Best Alex Widener Podcasts (2025)

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Overreacting To First Week of Fantasy Basketball 35:02

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8h ago35:02

35:02

Kirien Sprecher and Ryan Ward discuss Wednesday's 10-game NBA slate before overreacting about Luka Doncic, Cooper Flagg, and Trae Young. 00:00 Intro 00:40 Trae Young 03:50 Anthony Davis 06:55 Bilal Coulibaly 09:05 Sling Ad 10:05 Lakers vs. Timberwolves 15:05 Dabble Ad 15:40 Jazz vs. Blazers 18:10 Wednesday’s blowouts 21:40 Bulls Undefeated 22:30 Gr…

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Inside the Gaokao: China’s Defining Test with Ruixue Jia 25:57

14h ago25:57

25:57

In this episode of the World of Higher Education Podcast, host Alex Usher is joined by Dr. Ruixue Jia, a professor of economics at UC San Diego and co-author of 'The Highest Exam: How The Gaokao Shapes China.' They discuss the historical and contemporary significance of the Gaokao, China's university entrance exam, and its profound impact on Chines…

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10 Players You Must Add II Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire 43:34

1d ago43:34

43:34

Kirien Sprecher and Mike Barner discuss news and notes from around the NBA before giving their top mid-week waiver wire targets, including Tre Jones and Ryan Kalkbrenner. 00:00 Intro 01:00 Tyrese Maxey 03:45 Russell Westbrook 07:15 Bennedict Mathurin 09:35 Chet Holmgren 10:40 Zion Williamson 12:00 Brandon Miller 14:40 Jakob Poeltl 16:25 Jalen Green…

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Top Fantasy Basketball Observations From Opening Week 55:11

3d ago55:11

55:11

Nick Whalen and Alex Barutha break down all of the fantasy news and notes you need to know from Opening Week in the NBA. 00:00 Intro 01:00 Luka, Edwards injuries + Wolves rotation 04:10 Wavier wire reactions 08:20 Tre Johnson 09:50 Eason vs. Filipowski 11:20 Reed Sheppard 13:15 Davis, Sabonis 17:15 Sling TV; Chalkboard 19:00 Podziemski, Grimes, DLo…

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9 MUST-ADD Players After Week 1 of Fantasy Basketball 42:40

6d ago42:40

42:40

Ken, Shannon and Alex discuss the news and answer listener questions before diving into their favorite waiver wire adds, plus DFS/Pick'Em plays for Friday's games. Waiver adds include Aaron Gordon, Davion Mitchell and Ryan Kalkbrenner. Timestamps 00:05 Start 00:45 Thunder/Pacers 04:40 Warriors/Nuggets 07:40 Injury Updates 10:00 Listener Q&A 10:10 W…

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Players PLUMMETING Down Fantasy Basketball Rankings 44:53

7d ago44:53

44:53

Kirien Sprecher and Ryan Ward discuss players plummeting down the 2025-26 fantasy basketball rankings, including Joel Embiid, Jarrett Allen and Dyson Daniels. 00:00 Intro 01:25 PHI/BOS 07:25 Prosper Trading 08:05 DAL/SAS 15:00 POR/MIN 17:30 NY/CLE 23:00 ATL/TOR 25:25 LAC/UTA 30:30 Dabble 32:35 Viewer Questions New users get $25 FREE when signing up…

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Episode 7: Purpose Born from Pain: Finding Healing Through Recovery and Community 49:19

7d ago49:19

49:19

In this episode, Brandi shares her powerful journey from being a school superintendent to facing public humiliation due to alcoholism and a traumatic experience. She discusses the spiral into addiction, the impact on her family, and the turning point that led her to seek help. Brandi emphasizes the importance of community, acceptance, and the heali…

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NBA Experts Predict 2025-26 MVP, ROTY, Draft Busts and Draft Bargains 41:08

8d ago41:08

41:08

Kirien Sprecher and Mike Barner predict who'll be the MVP, ROY and MIP for fantasy basketball in 2025-26, including the usual candidates like Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic. 00:00 Intro 00:50 OKC/HOU 05:50 LAL/GSW 08:30 Dabble Ad 09:00 MVP Predictions 13:15 ROY Predictions 16:00 Draft Bargains 22:15 Draft Busts 28:15 Prosper …

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Opening Week Preview + Final Fantasy Basketball Advice 53:49

10d ago53:49

53:49

Nick Whalen and Alex Barutha preview Opening Week in the NBA, headlined by Rockets-Thunder and Warriors-Lakers on Tuesday night. The guys take live viewer questions throughout the show and talk Scottie Barnes, Cam Johnson, Payton Pritchard, Taylor Hendricks and more before discussing which games they're most looking forward to watching this week. 0…

