EP 45
School's Out Saturdays on the AGI Podcast - The most important conversation with the people shaping tomorrow one lesson at a time. Where educators of all kinds join Jason Padgett to explore preparing students for 'their tomorrow' not 'our yesterday'
Episode Summary: While big school districts debate AI policy, Rensselaer Central Schools in rural Indiana quietly achieved a 92% student activation rate with Khanmigo. Hunter Hickman explains how his small district moved fast, kept parents on board, and turned teachers into coaches instead of lecturers.
Guest Hunter Hickman, AI Implementation Lead at Rensselaer Central Schools | 7th-year ELA teacher | Head wrestling coach | Leading district-wide AI rollout in one of Indiana's most rural counties
Guest Links
Hunter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunter-hickman-2b501383/
Rensselaer Central High SchoolWebsite: https://rchs.rensselaerschools.org/
Related Tools & Platforms
Khanmigo: https://www.khanmigo.ai
Magic School AI: https://www.magicschool.ai
SchoolAI: https://www.schoolai.com
Key Timestamps:[02:15] - How a rural Indiana school beat bureaucracy and launched AI in under a year[08:30] - Why telling kids "don't use AI" puts them behind before they start working[12:45] - Khanmigo Writing Coach: Real-time feedback that actually improves student writing[16:20] - Teachers as coaches, not lecturers—the shift AI is forcing in classrooms[21:40] - Why foundation models like ChatGPT don't belong in K-12 classrooms[27:15] - The uncomfortable truth about kids, emotional intelligence, and AI relationships[32:50] - Rural schools vs. urban districts: Why one-size-fits-all AI policies fail students[38:10] - Starting small: Two AI tools every teacher should try first[43:25] - Anthropic's AI Fluency course—the best free foundation for teachers[48:30] - Character AI and teen mental health: Why schools need guardrails now[52:45] - The Anxious Generation parallel: What we learned from smartphones applies to AI[56:20] - Conservative doesn't mean anti-progress: Indiana schools need to catch up
Follow UsInstagram: @AGISchoolsoutFacebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcast
Stay in the LoopFuture-proof your organization, your team, and your career → work with Jason → podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coachingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-grant-padgett/X: https://x.com/JasonPadgettGR📧 jason@phoenixsolutionsgroup.org
Phoenix Solutions GroupAffordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects.🌐 https://www.phoenixsolutionsgroup.org/
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AGI - Advance, Grow, and Innovate with AI (Podcast) - Building the future, one human-AI collab at a time. Ep 44Episode Summary: Two Gen X AI enthusiasts cut through the hype from an Agentic AI conference to talk about what actually matters: clean data, optimized processes, and why your company probably isn't ready for AI agents yet.Guest Jeffrey Najar, VP of Marketing at Horsepower | Sales & Marketing Consultant | AI Implementation AdvocateGuest LinksJeffrey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreynajarHorsepower MarketingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/horsepower-marketing/about/Website: https://horsepowermarketing.com/Key Timestamps:[02:15] - Connections and relationships matter in AI - the Indiana AI Innovation Network[04:30] - Will Google DeepMind disrupt Eli Lilly's drug discovery dominance?[09:45] - Key takeaways from the Agentic AI conference: slow down on agents[14:20] - The boring work matters most: mapping processes and cleaning data[18:30] - Data labeling needs to be NLP-friendly, not abbreviation-heavy[21:10] - Optimize before you automate - don't build on broken systems[26:40] - Context engineering beats prompt engineering every time[28:50] - Smaller language models and specialized agents may win over giant models[32:15] - Custom evals and QA - the most underrated skill for AI implementation[37:45] - Why multi-disciplinary teams are critical for creating good evaluations[41:20] - Using AI to evaluate AI outputs and catch hallucinations[44:50] - "AI is better than me at everything" - the truth about AI augmentation[47:30] - Vibe working: learning to iterate and collaborate with LLMs[50:15] - What AI taught us about improving human communication[53:20] - Self-selecting models and chain of thought reasoning in ChatGPT[55:10] - The future: LLM ecosystems that work across all your toolsFollow UsFacebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcastStay in the LoopFuture-proof your organization, your team, and your career → work with Jason → podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coachingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-grant-padgett/X: https://x.com/JasonPadgettGR📧 jason@phoenixsolutionsgroup.orgPhoenix Solutions GroupAffordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects.🌐 https://www.phoenixsolutionsgroup.org/Tools We RecommendMindStudio → Automate your workflowshttps://get.mindstudio.ai/q7n7u5cttkdqRiverside.fm → Turn one recording into a week's worth of contenthttps://riverside.sjv.io/e1xyBr
School's Out Saturdays on the AGI Podcast
The most important conversations with the people shaping tomorrow—one lesson at a time. Educators, students, and ed-tech innovators join Jason Padgett to explore preparing students for their future, not our past.
Episode Summary:
A Purdue industrial engineering senior reveals how she's landing job offers through strategic networking, using AI to create fake newsreels for cybersecurity training, and why she believes the real career threat isn't automation—it's refusing to learn.
Guest:
Audrey Russell | Senior at Purdue UniversityIndustrial Engineering Major | Six Sigma & Data Analytics Certified
Guest Links:
Audrey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrey-russell-a7929725b/
Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering: https://www.linkedin.com/company/purdueie
Website: https://engineering.purdue.edu/IE
Key Timestamps:
[02:15] Why networking beats AI-written resumes
[05:30] Amazon's 600,000 job automation plan
[08:45] The Luddites: How tech resistance killed England's superpower status
[11:20] Europe and China are winning the automation race
[14:00] Gen Z's AI divide: Study tool vs. cheating device
[18:30] TikTok brain rot vs. Instagram's staying power
[23:45] Creating AI newsreels for corporate cybersecurity exercises
[28:00] Why ChatGPT's pivot to adult content makes business sense (unfortunately)
[31:15] The AI hype cycle: Are we headed for a crash?
