Episode 285: Claudio Zavala Jr.

Risk, Create & Inspire with Claudio Zavala Jr. 

[00:00:30] Fonz: Hello everybody. And welcome to another great episode of my ed tech life. Thank you as always for joining us on this wonderful day and wherever it is that you may be joining us from around the world. Thank you so much for your support. We appreciate all the likes, the shares, the follows.

Thank you so much for resharing our tweets and everything on social media. And thank you to our new YouTube subscribers. We really appreciate it. As you know, our goal is to get to 1000 subscribers on this channel. Hopefully by the end of this year, and also, uh, just big shout out to eduate, who is our show sponsor.

Thank you as always for your support and in believing in our mission. Of connecting educators and creators one show at a time. And boy, am I excited about today's show today? I am ready to welcome a great creator, uh, just a great educator, a great person overall, and really, to be honest with you, and I might cause them to blush, but really a very big, uh, influencer in my creative journey as well.

Along with some other folks that we'll talk about. So I'm really excited to welcome Mr. Claudio Savala to the show. Claudio, how are you doing this afternoon? Hey

[00:01:36] Claudio: man, I'm doing fantastic. Uh, doing great. I know we've been trying to connect for some time and schedules worked out. We initially were going to record at a different time and had to shift over.

So thank you for being flexible, but excited to be here Fonz.

[00:01:49] Fonz: Absolutely, man. Well, thank you so much. Like I mentioned, it's been great to see your journey and, and follow you from, I think it was 2017 when I first started following you and got to know a little bit more of the Adobe products and then just seeing what you've been able to do and how you've been able to just really help amplify creativity, not just for teachers.

To, you know, immediately share with students. But I think the work that you do also attributes to a lot of just that creative spark for us as individuals as well to continue our creativity. So before we jump in, because we're going to be talking all things creativity for any person that may be out there that may not just be familiar with your work yet, which I know everybody knows who Claudia Zavala is, but just in case.

Can you give us a little brief introduction and then what your context is within the education space?

[00:02:43] Claudio: Yeah, yeah. I'll like, I'll, I'll do like, , I'll try to do a condensed version, uh, of it. So, um, , 25 years in, in education. So the public education. So I did multiple roles and, um, I would say half of those years were in, um, in the classroom.

Third, fourth and fifth grade variations of those grades. And then, uh, um, I also, um, was a different roles, educational technology, coach, instructional technology, coach, instructional coordinator. So they, they do the same thing, uh, pretty much. Uh, I was a digital designer coordinator and, and in other duties as assigned and, uh, uh, both, uh, would say, um, the latter half of my year, when I did more of like instructional coaching, like tech coaching, uh, Was, I would say majority of that was done while I was here in Texas.

'cause I grew up in California. So I would say like, as part of my professional career in education, half of it, California and half of it here. Uh, I did my teaching out there, but I also did like tech liaison. So I kind of got my feet went into like, uh, you know, fall, I would say. Falling deep into like, Oh man, how can I incorporate tech into the classroom?

And as this was like, when I, there was like one drop in the classroom and, uh, I like would buy switches to go from one drop to multiple computers. That was speed was like, uh, megabytes. They weren't even in gigabytes. And so, um, but yeah, that in education and. Towards the later years of that, I, you know, I've been using like Adobe tools for, for a long time, like Photoshop and, uh, that's mainly where I cut my teeth in, in Adobe tools was, uh, because I've always been into photography and, and started diving into like editing photos and just fell in love with it.

And, um, and then started using some more like. Premier and, and like Adobe spark at the time. And then I started doing a lot of like. Showing people how to do those things. And you mentioned like when you, you kind of started to follow kind of my work and that's kind of 2016, 2017. That's kind of like, I would say those were like the formative years when I started doing a lot of that and sharing it out and, uh, you know, prompting from friends, like, Hey, you should share more of your content.

And, you know, so like, I'm okay, I'll do it. And I've, you know, I've, I've, I'm always an. Um, even my family, it's like, I'm always a teacher and I'm always an educator. I'm always like, um, you know, like, can I show you how like, you know, kind of help or, you know, I'm always like wanting to teach, I always want to share.

And so I still get to do it. And so, um, now, um, you know, fast, fast, fast forward. And, and I was doing some, a lot of that, uh, training kind of demoing and a lot of the, uh, I would say the, uh, tech conferences like TCA local ones. That's kind of where I started out. And like, you know, your first do your first one was like, Oh my God, I wouldn't, you know, what am I getting into?

This is, uh, I had no idea what I was doing. And so, um, yeah. And then from fast forward from there and, and, um, Yeah, now I'm doing work with, with Adobe and the education team. And I still get to do a lot of that. What I, what I've been doing before. And, um, and now it's neat. Cause I got to focus just like on some specific tools and not have to dive into other ones.

While I still kind of like learn some of the other ones, just so I know how like integrations and things like that. Um, but now it's just kind of like focus and working with, with students and teachers and really inspiring the next generation of, Lifelong creators and, and even myself, you know, I, I was telling someone the other day, it's like, I never consider myself that I've learned it all that I still, you know, in everything that I do, photography, video, I'm a musician as well.

It's like, there's these amazing photographers, amazing musicians that I follow. And even they themselves, like I'm not a master, you call, they call them masters because to me they are. But they're even then they themselves, like I've followed many of them for 30 plus years. And I've seen their growth. And like, I listened to their albums from years ago.

I look at their photos from years ago. And did you see the growth? And you're like, you know, I, I knew you way back then. And, and, and even now it's like, to me, they're like super experts, but even they themselves, like I'm still learning, I'm still like tweaking what I thought was good for me. Then now it's like, nah.

Part of it is getting older. You're like, I have to shift in certain angles because I can't sit in a certain way anymore. I can't, my reach is different, you know, so you, you start to alter what you've learned before you twist it. And I'm gonna say twisted, you tweak it, you know, because now you're like in different conditions.

So, um, I, yeah, I tried to do it all condensed. I mean, maybe that was a little too long. No,

[00:07:26] Fonz: no. But that's perfect though, because it really, honestly, Claudia gives us some great insight. Into your story and a little backstory, which we'll hit on. And unfortunately, like I said, uh, I've had a chance to collaborate with you and get to see the work that you do and, and getting to know your backstory a little bit more.