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6 BOLD Fantasy Basketball Predictions (2025-26) 39:44

13d ago39:44

39:44

Ken, Shannon and Alex reveal 6 bold predictions for 2025-26 fantasy basketball. Can Alex Sarr become a top-50 player? Is Josh Giddey a first-round pick? 👑Get YOUR Draftkings Bonus HERE https://bit.ly/42ydqJL Download Chalkboard today and use promo code ROTONBA to get $20 free with no deposit required! https://streaks.chalkboard.io/cUPZ/j9... 🏀 Try …

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8 Players Skyrocketing Up Fantasy Basketball Rankings 48:09

14d ago48:09

48:09

Kirien and Alex discuss the players who are rising up fantasy basketball rankings after strong preseason showings, including Reed Sheppard and Isaiah Jackson. 00:00 Intro 00:40 Preseason News 07:00 Isaiah Jackson 10:35 Ace Bailey 12:45 DraftKings 13:45 Reed Sheppard 17:30 Matas Buzelis 19:00 Chalkboard 20:30 Brice Sensabaugh 23:30 Austin Reaves 25:…

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Access and Aftermath: What Racial Quotas Changed in Brazil’s Universities with Luiz Augusto Campos 22:16

15d ago22:16

22:16

Join Alex Usher and Luiz Augusto Campos on 'The World of Higher Education Podcast' as they delve into Brazil's journey from its history of slavery to addressing racial inequality through fixed numerical admissions quotas in higher education. Discover how these policies have transformed Brazil's public universities, making them more inclusive, and t…

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The 10 Biggest Draft BUSTS to Avoid in 2025-26 Fantasy Basketball 36:35

15d ago36:35

36:35

Kirien and Mike discuss who to avoid in fantasy basketball drafts, including LeBron James, Joel Embiid and Ja Morant. 00:00 Intro 00:55 DeMar DeRozan 04:45 LeBron James 07:30 Jimmy Butler 09:05 Ja Morant 10:50 DraftKings AD 12:05 Brandon Ingram 15:25 Josh Hart 17:40 Lauri Markkanen 20:10 Jordan Poole 22:30 Chalkboard AD 23:45 Viewer Questions 32:20…

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Preseason Standouts + Our Favorite Buy-Low Players 47:57

17d ago47:57

47:57

Nick Whalen and Alex Barutha highlight some preseason standouts before focusing in on their favorite buy-low players to target in fantasy basketball drafts. ----- DraftKings Claim your DraftKings bonus here! ----- Chalkboard Download Chalkboard today and use promo code ROTONBA to get $20 free with no deposit required! ----- 00:00 Intro 01:15 Keegan…

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Draft Busts to Avoid in 2025-26 Fantasy Basketball 34:59

21d ago34:59

34:59

Ken (@KenCrites) and Alex (@BaruthaAlex) discuss Wednesday's preseason games and then reveal fantasy basketball busts for the 2025-26 NBA season. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:00 Preseason action from Wednesday 01:10 Spurs/Heat 04:20 Celtics/Grizzlies 07:10 Jazz/Rockets 10:00 Blazers/Warriors 13:05 Raptors/Kings 18:10 Busts 18:20 Anthony Davis, DAL 20…

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15 Bold Predictions for 2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Season 32:52

21d ago32:52

32:52

Kirien and Ryan discuss their bold predictions for the 2025-26 fantasy basketball season, including major leaps for Shaedon Sharpe and Santi Aldama. 00:00 Intro 01:00 Atlanta Hawks 07:15 Charlotte Hornets 10:10 Toronto Raptors 13:50 Viewer Questions 21:10 Chalkboard Ad 22:05 San Antonio Spurs 25:50 Portland Trail Blazers Download Chalkboard today D…

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Episode 6: Building Your Brand—Authenticity, Courage & Connection with Cheri from The Detailed Way 36:55

21d ago36:55

36:55

In this episode of The SoulFire Sessions, Alex sits down with digital marketing specialist and owner of The Detailed Way, Cheri, for a powerful conversation about personal branding, online visibility, and the courage it takes to show up authentically in a digital world. From psychology to marketing, Cheri shares her journey and the lessons she’s le…

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Capitalizing on College: Mission, Money, and Survival in Higher Ed with Joshua Travis Brown 26:04

22d ago26:04

26:04

In this episode of the World of Higher Education Podcast, host Alex Usher delves into the intricate economics of higher education with guest Joshua Travis Brown from Johns Hopkins University. They discuss Brown's new book, 'Capitalizing on College,' which examines how private religious institutions navigate rising costs through various financial st…

