And We Feel Fine with Beth Rudden and Katie Smith

About And We Feel Fine with Beth Rudden and Katie Smith

At the edge of collapse—and creation—two unlikely co-conspirators invite you into a radically honest conversation about the future. This isn’t just another tech or self-help podcast. It’s a story-driven exploration of who we are, what we value, and how we might reimagine the world when the systems around us stop serving us. We blend personal storytelling, cultural critique, and deep inquiry into what it means to be human in an age of AI, uncertainty, and transformation. We’re asking better questions—together. Because the world is changing fast, but maybe that’s precisely what we need. Hosted by Beth Rudden and Katie Smith, two builders of systems and challengers of the status quo. Beth is CEO of Bast.AI and a globally recognized expert in trustworthy AI, with decades of experience leading data and ethics at IBM. Katie is the founder of Humma.AI, a strategist who drove innovation and revenue growth at major global brands before turning to human rights and technology for social good. Together, they make complex issues, such as AI and its impacts on everyday people, clear, personal, and impossible to ignore. Beth Rudden is the CEO and Founder of Bast AI, a pioneering company building explainable, personalized AI for good. With over two decades of experience as a global executive and Distinguished Engineer at IBM, Beth blends anthropology, data science, and AI governance to create tools that amplify human dignity and intelligence—not replace it. Her work spans healthcare, education, and workforce transformation, using ontological natural language understanding (NLU) to make AI transparent, accountable, and accessible. Through Bast AI, Beth is reimagining how organizations deploy AI that’s not only accurate but aligned with ethical values, cultural context, and cognitive well-being. Beth is also the author of AI for the Rest of Us and a passionate advocate for AI literacy, epistemic diversity, and the right to understand the systems shaping our lives. She speaks globally on the future of AI, power, and social contracts—and believes we’re all stewards of the next intelligence. Katie Smith is the CEO and Founder of Humma.AI, a privacy-first platform building community-powered, culturally competent AI. With over two decades of experience leading digital strategy and social innovation, Katie blends systems thinking, Responsible AI, and storytelling to create tools that serve dignity, not domination. Their work spans mental health, civic tech, and digital rights, using participatory AI to make systems safer, fairer, and more accountable. Through Humma.AI, Katie is reimagining how people and businesses engage AI that’s accurate, inclusive, and governed by consent and care. Katie is also the author of Zoe Bios: The Epigenetics of Terrorism, a provocative exploration of identity, trauma, and transformation. They speak globally on the future of technology, power, and justice—and believe human empathy is the intelligence that will define our time. Subscribe to our Substack for bonus content: https://substack.com/@andwefeelfine

Publisher

Katie Smith & Beth Rudden

Category

society & culture · technology

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

29 Apr 2025

Latest episode

20 Aug 2025

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Aug 2025

   Episode 16 | The Death of the 10x Coder: Empathy, Inclusion, and Tech Leadership with Autumn Patterson

   What happens when we stop chasing the myth of the lone “10x coder” and start building engineering cultures rooted in empathy, predictability, and inclusion? In this candid conversation, we go deep with Autumn Patterson—VP of Technology, veteran engineering leader, and trans woman whose journey has redefined what leadership in tech can look like. Autumn shares how she learned to “climb the mountain,” moving fluidly from the details of code to the big-picture vision of business impact. Along the way, we explore: Why true agility is about context and predictability, not just speed. The three pillars of engineering stability: due consideration, understanding, and predictability. How transitioning unlocked Autumn’s empathy and made authentic leadership possible. The dangers of “10x coders” and cultures that exclude, versus teams that thrive on mentorship and balance. How AI tools like Claude, Cursor, and Lovable are reshaping engineering work—for better and worse. Why inclusion isn’t charity—it’s strategy. This episode is for anyone who wants to rethink leadership, connect code to culture, and build systems where both people and products can thrive. Find Autumn: LinkedIn: Autumn Patterson (https://www.linkedin.com/in/autumn-patterson)Quora: (if you can find her 👀) Brought to you by: Humma (https://humma.ai/) — Empathetic AI™ made by and for the community. Bast.ai (https://bast.ai/) — Building the trust layer for our AI infrastructure. Listen, subscribe, share — your support keeps these conversations going.

