Edtech Insiders
Edtech Insiders interviews founders, investors, operators, educators, and thought leaders about the future of education technology. The podcast features leaders across the education technology industry and covers important edtech trends happening globally.
Episodes
Celebrating 500 Episodes with Reed Hastings of Netflix
To celebrate 500 episodes of Edtech Insiders, Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell are joined by Reed Hastings for a special conversation about AI, education, and the future of learning. They explore the potential of AI-powered tutoring, the changing role of teachers, the future of assessment, and what schools could look like in the years ahead.Reed Hastings is the co-founder of Netflix and Chairman of Pow
Why Productive Struggle Matters in AI-Powered Learning with Dacia Toll of Coursemojo
Dacia Toll is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Coursemojo, an AI teaching assistant designed to help students make meaningful reading gains. A former teacher and principal in New Haven and founder of Achievement First, Dacia brings a deep focus on instructional quality, student outcomes, and what it takes to improve learning at scale. Coursemojo has now expanded to more than 85 school districts, from
HigherEd Series: What Should Universities Own in the Age of AI? With George Siemens of Southern New Hampshire University
George Siemens is a prominent learning theorist and digital education researcher serving as the Chief AI and Innovation Officer at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), he co-founded SNHU's AI-learning platform. He is widely known as the pioneer of the learning theory Connectivism and for creating the first Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).Hosted by Matthew RascoffThis episode is part
How Educators Are Shaping the Future of AI in Education with Google
Jennie Magiera is the Global Head of Education Impact at Google, a bestselling author, and former teacher, coach, administrator, and professor.Chanel Johnson is an educator with 15+ years in K–12, STEM, and EdTech. She is a Google Certified AI Educator and Innovator and currently teaches 8th grade science.Hannah Ketteman is Senior Instructional Consultant for AI at Texas A&M University-Central
Global EdTech Prize Top 10 Finalists on AI, Access & Impact
In this episode, Alex Sarlin speaks with leaders and finalists from the Global EdTech Prize about expanding access to education, supporting underserved learners, and using technology and AI to drive meaningful impact around the world.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:How Edtech is expanding access for underserved and displaced learners. New approaches to assessment, literacy, and learning ou
Week in Edtech 9/23/26: Flint's Teacher AI Literacy with Sohan Choudhury, AskSia’s Global Learning with Celine Xu & 2U’s AI Strategy with Adam Fein
Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they interview leaders from Flint, AskSia, and 2U about AI literacy, personalized learning, responsible AI adoption, and the future of higher education.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:01:15] Sohan Choudhury, Founder of Flint, on AI literacy for teachers and responsible AI adoption in schools[00:15:10] Celine Xu, Co-founder and COO of AskSia, on personalized AI le
How Microsoft Is Building AI for Learning, Not Just Answers with Deirdre Quarnstrom
This episode is produced in partnership with Microsoft.Deirdre Quarnstrom leads Microsoft’s AI-enhanced learning product portfolio and strategy. She started her work in education bringing Minecraft Education to students and educators around the world. Deirdre also serves as a Director on the board of the Block by Block Foundation and is a founding partner and advisor at Reaction, a social impact V
HigherEd Series: Sal Khan on What Higher Education Needs to Change in the AI Era
Sal Khan is the founder and CEO of Khan Academy and Vision Steward and board member of TED, two global nonprofits that provide free education to 200+ million people worldwide.Sal is the author of The One World Schoolhouse and Brave New Words, and the co-author of Teaching Students to Use AI Ethically & Responsibly. His forthcoming book, Job Shock, examines how AI will transform the future of w
Can AI Make Students Better Thinkers? Inside CAiSEY's Voice-First Learning Revolution with Dan Wang & Johanna Chouraqui
Dan Wang is the Lambert Family Professor of Social Enterprise at Columbia Business School and Co-founder of CAiSEY, a voice-first AI discussion platform that helps students develop critical thinking through conversation. Johanna Chouraqui leads instructor onboarding, user research, and operations at CAiSEY, bringing nearly a decade of experience in K-12 education and learning design.💡 5 Things You
Week in Edtech 9/15/26: Gates Commits $1B to Equitable AI, Low-Tech Tutoring Shows Learning Gains, AI Safety Under Scrutiny, and More! Feat. Dorka Horvath of BOOKR Kids & Nitesh Goel & Zareen Poonen Levien of Padlet
Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they break down the biggest stories shaping AI safety, tutoring research, equitable access to AI, and how educators are using AI in the classroom.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:07:16] AI safety concerns grow as Anthropic researchers and executives question the pace of frontier AI development[00:12:42] AI alignment, self-improvement, and multi-agent systems raise