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Top NBA Fantasy Basketball Sleepers to Draft in 2025 39:08

22d ago39:08

39:08

Kirien and Mike discuss fantasy basketball sleepers, including Bennedict Mathurin and Norman Powell. 00:00 Intro 01:00 Bennedict Mathurin 04:00 Norman Powell 06:25 Santi Aldama 09:45 Isaiah Collier 12:10 Chalkboard Ad 13:25 VJ Edgecombe 16:35 Sam Hauser 20:10 Matas Buzelis 26:00 Ryan Kalkbrenner 28:30 Viewer Questions 34:15 What Was That!?! Downloa…

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Biggest Boom-or-Bust Players for the Fantasy Basketball Season 52:40

23d ago52:40

52:40

By Alex Barutha, Nick Whalen

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12 Fantasy Basketball Sleepers for 2025-26: Win Your Draft 28:21

27d ago28:21

28:21

Alex, Ken and Shannon of RotoWire reveal 12 sleepers for 2025-26 fantasy basketball. Players like Santi Aldama, Keyonte George and Reed Sheppard are our targets. Timestamps 0:00 News 0:35 76ers/Knicks preseason 02:45 Suns/Lakers preseason 04:35 Pelicans preseason 07:00 Sleepers 07:09 Kevin Porter Jr, Bucks 09:10 Andrew Nembhard, Pacers 11:05 Reed S…

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7 Must-Know NBA Rumors for 2025-26 Fantasy Basketball 36:09

28d ago36:09

36:09

Kirien and Ryan discuss the latest NBA media day stories, news and rumors to keep fantasy basketball managers in the know, including injury updates on De'Aaron Fox and Jalen Williams. 00:00 Intro 01:35 Lakers Training Camp 07:50 Tyler Herro 10:20 Kuminga/Grimes 15:50 Hornets Healthy? 18:00 Jalen Suggs 19:45 Jaden Ivey 21:00 Mavericks Training Camp …

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Undoing Bologna: Russia’s Conservative Turn in Higher Education with Dmitry Dubrovsky 23:23

29d ago23:23

23:23

In this episode of The World of Higher Education Podcast with Alex Usher, the discussion focuses on the vast reconfiguration of Russian academic life following Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Scholar Dmitry Dubrovsky of Charles University shares insights into the slow-motion collapse of Russian higher education, tracing the changes from the d…

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15 Risers & Fallers II 2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Rankings 42:27

29d ago42:27

42:27

Kirien Sprecher and Mike Barner recap the biggest offseason stories, including how Kevin Durant and Desmond Bane will impact their new teams. 00:00 Intro 01:10 Rockets Offseason 04:05 Desmond Bane 06:55 Grizzlies Injuries 08:50 Celtics Offseason 13:00 Cooper Flagg 15:30 Zion and Luka 20:00 Bulls Minute 22:50 Embiid/PG13 25:45 New-Look Pacers 29:45 …

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10 Sleepers and Busts for the 2025-26 Fantasy Basketball Season 44:22

1M ago44:22

44:22

Nick Whalen and Alex Barutha hit the biggest news items from NBA media days and get you ready for fantasy basketball drafts with their top sleepers, busts and question marks heading into the season. 00:00 Intro 01:00 Top news from media days 01:15 De’Aaron Fox 04:50 Fred VanVleet + Reed Sheppard 06:20 Scoot Henderson + Blazers 11:00 Nembhard, Pritc…

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Episode 5: Grounding, Gratitude & Soul Guidance 45:56

1M ago45:56

45:56

In this episode of The SoulFire Sessions, hosts Alex and Mariah welcome Andrea—a gifted energy channeler, sound healer, yoga and meditation teacher—who helps people reconnect with their soul, calm their nervous systems, and step back into alignment with who they really are. Andrea opens the conversation by leading us through a short, grounding brea…

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The Widening Gap: Income, College, and Opportunity with Zachary Bleemer 25:09

1M ago25:09

25:09

In this episode of The World of Higher Education Podcast, host Alex Usher talks with Zachary Bleemer, Assistant Professor of Economics at Princeton University, about his recent paper co-authored with Sarah Quincy. Their research titled 'Changes in the College Mobility Pipeline Since 1900' reveals that higher education's role as a social elevator ce…

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Crisis or Reform? Higher Education in Milei’s Argentina with Marcelo Rabossi 22:10

1M ago22:10

22:10

In this episode of The World of Higher Education podcast, host Alex Usher discusses the changes in Argentina's higher education system under President Javier Milei's administration with Marcelo Rabossi from Universidad Torcuato Di Tella. The conversation covers Milei's aggressive measures to reduce government spending, the subsequent impact on publ…