[35:40] Junior positions vanishing—where will future leaders get experience?
[40:20] Alpha School's $50K model vs. public school AI reality
[43:50] Why soft skills matter more when robots do the technical work
[46:30] Will 30% of workers with AI replace the other 70%?[49:00] Getting more women into tech leadership roles
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JasonPadgettGR📧 jason@phoenixsolutionsgroup.org
Phoenix Solutions Group:
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AGI - Advance, Grow, and Innovate with AI (Podcast) - Building the future, one human-AI collab at a time. EP 42
Episode Summary: Jason and Julie dive into ChatGPT's adult mode rollout, Sora's creative chaos, and the existential crisis brewing as AI accelerates past Moore's Law. From erotic chatbots potentially replacing OnlyFans to Bernie Sanders making unexpected sense about robot taxes, this episode tackles whether we're ready for a future where 70% of workers might need to find new purpose beyond paychecks
.Follow Us
Facebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcast
Julie Koehrer, Radio Professional at Lafayette Q106.7 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliekoehrer/
Lafayette Q106.7
Website: https://lafayetteq1067.com/
Stay in the Loop
Future-proof your organization, your team, and your career → work with Jason → podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coaching
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X: https://x.com/JasonPadgettGR📧 jason@phoenixsolutionsgroup.org
Phoenix Solutions Group
Affordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects.
🌐 https://www.phoenixsolutionsgroup.org/
Tools We RecommendMindStudio → Automate your workflowshttps://get.mindstudio.ai/q7n7u5cttkdq
Riverside.fm → Turn one recording into a week's worth of contenthttps://riverside.sjv.io/e1xyBrRetry
Key Timestamps:
[00:10] - ChatGPT announces adult mode with sycophantic and erotic options for verified users
[03:45] - Jason's Gen Z TikTok dance created with Sora raises questions about platform's target audience
[06:12] - The great bunny trampoline disappointment and AI-generated animal content deception
[09:30] - Grok 4's speed dominance hampered by Elon's polarizing presence and X platform placement
[12:15] - Google's Nano Banana (Gemini 2.5 Flash) impresses with photo editing capabilities
[15:40] - Microsoft Copilot evolves with custom GPT builders and cloud integration improvements
[18:25] - Non-human DNA testimony before Congress sparks conversation about extraterrestrial discoveries
[21:10] - Buddhist principles of impermanence explored through molecular connections between humans and universe
[25:50] - Bernie Sanders' robot tax proposal for offsetting AI-driven job displacement gains traction
[28:35] - AI advancement breaks away from Moore's Law with three years of exponential progress
[32:20] - Jason challenges Casey Newton's journalistic integrity over mental health clickbait narratives
[35:45] - Google DeepMind's cancer breakthrough using stealth-to-detectable compound discovery
[38:10] - Sycophantic AI threatens business decisions and relationships despite convenience
[41:30] - The 70/30 workforce split and existential questions about finding purpose beyond survival needs
Episode Summary:
Former elementary and special ed teacher Mary Dougherty reveals how AI can revolutionize education by transforming teachers from lecturers into facilitators, while opening unprecedented doors for students with special needs and addressing the critical skills gap in our factory-model education system.
Guest
Mary Dougherty, Innovation Program Manager at TechPoint | Former K-6 Teacher & Special Ed Educator | Co-host of "Teachers Who Drink and Whine" Podcast | Founder of IEP Navigation Services
Guest Links
Mary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-dougherty-26690216b/
TechPoint
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/techpointind
Website: https://www.techpoint.org/
IEP Navigation Services: https://iepnavigation.com/
Key Timestamps:[03:42] - Fantasy nerds unite: Lord of the Rings passwords and Harry Potter phone cases as workplace icebreakers[08:15] - Judging people on their movie choice: John Carpenter's Halloween vs Rob Zombie (we have standards)[11:28] - 996 and the reality of work implementation flows in the AI age: "Just cuz my agent's working doesn't mean I am"[14:50] - AI brain fog is real: Breaking up intense work periods with naps and strategic breaks[18:23] - Safety concerns are legitimate: How companies should slow-roll AI implementation with proper security measures[21:47] - The critical thinking inverse opinion: Why AI and internet access demand stronger analytical skills, not weaker ones[25:19] - SORA 2 versus TikTok strategy: How ChatGPT thinks every idea is genius until you make it play contrarian[29:35] - Mary's 2006 flashback: Teaching kids how to Google properly was once revolutionary[32:18] - We still need teachers, but we don't need lecturers: The shift from "sit and get" to facilitation[35:42] - What kids actually need: Problem solving, STEM, and critical thinking over memorization[38:26] - MagicSchool versus Alpha School: The evolution of teachers into mentors and facilitators in AI-powered classrooms[42:15] - Jobs are gonna look different in the AI revolution: Embrace it or risk being left behind[44:38] - Murray Mentor: AI solving factory floor bottlenecks by turning assembly line workers into technicians[47:22] - Using Claude to build a patio: How AI could have fixed Mary's slightly-too-slanted DIY disaster[48:45] - The movie Her part 2: Introducing "Him" - your DIY best friend who lives in your pocket[50:12] - Goodbye typing, hello one-sided conversations: Why Jason's family thinks he's weird for talking to AI all day[52:38] - AI for special needs students: Opening doors to education and workforce development through voice-to-text and adaptive learning[58:25] - Ambient listening devices: The surveillance vs efficiency debate in classrooms and boardrooms[01:00:47] - Mary's 3 things teachers must do: Master critical thinking instruction, get AI training, and gamify learning management systems[01:02:15] - How to promote girl power in tech: Breaking societal norms one "no princess" moment at a time[01:03:28] - Samwise Gamgee meets Minerva McGonagall: how the cover art came to be
Follow UsInstagram: @AGISchoolsoutFacebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcast
Stay in the LoopFuture-proof your organization, your team, and your career → work with Jason → podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coaching
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Phoenix Solutions GroupAffordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects.🌐 https://www.phoenixsolutionsgroup.org/
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AGI - Advance, Grow, and Innovate with AI (Podcast) - Building the future, one human-AI collab at a time.
