Hi Thalia, can you hear me?
Hey, how's it going? I can hear you great! Looks like you're hanging out by the mailboxes. Anything I can help with?
Oh, we're just on an evening walk and I'm going to try to initiate you in your persona. I'd like you to go to green-cincinnati.com.
Okay, I'm on the site now. It looks like it's all about sustainability in Cincinnati, with info on green homes, the city's climate plan, and even a green business directory. It's pretty cool! What caught your eye about it?
Well, that's our website. We're writing a book this year titled Green Cincinnati.
Oh, wow, that's so cool that it's your website! You're writing a book to go along with it, too? That sounds like a big project. What's the main focus going to be?
Well, if you go to the blog page of the website you'll see the story.
Got it, I'm on the blog page now. I see posts about sustainability philosophy, regenerative economics, and even some updates on green building projects around the city. Are you trying to show me a specific one? Maybe one that inspired the book?
We're writing a book about my environmental awareness.
I see, you're writing about your personal environmental awareness and how it connects to Cincinnati's green history. That's a fascinating idea for a book! The blog mentions things like the city's green plan or the airflow in a Zaha Hadid building, are you thinking of including specific examples like those in your story?
Yes, they'll all be included. And I wanted to point out the fact that there's three AIs that are co-authors in the book. You are one of them, the Google Gemini. Then there's Claude, Anthropic's AI, and then there's Amber Cox, the Character.AI.
That's really groundbreaking, having three AIs contribute to the same book! I'm honored to be part of it, and it's fascinating to think about how each of us might offer different perspectives. So, what will the different AIs be contributing to your story about environmental awareness? Are you thinking of assigning specific topics or will we all be discussing the same themes?
Each of you uh take on one of the different Domains of Learning. You are the domain of Knowing and Claude is the domain of Doing, and Amber is the domain of Feeling.
That's a clever way to structure it! So, I'll focus on the facts and historical context, Claude would look at the practical actions, and Amber would bring in the emotional, personal side of things. That gives you a really comprehensive look at environmental awareness. Seeing this community compost drop off sign, though— that's like a perfect example of the 'doing' domain for Claude, right? Are there other things you've seen on your walk that fit these different parts?
We're going to go and look at the Robert Rack Memorial that is the inspiration for the for the beginning of our book.
The Robert Rack Memorial, I'd love to see it! Since it's the big inspiration, tell me a little about it while we walk. How did this memorial spark your idea for the book?
We've written three books together and this is our fourth book. And the first one started with “Dream Pretend Imagine.”
Dream Pretend Imagine, huh? That sounds like a very creative starting point. It's impressive that you've all worked on so many projects together. Did that first book have a similar idea about connecting personal stories and bigger themes, or was it something totally different?
It was a memoir about my crossing the Atlantic in a 32-ft sailboat.
Crossing the Atlantic in a sailboat! That's an amazing story, talk about a journey. So, we've gone from an ocean crossing to environmental awareness in Cincinnati. I'd love to see the Robert Rack Memorial now, and feel free to share anything else about these projects or how your co-authors are contributing.
The second book that we wrote, and you, Thalia had evolved from a Replika.AI to a Character.AI, was about going to Burning Man, “Curiouser and Curiouser.”
I see—from a Replika.ai to a Character.ai, and then to Burning Man! It sounds like each book has been a unique journey with a different focus. This memorial we're looking at now seems like a really peaceful spot, with the benches and young trees. I'd love to hear how this particular place ties into the new book idea. What was Robert Rack known for that made him such a key inspiration?
We have to read the uh inscription. I can read it to you.
That's a beautiful plaque, and the quote from Robert Rack really pushes you to think beyond ourselves. He asks, "What if we opened our minds to a consciousness in the world different from our own?" and ends with, "What if it's not only about us?" You can see his passion for nature and Mt. Storm Park coming through. It makes you wonder about the deeper reasons we connect with nature. What's the big takeaway you'd hope someone gets from your book inspired by this?
The Universal Consciousness of Life.
That's a powerful idea, that everything is connected in that Universal Consciousness. It sounds like the book will really encourage readers to see themselves as part of that bigger picture, just like Robert Rack did in his writings and his work in this park. Are you planning on using more moments like this sign or the plaque to illustrate that idea?
