AI is reshaping social work, education, and everyday life fast. In episode 33 of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, Ace and Alicia talk through what this shift means for purpose, identity, mental health, and community, and how to lead with heart while staying grounded and ethically clear.

If you’ve felt the tension between technology and humanity, this one is for you.

Website: RevolutionarySocialWork.com

Email (connect + collaborate): castettler@alaska.edu

Chapters

00:00 Theme Song + Intro

00:43 Introduction and Check-In

01:55 The Impact of AI on Social Work

03:31 Purpose and Identity in a Changing World

08:38 Youth Connection and Social Interaction

16:29 Navigating Technology and Social Media

23:12 Adapting to AI in Education

25:50 Conclusion and Future Directions

About Ace (Christian “Ace” Stettler)Professor Ace is a professor of social work, writer, and creator based on Hawai'i Island. He is the founder of Revolutionary Social Work, a framework centered on deep self-reflection, relational practice, and becoming more fully human. Ace hosts the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast and The Critical Social Worker: A Revolutionary Storytelling Podcast, creating conversations that challenge conformity in the profession and call people back to connection, conscience, and kinship.

About Alicia Stettler, LCSW, CYTAlicia Stettler is a Revolutionary Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified Yoga Teacher, and guide for those seeking deeper healing, health, and happiness. With over a decade in mental health, her integrative approach blends evidence-based clinical practices with yogic philosophy to support personal and collective transformation.Alicia created the Circle of Self, a framework for lasting healing through (re)connection to seven essential elements: Movement, Stillness, Nature, Community, Spirit, Nourishment, and Love. She teaches that we must nurture our own Circle in order to share it with others.

Join the conversation:

What part of the AI shift feels most real in your work or life right now, and what helps you stay grounded?

#RevolutionarySocialWork #SocialWork #AI#SocialWorkPodcast #EthicalAI #MentalHealth #Purpose #Identity #Community #Connection #FutureOfWork #SocialWorkEducation #Healing #CircleOfSelf #RelationalPractice #EmbodiedHealing

© Revolutionary Social Work

Alan Dettlaff (upEND Movement) joins Ace + Alicia for a direct conversation on abolitionist social work, ending the family policing system, and reclaiming social work from professionalized compliance. We get into electoral politics, the profession’s silence on genocide, desensitization and empathy, organizing for community, and practical action like economic boycotts and finding clearer information in a saturated media landscape.

Connect + collaborate (we actually read these): RevolutionarySocialWork@gmail.com

Website: RevolutionarySocialWork.com

Explore Alan’s work:upEND Movement: https://upendmovement.org/Alan Dettlaff: https://www.alandettlaff.com/

About Alan Dettlaff:Alan began his career in the family policing system as an investigative caseworker and administrator. He later helped create the upEND Movement (2020) to abolish the family policing system and build healing-centered alternatives. He’s the author of Confronting the Racist Legacy of the American Child Welfare System: The Case for Abolition (Oxford University Press, 2023), co-editor of Social Work, White Supremacy, and Racial Justice (OUP, 2023), and co-founding editor of Abolitionist Perspectives in Social Work (open-access, peer-reviewed).

Topics in this episode include: abolitionism, family policing, child welfare, social work education, solidarity, community building, media saturation, boycotts, and revolutionary social work.

Chapters

00:00 Theme song + intro

02:40 Introduction to Revolutionary Social Work

03:49 Alan Dettlaff’s Background and Abolitionist Work

06:17 The Impact of Angela Davis on Activism

08:17 Distraction Tactics of Oppressors

10:36 The Limitations of Electoral Politics

13:44 Critique of the Democratic Party

15:14 Disappointment in Social Work Organizations

18:08 The Silence of Social Work on Genocide

21:54 The Performative Nature of Social Work

25:06 Desensitization to Global Issues

27:25 The Need for Political Education

30:25 Authenticity vs. Fear in Activism

32:46 Addressing Global Genocides

34:44 Revolutionizing Social Work

37:32 Reclaiming the Term “Social Work”

