What happens when a 30-year learning veteran meets AI? Andy Lancaster, founder of Reimagine People Development, joins our community for a raw conversation about writing, struggle, and what makes us irreplaceably human.

We dive deep into the messy reality of creativity – from Andy's butterfly cocoon analogy (spoiler: the struggle is the point) to why Anne Frank's diary will always hit different than anything AI produces. This isn't your typical "AI will replace writers" debate. Instead, we explore the uncomfortable truth that maybe we need that 5 AM writer's block, the blank page anxiety, and yes, even the pain.

Andy shares insights from his decades in organizational learning, his time working in drug rehab, and why he uses AI for research but draws the line at final copy. We tackle the big questions: Should your teachers get credit for your adult achievements? Can AI truly empathize? And why does a handwritten letter from a deceased aunt carry more weight than any algorithm ever could?

Plus, we discuss practical wisdom for navigating our AI-assisted future – how to amplify without outsourcing your thinking, why some friction is worth keeping, and the art of knowing when to put down the prompt and pick up the pen.

Fair warning: This conversation might make you reconsider how you use AI in your creative process. Sometimes the scenic route through struggle leads to places shortcuts never could.

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