Overcoming Obstacles to AI Adoption Through Creative Play

“The problem with AI adoption isn’t just technical—it’s emotional. Creativity lowers the barrier of fear, and that opens the door to skill building.”

– Jimmy Lepore Hagan

Newsflash!

After a much needed hiatus- Psych Tech @ Work is back with a vengeance! During the break I have been heads down in my lab- experimenting and playing with AI.

SHE’S ALIVE!

This episode marks the debut of my self-created AI podcast co-host Mayda Tokens.  It took me three weeks to make her and during this process I explored the human side of effectively collaborating with AI.  Making Mayda required me to flex my creativity, critical thinking, flexibility and perseverance.  

My Mayda experience prepared me firsthand for a great conversation with Jimmy about creativity, AI, and the human psyche.

In this episode of Psych Tech @ Work, I welcome my new friend and fellow New Orleanian Jimmy Lepore Hagan.  Together we explore why

creativity is the missing link in many corporate AI readiness programs — and how it can be leveraged to help individuals and teams move from fear to fluency in a rapidly transforming world.

Jimmy brings his bold, experience-driven perspective to the conversation, making the case that creative courage is not a soft skill — it's a strategic asset.

Together, we discuss Jimmy’s new framework for enabling AI adoption through creativity — and my addition to the delivery of his hands-on workshop designed to help HR teams, L&D leaders, and talent professionals build AI fluency through creative exploration.

Summary

Creative thinking isn’t just about making art — it’s about rewiring our brains to embrace ambiguity, take risks, and explore the unknown. In this episode, we discuss how cultivating creativity can de-risk the AI learning curve, helping professionals feel more confident engaging with emerging tools.

In an era of automation, the ability to experiment, play, and fail safely is what separates those who adapt from those who resist.

These traits are not innate — they can be developed, and doing so can radically change how individuals approach new technology.

The episode also highlights a workshop experience that puts this theory into action: a fun, safe, and high-impact program designed to build creative fluency first — and then apply it to AI. This approach helps teams lower psychological barriers to AI experimentation and open the door to real skills development.

I have to give a direct and shameless plug for our workshop. Our workshop — combines science, storytelling, and hands-on exercises to help teams build the mindsets and skills needed for the future of work.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charleshandler.substack.com