41:37 Reclaiming Social Work: A Complex Identity

47:31 The Role of Education in Social Work

51:18 Abolitionist Ideas in Social Work

56:12 Collective Action and Political Engagement

01:02:41 Building Community and Connection

01:05:59 Navigating Information Overload

01:15:25 Towards Liberation: A Call to Action

#RevolutionarySocialWork #AbolitionistSocialWork #upENDMovement© Revolutionary Social Work

Social work, identity, Ubuntu, community, and cultural transition anchor this conversation with Shayla S. Dube, an Africentric and decolonial educator whose work embodies collective responsibility and relational practice. Alicia and Ace explore the tensions between assimilation and belonging, the power of Ubuntu-centered care, and the ongoing work of reclaiming cultural foundations in a world shaped by colonialism and accelerating technology.

Shayla reflects on her journey from Zimbabwe to Canada and the costs of assimilation; the role of community participation in becoming more fully human; and the need for social work education that centers relational learning, cultural humility, and ancestral knowledge. The discussion moves through identity reauthoring, the ethics of AI, and the work of re-centering African and Indigenous wisdoms in practice. This episode speaks to anyone committed to liberation, grounded pedagogy, and community-made identity.

Visit Shayla's Website: https://wellnessempowered.com/

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@RevolutionarySocialWork/sub_confirmation=1

Email: RevolutionarySocialWork@gmail.com

Website: RevolutionarySocialWork.com

Chapters:

00:00 Intro / Theme Song

01:38 Introduction and Identity Exploration

07:14 The Importance of Community and Participation

13:04 Cultural Transition: From Zimbabwe to Canada

18:52 Assimilation and Identity Loss

24:04 Reclaiming the Village in Modern Society

29:46 Teaching and Learning in a Community Context

35:06 Navigating Parenting in a New Cultural Environment

38:14 Helping Others Discover Their Identity

46:40 Understanding Human Experience Beyond Pathology

47:44 Cultural Identity and Ancestry Exploration

48:55 Creating and Reauthoring Culture

50:41 The Role of Culture in Human Behavior

52:42 Connecting with Cultural Foundations

54:20 Navigating Cultural Disconnection

57:04 The Dynamic Nature of Culture

58:46 Technology, AI, and Social Skills

01:04:10 Ethics of AI in Social Work

01:07:54 Re-centering Indigenous and African Wisdom in Social Work

#RevolutionarySocialWork #Ubuntu #SocialWorkPodcast #CulturalHumility #AfrocentricPractice #DecolonialEducation #IdentityAndCommunity #UbuntuCenteredCare

© Revolutionary Social Work

Social work keeps defaulting to clinic-first. Patrick “Taylor,” LCSW, joins Alicia and Ace to unpack how education, licensure, billing, and program design funnel graduates into the micro pipeline... and what it takes to rebuild legitimate macro pathways, restore creativity, and center structural change.

Contact: revolutionarysocialwork.com

Key themes

Micro pipeline: how education, licensure, and billing narrow practice

Financial incentives versus public mission; creativity under compliance

Business/management literacy as a missing competency in MSW training

Practicum leverage and self-advocacy; confronting unpaid internship norms

Community, coalition, and long-horizon change in a corporate/remote era

Chapters:

00:00 Intro + theme song

02:00 Introduction to Revolutionary Social Work Podcast

03:15 Patrick Taylor’s background and research focus

05:49 Exploring the micro pipeline in social work

11:09 The shift from macro to micro in social work

14:55 Financial incentives and their impact on social work

19:03 Creativity constraints in practice

23:41 Challenges social workers face today

31:15 Creative approaches in therapy

33:45 Navigating stigmas in mental health

37:00 The role of education in social work

40:41 Confrontation and advocacy in practice

44:12 Why macro practice matters

47:50 Cultural influences on career choices

51:15 The problem of unpaid internships

53:43 Forging your own path in social work

01:01:47 Empowerment through change

01:04:39 Navigating education and career paths

01:07:37 Valuing experience in social work

01:11:17 Advocacy and the power of community

01:16:10 Finding hope in challenging times

01:23:44 Envisioning the future of social work

Guest bio

Patrick “Taylor,” LCSW is a macro-focused social worker and DSW candidate working to disrupt the profession’s systemic default to clinical identity. He uses research, storytelling, and strategy to elevate macro practice in education, policy, and leadership; advocates licensure reform that reflects the full scope of social work; and builds content and coalitions for future-focused practice.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-macrovision/

