Michael Gibson, co-founder of the Teal Fellowship and 1517, dives into how his philosophical background fuels innovation in entrepreneurship. He discusses the connection between founders and philosophy, emphasizing that hands-on experience can be as crucial as academic credentials. The conversation touches on the politicization of higher education and the benefits of independent study. Gibson argues that a philosophical mindset helps navigate risk and enhances creativity, providing unique insights for young entrepreneurs in today's challenging landscape.

Laura Williams, a ghostwriter and managing editor at the American Institute for Economic Research, dives into the crucial discussion on writing's role in today's AI-driven world. She highlights writing as a tool for self-discovery and credibility, while addressing the alarming decline in writing standards in American education. Williams critiques reliance on AI in writing, emphasizes the need for more engaging assignments, and offers strategies for parents to nurture a love for writing in children, advocating for clarity and creativity over rigid formats.

Thomas Hogan is a professor of Economics at the University of Austin, where he is making a return to academia after spending years in the business world. Thomas has worked in finance and business, and served as the Chief Economist for a US Senate Community. In this episode, expect to learn about Thomas’ first term teaching at UATX and the culture they are fostering at America’s newest university. You’ll learn about the approach Thomas is taking in his classroom applying a socratic, discussion based format for his seminars, and employing the Chatham House Rule during classroom debates. You’ll also learn about the development of the curriculum at UATX and why economics is so important for people to understand, regardless of what field they’re going into. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 3:44 - The First Term at University of Austin 6:13 - The Faculty Experience at the University of Austin 10:16 - The Polaris Project and Thomas' Classroom 20:38 - What Brought Thomas to UATX 25:22 - What Led Thomas to Teaching 26:57 - UATX vs. George Mason 31:04 - Setting a Culture for Debate 36:31 - The Chattam House Rule 42:02 - The Hiring Process at UATX 47:18 - The Structure of Classes at UATX 51:50 - The Importance of Economics 59:31 - The Economic Literacy Level Thomas Hopes For from His Students 1:05:42 - Works of Economics that Were Influential to Thomas 1:11:02 - UATX Bitcoin 1:15:04 - Economic Learning Resources for Beginners 1:17:33 - How to Connect with Thomas' Work If You Enjoy This Show Please Subscribe and Give Us a 5-Star Rating ★★★★★ and Review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Friedrich Hayek A Conflict of Visions - Thomas Sowell Capitalism & Freedom - Milton Friedman Economics in One Lesson - Henry Hazlett The Tuttle Twins Books I, Pencil - Leanord E. Reed Connect with Thomas Hogan: UATX Website: https://discover.uaustin.org/ AIER Articles: https://aier.org Inside UATX (Substack): https://uatx.substack.com Connect with Hannah Frankman: Twitter | https://twitter.com/HannahFrankman RebelEducator | https://twitter.com/rebelEducator Website | http://hannahfrankman.com Follow along for conversations on education, lifestyle, personal development, and freedom. All in ardent pursuit of a life well lived.

Michael Horn, a Harvard School of Education professor and author of "Disrupting Class" and "Job Moves," shares his insights on the future of education. He discusses the impact of innovative approaches in both K-12 and higher education, highlighting the need for educational systems to adapt to changing job market demands. Horn also explores how personal networking is crucial in job hunting today, challenges traditional college models, and shares his optimism about transformative educational innovations shaping the future.

Discover the detrimental lessons public schools often teach, such as waiting for permission and deferring to authority. Explore how these harmful teachings can stifle creativity and self-efficacy, impacting personal potential. Learn the transformative process of deschooling, which encourages independent thinking and intrinsic motivation. Emphasis is placed on detoxing from traditional education to foster a renewed passion for learning, empowering children to embrace their initiative and thrive in the real world.

Matt Bateman, co-founder of Higher Ground Montessori and former philosophy professor, joins the discussion on the impact of AI in education. He shares insights on how AI tools can enhance learning but also lead to cheating. Matt highlights children’s fleeting interest in AI products and the importance of maintaining traditional teaching methods. He emphasizes the need to prepare kids for a tech-infused world while advocating for better writing instruction amidst rising AI reliance.

