ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION
A conversation on humor as a leadership tool, empathy as AI's uncrossable line, and why "own the room, know the room" is the guiding principle Michael learned from a mentor years ago.
I'm a machine now. And that's not what
we were built for. We were built for
critical thinking. Emotions. And empathy.
KEY TOPICS
- Leadership development in the AI era
- Humor as an icebreaker in corporate IT
- Empathy as AI's uncrossable line
- Curiosity as a leadership trait
- "Know the room, own the room"
In this episode of Humor in the C Suite, Kate Davis and Michael Earls dig into how humor becomes a leadership tool when technology moves faster than people can process it. From Michael’s early days in engineering to his current work as an author and thought leader, they explore how a
well-timed joke does what a strategic framework can’t — it builds trust, diffuses tension, and reminds a room that we’re still humans navigating the machine.
Notable moment: Michael on what we’re losing when we copy and paste our way through work — “I’m a machine now. And that’s not what we were built for. We were built for critical thinking. Emotions. And empathy.”
EPISODE DETAILS
HOST
Kate Davis
SHOW
Humor in the C Suite
COMPANY
katedavis.ca
DATE
July 14, 2026
FORMAT
Podcast