My EdTech Life
My EdTech Life is where education meets innovation with clarity, caution, and purpose. Hosted by Alfonso "Fonz" Mendoza Jr., this podcast features real conversations with educators, founders, researchers, and thought leaders who are shaping the future of learning.From classroom-tested tools to emerging AI trends, we cut through the noise to spotlight what truly works in K–12 and higher education. As a leading voice in responsible AI adoption, Fonz challenges the hype and elevates voices that often go unheard, bringing practical, ethical, and future-forward insights to every episode.Whether you're a teacher, instructional coach, policymaker, or edtech creator, this is yo...
Digital Natives Aren't Ready for This | My EdTech Life 372
Parent ProTech and Krystina O'Bryant join Dr. Alfonso Mendoza on My EdTech Life to challenge one of education’s biggest assumptions: being a digital native does not mean being digitally ready.
In Digital Natives Aren't Ready for This, we explore what students are actually facing online and why knowing how to use technology is very different from having the emotional maturity, critical thinking, and judgment needed to navigate it safely.
Krystina O'Bryant, Chief Academic Officer at Parent ProTech, shares how schools and families can move beyond checkbox digital citizenship and start having meaningful conversations about sc...
"Step One, Step Two" Isn't Real Learning | My EdTech Life 371
"Step one, step two, step three" isn't how real learning happens. On this episode of My EdTech Life, Dr. Alfonso Mendoza sits down with Cari Orts, also known as Techie Cari, an educational technology specialist at Marble Falls ISD with over 20 years of experience in education, to discuss maker spaces, project-based learning, and why AI will never replace real teaching.
Cari shares why she believes technology should work like a textbook, not the whole classroom. She breaks down her Cardboard Carnival project, a K-5 event that fills an entire school gym with games kids build from scratch...
AI Can't Steal Your Voice | My EdTech Life 370
Can AI take away a student's voice or help protect it? In this episode of My EdTech Life, host Dr. Alfonso Mendoza, a top voice in the ed tech space, sits down with virtual education leaders Larisa Black and LaKeshia Brooks to dig into artificial intelligence in education, digital literacy, virtual teaching, and the growing backlash against ed tech in K-12 schools.
With a combined 34 years in education, Larisa and LaKeshia share their personal journeys from classroom teachers to virtual education leaders, and how their approach to generative AI shifted from early excitement to grounded, cautious advocacy...
"I Don't Even Like Calling It Claude" ft. Dr. Carol Fletcher | My EdTech Life 369
"I Don't Even Like Calling It Claude" ft. Dr. Carol Fletcher | My EdTech Life 368
A college student let an AI chatbot complete his entire research project. When his professor asked him to explain it, he couldn't. That's the story that opens this episode with Dr. Carol Fletcher, Director of EPIC (Expanding Pathways in Computing) at UT Austin's Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC), where she leads research and professional development in STEM+CS education across the state.
Carol doesn't hold back. She calls the "AI will do it all, kids...
Bossing My Robot Overlords Around ft. Dustin Rimmey | My EdTech Life 368
"I can boss my robot overlords around and go, 'I wanna try this thing.'"
That line right there? That's the whole episode.
This week Dr. Fonz sits down with Dustin Rimmey, aka Rimmey, a 19-year Kansas educator who went from "programming languages just don't stick in my brain" to building his own classroom tools with nothing but a keyboard and a stubborn refusal to quit.
No computer science degree. No dev team. Just what Rimmey calls "caveman prompting." You describe what you want. You fail. You try again. And somehow, a Wordle-style history...
The Ultimate Technology Isn't AI, It's You ft. Mark Zeiler | My EdTech Life 367
The Ultimate Technology Isn't AI, It's You ft. Mark Zeiler | My EdTech Life Ep. 367
In this episode of My EdTech Life, Dr. Alfonso Mendoza sits down with Dr. Mark Zeiler, a 20+ year K-12 education veteran whose career spans ELA teacher, media specialist, assistant principal, dean, and operations and curriculum leadership in Florida. The conversation centers on one core idea: as AI accelerates and humanoid robots move closer to mainstream integration, the most adaptive, creative, empathetic, and transformative technology ever created is still the human being.
