Smarter Campus Podcast

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...

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-gen...

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 ed...

This week, I sat down with Dr. Betty Chandy , Director of AI & Technology Enhanced Learning Initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education — and this conversation is a masterclass in what real AI integration should look like. Betty’s journey is incredible.  She grew up in classrooms without even chalkboards… and now leads AI literacy and professional development i...

In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast , host Zach Kinzler is joined by Austin Levinson , an award-winning international educator with over two decades of teaching experience and a deep commitment to rethinking how we teach critical thinking in the age of AI. From dissecting a Gulf War headline to launching programs that merge design thinking, ethics, and artificial intelligence, Austin’s a...

n this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast , host Zach Kinzler talks with Luca Caniato , an 18-year-old freshman at CU Boulder studying finance and management information systems — and already an AI consultant and fly-fishing guide. Luca’s story is a perfect example of what happens when curiosity meets opportunity. From using AI to study, to teaching peers, to landing early consulting work, he s...

In this Smarter Campus Podcast episode, host Zach Kinzler sits down with Scott Carr , a veteran educator with over 30 years of experience transforming classrooms for students who’ve often been left behind by traditional systems. Scott shares his journey from being a disengaged student himself to spending two decades teaching special education in Milwaukee’s inner city—and now helping districts rei...

In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast , Zach sits down with Galen Ziegler , Assistant Professor of Nursing at Harford Community College, to explore how AI is quietly revolutionizing the world of nursing education. From limited clinical access to overworked faculty, Galen paints a clear picture of the challenges today’s nursing programs face—and how thoughtfully implemented AI tools can bri...

In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast , host Zach Kinzler talks with Mike Kentz , founder of Zentex Educational Advisors and former middle and high school teacher. Mike’s story is one that every educator should hear: he went from actively avoiding AI to building an entire company around helping teachers not just adopt AI—but thrive with it. This isn’t just a conversation about tools—it’s a...

In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast , host Zach Kinzler sits down with Michael Curtin , Innovation Coordinator and Adjunct Faculty in Informatics at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Michael’s path is anything but ordinary — moving between the worlds of video game development and academia , he’s built a rare perspective on how to bridge creativity, technology, and education. T...

What happens when you hand powerful AI tools to a curious 7th grader?  You get insights that most adults overlook. In this special episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast , host Zach Kinzler sits down with Dawson Brown , a 7th-grade student from Sacajawea Middle School in Bozeman, Montana. Dawson shares his unique perspective on AI in education—and trust us, he’s got a lot to teach us. Topics covere...

In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast , Zach Kinzler sits down with Matt Biggins , Managing Director of the Wolverine Fund at Utah Valley University and a dynamic force in student-run venture capital. From decathlete to venture capitalist, Matt’s unorthodox journey shapes a unique perspective on AI, education, and the future of work. Together, Zach and Matt explore: How Matt uses ChatGPT a...

This special edition of the Smarter Campus Podcast flips the mic. In this crossover episode, Sean Amaso—student creative, AI skeptic, and host of the brand-new podcast The Other Side —takes the interviewer seat for his show’s very first episode... and his first guest is none other than Smarter Campus host, Zach Kinzler. Together, Sean and Zach dive deep into: Why balance—not blind adoption—matters...

In this episode of The Smarter Campus Podcast , host Zach Kinzler sits down with Austin French , Director of Career Pathways and Employer Engagement at the University of Maine Farmington and co-host of the More Than the Outdoors podcast. Austin brings a fresh and relatable perspective to AI integration—not as an expert, but as a “casual user” who had to master AI tools out of necessity. Drawing fr...

In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast , I sit down with Chris Agnew — ed-tech entrepreneur, experiential learning evangelist, and the driving force behind Stanford’s Generative AI for Education Hub . Chris shares his unconventional journey into AI, from wilderness expeditions and lab schools to leading Teton Science Schools and working in venture-backed edtech during the release of ChatGPT...

In Episode 27 of The Smarter Campus Podcast , Zach Kinzler is joined by Princeton University student Samantha Reeves for a deep dive into the evolution of AI on campus—from cautious curiosity to thoughtful critique. 🔥 In this episode, we explore: Samantha’s journey from a freshman seminar on digital truth to becoming an active voice in AI ethics Why students are eager for formal guidance on AI us...

In Episode 26 of The Smarter Campus Podcast , we sit down with Dr. Anzar Khaliq , Chief Learning Officer and an outspoken advocate for reimagining education—entirely from scratch. With a background that blends physics, improvisational theatre, radio hosting, and educational leadership, Dr. Khaliq shares powerful insights into what teaching should look like in the age of AI. What We Discuss: Why ea...

In Episode 25 of the Smarter Campus Podcast , host Zach Kinzler sits down with award-winning educator and AI literacy pioneer Tina Austin to explore what it means to navigate , not master , the age of AI in education. In this episode: Tina shares her journey from biomedical AI research to teaching humanities How she created the “Unblooom Method” to reimagine Bloom’s Taxonomy for AI-integrated lear...

In Episode 24 of the Smarter Campus Podcast , host Zach Kinzler is joined by EdTech founder and former educator Gary Hensley to explore how AI can solve real problems in education—and what’s holding us back. Key highlights from the episode: Gary’s journey from assistant principal to three-time EdTech founder How early AI tools were used to predict and prevent student dropouts What the launch of Ch...

In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast , host Zach Kinzler is joined by Professor Anat Lior , Assistant Professor at Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law, for a deep dive into the rapidly evolving intersection of AI, law, and education . Professor Lior shares her journey from researching cyberbullying to becoming a leading voice on AI policy and liability. Together, they explor...

In this episode of Smarter Campus , Zach Kinzler sits down with Marie Lynn, Senior Instructional Designer at the University of Louisville, to unpack how AI is reshaping faculty support and instructional design. With a teaching background that spans preschool to higher ed, Marie brings a grounded and practical perspective to AI integration—emphasizing that it’s not about being tech-savvy but about...

In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast , host Zach Kinzler sits down with Daiju Hoshino, a Gen AI Evangelist and Chair of the Biology Department at Tarrant County College. With over 15 years of teaching experience in Japan and the U.S., Hoshino brings a global perspective to the conversation around AI in education. The episode explores Hoshino’s journey through Japan’s rigorous educational...

In Episode 20 of the Smarter Campus Podcast , host Zach Kinzler sits down with Bobby Hodgkinson , a teaching professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, whose work spans unmanned vehicles, hurricane-sensor robotics, and now—AI-powered education. What starts as a story about wind tunnels and biologically-inspired propulsion systems quickly evolves into a conversation a...

In this episode of the Smarter Campus Podcast , host Zach Kinzler sits down with Dr. Cynthia Alby , a professor of Teacher Education at Georgia College & State University and co-author of Learning That Matters: A Field Guide to Course Design for Transformative Education . Dr. Alby shares her inspiring vision to “re-enchant learning” —making education more engaging, human, and transformative. W...

In Episode 18 of Smarter Campus , host Zach Kinzler sits down with Dr. Steven Pane—professor, concert pianist, and pioneer of interdisciplinary teaching at the University of Maine at Farmington—to explore how AI is reshaping arts and humanities education. They discuss: Prompting as musicianship: translating musical practice into crafting effective AI prompts The value of pedagogical friction: why...