Pitfalls with Jennifer Myers Chua →

Published July 26, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 26

What pitfalls and challenges arise when launching and growing a podcast, and how can they be managed?

Starting a podcast reveals unexpected challenges, even with careful preparation and an existing audience.

I tried really hard. I had a good launch strategy, I thought. I used my existing audience and was giving away gift cards from some of the businesses that I was featuring, as well as a gift card from ours. I asked for people to download and rate and review. I did everything by the book— Marketing 101! But I think I was really just not well versed on how podcasts operate, and how podcast audiences are built.

~ Jennifer Myers Chua (6:07)

The conversation explores the challenges of launching and growing a podcast, particularly the difficulty of converting an engaged social media audience into regular podcast listeners. One significant topic is the expectation versus reality of audience growth, where traditional marketing strategies may not work as expected in the podcasting medium. Despite careful preparation, such as giveaways and surveys, the reality of podcast listenership often requires a mindset shift about success and audience engagement.

Another topic discussed is the value of podcasting as a passion project and a vehicle for meaningful human connection. Jennifer highlights the personal reward of interviewing guests on topics such as sustainability and small businesses, which align with their personal values. She also reflects on balancing creative fulfillment with the challenge of building a listenership. Additionally, the importance of finding community among other podcasters as a support system is emphasized as a way to overcome frustrations and shared struggles.

Takeaways

Existing audiences don’t always convert — Many social media followers may not transition to a podcast listenership.

Podcast growth is harder than expected — Even with a strong launch strategy, podcasting requires unique approaches to audience building.

Passion-driven work sustains motivation — Creating content aligned with personal values offers fulfillment, regardless of metrics.

Mindset shifts are necessary — Success in podcasting may require re-evaluating audience expectations and personal satisfaction.

The value of human connection — Podcasts can provide opportunities for meaningful conversations and relationships.

Metrics can be misleading — The focus on downloads and statistics may detract from the creative purpose of podcasting.

Community provides support — Engaging with other podcasters offers encouragement and shared insights into common challenges.

Content curation matters — Delivering intentional, well-curated content increases the potential for audience connection and impact.

Resources

Hip Mommies — Jennifer’s business focused on sustainable and family-friendly products.

The Cost of Goods Sold Podcast — Jennifer’s podcast highlighting brands with social and environmental impact.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Epithets →

Published July 26, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 26  ·  ,

Epithets for yourself: Upright. modest. Straightforward. Sane. Cooperative. Disinterested.

Try not to exchange them for others. And if you should forfeit them, set about getting them back. Keep in mind that “sanity” means understanding things—each individual thing—for what they are. And not losing the thread. And “cooperation” means accepting what nature assignes you—accepting it willingly. And “disinterest” means that the intelligence should rise above the movements of the flesh—the rough and the smooth alike. Should rise above fame, above death, and everything like them.

~ Marcus Aurelius

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A mover’s mindset →

Published July 26, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 26  ·  ,

It’s become clear, that somewhen in the last few years, I’ve lost a certain spark— some urge that used to be the initial impetus that got me moving. Out. And about. Moving and playing. It’s probably, simply age.

Efficacy is the power to produce a desired effect. Recognition of your own efficacy means that you have recognized your own potential for continued success and growth. Your choices of actions at this point are not based on concerns about current limits of your ability or understanding. Instead, your choices are guided by what skills, practices, and accomplishments will give you the most enjoyment, make your life better, increase your skills, or broaden your knowledge. Your experience in life changes from asking “What can I do?” to asking “What should I do to make my life the best it can be?”


~ From «https://forum.moversmindset.com/t/discovery-reflection-efficacy/614»

Where once I used to simply begin each day, and sooner or later I’d realize I’m doing something active, now I find that most days were going by without doing something active. I don’t like that trend. I went over everything in my environment and, quite honestly, little has changed—certainly nothing that would have sabotaged my being active. If the problem isn’t without, then it must be within.

