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
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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 schoo
Inside Reach Capital’s $265M Fund V with Jomayra Herrera
Send us Fan MailJomayra 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
AI Should Support Teachers, Not Replace Them with Joy Delizo-Osborne of Student Achievement Partners
Send us Fan MailJoy 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 an
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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[00:1
How Boddle Turned Classroom Math into a Game Kids Choose to Play with Edna Martinson
Send us Fan MailEdna 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 vi
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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, Kahoo
Inside the Inaugural Columbians in EdTech Showcase: Meet the Winners
Send us Fan MailInside 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, Columbian
Claude for Teachers: How Anthropic Is Reimagining AI for Educators with Drew Bent & Sandra Liu Huang
Send us Fan MailDrew 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 infra
Student-Centered Learning, AI, and School Redesign with Julie Young of Florida Virtual School
Send us Fan MailJulie 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 g
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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
Why Kids Should Help Design EdTech: Inside the Joan Ganz Cooney Center's Co-Design Movement
Send us Fan MailMichael 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 Thi
Building an AI Tutor That Gets Students to Think with Sue Khim of Brilliant
Send us Fan MailSue 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 be
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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[
How AI Coaching Is Transforming STEM Classrooms with Smita Saxena & Alexia Lewis of Maestro
Send us Fan MailSmita 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 outpe
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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 organizati
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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 developm
Anthony Salcito of Coursera on Why Skills Are the New Degree in the Age of AI
Send us Fan MailAnthony 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
What Should Universities Teach When AI Knows Everything? with George Siemens of SNHU
Send us Fan MailGeorge 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
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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
Preparing Students for 2076: Ben Kornell on AI, Assessment, and the Future of Learning
Send us Fan MailIn 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 wor
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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 le
Lisa Gevelber of Grow with Google on Why AI Fluency Is the New Workforce Skill
Send us Fan MailLisa 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 Episo
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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 scree
The Future of Tutoring Is Human + AI: Sam Olivieri & Daniel Halper of Step Up Tutoring
Send us Fan MailSam 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 T
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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 commenceme
From AI Policing to AI Coaching: Jason Katcher of Superhuman on Education’s Next Shift
Send us Fan MailJason 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
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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
AI, Jobs, and What Comes Next with Kumar Garg of Renaissance Philanthropy
Send us Fan MailKumar 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 su
Teachers as Builders: Insights from Stephen Jull, Maruf Hasan & Sean McWeeney of Teach For All
Send us Fan MailStephen 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
Kira 2.0: Real Voices from the Launch Event
Send us Fan MailAt 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 Innovati
The Math We Teach vs. The Math We Need with Ted Dintersmith
Send us Fan MailTed 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
Steve Tapp of ACT on Bridging Academic Assessment and Workforce Readiness
Send us Fan MailSteve 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 EpisodeHo
Why Graduation Is Higher Ed’s Most Overlooked Growth Lever with Chase Rigby of Tassel
Send us Fan MailChase 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 commencem
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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
AI Without the “Slop” with Brandon Cardet-Hernandez of Medley Learning
Send us Fan MailBrandon 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.💡
AI Doesn’t Learn Alone: Dr. Magdalena H. Gross of Mercor on Human Intelligence
Send us Fan MailDr. 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 wo
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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
