THRIVEinEDU by Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth @Rdene915

Rachelle Dené Poth

Welcome to the THRIVEinEDU podcast where learning happens and random thoughts related to all things education are shared. Listen in each week as I talk about some of the emerging trends and topics in education. Topics include Artificial Intelligence, AR/VR, Global Collaborations, Preparing Students for the Future, PBL, SEL, Coding, NFTs, Metaverse, Web3, the Power of PLNS, and more.

  1. 3 days ago

    ThriveinEDU Live with Akshay Ganesh and Daniel Troshin, Founders of Deskpad.

    Akshay Ganesh and Daniel Troshin are rising high school seniors from the Bay Area. After being in the same English class their sophomore year and seeing how their teachers struggled to adapt to the fast-paced evolution of AI, they founded Deskpad to give their teachers a solution. Deskpad now has three arms: Learn, their free software for teachers, Labs, their research arm, and Policy, their policy-shaping arm. All three work together to tackle how to safely and ethically integrate AI into the classroom. Outside of Deskpad, both Akshay and Daniel are competitive athletes in their respective sports of basketball and swimming, and both love being outside and hanging out with their friends. Akshay Ganesh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/-akshayganesh/ Daniel Troshin https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-troshin-928aa4342/ Deskpad: https://www.deskpad.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/deskpad-ai/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deskpadai My interview on their podcast: Episode 1 About Rachelle Educator, AI Strategist, Keynote Speaker, Consultant, Attorney, Author, Blogger, and Podcaster LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelledenepoth/ Subscribe to my ⁠newsletter. bit.ly/pothnews1 LinkedIn newsletter https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7098388531961614336 Check out my ⁠ blog www.Rdene915.com Contact me for speaking & training related to AI, AI & the law, AI and Healthcare, Cybersecurity, STEM, and more! bit.ly/thriveineduPD Interested in a sponsored podcast or collaboration? Contact me! Rdene915@gmail.com

    ThriveinEDU Live with Akshay Ganesh and Daniel Troshin, Founders of Deskpad.
  2. 2 Sept

    ThriveinEDU Live with guests David Berner and Jeremy Mikla, co-hosts of the Integrate This! podcast

    About David David Berner is the Technology Integration Program Coordinator at the SWWC Service Cooperative in Marshall, MN. He directs SWWC’s A.I.D.E. (Artificial Intelligence Development in Education) program, coordinates newsletter content, leads AI trainings for school districts, and consults with districts on developing GenAI district guidance. He holds an M.S. in Educational Technology, is an ISTE Certified Educator, and is a CoSN AI Regional Trainer.David Berner LinkedIn: David Berner | LinkedInAbout Jeremy MiklaInstructional Technology Specialist - ECMECC (East Central Minnesota Educational Cable Cooperative) Jeremy Mikla spent over 20 years as a classroom social studies teacher prior to becoming an Instructional Technology Specialist. He has extensive experience supporting PK–12 educators in the effective and ethical integration of emerging technologies. He regularly presents at regional and statewide conferences on topics such as AI in education, instructional design, and digital literacy. Jeremy co-hosts the Integrate This! podcast, which explores practical and innovative approaches to educational technology with diverse voices from the field. Jeremy LinkedIn: ⁠Jeremy Mikla | LinkedIn Their podcast Integrate This LinkedIn: ⁠(2) Integrate This! Podcast: Company Page Admin | LinkedIn⁠Integrate This TikTok: ⁠IntegrateThis! (@integratethispodcast) | TikTok⁠Integrate This YouTube: ⁠Integrate This! - YouTube⁠Integrate This Apple: ⁠Integrate This! Ed Tech Podcast - Podcast - Apple Podcasts⁠Integrate This Spotify: ⁠Integrate This! Ed Tech Podcast | Podcast on Spotify About Rachelle Educator, AI Strategist, Keynote Speaker, Consultant, Attorney, Author, Blogger, and Podcaster LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelledenepoth/ Subscribe to my ⁠newsletter. bit.ly/pothnews1 Check out my ⁠ blog www.Rdene915.com Contact me for speaking & training related to AI, AI & the law, AI and Healthcare, Cybersecurity, STEM, and more! bit.ly/thriveineduPD Interested in a sponsored podcast or collaboration? Contact me! Rdene915@gmail.com

    ThriveinEDU Live with guests David Berner and Jeremy Mikla, co-hosts of the Integrate This! podcast
  3. 24 Jun

