Presence Is Your Superpower | Michael Ashford | The Sean Trace Show

In this episode of The Sean Trace Show, I sit down with communication coach and TEDx speaker coach Michael Ashford to unpack what it really means to talk like a human in an AI driven world. We dive into everything from storytelling and conflict resolution to thinking on your feet and asking better questions. We explore why presence and attention are the real flex, how to train curiosity so your intuition becomes sharper and less biased, and how emotional intelligence shows up in hiring, leadership, parenting, Muay Thai with my daughter, and even learning to embrace failure with a growth mindset.

Along the way, I share some of my own wild stories from Zen Buddhism, Chinese medicine, and recovering from years of food allergies, while Michael breaks down practical frameworks for becoming a better listener, interviewer, and leader so our conversations build trust instead of breaking it. If you care about communication, conflict resolution, intuition, or just staying genuinely human while AI reshapes the world, this episode is a masterclass in slowing down, paying attention, and letting curiosity lead the way.