Best Harvard EdCast Podcasts (2025)

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Race, Power, and the Making of America's Schools 21:57

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2d ago21:57

21:57

Looking back at the early history of U.S. education, Harvard Professor Jarvis Givens says we’ve long told the story in fragments: Native education in one lane, Black education in another, and the rise of white common schools somewhere else. But in his latest research, he shows just how deeply interconnected these histories actually are, particularl…

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Is Education Research Becoming Partisan? 23:21

8d ago23:21

23:21

Harvard Graduate School of Education Professor Jal Mehta knows that education research matters – it has the power to shape schools, classrooms, and policy. Yet, today, in increased political polarization, many may question whether education research can be neutral. “As a researcher, you have a lot of choices about what topics you study. Those choic…

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How High-Impact Tutoring Is Reshaping Post-Pandemic Learning Recovery 32:40

16d ago32:40

32:40

In the wake of the pandemic, tutoring has become a central strategy for helping students recover academically but not all tutoring is created equal. Liz Cohen, vice president of policy at 50CAN, has been closely studying the rapid rise of tutoring programs across the country, especially the emergence of high-impact tutoring as the gold standard. “T…

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Can Universities Teach Us to Talk Again? 30:27

23d ago30:27

30:27

In an era when many Americans believe the country is too divided to come back together, Tufts University political scientist Eitan Hersh believes higher education has a crucial role to play in bridging divides and he’s putting that belief into practice through a new university center devoted to viewpoint diversity. “What do we want from students wh…

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How Curiosity Can Unlock Learning for Every Child 29:11

1M ago29:11

29:11

Curiosity is one of our most powerful, yet often overlooked, human drives, especially in education. Elizabeth Bonawitz, associate professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, explains that while there’s no single definition of curiosity, it’s best understood as an internal desire to resolve gaps in our knowledge or a wondering about how t…

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The Rural Promise: Pathways to Opportunity for Every Student 28:52

1M ago28:52

28:52

Dreama Gentry grew up in Appalachian Kentucky, in a community often defined by outsiders for what it lacked. But what she saw was strength, connection, and possibility. Today, as the founder and CEO of Partners for Rural Impact, she’s working to make sure the 14 million young people growing up in rural America can see those same possibilities for t…

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Teaching Students to Think Critically About AI 28:29

1M ago28:29

28:29

When educators talk about artificial intelligence, the conversation often begins with excitement about its potential. But for Stephanie Smith Budhai and Marie Heath, that excitement must be matched with caution, context, and critical awareness. “AI is a piece of technology. It's not human, but it's also not a neutral thing either,” says Budhai, an …

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School Vouchers Explained: What the New Federal Program Means 27:48

2M ago27:48

27:48

Congress has passed the nation’s first federal school voucher–style program, set to begin in 2027. Supporters call it a landmark expansion of parental choice, while critics fear it will divert billions from public schools. Harvard Professor Marty West says the program raises important questions about the future of American schooling and even how th…

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Banning Cell Phones: Quick Fix or False Hope? 30:43

2M ago30:43

30:43

Schools around the world are cracking down on student cell phones, with many turning to outright bans as a fix for distraction, bullying, or mental health struggles. But as University of Birmingham Professor Vicky Goodyear and Harvard’s Carrie James explain, the story is more complicated than a simple “phones are bad.” “School phone policies alone …

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What It Really Means to Be a Strategic Leader 26:03

5M ago26:03

26:03

Strategic leadership may be one of the hardest — and most vital — skills for school leaders to master. Liz City, senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and a long-time coach to school and system leaders across the country, says strategic leadership is not innate but a skill that can be learned and strengthened over time. “We're…

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Why Invest in Global Education Now 18:56

6M ago18:56

18:56

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the statistics on global education — millions of children, especially in low- and middle-income countries, are spending years in school without mastering foundational skills. But as Harvard Lecturer Robert Jenkins reminds us, we can't afford to stay stuck in what we think we know about the learning crisis. Innovatio…

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What Textbooks Teach Us — And What They Don’t 22:40

6M ago22:40

22:40

Texas and California often appear to be worlds apart when it comes to politics and culture, but the education students are getting – as far as their textbooks go, at least – may not be so different. University of Chicago Assistant Professor Anjali Adukia investigated more than 260 textbooks used in both public and religiously affiliated schools in …

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The Words We Choose: How Language Shapes Children's Emotional Lives 27:52

7M ago27:52

27:52

As a third-grade teacher, Lily Howard Scott noticed how she spoke to students impacted more than just their experience in the classroom. How teachers speak to their students and intentional shifts in language can nurture children’s inner lives, foster self-regulation and reduce perfectionism, she says, and become their inner voice. “The thing about…

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How to Educate for Social Action 20:31

7M ago20:31

20:31

To succeed in school, in life, and as contributors to a more equitable society, students must be able to recognize, analyze, and challenge systemic injustices, say Harvard Lecturer Aaliyah El-Amin and Boston College Professor Scott Seider. Through their research, they are examining what it truly means to pursue education for justice in K–12 schools…

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Cybersecurity: The Greatest Threat Schools Aren’t Ready For 24:20

8M ago24:20

24:20

In today’s digital landscape, schools face growing cybersecurity threats that can disrupt learning, compromise sensitive data, and leave administrators scrambling to recover. With cybercriminals becoming more sophisticated, understanding these risks and being prepared is more critical than ever, says Lisa Plaggemier, the executive director of the N…

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Empathy, Dignity, and Courageous Action in Schools 20:06

8M ago20:06

20:06

How we see the world and interact with each other, especially whether we create welcoming environments of acceptance, does not always come naturally. Tim Shriver, chair of the Special Olympics, and Stephanie Jones, a Harvard professor whose research focuses on social emotional development, say that it’s something we can teach, and fostering an incl…

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Reducing Stress in Schools 28:30

9M ago28:30

28:30

Post-pandemic schools are still feeling the aftershocks—socially, emotionally, and politically – say educators and co-authors Mathew Portell and Tyisha Noise. Educators, students, and administrators are navigating a landscape that feels more uncertain than ever, with growing political pressures, policy shifts, and the lingering impact of disrupted …