This episode explores Jeff Utecht’s new book, The Next Turn, and his thinking on AI, leadership, and the changing nature of work. We discuss what schools can learn from this shift, especially around judgment, trust, human responsibility, and what still needs to remain deeply human.

About Jeff Utecht

Jeff Utecht is an educator, consultant, author, and speaker who has spent many years helping schools and leaders think differently about learning and technology. He has worked with more than 75,000 educators around the world and consulted with over 200 school districts.

Jeff’s work focuses on how schools and organisations respond to change, especially with the rise of generative AI. His book Human Still Required is written for school leaders and explores how AI is changing education, while reminding us that trust, judgment, culture, and human connection still matter deeply.

He is also the author of The Next Turn, which looks at how AI and different generations in the workplace are reshaping leadership and the future of work. Through his writing, speaking, and consulting, Jeff helps leaders think carefully about what should remain human in a fast-changing world.

Website: https://www.jeffutecht.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffutecht/  

Resources

• https://nextturnleadership.site/ 
• https://humanstillrequired.com/media/press-kit.html 
• https://pod.shiftingschools.com/ 
• https://www.shiftingschools.com/  

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsedu.com 

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Do a full security audit of your Workspace for free at https://workspaceaudit.com

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

A conversation with Samuel Holston and Kirun Goy of BrainTools Lab and Podcast on simple brain tools for focus, learning, and better decisions at school and at work.

About Kirun Goy

Kirun works at the intersection of leadership, cognitive science, and intentional living. He helps people think more clearly, lead more effectively, and move out of autopilot.

Over the past 14 years, Kirun has delivered more than 1,600 workshops and keynotes for leaders around the world. His work focuses on practical leadership skills such as staying clear under pressure, building emotional intelligence, and learning how to learn.

He is the host of the BrainTools Podcast, which has reached more than 62,000 people in 100 countries. He is also a Senior Leadership Facilitator for Harvard Business Impact, where he supports leaders in large organisations to navigate change with more clarity and intention. He’s also the author of “The Imperfect Learner”.

Whether speaking to a large audience or leading a smaller workshop, Kirun’s style is practical, relatable, and focused on giving people tools they can use straight away.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirungoy/
Website: https://www.kirungoy.com/ 

About Samuel Holston

Samuel Holston works at the intersection of education, technology, and learning.

Sam has worked at the intersection of technology, AI, cognitive science, education and learning for the last decade. He’s run SEL camps reaching thousands of students, delivered cognitive-science based workshops to schools and built learning products used by over 100,000 students and teachers. 

He’s co-host of the BrainTools podcast, where he shares practical neuroscience and helps people understand how their brain works. He is also the co-founder of BrainTools Labs, who created science-backed resources, products and tools to help schools teach the human skill skills AI can’t replace. 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-holston/?skipRedirect=true

About BrainTools Lab

BrainTools Lab is a science-backed educational tools company founded by Kirun Goy and Samuel Holston. Its flagship product, ATL Lab, is designed for IB (International Baccalaureate) schools and helps students develop the Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills - thinking, communication, research, self-management, and social skills - that underpin deep, transferable learning.

What We Do

ATL Skills Lab — A curriculum-aligned programme for MYP schools that teaches, tracks, and develops ATL skills using neuroscience-informed tools and workshops. Designed to give MYP coordinators and teachers a structured, evidence-based way to embed skill development across subjects.

BrainTools at School Podcast — Hosted by Samuel, the podcast explores how cognitive science, AI, and practical pedagogy intersect, with a focus on what this means for teachers, coordinators, and school leaders. Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Key Numbers

• 80,000+ students reached
• 5,000+ teachers trained
• 300+ schools served
• 1,600+ workshops and keynotes delivered (Kirun)
• 62,000+ podcast listeners in 100 countries

• BrainTools Lab: https://www.braintoolslab.com
• Kirun Goy: https://www.kirungoy.com
• BrainTools at School Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/braintools-at-schools/id1815817672
• Samuel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samuel-holston/
• Kirun on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirungoy/
• BrainTools Lab on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/braintools-lab/posts/?feedView=all

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsedu.com 

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Do a full security audit of your Workspace for free at https://workspaceaudit.com

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

A conversation with Brooke Fezler, M.A. in Counseling, Co-Founder and Co-Director of ISCA, on how schools can move from separate wellbeing efforts to a clear, connected system of support.

