The AI Grapple

• Ep 41: Raising Future-Ready Kids: The Family AI Game Plan with Amy D. Love

  In this episode of The AI Grapple, Kate vanderVoort speaks with Amy D. Love – founder of the international movement Discovering AI and best-selling author of Raising Entrepreneurs and Discovering AI: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Future-Ready Kids. A former Fortune 500 Chief Marketing Officer and Harvard MBA, Amy has turned her focus to helping families prepare their children for life and success in the age of AI. Amy and Kate dive into why families – not just schools or governments – are critical to AI readiness. They explore the need for practical, values-led guidance in navigating AI with kids and discuss how the FAMILY AI GAME PLAN is empowering parents to raise children who are not only aware of AI, but equipped to thrive alongside it. This episode is packed with practical strategies, real-life anecdotes, and thoughtful reframes that challenge the way we think about parenting, education, and technology. What We Cover: Why families are the frontline of AI education The vision behind Discovering AI and Amy’s shift from tech exec to children’s advocate Moving from fear to confidence as a parent in the age of AI A walkthrough of the FAMILY AI GAME PLAN – and how any family can use it “Create more, consume less” – why this mantra matters now more than ever The hidden risks of leaving AI education solely to schools or governments Real-life family AI activities that promote creativity, ethics and digital literacy What’s possible if every family gets this right in a single generation About Amy D. Love: Amy D. Love is the founder of Discovering AI, an international movement helping families prepare children to thrive in an AI-powered world. With a background as a Fortune 500 CMO and a Harvard MBA, Amy has advised AI leaders and policymakers on aligning tech with human values. She is the author of the best-selling Raising Entrepreneurs and the newly released Discovering AI. Her signature FAMILY AI GAME PLAN offers parents a practical framework to guide children’s use of AI with confidence, creativity and care. Resources and Links: Website: www.discoveringai.org www.discoveringai.com Books: Raising Entrepreneurs – Available on Amazon Discovering AI: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Future-Ready Kids – Available on Amazon Free resources, MindSpark activities and the FAMILY AI GAME PLAN available on the Discovering AI website Connect with Kate: Website: www.aisuccesslab.com LinkedIn: Kate vanderVoort Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and leave a review on your favourite podcast platform. Share this episode with a fellow parent or educator who’s navigating the world of AI with kids.

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• Ep 40: From Fear to Confidence: Guiding Teams Through AI Adoption with Leadership Expert Neil Tunnah

  In this episode, Kate vanderVoort, Founder of the AI Success Lab, speaks with Neil Tunnah - former elite rugby coach, global leadership consultant and founder of The Performance Chain Group. Neil works with organisations across Australia and North America to help leaders build behavioural consistency, navigate uncertain environments and guide their people through rapid AI-driven change. Neil brings grounded thinking and honest reflection to some of the biggest leadership challenges of this moment. Together, we explore why clarity is the currency of trust, how fear spreads when leaders avoid hard conversations, and why AI won’t replace good leaders but will absolutely expose the weak ones. He also shares lessons from elite sport on resilience, habit-building and culture that apply directly to today’s workplaces. The discussion moves through strategy, psychology, culture and the realities facing teams on the ground. Neil also speaks openly about raising kids in this era and what the future of learning could look like with AI in the mix. What We Cover: How AI is disrupting leadership and why behavioural consistency matters more than ever Why many leaders are confused about AI strategy - and how that confusion cascades through organisations Creating clarity when the truth is that leaders don’t have all the answers yet The danger of top-down AI strategies that ignore frontline experience Human friction points organisations keep missing when adopting AI The cultural gaps that stop AI projects from gaining traction Fear, job security and why avoidance only increases anxiety Lessons from elite sport that shape how leaders can develop resilience and habits that actually stick How AI can enhance coaching, development and performance conversations Why the future of learning needs to shift away from memorising and towards real personalised development Raising children during an AI-driven transformation and building the foundations they’ll need What the “re-engineering” of workplaces and society might look like over the next few years Guest Bio: Neil Tunnah is a former elite rugby coach turned global leadership consultant and founder of The Performance Chain Group. He helps organisations across Australia and North America navigate change, embed behavioural consistency and lead well in an AI-shaped world. Known for a no-fluff approach to people and performance, Neil works at the intersection of culture, behaviour and leadership. He’s also a dad of two, a gym regular and still deeply connected to the rugby community. Connect with Neil: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-tunnah-0a2071122/ The Performance Chain Group Listen & Subscribe: If you’re a leader, marketer or business professional wanting to understand how to navigate the human side of AI adoption, this episode offers timely, grounded guidance. Listen on your favourite podcast platform and follow the show for future conversations on practical AI in business.

