
What If School Worked Like a Video Game? Nolan Bushnell and Dr. Leah Hanes of ExoDexa Explain
Edtech Insiders
Outro
Hosts thank guests, summarize Exodexa, and Nolan plugs the book and fundraising call-to-action.
Nolan 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.
đĄ 5 Things Youâll Learn in This Episode:
- Why traditional schooling fails students who donât learn at the ârightâ pace
- How game design principles like flow and mastery can transform learning
- The role AI can play in personalized, no-grades education
- Why gamification efforts led by academics often fall short
- What a âperfect school dayâ could look like in an AI-driven future
⨠Episode Highlights:
[00:03:00] Nolan Bushnell on the throughline from Atari to education reform
[00:05:10] Dr. Leah Hanes on why learning by doing leads to deeper retention
[00:07:52] How AI enables true individualized learning inside ExoDexa
[00:12:16] Nolan on eliminating grades and batch-processing in education
[00:16:58] Why homeschoolers may lead the next wave of education innovation
[00:21:33] The science of âflowâ and what makes learning feel addictive
[00:27:51] Leahâs vision for AI tutors, physical activity, and student agency
[00:29:30] Nolanâs radical take on VR, exercise, naps, and brain science in school
đ Stay updated with Edtech Insiders!
Follow us on our podcast, newsletter & LinkedIn here.
đ Presenting Sponsor/s:
Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollarsâbut most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreachâfast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. Thatâs how top edtech teams stay ahead.
This season of Edtech Insiders is brought to you by Cooley LLP. Cooley is the go-to law firm for education and edtech innovators, offering industry-informed counsel across the 'pre-K to gray' spectrum. With a multidisciplinary approach and a powerful edtech ecosystem, Cooley helps shape the future of education.
Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.
As a tech-first company, Tuck Advisors has developed a suite of proprietary tools to serve its clients better. Tuck was the first firm in the world to launch a custom GPT around M&A. If you havenât already, try our proprietary M&A Analyzer, which assesses fit between your company and a specific buyer. To explore this free tool and the rest of our technology, visit tuckadvisors.com.


