Episodes

  • Innovating in Public Education with David Adams, CEO of The Urban Assembly

    Innovating in Public Education with David Adams, CEO of The Urban Assembly
    Dec 5 2025
    In this special on-location episode, Mike Palmer visits the headquarters of The Urban Assembly (UA) in New York City’s Financial District to sit down with David Adams, CEO of The Urban Assembly and host of the Innovations in Public Education podcast. We explore how David and his team have evolved from designing 22 high-performing schools in NYC to "designing tools" that solve critical constraints in public education. David breaks down his "Theory of Constraints"—analyzing how barriers like time, knowledge, and resources limit school outcomes—and how UA is using Artificial Intelligence to dismantle them. The centerpiece of this innovation is Project CAFE (Classroom Automated Feedback Environment). David explains how this AI-powered tool acts as an "instant replay" for educators, allowing them to view 10-second clips of their own practice—such as questioning techniques or student talk time—without the high cost or pressure of traditional observation. By reducing the cost of feedback to roughly $150 per teacher, CAFE is flipping the script on professional development, moving from an "avalanche of evaluation" to a "drip, drip, drip of professional development". We also touch on the Urban Assembly’s impressive results, including a record-breaking 92.4% graduation rate, and how their focus on social-emotional learning (SEL) and workforce readiness is reshaping economic mobility for students. Key Takeaways: From Schools to Tools: How UA supports its network of 22 schools while building scalable solutions for the broader education system. Project CAFE: An inside look at the AI tool that automates observation, offering private, low-stakes feedback for teachers to improve their "game tape". The Theory of Constraints: Using AI to reduce the "time tax" on learning outcomes and instructional coaching. Workforce Readiness: How "CounselorGPT" and Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways are moving students from "guessing to guidance" regarding the labor market. Record-Breaking Outcomes: Discussing the 92.4% graduation rate and the 100% success rate at the Urban Assembly Institute for Math and Science for Young Women. Mentioned in this Episode: Podcast: Innovations in Public Education with David Adams. Organization: The Urban Assembly. Tools: Project CAFE and CounselorGPT. Next Step for You: If you enjoyed David's insights on solving constraints in education, would you like me to summarize the specific "Theory of Constraints" framework he uses so you can apply it to your own organizational challenges?
    Show More Show Less
    24 mins
  • The Neuroscience of Gratitude: Brain Chemistry, The Gap and The Gain, and the Perfect Nap

    The Neuroscience of Gratitude: Brain Chemistry, The Gap and The Gain, and the Perfect Nap
    Dec 1 2025
    Mike Palmer returns to the Thanksgiving table to serve up a side of applied neuroscience. Powered by the recently released Gemini 3, he examines the "gratitude cocktail," a potent neurochemical mix of dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin that mimics the effects of antidepressants and strengthens social bonds. Beyond the chemistry, Mike explores the psychological framework of The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. He explains how measuring progress against an ideal future creates unhappiness, while measuring against the past generates resilience and satisfaction. The conversation shifts from theory to practice, detailing why gratitude stories are more effective than rote lists and how specific "Notice, Think, Feel, Do" protocols rewire the brain. Mike also debunks the tryptophan myth, explaining how carbohydrates and compelling narratives—like football—actually drive the post-meal nap. Finally, he reflects on the origins of Trending in Education, shares updates on the new Trending in Higher Ed feed, and previews upcoming live events from SXSW EDU to Alexandria, Virginia. Key Takeaways The Gratitude Cocktail: Gratitude activates the brain’s reward centers. Dopamine drives motivation, serotonin stabilizes mood similar to SSRIs, and oxytocin fosters trust and bonding. Mindset Shift: "Gap thinking" focuses on the distance between your actual self and an unreachable ideal, leading to burnout. "Gain thinking" measures your actual self against your past self, highlighting progress and abundance. Stories Over Lists: Rote gratitude lists often lead to mechanical habituation. Constructing gratitude narratives creates stronger neural pathways and emotional connections. The Science of the Nap: It isn't just the turkey. Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin and melatonin, but the heavy carbohydrate load and the relief of social bonding are the real drivers of sleepiness. Podcast Expansion: Trending in Education is expanding its network with a dedicated Trending in Higher Ed feed to allow listeners to dive deeper into specific verticals. Why You Should Listen This episode moves beyond the platitudes of "giving thanks" to reveal the biological mechanisms that make gratitude a high-performance tool. If you find yourself doomscrolling or fixating on what you haven't achieved, the "Gap and The Gain" framework offers a practical method to reset your cognitive baseline. Mike connects these mental models to tangible brain health, offering a compelling argument for why gratitude is essential fuel for resilience and innovation. Like, follow, and subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more. Time Stamps: 00:00 Introduction to the Neuroscience of Gratitude 00:49 The Science Behind Gratitude 02:01 Neurochemistry and Brain Health 04:01 The Gap and the Gain Framework 07:05 Practical Applications of Gratitude 09:18 Gratitude in Daily Life 13:48 Personal Stories and Reflections 19:49 Upcoming Projects and Gratitude 25:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • Defining A New School Leadership Architecture with Lindsay Whorton President at The Holdsworth Center

    Defining A New School Leadership Architecture with Lindsay Whorton President at The Holdsworth Center
    Nov 21 2025
    In this special episode, we welcome back Lindsay Whorton, President of the Holdsworth Center, to discuss her new book, A New School Leadership Architecture: A Four-Level Framework for Reimagining Roles. We dive into why the current model for school leadership is unsustainable and explore a new framework for building capacity and driving results in Texas public schools and beyond. The Holdsworth Center is a nonprofit focused on building and strengthening leaders for Texas public schools. Texas educates 10% of the nation's children, and the challenges faced there—like high teacher turnover and the increased complexity of the principal and superintendent roles—reflect national trends. Lindsay explains that we have created leadership roles that are "pretty close to impossible" for an average person. A core mistake is the assumption that if educators simply work harder and build the right skills, everything will be fine. We argue that the old model of the principal as the single "hero" responsible for the development of all 30-40 teachers must evolve. Lindsay's framework offers a way to diagnose and restructure leadership roles to create shared leadership and meaningful stepping stones for development. It's about getting clear on the different leadership jobs and how they relate, moving away from an unhelpful hierarchy and toward an ethos of sharing power. Key Takeaways: The Impossible Job: The current principal role, where one person is the primary developer for an entire staff of 30-40+ teachers, is unsustainable, especially with new teachers entering the profession with limited preparation. The Four-Level Framework: The book outlines a four-level architecture—Team Member, Team Leader, Bridge Leader, and School Leader (Principal)—each with a unique leadership mission for building capacity and delivering results . The Bridge Leader: This key middle layer is vital for coaching Team Leaders, ensuring coherence, and connecting the different levels of the school. It also creates meaningful, smaller-jump development opportunities for future principals. A Shift in Identity: Moving into new leadership roles requires not just new skills and time allocation but a fundamental shift in professional identity, often requiring leaders to "release control" and trust their colleagues. AI and the Human Core: As technology changes the future of work, cultivating the "most human" skills—like recognizing the beautiful, feeling confident, and building relational capacity—becomes even more critical in education. Why You Should Listen: If you work in education, you understand the increasing pressure on school leaders and teachers. This conversation offers a practical, thoughtful, and evidence-based way to rethink your school's operating structure, unlock the untapped leadership potential (the "stranded brilliance" we discuss) in your building, and create a system where success doesn't depend on "superheroes". We provide a blueprint for supporting your current staff while developing the next generation of resilient school leaders. Subscribe, like, and follow Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. Time Stamps: 00:00 Welcome Back to Trending in Education 00:16 Introducing Lindsay Whorton and Her New Book 01:18 The Holdsworth Center's Mission and Impact 03:03 Challenges in Leadership Development 07:52 The Importance of School Culture 11:45 Reimagining School Leadership Roles 15:44 Developing Leadership Capacity 17:58 Transitioning from Teacher to Coach 19:26 The Player-Coach Experience 20:39 Challenges in Professional Development 21:29 Introducing the Four-Level Leadership Framework 22:18 Exploring the Four Levels of Leadership 24:20 The Role of the Bridge Leader 28:12 Leadership and Control 29:50 The Impact of AI on Education 33:02 Final Thoughts and Appreciation
