Best 21stcenturylearning Podcasts (2025)

1
Are Leveled Readers Hurting Student Growth? 1:11:10

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1h ago1:11:10

1:11:10

Drew Perkins and guest co-host, Melinda Karshner, talk with Timothy Shanahan about his new book, Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives, How Students' Reading Achievement Has Been Held Back and What We Can Do About It. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
Change Starts Here with Shane Leaning 1:11:26

24h ago1:11:26

1:11:26

Drew Perkins talks with Shane Leaning about his new book, Change Starts Here: What If Everything Your School Needed Was Right in Front of You? Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
Digital Literacy, Civics, And Surveillance 1:00:59

8d ago1:00:59

1:00:59

Drew Perkins talks with Heidi Boghosian about her book, Cyber Citizens: Saving Democracy with Digital Literacy. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
A Critical Look at Educational Research 1:23:46

16d ago1:23:46

1:23:46

Drew Perkins talks with George Lilley, a veteran teacher from Australia, about his critiques of the work of John Hattie, and the Science of Learning. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
NASSP Leadership, Policy, And Student Well-Being 1:13:44

26d ago1:13:44

1:13:44

Drew Perkins talks with return guest, Ronn Nozoe, CEO of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
When Politics Hijacks Education 1:15:44

1M ago1:15:44

1:15:44

Drew Perkins talks with Vladimir Kogan about his new book, No Adult Left Behind: How Politics Hijacks Education Policy and Hurts Kids. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
A Dynamic Equilibrium Of Research And Practice 1:09:28

1M ago1:09:28

1:09:28

Drew Perkins talks with Rod Naquin about balancing educational research with practice as he returns to the classroom after 7 years doing educational leadership work. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
Bridging Gaps With Mental Models 1:13:53

2M ago1:13:53

1:13:53

Drew Perkins talks with Jim Heal and Rebekah Berlin about their new book, Mental Models: How understanding the mind can transform the way you work and learn. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
"Soul-Destroying" Or Empowering Pedagogy? 1:22:42

2M ago1:22:42

1:22:42

Drew Perkins talks with Karen Vaites about navigating educational tribalism, the "Science of Learning," and the impact of knowledge-rich, coherent curricula on student outcomes. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
Strategic Leadership 1:19:03

2M ago1:19:03

1:19:03

Drew Perkins talks with Rachel Curtis and Liz City, co-authors of the book Leading Strategically: Achieving Ambitious Goals in Education. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
Using A Prohuman Curriculum To Build Character And Civic Virtue 54:03

2M ago54:03

54:03

Drew Perkins talks with Christina LaRose about her work with the Prohuman Foundation to develop a curriculum focused on learning character through literature. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
Bridging The Science of Learning And Inquiry With Socratic Experience 1:07:50

4M ago1:07:50

1:07:50

Drew Perkins talks with Michael Strong, founder of The Socratic Experience, a K–12 high-touch virtual school that equips students through Socratic dialogue, 1:1 mentoring, and creative and entrepreneurial projects. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
Is The Science of Learning 'Soul Destroying'? 1:26:05

4M ago1:26:05

1:26:05

Drew Perkins talks with teacher-educator Rachael Jefferson about her Education HQ article from an interview that is critical of the Science of Learning movement. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
How To Have Nuanced Conversation 28:44

4M ago28:44

28:44

Drew Perkins talks with Shane Leaning as a guest on his Education Leaders podcast about how to have conversations that focus on nuance, complexity, and understanding. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
AI In Education 49:33

6M ago49:33

49:33

Drew Perkins talks with Songyee Yoon, author and founder and managing partner of the venture capital firm Principal Venture Partners (PVP), where she focuses on investing in AI-native companies transforming industries. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
Powerful Knowledge And A Capabilities Curriculum 1:05:06

6M ago1:05:06

1:05:06

Drew Perkins talks with teacher and author, Richard Bustin, about his book What Are We Teaching? Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
Science Of Learning, PBL, And Inquiry: A Salon Conversation 54:24

6M ago54:24

54:24

Drew Perkins is joined by Andrew Watson, Dr. Cindy Nebel, and Fox Demoisey to discuss the intersections between the Science of Learning, project-based learning, and inquiry. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
Anti-DEI And Enlightenment Liberal Principles 1:13:14

7M ago1:13:14

1:13:14

Drew Perkins talks with Tim Minella, Senior Constitutionalism Fellow at The Goldwater Institute, about their work to eliminate DEI in higher education. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
DEI: Expansive or Restrictive? A Salon Conversation 57:47

7M ago57:47

57:47

Drew Perkins is joined by educators and DEI practitioners Carlos Hoyt, Daryl Sinclair, and Nunana Nyomi for a salon-style conversation about the complexities and nuances of DEI. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
Powerful Questioning, Powerful Pedagogy 1:01:00

8M ago1:01:00

1:01:00

Drew Perkins talks with Bruce Robertson about his new book, Power Up Your Questioning: A Practical Handbook for Teachers. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
Breaking The Generational Cycle Of Poverty 1:08:34

8M ago1:08:34

1:08:34

Drew Perkins talks with Dr. Abraham George about his work to help children transcend India's caste system through education and his Shanti Bhavan School. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
Differentiated Instruction With Modern Classrooms Project 57:10

8M ago57:10

57:10

Drew Perkins talks with Robert Barnett, Modern Classrooms Project cofounder, about his new book, Meet Every Learner's Needs: Redesigning Instruction So All Students Can Succeed. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
The Knowledge Revival, Curriculum For Deep Thinking 1:06:47

8M ago1:06:47

1:06:47

Drew Perkins hosted this conversation with Paul Kirschner, Claudio Vanhees, and Daniel Muijs, three of the ten co-authors of the open-access book, Developing Curriculum for Deep Thinking: The Knowledge Revival. This was a ThoughtStretchers Community event that included registered participant questions. Links & Resources Mentioned In This Episode…

1
Beyond Phonics, The Challenge Of Teaching Dyslexic Students 1:12:06

8M ago1:12:06

1:12:06

Drew Perkins talks with, parent, Jackie Castillo-Blaber, and parent/teacher Melinda Karshner about the challenges of teaching reading to dyslexic students. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education

1
Centering Educational Progress 55:52

9M ago55:52

55:52

Drew Perkins talks with Jack Despain Zhou about his project to establish a new think tank called Center for Educational Progress. Links & Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeBy ThoughtStretchers Education