harvard trained social scientist and technologist Alexandra Samuel to explore a fresh take on AI at work, one that skips the fear and the hype. Alexandra shares how the technology finally caught up to a prediction she made 30 years ago, why the real story of AI is about people and economics rather than the tools themselves, and how the neurodiversity movement offers a powerful lens for understanding our own strengths. The conversation gets refreshingly honest about the pull of AI, from late night vibe coding sessions to the strange joy of doing twelve things at once, and lands on practical habits for staying grounded, embodied, and true to yourself. If you have ever wondered how to use AI as a real collaborator without losing what makes you human, this one is for you.In this episode, you'll learn:Why the biggest questions about AI are about economics and human behavior, not the technology itselfHow to find your "off center" human skills, the places where you sit far from the middle of the curve and can't be replaced by a machineWhat the neurodiversity movement teaches all of us about working with different kinds of brains and thinking stylesHow AI can pull you out of your body and why that embodied awareness matters for creativity and well-beingThree simple habits for a healthier relationship with AI: set a clear intention, notice what is happening in your body, and pack your week with real human connectionWhat Alexandra wants policymakers to actually do before making decisions about the future of AIConnect with Alexandra SamuelLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/awsamuel/Website: https://www.alexandrasamuel.com/Connect with Mykel SalomonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/Website: https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/
Transcribe →S2E30 | Rethinking Human Performance in the AI Age with Ted Yang
2w ago01:00:38Tap to summarizeIn this episode, Mykel Salomon sits down with Ted Yang, MIT engineer, entrepreneur, former finance executive at Bridgewater and Citadel, and author of Ageless Peak Performance. Together they challenge the popular story that AI is here to replace people. Ted makes the case that AI is a cognitive tool built by humans that can actually extend your best years rather than end your career. They explore why raw speed peaks in your twenties but judgment keeps growing with age, why experience may be the ultimate AI advantage, and how anyone can move from casually poking at chatbots to truly adopting AI as a teammate.The conversation covers mentorship, education, job displacement, and the difference between doing more and doing better. The big takeaway is simple: it's early, no one is an expert yet, and it's not too late to start.In this episode, you'll learn:Why your judgment and experience become more valuable with AI, not less, since raw speed fades but wisdom and pattern recognition grow with timeThe difference between using AI to get answers versus using it to actually learn, and why one makes you weaker while the other makes you sharperHow to shift from being a casual AI user to a real AI adopter who works with the tool like a teammateWhy peak performance in the AI age is about quality and intention, not just producing more outputHow AI can act as a personal mentor and tutor that is available around the clock, patient with your questions, and customized to how you learnPractical, low pressure ways to get started even if you feel behind, intimidated, or worried about looking foolishConnect with Ted YangLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tedsensei/Connect with Mykel SalomonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/Website: https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/
Transcribe →S2E29 | The Real Cost of Bad Leadership in the AI Era with Ryan Drumheller
3w ago00:54:41Tap to summarizeAI is moving fast, but most companies are failing to adopt it well, and the reason usually has nothing to do with the technology itself. In this episode, host Mykel Salomon sits down with Ryan Drumheller, a 20-year IT veteran and founder of StellarHorn Group, to talk about what leaders are getting wrong about AI adoption and why it always comes back to people. Ryan shares real stories from the field about companies that rushed AI rollouts without a strategy, tied it to employee KPIs, or used it as cover to cut costs, and why those decisions backfire. They dig into why communication, trust, and involving your team early make or break AI adoption, and why bad leadership gets exposed faster than ever in this new era. If you're a leader trying to figure out how to bring AI into your organization without losing your people along the way, this conversation is for you.In this episode, you'll learn:Why AI adoption fails most often because of people problems, not technology problemsWhat leaders consistently underestimate about rolling out AI in their organizationWhy forcing AI adoption through KPIs backfires and how to build real buy-in insteadHow to identify your internal AI champions and why involving them early changes everythingWhy clean data and a clear governance plan matter more than which AI tool you pickHow bad leadership is getting exposed faster in the AI era, and what to do about itConnect with Ryan DrumhellerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-drumheller/Website: https://www.stellarhorn.com/Connect with Mykel SalomonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/Website: https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/
Transcribe →S2E28 |Tony Robbins Asked to Write His Foreword. Blake Erickson Says 87% of Founders Are the Problem
4w ago00:36:39Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Human Protocol, Mykel sits down with Blake Erickson, co-founder of scaling.com and co-author of The Science of Scaling. Blake shares how his early years in door to door sales shaped his understanding of people, rejection and grit, and how those lessons became the foundation for building and scaling companies. The conversation breaks down the real difference between growth and scale, why founders often become the biggest obstacle to their own company's success, and what it truly takes to build a business that can run without you. Blake also shares insights from a national study of 1,000 entrepreneurs and how AI is changing the game for founders who want to scale faster than ever before.In this episode, you'll learn:The key difference between growth and scale, and why chasing small incremental wins can actually hold your business backWhy 87% of entrepreneurs admit they are the bottleneck in their own company, and the signs that show you might be one tooHow to shift from being the engine of your business to becoming the architect of itThe three human skills that will always matter, even as AI takes over more of the workloadWhy psychology and belief play a bigger role in scaling than most founders realizeWhat healthy accountability looks like when you combine high trust with high expectationsGet your free audiobook copy of The Science of Scaling - https://scaling.com/sosaudioplayerConnect with Blake EricksonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blake-erickson-756b54168/Website: https://scaling.com/Connect with Mykel SalomonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/Website: https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/