Keeping Tutoring Human in the Age of AI with Mindy Sjoblom and Catherine Tierney of OnYourMark
Send us Fan MailMindy 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 T
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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 cogniti
Designing AI to Support Teachers with Dr. Rachel Book and Charlie Thayer of Lincoln Learning Solutions
Send us Fan MailDr. 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
Josh Jones of QuantHub on Teaching AI Skills That Outlast the Tools
Send us Fan MailJosh 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,
Managing AI by Default: Dean Celaj of GoTeacher on the Future of K–12 Data Privacy
Send us Fan MailDean 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
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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
Greg Hart of Coursera on Why Skills Are the New Atomic Unit of Education
Send us Fan MailGreg 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 educat
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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 sp
Accessibility at Scale: How Priyank Chodisetti and Workback.ai Cut Compliance from Months to Days
Send us Fan MailPriyank 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’
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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]
Why Parents Are the Most Powerful Force in Education: Dr. Kathy Weston of Tooled Up Education
Send us Fan MailDr. 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 f
What It Really Means to Be an AI-Ready Graduate with Richard Culatta of ISTE+ASCD
Send us Fan MailAs 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 EpisodeW
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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 pri
Designing Learning That Feels Like Play with Shangyup Kim and Jangwoo Bae of ZEP QUIZ
Send us Fan MailShangyup 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
John Gamba on What EdTech Needs to Get Right About AI, Scale, and Learning Outcomes at Catalyst @ Penn GSE
Send us Fan MailJohn 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 E
Why Education Is in an Imagination Crisis and How 4.0 Schools Is Responding with Nicole Jarbo
Send us Fan MailNicole 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
Coding in the Age of AI: How imagi Is Rethinking Computer Science Education with Dora Palfi
Send us Fan MailDora 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
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
Send us Fan MailJoin 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] PowerS
The Fintech Behind School Choice: How ClassWallet Moves $1.5B to Families and Schools with Jamie Rosenberg
Send us Fan MailJamie 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 fund
Behind the Scenes of Global Tutoring: How EDGE Tutor Powers 50+ EdTech Companies with Henry Motte de la Motte
Send us Fan MailHenry Motte de la Motte is the Founder and CEO of EDGE Tutor, a global tutor outsourcing company supporting over 50 leading education and training organizations. Under his leadership, EDGE Tutor has scaled to 1,000+ teachers across 30+ countries, delivering millions of live tutoring sessions with a focus on quality, reliability, and human-centered learning.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn i
Year-End Special Part 2: 2026 AI & EdTech Predictions from Google, YouTube, Reach Capital, Owl Ventures & More!
Send us Fan MailIn Part 2 of our year-end reflections, Alex speaks with educators, founders, investors, and platform leaders about what 2026 may bring for AI and learning at scale.🎙️ Featuring insights from:Shantanu Sinha, VP & GM, Google for EducationKatie Kurtz, Managing Director & Global Head of Youth & Learning, YouTubeAmit Patel, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Owl VenturesJoma
What If School Worked Like a Video Game? Nolan Bushnell and Dr. Leah Hanes of ExoDexa Explain
Send us Fan MailNolan Bushnell is the founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese and is widely known as the father of the video game industry. Dr. Leah Hanes is the CEO of ExoDexa, co-author of the ExoDexa Manifesto, and leads the Two Bit Circus Foundation, where she has impacted over 460,000 students through game-based and project-based learning.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why traditional s
Week in Edtech 12/17/25: Coursera–Udemy Merger Shakes Online Learning, AI Platform Wars Heat Up, Purdue Mandates AI Skills, Higher Ed Faces Consolidation, and More! Feat. Isabelle Hau of Stanford Accelerator for Learning!
Send us Fan MailJoin hosts Alex Sarlin, Ben Kornell, Michael Horn and Dhawal Shah as they break down major moves in online learning, AI, and higher education shaping the end of 2025.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:00:00] Coursera and Udemy announce a $2.5B all-stock merger forming a 175M-learner platform[00:00:30] Michael Horn on Coursera’s growing leverage over university partners[00:02:08] Ben Kornell
Year-End Special Part 1: Reviewing 2025 + 2026 AI & EdTech Predictions from Reach Capital, HMH, Brisk & More!
