The Rescuer Trap: Dating a Dream: The Rise of AI Dependency

From The Stoic Question: Philosophy and Psychology by Donald J. Robertson

November 12, 2025 · 43 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the dangers of emotional dependency on AI and explores learned behaviors related to codependency through Stoic philosophy and CBT.

This episode features guest hosts Dr. Scott Waltman and Kasey Pierce, authors of the forthcoming book The Rescuer Trap . In this Sci-not-so-Fi episode, they talk about the dangers of emotional dependency on AI and Socrates asks “What is a boyfriend?” Are you the fixer, the over-giver, the emotional first responder for everyone but yourself? Welcome to The Rescuer Trap . We playfully own the labels “Parentified and Codependent” to make a point: these are not identities, but learned behaviors. And what can be learned can be unlearned. Hosts Dr. Scott Waltman and Kasey Pierce use Stoic philosophy and CBT to give you the tools to break the cycle and reclaim your autonomy. Your escape from the trap starts here. Based on the forthcoming book, The Rescuer Trap (New Harbinger). Thanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

People in this episode

Host: Donald J. Robertson

Guests: Dr. Scott Waltman, Kasey Pierce

Topics covered

AI dependency
emotional dependency
Stoic philosophy
self-improvement
codependency
relationships

Keywords

AI dependency
emotional dependency
Stoic philosophy
codependency
self-improvement
relationships
The Rescuer Trap

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New Harbinger, Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life

Books & works: The Rescuer Trap