Description

In this inspiring and wide-ranging episode, Nick sits down with Julian Guthrie, a Pulitzer-nominated journalist, bestselling author, and now AI startup founder, who calls Hayden, Idaho home.

Julian opens up about:

• Her path to the San Francisco Chronicle, covering the tech boom, interviewing billionaires and astronauts, and telling underdog stories that matter.
• How her deep empathy, resilience, and pursuit of excellence shaped her storytelling and life choices.
• What she learned from Larry Ellison about Kaizen and how that daily discipline drives her today.
• Her leap from journalism to tech with the creation of Alphy and HarmCheck, a tool using AI to reduce harm in digital communication.
• Why she believes leadership can be powerful and kind, and how she’s leading with authenticity rather than aggression.

This is a conversation about words, power, purpose and why story matters more than ever.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

• Why Julian believes every person has a powerful story to tell.
• The state of journalism, what went wrong in San Francisco, and whether journalism can bounce back.
• How tech and storytelling intersect — and why AI might be the next great tool for empathy and accountability.
• What feminine leadership looks like in the world of startups.
• The origins of HarmCheck and how it helps companies communicate ethically and effectively.

🌎 Guest Links:

• 💡 HarmCheck – Julian’s AI company that detects harm in digital communication.
• 📚 Books by Julian Guthrie
• 🧭 Alphy – Parent company to HarmCheck.

🏗️ Join the build_ Community:

Julian is a proud build_ member and mentor, actively collaborating with AI experts and fellow builders. Want to connect with incredible people like her?

📍 Become a member at buildjournal.club

🌐 Attend events, find mentors, and build your vision with us.

05:31 Optimism and Resilience in Life

10:52 Morning Routines and Systems for Success

14:19 The Importance of Personal Stories

17:45 The Evolution of Journalism

22:31 Tech's Impact on Journalism and San Francisco

27:19 Empathy and Action in Addressing Urban Issues

33:00 The Future of Journalism: Balancing Tradition and Technology

40:01 From Journalist to Founder: Julian's Journey with Alfie

47:41 Empowering Communication: The Role of HarmCheck

55:15 Finding Your Story: The Importance of Narrative