WELSTech Audio
WELSTech explores the use of technology to further the spread of the gospel. This show is sponsored by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).
All Episodes
728 – Summer Tech Talks – Joel Prange
<a href="https://welstech.wels.net/2024/07/01/728-summer-tech-talks-joel-prange/" rel="nofollow"></a> <p>WELSTech is celebrating summer with a series of tech-in-ministry interviews called “Summer Tech Talks.” This week we head west to the oil country of western North Dakota to talk with Pastor Joel Prange about starting a home mission church. Turn up the audio as Martin and Sallie both have sound-related picks of the week. In addition, there’s an opportunity to support a missions-centric videography effort.</p> <p></p> The discussion & interview <p>Getting to know North Dakota – Home Missions Pastor Joel Prange talks with Martin and Sallie about his two-year journey starting a new congregation in Dickinson, North Dakota. <a href="https://amazinggracend.com/" rel="nofollow">Amazing Grace Lutheran Church</a> is worshipping in their own space and reaching out to the people in the area.</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.planningcenter.com/" rel="nofollow">Planning Center</a> & <a href="https://www.planningcenter.com/church-center" rel="nofollow">Church Center</a></li> <li><a href="https://stripe.com/lp/payments/ps_01?utm_content=79302483644910" rel="nofollow">Stripe</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/DJI-Microphone-Intelligent-Cancelling-Recording/dp/B0CFZX734J?hvadid=80195819688485&hvnetw=o&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583795284615564" rel="nofollow">DJI Mic2</a></li> </ul> Picks of the week <ul> <li><a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18XH5shOcYjh8KdttclQm52uHp4MdTIqA5EJ1dZFKuO0/edit?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow">Sallie’s Summer PD Bingo Board</a> from Ditch That Textbook <ul> <li><a href="https://suno.com/" rel="nofollow">Suno</a> – AI song composer <ul> <li><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeKaqAMTua31_nCgz7VWx9kENDBhIQXb4Zhk1j76jMVSFBRjg/viewform" rel="nofollow">Suno Teacher’s Program</a></li> <li>Check out the two versions of the WELSTech Radio song it generated. Which is your favorite?</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> <a href="https://welstech.blob.core.windows.net/audio/Videos/WELSTech-Radio1.mp4" rel="nofollow">https://welstech.blob.core.windows.net/audio/Videos/WELSTech-Radio1.mp4</a> <p> </p> <a href="https://welstech.blob.core.windows.net/audio/Videos/WELSTech-Radio2.mp4" rel="nofollow">https://welstech.blob.core.windows.net/audio/Videos/WELSTech-Radio2.mp4</a> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.epidemicsound.com" rel="nofollow">Epidemic Sound</a></li> </ul> Community feedback & events <ul> <li>We have an opportunity to support “Christ in media” through support of videographer Colin Neville as he spends two years in Thailand with Friends Network, telling the stories of various missions through video. <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeKaqAMTua31_nCgz7VWx9kENDBhIQXb4Zhk1j76jMVSFBRjg/viewform" rel="nofollow">Learn more</a> and <a href="https://www.friendsnet.org/colin" rel="nofollow">support Colin’s work</a>.</li> <li><a href="https://gamma.app" rel="nofollow">gamma.app</a></li> </ul> Next time <p>Summer Tech Talks continue, but mums the word on who will be behind the extra mic. Tune in to find out!</p> Get involved <ul> <li>Add comments</li> <li>Send us an e-mail <a href="mailto:welstech@wels.net" rel="nofollow">welstech@wels.net</a></li> <li>Join the WELSTech community: <ul> <li>WELSTech <a href="https://groups.google.com/a/groups.wels.net/forum/#!forum/welstech" rel="nofollow">Google Group</a></li> <li>WELSTech on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/WELSTech" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a></li> <li>WELSTech on <a href="http://pinterest.com/welstech/" rel="nofollow">Pinterest</a></li> <li>WELSTech on <a href="https://instagram.com/welstechpodcast/" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a></li> </ul> </li> <li>Add to the WELSTech wiki <a href="http://welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net/" rel="nofollow">welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net</a></li> <li>Contribute to the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WELSTech&src=typd" rel="nofollow">#WELSTech</a> X conversation</li> <li>Follow us on X – <a href="http://twitter.com/welstech" rel="nofollow">welstech</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/mspriggs" rel="nofollow">mspriggs</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/salliedraper" rel="nofollow">salliedraper</a></li> <li>Share with the Diigo group <a href="http://groups.diigo.com/group/welstech" rel="nofollow">welstech</a></li> </ul>764 – NotebookLM: The Godzilla of AI
