How to Stay Human When Everything Is Changing: Leadership, Agency, and the Algorithm

In this solo episode, MaryLou explores what it means to lead ourselves in a world where technology, AI, and rapid change are shaping daily lives. Drawing a surprising historical parallel to the Salem Witch Trials, she examines what happens when societies experience massive upheaval, and why so many of us are feeling overwhelmed right now.

MaryLou shares a personal story about losing her phone at the airport and the raw emotional reaction that followed. That moment sparks a deeper reflection on our dependence on devices, the tension between convenience and autonomy, and the importance of asking:

How much of my life am I handing over without noticing?

This conversation is a call back to agency, personal responsibility, and servant leadership.
It’s about recognizing when the collective hysteria (whether about AI, politics, or culture) has gone too far and choosing to step back into clear-eyed ownership of your choices, your attention, and your life.

Key Topics:

-What historical mass hysteria can teach us about today

-The emotional grip our devices have on us

-Why we struggle to cope with massive change

-Leadership as the ability to say “enough”

-How to think for yourself when everyone is reacting

-The relationship between self-inquiry and service to others

Three Questions to Reflect On:

1. Where am I reacting instead of choosing?

2. How do my habits shape the quality of my days?

3. Who benefits when I remember to serve—not just consume?

Resources Mentioned:

The Crucible by Arthur Miller

It’s Not You, It’s the Algorithm by MaryLou Kayser

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Get in Touch:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlkayser/

Instagram: @maryloukayser

Website: https://maryloukayser.com