And so I'll probably bring up some of the, some things there, but not like anything embarrassing or anything like that, but really what I want to get into Claudio is if you can. You know, I, I know that you are an amazing creator, uh, not only for Adobe, but the things that you put out just for yourself personally, like you said, musician as well, and you put out some great, great things, you know, on your channel, just for the general public, not just educators, but the general public just to learn and, and, and.

Help them ideate and maybe just give that spark. So I want to know, like, you know, when you were, you know, growing up, you know, with your folks in LA, you know, or California, you know, when did you start really just, Kind of feeling like, Hey, you know, I'm, I'm a creative person. Is this something that you were, you would say was just naturally, uh, you know, gifted to you, or is it something that you kind of just worked on on some things, you know, were you one of those that just, you know, or just said, you know what, I'm going to learn this and I'm all in and I'm just going to go with it.

You know, how were you growing up?

[00:08:44] Claudio: Yeah, that's a great, great, great question. I think it's a little bit, I think it's a little bit of both. I think I honestly believe that we were all, um, we all have, we're, we're all, I would say born creative. I say we all have that ability. And, and, and when you're younger, I mean, if you think about our imagination when you're little, I mean, when my kids were young, I mean, you know, They thought they were Superman.

They thought it was Batman. They thought, you know, they, they, uh, they thought, you know, uh, I'm a, uh, you know, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm gonna, you know, I'm gonna conquer this dinosaur. This, you know, my daughter loves Jurassic Park and see like the imagination. And so I think we all have that innate. Creative ability in us.

And at some point it's kind of like, it's quenched, you know, and, and, you know, and not to get off, like on a tangent, but, you know, because you got to go do, you got to do these testing and all this, blah, blah, blah. Anyways. But, um, but I say, you know, I, it's a little bit of both, I think. I was fortunate because both of my parents and I would say even all my, all my siblings and we're all, all of us were musicians.

Um, I think for the most part, we, I think three out of there's four of us. And that's three out of four of us still are like, I would say maybe two out of four of us are like very, still like deep into it. I would say one of like the left, the instrument. But I think if she picks it back up, she can probably like, you know, rusty.

But, uh, so, but I, I, to go back, like all of us picked up an instrument at some point in our life. And I, I, I think like music, music being and playing an instrument, it's huge for like that, that creative, like creative mind. But, uh, but I think my parents, you know, my mom is, you know, artistic and, um, My dad being a musician, um, you know, singer, he had some, he has, I still, I have his 45 little record to A and B side of his first album.

I would say it was an album, his first 45 they put out. And so he had a band. So I, that for me was like inspiration watching and, um, You know, but I would say growing up in the 80s, you know, we actually, I was having a conversation today with someone. It's like, we didn't have cell phones. We didn't have these things to look at to be inspired by others, what other people are creating, or even to think what they're doing, you know, it, for us, it was really a lot of exploration and, and, um, being there, like, Going back to my dad and having that band and he had that room, those instruments and, you know, sneak in there and just bang on these drums and on the keyboard and, you know, getting in trouble for maybe knocking down a microphone here and there.

And, um, but, uh, but also the, my, both my parents are like, basically nurtured that in us and let us, you know, kind of explore and, um. And if we did something and we didn't like it, you know, we got to sports and, um, you know, like I said, the drums I played then. And, you know, we took some, we would go out and do some art stuff.

My brother was, I would say as far as art, um, he was like the artist of the family. Like he was like, he actually went to school and got a degree in art and stuff like that. And, and, you know, I kind of like, I pretended to like, you know, I kind of like, well, I'm not going to go get, I'm not going to go get an art degree, but I'm going to do like my own thing.

And so I would say like, As a kid, like that, when I, my mom would get these, these, uh, the one 10 camera, it was like the little, they had like the two little, uh, kind of circles in flight, you know, like, you know, I think it was like 20, 25 photos, 30 photos, whatever it was, you had no idea what the, how the picture would come out.

But, you know, my mom would take pictures. I'm like, Hey, can I, can I take the picture? Can, you know, can I play with it? And, um, I would say like just that, and I did art as well. So it's just like all these different things, just trying out things. Um, you know, growing up, you know, we didn't have a lot of money.

Um, I think, you know, a lot of my families in, in like growing up in my time, you know, being, being, uh, like first generation in America, my parents immigrated from Mexico. And so it's like, you know, there's times we didn't have any food and. On table. So you just kind of like you figured out certain ways to do things.

And like, we wanted certain things. So I, I don't have money to buy, uh, like a, a little race car. So we built, we built them, you know, kind of piece of wood and, and drilled use the hole saw and drilled and made holes. And we, we went to the boys club too. We did that. And, um, but I said like all that just, um, I just dove into a lot of things, really like using my hands.

And my dad also was a construction worker. So I. Would go help him. Like when I was in middle and high school, it's like, he, he'd do jobs just during the summer and I'd go. And I was like, ah, like, I don't want to be here. I want to go, you know, one of this, I didn't have any money, so I might as well go with my dad.

So, uh, just looking at like, you know, I, I look at a lot of these homes that are built because that's what my dad did for me times, concrete, putting floor drywall and things like that. Um, you know, you think about the type of work that folks like that are doing. It's kind of, to me, I think it's more, it's like an artisan, you know, Type of work, you know, we may not think we may not think it is like construction, but I mean.

How many people listening, watching this could actually go and do that work? Probably not many. Cause like, I, I have no idea how to cut a piece of wood with a saw, like measuring, making sure it's going to fit, make it level. So I, I did a lot of that stuff. And, and I think for me, that was kind of like, for me, how I, uh, kind of built my creative world dipping into all these different things, but I think it was like an amalgam of all these things that.

Got me to where I am at today. Like I, I, I took woodshop in high school. I took drafting. Uh, I didn't take photography or video. That's kind of the stuff I explored on my own. As I got older, uh, I did do graphic design in college, like, like community college, but again, all those different things that I just put into this bucket.

Like, uh, I think about like, uh, we kind of talked a little bit before, but I think about my keynote. There's one point where I talk about, like, it's just this bucket of sand that I pour and pour and pour in. I have no idea what I'm gonna do with all that, but at some point then I start like, okay, I'm gonna take some of the sand and then I start building these sandcastles with a little bit of sand.

