The Rant Podcast
The Rant Podcast
Eloy Ortiz Oakley
How University Of Phoenix Is Redefining Online Learning For Working Learners
36 minutes Posted Feb 17, 2026 at 9:00 am.
Reframing Phoenix’s Reputation
Why Phoenix Still Matters Online
Meet CIO Jamie Smith
Designing For Working Learners
Reducing Friction Beyond Coursework
Human Support With AI “Bionics”
Differentiation Through Data And Nudges
Clean Data And Guardrails For AI
Build It In, Don’t Bolt It On
Culture Shift To AI Fluency
Safe On-Ramps For Non-Tech Teams
The Next Five Years Of Student Experience
Employer-Funded Upskilling At Scale
Advice For Traditional Universities
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Send us Fan Mail Forget the clichés about online college. We take a clear-eyed look at the University of Phoenix with CIO Jamie Smith and unpack how how the university is rebuilding around a simple rule: design for working learners by assuming school is the third priority after family and work. That shift changes everything—from the reliability of the tech stack to the tone of a nudge—and it’s driving a wave of practical innovation that blends human care with AI “bionics.” Jamie shares how P...