Thriving in times of radical change: Reconnecting to humanity

Thriving in times of radical change: Reconnecting to humanity

East Carolina University welcomed Sam Rad (Samantha Radocchia), an anthropologist, entrepreneur and futurist focused on human connection in the era of artificial intelligence, to campus on Sept. 11 for the first of two events in the 19th season of the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences' Voyages of Discoveryseries.

Rad is a lifelong student of humanity and her topic for the day's events was "Thriving in Times of Radical Change." She is the founder of Radical Next, a meta-media studio that creates transformative stories, experiences and media productions that shape a positive future. It is her mission to restore trust and connections between people, their beliefs, each other and the planet.

"For the past 19 years, I have been delighted by the many insightful speakers that Harriot College brings to eastern North Carolina through the Voyages of Discovery series," said Dr. Allison Danell, dean of Harriot College. "Each speaker brings a unique perspective to the challenges facing our society today."

"We are witnessing the growing influence of artificial intelligence, social media and the intersection of these forces, raising questions about how we continue to connect and face challenges in our society as a collective unit of humanity. Whether we engage with AI or social media, or not, is irrelevant because of the present influence of these ever-changing technologies," Danell said. "It is up to us to rise to the challenge of navigating these changes by remembering and honoring what matters most: our shared humanity."

Earlier in the day, Rad attended an anthropology class and spoke with students at a second informal gathering before the evening reception and pubic lecture. Throughout the events, Rad was passionate about sharing her message of reconnection.

"Some of the things that we have created in the recent past have disconnected us more than connected us. My mission right now is reconnection to humanity and our planet," said Rad.

"What do we do to reconnect and rebuild trust?" she asked. "It really does start with trust of one's self and one's own perception, awareness, cognition and information."

Being discerning and relying on human instincts was a key point throughout the day. Rad said training people to use tools so they are aware of the outputs from an artificial intelligence, application or chatbot makes people more informed consumers.

"Critical thinking, creativity and discernment - left- and right-brain skills - are so important," she said.

Rad believes every person can shape a better future. She said it is essential to keep asking questions and learn social skills, what she called essential human skills, that allow a person to flourish and be successful.

Rad's evening presentation was often interactive, with audience members asked to participate in an experiment about change as well as observation. She provided the audience with a historical view of industrial, scientific and technological advances over the years, bringing her listeners to present times and a new era that she called the "age of acceleration."

She discussed five building blocks that are key to adapting during times of radical change. She said these include full body leadership - reconnecting to one's overall health and well-being; cognitive security - tapping into one's mind and learning critical thinking skills and discernment; psychological safety - one's purpose and what makes a person happy; intuition and trust; and relational fluency - connecting with others, having empathy, compassion and trust.

Rad imparted three lessons before she concluded the evening. She said to recognize that the age of acceleration is a paradigm shift, and that it is happening now. Whether it is AI or another technology, she said, this is a faster way of doing something than was previously experienced.

"Recognize that there is a future we cannot even imagine yet," she said.

Secondly, she said to adapt to changing contexts. What works in one instance or environment may not work in another.

"We need to unlearn ingrained habitual behaviors," she said.

And finally, Rad emphasized celebrating humanity.

"We don't even know fully how the brain works, or what consciousness is. This is the most incredible, organic technology that we have. It is beautiful. Humans are beautiful," she said. "Technology is not, and should never be, a tool to replace humanity. Maybe enhance it, but never replace it. Ultimately, lead your life with purpose, and find that spark in you that keeps you moving forward and follow it."

The 2025-26 season of the Voyages series aims to continue to spark people's curiosity about shared humanity. On Feb. 5, 2026, Dr. Brian Hare, a Duke University professor of evolutionary anthropology, psychology and neuroscience, will visit campus. He is a best-selling author recently featured in the Netflix documentary, "Inside the Mind of a Dog." His topic of discussion is "Survival of the Friendliest."

"He will inspire us to consider all that we share with humans' best friend (dogs) and what they, too, can teach us about our shared humanity," Danell said. "We hope that this season's speakers will encourage students, faculty, staff and community members alike to pause, reflect and discover new ways to connect and chart optimistic paths forward through our evolving times."

To view and download photos from the Voyages reception with Rad, visit the photo gallery by Rob Taylor Photography and Design.

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