Um, I'm actually, I'm like stealing a quote by, uh, Jordan Peel. I think, uh, he, there's a quote he has, I'm kind of like paraphrasing, but Basically, yeah, having that bucket full of sand. You have no idea what you're gonna do with it. He's in his reference. He's talking about writing. He just puts all this stuff and eventually something's gonna come out with it.

So, yeah, uh, that's kind of like how I approached the as growing up that the inspiration that I got to, um, Everything that I do is people like, you know how to do that? I can't believe you do you play drums and as the athlete drums, you know, uh, you have a woodshop at home because yeah, I have a, I have a woodshop at home.

I had a camera. I did like a, which is great. It comes in handy when I have to fix a wall here at home or at the, like when I'm putting up a, Putting my desk in my office, doing my walls, like oil, all that stuff helped now. It's like, and so, um, it's kind of, it's funny. One guy called, he called me, did you like the Renaissance man?

Do you like the Renaissance? And so, uh, but yeah, I always, I love when I get the opportunity, when someone asked me, like, I can, I can keep going on and on, but, but yeah, I would say that's kind of like the growing up, basically all that stuff is putting in it, in a, in a bucket and then. You know, it's like now I can dip into those different things I've learned and pull whoever who would have ever thought that Taking Wishop would help me now.

And in a lot of the stuff I do, it's just, it's the creative process. It's the critical thinking and things like that.

[00:16:19] Fonz: Yeah, no. And you know, everything that you hit on Claudia is very important. And I can, even along with my story, you know, also my, my parents being first generation, you know, here being me being first generation here, born here in the United States and everything like that, it was, we had to be very resourceful and like you mentioned, you know, many times it's like there wasn't any money to, for toys or things of that sort.

So it's like. Hey, here's a, here's a mop. And now all of a sudden I'm Donatello from the Ninja Turtles, you know, playing outside, I'm Donatello and then, you know, find another pipeline around and, or like now I'm Leonardo, cause now I've got, you know, two swords and, you know, just using the imagination aspect of it, you know, growing up and especially growing up an only child, I definitely had to be very creative, you know.

[00:17:05] Claudio: Imaginary friends, you know,

[00:17:07] Fonz: yeah, you know, well, during the time I didn't, well, I didn't have imaginary friends, however, there weren't too many kids around my age, you know, they were all way older and everything. So it was just there by myself, but, you know, my dad worked in a citrus farm and so then I learned how to drive a tractor at a very young age and then learned how to drive on the back roads and things of that sort.

And then. So learning how to do those things and watching my dad, you know, be in the shop and doing welding. So it was very interesting because everything was so hands on, but going back to a little bit about what you said, I mean, is because we didn't have any of these, you know, at the time where number one, you can look and learn, but other times too, it's, it could be very, a time killer.

Where you can be very active and be, you know, doing a lot of things, you know, learning and things of that sort. And very much like yourself being a, I consider myself like a multi passionate creative because there's a lot of things that I dip my fingers and toes in, and I just want to go all in and learn that.

So I think that's, that's something that's really helped out as well. Now doing the podcasting and really hearing people's stories and creating just a, uh, I think, uh, what was it like Joe this morning said it's like you're chronicling People's stories and amplifying stories. And it's all in a timeline from this time till now.

And then they can look back and be like, Oh, wow. Like that's what I was doing at that time. And I never thought about it that way, you know, so different ways of being creative and I absolutely love it. Um, so I wanted to talk to you now because obviously. In this space. I know you do a lot of photography, obviously the work through Adobe and things of that sort.

So what were some of the moments for yourself as far as being a creative that have been the most impactful for you that maybe took you, like you said? Uh, I know like you, in your keynote, you always mentioned risk and risk taking. So what were some of those risks that you were taking that helped you along the way in your professional career as an educator, and also now as an Adobe evangelist?

[00:19:04] Claudio: Yeah. I mean, when you started asking me the questions like, Ooh, where am I? Where, uh, where's my, you know, like my mind's trying to think of an, like a response that I would say, um, I like that you, you pointed out like the, the risk aspect of it, I would say, um, Like when I started, you know, I, like I've mentioned going back, he's taking, using all the, learning all the things and then putting in a bucket and at some point I'm going to use it eventually.

Um, I would say like when I started, you know, venturing, you really, and also into some of the social media, like in the education world that people were like, there were, there were chat, you know, uh, Twitter chat type things. And you just, you kind of like feeding off of what other people are sharing. And, um, and I think I was at a conference and I like posted this.

Uh, the tweet, I don't even remember it was maybe I started off. Like, I have no idea how to, how this space worked. And I was like, well, I'm just going to, I'm going to use a picture and I'm going to add like some text on it. Like a little positive message. I honestly don't remember what it was. I could probably look through my files and find it somewhere, but I posted it.

And it, it was at TCA conference at end. Um, and it was like, Did I post it? I didn't think anything else else after that. And, um, Jamie Donnelly, a good friend, she was like, oh, did you see your tweet? I was like, no, it's like, it's got like a lot of, it's got a lot of like, uh, you know, impressions and people are looking at it.

It's like, that's amazing. Do you ever pay attention? I was like, No. And then I, that's when I started like, okay, well, let me look and you should do more of that. You should share more of your work. And so, um, I was like, okay, I think maybe 2016, 2017 and, um, I'll go back. I know. I know the year when it basically when I said, let's do it.

I'm gonna do it or not. And I, and I, and then I tell myself, Oh, I wish I would have done it sooner, but all things work out, I believe at a certain time when they need to. And, uh, I was at, um, South by Southwest and it was, that's happens in EDU, the EDU conference in Austin. And I was the only one I was basically, I was like, I'm going to pay my own way.

I'm going to go, you know, took some time off of, you know, uh, work or I don't remember how I worked it out. So I can, I go. But like, I pretty much like pay the hotel myself. I think I stayed in the Airbnb or like a holiday and like try to find the cheapest route anyways. Um, so I was there by myself, but I did meet up with other folks.

Um, and they had like this karaoke night, live karaoke night. And I was like, you know what? Not many people, nobody knows me here. Really. I'm gonna go try this thing. And, 'cause I've always wonder, like, I've always seen people do karaoke. I'm like, ah, that looks like fun. But I don't know if, you know, um, yeah, I'm, yeah, guess I'm a musician.