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• Ep 39: The Harsh Truth About Digital Access: Why Thousands of Students Are Locked Out of the AI Era

  Australia is racing ahead with AI, but not everyone is getting a fair start. In this episode of The AI Grapple Podcast, Kate vanderVoort sits down with Doug Taylor to unpack the reality facing young people who are being pushed further to the edges of opportunity because they can’t get online. Doug leads The Smith Family, one of Australia’s most trusted charities supporting students from low-income backgrounds. He brings a clear view of what digital access really looks like on the ground, why the divide is widening, and how AI could strengthen or break the pathways young Australians rely on. Across this conversation, Kate and Doug explore the true cost of digital exclusion, the pressure on families, and the tough choices schools, parents and organisations are facing as AI sweeps through education, work and daily life. Doug also opens up about the leadership approach needed to guide teams through rapid change while protecting the people who rely on them most. What We Cover in This Episode How digital exclusion is affecting young Australians right now Why AI literacy is becoming essential for future jobs The impact on students who lack a device or stable internet at home What The Smith Family is doing to close the gap, including AI-enabled tutoring How frontline workers are using digital assistants to support families The privacy, safety and bias risks organisations need to plan for Why trust, empathy and human judgement still matter in AI-enabled work Doug’s hopes for a future where AI helps reduce inequality rather than deepen it Why This Conversation Matters Digital access is no longer optional. It shapes education, work and connection, and its absence cuts young people off from the very tools they need to build their future. As marketers, business leaders and technologists move quickly to adopt AI, Doug’s message is a vital reminder: progress only counts if it includes everyone. This episode gives you a grounded look at the real issues behind AI adoption and a strong sense of the responsibility we share in ensuring technology lifts people up rather than locking them out. About Doug Taylor Doug Taylor is the CEO of The Smith Family, a 103-year-old organisation working to break the cycle of educational inequality in Australia. He brings decades of experience in the not-for-profit sector and is a national voice on digital access, education and community wellbeing. Links and Resources Support The Smith Family’s Christmas Appeal: thesmithfamily.com.au Connect with Doug on LinkedIn Follow Kate on LinkedIn for updates and AI training Join the free AI Success Lab for more AI updates and skills Listen and Subscribe If you enjoy the episode, share it with someone working in education, technology or community impact. Your support helps more people join the conversation about building an AI-enabled future that works for everyone.

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• Ep 38: Can We Trust AI? How We Shape Technology Before It Shapes Us with Darren Menachemson

  Artificial intelligence is advancing faster than our ability to regulate it, understand it, or even decide how much we trust it. In this deeply insightful episode of The AI Grapple, host Kate vanderVoort sits down with Darren Menachemson, Chief Ethicist and Head of AI and Digital Societies at ThinkPlace, and Chair of the Education Futures Foundation, to explore what it really takes to create a future where technology serves humanity — not the other way around. Darren’s journey is as fascinating as it is relevant. From growing up in apartheid South Africa and witnessing systemic injustice first-hand, to leading global initiatives in ethics, governance, and human-centred design, his story offers a powerful lens through which to view AI’s moral and social implications. Together, Kate and Darren discuss how ethics, compassion, and discernment must guide the next wave of AI innovation. They unpack what “trust” in AI truly means, how governments and institutions can balance regulation with innovation, and why young people might already be the best equipped to envision a responsible AI future. 🧭 Key Themes & Insights Trust and Accountability in AI: How can societies build confidence in AI systems that are shaping our daily lives and decision-making? Ethics and Alignment: What does it mean for technology to align with human values, and how can governments, organisations, and individuals ensure that happens? The Compassion Gap: Darren’s national research reveals why Australians still see AI as less compassionate than humans — and why empathy may be our most important competitive advantage. Regulation vs Innovation: How can we design guardrails that keep AI safe and fair without stifling progress and discovery? Bias and Fairness: Real-world examples of AI perpetuating social inequities - and how we can use AI itself to identify and correct those biases. Human-Centred Design for the Digital Age: Why design thinking, ethics, and leadership training must evolve together to create a fairer digital society. 🧠 About Darren Menachemson Darren Menachemson is Chief Ethicist and Head of AI and Digital Societies at ThinkPlace - a global public good consultancy working with governments, NGOs, and industry to design ethical systems that improve lives. He also chairs the Education Futures Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to preparing young people to become the ethical leaders of tomorrow. A pioneer in the intersection of ethics, design, and technology, Darren has advised public sector leaders worldwide on how to align AI development with societal values. His work spans regulatory reform, social innovation, and future-focused education, helping communities adapt to the age of intelligent technology. Connect with Darren: 🌐 ThinkPlace 💼 LinkedIn 🔗 Connect with Kate 🌐 AI Success Lab 🎧 The AI Grapple Podcast 💼 LinkedIn – Kate vanderVoort

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• Ep 37: Is This The Last Book Written By a Human? Jeff Burningham

  In this profound and thought-provoking conversation, Kate vanderVoort (founder of the AI Success Lab) sits down with Jeff Burningham - tech entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and author of The Last Book Written by a Human: Becoming Wise in the Age of AI. Jeff has built and invested in companies worth over $5 billion, co-founded Peak Capital Partners and Peak Ventures, and even ran for Governor of Utah. But today, he’s turning his attention to a far deeper question: As machines become smarter, how do we become wiser? This episode explores how technology, entrepreneurship, and spirituality intersect - and why the future of AI isn’t a technological problem but a human challenge. Kate and Jeff unpack what it means to “rehumanise” business, how to bring consciousness into capitalism, and why our next evolution as leaders, parents, and humans depends on our ability to choose wisdom over speed, and connection over control. You can connect with Jeff at: www.jeffburningham.com www.peakcapitalpartners.com Social Media Links @jeffburningham everywhere   Learn more at www.aisuccesslab.com Watch more interviews: YouTube/@AISuccessLab Join the AI Success Lab Elite Membership for practical, human-centred AI training.

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