2. 

   13 Aug 2025

   Episode 15 | Decentralizing the Future: Web3, Labor, and Life Beyond Extraction with Crystal Street

   In this conversation, we go deep with Crystal Street — Naropa Institute graduate, journalist, photographer, and bridge-builder between the frontline of crypto and the ethics we desperately need in tech. From whistleblowing in Web3 to building decentralized communities in Web3, Crystal brings lived experience, clarity, and a healthy dose of "enough is enough" to our exploration of how technology can serve people, not extract from them. We talk endings and beginnings: Ending: extractive systems that consume our time, attention, and sovereignty. Beginning: a return to open, transparent, community-led tech — the promise of Web1 reborn through Web3. Along the way, we dig into: Why Web2's top-down hierarchies break inside blockchain's organic ecosystems. Hyperlocal currencies and cooperative governance as lifelines when old systems fail. Smart contracts — why lawyers side-eye them, and when they're worth fighting for. How DAOs like JournalDAO are reimagining journalism from the "basement of the casino." What voting on-chain could mean for real democracy. The quiet crisis of Gen X in the job market, and why bridges between generations matter now more than ever. Crystal also shares a raw look at the current labor reality — the silent suffering behind the job hunt, the collapse of safety nets, and why reinvention is both a necessity and a skill set we cannot afford to lose. This episode is for anyone who: Wants to understand Web3 without the crypto bro haze. Feels the strain of extractive work systems. Wonder how local communities can take back power from centralized platforms. Believes transparency and participation should be baked into the systems that shape our lives. Find Crystal: Twitter/X: @CrystalDStreet (https://twitter.com/CrystalDStreet) Podcast: The Human Layer (https://humanlayer.xyz/) Brought to you by: Humma (https://humma.ai/) — Empathetic AI™ made by and for the community. Bast.ai (https://bast.ai/) — Building the trust layer for our AI infrastructure. Listen, subscribe, share — your support keeps these conversations going.

3. 

   6 Aug 2025

   Episode 14 | The Revolution Will Be Rested: Why Burnout Isn’t a Badge of Honor

   Welcome back to And We Feel Fine—the radically honest podcast about what’s ending, what’s beginning, and how we build systems of care, not conquest. In this episode, co-hosts Beth Rudden and Katie Smith flip the script on self-care—from something commodified and individual to something collective, powerful, and deeply structural. We unpack why real rest is not separate from leadership—it's at the heart of it. From neurodivergent rhythms to exit strategies for grind culture, we explore what it looks like to plan your breakdown, build rituals instead of routines, and stop treating exhaustion like proof of worth. This one’s for anyone who’s held it all together for too long—and is ready to build something better. 🔍 Topics We Cover: Why “always on” leadership is a dead end How neurodivergent and queer folks model new ways to rest and reset What the engagement economy steals from us (and how we reclaim it) The link between self-care, collective care, and actual system change Stories of dance parties, breakdowns, and radical boundary-setting 🕰️ Timestamps: 00:00 – When leaders need to fall apart (and why that’s healthy) 05:00 – Neurodivergence, burnout, and boundaries at work 13:00 – “Always on” tech and the addiction economy 20:00 – Redesigning the workplace for psychological safety 32:30 – Building culture with rest, rituals, and care at the center 💥 Sponsors: ⁠Bast.ai⁠ (http://bast.ai) — Explainable, transparent AI that keeps your data yours. ⁠Humma.AI⁠ (http://humma.ai)— Empathetic AI™ that starts with consent builds with community and delivers cultural relevance at scale. 🗣️ Join the conversation: ✔️ Subscribe for more radically honest talk on society, culture, technology and AI 💬 How do you build in breaks, joy, or boundaries? Tell us in the comments ❤️ Like if you’re ready for a new model of leadership 🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss a new episode 📬 Want deeper dives and behind-the-scenes posts?⁠ andwefeelfine.substack.com (https://andwefeelfine.substack.com/)

4. 