About Brooke Fezler

Brooke Fezler is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of International School Counselor Association (ISCA) and has spent more than twenty years supporting student well-being in international schools across the world. She has worked at international schools in Indonesia, Argentina, France, Brazil, and Spain. Her work at ISCA focuses on building preventative, schoolwide counseling programs, with a strong emphasis on SEL, life skills, and support systems for students, teachers, and families. Brooke is also the co-developer and co-researcher of the International Model for School Counseling Programs, published in 2011 and 2022.

Based in Barcelona, Brooke continues to support international school counselors and educators through training, consulting, teaching, writing, and speaking.

Brooke Fezler on Social Media

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-fezler-235058a1/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/international-school-counselor-association 

Resources

Website: https://iscainfo.com/ 
ISCA Model: https://iscainfo.com/the-model/ 
ISCA Student Standards: https://iscainfo.com/student-standards/ 
Learning Progression: https://iscainfo.com/learning-progression/ 
SEL Toolkit: https://iscainfo.com/sel-toolkit/ 
ISCA Blogs: https://iscainfo.com/blogs/ 
https://iscainfo.com/professional-ethical-standards/ 

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsedu.com 

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Do a full security audit of your Workspace for free at https://workspaceaudit.com

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

A conversation with Timothy Cook (Director, The Cognitive Privacy Project & Connected Classroom | Psychology Today Columnist, The Algorithmic Mind) on exploiting how AI may be changing the way children think, learn, and grow.

About Timothy Cook

Timothy Cook, M.Ed., is an international educator, AI researcher, and Director of the Cognitive Privacy Project. With more than a decade of teaching experience across four countries, he studies how AI and algorithmic systems are reshaping children’s thinking, learning, identity, and development. Timothy is also the founder of Connected Classroom and writes The Algorithmic Mind for Psychology Today, where he explores the impact of AI on cognition, creativity, student agency, and well-being. His current work focuses on cognitive privacy: the idea that children’s attention, judgment, reasoning, motivation, and developing sense of self need protection as AI becomes increasingly embedded in schools and society. In his recent writing, he argues that many young people are already sensing a contradiction: they are told AI may weaken learning, while also being told they must use it to prepare for the future.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-cook-092713138/ 

Resources

connectedclassroom.org
cognitiveprivacyproject.org
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-algorithmic-mind 

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Do a full security audit of your Workspace for free at https://workspaceaudit.com

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

A conversation with Aylin Erengul Gregg and Ana Arana on supporting multilingual learners without mistaking English fluency for ability.

About Aylin Erengul Gregg

Aylin Erengul Gregg is an English Language Acquisition specialist with a passion for supporting multilingual learners in accessing meaningful and equitable education. Having taught in diverse international school settings, she brings a global perspective to language acquisition, identity, and classroom practice. Her work with students from a wide range of linguistic and cultural backgrounds is grounded in the belief that language learning should affirm rather than assimilate. She is the creator of the LEAVES Approach, which focuses on language, exposure, acquisition, validation, engagement, and scaffolding as a way to support multilingual learners and help educators become more language-aware in their practice. Currently based in Kuala Lumpur, Aylin continues to work with multilingual learners, supporting them to feel seen, capable, and confident as they develop English.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aylin-erengul-gregg-ma-tesol-w-app-ling-10b56915/ 

About Ana Arana

Ana Arana is an advocate for multilingual learners who challenges the assumption that language proficiency equals intelligence. With a Master's from the University of Exeter and over a decade of experience in IB schools, she builds classrooms where students' strengths are recognised, their voices are heard, and their academic potential isn't mistaken for their English fluency. Her approach is collaborative. She works alongside colleagues to ensure language learning is part of everyday learning, not a separate activity. This advocacy extends to every student conversation, team meeting, and classroom decision. Her driving motivation is simple: to help multilingual learners build confidence, fully access the curriculum, and thrive academically and personally.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/msanaarana/ 

Resources

https://www.leaveseal.com/

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Do a full security audit of your Workspace for free at https://workspaceaudit.com

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

From digital assessment to systems transformation, what's changing, and what it matters.

About Dr. Jenny Gillett

Dr. Jenny Gillett is a Senior Expert in the International Baccalaureate’s Education Innovation team, based in The Hague. She has worked with the IB for more than 15 years across curriculum and assessment, including leading reviews of the Diploma Programme philosophy, history, global politics and Theory of Knowledge. Her work has included curriculum development, assessment design, and supporting wider developments across IB programmes.

