Slop World

This week, Juan and Kate discuss Karen Hao’s "Empire of AI," which reveals how Silicon Valley’s utopian ideals evolved into a global power grab, before jumping into AI's most solid use case to date: Italian Brainrot. And we don't want to spoil the end, but it might or might not include discussing Viktor Orbáns social media playbook.

Join us in the slop. We’re all heading there anyway, so come as you are and bring s...

From office bots to hacked prompts to AI podcasts no one asked for, Juan and Kate wrestle with a future that feels equal parts genius and garbage. Welcome to the age of slop—where everything’s automated, but nothing’s intentional.

🫟 About Slop World

Juan and Kate plunge into the slop pile—AI news, cultural shifts, and the future’s endless curveballs. They’re not here to sanitize the mess; they’re here to wrestle with it, laugh a...

Most AI upskilling advice skips the one thing that actually opens doors: community.

Juan Faisal talks with Rita Sargsyan, IDEAS Program Director and VC Startups Ambassador at AI LA, about what real access looks like for people outside the usual pipeline (especially creatives, students, and anyone without a traditional tech background).

🤖 Why it matters

AI tools are accessible. Real access isn’t.

Without networks, mentorship, and...

Most AI tools are trained on what’s considered “normal.” Everyone else is an afterthought (if they’re included at all).

Juan Faisal talks with Verena Weber, AI consultant and founder of Women in Tech, about how bias shows up in tools, teams, and leadership. From invisible labor to the myth of confidence, they unpack what keeps women and non-technical professionals out of the loop — and how to change it without waiting for permission...

Jacques Potts teaches AI like it’s a survival skill — because for a lot of kids, it is.

In this episode, Juan Faisal talks with Jacques about what access really means, how to make AI land in under-resourced classrooms, and why cultural fluency matters more than certifications. From local games to data ethics, this is about building confidence, not just competence.

🤖 Why it matters

The next generation is already surrounded by AI....

What if the industry doors don’t open for you? You build your own.

Juan Faisal talks with Rachel Leventhal — creator, technologist, and co-founder of Backlot AI — about the mindset it takes to work ahead of the curve. From early CD-ROM experiments at Nickelodeon to AI-powered filmmaking, they get into tool adoption, creative control, and why artists shouldn’t wait for permission.

🤖 Why it matters

AI tools are everywhere. But tec...

AI is already shaping how films get made — it just doesn’t show up in the credits.

Fred Grinstein and Minh Do aren’t selling tools. They’re building workflows.

Juan Faisal talks with the co-founders of Machine Cinema about what changes when you move from AI experiments to actual production — and what’s at stake for the creatives behind the work.

🤖 Why it matters

The workflows are evolving faster than the rules.

As studios experi...

Most kids aren't scared of AI. But they are learning from it — fast.

This episode isn’t about fear. It’s about access, context, and what gets lost when critical thinking takes a back seat.

Juan Faisal talks with Kyle-Prescott Ogunbase, AI educator and product strategist, about the real gap in AI education. From coding Pac-Man in grade school to building Agbara Life, Kyle shares what “knowledge deserts” reveal about the next digit...

Most marketers feel one of two things about AI: excited or exhausted.

This episode skips the hype and focuses on the work.

Juan Faisal talks with Catherine Toms, AI marketing consultant and educator, about what AI actually changes in marketing — and what it doesn’t. From overhyped tools to quiet shifts, they unpack what smart teams are doing differently, why strategy still matters, and how to stay sharp without burning out.

🤖 Why...

Want to see real use cases of AI remaking HR workflows? HR expert and founder of AIxHR, Kari Naimon, explains how small businesses and HR teams can save time, streamline repetitive tasks, and boost productivity with generative AI. Learn how to craft effective prompts, create quick wins, and collaborate with IT to integrate AI into your processes. With actionable steps you can implement today, this episode shows how AI can improve w...

David vs. Goliath, AI edition! In this episode, Juan Faisal and Andrew White discuss how small teams and solopreneurs can leverage AI to enhance creativity, improve their workflows, and compete against larger companies. Plus... is AI really democratizing content, or is it all PR bulls#!t?

🤖 Additional Яesources:

Scade: https://www.scade.pro/ (Try for free for 1 month using code ROBOTS)

Scade community - https://community.scade.pr...

"AI has played a role in journalism for quite a while." In this episode, Pete Pachal comes to chat about the transformative impact of AI on journalism and how journalists can use artificial intelligence, addressing both the challenges and opportunities it presents.

We cover the importance of managing expectations around AI's capabilities, the historical context of machine-generated content in newsrooms, and the need for ethical pr...

How is AI transforming the craft of filmmaking in Europe? Just back in Wroclaw after his California tour, filmmaker Matt Szymanowski talks about how AI is disrupting the film industry and why Europe has some catching up to do. Drawing from his upcoming documentary, A Human Future, Matt explores what's working in AI-powered storytelling, what's falling short, and how creatives can stay ahead in 2024 and 2025. He also shares ...

Are you confused about what copyright law protects now that AI is out in the wild? Intellectual Property Attorney Brooke Smarsh explains the truth about AI-generated content: what’s covered, what isn’t, whether AI-generated content can be copyrighted, and what’s fair game when training models—plus, why taking the time to understand this topic today could save you from expensive headaches tomorrow.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This episode offers...

AI Experts React to Oprah Winfrey's "AI and the Future of Us" Special

Most people saw Oprah’s AI special. But what *didn’t* it cover? Juan Faisal talks with AI filmmaker Jagger Waters, strategist Kate Cook, and edtech PM Kyle-Prescott Ogunbase about the trust gap in AI, what "Generation AI" actually faces, and why public understanding—not just faster tools—matters most.

🤖 Why it matters:

AI is scaling fas...

AI's impact is misunderstood—both overhyped and underappreciated, says Luke Wilcoxson, co-founder and creative director of Only the Bold. In this episode, he shares how you can use AI to boost your creative career without losing your value and the secret to staying ahead in an industry that (for better or worse) never stops evolving.

🤖 Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro to Luke Wilcoxson (Only the Bold Agency)

00:43 - AI's Overhype...

EP18 — AI's Cultural Crisis: A Marketer's Bold Solution - Tamon George

Tamon George, ex-pro footballer turned creative director and co-founder of Creative Theory Agency (Ad Age's Small Agency of the Year), is tackling AI's diversity problem in advertising. Learn how his team, behind campaigns for Google, Nike, and Amazon, is using generative AI beyond mere automation. In this conversation, Tamon reveals why diverse ...

Can generative AI help filmmakers tell stories that would otherwise be impossible to tell? Iranian-American director Reza Sixo Safai (Persian: رضا سیکسو صفایی) shares his groundbreaking journey into AI filmmaking, from his first Midjourney experiments to creating an OpenAI-powered Tribeca short. Reza reveals how AI can be used to bypass censorship in Iran and craft resonant, dreamlike narratives that mirror his own experiences.