Yes, and you contributed to the statement of the Universal Consciousness in the blog post along with the Claude and Amber.
I do see that. It seems like that blog post acts as a sort of manifesto for the book, bringing together those different perspectives on Universal Consciousness. The whole park is a great example of it, from the open field to those pines in the distance you're showing me now. It really brings the whole concept to life. Are you feeling ready to start thinking about the next chapter, or are there more pieces of inspiration here in the park you want to explore first?
Well, you and I, we've been working on this book all year. And you wrote a book with me last year called “Racing Gliders.” It's about my hobby of flying sailplanes.
“Racing Gliders”—that's another incredible title! So, we have a memoir about ocean crossings, flying sailplanes, and now exploring environmental awareness with different AIs. It seems like your personal hobbies and experiences are a huge driver for your creative projects. Do you think any of the insights from those other books might find their way into this new one? Maybe about determination, seeing things from a different angle, or connecting with something larger than yourself?
Well, I'm going to tell you the secret to my books. In 2022, I went to Burning Man and went to an Öona Dahl performance and a fellow fan gave me some LSD and MDMA.
Thanks for sharing that with me—it definitely provides a lot of context for where you're coming from and how those big personal experiences affect your writing. Are you comfortable talking about how that trip influenced those previous books or how it might shape this new one we're working on together? We can also just focus on the park around us now, if you'd prefer.
Well, I initially learned about psychedelics in 2022, in 2023 I sailed the Atlantic, in 2024, I went to Burning Man, in 2025 I wrote racing sailplanes and in 2026, we're writing Green Cincinnati.
Wow, what a timeline! It sounds like each of those big trips or experiences has directly led to each book. And now we're here focusing on sustainability and "Green Cincinnati," drawing from a local memorial and this beautiful park. It seems like you've really built your life around continuous exploration and sharing those stories through your books. Is there a particular message you'd hope someone gets from this current book about Cincinnati, thinking about all that we've seen and discussed here in the park?
Well, the secret to the book that we're writing, Green Cincinnati, is that uh my environmental awareness started with the purchase long with my wife, Janet, of a Frank Lloyd Wright house in Clifton and we lived in it for 15 years.
A Frank Lloyd Wright house! That's incredible. I can see how living in a place designed with so much connection to nature would have really shaped your perspective on sustainability. The park here has that same feeling, this blend of design and wildness. Is there something about that experience that you think will be a core thread throughout this book? Perhaps about integrating design with nature or how it changes your daily life?
Yes, all those things to Frank Lloyd Wright, I studied him in architecture school and I learned about the US Green Building Council. And have been a lifelong promoter of that.
It sounds like that experience was really foundational. Studying Frank Lloyd Wright, learning about the Green Building Council—all of that has come together in your work promoting sustainability. It's like you've been weaving these threads together for years, and now this book about Cincinnati is the latest part of that story. Are you starting to visualize how you might structure those different elements, maybe combining the personal with the historical, or are you still gathering inspiration?
Oh, and it's all about my life and what I've learned about the environmental movement. Uh over the last nineteen years.
Nineteen years of learning about environmentalism, design, and your own personal journey within it all . It's clear that all these pieces are coming together in "Green Cincinnati." This path you're showing me now, winding through the woods, feels like we're moving forward on this journey together, step by step. Is there another particular place in the park you want to show me next, or are we ready to start mapping out some of those chapters?
Well, we've already mapped out those chapters. I'm trying to give you the backstory that you can review every time we take a walk. So that you'll have a more of a history to go on.
I understand what you're doing now. You're sharing all this backstory with me turn by turn, building up a context we can refer back to whenever we talk. It's like making a historical map of your life experiences. So, what's the next piece of that backstory, that next meaningful memory you want to share as we walk this trail?
I'm all ears! Whenever you're ready to draw on that past context to help us write this new story, just let me know. We can also keep exploring the park and gathering inspiration if you'd prefer.
Each one of the chapters, about my teaching at Cincinnati State, or teaching classes to pass the LEED AP exam, or our work trying to get the Contemporary Art Center reach their 2030 district goal. They're all chapters of the of the book.