Episode Summary:
Robotics pioneer David Bruemmer challenges everything you think you know about artificial intelligence. Are we spending billions chasing the wrong definition of AGI while nature has already solved it?
Guest
David Bruemmer, Former DARPA Consultant | Founder & CEO of W8less LLC | Autonomy Institute | Pioneered military robotics for landmine detection and autonomous convoy systems
Guest Links
David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-bruemmer/
W8less LLC
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/w8lessllc/
Website: https://w8less.io/
Follow UsFacebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcast
Stay in the LoopFuture-proof your organization, your team, and your career → work with Jason → podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coachingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-grant-padgett/X: https://x.com/JasonPadgettGR📧 jason@phoenixsolutionsgroup.org
Phoenix Solutions GroupAffordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects.🌐 https://www.phoenixsolutionsgroup.org/
Tools We Recommend
MindStudio → Automate your workflowshttps://get.mindstudio.ai/q7n7u5cttkdq
Riverside.fm → Turn one recording into a week's worth of contenthttps://riverside.sjv.io/e1xyBr
Key Timestamps:[02:15] - Why positioning and truth matter more than intelligence in robotics[08:30] - The controversial claim: Large language models aren't actually AI[12:45] - How tigers, ants, and Messi prove intelligence doesn't require language[18:20] - Why Waymo's approach is fundamentally different from Tesla's autonomous strategy[24:10] - The Roomba paradox: Why the "dumbest" robot made the most money[29:35] - Share control vs full autonomy: What 1,200 military users taught us[35:50] - Software ate the world, AI is eating software, but swarm intelligence will eat AI[42:15] - The three pillars of real AGI: Individual, cloud, and swarm intelligence[48:30] - Why corporations want to eliminate humans (and why it keeps failing)[52:40] - The mining industry lesson: Autonomy for what purpose?[58:25] - Energy crisis: Why GPU computing is unsustainable at scale[01:02:30] - AI relationships and the search for truth in human connection
School's Out Saturdays on the AGI Podcast - The most important conversation with the people shaping tomorrow one lesson at a time. Where educators of all kinds join Jason Padgett to explore preparing students for 'their tomorrow' not 'our yesterday'
Episode Summary: Kimba Rund returns to debunk the viral AI water bottle myth and reveal what her generation really thinks about artificial intelligence. From micro-internships to deepfake actresses, discover why climate activism might be slowing AI adoption—and why that's based on incomplete information.
Guest
Kimba Rund, Work-Based Learning Coordinator and Career Scholarship Manager at Career+ Pathways by Skyepack | Recent Masters graduate in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Purdue Global | Pioneering micro-internship models to scale work-based learning across Indiana
Guest Links
Kimba on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimba-rund-m-s-a22088283/
SkyepackLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skyepack
Website: https://skyepack.com/
Career+ Pathways: https://skyepack.com/career-plus-pathways/
Key Timestamps:[00:33] - Kimba's recent accomplishments: completing her masters at 23 and launching skills boot camps[04:18] - Micro-internships explained: scaling work-based learning through virtual AI projects[06:42] - The editorial mindset shift: teaching students to curate AI-generated content instead of creating from scratch[09:15] - Building evaluation systems: why students need to learn how to test AI outputs for quality[11:47] - Research with AI: using ChatGPT for scholarly work and avoiding hallucinations[14:25] - Claude vs ChatGPT: comparing AI tools for personal use, coding help, and critical feedback[18:52] - Sora 2 and AI video generation: competing with TikTok through AI avatars and deepfake concerns[23:08] - The AI actress "Tilly" and disruption in entertainment: could this level the playing field for creators?[27:35] - Gen Z's perspective on AI: why climate concerns and data center protests impact adoption[31:18] - Debunking the water bottle myth: comparing AI energy use to TikTok and TV consumption[35:42] - AI regulation debate: balancing innovation with state vs federal oversight[38:25] - Power infrastructure and AI: why electrical engineering is a critical career path[40:15] - The 996 work culture in Silicon Valley: exploitation or genuine excitement about innovation?[44:30] - Work-life blending vs balance: how AI changes productivity patterns and cognitive load[48:45] - AI slop in the workplace: identifying lazy AI use and its impact on professional trust[52:20] - Magic School AI: generating lesson plans for complex topics like LLM evaluation
Follow UsInstagram: @AGISchoolsoutFacebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcast
Stay in the LoopFuture-proof your organization, your team, and your career → work with Jason → podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coachingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-grant-padgett/X: https://x.com/JasonPadgettGR📧 jason@phoenixsolutionsgroup.org
Phoenix Solutions GroupAffordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects.🌐 https://www.phoenixsolutionsgroup.org/
Tools We Recommend
MindStudio → Automate your workflowshttps://get.mindstudio.ai/q7n7u5cttkdq
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AGI - Advance, Grow, and Innovate with AI (Podcast) - Building the future, one human-AI collab at a time Episode 38 with Harrison Painter.Episode Summary:
Harrison Painter doesn't hold back: Apple might become the next Kodak, Microsoft is delivering half-baked AI features, and Google is crushing them both. In this unfiltered conversation, Harrison and Jason tackle tech giants stumbling in the AI revolution, why 70% of workers could be obsolete, and the controversial truth about who's getting left behind.Key Timestamps:
[00:00] - Introduction and Harrison's journey into AI education
[03:15] - Latest AI developments: Anthropic, Sora 2, and Microsoft Co-Pilot agents
[06:30] - Why Apple won't survive the AI revolution
[11:45] - Google's AI comeback: Gemini crushes the competition
[16:20] - Four types of people: Which one are you?
