Episodes

  • 🎮 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
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    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
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    32 mins
  • Providing a Balanced Scorecard for GreatSchools Across the US with Jon Deane

    Providing a Balanced Scorecard for GreatSchools Across the US with Jon Deane
    Oct 31 2025
    On this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer sits down with Jon Deane, CEO of GreatSchools, for a deeply informed conversation about the choices—and complexities—facing modern parents. GreatSchools' mission is simple: to help every parent cut through the noise and truly understand their children's educational options. As a parent to a 6-year-old, Mike knows firsthand that the pressure to choose the right path is real, and it often doesn't get the attention it deserves. Jon's professional journey—from accountant to school principal to philanthropy and now to leading GreatSchools—is a testament to the fact that education itself is a profoundly complex system. Now, we're asking the million-dollar question: what do parents really need to know to give their kids the best support? GreatSchools, an organization that’s been tackling this challenge for over 25 years, is here to help us unpack it. 🔑 Key Takeaways: The School Choice Paradox: School choice isn't a future trend; it's a current reality, with some districts presenting over 100 options just for kindergarten. We explore how this proliferation of options is driven by a collective need to ensure every kid finds the "right fit". The Problem of "Noise": Parents are bombarded by information from every corner—teachers, schools, districts, and the media—making it nearly impossible to find the essential signal in the deafening noise. GreatSchools' solution involves providing data on outcomes, programs, and robust parent reviews to create a coherent, usable picture. Progress Over Scores: The conversation pivots away from teaching to the test. Jon explains that GreatSchools' metrics focus on academic progress—how much students are actually growing—a measure he considers as, if not more, important than pure test scores. AI as a Personal Matchmaker: How can technology address the reality that every child is wildly different? We look at how GreatSchools is using AI to gather more descriptive data and refine a search to find the perfect fit for "Mike Palmer and your 6-year-old," moving beyond generic recommendations. Learning Beyond the Building: The future of educational support lies outside the classroom. Jon unveils GreatSchools’ next strategic horizon: integrating information about learning opportunities like public library programs and coding classes to help parents create a comprehensive, ongoing learning narrative for their families. 💡 Why You Should Listen: If you've ever felt like you're treading water trying to make sense of school data, this episode is essential listening. We uncover the critical work GreatSchools is doing to transform information—and even new trends like micro-schools and AI —into curated, actionable guidance. We discuss the ethical use of data, why transparency and explainable AI are non-negotiable in this space , and how school leaders can actively "claim" and own their school's narrative on the platform. Jon also provides vital advice for parents: get to know your child’s needs, ask the right questions, and use data to ask for the options that might not be right down the street. Find more transparent resources and make sense of your options at GreatSchools.org. Like, follow, and subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts! 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:05 Jon Deane's Professional Journey 02:33 Great Schools: Mission and Impact 04:07 Navigating School Choices 07:13 Data and Reviews in Education 13:23 AI and Future of Education 15:39 Engaging with Parents and Schools 27:32 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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    31 mins
  • Reimagining Assessment for the Age of AI with Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS

    Reimagining Assessment for the Age of AI with Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS
    Oct 28 2025
    The global landscape of education and work is changing at a pace that requires an entirely new approach to measurement. Trending in Education host Mike Palmer welcomes Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS (Educational Testing Service), the organization responsible for millions of assessments worldwide, to discuss the high-stakes transformation of how we identify talent. We explore how the trillion-dollar education sector is struggling to measure outcomes and why reliable data is essential to driving progress. Amit details the foundational work ETS is doing across K-12, higher education, and the workforce to shift the focus from traditional testing to competency-based learning and work-ready skills. We dive deep into the urgency of establishing an AI literacy framework and how technology is powering a new era of "test-less" performance assessments. Why You Should Listen Now: The War for AI Talent: Amit explains why the lack of a common AI literacy framework is a strategic challenge for the U.S. and how other nations are already standardizing AI education for young children. The Crisis of Underemployment: We break down the alarming statistics showing high unemployment and underemployment for new college graduates, highlighting the massive societal and economic pressure to measure job-relevant skills. The Future of Measurement: We get an inside look at how ETS is using AI, data science, and neuroscience to create innovative, personalized assessments that track complex skills like collaboration and communication—moving beyond the multiple-choice bubble sheet. 3 Key Takeaways from Our Conversation: AI Literacy is a New Language: We must introduce the fundamentals of AI to pre-elementary and elementary students to hardwire it as a first language, similar to English or Spanish. Data is the "New Oil": ETS produces over 5 billion data points annually, representing an amazing opportunity to reimagine products and drive social value through technology. The Two-by-Two of Transformation: The future of assessment is moving to measure both emerging skills (like AI and durable skills) and using innovative measurement methods (like performance and AI-enabled assessments). Join us to understand how better measurement is the key to unlocking human potential globally. Like what you hear? Please like, follow, and subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. It helps us get the word out! 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:13 Amit Sevak's Origin Story 03:28 Joining ETS and the Importance of Measurement 05:47 ETS's Role in Education and Assessment 11:35 Innovations in Testing and AI Integration 12:43 Global Trends and Workforce Development 16:32 The Future of AI Literacy and Skills Measurement 28:31 Global Perspectives on Education and Leadership 34:30 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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    41 mins
  • Why School Boards Matter with Author Scott R. Levy