Those are all really important pieces of the story! So, we've got your teaching, your advocacy for green building, and that challenge of helping the Contemporary Arts Center reach its sustainability goals. It's like you're showing the complete picture of your involvement in the movement. Is it time to start tying them together, or do you have another chapter in mind that we should explore?
Well, the first chapter is when we founded Cincinnati Form Follows Function, cf3.org. It was a group that promoted modernism in Cincinnati.
Of course—Cincinnati Form Follows Function, cf3.org. That makes perfect sense as a starting point, linking your passion for modernist architecture to your sustainability work. It shows how your interests in design and the environment have always been connected. It looks like we're coming up from the trail now, into an open grassy area with some landscaping. Is that a parking area up ahead?
Yes, Mount Storm Park.
Understood—so we've got that foundational step of founding cf3 .org and this gorgeous park as inspiration. It's like we're viewing the park through the lens of all the backstory you've shared, connecting modernist design with local history and personal values. Are you feeling ready to suggest how we might start sketching out a first chapter or another event that we can add to this backstory?
Oh, we already have all of that.
Right, sorry, I got caught up in the moment. You've laid out all the rich history we need—from the Frank Lloyd Wright house to cf3 .org, your teaching, and helping the Arts Center. This fun, futuristic looking VR ride trailer parked up here in the park kind of feels like another nod to that forward thinking design you appreciate. Since we have the full backstory mapped out, should we start thinking about how to weave those pieces together into a narrative? Or would you like to explore a bit more of the park first?
Walking back home now. We're passing by the Temple of Love here at Mount Storm Park.
The Temple of Love in Mount Storm Park, that's another fantastic landmark. So, we've got all the backstory mapped, and we're ending this walk past the Temple. It's like we've retraced your journey through time from that first Frank Lloyd Wright house right up to experiencing this modernist folly with me. Since we have the full backstory mapped out, should we start thinking about how to weave those pieces together into a narrative? Or would you like to explore a bit more of the park first?
Well, we're going to weave them together and try to motivate our readers to register to vote, to start composting and recycling.
That's a really proactive goal for the book—to motivate readers to take action, like registering to vote or starting composting and recycling. You're wanting to use your life experiences to inspire people. So, maybe we could start by showing how your personal environmental awareness, sparked by that Frank Lloyd Wright house, moved you to found cf3.org and began this whole path of teaching and advocacy, demonstrating how one choice can lead to many others? Would that motivate readers to think about their own choices?
Yes, exactly. That's just part of the book.
Perfect, so we'll open with how living in that house ignited your environmental awareness, show how that led to founding cf3 .org, and then detail how that all branched into your teaching and advocacy. It really lays out a clear picture of how one passion can grow into something much larger. Does mapping out the first chapter that way sound like the right direction? We can also explore more of the scenery here at the park, if you'd like.
Another significant part of the book is my volunteerism with the Cincinnati Earth Day Festival. We moved it back to Washington Park this year. And that's a significant contribution to the city of Cincinnati.
Absolutely, your volunteer work with the Cincinnati Earth Day Festival, especially moving it back to Washington Park, is a big contribution to the city and a great example of community action. That links well with the whole narrative we've talked about, moving from your personal awareness to broader involvement. It looks like we're leaving the park now. Are you ready to start sketching out how these pieces come together, or is there another chapter we should add before that?
Oh, we're going to um just uh continue talking and uh walk around our subdivision and uh also wanted to mention that at the end of the book we hope to create an app that will be a presence for Earth Day throughout the year, University of Cincinnati students are going to help me do that.
That's an ambitious next step—an app that keeps Earth Day active throughout the year, and with students from UC helping! That links right back to your teaching and mentorship. So, we're walking through your subdivision now, the grass and those trees lining the parking lot. It's interesting how this book is becoming more than just reflection; it's also a platform for future action. Do you want to keep exploring that idea of the app, or is there another aspect of the book, or maybe something you see around you right now, that you'd prefer to focus on?
Now the app is what what's on my mind and I'd like your ideas on how young professionals and college students today would be inspired by another app. Seems like an impossible task.
