Speaking, Workshops, Book clubs & Lunch Groups

“Great workshop and presentation.  When our staff first experienced this seminar in Orlando, they said others in the Siemens Organization needed to see it and learn from it. So, we put on three more workshops and keynote addresses for Siemens globally.  We felt the message and seminar should be experienced not only by Siemens but also by our customers, so he was also our keynote speaker for Siemens’ Customer Appreciation Day.” ~ Michael Philpott CEO: ~ Siemens Canada Limited

Are We Ready to Explore? Are We Ready to Choose?

Exploring our communication history is crucial for all facets of understanding technology and societal phase change. This exploration deepens our understanding of our shared knowledge as human beings. It enhances our knowledge of social justice. It also enriches our grasp of social teachings, which are fundamental to AI ethics. Furthermore, it fosters unity within our community. As part of this exploration, we will delve into technological change in America. Our discussion will also cover profound insights of leading thinkers in the field. These insights come from people deeply rooted in their understanding of humanity and technology. They will help us comprehend the circumstances of our time. The difference in being human and the difference it makes is key to understanding technology.

Technology as a Cultural Phenomenon: Technology is not just tools but a reflection and product of human culture, making it a subject of anthropological and communication studies.

Interdisciplinary Perspective: Understanding technology requires an anthropological approach to grasp its social and cultural dimensions. Think The Medium is the Message.

Keynotes, Lunch Presentations, Workshops, Small Group Meetings/Discussions: Live & Zoom.

Exploring the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence on how technology is the Medium of the Message as We Experience New Machines and Human Life. Think: Planet~People~Purpose in Life~Prosperity for all human beings. The focus is on Ethics: The difference in being human and the difference it makes.

Our goal is to challenge, inspire, and equip you to think differently about technology’s role in human flourishing. The title “Digital Dignity” captures the essence: technology should serve human dignity, not undermine it.

“The Medium is the Message”

“It does us no good to make fantastic progress if we do not know how to live with it if we cannot make good use of it, and if, in fact, our technology becomes nothing more than an expensive and complicated way of cultural disintegration.” ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
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“Still Human: Finding Ourselves in the Machine Age”

Your phone knows where you’ve been. An algorithm decides what you see. AI can write your emails, drive your car, and maybe even do your job. In a world where machines are getting smarter by the day, here’s the question nobody’s asking: What happens to us? Let us look together at the provocative exploration of what it means to be human, as we’ve built tools that challenge the very definition of humanity. This isn’t another tech hype talk—it’s an urgent conversation about the choices we’re making right now, the values we’re embedding in our future, and whether we’ll use technology to amplify our humanity or replace it. Because the machines aren’t coming—they’re already here. And the question isn’t whether we’ll survive the machine age. It’s whether we’ll still recognize ourselves when we do.

From Chains to Circuits: Philosophy and Ethics Confronts Techno-Autonomous Power: Digital Dignity, Technology, and the Common Good

To gain a good reputation is to be what you desire to appear.” ~ Socrates

From Factory Floors to Artificial Intelligence: Integrating Catholic Social Teaching(Wisdom) from the Encyclicals: A Journey Through Work, Dignity, and Technology

Explore how 130 years of Catholic teaching on work, dignity, and technology—spanning from Pope Leo XIII to Pope Leo XIV—can guide us through the challenges posed by AI and automation. This one-hour session draws clear connections between social encyclicals and urgent digital questions: What defines just wages in a gig economy? How can we preserve human creativity when AI encroaches on creative labor? Can technology truly serve, rather than replace, people? Join a thoughtful exploration of faith’s enduring principles—human dignity, solidarity, and the common good—offering historical wisdom and practical hope for a just, digital future.

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) extensively addresses all aspects of artificial intelligence (AI), social movements, political movements, and particularly how to See-Discern-Act regarding authoritarianism vs. democracy, as highlighted in new documents released by the Vatican in 2025. The CST recognizes AI as a powerful human invention with profound potential but insists it should always remain a tool that serves humanity, never a substitute for the human mind or soul. CST on AI centers on key themes.

The Digital Tower of Babel: Christian Nationalism in the Age of AI & Emerging Technology.

“Christian Nationalism: What Say Ye, Merton, Bonhoeffer, Adler, and McLuhan on the rise of AI and Emerging Technologies? “

Father of Media Studies Marshall McLuhan, who taught us that the medium is the message, and a key founding member of the Confessing Church Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who gave us insights into faith and ethics when confronted with tyranny, and then we have Mortimer Adler, the philosopher who taught us how to read a book and understand the great books of history, and a Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, who wrote about how emerging technologies, media, and culture, shape faith and politics, emphasizing their importance for believers today. These individuals shape how narratives of faith, power, and identity circulate and are embedded in culture and politics, making the topic highly relevant to engaged individuals.

