From Lyme to Leading AI with Rachael Garnett

"We're only limited by what we can imagine." In this episode, Michael Dargie chats with Rachael Leventhal Garnett, an AI consultant, trainer, and all-around creative force based in Fort Worth, Texas. Her story weaves together resilience, reinvention, and curiosity—qualities that shine through every chapter of her life. This episode is sponsored by my new book BRANDJITSU, helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. Rachael opens up about her entrepreneurial journey, from running a successful estate sales business to being sidelined by Lyme disease, only to reinvent herself multiple times through upholstery, nonprofit work, and eventually finding her place in the AI space. What started with experimenting in MidJourney in 2022 quickly grew into a full-blown career helping nonprofits, municipalities, and foundations harness AI for real-world impact . Her projects range from developing AI-driven literacy data tools for unhoused populations, to building educational systems for dementia care organizations, to creating Spanish-language resources that empower caregivers . She also shares her role in shaping curriculum for city-wide AI training programs—no small feat considering she's writing and delivering more than 21 hours of material . The conversation isn't all business, though. Rachael shares stories about her love of cats (including a daring kitten rescue that left a hole in her living room wall), her travel dreams, her favourite guilty-pleasure snacks, and her belief that "everything just turns out OK." She also speaks candidly about what excites her most in AI, how she advises "rebels in waiting" to start small and shut out the hype, and why ancient history and cosmic energy continue to inspire her outlook on life . It's a lively, layered conversation that touches on technology, creativity, compassion, and the quirky joys that make us human. Quoteable Quotes "We're only limited by what we can imagine." — Rachael Leventhal Garnett "Everything just turns out OK. We're all just people doing our best." — Rachael Leventhal Garnett "I've really got into vibe coding lately… it's such a great way to build tech these days." — Michael Dargie "Close out the hype. Pick one platform and start simple." — Rachael Leventhal Garnett Episode Highlights Snapshot of Rachael's Work | AI consulting, nonprofit projects, and government contracts DFW Women's Club | Board member and Elevate 2025 conference workshop From Estate Sales to AI | Lyme disease forced a career pivot First Foray into AI | Discovering MidJourney and AI art Using AI in Nonprofits | ChatGPT for grants, newsletters, and events Meeting Her Mentor | Inspired by Jeff Hunter's talk in Las Vegas What She Wishes the World Knew | "Everything turns out OK—we're all just people doing our best" Travel Bucket List | From Morocco to Göbekli Tepe Snacks of Choice | Pretzels, cheese sticks, and popcorn AI for Social Good | Literacy studies for the unhoused in Fort Worth Dementia Care Education | Building learning systems with AI Advice for Beginners | Ignore the hype, start small with one tool Cat Rescue Story | Accidentally sealed in her attic, saved with a camera and some DIY demolition LINKS FROM EPISODE Website (https://www.eaaservice.com/) Rachael on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-garnett-eaas/) Rachael on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/leventhalgarnett?) Get Your Copy of Michael's Book: "BrandJitsu™: Move Your Brand From 'Meh' To Memorable" Indigo | Barnes & Noble | BrandJitsu.com