What happens when the backbone of the internet fails? Josh and Will dive into the recent AWS outage that reminded us all just how dependent we've become on cloud infrastructure. From smart home devices going offline to entire business operations grinding to a halt, this episode explores our complicated relationship with internet connectivity. But first - Josh finally notices a painting that's been in Will's background for months (since episode 199, to be exact!), leading to a hilarious deep-dive through previous episodes and a story about childhood art purchases.The conversation then shifts to something we can control: our personal reflection practices. Will shares his 3+ year journey with Reflection App, demonstrating how intentional journaling can help us process everything from tech disruptions to personal growth - especially when the digital world feels unreliable.➡️ 40% OFF Reflection App: http://reflection.app/hitech
We dive into a controversial topic: the growing backlash against technology in education and beyond. Are we stuck in an endless pendulum swing between tech extremism? Josh brings a hot take about recent articles claiming tech is "poisoning" us, and we explore why this all-or-nothing thinking misses the mark.From washing machines to AI, we trace how society has always freaked out about new technology - and why that pattern needs to end. Plus: our thoughts on intentional tech use, the real problems in education, and why your goal matters more than your tools
Welcome to Episode 218 of the HiTech Podcast! This week, Josh takes Will (and you!) on an in-depth tour of Notion 3.0 and its game-changing AI features. From automated weekly reports to custom database creation in seconds, discover how Notion's agentic AI is revolutionizing personal productivity and task management.Josh demonstrates his elaborate Notion dashboard system, introduces his AI assistant "R2-D2," and shows how AI can reverse-engineer entire workflow systems. Whether you're a Notion power user or just curious about AI-powered productivity tools, this episode is packed with practical examples and real-world applications.
Ever wondered what it takes to consistently create a weekly podcast for four years? In this special behind-the-scenes episode, Will and Josh pull back the curtain on their entire podcasting workflow and reveal how AI tools have transformed their process from a time-consuming hobby into an efficient, sustainable system.From recording platforms to editing software, transcript generation to social media clips, discover the exact tools and AI features that keep the Hi-Tech Podcast running smoothly week after week. Whether you're thinking about starting your own podcast or just curious about content creation workflows, this episode is packed with practical insights and real-world examples.
Join us for an exciting deep dive into Topia with founder Daniel as we explore how this spatial platform is revolutionizing virtual education! Discover how proximity chat, customizable worlds, and innovative SDK tools are creating delightful learning experiences for K-12 students in virtual schools, micro schools, and homeschooling environments.From supporting 500+ concurrent users to integrating with major LMS platforms, Topia is proving that online education can be engaging, social, AND safe. We discuss the platform's evolution, the importance of "delight" as a metric, and why students are literally clicking repeatedly just to get into class early!Whether you're an educator exploring virtual learning tools, a remote worker seeking better collaboration spaces, or just curious about the future of online community building, this episode is packed with insights.
Will and Josh pit their mobile rigs against each other in this epic travel tech showdown! From $250 backpacks to portable monitors, wireless mice to Steam Decks - we're breaking down every piece of gear that keeps us productive (and entertained) on the road.No sponsorships, just honest takes on what actually works when you need your full setup anywhere. Whether you're a digital nomad or just want better coffee shop productivity, this episode's packed with practical insights and real-world testing.
Watch Josh and Will transform a simple meal planning problem into a fully functional web app using nothing but AI prompts. From Will's basic Google Sheets button to a sophisticated menu generator with search, filters, and editing capabilities - all built live in under 30 minutes!We're not coding experts, just two curious minds showing you how accessible app development has become with AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT. Whether you want to solve personal productivity challenges or prototype your next big idea, this episode proves anyone can build functional apps today.
Join hosts Will Ellingworth and Josh as they dive deep into one of AI's most controversial topics: its environmental footprint. From data centers consuming massive amounts of electricity to the real-world impact on local communities, we explore whether the environmental cost of AI is worth the benefits. Plus, Josh creates a penguin-saving game live on the show!
