
The Hannah Frankman Podcast
Conversations on education, lifestyle, personal development, and freedom — all in ardent pursuit of a life well lived.
Latest episodes

Jan 9, 2025 • 1h 29min
Scott Scheall: The Declining Value of the Modern College Degree
Scott Scheall spent the majority of his academic career at Arizona St. University, the largest university in the world, and is now a professor at the University of Austin, perhaps the smallest university in the world.
Expect to learn about the bureaucracy that exists in large academic institutions and the perverse incentives in place that make it so difficult for faculty to deliver a quality education. We dive into the war on free speech inside of college campuses and what the University of Austin is doing to protect free speech as a core pillar of the academic education it is delivering. And we talk about how Scott was a direct casualty of the war against free speech and exploration of free ideas at ASU.
Chapters:
0:00 - Scott Scheall
2:56 - Why Scott moved from ASU To UATX
12:21 - Being Denied Tenure at ASU
16:36 - The Broken Incentive Structures at Large Universities
22:47 - Bureaucracy within American Education Institutions
33:36 - Lip Service at Large Universities
40:59 - The Declining Value of a College Degree
47:12 - How Can We Fix Credentialing?
56:29 - Free Speech on College Campuses
1:07:51 - The Difference Between Free Speech Outside & Inside Universities
1:23:06 - How to Learn More About Scott's Work
If You Enjoy This Show Please Subscribe and Give Us a 5-Star Rating ★★★★★ and Review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
Connect with Scott Scheall:
Substack: https://policymakerignorance.substack.com
Twitter: https://x.com/pmignorance1
Podcast: The Week in Policymaker Ignorance
Book: F.A. Hayek and the Epistemology of Politics - Scott Scheall
Free Book: Dialogues Concerning Natural Politics - Scott Scheall
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.

9 snips
Jan 2, 2025 • 1h 8min
Michael Gibson: How Philosophy Helps Build Companies
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.

Dec 19, 2024 • 1h 19min
Laura Williams: Writing for the Real World
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.

Dec 12, 2024 • 1h 20min
Thomas Hogan: The First Semester at America's Newest University
Thomas Hogan, Professor of Economics at the University of Austin, shares insights from his transition back to academia after years in the business world. He discusses the innovative culture and rigorous academic environment at UATX. The conversation covers his unique Socratic teaching approach, the significance of economic literacy, and the exciting Polaris project aimed at long-term student engagement. Hogan also highlights the groundbreaking Bitcoin endowment fund and emphasizes the need for open dialogue in education to foster a robust intellectual culture.

27 snips
Dec 5, 2024 • 1h 5min
Michael Horn: Disruptive Innovation & The Future of Education
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.

13 snips
Nov 28, 2024 • 37min
How to Deschool Your Kids
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.

5 snips
Nov 21, 2024 • 1h 20min
Matt Bateman: How Bad is AI-Enabled Cheating?
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.

Nov 14, 2024 • 1h 5min
Samantha Westmoreland: A Better Approach to Literacy
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.

Nov 7, 2024 • 1h 13min
Madison Adkins: A Crash Course in Education Marketing
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.

Oct 31, 2024 • 1h 12min
Andrew Bernstein: The Decline of American Education
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.
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