On today's episode of Roll Call, Brian and Josh sit down with Gabriel Flacks, co-founder of Linkr and a humanities instructor at Champlain College in Saint-Lambert, Quebec, for a wide-ranging conversation about experiential learning, virtual exchange, and what happens when traditional institutional software no longer fits the way students actually learn. Gabe shares how his work as an educator — and his frustration with rigid academic tools — led him to build Linkr, a platform designed to make learning more collaborative, relevant, and connected to life beyond the classroom.

The conversation explores what meaningful experiential learning really looks like, from reflection and authentic audience to co-curricular programs, athletics, and global classroom partnerships. Gabe also digs into the challenge and opportunity of AI in education: why students are becoming more hesitant to use their own voice, why vulnerability matters more than ever, and why schools may need to rethink not just assessment, but relevance itself. It's a thoughtful episode for educators, school leaders, and anyone asking what learning should feel like in 2026 and beyond.

Show notes:

00:00 – Introducing Gabriel Flacks and the origin story behind Linkr

01:17 – Understanding Quebec's CEGEP system and why Gabe was drawn to it

05:06 – Why the 17-to-19 transition is such a powerful learning window

06:00 – Gabe's approach to experiential learning and why relevance matters

08:10 – From blogging and volunteer work to building a better platform

09:50 – Why Linkr was built as a safe, social, networked learning space

11:08 – Early adoption, virtual exchange, and Linkr's evolution into SaaS

16:22 – Reflection, virtual exchange, and what meaningful learning looks like in practice

20:42 – Co-curricular learning and the challenge of measuring growth

25:18 – Why reflection matters in athletics, wellness, and student development

30:08 – AI, vulnerability, and the growing importance of student voice

37:56 – Lightning Round + the future of Linkr, badging, and experiential learning at scale

Learn more about Linkr: https://app.linkreducation.com/

This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding

This episode is sponsored by REACH Boarding, an award-winning, feature-rich boarding school management tool used by over 400 schools in five continents to manage risk, increase efficiency, and improve communication in boarding school management.

To learn more about REACH Boarding, its features and integrations, visit www.reachboarding.com

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