“We should ask ourselves, ‘How do the McLuhan media laws, Bonhoeffer, Adler, and Merton’s thinking, speaking, and writings amplify or enrich the core message of the gospel in the world, education, and politics?'”  Christian Social Teaching is the Antithesis of Christian Nationalism.

“Pride makes us artificial, and humility makes us real.” ~ Thomas Merton

“Taking down their Harps.” The history of Hidden Saints: Black Catholic Voices that Changed America, A History of Faith and Freedom.

Fully Alive and Faithful: Celebrating the History and Legacy of Black Catholics in America…What Does It Mean to Be Black and Catholic? What Does It Mean to Be Catholic and White in the History of the United States? Stories of Faith, Struggle, and Hope are crafted through the interpretive lens of Thomas Merton’s writings and the historical insights of Cyprian Davis, OSB.

Meet the first Black Catholic slave of record to arrive on Texas soil in 1528, the enslaved layman who became New York’s most beloved philanthropist. Discover the mixed-race brothers who became bishops while passing for white. Learn about the nuns who defied segregation and the activists who demanded the Church live up to its gospel. This keynote uncovers the remarkable—and largely forgotten—history of Black Catholics who challenged racism inside and outside the Church while creating vibrant spiritual communities. Powerful stories that will change how you see American history. Join us for eye-opening history that speaks directly to today’s conversations about race, religion, and belonging with reflections from the writings of Thomas Merton.

In the vibrant tapestry of Black culture, “Taking Down Their Harps” beautifully embodies the powerful journey of reclaiming and redefining the rich spiritual and cultural heritage of Black Catholics. This inspiring movement emphasizes self-identity and self-expression within the Church, celebrating Black spirituality, cherished oral traditions, and the vital contributions of women. It poignantly represents Black Catholics’ commitment to challenging theology and the Church, advocating for recognition and respect for their unique spiritual practices and cultural legacies. This empowers their sense of belonging and fosters a profound respect for their invaluable contributions.

At the dawn of Catholicism in the US, there were Black Catholics. Their history, deeply intertwined with the Catholic and American identity, challenges our preconceptions and urges us to reconsider what it truly means to be Catholic, Christian, and American.

Collaboration in the Public for the Public: 

Study Groups, Book Clubs, and Discussion Groups are The Foundation of Innovation, education, and collaboration.  All can be Live & Zoom

    “All genuine learning is active, not passive. It involves the use of the mind, not just the memory. It is a discovery process, in which the student is the main agent, not the teacher.” ~ Mortimer J Adler

We start with great books, leading us to great discussions—this is the heart of learning. Our continuing education seminars and discussion groups foster intellectual curiosity. We hope that from conversations around the “Zoom Table,” you share what you learn. Share it with others in your community and organization. We start where all learning begins: With Curiosity and Puzzlement, maybe a slight Bewilderment. Together, we address the “warm fuzzies and the cold pricklies,” trying to answer the question: “Why Bother? Does it make a difference?”

So, as adults, is it worth your time, effort, and commitment to “KNOW” why you bother? Over the past forty years, I’ve learned the importance of “reductio ad absurdum.”  

We work towards the highest standard of a life well-lived when we practice and cultivate WISDOM. In all contexts of our lives, like family, social, and business, we call that Eudaimonia.

In our discussion groups, we aim to inspire everyone. We do this by exposing them to the inner workings of history’s most brilliant minds. These include philosophers, scientists, and artists. We also cover writers, musicians, and more. We strive to think deeply and innovate. We discuss intensely, educate, and live boldly through collaboration.

Eudaimonia transforms cultural and social institutions over time, profoundly impacting society. The Art of Social Phase Change is brought on by the technology of the period. Understanding History/Culture/Politics teaches us about patterns, social change, and the meaning of life in the age of autonomous technologies.​

“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” ~ Aristotle, Metaphysics

“Most excellent workshop for our people. Richard was our keynote and kick-off leader for a major new business initiative that involved all aspects of the company, globally. each morning, It was the inspiration and leadership we needed to move forward. We used him over and over again for coaching and consulting.” ~ Nancy D. Reyda VP, Brand Development: Chevron

 

     

Got Philosopher? Decide and Thrive!

Podcasts: Connecting history, philosophy, and culture to today’s challenges 

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