HigherEd Series: From the Brink of Closure to Reinventing Paul Quinn College with Michael Sorrell
Dr. Michael J. Sorrell is the longest-serving President in Paul Quinn College’s 154-year history. A nationally recognized higher education leader, he has been named one of Fortune’s 50 Greatest Leaders and received numerous awards for his innovative leadership and commitment to students and communities.Hosted by Matthew RascoffThis episode is part of the Edtech Insiders HigherEd Podcast Series, fe
Start With the Problem, Not the AI Tool with Victoria Lansdown of North Star AI Enablement
Victoria Lansdown is the founder of North Star AI Enablement, helping schools, Edtech companies, and nonprofits adopt AI in practical, human-centered ways. A former educator, she has led AI-for-educators programs at Google and contributed to UNESCO’s AI competency framework discussions.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why effective AI adoption starts with a problem, not a tool.How educators
AI That Understands Teaching with Brian Johnsrud of OpenAI & Kristin Vincent of Learning Commons
Kristin Vincent is VP of Product at Learning Commons, where she leads teams focused on scaling proven teaching and learning practices. She has spent 20 years building Edtech products, including leadership roles at Pearson and K12.com/Strive.Brian Johnsrud, PhD is OpenAI’s Global Head of Educational Engagement. A former K-12 teacher, college lecturer, and education technology researcher, he focuses
Week in Edtech 9/9/26: AI Cognitive Offloading, NYC School AI Restrictions, The Tech Backlash, The Paradox of Banning AI, and More! Feat. Shan Reddy & Vivek Vajipey of Aristotle and Dr. Ron Smith of Salesforce
Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they unpack New York City and Los Angeles school AI restrictions, the launch of a new AI tutor from Aristotle, and how Salesforce is supporting educators, students, and career pathways in the AI era.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:01:57] AI, cognitive offloading, and the future of learning[00:06:21] New York City restricts student-facing AI tools in schools[00:11
HigherEd Series: What Should Students Learn When AI Can Do the Work? with Nils Gilman of Berggruen Institute
Nils Gilman is Senior Advisor to the Berggruen Institute, an intellectual historian by training and a widely published essayist on the future of higher education and AI's impact on work and learning. His writing has appeared in Noema, The New York Times, Foreign Policy, and many other venues. He holds a B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. from UC Berkeley.Hosted by Matthew RascoffThis episode is part of the
AI in Action: Emily Freitag of Instruction Partners on What’s Actually Working in Schools
Emily Freitag is Co-founder and CEO of Instruction Partners, a nonprofit focused on strengthening instructional leadership and support for educators. She previously served as Assistant Commissioner of Curriculum and Instruction for the Tennessee Department of Education and began her career as a seventh-grade math teacher in Louisiana.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:What 20 AI products look
Building AI-Native Learning for the Future of Work with Vinitra Swamy of Scholé AI
Vinitra Swamy is the CEO and Co-founder of Scholé AI, a UC Berkeley and EPFL spinoff building AI-native learning for the future of work. A former Microsoft AI engineer and AI-for-education PhD, she focuses on bringing learning science, personalization, and AI together to transform adult learning.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:How AI enables truly personalized learning.Why Scholé uses mult
HigherEd Series: Can AI Help Higher Education Find Its Purpose Again? With Paul LeBlanc of Southern New Hampshire University
Paul LeBlanc is the former president of Southern New Hampshire University, the largest non-profit provider of online higher education in the country. His new book, Reclaiming Purpose: The University in an AI World, examines how higher education can respond proactively to leverage the rise of artificial intelligence and reconnect to its essential task of helping students discover lives of purpose.
Can AI Actually Teach? Inside Oboe with Nir Zicherman
Nir Zicherman is the CEO of Oboe. Oboe's mission is to teach one billion people one trillion things. In 2015, Nir co-founded Anchor, which grew to become the world's largest podcasting platform. After Spotify acquired Anchor in 2019, he led Spotify's expansion into audiobooks as VP of Audiobooks.💡 5 Things You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhy AI should teach—not just answer question
Week in Edtech 8/26/26: Federal EdTech Evidence Guidance, AI Backlash in Schools, OpenAI’s 55 District Deals, Harvard AI Faculty Avatars, MIT Rethinks Learning, and More! Feat. Carl Madi of Stepful & Manny Smith of EdVisorly
Join hosts Ben Kornell and Alex Sarlin as they break down new federal guidance on edtech evidence and efficacy, the growing backlash against AI and big tech in schools, Harvard's AI faculty avatars, and MIT's evolving approach to teaching and learning in the AI era.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:04:47] U.S. Department of Education issues edtech evidence guidance[00:14:21] AI tutoring research
HigherEd Series: What Would Higher Education Look Like If We Started Over? with Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich of Newstate University
