Episode 327: Holly Owens

Episode 327:  Learning & Development, Instructional Design, and AI Talk with Holly Owens  In this episode, I had the honor of chatting with Holly Owens, host of EdUp EdTech, Director of Growth Marketing at Yellowdig, and all-around L&D powerhouse. We talk about everything from instructional design to AI in learning, what "proficiency" really means, and how educators can pivot into the world of L&D with confidence. If you"re an educator, learning designer, or someone navigating the fast-moving world of EdTech, this one"s packed with takeaways you’ll want to keep coming back to. We go deep on human-first learning, ethical red flags with AI, and the importance of not letting imposter syndrome get in your way. Whether you’re pivoting careers or just trying to stay ahead of the curve, Holly brings the fire. 🔗 Connect with Holly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollyowens/ 🎧 Listen to the EdUp EdTech Podcast: https://www.edupedtech.com/ 👇 Check out the full breakdown and timestamps below: ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome and intro  01:00 – Meet Holly Owens  03:00 – Holly’s journey from K-12 to L&D  05:30 – From marketing to education and vice versa  07:00 – The power of knowing your learners  09:00 – Human-first learning and why it matters  11:00 – Helping educators pivot and grow  14:00 – AI in learning: Hype vs. reality  17:00 – TruePeer and other AI tools Holly’s using  19:00 – Evaluating EdTech through an accessibility lens  21:00 – When to use AI—and when not to  24:00 – Losing your voice to AI? Here"s Holly’s take  26:30 – AI and the emotional gap  28:00 – Digital wellness and AI companions  31:00 – What does proficiency in EdTech really mean?  33:00 – Navigating tech with teacher instincts  36:00 – Change management in the L&D world  38:00 – Ethical red flags in instructional design  40:00 – Not every problem needs a training  42:00 – AI and automation: What’s next?  44:00 – What skills are still uniquely human?  46:00 – Where to connect with Holly  47:00 – Rapid-fire Q&A: Kryptonite, billboards, and Taylor Swift? 🙏 A huge thanks to our amazing sponsors:  Book Creator | Eduaide.AI | Yellowdig 💻 Visit https://www.myedtech.life for more episodes, resources, and guest spotlights. 🎧 Until next time… Stay Techie! Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator. Yellowdig is transforming higher education by building online communities that drive engagement and collaboration. My EdTech Life is proud to partner with Yellowdig to amplify its mission. See how Yellowdig can revolutionize your campus—visit Yellowdig.co today! Support the show