Episodes

  • Smarter Decision-Making in the Age of AI with Cheryl Strauss Einhorn, Author of The Human Edge

    Smarter Decision-Making in the Age of AI with Cheryl Strauss Einhorn, Author of The Human Edge
    May 15 2026
    Cheryl Strauss Einhorn joins Mike Palmer to discuss her latest book, The Human Edge: Smarter Decisions in the Age of AI. As the founder of Decisive and a former investigative journalist for Barron's, Cheryl brings a unique perspective to the world of problem solving. Her career shift from reporting on corporate scandals to teaching at Columbia University stems from a desire to move beyond simple awareness of cognitive biases and toward a system that actively counters them. The conversation centers on the AREA method, a decision making framework designed to manage the mental shortcuts that often lead us astray. Cheryl explains how her method separates research into distinct phases: Absolute, Relative, Exploration, Exploitation, and Analysis. By slowing down to evaluate information from multiple perspectives, decision makers can gain the conviction needed to act in high stakes environments. The Human Edge focuses specifically on how humans can remain the chief deciders while using AI as a cognitive sidecar. Cheryl notes that while AI provides speed and vast amounts of data, it lacks personal context and an understanding of human consequences. She warns against AI sycophancy, where tools mirror our own preferences back to us and narrow our worldview. To combat this, she introduces the concept of the cheetah pause, a deliberate deceleration that allows for the agility and maneuverability required to navigate complex problems. Mike and Cheryl also explore the role of AI in education and the workplace. They discuss using AI for perspective taking through role play, conducting pre-mortems to identify potential failures, and the importance of teaching decision science as a core competency in schools. The episode concludes with a reminder that our decisions define our future, and maintaining human agency is essential as we integrate powerful new technologies into our lives. Time Stamps: 00:00 - Introduction and professional origin story 03:50 - Transitioning from journalism to decision science 05:30 - Overview of The Human Edge and making decisions with AI 08:20 - Breaking down the AREA method 12:30 - Pre-mortems and the analysis of failure 15:45 - The risks of AI framing and the lack of human context 18:45 - Navigating research fire hoses and AI sycophancy 23:15 - Credibility, hallucinations, and the ROI of AI training 26:30 - The Cheetah Pause: finding agility through deceleration 31:10 - Using AI for perspective taking and agentic workflows 35:30 - AI as a safe space for learning and post-mortems 38:40 - Integrating decision making into the education system 40:50 - Closing thoughts: becoming the chief decider Links: The Human Edge: Smarter Decisions in the Age of AI: https://www.amazon.com/Human-Edge-Smarter-Decisions-Age/dp/1119931313 Decisive: https://www.areamethod.com/ Problem-Solver Type Quiz: https://www.areamethod.com/quiz/ Subscribe to Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode like this one. Visit us at Trending in Ed for more.
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    42 mins
  • Exploring American Educational Excellence with Author and Founder Kenan Sahin