Dr. Zeiler unpacks what human-centered leadership actually looks...
Ready Beats Finished ft. Marnie & Nick | My EdTech Life 366
What does it actually mean to be ready for the real world? Not finished. Not just checked out with a diploma. Ready. In this episode, I sit down with Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio, authors of The Business of You and Lead It Like Lasso, to talk about Blue, their app built to help middle school, high school, and college students discover who they are, learn to tell their own story, and step into the world with real confidence.
This is not your typical EdTech conversation. Marnie and Nick are tackling something that report cards and GPA...
Strategy Beats the Tool in AI for Schools ft. Karle Delo | My EdTech Life 365
What happens when a former curriculum director becomes an AI strategist for an entire state? You get the kind of zoomed-out view most of us in education never get to see.
In this episode, I welcome back my good friend Karle Delo, AI Strategist at Michigan Virtual, for a real conversation about what's actually working in school districts, what's flopping, and what the secret AI culture in your building probably looks like right now.
Karle works with districts across Michigan, helping them build AI guidance, professional learning, and integration plans. She's seen the speedboats, the...
Why AI Won't Save a Classroom Without Curiosity ft. Olivia Odileke | My EdTech Life 364
What if the missing ingredient in your classroom isn't a new tool, a new curriculum, or another PD session, but curiosity itself?
In this episode, I sit down with Olivia Odileke, founder of Spark Curiosity EDU, Education Week contributor, and creator of the Spark Curiosity GPT Coach. Olivia brings an industrial engineering background into the world of education, and her perspective on how we teach, how we evaluate, and how we use AI in classrooms is one you don't want to miss.
We get into why so many teachers are burning out trying to cover...
What AI Can't Replace in Instructional Design ft. Jonathan De La Cruz | My EdTech Life 363
AI can write your design doc. It can build your storyboard. It can draft your script, your rubric, your assessment, your video outline, and half of your e-learning module before lunch. So what's left for the instructional designer?
According to Jonathan De La Cruz, everything that actually matters.
Jonathan is an instructional designer at a supply chain company and at a Plano, Texas startup building an AI-assisted learning management system. But before all of that, he was a music educator. He worked at DePauw University and Indiana University. He played mariachi on weekends, jazz combos...
The Human Edge: Smarter Decisions in the Age of AI ft. Cheryl Strauss Einhorn | My EdTech Life 362
What happens to your judgment when AI starts answering before you finish the question?
In this episode, Dr. Fonz sits down with Cheryl Strauss Einhorn, founder of Decisive, decision-sciences educator at Cornell and the University of Miami, and author of the new book The Human Edge: Smarter Decisions in the Age of AI (Cornell Publishing, May 8th). Cheryl spent over a decade as an investigative journalist at Barron's, where her bearish company stories halted stock trading, shut down companies, and once helped send a CEO to ten years in prison. That work taught her something every educator...
If You Live on Earth, You've Been Opted Into AI ft. Valerie Brock | My EdTech Life 361
There's no opt-out button for AI. That's the reality Valerie Brock, Curriculum Lead at Day of AI, brings to this conversation, and it changes how we think about AI literacy in K-12.
In this episode, Dr. Fonz sits down with Valerie to unpack what AI literacy actually means (hint: it's not prompt engineering), why early childhood classrooms belong in this conversation, and how Day of AI is building developmentally appropriate, tool-agnostic curriculum that's now reaching students in Australia, Rwanda, Taiwan, New Zealand, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, the Philippines, and beyond.
Valerie draws on 13 years as a New...
The #1 AI Governance Mistake Schools Are Making ft. Betsy Cooper | My EdTech Life 360
Episode 360: The #1 AI Governance Mistake Schools Are Making ft. Betsy Cooper
What's the biggest mistake schools are making with AI right now? According to Betsy Cooper, it's not taking it seriously from day one. In this episode, Dr.Alfonso sits down with Betsy Cooper, Founder and Executive Director of the Aspen Policy Academy, for a powerful conversation on the AI governance decisions quietly reshaping schools — and what educators, leaders, and parents can do about it.
