HiTech Podcast

We dive into a controversial topic: the growing backlash against technology in education and beyond. Are we stuck in an endless pendulum swing between tech extremism? Josh brings a hot take about recent articles claiming tech is "poisoning" us, and we explore why this all-or-nothing thinking misses the mark. From washing machines to AI, we trace how society has always freaked out about new technol...

Welcome to Episode 218 of the HiTech Podcast! This week, Josh takes Will (and you!) on an in-depth tour of Notion 3.0 and its game-changing AI features. From automated weekly reports to custom database creation in seconds, discover how Notion's agentic AI is revolutionizing personal productivity and task management. Josh demonstrates his elaborate Notion dashboard system, introduces his AI ass...

Ever wondered what it takes to consistently create a weekly podcast for four years? In this special behind-the-scenes episode, Will and Josh pull back the curtain on their entire podcasting workflow and reveal how AI tools have transformed their process from a time-consuming hobby into an efficient, sustainable system. From recording platforms to editing software, transcript generation to social m...

Join us for an exciting deep dive into Topia with founder Daniel as we explore how this spatial platform is revolutionizing virtual education! Discover how proximity chat, customizable worlds, and innovative SDK tools are creating delightful learning experiences for K-12 students in virtual schools, micro schools, and homeschooling environments. From supporting 500+ concurrent users to integrating...

Will and Josh pit their mobile rigs against each other in this epic travel tech showdown! From $250 backpacks to portable monitors, wireless mice to Steam Decks - we're breaking down every piece of gear that keeps us productive (and entertained) on the road. No sponsorships, just honest takes on what actually works when you need your full setup anywhere. Whether you're a digital nomad or j...

Watch Josh and Will transform a simple meal planning problem into a fully functional web app using nothing but AI prompts. From Will's basic Google Sheets button to a sophisticated menu generator with search, filters, and editing capabilities - all built live in under 30 minutes! We're not coding experts, just two curious minds showing you how accessible app development has become with AI...

Join hosts Will Ellingworth and Josh as they dive deep into one of AI's most controversial topics: its environmental footprint. From data centers consuming massive amounts of electricity to the real-world impact on local communities, we explore whether the environmental cost of AI is worth the benefits. Plus, Josh creates a penguin-saving game live on the show! Head over to our website at  ⁠⁠⁠...

Josh and Will put OpenAI's new "Study and Learn" mode to the test with theology questions, instructional design challenges, and... tank driving? What started as educational evaluation ended with an unexpected browser-based tank simulator. We explore whether this AI study tool actually encourages learning or just makes cheating more complicated. Head over to our website at  ⁠⁠⁠hitechp...

We put AI to the ultimate test - can Claude outsmart our resident board game expert Alex? Watch as we experiment with Claude playing Skull and Flip Seven in real-time, discovering surprising insights about AI capabilities, human strategy, and the art of bluffing against algorithms. Spoiler alert: Humans aren't obsolete just yet. Head over to our website at  ⁠⁠⁠hitechpod.us⁠⁠⁠  for all of our e...

Head over to our website at  ⁠⁠⁠hitechpod.us⁠⁠⁠  for all of our episode pages, send some support at ⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠⁠ , our  ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ , our  ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ , and to see our faces (maybe skip the last one). Need a journal that's secure and reflective? Sign-up for the ⁠Reflection App⁠ today! We promise that the free version is enough, but if you want the extra features, paying up is even bette...

Ever feel like documentation is a four-letter word? 😅 We get it! Will and Josh dive deep into the art (and pain) of creating useful documentation - from knowledge bases to SOPs to those quick tutorial videos we all need but never have time to make.🔥 What We Cover:Why documentation becomes a problem before it becomes a priorityThe real barriers: time, effort, maintenance, and that "but we&#3...

Join Josh and Will as they dive deep into the messy world of AI training and copyright law! This week, we're unpacking the Anthropic lawsuit that's got everyone talking - and we accidentally recreate 1984 in the process (oops!). What we discovered: When we asked Claude to rewrite Orwell's classic in a modern context, things got... uncomfortably derivative. Are AI companies walking a legal tightrop...

