In which Dan chats with Benjamin Riley, founder of Cognitive Resonance, an organization dedicated to replacing AI hype with an understanding of how generative AI works using cognitive science. Ben's understanding of human cognition has him disturbed to see how some in education are running into the arms of big tech.

As always, I welcome comments and questions on Instagram @_dankearney_

Mentioned in the show:

Cognitive Resonance, founded by Ben Riley
Gary Marcus on Substack
8 Things To Know About Large Language Models by Sam Bowman
Ex Machina, a film by Alex Garland
The Story of My Life by Helen Keller

Music by Soyb

In which Dan wonders if 2026 could be the year we really take students' interests in the wider world seriously. We’re living with creeping authoritarianism, AI disruption, climate change, social fragmentation, and a youth mental health crisis. Students feel it as much as the adults, but I worry that we’re not doing nearly enough to take on these issues in a way that matters to young people. If 2026 can be anything, maybe it's a portal into schools getting serious about how students get to interact with the world when they’re at school.

As always, I welcome comments and questions on Instagram @_dankearney_

In which Dan chats with Eric Hudson, an educator and facilitator who's spent a lot time thinking and talking about AI in schools. Dan and Eric talk about why AI is so polarizing, the student-teacher divide on this new technology, and how schools can preserve critical thinking while not running in fear of AI.

As always, I welcome comments and questions on Instagram @_dankearney_

Mentioned in the show:

School Leaders Innovation Forum: Los Angeles presented by Toddle

Learning on Purpose a Substack by Eric Hudson

Nine AI Messages for Students by Eric Hudson

The Augmented Educator a Substack by Michael Wagner

Verified: How to Think Straight, Get Duped Less, and Make Better Decisions about What to Believe Online by Mike Caulfield and Sam Wineburg

What can you do as an educator? A post and graphic by Vera Cubero

Music by Pierce Murphy