Send us Fan Mail2025 was a defining year for AI in education. From rapid adoption to rising educator confidence and growing questions about what comes next.In Part 1 of our year-end reflections and predictions, Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell revisit their 2025 reflections and look ahead to what 2026 may bring for EdTech, AI, and the future of learning.🎙️ Featuring insights from:Tom Vander Ark, Founde
Teaching AI to Teach: The National Tutoring Observatory’s Bold Mission with Rene Kizilcec
Send us Fan MailRene Kizilcec is an Associate Professor at Cornell University, where he directs the Cornell Future of Learning Lab and leads the National Tutoring Observatory. His research focuses on learning science, AI in education, and the behavioral and computational factors that shape student success. His work has appeared in Science, PNAS, and other top journals.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in Th
Week in Edtech 12/10/25: OpenAI’s Teacher Certifications, Kids’ Online Safety Bills, Early Literacy Declines, College Admissions Shakeups, and More! Feat. Maya Bialik of QuestionWell, Peter Nilsson of Athena Lab & Emily Gill of LEVRA
Send us Fan MailJoin hosts Alex Sarlin, Ben Wallerstein, and Matt Tower for Week in Edtech, exploring OpenAI’s teacher certifications, kids’ online safety legislation, early literacy declines, college admissions pressures, and what remains irreplaceable in education as AI advances.✨ Episode Highlights[00:03:00] OpenAI launches teacher certifications, expanding into K–12 [00:05:00] Big Tech credent
Announcing the Global EdTech Prize Winners — Live at the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi
Send us Fan MailThis special EdTech Insiders episode, recorded live at the World Schools Summit in Abu Dhabi, spotlights the Global EdTech Prize winners and finalists sharing how they’re scaling impact across K–12 learning, teacher AI workflows, and digital skills worldwide.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:Abwaab’s AI-driven grading and human coaching model.Brisk’s rapid global growth throu
Charlie Hopkins-Brinicombe on Why Most Gamification Fails and How Trophy.so Does It Better
Send us Fan MailCharlie Hopkins-Brinicombe is the co-founder of Trophy.so, a gamification infrastructure platform helping EdTech and wellness companies build engaging learning experiences in weeks, not months. With a background in product development and motivation design, Charlie focuses on creating scalable systems that boost retention, habit formation, and learner satisfaction.💡 5 Things You’ll
Week in EdTech 12/03/25: PhysicsWallah IPO Shakes Indian EdTech, Google & OpenAI Escalate AI Race, Higher Ed Adopts AI, New AI Leaderboard Launches, and More! Feat. Andrew Carlins of Songscription and Eric Tao & Austin Levinson of MegaMinds
Send us Fan MailJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they break down the biggest shifts in global edtech. From PhysicsWallah’s major IPO to Google–OpenAI competition, higher-ed adoption of AI, and new benchmarks shaping the future of learning. ✨ Episode Highlights [00:07:00] PhysicsWallah’s IPO reshapes Indian edtech and signals renewed global momentum [00:15:00] Google and OpenAI escalate th
Turning Trusted Books into Personal Learning Agents with Aibrary
Send us Fan MailFrank Wu is the Co-founder of Aibrary and a Harvard Kennedy School MPP graduate. He led 20+ edtech and AI investments at TAL, helped build Think Academy in the U.S., and previously taught 3M+ students.Susan Wang is the Chief Growth Officer at Aibrary and a Yale and Harvard Business School alum. She led creator and product operations at TikTok and worked in strategy at TAL, with dee
The Rise of AI Companions: What Parents and Educators Need to Know with Dr. Sonia Tiwari
Send us Fan MailDr. Sonia Tiwari is a Children's Media Researcher focused on how characters shape learning experiences. With a background spanning animation, game design, and a PhD in Learning Design & Technology, she advises edtech and media companies on ethical, developmentally aligned character design. Her work has been featured at Stanford, Harvard, MIT, UNICEF, and the National Geogr
Teaching Lab Studio: Co-Designing AI Tools with Educators
Send us Fan MailDr. Sarah Johnson is the CEO and President of Teaching Lab and Relay Graduate School of Education, leading their AI-enabled product innovation and educator preparation initiatives. She is joined by Teaching Lab Studio fellows: Riz Malik, creator of Coteach, a curriculum-aligned AI assistant for math teachers; Gautam Thapar, CEO of Enlighten AI, a personalized AI grading and feedbac
Week in EdTech 11/19/25: OpenAI Launches ChatGPT for K–12, Google Deepens AI Push, Edtech Tools Face New Classroom Backlash, and More! Feat. Janos Perczel of Polygence & Dr. Stephen Hodges of Efekta Education
Send us Fan MailJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they break down OpenAI’s unexpected launch of ChatGPT for K–12, Google’s accelerating AI momentum, and what these shifts mean for schools, teachers, and the edtech ecosystem.✨ Episode Highlights: [00:02:03] OpenAI unveils ChatGPT for K–12 educators—secure, curriculum-aware, and free through 2027 [00:03:02] The emerging AI Classroom Wars bet