I'm a drummer. I, I mean, I could keep a tune. Um, people, I don't think I'm like a lead singer, but I can sing and, uh, I, I, I, I don't know why I picked that song, but I, I did, uh, hotel California, which has a long guitar solo at the very end, and I'm just standing up there when it's done. But it was fun and I was like.

Oh my God. Why didn't I do this before? And at that moment, I was like, you know what, I'm just gonna do every, everything that I was thinking of doing, I'm just gonna start doing it to like YouTube channel. I started like doing that. And then, you know, there was a lot of other people, a lot of other photographers, video folks, and even people sharing like how to use certain tools.

And I was like, what am I going to add to that? And, you know, I was like, you know what? Well, There's, uh, there's only one Claudio. There's only one me. So I'm just going to add my, uh, you know, um, my noise to the, to the, to that sphere and it was like, man, if it helps somebody great, if it doesn't great, but at least I'm like having fun doing it.

Um, and I'll fast forward a couple that summer is T was in San Antonio. So, um, Also, along with those risks, what I started doing before then is we're like, I'm going to present at these conferences, like it, I did it, you know, but I was like, so nervous. Like that first, my first TCA, my first South by South, not South by, uh, T is T and it was like, man, I was like, this is nerve wracking.

I don't know if I can do this. And, um, but also I said, well, let me go to the, let me do this karaoke. I is he was like, yeah, let's try it out. I signed up and then I got on stage and it was, It was also live at the ed tech karaoke that they do. And it was like a, like thousands of people in the field. Like, oh my gosh.

And, um, I was like shocked that I got third place on that night, which was cool, but it's like all that, that summer from like, from February to that summer. It's like, it was like a huge moment of growth for me professionally. Personally. And that's kind of like also where I'm at now at Adobe, I think that basically started like that, that door to, you know, open where, um, I guess, you know, I guess getting, being, getting noticed of the content that I create.

And I just like started by scrap. You know, I had a camera that wasn't, you know, that wasn't high def. It was. 10 80, but not like the cameras now that which are, you know, 4K and lighting that I have now. It didn't all start there. It's like shop lights, uh, which gave off a, gave off heat, you know, so when I'm doing the thing, it was like, oh, like in between shots of like patting my face down 'cause it was like, man, this thing's hot.

Uh, which is, LEDs are so nice now 'cause they don't give off a lot. The heat. Fluorescence or even regular lights, but, um, that, I would say that risk, I paid off for me. It's like, and then, you know, proverbial, you know, I wish I would have done it sooner, you know, and, and, you know, but I'm glad I did it when I did.

But I think that right there was the kick the impetus to, you know, where I am today. Like I would, I always share with folks cause people reach out to me and I say, like, you know, um, you know, they'd love to do like what I do. And I was like, you know, do you have five hours to talk, you know, but I don't have five hours to chat, but just like, I'm going to give you like the super cliff notes and just say like, this is what I did, but it may not, my journey is not going to be the same as everyone else's journey.

It's very different. And so I, I, I really try to share it with others. Um, because, you know, different how they get to, um, I love what I do. I'm fortunate. I feel super blessed to, to be able to do what I do. And, um, you know, I, that I still get to do a lot of this other stuff that, that I get to do like music and video.

And, um, it's given me the opportunity to go places where I'm, you know, never been before we talk about as a kid, you know, we were, we were poor. We didn't, you know, we, I grew up in San Diego, Northern San Diego County. And like. You know, we'd go to, to the beach, you know, everyone, we, maybe we went to Disneyland, like once every like full moon or every, you know, and it wasn't, we just didn't have the money.

It's like, you know, uh, it was just, uh, we'd go to the park, go to the beach. And so as, when, as I got older, it's like, and now where I got to where I'm at now, I was like, man, it's like, I'm able, I've been able to go to these places. And I mean, I don't take it for granted. I'm just like super, super like. I just feel great, grateful and blessed that I am where I am.

[00:26:31] Fonz: I love it. And I love that story, Claudio, because it's just so relatable. I mean, and you're absolutely right. You hit on a couple of things that were people may see somebody like you or maybe somebody like looks at the podcast and is like, Hey man, like, how do I get started? How do I do that? And then you tell them like, Hey, it wasn't as easy as just like from day one.

This doesn't happen. So I love that you are very open and transparent about your story and your journey, because I think oftentimes people think that what they see, you know, they see on social media, they see the finished and polished product. But I know for your videos, it's not just one take videos that you're putting up on YouTube and it's not just one take and that's it.

You're done. I mean, those are, that's hours of work and then editing and then uploading. I mean, And things of that sort. So for anybody that's watching, I mean, I know that many times that imposter syndrome hits because it's like, man, I wish I could do what they're doing, but, but they're pros. They, they do this.

It's like, well, wait a minute. It's like, you don't understand the work that goes into it, the learning. And then you're finally putting out the results. That finished and polished products. So thank you so much for being very transparent and stay and, you know, letting us know that this was a journey, this was a journey of a thousand miles, a thousand risks, but it all paid off in the end, just by simply putting yourself out there and not, you know, being, um, I guess I would say not letting that imposter syndrome Get in the way or that comparison of, uh, you know, comparing yourself, like you mentioned, you know, when you said there's other people that are putting out YouTube channels or have YouTube channels on something similar, but I love the way you stated, you said, Hey, there's only one Claudio and I'm going to go ahead and add my spin on it.

And you've been very successful in that, you know, you've had. Tremendous reach and tremendous milestones in these years. And that's wonderful. And also big shout out to Jamie Donnelly, who also, you know, the same way that she was with you, like, Hey, you really got to go do this. She's, you know, one time we met at TCA, she's like, Hey Fonz, this is what you got to keep doing.

And so big shout out to those people like Jamie Donnelly, that. See something and just continue to encourage you to do those things and keep moving forward because great things do happen.

[00:28:42] Claudio: Yeah, just, just start. It's one of those things. It's, it's that imposter syndrome is so, uh, I was like, that is so like, uh, I'm trying to find the word it, it, it could be debilitating and it could easily discourage you.

And, and, you know, uh, you, you've got that little voice that's telling your dad, you know, you, what, what are you going to do? Yeah. What, what, what do you have to offer? And then, you know, listen to the other voice and like, yeah, you have something to offer. And, you know, um, and I would say it's like, You, you said it like this, the same thing with a different spin.

