Episode description

In this urgent talk, Nick dismantles the illusion that most jobs in the recent past are actual sources of meaning and purpose.

With AI and automation rapidly replacing traditional labor, he argues that we must stop clinging to outdated notions of work and instead embrace the next phase of human potential: creation.

For too long, society has placed meaning in the exchange of money rather than the work itself—convincing us that our jobs are valuable because they allow us to provide for others or find fleeting personal happiness. But the work itself was rarely soulful; it was simply a means to an end. Now, as robots take over scaled production, logistics, and even knowledge work, we have an opportunity—and an obligation—to return to what makes us truly human.

Smoot lays out a vision where innovation, problem-solving, and creation become the backbone of our economy, where communities gather not around employment but around the act of building a future filled with beauty and value. It’s time to let the robots have the jobs. Our role is far greater: to shape the future itself through soulful work that matters.

About Nick Smoot

Nick is an entrepreneur, strategist, and founder dedicated to redefining the systems that shape our economic, social, and civic lives.

As a founder of build_, he has pioneered new models that transform cities into thriving hubs of creativity and innovation, unlocking the full potential of their residents.

His work has influenced governments, universities, and Fortune 500 companies, helping them navigate the rapidly changing landscape of AI, automation, and human-centered economic development.

His book Better explores how we can reclaim purpose through strategic community gatherings, appreciative inquiry, and behavioral psychology.

Smoot is on a mission to move humanity beyond the outdated model of jobs and into an era where creation is not just an economic driver—but our birthright.