AI is everywhere right now—but are humans actually ready for it? In this hosts-only episode of Uncover the Human, Cristina Amigoni and Alex Cullimore cut through the hype to explore AI adoption through a human-readiness lens. They unpack why so many AI initiatives fail—not because the technology is broken, but because leaders rush ahead without considering trust, morale, identity, and the real day-to-day impact on people. From high-profile layoffs to shallow “AI usage” metrics, they call out what happens when organizations confuse speed with readiness and automation with progress.

Instead of framing AI as a replacement for humans, Cristina and Alex argue for a more grounded approach: AI as an augmenter of human work. They dig into what true readiness looks like—clear purpose, honest communication, training, role clarity, and space for people to re-define their identities in a changing workplace. With practical examples, humor, and hard-earned lessons, this episode challenges leaders to slow down just enough to ask the most important question first: Are the humans ready? If you’re navigating AI, change, or any major transformation, this conversation offers a refreshingly human place to start.

In this episode of Uncover the Human, Phil Conley reminds us that even the most buttoned-up industries—fintech, B2B marketing, e-commerce payments—are still powered by human beings who long for connection, joy, and authenticity. Phil shares how he infuses creativity into spaces where it’s least expected, from bringing game-show legends to trade-show booths to designing experiences that spark delight instead of sales fatigue. His approach proves that when people feel safe to laugh, play, and express themselves, they drop their guard—and that’s where real relationships and real business impact begin.

Phil also dives into why authenticity isn’t just a personal ideal but a team game-changer. He talks about the power of leading with empathy, embracing diverse strengths, and creating environments where ideas can flow without judgment. As the conversation expands into AI, trust, and the future of work, Phil brings it all back to one truth: people buy from—and are moved by—other humans. If you want to hear how creativity, humanity, and strategy come together in unexpected ways, this episode will inspire you to rethink what’s possible in your own work.

In this hosts-only episode of Uncover the Human, Cristina Amigoni and Alex Cullimore explore a question many high performers quietly wrestle with: Why does work feel so draining even when you’re doing well? They unpack the difference between physical burnout and the deeper exhaustion that comes from spending too much time on work that drains your energy—even if you’re good at it and rewarded for it. Through candid personal stories, they name the unsettling experience of succeeding on paper while feeling disconnected, bored, or depleted inside.

The conversation introduces the Working Genius model as a practical, non-judgmental way to understand where your energy is created and where it’s lost—both individually and on teams. Cristina and Alex share how having shared language around energy, frustration, and fulfillment transforms collaboration, reduces burnout, and builds psychological safety. If you’ve ever felt stuck doing work you’re praised for but secretly dread, or wondered how teams can move faster and feel better, this episode offers clarity, empathy, and actionable insight to start the year more aligned and energized.

In this milestone 200th episode of Uncover the Human, Alex Cullimore and Cristina Amigoni reflect—with plenty of humor—on what they’ve learned after 200 conversations about authenticity. The big takeaway: authenticity isn’t a finish line, it’s a practice. It changes as you change, and it becomes a powerful way to protect your energy, reduce burnout, and show up more aligned in your work and relationships. They also share why the podcast exists in the first place: to make the workplace more human, so people can bring their full selves to what takes up such a huge portion of life.

Then the conversation gets real as two members of the Siamo team, Aaron Wilson and Abbay Robinson, describe what it feels like to work in a truly human-centric environment—where “humanity and performance aren’t opposites,” asking for help is safe, and hard conversations can happen without fear. Together they name the biggest barrier to authenticity at work: fear—fear of judgment, gossip, consequences, and the exhausting “performative” masks people wear to survive. If you’re craving a refreshing, honest take on what authentic leadership and psychological safety can actually look like (and why it matters), this episode is a warm, candid listen.

In this hosts-only episode of Uncover the Human, Cristina and Alex dive into one of the most overlooked—and costly—gaps in organizational life: activation, the critical phase between having a great idea and actually implementing it. Drawing on real stories, humor, and plenty of personal experience, they explore why teams so often leap straight from strategy to execution, leaving people confused, overwhelmed, and unintentionally sidelined. From missed communication to unclear roles and “zoning sign” announcements nobody reads, they unpack the ripple effects of skipping activation and how it quietly derails even the best-intentioned changes.