Before joining the IB, Jennifer taught at Oakham School and Bedford School in the UK. She brings a strong mix of classroom experience, curriculum leadership, and assessment expertise, making her well placed to discuss how assessment, curriculum, and international education are evolving.

Dr. Jenny Gillett on Social Media

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-gillett-87a19b22/ 

Resources

https://ibo.org/
https://www.ibo.org/programmes/collaborative-review-of-the-dp-and-cp/systems-transformation/ 
https://www.ibo.org/programmes/collaborative-review-of-the-dp-and-cp/
https://www.mulgrave.com/senior-schoolgrades-10-12/ib-systems-transformation 

John Mikton on Social Media

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Do a full security audit of your Workspace for free at https://workspaceaudit.com

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

Supporting gifted students with care and clarity.

About Dr. Michael Cascianelli

Dr Michael Cascianelli is Head of Secondary Years, Diploma Programme at the International Baccalaureate, and a University of Cambridge-trained researcher, school leader, and author specialising in Gifted Education. His doctoral research pioneered the first implementation of a Schoolwide Enrichment Model in Italy, translating Renzulli's scholarship into a bilingual international school context and establishing a replicable framework for gifted provision across cultures. 

He is co-author of Understanding Giftedness: A Guide for Parents and Educators (Routledge), a practitioner-focused resource equipping educators and families with evidence-based strategies for identifying and nurturing high-potential learners. With leadership experience spanning schools in Europe, Asia, and the United States, Dr Cascianelli is a passionate advocate for systemic, research-informed approaches to talent development in international education. 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcascianelli/   

About Marijin Bergsma

Marijn Bergsma is the founder of BrightPath, an enrichment and gifted education consultancy working with international schools to close the readiness gap, the distance between a child's potential and their capacity to act on it. Having attended international schools across three continents, he knows firsthand what the readiness gap looks like and what it costs. As a father of three gifted kids, he sees it up close every day.

Before BrightPath, Marijn spent fifteen years founding and leading companies across Africa, Asia, and Europe, raising millions in funding and building teams from the ground up. Today he brings that same hands-on, whole-person approach to gifted education, working directly with students as an enrichment class educator in the Netherlands, while supporting school leaders and teachers to close the readiness gap across their schools.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marijn-bergsma/, https://www.linkedin.com/services/page/0a873633a74693a3b5/  

Resources

National Center for Research on Gifted Education
https://ies.ed.gov/use-work/awards/national-center-research-gifted-education-0?ID=4406  

Understanding Giftedness: A guide for parents and educators - 1st Edit
https://www.routledge.com/Understanding-Giftedness-A-guide-for-parents-and-educators/Zanetti-Gualdi-Cascianelli/p/book/9781138321175  

Exploring Giftedness: Implementing and Re-designing a Schoolwide Enrichment Model
https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/items/bcafe684-4f0a-4bda-a94c-debe7b9d9e3f   

Adapting to Giftedness
https://consiliumeducation.com/itm/2026/04/29/adapting-to-giftedness/  

What’s Going on With Gifted Education?
https://today.uconn.edu/2026/01/whats-going-on-with-gifted-education/    

BrightPath Education  
http://www.brightpath.nl  

National Center for Research on Gifted Education 
https://ncrge.uconn.edu/   

John Mikton on Social Media

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Do a full security audit of your Workspace for free at https://workspaceaudit.com

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

What schools must understand now as AI reshapes learning, leadership, and decision-making.

About Corey Layne Crouch

Corey is the Chief Program Officer at AI for Education and a former high school English teacher, a founding public charter school principal, and edtech executive. With over 20 years of experience leading innovation in school design focused on equity and access, she now specializes in helping educational institutions strategically and responsibly integrate generative AI.

As a strategy leader and practitioner, Corey has partnered with institutions worldwide ranging from independent international schools and large public districts to colleges, universities, and education nonprofits to navigate the complex landscape of generative AI in education. She provides strategic consulting on AI policy and adoption roadmap development, grounding her work in the realities of competing institutional priorities and the fast-paced evolution of emerging technologies. A frequent keynote speaker, panelist, and workshop presenter, Corey addresses both the transformative opportunities and critical risks AI presents. Through engaging and provocative professional learning experiences, she equips leaders, educators, and students with AI literacy leading to safe, ethical and effective use.

