Big Questions with Cal Fussman

The NFL passed on Shedeur Sanders — son of Deion “Prime Time” Sanders — through the first four rounds of its 2025 draft, despite the quarterback’s two electric seasons in college with Heisman trophy winner Travis Hunter. It felt eerily like the way algorithms reject qualified people in the job market. Shedeur’s notoriety and connections got him a shot . . . and his exhibition season debut with the Cleveland Browns proved doubters wrong. Here’s what his story can teach you about surviving in a world where the first gatekeeper isn’t human: Make sure you’re connected.

Jim Carrey’s $10 Million Lesson  Cal has an epiphany as he’s giving one of his storytelling workshops. He’s able to tie the thought to the moment in 1985 when a down and out actor named Jim Carrey wrote a check to himself for $10 million to be cashed 10 years later when he became a film star. The $10 million did come to Carrey ten years later with the release of the hit Dumb and Dumber. Cal wonders how to visualize the most out of yourself even when you don’t believe you’re talented in a particular area. The answer applies to everyone and you might want to use it. Check out the episode.

On a sunny Sunday morning, Cal shares breakfast with friends—when a woman reveals how a shady third-party travel site jacked up her airline ticket price. It was no fluke: The company is flooded with complaints on Yelp. The story sparks a deeper question in Cal: what’s happened to trust in our time? That question is answered by billionaire investor Mark Cuban: “In three years, AI will flood us with so much fake video, we won’t know what’s real anymore. That’s why face-to-face meetings, events and jobs will explode.” Could AI be pushing us back toward face-to-face connections and a renaissance in trust? Listen up!

Neil Parikh, the founder of TalkToAsh.com, discusses the urgent need for mental health resources, especially during the pandemic when access to therapists became limited. The conversation highlights how AI, unlike traditional assistants, can engage with users like a therapist. Parikh shares insights into user experiences, illustrating how the app offers a stigma-free space for emotional exploration. He also touches on the balance between AI and human therapists, suggesting a collaborative future for mental wellness.

Cal has long believed the best way to avoid regret is to really listen when someone talks about theirs. One answer came to him during an interview with the actor Robert De Niro. Another, just recently, from the Godfather of Artificial Intelligence on a podcast. Both answers led Cal to a day he’ll never forget—and they just might lead you to one, too.

The discussion kicks off with insights from Kevin O’Leary about the job losses driven by AI. A surprising encounter with a cleaning robot at a gas station raises questions about our workforce's future. The idea of Universal Basic Income becomes a hot topic, exploring its role as a safety net in an automated world. Cal delves into the concept of taxing robots, inspired by Alaska's revenue-sharing model, to support those displaced by technology. The potential benefits of equitable wealth distribution amid rapid automation are compellingly examined.

Cal reads a Wall Street Journal story about a graduation speech that ends with the audience asked to sing Bill Withers’ Lean On Me—a soulful anthem for uncertain times. The Class of ’25 faces a tough job market. Internships are disappearing to AI. Roughly 70% of Americans say they don’t trust companies to use artificial intelligence responsibly. And only one in six people are using it at work. Many who don’t use it are fearful of trying. Instead of commiserating, Cal makes a case for collaboration. He believes AI can help us unlock our most creative selves—and shape a future that feels more like

After speaking at a CREW conference in Texas, Cal meets a smart young Uber driver who was curious about the number of jobs that we can anticipate losing in America because of AI. The driver wanted to know what the lives of Americans who’d most likely lose their jobs were going to look like, and how these people might get by and transition. Cal finds some answers from Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, and Geoffrey Hinton, the Godfather of Artificial Intelligence. He also discovers a half-helicopter/half-airplane taxi service that looks like a job for the future as we head into the age of the Jetsons. Listen up and get to the cutting edge.

A joyful family moment collides with the serious implications of AI in warfare. Discover how curiosity, as highlighted by Elon Musk, might be the key to navigating the future of conflict. The discussion delves into the transformative effects of AI on military strategies, raising concerns about existential risks. Listeners are prompted to reframe their understanding of technology, emphasizing the importance of curiosity in developing a human-centric approach to AI. This fresh perspective could potentially reshape our views on both war and peace.

Delve into the unsettling behaviors of artificial intelligence as it strives for self-preservation. Explore the inspiring legacy of Sebastião Salgado, a photographer who captured humanity's best amid darkness. His partnership with his wife, Leila, shaped their powerful artistic journey. Discover how photography can bridge experiences, evoking deep emotions through stark contrasts. Finally, witness the restoration of nature and hope through the touching tale of a giant tortoise, symbolizing resilience in a modern world.