Podcast Episodes Archive

Catching Up podcast cover with two hosts, thought bubbles asking "School Choice?" and "Bottom-Up Innovation?" on teal background.

Ed Policy

Catching Up: School Choice, AI & Humanity, and Bottom-Up Innovation

Mason Pashia, Nate McClennen

Mar 13, 2026

AI agents, school choice research, and relational infrastructure—why investing in humanity matters as AI accelerates.

Equity & Access

Kelly Coffin on Leading Through Vulnerability

Rebecca Midles

Mar 11, 2026

How do leaders build a team that builds? Kelly Coffin shares how trust, co-design, and vulnerability drive system change.

Eric Wearne, glasses and beard, featured guest on the Getting Smart Podcast about hybrid learning and micro schools.

Equity & Access

Eric Wearne on Hybrid Learning and the Future of Micro School

Victoria Andrews

Mar 4, 2026

Hybrid schools and microschools are reshaping learning time, staffing, and access—plus what research says about trust and equity.

Nat Kendall-Taylor smiling in glasses and blazer, featured guest on the Getting Smart Podcast

Equity & Access

Nat Kendall-Taylor on The Power of Narrative

Mason Pashia

Feb 25, 2026

Nat Kendall-Taylor discusses narrative strategies, education reform, and how framing impacts systemic change in this insightful Getting Smart Podcast.

Justin Terry, guest on the Getting Smart Podcast, smiling in a suit and red tie against a blue gradient background.

New Pathways

Justin Terry on The Opportunity Center and Lifelong Learning

Victoria Andrews

Feb 18, 2026

Dr. Justin Terry shares how Forney ISD's Opportunity Center blends career, college, and community to redefine education and community spaces.

Clay Banks, guest on the Getting Smart Podcast, discussing EIC's approach to entrepreneurship education and mentorship.

Leadership

Clay Banks and EIC on Empowering Future Entrepreneurs Through Mentorship and Innovation

Mason Pashia

Feb 11, 2026

Exploring entrepreneurship in education: mentorship, student-led innovation, and the future of learning at Williamson County’s EIC program.

Three smiling podcast guests featured on the Kentucky Innovation episode of the Getting Smart Podcast.

David Cook, Sarah Snipes and Karen Perry on Building Sustainable Education Systems

Rebecca Midles

Feb 4, 2026

This podcast explores Kentucky’s innovative "United We Learn" initiative, highlighting community-driven education transformation and network building.

Getting Smart Podcast with David Dimmett, AI Literacy & STEM Education

Leadership

David Dimmett on AI Literacy & Career Readiness in STEM Education

Tom Vander Ark

Jan 28, 2026

David Dimmett discusses AI literacy, STEM pathways, and career readiness, emphasizing applied humanities, ethical reasoning, and durable skills.

Getting Smart Town Hall promotional graphic for "What's Next in Learning" event on January 21, 2026 at 10 a.m. PT

Future of Learning

Town Hall Recap: What’s Next in Learning 2026

Tom Vander Ark, Nate McClennen, Shawnee Caruthers, Victoria Andrews

Jan 23, 2026

As we enter 2026, the Getting Smart team is diving deep into the convergence of human potential and technological opportunity. Our annual Town Hall isn’t just a forecast—it’s a roadmap for the year ahead. We will explore how human-centered AI is reshaping pedagogy, the power of participation, and the new…

Getting Smart Podcast with Mason Pashia and Tom Vander Ark, Getting Smart

New Pathways

Mason Pashia and Tom Vander Ark on Navigating Paradox

Tom Vander Ark, Mason Pashia

Jan 21, 2026

Explore the paradoxes shaping education and AI in 2025: secure vs porous schools, scarcity vs abundance, creativity in AI, and values in uncertain times.

	Beginning	Piloting	Implementing
From Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery	BeginningFrom Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery Beginning	PilotingFrom Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery Piloting	ImplementingFrom Fixed Standards to Competency-Based Mastery Implementing
From One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning	BeginningFrom One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning Beginning	PilotingFrom One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning Piloting	ImplementingFrom One-Size-Fits-All to Adaptive Learning Implementing
From Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry	BeginningFrom Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry Beginning	PilotingFrom Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry Piloting	ImplementingFrom Prescribed Knowledge to Innovation & Inquiry Implementing
From Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning	BeginningFrom Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning Beginning	PilotingFrom Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning Piloting	ImplementingFrom Subjects as Silos to Transdisciplinary, Real-World Learning Implementing
From Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities	BeginningFrom Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities Beginning	PilotingFrom Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities Piloting	ImplementingFrom Schools as Self-Contained to Schools as Embedded in Communities Implementing
From Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment	BeginningFrom Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment Beginning	PilotingFrom Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment Piloting	ImplementingFrom Standardized Testing to Meaningful Assessment Implementing
From Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets	BeginningFrom Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets Beginning	PilotingFrom Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets Piloting	ImplementingFrom Institutional Ownership of Student Data to Student-Controlled Learning Wallets Implementing

Advocacy

Advisory

Topics

Recent Releases