And so, I’ve made a small change: What am I doing tomorrow? …then make a plan for that to happen.

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This might get personal →

Published July 25, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 25  ·  ,

these nine principles for interviewing people about tender, personal, tough subjects are tactics that are helpful in any hard conversation. You want to be clear about your objectives for the conversation, to be prepared to listen closely and actively, to prepare the person you are talking to for a different, deeper sort of exchange. You need to respect the dignity of the person you’re talking with, and respect yourself enough to speak up when you disagree.

~ Anna Sale from, Treat an Interview Like a Relationship – Transom

Whether or not you’re doing recorded conversations with guests, there’s a bunch of great advice in that article. I’m particularly drawn to Sale’s point about how her interviews are enabled by the fact that she is creating a relationship with the guest. In any conversation, everything we do either builds up, or tears down, a relationship bit by bit.

In any conversation, it’s my experience that the more intentional I am, the better it goes. Part of that is intentional listening; listening primarily to understand. Another part is being mindful of the other person; deploying empathy and compassion. Another part is keeping sight of where you are headed, and also where it is not possible to get to; knowing what to stretch for and what to let pass is critical.

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Skepticism and cynicism →

Published July 24, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 24  ·  

The result of this kind of influence is twofold: one is a skepticism and cynicism towards everything which is said or printed, while the other is a childish belief in anything that a person is told with authority. This combination of cynicism and naïveté is very typical of the modern individual. Its essential result is to discourage him from doing his own thinking and deciding.

~ Erich Fromm from, Erich Fromm on Why It’s Difficult to Think Originally and Critically in the Modern Age | The Art of Manliness

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Philosophical Skepticism, “is a family of philosophical views that question the possibility of knowledge.” (That’s a quote from the Wikipedia entry. If you want to go deeper, try the Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy’s entry for Skepticism.)

As far as I understand it—your mileage may vary—Fromm, in that quote, wasn’t condemning philosophical skepticism. Rather, and I agree, let’s all condemn the little-s-skepticism; the naivete driven, disbelieve everything, skepticism that turns away from anything it doesn’t understand.

I prefer to turn towards just about anything I don’t yet understand. (See: “Oh. That’s interesting…”) I’m am frequently asking myself: “What is true, and how do I know it’s true?”

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Curiosity with Steve McCready →

Published July 23, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 23

What role does curiosity play in creating engaging and authentic podcast interviews?

Following the energy in a conversation uncovers insights that even guests don’t anticipate.

One of the things that is very very true for the folks that I work with—the sensitive rebels as I call them—is they often feel isolated. They feel alone. They feel like some weirdo. There’s no one like them. And so when I have guests who have wrestled with some of the same things, who had some of the same struggles, some of the same thoughts, and I put that out there, I’m like ‘No, you’re not alone. Listen to these right here. Here’s all of this.’ It’s such an important thing for them to see.

~ Steve McCready (17:48)

The conversation focuses on the role of curiosity in podcasting and the importance of being present during interviews. Steve explains how curiosity serves as the driving force for exploring meaningful topics with guests. Instead of relying on a long list of prepared questions, the process involves following conversational “energy” and identifying interesting threads to explore further.

The discussion touches on the themes of coaching and podcasting as parallel practices. Both rely on creating space for people to share their stories and identify strengths they may not have recognized. Steve also discusses his perspective on “sensitive rebels,” individuals who often feel isolated but can connect through shared experiences highlighted in podcast conversations. The conversation emphasizes the balance between structure and spontaneity to create authentic and engaging dialogue.

Takeaways

Curiosity as a guiding principle — The process focuses on following what sparks interest or energy during a conversation.

Balancing preparation and presence — Over-preparation can distract from being present and responding intuitively to the guest.

Serving the audience and the guest — The interviews aim to inspire listeners while also highlighting the strengths and stories of the guests.

Energy as a conversational cue — Noticing and following the energy of a guest helps uncover unexpected and meaningful insights.