Josh and Will put OpenAI's new "Study and Learn" mode to the test with theology questions, instructional design challenges, and... tank driving? What started as educational evaluation ended with an unexpected browser-based tank simulator. We explore whether this AI study tool actually encourages learning or just makes cheating more complicated.
We put AI to the ultimate test - can Claude outsmart our resident board game expert Alex? Watch as we experiment with Claude playing Skull and Flip Seven in real-time, discovering surprising insights about AI capabilities, human strategy, and the art of bluffing against algorithms.Spoiler alert: Humans aren't obsolete just yet.
Ever feel like documentation is a four-letter word? 😅 We get it! Will and Josh dive deep into the art (and pain) of creating useful documentation - from knowledge bases to SOPs to those quick tutorial videos we all need but never have time to make.🔥 What We Cover:Why documentation becomes a problem before it becomes a priorityThe real barriers: time, effort, maintenance, and that "but we're unique!" mindsetJosh's team knowledge base journey (spoiler: Notion FTW)Will's lone wolf documentation struggles (we've all been there)Different fidelity levels: when good enough really IS good enough💡 GAME CHANGER ALERT: We put Scribe to the test! This tool promises to solve the biggest documentation headaches by recording your screen and auto-generating step-by-step guides. Does it live up to the hype? (Spoiler: Josh immediately wanted to buy it for his team 👀)For more on our conversation, check out the episode page.
Join Josh and Will as they dive deep into the messy world of AI training and copyright law! This week, we're unpacking the Anthropic lawsuit that's got everyone talking - and we accidentally recreate 1984 in the process (oops!). What we discovered: When we asked Claude to rewrite Orwell's classic in a modern context, things got... uncomfortably derivative. Are AI companies walking a legal tightrope? Should you be worried about using AI tools? We're processing it all live on air.
Join Will and Josh for a candid conversation about real AI use cases they've encountered in the wild! From questionable grading practices to grief bots, we're breaking down what's working, what's sketchy, and what needs to be swept under the rug. 🧹 Our Rating System: If it's good, it stays. If it's problematic, we're sweeping it away with our trusty desk brooms!
Join Josh and Will as they dive deep into the art and science of creating user-friendly Learning Management Systems (LMS). Moving away from their usual AI focus, the hosts share real-world experience from LMS overhauls, discussing everything from user journey mapping to wire-framing techniques.
Ready to decode what makes certifications actually worth your time? 🎯Will and Josh dive deep into the certification landscape - from their personal experiences with PMI, Docebo, and academic programs to designing certification systems that actually prove expertise. They're tackling the real question: how do we move beyond simple exams to create meaningful professional development?
Josh and Will dive deep into one of education's most frustrating features: those "Did you cheat?" checkboxes that appear in every online course. Spoiler alert - they don't work, and we've got better ideas. From beach vacation prep disasters to the philosophy of learning, this episode unpacks why academic integrity checks are fundamentally flawed and explores practical alternatives that actually improve education. Whether you're building corporate training or academic courses, this conversation will change how you think about assessment and learner trust.
We went off-script this week and challenged ourselves to the ultimate AI detection game! Will and Josh threw real and AI-generated images at each other to see who could tell the difference. From suspicious cat photos to perfect-looking drinks, the results might surprise you (and definitely surprised us). Spoiler: AI is getting REALLY good, but humans still have a fighting chance! 🧠✨
Join us as we dive deep into AI-powered video production! From discussing the movie "Rubber" (yes, the homicidal tire again!) to exploring how Synthesia is transforming the media production pipeline for L&D and more, this episode is packed with practical insights and live walk-throughs.
Tired of hour-long meetings that end with zero decisions? We've all been there! In this episode, Will and Josh dive deep into practical frameworks that actually work for making decisions, prioritizing projects, and communicating effectively as a team.From the classic Eisenhower Matrix to Josh's preferred Impact vs. Effort approach, we break down the tools that can transform your team's productivity. Plus, we share real-world examples, miro templates, introduce the SBI communication model, and reveal our "meeting sandwich" formula for success.No more decision paralysis or tyranny of the urgent - let's get systematic about getting things done!For more on our conversation, check out the episode page.
