

Getting Smart Podcast
Getting Smart
This podcast has over 500 episodes highlighting developing trends in K-12 education, postsecondary and lifelong learning. Each week, Getting Smart team members interview students, leading authors, experts and practitioners in research, tech, entrepreneurship and leadership to bring listeners innovative and actionable strategies in education leadership.
Be sure to also check out GettingSmart.com to stay on the cutting edge of innovations in learning.
Be sure to also check out GettingSmart.com to stay on the cutting edge of innovations in learning.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 7, 2022 • 45min
David McRaney on How Minds Change
David McRaney, author of 'How Minds Change: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion' and host of the You Are Not So Smart Podcast, discusses shared interests, social belonging, and the power of beliefs, attitudes, and values in changing minds.

Dec 2, 2022 • 40min
Miriam Plotinsky on Empowering Student Agency
On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Shawnee Caruthers is joined by author and instructional specialist Miriam Plotinsky to discuss her new book Teach More, Hover Less. Miriam is a strong advocate for student-centered learning, she provides coaching and professional development for teachers and administrators. Plotinsky is widely published in Education Week, Edutopia, ASCD Express, The Teaching Channel, EdSurge, K–12 Talk, and Education World. She is also a National Board Certified Teacher with additional certification in administration and supervision. Links: Author website Teach More, Hover Less List of articles by Miriam Miriam Plotinsky Twitter Catlin Tucker - Take Learning Sideways Rachel Portman - Chocolat Soundtrack

Nov 30, 2022 • 38min
Mike Magee on The Innovation of Minerva University
This episode of the Getting Smart Podcast is a part of our New Pathways campaign. In partnership with American Student Assistance® (ASA), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Stand Together and the Walton Foundation, the New Pathways campaign will question education’s status quo and propose new methods of giving students a chance to experience success in what’s next. On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark is joined by Dr. Mike Magee, the president of Minerva University. Previously, Mike spent time largely in edpolicy at Rhode Island School of Design, Rhode Island Mayoral Academies, and Chiefs for Change. Minerva University is a 10 year old independent, non-profit, accredited institution of higher education. It was formed in partnership with a venture-backed startup called the Minerva Project and incubated at Keck Graduate Institute. Links: Mike Magee About Mike Magee Twitter Minerva University Minerva Project Ben Nelson Forum Platform Minerva University Sustainability Minor Seabound Carbon Capture Master of Science in Decision Analysis Some of Mike’s Favorite Poems: Emily Dickinson - I dwell in Possibility Gwendolyn Brooks - Boy Breaking Glass

Nov 23, 2022 • 47min
Ed3: A Getting Smart Town Hall
This episode of the Getting Smart Podcast is a part of our New Pathways campaign. In partnership with American Student Assistance® (ASA), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Stand Together and the Walton Foundation, the New Pathways campaign will question education’s status quo and propose new methods of giving students a chance to experience success in what’s next. The recent Getting Smart Town Hall focused on Education 3.0 (ed3), aka how Web3 will likely empower a new generation of learning. We were joined by founder of K20Education, Vriti Saraf as well as Mike Peck, Vriti’s co-founder of ed3DAO. This event covered how the web has evolved and how that has similarly mapped onto the education model. NOTES: NEW Unbundled Publication View Full Recap Links From the Town Hall What Can Decentralized Organizations Accomplish in Education? Three Ways Web3 Will Change Education For Good

Nov 18, 2022 • 30min
Presenting: UnTextbooked
We're thrilled to bring you an episode of one of our favorite current podcasts: UnTextbooked. In each episode, a young producer talks to a scholar about a topic they’re curious about. We know that you, our audience, care deeply about at least two things: Continuing to learn and challenge yourself, and celebrating others' learning, especially young folks. Get ready for a ride on the power of perspective. UnTextbooked is back with new episodes every Thursday. Follow the show wherever you listen to podcasts, so you never miss an episode. UnTextbooked Shownotes: There are more than five hundred federally recognized Indigenous nations in the United States today, nearly three million people, but their stories have largely been omitted from the nation’s history. On this episode of UnTextbooked, producer Gavin Scott interviews acclaimed historian and activist, Professor Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz and takes a look at U.S. History through the lens of Indigenous Peoples and unpacks what we’ve been missing as a nation without their perspective. BOOK: An Indigenous People's History of the United States GUEST: Professor Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz PRODUCER: Gavin Scott MUSIC: Silas Bohen and Coleman Hamilton PRODUCTION: Pod People - Hannah Pedersen, Danielle Roth, Shaneez Tyndall, and Michael Aquino.

