My EdTech Life
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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 your space to connect, question, and grow.
341 Episodes
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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 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 focuse...
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, h...
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 ser una aliada cuando se usa con intención, verificación y presencia humana. Hablamos del retroceso post-COVID, las falsas promesas de “2 horas al día”, el riesgo de caer en el hype y por qué el...
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 Bl...
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 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, recognitio...
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: 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 architecture expert in AI and predictive analytics, to break down what districts are getting wrong and how to get it right. Kyler shares hard truths about AI adoption in K-12 and higher ed: Why CTOs must...
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 classroom practice forward, not with hype, but with intention. Becky shares her “AI Optimism” framework, talks candidly about the realities of edtech implementation, and reminds us all that if AI can do y...
Learning, Agency, and EdTech | Erik Parsons In this episode of My EdTech Life, I reconnect with the brilliant Erik Parsons, better known as The PhDad on TikTok, for a bold conversation on what really matters in education. We dig into behaviorism vs. developmentalism, and how too many classrooms are still operating on compliance over collaboration. From Chromebooks as babysitters to the over-promise of AI-powered personalized learning, we question the transactional mindset that kee...
Digital Portfolios, Feedback Culture, and Rethinking Readiness with Tisha Poncio and Rick Butterworth In Episode 330 of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Tisha Poncio and Rick Butterworth, authors of Today’s Learners, Tomorrow’s Leaders. This conversation is all about transforming classrooms by prioritizing neurodiversity, digital portfolios, and building real-world readiness through entrepreneurial thinking. We dig into what it really means to shift from compliance-based learning to authentic ...
Ep.329 Building with Purpose with Eduaide In this episode, I welcome back two familiar voices: Thomas Thompson and Thomas Hummel, the powerhouse team behind Eduaide.AI. This isn’t just another conversation about AI. It’s a grounded, honest discussion on what it means to build tech for teachers, by teachers. We talk growth, grit, and grounded design. From their classroom beginnings to becoming one of the most trusted teacher-first platforms, we unpack how they’re putting pedagogy over hype, ...
AI in Schools: Innovation or Illusion? | Ep. 328 with Job Christiansen Is AI making classrooms smarter—or just noisier? In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Job Christiansen, a fellow cautious advocate, educator, and instructional technology specialist, to ask the hard questions about AI’s role in education. From privacy concerns to the illusion of “safe use,” we unpack what most educators, tech leaders, and decision-makers aren’t being told about the tools flooding our schools....
Episode 327: Learning & Development, Instructional Design, and AI Talk with Holly Owens In this episode, I had the honor of chatting with Holly Owens, host of EdUp EdTech, Director of Growth Marketing at Yellowdig, and all-around L&D powerhouse. We talk about everything from instructional design to AI in learning, what "proficiency" really means, and how educators can pivot into the world of L&D with confidence. If you're an educator, learning designer, or someone na...
What Does It Mean to Be Digitally Well? | with Teodora Pavkovic In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Teodora Pavkovic, psychologist, speaker, and digital wellness expert at Linewize, to unpack how technology shapes our emotions, identity, and relationships. From AI companions and algorithmic influence to parenting in the age of chatbots, Teodora offers practical wisdom and actionable strategies for families and schools seeking healthy digital habits. We dive into why digit...
Digital Dangers Facing Our Kids with Andy Murphy In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sat down with Andy Murphy, also known as The Secure Dad, to talk about the uncomfortable truth: kids are being targeted online, and it’s not a fair fight. We unpack how predators use everyday platforms like games and social media to groom and manipulate children, often right under their parents' noses. Andy drops powerful insights that every parent, educator, and EdTech leader needs to hear. Whether you’re a...
Episode 324 – Charlie Meyer: The AI Hype, EdTech Snake Oil & What Teachers Actually Want In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Charlie Meyer, small business owner and creator of Pickcode, to unpack the growing wave of AI solutionism in education. From being shouted at over not using AI to asking hard questions like, “Would you trust a vibe-coded site with your bank info?”, Charlie brings the heat, the honesty, and the humor. If you’re an educator, policymaker, EdTech bu...
AI Ethics, Overreliance & Honest Talk with Jen Manly In this episode of My EdTech Life, Fonz sits down with returning guest Jen Manly, a computer science educator, TikTok powerhouse, and advocate for ethical tech use, to unpack the complex relationship between AI, teaching, and critical thinking. From data privacy concerns to AI detectors that fail our students, this conversation gets real about what’s hype, what’s helpful, and what needs more scrutiny. Whether you're cautiously curious o...
Episode 322: ¿Instrucciones o experiencias? El nuevo rol del educador en tiempos de IA | Dr. José R. Ferrer ¡Bienvenidos a un nuevo episodio de My EdTech Life! Hoy tengo el honor de conversar con el Dr. José R. Ferrer López sobre su libro Cómo Diseñar Experiencias de Aprendizaje en la Era de la Inteligencia Artificial. Hablamos de pensamiento crítico, diseño centrado en el estudiante, el verdadero rol de la IA en educación, y la importancia de diseñar vivencias reales de apr...
Episode 321: 2059 and the Future of Education with Micah Shippee What if we stopped reacting to every new tech tool and started preparing with intention? In this bold conversation, I sit down with educator, futurist, and Samsung’s Director of Education Solutions, Micah Shippee, to explore his new book 2059: The Future of Education. We dive deep into what the future could look like across AI, classroom models, access, agency, and everything in between. If you're an educator, leader, or just cu...
Episode 320: Creativity in Young Children: What Science Tells Us and Our Hearts Know with Dr. Zachary Stier & Tom Rendon In this episode of My EdTech Life, I’m joined by returning guest Dr. Zachary Stier and first-time guest Tom Rendon to explore their new book Creativity in Young Children: What Science Tells Us and Our Hearts Know. We dive deep into the intersection of creativity, child development, advocacy, and play—discussing what it means to truly nurture creativity in early learning...
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