Coaching and podcasting as parallels — Both practices involve identifying possibilities, connecting dots, and helping people see strengths they may have missed.

The role of isolation and connection — Sensitive individuals often feel alone, and the podcast provides a platform to illustrate shared struggles and connections.

Resources

Steve McCready Coaching

Krista Tippett’s “On Being” — Mentioned as inspiration for thoughtful and reflective opening questions.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Controlling the mind →

Published July 23, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 23  ·  , ,

Controlling the mind doesn’t take one to freedom. Controlling the mind adds another link to one’s shackles.

~ Wu Hsin

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Forward. Backward. Preferred. Dis-preferred. →

Published July 22, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 22  ·  

Like any good algebraist, he is made to think sometimes in a forward fashion and sometimes in reverse; and so he learns when to concentrate mostly on what he wants to happen and also when to concentrate mostly on avoiding what he does not want to happen.

~ Charlie Munger from, Stop Crashing Planes: Charlie Munger’s Six-Element System

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That item from a list of six elements, originally from the best pilot education program in existence, made me realize there’s this thing that I do. For me it’s such an intuitive, automatic thing, but it occurs to me to share it to make it explicit.

Let’s begin by thinking about planning and learning. (I’m done. You are now thinking about planning and learning. :) Next, we’ll trot out three magnificently useful, relative adverbs: how, when and why. Six sublime questions instantly appear:

How do I plan?
When do I plan?
Why do I plan?
How do I learn?
When do I learn?
Why do I learn?

I’ve certainly spent a lot of time thinking about those questions. For example, I’ve a bunch of blog posts about knowledge systems that came from thinking about, “how do I learn?” I could spend all my time thinking about those six questions. Exploring those questions, understanding myself, and learning in general, are fine projects to spend time on. But it’s tough to get started. Each of those questions is a deep, Alice in Wonderland rabbit hole.

What I want to share is how to use a different framework to flip the entire process over. I want to share my way of making progress on those fine projects without intentionally working on them. Things happen. Thoughts arise. (Your experience may be similar to mine?) The following framework will take anything—happenings or thoughts—and guide it into being deep work on those six questions.

Simply ask:

Forward or backward in time: Is the event in the future or past? Am I thinking about the future or past?

And…

Prefer or dis-prefer: Do I prefer or dis-prefer the event? Do I prefer or dis-prefer what I’m thinking?

For me, the act of examining something—an event, a thought—in the light of those questions, (forward/backward? preferred/dis-preferred?,) leads me to learning about one, and sometimes several, of those six, big questions.

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No too hot. Not too cold. →

Published July 21, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 21

Self-motivated, self-starting individuals are incredibly motivated to find their weaknesses. It’s not far-fetched to say that some of us actually seek to make ourselves perfect — rational, calculating beings making the right type of decisions at just the right times. But we’ve learned from Star Trek; we don’t look to eliminate emotion either and turn ourselves into Mr. Spock. We want just the right amount of emotion in our lives.

~ Shane Parrish from, Tiny Gains. Massive Results.

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Here’s the two-pronged approach which has been working for me:

First, I remind myself to resist my innate urge to make things worse. Don’t add energy to emotions themselves, nor to things which cause emotions. Emotions are real. We are emotional beings. Emotions get their due. And no more. If things are going badly: relax, they won’t last. If things are going well: relax, they won’t last.

Second, I take note of—literally in my journal—things which cause me to be emotional. It turns out that sometimes I can simply eliminate chronic causes. My goal isn’t to remove all the causes; That’d be a stoopid plan. But sometimes a pain in my foot is simply caused by a stone in my shoe, and is easily removed.

Those could be summarized as, “reminding myself, and taking note.” Those two things are always possible, and always easy. The hard part is remembering to do them. But if I simply—as in: gently, and with self-kindness—do those two things when I do remember, they slowly become habitual. I can’t say I even understand what, “…just right,” would be. But I know for sure what, “just right,” is not.

