Smarter Campus Podcast

Zach Kinzler
  • 5.0 (60)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Changing education one conversation at a time. The Smarter Campus Podcast dives into the future of learning, spotlighting how students, educators, and innovators around the world are using AI to reshape education. Hosted by Zach, Head of Academic Sales Strategies at BoodleBox.ai, each episode features real conversations with passionate voices—from student leaders to professors—about what’s working, what’s changing, and what’s next. Whether you're curious about AI in the classroom, how schools are adapting, or what students actually want from their education, this podcast keeps it honest, inspiring, and practical. Tune in weekly for powerful ideas, global perspectives, and a smarter take on the campus experience.

  1. A Special Episode: Inside BoodleBox’s “Sensible Car” Approach to AI in Education

    3D AGO

    A Special Episode: Inside BoodleBox’s “Sensible Car” Approach to AI in Education

    This special episode of The Smarter Campus Podcast features a conversation from inside the BoodleBox team. Zach sits down with Reilly Stanton, Lead Data Scientist at Boodle AI, to unpack how the platform’s philosophy around safety, clarity, and human-centered design shows up at the technical level. Reilly offers a rare, engineer-first look at how large language models actually work—moving past hype and fear to explain embeddings, tokens, and probability in plain terms. By demystifying the technology, the episode helps educators and administrators better understand both the capabilities and the limits of AI, and why misunderstanding those fundamentals can lead to risky classroom use and misguided policy. Using the metaphor of a “sensible car” versus a Ferrari, the conversation explores why educational AI needs guardrails by design. It also makes a strong case for teaching communication, critical thinking, and ethical reasoning as core AI skills—keeping humans firmly in the loop as AI becomes a normal part of teaching and learning.

    27 min
  2. AI, Intellectual Character, and the Cost of Shortcuts — A Conversation with Christian Carmody

    JAN 26

    AI, Intellectual Character, and the Cost of Shortcuts — A Conversation with Christian Carmody

    In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast, Zach sits down with Christian Carmody, a doctoral researcher at the University of New Hampshire, to explore one of the most under-discussed questions in AI and education: What is AI doing to our intellectual character? Christian draws a powerful distinction between moral character (how we behave) and intellectual character (how we pursue truth, knowledge, and understanding). Through personal reflection, philosophy, and cognitive science, he unpacks how generative AI introduces a uniquely tempting shortcut—one that doesn’t just risk academic integrity, but quietly reshapes how we think. This conversation explores: The difference between moral wrongdoing and intellectual self-deceptionThe seductive “glimmering ticket” AI offers when we’re overwhelmed“Knowledge laundering” and why unearned understanding erodes trustThe long-term risk of reasoning atrophy when thinking is outsourcedWhy the real harm of AI misuse isn’t grades—but habit formationA Kantian ethical framework educators can use to guide AI decisionsRather than focusing on detection or punishment, this episode reframes the conversation around who students are becoming in an AI-rich world—and what responsibility educators have to explicitly teach intellectual character, not just content. This episode pairs especially well with conversations around post-plagiarism pedagogy and transparent AI policies, offering the philosophical and human counterweight to institutional approaches.

    33 min
  3. AI Is Not the Shortcut: Peter Harris on Reps, Rigor, and What Makes Graduates Unreplaceable

    JAN 19

    AI Is Not the Shortcut: Peter Harris on Reps, Rigor, and What Makes Graduates Unreplaceable

    In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast, Zach is joined by Peter Harris to unpack a hard truth about AI in education: tools don’t replace mastery—practice does. Peter introduces the idea of “reps” as the foundation of real expertise. Whether it’s building 100 financial models by hand or defending an investment thesis out loud, deep understanding only comes from repeated, manual engagement. AI can accelerate learning—but only if it’s used as a coach, not a crutch. This conversation dives into: Why experiential learning beats textbook theoryThe difference between outsourcing thinking vs. sharpening it with AIWhy verbal accountability is becoming the most honest form of assessmentHow AI is reshaping the workforce toward orchestration, not task executionWhy liberal arts skills—psychology, judgment, communication—are becoming more valuable, not lessWhat educators must redesign now to ensure students can explain, not just submit, their workFor educators, employers, and students alike, this episode is a wake-up call: in an AI-accelerated world, understanding beats output—and reps still matter.

    30 min
  4. Dr. Michelle Kassorla on Inverting Bloom’s Taxonomy: Teaching for Thinking in the Age of AI

    JAN 12

    Dr. Michelle Kassorla on Inverting Bloom’s Taxonomy: Teaching for Thinking in the Age of AI

    In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast, Zach sits down with Michelle Kassorla to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping pedagogy, assessment, and what it truly means to learn. Dr. Kassorla introduces a powerful reframing of Bloom’s Taxonomy for the AI era. If AI can now create first, then the real intellectual work for students begins afterward—through evaluation, analysis, application, and reflection. Rather than resisting this shift, she argues that educators should redesign learning to emphasize process over product. Together, they discuss: Why AI should be treated as a starting point, not an endpointHow “Inverted Bloom’s Taxonomy” changes assignment designWhy grading the journey eliminates the incentive to cheatThe limits of AI detection and the harm of adversarial classroomsHow shared vulnerability between faculty and students builds trustPractical ways to scaffold assignments and assess AI transparencyThis episode offers a concrete, actionable framework for educators ready to move beyond detection and toward learning environments that reward thinking, iteration, and human judgment.

