The TechEd Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Purush Papatla, Co-Director of the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute (NMDSI), explores the cutting-edge world of data science and artificial intelligence. NMDSI, a collaboration between Northwestern Mutual, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette University, is pushing the boundaries of AI applications to solve real-world problems. Dr. Papatla discusses th...

When communities come together in a spirit of mutual support, entrepreneurship can thrive. In this episode of The TechEd Podcast, Matt Kirchner sits down with Greg Tehven, co-founder of Emerging Prairie, to explore the dynamic world of entrepreneurship and tech startups. Greg shares his journey from a college graduate with a vision to becoming a pivotal force in transforming communities into thriv...

Hear the story of a true legend in career and technical education and a U.S. diplomat with an extraordinary career. From serving as a gunnery officer in the Navy to playing a pivotal role in the Cold War, Leo Reddy’s journey is nothing short of fascinating. Leo’s stories offer historical insight and practical wisdom, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersections of h...

Retail - and the whole customer journey - is evolving in this digital age. How has technology impacted our ability to anticipate and meet the needs of consumers, and how important is that face-to-face interaction in a store today? George Hanson has led retail strategy for some of the most well-known consumer brands including Under Armour, Lands' End and Panera. He's now the Chief Digital...

John Deere is on a mission to develop the next generation of STEM and manufacturing talent - not just for themselves, but to support businesses and entire communities surrounding their plants across the United States. Recently, John Deere conducted a study to understand the major gaps in their workforce pipeline and what they must do to ensure they'll have the future workforce to keep up with...

Join us on a journey through history, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of the American Dream! The Allen-Bradley brand is a household name in manufacturing, but the origin story of the brand, along with its lasting legacy, is a true story of the American Dream. From humble beginnings to becoming a powerhouse in automation, this episode dives into the innovative minds of Lynde and Harry Bradle...

Does generative AI belong in the classroom? How will it impact the student experience? Better yet, how can educators leverage generative AI in instructional design and curriculum-building? Our guest, Dr. Dwayne Wood, shares his unique insights on how AI is revolutionizing instructional design and enhancing learning experiences. From the importance of maintaining the human element in AI-driven educ...

In this exciting episode of The TechEd Podcast, host Matt Kirchner sits down with Dr. Shane Farritor, an innovator at the intersection of space exploration and medical technology. Discover how cutting-edge surgical robots are revolutionizing abdominal surgery, and paving the way for high-tech medical assistance in space. In this episode, you'll hear: How a space-enthused innovator found a nic...

Artificial intelligence is changing our entire world, and that includes the classroom. Some are quick adopters while others are banning the technology in class. Most are trying to figure out AI's place in the classroom - how to embrace it in an ethical, safe way that enhances the student experience and improves learning outcomes. But there are some things that education is getting totally wro...

Dr. Tabby Rabenberg, Principal at Bismarck Public Schools, discusses the critical role of self-efficacy and hands-on experiences in empowering girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. Drawing from her extensive experience in education, Tabby shares valuable insights into the importance of building confidence and providing diverse opportunities for young students, especially girls, from elementary s...

Our guest is one of education's greatest disruptors, Mike Beighley, Superintendent of Whitehall School District. Known nationwide for its groundbreaking approach to teaching Industry 4.0 with the Mobile Skills Lab, Whitehall has been at the forefront of educational innovation for years. We trace the district's journey in implementing cutting-edge technology programs, from listening to an...

From capital budgets to strategic initiatives from federal and state governments, to grants and industry support, educators have countless potential funding opportunities to keep their programs up to date. Grand Rapids Community College, led by President Dr. Charles Lepper, is putting many of these funding opportunities to work for the benefit of their students. Hear how the college has build a st...

Building a better future for our students is going to take the combined efforts of educators, employers and community leaders. The Greater Milwaukee Committee is on a mission to do just that, bringing together the most influential leaders and organizations in Milwaukee to solve some of the toughest challenges facing the city. Joel Brennan leads the organization and joined us in the studio to talk...

Discovery World isn't just a science museum. It's an iconic Milwaukee destination that inspires generations of learners to discover the wonders of science through hands-on STEM experiences. Through their exhibits, camps, community programs and curriculum offerings, Discovery World is making a major impact on learners and families all across the Milwaukee region, reaching underserved popu...

With the pace of change in this new world of work, companies need to start rethinking outdated approaches to continuing education benefits and employee upskilling programs. Traditional benefits like tuition reimbursement and assistance just won't cut it. InStride is disrupting that model. Their unique approach to lifelong learning is helping companies see: 226% ROI over three years for every...

If we want to fill all the skilled positions our workforce has open, it's going to take aligning business needs with educational programs at all levels. With experience at the U.S. Department of Education, Dr. Casey Sacks has seen best practices in creating this kind of alignment. In her current role as President of BridgeValley Community and Technical College, she emphasizes the need for col...

What if we valued skills and competencies more than degrees? As President of Bismarck State College, Dr. Jensen sees education as an economic investment, where the skills a student has upon graduation are far more important than degrees and certifications. A competency-first approach to higher education requires disrupting the traditional model. In this episode, we talk about the components that d...

While colleges across the U.S. are worried about declining enrollment, Lake Area Technical College in South Dakota is expanding. President Tiffany Sanderson sees the value in building a vision so big, so bold that other organizations can't help but want to get involved. And in a state like South Dakota that is seeing faster than average population growth, now is the time for expansion! In thi...

Are you a budding entrepreneur with a great business idea? Have you always wanted to start a company in the tech space, but don't know where to start? Get great advice on launching your own tech company as you listen to our conversation with Amber Busuttil Mullen, partner at Bowen Tax Law. Amber has spent her career helping executives in their businesses and knows that tech is everywhere! Fro...

Funding, filling programs, and finding partners in industry - these are three challenges facing technical colleges across the country. And a great solution to all these challenges: industry-sponsored programs. North Dakota State College of Science has an incredible Diesel Technology program that partners with the biggest brands in agricultural equipment like John Deere, Case, Komatsu and Caterpill...

Peter Rathmann is an advocate for neurodiversity in the manufacturing workforce. As CEO of Allis Manufacturing, he's built a culture that gives these individuals the tools for a successful career. As a father, he's seen his own daughter Emma, who has Asperger's Syndrome, find passion in a manufacturing job. Now, Peter joins us on the podcast to shed light on the great value these in...

What if your company had a digital library of every single drawing, from the newest designs to 100-year-old hand-drawn copies for parts still in use? What if this digital file system was powered by artificial intelligence and could read not just the text on each drawing, but could actually understand all the data (material types, revisions, even identify similar drawings)? That's exactly what...

What does the future of disease research look like? How can artificial intelligence help researchers make new discoveries faster? How can medical professionals synthesize the vast amounts of patient data to offer the best, most personalized care possible These are some of the questions we explore with Dr. Julie Panepinto, who leads the National Institutes of Health's Division of Blood Disease...

Higher education is facing an enrollment cliff. Or, as Augustana University President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin puts it, a "consumption cliff." Not only are there fewer students for universities to recruit, there are also fewer students even considering enrolling in post-secondary education. In this episode, we discuss some of the ways private universities can hedge against these upcomin...

Get ready to start your AI journey in manufacturing! We sat down with industry visionary Todd Wanek, CEO of Ashley Furniture Industries, to get his best practices for developing an AI strategy. According to Wanek, businesses have 3-5 years to figure out AI, or get left behind.  Fortunately for us, Ashley Furniture - the world's largest furniture manufacturer with 35,000 employees globally - h...