    ThriveinEDU Live with guest Matt Jubelirer, General Manager of Education at Microsoft

    About Matt  Matt Jubelirer is General Manager of Education at Microsoft, where he leads the worldwide industry marketing team. He works with schools and institutions as they pursue their mission in a time of profound change, helping leaders harness AI and modern technology to improve teaching, learning, and operations while preparing students for work and life.      Matt is an advocate for the potential of AI to support students, educators, and administrators by increasing access, personalizing learning, and helping institutions extend their impact. He believes teachers are more important than ever as technology reshapes how students learn and how institutions serve their communities. He works closely with education leaders to explore how innovation can strengthen outcomes while staying grounded in trust, security, and the protection of student data. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjub Microsoft AI Tools: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/ai-in-education Microsoft Resources for Educators: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/educator-center/topics/ai-for-education About Rachelle Educator, AI Strategist, Keynote Speaker, Consultant, Attorney, & Author LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelledenepoth/ Subscribe to my ⁠newsletter. bit.ly/pothnews1 Check out my ⁠ blog www.Rdene915.comwww.Rdene915.com. Contact me for speaking & training related to AI, AI & the law, AI and Healthcare, Cybersecurity, STEM, and more! bit.ly/thriveineduPD Interested in a sponsored podcast or collaboration? Contact me! Rdene915@gmail.com

    ThriveinEDU Live with guest Matt Jubelirer, General Manager of Education at Microsoft
  4. 4 Jun

    Thrivein EDU Live with Dr. Sheldon L. Eakins, Educator, Author, Podcaster

    I had a great conversation with Dr. Sheldon L. Eakins, Author, Educator, and Founder of the Purposeful Teaching Academy and Host of the Leading Equity Podcast Sheldon L. Eakins, Ph.D., is an experienced educational leader with over 15 years of experience in K–12 and higher education. He has served as a teacher, special education director, school principal, and adjunct professor. Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Dr. Eakins focuses on creating learning environments where all students feel accepted, supported, and included. He is the author of multiple books, including What Are You Bringing to the Potluck? How School Leaders Set the Table for a Community of Belonging and Meaningful Classroom Management: Adapting Your Teaching to Build Culture and Community. Additionally, Dr. Eakins hosts the "Leading Equity Podcast" and is the founder of the Purposeful Teaching Academy. His work centers on student success, school leadership, and building a strong sense of belonging in schools. Contact: sheldon@purposeful247.com  Cell: 318-730-8204 IG: @sheldoneakins  Twitter: @sheldoneakins Website: purposeful247.com About Rachelle Educator, AI Strategist, Keynote Speaker, Consultant, Attorney, & Author LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelledenepoth/ Subscribe to my ⁠newsletter. bit.ly/pothnews1 Check out my ⁠ blog www.Rdene915.com. Contact me for speaking & training related to AI, AI & the law, AI and Healthcare, Cybersecurity, STEM, and more! bit.ly/thriveineduPD Interested in a sponsored podcast or collaboration? Contact me! Rdene915@gmail.com

    Thrivein EDU Live with Dr. Sheldon L. Eakins, Educator, Author, Podcaster
  5. 21 May

