Storytelling is a leadership superpower—but too often, we don’t use it well. In this episode, Michael and Vernon dive into why stories matter, especially in leadership roles where influence matters more than control.

They share three of the essential story types every leader should have in their toolbox—value, founder, and purpose stories—inspired by Kindra Hall’s book Stories That Stick. You’ll hear: How Kindra Hall’s Normal–Explosion–New Normal model compares to the Hero’s Journey and the MACRO PPP (Problem–Path–Payoff) structure.

Real leadership stories told live on the podcast—with feedback from AI voices Sarah and Imogene!

Tips on how to craft your own leadership stories that connect with your team and inspire meaningful change. Whether you're a mid-level manager or a senior leader, this episode will challenge you to reflect, connect, and tell your own story better.

🎙️ Storytelling Challenge: This week, record a short version of one of your own leadership stories—value, founder, or purpose. Then share it with a colleague, your team, or even a voice memo to yourself. Not sure how to begin? Visit engagedbydesign.com to download our free storytelling prompts or reach out for a coaching session.

In this second episode of our two-part series, Michael and Vernon explore what happens after unbundling: how faculty and other academic professionals are adapting, defending, and rebundling their roles in an AI-powered world. This episode outlines four irreducibly human responsibilities, three common defense strategies of professions under threat, and four emerging faculty archetypes for the AI era. Whether you're a professor, designer, advisor, or leader, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and offer a hopeful path forward. Stick around for a set of reflection questions you can bring back to your team.

These are the sources mentioned inside the episode’s dialogue as well as some helpful links.

• Smith, V. C. (2008). The Unbundling and Rebundling of the Faculty Role in E-Learning Community College Courses. University of Arizona dissertation. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/194795

• Associated Press (2023). “Automated Earnings Stories Multiply.” https://www.ap.org/the-definitive-source/speaker-spotlights/applying-automation-in-the-newsroom/

• American Federation of Teachers (2024). “Resolution on Artificial Intelligence.” https://www.aft.org/resolution/artificial-intelligence

• American Federation of Teachers (2024). “AFT Launches National Academy for AI in Instruction.” https://www.aft.org/press-release/aft-launch-national-academy-ai-instruction-microsoft-openai-anthropic-and-united

• American Association of University Professors (2023). “Artificial Intelligence, Academic Freedom, and the Evolving Debate over Forgery and Truth in the Twenty-First Century.” Journal of Academic Freedom, 15. https://www.aaup.org/JAF15/artificial-intelligence-academic-freedom-and-evolving-debate-over-forgery-and-truth-twenty

• Freidson, E. (2001). Professionalism: The Third Logic. University of Chicago Press. https://books.google.com/books/about/Professionalism_the_Third_Logic.html?id=Tgn3sThG8QEC

• Abbott, A. (1988). The System of Professions. University of Chicago Press. https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/S/bo5965590.html

• World Economic Forum. (2023). The Future of Jobs Report 2023. https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2023

Welcome to Season 2 of the Engaged by Design podcast! In this kickoff episode, Dr. Michael Cottam interviews his co-host Dr. Vernon Smith—this time in the role of featured guest—to explore how artificial intelligence, economic pressures, and platformization are driving the unbundling of professional roles in higher education.

Drawing from Vernon's dissertation research and recent policy shifts, this episode dives deep into what’s happening behind the scenes of your course shell, syllabus, or advising software.

🔍 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What “unbundling” means and how it applies to the faculty role
• Examples from other industries (like restaurants and healthcare) that mirror higher ed’s transformation
• The difference between Craft, Collegial, and Virtual Assembly Line course models
• How AI and automation are accelerating labor and capital substitutions
• What roles and tasks are most likely to remain “bundled”—and which will be offloaded or outsourced

🧠 Reflective Questions:

1. Is your role being unbundled as we speak?
2. Where do you see unbundling happening in your institution or department?
3. What parts of your professional bundle feel irreplaceable—and what could be supported or restructured?

🎧 Mentioned in the Episode:

• Vernon's dissertation on course production models in community college e-learning
• The rise of OPMs (Online Program Managers) and revenue-share outsourcing
• William Baumol’s theory of cost disease and its relevance to education
• Real-world analogies from restaurants, healthcare, and gig-based platforms

🔗 Next Up:

In Episode 2, we’ll explore how to rebundle intentionally—focusing on human-centered leadership, MACRO strategies, and what should never be outsourced in the student experience.

💬 Share your thoughts or questions with us at EngagedByDesign.com and join the conversation on LinkedIn or your favorite podcast platform.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share this episode with colleagues navigating the future of learning and leadership!