Trending In Ed with Mike Palmer

In this enlightening episode of Trending in Ed, host Mike Palmer engages in a dynamic conversation with Edson Barton, co-founder and CEO of YouScience, diving deep into the transformative power of career education and aptitude assessment. Edson shares his own compelling origin story, reflecting on how his early struggles in school ignited a passion for revolutionizing the way we approach education...

Is it "absenteeism" or is there a "new absenteeism?" Join us as we dive into groundbreaking research from Teach for America's Reinvention Lab featuring Colleen Keating Crawford and Izzy Fitzgerald, who are at the forefront of exploring the evolving landscape of student engagement. Here's the link to Colleen's previous appearance on Trending in Ed where we talk about the Lab's Crossing the Canyon r...

In this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer talks with Deb Mallin, the founder and CEO of Mighty Doodle Inc., about the power of AI in transforming literacy education. Deb’s journey into education was inspired by her own experiences as a mother and educator, driving her to create Mighty Doodle, an AI-based literacy tutoring system. Mighty Doodle uses a series of engaging mini-games...

In this episode of Trending in Education, we sit down with Dacia Toll, Co-CEO of Coursemojo, to explore the intersection of education reform and AI's transformative potential in K12 settings. Dacia shares her 26-year journey in education, from her early days as a teacher and principal in New Haven, Connecticut, to her pivotal role in scaling Achievement First, a network of 41 schools. Dacia discus...

In this captivating episode of Trending in Ed, we reconnect with the dynamic filmmaking duo, Jaye and Adam Fenderson of Three Frame Media, to explore their latest impactful project: The Class.   Stepping back into the world of education after their acclaimed film Unlikely (here's the link to their prior appearance talking about it in 2019), the Fendersons' new docuseries, now airing on PBS, intima...

In this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer interviews Emily Coleman, co-founder and CEO of HAI Analytics Inc, about the intersection of data science and higher education. Emily shares her journey from a PhD in Psychology and Statistics to founding HAI Analytics, highlighting her passion for using data to drive decision-making in higher education. They discuss the importance of pred...

In this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer welcomes Dana Bryson, Senior Vice President of Social Impact at Study.com, for an engaging discussion on the intersection of education, technology, and social impact. This follows almost exactly a year from Dana's first appearance on Trending in Ed with Paul Gollash from ETS.  Dana shares her inspiring origin story, from her upbringing wit...

In this episode of Trending in Ed, host Mike Palmer catches up with serial entrepreneur Avi Yashchin, the Founder of Subconscious AI, about his professional journey from Wall Street to the cutting edge of AI. Yashchin, who started his career as a high-frequency equity trader, offers us a unique perspective on the 2008 financial crisis and how it sparked his interest in understanding the “why” behi...

In this episode of Trending in Education, we welcome Auditi Chakravarty, CEO of the Advanced Education Research and Development Fund (AERDF), to explore the cutting edge of education R&D. We begin by tracing Auditi's journey from a high school English teacher to a leader in curriculum and assessment development, with stops at Kaplan and the College Board, where she helped shape major programs like...

We're thrilled to bring you another engaging episode recorded live at SXSW EDU in Austin, Texas! Join Trending in Ed host Mike Palmer as he sits down with Lindsay Whorton, President of the Holdsworth Center, to explore innovative approaches to educational leadership, innovation, and the future of K-12.   Lindsay shares her inspiring journey from college hoops to teaching to leading a cutting-edge...

In this dynamic episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer connects with Dana Stephenson, co-founder and CEO of Riipen, live from SXSW EDU in Austin. We dive into how Riipen is revolutionizing higher education and the workforce by tackling the critical experience gap head-on. Discover how their innovative platform seamlessly connects students and companies through impactful, skill-specific...

In this episode of Trending in Education, we explore the fascinating intersection of neuroscience and resilience in education. We speak with Dr. Horacio Sanchez, the founder and CEO of Resiliency, Inc, about his groundbreaking work with K-12 systems.   We dive into Dr. Sanchez's origin story and learn how his early work as the youngest director of mental health in North Carolina led him to develop...