Betsy brings a one-of-a-kind perspective shaped by her work as a former DHS attorney, her time leading the UC Berkeley Ce...
No CS Background. Below Poverty Line. Now Learning Quantum ft. A.M. Bhatt | My EdTech Life 359
What happens when you take public high school students with zero computer science background — 87% of whom are below the federal poverty line — and put them in one of only two quantum computing programs for high schoolers in the entire nation?
That's exactly what A.M. Bhatt and his nonprofit DAE are doing in Connecticut, and the results are challenging everything we think we know about education reform, student potential, and what it really means to prepare young people for the future.
In this episode of My EdTech Life, host Dr. Alfonso Mendoza sits down with A.M...
How Two 19-Year-Olds Are Fixing Reading & Writing with AI ft. Almar & Max | My EdTech Life 358
They’re Only 19… And Already Rethinking Education
What happens when two 19-year-olds look at education and say… this isn’t working?
In this episode, I sit down with Almar Tishenko and Max Litvinenka, two young founders building Reading Rooms, a platform designed to rethink how students read, write, and receive feedback in the age of AI.
This isn’t about replacing teachers.
This is about giving them time back, strengthening critical thinking, and using AI the right way.
🚀 What You’ll Learn
•Why delayed feedback is hurting student learning
•How Reading...
Giving Student Voice a Stage ft. Tim Belmont | My EdTech Life 357
Student voice is one of the most powerful forces in education — but only when it has a real stage. In this episode, Dr. Fonz welcomes back returning guest Tim Belmont, Language Arts teacher and Technology Coordinator at Lyndhurst High School in New Jersey, for a rich conversation on what it actually means to give students an authentic voice — and the innovative project he built to make that a reality.
Tim breaks down how he integrates podcasting into his Public Speaking and Advanced Public Speaking classes, why choice and personal connection are the secret ingredients to genuine student expr...
Safe AI for Kids: How Chatperone Protects Your Child ft. Caleb Hurd | My EdTech Life 356
In this episode, Dr. Alfonso sits down with Caleb Hurd, founder of Chatperone, an AI chat platform built specifically to keep kids safe online. As a father of two and a 20-year tech industry veteran, Caleb built Chatperone not for investors or school district contracts, but for his own children first. What started as a personal solution has become a mission to give parents and educators peace of mind in a world where AI chatbots are already in the hands of our kids.
From the Character AI controversy to COPPA compliance gaps, Caleb and Dr...
Podcasting in 2026: Grow Your Show with AI & Descript ft. Aaron Makelky | My EdTech Life 355
Dr. Alfonso sits down with Aaron Makelky of Descript to unpack the real future of podcasting beyond vanity metrics, beyond over-polished edits, and beyond the AI hype.
This conversation is a masterclass for creators, educators, and entrepreneurs who want to amplify their voice without burning out.
From workflow wisdom to sponsorship strategy to the rise of hyper-niche podcasts, Aaron delivers practical insight with zero fluff. If you’ve ever wondered whether your downloads are “enough,” whether video matters, or how AI fits into authentic storytelling, you won't want to miss this one.
Chapte...
Ready to Lead With AI ft. Dr. Kip Glazer | My EdTech Life 354
Four years after ChatGPT changed everything, schools are still treading water.
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Kip Glazer, principal of Mountain View High School, home of Google, and author of Ready to Lead With AI: A Practical Guide for School Leaders. Dr. Kip has been in this conversation since 2015 and she is bringing ALL of that experience to the table.
We talk about why the AI cheating conversation is failing our students, what questions every school leader should be asking vendors before letting ANY tool into their school, and why the real...
What Neuroscience Reveals About AI in Education ft. Dr. Mark Hobson | My EdTech Life 353
Neuroscience expert Dr. Mark Hobson reveals why educators MUST understand how AI works—and why your brain learns exactly like AI does.
What You'll Learn:
Key Quote: "Our learners need to know more about AI and how it works—and so do our faculty." - Dr. Mark Hobson
Dr. Hobson studie...