Dr. Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich founded Newstate University in 2026, bringing 20+ years of education leadership from executive roles at SkillsWave, Pearson, LSU and SNHU. She holds a PhD from Kent State and authored "The Power Worker" and "How to Grow Enrollment in Online Higher Education."Hosted by Matthew Rascoff This episode is part of the Edtech Insiders HigherEd Podcast Se
Why Leadership Matters More Than Technology with Aneesh Sohoni of Teach For America
Aneesh Sohoni is CEO of Teach For America and a former high school English teacher and TFA corps member. He has also led TFA Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana and One Million Degrees.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why leadership matters more than technology in education.How teachers can build practical AI fluency.Teach For America’s 4 Ds framework for using AI.Why AI can’t replace hum
Week in Edtech 8/19/26: ChatGPT for Teens, $265M Reach Capital Fund, The EdTech Backlash, AI’s Competitive Shakeup, and More! Feat. Sabine Wallis, NWEA & Andy Rotherham and Marisa Mission, Bellwether
Join hosts Ben Kornell and Alex Sarlin as they break down the biggest stories shaping AI, Edtech investment, the growing tech backlash, and the future of assessment.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:05:47] ChatGPT for Teens introduces new safety and learning features[00:11:29] Generalized AI models raise new challenges for Edtech companies[00:13:47] OpenAI partners with CodeAI on AI learning and youth safe
Why Edtech Needs Less Hype and More Honesty with Tony Wan & Betsy Corcoran
Tony Wan is Head of Platform at Reach Capital and co-founder and former managing editor of EdSurge. Betsy Corcoran is a writer, speaker, serial entrepreneur, and co-founder of EdSurge who explores AI and learning through her work and podcast, Future Fluent.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:How EdSurge helped shape the early edtech ecosystem.Why edtech needs more honest and nuanced storytelli
Week in Edtech 8/12/26: Educator AI Adoption Hits 80%, Varsity Tutors Exits Schools, Higher Ed Rethinks Grading, Open vs. Closed AI, and More! Feat. Reg Leichty of Foresight Law + Policy & Mike Wales and Madison McCormick of CodePath
Join hosts Ben Kornell and Alex Sarlin as they break down the biggest stories shaping educator confidence, tutoring, higher ed grading, AI models, education policy, and AI workforce development.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:02:47] Edtech Insiders heads to Teach For America’s 35th anniversary[00:05:19] HMH survey shows educator AI adoption reaches 80%[00:08:45] Varsity Tutors exits school-based tutoring
Inside Reach Capital’s $265M Fund V with Jomayra Herrera
Jomayra Herrera is a Partner at Reach Capital, an early-stage venture fund investing across learning, health, and work. Previously, she worked at Emerson Collective and Cowboy Ventures, investing in companies including Handshake, Guild, Contra, and Career Karma.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why Reach Capital is doubling down on pre-seed and early-stage investing with its new $265M Fund V
AI Should Support Teachers, Not Replace Them with Joy Delizo-Osborne of Student Achievement Partners
Joy Delizo-Osborne is President and CEO of Student Achievement Partners, where she works to improve instructional quality and connect evidence-based practices with curriculum and edtech. A former teacher, instructional coach, and principal, Joy brings more than 20 years of experience in education.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:How AI can support and not replace teachers and students.Why p
Week in Edtech 8/5/26: Higher Ed Leadership Turnover Accelerates, OpenAI Expands Its Education Push, AI “Slop” Floods Teachers Pay Teachers, Students Propose AI Rules, and More! Feat. Janice Jackson of Aspen Institute
Join hosts Ben Kornell and Alex Sarlin as they break down the biggest stories shaping higher education, AI adoption, school technology policy, and the future of learning.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:05:13] Higher ed leadership turnover accelerates amid political, financial, and AI pressures[00:11:00] OpenAI launches new AI tools for college students, professors, and K–12 educators[00:17:27] OpenAI pus
How Boddle Turned Classroom Math into a Game Kids Choose to Play with Edna Martinson
Edna Martinson is the Co-founder and COO of Boddle Learning, a gamified K–6 learning platform used by millions of students to build confidence in math, literacy, and science. She is passionate about combining great game design with research-backed learning experiences that teachers and students love.💡 5 Things You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhy Boddle was built to compete with video games.How ga
Week in Edtech 7/29/26: Gates Foundation Shakeup, OpenAI's AI Workforce Push, Y Combinator Backs AI Tutors, Coursera Invests $100M on AI Learning, and More! Feat. Kavitta Ghai of Nectir & Aidan McDowell of UniqLearn
Join hosts Ben Kornell and Alex Sarlin as they break down the biggest stories shaping AI, edtech investment, philanthropy, the future of work, and AI-powered learning.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:02:33] Bridges AI Summit brings district leaders together to discuss AI adoption, pilots, and edtech purchasing[00:05:19] Imagi raises $4.5M with backing from OpenAI, Lovable, Will.i.am, Kahoot!, and ElevenLa
Inside the Inaugural Columbians in EdTech Showcase: Meet the Winners
