What Teachers Have to Say
What Teachers Have to Say is a podcast about teaching, AI in education, instructional practice, and teacher identity. Hosted by Jacob Carr and Nathan Collins, it centers real classroom experience, system pressures, and how AI is reshaping learning.
No performative edu‑influencer culture. No toxic positivity. Just honest conversations about what’s actually happening in schools.
What This Podcast Covers
- AI in education and classroom use
- Teaching strategies and instructional design (EduProtocols)
- Teacher burnout and system design
- Student skill development and transfer
- EdTech tools and practical workflows
Who This Podcast Is For
- K–12 teachers
- Instructional coaches and leaders
- Pre‑service teachers
- Educators exploring AI and EdTech
- Anyone tired of surface‑level PD
Who We Are
Jacob (Jake) Carr
EdTech Coach for a County Office of Education, author, and speaker on AI in education. 15+ years across K–12 (grades 1–12) in diverse settings. Brings a philosophical lens, connects classroom practice to systems, and pushes conversations deeper before landing on something usable.
Nathan Collins
High school English teacher, dual‑enrollment instructor, and Personalized Learning Teacher in a rural hybrid model. Grounds the show in current classroom reality, student data, and practical constraints. A measured counterbalance to big ideas.
What We Explore
AI in Education — A structural shift, not a novelty. Learning, assessment, and independence in an AI‑rich world.
Burnout as a System Problem — Not a personal failure. We name the incentives that reward unsustainable work.
Instructional Routines That Work — Repeatable structures that lower planning load and raise thinking, repetition, and collaboration.
Skills That Transfer — Thinking, communication, adaptability. Not just content.
The Format
Long‑Form — Monthly flagship episodes with deep dives, interviews, and debates.
Short‑Form — Field notes, solo reflections, headlines, and listener voicemails between major episodes.
Your Voice Matters
Leave a SpeakPipe voicemail with a question, win, or rant. We feature listener voices in episodes.
Beyond the Podcast
The companion newsletter goes deeper: AI in education, teaching strategies, and teacher identity. Free, weekly, and practical.
FAQ
What is it about? Teaching, AI in education, and real classroom conditions.
Who hosts it? Jacob Carr and Nathan Collins.
Is it AI‑focused? Yes, always tied to real practice.
How often? Monthly flagship + shorter episodes between.
Where to listen? Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms.
Subscribe and Follow
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Newsletter
Stay curious. Keep thinking. Keep showing up.
What Teachers Have to Say
How Schools Should Be Using AI (But Most Aren’t)
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
In this conversation, Jake, and guest call-in Maria, cover the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, focusing on how it can enhance teaching and learning. He explores the distinction between automation and augmentation, practical strategies for teachers to implement AI, and the importance of fostering a creative culture around AI usage in schools. The discussion emphasizes the need for clear AI philosophies, teacher training, and transparency in AI adoption to ensure it enriches the educational experience rather than detracting from it.
Got a question or comment? Leave us a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/whatteachershavetosay
Takeaways
AI can help with mundane tasks in the classroom.
The focus should be on enhancing teaching, not replacing it.
Teachers should use AI to lighten their cognitive load.
Students need to learn to challenge AI, not just use it passively.
Building relationships is something AI cannot do.
A clear AI philosophy is essential for schools.
Investing in teacher training is crucial before student use.
Transparency in AI usage fosters a better learning environment.
AI should be used for creativity, not compliance.
AI can make education more enriching, not just efficient.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to AI in Education
01:27 Effective AI Implementation Strategies
01:54 The Rise of AI in Education
03:06 AI as Augmentation, Not Automation
04:26 Practical AI Roadmap for Teachers
06:43 District-Level AI Implementation Strategies
09:46 Fostering a Creative Culture with AI
Got a question? We'd love to answer it! Leave us a voicemail on SpeakPipe: https://www.speakpipe.com/whatteachershavetosay
Want more EduProtocols from Jake? Check out his book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and more.
Podcasts we love
Check out these other fine podcasts recommended by us, not an algorithm.
My EdTech Life
My EdTech Life
Rebel Teacher Alliance
Rebel Teacher Alliance
Deep Questions with Cal Newport
Cal Newport