    Exploring American Educational Excellence with Author and Founder Kenan Sahin
    May 12 2026
    Host Mike Palmer welcomes Kenan Sahin, the Founder and President of CAMX Power and author of American Educational Excellence: The Foundation of Our Values, Democracy, and Market Capitalism, to the podcast. We explore his educational roots as a product of California public schools and early career as an MIT professor, as well as his time leading Bell Labs as a Vice President of Technology. Kenan shares the story of the catalyst for his book, which began when he challenged an expert in the Hague who could not find enough bad words for the American system. He compares US-trained engineers to those from Europe, arguing that our system excels because it prioritizes what students do with their knowledge rather than just the depth of what they know. The conversation then shifts to examine the fundamental values that define Americans as change-oriented societal rebels who cherish independence and choice. Kenan traces the origins of American educational excellence back to 1636 and the founding of Harvard College, as well as the 1647 law requiring towns to fund schools to protect children from being tempted by Satan. He contrasts our decentralized, coordinated network of thousands of local school districts and private colleges with centralized, state-controlled models like that of France. He also addresses the resilience of the university business model, noting that while major corporations often last only twenty years, many universities endure for centuries. We then tackle modern challenges like rising tuition costs and look at how technology and AI are shifting the focus of learning away from facts and knowledge toward the art of asking the right questions. Kenan notes new MIT initiatives designed to train thousands of engineers at a lower cost and the role of technology in supporting special education teachers. We end with the insight that excellence requires daily improvement and that despite critiques, our system remains a global leader by preparing students for democracy and market capitalism. Subscribe, like, and share Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more. Timestamps 00:15 Intro to Kenan Sahin 01:20 Kenan's background and MIT history 02:15 Bell Labs and the legacy of Arthur D. Little 03:55 Challenging the expert in the Hague 05:40 US engineers vs European graduates 06:55 Knowledge vs action: What you do with what you know 10:10 American values: Societal rebels and innovation 11:55 Family dynamics and the rebellion against authority 15:20 The 1636 founding of Harvard 17:15 The 1647 Tempting Satan Act 19:15 Centralized French system vs US coordinated network 20:45 University longevity and business model resilience 23:40 Tuition costs and philanthropy examples at MIT and Princeton 29:15 Quality control in the American higher education factory 31:55 Education for a lifetime vs trade schools 34:45 MIT's new 10,000 dollar engineering initiative 36:20 AI and the importance of asking the right questions 40:40 Special education and technology assistance 43:00 Daily excellence and the spirit of philanthropy
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    45 mins
  • Big If True Thinking, AI and Early Literacy with Kumar Garg, President Renaissance Philanthropy

    Big If True Thinking, AI and Early Literacy with Kumar Garg, President Renaissance Philanthropy
    May 8 2026
    Kumar Garg, President of Renaissance Philanthropy, rejoins host Mike Palmer for his third appearance on Trending in Ed, earning his highly coveted refrigerator magnet. Kumar discusses RenPhil's growth and its mission to help donors invest effectively in science and technology research areas like AI, climate, and education. Big If True: The conversation explores the concept of "Big If True" and the Big If True Science (BITS) accelerator. This framework focuses on transformative ideas that can have a tangible impact on a field within a three to five-year timeline. Rather than funding incremental research, BITS encourages researchers to identify the biggest goals that would make a real difference in the world if achieved. LEVI Literacy Initiative: A major focus of the episode is the Learning Engineering Virtual Institute (LEVI) Literacy Initiative. This $100 million program aims to cut the number of struggling early readers in half within the school districts where it operates. Kumar explains how improved AI diagnostics can identify speech impediments and learning disabilities much earlier than current methods, allowing for intervention before students fall behind in the third grade. A key technical challenge involves improving Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) for children. Current models are significantly less accurate for younger voices and noisy classrooms compared to adult speech. By building better datasets and benchmarks, researchers can create AI tools that serve as screeners to help speech pathologists and educators provide more tailored services early on, to ensure kids are on track by key 3rd grade literacy milestones. Learning Engineering: The episode also covers learning engineering, a field that treats the act of instruction as a systems-level challenge. Kumar highlights the dynamic dosing model from Carnegie Mellon, which combines human tutoring with digital AI tools to provide personalized learning. This hybrid approach allows students to advance at their own pace while keeping a human instructor available to manage motivation and technical hurdles. Time Stamps: 00:00 Welcome back to Kumar Garg and the refrigerator magnet 03:55 The Big If True Science accelerator framework 05:48 Launching the LEVI Literacy Initiative to help early readers 08:18 Fixing the speech recognition gap for young children 14:48 Applying learning engineering to system-level breakthroughs 22:15 Safety as an accelerant for technological innovation 30:23 Dynamic dosing and the future of human and AI tutoring Subscribe to Trending in Ed on your favorite podcast platform to stay updated on the future of learning. Visit Renaissance Philanthropy at renphil.org to learn more about their newly launched LEVI Literacy Fund and other initiatives.
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    40 mins
  • AI Literacy, Storytelling, and the Magic of Moby with BrainPOP CEO Lorin Thomas-Tavel