Nov 16, 2022 • 38min
Chris McNutt and Nick Covington on the Human Restoration Project
On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark is joined by Chris McNutt and Nick Covington, two leaders of the Human Restoration Project, an initiative aimed at transforming school systems towards human-centered policies that promote well-being and powerful learning. Links: Chris McNutt Nick Covington Human Restoration Project Podcast 100 Days of Conversation Podcast Human Restoration Project Conference Human Restoration Project PD UN Sustainable Development Goals Difference Making | Getting Smart

Nov 11, 2022 • 38min
Dr. Don Haddad and Dr. Jackie Kapushion on St. Vrain Schools and Innovation Centers
This episode of the Getting Smart Podcast is a part of our New Pathways campaign. In partnership with American Student Assistance® (ASA), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Stand Together and the Walton Foundation, the New Pathways campaign will question education’s status quo and propose new methods of giving students a chance to experience success in what’s next. On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark is joined by Dr. Don Haddad, the Superintendent at St. Vrain Valley Schools and Dr. Jackie Kapushion, the Deputy Superintendent. Together, they discuss the various pathways initiatives of St. Vrain Valley Schools, the role of a superintendent and how to scale innovation. Links: Don Haddad LinkedIn St. Vrain Valley Schools Jackie Kapushion Twitter Jackie Kapushion LinkedIn P-Teach P-Tech Career Elevation and Technology Center Bill Ritter Getting Smart Podcast Next-Gen Career Prep at St. Vrain Innovation Center

Nov 9, 2022 • 31min
Alex Budak on Becoming a Changemaker
This episode of the Getting Smart Podcast is supported by LME Global’s Learning Blueprint. Find out more at lme.global/smart. On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast Tom Vander Ark is joined by Alex Budak, a UC Berkeley Haas faculty member and now the author of a new book called Becoming a Changemaker: An Actionable, Inclusive Guide to Leading Positive Change at Any Level. Links: Alex Budak LinkedIn Alex Budak Website Becoming a Changemaker (Amazon) Difference Making Bryan Stevenson Changemaker Index Sam McCracken N7 Shoe Dr. Nadine Burke Harris ACEs

Nov 2, 2022 • 35min
Science Fairs as Pathways To Passion, Problem-Solving and Careers
On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast, Tom Vander Ark is joined by a group of guests to discuss the promise of science fairs and why science deep dives should be part of every learner's experience. In 2020 we spoke with Maya Ajmera, CEO of the Society for Science and host of the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) and Regeneron Science Talent Search. Our three guests for this podcast are: Priscilla Lumbreras is a science teacher in Granbury ISD and an alumni of the Society’s Advocate Program as well as a STEM Research Grantee. Anika Puri is a grad of Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, New York and a freshman at MIT. She is also the recent winner of the Peggy Scripps Award for Science Communication at Regeneron ISEF. Laalitya Acharya is a Regeneron Science Talent Search and ISEF alumni, a student at Columbia and an intern at Regeneron. Links: Regeneron Science Talent Search Horace Greeley High School The Nereid Project MozAIrt Maya Ajmera Society for Science Granbury ISD

Oct 26, 2022 • 48min
Jennifer. D. Klein and Kapono Ciotti on Designing Student-Centered Experiences for Cognitive and Cultural Inclusion
This episode of the Getting Smart Podcast is a part of our New Pathways campaign. In partnership with American Student Assistance® (ASA), The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Stand Together and the Walton Foundation, the New Pathways campaign will question education’s status quo and propose new methods of giving students a chance to experience success in what’s next. On this episode of the Getting Smart Podcast Tom Vander Ark is joined by Jennifer Klein and Kapono Ciotti who are here to discuss their new book The Landscape Model of Learning: Designing Student-Centered Experiences for Cognitive and Cultural Inclusion. Jennifer is a former head of school with extensive international experience and over thirty years in education, including nineteen in the classroom. Kapono Ciotti taught in Honolulu, Hawaii, and Dakar, Senegal, for over a decade before moving into school leadership. Kapono has led schools in the United States and Egypt, where he put into practice the philosophy of "students making the world a better place.” Links: Jennifer D. Klein Bio Principled Learning Strategies Kapono Instagram Kapono bio Recent Getting Smart Blog by Jennifer D. Klein American International School of Egypt NAIS People of Color Conference The Power of Place: Authentic Learning Through Place-Based Education Ken Kay and Yong Zhao on Portrait of a Graduate The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery by Sarah Lewis Rightful Presence by Tan and Barton Zone of proximal development What School Could Be Robert G Peters Deliberate Optimism co-authored by Judith Baenen