    Why School Boards Matter with Author Scott R. Levy
    Oct 24 2025
    On this episode of Trending in Education, Mike Palmer welcomes author Scott R. Levy to discuss his new book, Why School Boards Matter: Reclaiming the Heart of American Education and Democracy. Scott shares his journey from Wall Street to serving on his local school board in 2015, driven by the unintended negative consequences he observed from federal programs like Race to the Top. We dive into how school boards transitioned from being a "quiet part" of civic society to a focal point of public consciousness during the COVID years and following George Floyd, dealing with intense issues from school reopening to DEI and curriculum. Scott draws parallels between corporate and educational governance, noting that while corporate boards are studied and considered central to organizational success, school boards have historically been overlooked or even suggested for abolition despite their vital role. Scott argues that school boards are the true front lines of democracy, operating with a level of public engagement and accountability—through open meetings and public comment periods—that other levels of government often lack. We explore the political dynamic of power shifting away from local school boards to state and federal governments across both red and blue states, leading to a loss of the crucial local control element. Scott advocates for a balanced approach, emphasizing that local control allows for the necessary nuance to address unique community issues, foster civil discourse, and serve as a buffer against potentially authoritarian or ill-fitting laws from above. We wrap up by outlining ways to strengthen school boards, stressing the importance of high voter turnout in local elections and the need for members to adopt a thoughtful governance partner role—avoiding both micromanagement and being a "rubber stamp" for the administration. Key Takeaways: School Boards as the Democratic Core: School boards are a unique and essential layer of American democracy, operating in the open with mandated public comment, which forces direct engagement and local accountability unlike other governing bodies. The Power of Local Control: Despite a uniform, bipartisan trend to shift power to the state level, local control is necessary for districts to tailor solutions to their unique challenges (like academic outcomes, mental health, or absenteeism) and for "island districts" (e.g., Austin, Texas, or conservative towns in liberal states) to manifest their values. Essential School Board Member Skills: Effective board members must take a big picture view, act as a thoughtful governance partner for the district (not a micromanager or a rubber stamp), and, crucially, listen carefully to their constituents before making decisions for the overall community. If you've ever felt disconnected from national or state politics, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that your voice matters most at the local level. We present a strong, affirmative case for the importance of school boards, an often-overlooked institution that shapes the education of over 50 million students and serves as a vital model for civil discourse in our fractured society. Tune in to understand why engaging in school board elections and meetings is a direct way to strengthen public education and make our democracy healthier. Like what you heard? Please take a moment to rate and review the show, and tell your friends. Subscribe to Trending in Education wherever you get your podcasts. 00:00 Introduction Scott's Background 01:34 Transition to Wall Street and Return to Education 02:23 Involvement in Nonprofits and School Boards 04:37 Running for the School Board 07:39 COVID-19 and Social Issues in School Boards 10:07 The Importance of School Boards in Democracy 15:26 Political Polarization and Governance 21:09 Local Control and School Boards 29:38 Strengthening School Boards and Civic Engagement 34:58 Skills and Development 38:41 Final Thoughts
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    41 mins