
Learning Can’t Wait
The Learning Can’t Wait Podcast is your view into how changemakers are driving innovation in the field of education. Each week we interview leaders who are challenging the status quo at a time when it is absolutely necessary to rebuild the system for our students.
Podcast Powered by Fullmind
Latest episodes

Jan 9, 2024 • 34min
Adrian Mim | Math Education, Teaching Styles, Diversity in STEM, Calculus Project
Welcome back to the Learning Can’t Wait podcast! Today, host Hayley Spira-Bauer speaks with Dr. Adrian Mim, Founder and CEO of The Calculus Project. Listen as Adrian explains how curricula is built around white middle class, and how we can work to close math achievement gaps by promoting and practicing inclusivity. Dr. Mim describes why it is important for students to learn about the mathematical contributions of people of color, and shares some of the philosophy behind The Calculus Project.
Finally, Adrian answers the age-old question of what parents can do when they don’t understand their kids’ math homework.
Join us every Tuesday at fullmindlearning.com/podcast. Next week, we talk to Natalie Arias and Kevin Malonson about how opportunity begets opportunity.

Jan 2, 2024 • 33min
Jean-Claude Brizard | Digital Promise, Innovation in Education, AI in Education, Learning Science
Welcome back to the Learning Can’t Wait podcast! Today, host Hayley Spira-Bauer sits down with Jean-Claude Brizard, President & CEO of Digital Promise to explore innovation in education. Listen as Jean-Claude explains how “controlled meandering” has influenced his path in education, along with his ongoing drive to fight injustice.
Hayley and Jean-Claude explore the benefits of variability when it comes to learning approaches, and Jean-Claude illuminates how digital promise is working to build systems that can help leapfrog some of the challenges we have in front of us.
Produced by Fullmind

Dec 12, 2023 • 37min
Rebecca Branstetter | Student Burnout, Educator Burnout, Mental Health, School Psychology
On this week’s episode of the Learning Can’t Wait podcast, host Hayley Spira-Bauer sits down with Dr. Rebecca Branstetter, Founder of Thriving Students Collective. Listen as Rebecca describes how her background in school psychology has informed the work she does to beat burnout in schools. Sharing her 4 Pillars of Thriving, Rebecca also explains why rested, happy minds are more productive.
Rebecca has provided Learning Can’t Wait listeners a free toolkit of 6 simple ways to reduce your daily stress! Check it out at: https://thrivingstudents.com/learningcantwait
Join us every Tuesday at fullmindlearning.com/podcast. Next week, we talk to Jean-Claude Brizard, President & CEO of Digital Promise.

Dec 5, 2023 • 54min
Hedy Chang & Malika Elwin | Student Attendance, Absenteeism, Student Engagement
Welcome back to the Learning Can’t Wait podcast! Today, host Hayley Spira-Bauer sits down with Hedy Chang and Malika Elwin to discuss student attendance. Listen as Hedy and Malika explain why absenteeism is most often a symptom of a much larger picture, and how their work uses data to diagnose problems and take preventative steps.
Join us every Tuesday at fullmindlearning.com/podcast. Next week we talk to Dr. Rebecca Branstetter, founder of Thriving in Education.

Nov 28, 2023 • 34min
Chelsea Waite | Innovation, Multilingual Learners, AI in Education, Teacher Shortage
On today’s episode of the Learning Can’t Wait podcast, host Hayley Spira-Bauer has a conversation with Chelsea Waite, Principal at the Center on Reinventing Public Education. In this fascinating discussion, Chelsea explains how she’s recently realized that the three institutions with the biggest impact on her life—school, church, and community theatre—are all shrinking today. Hayley and Chelsea explore what it means for institutions to change, and how they can best understand the needs of the communities they serve.
Chelsea also discusses her work researching the effects of the COVID pandemic on learning, and explains why she believes that the best innovations are often not the most flashy.
Join us every Tuesday at fullmindlearning.com/podcast. Next week, we talk to Hedy Chang, Executive Director of Attendance Works, and Malika Elwin, Executive Director of Attendance, Research, and Innovation at NYC DOE.

Nov 14, 2023 • 41min
Brett Roer, Dr. PJ Caposey, Dr. Dan Cox | Growth, Fitness, Discipline, Leadership, Work-Life Balance
On this week’s episode of the Learning Can’t Wait podcast, host Hayley Spira-Bauer sits down with school leaders Brett Roer, Dr. PJ Caposey, and Dr. Dan Cox to speak about discipline and balance in school leadership.
The group explores how the challenges they've faced in their individual lives have contributed to personal growth and development. They also share their strategies for coping with stress, discuss habits around fitness and wellness, and examine why discipline doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
The podcast will take next week off for Thanksgiving but will be back Tuesday, November 28th when we talk to Chelsea Waite, Principal at the Center on Reinventing Public Education. Join us at fullmindlearning.com/podcast.

Nov 7, 2023 • 26min
Charlene Mack | Leadership, Self-Care, Community Organizing, Education System
On this week’s episode of the Learning Can’t Wait podcast, host Hayley Spira-Bauer talks to Charlene Mack, Founder of 2541.org. Listen as Charlene discusses her work to make power practical, equip leaders, and fight injustice.
Hayley and Charlene explore why listening and rest are two of the most important aspects of community organizing, and why dual curiosity is at the heart of this work.
Join us every Tuesday at fullmindlearning.com/podcast. Next week, we talk to Brett Roer, Dr. PJ Caposey, and Dr. Dan Cox about discipline and balance in school leadership.

Oct 31, 2023 • 34min
Karl Rectanus | Federal Education Funding, Evidence-based Interventions, EdTech, ESSA
On today’s episode of the Learning Can’t Wait podcast, host Hayley Spira-Bauer talks to Karl Rectanus, founder of LearnPlatform. Tune in as Karl and Hayley explore how a school’s purse strings affect the classroom, and how education leaders can lean into the realities around funding.
Karl also dives into his 4 successful education innovation programs and how to work through the system to make it more effective for everybody.
Join us every Tuesday at fullmindlearning.com/podcast. Next week, we talk to Charlene Mack, Founder of 2541.org

Oct 24, 2023 • 32min
Mayme Hostetter | Teacher Shortage, Teacher Preparation, AI in Teacher Training, Culturally Responsive Teaching
On today’s episode of the Learning Can’t Wait podcast, we hear an eye-opening conversation between host Hayley Spira-Bauer and Dr. Mayme Hostetter, President at Relay Graduate School of Education.
Tune in as Mayme explores the topic of teacher preparation, and why practice is essential to learning at any age. Hayley and Mayme also discuss how technology like AI is providing simulations that allow teachers to practice their work and receive feedback.
Join us every Tuesday at fullmindlearning.com/podcast. Next week, we talk to Karl Rectanus, founder of LearnPlatform.

Oct 17, 2023 • 49min
Ben Marcovitz & Jerel Bryant | Growth Mindset, Educational Leadership, Hiring Process, Teacher Feedback
In today's episode of the Learning Can't Wait podcast, host Hayley Spira-Bauer engages in a conversation with Ben Marcovitz and Jerel Bryant from Collegiate Academies. Join us as they delve into the significance of a growth mindset in the field of education and how their most challenging experiences have influenced their work. Ben and Jerel also shed light on their efforts to celebrate achievements, operationalize inspiration, and their unique approach to hiring, which emphasizes long-term growth over immediate satisfaction.
Join us every Tuesday at fullmindlearning.com/podcast. Next week we talk to Dr. Mayme Hostetter about going pro in teaching.