Part 2 picks up with Jeff Walsh, CEO and founder of Sooth, digging into how the platform actually works and why it's built the way it is. Jeff breaks down Sooth's curated, source-diverse approach and reframes the "walled garden" criticism with a memorable analogy: information as food, with Sooth serving as the FDA label. The conversation closes on the episode's core thesis: education needs to build human foundations and independent thinking first, with AI coming only after that groundwork is laid.

Sooth.fyi: the search engine designed for students Curious to learn more or want to get in touch? Reach out to us at rockymountain-research.org

In part 1 of 2 episodes, Jeff Walsh joins us to discuss how AI-powered search is quietly failing the people who need reliable information most. As the CEO and founder of Sooth, the only internet search engine built specifically for students, Jeff shares the reality of Google's move to AI-generated search results and what that means for how students learn. He unpacks the slow erosion of critical thinking as people lose the ability to think and problem-solve without AI assistance. It's a compelling case for why Sooth's curated, human-vetted search index exists.

Sooth.fyi: the search engine designed for students Articles mentioned:

AI Slop - The Atlantic

AI Slop - 404Media

AI Assistance Reduces Persistence and Hurts Independent Performance

Students develop shallower learning from AI summaries vs. reading original sources Curious to learn more or want to get in touch? Reach out to us at rockymountain-research.org

Kimberly Smith of Digital Promise, co-lead of the Center for Learner Pathway Innovations and Executive Director of the League of Innovative Schools, joins the podcast to unpack what actually makes school R&D stick. This discussion covers the six dimensions behind sustainable innovation, why mindsets matter more than tools or systems, and how districts of any size can start small without a big budget or a dedicated research department. Kim also shares a preview of a new self-assessment tool from Digital Promise designed to help districts figure out where they stand today and what to try next.

Curious to learn more or want to get in touch? Reach out to us at rockymountain-research.org