<a href="https://welstech.wels.net/2025/11/25/764-notebooklm/" rel="nofollow"></a> <p>This week on WELSTech we take a deep dive into Google’s NotebookLM. Discover how this AI tool uses <i>only</i> your uploaded documents to create everything from video and audio overviews, flashcards, and summary documents, plus learn about other innovative AI tools like Hume Voice AI and the Plaud audio recorder that are changing the way we work and communicate.</p> <p></p> The discussion <p>I wonder …. – Martin and Sallie are joined by Dr. Rachel Renno, Director of Academic Computing for <a href="https://mlc-wels.edu" rel="nofollow">Martin Luther College</a>, and Jason Schmidt, Director of Technology for <a href="https://www.oshkosh.k12.wi.us/" rel="nofollow">Oshkosh (WI) Area School District</a> to discuss Google’s NotebookLM and how it leverages AI <em>only</em> on the documents you upload. Use NotebookLM to generate video and audio overviews of your content as well as summary documents, flashcards, and quizzes. Plus, it integrates easily into Google Classroom!</p> <ul> <li>Sample NotebookLM – <a href="https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/72750c3b-f737-43e5-87c2-b466ba2b5404" rel="nofollow">WELSTech SAMR Season Overview</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/72750c3b-f737-43e5-87c2-b466ba2b5404?artifactId=9c8167f2-200b-4442-9144-093a31fef4e7" rel="nofollow">Video overview</a></li> <li><a href="https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/72750c3b-f737-43e5-87c2-b466ba2b5404?artifactId=7dfca3c7-9cc5-4e73-b24d-8ae946103267" rel="nofollow">Audio overview</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> Ministry resource <ul> <li><a href="https://churchtechtoday.com/10-ways-a-pastor-can-use-google-notebooklm-for-work-ministry-and-beyond/" rel="nofollow">10 Ways A Pastor Can Use Google NotebookLM for Work, Ministry and Beyond</a></li> </ul> Picks of the week <ul> <li><a href="https://www.hume.ai/" rel="nofollow">Hume</a> – Voice AI</li> <li><a href="https://www.plaud.ai/" rel="nofollow">Plaud</a> – AI audio recorder</li> <li><a href="https://www.auctria.com" rel="nofollow">Auctria</a> online auctions – <a href="https://event.auctria.com/850c137a-63c0-41f2-830c-92aca0056746/a780d600ec2e11e9ae081db830846aa5" rel="nofollow">Sample auction</a> by Risen Savior Lutheran School, Mankato, MN</li> <li><a href="https://www.nomatic.com/collections/shop-all-best-sellers/products/the-nomatic-travel-pack" rel="nofollow">Nomadic Travel Pack</a></li> </ul> <p><span><b>Community feedback</b></span></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.komando.com/news/security/icloud-google-drive-are-not-backups/" rel="nofollow">iCloud and Google Drive are NOT Backups</a> from <a href="https://www.komando.com/" rel="nofollow">Kim Komando</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=166620&clientkey=8C7EC27E66B8E44D82FD7F25E9526B76" rel="nofollow">HubSpot Specialist needed</a> in WELS Technology</li> <li>From <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/717434395054874" rel="nofollow">WELS Intersections on Facebook</a> <ul> <li>Thanksgiving Social Media post ideas</li> <li><a href="https://get.tithe.ly/blog/church-technology-in-2025-and-beyond" rel="nofollow">Church Technology in 2025 and beyond</a> from <a href="https://tithe.ly" rel="nofollow">Tithe.ly</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://nextdoor.com/" rel="nofollow">Nextdoor</a> – local community communication</li> <li><a href="https://www.reachtheapp.com/" rel="nofollow">Reach app</a> – group email and text</li> <li><a href="https://businessconnect.apple.com/" rel="nofollow">Apple Business Connect</a> – control your church or school display on Apple Maps and more</li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> Get involved <ul> <li>Add comments</li> <li>Send us an e-mail <a href="mailto:welstech@wels.net" rel="nofollow">welstech@wels.net</a></li> <li>Join the WELSTech community: <ul> <li>WELSTech <a href="https://groups.google.com/a/groups.wels.net/forum/#!forum/welstech" rel="nofollow">Google Group</a></li> <li>WELSTech on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/WELSTech" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a></li> <li>WELSTech on <a href="http://pinterest.com/welstech/" rel="nofollow">Pinterest</a></li> <li>WELSTech on <a href="https://instagram.com/welstechpodcast/" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a></li> </ul> </li> <li>Add to the WELSTech wiki <a href="http://welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net/" rel="nofollow">welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net</a></li> <li>Contribute to the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WELSTech&src=typd" rel="nofollow">#WELSTech</a> Twitter conversation</li> <li>Follow us on Twitter – <a href="http://twitter.com/welstech" rel="nofollow">welstech</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/mspriggs" rel="nofollow">mspriggs</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/salliedraper" rel="nofollow">salliedraper</a></li> <li>Share with the Diigo group <a href="http://groups.diigo.com/group/welstech" rel="nofollow">welstech</a></li> </ul>768 – Many Hats, Many Cats