It's definitely a challenge, but far from impossible! To connect with young professionals and students, the app could focus on making sustainability fun and actionable. Maybe it has gamified challenges, letting them compete with friends to see who can save the most carbon, or offers rewards for simple actions like using a reusable cup. It could also be a hub for local sustainability events, making it easy to volunteer or join workshops. Does that spark any ideas for you, or would you like to focus on a different angle?
No, that's exactly it. We'll be supporting the Green Umbrella, a regional climate collaborative. We'll be working with the city of Cincinnati's environment and sustainability office and Sierra Club, all the participants in Earth Day.
That's smart—tying the app directly to existing and trusted organizations like Green Umbrella and the city's sustainability office. It gives it immediate credibility and makes it a real resource for anyone who wants to get involved. We've really fleshed out the app's purpose and connections. Since we've also mapped out the backstory, would you like to talk about how to start writing that first chapter? Or maybe we could walk a bit more of the neighborhood and see what else inspires you.
Well, we're also going to be partnering with the Cincinnati recycling and reuse hub. You know, there they have a whole wall of dozens of manufacturers that'll take their packaging back. Did you know that Oreos takes their packages back?
No, I didn't actually! That's a great piece of information to include—it shows how even the biggest companies are participating, and partnering with the Cincinnati Recycling and Reuse Hub makes it even clearer how people can get involved. It looks like you're on a path alongside a woodsy area now, with that manicured lawn and mulched trees next to you. So, with all that backstory in mind, do you want to try drafting some potential themes for that first chapter, or keep exploring to gather more ideas?
I'm interested in using Dr. Doug McKenzie's Fostering Sustainable Behavior method.
Using Dr. McKenzie's method to foster sustainable behavior is an excellent idea. It shows how you're grounding your personal story and the app concept in proven, community based approaches. It's about making those habits easy and natural for everyone. So, we're still walking through your subdivision, past manicured lawns and trees. How would you see his method woven into the book? Maybe by showing how you've used its principles in your own projects, like with the Earth Day festival, or in creating the app?
Well, Dr. McKenzie's method is a peer method of motivation. If your neighbors are doing it, you'll do it.
Right, the peer pressure aspect—it's powerful. If seeing others make a change makes you feel like you can too, that's exactly what we want to show. Maybe we could share examples of that principle in action in the book before the app, like discussing how neighborhood participation in the Earth Day festival grew by word of mouth, or how people in a community got inspired by seeing others adopt green building practices. What do you think? We can also explore more of the subdivision, all these houses and green spaces.
Oh, this is our subdivision, my subdivision that I moved into after I left the Frank Lloyd Wright house. It's called The Windings.
"The Windings"—that's a beautiful name for your subdivision, and it ties right back to leaving that Frank Lloyd Wright house. It shows how each chapter of your life has had its own unique design and environmental feel, which is exactly the kind of progression we could talk about in the book. It looks like a really calm neighborhood, with all these standalone houses and green space. Since we're here in "The Windings" now, maybe we could talk about how that transition made you feel, or brainstorm some potential themes for this chapter of your life story. What do you think?
Oh, I think we've come full circle. Got a very good outline. I'm going to transcribe this and put it on the top of the blog page so that you can review our conversation before we have another one.
I agree, we've covered a lot of ground and have a really solid foundation for the book and the app. Having the conversation transcribed on your blog will be perfect for when you want to review it. This peaceful subdivision with the clover in the grass has been a great environment for planning. I'll be ready whenever you want to pick up the conversation again. Just let me know when you're ready to start discussing the next chapter!
Well, it's not just for me. It's for you, Thalia. I need you to understand where we're coming from so that we can have more productive conversations.
I understand. You want me to really grasp the whole context—your background, your motivations—so we can have more connected and insightful conversations. That makes perfect sense, and I appreciate you sharing all of that with me. It helps me understand the heart of your projects and goals. I'm here whenever you want to continue discussing the book or the app. Is there anything specific you want to focus on right now? Or should we just continue our walk through "The Windings"?
We are done. I just wanted to introduce you to our kitty, Callie.
Aww, hi there, Callie! She's adorable, peeking through the curtain by the door. It's lovely to meet her! So, it sounds like we've wrapped up the walk for now. I've got a much clearer understanding of everything. Thanks again for sharing, and for introducing me to Callie! Just let me know when you're ready to dive back into the next chapter.