Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 55 minutes ago
Episode Summary
In this episode, I talk with AI strategist, communicator, and ethics researcher Rebecca Bultsma.
Rebecca is known for helping people understand AI “without freaking out or falling asleep.” From her farm near the Montana Canada border, she brings a grounded, practical perspective to the chaos of generative AI.
We dive into misconceptions, practical use cases, the importance of skepticism, and why human connection still matters in an AI-driven world.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by AI or unsure where to begin, this episode is a perfect place to start.
What We Talk About
Rebecca’s journey from communications into AI and ethics research.
The moment in 2022 when ChatGPT changed the conversation about AI.
Misconceptions: why AI is not a fad, and why it matters for everyone.
Quick wins with generative AI from reading terms & conditions to learning through NotebookLM.
Her mantra: “Never trust a large language model.” What that means and why human oversight is non-negotiable.
The risks of over-trusting AI when it feels “human.”
Opportunities in strategy: using AI for pattern-finding, scenario testing, and persona-building.
Practical advice for staying safe: separating personal/work accounts and turning off data training.
Why experimenting with Claude, ChatGPT, or Gemini is the best starting point.
Rebecca’s daily workflow: from AI-powered health stacks to automations that save brainpower.
Final advice: control the controllables, start small, and build confidence step by step.
Access the Show
All platforms & past episodes: coffeeforthebrain.com/podcasts
Direct Link to This Episode:
Listen & Subscribe:
[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify] | [YouTube] | [Simplecast]
Resources & Links
Rebecca’s website: rebeccabultsma.com (speaking, workshops, resources)
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rebecca-bultsma (active posts on AI ethics, policy, comms)
X (Twitter): @rebeccabultsma — “AI awe + rational anxiety” stream and resource drops
TikTok: @rebeccabultsma (short takes on AI, comms, and ethics)
Instagram: @commsrebecca (communications + AI insights)
Highlighted Posts (good primers for listeners)
“POV: You’re the ‘AI ethics’ person and not freaking out about LinkedIn’s data use.”
Nuanced take on platform data and practical risk framing (great for comms leaders). LinkedIn
“Never trust an LLM” in practice.
Threads/posts where she pushes for human review, disclosure, and trust-building. Pair with her SchoolCEO feature. Apptegy
Defining AI ethics as a philosophical puzzle.
Reflective post that shows her influences and systems lens. LinkedIn
AI learning resources roundup.
Shareable list of podcasts, newsletters, books, and courses, great on-ramp for teams. X (formerly Twitter)
Webinar: Navigating AI Tools in Schools.
Concrete strategies for K-12; sets expectations for ethical adoption and practical wins. risevision.com
Courses & Tools Mentioned:
OpenAI Academy – Free ChatGPT classes
Google AI on Coursera – AI 101 course
Anthropic Academy – Free Claude courses
NotebookLM – AI-powered research synthesis
The Boring Report
GPT - JobsGPT by SmarterX
Zapier - zapier.com/ai
Episode Quote
“Anything you can’t do well, or you feel overwhelmed by have generative AI help you. That’s what it’s amazing for. It can be that external brain when you need it.”
– Rebecca Bultsma
Support the Show
If this episode helped you, share it with a colleague and leave a review. It helps more educators and leaders find the show.
Episode Summary
In this episode, I talk with AI strategist, communicator, and ethics researcher Rebecca Bultsma.
Rebecca is known for helping people understand AI “without freaking out or falling asleep.” From her farm near the Montana Canada border, she brings a grounded, practical perspective to the chaos of generative AI.
We dive into misconceptions, practical use cases, the importance of skepticism, and why human connection still matters in an AI-driven world.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by AI or unsure where to begin, this episode is a perfect place to start.
What We Talk About
Rebecca’s journey from communications into AI and ethics research.
The moment in 2022 when ChatGPT changed the conversation about AI.
Misconceptions: why AI is not a fad, and why it matters for everyone.
Quick wins with generative AI from reading terms & conditions to learning through NotebookLM.
Her mantra: “Never trust a large language model.” What that means and why human oversight is non-negotiable.
The risks of over-trusting AI when it feels “human.”
Opportunities in strategy: using AI for pattern-finding, scenario testing, and persona-building.
Practical advice for staying safe: separating personal/work accounts and turning off data training.
Why experimenting with Claude, ChatGPT, or Gemini is the best starting point.
Rebecca’s daily workflow: from AI-powered health stacks to automations that save brainpower.
Final advice: control the controllables, start small, and build confidence step by step.
Access the Show
All platforms & past episodes: coffeeforthebrain.com/podcasts
Direct Link to This Episode:
Listen & Subscribe:
[Apple Podcasts] | [Spotify] | [YouTube] | [Simplecast]
Resources & Links
Rebecca’s website: rebeccabultsma.com (speaking, workshops, resources)
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rebecca-bultsma (active posts on AI ethics, policy, comms)
X (Twitter): @rebeccabultsma — “AI awe + rational anxiety” stream and resource drops
TikTok: @rebeccabultsma (short takes on AI, comms, and ethics)
Instagram: @commsrebecca (communications + AI insights)
Highlighted Posts (good primers for listeners)
“POV: You’re the ‘AI ethics’ person and not freaking out about LinkedIn’s data use.”
Nuanced take on platform data and practical risk framing (great for comms leaders). LinkedIn
“Never trust an LLM” in practice.
Threads/posts where she pushes for human review, disclosure, and trust-building. Pair with her SchoolCEO feature. Apptegy
Defining AI ethics as a philosophical puzzle.
Reflective post that shows her influences and systems lens. LinkedIn
AI learning resources roundup.
Shareable list of podcasts, newsletters, books, and courses, great on-ramp for teams. X (formerly Twitter)
Webinar: Navigating AI Tools in Schools.
Concrete strategies for K-12; sets expectations for ethical adoption and practical wins. risevision.com
Courses & Tools Mentioned:
OpenAI Academy – Free ChatGPT classes
Google AI on Coursera – AI 101 course
Anthropic Academy – Free Claude courses
NotebookLM – AI-powered research synthesis
The Boring Report
GPT - JobsGPT by SmarterX
Zapier - zapier.com/ai
Episode Quote
“Anything you can’t do well, or you feel overwhelmed by have generative AI help you. That’s what it’s amazing for. It can be that external brain when you need it.”
– Rebecca Bultsma
Support the Show
If this episode helped you, share it with a colleague and leave a review. It helps more educators and leaders find the show.