Inside the Google AI for Learning Forum: How Google Is Building the Future of Learning
Send us Fan MailThis special on-site episode of Edtech Insiders was recorded live at the Google AI for Learning Forum in London on November 14, 2024, where we sat down with leaders shaping Google’s next generation of learning tools, including Shantanu Sinha, VP of Google for Education, Tal Oppenheimer, Product Management Director, Google Labs & Learning, Julia Wilkowski, Pedagogy & Learnin
How Higher Ed Can Actually Prepare Students for Work with Brandon Busteed of Edconic
Send us Fan MailBrandon Busteed is the CEO of Edconic and a nationally recognized leader in work-integrated learning. Formerly President of Kaplan University Partners and Head of Education & Workforce Development at Gallup, he has spent his career building bridges between higher education and industry through research, innovation, and large-scale partnerships.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Ep
Week in Edtech 11/12/2025: Google DeepMind AI Forum Recap, Duolingo Crash, Parents Turn to Screen-Free EdTech, AI Companions in Schools, and More! Feat. Michelle Culver (The Rithm Project), Erin Mote (InnovateEDU), & Ben Caulfield (Eedi)
Send us Fan MailJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they unpack the breakthroughs and backlash following the Google DeepMind AI for Learning Forum in London—and what it means for the future of edtech.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:03:30] Google DeepMind’s AI for Learning Forum sets a new global tone for learning innovation[00:06:58] Google’s “Learn Your Way” tool personalizes entire textbooks with
EDTECH WEEK Shark Tank Champions: AI, XR, and The Future of Learning
Send us Fan MailThis special EdTech Insiders episode features the four Shark Tank winners from EdTech Week. Each founder shares how their breakthrough approach is transforming learning, teaching, and workforce development across K–12, higher education, and global training environments.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:Lirvana Labs’ multilingual, trauma-informed AI companion.Socrait’s voice-p
Pokémon to Prodigy: How Game-Based Learning Captivated 20 Million Students with Rohan Mahimker
Send us Fan MailRohan Mahimker is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Prodigy Education, a global leader in digital game-based learning.Rohan launched Prodigy alongside his fellow Co-Founder and Co-CEO Alex Peters in 2011. Today, Prodigy’s flagship math game is used by more than 20 million 1st-8th Grade students and is one of the most popular supplemental classroom tools in the United States.💡 5 Things You’l
Teaching the AI Generation with Mireia Torello of Aikreate
Send us Fan MailMireia Torello is the CEO and co-founder of Aikreate, an EdTech company revolutionizing AI Literacy for students and educators worldwide. With a PhD in Earth Sciences and an Executive MBA from IESE Business School, Mireia brings a unique mix of scientific and entrepreneurial experience. She has led Aikreate through partnerships with schools, universities, and governments and has be
Inside the First VR Homeschool: Meta-Backed Optima Ed and the Next Era of Learning with Adam Mangana
Send us Fan MailAdam Mangana is the Co-Founder and CEO of Optima Ed, the first full-time VR homeschool backed by Meta. With over 15 years in edtech leadership, he’s pioneering immersive, AI-driven learning experiences that expand access to quality education and reimagine how, where, and why students learn.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:How Optima Ed blends classical education with cutting
Week in EdTech 10/29/25: Alpha School's Backlash, Chegg Layoffs, Kaplan’s AI Pivot, Mem0’s “Memory Layer,” Big Tech vs. Higher Ed, and More! Feat. Rebecca Winthrop & Jenny Anderson, Authors of The Disengaged Teen and Justin Reich, MIT Teaching Systems Lab
Send us Fan MailJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they recap a post–New York EdTech Week full of highs and hard truths.✨ Episode Highlights: [00:00:00] Alpha School's backlash and what it reveals about AI-based education. [00:06:58] EdTech’s new K–20 alliance with Microsoft and Google for responsible AI. [00:10:09] The risks and lessons from Alpha School's rapid rise and fall. [0
Inside ECMC Group’s $250M Education Impact Fund with Joe Watt and Atin Batra
Send us Fan MailJoe Watt co-founded ECMC Group’s Education Impact Fund to back bold ideas expanding equity and opportunity in education. Today, he leads the Fund as Managing Director, shaping how patient, mission-driven capital creates lasting change. He’s joined by Atin Batra, a Director at the Fund, who leads investments across the learner journey, bringing a global venture lens and a deep focus
GESAwards: Breaking Barriers with Innovation in AI, Music, and Prison Ed
Send us Fan MailIn this special episode, we spotlight the GESAwards, often called the “United Nations of EdTech,” with founder Avi Warshavsky of MindCET and three inspiring finalists from around the world. They share how they’re harnessing AI, rethinking prison education, and transforming music learning for millions of students.💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why GESAwards are built on lo
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