Use AI to Give Yourself More Time to Be Human, with Krista DeBuhr

Hey, Jam Fam, it's Flora. Welcome back to another episode of The Human Side of AI, and today's guest is a special friend of mine. Krista spent 17 years building yoga studios across Arkansas, and about 3 weeks before we recorded this, she launched something brand new called The Joy Collective, a community for women built around joy instead of always being busy. Here's the part that made me want you to hear this one. At one point in this conversation, I found myself repeating something Jam has said since the earliest days of our community here, that we use AI to give ourselves more time to be human. And Krista said almost the exact same thing on her own 3 weeks ago into building her own platform with AI for almost the first time. We talk about what it actually feels like to prompt your way through building something from scratch, why busy isn't the flex our culture treats it as, and what Krista does with the time AI hands back to her. Take a listen.

And, um, you know, we're, we're all humans here. We, we were a good 10 minutes into the call before we pushed record. So, uh, Krista, Krista shared that she was in corporate America, and, and, and at, at only 23 years old, you realized you needed more. So, so kind of tell us a little bit about that.

Well, I realized that I was not in my purpose. I was basically planning events to sell shampoo for Sally Beauty. And when I started practicing yoga to help the physical body from traveling and doing all of these hair shows, I realized that my calling was much deeper. And it was really through, I started yoga for the physical practice. And most, a lot of people will say this, that you ended it for the spiritual. The emotional and the mental.

Yeah, definitely.

Because it gives you an emotional clearing, it gives you mental clarity, and it just, it just really, it changed my life in such a way that I felt like I had to share it.

Wow.

And I swore I would never live in Arkansas again, but there was very little yoga there. There were only 2 studios 17 years ago, and I just felt really called Wow. To share it with my home state.

So tell us about that. What was that like to, to bring, to, you know, really grow the yoga community in Arkansas?

It was amazing. It was amazing. And it is, it's the magic. I encourage anyone who feels called to do anything to do it because the magic of beginnings, you can, you never get it again. And as I restarted a new company recently in Arkansas, I cannot tell you how many people have talked to me about that time when we were building the yoga community in Arkansas. It was such a special time.

Tell us about it. Share, share a little bit with us.

Well, it just, it was community and everyone was there for the same reason. And we all, and it was new and most people hadn't been exposed to it. What there had been here was more of a hatha-based yoga and I brought more of a power Power flow type yoga. And so, and it was changing people's lives. And so they were bringing people in and we just, and it was just, everyone was new. So no one knew more than the other. I was a new teacher. They were a new student. And we just all, we just, it was just such a special time and we all built it together.

And this was a yoga studio? Correct.

It was a yoga studio first. I first did it in my hometown of Clarksville. That's 10,000 people. And then we opened it in Fayetteville where the University of Arkansas is. It's got about 100,000 people. And then we opened one in Little Rock, the capital.

Wow. So, and what was the name of the studio at that time?

That one was Soul Yoga Lounge.

Sweet. Okay. What did it evolve to?

It evolved to, they all kind of broke off. It was impossible to be in 3 places at once. Yeah. So the one in Fayetteville is Trailside Yoga, still operating today. Just cool. Celebrated its 14th birthday. The one in Clarksville I sold and just recently closed after 12 years. Um, and the one in Little Rock, it stayed Soul Yoga Lounge and just, it's kind of operating inside of a gym. It's just a little, it changed, it changed shapes and forms, but it's still there. So.

So, so you, you ran these studios for a while and then what?

Well, and then other studios started popping up and we wanted to unite the communities. So a group of 12 of us. started an event called Yoga on the Mountain.

Cool.

And it was mainly teachers that wanted to bring their students so their students could learn from other teachers. And so we went up there and that is, it's its 14th year this year too.

And that's actually how you and I met.

Yes, that is how we met in Aspen, Snowmass.

Aspen.

Yeah.