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Episode 4: The Gray Space - From Higher Ed to Higher Purpose 22:24

2M ago22:24

22:24

In our first solo session, Alex shares her personal journey of leaving behind 15 years in higher education to step into higher purpose with The SoulFire Collective (www.thesoulfire.com). She explores what it means to live in the gray space—the in-between of identity, faith, and the unknown. Through honest reflection, Alex unpacks the grief of letti…

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Higher Ed at the Ballot Box: Australia’s Election and the Accord with Andrew Norton 22:41

2M ago22:41

22:41

In this episode of the World of Higher Education Podcast, Alex Usher welcomes back Andrew Norton to discuss developments since the drop of the Universities Accord report. They explore changes in student and institutional funding, the introduction of new regulations and a national student ombudsman, and challenges faced by universities due to increa…

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From Funding Formulas to AI: Pedro Teixeira on Higher Education’s Next Challenges 25:23

2M ago25:23

25:23

In this episode, Alex Usher speaks with Pedro Teixeira—higher education scholar at the University of Porto and former Portuguese Secretary of State for Higher Education—about reforming university funding, navigating demographic pressures, and preparing for the impact of AI on the future of learning and work.…

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Episode 3: Granola & Grit: Robert’s Journey from Corporate to Calling 42:59

2M ago42:59

42:59

In this episode of the SoulFire Sessions, Alex and Mariah sit down with Robert to explore his bold leap from a 30-year career in corporate tech into full-time entrepreneurship with his wife's company, Aunt Susie’s Granola. Robert opens up about the fears, identity shifts, and hard truths of leaving a steady paycheck behind to chase this dream with …

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Episode 2: Honoring the Inner Movement 43:54

3M ago43:54

43:54

Your inner movements—those quiet nudges, emotions, and shifts—are your soul’s way of guiding you toward growth and alignment. In this powerful episode of SoulFire Sessions, hosts Alex and Mariah are joined guest Megan to explore how tuning in to these signals can ignite personal transformation. Through heartfelt conversation, practical insights, an…

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Episode 1: The Spark That Started It All 58:57

3M ago58:57

58:57

In this first episode of The SoulFire Sessions, Alex and Mariah share the story behind SoulFire Collective—how it started, what it stands for, and why it matters. They open up about navigating the gray areas of life, uncovering purpose, and the values that guide their work: courage, authenticity, freedom, compassion, growth, and purpose. If you’ve …

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RWL243 AI Meets Culture: The Tool Helping Remote Teams Reconnect 6:36

4M ago6:36

6:36

Feeling disconnected from your remote colleagues? You're not alone. In this eye-opening exploration, we dive into Go Profiles, a revolutionary Gen AI platform created by Jorge Zamora that's transforming how distributed teams reconnect and engage with one another. Refer a Remote Work Expert As a Guest On The Show Click here remoteworklife.io to subs…

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RWL242 Remote, Resilient, Revolutionary: MoonPay's Path to $3.4 Billion 9:22

4M ago9:22

9:22

Ever wondered what it takes to build a multi-billion dollar company in the middle of a market crash? MoonPay founders Ivan Soter-Wright and Victor Faramund saw opportunity where others saw disaster, creating a crypto infrastructure business now valued at $3.4 billion. Founded in 2019 when Bitcoin had plunged 80%, MoonPay tackled a straightforward p…

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RWL241 This serial Founder solved an everyday problem to create a $10M SaaS success. 10:09

5M ago10:09

10:09

Alex Turnbull transformed a frustrating experience with shared email inboxes into Groove HQ, a remote-first SaaS company generating over $10 million in annual recurring revenue. His journey demonstrates how personal problems can become successful global solutions when approached with transparency, simplicity, and a clear understanding of customer n…

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The Year the Money Ran Out: Global Higher Ed Review 24:34

5M ago24:34

24:34

In this episode of the World of Higher Education Podcast, co-producer, Tiffany MacLennan is our host and Alex Usher takes a turn in the question seat. Together, they review the most significant global higher education stories of the year, discussing topics such as the impacts of Trump's policies on international education, massification, the role o…

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RWL240 From a Business of Two People to 100: Building a Remote Creative Agency 6:41

5M ago6:41

6:41

Remote work isn't just surviving in creative industries—it's helping companies like Elephant Skin thrive on a global scale. Founded in 2017 by architect Henrik Driesen, this remote-first creative agency has transformed from two people with a vision to over 100 professionals operating across three continents. Their meteoric growth offers a compellin…

