The EdisonOS Podcast

In this episode, Doug, an experienced AP math tutor, shares how leaving classroom teaching behind led him to a more fulfilling one on one tutoring practice where he could focus entirely on working directly with students across a wide range of math subjects. Drawing from years of private tutoring experience, Doug explains why the students who excel at AP are not just technically skilled but adaptab...

In this episode, Megan Padden, owner and founder of O.W.L. Educational Services , reveals about what the PSAT really measures and how families should use it as a readiness tool for the SAT rather than a scholarship checkpoint. Megan explains common early mistakes students make, why practice matters even when a score won't count toward admissions, and how the right age to start prep often comes dow...

In this episode, Dan, Test Prep Director at Galin Education , breaks down why the PSAT is low stakes, low risk, and often misunderstood, with most students simply not knowing what it is or what it can offer rather than misunderstanding it outright. He explains the score ranges that signal real National Merit potential, around 28 to 29 and above on the ACT or 1350 and higher on the SAT, and why pre...

In this episode, Rhea Wanchoo, co-founder of M&W Education , shares how her background in academic psychology shaped a company built at the intersection of test prep, college admissions, and student confidence. Drawing from her experience working with students through high school and into the college transition, Rhea explains why effort alone is never enough and why the biggest gap she sees is...

In this episode, Michael Scheller, an experienced test prep coach, shares his direct and no-nonsense perspective on PSAT and AP preparation, explaining why he believes prepping specifically for the PSAT is a waste of resources and why strong SAT prep naturally covers it. Drawing from tens of thousands of hours working with students across New Jersey and Connecticut, Michael breaks down how cutoff...

In this episode, CJ Palma, founder of CJ101 Tutoring , shares how his unique background in marine science, computer science, and psychology shapes his approach to teaching AP Environmental Science, and how growing up as a second generation American informs the empathy driven strategies he brings to test prep. Drawing from his own academic and entrepreneurial journey, CJ explains why building resil...

In this episode, Philip Bates, who leads college readiness at UWorld , reveals how the digital and adaptive shift in the PSAT and AP exams is reshaping test prep and what it will take for these exams to stay relevant in a test optional world. Drawing from his work with school districts nationwide, Philip explains why teaching content alone isn't enough, students also need to be taught executive fu...

In this episode, Eliza Kimball, founder of Crimson Connections LLC , shares how she launched her tutoring company during her senior year of high school in 2020 and has since built it into a full-time venture connecting Ivy League students with high schoolers. Drawing from her own experience as an overachieving student at Harvard, Eliza explains why she targets seventh and eighth graders, believing...

In this episode, Dr. Emily Levy, founder of EBL Coaching , shares how growing up around her mother's school for students with learning disabilities in Florida shaped her path from Wall Street back into special education. Drawing from her doctorate and years of hands-on experience, Emily explains how a multi-sensory approach, integrating visual, auditory, and tactile methods, can be life-changi...

In this episode, Gabe Futrell, principal of Bill Metz Elementary in Monte Vista, Colorado, shares how over 15 years in one rural school community has shaped his approach to leadership. Drawing from more than two decades in education, Gabe explains how a love for small towns and the mountains first brought him to the San Luis Valley and why the people around him have kept him there. He discusses th...

In this episode, Patty McGee, literacy consultant, educator, and author, describes herself as a "traveling teacher" who spends time in schools helping teachers and students rather than staying distant from the classroom. Drawing from her own early struggles with poor literacy instruction, Patty explains why strong literacy teaching must center student choice, student voice, and goal-centered respo...

In this episode, Don Sevcik, creator and founder of Math Celebrity with eight million users annually and zero paid marketing, reveals how watching a team in India struggle with a 300-page pension book led him to build Excel step-by-step calculators that became the blueprint for automating his math tutoring brain on a website. Drawing from 17 years building the platform, Don explains his pattern IQ...

In this episode, Hassan and Kimberly, founders of The Lauziere Education Group with backgrounds in physics, math, English, and literature, reveal how they left corporate careers to build a holistic learning ecosystem after traveling to over 50 countries and discovering education should extend beyond classroom walls. Drawing from their diverse subject expertise, they explain how all disciplines are...