Samantha Westmoreland is a former public school teacher and is currently the writer-in-residence at Guidepost Montessori. She possesses deep knowledge of the Montessori pedagogy and approach. In this episode, you'll learn about the Montessori approach to literacy, its effectiveness in teaching reading, and why Montessori students often surpass average reading levels. We discuss the engaging reading and sound games that make learning fun, and how Montessori capitalizes on the critical window when children are most receptive to language acquisition. We also explore practical tips for parents interested in adopting a Montessori approach to teaching literacy at home. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 2:50 - The Montessori Approach to Literacy 4:04 - Samantha's Career as a Public School Teacher 8:17 - The Draw to Montessori 11:35 - Montessori vs. Public School in Stages of Development 13:14 - Literacy in Montessori 17:23 - The Sweet Spot of Language 21:56 - How Does Montessori Introduce Children to Language? 24:22 - Sound Games & Learning to Read 32:06 - Writing Before Reading 36:45 - How Public Schools Teach Literacy 39:40 - Is Formal Instruction Necessary to Learn How to Read? 44:36 - Why Do Montessori Students Love to Read? 47:45 - Preparing Toddlers to Read 49:48 - Helping Children Who are Resistant to Reading 52:36 - Teaching Older Children to Read 55:27 - Top Advice for Taking a Montessori Approach as a Parent 59:53 - The Power of Phonetics 1:01:28 - Where to Connect & Learn More If You Enjoy This Show Please Subscribe and Give Us a 5-Star Rating ★★★★★ and Review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Dr. Montessori’s Own Handbook - Maria Montessori Montessori From the Start - Paula Polk Lillard & Lynn Lillard Jessen Connect with Samantha Westmoreland: Twitter | https://x.com/_samantha_joy Substack | https://higherground.substack.com Connect with Hannah Frankman: Twitter | https://twitter.com/HannahFrankman RebelEducator | https://twitter.com/rebelEducator Website | http://hannahfrankman.com Follow along for conversations on education, lifestyle, personal development, and freedom. All in ardent pursuit of a life well lived.

Madison Adkins is a Praxis graduate who currently works with Hannah to help market alternative education programs and brands. Expect to learn about Madison's journey as a high school and college dropout and how it influenced her current work. We explore our approaches to marketing alternative education programs, including common mistakes educators make, our process for refining clients' brand positioning and messaging, and best practices for various platforms to help brands effectively communicate their message and achieve their goals. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 3:10 - The Work Hannah & Maddie do with Brands 5:30 - Maddie's Education Story 10:20 - How Maddie Dropped Out of High School 11:45 - Pushback from Dropping Out 17:19 - Marketing Alternative Education 24:09 - How We Help People Build Brands 28:10 - Philosophical Interviews 30:13 - Most Important Questions to Ask 36:24 - The Problem with Generic Mission Statements 41:17 - How to Create a Good Mission Statement 51:18 - Finding Balance Between Growth and Goals 55:26 - Platform Breakdowns 57:32 - Translating Your Message into Content  1:02:10 - The Visual Aspect of Content 1:04:38 - Biggest Mistakes That Creators Make 1:07:38 - Most Surprising Insights About Education Marketing If You Enjoy This Show Please Subscribe and Give Us a 5-Star Rating ★★★★★ and Review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Walking on Water - Derrick Jenson The Teenage Liberation Handbook - Grace Llewellyn Connect with Hannah Frankman: Twitter | https://twitter.com/HannahFrankman RebelEducator | https://twitter.com/rebelEducator Website | http://hannahfrankman.com Follow along for conversations on education, lifestyle, personal development, and freedom. All in ardent pursuit of a life well lived.

Andrew Bernstein, a philosophy professor at Marist College and author of 'Why Johnny Still Can’t Read or Write or Understand Math And What We Can Do About It', dives deep into the troubling decline of literacy and math skills in American education. He highlights the historical factors contributing to this decline, critiques ineffective teaching methods, and emphasizes the foundational role of reading. Bernstein passionately advocates for a return to phonics in teaching and shares practical advice for parents to foster a love of reading in their children.

Explore how the design of physical spaces profoundly impacts learning and creativity. Discover the differences between Montessori classrooms and traditional educational environments. Gain insights on optimizing home spaces to empower children's independence and foster active learning. Hear about personal experiences that illustrate the transformative power of intentional environment design. Engage in practical tips to create supportive atmospheres that enhance self-esteem and creativity in learners.