<a href="https://welstech.wels.net/2026/01/22/768-many-hats-many-cats/" rel="nofollow"></a> <p>Tune into this episode of WELSTech for a master class in herding cats as we navigate a lively discussion of the MLC degree and certificate offerings for technology directors. There’s also a broad range of picks of the week, Martin’s Screens and Souls presentation from Leadership Conference, and some free Google training to discuss.</p> <p></p> The discussion <p>Technology director – Martin and Sallie welcome our semi-regular edtech co-hosts, Dr. Rachel Feld and Jason Schmidt, along with yet another friend in the ed tech space, Dr. Bob Martens, Martin Luther College (MLC) Director of Information Technology. The discussion centers on the MLC <a href="https://mlc-wels.edu/graduate-studies/technology-director/" rel="nofollow">Technology Director graduate degree program</a> (a <a href="https://mlc-wels.edu/graduate-studies/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2025/06/MSEdAdmin-TechDir-6-23-2025.pdf" rel="nofollow">30 credit MS Education Administration</a> program) as well as two new certifications also offered by MLC in <a href="https://mlc-wels.edu/graduate-studies/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2025/06/Ed-Tech-Leader-Cert-PP-6-30-2025.pdf" rel="nofollow">Education Technology Leadership</a> and <a href="https://mlc-wels.edu/graduate-studies/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2025/06/Technology-Integration-Specialist-Cert-PP-6-30-2025.pdf" rel="nofollow">Technology Integration</a>, each requiring 9 credits.</p> <p>Summed up as learning to be comfortable with the uncomfortable, the three share how the program teaches edtech leadership skills needed to manage the many facets of the ever-changing edtech learning environment.</p> Ministry resource <ul> <li><a href="https://www.cosn.org/edtech-topics/driving-k-12-innovation/hurdles-accelerators/" rel="nofollow">CoSN K-12 Innovation</a> <ul> <li>Notebook LM summary – <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/EHHXawHqFKupGLmK7" rel="nofollow">Infographic</a>, <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iFEAORYQqW6mx6koAxjoPrKVcpPPjvtC/view?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow">Audio</a>, <a href="https://youtu.be/dZsWZDu5as8" rel="nofollow">Video</a></li> </ul> </li> <li>Martin’s Leadership Conference presentation on <a href="https://bit.ly/screensandsouls" rel="nofollow">Screens and Souls</a></li> </ul> Picks of the week <ul> <li><a href="https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/accessories-modules-fiber/collections/accessories-pro-single-mode-optical-fiber/products/uacc-om-qsfp28-lr4?variant=uacc-om-qsfp28-lr4" rel="nofollow">100G LR4 Single-Mode Optical Module</a></li> <li><a href="https://a.co/d/73Vd2OS" rel="nofollow">Water Reminder Smart Light</a></li> <li><a href="https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/2391819?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop#zippy=%2Copen-tabs-and-links-in-split-view" rel="nofollow">Google Chrome Split View</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.pirateship.com/" rel="nofollow">Pirate Ship</a></li> <li><a href="https://bookofconcord.cph.org" rel="nofollow">Book of Concord</a></li> </ul> Community feedback <ul> <li><a href="https://edu.google.com/intl/ALL_us/learning-center/certifications/" rel="nofollow">Free Google Certifications</a> – Google Certified Educator Level 1 & 2 as well as Gemini Certified Educator and Gemini Certified student</li> </ul> Get involved <ul> <li>Add comments</li> <li>Send us an e-mail <a href="mailto:welstech@wels.net" rel="nofollow">welstech@wels.net</a></li> <li>Join the WELSTech community: <ul> <li>WELSTech <a href="https://groups.google.com/a/groups.wels.net/forum/#!forum/welstech" rel="nofollow">Google Group</a></li> <li>WELSTech on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/WELSTech" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a></li> <li>WELSTech on <a href="http://pinterest.com/welstech/" rel="nofollow">Pinterest</a></li> <li>WELSTech on <a href="https://instagram.com/welstechpodcast/" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a></li> </ul> </li> <li>Add