In this episode, Michael Dargie chats with Rachael Leventhal Garnett, an AI consultant, trainer, and all-around creative force based in Fort Worth, Texas. Her story weaves together resilience, reinvention, and curiosity—qualities that shine through every chapter of her life.
Rachael opens up about her entrepreneurial journey, from running a successful estate sales business to being sidelined by Lyme disease, only to reinvent herself multiple times through upholstery, nonprofit work, and eventually finding her place in the AI space. What started with experimenting in MidJourney in 2022 quickly grew into a full-blown career helping nonprofits, municipalities, and foundations harness AI for real-world impact .
Her projects range from developing AI-driven literacy data tools for unhoused populations, to building educational systems for dementia care organizations, to creating Spanish-language resources that empower caregivers . She also shares her role in shaping curriculum for city-wide AI training programs—no small feat considering she’s writing and delivering more than 21 hours of material .
The conversation isn’t all business, though. Rachael shares stories about her love of cats (including a daring kitten rescue that left a hole in her living room wall), her travel dreams, her favourite guilty-pleasure snacks, and her belief that “everything just turns out OK.” She also speaks candidly about what excites her most in AI, how she advises “rebels in waiting” to start small and shut out the hype, and why ancient history and cosmic energy continue to inspire her outlook on life .
It’s a lively, layered conversation that touches on technology, creativity, compassion, and the quirky joys that make us human.
“We’re only limited by what we can imagine.” — Rachael Leventhal Garnett
“Everything just turns out OK. We’re all just people doing our best.” — Rachael Leventhal Garnett
“I’ve really got into vibe coding lately… it’s such a great way to build tech these days.” — Michael Dargie
“Close out the hype. Pick one platform and start simple.” — Rachael Leventhal Garnett
Snapshot of Rachael’s Work | AI consulting, nonprofit projects, and government contracts
DFW Women’s Club | Board member and Elevate 2025 conference workshop
From Estate Sales to AI | Lyme disease forced a career pivot
First Foray into AI | Discovering MidJourney and AI art
Using AI in Nonprofits | ChatGPT for grants, newsletters, and events
Meeting Her Mentor | Inspired by Jeff Hunter’s talk in Las Vegas
What She Wishes the World Knew | “Everything turns out OK—we’re all just people doing our best”
Travel Bucket List | From Morocco to Göbekli Tepe
Snacks of Choice | Pretzels, cheese sticks, and popcorn
AI for Social Good | Literacy studies for the unhoused in Fort Worth
Dementia Care Education | Building learning systems with AI
Advice for Beginners | Ignore the hype, start small with one tool
Cat Rescue Story | Accidentally sealed in her attic, saved with a camera and some DIY demolition
Website (https://www.eaaservice.com/)
Rachael on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-garnett-eaas/)
Rachael on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/leventhalgarnett?)
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