What happens when a centuries-old set of values meets one of the most disruptive technologies of our time? In this episode, we slow down the AI conversation with John Sharon, Assistant Head for Teaching and Learning at Carolina Friends School. With over 34 years in education, John has seen fads come and go and knows the importance of discernment.

Grounded in the Quaker testimonies of simplicity, integrity, environmental stewardship, and the belief that truth is continually revealed, John offers a deeply reflective approach to integrating AI in schools. We explore:

• Why AI in education reminds him of the early laptop push from Microsoft

• The balance between innovation and caution by keeping “one foot on the brake and one on the accelerator”

• How Quaker values prompt unique ethical questions about AI’s environmental impact and its effects on human relationships in learning communities

• Examples of how teachers and students are experimenting with AI while protecting privacy and nurturing critical thinking

Whether you’re a school leader, classroom teacher, or simply curious about AI’s role in shaping young minds, this conversation offers a fresh, values-driven perspective. John’s central reminder: AI should remain a tool for learning, not the learning itself.

If you want to explore how to bring the same balance and intentionality into your organization, visit kinwise.org/programs to learn more about our hands-on professional development for schools, nonprofits, and mission-driven businesses

• Break-the-Ice Questions – Three questions that instantly surface student misconceptions (and enthusiasm) about AI.
• Fake Fish, Real Ethics – Using deepfake trout to spark serious debate on consent, bias, and digital citizenship.
• Trailblazers 2.0 – What’s inside the 10-week fellowship (virtual sessions, $875 stipend, national recognition) and why rural teachers asked for it.

In this episode, Guide and curriculum designer Ben Gordon Sniffen pulls back the curtain on Alpha School’s two-hour learning model, where an AI tutor condenses core academics into a focused morning block and frees guides for passion-driven life-skills workshops in the afternoon.

Listen in as Ben explains:

• How 120 minutes of adaptive learning hits each child’s “productive-struggle” zone.

• The role of guides as emotional & motivational coaches, and why more AI means more adults

• Real-world workshop wins, from third-graders pitching businesses to middle-schoolers coding robot

• Teaching AI literacy: getting students to critique ChatGPT drafts instead of outsourcing thinking

• A hopeful vision for the future of work where human mentorship matters more

I hope you enjoyed hearing Ben Gordon Sniffen’s perspective on Alpha’s two-hour learning model and student-driven life-skills workshops. If you’re curious to see the model in action, or to follow Ben’s ongoing work at the intersection of AI and education, here are a few easy ways to connect:

• Alpha School Official Website – Explore the two-hour learning structure, outcomes data, and campus locations. Visit the website: alpha.school
• Connect with Ben on LinkedIn – Follow Ben’s reflections on AI-powered tutoring, curriculum design, and student coaching. Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/benjamin-gordon-sniffen-423a91229
• 2-Hour Learning Model Overview – Watch a short explainer and see sample schedules that condense core academics into a focused morning block. Read the overview: alpha.school/2-hour-learning
• Adaptive-Learning Apps Mentioned – Khan Academy, IXL, Newsela, and EGUMPP power personalized practice across subjects. Explore the apps: khanacademy.org | ixl.com | newsela.com | egumpp.com
• AI Research Tools – Try ChatGPT or Perplexity AI for cited summaries, brainstorming, and deeper dives into any topic. Start exploring openai.com/chatgpt | perplexity.ai

For more support from our team in implementing human-centered AI strategy, go to kinwise.org to explore our pilot program and custom resources.

