The Real BS About AI

In our Season 1 finale, hosts Bob and Alethea celebrate a full year of diving into the reality of artificial intelligence on campus. Joining them for this special wrap-up is Ted Weisman, PhD, Digital Teaching Manager at UNLV Online. Together, the trio reflects on how the AI culture has shifted over the past year—from a state of pure grappling to intentional structural growth, including the success...

In this episode, Alethea and Bob dive deep into the "various flavors" and layers of AI that exist beyond the standard web chat interface. They discuss the transition from simple chat prompts to more complex consumption models, including institutional credit systems and token-based usage. Bob shares insights on leveraging dedicated desktop applications, local file integrations, and the po...

<p>In this episode, Bob and Alethea sit down with Andre Beasley, Senior Manager of Instructional Design and Course Production at Purdue University, to discuss how major institutions are navigating the "Wild West" of AI. The conversation moves beyond initial concerns over academic integrity to focus on how Purdue is empowering faculty through AI-driven course development. Andre shar...

In this special extended episode, Bob breaks away from the studio to record on location at UNLV’s brand-new Immersive Learning Lab. Joining him is Aundrea Frahm, Director of Immersive Learning, to discuss how VR, AR, and XR are revolutionizing the classroom by providing high-stakes, low-risk environments for students. The episode is divided into three unique segments: first, Bob and Aundrea discus...

In this episode, Bob and co-host Safiyya Bintali sit down with Bridgette Perreault, UNLV’s Accessibility Conformance & Design Specialist, to tackle the critical intersection of AI and digital inclusion. With the April 2026 Title II ADA deadline looming, the conversation focuses on how AI can serve as a powerful assistant in meeting WCAG 2.1 AA standards. Bridgette shares practical advice on us...

In this episode, Alethea and Bob explore the nuances of our "relationships" with AI tools. Moving beyond the "weird" or emotional reliance, they discuss how to treat AI as a powerful, mystical, yet manageable tool—much like training a dragon. The team dives into the practical settings that help customize these interactions, from managing "memory" and context windows to setting firm boundaries for...

In Episode 10 of The Real BS About AI, hosts Bob Soulliere and Alethea Inns look back at the biggest AI developments of 2025 and reflect on how those changes showed up at UNLV. They discuss how AI tools evolved from simple chatbots into integrated workspaces, how personalization and multimodal tools reshaped workflows, and why monetization and partnerships are becoming central to the AI landscape....

In Episode 9 of The Real BS About AI, hosts Bob Soulliere and Alethea Inns take an honest look at AI detection tools and what they mean for academic integrity at UNLV. Drawing from real testing, faculty questions, and student experiences, they explain how AI detectors work, why their results are often inconsistent, and the risks of relying on them for high stakes decisions. The conversation center...

In Episode 8 of The Real BS About AI, hosts Bob Soulliere and Alethea Inns dig into how artificial intelligence is reshaping the workforce, with a focus on its impact on women and highly exposed roles. Drawing from global research and real workplace examples, they discuss why women face higher AI exposure, how that creates both risk and opportunity, and what skills matter most in an AI driven futu...

In Episode 7 of The Real BS About AI, hosts Bob Soulliere and Alethea Inns take a deep look at NotebookLM, Google’s AI powered research assistant. They walk through how to use grounded sources, create interactive audio and video summaries, build mind maps, make flashcards, generate quizzes, and use the tool for both academic work and everyday tasks. This episode shows how NotebookLM can help stude...

In Episode 6 of The Real BS About AI, hosts Bob Soulliere and Alethea Inns take a lighter approach to artificial intelligence, exploring the creative, practical, and fun ways they use AI in everyday life. From using AI for home design, photo restoration, and meal planning to analyzing movies, writing stories, and even tracking contractions on the way to the hospital, this episode reminds us that A...

In Episode 5 of The Real BS About AI, hosts Bob Soulliere and Alethea Inns talk with cybersecurity expert Maxine about how to stay safe online during Cybersecurity Awareness Month. They cover phishing scams, data privacy, AI-driven cyber threats, and how attackers are using tools like ChatGPT to trick users. Maxine also shares practical tips on password management, MFA, and protecting your identit...

In Episode 4 of The Real BS About AI, hosts Bob Soulliere and Alethea Inns talk with UNLV psychology professor Dr. Brian Uldall about bringing AI into the classroom. They cover how students react to AI, the balance between learning and academic honesty, and what the future of teaching might look like as AI keeps evolving. For more information about UNLV IT's The Real BS About AI podcast, visit...

In this episode, Alethea and Bob dive into the most common question they get about AI: What’s the best tool to use? They explore their own experiences with ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and NotebookLM, sharing where each shines (and where it fails). From classroom use to coding projects, they talk about how to match tools with goals, why there’s no single “right” answer, and how experimenting is key. A...

In this episode, Alethea and Bob explore how AI can help improve the way we communicate. From emails to Slack messages, they share how they use tools like ChatGPT to refine tone, clarify intent, and keep their human voice intact. They discuss the importance of starting with your own ideas, using AI to enhance rather than replace your work, and keeping data privacy in mind. It’s all about making yo...

In this first episode, Alethea and Bob kick things off by sharing why they started this podcast and what “The Real B.S. About AI” really means. They talk about their personal paths into the world of AI, what makes AI tools useful or risky, and why these conversations matter at UNLV. It's an open invite to learn, explore, and figure it out together. Produced by Rakitha PereraA UNLV IT Productio...