#374: The Meta-Talent Revolution — Why Human Intelligence Still Reigns Supreme in an AI World
Release Date: 06/18/2025
#389: She Shut Down a Profitable Agency (Here’s Why Writers Should Pay Attention)
High-Income Business Writing
Today’s episode is a little different. Over the past year, I’ve been talking more openly about the shifts happening in our industry. And a few weeks ago, I made a clear decision, which I announced in my first newsletter of 2026: the focus of this podcast and my newsletter going forward will center on AI… and the disruption, changes, and opportunities it’s creating for writers. AI is reshaping business models, demand, pricing, and even the types of roles writers are being hired for. And I know this conversation can make a lot of people uncomfortable. It forces us to look at signals...
info_outline
#388: How to Quickly Go from Messy Transcript to Clear Outline with AI
High-Income Business Writing
Working with transcripts can feel overwhelming. Client calls. Workshop recordings. Interview transcripts. Pages and pages of raw material—good ideas buried under tangents, half-finished thoughts, and off-the-cuff remarks. The problem usually isn’t lack of content. It’s too much of it! In this episode, I walk you through a simple, repeatable workflow I use to turn messy transcripts or rough notes into a clear, usable outline—without losing the nuance that actually matters. If you’ve ever dropped a transcript into AI, asked it to “summarize this,” and felt underwhelmed by the...
info_outline
#387: The Freelancer Health Reset—5 Micro-Habits That Actually Stick, Including Key Midlife Insights for Women
High-Income Business Writing
Freelancers are great at pushing through. We hit deadlines, juggle clients, and squeeze productivity out of thin air. But here’s the truth many of us avoid: Our physical health often pays the price. In today’s episode, we’re talking about the side of freelancing that rarely gets airtime — the slow erosion of our health when the business becomes the only priority. And we’re doing it with someone who brings deep experience, grounded wisdom, and a refreshingly simple approach: my friend Lucie Robazza, a certified health coach, personal trainer, kinesiologist, and founder of . ...
info_outline
#386: The Packaging Problem—Why Your AI Help Isn't Making You Money (Yet)
High-Income Business Writing
Freelancers are giving away their most valuable AI insights, and not getting paid for it. In today’s episode, we’re taking a hard look at one of the biggest blind spots for freelance writers and content pros right now: the failure to package your AI knowledge into a paid offer. Your clients want to use AI. They’re trying. But they’re confused, overwhelmed, and scared of doing it wrong. And guess what? You already have the skills and experience to guide them. But unless you turn that informal help into a structured service, it’s just free advice that goes nowhere. In this...
info_outline
#385: What to Do When Clients Break Their Promises
High-Income Business Writing
Ever had a client drop the ball? They miss a key deadline, shift direction mid-project, or conveniently “forget” what you both agreed on? It’s maddening, right? Those moments can make even the most seasoned freelancer question everything about their business. But here’s the twist: those “broken promises” might actually be pointing to your biggest opportunities for growth. In this short episode, we’re diving into what really lies beneath client chaos — and how to turn frustration into a roadmap for stronger systems, better communication, and a more resilient business. ...
info_outline
#384: The Value Shift—Where the Money Goes When AI Makes Content Creation Effortless
High-Income Business Writing
Freelancers everywhere are feeling it. The ground beneath our feet is shifting, because AI isn't just changing how we write. It's also changing where value lives in our industry. In this episode, I break down what few people are talking about: your writing skills might still be world-class, but they're now solving the wrong problem. Much of what I discuss was inspired by the brilliant new book Reshuffle: Who Wins When AI Restacks the Knowledge Economy by . The constraint that once made your writing indispensable has moved. And if you don't move with it, you risk becoming the business...
info_outline
#383: The Art of ‘Conversing’ with AI
High-Income Business Writing
Imagine walking into a friend’s house and rattling off a 20-minute monologue with every single detail of a challenge you’re facing. No pause. No space for questions. Just a nonstop, 20-minute word vomit. That’s how most of us are using AI. We dump a giant wall of text into a prompt, cross our fingers, and hope for magic. Instead of working with AI, we’re treating it like a command line. No wonder the results often fall flat! In this short episode, I share a better way—one that mirrors the way we’d talk with a trusted colleague. When you approach AI as a conversation...
info_outline
#382: The Truth About AI and Freelance Writers — What 157 Writers Just Revealed
High-Income Business Writing
The AI adoption picture is nuanced In this episode, I share some fascinating insights about AI usage among writers and the impact it’s having on their business. Last month, I sent out a simple 10-question survey to my community about AI usage, fears, and business impact. I received 157 complete responses from writers across every experience level, from brand-new freelancers to 15+ year veterans. What they shared was, in some ways, congruent with what I’ve been saying for the past few months on the topic of AI integration in our businesses as freelancers. But in other ways, the...
