Learning, Agency, and EdTech | Erik Parsons In this episode of My EdTech Life, I reconnect with the brilliant Erik Parsons, better known as The PhDad on TikTok, for a bold conversation on what really matters in education. We dig into behaviorism vs. developmentalism, and how too many classrooms are still operating on compliance over collaboration. From Chromebooks as babysitters to the over-promise of AI-powered personalized learning, we question the transactional mindset that kee...

Digital Portfolios, Feedback Culture, and Rethinking Readiness with Tisha Poncio and Rick Butterworth In Episode 330 of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Tisha Poncio and Rick Butterworth, authors of Today’s Learners, Tomorrow’s Leaders. This conversation is all about transforming classrooms by prioritizing neurodiversity, digital portfolios, and building real-world readiness through entrepreneurial thinking. We dig into what it really means to shift from compliance-based learning to authentic ...

Ep.329 Building with Purpose with Eduaide In this episode, I welcome back two familiar voices: Thomas Thompson and Thomas Hummel, the powerhouse team behind Eduaide.AI. This isn’t just another conversation about AI. It’s a grounded, honest discussion on what it means to build tech for teachers, by teachers. We talk growth, grit, and grounded design. From their classroom beginnings to becoming one of the most trusted teacher-first platforms, we unpack how they’re putting pedagogy over hype, and...

AI in Schools: Innovation or Illusion? | Ep. 328 with Job Christiansen Is AI making classrooms smarter—or just noisier? In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Job Christiansen, a fellow cautious advocate, educator, and instructional technology specialist, to ask the hard questions about AI’s role in education. From privacy concerns to the illusion of “safe use,” we unpack what most educators, tech leaders, and decision-makers aren’t being told about the tools flooding our schools....

Episode 327: Learning & Development, Instructional Design, and AI Talk with Holly Owens In this episode, I had the honor of chatting with Holly Owens, host of EdUp EdTech, Director of Growth Marketing at Yellowdig, and all-around L&D powerhouse. We talk about everything from instructional design to AI in learning, what "proficiency" really means, and how educators can pivot into the world of L&D with confidence. If you're an educator, learning designer, or someone navigating the fast-moving wo...

What Does It Mean to Be Digitally Well? | with Teodora Pavkovic In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Teodora Pavkovic, psychologist, speaker, and digital wellness expert at Linewize, to unpack how technology shapes our emotions, identity, and relationships. From AI companions and algorithmic influence to parenting in the age of chatbots, Teodora offers practical wisdom and actionable strategies for families and schools seeking healthy digital habits. We dive into why digital platf...

Digital Dangers Facing Our Kids with Andy Murphy In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sat down with Andy Murphy, also known as The Secure Dad, to talk about the uncomfortable truth: kids are being targeted online, and it’s not a fair fight. We unpack how predators use everyday platforms like games and social media to groom and manipulate children, often right under their parents' noses. Andy drops powerful insights that every parent, educator, and EdTech leader needs to hear. Whether you’re a...

Episode 324 – Charlie Meyer: The AI Hype, EdTech Snake Oil & What Teachers Actually Want In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Charlie Meyer, small business owner and creator of Pickcode, to unpack the growing wave of AI solutionism in education. From being shouted at over not using AI to asking hard questions like, “Would you trust a vibe-coded site with your bank info?”, Charlie brings the heat, the honesty, and the humor. If you’re an educator, policymaker, EdTech builder, or in...

AI Ethics, Overreliance & Honest Talk with Jen Manly In this episode of My EdTech Life, Fonz sits down with returning guest Jen Manly, a computer science educator, TikTok powerhouse, and advocate for ethical tech use, to unpack the complex relationship between AI, teaching, and critical thinking. From data privacy concerns to AI detectors that fail our students, this conversation gets real about what’s hype, what’s helpful, and what needs more scrutiny. Whether you're cautiously curious o...

Episode 322: ¿Instrucciones o experiencias? El nuevo rol del educador en tiempos de IA | Dr. José R. Ferrer ¡Bienvenidos a un nuevo episodio de My EdTech Life! Hoy tengo el honor de conversar con el Dr. José R. Ferrer López sobre su libro Cómo Diseñar Experiencias de Aprendizaje en la Era de la Inteligencia Artificial. Hablamos de pensamiento crítico, diseño centrado en el estudiante, el verdadero rol de la IA en educación, y la importancia de diseñar vivencias reales de aprendizaje. Prepárate...

Episode 321: 2059 and the Future of Education with Micah Shippee What if we stopped reacting to every new tech tool and started preparing with intention? In this bold conversation, I sit down with educator, futurist, and Samsung’s Director of Education Solutions, Micah Shippee, to explore his new book 2059: The Future of Education. We dive deep into what the future could look like across AI, classroom models, access, agency, and everything in between. If you're an educator, leader, or just cu...

Episode 320: Creativity in Young Children: What Science Tells Us and Our Hearts Know with Dr. Zachary Stier & Tom Rendon In this episode of My EdTech Life, I’m joined by returning guest Dr. Zachary Stier and first-time guest Tom Rendon to explore their new book Creativity in Young Children: What Science Tells Us and Our Hearts Know. We dive deep into the intersection of creativity, child development, advocacy, and play—discussing what it means to truly nurture creativity in early learning enviro...