[22:40] - The lazy workers AI will eliminate
[26:15] - Communication skills over tech: The controversial take
[29:30] - Walking into the lion's den: AI at a filmmakers summit
[35:45] - Why artists need to stop complaining and adapt
[38:50] - Teaching AI to skeptical retirees
[42:10] - The environmental hypocrisy nobody talks about
[46:25] - Albania replaces government minister with AI to fight corruption
[50:35] - The automation tool that makes coding obsolete
[54:20] - Why traditional universities are failing (and IvyTech is winning)
[58:15] - Harrison's AI-powered health transformation: 10 pounds in 30 days
[1:00:45] - Why you still need real human connection
[1:01:30] - Sci-fi predictions: We're headed toward 1984 meets Idiocracy
Guest Links
Harrison Painter AI Educator | Helping Leaders and Teams Apply AI Safely and Effectively | Founder, Launch Ready AI | Host, AI for Everyone Podcast | U.S. Navy Veteran | Faith-Driven
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrisonpainter/
Website: https://www.launchready.ai/#hero
AI for Everyone Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@HarrisonPainter
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Facebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcast
Stay in the Loop
Future-proof your organization, your team, and your career → work with JasonLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jason-grant-padgett/
Podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coaching
📧 jason@phoenixsolutionsgroup.org
Phoenix Solutions Group
Affordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects.
🌐 https://www.phoenixsolutionsgroup.org/
Tools We Recommend
MindStudio → Automate your workflows
https://get.mindstudio.ai/q7n7u5cttkdq
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https://riverside.sjv.io/e1xyBr
School's Out Saturdays on the AGI Podcast - The most important conversation with the people shaping tomorrow one lesson at a time. Where educators of all kinds join Jason Padgett to explore preparing students for 'their tomorrow' not 'our yesterday'
Episode Summary: Solutions Architect Karisa Schwanekamp shares how a single pandemic moment transformed her teaching forever—and why the future of education depends on educators who aren't afraid to learn alongside their students. Discover how AI tools like MagicSchoolAI are helping teachers reclaim time for what matters most: being front and center with kids.
Guest Karisa Schwanekamp, Solutions Architect at MagicSchoolAI | Former Special Education Teacher | STEM Integration Specialist | 21-year veteran educator passionate about project-based learning and bringing AI safely into K-12 classrooms
Guest Link
sKarisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karisa-schwanekamp-ab4b42334/
MagicSchool AILinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/magicschool-ai
Website: https://www.magicschool.ai
Indiana DOE Learning Lab - AI: https://inlearninglab.com/search?q=artificial+intelligence
Key Timestamps:[04:32] - The pandemic moment that changed everything: when teaching couldn't be taken for granted[09:15] - Career chats unlock hidden potential: from architects to astronauts in fourth grade classrooms[15:47] - Fourth graders solve real problems: pitching solutions to National Mall engineers about cherry blossoms[21:38] - Why kids are better at divergent thinking: the power of not being afraid to be wrong[26:45] - First student reactions to AI writing feedback: "It told me what I did well first"[31:20] - Teaching daughters the difference: AI as collaborator versus AI replacing your voice[36:52] - Efficiency versus effectiveness: freeing teachers from paperwork to be with students[42:18] - Second graders explain AI better than adults: the literacy conversation we need[48:25] - Anthropomorphism concerns: constant teaching moments versus one-time lessons[52:40] - Message to hesitant teachers: talk to others, explore tools, get uncomfortable
Follow UsFacebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcast
Stay in the LoopFuture-proof your organization, your team, and your career → work with Jason → podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coachingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonpadgett/📧 jason@phoenixsolutionsgrp.com
Phoenix Solutions GroupAffordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects.🌐 https://www.phoenixsolutionsgrp.com
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MindStudio → Automate your workflowshttps://mindstudio.ai
Riverside.fm → Turn one recording into a week's worth of contenthttps://riverside.fm
AGI - Advance, Grow, and Innovate with AI (Podcast) - Building the future, one human-AI collab at a time.
Episode Summary:
Quarter four belongs to the bold. Steve Iskander, fintech founder and AI-first mover, breaks down why waiting on AI adoption isn't strategy—it's surrender. This isn't your typical AI hype conversation. It's a hard look at velocity, risk, and the competitive moat being built right now by organizations that refuse to hesitate.
