Dylan Tweney—acclaimed IT journalist, former editor at Wired and VentureBeat, Derek Arden

Negotiators Podcast

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20d ago 28:21

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Welcome to Monday Night Live

🌟electrifying deep dive into the world of tech, journalism, AI, and digital wellbeing as we welcomed Dylan Tweney—acclaimed IT journalist, former editor at Wired and VentureBeat, and now a strategic communications coach.

From interviewing Jeff Bezos to navigating the social-media slot machine, Dylan brought decades of frontline Silicon Valley experience to the Monday Night Live community. Here’s your full rundown of what was covered 👇

💻 The Truth About Tech Journalism

Dylan kicked off by sharing what it’s really like to be an IT journalist—an interpreter of complex innovations into plain English. From the early days of the PC boom to the current AI revolution, he’s been on the frontlines of every major tech wave.

📰 Career Highlights:

Senior Editor at Wired – gadgets, science, business of tech
News Editor at VentureBeat – startups, VC, Silicon Valley economy
Now ghostwriting and speechwriting for top tech leaders and brands

While Dylan no longer writes about gadgets, he specializes in enterprise tech—the powerful but often overlooked systems behind business transformation. “It’s not flashy,” he said, “but it’s where the real value is created.”

🤖 AI in Writing – Help or Hindrance?

One of the most insightful segments came as Dylan addressed the rapid rise of AI tools like ChatGPT in writing.

📊 According to a survey Dylan conducted:

85% of writers use AI
But only 30% use it to draft copy

Why not more? Because AI can flatten creativity, Dylan warns. “AI-generated content often lacks soul—it’s polished, but not personal.”

🧠 Even more concerning: “AI changes how we think about what good writing looks like,” he explained. “If everyone starts copying the bots, human creativity could suffer.”

🧠 Social Media: The New Slot Machine?

Dylan offered a hard-hitting perspective on social media’s addictive design—comparing platforms like Facebook and X (Twitter) to slot machines.

🎰 The dopamine loop:

Likes and comments trigger pleasure chemicals
Outrage fuels engagement
Result: A culture of anger, anxiety, and comparison

“It made me miserable,” Dylan admitted, reflecting on his personal social media experience. “And I saw how algorithms drive content that keeps us scrolling, not necessarily what’s good for us.”

Yet he remains optimistic. “I see young people who know how to unplug. There’s hope.”

🧬 Real Human Connection = Real Happiness

In contrast to tech’s dopamine traps, Dylan championed serotonin and oxytocin—our natural “feel-good” chemicals:

❤️ Hug someone
🌊 Jump in cold water
🧘 Meditate and be present
🎙️ And yes… deep Zoom conversations count too!

🧠 AI in China: Copy or Innovate?

On the rise of generative AI in China, Dylan noted that while some borrowing is inevitable, Chinese AI like DeepSeek and ERNIE builds on the same foundational research pioneered by Western labs.

“It’s more evolution than theft,” he said, emphasizing that global AI progress is built on shared knowledge.

💬 Power Writing: No Weasel Words!

As a writing coach, Dylan also gave us practical tips on powerful communication:

✂️ Cut the fluff: Get rid of “almost,” “very,” and other weasel words.
🔢 Use numbers: “5 Ways to Improve Your Storytelling” always works.
🧠 Intrigue beats summary: A headline should make you want to click, not summarize everything.

💥 Fun Fact: Great headline writers can earn 5x more than article writers—for good reason!

🤵 Interviewing Jeff Bezos – A Peek Inside the Billionaire Mind

Yes, Dylan has interviewed Jeff Bezos—long before the Venice wedding closed half the city. His impression?

“A Bond villain laugh, but a visionary mindset.”
Bezos was excited about his 10,000-year clock project—a monument to long-term thinking, a rarity in today’s instant-gratification world.

🔗 Connect with Dylan

📧 Interested in Dylan’s writing, coaching, or newsletter?
👉 Visit: https://dylan.tweney.com

💡 Whether you’re a business leader, content creator, or just tech-curious—Dylan’s insights are pure gold.

👏 A huge thank you to Dylan Tweney for joining us this week on Monday Night Live.
For more lively chats, sharp ideas, and world-class guests—subscribe and stay tuned.

📺 Don’t forget to like, comment, and share this episode if you enjoyed it.
Until next time—stay curious, stay connected.

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