Yeah. So, so what I'm hearing is your background has really been events focused from, from shampoo to yoga. Um, And, and community. So, so what are you doing now that's still, you know, in community? You mentioned you, you recently launched, uh, the Joy Collective. Tell us a little bit about that.

Well, the Joy Collective is a community focused for women to support one another. And actually what I realized that I'd been doing all these years was actually building community. We use the medium of yoga, which was great, but now I want to use the medium of joy. Which expands far beyond just movement. It expands into nutrition, into nature, into learning, being inspired, you know, and just women coming together truly to support one another in this, this time where there's not a lot of joy in the world. So I felt really, really called to, to give women a platform to feel supported.

So this, this looks really different for you where you, you've hosted, you know, these in-person classes and you've done so much of these in-person things. Now you're turning to a predominantly virtual platform. What, what is that shift like for you?

It's been really hard.

Tell us why.

Because when you're in person, the synergy of the human design happens naturally. And it's, it's, it seems harder to curate through a virtual platform. However, we're 3 weeks in and I have definitely seen and felt, well, actually what just happened just now. When you met my friend Vanessa, I mean, that was some 2 people I've wanted to meet for a very long time and would have never met otherwise.

So has it only been 3 weeks?

Yes, it's been 3 weeks. Yeah, I know, I know, I know.

Yeah, it feels like another lifetime has happened since. So, so in the midst of you, your evolution of, you know, selling and switching and kind of pivoting in your life in many ways, right?

AI.

Blows up, right? And tell us a little bit about your experience with AI when it first started coming out. Like, what was your initial thought?

Oh, I think it was the same as everyone. You're like, no way, don't use it. It's trying to replace the human. We need to keep our humanity. But then as time went on, I actually hired someone to teach me how to use it so it would make my life Simpler and give me more time. And it has definitely done that.

Okay. So what made you realize that you wanted to invest in this?

I watched this person on Instagram go from, I watched her success and she really, she spoke to me about being a solopreneur and how you can use it to make your life easier. And I also knew that so much of what I was doing, someone else could do, like editing, content design. So these are all things that I've actually hired out. So I was like, I feel like AI could do those fairly easily. I mean, I'm a, and I'm really, I'm a visionary and I've got a great, I've got a great vision. That's something that's, people have always told me working with me. So I'm like, let's, and I just wanted to try it. I was just curious.

Awesome. I love that. Um, have you ever read the book Do Less?

No, but I, that's our, that's our whole jam.

Yes, it's, it's, it talks a lot about the 80/20 rule and like, you know, really if you can move the needle with your 20 and just the importance of getting help from others when you can for things that you're just, that are just slowing you down, that are not allowing you to do your 20. So good for you. So what were some of the first things that you used AI for?

Content, rewriting emails, rewriting, um, Instagram posts. Um, well, and they actually helped me design a corporate wellness method that I created to do wellness in corporations here in Fayetteville.

Wow. And so, and how much time do you think it saved you?

A lot. You know, I'm not very, I don't keep up with my time, but it definitely saved me a lot of time.

So you don't typically think of AI and yoga, right? Like you don't think of AI and in that space and how, how are you seeing others use it in this space?

Well, for one, it can re— record people and give them, it gives them greater reach, you know? Um, it allows people to use virtual and digital platforms I don't think they would've used otherwise.

Okay.

So, okay, that's definitely a positive thing. Um, and then I've never done this, but I'm sure it could write sequences, it could create playlists, which are things that all take a lot of time as a yoga teacher. You know?

Wow.

Yeah.

Wow. Cool.

And I personally had it do design.

So yeah, talk to us about that.

Well, that's just something that I've always hired graphic designers to do, which I would prefer to hire the person, but the turnaround time was like, it was really more. So yeah.

And do you think AI is going to steal everyone's jobs?

Yes, I do.

Okay.

Yeah.

Tell us about that.

Well, I just have kept up with it. You know, and I mean, it already is in a lot of ways. And I mean, there are some things that it can never take away, but there are so many things that it can.

Do you think, and just to play devil's advocate, do you think if it takes certain jobs, it's creating more opportunity for other jobs that are more human-centered?