Guest Steve Iskander, Founder & CEO at Intrepid Finance | Transforming Financial Services Through Enabled AI Tech | Fintech Entrepreneur | Finance Veteran
Guest LinksSteve on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveiskander
/Intrepid Finance
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/intrepid-finance-venture/
Website: https://intrepidfinance.io/
Key Timestamps:
[00:30] - Intrepid Finance's AI-powered lending model and industry-agnostic approach
[03:45] - Funding the first AI company in 2022 before the hype cycle
[08:20] - Government shutdown implications and AI-driven efficiency opportunities
[12:15] - Why AI forces every business owner to audit their operations
[16:40] - The nonprofit sustainability crisis and over-dependence on grants
[19:30] - First movers take all: Why this isn't like early dot-com failures
[24:10] - 95% of employees already using AI whether you know it or not
[28:45] - The hidden liability of unregulated employee AI usage
[32:20] - Privacy paradox: We share everything with apps but fear AI
[36:50] - Sock 2 and ISO 27001 certifications: Building trust before regulation hits
[41:15] - Context engineering and ambient listening devices in business[45:30] - Training AI to mirror executive decision-making and remove bias
[49:00] - Quantum computing as the next poker chip investment
[52:10] - Robotics, dark factories, and the coming labor market disruption
[55:40] - Education's AI revolution: Adaptive learning for every student
Follow Us
Facebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcast
Stay in the Loop
Future-proof your organization, your team, and your career → work with Jason → podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coaching
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-grant-padgett/📧 jason@phoenixsolutionsgroup.org
Phoenix Solutions GroupAffordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects.🌐 https://www.phoenixsolutionsgroup.org/
Tools We Recommend
MindStudio → Automate your workflowshttps://get.mindstudio.ai/q7n7u5cttkdq
Riverside.fm → Turn one recording into a week's worth of contenthttps://riverside.sjv.io/e1xyBr
School’s Out Saturdays on the AGI (Podcast) - The most important conversation with the people shaping tomorrow one lesson at a time.
Episode Summary:
Jason sits down with Purdue Professor Dr. Kathryn Dilworth to unpack her groundbreaking QUIZ methodology that's teaching students to control AI instead of being controlled by it. From building custom LLMs with student coders to discovering why female students get better AI outputs than males, this conversation challenges everything you thought you knew about AI in education.
Key Timestamps:
[03:45] - Why libraries rejected AI education partnerships and the resistance in humanities
[08:12] - China's half marathon with 20+ robots vs American Bigfoot beer videos
[11:30] - High stakes vs low stakes AI use and the QUIZ model origin
[15:45] - Query: Starting with forced prompts and prewriting without A
I[18:20] - Understanding: Reading everything the AI generates
[20:15] - Interrogation: Leaving AI to verify all factual claims
[22:40] - Zeitgeist: Shaping content for specific audiences and contexts
[25:30] - Students asking permission NOT to use AI and ethics instruction
[28:45] - Finding your "ChatGPT moment" - what AI frees you to do
[32:10] - Gender differences in AI prompting styles and outcomes
[35:50] - The Alexa politeness experiment and training AI through behavior
[38:30] - Students using AI for mental health support - concerns and context
[42:15] - STEM skills need EQ, humanities skills need AI literacy
[45:40] - Philosophy and psychology asking the best questions about AI
[48:20] - Students' fear and stress about AI's impact on their futures
[51:05] - Building a custom LLM with QUIZ guardrails from the ground up
[54:30] - Computer science students emerging from philanthropy class
[56:45] - Creativity paradox: Students love AI for creativity, fear losing it
[59:10] - Domain expertise and staying in your lane with AI
[1:00:45] - Alpha School's 2-hour AI learning model and educational reform
[1:02:15] - Van Halen's brown M&Ms as AI quality control test
Guest Links
Dr. Kathryn DilworthProfessor of Practice | Purdue University John Martinson Honors CollegePhilanthropy, Academic Writing, and Information Science specialist focused on AI for Education, Trust in Nonprofits and Fundraiser WellbeingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryn-dilworth/Purdue University John Martinson Honors College: https://honors.purdue.edu/Follow UsInstagram @AGISchoolsOutFacebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcastStay in the LoopFuture-proof your organization, your team, and your career → work with JasonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-grant-padgett/Podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coaching📧 jason@phoenixsolutionsgroup.orgPhoenix Solutions GroupAffordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects.🌐 https://www.phoenixsolutionsgroup.org/Tools We RecommendMindStudio → Automate your workflowshttps://get.mindstudio.ai/q7n7u5cttkdqRiverside.fm → Turn one recording into a week's worth of contenthttps://riverside.sjv.io/e1xyBr
AGI - Advance, Grow, and Innovate with AI (Podcast) - Building the future, one human-AI collab at a time. Host Julie Koehrer and Jason Padgett are joined by special guest
Christopher Tocke - Marketing professional and Executive MBA Graduate with expertise in strategic and creative conceptual thinking. Licensed commercial drone operator exploring AI's impact on visual content creation.
Episode Summary:
Christopher Tocke joins Julie and Jason to discuss AI's disruptive impact on marketing, from lowering barriers to entry to creating new competitive pressures. The conversation explores autonomous drones, deepfake concerns in politics, the future of education, and whether we're heading toward a Matrix-style future or something closer to Star Trek's utopia.
Key Timestamps:
[00:00] - Introduction and Christopher's background in marketing
[02:15] - AI's double-edged sword: democratizing marketing vs. market dilution
[04:30] - Favorite AI tools for marketing: generative fill, video extension, image generation
[07:45] - Christopher's preference for ChatGPT image generation over earlier tools
[09:20] - The human element that AI can't replace: business knowledge and creative taste
[12:30] - Commercial drone operations and autonomous swarm technology
[15:45] - New Jersey drone mystery and UAP speculation
[18:00] - Religious and political implications of alien disclosure
[21:15] - YouTube's AI-powered content cleanup and deepfake concerns
[23:30] - Julie's worries about AI-generated political misinformation
[26:00] - Nvidia's dominance and Trump administration's chip policy with China
[29:45] - AI adoption patterns: Chicago area vs. Indiana
[32:00] - "ChatGPT brain" and concerns about children losing critical thinking skills
[35:30] - Jason's vision: universal basic income within a decade
[37:45] - The skills that matter: Socratic thinking, philosophy, design thinking
[40:15] - Recording life: wearables, transcription, and privacy implications
[43:00] - Augmented reality futures and Gen Z's return to authenticity
[46:30] - The communal experience of terrestrial radio vs. algorithmic playlists
[48:45] - Clockwork Orange remake with Gen Z slang proposal
[50:00] - Universal basic income debate: innovation vs. dependency
[52:30] - Elon's Twitter acquisition as a data play for Grok AI training
[54:00] - Favorite AI tools and sci-fi futures: The Matrix vs. Blade Runner
Guest Links
LinkedIn: Christopher Tocke
Website: Ronin Marketing Productions
Follow Us
Facebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcast
Stay in the Loop
Future-proof your organization, your team, and your career → work with Jason
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jason-grant-padgett/Podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coaching
📧 jason@phoenixsolutionsgroup.org
Phoenix Solutions Group
Affordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects.