Bonus TCEA Episode: Simplifying EdTech for Teachers & Amplifying Learning for Students
Simplifying EdTech for Teachers & Amplifying Learning for Students
Bonus episode recorded live at TCEA
Recorded live at TCEA, this bonus episode of My EdTech Life cuts through the EdTech noise to focus on what actually works in classrooms. Joined by Elaina Kloecker and Spencer Wright, Dr. Fonz unpacks why ease of use, strong pedagogy, and teacher agency matter more than shiny tools and usage minutes.
This conversation tackles real questions educators are asking right now: When does technology truly support learning? When does it get in the way? And how do we...
Why Coraltalk Conversational Learning Beats AI Cheating ft. Melissa Morgan | My EdTech Life 352
Is critical thinking becoming a lost skill in the age of AI?
In Episode 352 of My EdTech Life, Dr. Alfonso Mendoza sits down with Melissa Morgan, Founder of Coraltalk , to explore why conversation, not content consumption, is the key to real learning.
This episode dives deep into why oral assessment, dialogue-based learning, and conversational AI may be the most effective way to combat AI-assisted cheating while actually improving student understanding. Melissa shares the origin story of Coraltalk , inspired by teaching Buddhist monks through dialogue, and explains how speaking out loud strengthens retention, metacognition, and critical...
Why EdTech Usage Doesn’t Equal Impact ft. Dr. Paula Cushanick | My EdTech Life 351
Why EdTech Usage Doesn’t Equal Impact ft. Dr. Paula CushanickÂ
In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Dr. Paula Cushanick, known as Dr. C on TikTok, to unpack one of the most misunderstood ideas in education technology:
EdTech usage does NOT equal impact.
Districts often measure success through logins, minutes, and usage reports because they’re easy to pull. But Dr. Cushanick’s research and classroom experience tell a very different story.
In this conversation, we dig into what actually drives student growth, especially for emergent bilingu...
AI Literacy Isn’t “One More Thing” ft. Lindy Hockenbary | My EdTech Life 350
In Episode 350 of My EdTech Life, Dr. Alfonso “Fonz” Mendoza sits down with Lindy Hockenbary (LindyHoc), a K–12 EdTech advisor, strategist, and professional learning leader known for helping teachers make technology work for real learning.
This conversation goes straight to the issues educators actually face, the “one more thing” overload, AI misconceptions, and how to move beyond AI detectors toward authentic assessments students can’t fake. Lindy breaks down how AI literacy fits inside core instruction (not as a separate add-on), why we must redesign assessment to emphasize process over product, and how tools with guardrails + teacher dashboards c...
How Mega Minds Brings Real-World CTE to Classrooms ft. Eric Tao & Austin Levinson | My EdTech Life 349
How Mega Minds Brings Real-World CTE to Classrooms ft. Eric Tao & Austin Levinson | My EdTech Life 349
In Episode 349 of My EdTech Life, Dr. Alfonso “Fonz” Mendoza sits down with Eric Tao, Founder & CEO of Mega Minds, and Austin Levinson, veteran educator and learning designer, to unpack how immersive AI-powered simulations are reshaping Career and Technical Education (CTE).
This conversation goes beyond AI hype. Eric and Austin explain why most AI tools in education focus on productivity instead of learning and how immersive environments can restore student engagement, agency, and real-world skill development.
...
The Framework Every CTE Teacher Needs ft. Tisha Richmond | My EdTech Life 348
Career and Technical Education is often overlooked, misunderstood, or siloed. In this episode of My EdTech Life, Dr. Alfonso Mendoza sits down with Tisha Richmond, veteran CTE educator and author of The Magical CTE Classroom, to unpack what meaningful, joyful, and real-world CTE learning actually looks like.
Tisha shares her journey from the classroom to edtech and back again, why CTE teachers face unique challenges, and how intentional design can transform labs, kitchens, workshops, and hands-on learning spaces into powerful environments for creativity, collaboration, and career readiness.
This conversation explores how CTE classrooms can move...