And it's like, I was like, Oh, I've, I've not heard that that way. You know, I hear people share, share content and I was like, Oh, that's good. That's a great idea. And I tell them, I was like, uh, I'm going to steal that idea, but I give you credit. I'm going to give you credit. You know, I'm going to borrow that idea, but, uh, Um, yeah, I would just like, don't, don't, um, that imposter stream can easily, you know, terrify you and, and you know, you'll, you'll get over that hump and, and, um, it's baby steps go forward.

Um, and you know, it's like, you're going to take those, um, those lumps when they come, you know, the scars are going to happen and, um, you know, I'm going to tell you, like you mentioned YouTube, like there's a lot of, there's, there's a lot of negativity on social in general. There's a lot of positivity. And so I was like the comments that, um, you know, I, I, I'm guilty.

I'm not like always like they come through like on my feet, like on my app. And I try to like respond to as many, but it's just like, uh, you know, I, I don't have the money to hire someone to do it, but I, if I, if I did, I would, but it's like, not, I try to respond to as many, but every once in a while, like one creeps in and it's like, When I first started and I, I, I kind of went, what, what do you, and then I was like, wait a minute, this, this is person that I don't even know.

And I was like, and I'm getting all worked up out of someone who's like, and then, and then I go look at their profiles, like, They only have like one subscriber, like what, you know, not to compare, but at the same time, like this person's coming from a different point and then they don't even have the, the back, like the experience, like I do to tell them, like, and so I just like, I just take it like, I'd read them and sometimes I just give them a thumbs up.

You know, or, or like a happy face off. That was funny. That was good. Um, but at the same time, some of the comments that people have shared were constructive and like, um, I w I w I took it constructively. Like, for example, so like you, you know, without using any like swear words, but like you take some bleep bleep.

To get to the point, like, just get to the bleeding point. And, and I was like, Hey, first I was like, wow, somebody cussed out, cussed me, you know, in the comment. And then I was like, but then I was like, huh, but they have, this is a good point. Maybe I just, I need to get to the point faster. And, um, could be, I was looking at other, other YouTubers and looking at their, their format and it's getting like, and figuring out how am I going to do this?

Like, and I liked the way some people were kind of like, they started off being like, Telling little stories and, and, but I guess people that were coming to my channel, didn't want those little stories. They just wanted to, you know, they don't want it to appetizer. They just want to get to the steak. And so, um, so I was like, okay, I'm just going to go straight to the steak, the skip, the appetizer.

So, um, but yeah, yeah, no, that's important,

[00:32:14] both: but as long as the steak is medium, right? But as soon as I said, yeah, as soon as you said that, I just thought about the steak incident. It's like, Oh, it's not medium.

[00:32:26] Claudio: No. Well, I think for people for context, quick story, we went somewhere and I ordered a medium and they came well done.

They took it back. It came medium. Well, so I said, let me eat it. So. Long story short.

[00:32:39] both: Yeah. Long story short. I think, uh, Claudio ate more potatoes than he did steak that day

[00:32:46] Fonz: anyway, but Hey, let's go ahead and talk a little bit about that, Claudio. What now we're kind of shifting now a little bit more from that personal space now into this professional space as an Adobe evangelist, and to be able to see the work that you've done and, and blessed to be, have the opportunity to be at some of these events at these ACE institutes, I want, I want to just get Your perspective on it, because I know that we chat and we talk and normally we talk, Hey, like this went, well, this was all these teachers that well, but in your perspective, you know, being kind of that heart that you have of a teacher, very similar to the way that you do the things in YouTube to give people just sharing your knowledge and your spin on things.

Like when you do these institutes, like, how do you feel like, you know, when you see a room of excited educators that are ready to learn? And then as you go from room to room and you just kind of see those aha moments and things of that sort, uh, you know, can you tell us a little bit about that? Because I I've never asked that, but I figured, you know what, this is a great time to ask what goes through your mind during those events.

[00:33:49] Claudio: I know. I love that. Cause as I don't always get to reflect on that, maybe like just quickly. thinking, but not totally reflect like I can right now. So for those listening in that figure, little context. So, um, uh, our Adobe education team. So we're, we, we, um, I would say we offer these, these experiences. We don't call them PD.

We don't like learning experiences, but we're, we call them Adobe creative, uh, Adobe creativity Institute. So where it's a full deep dive Into creativity, the creative process, uh, you know, looking at iterative process of creating something. And the teachers go through that process that they in turn can then like do it with their students.

And in all, in all content, not just. Um, not just like your fine arts or your CTE course, like people who usually use like Adobe tools, like, so like, how does a Spanish, how can the Spanish teachers like in infuse the creative process in her classroom and not necessarily that you're creating like a project, but like, even like the, in writing, like the creative process, like looking at, you know, taking something and seeing the process grow.

So, um, so we have these full day, day events and, and, um, the last one we just had, we had like a. Like almost 200 people attend and, um, you know, um, they're, we offer these at no cost to, to districts. And the last one, which was, you know, within the last two weeks was, was like, as going around it. And I also love like, you know, you Fonz are, are one, one of the, uh, presenters that I like try to get as, as much as I can to the, when we have these institutes.

And, um, so. When I go around and look at what people are creating and, um, for many, for many, many of the teachers, you know, because of yours, they have, there's multiple skill levels, uh, that come to these, these, uh, institutes, you know, some people that are like, you know, Oh, I'm like. You know, I took design in school and I'm very familiar with Adobe and some others like, you know, what, what is, how do I log, you know, how do I log in and how do I get this?

But by the end of the day, everybody, we are tired. I would say we, we stretched our creative muscle by the end of the day, creative muscle gets tired, but, uh, but, you know, the height, the excitement at the end. So, as I go throughout. You know, because I try to capture the moments that's happening, the learning that's going on and when people are having conversations, and I even asked, like, what do you think about the, what do you think about, you know, this, what you're learning and people share on like, um, we give teachers opportunity to share and, you know, especially like when the whole day is done.

You know, and people come and they, they, they say, you know, this has been a great learning experience. I'm super excited to take this back. And like, I'm already thinking how I can incorporate some of these, these ideas, this process into my class. And I was like, what do you teach when I see, like, 3rd grade, you know, it's like, how do this is a 3rd grade teacher that's in June already thinking about, you know, how are they going to teach when school starts back up and, you know, after their, their break.