She holds an MBA from Rice University and a BA from Rowan University.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corey-crouch/ 

Resources

https://www.aiforeducation.io/ 
https://www.aiforeducation.io/the-see-framework-for-generative-ai-literacy 
https://www.aiforeducation.io/ai-course 
https://www.aiforeducation.io/ai-literacy-training 

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Do a full security audit of your Workspace for free at https://workspaceaudit.com

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

A balanced conversation on smarter workflows, human judgment, and what comes next.

About Adam Morris

Adam Morris is the Product Director, Integrations at Faria Education Group, where he leads a development team for ManageBac and OpenApply. With experience as a teacher, school leader, technology director, and software engineer, he brings a practical, school-centred approach to solving challenges in international education.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-morris-08905a20/  
Website: https://mistermorris.com  

About William Faure

William Faure is the Founder of Resonant Information Systems, a firm dedicated to bridging the gap between heterogeneous systems and tackling the real-world complexities of modern education. Whether architecting granular tools or enterprise-scale platforms, he strives to ensure that administrative systems support - rather than hinder - the core mission of teaching and learning while elevating the technological status quo. He blends deep technical proficiency as a Senior Software Engineer with a no-nonsense understanding of institutional operations, forged through two decades of evolution as a mathematics teacher, school leader, and former CIO of Taipei European School. 

Resources

https://guide.fariaedu.com/leading-technology-change   
https://faria.org/  
https://resonant.tw/  

John Mikton on Social Media

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Do a full security audit of your Workspace for free at https://workspaceaudit.com

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

How teachers and students are using AI at school and beyond.

About John Dolman

John Dolman is a Media Studies teacher at Ponteland Community High School. He holds an MEd in Educational Leadership and Practitioner Enquiry and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from Newcastle University.

He has worked in schools in the UK, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates, teaching English and Media and holding leadership roles including Head of Languages and Cultures and Raising Achievement Deputy. His responsibilities have included curriculum development, teacher training and mentoring, data analysis, and performance management.

He is interested in using AI and generative AI in practical ways to support teaching and learning. Outside of work, he enjoys the outdoors, practises martial arts, and cares about the environment and his local community.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-dolman-3836b8251/ 

Resources

https://theaienglishteacher.wordpress.com/ 
https://activelyintelligent.org/about

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Do a full security audit of your Workspace for free at https://workspaceaudit.com

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial

How hidden AI recommendations shape our decisions and identity.

About Prof. James Brusseau, PhD

James Brusseau, PhD is a Professor of Philosophy at Pace University in New York City, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate students. He has taught philosophy for more than 14 years in Mexico, Europe, and the United States, including at California State University–Fullerton before joining Pace in 2008. His teaching specialties include continental philosophy, the history of philosophy, and ethics. He is the author of seven books on philosophy and ethics, including Dignity, Pleasures, Vulgarity (2017), Business Ethics Workshop (2011), and Decadence of the French Nietzsche (2004).

In recent years, his work has focused on AI ethics, especially transparency and the “black box” problem in algorithmic decision-making. He studies how recommendation systems shape what we see and choose, and what that means for fairness, privacy, freedom, authenticity, and human creativity.

Prof. James Brusseau, PhD on Social Media

https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-brusseau/

https://online.pace.edu/undergraduate-programs/bs-professional-communication-studies/faculty/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://philpeople.org/profiles/james-brusseau

Resources

The Dilemma Between Euphoria and Freedom in Recommendation Algorithms
https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.11465

The AI Human Condition is a Dilemma between Authenticity and Freedom
https://philarchive.org/rec/BRUTAH-4

Ethics of identity in the time of big data
https://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/9624
https://philarchive.org/rec/BRUITD-2
Introduction to Data Ethics

AI Human Impact: Toward a Model for Ethical Investing in AI-Intensive Companies
https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.07703

John Mikton on Social Media
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmikton/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmikton
Web: beyonddigital.org

Dan Taylor on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/appsevents 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/appdkt 
Web: www.appsevents.com

Listen on: iTunes / Podbean / Stitcher / Spotify / YouTube

Do a full security audit of your Workspace for free at https://workspaceaudit.com

Would you like to have a free 1 month trial of the new Google Workspace Plus (formerly G Suite Enterprise for Education)? Just fill out this form and we’ll get you set up bit.ly/GSEFE-Trial