Podcast
UnDisrupted with Adam & Carl
Hosted by Dr. Adam Phyal, Future Ready Schools, Adam Phyall, Carl Hooker · EN
Future Ready tech leaders are used to handling all sorts of disruptions, but the global pandemic of 2020 has created a new set of challenges that will take our collective minds to tackle. Brought to you by Dr. Adam Phyall and Carl Hooker, UnDisrupted, a Future Ready Schools podcast for school and district technology leaders, will breakdown many of the challenges facing district-level leaders today. Tune in to listen to some of the nation’s top technology leaders and how they discuss how they are finding opportunities in the midst of uncertainty.
12episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Becoming AI Warriors
Apr 1500:33:40Tap to summarizeRemember that snack you loved as a kid… but tried as an adult and immediately questioned your life choices? Yeah… that’s where this episode kicks off. But don’t get it twisted… what starts as Kool-Aid and Twinkies quickly turns into a real conversation about something way bigger: how we’re showing up for AI in schools right now. Joining the crew is Winston Roberts, and he doesn’t just talk about AI… he puts people in it. From turning hesitant educators into songwriters in 15 minutes to breaking down the “AI = cheating” mindset, this episode challenges what we think learning should look like in this moment. Because here’s the real question: Are we preparing students for the world they’re walking into… or holding them back because we’re still trying to figure it out ourselves? It’s funny. It’s real. And it might just shift how you think about teaching in the age of AI. Connect with us: Future Ready Schools Website: futureready.org Twitter: @FutureReady, @AskAdam3, @MrHooker, @The_UnDisruptED Instagram: @FutureReadySchools, @APhyall, @HookerTech, @The_UnDisruptED Facebook: @FutureReadySchools Future Ready Schools is a registered trademark of All4Ed, located in Washington, D.C. #FutureReady
Transcribe →Not All Screen Time is Created Equal
Apr 800:36:00Tap to summarizeThis episode opens the only way Undisrupted knows how… with a story that somehow involves losing the tip of a tongue and immediately spirals into a full-blown, life-or-death condiment debate. (Yes, desert island rules apply. Choose wisely.) But once the laughs settle in, the conversation with Suzan Brandt takes a turn into something deeper and way more meaningful. This episode is about leadership that actually connects. The kind that doesn’t just check boxes but shows up, builds trust, and moves people forward. Suzan brings a perspective that feels equal parts practical and real, the kind of insight you can take back to your team tomorrow and actually use. It’s one of those episodes where you come for the laughs… and leave with something that sticks. And fair warning… you might rethink your condiment strategy for life Connect with us: Future Ready Schools Website: futureready.org Twitter: @FutureReady, @AskAdam3, @MrHooker, @The_UnDisruptED Instagram: @FutureReadySchools, @APhyall, @HookerTech, @The_UnDisruptED Facebook: @FutureReadySchools Future Ready Schools is a registered trademark of All4Ed, located in Washington, D.C. #FutureReady
Transcribe →I Got FOMO, But Curriculum Has the Keys
Apr 100:33:18Tap to summarizeConnect with us: Future Ready Schools Website: futureready.org Twitter: @FutureReady, @AskAdam3, @MrHooker, @The_UnDisruptED Instagram: @FutureReadySchools, @APhyall, @HookerTech, @The_UnDisruptED Facebook: @FutureReadySchools Future Ready Schools is a registered trademark of All4Ed, located in Washington, D.C. #FutureReady
Transcribe →Impactful Cyber Academy Insights
Mar 2500:19:38Tap to summarizeWhat do The Bodyguard, Waiting to Exhale, Above the Rim, virtual learning, and AI have in common? Apparently... this episode. This conversation starts with a soundtrack showdown and quickly turns into something bigger: a sharp, honest look at what it means to lead learning when “school” no longer has to mean four walls, fluorescent lights, and somebody sprinting down a hallway with one shoe half on. In this episode, Ahoba Arthur of Georgia Cyber Academy brings a real-world perspective on virtual education, student engagement, family connection, and the messy, necessary evolution of teaching in a digital world. From on-camera policies and family engagement liaisons to AI, career pathways, and building human connections through screens, this conversation goes way beyond the usual talking points. It’s thoughtful. It’s practical. It’s real. And yes, it also confirms that some soundtracks were, in fact, elite. This one is for the educators, leaders, and big-picture thinkers trying to build learning environments that actually fit the world students are living in now. Connect with us: Future Ready Schools Website: futureready.org Twitter: @FutureReady, @AskAdam3, @MrHooker, @The_UnDisruptED Instagram: @FutureReadySchools, @APhyall, @HookerTech, @The_UnDisruptED Facebook: @FutureReadySchools Future Ready Schools is a registered trademark of All4Ed, located in Washington, D.C. #FutureReady
Transcribe →We Don’t Have To Have It All Figured Out
