In this solo episode of the Technically Human Podcast, Dr. Tracy Shroyer breaks down five pieces of career advice that simply do not work the same way anymore in 2026. From blindly applying to hundreds of jobs to treating LinkedIn like an online resume, the rules of career growth and job searching have shifted dramatically.

Dr. Tracy explores:

• Why applying everywhere leads to burnout
• What recruiters actually look for on resumes
• Why LinkedIn visibility matters more than ever
• How AI is reshaping the workforce (without replacing human value)
• Why loyalty alone no longer protects your career

This episode is designed to help professionals navigate career change more strategically while staying grounded in who they are.

Whether you’re job searching, rethinking your direction, recovering from a layoff, or simply trying to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world of work, this conversation will help you rethink what actually matters now.

Listen in and remember: you do not have to lose yourself to adapt.

In this episode of Technically Human, I sit down with Kristin Zhivago to explore the gap between what businesses think customers want and what buyers are actually looking for. We unpack assumptions vs. buyer truth, why so many organizations unintentionally create friction in the buying process, and how companies can better understand customer desires, concerns, and questions before a purchase ever happens.

Kristin shares insights from interviewing thousands of customers across industries, explains the hidden “sales stoppers” that quietly hurt revenue, and discusses why trust, listening, and genuine human understanding still matter deeply — even in an AI-driven world.

We also explore:

• Why most companies misunderstand their customers

• The difference between assumptions and real buyer insight

• Desires, concerns, and questions in the buying process

• Common sales stoppers hurting businesses behind the scenes

• Why Amazon succeeds at reducing buyer friction

• AI, automation, and the future of customer communication

• The importance of trust and human connection in business

• What it means to stay “technically human” in today’s world

Time Stamps:

00:00 – Introduction to the episode
01:00 – Kristin’s background and early sales experience
03:45 – Assumptions vs. buyer truth
07:30 – Why businesses waste money on marketing
08:00 – Loyalty cards, customer data, and personalization
10:00 – Relationship marketing vs. truly serving customers
11:45 – AI and the limits of customer insight automation
14:00 – How many customer interviews companies actually need
16:00 – Why messaging often fails to connect
20:30 – The biggest disconnect businesses face
22:30 – Desires, concerns, and questions in the buying process
27:30 – Reviews, Amazon, and reducing buyer friction
29:20 – Internal systems, processes, and hidden sales stoppers
35:00 – AI adoption in business: opportunities and risks
39:00 – AI in education and critical thinking
40:45 – What “Technically Human” means to Kristin

Want to learn more about Kristin Zhivago and her work? Visit www.ZhivagoPartners.com.

Connect with Dr. Tracy Shroyer and Career Compass for career strategy, professional growth, and resources designed to help you navigate change in an evolving world of work at www.careercompassusa.com .

There’s a difference between being responsible… and actually advocating for yourself.

In this episode of Technically Human, I explore why so many capable people struggle to speak up, ask for what they need, acknowledge their accomplishments, or put themselves forward for opportunities, even when they’ve earned them.

We talk about:

• the connection between confidence and self-advocacy
• imposter syndrome and self-doubt
• why many people minimize themselves without realizing it
• how language shapes confidence
• the idea of self-efficacy and trusting yourself to handle difficult situations
• why confidence usually comes after action, not before it

This conversation is for anyone who has ever questioned whether they were “too much,” waited for permission, or struggled to recognize their own value.

You can be humble and still speak clearly.

You can be kind and still advocate for yourself.

And you can feel nervous and still take action.