Why Distance Learning?

In this episode of Why Distance Learning , hosts Seth Fleischauer , Tami Moehring , and Allyson Mitchell welcome Cassie Bride , Director of School Programs, and Lauren Yockel , School Programs Education Specialist at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA) . Together, they explore how one of the nation’s most renowned cultural institutions is transforming museum education through live virtual progra...

In this episode of Why Distance Learning , hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell and Tami Moehring welcome Pat Cassella—Executive Director of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA), VP of Worldwide Sales at VDO360, and founder of ETC Video . Pat traces the evolution of video technology in education, healthcare, government, and corporate training—and offers bold predictions abou...

Many people think of distance learning as impersonal—a screen separating students from real connection. But at the Pro Football Hall of Fame , it’s doing the exact opposite. It’s bringing students face-to-face with legends, life lessons, and the values that make great teams—and great people. In this episode, Jerry Csaki , Senior Director of Youth, Education, and Leadership at the Pro Football Hall...

Many adults assume that kids only tolerate online learning—that it’s isolating, transactional, and never as “real” as learning in person. But what if students themselves told a different story? What if distance learning could be creative, inspiring, and a place to make authentic friendships? In this episode, we meet Maddie (11) and Ella (13), co-hosts of The Recess Rundown , a podcast created enti...

In this episode of the Why Distance Learning? Podcast , hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring revisit one of their most popular episodes as they welcome Mandy Perry, a virtual school principal and president of the Blended and Online Learning Discovery (BOLD) of Florida Executive Board. Mandy shares her timeless journey in virtual education, her leadership role in BOLD, and ho...

Many educators associate virtual learning with isolation, disengagement, and students passively staring at screens. But what if the opposite were possible? What if distance learning could be thrilling, social, even addictive —in all the right ways? In this episode, we meet Ben Somers, founder and CEO of Recess.gg , an online platform transforming virtual education into an e-sports-style, team-base...

Many educators (and parents) believe that teaching kindergarten online is impossible. Young children are assumed to lack the attention span, tech skills, or maturity to thrive in a virtual setting. During the pandemic, even seasoned teachers struggled to keep their youngest students engaged. In this episode, Nancy Grim, a veteran early childhood educator from Tucson Unified Virtual Academy, brings...

Too often, educational change is approached with a top-down, impersonal strategy—especially in virtual settings. Leaders are handed new tools, frameworks, and mandates but given little space for reflection, values alignment, or the flexibility needed to make change stick. The result? Burnout, survival mode, and disjointed systems that don’t serve students or educators. In this episode, Dr. Tovah S...

Too often, distance learning gets dismissed as fragmented or disjointed, seen as a patchwork of tech tools rather than a cohesive educational system. Teachers feel pulled in too many directions, and programs struggle to sustain impact beyond the novelty of going virtual. In this episode, Dr. Chris Harrington - leader of the EmpowerEd Research Institute, AccredVEd, and Digital Learning Works - shar...

Can hands-on career training truly happen online? Skeptics argue that virtual education falls short when it comes to preparing students for high-touch, high-stakes professions—especially in healthcare. Amanda Bell, a visionary CTE leader and creator of High STEP Virtual Academy, proves otherwise. In this episode, Amanda shares how she’s revolutionizing health science education for rural and under-...

In this episode of Why Distance Learning , Seth Fleischauer, Tami Moehring, and Allyson Mitchell welcome Alan Tang, founder of Collaboration Laboratory, to explore the power of play as a core instructional strategy in live virtual learning. They dig into what happens when games aren’t the reward—but the curriculum itself. Alan shares how CoLab uses escape rooms, missions, and collaborative challen...

In this episode of Why Distance Learning , your hosts sit down with Desiré Mosser, a veteran instructional coach supporting over 125 virtual educators at Pasco eSchool and Vice President of BOLD (Blended Online Learning Discovery of Florida). A former brick-and-mortar science teacher turned online education leader, Desiré brings over two decades of hands-on virtual teaching experience, systems thi...