Inside Columbia's First EdTech Showcase, Alex Sarlin sits down with the founders and leaders behind the inaugural Columbia EdTech Showcase to explore the startups, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of learning from AI-powered discussion tools to health education, learning science, and content curation.🎙️ Featuring insights from:[00:01:56] Pete Novak, Founder, Columbians in EdTech[00:1
Claude for Teachers: How Anthropic Is Reimagining AI for Educators with Drew Bent & Sandra Liu Huang
Drew Bent leads Education at Anthropic, where he oversees education initiatives including Claude for Teachers. A former math teacher, Khan Academy engineer, and co-founder of Schoolhouse.world, Drew focuses on applying AI to improve teaching and learning.Sandra Liu Huang is President of Learning Commons, where she leads the development of open AI datasets and learning science infrastructure for ed
Student-Centered Learning, AI, and School Redesign with Julie Young of Florida Virtual School
Julie Young is the Founding CEO of Florida Virtual School (FLVS), where she helped pioneer online public education and expand access to millions of learners. She later founded ASU Prep Digital and is the author of Say Yes: How Virtual Became Reality, continuing to shape the future of student-centered learning.💡 5 Things You'll Learn in This Episode How Florida Virtual School grew from a small
Week in Edtech 7/15/26: NYC Pauses AI Procurement, Anthropic Launches Claude for Teachers, Norway Restricts AI in Schools, and More! Feat. Louise Baigelman of Storyshares & Ashish Bansal of StarSpark.AI
Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they discuss the latest developments in education technology, from growing AI skepticism in schools and major policy shifts to Anthropic's education strategy and conversations with founders tackling literacy and AI tutoring.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:05:49] New York City pauses AI procurement across its school system[00:11:28] New study questions AI&apo
Why Kids Should Help Design EdTech: Inside the Joan Ganz Cooney Center's Co-Design Movement
Michael Preston, Executive Director, Medha Tare, Senior Director of Research, and Liza Gak, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, are leading researchers focused on child-centered educational technology. Together, they are helping edtech organizations design better products by combining learning science, participatory co-design, and thoughtful approaches to AI.💡 5 Things You'll
Building an AI Tutor That Gets Students to Think with Sue Khim of Brilliant
Sue Khim is the Co-founder and CEO of Brilliant, the interactive learning platform that has helped millions of learners build deep understanding in math, science, and computer science. In this episode, she shares how Brilliant's new AI tutor, Koji, is designed to develop critical thinking rather than simply provide answers.💡 5 Things You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhy the best AI tutors ask
Week in Edtech 7/1/26: ETS Acquires ACT, Handshake Buys Uplimit, Google's Biggest ISTE AI Announcements, Microsoft AI Adoption Survey, and More! Feat. Karlo Young of Teachstone & Tom Sayer of Ello
Join hosts Ben Kornell and Alex Sarlin as they cover major edtech acquisitions, the biggest AI announcements from ISTE, the future of assessment, and how AI is reshaping teaching and learning.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:04:15] ETS acquires ACT, reshaping the future of assessment and college admissions[00:08:02] Handshake acquires Uplimit to expand AI upskilling and workforce learning[00:11:55] The de
How AI Coaching Is Transforming STEM Classrooms with Smita Saxena & Alexia Lewis of Maestro
Smita Saxena is the Founder of Maestro, an AI coaching platform helping K-12 STEM teachers improve instruction and student outcomes. Alexia Lewis is an 8th Grade Algebra I teacher at KIPP Polaris and a Maestro coach whose students achieved remarkable gains using the platform.💡 5 Things You'll Learn How AI coaching saves teachers hours every week. Why human coaching + AI outperforms either al
Week in Edtech 6/24/26: Anthropic's $150M AI Workforce Push, Europe's AI Literacy Framework, $27M Social Media Lawsuit, EdSurge's Decline, AI Backlash, and More! Feat. Dr. Ran Liu of Amira Learning & Antonio Pietri of PowerSchool
Join hosts Alex Sarlin and special guest host Daniela Pico, Head of Platform at Forum Ventures, as they discuss the AI backlash, workforce transformation, AI literacy, social media regulation, and the evolving future of education technology.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:03:37] Anthropic launches a $150M Claude Core fellowship program for AI workforce development[00:09:09] Why organizations need AI impl
Week in Edtech 6/17/26: OpenAI, Google & Anthropic Expand AI Workforce Training, UK Weighs Social Media Ban, DonorsChoose AI Requests Surge, and More! Feat. Tom ap Simon of Pearson & France Hoang of BoodleBox
Join hosts Alex Sarlin and special guest co-host Gemma Lenowitz Picot of Samvid Ventures as they break down the latest developments in AI, workforce development, edtech adoption, and education policy.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:03:26] OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic expand AI workforce training initiatives[00:10:30] Data center investments create new opportunities for workforce development[00:15:59] An
Anthony Salcito of Coursera on Why Skills Are the New Degree in the Age of AI
