Surfing Through the AI Apocalypse with Jacob Ward

How do you stay grounded when technology is changing work faster than any of us can keep up with? In this episode, I sit down with journalist and CNN contributor Jacob Ward to talk about the emotional and psychological impact of living and working alongside increasingly powerful technology. Jacob shares why he believes the bigger threat isn’t just automation, but the way these systems shape your behavior, attention, and relationships at work. We talk about loneliness, agency, management, the pressure to keep producing, and what happens when more of our thinking gets handed over to machines. Get ready to rethink productivity, management, and the value of human judgment. Check out our sponsors: Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Chime - Head to chime.com/achiever to sign up Monarch - Use code ACHIEVER at monarch.com to get 50% off your first year Physician’s Choice - Use code PCPODCAST10 at physicianschoice.com to get 10% off your entire order Whatnot - Get free shipping on your first order. Just search W-H-A-T-N-O-T in the app store and start scoring amazing deals Pebl - Take advantage of Pebl’s limited-time offer before it’s gone. Visit hipebl.ai today. In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 What is AI doing to your mind and mood? 04:45 Why technology is really a story about human behavior. 09:00 How “fast thinking” makes us easier to manipulate. 13:00 What an AI co-parenting tool reveals about convenience, conflict, and control. 15:15 Can technology really support mental health without replacing human care? 17:45 Why the systems built to help us often prioritize engagement instead. 20:00 What a more “human-free” workplace could mean for all of us. 26:45 The human skills at work that are most at risk of disappearing. 30:00 How to deal with the helplessness so many people feel about the future of work. 36:00 The Pope’s warning about AI, dignity, and human value. 43:30 Why trust matters so much when institutions are under pressure. 47:45 How to decide when to use AI and when to resist it. 50:00 Why the pressure to produce more can quietly trap high achievers. 54:30 How do you stay relevant without giving up your standards? Resources + Links Visit Jacob Ward’s website HERE Get a copy of Jacob’s book, The Loop: How Technology Is Creating a World Without Choices and How to Fight Back HERE Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam Follow Jacob: on YouTube @byjacobward + Instagram @byjacobward