    ThriveinEDU Live with guest Priten Soundar-Shah, Educator, Author, Entrepreneur

    About Priten Priten is a part-time Faculty Instructor at College Unbound, a bachelor’s degree-granting institution focused on adult learners, where he teaches courses including Family & Society, Ethics of Ed Tech, Arguing for Truth, AI in My Life, and How We Know What We Know. He also serves on the Faculty Curriculum Committee, which reviews and approves new courses, substantive curricular changes, and revisions to grading policies. Priten has lectured on topics including educational justice, public speaking, cognitive biases and social change, moral luck and forgiveness, and writing for social change. He has worked with audiences ranging from elementary school students to graduate students to educators in India. Priten holds a visiting research position as an Associate in the Department of Philosophy at Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences (September 2025–present), where he focuses on developing philosophically grounded yet practical approaches to teaching critical, ethical reasoning at scale for educators and students. Priten is the author of AI & The Future of Education: Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (Wiley, 2023), which has been translated into Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Turkish, and Vietnamese; released as an audiobook (Tantor Media, 2024); received over 150 academic citations; sold over 8,000 copies; and reached #1 in three Amazon bestseller categories. It has been featured in Harvard Magazine, Church Times, University World News, and Ed. Magazine. Priten's second book, Ethical Ed Tech: How Educators Can Lead on AI & Digital Safety in K-12 (Wiley, 2026), is available now. The book provides a framework organized around philosophy, policy, and practice to help educators develop shared values, build institutional infrastructure for ethical decision-making, and apply these to the concrete dilemmas they face daily. It draws from conversations with educators, technologists, and students facing real ethical challenges, and includes case studies, discussion guides, and practical tools for implementation. Priten's writing has appeared in Education Week, eSchool Learning, and other publications. Priten has delivered keynotes and workshops at conferences including the Singapore International Science Teachers’ Conference, the Texas Computer Educators Association, the Virginia DOE Innovative Teaching and Leadership Conference, the World Education Summit, the National Council for the Social Studies, and the Responsible AI Summit, and has appeared on more than 40 podcasts discussing AI and education. (Including two appearances on ThriveinEDU!) Priten hosts two podcast shows that launched in early 2026: Margin of Thought, featuring interviews with educators and academics conducted for Ethical Ed Tech, and Know. Care. Act., focused on liberal arts education and civic engagement. Lectures and WorkshopsAcademic PositionsBooksThought Leadership New book: Ethical Ed Tech: How Educators Can Lead on AI & Digital Safety in K-12 (Wiley, 2026) Learn more: Connect with Priten: ethicaledtech.org and priten.org! About Rachelle Educator, AI Strategist, Keynote Speaker, Consultant, Attorney, & Author LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelledenepoth/ Subscribe to my ⁠newsletter. bit.ly/pothnews1 Check out my ⁠ blog www.Rdene915.com. Contact me for speaking & training related to AI, AI & the law, AI and Healthcare, Cybersecurity, STEM, and more! bit.ly/thriveineduPD Interested in a sponsored podcast or collaboration? Contact me! Rdene915@gmail.com

    ThriveinEDU Live with guest Priten Soundar-Shah, Educator, Author, Entrepreneur
  6. 30 Apr

    ThriveinEDU Live with Dr. Rod Berger, Author and Strategic Storyteller

    I absolutely loved this conversation with Rod. I have known him for about seven years and have followed his work. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did and that you will grab a copy of his book, The Narrative Edge. It is a tremendous book that I highly recommend. Linked below. About Dr. Rod Berger Dr. Rod Berger is recognized globally as an expert in the art of strategic storytelling. Rod has conducted over 4,000 interviews worldwide, including an audience with Pope Francis, NBA great Magic Johnson, and F1 World Champion Jenson Button. He has also engaged with United Nations officials in Rome and NGOs in Uganda’s refugee camps, uncovering the challenging life stories impacting an individual's everyday life. With a firm understanding of how the art of storytelling can change lives, Rod has codified his practice as a communication architect to help empower individuals and organizations to build strong cultures and brands, create powerful narratives, and identify how to lead with impact, influence, and most importantly, curiosity. With a doctorate in clinical psychology, Rod guest lectured at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management for nearly two decades and acts as a strategic advisor to several companies in the U.S. and abroad. He contributed to Forbes for several years and writes for Entrepreneur Mag, and wrote the cover story for Los Angeles Magazine’s February 2025 issue, and he hosts three podcasts within his Dr. Rod Berger Channel. Learn more about Rod's work on his website: https://www.drrodberger.com/ Podcasts: https://www.drrodberger.com/podcast Grab a copy of his book: The Narrative Edge: Authentic Storytelling that Meets the Moment on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Narrative-Edge-Authentic-Storytelling-Moment/dp/1394331290 Contact Rod for speaking:  info@drrodberger.com About Rachelle Educator, AI Strategist, Keynote Speaker, Consultant, Attorney, & Author LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelledenepoth/ Subscribe to my ⁠newsletter. bit.ly/pothnews1 Check out my ⁠ blog www.Rdene915.com. Contact me for speaking & training related to AI, AI & the law, AI and Healthcare, Cybersecurity, STEM, and more! bit.ly/thriveineduPD Interested in a sponsored podcast or collaboration? Contact me! Rdene915@gmail.com

    ThriveinEDU Live with Dr. Rod Berger, Author and Strategic Storyteller

About

Welcome to the THRIVEinEDU podcast where learning happens and random thoughts related to all things education are shared. Listen in each week as I talk about some of the emerging trends and topics in education. Topics include Artificial Intelligence, AR/VR, Global Collaborations, Preparing Students for the Future, PBL, SEL, Coding, NFTs, Metaverse, Web3, the Power of PLNS, and more.