Anthony Salcito is President & GM of Enterprise at Coursera, where he leads partnerships with enterprises, universities, and governments to build job-relevant skills at scale. Previously, he held leadership roles at Microsoft and Nerdy (Varsity Tutors), and has spent his career at the intersection of technology, education, and workforce development.💡 5 Things You'll Learn in This EpisodeW
What Should Universities Teach When AI Knows Everything? with George Siemens of SNHU
George Siemens is the Chief AI & Innovation Officer at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and one of the most influential learning theorists in modern education. He is the creator of Connectivism, co-creator of the first MOOC, and a leading voice on how AI is reshaping learning, higher education, and knowledge itself.💡 5 Things You'll Learn in This Episode How AI is changing the arc
Week in EdTech 6/10/26: Claude Fable Launches, NAEP Recovery, Code.org Becomes CodeAI, AI Techlash Grows, Canvas Breach, and More! Feat. Yi Ng of Curiosities AI & Dr. Rob Abel of EdTech Futures
Join hosts Alex Sarlin and special guest co-host Thomas Rodgers of Whiteboard Advisors as they explore the latest developments in AI, edtech policy, learning outcomes, cybersecurity, and the future of AI-powered education.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:03:39] Anthropic’s Claude Fable launch sparks discussion about the next generation of AI capabilities[00:09:07] Meta launches a workforce academy initiat
Preparing Students for 2076: Ben Kornell on AI, Assessment, and the Future of Learning
In this special crossover episode, Edtech Insiders host Ben Kornell joins Allison Salisbury, author of The Humanist, for a wide-ranging conversation about AI, education, workforce development, and the future of learning. Together, they explore how AI could reshape assessment, personalized learning, school design, and the skills students will need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.💡 5 Things Yo
Week in Edtech 6/3/26: OpenAI, Anthropic & xAI Race Toward IPOs, AI Upskilling Booms, Handshake Surges, Global EdTech Prize Opens Applications, and More! Feat. Vikas Pota of T4 Education & Keri Dixon of Wilson Language Training
Join hosts Alex Sarlin and guest co-host Matt Tower of Whiteboard Advisors as they explore the latest developments in AI, workforce learning, edtech innovation, and literacy instruction.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:03:24] OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI prepare for potential IPOs[00:07:45] Anthropic surpasses OpenAI in valuation as enterprise AI adoption grows[00:08:59] Byju Raveendran’s legal challenges r
Lisa Gevelber of Grow with Google on Why AI Fluency Is the New Workforce Skill
Lisa Gevelber is the founder and leader of Grow with Google, Google's economic opportunity initiative focused on helping people build skills, careers, and businesses. Through Google Career Certificates and AI training programs, she has helped millions of learners develop workforce-ready skills and navigate an increasingly AI-driven economy.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode Why AI fluenc
Week in Edtech 5/27/26: AFT Reverses Course on AI, i-Ready Faces Backlash, New Federal School Choice Tax Credit, AI Remediation Gains Momentum, Anthropic Surges, and More! Feat. Noah Pickus of Duke University
Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they discuss the growing backlash against AI and screen time in schools, the launch of a federal education tax credit, promising new evidence for AI-powered remediation, workforce disruption from AI, and the future of higher education with Noah Pickus of Duke University.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:03:40] AFT shifts its position on AI and screen time in school
The Future of Tutoring Is Human + AI: Sam Olivieri & Daniel Halper of Step Up Tutoring
Sam Olivieri is the CEO of and has spent more than two decades expanding educational opportunity through leadership roles at GreatSchools, Entangled Solutions, and Guild Education. Daniel Halper is Co-Founder of Step Up Tutoring and leads Step Up AI Labs, where he develops AI-powered tools that help novice tutors deliver high-impact instruction at scale.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why
Week in Edtech 5/20/26: AI Backlash Grows, Anthropic & Gates Launch $200M Education Push, MasterClass, Chicago Booth & OpenAI Launch an AI-Native Business Program, and More! Feat. Angel Chung of The Wharton School & David Rogier of MasterClass
Join hosts Ben Kornell and Alex Sarlin as they explore the growing backlash against AI in education, the race to build AI-native learning systems, and the shifting future of edtech, workforce learning, and global education policy.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:02:18] Reflections and takeaways from this year’s ASU+GSV Summit [00:05:16] Gen Z backlash against AI grows at college commencements [00:08:06] C
From AI Policing to AI Coaching: Jason Katcher of Superhuman on Education’s Next Shift
Jason Katcher is the Global Education Channel Lead at Superhuman, where he focuses on scaling AI-powered productivity and communication tools across education through strategic partnerships. Previously at Google, Dropbox, and multiple edtech startups, Jason brings deep experience in education technology, AI adoption, and go-to-market strategy.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode Why schools nee