Join Will and Josh for a candid conversation about real AI use cases they've encountered in the wild! From questionable grading practices to grief bots, we're breaking down what's working, what's sketchy, and what needs to be swept under the rug. 🧹 Our Rating System: If it's good, it stays. If it's problematic, we're sweeping it away with our trusty desk brooms! For mo...

Join Josh and Will as they dive deep into the art and science of creating user-friendly Learning Management Systems (LMS). Moving away from their usual AI focus, the hosts share real-world experience from LMS overhauls, discussing everything from user journey mapping to wire-framing techniques. For more on our conversation, check out the episode page ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Want to build your business like we h...

Ready to decode what makes certifications actually worth your time? 🎯Will and Josh dive deep into the certification landscape - from their personal experiences with PMI, Docebo, and academic programs to designing certification systems that actually prove expertise. They're tackling the real question: how do we move beyond simple exams to create meaningful professional development? For more on...

Josh and Will dive deep into one of education's most frustrating features: those "Did you cheat?" checkboxes that appear in every online course. Spoiler alert - they don't work, and we've got better ideas. From beach vacation prep disasters to the philosophy of learning, this episode unpacks why academic integrity checks are fundamentally flawed and explores practical alterna...

We went off-script this week and challenged ourselves to the ultimate AI detection game! Will and Josh threw real and AI-generated images at each other to see who could tell the difference. From suspicious cat photos to perfect-looking drinks, the results might surprise you (and definitely surprised us). Spoiler: AI is getting REALLY good, but humans still have a fighting chance! 🧠✨ For more on...

Join us as we dive deep into AI-powered video production! From discussing the movie "Rubber" (yes, the homicidal tire again!) to exploring how Synthesia is transforming the media production pipeline for L&D and more, this episode is packed with practical insights and live walk-throughs. For more on our conversation, check out the episode page ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Want to build your business lik...

Tired of hour-long meetings that end with zero decisions? We've all been there! In this episode, Will and Josh dive deep into practical frameworks that actually work for making decisions, prioritizing projects, and communicating effectively as a team. From the classic Eisenhower Matrix to Josh's preferred Impact vs. Effort approach, we break down the tools that can transform your team'...

We hit the big 2-0-0! In this milestone episode, we tackle one of the biggest questions in tech: Does using AI make us less intelligent, or are we just getting smarter about what skills to prioritize? From ancient philosopher Plato's concerns about writing to modern fears about cognitive offloading, we explore why every major technological shift faces the same "dumbing down" arguments. Spoiler: We...

Does AI truly create or just generate? 🤔 In this thought-provoking episode, we dive deep into the philosophical debate that's reshaping how we think about artificial intelligence and creativity. Join us as we explore the blurry lines between human creativity and AI generation, share real examples from our e-learning projects. Whether you're curious about the ethics of AI art or need hands...

We've all heard the complaint: "Technology is supposed to make life easier, but it just makes everything more complicated!" Spoiler alert: it's not really the tech's fault. Josh and Will explore why technology feels overwhelming and share practical strategies for successful tech adoption. You'll discover why the "adoption curve" makes everything harder at first,...

In Episode 197, we explore how AI is transforming the once-intimidating world of coding into an accessible playground for everyone. From our MySpace HTML days to now, we demonstrate how AI tools can turn simple conversations into complex web elements—no memorizing endless tags required! Through personal stories and live demos with codepen and Claude AI, we'll show you how to bridge the gap bet...

Ever wondered if your AI tools are telling you the whole truth? 🤔 Join us for a fascinating dive into Anthropic's eye-opening research on AI Chain of Thought! We're unpacking the surprising discovery that AI systems might not always faithfully disclose their reasoning process. Grab your favorite beverage as we explore what this means for our growing relationship with AI tools – can we sti...

In Episode 195, Josh and Will share their journeys teaching students at various levels, from collegiate, Taekwondo, to faculty training, revealing the challenges of traditional educational approaches. They explore how AI transforms learning by analyzing learner data to create personalized experiences, showcasing real applications through multiple experiences. Whether you're tech-savvy or just...