Kinwise Conversations

11. More AI, More Humanity: Ben Gordon Sniffen on the Alpha School Model

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
Connect and Resources
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. 

10. Priceless Branding: Neuroscience, Emotion & AI with Jim Cobb

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. 
Key Takeaways
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.
Resources & Links
Jim Cobb on LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/hmpjimcobb LinkedIn
The Bloodhound Group → https://www.bloodhoundbranding.com The Bloodhound Group
MasterCard “Priceless” case study → https://thebrandhopper.com/2024/10/05/a-case-study-on-mastercards-priceless-campaign/ The Brand Hopper
Kinwise Pilot Program → https://kinwise.org/pilot (learn how to build a human-centered AI strategy)

9. AI & Human Potential: A Conversation with Dr. Alison Harris Welcher

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!

8. The 80/20 Rule for AI: A Conversation with John ”JK” Kornegay

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.

7: Closing the Gap: Tanzania Brown on AI, Equity, and Student Affirmation

Is AI a tool that can finally close the educational equity gap, or will it only widen the divide?
Tanzania "Taz" Brown, an educator and curriculum designer whose work is deeply rooted in social justice, joins host Lydia Kumar for a crucial conversation about the reality of AI in our schools. Drawing from her experiences in both under-resourced public schools and elite private institutions, Taz offers a powerful perspective on the promises and perils of integrating artificial intelligence into the classroom.
In this episode, you will learn:
From the Ground Up: Hear real-world stories of how teachers are using AI to manage overwhelming caseloads and how students are creatively using it to personalize their own learning.
Beyond the "Right Answer": Discover practical strategies, like error analysis, for shifting the focus from AI-generated solutions to the critical thinking and metacognitive skills students need for the future.
Confronting Bias & Inequity: Tackle the tough questions around AI bias, the digital divide, and why training AI models to be culturally responsive is non-negotiable for affirming all students, especially those on the margins.
A Proactive Path Forward: Get Taz's take on what teachers, schools, and district leaders must prioritize—from foundational teacher training to establishing clear, equitable AI standards—to lead this transformation with intention.
This episode is a must-listen for any educator, parent, or leader who believes in harnessing technology not just for innovation, but for justice, affirmation, and the empowerment of every student.

6: Drafting the Future: Mariah Street on Using AI in Law and Legacy Planning

In this Kinwise Conversation, join host Lydia Kumar as she chats with Mariah Street, an inspiring estate planning attorney blending profound personal empathy with practical AI efficiency. Mariah's powerful journey from personal loss to entrepreneurship reveals how she uses tools like ChatGPT and Zoom AI to streamline her law practice, allowing her to focus on providing compassionate counsel and building her clients' legacies.
Discover:
The powerful personal story that fuels her passion for accessible estate planning.
Practical AI applications for a regulated industry: drafting emails, creating SOPs, and generating marketing plans.
Her "zone of genius" framework for deciding which tasks to automate versus which require a human touch.
The critical ethical guardrails for using AI with confidential client information.
Want to connect with Mariah or explore her work?
Legacy Street Law: https://www.legacystreetlaw.com/
Mariah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariahstreet
Legacy Street Law on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legacystreetlaw
Learn more about our AI pilots at kinwise.org/pilot Find full transcripts and resources at: kinwise.org/podcast

5: The Unstuck Entrepreneur: How Jen Murphy Uses AI to Reclaim Time and Creativity

Welcome to Kinwise Conversations! In this episode, I'm thrilled to chat with Jen Murphy, the entrepreneurial force behind a successful Raleigh, NC wedding planning company. Jen shares her fascinating journey from a decade in social work, grappling with systematic challenges in mental health services, to finding a new path that beautifully blends her deep commitment to community and human connection with her creative and organizational talents.
Dive into this inspiring conversation as Jen reveals:
The surprising ways her social work background (crisis management, conflict resolution) is her secret weapon in the highly personal world of event planning.
How she leverages generative AI (like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gamma AI) to offload "mundane, repetitive, administrative tasks" like reviewing vendor contracts and generating marketing materials.
Practical examples of AI boosting efficiency, from perfecting floor plans for complex family-style dinners to streamlining client communications.
Her insights on embracing new technology without losing that essential personal touch, emphasizing why human connection remains paramount in client-facing industries.
Actionable advice for other business owners and leaders hesitant about AI: "Start with what you know, and grow from there."
Connect with Jen Murphy & Weddings Made To Order:
Weddings Made To Order Official Website: https://weddingsmto.com/
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jentheweddingplanner/
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weddings_made_to_order/
Learn more about our "AI as a Thinking Partner" mini-workshop: www.kinwise.org/miniworkshopsFind full transcripts and resources from this episode at: www.kinwise.org/podcast
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, or share this episode if you found value in our conversation. It makes a huge difference.

4: Beyond Analysis: Dox Brown on AI and Co-Creating Our Human Future

Dox Brown, a strategist, systems designer, and self-described 'epistemic architect,' challenges us to look beyond AI's practical uses to its fundamental impact on language, knowledge, and what it means to be human. Introducing his concept of 'hollisis,' the dynamic, embodied thinking that AI can't replicate, Dox reframes neurodiversity as an evolutionary advantage and offers a roadmap for rethinking education itself. A profound exploration for anyone ready to question the future of learning in an automated world.

3: Redefining Education with AI: Vera Cubero on Project-Based Learning and Human Connection

Vera Cubero, Emerging Technologies Consultant for NC Public Instruction, shares how AI guidelines, project-based learning, and durable-skill portfolios can make classrooms more human, especially in rural and underserved schools. A roadmap for teachers who want safe, student-centered AI adoption.
 

2: What’s Ours to Hold? Travis Packer on AI, Systems, and the Future of Human Work

Systems-thinking consultant Travis Packer joins host Lydia Kumar to ask a defining question: What should AI handle, and what must remain fundamentally human? From change rituals to ethical guardrails, learn how to build organizations that thrive beside intelligent tools.