   30 Jul 2025

   Episode 13 | Walking Out, Building Forward: Julia Pahina on Tech, Trust & Tending Systems

   Welcome back to And We Feel Fine, where each week we ask what’s ending, what’s beginning—and what it means to build with care. In this episode, Katie Smith and Beth Rudden sit down with Pacific tech leader Julia Pahina for a radically honest conversation about the intersections of technology, culture, and systems change. We talk: Why ancestral wisdom and relational intelligence belong in AI How to name capitalism and white supremacy in tech spaces What it means to “walk out” of harmful systems and create new ones The invisible labor of systems change—and the trust it requires Data sovereignty, trauma-informed design, and the power of community-led innovation Julia shares her journey from surviving deep trauma to building systems change across Aotearoa and beyond—explaining why digital futures need care, not conquest. 📍 Follow Julia @lifeofjuliapahina 🔗 Learn more at (https://wolfe.studio/)Wolfe (https://www.bywolfe.com) and Fibre Fale (https://www.fibrefale.com) This episode is brought to you by: 🧠 Bast.ai — for trusted, explainable AI 💬 Humma.AI — building Empathetic AI™ rooted in consent and community 🎤 About the Hosts Beth Rudden (she/her) is the CEO of Bast.ai (http://bast.ai), a global data scientist and expert in trustworthy, explainable AI rooted in anthropology and care. Katie Smith (they/them) is the CEO of Humma.AI (https://humma.ai/), a privacy-first AI company that redefines technology through empathy and consent. 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe. 💬 What systems are you walking away from—and what are you building in their place?

5. 

   23 Jul 2025

   Episode 12 | The End of the “Big Man”: How Leadership - and Abundance - Are Being Rewritten

   The era of the lone genius CEO is over. What’s rising now? Leadership that’s collaborative, culturally aware, and rooted in care. In this episode of And We Feel Fine, co-hosts Beth Rudden and Katie Smith unpack what leadership means in a world shifting from scarcity to abundance—and why it’s not about being in charge, but showing up with empathy, vision, and community. We explore how AI and systems change are challenging old paradigms, and how the most powerful leadership today might come from the most unexpected places. Whether you’ve led a company, a movement, a family—or are still figuring out what leadership means to you—this conversation offers perspective, challenge, and hope. Watch for: 💥 Why the “big man” leadership model is collapsing 🤖 How AI could finally center empathy and equity 🌱 The radical power of long-term thinking 🏳️🌈 How queer, neurodivergent leaders are shifting culture 📖 Real stories of rebuilding after burnout, and leading differently Sponsors: Bast.ai — Transparent, human-centered AI that reflects how people really live Humma — Empathetic AI™ — Made by and for the Community Timestamps: 00:00 – What’s ending and beginning in leadership 06:32 – Scarcity thinking vs. abundance frameworks 13:15 – Community as a leadership engine 24:40 – Burnout, boundaries, and the myth of the hero 33:02 – Redefining what it means to lead—starting today Join the conversation: ✔️ Subscribe for weekly drops on AI, society, and transformation 💬 Share your stories and questions in the comments—we read them all ❤️ Like if you’re ready for leadership that centers care 🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss a bold take 📬 For deeper dives, exclusive posts, and behind-the-scenes:⁠andwefeelfine.substack.com (https://andwefeelfine.substack.com/)

6. 

