In this Wide Walls episode, I’m honored to welcome Ken Kahn — a true pioneer in using technology to support creative learning.

Ken has spent over 30 years as a researcher in programming languages, computer animation, and programming systems for children.

After completing his doctoral thesis on creating computer animation from story descriptions, Ken taught at MIT, Stockholm University and Uppsala University, before joining Xerox Palo Alto Research Center as a research scientist.

In 1992, Ken founded Animated Programs and developed ToonTalk, an award-winning, game-like programming language for kids.

He went on to become a Senior Researcher at Oxford, where he developed AI programming resources for students, and held visiting positions at NUS - National University of Singapore - and Yale-NUS.

With his recent - and fantastic - book, The Learner’s Apprentice: AI and the Amplification of Human Creativity, Ken demonstrates how generative AI can foster rich educational experiences and support creative learning, a topic we discuss in depth in this episode, answering questions such as:

🤖 What roles can chatbots play in supporting children's learning and development?

🎨 What kinds of ideas and projects can children explore using AI tools?

🌱 How can we design learning experiences with generative AI that both benefit children and ensure their safety?

🏫 What are effective ways to integrate AI into traditional classroom settings?

Find more about Ken’s work:

* Ken Kahn on LinkedIn

* Ken’s book: The Learner’s Apprentice: AI and the Amplification of Human Creativity

In this new episode of Wide Walls, I’m thrilled to welcome Merve Cerit, a PhD Candidate from Stanford University working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, learning sciences, and mental health.

Merve’s work explores how we can better understand the impact of digital media on individual well-being, using innovative person-specific and computational methods.

She studies how people’s smartphone use relates to mental health on a highly granular level, and is now exploring how AI can be leveraged to support reflection, reasoning, and education in an increasingly digital world.

Whether it’s designing interventions that help us think more critically about media and technology or developing tools that reflect on our media behavior, her research has big implications for the future of learning, digital well-being, and human-centered technology.

In this episode, we:

- Unpack her innovative research methods to understand how we spend our time on screens

- Discuss key findings from her research projects

- Explore concrete applications to protect our children and improve our lives.

If you enjoyed the conversation, please share this podcast around and spread the word!

Find more about Merve’s work:

Merve’s LinkedIn

Merve on Research Gate

References from the episode:

Shows:

Adolescence, Netflix

The Social Dilemma, Netflix

Books:

The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt

Mindmasters, Sandra Matz

Healing, Thomas Insel

Hooked, Nir Eyal

Stolen Focus, Johann Hari

Podcast:

Your Undivided Attention, Center for Humane Technology

For today’s episode, I’m thrilled to welcome our first-ever professional musician guest on Wide Walls: Jerome Rossen!

Jerome is a composer, songwriter, and professional musician whose work spans TV, film, video games, advertising, theater, and more. You’ve likely heard his music in hit TV shows like The Bachelor, Temptation Island, Extreme Makeover—and my personal favorite, Happy Tree Friends!

He’s also composed for children’s media, creating music for games like Get Ready for Kindergarten from LeapFrog, apps like Math Tango 2 from Originator Kids, and his latest project, an interactive book experience with Kibeam.

In this episode, we discuss:

✅ His creative process, from getting ideas to overcoming roadblocks

✅ The differences between composing for children and adults

✅ How technology has changed music production & accessibility

✅ Fun and insightful industry stories from his rich career

Beyond his creative work, Jerome serves as Director of Events for the Bay Area Children’s Media Association, which is how I had the pleasure of meeting him.

I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I enjoyed recording it! If you do, please share it to help more people join the conversation!

Find more about Jerome’s work:

* freshmademusic.com - Jerome’s website

* Jerome’s LinkedIn