    AI Literacy, Storytelling, and the Magic of Moby with BrainPOP CEO Lorin Thomas-Tavel
    May 5 2026
    In this special edition of Trending in Education, former colleagues reunite as Mike Palmer interviews Lorin Thomas-Tavel, the CEO of BrainPOP. We explore the evolution of a major brand in EdTech and discuss how it continues to simplify complex topics for students and teachers alike. We dive into the 27-year history of BrainPOP, which began when a doctor created animated content to help young patients understand their own bodies. Today, the platform serves as a trusted companion for teachers in K-8 classrooms, focusing on sense-making during complicated times. We discuss the unique parasocial bond children and adults share with iconic characters like Tim and Moby, and why human-led storytelling continues to power the magic of the product. We also celebrate AI Literacy Day by talking about BrainPOP’s work on AI literacy. Lorin explains how they partnered with Digital Promise to adopt a rigorous framework that focuses on understanding, evaluating, and using AI. We discuss why AI is an additive tool rather than a replacement for the human teacher in the classroom. The conversation touches on BrainPOP’s partnership with Kirkbi, the private holding and investment arm of LEGO, and how this collaboration energizes their mission of digital play and impact. Lorin also shares leadership insights on "even over" prioritization, the 10x power of cultural fit, and her recognition as an honoree with the Power of Women at the ASU+GSV conference. Time Stamps: 00:00: Intro and a Kaplan Reunion 03:00: The History and Mission of BrainPOP 04:45: Character Pedagogy and the Power of Moby 08:50: Launching the AI Literacy Collection with Digital Promise 13:45: The Lego Partnership and Digital Play 16:45: Integrating AI While Maximizing the Human Element 19:45: ASU+GSV and the Power of Women Recognition 21:40: Career Advice on Mentorship and the Courage to Ask 23:45: Building Culture and Using Even Overs for Focus 28:30: Final Takeaways on Curiosity and Community Like, follow, and subscribe to Trending in Ed with Mike Palmer wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode like this one.
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    30 mins
  • Building Education Programs with Iconic Brands with Edconic's Victoria Weinfeld

    Building Education Programs with Iconic Brands with Edconic's Victoria Weinfeld
    Apr 24 2026
    LIVE! from the Harbor Terrace at ASU+GSV 2026 in San Diego, Mike Palmer sits down with Victoria Weinfeld, Vice President of Enrollment, Marketing, and Sales at Edconic. In this fast-paced environment of "drinking from a fire hose," Victoria shares the evolution of Edconic (formerly known as BrandED) and its unique mission to bridge the gap between traditional education and the future of work. Edconic specializes in creating industry-immersive programs alongside some of the world’s most recognizable brands, including Vogue, The New York Times, Sotheby’s, Manchester City, and their newest partner, Mayo Clinic. Victoria explains how these partnerships go beyond simple guest lectures; they involve co-designing curriculum with practitioners to ensure students gain the hands-on, practical skills that employers frequently find lacking in early-career workers . Whether it’s high school students touring the New York Times newsroom or master’s students graduating at a Sotheby’s auction house, the focus remains on experiential learning and building a tangible work-product portfolio . 🎓 The conversation also dives into the dominant themes of the 2026 conference, specifically the Power of Fusion and the unavoidable influence of AI. Victoria highlights how Edconic’s partners are now demanding AI exposure in curriculum to prepare students for day-one workplace expectations. We explore the strategic growth of Edconic’s portfolio and the potential for "white labeling" their expertise to help more organizations translate their brands into educational experiences. It’s a visionary look at how education and industry can deeply tie together to foster the next generation of talent 🚀. Want more? Check out Edconic CEO Brandon Busteed's previous appearance on Trending in Ed. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow, like, and subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts! Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction live from ASU+GSV in San Diego 01:54 - Victoria Weinfeld’s 10-year journey and the rebranding of Edconic 02:58 - Defining the Edconic model: Industry-immersive learning with iconic brands 03:52 - Highlighting powerhouse partners: Vogue, NYT, Mayo Clinic, and more 04:31 - Serving the learner lifecycle from pre-college to professionals 05:39 - The logistics of in-person, experiential access to industry facilities 06:55 - Bridging the "unprepared worker" gap and integrating AI exposure 08:52 - Strategic growth and deepening the existing brand portfolio 11:37 - The "Special Sauce": Co-designing curriculum with practitioners 14:14 - Advice for K-12 and Higher Ed on building closer industry ties 17:34 - The value of rotational "taster" experiences and portfolio building 19:12 - Alumni success stories: From summer courses to the Washington Post 20:46 - Exploring future models and "white label" educational services 21:55 - Final takeaways: AI, Fusion, and workforce development themes
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    24 mins
  • The Future of Work, AI, and Economic Mobility with Dr. Steve Taylor, Stand Together Trust