The Mission Behind Day of AI ft. Jeff Riley | My EdTech Life 347
In this episode of My EdTech Life, Jeff Riley breaks down the mission behind Day of AI and the work of MIT RAISE to help schools, districts, families, and students understand artificial intelligence safely, ethically, and with purpose.
Jeff brings 32 years of experience as a teacher, counselor, principal, superintendent, and former Massachusetts Commissioner of Education. His transition to MIT RAISE reveals why AI literacy, student safety, and clear policy matter more than ever.
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome & Sponsor Shoutouts
01:45 Jeff Riley’s Background in Education
04:00 Why MIT RAISE and Day of AI
06:00 The Challenge: AI...
How Relief Roster Fixes Substitute Chaos ft. Kyle Sumrow | My EdTech Life 346
Today on My EdTech Life, I sit down with Kyle Sumrow, educator, developer, and Director of Outreach and Development at Tech My School, to break down Relief Roster, a powerful substitute management and volunteer coordination system designed to streamline the entire sub process for schools.
Kyle shares how Relief Roster solves the daily scramble schools face with substitutes, onboarding, scheduling, PTO tracking, and volunteer management. We unpack how customizable schedules, skill-based sub assignments, integrated communications, and equity-based pricing make this tool a real solution for under-resourced schools and large districts alike.
If you're looking for...
Inside the UK’s Big Adobe Express Movement ft. Sean McLaughlin | My EdTech Life 345
Inside the UK’s Big Adobe Express Movement ft. Sean McLaughlin | My EdTech Life 345
In this conversation, I sit down with Sean McLaughlin, Adobe for Education’s UK Community & Partnerships Lead, to explore how Adobe Express, guided creativity, and purposeful AI are reshaping teaching and learning across the UK.
 From live lessons with Dom & Merit, to outreach programs with Manchester United Football Club, to powerful creative workflows that build student confidence, Sean shares what’s possible when teachers have the right tools — and the right community.
If you’ve ever wonder...
How CTE Really Works for Students ft. Dr. Joey Mendoza | My EdTech Life 344
How CTE Really Works for Students ft. Dr. Joey Mendoza | My EdTech Life 344
CTE is changing fast. Certifications, digital skills, pathways, tutoring, attendance, career pipelines—there’s a lot happening behind the scenes. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Joey Mendoza, a South Texas educator and freshly-minted doctoral researcher who has worked across classrooms, regional service centers, EdTech companies, and now the CTE space with YaizY.Â
We unpack what CTE really looks like today: what works, what doesn’t, where students get stuck, and why attendance—yes, attendance—may matter more...
How AiDigiCards Help Kids Learn AI Safely ft. Amber Ivey | My EdTech Life Ep.343
How AiDigiCards Help Kids Learn AI Safely ft. Amber Ivey | My EdTech Life 343Â
In Episode 343 of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Amber Ivey to explore AiDigiCards, a new screen-free way to introduce kids to AI literacy, curiosity, and critical thinking. Amber breaks down the journey from her AI-for-adults work, to her children’s book AI Meets AI, to her new hands-on learning system for kids ages 4–8.
We talk about parent concerns, privacy, LLM overreliance, ethical design, and why AI learning should start at the kitchen table, not on a tablet. If you're an educa...
How AI Is Transforming School Technology Planning ft. Robbie Cobbs | My EdTech Life Ep.342
How AI Is Transforming School Technology Planning ft. Robbie Cobbs | My EdTech Life Ep.342
In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Robbie Cobbs, the founder of Tech My School and creator of Tech Plan Genie, a groundbreaking platform built by tech directors for tech directors.
We talk about how school leaders can create meaningful, data-driven technology plans that bring their vision to life, empower teachers, and make innovation sustainable. No hype, no buzzwords—just real stories and practical solutions that work in schools.
⏱️ Timestamps
...Teaching in an AI World ft. David L. Jackson | My EdTech Life Ep. 341
 Teaching in an AI World ft. David L. Jackson | My EdTech Life Ep. 341Â
In this episode of My EdTech Life, Dr. Fonz Mendoza sits down with David L. Jackson of Digital Promise to talk about how educators can slow down, refocus, and bring humanity back to teaching in an AI-driven world.
