My EdTech Life
by Dr. Fonz Mendoza
My EdTech Life is where education meets innovation with clarity, caution, and purpose. Hosted by Dr. Alfonso "Fonz" Mendoza, 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 your space to connect, question, and grow.
Episodes
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How to Raise Kids in the Age of AI (From an AI Scientist Mom) | My EdTech Life 377
How do you raise kids in the age of AI without losing critical thinking? FAA AI data scientist and mom Crevita Moody shares her approach. Crevita didn't touch a computer until she was 13 and didn't own one until she was 21. About 15 years later, she became the first African American woman data...
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Who’s Thinking When AI Answers? | My EdTech Life 376
What happens when students can finish the assignment without doing the thinking? In Episode 376 of My EdTech Life, Dr. Alfonso Mendoza Jr. welcomes educator, education leader, and author Jeff Piontek for a candid conversation about AI in education, student ownership, and the human relationships...
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Your School Librarian Belongs in the AI Conversation | My EdTech Life 375
AI can give students a confident answer in seconds. But who teaches them to question it, verify it, and decide whether to trust it? In Episode 375 of My EdTech Life, Dr. Alfonso Mendoza welcomes back Dr. Karina Quilantan-Garza, also known as Dr. Q, for a conversation about school librarians, AI...
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Whose Problem Is EdTech Solving? | My EdTech Life 374
In Episode 374 of My EdTech Life, Dr. Alfonso Mendoza Jr. sits down with Jacob Kantor, the Chief DODO, or District Office Door Opener, to explore what it takes to earn educators’ attention, build trust, and serve schools. Drawing on 19 years in EdTech, Jacob explains why district doors stay…
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Stop Measuring Logins, Start Measuring Learning | My EdTech Life 373
In Episode 373 of My EdTech Life, Dr. Alfonso Mendoza sits down with Dacia Toll, co-founder of Coursemojo, to challenge how schools measure the value of educational technology. Logins, minutes, and completed activities may show that a platform was used, but they do not prove that meaningful...
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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...
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"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...
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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…
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"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...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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: The shocking AI gap between business and education How your brain processes information (90% through emotions—AI can't) Why banning AI fails...
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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...
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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...
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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 Cushanick 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…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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 343 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...
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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...
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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. 341 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...
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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 anfitrión, el Dr. Alfonso “Fonz” Mendoza, donde exploramos las conversaciones que conectan la tecnología, la educación y lo humano. En este episodio, tengo el honor de conversar…
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Episode 339: Merissa Sadler-Holder
Episode 339: Merissa Sadler-Holder | Teaching with Machines 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…
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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…
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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 Latinoamérica, Pedro nos comparte cómo la tecnología puede...
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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…
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Episode 335: April Braithwaite
Peel Back Education with April Braithwaite 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...
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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...
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Episode 333: Kyler Cheatham
AI in Schools: Strategy Over Shiny Tools with Kyler Cheatham When it comes to AI in school districts, rushing in without a clear why can cost millions, crush teacher buy-in, and derail your entire tech strategy. In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Kyler Cheatham, a system...
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Episode 332: Becky Keene
AI Optimism with Becky Keene In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sat down with author, educator, and thought leader Becky Keene to unpack her new book AI Optimism. We tackled everything from AI literacy and data privacy to the SAMR model, edtech skepticism, and what it really takes to shift...
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Episode 331: Erik Parsons
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…
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Episode 330: Tisha Poncio & Rick Butterworth
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...
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Episode 329: Building with Purpose with Eduaide
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…
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About this show
My EdTech Life is where education meets innovation with clarity, caution, and purpose. Hosted by Dr. Alfonso "Fonz" Mendoza, 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 your space to connect, question, and grow.
Hosted by
Dr. Fonz Mendoza
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