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Cut, Coerce, Control: What Trump Is Doing to U.S. Universities 28:44

5M ago28:44

28:44

In this episode of The World of Higher Education Podcast, Alex Usher discusses the Trump administration's unprecedented actions against science and universities. Billions of dollars in funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health have been stripped, international students are facing deportation, and low-income …

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Opening January 2026: Inside One of the Biggest University Mergers in Australia 31:27

5M ago31:27

31:27

In this episode of The World of Higher Education Podcast, host Alex Usher discusses the historic merger of two major Australian universities—the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia—set to be completed by January 2026. This merger will form Adelaide University, which will be one of the largest academic institutions in the co…

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Incremental Change or System Overhaul? An Update on Higher Ed Reform in NZ with Roger Smyth 26:06

5M ago26:06

26:06

Join Alex Usher in the latest episode of the World of Higher Education Podcast as he discusses the hyperactive state of New Zealand's higher education policy with Roger Smyth, a former senior New Zealand public servant, now a consultant. The episode delves into the recent activities of the University Advisory Group, government decisions affecting i…

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Between Excellence and Relevance: The Regional University Dilemma 27:17

6M ago27:17

27:17

In this episode of The World of Higher Education Podcast, Alex Usher is joined by Dr. Romulo Pinheiro, a professor at the University of Agder, Norway. They discuss the evolving role of universities in regional economic development, particularly in peripheral areas. Dr. Pinheiro shares insights on the challenges and strategies for universities in le…

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Banking on Human Capital: How RBC Sees the Future of Talent, Innovation, and the Role of Post-Secondary Institutions 26:49

6M ago26:49

26:49

Join Alex Usher on the World of Higher Education Podcast as he delves into the future of Canadian higher education amidst economic shifts with guest John Stackhouse, Senior Vice President at the Royal Bank of Canada. The discussion focuses on the necessity for post-secondary education reform, the vital role of human capital, and how universities ca…

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Lean, Global, and Tuition-Free: The University of the People Model 25:48

6M ago25:48

25:48

Join host Alex Usher in the World of Higher Education Podcast as he interviews Shai Reshef, Founder and President of University of the People. Discover how this online institution serves 150,000 students across 209 countries with a tuition-free model. Learn the economics behind running a mega online university, the role of technology and volunteers…

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Overskilled and Underused? What PIAAC Reveals About the Canadian Workforce 24:41

6M ago24:41

24:41

In this episode of the World of Higher Education Podcast, host Alex Usher delves into a discussion about the Program for International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) with guest Noel Baldwin, Executive Director of Canada's Future Skills Centre. Baldwin explains the scope and purpose of PIAAC, compares it to PISA, and delves into its implic…

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RWL238 Weekend Project to $11 Million: The Gumroad Story 6:58

6M ago6:58

6:58

What happens when a founder decides to step off the venture capital treadmill and build a business focused on sustainable growth instead of unicorn status? Sahil Lavigna's journey with Gumroad provides a refreshing alternative to typical Silicon Valley narratives. Gumroad eliminated office space, stripped back to core functionality, and rebuilt aro…

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Innovation Without Borders: Galileo’s Networked Approach to Better Higher Education System 25:49

7M ago25:49

25:49

In this episode of the World of Higher Education Podcast, host Alex Usher talks with Nicolas Badré, Chief Operating Officer of Galileo Global Education, about the rise of private higher education in Europe. They explore the unique business model of Galileo Global Education, its rapid expansion, and its innovative approaches, including leveraging AI…

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2024-25 Fantasy Basketball Awards + Early Predictions for 2025-26 41:10

7M ago41:10

41:10

00:00 Intro 01:50 Breakout Players of the Year 01:55 Ivica Zubac 04:20 Dyson Daniels 05:50 Biggest Disappointments 06:00 Paolo Banchero/Jalen Johnson 07:10 Paul George 08:00 Rookie of the Year 13:50 Stephon Castle 09:40 MVP 09:50 SGA/Jokic 14:20 Josh Hart 16:20 Who to Avoid Next Season 17:00 LaMelo Ball 19:45 Ja Morant 22:45 Who to Target Next Seas…

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Nuggets Clean House + Best Playoff Matchups, Early Look at 2025-26 First Round 37:22

7M ago37:22

37:22

Nick Whalen and Brandon Kravitz begin by reacting to the Nuggets' shocking firing of both Michael Malone and GM Calvin Booth. Then, the guys debate what it means for the Western Conference playoff race and whether the Nuggets are suddenly a desirable opponent. They talk Clippers upside, Lakers, Warriors and teams that could push OKC in the postseas…