Week in EdTech 5/13/26: AI Literacy, Student Data Privacy, AI-Native Schools & Future of Assessment! Feat. Lisa O’Masta of Learning.com, Aaron Feuer of Panorama Education, Larisa Hovannisian of Armenia Education Initiative and Alexandra Walsh of Amplify
Join host Ben Kornell for a special episode featuring leaders across digital literacy, AI-native schooling, student support, and curriculum innovation in K–12 education.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:02:10] Lisa O’Masta, CEO of Learning.com, on why digital literacy and AI literacy must start in elementary school[00:18:34] Aaron Feuer, CEO and Co-founder of Panorama Education, reflects on building Panora
AI, Jobs, and What Comes Next with Kumar Garg of Renaissance Philanthropy
Kumar Garg is the President of Renaissance Philanthropy, where he leads thesis-driven philanthropic funds focused on major global challenges. Previously, he worked in the Obama White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and helped build Eric Schmidt’s science and tech initiatives.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode: How AI is projected to impact jobs, with forecasts suggesting modest
Teachers as Builders: Insights from Stephen Jull, Maruf Hasan & Sean McWeeney of Teach For All
Stephen Jull is the Global Head of AI and Educational Technology at Teach For All, leading efforts to connect educators with frontier AI labs. He’s joined by Maruf Hasan, a Bangladesh-based educator building AI tools in low-resource settings, and Sean McWeeney, a UK teacher focused on AI’s impact in high-need schools.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode: How teachers are moving from AI users to
Kira 2.0: Real Voices from the Launch Event
At the Kira 2.0 launch event in New York City, Sarah Morin captures rapid-fire insights from educators, administrators, and edtech leaders reacting in real time to one of the most ambitious AI learning platforms to date.🎙️ Featuring insights from:Brandon Chitty, Executive Director of Innovations, Broken Arrow Public SchoolsBrett Roer, CEO & Founder, Amplify and Elevate InnovationHarl Roehm, CT
The Math We Teach vs. The Math We Need with Ted Dintersmith
Ted Dintersmith is an education advocate, author, and filmmaker who has spent the past 15 years working alongside educators to rethink what learning should look like in the modern world. He has visited more than 200 schools across all 50 states, listening to teachers and students and studying approaches that prepare young people for real life beyond tests.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode: W
Steve Tapp of ACT on Bridging Academic Assessment and Workforce Readiness
Steve Tapp is the CEO of ACT, a leading nonprofit assessment organization best known for the ACT college admissions test. With over 30 years of experience in assessments across education, professional certification, and workforce testing, he previously led PSI Services and Lifelong Learner Holdings, helping scale global assessment platforms.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This EpisodeHow AI is transfor
Why Graduation Is Higher Ed’s Most Overlooked Growth Lever with Chase Rigby of Tassel
Chase Rigby is the CEO of Tassel, a platform modernizing graduation experiences for universities worldwide. A former Google PM and Chief Product Officer at Canopy, his career sits at the intersection of education, technology, and product innovation.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why graduation is a key (and overlooked) growth moment How Tassel simplifies complex commencement logistics W
Week in Edtech 4/8/26: Anthropic’s Mythos Sparks AI Security Concerns, EdTech Efficacy Debate Intensifies, Screen Time Backlash Grows, OpenAI Faces Pressure, AI Reshapes Entry-Level Jobs, Higher Ed Adapts, and More! Feat. Yoon Yang of Pensive
Join hosts Ben Kornell and guest co-host Matt Tower, as they break down the biggest stories shaping AI, edtech efficacy, cybersecurity, and the future of work in education.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:00:33] Rapid rise of AI-generated “vibe coding” raises concerns about software vulnerabilities and cybersecurity risks[00:02:44] ASU+GSV preview highlights the importance of relationships over deal-makin
AI Without the “Slop” with Brandon Cardet-Hernandez of Medley Learning
Brandon Cardet-Hernandez is the Founder and CEO of Medley Learning, a platform building AI-powered scaffolding tools for multilingual learners. A former multilingual learner himself, Brandon has served as a teacher, turnaround principal, Boston School Committee member, NYC education advisor, and edtech leader. His work focuses on closing the access gap, not lowering expectations.💡 5 Things You’ll
AI Doesn’t Learn Alone: Dr. Magdalena H. Gross of Mercor on Human Intelligence
Dr. Magdalena H. Gross of Mercor is a Stanford-trained scholar and a leader in AI education. With a unique ability to understand how people think, she helps experts translate deep human knowledge into AI-ready systems. She designs AI curricula and training programs that empower individuals and organizations, while also leading in community arts and muralism. Learn more about her work at www.magdal
Week in Edtech 3/18/26: NVIDIA’s Agentic AI Land Grab, ASU’s AI Playbook, AI Literacy vs Screen Bans, School Choice Expansion, Edtech Funding Shifts, and More! Feat. Aaron Cuny of AI for Equity & Joshua Broggi of Woolf
