🎙️ AI After 50 – Episode #6: Getting Practical with AI & Staying Ahead After 50

Hosts: Mark Tennant & John Paganini

Release Date: December 2, 2025

Length: 19:00 minutes

Theme: AI literacy, tools, prompting, and staying relevant over 50

🎯 Episode Summary

Welcome back to AI After 50! In this episode, host Mark Tennant is joined for the first time by his business partner and co-host, John Paganini, an AI-in-healthcare expert. Together, they set the stage for what’s to come in the series—a weekly, practical deep-dive into AI for professionals 50 and over who want to remain relevant, confident, and employable in a rapidly job market..

They reflect on the goals of the podcast, their journey with AI, and share tips on AI tools, prompting techniques, and why now is the best time to get started.

From ChatGPT’s 3rd birthday to the newest updates with Google’s Gemini 3 and Nano Banana, Mark & John focus on what really matters for late-career professionals.

🗂️ Chapters

• Welcome & Mission of AI After 50
• Meet John Paganini & His AI Focus in Healthcare
• Why AI is for Every Industry, Not Just Tech
• What Listeners Can Expect Each Week
• The Importance of Feedback from the Audience
• Cutting Through the AI Hype: Real Tools, Real Use Cases
• Mark & John’s First Encounters with ChatGPT
• Why the $20/Month for GPT is Still Worth It
• Exploring Google’s Gemini 3 & Nano Banana
• How Nano Banana Can Help Prototype Ideas
• Prompting Tips: How to Get Better Outputs
• Final Thoughts: Stick With It, Learn as You Go
• What’s Coming Next + Premium Show Notes Info

💡 Key Takeaways

• AI isn’t going away—it’s time to learn it. Whether you’re in healthcare, finance, or manufacturing, AI is reshaping every field.
• Prompting is a skill. You don’t have to be a great writer—AI can help you write better prompts.
• Gemini 3 and Nano Banana are worth exploring, especially for visual prototyping and idea development.
• Stick with one AI tool at first and get familiar with how it works—you’ll build confidence faster.
• AI is not just for coders. The goal is AI literacy, not expertise.

🔗 Mentions & Resources

• ChatGPT (OpenAI) – https://chat.openai.com
• Gemini by Google – https://gemini.google.com
• Nano Banana (Google AI Image Generator) – Available via Gemini
• Google AI Studio – Great for coding & AI development projects- https://aistudio.google.com/

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👥 Connect with Us

• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@aiafter50
• Email: Mark: mark@marktennant.net // John: jpaganini@paguar.com
• Website: https://marktennant.net/

Episode #5: Developing an AI Mindset – AI After 50

Welcome to another episode of AI After 50, the podcast for experienced professionals looking to develop their AI skill set and stay professionally indispensable. I’m Mark Tennant, and if you’re over 50, you’re in the right place to become AI-literate, AI-confident, and AI-empowered.

This week, we’re expanding on our previous discussion about AI as a behavioral shift and diving into how to develop an AI mindset. Embracing AI isn’t about mastering technical skills—it’s about making AI an everyday thinking partner. From keeping ChatGPT open at all times to using AI for deeper insights into personal growth, work efficiency, and decision-making, we’ll explore how to shift your mindset to work with AI instead of just using it as a tool.

Plus, I bring back Sol, my ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode assistant, to discuss how AI can help us become smarter together. Stay tuned for practical strategies, a weekly AI exercise, and key takeaways to help you integrate AI seamlessly into your routine.

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS

• AI should be treated as a conversational partner rather than just a machine
• Having AI open and ready at all times helps develop new work habits
• Verify AI information before trusting it - the human element remains crucial
• AI complements human skills like judgment and empathy while handling repetitive tasks

📝 EPISODE BREAKDOWN

• 00:00 Introduction to AI After 50
  00:28 Developing an AI Mindset
  00:42 Premium Show Notes and Subscription
  01:11 Recap of Episode #4
  02:03 Expanding the Behavioral Shift
  02:24 Using AI in Daily Life
  03:51 Warnings and Human Element
  04:22 ChatGPT's Role and Features
  06:47 Conversation with Sol on AI Mindset
  14:44 Exercise: AI as Your Daily Thinking Partner
  17:05 Conclusion and Weekly Exercise

💡 HIGHLIGHTED QUOTES "AI isn't here to replace you, but here to work with you." "Start by staying curious and open minded. Embrace small, manageable steps."