Join us for a dynamic live recording from the Podcast Stage at SXSW EDU 2025! We're diving into the hottest trends shaping the future of education with a panel of experts. Mike Palmer, host of Trending in Ed and Founder of Palmer Media, leads a lively discussion with Mike Yates from Teach for America's Reinvention Lab, who shares his insights on AI and social media. Jenn Stredler, Managing Directo...

Join us for a special episode of Trending in Education recorded live from the LEGO Education Curiosity Park at SXSW EDU.   We’re diving deep into the world of playful learning and the rollout of LEGO Education Science with Dr. Jenny Nash, Head of Impact Education at LEGO. In this fun and insightful conversation, we explore the latest from LEGO Education with a special appearance from host Mike Pal...

Join us for a recap of SXSW EDU 2025! Host Mike Palmer shares his takeaways from the conference, including highlights from the panel discussion he hosted on the podcast stage. Catch highlights from interviews with Dr. Jenny Nash from LEGO Education, Dana Stephenson from Riipen, and Lindsay Whorton from The Holdsworth Center, as Mike shares his experiences attending the conference with his wife and...

Jarian Kerekes, President of the Equitable Foundation, joins Mike Palmer on Trending in Education to share his personal and professional journey, highlighting the transformative power of education and the importance of finding one's passion. From his challenging upbringing in rural Virginia to his impactful work at the Equitable Foundation, Kerekes' story is one of resilience, determination, and a...

In today's episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer sits down with Amy Lomellini, the Director of Accessibility for Anthology. Lomellini shares her personal journey and how it led her to become a passionate advocate for accessibility in educational technology.   Listeners will gain valuable insights into the intersection of assistive technology, artificial intelligence, and universal des...

Dr. Kenneth Carter, a clinical psychologist and professor, returns to Trending in Education to discuss his work as the founder of Emory University's Center for Public Scholarship and Engagement. Carter and host Mike Palmer explore the challenges and opportunities of translating academic knowledge into accessible and engaging content for the public.   Key takeaways: The Center for Public Scholarshi...

Dr. Allison Scott, CEO of the Kapor Foundation, joins Mike Palmer on Trending in Education to discuss the crucial intersection of technology, education, and equity. The conversation explores the persistent lack of diversity in the tech industry and the urgent need to prepare students for the AI-driven future. Dr. Scott emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, ethical considerations, and cre...

Steve Shapiro, the co-founder and CEO of Finetune and SVP of AI in assessment for Prometric, joins us to discuss the transformative potential of AI in education and assessment. Shapiro emphasizes that we are still in the nascent stages of AI adoption and that there is vast untapped potential for this technology to revolutionize how we design, deliver, and assess learning experiences.   Key Takeawa...

Jenee Henry Wood, Chief Learning Officer at Transcend and co-author of the book Extraordinary Learning for All: How Communities Design Schools Where Everybody Thrives, joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about community-based design and how to leap ahead past the industrial model of K12 education left over from the 20th century. Jenee shares her journey into education, which began with a back...

Isabelle Hau, author of the book, Love to Learn: The Transformative Power of Care and Connection in Early Childhood, joins Mike Palmer in a conversation about the importance of relationships in early education and what it means to our understanding of intelligence and human development. Hau highlights the concept of “relational intelligence” or “RQ” and its increasing importance in a world dominat...

In this episode of Trending in Education, we're diving deep into the often-turbulent waters of college admissions with Teege Metille, an expert in higher education, admissions consulting, and a podcaster himself. He's also the author of The Admissions Counselor Malaise: Addressing the Staff Morale Crisis in College Admissions. With his insights, we explore the evolving landscape of higher educatio...

Erin Mote, CEO of InnovateEDU, joins Mike Palmer to discuss the future of education and the role of AI in shaping learning. Erin shares her insights on the importance of AI literacy, the need for ethical AI development, and the challenges and opportunities facing education in the age of AI. She emphasizes the importance of preparing students for a rapidly changing world and highlights the need for...

Kathleen deLaski, author of Who Needs College Anymore? Imagining a Future Where Degrees Won't Matter joins host Mike Palmer for a candid conversation about the future of higher education. With rising college costs and a shifting job market, many are questioning the value of a traditional college degree. We dig into it with Kathleen who brings her unique blend of experience at the Education Design...