And so, um. I love seeing the, the, the discussions that people have when they're sharing their projects and, and like, you know, because like they, you get to, there's an opportunity, there's a, there's one session where people are like sharing their work and it's, it's, it's their, it's their baby. And, you know, people are like, you know, think about your own baby.

You're very protective of the baby. You're like, you very care, you know, like, do I, I'm going to hand this baby off to someone that I don't know, you know, uh, or, or I know a little bit, but, and it was like, here's what I'm making is like very vulnerable. So the teachers make themselves very vulnerable and, and, and it's, it's very.

It's it to me, it's very, um, it makes me feel like, you know, that like the humanity that's there of everybody that, you know, people have people let their wall down and, and also like people make themselves vulnerable and people accept the, the, the, the suggestions. I don't think of it as a criticism. I think like, more like their suggestions, like, you know, and it gets like, you know, maybe that color doesn't maybe use a different color.

Maybe try this other font, or maybe it would look good. If you move this around and so people have their different versions of a project that they're going through. And it's like seeing that happen to see people going through that is exciting. Uh, because then I think about, you know, the trickle down because they're doing it and they're like, how are they going to.

Then this is eventually going to head students are eventually going to be doing this. And like I said, that the teacher that gave me that feedback, I'm already thinking how I'm going to do it for my third grade. So I'm excited. And you know, when's the next one, you know, people, and so, uh, I, I love that about my job, that, that, that I get to see teachers get excited about learning.

And like I mentioned at the start, like you should, you should always be, you know, We're all learners. Like, you know, we're adult learners. She's never stopped learning. And so I love like when people, they, they come on a day when they're not working on their own, like, I want to come and learn, I'm excited about this.

And, you know, people don't get paid to go in and they're going to these. And it's like, because there's, there's a, I think there's a thirst for people to, for this creative, creative, Creativity and not, I'm not saying just for Adobe, but I'm saying that there's a thirst for like, okay, we've been doing like, it's like a record thing.

And we've been doing the same thing for so long for so long. It's like, uh, and what's, what's that saying? You like the, the, I'm not saying it's insanity, but it could be like, you know, insanity is doing the same thing over and over and I forget. Expecting a different result result. Yeah. We'll see. It's like, this is like.

Wow, you know, this is something different, refreshing and people like the, and so, um, for me, it's like, it boosts my, uh, it boosts like my morale to see like, man, this is, you know, it's exciting. Physically, you're tired by the end of the day, exhausted, but the outcomes is, you know, this, wow, you know, from, to me, when I see a room full of people like that, that are excited about the creative process, like, wow, you know.

Um, it just speaks volumes because eventually like, you know, the synergy one, you know, these teachers, and then one's going to affect another student. And eventually those students, you know, it's going to grow. So, uh, yeah, that's, um, that's it. Thanks for asking that. Cause that's like, I've never actually like taken time to like, uh, reflect like that.

[00:40:12] Fonz: Yeah. And, and I always wonder, cause I know, like you said, we come out of these events, tired, and then, uh, But I mean, we have the stories too that we'll say, Oh man, I was helping this teacher. And then she was just so excited. And, and, you know, a lot of people in our groups, they get so excited. And because like you said, they're stretching that new muscle, then they're thinking about ways that they can implement this right away.

And then they come up and they're like, Oh my gosh, with this, with the anime to audio, like I can do this. I can do procedures for my kinder students and I can play this for them. And then, uh, you know, the olders too, it's like, Oh, this is a way that I can share this. Or the graphics or the, the book covers.

And they just started getting so thrilled and so excited about it. And I think that's one of the things that I love too, about it. And, and when I, you know, get to lead these sessions, what I love to do is like, I tell them that although this is, you know, a tool that they'll be able to use, and I want them to think about how they can implement it in school.

I say for this day, though, I want you. To really just enjoy yourself and, and get in touch with your own creative, you know, in, in you, because sometimes like you're, you mentioned, you know, we do the things the same way over and over again. And I believe truly that, you know, probably from like third grade to ninth grade within our school system, we kind of lose a little bit of that creativity due to the state testing, you know, and because everything's focused on that.

And maybe teachers feel like, oh, I don't, I can't. Spend time on doing this different because it's going to take up some of my time. But when they go to these institutes and they see like, Oh, Oh, this is easy. Like, you mean I can use this for science? I can use this for social studies. I can use this one template, not only as an about me, but you can use it for a historical figure.

You can use it for a science element. You can use it for this. And, and. And it's already there. I just needed to tell him to remix it. Absolutely. And they absolutely love that, that they can go ahead and do that and challenge their students and still have a wonderful learning artifact from their students and giving them, like you mentioned, an enhanced learning experience.

And that's something that's huge. And I absolutely love.

[00:42:18] Claudio: Yeah, it's fat. It's definitely, it's definitely like exciting when those happen.

[00:42:24] Fonz: Yeah. Yeah, I know for sure. And so, well, thank you so much for sharing that. Cause I know we, we hardly ever get to talk about that. so much for reflecting on that because man, I see the work that you put in and, and everything that you've got going on and then to be able to capture those moments, but to also just reflect back on those things and, you know, big shout out to the district, you know, two weeks ago being there, I think it was 190 or 191.

191 that showed up out of 200 that registered. I was like, wow, that was huge. And they had

[00:42:53] Claudio: 100 on, they had 100 on the wait list, which we weren't able to accommodate due to space. And so it was like, just that like 300 people were excited about that. Come on. Yeah.

[00:43:04] Fonz: Yeah. That is amazing. So, you know, that there's something going on, like you mentioned, That yearning for just creativity and just presenting something that they already do in a slightly different way.

That's definitely going to engage their students and offer that learning experience as well. So that's amazing. So let's go ahead and just switch forward. Just, uh, we'll go a little bit forward in time because I know you've got a big week coming up next week. Um, so I know the show will be coming out probably like next week, also just in time for this wonderful event, which is.

So tell me a little bit about what Claudio Zavala and the rest of the Adobe for Education team will be working on at ISTE.