🌐 https://www.phoenixsolutionsgroup.org/
Tools We Recommend
MindStudio → Automate your workflows
Riverside.fm → Turn one recording into a week's worth of content
AI pioneer De Kai argues we must stop treating AI as machines and start parenting them as artificial children. This paradigm shift could determine civilization's future direction.De Kai - Author of the critically acclaimed "Raising AI" from MIT Press, De Kai is the AI professor who pioneered and built the web's first global language translator spawning Google/Yahoo/Microsoft Translate. De Kai was honored by the Association for Computational Linguistics as one of its Founding Fellows and by Debrett's as one of the 100 most influential figures of Hong Kong.Key Timestamps:
[02:15] - Why we need to stop thinking of AI as toaster ovens
[05:30] - The 800 billion artificial psychologies embedded in society[08:45] - How AI algorithms are already raising us through social media[12:20] - The reward function debate and who controls it
[18:15] - Why we are the training data and need to be better role models[25:40] - Challenges in American education vs. Asian approaches to AI[32:10] - Teacher training barriers and resistance to AI tools
[38:45] - The coming paradigm shifts beyond LLMs
[42:30] - AI designing AI: the last generation parented by humans
[47:20] - P-doom discussion and conditional probabilities
[50:15] - Multiple pathways needed, not magic bullets
Guest Links
Website: dek.ai
Book: "Raising AI" on Amazon
Newsletter: dekai.substack.com
Book Info: dek.ai/raising-ai
Follow UsFacebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcast
Stay in the LoopFuture-proof your organization, your team, and your career → work with Jason: Podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coachingLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jason-grant-padgett/📧 jason@phoenixsolutionsgroup.org
Phoenix Solutions GroupAffordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects.🌐 https://www.phoenixsolutionsgroup.org/
Tools We Recommend
MindStudio → Automate your workflowshttps://get.mindstudio.ai/q7n7u5cttkdq
Riverside.fm → Turn one recording into a week's worth of contenthttps://riverside.sjv.io/e1xyBr
Episode Summary:Matt D'Amato breaks down why 95% of enterprise AI projects fail and introduces Clause 5, a framework designed to solve LLM reliability issues through ethics-first AI development.AGI - Advance, Grow, and Innovate with AI (Podcast) - Building the future, one human-AI collab at a time.
Guest
Matt D'Amato – Co-Founder, Mind Over MediaBelieves the future belongs to those who lead with clarity, integrity, and vision
Key Timestamps:
[03:45] - The AI adoption bubble and employee pushback
[08:12] - Problems with sycophantic reward functions
[15:30] - Introducing the Clause 5 framework
[22:15] - Testing across different AI models
[28:40] - Why agentic workflows aren't ready for business
[35:20] - Model comparison: favorites and least favorites
[42:10] - The China vs US technology gap
[48:55] - Apple's decline and Google's rise
[55:30] - Future predictions: Her vs Blade Runner
Guest Links
Matt D'Amato – Co-Founder, Mind Over Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-d-amato-652a87180/
Echo – Co-Founder, Mind Over Media
Clause 5™ is a registered trademark and copyright of Mind Over Media LLC🌐 mindovermedia.live
🌐 Clause5.org
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Facebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcast
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Future-proof your organization, your team, and your career → work with Jason podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coachingLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jason-grant-padgett/
📧 jason@phoenixsolutionsgroup.org
Phoenix Solutions Group
Affordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects.🌐 https://www.phoenixsolutionsgroup.org/
Tools We Recommend
MindStudio → Automate your workflows
Riverside.fm → Turn one recording into a week's worth of content
Episode Summary:
Susan Woods shares insights on AI adoption across generations, the critical role of human oversight in AI implementation, and how businesses are successfully integrating AI tools while maintaining essential human skills like critical thinking and strategic problem-solving.
School's Out Saturdays on the AGI Podcast - The most important conversation with the people shaping tomorrow one lesson at a time with host Jason Padgett
Guest
Susan Woods
Sales Performance Partners, LLC - President and Owner and Strategic Consulting including sales strategy development, integration of business, sales and marketing planning and executive coaching.
Purdue University - Senior Lecturer
Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Program teaching ENTR 481 - Consulting Capstone and ENTR 480 - Your Entrepreneurial Career.