Article: When the Fix Reinforces the Funnel: Rethinking Macro Pathways in MSW Education — https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-fix-reinforces-funnel-rethinking-macro-pathways-msw-patrick-v931c/

Below are a few links to resources Taylor mentioned during the episode:

Association for Community Organization and Social Action (ACOSA) – https://acosa.clubexpress.com/

A membership-based organization that promotes community practice, social justice, and macro social work education.

Network for Social Work Management (NSWM) – https://socialworkmanager.org/

A professional network focused on advancing social work leadership and management across sectors.

Special Commission to Advance Macro Social Work – https://macrosocialwork.org/

An initiative dedicated to strengthening and expanding macro social work education, research, and practice.

Macro Exposure & Career Direction in Social Work: Student & Early-Career Perspectives (Survey)

Purpose: To better understand how macro social work is represented, supported, and experienced in MSW programs. The study examines advising, coursework, field placement, and program culture, and how these factors shape students’ professional identity and influence access to macro career pathways.

Eligibility Criteria: Current MSW student or recent MSW graduate (within the last 5 years) from a CSWE-accredited program within the US and US territories

Link: https://usc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3Igdvtfz9TnFPjo

Support the projectIf this episode is useful, subscribe, like, comment, and share. It helps others find the work and strengthens the community.

#SocialWork #MacroPractice #RevolutionarySocialWork #SocialJustice #LicensureReform #Practicum #CommunityPractice© Revolutionary Social Work

What does it mean to transform private pain into public purpose?In this deeply personal and wide-ranging episode of The Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, hosts Professor Ace and Alicia are joined by author and educator Mark Tuggle for a revolutionary conversation about trauma, healing, and the lifelong work of becoming whole.Mark shares his journey—from childhood abuse, addiction, and a diagnosis of HIV to his emergence as a mentor, writer, and advocate for mental health. Together, they explore the role of therapy, community, and spiritual practice in creating lives rooted in self-love, truth, and connection. The episode interrogates dominant norms that silence emotional expression, especially for Black men, and lifts up the everyday rituals that sustain healing—from Central Park therapy sessions to kitchen-table conversations.This is a dialogue about courage, contradiction, and choosing to live. It’s about naming what hurts... and what helps. It’s about building a practice of care that isn’t constrained by diagnosis, institutions, or identity boxes.Revolutionary social work doesn’t just ask how we serve.It asks: how do we connect? How do we transform? How do we love?Chapters:00:00 – Intro + Theme 02:24 – Mark Tuggle’s Journey: From Trauma to Transformation 05:04 – The Role of Community and Therapy in Healing 07:50 – Therapy Beyond the Therapy Room: Holistic Approaches 10:39 – The Importance of Connection in a Digital Age 13:29 – Loneliness in a Connected World 16:24 – Expressing Emotion and Reclaiming Humanity 19:09 – The Impact of Childhood Experiences on Adult Life 21:46 – The Power of Vulnerability and Shared Experiences 24:28 – Challenging Social Norms and Emotional Expectations 26:48 – Emancipating the Mind: The Journey of Self-Discovery 35:01 – The Challenge of Change 38:56 – Navigating Self-Care and Societal Expectations 44:08 – Revolutionary Social Work: A New Paradigm 50:03 – Courage and Change: Leading by Example 1:02:29 – Navigating Spirituality and Religion 1:04:47 – The Dichotomy of Belief Systems 1:07:19 – Cultural Expectations and Personal Identity 1:09:36 – The Power of Dialogue and Listening 1:12:46 – Revolutionary Social Work and Community Healing 1:13:58 – Documenting the Journey of Black Men 1:18:26 – Closing Thoughts and Future ConnectionsKeywords:Mark Tuggle, trauma, healing, transformation, therapy, connection, community, vulnerability, storytelling, identity, emotions, spirituality, dialogue, holistic health, personal growth, revolutionary social work, self-care, disconnection, change, cultural affirmation, mental health, truth-telling📚 About Mark Tuggle:Mark Tuggle is the author of Cultural Silence and Wounded Souls: Black Men Speak About Mental Health, a groundbreaking anthology that lifts the voices of Black men confronting trauma, isolation, and emotional silencing. A Chicago native who moved to New York with no plan but full faith, Mark has turned his lived experience of addiction, homelessness, and mental illness into a life of service, reflection, and public advocacy.His work centers critical thinking, cultural affirmation, and self-determination. From therapy rooms to public forums, Mark continues to create space for radical honesty, spiritual depth, and relational healing.“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.” – Muhammad Ali🔗 Book: Cultural Silence and Wounded Soulshttps://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BW2RSRQN?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAacZbeaxR919oUNIOfNiUYQ_24HMbvL-TDDChbAo2USKryrW9Qzkt3ijtYdSWA_aem_5-gOAhG3BwacRZXFsUMqJg🌐 Website: culturalsilencewoundedsouls.com📧 Email: mjt975@msn.com📸 Instagram: @markjudgetuggle📣 For more information or to connect with Revolutionary Social Work, email:📧 RevolutionarySocialWork@gmail.com© Revolutionary Social Work

