Most managers hear words, but they miss the emotions. This skill gap is why your best employees are walking out the door. This episode breaks down the true meaning of Active Listening, explaining why it's the core component of Emotional Intelligence that fosters loyalty. We show you how to move from transactional management to relational leadership, unlocking the Oxytocin-fueled bond that makes employees stay. If you're serious about mastering this essential skill, learn about the J. Alexander 1:1 Coaching program—a 7-week scientific framework dedicated to reducing the impact of self-sabotaging thoughts, improving stress management, and making you a more effective, fully present leader. 

In this episode, Priten speaks with Justin Cerenzia, Executive Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Episcopal Academy, about navigating the complex ethical decisions administrators face when integrating AI and educational technology in K-12 schools. Justin shares his journey from early AI adoption with GPT-3.5 to implementing thoughtful frameworks for tech integration, discussing everything from AI tutors and cell phone policies to the tension between preparing students for the workforce versus fostering deep learning. The conversation explores how schools can balance innovation with pedagogy, the importance of making student thinking visible, and why ethical decision-making requires moving beyond simple policies to embrace experimentation, nuance, and a design mindset that puts learning outcomes first.Key Takeaways:There's no shared AI experience. Different platforms and access levels mean students and teachers use fundamentally different tools—making unified policies nearly impossible.AI detection is a losing battle. Focus instead on making student thinking visible through conversations and walled-garden tools like Flint."Do no harm" cuts both ways. Schools must prevent misuse while also ensuring students aren't left behind on AI literacy.Understand learning science before deploying AI. The key question: are students cognitively offloading the task, or genuinely learning?The future is a design problem, not a prediction problem. Decide what you want from AI and build toward it—don't just react to updates.About Justin:Justin Cerenzia is the Buckley Executive Director of the Center for Teaching & Learning at The Episcopal Academy, where he leads work at the intersection of cognitive science, teacher inquiry, and AI-informed practice. His work centers on translating research into practical, human-centered tools that improve teaching and learning at scale.

In this episode of the EdTech Startup Podcast, host Jeff Bradbury interviews Mike Cronley, co-founder and CEO of Class Composer and former third-grade teacher. Mike shares his journey from the classroom to entrepreneurship, sparked by a casual conversation with his school's music teacher about students being incorrectly placed together. This "aha moment" led him to develop Class Composer, a software solution that helps elementary schools create balanced, equitable classroom rosters. Over seven years, Mike transitioned from teaching while developing his idea as a side project to fully committing to his startup. The conversation explores the challenges of the traditional paper-based class placement process, the importance of listening to customers, and advice for educators considering entrepreneurship.

In this episode from the Inch360 Conference, cybersecurity expert Heather Stratford explores how AI is revolutionizing phishing attacks and social engineering tactics. She breaks down the rapid adoption of AI—with ChatGPT reaching 100 million users in just two months—and explains how criminals are weaponizing machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing to create highly personalized, sophisticated attacks.Stratford examines real-world breaches including the MGM hack and a $25 million deepfake Zoom scam, demonstrating how attackers combine voice impersonation, social engineering, and AI-generated content to bypass traditional security measures. She reveals the shocking accessibility of cybercrime tools, with AI-powered phishing kits available for just $20.The episode emphasizes that once-a-year security training is no longer sufficient. Stratford advocates for weekly micro-learning sessions, monthly phishing simulations, and role-specific training—especially for executives, accounting teams, and anyone with financial access. She stresses that while technology defenses are important, the human element remains the most vulnerable layer, making continuous employee education critical in the AI-driven threat landscape.

Rod made the move back to the classroom after years as a leadership and instructional coach. In this episode, he reflects on the surprises of returning to teaching—and how his experiences beyond the classroom shaped his transition. We talk specifically about how he has changed his writing instruction and his emphasis on student dialogue.Resources:The Literacy Cookbook (Sarah Tantillo)literacycookbook.com/about-us.phpInside Teaching: How Classroom Life Undermines Reform (Mary Kennedy)Follow Rod on:X/Twitter:  Rod (@rodjnaquin) / XLinkedIn: (1) Rod Naquin | LinkedInFacebook: (2) FacebookSubstack: Rod J. Naquin | SubstackPodcast: Why I'm giving students the claims - Pocket Casts