[00:43:40] Claudio: Wow. So, um, yeah, so I, I guess like, I, I'm still trying to get all my stuff, you know, I'll pack, but, uh, no, it's going to be exciting. It's going to be a lot of fun. Um, I, it, it is a lot of fun.

It is a lot of work too. And then, um, after ISTE, like. Adobe pretty well, not because of the ISTE, but Adobe shuts down like on 4th of July a week. So everybody's off. So it comes at a perfect time and it's like, take the last couple of days after ISTE to like, basically like, Hey, I'm going to sign off for a little bit from work and, and just kind of like enjoy time with family.

But, uh, It's the, I'm there's, we're going to have many sessions happening at, at our booth, 1600, if you, whenever this comes out, but, um, I'm doing, so we all kind of taking our like, um, like. Focusing on different pieces within Adobe express. So like, I'm going to be doing the animation and video piece at Adobe.

So my sessions were just focused on those. And, uh, which I like is last year, we kind of did a mix of everything. And so if some, you know, like, well, Claudia, you're like the video guy. So let's have you do the video. If I can go, you know that I'll do, I'll do it. Yeah. I love video and animation. So we're gonna have like the drawing piece, like someone's going to focus on drawing.

Um, like, uh, I think like the, the. The 20 things you can do in express. And so different sessions, but, um, and then I think they're, we're going to do some like remixing of a template and I think they're printing them on bags. So it's kind of cool. It's going to be exciting. I have limited quantities. Just, uh, you know, I don't know if I'll get a chance to make my own, but, um, but yeah, that will be, we'll be doing that.

I get in tomorrow, which is the day before. So get a little, I usually like doing that just to get, first of all, be able to make sure I get there because. It's crazy weather can happen. And so, um, but we're also having this, this, uh, we're hosting this, um, kind of like a, like a gathering, um, on 1 of the events kind of, but my mind's going blank right now on it, but that's going to be exciting folks coming into that.

And then, um, you know, we're, I'm excited because we're also having a lot of districts from my area. So I support central region, which is Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas. Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Missouri. I think that's it. I don't think I missed any. So some people, you know, folks that are coming from those areas where, you know, we're meeting as many as we can, we maybe have some breakfast or coffee and so excited to chat with them.

Um, you know, and I know many districts in Texas, some of 'em are not going just 'cause fund wa funds wise. And so, um, but yeah, and then, and you know, being able to see my colleagues, you know, uh, we don't always get to, we get to see each other all the time, like. Through me, you know, uh, online, you know, on, on team calls and, you know, texting, but it's like, we don't always, we're not always all together at one place at one time.

So it's like, we're, we're, we're, we're all excited to do that. We're like, well, let's do this. Let's do that. Let's capture, you know, so we're gonna try to do some like. Videos of things that we can use eventually in the future. So it's like, we're any, I would say any spare moment where it's just like, we're gonna take advantage and try to get all like some stuff that we can do that we can use eventually at down the road.

So like for social and, and things like that to the booth stuff's going to be fantastic. It's exciting. Um, I've already seen the design. It's, it's like, Ooh, that's very, you know, with, with AI, I didn't mention that. Um, Earlier, but there will have an AI session. That's the one that I was trying to remember, but like, I think, I believe like the wall was the artwork was generated what's on that wall.

I think, believe it was generated with AI, if I'm not mistaken. So it's kind of cool. And so, you know, and then you get to connect with so many people that we haven't seen in a long time, you know, um, And, and people are like, it was funny because I put, I posted, because we're also having a not at ISTE, we're, we're really like making sure that people that don't get to go, we'll be able to experience like some of the content that we're doing.

So we have, like, we'll have some not at ISTE sessions going on as well. And I posted them and people are like, wait, you're not going to be there. I was like, what happened? No, I am. I just posted that not at ISTE for, so they're like, Oh, okay. So, um, but yeah, that's it. That's an exciting event. And, and, um, you know, there's, there's some stuff that, that will be shared out that like, like, I don't even know some, like, stuff is happening so fast and so exciting news stuff that I, I guess will be revealed in some stuff.

I can't share yet. So, um, it's exciting stuff coming down the road and then looking ahead. You know, next year it'll be in our backyard. It'll be San Antonio. So that's going to be fun.

[00:48:34] Fonz: That is going to be fun. Well, that's exciting, Claudia. Thank you so much for that insight. And again, you heard it booth 1600 Adobe is going to be there.

Make sure you show up. You can print out a tote and of course, limited quality. So please make sure that you get there for those sessions, check out cloud and the rest of the team, because they are definitely great, phenomenal, and they can definitely show you what's new. And of course, don't miss out on any important announcements that'll be shared there and revealed.

And please make sure you tweet them out. Cause my hashtag this year is going to be not at ISTE, but you know, that, that FOMO, that fear of missing out is always there. But please make sure that y'all share out on Twitter and everything. Those of you that are attending, but Claudio, thank you so much for spending a little bit of time with me today, sharing a little bit more of your backstory, your journey, as far as a creative, a creator, and of course, your journey here as an Adobe for education, evangelist and the work that you're doing, and I appreciate the reflection on.

On those institutes and how that makes you feel and, and you know, the work that you're doing in, in making a huge impact in the education space through that. So thank you so much. And I also, before we close out, you know, normally I like to close out with the three last questions. But like I did mention earlier, at the very beginning, uh, at the very beginning, like 2016, 2017, when I first started getting a little bit more into the space.

Mm-Hmm. , you know, it was because of, and I know I've told you before, but I'm gonna make you blush again. But you and Al Thomas were huge for me, you know, following you all and the work that you're doing as far as creators. And not necessarily that you're creating for a specific company or anything, but just as a personal journey of your own and with photography and the things that you put out there, because.

You both, uh, I want to say thank you because you guys were always very gracious and very, uh, you know, just nice with your time and being able to answer back and just build that relationship. And so for, like I mentioned earlier, with all our listeners that are willing or wanting to know what's going on.

Or maybe just seeking some help, or it's okay to connect with people. Like the Cal, I mean, we, we, we may not get to you right away, but we can definitely help you find answers. Or if not, we'll connect you with somebody who can, because the same way that Claudio and Al Thomas, big shout out to Al Thomas did that for me, we definitely love to just pay it forward and do that for anybody that we can help.