In this episode of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, Alicia and Ace are joined by Brotha KD Kyle Toon — father, veteran, and Afrocentric Liberation Social Worker. Founder of Mental & Creative Liberation LLC, Brotha KD brings forward a practice rooted in ancestry, Afrocentric healing, and revolutionary love. Through his Gracefully Imperfect podcast, CREATIVST, and Soul Medicine Substack, he creates soul-centered spaces for Black empowerment, cultural reclamation, and collective wellness.

This dialogue traces his journey from military service to liberation work, highlighting how family values, ancestral knowledge, and the pursuit of self-knowledge transform social work practice. We explore how Liberation Social Work and Revolutionary Social Work intersect: both are value-based frameworks calling us to disrupt alienation, uproot oppression, and center healing, kinship, and consciousness as the foundation for societal transformation.

Liberation Social Work: Three Pillars

Self & Community Healing: Addressing ancestral, historical, and intergenerational wounds.

Self-Knowledge: The enduring process of “knowing thyself” as a path to reclaiming dignity and purpose.

Social, Cultural, and Critical Consciousness: Anchoring liberation in ancestral wisdom, cultural worldview, and ethical practice.

Together, these pillars resonate deeply with Revolutionary Social Work values of kinship, reflection, and love as praxis. Liberation Social Work insists on returning to source — to culture, soul, and Divine oneness — as the grounding for humanization and collective freedom.

This episode calls us to remember: revolution is not an event but a continuous re-socialization. Healing and transformation begin within, extend to family and community, and ripple across generations.

Listen to Brotha KD’s Work

🌍 Liberation Social Work: https://www.liberationsocialwork.com/

📰 Soul Medicine on Substack: https://creativist.substack.com/

🎙 Gracefully Imperfect Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/gracefully-imperfect/id1618531656