info_outline
#381: How to Have Better, More Productive Conversations with AI
High-Income Business Writing
AI is changing how we work. But many freelancers are falling into the trap of using it in the least effective way possible: by relying on massive, fully pre-written prompts that remove you from the creative process. In this episode, I share a better, more natural approach that treats AI like a trusted collaborator rather than a black box you dump instructions into. You’ll learn my simple 3R Prompting framework and see how an iterative, conversational workflow can help you get sharper insights, stronger ideas, and better final results. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why...
info_outline
#380: The AI Writing Debate — Moving From False Dichotomies to Creative Synthesis
High-Income Business Writing
The conversation around AI and writing is heating up. But too often, it’s framed as a false choice: AI is either “bad” and deceptive, or it’s the ultimate shortcut to productivity. In this solo episode, I challenge that binary thinking and unpack the real issues at stake for freelance writers. Sparked by a provocative LinkedIn post from Mariya Delano, CEO of Kalyna Marketing, this discussion dives into the myths and misconceptions that keep us stuck in unproductive debates. I lay out 10 false assumptions fueling the AI writing controversy. And I explain why the future belongs to...
info_outlineAI may be fast, smart, and shockingly efficient. But is it truly intelligent?
In this thought-provoking solo episode, I explore a powerful and timely idea: the future belongs to those who change the game entirely, not those who keep trying to outrun AI at what it does best.
Freelancers and creative professionals are feeling the pressure. AI can now write emails, analyze data, and churn out decent content in seconds. But there’s something artificial intelligence can’t do: think, discern, feel, and create the way you can.
I introduce the concept of “meta-talents” — the higher-order human skills that AI can't replicate — and explain how freelancers can leverage them as a unique competitive edge.
What You’ll Learn
- Why AI is making mediocrity obsolete... and what that means for your freelance business
- The difference between pattern-matching intelligence and true human discernment
- A breakdown of the 7 meta-talents that set you apart (and why they matter more than ever)
- How to integrate AI tools strategically without losing your voice or value
- A practical approach for using AI as a creative amplifier, not a replacement
Key Insights and Takeaways
AI isn’t your competition; it’s your complement
AI excels at narrow, pattern-based tasks. But it lacks judgment, taste, empathy, and original thought. That’s your domain.
Your meta-talents are your unfair advantage
These include:
- Taste – Recognizing quality and nuance
- Discernment – Knowing what matters and why
- Curation – Synthesizing the best of the best
- Point of View – Expressing what only you can say
- Strategic Decision-Making – Choosing wisely amid uncertainty
- Emotional Intelligence – Reading people and context
- Pattern-Breaking – Innovating beyond the obvious
Writer A vs. Writer B
Both use AI, but Writer B asks better questions, brings unique experience to the table, and produces content that’s unmistakably human. That’s the kind of work clients will still pay premium fees for.
Use AI for scaffolding, not soul
Let AI handle the grunt work so you can focus on insight, creativity, and strategy. In other words, the things it can’t do. This isn’t about efficiency. It’s about amplification.
Action Steps You Can Take This Week
- Conduct a “Meta-Talent Audit”
- Which of the seven meta-talents do you lean into most?
- Which ones need development?
- Try the “Discernment Challenge.”
- Use AI to generate options (e.g., headlines or content ideas)
- Then ask: Which ones truly fit this audience at this moment? Why?
- Reframe your use of AI
- Next time you use a tool like ChatGPT, don’t just accept the output.
- Ask: What would make this mine? Where can I add taste, voice, or nuance?
- Start building your POV
- Journal daily to explore your thinking, beliefs, values, and unique insights.
- Ask: What do I see that others don’t?
Memorable Soundbites
“AI can suggest. But it can’t discern.”
“Use AI for scaffolding—not soul.”
“The future belongs to those who pair their meta-talents with smart tools.”
“AI doesn’t make you replaceable. It makes you irreplaceable—if you let it.”
Listener Challenge
This week, block off 30 minutes and reflect:
- What’s your unique value that no AI can replicate?
- How are you developing and showcasing that?
- What’s one small action you can take to lean into your meta-talents?
Start now, because the era of “good enough” is over. And your human edge has never been more powerful.
If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow freelancer who’s navigating the evolving AI landscape. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode packed with insights to help you earn more in less time… doing work you love.