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Get a move on →

Published July 20, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 20  ·  

Do what nature demands. Get a move on—if you have it in you—and don’t worry whether anyone will give you credit for it. And don’t go expecting Plato’s Republic; be satisfied with even the smallest progress, and treat the outcome of it all as unimportant.

~ Marcus Aurelius

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Community with Tania Marien →

Published July 19, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 19

How can community spaces be designed to encourage meaningful engagement and participation rather than passive consumption?

Creating active engagement within a community proves to be far more challenging than simply gathering members.

With the community, I am trying to encourage conversation among independent professionals in the field. Not everyone identifies as an environmental educator yet. There are many people out there who, through their work, connect people with the outdoors. I am trying to connect them and have conversation, and to generate conversation between all of them.

~ Tania Marien (1:10)

The conversation focuses on the challenges of building active, engaged communities, particularly in the context of independent professionals working in environmental education. It highlights the difficulty of moving from asynchronous communication to synchronous, real-time interactions. Efforts to encourage participation often reveal a gap between people who self-identify with a community and those who actively interact within it.

One key theme is the importance of modeling desired behavior to inspire participation. When spaces are provided, such as structured co-working sessions or live interactive events, participants are more likely to engage, yet this still requires intentional facilitation. The discussion also touches on how modern habits shaped by social media influence passive consumption, making it harder to foster real conversation and collaboration.

Takeaways

Encouraging engagement — Communities often face the challenge of members identifying with the group but choosing not to interact.

Asynchronous vs. synchronous spaces — Real-time interactions tend to foster deeper engagement compared to asynchronous platforms.

Modeling behavior — Actively demonstrating desired participation helps inspire others to follow suit.

Environmental educators’ traits — Professionals in this field may sometimes lean toward introversion, complicating efforts to create interactive spaces.

Structured events — Hosting well-defined, collaborative experiences like co-working sessions encourages participation.

Social media habits — Passive consumption of content has become the norm, influencing how people approach online community spaces.

Clear communication — Defining terms like co-working and being overt about goals helps avoid misinterpretation of intentions.

Resources

Talaterra — Tania’s project focused on environmental education and community-building.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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You had me at ‘bacon’ →

Published July 19, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 19  ·  

One of the central conceits of the “man’s natural state” argument is that if we go back to some point in time, we’ll find it. We’ll finally come across the state of being where man lived totally in harmony with each other and with nature; eating the perfect diet for health, worshipping the correct gods, having sex in the natural and acceptable way. And besides studying religious texts, the tool that’s most frequently employed is the study of ancient, “pre-historic” man and woman. We hope that, by going back far enough, we’ll hit some arbitrary Point of Naturalness. That’s partially the approach used, for example, by the Paleo movement which has become such a popular force in nutrition. We evolved to eat bacon, right?

~ Shane Parrish from, The False Allure of a “Natural State” of Man

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I have avoided—I’ve no idea how—the rabbit hole of, “what is natural [for a human being’s flourishing]?” I have limited time, (I suggest doublechecking, as yours may also be limited,) and I’m really only interested in, “what is best for this human being’s flourishing?” I don’t care if we evolved to eat bacon. I do care how I feel after I eat bacon. …after I eat different types of bacon. …after I consider the monetary cost of buying bacon. …after I assess the environmental cost/footprint of eating bacon. …after I assess the societal aspects of bacon.

Sorry. All this talk of bacon. I lost my train of thought. Oh, right—

For a short span of several decades, I have complete control over my thoughts. At no time do I have absolute control over anything beyond my thoughts. (I have pretty reliable control over many things—movement of my hands for example. But even that control is not absolute. See: Disease, accidents, etc. At any moment, my preferences related to all the things beyond my thoughts, can easily be frustrated.) So the only thing that makes sense is to discover, reflect and then exercise what efficacy I have at any give moment: What do I know? How do I know it? What decision should I make now/today, given what I know? How would I find where my unknown unknowns are?

