Love and Learning: The Transformative Power of Care in a Digital World with Isabelle Hau S9E1 (121)

What if we designed our education systems around relationships instead of outcomes—what would change in how we measure success?

As AI rapidly integrates into learning environments, how do we safeguard and elevate the irreplaceable value of human connection in a child’s development?

In this thought-provoking episode of The Learning Future Podcast, host Louka Parry is joined by Isabelle Hau, Executive Director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning and author of Love to Learn: The Transformative Power of Care and Connection in Early Education. Together, they explore why relationships must be placed at the center of learning systems—from the neuroscience of early childhood development to the role of love, play, and human connection in lifelong learning.

Isabelle shares powerful insights from her research, including the impact of nurturing relationships on brain development, the hidden costs of technology-induced disconnection, and the decline of free play in childhood. They also discuss the promises and perils of AI in education—highlighting its potential to either enhance or erode our relational capacities depending on how it’s designed and used.

Whether you’re an educator, policymaker, or parent, this episode offers a compelling call to action: to reimagine learning as a relational, joyful, and deeply human experience.

Resources mentioned:

- Love to Learn by Isabelle Hau

- Research on the Romanian orphanages and brain development

- The Stanford study on AI companionship

- Tool for Observing Play Outdoors (TOPO)

Tune in to be inspired, challenged, and reminded why love truly is at the heart of learning.

Share your thoughts with us on social media or visit our website www.thelearningfuture.com.