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • 🎮 Endless Possibilities: Game Design, AI, and the Future of Education with Matt Dalio

    🎮 Endless Possibilities: Game Design, AI, and the Future of Education with Matt Dalio
    Nov 18 2025
    Matt Dalio, founder and CEO of Endless Studios, joins host Mike Palmer to explore the profound connection between games, technology, and workforce development. Matt, who grew up with an early global perspective—including a transformative year in China at age 11—brings his philanthropic drive to the world of scalable tech solutions . We dive into how Matt's company, Endless, initially focused on providing computers in emerging markets, realized that skills are what truly pay the bills. A simple math game, Tux Math, engaged students in a way traditional instruction could not, with classrooms full of kids shouting multiplication tables . The even bigger revelation? Many top tech entrepreneurs, including Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, started by hacking their games . Matt asserts that the goal is to transform kids from consumers to creators. We discuss how game creation, using tools like Unity and GitHub, develops five core, high-value disciplines: coding, design, digital art, management (product/project), and marketing/business analysis . These skills translate directly into a modern, AI-augmented workforce, where the ability to architect and validate production software is crucial. Key Takeaways: From Consumption to Creation: We need to move young people from passively using smartphones (consumption devices) to actively creating with devices that have a keyboard and mouse (creation devices), fostering a "lean forward" mindset . The Power of Hacking and Games: Learning starts when it becomes more fun to hack your games than to play them, leading to the development of deep, technical understanding. Five Core Disciplines: Game design is a launchpad for learning highly employable, durable skills in coding, design, digital art, management, and go-to-market business analysis . A New Model for Learning: The future of education involves immersing students in real projects on collaborative platforms like GitHub, replicating the workforce environment to teach mindsets like autonomy, agency, and teamwork . AI and the Future Developer: AI is a powerful tool, but it demands new skills: prompt engineering, chaining agent tools, and knowing how to architect, read, and debug production-level code to avoid technical "slop" and security issues. Why You Should Listen: The gap between traditional education and the demands of the AI-driven workforce is wider than ever. You'll hear Matt's global perspective on the rising number of high school students choosing not to pursue costly college degrees and the hunger for education in emerging markets. We discuss how the allure of video games—where the average kid spends 10,000 hours by graduation—can be channeled into productive, skills-building creation time . Matt shares an example of a Peruvian student who used his new skills to build a video game for rural communities to preserve their local language, illustrating the real-world, positive impact of this new educational approach . Listen to understand the model that could prepare the next generation to be "superhumans empowered by AI" . If you liked this conversation, be sure to like, follow, and share Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts. Ray Dalio's books referenced in the conversation: Principles: Life and Work and How Countries Go Broke: The Big Cycle Timestamps 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:57 Matt Dalio's Early Life and Influences 02:58 Journey into Technology and Philanthropy 04:07 The Power of Games in Education 06:39 Skills vs. Mindsets in the Workforce 11:10 Preparing for the Future Workforce 13:58 Global Challenges and the Future of Jobs 15:51 The Declining Value of Education 17:01 Global Perspectives on Education 18:52 The Power of Community and Mentorship 20:47 Learning Through Game Development 24:50 AI and the Future of Work 28:47 Encouraging a Maker's Mindset 31:29 Concluding Thoughts and Takeaways
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • Reaching Multilingual Students Through Tutoring with Halley Bowman and Katherine Huete

    Reaching Multilingual Students Through Tutoring with Halley Bowman and Katherine Huete
    Nov 14 2025