In this episode, Cynthia Millhorn, founder of Tutor2Order with 20 years of experience blending journalism, performance, and creative writing, reveals how she left tutoring companies after noticing they matched tutors based on subject knowledge alone without pedagogy or ability to assess student needs. Drawing from her background in qualitative research and therapy, Cynthia explains how pandemic st...

In this episode, Jackie Postelnick, founder of Conscious College Planning with over a decade starting in financial aid, reveals how today's broken system puts undue pressure on students to choose majors before understanding their purpose and impact they want to have on the world. Drawing from guiding over a thousand families, Jackie explains her conscious decision-making philosophy that combines c...

In this episode, Emily Axelrod, an English tutor with over a decade teaching teens for standardized tests, reveals how the digital SAT has become more challenging despite shorter passages because students have less material to grasp and form answers. Drawing from her experience working with neurotypical students and those with attention deficit disorder and on the spectrum, Emily explains her rapp...

In this episode, Gerene Keesler, founder of Admissions Untangled with over three decades in college admissions, reveals how her Hispanic background kept her learning differences hidden until a neuropsychological exam in her 30s that she dragged her parents to. Drawing from living with epilepsy and being on the autism spectrum, Gerene explains her knots philosophy for two types of stressed students...

In this episode, Dr. Tiffany Bannworth, founder of Bannworth Academy voted best private school in Florida three years running, reveals how sitting in a rigid eight-hour meeting where she was starving and running campuses from her cell phone convinced her traditional education was fundamentally broken. Drawing from her background in archaeology and paleontology, Dr. Tiffany explains her Bannworth E...

In this episode, Harrison Kmiec, founder of Harrison Kmiec Tutoring , reveals how his stressed college experience as a math and stats major inspired him to become an additional resource for STEM students who couldn't always access office hours. Drawing from his own neurodivergent background, Harrison explains how he views ADHD and neurodivergent mindsets as having creative strengths, not just...

In this episode, Judith S Bass, founder of Bass Educational Services , LLC reveals how watching her brother diagnosed with minimal brain dysfunction in 1965 shaped her 25-year mission serving neurodivergent students. Drawing from personally visiting over 400 colleges nationwide, Judith explains her early-start philosophy of meeting students freshman year to teach life skills like taking medicine i...

In this episode, Marc Hoberman, owner of Grade Success Education with over 33 years of experience teaching English, shares how his hidden teenage epilepsy diagnosis helped him develop a deeper understanding of students who struggle silently. Marc discusses how education has shifted toward teaching-to-the-test, increasing stress and test anxiety for students. He explains the importance of teaching...

In this episode, Lizz Wilson, a private teacher and former engineer in the Bay Area, reveals how she applies century-old mastery learning principles to modern test prep through highly tailored one-on-one curricula. Drawing from her belief that reducing students to test scores is part of the educational system's core problem, Lizz explains her conversation-based diagnostic approach that prioritizes...

In this episode, Judy Cinesi, founder of College Path Consultants with 20 years of high school counseling experience, reveals how she bridges the gap created by public school counselors managing 500-700 students each. Drawing from her work in both private college preparatory schools with 100 students and traditional public schools, Judy explains her best-fit philosophy—believing happiness on campu...

In this episode, Viktoriya Furina, founder of Exam IQ with 25 years of experience, reveals how the high-stakes, one-shot nature of New York's SHSAT—the sole admission criterion for eight specialized high schools—shapes her rigorous approach. Drawing from teaching students from second grade through SAT, Viktoriya explains how she prepares 12 and 13-year-olds to perform under extreme pressure by hav...

In this episode, Ellie Smedley, founder of Confidence Academics and former math curriculum writer for eight years, reveals how her confidence-first approach shapes her nine-session SAT prep program. Drawing from her curriculum development background, Ellie explains her "show what you know" philosophy that encourages students to display all their work and build from existing knowledge rather than f...