🔍 PRACTICAL EXERCISE AI as Your Daily Thinking Partner (7-Day Challenge): Try AI as Your Daily Thinking Partner for seven days.

Pick a real-world challenge, ask AI for help, and reflect on how it improves your decision-making.

Let me know how it goes!

Pick a daily decision or problem

Choose something real and relevant to your life

Can be work-related or personal

Ask AI for help

Frame your question as if talking to a trusted colleague

Use either text prompting or voice mode

Reflect and take action

Consider new ideas sparked by AI's response

Apply suggestions to your daily life

Repeat for seven days

• Commit to the full week
• Reflect on how AI helped your decision-making

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• Additional AI mindset development techniques
• Exclusive frameworks and prompting tips
• Advanced practical examples not covered in the episode

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EPISODE #4: AI is a Behavioral Shift, Not a Technological Shift

Is AI a technological revolution, or is it really about behavior? In this episode, we break down why adapting to AI is less about mastering the technology and more about shifting your mindset—especially for professionals over 50. I’m joined by Sol, a ChatGPT Advanced Voice,, to discuss how AI isn’t just a tool you use when you need it, but a coworker and thinking partner that should always be in your workflow. We also explore how moving beyond the traditional “Google search mindset” can help you integrate AI into both your personal and professional life.

Plus, I share a real-life story about how AI saved me over $500 on a dryer repair, and we dive into practical strategies to help you build the habit of using AI daily. Stick around for this week’s exercise, where I introduce the ERA framework—another powerful prompting tool to add to your AI skill set.

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS

• AI adoption is more about changing behaviors than learning technology

• Success comes from treating AI as a conversational partner, not just a search tool

• Personal use cases help build comfort with AI before professional applications

📝 EPISODE BREAKDOWN

⏳ - 00:00 Introduction: AI as a Behavioral Shift

⏳ - 00:19 Welcome to AI After 50

⏳ - 00:36 Podcast Goals and Show Notes

⏳ - 01:43 Recap of Previous Episode

⏳ - 02:07 Exploring New Prompt Frameworks

⏳ - 03:32 Special Guest: Sol Discusses AI Behavioral Shift

⏳ - 05:46 Practical Tips for Adapting to AI

⏳ - 07:42 Real-World AI Success Stories

⏳ - 10:28 Creating Aha Moments with AI

⏳ - 10:58 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

⏳ - 12:41 Weekly Prompting Exercise

⏳ - 14:05 Conclusion and Next Steps

💡 HIGHLIGHTED QUOTES

"AI isn't something you have to learn, like coding - it's something you get to learn, like a new way of thinking." [35:40]

"AI is a tool that works with you, not just for you.]

🔍 PRACTICAL EXERCISE

The ERA Framework (Expectation, Role, Action):

Expectation: Create HR policy documents for manufacturing company

Role: HR policy expert

Action: Create three documents:

• Paid time off policy (eligibility, carryover rules, procedures)

• New benefits package

• Spanish translations of key HR forms

ERA Framework

Expectation, Role, Action

Expectation: Describe the desired result.

Role: Specify ChatGPT's role.

Action: Specify needed actions.

Example: HR Example

Prompt:

You are an HR policy expert tasked with updating company policies for a midsize manufacturing company. Create three well-structured documents: (1) A clearly written Paid Time Off (PTO) Policy covering accrual, eligibility, carryover rules, and request procedures; (2) An engaging New Benefits Package Overview summarizing health, retirement, and wellness benefits in easy-to-understand language; and (3) Professional Spanish translations of key new hire forms (W-4, direct deposit authorization, emergency contact forms). Ensure all documents are clear, compliant, and accessible, using bullet points and simplified language where needed. The Spanish translations must be accurate, culturally appropriate, and suitable for Latin American employees.

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RESOURCES MENTIONED

• WorkLab Podcast by Microsoft

Show: Worklab with Molly Wood

Guest: Conor Grennan on Moving Beyond the “Search Engine Mindset”

Link: https://bit.ly/conor-grennan-worklab-podcast

• ChatGPT Advanced Voice

• Google Doc to Start Your Own Prompt Library (recommended)