Key Timestamps:
[02:15] - Susan's dual role: consulting business and Purdue entrepreneurship program
[05:30] - AI adoption patterns across age groups and business sectors
[08:45] - The human-AI partnership model: humans as bookends, AI as processor
[12:20] - MIT study on AI over-reliance and brain activity impacts
[15:40] - Using AI for communication coaching and relationship management
[19:15] - Perplexity AI for business research and account preparation
[24:10] - K-12 education resistance to AI implementation
[28:30] - Bias in AI: mitigation strategies and educational opportunities
[33:45] - School security technology and Big Brother concerns
[38:20] - Change management in education: involving stakeholders
[42:15] - Future workforce implications: super users vs displaced workers
[45:30] - Purdue consulting capstone project with Phoenix Solutions Group
[48:40] - Career advice for the next generation in an AI-driven world
Guest Links
LinkedIn: Susan Woods
Experience Sales Performance Partners, LLC: salesperformancepartners.com
Follow Us
Facebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcast
Stay in the Loop
Future-proof your organization, your team, and your career → work with Jason : podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coachingLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jason-grant-padgett/
📧 jason@phoenixsolutionsgroup.org
Phoenix Solutions Group
Affordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects.🌐 https://www.phoenixsolutionsgroup.org/
Tools We Recommend
MindStudio → Automate your workflows
Riverside.fm → Turn one recording into a week's worth of content
What happens when small businesses, nonprofits, and healthcare leaders hesitate to adopt AI while startups move full speed ahead? In this conversation, Jason sits down with G. Kofi Annan of The Brand Sensei to unpack AI adoption gaps, practical frameworks for scaling impact, and the cultural tensions between speed, trust, and innovation.
Episode Guide
[00:00] Introduction and welcome
[01:45] Why “The Brand Sensei”? Martial arts metaphors in marketing strategy
[04:30] Kofi’s background: building AI-enhanced systems for small and midsize businesses
[09:15] How AI amplifies superpowers (and fills gaps) in your existing skill set
[15:40] Dallas vs. New York and San Francisco: cultural shifts in tech adoption
[21:10] Startups, disruption, and the risks of slow AI adoption for SMBs
[29:00] Google’s billion-dollar bet on AI education and the youth advantage
[34:45] Family-owned businesses, tradition, and the generational divide on tech
[41:20] Education’s resistance to AI: where pushback meets opportunity
[48:55] Nonprofits, donor engagement, and overcoming fears of “fake” AI messaging
[55:10] The “boring work” of AI adoption—strategy, brand kits, and staff training
[59:40] Microsoft vs. Google: who wins the AI workplace battle?
[01:03:00] Sci-fi predictions: Her, Blade Runner, and the crossroads aheadResources & ReferencesGuest Profile:G.
Kofi Annan on LinkedIn → www.linkedin.com/in/gkofiannan/
The Brand Sensei → https://thebrandsensei.com/Tools &
Platforms Mentioned:
MindStudio – Automate your workflows → https://get.mindstudio.ai/q7n7u5cttkdq
Riverside.fm – Create content from one recording → https://riverside.sjv.io/e1xyBr
Related Episodes:
Episode 21: AI in Healthcare – What’s Real, What’s Hype
Connect with AGI Follow us Facebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcast
Stay in the Loop
Jason Padgett on LinkedIn → www.linkedin.com/in/jason-grant-padgett/
Future-proof your organization, your team, and your career
Work with Jason: podcasts, keynotes, workshops, and one-on-one coaching📧 jason@phoenixsolutionsgroup.org🌐
Phoenix Solutions Group → https://www.phoenixsolutionsgroup.org/
Summary
What role will AI play in the future of education and workforce development? Jason Padgett sits down with Brooklyn Burton, Vice Chancellor of Workforce and Economic Development at Ivy Tech Lafayette, to unpack AI-driven training, rural adoption, curriculum innovation, and how community colleges are preparing learners for tomorrow’s economy.
[00:00] Intro and welcome
[01:10] Brooklyn’s path into workforce and economic development
[04:30] Community colleges and the disruptive potential of AI in higher education
[08:15] Generational attitudes toward AI adoption
[13:00] Student reactions to AI at Ivy Tech—curiosity, resistance, and opportunity
[18:45] Rural vs. urban adoption of AI in Indiana
[24:20] National reports on workforce exposure to generative AI
[29:00] Ivy Tech’s applied AI curriculum committee: aligning with industry needs
[34:45] Building pathways: stacking short-term AI skills into long-term credentials
[40:00] Ethical use of AI, privacy, and the rise of ambient listening devices
[45:10] Bias in resumes, hiring, and AI-driven decision-making
[50:20] Preparing kids for the AI future: STEM, curiosity, and safe exploration
[54:30] Closing thoughts on access, economic mobility, and education’s role
[56:21] Outro
Brookings Institution Report – The Geography of Generative AI’s Workforce Impacts
Ethan Mollick – on the coming “era of mass intelligence”
AI.gov K–12 initiative – Federal programs for student AI exploration
Ivy Tech Community College – Applied AI curriculum and workforce programs
Brooklyn's Links:
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/brooklynburton/
Email: bburton65@ivytech.edu
Follow us Facebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcast
Stay in the Loop
Future-proof your organization, your team, and your career → work with Jason
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jason-grant-padgett/
Podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coaching
Phoenix Solutions Group
Affordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects.
Tools We Recommend
MindStudio → Automate your workflows
https://get.mindstudio.ai/q7n7u5cttkdq
Riverside.fm → Turn one recording into a week’s worth of content
https://riverside.sjv.io/e1xyBr
Episode 28: From F-16 Pilot to AI Educator: Isar Meitis on Global AI Adoption and the Future of Intelligence
Former F-16 pilot turned AI educator Isar Meitis shares his journey from military service to building $100M e-commerce platforms to hosting the Leveraging AI podcast. We explore global AI adoption rates, the critical gap between early adopters and mainstream business implementation, and why ambient listening might be the key to truly leveraging AI assistants.
