LEARN Podcasts

Imagine a classroom where students don’t just use AI—they question it, improve it, and build with it. That’s the world we explore with Indra Kubicek, CEO of Digital Moment, a national charity bringing digital literacy, coding education, and social innovation labs to young people across Canada. We talk frankly about what it takes to raise confident learners in a world where AI is everywhere: not mo...

What if a school was more than a school—what if it was the beating heart of its community? We sit down with longtime CLC leader Debbie Horrocks to trace how Quebec’s Community Learning Centers grew from a bold idea into a 90-school network that strengthens English education while weaving families, services, and culture into daily learning. From the early vision to today’s realities, we explore why...

Most people quietly believe they’re “not a math person,” yet they plan trips, compare prices, rearrange furniture, and decode ads with sharp logic every week. We pull that thread with Dr. Laura Tuohilampi from The University of New South Wales to ask why everyday confidence evaporates at the classroom door—and how to stitch it back together. We talk about the moments that shape a learner’s identit...

A single moment on a New York train set Mitch on a path from early Apple II hacks to a lifelong mission: teach people how to think in ways that unlock action. ShiftED sit down with Mitch Weisburgh, creator of Mind Shifting with Mitch, to explore how small, repeatable techniques can move us from the brain’s fast, fearful survival mode into a calmer, creative sage mode—where choices widen, mistakes...

The ground is shifting under education, and pretending otherwise won’t help. We sit down with Dr. Sabba Quidwai to map a path that begins with people, not platforms: clarifying strengths, building agency, and using AI as a true teammate with defined responsibilities. Saba shares how a rocky start to her teaching career during the recession led to a powerful reframe—know your value, share your work...

Action Now: A Developmental Reset for Anxious Classrooms The state of our schools demands urgent action. We are seeing students who are consistently anxious, aggressive, or shut down. This is a developmental crisis, and our focus must be on the child’s reality, not our wish list. That is the powerful throughline from our conversation with educator Hannah Beach . She helps us decode the forces shor...

Rethinking Education: Is Connection the New Content? The traditional classroom model, built on the transmission of content from expert to learner, is facing a profound challenge. What if the heart of learning isn't content at all—but connection ? This question has fueled a quiet revolution in educational technology, one that emphasizes distributed networks over centralized control. We recentl...

Ever wonder why some schools thrive with new tech while others drown in apps? We sit down with Mark Anderson—educator, author, and longtime edtech leader—to unpack what actually moves the needle: student voice, ethical AI literacy, and clear frameworks that save time without sacrificing judgment. From a 1:1 iPad rollout that focused on pedagogy and family trust to a nationwide student digital lead...

Have we been approaching education all wrong? In this mind-shifting conversation with renowned developmental psychologist Dr. Gordon Neufeld, we explore the invisible but essential foundation of all learning: relationship. As another school year begins, Dr. Neufeld challenges educators to recognize their primary role as "attachment agents" rather than just instructors. The modern educati...

What if creating truly inclusive classrooms wasn't about mastering every student's culture, but about designing learning environments where everyone belongs? Dr. Burke offers a refreshing perspective on how Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and equity work combine to transform education for all students. Drawing from her personal journey that began as a middle school student in a Massa...

The evolving story of English education rights in Quebec takes center stage as Joe Ortona, Chair of the English Montreal School Board and President of the Quebec English School Board Association, shares his journey and insights. What began as a chance opportunity in 2014 has grown into a commitment to preserving the cultural identity and educational rights of Quebec’s English-speaking community. O...

What happens when educational vision meets community resilience? Meet Christine Truesdale, the newly appointed CEO of LEARN (Leading English Education Resource Network), who brings decades of experience and a profound connection to Quebec's English education landscape. Christine takes us on a journey through LEARN's fascinating evolution, beginning with its formation in 2005 through the...