    25 min
  5. Dr. Jose Bowen on Teaching with AI: When Knowledge Is Free and Thinking Is the Work

    JAN 5

    Dr. Jose Bowen on Teaching with AI: When Knowledge Is Free and Thinking Is the Work

    In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast, Zach sits down with Jose Bowen, author of Teaching with AI and longtime higher-education leader, to explore one of the most important shifts education has ever faced. Dr. Bowen argues that while the internet changed our relationship with knowledge, AI is changing our relationship with thinking itself. As information becomes abundant—but increasingly unreliable—educators are no longer just teaching content. They’re teaching how to think, how to evaluate, and how to work alongside intelligent systems. In this conversation, they discuss: Why AI should be viewed as a thinking partner, not just a toolWhat it means to teach when you’re no longer the “expert in the room”How AI reshapes writing, feedback, and learning processesWhy metacognition and bias awareness are now core educational skillsHow faculty can prepare students for a world where thinking itself is augmentedThis episode is essential listening for faculty, instructional designers, and academic leaders navigating what teaching looks like when AI is embedded into how humans reason, write, and decide.

    33 min
  6. Judith Cardenas on Leading Through AI: Guardrails, Courage, and Embracing Ambiguity

    12/29/2025

    Judith Cardenas on Leading Through AI: Guardrails, Courage, and Embracing Ambiguity

    In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast, Zach sits down with Judith Cardenas, a higher-education leader and consultant who has been working on AI strategy long before generative AI went mainstream. Judith shares what she’s learned from more than a decade of consulting with institutions and leadership teams—and why AI leadership today has far less to do with being technical and far more to do with curiosity, courage, and comfort with ambiguity. Together, they explore: Why AI leadership is not about being a “techie”How fear (not technology) is the biggest blocker to adoptionWhy faculty need guardrails, not bansWhat it means to lead when no one has all the answers yetHow institutions can balance integrity, innovation, and trustThis conversation is especially relevant for presidents, provosts, deans, CIOs, and faculty leaders navigating AI strategy at the institutional level. Rather than focusing on tools, this episode focuses on mindset, governance, and human leadership in an era of rapid change. If you’re responsible for guiding others through AI adoption—and feel the weight of that responsibility—this episode is for you.

    28 min
  7. AI, Equity, and Rural Education: Matt Newlin on Leveling the Playing Field

    12/22/2025

    AI, Equity, and Rural Education: Matt Newlin on Leveling the Playing Field

    In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast, host Zach Kinzler is joined by Matt Newlin, a higher education consultant with over 20 years of experience in financial aid, equity, and student success. Matt brings a powerful rural perspective to the AI conversation, framing artificial intelligence as a democratizing force—one that has the potential to level the playing field for rural, first-generation, and low-income students if implemented thoughtfully. The conversation explores why many rural educators feel hesitant to adopt AI, the risks of blanket bans, and how institutions can build faculty capacity while still prioritizing critical thinking, equity, and durable skills. Matt also shares practical examples of how AI can support admissions, recruiting, faculty workflows, and student learning—without replacing human judgment. This episode is a grounded, honest look at how AI can expand access and opportunity in higher education, especially in communities that are often left out of emerging technology conversations. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why AI can be a leveling force for rural and underserved studentsThe real fears educators have about “getting AI wrong”How AI can build faculty capacity instead of adding workloadWhy institutions need nuanced AI policies—not blanket bansThe importance of teaching critical thinking alongside AI literacy

    27 min
  8. Intelligence Having Fun: Pravin Kaipa on Creativity, AI, and Rethinking Assessment

    12/15/2025

    Intelligence Having Fun: Pravin Kaipa on Creativity, AI, and Rethinking Assessment

    In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast, host Zach Kinzler sits down with Pravin Kaipa to explore creativity, artificial intelligence, and what it truly means to support learning in modern classrooms. Grounded in the idea that “creativity is just intelligence having fun,” this conversation challenges traditional grading models and reframes AI as a guide on the side—not a replacement for educators, but a powerful creative and pedagogical partner. Together, Zach and Pravin unpack how AI can democratize creativity, support differentiated instruction, and open new possibilities for students who have historically been underserved by traditional systems. The episode also dives into how educators can move away from “gotcha” teaching moments and instead use AI to foster curiosity, engagement, and deeper understanding. 🎨 In this episode, you’ll hear: Why traditional grading often fails to reflect real learningHow AI can support creativity without replacing human judgmentPractical classroom uses for visual, audio, and multimodal AI toolsThe role of AI in differentiated instruction and special educationWhy AI literacy is becoming essential for educators and students alikeThis episode is a thoughtful reminder that when used intentionally, AI can make learning more human—not less.

    33 min
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5
out of 5
60 Ratings

About

Changing education one conversation at a time. The Smarter Campus Podcast dives into the future of learning, spotlighting how students, educators, and innovators around the world are using AI to reshape education. Hosted by Zach, Head of Academic Sales Strategies at BoodleBox.ai, each episode features real conversations with passionate voices—from student leaders to professors—about what’s working, what’s changing, and what’s next. Whether you're curious about AI in the classroom, how schools are adapting, or what students actually want from their education, this podcast keeps it honest, inspiring, and practical. Tune in weekly for powerful ideas, global perspectives, and a smarter take on the campus experience.

Information

  • Creator
    Zach Kinzler
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Zach Kinzler
  • Show Website
    Smarter Campus Podcast