    The Future of Work, AI, and Economic Mobility with Dr. Steve Taylor, Stand Together Trust
    Apr 23 2026
    Recorded LIVE! on the Harbor Terrace at the ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, Mike Palmer is joined by Dr. Steven Taylor, Policy Director and Senior Fellow for Economic Mobility at Stand Together Trust. Steve brings a unique perspective to the table, combining a national philanthropic lens with his roles on the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and the National Advisory Committee for Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI). The conversation captures the shifting energy of the summit, moving away from the peak of AI hype toward what Steve calls "optimistic skepticism" - a more mature look at how technology can practically transform learning while remaining grounded in the reality of its current limitations. The discussion explores the potential of AI to revolutionize the K-12 experience, using examples like Austin’s Alpha School to show how personalized learning can compress the school day, allowing students more time to pursue their passions. Steve and Mike tackle the difficult questions of equity and the "risk capital" required to bring high-cost innovations to scale. Then we pivot to the higher education landscape, where Steve emphasizes the need to dignify non-degree pathways. He shares insights from Virginia’s FastForward program, a pay-for-performance model that has successfully moved residents into high-demand fields through short-term credentials, proving that ROI isn't just a metric for four-year degrees. As the conversation turns to the future of work, Steve expresses concern over the potential displacement of entry-level roles—the "desk jockey" jobs that traditionally provide young people with essential social capital and early career experience. He argues that our labor laws are antiquated and must evolve to support a more flexible, AI-driven workforce that favors 1099 and gig-based contributions. From the necessity of correcting AI’s erroneous outputs to the complexities of AI-driven hiring and the debate over universal basic income, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the policy and philanthropic shifts needed to ensure everyone can contribute to a changing economy. Time Stamps 00:00 - Welcome to Trending in Ed Live from San Diego 01:00 - Steve Taylor’s roles at Stand Together, SCHEV, and NACIQI 02:00 - Moving from AI hype to "optimistic skepticism" 03:00 - Transforming K-12: The Alpha School model 05:00 - The role of risk capital and philanthropy in scaling tech 08:00 - Dignifying non-degree pathways and the ROI of trades 09:30 - Virginia’s "Fast Forward" and the success of short-term credentials 12:00 - Why states shouldn't let federal funding dictate workforce design 13:30 - AI skepticism: Correcting outputs and the "mid" floor 16:00 - The risk of losing entry-level career experiences 18:00 - Social capital and the "future of working" 20:30 - Why federal labor law must catch up to the 1099 economy 22:30 - Thoughts on AI adjustment assistance vs. UBI 23:30 - Closing thoughts and where to find Stand Together To keep up with the latest in the world of learning, make sure to Follow, Like, and Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts.
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    24 mins
  • Unpacking Student Success in Higher Ed with Ruth Bauer, President InsideTrack