    On this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer talks with Halley Bowman, who focuses on curriculum and tutor training at Saga Education, and Katherine Huete, founder of the consultancy Estelita and a leader in scaling language support at Saga. We explore the powerful resurgence of high-impact tutoring, especially its critical role in supporting emergent multilingual learners (EMLs) in secondary math. Halley shares Saga's unique model, which integrates dedicated, small-group tutoring into the school day, making this high-impact intervention accessible to all students and leading to astounding results, including the closure of up to 50% of the opportunity gap. She highlights the importance of the individualized, caring relationship between a student and their dedicated adult tutor. Katherine, a former newcomer student who became a bilingual special education teacher, defines the shift to the more asset-based term, "emergent multilingual learner" (EML), which values all a student's languages rather than ranking them. We discuss the misconception that math is a universal language, needing no language support. We delve into the concrete, "bite-sized" strategies SAGA uses to train its diverse workforce of tutors—from recent college graduates to career changers—to effectively support EMLs without needing a deep education background. These effective, implementable strategies include using visual aids to provide context and reduce language barriers , and offering sentence frames to help students articulate their mathematical understanding. The conversation also emphasizes the value of translanguaging, where tutors encourage students to use all the languages in their linguistic repertoire to better cement knowledge. Finally, we address the role of AI in quickly generating translations and customized strategies, while emphasizing that the crucial human element of cultural responsiveness and building trust remains paramount. Key Takeaways: High-Impact Tutoring is a Proven Solution: SAGA's in-school model closes up to 50% of the opportunity gap. Math is Not Language-Proof: Math contains complex language, and even differences in punctuation (like using a comma instead of a decimal) can pose barriers for EMLs. Small, Actionable Strategies Work: Tutors are trained using micro-learnings on implementable skills like providing visuals and sentence frames, which benefit all students, not just EMLs. Translanguaging is Empowering: Encouraging students to use all their languages (e.g., Spanglish) helps them grasp and transfer mathematical concepts more effectively. The Human Connection is Essential: Cultural responsiveness, including pronouncing a student's name correctly, builds the trust and respect that is fundamental to high-impact tutoring. Why You Should Listen: If you care about equity in education and the future of the teaching workforce, this episode provides a clear, evidence-based look at one of the most effective interventions available today. We offer practical, actionable insights into supporting multilingual learners in subjects often presumed to be language-independent. Like, follow, and share Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe so you never miss an episode. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:02 Meet Halley Bowman and Katherine Huete 03:00 The Evolution and Impact of Saga Education and High Impact Tutoring 06:16 Defining Multilingual Learners 08:06 Tutoring Strategies for Multilingual Learners 19:46 The Role of AI in Tutoring 23:26 Cultural Responsiveness in Education 25:04 Final Thoughts and Conclusion
    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • What Can I Get Out of This? A Writer's Guide to Teaching with Author Carlo Rotella

    What Can I Get Out of This? A Writer's Guide to Teaching with Author Carlo Rotella
    Nov 11 2025
    Mike Palmer welcomes Carlo Rotella, a professor at Boston College and author of the book What Can I Get Out of This? Teaching and Learning in a Classroom Full of Skeptics. Rotella, who has an academic specialty in the cultures of cities and also writes for magazines like The New York Times Magazine, approaches his classroom as a "scene" much like a boxing gym or a music club, where people practice a craft and hone their "chops". We dive into the book, which captures the spring semester of 2020 and presents a narrative-style look at Rotella's required freshman literature course. He shares his mission: to change his students' initial question from "Can I get out of this?" to "What can I get out of this?" by treating the interpretation of literature as a learnable craft, not "sorcery or bullshit". Rotella explains how this approach requires us to build a strong classroom community, including policies like banning devices and expecting every student to speak at every class meeting. He reveals the effort required to get quiet students to participate, sometimes using techniques like rehearsing answers in office hours—just as a team practices a play. Rotella argues that in a world of AI and "endless number of talking heads" , the classroom remains a vital "haven" where students can build critical skills and practice analytical response to the world. 