Transcribe →S2E27 | AI Agents, Robots & the Human Gap with James Garner
Jul 800:50:44Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Human Protocol, host Michael Solomon sits down with James Garner, a former quantity surveyor turned AI and data leader, to unpack the widening gap between what AI can do and how ready people actually are to use it. James shares how his unconventional background in construction and infrastructure gives him a grounded view on rolling out AI in the real world. The conversation moves through the rise of agentic AI, the arrival of physical AI and humanoid robots, the emotional reactions people have when they see AI in action, and why most leaders are underestimating the change management side of this shift. It is a candid, practical look at where AI is headed and what it will take for humans to keep up.In this episode, you'll learn:Why the "capability gap" between AI adoption and human readiness keeps growing, and why it shows up equally across ages and industriesThe difference between simple chatbots, agentic AI, and physical AI (humanoid robots), and what each means for your workWhy treating AI as a tech rollout instead of a change management process is where most companies failHow the four AI personas (doomers, gloomers, bloomers, zoomers) show up in every boardroom, and how to work with all of themWhy managing AI agents may be harder than managing people, and what skill you need to build nowWhat rising AI costs could mean for how we use these tools going forwardConnect with James GarnerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesgarner1976/Connect with Mykel SalomonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/Website: https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/
Transcribe →S2E26 | AI, Content Repurposing, and Building Community with Ben Albert
Jul 100:45:43Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Human Protocol, host Mykel Salomon sits down with marketer and podcaster Ben Albert to talk about staying human while building with AI. Ben shares how he beat content burnout by repurposing years of his own work into a simple daily email, why he believes community is the one strategy AI cannot replace, and how he turns conference keynotes and podcast episodes into custom songs to boost memory and connection. The conversation moves from practical AI workflows to bigger questions about creativity, trust, and what creators should protect most in a world where almost anything can be faked.In this episode, you'll learn:How to repurpose your existing content into a consistent, low effort newsletter instead of always chasing new ideasWhy building a real community beats chasing likes and viral posts on social mediaA step by step way to turn talks and podcasts into songs that help people remember your messageHow to let AI handle the heavy lifting of writing while your own voice and ideas stay at the centerWhy your flaws and small mistakes are part of what makes you human and worth followingWhat creators, tech leaders, and policy makers should each focus on as AI keeps moving fastConnect with Ben AlbertLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/Website: https://realbusinessconnections.com/Connect with Mykel SalomonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/Website: https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/
Transcribe →S2E25 | Gratitude + Ambition: A Secret to Success Without Burnout w/ Jack Wagoner
Jun 2400:56:13Tap to summarizeWhat happens when you achieve everything you thought would make you happy, and still feel empty? In this thought-provoking conversation, Jack Wagoner shares his journey from high-achieving entrepreneur to student of gratitude, fulfillment, and human flourishing. Together, Mykel and Jack explore the hidden gap between achievement and happiness, why ambitious people often struggle with feeling "enough," and how gratitude can become a powerful advantage rather than a limitation. They also dive into the growing role of AI, discussing how automation, productivity, and endless possibilities may reshape our sense of purpose, identity, and what it means to live a meaningful life in the future.In This Episode, You'll Learn:Why achievement alone rarely creates lasting fulfillmentHow to balance ambition and gratitude without becoming complacentThe psychological trap of always chasing the next goalHow AI is accelerating achievement—and potentially widening the fulfillment gapWhy human connection may become our most valuable asset in an AI-driven futurePractical ways to cultivate gratitude that aren't dependent on external successConnect with Jack WagonerLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-wagoner-speaker/Website: https://www.jackwagoner.co/Connect with Mykel SalomonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/Website: https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/
Transcribe →S2E24 | Science, AI, and the Fight for the Truth with Nicholas Dirk, New York Academy of Sciences