How can distance learning meet the vastly different needs of students who are disengaged, displaced, or underserved—and still deliver equity, engagement, and academic excellence? In this episode of Why Distance Learning , Dr. Lori Wiggins, principal of Pasco eSchool, shares how her team runs 12 distinct programs under one virtual roof using a tiered system of support. She walks us through how they...

In this episode of Why Distance Learning, Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Joe Titus, founder and CEO of Hiveclass, to reimagine what physical education can look like in the digital age. They explore how Hiveclass brings inclusive, skill-based movement instruction to students who are often left out of traditional PE—whether due to cost, confidence, access, or classroom...

In this special episode of Why Distance Learning , the hosts become the guests. Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring step out from behind the mic to share their personal journeys into distance learning, their current work in the field, and why this podcast exists. From museum basements to prairie dresses to viral Mets fandom, this episode dives into the stories that shaped their p...

In this episode of Why Distance Learning , Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Yuliya Kosko, founder of Svitlo Education, to explore how live virtual learning becomes a lifeline in the darkest of times. They discuss the founding of Svitlo School during the Russian invasion of Ukraine and how distance learning has supported nearly 2,000 Ukrainian students with free, high-q...

This is a special crosspost episode of host Seth Fleischauer's other podcast, Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning . In this episode of Why Distance Learning?,  host Seth Fleischauer welcomes Heather Rhodes, founder of Highgrove Education and former leader of Harrow School Online. Together, they explore how international online schools can foster academic excellence, cultural competence,...

Traditional classrooms can be overwhelming for neurodivergent students. Rigid schedules, sensory overload, and one-size-fits-all approaches leave many feeling anxious, disconnected, and unable to thrive. Parents often ask: Is online education a viable alternative? In this episode, we sit down with Kate Longworth , CEO and founder of Gaia Learning , a global online school designed for neurodivergen...

🎵 Can Music Be Taught Effectively Online? Exploring Distance Learning in the Arts Pain Point: Many believe that subjects like music require in-person instruction to be truly effective. Can students really learn to play an instrument, develop musicality, and experience meaningful arts education online? Solution: In this episode, Why Distance Learning? hosts welcome Caleb Smith , a professional mus...

Is distance learning just a pandemic-era stopgap, or does it have lasting potential in education? Virtual learning skeptics often assume that online education was a temporary fix—an emergency response rather than a viable long-term model. Many educators and policymakers still equate today’s online learning with the chaotic transition of 2020, failing to recognize how far the field has come. In thi...

🚨 “Distance learning isn’t the problem—bad implementation is.” 🚨 Too many virtual students feel disconnected and unseen , struggling in a system that wasn’t designed with them in mind. Educators want to create engaging, inclusive online spaces—but without the right tools, distance learning can feel like a barrier rather than a bridge . 🎧 In this episode of Why Distance Learning , hosts Seth Fle...

🚨 “We don’t care about grades or completion right now. We want every student to feel a connection.” 🚨 Too many virtual schools struggle with student disengagement, teacher burnout, and the overwhelming challenge of building culture in an online environment. Leaders and educators are left wondering— Can we really create a strong, connected school community without a physical space? 🎧 In this epi...

In this episode of Why Distance Learning , hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome environmental science educator and distance learning pioneer, Kasey Gaylord-Opalewski, to explore the intersection of marine science, education, and the transformative potential of live virtual learning. Kasey shares her journey from North Dakota to becoming a leading voice in environment...

In this episode of Why Distance Learning? , hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Noam Gerstein, CEO of the Bina School and a leading expert in precision education. Noam shares her journey of creating a global, digitally native school that reimagines how education serves young learners, blending emotional connection, cultural diversity, and innovative uses of live vir...

In this episode of Why Distance Learning , hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Patrick Boylan , co-founder of Museflow, a groundbreaking music education platform described as the "Duolingo of music education." Patrick shares his journey of rethinking traditional music lessons, combining gamification, flow state learning, and AI-driven personalization to make music l...