Authenticity by Design: Building Mental Health Tools That Actually Work with Seth Micarelli of Volo Health

AI can make therapy more accessible—but only if it's done right. In this episode, ex-Google and Amazon product leader Seth shares his journey from panic attacks to building Volo Health, an AI-powered tool for anxiety, depression, and addiction. He breaks down how most therapy tools get it wrong, what makes human-centered AI actually safe, and how product teams can reconnect with the humans they serve—even at scale. Seth opens up about leaving Silicon Valley, his personal journey with emotional healing, and the limits of traditional therapy. Along the way, we explore the ethics of AI in mental health, the value of 12-step recovery models, and the risks of over-validating users with AI. If you're a founder, product lead, or designer thinking about building in healthcare, mental wellness, or with generative AI—this conversation is a must. Unlock the full potential of your product team with Integral's player coaches, experts in lean, human-centered design. Visit integral.io/convergence for a free Product Success Lab workshop to gain clarity and confidence in tackling any product design or engineering challenge. In this episode... Why AI validation isn't always helpful—and can sometimes be harmful How Volo Health uses opinionated AI, clinical oversight, and anonymized data to personalize support The difference between optimizing for scale vs. building for emotional impact What Seth learned from working at Amazon, Google, and in recovery circles How founders can build teams and products that don't lose sight of the human Mentioned in this episode... Volo Health LangChain / LangGraph ChatGPT / GPT-based therapy models 988 Crisis Line SVS Subwoofers (yes, really) Subscribe to the Convergence podcast wherever you get podcasts including video episodes to get updated on the other crucial conversations that we'll post on YouTube at youtube.com/@convergencefmpodcast Learn something? Give us a 5 star review and like the podcast on YouTube. It's how we grow.   Follow the Pod Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/convergence-podcast/ X: https://twitter.com/podconvergence Instagram: @podconvergence