Ep 53: AI, Adaptability, and Self-Awareness to Rediscover Human Potential with Mike Schindler

Bob Pulver sits down with Mike Schindler, a Navy veteran, executive coach, and documentary filmmaker. The conversation explores the intersection of AI, human creativity, and leadership in an era of rapid change. Mike discusses his documentary The Rise of Humanness, his approach to fostering self-awareness, and why adaptability will be crucial for thriving in an AI-driven future. Together, they examine key frameworks like VUCA, AI literacy, and redefining human potential as traditional job roles evolve. Keywords Humanness, AI literacy, self-awareness, human value, VUCA, adaptability, human creativity, future of work, talent strategy, leadership, storytelling, human-centric AI Highlights Mike’s Journey: From Navy service to filmmaking and leadership development The Rise of Humanness: Why expanding human value in the age of AI is essential VUCA and Adaptability: A framework for navigating rapid change in life and business Self-Awareness Exercises: How understanding yourself is key to success in AI-driven environments AI as a Teammate: How AI can augment creativity but not replace human intuition Authentic Relationships: Why human connection will remain central despite technological advancements Rethinking Career Paths: Moving beyond linear career trajectories by leveraging creativity and adaptability Quotes “We’ve been training humans to be robots for the last 100 years. Now it’s time to pull the creator out of them.” — Mike Schindler “When the vision is big, the circumstances don’t matter.” — Mike Schindler “AI can help you see around corners, but you need the self-awareness to discern when its recommendations align with your goals.” — Mike Schindler “We need more wild ducks—people willing to carve their own path and challenge the status quo.” — Bob Pulver “Companies that don’t identify their moonshot and align their people toward it will struggle to remain relevant.” — Mike Schindler “AI is designed to be a collaborator, but humans bring the nuance, emotion, and intuition that make great storytelling.” — Mike Schindler Chapters [00:00] - Introduction: Meet Mike Schindler, Navy veteran turned filmmaker and leadership coach [02:12] - Current Projects: The Rise of Humanness and Mike’s upcoming documentaries [04:37] - What Is VUCA? Understanding volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity [07:40] - Teaching Humans to Be Human Again: Breaking free from robotic routines [10:14] - Self-Awareness Exercises: How understanding yourself leads to growth and success [14:03] - AI Ready, Human Ready, Change Ready: Preparing for a rapidly evolving future [21:20] - Talent Strategy and Adaptability: Why job roles change faster than ever before [29:18] - Rethinking Career Paths: How creativity and individuality are the keys to future success [35:36] - Human Connection: Why authentic relationships are more important than ever [44:55] - AI in Creativity: How AI assists in filmmaking and creative problem-solving [51:33] - Final Thoughts: Building better relationships and rediscovering purpose Mike Schindler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjschindler VUCA MAX: https://itsvucamax.com/ The Rise of Humanness (podcast): https://riseofhumanness.podbean.com/ “The Rise of Humanness” (book): https://itsvucamax.com/book-2/ For advisory work and marketing inquiries: Bob Pulver: https://linkedin.com/in/bobpulver Elevate Your AIQ: https://elevateyouraiq.com Thanks to Warden AI (https://warden-ai.com) for their sponsorship and support of the show! Warden is an AI assurance platform for HR technology to demonstrate AI-powered solutions are fair, compliant and trustworthy.