What does it really mean to “teach people how to use their brains”—and why might that be one of the most important skills in an AI-driven world?

In a recent conversation with Joe Dimino on Famous Interviews, we explored that and other topical questions.

At one point, Joe asked how I would explain what I do to a group of 13-year-olds. I know that age-group well. Every Wednesday, I work with kids ages 10–13 in a cooking class, so I get to see how they think and what matters to them.

If I were standing in front of a group of middle schoolers,, my answer would start simply: “I teach people how to use their brains.” But then I’d turn it back on them.

I’d ask: How much of what you’re learning in school do you think you’ll actually use in your life? And I already know the answer I’d hear, because I hear it all the time: “School’s a waste of time… we don’t learn anything interesting… we’re never going to use this.”

That’s when the real questions, the real conversation, would begin.

• What if school helped you solve real problems?
• What if it taught you how to deal with people you disagree with—and still enjoy being around them?
• What if you learned how to fail, recover, and actually feel good about improving?

When I ask kids that, they lean in. Their energy shifts. Yes! That’s what they want to learn. They shout out how that would be a lot more useful than most of what happens in school. That’s MindShifting.

Joe underscored the importance of that kind of learning when he said, “those things are huge for kids.” And they’re not just huge for kids; they’re essential for all of us, especially now.

Later in the conversation, we turned to AI. Joe described it as “this tornadic situation… that’s moving so fast,” which captures the feeling exactly. The pace of change is overwhelming. But the solution isn’t to try to keep up with machines on their terms.

We have to double down on what makes us human.

As I put it, “we need to develop our human brains. We need a certain amount of friction.” The struggle to think things through, to work with others, to sit in uncertainty—those aren’t inefficiencies. They’re how we grow judgment, resilience, and creativity.

If we remove that friction too soon, especially for kids, we risk raising a generation that can access answers instantly but struggles to make sense of them.

But if we really support kids learning, they can thrive in any environment. They’ll lead good lives. They’ll contribute to society. They’ll be happy.

This conversation goes far beyond these moments. It explores mindset, learning, influence, and what it takes to navigate a world that’s changing fast without losing what matters most.

If you care about education, human development, or how we stay grounded in the age of AI, it’s worth listening to the full interview.