🔑 Key Takeaways Teaching as a Craft: Rotella treats teaching the interpretation of literature as a practical, learnable craft, focusing on skills like pattern recognition and extracting meaning from the world. Building Community: A core philosophy involves making the classroom a community where every student must "ante up" and contribute, often facilitated by a no-devices policy and the expectation that everyone speaks in class. The Power of Face-to-Face: The pandemic and the rise of AI have made the physical classroom more valuable and "cutting edge" than ever as a unique human experience. The Loneliness of the Modern Student: Today’s college students are highly accomplished but are also more anxious, isolated, and less comfortable with trial-and-error than previous generations. Reading as Resistance: Reading is framed as an "athletic" exercise that builds mental "muscles in your core" like critical skills, attentional fortitude, and the ability to assess reliability—skills essential for navigating an AI-driven world. 🎧 Why You Should Listen If you're an educator, writer, or just curious about how humans truly learn in a time of radical change, listen in as Rotella shows us that the most memorable and lasting impact of a class often comes from the experience of working together—not just the content. We discuss how to use students' "violent reaction against a work of art as the way in" and why we need to show people how to move beyond outrage and into analysis. We close with Rotella's belief that a liberal arts education offers durable tools for life, reminding us of the enduring power of a shared intellectual experience—like the unforgettable image of a guy in an elephant suit. Do you want to hear more conversations on the future of learning? Subscribe, like, and follow Trending in Ed wherever you get your podcasts. 00:00 Introduction to Carlo Rotella and His Book 01:04 Carlo's Professional Journey and Writing Career 02:15 Exploring the Classroom as a Scene 06:23 The Impact of the Pandemic on Teaching 08:39 Building Community and Engagement in the Classroom 12:21 The Value of Face-to-Face Learning 17:02 The Lasting Impact of Classroom Experiences 19:13 Understanding Reactions to Art 20:04 Insights into Gen Z's College Experience 21:31 Challenges and Changes in Modern Education 22:58 The Importance of Reading and Critical Thinking 25:28 AI's Impact on Education and Society 29:44 Teaching Strategies for the Modern Classroom 36:04 Final Thoughts and Takeaways
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • Exploring The Future of Tutoring with Author Liz Cohen

    Exploring The Future of Tutoring with Author Liz Cohen
    Nov 7 2025
    On this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer welcomes Liz Cohen, Vice President of Policy at 50CAN and author of the new book, The Future of Tutoring: Lessons from 10,000 School District Tutoring Initiatives. We explore the massive, rapid mobilization of tutoring efforts in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated learning disruptions. We look at the key components of effective high-impact tutoring—small groups, consistent adults, and regularly scheduled in the school day—and how the strong evidence base has galvanized educators and advocates toward a unified solution. Liz shares her "constellation" metaphor, distinguishing between "bright stars" (districts deeply committed to sustained funding and implementation) and those still struggling with scale, funding, and strategy. Beyond the academic gains, we discuss the powerful role of tutoring as a catalyst for human connection and a potential pipeline for new educators. We also debate the future scenarios for tutoring, including the role of AI tools, outcomes-based contracting for responsible spending, and how this moment of change proves the public education system is capable of renovation. Key Takeaways: The High-Impact Tutoring Surge: About 80% of U.S. school districts launched some form of tutoring post-pandemic, with two-thirds aiming for high-impact models: small groups, in-school, at least three times a week, and led by a consistent adult. A Unified Solution: The convergence of a clear problem (learning disruption), evidence-based research (like the Saga program's impact on Algebra I scores), and massive federal funding created a rare moment of unity in education reform. More Than Academics: The success of tutoring is deeply rooted in human relationships; it helps young people feel they "matter," building motivation through demonstrated competence and productive struggle in a high-support, high-standards environment. The Future Workforce Pipeline: Tutoring roles, especially those engaging college students and young adults, are proving to be effective on-ramps into the teaching profession. The Funding Cliffhanger: With one-time federal funding largely spent, the future depends on districts embedding tutoring into their core strategy and utilizing tools like outcomes-based contracting to ensure they only pay for measurable results. Why You Should Listen: If you are a district leader, educator, education advocate, or parent, this episode offers a clear-eyed view of what the most successful districts are doing to accelerate learning and how they are planning to sustain those efforts. You will gain an understanding of how to leverage research-backed practices, why buy-in from principals and teachers is critical, and the innovative ways technology can support—but not replace—the essential human element of tutoring. Liz Cohen provides the framework for turning a pandemic response into a lasting positive change for the American education system. Subscribe to Trending in Education and follow us wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a conversation like this one. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:08 Liz Cohen's Background and Professional Journey 01:59 The Evolution of Tutoring During COVID-19 04:18 The Impact of Federal Funding on Tutoring 09:03 Challenges and Successes in Implementing Tutoring Programs 11:51 The Future of Tutoring and Education 20:16 Motivation and the Science of Learning 22:53 Challenges and Choices in Education Funding 24:07 Parent Empowerment and School Strategies 24:39 State-Level Overhauls and Tutoring Initiatives 32:59 The Role of Technology in Tutoring 36:39 Outcome-Based Contracting in Education 39:11 Broader Educational Takeaways and Final Thoughts
    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • AI and Agency: Navigating the Future of Academic Technology with Gerry White

    AI and Agency: Navigating the Future of Academic Technology with Gerry White
    Nov 4 2025
    Welcome back to Trending in Education! This week, we dive headfirst into the accelerating world of emerging technology with Gerry White, Dean of Academic Technology for ECPI University. Gerry, an English and Music major turned tech enthusiast, shares his fascinating career trajectory and the work he is doing to keep ECPI University at the forefront of the AI revolution. We explore the current landscape of AI in higher education, noting the split between institutions that forbid its use (even reverting to blue books and oral exams) and those that are running with the technology. Gerry advocates for integrating AI responsibly, modeling its use for students, and leveraging it as a powerful tool for deeper critical thinking and better writing. We also discuss the very real dangers of over-reliance—the "training wheels problem"—where students risk losing critical thinking skills and agency by letting the AI write for them. For Gerry, the loss of human agency is perhaps the biggest threat posed by this new technology. Finally, we shift into the sci-fi lane as Gerry shares details about his recent science fiction novel, Edge of Control, which explores the dystopian possibilities of an integrated, unregulated Enterprise AI. We wrap up with practical advice for listeners to start experimenting with AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, and look ahead at the next horizon: Augmented Reality (AR) glasses that integrate with AI. 🔑 Key Takeaways: The AI Split in Higher Ed: We note that universities are divided, with some outright forbidding AI use (favoring traditional methods) and others actively integrating it into the curriculum. Agency is Key: The greatest danger in the age of AI is the loss of human agency and the erosion of critical thinking skills due to over-reliance on generative models. Incorporate AI Responsibly: The best approach is to model responsible AI use by integrating it into every stage of the writing process after students start with their own thoughts and text. Focus on the Question: The quality of the questions students ask is now far more important than the answers, as we are "drowning in a sea of answers". What's Next: AR and AI: Beyond the current AI boom, the integration of Augmented Reality (AR) glasses with AI—bringing screens and information off our devices and onto our faces—is the next significant technological shift. 💡 Why You Should Listen: If you are a student, educator, or simply a human trying to navigate the seismic shifts brought on by Artificial Intelligence, this episode is your essential guide. We not only share practical, immediate advice on how to leverage AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini for personal and professional growth, but we also wrestle with the profound philosophical questions about human competence, mental health, and the future of learning. Listen to understand how to stay in charge of the technology, and to hear a real-life science fiction author discuss how the future is already here. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at TrendinginEd.com for more. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:51 Gerry White's Career Journey 02:34 Emerging Trends in Higher Education 03:36 Incorporating AI in Education 05:30 Challenges and Risks of AI 07:29 Future of AI and Higher Education 14:07 Science Fiction and AI 16:16 Practical Advice for AI Adoption 19:41 Emerging Technologies Beyond AI 22:02 Balancing Technology and Humanity 29:27 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins