

The ThoughtStretchers Podcast
ThoughtStretchers Education
Heterodox conversations to stretch your thinking about important issues in education.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 15, 2025 • 1h 14min
NASSP Leadership, Policy, And Student Well-Being
Drew Perkins talks with return guest, Ronn Nozoe, CEO of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Oct 8, 2025 • 1h 16min
When Politics Hijacks Education
Drew Perkins talks with Vladimir Kogan about his new book, No Adult Left Behind: How Politics Hijacks Education Policy and Hurts Kids. Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Oct 2, 2025 • 1h 9min
A Dynamic Equilibrium Of Research And Practice
Drew Perkins talks with Rod Naquin about balancing educational research with practice as he returns to the classroom after 7 years doing educational leadership work. Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode

17 snips
Sep 24, 2025 • 1h 14min
Bridging Gaps With Mental Models
Join Rebekah Berlin, a product developer enhancing teacher-child interactions, and Jim Heal, a seasoned education practitioner and author, as they dissect their co-authored work, Mental Models. They discuss bridging gaps between beliefs and evidence in education, emphasizing the power of mental models in teaching. Dive into the importance of varied examples for rich learning, the role of inquiry in cognitive science, and how deep questioning boosts knowledge retention. Their insights promise to bring clarity and practicality to educators seeking to refine their teaching strategies.

Sep 17, 2025 • 1h 23min
"Soul-Destroying" Or Empowering Pedagogy?
Drew Perkins talks with Karen Vaites about navigating educational tribalism, the "Science of Learning," and the impact of knowledge-rich, coherent curricula on student outcomes. Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Sep 11, 2025 • 1h 19min
Strategic Leadership
Drew Perkins talks with Rachel Curtis and Liz City, co-authors of the book Leading Strategically: Achieving Ambitious Goals in Education. Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Aug 29, 2025 • 54min
Using A Prohuman Curriculum To Build Character And Civic Virtue
Drew Perkins talks with Christina LaRose about her work with the Prohuman Foundation to develop a curriculum focused on learning character through literature. Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Jul 30, 2025 • 1h 8min
Bridging The Science of Learning And Inquiry With Socratic Experience
Drew Perkins talks with Michael Strong, founder of The Socratic Experience, a K–12 high-touch virtual school that equips students through Socratic dialogue, 1:1 mentoring, and creative and entrepreneurial projects. Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Jul 24, 2025 • 1h 26min
Is The Science of Learning 'Soul Destroying'?
Drew Perkins talks with teacher-educator Rachael Jefferson about her Education HQ article from an interview that is critical of the Science of Learning movement. Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode

9 snips
Jul 14, 2025 • 29min
How To Have Nuanced Conversation
The importance of nuanced conversations in educational settings is front and center. Explore the impact of social media on face-to-face dialogue and the role of educators in fostering understanding. Discover how inquiry-based learning encourages open-mindedness and diverse perspectives. The discussion tackles the challenges of polarization, emphasizing the need for respectful discourse to enrich educational dialogue. Aiming for a cohesive community, it advocates for the principles of enlightenment to combat societal divides.