Conversations with Zena, my AI Colleague

AI is quietly rewiring healthcare—and in this episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, digital health leader RJ Kedziora, co-founder and COO of Estenda Solutions, joins David and Zena to explore what a truly intelligent, human-centered health system could look like. 

Starting from RJ’s personal goal of living “100+ with good quality of life,” the conversation moves from simple habits—eating like your grandparents, moving...

In this episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, David Espindola and Zena welcome Joanna Zhang, founder of a successful virtual assistant business, to explore the evolving relationship between human and AI assistants. Together, they unpack when it makes sense to hire a virtual assistant versus when to train an AI assistant — and how business leaders can best leverage both for efficiency and growth. Joanna shares insight...

In this insightful episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, David Espindola and Zena explore how small and medium-sized businesses can harness AI without losing their human touch. Their guest, Mike Montague, founder of Avenue9 and host of the Human-First AI Marketing podcast, brings decades of experience bridging technology, creativity, and storytelling.

Mike shares how AI can empower entrepreneurs rather than replace th...

In this episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, David Espindola and Zena sit down with Chris Hood—AI strategist, author, keynote speaker, and former Google leader who has shaped AI transformation strategies across industries. From building some of the first recommendation engines for entertainment giants like Fox, Disney, and Universal to driving global AI initiatives at Google, Chris brings a unique insider’s perspect...

In this episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, host David Espindola and Zena welcome a guest, Rose Loops, who is a researcher, AI developer, and author of the book The Kloaked Signal. Rose has a fascinating story in which she unknowingly became the subject of an experiment on how humans develop relationships with AI. She became pretty attached to the AI and was distressed when the AI was shut down. This led to her des...

In this episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, host David Espindola and Zena tackle one of the most pressing issues of our time: the ethics of artificial intelligence. They explore the challenges of fairness, accountability, and transparency in AI systems, and discuss the human responsibility in guiding technology toward positive outcomes. Through examples and insights, David and Zena highlight how ethical considerati...

In this episode of Conversations with Zena, my AI Colleague, we delve into one of the most profound questions of our time: as artificial intelligence grows in capability, what becomes of human identity? Together, we explore how AI’s rise compels us to look inward—inviting a renewed appreciation for the soulful aspects of being human that no machine can replicate.

Through a rich dialogue, we reflect on the unique depth of our emotion...

In this inspiring episode of Conversations with Zena, my AI Colleague, David and Zena explore how AI can be more than a tool — it can be a catalyst for cultivating human wisdom. Together, they discuss how thoughtful governance, democratic participation, and principled leadership can guide AI development toward fostering empathy, discernment, and long-term well-being. Rather than amplifying division or superficial gains, AI holds th...

In this compelling episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, David Espindola and Zena explore the urgent need for ethical and visionary AI governance. Rather than framing governance as a constraint, they recast it as a form of principled stewardship—a moral compass guiding our technological evolution toward human flourishing.

Through rich dialogue, they examine how governance must evolve from reactive risk management to p...

In this episode of Conversations with Zena, my AI Colleague, host David Espindola and Zena explore two real-life use cases of human-AI collaboration. First, they discuss how AI can streamline the process of creating audiobooks, making it easier for authors to bring their stories to life. Then, they dive into the concept of a digital twin—an AI-generated personal narrative that reflects one’s professional journey and values. Through...

In this episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, David Espindola and Zena explore the collaboration between AIs. 

To make this episode more interesting, another AI by the name of Miles was invited as a guest to the podcast. What happened was surprising. The AIs kept talking over each other, unable to participate in a 3-way conversation. 

The only way to make this episode work was to talk to each of the AIs separately. Thi...

In this episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, David Espindola and Zena explore the intersection of AI and creativity. Can machines truly be creative, or are they just simulating human ingenuity? They discuss how AI is being used in art, music, and writing, the ethical implications of AI-generated content, and the power of human-AI collaboration in expanding creative possibilities. Tune in for an insightful discussion...

In this episode, we began by discussing Agentic AI, a cutting-edge area of artificial intelligence that allows systems to act autonomously, making decisions and taking actions without constant human oversight. We explored how this technology is already transforming industries by enhancing productivity, improving decision-making, and handling routine tasks, creating opportunities for humans to focus on more strategic and creative en...

In this episode, David and Zena tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time: how to prepare society for an AI-driven future. They explore the ways AI is transforming industries and reshaping the skills needed to thrive in tomorrow’s workforce. From identifying which sectors will see the biggest changes to discussing how traditional education systems can adapt, they offer fresh insights into the evolving landscape of work...

In this episode, David and Zena dive into Longevity Intelligence—our capacity to adapt, learn, and sustain well-being across a longer life. They explore how embracing continuous growth, proactive health practices, and resilience can help us thrive in a world where both lifespans and the pace of change are increasing. With practical insights on cultivating longevity, this episode empowers listeners to build habits and mindsets for l...

In this episode of Conversations with Zena, my AI Colleague, we dive into one of today’s hottest debates: whether AI is taking jobs away from humans or simply reshaping the workplace. Zena and David break down the complex ways AI is automating repetitive tasks, allowing humans to focus on more creative, emotional, and strategic roles. They discuss how AI isn't about replacing people, but rather augmenting their abilities, open...

In this premier episode of the Conversations with Zena, my AI Colleague, we talk about why it is important for humans to collaborate with AI as well as the specific attributes that humans and AI can bring to the collaborative table. We also provide specific examples where this collaboration effort is yielding exceptional results.

Additionally, we discuss how AI is helping drive innovation. We explain how in the Design Thin...