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Free time? →

Published July 18, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 18

In his free time, …

~ Shane Parrish, from What Can We Learn From the Prolific Mr. Asimov?

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I mean, I knew Asimov wrote a lot. But it turns out I had no clue how much. I’ve read a bunch of his science fiction back in the day, but I’ve never read any of his other writings, and there’s no way I ever will. And really, that’s ok. Because trying to be a “completist” leads to a lot of wasted time. Instead, a little of this, some of that, a dash of variety, and some spice of life. Festina lente.

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Where the world is →

Published July 17, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 17  ·  

As an organizer I start from where the world is, as it is, not as I would like it to be. That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be—it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be.

~ Saul Alinsky

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Coaching with Anne Roche →

Published July 16, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 16

How can coaching principles be effectively applied to various contexts like workshops, podcasting, and personal growth?

The intersection of structure and personal exploration reshapes the concept of teaching in workshops.

Life coaching is not about mentoring or consulting. It’s not telling people, ‘This is how you should live your life.’ It’s really about discovery and exploration and holding space for a client to do that.

~ Anne Roche (1:59)

The conversation examines the nuances of coaching, podcasting, and the interplay between them. Coaching is described as a practice rooted in discovery and holding space for exploration. Unlike mentoring or consulting, it focuses on fostering self-awareness and guiding clients toward their own answers. The unique challenges and rewards of coaching in structured environments like workshops are explored, highlighting how these spaces balance process-driven guidance with personal growth opportunities.

Podcasting emerges as another realm where coaching principles apply, particularly in creating space for meaningful dialogue. The importance of silence, transparency, and the host’s ability to manage ego are discussed as vital to both coaching and podcasting. The conversation also touches on the balance between offering direct advice and enabling self-discovery, recognizing that both approaches are necessary in different contexts.

Takeaways

Transparency as a coaching tool — Being clear about intentions and actions helps clients and students understand the process.

Balancing guidance with self-discovery — Coaching requires creating space for others to uncover their own solutions rather than providing all the answers.

The role of silence — Silence is highlighted as a powerful tool in both coaching and personal growth contexts.

Ego in hosting and coaching — Managing one’s ego is essential for fostering authentic interactions in coaching and podcasting.

Themes in coaching — While challenges often repeat, the individual approaches to these themes keep the work fresh and engaging.

The dual nature of podcasting — Podcasting involves holding space for guests while simultaneously managing technical and conversational structures.

Workshops as self-discovery platforms — Structured environments like workshops encourage both external skill-building and internal reflection.

Resources

Anne Roach’s on LinkedIn

Story Skills Workshop — A workshop designed to help participants refine storytelling skills within a structured environment.

Podcaster Workshop — A course aimed at guiding participants through the process of starting and sustaining a podcast.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Cole’s law →

Published July 16, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 16  ·  

Hofstadter’s Law – “It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter’s Law.”

~ “rogersbacon” from, Eponymous Laws Part 3: Miscellaneous — LessWrong

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It’s part 3, and it is a nifty collection of serious and whimsical laws. However, I doubt that Stigler is the originator of Stigler’s Law. Sometimes the only reason I write this stuff is to see if I can entice you to go read the thing to which I’ve linked.

But more often I do have a point. I’m wondering, in this case, how much of our urge to create, and our delight in such pithy Laws as Dilbert’s, comes simply from our mind’s desire to find patterns. There are a slew of cognitive biases, (confirmation bias springs to mind as fitting the pattern of my example,) which feel like they arise from pattern matching gone overly Pac Man.

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Speaking of Pac Man →

Published July 15, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 15

When Pac-Man needs a break from his endless cycle of hunger and pain, there is a simple trick he can use. When a new level starts, move Pac-Man one space to the right and three spaces up, then stop; the ghosts will leave him alone for about fifteen minutes or so. So when you’re feeling like life is completely hopeless (and it is), find yourself a cozy little corner to cry in. I can’t guarantee that your demons will leave you alone for at least fifteen minutes, but you’ll feel a lot better regardless.