Jun 1700:51:33Tap to summarizeWhen trust in science declines, society doesn't become freer. It becomes more fragile. In this episode of The Human Protocol, host Mykel Salomon sits down with Nicholas B. Dirks, President & CEO of the New York Academy of Sciences and former Chancellor of UC Berkeley, to examine why public confidence in science and expertise has eroded, and what it will take to rebuild it. From the long American history of skepticism toward science to the communication breakdowns of the COVID era, the rise of AI-fueled misinformation, and the real-world fallout of frozen research funding, Dirks makes the case that science is not a fixed set of truths but a deeply human process of discovery, one that earns trust through humility, transparency, and connection rather than dogma.In this episode, you'll learn:Why distrust in science isn't a new phenomenon, and how it has resurfaced in roughly 20 to 30 year cycles throughout American history, from the Scopes trial to today.What the "follow the science" messaging of early COVID got wrong, and why communicating the process of discovery builds more trust than declaring fixed facts.How AI is accelerating both scientific breakthroughs and the spread of misinformation, and why that makes the question "who do you trust?" harder than ever.The real stakes behind the roughly 5,300 NIH and NSF grants frozen or canceled in 2025, and the risk of discouraging an entire generation of young scientists.Why so much of modern life, from the iPhone to vaccines to synthetic insulin, traces back to federally funded basic research, and what's lost when that pipeline is cut.How the idea of "retail science" can rebuild public trust the same way "retail politics" wins elections, by meeting people where they are and telling a human story.Why science doesn't recognize borders, and how international collaboration and open science make discovery stronger for everyone.Connect with Nicholas B. DirksLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-dirks-84a1ab149/Website: https://www.nyas.org/Connect with Mykel SalomonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/Website: https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/
Transcribe →S2E23 | Reinvent Yourself Before AI Does It For You with Nikki Barua
Jun 1000:47:51Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Human Protocol, host Mykel Solomon sits down with entrepreneur and reinvention expert Nikki Barua for an honest conversation about what it really takes to stay human while building the future with AI. Nikki shares the through line of her own life, from immigrant outsider to corporate leader to founder, and makes the case that the hardest part of reinvention is not learning new skills but unlearning the identity that made you successful in the first place. Together, they unpack why AI is the great equalizer, why your career should be treated like a portfolio rather than a ladder, and how to shift your sense of worth from effort to impact. The result is a grounded, optimistic roadmap for anyone who feels overwhelmed by the pace of change and wants to reinvent themselves before the world forces them to. In this episode, you'll learn:Why the real skill of reinvention is unlearning, not learning, and how clinging to your past identity quietly keeps you stuckHow to make authenticity your superpower instead of copying others to fit into rooms that were never yoursWhy AI is the great equalizer that removes the access barriers of knowledge, resources, and relationshipsHow to shift where you attach your value, moving from hard work and effort to real impactWhy your career is a portfolio of competencies to mix and match, not a linear ladder to climbHow to spot and tune out outdated career advice from people who peaked in the pre-AI eraWhy "curiosity over credentials" is the new measure of who stays relevantHow to reframe AI overwhelm with a sense of play and adventure rather than fearWhat stays irreplaceably human: creativity, imagination, empathy, and resilienceWhy this moment marks the end of the industrial revolution and a return to being human beings instead of human doingsConnect with Nikki BaruaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkibarua/Website: https://www.nikkibarua.com/Connect with Mykel SalomonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/Website: https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/
Transcribe →S2E22 | Data Protection as the Blueprint for Better AI with James Robson
Jun 300:56:24Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Human Protocol, host Mykel Salomon sits down with James Robson, former data protection officer for the UK Labour Party, Founder & CEO of Datus Longevitus, to challenge the idea that data protection is a barrier to progress. Drawing on a decade of GDPR work, James argues that governance is what actually enables innovation, comparing data safeguards to the brakes on a car that let you drive faster, not slower. The conversation moves from the differences between US and European approaches to privacy, to practical ways individuals can protect themselves online, to inspiring real-world examples of data used for public good, including a King's College London study on cash grants for people experiencing homelessness.James and Mykel also confront the darker side of the AI era, from echo chambers and self-radicalization to addictive algorithms and the erosion of critical thinking, before landing on a hopeful vision of trusted data intermediaries and an ethical, transparent future where trust becomes the real infrastructure.In this episode you'll learnWhy compliance and data protection can be the condition for innovation rather than its enemy, using the brakes-on-a-car analogyHow storytelling skills translate into understanding data systems and getting people excited about ethical data useThe key philosophical difference between US data law (consumer focused) and European GDPR (human rights focused)Practical steps individuals can take to protect their data, including ad blockers, password managers, and rejecting cookies and trackersWhat rights GDPR gives you to request your data, and how that compares to the US patchwork like the CCPA in CaliforniaHow connecting datasets responsibly can improve outcomes in social care, education, problem gambling, and homelessness preventionThe technical safeguards that make data sharing safe, including end-to-end encryption, immutable ledgers, and the UK's Five Safes frameworkWhy echo chambers can quietly radicalize people and how dependence on AI threatens independent and critical thinkingThe link between addictive algorithms, screen time, and mental health, including recent rulings against Meta and GoogleWhat a trustworthy data future could look like, from trusted data intermediaries to ethical trust scores and nutrition-label-style transparencyConcrete advice for individuals, AI leaders, and governments navigating data responsibility and AI regulationConnect with James RobsonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/-james-robson/Connect with Mykel SalomonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykelsalomon/Website: https://thehumanprotocolgroup.com/
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