In this episode of Eh I, Ryan Oliver and Melissa Sariffodeen are joined by Indra Kubicek, the CEO of Digital Moment. Indra discusses the shift her organization took, changing their name from Kids Code Jeunesse to Digital Moment, and transitioning their focus on coding to essential digital skills in coding and AI. They talk about the complex psychological impact and social implications AI is having on youth, talking briefly about the rapid development of non-human relationships, and the importance of investing in critical thinking skills to prepare the next generation for a changing workforce.

A dynamic and forward-thinking leader, Indra Kubicek is passionate about fostering a more inclusive digital world, ensuring that diverse voices shape the future of technological innovation. She believes that empowering the next generation with digital skills is essential for tackling the most pressing global and local challenges. Indra is also a strong advocate for including youth in critical discussions about the ethical use of artificial intelligence as we enter the AI era.

In Episode 6 of Eh I, Matthew Johnson talks about the current age of AI with Ryan Oliver and Melissa Sariffodeen. He addresses the ethical issues and symptoms of broader changes in learning that teachers face today. He provides insights on AI implementation strategies vs. resistance or banning, and why it’s important to demystify AI for young learners. He makes a case for structured frameworks, such as "lateral reading", that can support education, build resilience against misinformation, and maintain human values like digital consent.

Matthew Johnson is the Director of Education for MediaSmarts, Canada's centre for digital and media literacy. He is the author of many of MediaSmarts' lessons, parent materials and interactive resources, a lead on MediaSmarts' Young Canadians in a Wireless World research project and the architect of MediaSmarts’ Use, Understand, Engage: Digital Literacy Framework for Canadian K-12 Schools. He has served on expert panels convened by the Canadian Pediatric Society, the Sexual Information and Education Council of Canada and the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, among others.

Show Credits

Hosts: Ryan Oliver and Melissa Sariffodeen

Producer: Zac Miller

Editors: Zac Miller and Kyle Gordon

Original Composition: Warren Frank

In episode 5 of Eh I, Ryan and Melissa are joined by Dr. Jessica Rizk, who is a senior research associate for education and skill with Signal 49. Jessica talks about the transition from fear to optimism when leveraging AI as a learning tool in schools. The trio talk about prioritizing the learning process as opposed to the final product, and about how it’s important to define “AI literacy” for future workforce readiness.

Dr. Jessica Rizk is a Senior Research Associate at Signal49 Research, where she focuses on education, skills, and workforce development in the age of artificial intelligence. Her work explores how post-secondary institutions, educators, and learners are adapting to rapid technological change, with a particular emphasis on AI literacy and workforce readiness across Canada.

She is also a lecturer at the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University, where she teaches courses in education and sociology. With experience spanning both K–12 and post-secondary settings, she brings a systems-level perspective to her work. She holds a PhD in Sociology and is passionate about bridging research, policy, and practice to support a more inclusive and future-ready education system.

Show Credits

Hosts: Ryan Oliver, Melissa Sariffodeen

Producer: Zac Miller

Editors: Zac Miller, Kyle Gordon

Composition: Warren Frank