Kinwise Conversations is your weekly AI learning lab for teachers, principals, and district leaders. In Season 2 we dive into real classroom pilots, district-wide roll-outs, and cross-sector insights that show exactly how AI can boost student learning without losing the human heart of education. 🎙 What to expect

• Classroom and district innovators already pushing AI to its limits • Warm, grounded conversations about equity, ethics, and practical wins • Cross-sector voices that connect today’s lessons to tomorrow’s jobs 🎙 Who's in the trailer • Season 1, Episode 3: Vera Cubero, NCDPI Emerging Technologies Consultant • Season 1, Episode 7: Tanzania Brown, Instructional Designer • Season 2, Episode 1: Ben Gordon Sniffen, Guide at Alpha • Season 2, Episode 4: Cary Wright, AI K-12 Coach at T.E.A.C.H

Season 2 launches Wednesday, July 30. Follow Kinwise Conversations wherever you get your podcasts, then explore hands-on educator PD, Communities of Practice, and AI Leadership Labs at kinwise.org. Questions? Email lydia@kinwise.org, and bring a colleague along for the ride.

Brand strategist Jim Cobb, founder of The Bloodhound Group and a creative force behind MasterCard’s legendary “Priceless” campaign, joins host Lydia Kumar to unpack how neuroscience, emotion, and generative AI can support branding. Drawing on four decades of advertising experience, Jim explains why 90 percent of purchase decisions start in the unconscious mind, how skin-response testing saved the priceless concept, and where today’s AI tools are already streamlining everything from HR talent matching to real-time sports coaching.

• Emotion first, logic later. Neuroscience shows people buy on feeling and justify with facts, creative that sparks relevance wins.

• Data still rules. Clean, well-labeled datasets are the difference between powerful AI insights and garbage output.

• Scale thoughtfully. Use AI to serve more clients without sacrificing quality or brand trust.

• Jim Cobb on LinkedIn → LinkedIn

• The Bloodhound Group → Bloodhound Group

• MasterCard “Priceless” case study → The Brand Hopper

• Kinwise Pilot Program → https://kinwise.org/pilot (learn how to build a human-centered AI strategy)

Welcome to Kinwise Conversations! In this episode, I’m honored to chat with Dr. Alison Harris Welcher, strategic leader, educator, and executive life coach, about nurturing human potential, leading with authenticity, and integrating AI thoughtfully into our work and lives.

Dive into this inspiring conversation as Alison reveals:

• The thread of human potential that connects her journey from high-school English teacher to principal, Public Impact leader, and Chief Strategy Officer at Chiefs for Change.

• “Slow down to speed up,” her go-to leadership mantra for pausing, reflecting, and finding richer answers.

• Real-world AI use cases—from polishing professional emails with ChatGPT to crafting personalized meal plans—without sacrificing her personal touch.

• How to resist the perfectionism trap and embrace your “rough edges” in high-visibility roles.

• A hopeful five-year vision where AI-informed leaders know when to say “no” to technology and lean into human connection.

Connect with Dr. Alison Harris Welcher

• Chiefs for Change (Official Website): https://chiefsforchange.org/

• THRIVE Life Coaching: https://thrivelifecoaching.co/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drahwelcher/

Learn more & stay connected

• Explore our pilot programs for leadership teams and educators at kinwise.org/pilot

• Find full transcripts and resources for this episode: www.kinwise.org/podcast

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, or share this episode if you found value in our conversation—it truly helps other thoughtful listeners find us!

Is AI simply a productivity hack or can it supercharge genuine creativity?

John “JK” Kornegay, a digital-marketing strategist by day and a sought-after event photographer by night, joins host Lydia Kumar to reveal how he lets AI handle the first 80 % of the work so his human expertise can perfect the last 20 %. From building a mini “team” of custom GPTs to forecasting a future of hyper-personalized apps, JK shares practical tactics every marketer and creative can adopt today.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The 80/20 Workflow: Why offloading repetitive tasks to AI frees up cognitive space for strategic thinking and artistry.

• Prompting & Cross-Checking: How JK bounces tasks between ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Perplexity to sharpen results.

• Avoiding Scope Creep: Strategies for balancing new productivity gains with realistic client expectations (and preventing burnout).

• Bespoke Futures: Why the next wave of marketing is ultra-niche, one-to-one experiences, and how to prepare now.

This episode is for marketers, educators, and leaders who want to embrace AI without losing the human touch that truly differentiates their work.