Change on Purpose: John Strong on Failure, Grit, and the Human Side of AI

About this episode

In this episode of The Smarter Campus Podcast , Zach sits down with John Strong, a full professor in the SUNY system, coordinator of the Personal Training Certificate program, and a nationally recognized expert in health, fitness, and physical education. John challenges the idea that younger generations are automatically better with technology simply because they grew up surrounded by it. Instead, he argues that curiosity, experimentation, and a willingness to fail are what allow people of any age to confidently learn new tools—including AI. The conversation explores why education should focus less on grades and final products and more on the processes that create meaningful growth: asking…