Building Rhythms & Rituals in the Age of AI, featuring Tim Williamson

Tim Williamson—founder and CEO of NewCo—maps the seismic shift he’s watching unfold: AI accelerating change while humans decide whether to lean in or lock down. He and Dr. Michelle K. Johnston trace how New Orleans’ superpower—real connection—can become a competitive advantage in the next innovation cycle. Tim unpacks why most new ideas die at the “Thanksgiving table,” how supportive ecosystems keep curiosity alive, and why rhythms and rituals are more than fun—they’re civic glue that helps communities recover from shocks. The conversation lands on a bold vision: AI freeing time, humans reconnecting, and creativity surging into a new renaissance. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Welcome + meet Tim Williamson and NewCo 01:35 The seismic shift: AI, fear, excitement, and disruption cycles 03:43 “AI is connection” and getting off the scary cliff 04:08 Why new ideas need a safe community to survive 06:49 The “Thanksgiving table” where ideas go to die 08:15 New Orleans as a front-porch city built for connection 10:02 What NewCo is and why it’s a home base for new ideas 12:46 AI that helps leaders connect people at scale 16:07 Connection dinners: designing belonging on purpose 20:01 Why connection drives trust, innovation, and performance 20:52 Rhythms and rituals: the civic cadence that holds a city together 26:19 Katrina lessons: how rituals helped New Orleans come back 29:44 AI frees time—what if it triggers a creative renaissance? 33:13 Closing: calendar, connection, and choosing deeper humanity Special thanks to our friend Brian Wayy for the theme music this season! Track Title: My Heart's On Fire Follow Michelle for more inspiring content: Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheSeismicShiftwithMichelle  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michelle-johnston-0264b5b Instagram: instagram.com/michellekjohnston  Website: https://michellekjohnston.com/