Well, I would hope so, but I don't feel like that's the political climate right now.

And how do you use it ethically? How do you, how do you find that balance between feeling, you know, moral about using AI?

Yeah, that's a really good question. I've actually struggled with it.

Yeah.

Um, but where I come back to is that what can I do today, you know, to help the world? And if I can use AI to help create a community where we can bring more joy to the world, it's only gonna elevate. So, um, and I also, you know, per— I pay for Claude, you know, so that I, I've thought about like, what is it taking away? It's taken away a graphic designer's job. That's the one thing that I used to pay someone for. I don't pay someone for anymore. But the main thing that it's done is it's added like hours to my day.

Well, tell us about that. What are you doing with that extra time?

Oh, just more things.

But good things?

Yes, like good things. Just spending more— honestly, this is the main, this is the main moral code. Thank you. It's I spend more time with my daughter. I spend more time in nature. So it enhances my— I spend more time walking my dog. I spend more time working out. You know, it allows me to perhaps travel while I'm still working. I haven't done that yet, but those are all the things that I can do within my circle That it helps. It helps me. That was some 2 people I've wanted to meet for a very long time and would've never met otherwise. So.

I love that. Has it only been 3 weeks?

Yes, it's been 3 weeks. Yeah, I know. I know. I know. Yeah.

Feels like another lifetime has, has happened since. So, so in the midst of you, your evolution of, you know, selling and, and switching and, and kind of, it, of pivoting in your life in, in many ways, right? AI blows up, right? And tell us a little bit about your experience with AI when it first started coming out. Like, what was your initial thought?

Oh, I think it was the same as everyone. You're like, no way, don't use it. It's trying to replace the human. We need to keep our humanity. But then as time went on, I actually hired someone to teach me how to use it. So it could make my life simpler and give me more time. And it has definitely done that.

So what made you realize that you wanted to invest in this?

I watched this person on Instagram go from— I watched her success and she really, she spoke to me about being a solopreneur and how you can use it to make your life easier. And I also knew that so much of what I was doing someone else could do, like editing, content design. So these are all things that I've actually hired out. So I was like, I feel like AI could do those fairly easily. I mean, I'm a— and I'm really— I'm a visionary and I've got a great— I've got a great vision. That's something that people have always told me working with me. So I'm like, let's— and I just wanted to try it. I was just curious.

Awesome. I love that. Um, have you ever read the book Do Less?

No, but I, yeah, that's our, that's our whole jam.

Yes. It's, it's, it talks a lot about the 80/20 rule and like, you know, really if you can move the needle with your 20 and just the importance of getting help from others when you can for things that you're just, that are just slowing you down, that are not allowing you to do your 20. So good for you. So what were some of the first things that you used AI for?

Content, rewriting emails, rewriting, um, Instagram posts. Um, well, and they actually helped me design a corporate wellness method that I created to do wellness in corporations here in Fayetteville.

Wow. And so, and how much time do you think it saved you?

A lot. You know, I'm not very, I don't keep up with my time, but it definitely saved me a lot of time.

So you don't typically think of AI and yoga, right? Like you don't think of AI and in that space and how, how are you seeing others use it in this space?

Well, for one, it can record people and give them, it gives them greater reach, you know, um, it allows people to use virtual and digital platforms I don't think they would've used otherwise.

Okay.

So that's definitely a positive thing. Um, and then I've never done this, but I'm sure it could write sequences. It could create playlists, which are things that all take a lot of time as a yoga teacher, you know?

Wow.

Yeah.

Wow. Cool.

And I personally had it do design.

So yeah, talk to us about that.

Well, that's just something that I've always hired graphic designers to do, which I would prefer to hire the person, but the turnaround time was like, it was really more, yeah, it was, you you know, weeks when I wanted to do it today. So yeah.

And do you think AI is going to steal everyone's jobs?

Yes, I do.

Okay.

Yeah, tell us about that.

