Show-Me Institute Podcast

Susan Pendergrass speaks with former superintendent John C. Carver. John writes about education policy at growthringsjcc.blogspot.com Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

On April 26, 2023, the Show-Me Institute, in partnership with EdChoice and Show-Me Opportunity, hosted a virtual event featuring EdChoice’s Marty Lueken, Director of Fiscal Research & Education Center, and Mike McShane, Director of National Research, join Show-Me Institute’s Director of Education Research, Susan Pendergrass. You can watch video of the event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oL...

James Shuls, Elias Tsapelas, and David Stokes join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the latest on the Missouri budget process, get an update on education legislation, why some Missourians are going to be surprised by the increase in their property tax bills, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Daniel DiSalvo about his new report Big City Pensions and the Urban Doom Loop. Daniel DiSalvo is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a professor of political science in the Colin Powell School at the City College of New York–CUNY. DiSalvo’s scholarship focuses on American political parties, elections, labor unions, state government, and public policy. He is...

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Will Flanders about what Missouri can learn from Wisconsin's educational choice programs. Will Flanders is the Research Director at the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty. Together with the education policy team, Dr. Flanders conducts econometric research on the application of WILL’s principles of freedom and liberty to the educational system in Wisconsin. Since jo...

Ben DeGrow is the Policy Director of Education Choice for ExcelinEd. Ben worked nearly two decades in state-based public policy, providing expert analysis in school choice, school finance and more. In his time at Colorado’s Independence Institute and Michigan’s Mackinac Center for Public Policy, he led dozens of studies and research project initiatives while also managing or supporting various coa...

Patrick Ishmael, David Stokes, and Elias Tsapelas join Zach Lawhorn to discuss recent changes to language used in University of Missouri System job listings, the progress on the state budget process, the upcoming elections, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Avery Frank join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the start of the second half of the legislative session, the tax cut bill moving through the House, upcoming ballot items and the status of the open enrollment bill. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

On March 21, 2023, the Show-Me Institute hosted a virtual event with Senator Jim Talent and Heritage Foundation’s James Jay Carafano. They discussed rising tensions between the United States and China, the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, the possibility of conflict over Taiwan, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Adam Peshek is Senior Director and Senior Fellow at Stand Together Trust, where he focuses on education policy. Prior to joining STT, Peshek spent eight years in leadership positions with ExcelinEd, including managing policy director. In this role, Peshek provided strategic support to state leaders interested in developing and implementing policies that expanded educational options for children. H...

Susan Pendergrass speaks to Allison Schrager about inflation, the Federal Reserve's next move in light of panic in the banking sector, how supply-side reforms can boost the economy and more. Allison Schrager is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a City Journal contributing editor, where her research focuses on public finance, pensions, tax policy, labor markets, and monetary policy. Sh...

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Dr. Paul Hill about his career in education reform, the current state of school choice, and more. Paul T. Hill is the founder of the Center on Reinventing Public Education, and Emeritus Professor at the University of Washington Bothell. His current work focuses on re-missioning states and school districts to promote school performance; school choice and innovation; fi...

Susan Pendergrass speaks with AEI's Andrew G. Biggs about what can be done to address the looming crisis of the insolvency of America's social security system. Read Dr. Biggs' recent op-ed in the Wall Street Journal: https://on.wsj.com/3KSCwet Andrew G. Biggs is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he studies Social Security reform, state and local government pensions,...

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Andy Smarick, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, about how the 2022 campaign and election cycle provided an opportunity to better understand whether national issues and narratives around education match those at the state level. Read Andy's full report here: https://bit.ly/3ECp4Hr Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass, Elias Taspelas, and David Stokes join Zach Lawhorn to discuss film and entertainment tax credits, Susan's break down of state and federal funding for education in Missouri, freezing property taxes for people over 65, and more. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Aaron Smith about how other states fund open enrollment programs in their public school systems and what Missouri can learn from those models. Aaron Garth Smith is the director of education reform at Reason Foundation. Smith works extensively on education finance policy and his writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including National Review, The Hill, and Educatio...

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Chad Aldeman about school funding, teacher pay, pension systems and more. Chad Aldeman is the Policy Director of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University. Prior to joining the Edunomics Lab, Chad worked at Bellwether Education Partners and the U.S. Department of Education. He has published reports on K-12 and higher education accountability systems; school choice; a...

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Jason Bedrick. Read Jason's full report here: https://herit.ag/3JMFLDA Jason Bedrick a research fellow in the Center for Education Policy at The Heritage Foundation, where he focuses on policies that promote education freedom and choice, religious liberty, classical education, and restoring the primary role of families in education. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass speaks with James Pethokoukis about why advancements in A.I. are cause for optimism, not hysteria. James Pethokoukis, a columnist and an economic policy analyst, is the Dewitt Wallace Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he writes and edits the AEIdeas blog and hosts a weekly podcast, “Political Economy with James Pethokoukis.” He is also a columnist for The Week an...

David Stokes, Elias Tsapelas, and Patrick Ishmael join Zach Lawhorn to discuss which bills are moving in Jefferson City, a recent court decision on the City of St. Louis' earnings tax, and the mayor of Cool Valley being impeached.

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Don Soifer. Don Soifer is Chief Executive Officer of the National Microschooling Center, America’s comprehensive resource center, movement-builder and authority for the most exciting new education movement in a generation. He co-created and co-directed the Southern Nevada Urban Micro Academy, the nation’s first public–private partnership microschool with the City of N...

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Krissia Campos Spivey. Krissia Campos Spivey is a rising national leader in ensuring equality of educational opportunity for Hispanic families. After raising the bar for parent-facing school choice resources in Spanish as a part of National School Choice Week, she’s expanding on that work as director of the newly launched Conoce tus Opciones Escolares (CTOE). In tande...

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Shelby Doyle about National School Choice Week 2023. As vice president of public awareness, Shelby serves as the lead strategist for media outreach, digital communications, and as a national spokesperson. In addition, she works with schools, organizations, and individuals across the country to help raise awareness about the tens of thousands of independently-planned e...

Susan Pendergrass, David Stokes and Elias Tsapelas join Zach Lawhorn to discuss the newly added spending data at MoSchoolRankings.org, takeaways from the State of the State Address and a new court decision on applying the City of St. Louis earnings tax to remote work. Produced by Show-Me Opportunity

Susan Pendergrass speaks with Brian Riedl. Brian Riedl is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, focusing on budget, tax, and economic policy. Previously, he worked for six years as chief economist to Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) and as staff director of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth. He also served as a director of budget and spending policy for M...