to the WELSTech wiki <a href="http://welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net/" rel="nofollow">welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net</a></li> <li>Contribute to the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WELSTech&src=typd" rel="nofollow">#WELSTech</a> Twitter conversation</li> <li>Follow us on Twitter – <a href="http://twitter.com/welstech" rel="nofollow">welstech</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/mspriggs" rel="nofollow">mspriggs</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/salliedraper" rel="nofollow">salliedraper</a></li> <li>Share with the Diigo group <a href="http://groups.diigo.com/group/welstech" rel="nofollow">welstech</a></li> </ul>765 – Christmas Coloring
<a href="https://welstech.wels.net/2025/12/11/765-christmas-coloring/" rel="nofollow"></a> <p>‘Tis the WELSTech Christmas season! Join us for a giveaway announcement that involves the good news of Christmas, coloring books, and AI. You could win a fun WELS item while you exercise your AI skills. Christmas concerts, anniversary offerings, travel apps, managing your smart home, and free EDU GPT round out this episode. Let’s goooo!</p> <p></p> The discussion <p>Celebrating in color – Martin and Sallie are collocated, Christmas-color coordinated, and collaborating on a coloring project. Everyone is invited to participate in an AI experiment, creating Christmas-related coloring pages which we’ll compile into a sharable book. Send your entries to <a href="mailto:welstech@wels.net" rel="nofollow">welstech@wels.net</a>, and we’ll choose a random contributor to receive some sweet WELS swag!</p> <p>Try this prompt:</p> <blockquote> <p><span><span>A black and white coloring page for kids of <em>[YOUR TOPIC]</em>, thick lines, white background, no shading, no grey scale, simple vector style.</span></span></p> </blockquote> <ul> <li><a href="https://designer.microsoft.com/" rel="nofollow">Microsoft Designer</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.adobe.com/express/create/ai/worksheet/kid" rel="nofollow">Adobe Express Coloring Page Generator</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=https://colorbliss.art/" rel="nofollow">ColorBliss.art</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.crayola.com/create/custom-coloring-page" rel="nofollow">Crayola Color Camera</a></li> </ul> Ministry resource <ul> <li>WELS Christmas Concert details – <a href="https://wels.net/events" rel="nofollow">wels.net/events</a></li> <li><a href="https://welshistoricalinstitute.org/175th/" rel="nofollow">WELS 175th Anniversary</a> – <a href="https://welshistoricalinstitute.org/175th-offering/" rel="nofollow">Special Offering</a></li> </ul> Picks of the week <ul> <li><a href="https://www.iexitapp.com/" rel="nofollow">iExit</a></li> <li><a href="https://hubitat.com/" rel="nofollow">Hubitat</a></li> </ul> Community feedback <p><a href="https://openai.com/index/chatgpt-for-teachers/" rel="nofollow">Chat GPT is free for teachers until June 2027</a></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.tomsguide.com/ai/chatgpt-is-now-free-for-teachers-7-powerful-ways-to-use-it-in-your-classroom" rel="nofollow">Learn more from Tom’s Guide</a></li> </ul> Next time <p>Melanie Giddings, Curriculum Coordinator from the Lutheran Schools office, shares details on this important work.</p> Get involved <ul> <li>Add comments</li> <li>Send us an e-mail <a href="mailto:welstech@wels.net" rel="nofollow">welstech@wels.net</a></li> <li>Join the WELSTech community: <ul> <li>WELSTech <a href="https://groups.google.com/a/groups.wels.net/forum/#!forum/welstech" rel="nofollow">Google Group</a></li> <li>WELSTech on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/WELSTech" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a></li> <li>WELSTech on <a href="http://pinterest.com/welstech/" rel="nofollow">Pinterest</a></li> <li>WELSTech on <a href="https://instagram.com/welstechpodcast/" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a></li> </ul> </li> <li>Add to the WELSTech wiki <a href="http://welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net/" rel="nofollow">welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net</a></li> <li>Contribute to the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WELSTech&src=typd" rel="nofollow">#WELSTech</a> Twitter conversation</li> <li>Follow us on Twitter – <a href="http://twitter.com/welstech" rel="nofollow">welstech</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/mspriggs" rel="nofollow">mspriggs</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/salliedraper" rel="nofollow">salliedraper</a></li> <li>Share with the Diigo group <a href="http://groups.diigo.com/group/welstech" rel="nofollow">welstech</a></li> </ul>