AI is Making Us Lazy: How to Reclaim Your Critical Thinking! - Dr. Katie Trowbridge
The SMARTA PodcastShow Notes
What if the reason you stopped asking questions has nothing to do with curiosity — and everything to do with confidence? In today's episode, I sit down with Dr. Katie Trowbridg, educator, TEDx speaker, leadership researcher, and author of Lead Boldly, Think Deeply for a conversation that is going to completely rewire the way you think about leadership, learning, and what it actually means to grow.
What you will learn in this episode: The myth of "lost curiosity" and the real reason people choose to quietly quit. Why we don't have a leadership crisis today—we have a thinking crisis. The "C.R.E.A.T.E. Method" to rewire your brain for innovation and risk-taking. Why leaders need to stop acting like task managers and start acting like great teachers. The "Recess Rule": Why mandatory playtime is the ultimate hack for high-performing teams.
Dr. Katie Trowbridge is an author, TEDx speaker, and leadership expert who spent over two decades in the education system studying how people learn, think, and grow. She saw firsthand how the pressure for perfect grades and immediate results destroyed critical thinking. Now, she is taking the ultimate lessons from the classroom into the boardroom, teaching executives and young professionals alike how to lead boldly, think deeply, and rebuild human connection in the age of AI.
In this episode: 00:00 - Introduction & The Top 3 Takeaways 03:47 - The Nun Who Kicked Katie Out of Class (The Origin of Curiosity) 06:07 - The Truth: We Didn't Lose Curiosity, We Lost Confidence 09:00 - Fixing the Generational Gap: Gen Z vs. Boomers at Work 12:42 - Why the School System Crushes Critical Thinking 15:47 - Stop Managing Tasks and Start Mentoring Thoughts 24:50 - The AI Trap: Using Tech Without Turning Off Your Brain 31:18 - The "F" Grade That Changed Everything (Redefining Failure) 38:18 - The Mandatory "Recess" Rule for Corporate Teams 46:22 - Escaping the Corporate "Fire Drill" Mentality 55:37 - The C.R.E.A.T.E. Method Explained 01:00:50 - Final Advice: How to Truly Think For Yourself
If this episode made you rethink how you show up at school or work, share it with one friend, teacher, or mentor who needs to hear it today. And hit that subscribe button so you never miss a conversation that equips you to challenge the process!
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