Well, I just have kept up with it, you know, and I mean, it already is in a lot of ways. And I mean, there are some things that it can never take away. Yeah, but there are so many things that it can.

Do you think— and just to play devil's advocate— do you think if it takes certain jobs, it's creating more opportunity for other jobs that are more human-centered?

Well, I would hope so, but I don't feel like that's the political climate right now.

And how do you use it ethically? How do you, how do you find that balance between feeling, you know, moral about using AI?

Yeah, that's a really good question. I've actually struggled with it.

Yeah.

Um, but where I come back to is that What can I do today, you know, to help the world? And if I can use AI to help create a community where we can bring more joy to the world, it's only gonna elevate. So, um, and I also, you know, per— I pay for Claude, you know.

I love Claude.

So that I, I've thought about like, what is it taking away? It's taking away a graphic designer's job. That's the one thing that I used to pay someone for. I don't pay someone for anymore. But the main thing that it's done is it's added like hours to my day.

Well, tell us about that. What are you doing with that extra time?

Oh, just more things.

But good things?

Yes, like good things. Just spending more— honestly, this is the main, this is the main moral code. Thank you. It's I spend more time with my daughter. I spend more time in nature. So it enhances my— I spend more time walking my dog. I spend more time working out, you know. It allows me to perhaps travel while I'm still working. I haven't done that yet, but those are all the things that I can do within my circle that it helps. It helps me elevate the world and help my child and help my community and all of those things.

That's huge.

Yeah.

So, so, so going back to this Joy Collective, which I'm obviously such a fan about, do you think you would have been able to launch it without AI?

Yes.

Yes.

Okay.

Okay.

Well, only because actually this is something really interesting. I took a very analog approach.

Okay.

So I have not really used the, the global platform of social media at all yet. Most people like you, it was a personal invitation. I mailed out snail mail, you know, I put, yeah, I know you can't get it, but every other person I sent out over 150 invitations to everyone I've known over the last 17 years. Um, because the neat thing about the Joy Collective is it's not just yoga. It's, it's anyone who wants more joy in their life, which is really everyone. So, um, and then I reached out personally to people and had them RSVP. The world's just changed. Nope. No one was doing that. Um, finding out who could make it and who couldn't. But I really look forward to taking a global approach when the actual platform and app are ready. So, okay.

What's gonna make it ready?

Just more user-friendly, which is something that I've been using AI for. Uh, but I'll tell you, my business coach, when this first started, said anyone can build an app. AI can build an app. And that has absolutely not been my experience. I'm on my 3rd software program and you have got to, it's just like they say about AI, the quality that you plug into it is the quality you get back. And so—

Share with us about that. How so?

It's just taken— I'm not, I'm not, that's not my strength. You know, my strength is more the creative. It's not the technical side. And it's been really, really difficult. Um, it's just been really difficult.

Are you prompting or like, are you trying to use, uh, code, uh, Claude Code or what are you using right now? Yeah.

Yeah.

I'm prompting and I'm making projects so it can remember everything. And I've got folders on my computer and Um, so it can pull things easily. So there's a lot less, it's a lot less, I'm not re-explaining things over and over.

So Krista, when Jam started Jam AI, she would say, you know, we use AI to, to, to allow ourselves to have more time to be human. And that's something that really resonated with me, right? And as, as we've evolved and AI is more accessible and You know, what we're seeing a lot of people is, is it's not necessarily giving a lot of people their time back because they're using it to create more, right? And, and we've, we come back to this conversation a lot because it's like, do you really need to create more, right? Like, do you really need that? Just if you could really come back to kind of that basic idea of there is this tool available to us now. And, you know, let, let it help us edit the emails and, and in our tone and, and, and create the project so it remembers what we're talking about. And we can, you know, simple, do a simple prompt to get us what we need, or maybe a skill to get us what we need. And then you get what you need, and then you get your time back. Wow. And you get to go outside, you get to spend time with your family. And I was excited to talk to you about this because When I think of you, I don't think of you as an AI expert in any means, and I'm no AI expert either, right? And you're such an example of like everyone is using AI now, right? Um, so yeah, when I share that, like what comes up for you?