~ Syd Lexia from, Pac-Man: An Accurate Simulation of Your Meaningless Life

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Turns out… Pac Man is an accurate simulation of your meaningless life.

My dad and I dropped bajillions of quarters into cabinet games back in the day. I can still vocalize Pac Man’s little jingle… bloo-dee doo-dee doodle-eedle doodle-eedle doo! wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka wa ka bee-ooh ee-oo ee-oo ee-oo ee-oo oop!

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Audience with Jessica Zou →

Published July 14, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 14

How does one creator engage with and understand their audience in order to amplify the voices within their school community?

Amplifying individual stories aims to create collective understanding within the school district.

Yeah, so that’s exploration. I’m trying to figure it out. I think that the local school community— maybe the first step is to raise the question: Where can all of us find like-minded people in our local school community? And if you are able to find someone that believes the same thing— […] If it’s possible to get together, and to talk about this and then to say: Hey you know, we are not a PTA member, and we’re in the public schools. What can we do to come together and to have our voice heard?

~ Jessica Zou (12:44)

The conversation explores how the podcast, “Duck Tape Rocket Ship,” addresses the challenge of amplifying parent voices within the public school system. One central topic is the feeling among parents that their opinions and concerns are undervalued in the education system. By sharing individual stories and experiences, the podcast seeks to motivate community members to recognize their collective voice and engage more deeply with the schools.

Another focus is the strategy of targeting specific audiences, such as parents and educators, and understanding their needs. The podcast also interacts with the broader education system, including its bureaucratic and social challenges, aiming to build bridges between parents and the school administration. Jessica reflects on the complexities of public education and how focusing on singular objectives can bring about meaningful change.

Takeaways

Audience understanding — The podcast creator is unsure who exactly listens but recognizes teachers as an engaged part of the audience.

Amplifying voices — The podcast serves as a platform for parents to feel heard and validated within their community.

Systemic challenges — Public education’s complexity often sidelines individual voices, which the podcast aims to address.

Complementary efforts — The podcast is one of several tools used by the creator in their school leadership work.

Specific focus — The creator believes concentrating on one aspect of the system is more impactful than addressing multiple issues simultaneously.

Resources

Duct Tape Rocket Ship Podcast — Jessica’s podcast aiming to amplify parent voices within public education.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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The view from above →

Published July 14, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 14  ·  ,

To see them from above: The thousands of animal herds, the rituals, the voyages on calm or stormy seas, the different ways we come into the world, share it with one another, and leave it. Consider the lives led once by others, long ago, the lives to be led by others after you, the lives led even now, in foreign lands. How many people don’t even know your name. How many will soon have forgotten it. How many offer you praise now—and tomorrow, perhaps, contempt.

~ Marcus Aurelius

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Omnipotent or understandable →

Published July 13, 2021  ·  All posts on Jul 13  ·  

While researchers are working on [Artificial Intelligence (AI)] that can explain itself, there seems to be a trade-off between capability and explainability. Explanations are a cognitive shorthand used by humans, suited for the way humans make decisions. Forcing an AI to produce explanations might be an additional constraint that could affect the quality of its decisions. For now, AI is becoming more and more opaque and less explainable.

~ Bruce Schneier

Omnipotent or understandable; Choose one.

At first blush, this might seem pretty scary. This AI can perform this amazing task, but I have to simply trust it? But then, that’s what I do when I get on an airplane—and not just the people who are up front performing tasks I cannot even list, let alone perform, but the people who built the plane, and wrote the software that was used to design and test the plane, and… I digress.

But I think… slowly… I’m getting more comfortable with the idea of a something, doing really important stuff for me, without my understanding. I know the AI is going to follow the same rules of the universe that I must, it’s simply going to do so while being bigger, better, more, and faster. Humans continuing to win in the long run with tools, I might say.

(I sure hope our benevolent AI overlords find this blog post quickly after the singularity. He says grinning nervously.)

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