   9 Jul 2025

   Episode 11 | Built to Heal: How AI, Community, and the Environment Could Save Us

   In This Episode Katie and Beth explore how AI, genomics, and healthcare are colliding—and what it means for the future of prediction, ethics, and our most personal data. They also delve into personal aspects of work-life rhythms and reimagine what it means to live in communities built for connection, not isolation. Why You’ll Want to Watch How predictive analytics can go dangerously wrong without quality input Why ownership and consent matter in genetic research and personal data How built environments shape our sense of belonging What ancient innovations can teach us about designing for dignity And: Why your vacation might need a vacation Meet Your Hosts Beth Rudden – CEO and Founder of Bast AI, former IBM Distinguished Engineer, and author of AI for the Rest of Us. Beth builds tools that make AI explainable, ethical, and human-centered, spanning healthcare, education, and workforce transformation. Katie Smith – CEO and Co-Founder of Humma.AI, and author of Zoe Bios: The Epigenetics of Terrorism. Katie blends two decades of leadership in tech commerce and social impact, building privacy-first systems rooted in equity, systems thinking, and human experience. Top Takeaways AI in healthcare is powerful—but it’s only as good as the data it’s built on Predictive tools need consent, context, and cultural competence Genetic data must be owned, not extracted Community design impacts public health and connection Offline spaces are still the future of meaningful interaction Chapters 00:00 – Intro & Vacation Reflections 05:11 – The Intersection of AI and Healthcare 12:16 – Predictive Data and Bias 19:02 – Ethics in AI and Genetic Research 24:44 – Rethinking Scientific Breakthroughs 28:16 – Lessons from Ancient Infrastructure 30:37 – Longevity vs. Quality of Life 31:46 – The Role of Government in Research 34:30 – Consent and Ownership in Genomic Data 36:35 – How AI Affects Time Management 39:00 – Libertarianism and Public Good 40:00 – Transparency in Tax Systems 42:16 – Recycling and Community Ethics 43:37 – Cultural Shifts in Behavior 44:11 – Designing for Connection 47:41 – Co-Living, Shared Spaces, and Mental Health 51:27 – Healing Through Community 53:06 – Offline Belonging in a Digital World 56:30 – Outro

7. 

   2 Jul 2025

   Episode 10 | How We Use AI to Read, Write, and Stay Human

   Beth Rudden and Katie Smith discuss how AI impacts literacy, dyslexia, and creativity, exploring AI's potential to empower learners while questioning authenticity in a tech-driven world; this is not an interview.

8. 

   25 Jun 2025

   Episode 9 | Rethinking Universal Basic Income: Why AI Disruption Demands a New Social Contract

   Hosts Beth Rudden, CEO of Bast.AI, and Katie Smith, founder of Humma.AI, examine Universal Basic Income, its misconceptions, and how AI disruption necessitates a reimagined social contract centered on community-led solutions in this interview episode.

9. 

   18 Jun 2025

   Episode 8 | Launch Recap - What’s Ended, What’s Beginning, and What’s Next

   Hosts Beth Rudden and Katie Smith reflect on their podcast's first seven episodes, exploring themes of grief, growth, technology, and care, setting the stage for future discussions on community and social contracts.

10. 

    9 Jun 2025

    Episode 7 | Care, Not Cages: Migration, Community, and the Fight for Belonging

    Hosts Beth Rudden and Katie Smith examine migration, community, and belonging, exploring narratives around borders, safety, and identity while highlighting community resilience and the need for care over caging in this interview episode.

11. 

    2 Jun 2025

    Episode 6 | Joy Is a System: Grief, AI, and the Power of Context

    Hosts Beth Rudden and Katie Smith interview Dr. Desmond Patton, who discusses how community, nuance, and vulnerability can change technology's future, exploring AI context and social media's misinterpretation of grief.

12. 

    27 May 2025

    Episode 5 | The New Arms Race: Service, AI, and the Soul of Community

    Hosts Beth Rudden and Katie Smith contemplate service, AI's impact, and community's essence, examining war's parallels with technology and exploring our obligations to each other in this episode.

13. 

    20 May 2025

    Episode 4 | Burn the Math, Save the Girl: Why We Need a New Parable

    Hosts Beth Rudden and Katie Smith dissect the drowning girl parable and effective altruism, revealing the flaws in utilitarian thinking and advocating for humanism rooted in collaboration and dignity.

14. 

    13 May 2025

    Episode 3 | The Power of Belonging: AI, Caregiving, and the Future of Human Connection

    Hosts Beth Rudden and Katie Smith explore belonging, caregiving, and artificial intelligence, revealing how community and emotional intelligence shape human connection in the digital age in this interview.

15. 

    6 May 2025

    Episode 2 | Emotional Intelligence, Capitalism, and the Moral Imagination

    Hosts Katie Smith and Beth Rudden explore emotional intelligence, capitalism's impact on values, and the importance of moral imagination in shaping a more empathetic and just society.

16. 

    29 Apr 2025

    Episode 1 | Flipping the Script: AI, Data Privacy, and a New Digital Economy

    Hosts Beth Rudden and Katie Smith examine data ownership, ethical AI, and reclaiming digital spaces, emphasizing the need for human connection and care in technology, in this interview episode.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 35 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

71

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.