I think that would be a really great message is if you're going to use it, use it to give yourself more time to be human. I mean, I love that.

Yeah. I mean, that's, that's what we're, that's, that's why the human side of AI, that's why We talk about this, right? Because I, I go back to, I, in, um, in undergrad I had a, my minor was religious studies and I had this professor, um, and she was a, a, a, a pastor and she used to talk about these humble brags, right? And she was like, yeah, one time I was in this meeting and I was the only female and, and all these guys are going around the table talking about how busy they were, right? Like, One was so busy he couldn't take his wife on dates. One was so busy he's never, you know, seen his kids' soccer games. And, and she's sitting there, you know, obviously this was years before AI was accessible to all of us. And she's sitting there like, you guys, this isn't the flex that you guys think it is. Like, go take your wife on a date, go to your kids' soccer game. Like, you know, and, and, but, but still, and I think about her often in that story because.

Yeah.

Everyone you meet is so excited to tell you how busy they are. Like, but we have this tool available to us that could technically give us some time back.

Yeah. Yeah. Well, the real problem I hear with that is that our society has created productivity as self-worth.

Yeah.

Because it's not, you know, I mean, what you said is right. The real flex is a slow morning, is being able to walk your kid to school, is being able to actually listen. That was a huge thing for me. I was always thinking about what I was going to do and was not listening to my daughter. And now I really listen to what she has to say, you know, because I have my stuff done. I've got, got it marked off the list. So, um, yeah.

Amazing. So, so what does the list look like for you? Like, what is your regular, what does a list look like for you?

Oh, I love chores.

Okay.

I do a lot of little chores. I have a lot of plants. You know, I have animals, and so I like to get all my chores done. And then I, I, I have office hours. As someone who really has to work hard on time blocking, um, and actually struggles with time, you know, I'll sit down and I have an office hour and I don't get up until I get the tasks done, um, which has to do with the Joy Collective. I also see some private clients still, and, you know, following up with people, like keeping that community That's like a part of my to-do list is making sure that I'm checking in with people. And, um, and then I love to exercise, so I play pickleball, Pilates.

When did you get into pickleball?

My mom. My mom loves pickleball.

Good for her. Good for you guys. No, Krista, when I think of you, I really think like, man, Krista's just like really busy living life, you know? And I really appreciate that I'm never gonna talk to you and you're never gonna just tell me like, Oh my gosh. I hope, I hope after this, this, this, this episode airs, when people listen to this, they start paying attention more so to everyone in the world telling, being excited to say how busy they are.

Yes. No, I think that that should be like a global language shift.

Yeah.

You know, and that we—

it's not cool to be busy.

It's not cool to be busy.

Yeah.

Yeah.

It's not cool to be busy. And what? It's technology.

No, it's not cool to be busy.

No. And, and I will say sometimes I'm like, could I even write an email by myself anymore? Because I just like, I, this is what I wanna write. No, do it in my tone, you know? And, and sometimes I, I worry about that and I'm like, could I, can I even do these things anymore without AI? But at the end of the day, like, you know, there is a tool available to us. I, I want to use it and, and I want to use it for good and I want to be busy living life. So if I can spend 3 seconds on an email instead of 13.

Yes.

Like, I want that time back.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah.

So, so that said, you know, you're, you're learning, you know, you're investing in how to use AI or so. What are things that you want to do more with AI?

Um, well, I'd like to— the main— my main goal is to reach more women to join the collective for this exact reason, to figure out ways to bring more joy into their life so they can go out and live it, you know? So it is using a virtual platform to gain inspiration, gain connection, gain self-worth, gain fulfillment. You know, movement, but they take that and then they go live.

I love that.

Yeah.

Well, where can people learn more about the Joy Collective?

joycollectivecommunity.com.

Cool.

All one word.

Yeah. I'll link it.