Cristina and Alex also share what effective activation really requires: empathy, clarity, honest conversations, and the willingness to slow down long enough to bring people along. They examine the signs activation has been skipped, dispel the myth that communication or training alone is enough, and offer insights on how leaders can better prepare their teams for change. Whether you're navigating a restructure, launching a new initiative, or simply working with other humans, this episode is a relatable, energizing reminder that sustainable change isn’t an event—it’s a journey.

Meetings feel heavy when people stop listening, and they stop listening when the room isn’t designed for them. We sit down with Oscar Trimboli to unpack how listening truly works at work—and why it starts before a single word is spoken. From a career-defining moment in a smoky boardroom to a decade-plus of research, Oscar shares what the best listeners do differently and how leaders can turn monologues into momentum.

We dive into the four villains of listening—emotional, interrupting, distracted, and shrewd—and the simple moves that disarm them. You’ll hear why clarifying questions are a hallmark of high-performing teams, how to measure share of voice, and when rotating hosts unlocks engagement that agendas alone can’t. Oscar breaks down practical ways to build curiosity into your meetings, including live Q&A tools that let the audience vote on what matters most, and the courage to say I don’t know when that’s the most honest answer.

We also explore how to respect different listening preferences, including neurodiverse needs, by balancing story and data and by self-disclosing how you process information. The throughline is actionable: ask what will make this a good conversation, check progress midstream, and close the loop afterward so listening becomes visible. Whether you’re leading a team meeting, a cross-functional project, or a company town hall, these frameworks help you shorten meetings, surface real issues, and build trust that lasts.

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Two Authors Walk Into A Deadline And Try Not To Cry

A bestseller tag is nice, but the real story is everything it took to get there—and what we learned about authentic leadership by trying to write it down. We pulled back the curtain on our launch week for The Authenticity Upgrade: Rebooting Leadership for Real Humans and discovered that writing is less about perfect sentences and more about radical empathy for a reader who can’t talk back. Without a room to read, we had to anticipate confusion, trim complexity, and build a path that invites people to keep going.

We also double-clicked on our core belief: self-leadership comes before team, culture, and results. People often look to fix the external—bosses, processes, metrics—but transformation begins when you reclaim the energy lost to performing. As we threaded self-awareness, emotional literacy, and values clarity into a single arc, the through line became unmistakable: authenticity frees capacity, and that capacity is what makes collaboration, influence, and leadership sustainable. That clarity didn’t arrive quietly. Co-writing meant letting go when the words were right but not “ours,” rebuilding an “easy” chapter from scratch, and managing gremlins that insisted nothing was ready.

Beyond the page, we talk candidly about the logistics most authors underestimate: editing sprints, cover design, metadata, a 60-plus-page companion workbook, and the vulnerable act of promotion. We don’t chase rankings for ego’s sake; we play the platform game so the people who need this work can find it. From tech glitches to mailing list mishaps, we share the stumbles and the systems that ultimately worked. If you’re curious about how empathetic writing overlaps with modern leadership—or you’re facing a creative leap and want a field report from the edge—this one’s for you.

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In this episode of Uncover the Human, Cristina Amigoni and Alex Cullimore close out their book series with guest Aaron Wilson to explore what it really means to lead with authenticity in an era shaped by group dynamics and artificial intelligence. They dive into the pitfalls leaders face when managing teams—like assuming everyone should behave the same or overlooking quieter voices—and offer practical ways to build trust, clarity, and psychological safety. Together, they unpack why “being kind” beats “being nice,” how collaboration agreements reduce assumptions, and why patience and consistency are the true cornerstones of trust.

As the conversation shifts to AI, Cristina and Alex share a hopeful, human-first perspective: while technology will automate tasks, it will amplify the need for empathy, critical thinking, and connection. AI may draft the deck, but humans decide what matters and how to move forward together. This thoughtful, funny, and refreshingly grounded episode reminds us that the future of work isn’t about replacing people—it’s about rediscovering what makes us human.