Mar 1800:28:27Tap to summarizeConnect with us: Future Ready Schools Website: futureready.org Twitter: @FutureReady, @AskAdam3, @MrHooker, @The_UnDisruptED Instagram: @FutureReadySchools, @APhyall, @HookerTech, @The_UnDisruptED Facebook: @FutureReadySchools Future Ready Schools is a registered trademark of All4Ed, located in Washington, D.C. #FutureReady
Transcribe →From Classroom to Tech Specialist
Mar 1100:28:49Tap to summarizeConnect with us: Future Ready Schools Website: futureready.org Twitter: @FutureReady, @AskAdam3, @MrHooker, @The_UnDisruptED Instagram: @FutureReadySchools, @APhyall, @HookerTech, @The_UnDisruptED Facebook: @FutureReadySchools Future Ready Schools is a registered trademark of All4Ed, located in Washington, D.C. #FutureReady
Transcribe →Paving The Way for Digital Dreamers
Mar 400:30:48Tap to summarizeWhat do airline loyalty points, bungee-corded airplane seats, MetaRay-Bans, Target therapy walks, and AI governance have in common? Absolutely everything. And somehow… it all makes sense. In this episode, we’re live in DeKalb County, Georgia, with Terri Webb, a former parent volunteer turned instructional tech leader supporting 89,000 students. Yes. Eighty-nine thousand. With a team of thirteen. Let that sink in. Terri shares how DeKalb’s “Digital Dreamers” program is empowering students to lead the AI conversation instead of being labeled as cheaters in it. From second graders asking “Are you recording me?” to high schoolers calling out misinformation, this episode dives into what digital literacy actually looks like in 2026. If you’ve ever wondered how to move from AI panic to AI purpose, this one’s for you. Hit play. Learn to earn. Stay undisrupted. Connect with us: Future Ready Schools Website: futureready.org Twitter: @FutureReady, @AskAdam3, @MrHooker, @The_UnDisruptED Instagram: @FutureReadySchools, @APhyall, @HookerTech, @The_UnDisruptED Facebook: @FutureReadySchools Future Ready Schools is a registered trademark of All4Ed, located in Washington, D.C. #FutureReady
Transcribe →Widening the Runway
Feb 2500:17:11Tap to summarizeWhat if we stopped pretending there is only one “right” path after high school? This episode leans into a bold, overdue conversation about the space between K–12 and higher education and what happens when those worlds finally start talking to each other. Sam Brooks joins Adam and Carl to unpack why community colleges, technical programs, and non-traditional pathways are not a backup plan. They are often the smartest plan. The conversation moves fast and stays honest. From rethinking what readiness really means to why hands-on experiences can change a student’s entire trajectory, this episode challenges long-held assumptions about success, prestige, and preparation. It’s not about lowering expectations. It’s about widening the runway. Thoughtful. Candid. Forward-thinking. This is Undisrupted doing what it does best. Connect with us: Future Ready Schools Website: futureready.org Twitter: @FutureReady, @AskAdam3, @MrHooker, @The_UnDisruptED Instagram: @FutureReadySchools, @APhyall, @HookerTech, @The_UnDisruptED Facebook: @FutureReadySchools Future Ready Schools is a registered trademark of All4Ed, located in Washington, D.C. #FutureReady
Transcribe →Granny Hobbies, AI, and Why Relationships Still Win
Feb 1800:18:37Tap to summarizeSplit pants. Karaoke trauma. Lip sync battles as a serious professional learning proposal. And then it goes somewhere important. Ainsley Hill joins the conversation to talk about the thing educators are craving most right now. Humanity. Not louder tools. Not longer app lists. Real connection. This episode dives into why AI should amplify your voice, not erase it. Why coaching starts with listening, not fixing. Why relationships matter more than workflows. And why sometimes the most powerful response to doom scrolling is a needle, thread, and an analog bag. It’s funny. It’s honest. It’s deeply human. And it’s a reminder that the best tech decisions always start with people. Connect with us: Future Ready Schools Website: futureready.org Twitter: @FutureReady, @AskAdam3, @MrHooker, @The_UnDisruptED Instagram: @FutureReadySchools, @APhyall, @HookerTech, @The_UnDisruptED Facebook: @FutureReadySchools Future Ready Schools is a registered trademark of All4Ed, located in Washington, D.C. #FutureReady
Transcribe →“When am I ever going to use this?”
Feb 1100:24:18Tap to summarizeDr. Matthew Friedman joins the conversation to break down how schools can stop “playing school” and start helping students actually understand who they are, what they are good at, and where their passions can take them. From career awareness in kindergarten to voice and choice in high school, this is about making learning matter now, not someday. It’s a conversation about relevance. About student voice. About moving from memorization to mastery. And about what happens when schools speak a common language that students, families, and communities all understand. There’s humor. There’s honesty. There’s Pearl Jam. And there’s a powerful reminder that education works best when students see themselves in it. Connect with us: Future Ready Schools Website: futureready.org Twitter: @FutureReady, @AskAdam3, @MrHooker, @The_UnDisruptED Instagram: @FutureReadySchools, @APhyall, @HookerTech, @The_UnDisruptED Facebook: @FutureReadySchools Future Ready Schools is a registered trademark of All4Ed, located in Washington, D.C. #FutureReady
Transcribe →