Yeah.

Yeah. And thanks for this reminder. I mean, it, it is, it is something so top of mind for me. Like when people tell me they're busy, I literally just, I stop listening to them if I'm being honest with you. Oh yeah. Yeah, people could probably look at my calendar and my life and, and say, you know, I'm busy too, you know, but it's just not the flex I'm, I'm trying to, it's not what I'm trying to lead with, you know? And, um, I just, yeah, I hope, I hope from this call, like, we love AI. We love, we love, we love a tool that's available to us that, that, that helps things, right? Like that is, that's all good. And we don't need to necessarily create more than what we need with it. Correct.

Yeah. And, and to use it, to use it as a way to, to not necessarily take humanity away, but to add to humanity. I think that's the biggest, the biggest thing for me is to contend to use it to connect humans in a world where we're, we're really separated and we're really isolated.

And so there's almost kind of like a, a pause needed, right? Like Okay, what, what I'm doing right now, how is it, how is it allowing us to connect more? How is it allowing us to be more human? How is it allowing, you know, what, what am I going to do with this extra time? And I think those are really important questions.

Yes. I'm gonna connect more with my inner circle and then I'm gonna connect more with my community, you know?

Yeah. Cool. And I will say, you know, we, Jam AI, we have a wonderful community in school. And sometimes I'll jump on and I'll lead a call. And so many of our members can block and like, they are so amazing. And it's amazing 'cause I've seen them join the community, you know, 6 months ago, basically like not knowing how to use ChatGPT. And now they are building apps and now they are monetizing and creating side hustles for them. And it's really, I'm— Really blown away with their their ability to commit to learning and and to applying, right? And you know, going back to this idea of community, it's really cool for me to jump on and maybe lead like a coffee and convos because they ask each other, you know, these these these questions. Oh, how do I use this? Or what platform should I use this? And it is it's that it's that it's community. It's someone in California. answering a question for someone in Virginia, or, you know, and it's like they're all there to learn with each other. And, um, I just, it's really cool to be a part of. Yeah. All right. What else, Krista? What else is on your mind today before we end this call? Yeah, nothing.

Just connect with your neighbor.

That's it.

Like, especially the one maybe you never talk to. Ask if there's something you can do to help, and maybe they need help, you know, just really, and continue to, to remember that we are humans. You know, and, and, and care about humanity and care about the earth. Um, and, and, and think about the things that bring you the most joy, and those are the things you invest in, you know, which typically are family, friends, health, nature, travel, um, learning, your people. So just, just remember to connect to your people.

You know, and I, I know we keep saying goodbye here, but not, um, I think I think it's common for people to hear kind of this, this language and, and, and have an immediate like, well, yeah, but I need to work, you know? And, and we're not being unrealistic here. Like we, we want to encourage, you know, small business owners and, and employees to do, you know, we, we think, you know, working hard is, and I'll speak for myself, I think working hard is an important value, you know? And there's so much more. Yeah.

There's so much more. Yeah, there's so much more. I just think it's like really important to remember like what is bringing you joy, you know? And, and maybe it is work, but we definitely, I mean, the thing I, I guess maybe we can really say goodbye on is that we have no idea how long we're here on earth, you know? So to really make the most of what our purpose is, what our passion is, who our people are. Um, and yes, work's a necessary part of life. But we actually are in control of our time. You know, the majority of us are. So not all of us, but, but a lot of us. So.

I know. I love, I always say like, yep, we all have the same 24 hours. We do. We do. We do.

And we get to choose. And there's a lot of, um, a lot of like shoulds and have-tos and guilt, um, that if we can let that go so we can focus on the things we really love, you know, again, the world's gonna be a better place.

Cool. Well, thank you so much for this refreshing conversation and our beautiful morning flow before it. And, um, you do, you do a wonderful job of bringing joy into the world, Krista, and I'm so grateful to get to share that with you. So thank you again for your time and just for being you.

Yes, thank you.

Talk soon.

Bye.

Bye.