But again, I want to say thank you for being part of my journey. And You know, and everything. And then, you know, now we get to, we've connected in real life and, you know, and it's been great. So I really appreciate the work that you're doing. So now let's go ahead and close this up. So we always end the show with these last three questions.

So hopefully you got to see them on the calendar invite. If not, no worries. We'll just get them off the top of your head. Quick fire. All right. So here we go. We know that every superhero has a weakness or a pain point. So. I want to ask you, Claudio, you know, as, as like, for example, as a superhero persona in the current state of education, what you get to see from that overarching view, what would be one of your greatest pain points right now in education?

[00:51:42] Claudio: Wow. Like not, not my, like paint when I see the stuff happening in my pain point for it, or just like,

[00:51:48] Fonz: yeah, like your pain. But like, for example, if you see something, something that just causes you, like, Oh, they're still doing that. Like it weakens you or, you know, it gives you that.

[00:51:58] Claudio: Uh, I, I, I think, uh, even when I wasn't, even when I was still, you know, before joining Adobe, I think one of the pain points, uh, cause my wife isn't, you know, she's an educator.

I think one of the pain points is, is having PD for the sake of just having PD, like, like. You know, we have to have PD. Well, what are we doing? Well, we're doing the same thing. So it's like, and, and for the most time, like I asked my wife, what would you all do? We did the same thing. We would just, you know, uh, sometimes they have new adoptions.

It's different, but for the most part, like there's PD, you know, added to calendar, but it's like, sometimes it's like, we're going to have PD. Uh, for the sake of thing, and I guess maybe to add to that, it's like, um, you know, having meetings, uh, and specifically talking when I was in education, having meetings for the sake of having a meeting where it's like, this, this could have been an email.

So, so I guess that, you know, doing something just to say that you did it, it's done. This is like.

[00:52:56] both: Yeah,

[00:52:57] Claudio: it's almost

[00:52:57] Fonz: like just checking off the box, right? For compliance. All right. Excellent. Good answer. All right. Question number two, if you could have a billboard with anything on it, what would it be and why?

[00:53:10] Claudio: Oh, man. Uh, okay. Um, I, I think. Um, if I like, I'm totally like my mind just going like, I think it would be kind of, I would do something funny, but also like, um, you know, like the, the old, uh, I think Uncle Sam, like, you know, we, I want you and I, years ago I did like a, a revised version. Like I did like a, a take on that, like my own little, um, And it was, I think I said, I want you to create, so I would maybe do somewhere I had, it would be like me pointing, like, you know, have you created today or I want you, you know, like I want you to create or something like that, just, just to encourage people to, to create.

So it's just like some kind of goofy and funny like that point is like, have you created today? You know, so there you

[00:53:57] Fonz: go. Hey, I like that. That'd be pretty good. We can put it next to the Bucky sign. Like, Hey, have you created today? That'd be great.

[00:54:06] Claudio: Stop at exit 25. There

[00:54:08] Fonz: you go. All right, Claudia. And the last question, but I don't know if there's anything else.

Cause I mean, I know that you have multiple hobbies and multiple passions that you have, but I'll still ask it anyway. So let's say for example, like let's pretend that this Adobe evangelist position, like you're, you're not in it right now because like, so here's the question though, is. Is there a hobby or a profession that you wish that you can turn into a full time career?

[00:54:38] Claudio: Yeah, because I mean, I love what I do. I think um You know, I love playing drums I don't know if i'd want to be doing that because you know, they're out like they're gone a lot I mean i'm gone too in a ways but you know that like that like I don't know maybe like um in this in that aspect maybe uh, um Online YouTuber that drums or something like that.

You know, that would be kind of cool. Um, that's I, I'm gonna, I'm gonna give you a couple, several here. So that would be one. Um, but I think I'd also like to just like to, um, I think in everything, I would always have some aspect of, of sharing it, like being a content creator. It would always, I'd always have that.

So, um, uh, the other would be like, like doing some woodwork stuff and I like showing people how I'm doing it. Um, that would be kind of cool, but something else that I would actually love, like I actually was talking about it today. It looks very cool. It looks very like romantic, romantic, romanticized when they see people do it, but I've heard, you know, it is, it is a hard life, but I, I would like to like, um, like travel.

And like travel and show people how to do things and like, in it, like a van or something like, like, uh, cause then it would be like, I'd still do my photography. I still do biking. I still do music, but like, like, you know, uh, like not a van life, but it may be a van life, but like a creative life where you're like traveling around and like seeing different places and like capturing, like, uh, I guess that would be more like maybe retirement in some point.

But I don't think I've ever retired just because I love. Doing what I do, but I guess that's kind of like the, the, you know, what I would like to do, like, if I wasn't doing this, that would be like kind of something like that.

[00:56:19] both: Yeah.

[00:56:20] Fonz: Well, those are some great ideas though, that you threw out, like, you know, enjoying that van life, that traveling.

So I can see you either like pulling in and just putting up like something on socials, like, Hey, anybody want to learn Adobe express? And you just pull up in your van and then after you're done, like you go do your photography, do some, you know, sightseeing and everything, and then go to the next one and it's like, Hey.

Anybody know, want to know like how to like cut a door or send a door or something. So now you're just input, you know, incorporating everything that you love in a travel van. So that'd be great. Well, you can just put the van and put like El Creativo on the side and just drive around the U. S. Just creating,

[00:56:56] both: that'd

[00:56:58] Fonz: be awesome.

Well, Claudia, thank you so much. I really appreciate your time. Thank you for just sharing again, your passion for creativity, just at your story and for all our audience members. I know that they'll definitely take a lot from it and learn and sprinkle some of those knowledge nuggets that you shared to what they're already doing.

Great. So I really appreciate you. And for all our audience members, thank you so much for joining us on the podcast. Thank you so much For all of your support, please make sure that you follow us on all socials at my ed tech life. And again, please jump over to your YouTube channel. Give us a thumbs up and subscribe.

Remember our goal is to get to a 1000 subscribers and don't forget to visit our website at my ed tech dot life, my ed tech dot life, or you can check out this amazing episode and the other 283 episodes that we have with amazing creators, educators, professionals, founders. We've got a little bit of everything just for you.

So you can take some of that knowledge and, you know, implement it or put it into your teacher tool belt and make sure that you have it available whenever it is that you need it. So thank you as always for all of your support and my friends. Until next time, don't forget, stay techie.