Join hosts Ben Kornell and special co-host Steve Shapiro, Founder of Finetune.AI, as they break down the biggest stories shaping AI, workforce disruption, K–12 policy, and the future of higher education. ✨ Episode Highlights: [00:05:10] NVIDIA signals the shift from AI experimentation to a full-scale platform “land grab” [00:08:19] Early signs of AI-driven productivity gains point to real workforc
Keeping Tutoring Human in the Age of AI with Mindy Sjoblom and Catherine Tierney of OnYourMark
Mindy Sjoblom is the Founder and CEO of OnYourMark, a research-backed virtual tutoring organization serving thousands of elementary students nationwide. Catherine Tierney is Head of Product and Program at OnYourMark, bringing deep experience from Match Education, MyCoach, and ThinkCERCA to the design of human-centered, evidence-based learning technology.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy A
Week in EdTech 3/11/26: OpenAI Launches Interactive Learning Tools, Stanford AI Education Meta-Study Raises Questions, AI Backlash Grows, K–12 Cybersecurity Risks Rise, and More! Feat. Oliver Page of CyberNut
Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they explore the latest developments in education technology, from OpenAI’s push into interactive learning to new research on AI efficacy, growing AI backlash, and rising cybersecurity threats in K–12 schools.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:05:30] OpenAI launches a new suite of 70+ interactive science and math learning experiences built on cognitive science and v
Designing AI to Support Teachers with Dr. Rachel Book and Charlie Thayer of Lincoln Learning Solutions
Dr. Rachel Book is an education leader at Lincoln Learning Solutions with over 20 years of experience in early childhood and student development. Charlie Thayer, Chief Academic Officer, brings 15+ years in online and blended learning, specializing in scalable, instructionally sound solutions.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:The difference between generic AI tools and purpose-built AI for ed
Josh Jones of QuantHub on Teaching AI Skills That Outlast the Tools
Josh Jones is the CEO of QuantHub, an edtech and workforce company advancing data and AI literacy across K–12, higher education, government, and enterprise. A serial entrepreneur and former data science consultant, Josh has spent decades helping organizations adapt to rapid technological change.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why AI education should focus on durable skills, not specific to
Managing AI by Default: Dean Celaj of GoTeacher on the Future of K–12 Data Privacy
Dean Celaj is the Founder and CEO of GoTeacher, a platform helping school districts understand, manage, and enforce student data privacy. Previously, he founded Akademi.al, an education platform used by over 90% of students in Albania during COVID, and was named to Forbes 30 Under 30.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy most school districts are technically out of compliance with student dat
Week in EdTech 2/25/26: FBI Raids LAUSD, Screen Time Backlash Grows, Google Trains 6M Teachers in AI, Southern States Post Gains, NationGraph Raises Funding, and More! Feat. Ariella Racco of CoLab Education
Join Ben Kornell and guest host Matt Tower as they break down the biggest stories shaping K–12 policy, AI in education, edtech funding, and emerging school models.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:02:55] FBI raids LAUSD headquarters and Superintendent Alberto Carvalho’s home, raising questions about federal investigations and possible ties to the AllHere scandal [00:06:07] The hosts unpack whether the LAUS
Greg Hart of Coursera on Why Skills Are the New Atomic Unit of Education
Greg Hart is the CEO of Coursera, bringing 25+ years of leadership and technology innovation from Amazon, where he helped develop Alexa and expand Prime Video globally. At Coursera, he leads the company’s mission to make learning more engaging, skills-focused, and accessible worldwide.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why skills are becoming the “atomic unit” of modern education.How AI is re
Week in Edtech 2/18/26: Student AI Walkouts, 26 States Push Phone Bans, Khan India Lessons, Utah Math Shakeup, Higher Ed Under Pressure, and More! Feat. Brandon Smith of Integrity Advocate
Join hosts Ben Kornell and guest host Peter Stiepleman, host of The Imperfect Leader, as they explore AI in schools, screen-time policy, math reform, higher ed disruption, and the future of assessment integrity.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:00:00] Peter Stiepleman on leading with “ed, not tech” when implementing AI in schools[00:06:33] Seattle-area student walkout over ChatGPT access sparks debate on A
Accessibility at Scale: How Priyank Chodisetti and Workback.ai Cut Compliance from Months to Days
Priyank Chodisetti is the Co-founder and CEO of Workback.ai, an AI-powered platform helping edtech organizations achieve accessibility compliance faster and at scale. A repeat founder and former engineering leader at Coursera, Priyank brings firsthand experience navigating the complexity of WCAG standards and ADA requirements.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy ADA Title II’s digital expans
Week in Edtech 02/04/26: Brisk’s AI Curriculum Launch, Kira 2.0 LMS Expansion, Texas ESA Surge, UK $23M AI Pilot for SEND, Microsoft’s Teacher AI Push, Data Battles in Schools, and More! Feat. Karl Rectanus of Really Great Reading & Dan Meyer of Amplify
Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they unpack a fast-moving week in education. From AI-native curriculum battles and literacy leadership shifts to voucher surges and national AI pilots reshaping special education. ✨ Episode Highlights:[00:01:48] ASU+GSV preview and the expanding global EdTech ecosystem[00:06:25] The 2026 EdTech AI Map launches with 240+ companies[00:07:14] Brisk introduces
Why Parents Are the Most Powerful Force in Education: Dr. Kathy Weston of Tooled Up Education
Dr. Kathy Weston is one of the leading national experts on parenting, family life and parental engagement in children's lives. In 2018, she established Tooled Up Education, a holistic bank of evidence-based resources for whole-school communities. Tooled Up supports 166 schools in 8 countries, delivering bespoke CPD for educators as well as 'on tap' resource support for parents.💡 5 T
What It Really Means to Be an AI-Ready Graduate with Richard Culatta of ISTE+ASCD
As CEO of ISTE+ASCD, Richard Culatta focuses on shaping innovative learning leaders. He previously served as Rhode Island's Chief Innovation Officer and was appointed by President Obama to lead the US Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology. His book, Digital for Good, helps create conditions for healthy tech use.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy being “AI-rea
Week in Edtech 1/28/26: SchoolAI in Classrooms, ChatGPT Blocked, OpenAI’s $30B Bet, Gemini vs Anthropic, China’s AI Literacy Push, Phone Bans Rise, Higher Ed Retention Challenges, and More! Feat. Jeremy Smith of pega6 & Stewart Brown of Code4Kids
Join hosts Ben Kornell and Alex Sarlin, joined by special co-host Mike Palmer, host of Trending in Ed, as they break down the biggest stories shaping AI, K–12 policy, higher education, and the global future of education.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:03:34] SchoolAI study shows teachers using AI for reasoning and inquiry [00:09:58] Denver Public Schools blocks ChatGPT over safety and privacy concerns [0
Designing Learning That Feels Like Play with Shangyup Kim and Jangwoo Bae of ZEP QUIZ
Shangyup Kim is the CEO of ZEP QUIZ, the metaverse-based gamified K-12 learning platform. Built AI-driven tools that help teachers motivate students at scale and is expanding across Asia and the U.S. As a former ZEPETO leader, focusing on gamification, futuristic change, and education. Formerly built two Series B companies.Jangwoo Bae is the business developer of ZEP QUIZ, a former English teacher
John Gamba on What EdTech Needs to Get Right About AI, Scale, and Learning Outcomes at Catalyst @ Penn GSE
John Gamba is Entrepreneur in Residence at Catalyst @ Penn GSE, where he mentors education entrepreneurs and leads the Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition. Over 17 years, the competition has awarded $2M to ventures that have gone on to raise more than $200M in follow-on funding, with a strong focus on equity and research-to-practice impact.The 2026 Milken-Penn GSE Education Busines
Why Education Is in an Imagination Crisis and How 4.0 Schools Is Responding with Nicole Jarbo
Nicole Jarbo is the CEO of 4.0 Schools, one of the nation’s leading platforms for early-stage education founders. A former KIPP teacher, Teach For America Corps member, and fintech founder, Nicole brings deep experience across classrooms, startups, philanthropy, and systems-level education change. She is also the host of the award-winning podcast Pitch Playground.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Ep
Coding in the Age of AI: How imagi Is Rethinking Computer Science Education with Dora Palfi
Dora Palfi is the Co-founder and CEO of imagi, an edtech company reimagining computer science education through creative coding and AI. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, Dora has a background in neuroscience, human-computer interaction, and technology, and is a passionate advocate for equitable access to future-ready skills.Special note: Free access to the Lovable × imagi collaboration has been extend
Week in Edtech 1/7/26: Tech Backlash, PowerSchool Layoffs, Consumer AI Learning, Screen Time Scrutiny, AI’s Role in Schools, and More! Feat. Eli Luberoff of Desmos Studio & Rebecca Winthrop of the Brookings Institution
Join hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they kick off 2026 with a wide-ranging Week in EdTech conversation covering tech backlash, AI in education, market consolidation, consumer learning tools, and major voices shaping the future of teaching and learning.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:00:00] Growing tech backlash around screen time, phone bans, and distrust of edtech.[00:03:55] PowerSchool layoffs re
The Fintech Behind School Choice: How ClassWallet Moves $1.5B to Families and Schools with Jamie Rosenberg
Jamie Rosenberg is the Founder and Executive Chairman of ClassWallet, a fintech platform modernizing how public education funds are distributed to schools and families. A longtime social impact entrepreneur, he previously founded AdoptAClassroom.org and has spent over two decades focused on getting dollars closer to students.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This EpisodeWhy education funding breakdowns a
Recommended
Medicine with Meaning
Yours Truly Johnny Dollar Collection
Take Back Your Health®
CBS Radio Mystery Theater | Old Time Radio
Solved Murders - True Crime Stories
紐約鳥｜New York Aperture
The Swerve Podcast: Obscure Topics | Conspiracy Theories
The Bread and Banter Podcast
The Church of What's Happening Now: The New Testament
Busted Open
Deadline: White House
Crickets Corner