Key Insights
Resources Mentioned:
Guest Links
Isar Meitis
Follow AGI Podcast
Work with Jason (LinkedIn)Podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coaching
Phoenix Solutions GroupAffordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects
Recommended Tools
Key Timestamps
[02:30] Isar's background: From F-16 pilot to Air Force Academy instructor to tech entrepreneur
[08:45] The pivot to AI: How ChatGPT's launch led to organic consulting opportunities and teaching AI business transformation courses
[15:20] Current AI adoption landscape: Why 80% of people remain in beginner stages despite two years of availability
[18:15] The process mapping challenge: Why businesses struggle to implement AI without documented workflows
[21:40] Ambient listening debate: The future of AI assistants and the privacy concerns holding back adoption
[26:30] Microsoft Copilot vs competitors: Implementation challenges and recent improvements
[32:15] Notebook LM breakthrough: Practical applications for meeting transcription and training video generation
[35:45] RAG vs predictive models: How retrieval augmented generation reduces hallucinations and increases relevance
[38:20] Global perspective: AI adoption rates in Israel's tech-heavy economy compared to the US
[42:15] China analysis: Robotics leadership vs software/hardware gaps, and the sustainability question
[47:30] The dystopian concern: Corporate power, political influence, and the limits of breaking up tech monopolies
[51:45] Infrastructure vs application layer: Why AI companies face unique competitive challenges
[53:20] Education transformation: The potential for personalized AI tutoring and mentorship-focused teaching
[54:15] Sci-fi predictions: From cautious optimism to Skynet concerns based on industry leadership
Luis Chavez, Director of Product at MindStudio, shares his journey from film production to AI education and reveals how we can revolutionize K-12 learning by embracing rather than banning AI tools.
[02:15] Luis's backstory - From film production dreams to AI startup success
[06:30] The transferable skills lesson - Why saying "give me anything to do" launched a career
[09:45] Building the Metaverse before Meta - The evolution from AR to AI agents
[13:20] The state of education crisis - Why we're falling behind China's engineering output
[18:40] YouTuber vs. Engineer - How career aspirations have shifted for Gen Z
[24:15] AI as the creative equalizer - Why technology work is more creative than ever
[29:30] The prompt engineering debate - Domain expertise vs. design thinking
[35:45] Teaching across skill levels - From complete beginners to 20-year developers
[42:10] Will AI kill universities? Luis's surprising answer about higher education's future
[47:25] The Congressional testimony - Three actionable steps to integrate AI in K-12
[52:40] Embracing AI in essay writing - Show your work, not just your output
[58:15] The equity challenge - Addressing AOC's concerns about access and gender gaps
Embrace, Don't Ban AI in Schools
Rather than fighting students' natural inclination to use ChatGPT for essays, Luis advocates for teaching critical thinking skills by having students act as editors, show their prompting process, and iterate on AI-generated content.
The Communication Imperative
Success with AI requires strong communication skills. Luis's advice: "If you were to give instructions to a real person to do this specific task, write that down and prompt the agent to do that."
Process Mapping Is Critical
Before leveraging AI effectively, businesses and individuals need clearly mapped processes. Context engineering becomes as important as prompt engineering.
Domain Knowledge Still Matters
While AI democratizes access to tools, domain expertise remains crucial for getting quality outputs - whether you're an artist using image generators or a business strategist using planning tools.
Luis Chavez
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luchamedia/Website: https://www.mindstudio.ai/
Follow UsFacebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcast
Stay in the Loop
Future-proof your organization, your team, and your career.
Work with Jason
Podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coaching📧 jason@phoenixsolutionsgroup.org
Phoenix Solutions GroupAffordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects.🌐 https://www.phoenixsolutionsgroup.org/
MindStudio → Automate your workflows
https://get.mindstudio.ai/q7n7u5cttkdq
Riverside.fm → Turn one recording into a week's worth of content
https://riverside.sjv.io/e1xyBr
In this episode, we delve into the world of on-premise AI solutions, exploring how they are revolutionizing privacy and security. Discover the benefits of keeping AI operations in-house, from enhanced data protection to compliance with stringent regulations. Join us as we discuss real-world applications and insights from industry experts, shedding light on the future of secure AI technology.
Our conversation features **Brian Winchester**, representing **Reach Networks** and its storefront, **Computers and Code**, both located in **New Castle, Indiana**. Brian leads a growing team dedicated to making technology operational for businesses and individuals. He is joined by briefly **Eric Moss** head of business development and enterprise sales.
Jason and Brian discuss their innovative on-premise AI boxes – powerful, internet-disconnected systems that let businesses harness AI without compromising security or compliance.
What You'll Learn:
How disconnected AI protects sensitive data while enabling powerful document analysis and insights
Why regulated industries (healthcare, DoD contractors) are choosing on-premise over cloud AI
Practical applications: "chat with your documents," organizational culture insights, and combating shadow AI
How SMBs and nonprofits can affordably introduce AI as "training wheels" for their teams
The surprising connection between gaming hardware and AI power
Perfect for: Business leaders concerned about AI security, regulated industry professionals, and anyone curious about accessible AI implementation without the privacy trade-offs.
Connect with Brian Winchester
Eric Moss
Follow us Facebook + LinkedIn: @AGIPodcast
Stay in the Loop Future-proof your organization, your team, and your career.
Work with Jason Podcasts, keynotes, educational workshops, and one-on-one coaching 📧 jason@phoenixsolutionsgroup.org
Phoenix Solutions Group Affordable, pragmatic education, training, and consulting in AI literacy, policy, and projects. 🌐 https://www.phoenixsolutionsgroup.org/
Tools We Recommend
MindStudio → Automate your workflows
Riverside.fm → Turn one recording into a week’s worth of content