Is AI Making Everything Look the Same? with Amanda Macias
Is AI making everything look the same? Rick and Tisha welcome back Amanda Macias, an instructional coach, 20-year public school educator, and the podcast's first-ever returning guest, for an unscripted conversation about where the human fits when AI can make the flyer, the poster, and the presentation for you.
Tisha shares an AI crisis she's working through in real time. Using AI for productivity and to support her ADHD feels fine, but she gets a "sea of sameness" feeling when it replaces work a human should create. Amanda weighs the promises and perils of AI in schools, and she and Tisha talk about using AI with intention to pass their certification exams. Amanda also explains why creatives will always find a way. The conversation moves from a broken system that can feel joyless by design, to Amanda's question "what are we opting out of so we can opt in?", to body doubling, Jackbox games, and doing public speaking scared. It wraps up with a round of juice box confessionals full of Run-DMC, Rapper's Delight, and jelly bracelets.
Playful and honest, it's a reminder that we have to make room for joy in learning.
00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back
02:05 The Importance of Education and Equity
03:50 Navigating Transitions and Neurodivergence
06:01 Cooking as a Creative Outlet
08:27 Exploring AI's Role in Productivity
11:01 The Ethical Implications of AI
14:50 AI in Advertising and Design
16:59 The Future of AI and Creativity
18:35 Navigating AI in Education
25:14 Personal Experiences with AI Tools
33:22 The Role of Joy in Education
40:39 Mentorship and Community in Learning
43:43 The Power of Body Doubling
47:27 Growth Through Public Speaking
49:08 Embracing Fear in Public Speaking
52:58 Nostalgia and Cultural Connections
57:25 The Joy of Generational Influence
About Amanda Macias
An active 20 year educator, currently serving the community as an instructional coach rooted in public education, where joy, equity, and curiosity drive our transformation. She believes play isn't just for fun—it's a research tool, a strategy, and a radical invitation to reimagine what's possible in our classrooms.
Her practice lives in public schools—grounded in community, shaped by co-creation, and fueled by the question: What if learning felt like an adventure? From Minecraft builds to esports ecosystems and beyond, she partners with educators to co-design hands-on, culturally responsive learning that reflects the brilliance of every learner meeting them where they are to build sustainable pedagogy practices side-by-side.
As a Genesis Member of Ed3DAO, ISTE, PlayMatters, DigitalPromise and EduMatch global education community member, she actively engages with fellow educational learner-leaders, to explore how decentralized systems can help educators shift power, rebuild trust, and co-create sustainable models that honor our students' realities.
Transformation doesn't happen by doing more—it happens when we do differently. Bravely. Playfully. Together.
Follow Amanda Macias on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itsamandamacias
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amandamaciasedu.bsky.social
Other: techtalkradio.com
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