Remember the hesitation many felt when the internet first entered our homes? Dan Fitzpatrick, "The AI Educator," draws fascinating parallels between that pivotal moment and our current relationship with artificial intelligence in education. This conversation cuts through misconceptions to reveal how AI can transform teaching without diminishing human connection. Dan's journey from c...

What would happen if we completely reimagined education? Dr. Peter Gray takes us on a provocative journey through the hidden history and troubling foundations of our modern school system. Gray's path to becoming an educational revolutionary began with his own son's rebellion. "School is prison," his fourth-grader declared, triggering a family crisis that led to a radical decisi...

What can being 6'7" tall teach us about effective leadership? As it turns out, quite a lot. Steve Bowler—known professionally as "Stand Tall Steve"—joins us to share how his physical height became the foundation for a powerful leadership philosophy that's transforming school cultures across the country. Steve reveals three profound parallels between tall people and great l...

Are our children spending too much time in the digital world and missing out on real-life experiences? What happens when we prioritize screens over face-to-face connections? These are the questions at the heart of my conversation with Katherine Martinko, author of "Childhood Unplugged: Practical Advice to Get Kids Off Screens and Find Balance.” Katherine shares her unconventional upbringing i...

Ken Kahn takes us on a fascinating journey through the evolution of artificial intelligence in education—from his early days at MIT's AI Laboratory in the 1970s to today's revolutionary chatbot capabilities. As the author of "The Learner's Apprentice: AI and the Amplification of Human Creativity," Ken shares a vision where AI serves not as a replacement for teachers but as...

What if we stopped seeing some students as "difficult to teach" and started designing our classrooms for everyone from the beginning? That's the transformative question at the heart of my conversation with Devon Warnock and Jennifer Mercer, Consultants for Inclusive Education at Lester B Pearson School Board. Both educators began their careers in classrooms with diverse learning pro...

Kate Arthur's journey from English literature graduate to AI education pioneer offers a refreshing perspective on our technological future. Her newly released book "Am I Literate?" poses a crucial question about what literacy means in an age where machines can read, write, and create alongside us. Arthur shares the pivotal moments that shaped her career path - from working in commun...

Shannon Merenstein takes us on a fascinating journey through the transformative power of creativity and play in childhood education. Drawing from her rich background as an artist, educator, founder of Hatch Partners in Play , and co-author of " Collage Workshop for Kids ," Shannon dismantles the myth that creativity is an innate gift rather than a muscle requiring regular exercise. What...

Gabriel Rshaid takes us on a compelling journey through the evolving landscape of education in the age of artificial intelligence. As the director and co-founder of both the Learner Space and the Global School in Argentina, Gabriel brings a unique perspective on how we might harness AI's potential while safeguarding the essential human elements of learning. Drawing from his transformation fro...

Valéry Psyché takes us on a fascinating journey from her physics studies in France to becoming a pioneering researcher and educator in AI education at TELUS University in Quebec . This conversation reveals the complex layers of distance learning design, where teams of experts collaborate to create engaging online learning environments that keep students motivated despite physical and temporal sepa...

What makes a first-year teacher not just survive, but truly thrive? Michelle Cummins, author of "The First Year Teacher Survival Guide: Fifth Edition" and education advisor at Brisk Teaching, brings decades of wisdom to this question while exploring the evolving landscape of education. Michelle's remarkable journey from childhood teacher (complete with a playroom chalkboard at age s...

What if our children's screen time challenges aren't actually about them at all? When Emily Cherkin noticed her 7th-grade students increasingly absorbed by social media, they quickly pointed out an uncomfortable truth: "My parents are texting while driving, playing Candy Crush, always on Facebook." This pivotal realization—that screen addiction is fundamentally an adult problem...

What does it mean to be a "techno-Victorian" in today's rapidly evolving educational landscape? JD Williams embodies this fascinating philosophy, prioritizing human autonomy while thoughtfully embracing technological augmentation. Our conversation explores this delicate balance at a time when screens increasingly separate us from authentic connections. Drawing from her rich experien...