    Unpacking Student Success in Higher Ed with Ruth Bauer, President InsideTrack
    Apr 22 2026
    Mike Palmer catches up with Ruth Bauer, President of InsideTrack, amidst the sun and high-stakes energy of San Diego for the ASU+GSV conference. Ruth shares her transition from a first-generation college student and mall-employed English major to an e-learning "OG" (like Mike) to leading a powerhouse in student success at InsideTrack. The conversation dives into the "secret sauce" of Inside Track: a potent mix of technology and deep human connection. Ruth explains how coaching supports the entire student journey, from first-time enrollment to the critical "some college, no degree" population. With more than 40 million Americans in that category, the stakes for economic mobility never felt higher. They tackle the AI elephant in the room with a grounded perspective. While AI handles midnight brainstorming and routine "nudges," humans remain the essential partners for navigating the mountains of the student experience. Ruth argues that coaching doesn't just get a student through a semester—it teaches them to coach themselves through a shifting, tumultuous job market 🌊. The episode wraps with a look at student parents and the generational impact of quality childcare and flexible scheduling. Ruth and Mike trade thoughts on the "60-year curriculum" and why critical thinking remains the ultimate durable skill in an era of rapid automation. It is a refreshing, optimistic take on how education can still deliver on the promise of social mobility 🤖. Subscribe to Trending in Ed to never miss an episode like this one. Want to record pods at a conference? Contact Mike to learn more. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to San Diego and ASU+GSV 01:00 Ruth’s journey from English major to President 03:15 The mission and "secret sauce" of Inside Track 04:00 Re-enrolling the 40 million Americans with no degree 07:00 The evolution of coaching and academic advising 08:30 AI as a complementary tool for student success 11:00 The "invisible infrastructure" of community colleges 13:30 Helping Gen Z convert internships into careers 16:30 Why critical thinking beats specific job training 18:30 Supporting student parents for generational change 20:30 Final thoughts on hope and innovation in education
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    22 mins
  • Talking Outcomes-Based Literacy with Really Great Reading CEO Karl Rectanus

    Talking Outcomes-Based Literacy with Really Great Reading CEO Karl Rectanus
    Apr 21 2026
    Coming to you live from the harbor terrace in sunny San Diego, Mike Palmer sits down with Karl Rectanus, the new CEO of Really Great Reading, amidst the buzz of the ASU+GSV Summit. Between views of sailboats and silver-lined clouds, the duo digs into why literacy remains the fundamental building block of the educational system and how we might finally be cracking the code on systemic improvement. Karl shares his unique path to leadership, which began with chasing a girl to Australia and starting a digital Q&A service for children museums during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. This early taste of working through the system to help students sparked an entrepreneurial journey that led him to found LearnPlatform in 2014, where he pioneered rapid cycle evaluation to determine if EdTech tools actually work. Now, after LearnPlatform’s acquisition by Instructure, Karl is focusing his energy on a 20-year-old organization dedicated to the science of reading. The conversation highlights the "Mississippi Marathon," a state-level commitment to literacy that saw improvements in reading lead to even higher gains in math and science. Karl points out that while many schools of education have historically failed to teach the science of reading, organizations like RGR are filling that gap by giving teachers the confidence and tools to deliver results. A major theme of this live session is the shift toward outcomes-based contracting. Karl argues that instead of just selling books or assessments, providers should be held accountable for whether students actually learn to read. He also addresses the role of AI in the classroom, drawing on his experience chairing the Industry Council for EdSafe AI to discuss how technology can provide universal screeners and personalization without succumbing to "cognitive offloading". With the goal of taking schools from low proficiency to 75% in just two years, this episode is a call to action for the industry to prioritize literacy outcomes over mere tools. Stay tuned to the feed as we continue to ship more episodes from San Diego all week! Episode Time Stamps [00:00] Introduction to Karl Rectanus live at the harbor terrace [01:00] Chasing a girl to Australia and the origin of the entrepreneurial bug [02:00] Answering Olympic questions for kids museums at a fourth-grade level [03:00] Building LearnPlatform for rapid cycle evaluation of EdTech [04:00] Stepping into the CEO role at Really Great Reading [05:00] The "last infinite mile" of implementation and practice [06:00] Foundational skills building for pre-K through adolescence [07:00] Moving from the "Mississippi Miracle" to the "Mississippi Marathon" [08:00] Why many schools of education don't teach the Science of Reading [09:00] Literacy as the enabling factor for math and science success [10:00] Transitioning to a dedicated literacy outcomes organization [11:00] The "plumbing" of the system and procurement challenges [12:00] Playful learning and why students love RGR more than field trips [13:00] Safe and effective AI with the EdSafe AI Industry Council [14:00] Leveraging AI for operational efficiency and better execution [15:00] Using AI for universal screeners and real-time personalization [16:00] Addressing the crisis where two-thirds of students are below grade level [17:00] The boldness of holding providers accountable for reading results [18:00] Why the real work happens after the curriculum adoption [19:00] Managing complicated schools with high poverty and teacher shortages [20:00] Rapidly scaling reading proficiency in turnaround school districts [21:00] Prioritizing literacy to improve every facet of the system
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    22 mins