Episode 319: AI, Education, and Moving at Human Speed with Rob Nelson In this powerful episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with educator, writer, and higher ed tech veteran Rob Nelson to explore the real story behind AI in education. Rob challenges the “move fast and break things” mentality and calls for a more human-paced, thoughtful approach to integrating AI in classrooms. We explore what it really means to Tinker Toward Utopia, how large language models are reshaping student learning (w...

Artificial Intelligence, Real Literacy – Evidence-Based Practices in Action Join me on this engaging episode of My EdTech Life as I sit down with Paul Matthews and Jason Gulya to dive into their book titled Artificial Intelligence, Real Literacy: A Practical Guide to Using AI For Evidence-Based Literacy Practices in Education and explore how AI is transforming literacy instruction through evidence-based practices. We discuss everything from integrating AI in the classroom to verifying its output...

Episode 317: Why Ethics Must Lead Our AI Conversations with Amber Ivey In this powerful episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Amber Ivey—data expert and host of the AI for Kids podcast—to unpack one of the most urgent topics in the world of AI: ethics. Amber shares how her journey in government data and policy led her to become a passionate advocate for AI literacy among kids. From her edutainment platform AiDigiTales to her bestselling children's book AI Meets AI, Amber is on a mis...

Why Transparency Matters Now More Than Ever with Ken Patterson In this hard-hitting episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Ken Patterson, a former principal turned AI consultant, who pulls no punches on how AI is really being used in schools. Ken saw firsthand how AI transformed a struggling school into a top performer, but the system pushed back hard instead of celebrating. 💡 Here’s what we dive into: ✅ How AI helped Ken’s school thrive—before the system shut it down. ✅ Why so many EdTech ...

Unlock Creativity & Accessibility with Book Creator and Katie Fielding In this special episode of My EdTech Life, we celebrate 100,000 downloads with an incredible guest—Katie Fielding! 🎉 Katie, an educator-turned-EdTech leader, joins us to dive into the power of Book Creator, the most inclusive tool for creativity and demonstrating learning in K-12. As My EdTech Life’s newest official partner, Book Creator is revolutionizing how students and teachers engage with learning. Katie showcases how ...

Breaking Language Barriers in Education with Pocketalk with Arturo Guajardo 🎧 Welcome to another exciting episode of My EdTech Life! This week, I'm joined by Arturo Guajardo from Pocketalk, where we explore how their groundbreaking translation device is helping break down language barriers in classrooms, school districts, and beyond! 🌍 Pocketalk is revolutionizing how educators, students, and parents communicate, especially in multicultural settings. Get ready to hear how this device empowers s...

AI Safety, Ethics, and the SHIELD Conference with Angeline Corvaglia The future of AI safety is unfolding fast—and we need to be ready. In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Angeline Corvaglia, a global leader in online safety, AI ethics, and digital literacy. We dive into some of the most pressing issues in AI today, including: 🛑 AI-powered predators and chatbots—are they automating child grooming? 🔍 The hidden dangers of AI relationships—a shocking story of a 13-year-old's first...

Episode 312: I Used My Boat Money to Start Tech My School with Robby Cobbs What would you do if you saw an entire generation of students being left behind? Robby Cobbs saw the need for better technology, teacher training, and modern resources in Puerto Rican schools—and he took action. Instead of buying a boat, he used his savings to launch Tech My School, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping underserved schools with technology and empowering teachers to bring 21st-century learning to their stu...

Episode 311: Transforming Audio with Adobe Podcast with Harmony Jiroudek What if creating professional-grade audio was just a few clicks away? In this episode, I sit down with Harmony Jiroudek, Customer Education and Success Lead at Adobe Podcast, to explore how this AI-powered platform is transforming the world of audio creation! 🔹 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✅ How Adobe Podcast evolved from an enhanced speech tool to a full-suite podcasting powerhouse 🛠 ✅ AI-driven features like remo...

Episode 310: AI, Feedback, and Student Success with Caryn Sever In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Caryn Sever, a passionate instructional designer with a mission to revolutionize digital learning. Caryn shares her unique journey into instructional design, her experiences in higher education, and how Generative AI is reshaping the way students learn and engage with course materials. 💡 Topics Covered: ✅ Caryn’s journey from student to instructional design leader ✅ The evolving ...

Practical Insights on AI, Equity, and Education with Stacy Kratochvil In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Stacy Kratochvil to share actionable insights into using AI in education. Stacy discusses her journey from teaching PE and dance to becoming a leader in AI education and how her work is making a direct impact in classrooms. You’ll learn about Stacy’s professional growth through the Krause Center for Innovation and her experience launching an AI fellowship program to help ed...

Episode 308: Jim & Maurie Beasley AI Insights from an Engineer-Educator Duo In this exciting episode of My EdTech Life, we welcome Maurie and Jim Beasley, an incredible husband-and-wife team blazing trails in AI for K-12 education! Maurie, an experienced educator and counselor, and Jim, a former engineer turned CTO, share their journey of integrating AI tools into classrooms, balancing innovation with practicality, and bridging the digital divide for rural schools. 💡 What to Expect in Th...