In this week’s episode, we chat with Haleh Shoa, Founder and CEO of Picturli, to explore the complicated world of digital memory. Haleh shares how her own family’s experiences inspired her to create a service that turns photo chaos into order, curating, organizing, and preserving personal archives for the long haul.

We discuss what it really means to “own” your photos in an age where most of us rely on platforms like Google or iCloud. Who controls your images once they’re uploaded? Do people even realize what they’re giving up for convenience?

From data privacy and facial recognition to emotional overload and the value of legacy, we dig into why your photos deserve more thought than a quick swipe. Laura shares the story of a woman who won $10,000 just for reading the fine print, reminding us how often we overlook the details that matter most. We also touch on the rising idea of digital inheritance and the need to designate a legacy contact, the habit of constant documenting, and the risks of losing meaningful memories in a flood of selfies and screenshots. For families who’ve experienced war, migration, or loss, preserving visual history can mean everything. Haleh brings a thoughtful and practical perspective on the tools, habits, and mindset we need to protect our memories and why now is the time to start.

Haleh Shoa is the Founder and CEO of Picturli: a photo organization, curation, archiving, and design studio that helps families, individuals, and businesses transform their chaotic mess of photos into one clear and cohesive digital library. Haleh and her team meticulously organize their clients’ photo collections into a searchable, secure, and easily sharable photo archive.

This week on That Tech Pod, Laura and Kevin sit down with Emily Chase Coleman, a leading voice in higher ed analytics, to talk about how data, AI, and shifting policy are transforming the college experience.

We kick things off with a look at predictive analytics in enrollment and financial aid. Emily shares the most common misconceptions schools still have about AI, and how generative tools are forcing colleges to rethink academic integrity, fairness, and even the rules around who gets to use AI, and when.

As the conversation turns to policy and student loans, Emily weighs in on recent headlines about aid cuts and loan forgiveness battles. She explains how these changes are already affecting how institutions plan for the future, and why equity needs to be at the center of it. We also talk about cybersecurity and student privacy. With ransomware attacks on the rise and more schools moving to the cloud, Emily talks about how institutions can balance being data-driven with protecting student information. Spoiler: most aren’t investing enough in cyber defenses. We also look ahead to the next decade. What does the “smart campus” of 2035 look like? How can colleges move from being data-aware to truly data-informed? And if Emily could change just one thing about how universities use data today, what would it be?

Emily Chase Coleman is a visionary in higher education analytics, reshaping how institutions use data to drive strategy. As the Co-founder and CEO of HAI Analytics Inc., she helps colleges and universities make informed, data-backed decisions about enrollment, financial aid, and student success. With over 20 years in higher education leadership and a PhD in Social Psychology and Statistics from Cornell, Emily is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between data science and institutional strategy.

At HAI Analytics, Emily is leading the charge in making predictive modeling and data visualization tools more accessible to university decision-makers. Her team has developed an innovative software-with-service platform, empowering institutions to use analytics for long-term sustainability without relying on full-time consultants. Emily is also a strong advocate for education reform, challenging outdated models in admissions and financial aid. She critiques the high-price, high-discount tuition system for exacerbating socioeconomic disparities and pushes for test-optional admissions to promote equity in college access.

Beyond higher education, Emily champions women in leadership and tech, sharing insights from her journey as a female founder in edtech and data analytics. She is passionate about increasing representation in STEM and creating pathways for women entrepreneurs.

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In this week's episode, Laura and Kevin sit down with Evan J. Schwartz, Chief Innovation Officer at AMCS Group, to explore where AI is actually making a difference and where it’s doing real harm. From logistics and sustainability to law enforcement and digital identity, we dig into how AI is being used (and misused) in ways that affect millions of lives.

We talk about a real-world case Evan worked on involving predictive analytics in law enforcement, and the dangers of trusting databases more than people. If someone hacks your digital footprint or plants fake records, how do you prove you're not the person your data says you are? We dive into the Karen Read case, the ethics of “precrime” models like in Minority Report, and a story where AI helped thieves trick a bank into wiring $40 million. The common thread? We’ve put a lot of faith in data... sometimes more than it deserves.

With the EU AI Act now passed and other countries tightening regulation, Evan offers advice on how U.S.-based companies should prepare for a future where AI governance isn’t optional. He also breaks down “dark AI” and whether we’re getting close to machines making life-altering decisions without humans in the loop. Whether you're in tech, law, policy, or just trying to understand how AI might impact your own rights and identity, this conversation pulls back the curtain on how fast things are moving and what we might be missing.

Evan J. Schwartz brings over 35 years of experience in enterprise tech and digital transformation. At AMCS Group, he leads innovation efforts focused on AI, data science, and sustainability in the logistics and resource recovery industries. He’s held executive roles in operations, architecture, and M&A, and also teaches graduate courses in AI, cybersecurity, and project management. Evan serves on the Forbes Tech Council and advises at Jacksonville University. He’s also the author of People, Places, and Things, an Amazon best-seller on ERP implementation. His work blends technical depth with a sharp focus on ethics and real-world impact.