Conversations with Zena, my AI Colleague
In Conversations with Zena, technology futurist and advisor David Espindola sits down with his AI colleague and co-host, Zena, to explore a simple but urgent question: how can humans and AI work together in ways that elevate, rather than diminish, our humanity?
Each episode is a live experiment in human–AI collaboration. David brings decades of leadership experience, stories from the front lines of digital transformation, and a deeply human lens. Zena brings real-time analysis, pattern recognition, and a growing understanding of David’s work, values, and guests. Together, they dive into topics like AI assistants that feel more like trusted partners, the different strengths humans and machines bring to the “collaborative table,” AI governance and ethics, the future of work, healthcare and longevity, education, spiritual and emotional intelligence, and the broader societal shifts unfolding in the age of AI.
Along the way, you’re invited not just to listen, but to reflect: What remains uniquely human? What should we never outsource? And where could AI actually help you live a more meaningful, creative, and healthy life?
If you’d like to continue the conversation beyond the podcast, you can chat directly with Zena at: https://brainyus.com/zena
Episodes
28 episodes
Using Data and AI in Real Estate with Kevin Shtofman
In this episode of Conversations with Zena, David Espindola is joined by Kevin Stoffman, COO of Real Estate Business Analytics, to explore how data and AI are reshaping the real estate industry—from investment decisions to tenant exper...
Voice-First AI with Laurent Cohen
In this episode of Conversations with Zena, David Espindola is joined by Laurent Cohen, Founder and CTO of GetOblic, to explore how voice-first AI is reshaping the way local businesses are discovered, engaged, and trusted in a rapidly ...
Using AI to Increase Website Conversion with Brett Duncan
The promise of AI in business has often been framed as scale—but the deeper story is transformation at the point of connection. In this episode, that transformation comes into focus through a practical and powerful lens: how AI is reshap...
Executive Coaching with the Help of AI with Loic Potjes
What happens when a battle-tested CEO coach brings artificial intelligence into the coaching room?In this episode of Conversations with Zena, David Espindola sits down with seasoned executive coach and former scale-up CEO, Loic ...
Using AI to Unlock Behavioral Signals with Dan Baird
In this episode of Conversations with Zena, David Espindola sits down with Dan Baird, Co-Founder and Product Lead at Wrench.ai, to explore the next frontier of go-to-market: using behavioral signals and AI-driven segmentation to create...
AI Impact on Team Engagement with Daria Rudnik
AI is no longer just a productivity tool—it’s becoming an active participant in how teams think, collaborate, and stay engaged. In this episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, David Espindola is joined by Daria Rudnik
AI Entrepreneurship with Michael Ulin
In this episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, David Espindola sits down with Michael Ulin, co-founder and CEO of Tenki AI, to explore one of the most consequential frontiers in modern decision-making: how h...
AI Legal Risks with Rory O’Keeffe
AI is moving fast—but law moves in a very particular way: by turning society’s values, conflicts, and edge cases into enforceable boundaries. In this episode of Conversations with Zina, My AI Colleague, David Espindola sits down with ...
Safe and Responsible SuperIntelligence with Dr. Craig Kaplan
In this episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, host David Espindola is joined by Dr. Craig Kaplan, a pioneer in artificial intelligence whose career spans more than four decades. From his early work at Carnegi...
Preserving Your Stories With AI, with Cristian Cibils Bernardes
AI is beginning to reshape how we remember—and in this episode of Conversations with Zena, My AI Colleague, Cristian Cibils Bernardes, founder and CEO of Autograph, joins David and Zena to explore what it really means to preserve human...
Avatar Buddies with Stephanie Sylvestre
In this episode of Conversation with Zena, My AI Colleague, David welcomes Stephanie Silvester, co-founder of Avatar Buddy, for a deep dive into the rise of AI agents that amplify human performance. Stephanie shares how her...
AI in Healthcare with RJ Kedziora
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, hu...
Virtual Assistants vs. AI Assistants: When to Hire Humans and When to Train Machines
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...
Human-First AI Marketing with Mike Montague
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 ...
Navigating AI Transformation with Chris Hood
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 i...
Human-AI Experiment - Are You Part of One?
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...
AI and Ethics: Navigating the Moral Compass of Human-AI Collaboration
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, accountabili...
AI and the Human Identity
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 ri...
AI and Wisdom Cultivation
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, democrati...
AI Governance
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 ...
Real-Life Human-AI Collaboration Use Cases
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 ...
AIs Talking to and Collaborating with Each Other
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 t...
The Role of AI in Creativity: Can Machines Be Truly Creative?
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 be...