David shares insights from the upcoming Elevating Innovation: Thinking in an AI World conference, a research-based, human-centered event designed to help educators, leaders, and district teams move from surviving the AI shift to shaping it.
• Questions Explored
• How do...
Episode 340: Austin Levinson
Episode 340: La Lucha Productiva en el Aula con Austin Levinson
Bienvenidos a otro episodio de My EdTech Life, con tu anfitriĂłn, el Dr. Alfonso “Fonz” Mendoza, donde exploramos las conversaciones que conectan la tecnologĂa, la educaciĂłn y lo humano.Â
En este episodio, tengo el honor de conversar con Austin Levinson, educador, economista y Director de Aprendizaje en MegaMinds, una plataforma inmersiva que impulsa el aprendizaje activo y la agencia estudiantil. Desde Colombia, Austin comparte su experiencia en la enseñanza diferenciada, el pensamiento crĂtico, y cĂłmo la lucha pr...
Episode 339: Merissa Sadler-Holder
 Episode 339: Merissa Sadler-Holder | Teaching with MachinesÂ
In this episode of My EdTech Life, Dr. Fonz Mendoza talks with Merissa Sadler-Holder, founder of Teaching with Machines. Merissa shares her journey from French teacher to AI consultant and shows how educators can embrace AI without losing their voice, creativity, or purpose.
They discuss what human-centered AI really means in the classroom, how to build meaningful professional development, and ways to keep teaching focused on people instead of platforms.
Merissa also breaks down her AI Coherence Cycle, ex...
Episode 338: Dr. Marc Isseks
Captivate Your Classroom with Dr. Marc Isseks
In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Dr. Marc Isseks, author of Captivate, to explore how educators can break free from “cognitive entrenchment” and rediscover what it means to truly engage learners. Marc brings over 30 years of classroom, curriculum, and leadership experience, and his insights will challenge the way you think about teaching, technology, and student voice.
We dig into why success can sometimes stop us from growing, how teachers can overcome rigidity and the dreaded phrase “this is the way we’ve alway...
Episode 337: Pedro Aparicio
 La IA no reemplaza al maestro con Pedro Aparicio
En este episodio de My EdTech Life, converso con Pedro Aparicio sobre un tema que nos toca a todos: el papel real de la IA en el aula y el rol insustituible del docente. Desde la mirada de LatinoamĂ©rica, Pedro nos comparte cĂłmo la tecnologĂa puede ser una aliada cuando se usa con intenciĂłn, verificaciĂłn y presencia humana.
Hablamos del retroceso post-COVID, las falsas promesas de “2 horas al dĂa”, el riesgo de caer en el hype y por quĂ© el mejo...
Episode 336: Marnie Stockman & Nick Coniglio
The Business of You with Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio
In this episode of My EdTech Life, Dr. Fonz Mendoza sits down with Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio to explore their book The Business of You. They share how students, educators, and professionals alike can begin running their lives like a well-led company—by becoming the CEO, CMO, HR, and CFO of their own story. We also talk about adaptability, time as capital, the importance of asking better questions, and their upcoming project Blue, a gamified app designed to help students le...
Episode 335: April Braithwaite
Peel Back Education with April Braithwaite Â
Educators are the backbone of society, yet their stories often go unheard. In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with April Braithwaite, founder of Peel Back Education, a new project dedicated to telling the authentic stories of teachers. April shares how a late-night reflection sparked her mission to capture educator journeys in writing, giving teachers a platform that isn’t about products or checklists, it’s about dignity, recognition, and impact.
We talk about the ripple effect of great teachers, the importance of narrative in su...
Episode 334: Short Answer
 Research First Approach to AI Tools with Short Answer
In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Adam and Alexa Sparks, the husband-and-wife founders of Short Answer, a writing platform built to strengthen peer-to-peer learning and classroom dialogue.
We dive into their journey from classrooms and Stanford labs to building an edtech startup that puts pedagogy first. Adam shares how a tough reception at a ResearchED conference burst the EdTech bubble and reshaped their vision for AI in schools. Alexa explains why her research left her more skeptical of AI t...