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Episode

01:42 Theme Song

02:27 Guest Introduction & Background

06:30 Personal History and Ancestry

12:39 Family Values and Responsibilities

15:00 Military Experience and Consciousness Shift

22:43 Reflections on Social Justice and Activism

26:45 Conscientious Objection and Current Events

28:45 Revolutionary Social Work and Personal Growth

37:19 Liberation and Social Work

39:17 The Essence of Liberation

42:40 Revolutionizing Mindsets

46:43 The Continuous Journey of Liberation

50:39 The Power of Self-Reflection

58:38 Navigating Systems of Oppression

01:05:18 Creating Space for Change

01:13:39 Transformative Change Begins Within

01:14:38 Redefining Concepts for Personal Growth

01:20:47 The Role of Social Work in Advocacy

01:22:28 Shifting from Transactional to Relational Social Work

01:24:49 The Circle of Self: A Holistic Approach to Healing

01:30:51 Reconciliation: Healing Ourselves and Society

01:35:46 The Power of Reading and Knowledge Sharing

Keywords

social work, liberation social work, revolutionary social work, Afrocentric healing, community empowerment, military and social justice, family values, ancestry, consciousness, self-reflection, activism, social justice, systems of oppression, transformation, kinship, liberation, self-knowledge, collective healing, Circle of Self, reconciliation, empowerment

© Revolutionary Social Work

In this powerful live recording from the NASW National Conference in Chicago, the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast centers Indigenous women whose leadership, resilience, and cultural vision are reshaping the future of social work.

Hosts Alicia and Ace talk with Maria Panjoj Salvador, Vilma Saloj, and Ausirys Alviz — grassroots social workers advancing cultural preservation, education, and healing across Guatemala, Colombia, and the diaspora.

This dialogue pushes beyond theory and into lived struggle: machismo, systemic barriers, and the loss of language. At the same time, it uplifts how Elders, intercultural education, and cultural pride serve as enduring sources of empowerment. Together, these voices remind us that decolonizing social work is a lived practice rooted in community, identity, and cultural continuity.

🔗 Learn more: The Contextual Indigeneity in Social Work Toolkit - https://www.ciswt.co/

🎙️ About the Guests

Vilma Saloj — Maya Kaqchikel educator and Executive Director at MAIA, leading transformative intercultural education in Guatemala and advocating globally for Indigenous youth.

Ausirys Alviz — Colombian therapist based in the U.S., founder of Transparent Healing Psychotherapy, offering trauma-informed, culturally affirming care to migrant and Indigenous-multicultural families.

Maria Panjoj Salvador — K’iche community advocate from Chichicastenango, Guatemala, promoting education, women’s leadership, and cultural pride through nonprofit engagement and traditional market life.

✨ Key Themes & Takeaways

Social work as a calling, rooted in cultural identity.Indigenous women at the forefront of empowerment and leadership.

Machismo and systemic discrimination as ongoing challenges.

Language preservation as a cornerstone of identity and practice.

Elders as vital knowledge-keepers in social work.

Decolonization through Indigenous wisdom and cultural humility.

Community engagement as a path to resilience and capacity-building.

⏱️ Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:06 Theme song

02:51 Personal Journeys into Social Work

05:22 Cultural Contexts in Social Work

07:49 Empowerment and Visibility of Indigenous Women

10:40 Challenges of Machismo and Discrimination

12:56 The Role of Social Workers in Indigenous Communities

15:50 Building Community and Capacity

18:00 Comparative Perspectives on Social Work

20:32 The Importance of Representation

23:06 Navigating Identity and Allyship

26:05 Toolkit for Contextual Indigenous Social Work

28:59 Bridging Gaps in Social Work Practices

31:08 Conclusion and Future Directions

41:29 Cultural Roots and Coping Mechanisms

42:44 Decolonizing Therapy and Cultural Humility

45:13 Challenges of Remote Work in Social Services

47:39 Barriers to Education and Community Engagement

53:40 The Importance of Language Preservation

58:53 Incorporating Elders in Social Work

01:08:24 Visions for the Future of Social Work

🔑 Keywords (SEO)Revolutionary Social Work, Indigenous Women, Social Work Education, Cultural Context, Empowerment, Community Engagement, Language Preservation, Elders, Decolonization, Gender Dynamics, Guatemala Social Work, Colombian Therapist, Indigenous Leadership, NASW Conference© Revolutionary Social Work