Best Harvard Innovation Labs Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 375: Becca Xiong - Managing Director, Harvard Innovation Labs 57:00

30d ago57:00

57:00

Episode 375 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Becca Xiong, Managing Director of Programs & Engagement at Harvard Innovation Labs.Becca is a serial entrepreneur with the rare experience of having success in both consumer and B2B products. She was a Co-Founder of an early social networking startup called Going.com which was acquired by AOL and then…

1
How two homeschool moms created a North Carolina microschool 41:55

1h ago41:55

41:55

Today's guests are Laura Greene and Angela Ruth, cofounders of Harmony Homeschool Academy, a secular homeschool hybrid solution for middle and high school students in the greater Raleigh-Durham-Cary, North Carolina area. Laura is a licensed psychologist with a background in school psychology. She is also a homeschool parent. Angela is also a homesc…

1
The enduring popularity of homeschooling among US military families 49:09

3d ago49:09

49:09

Natalie Mack is a homeschooling mom of 5 children who has been serving military homeschooling families for more than two decades. Her husband is a US Navy chaplain who recently retired after 34 years of service. Through her business, Natalie Mack LLC, she offers consultations to homeschoolers. She is also the founder of the nonprofit Military Homes…

1
Episode 378: David Henriquez & Sean Marshall, Copley 47:53

4d ago47:53

47:53

Episode 378 of The VentureFizz Podcast features two of the Co-Founders of Copley - David Henriquez, CEO and Sean Marshall, Chief Operating Officer.It is just a necessity for any thriving tech ecosystem. You need companies that scale and people from those companies take their learnings and go off to start their own company. HubSpot has been a big fe…

1
A retired education entrepreneur shares tips for new school founders 52:07

7d ago52:07

52:07

David Jackson is an entrepreneur and longtime executive director and president and CEO of Fairmont Schools, a large, secular private school located in Orange County, California serving students in preschool through 12th grade. Fairmont was founded in 1953 by Kenneth Holt, David’s stepfather, and then David joined the school in a leadership role in …

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Scaling Reuse with Vytal: A Circular Economy Conversation with CEO Fabian Barthel 46:49

9d ago46:49

46:49

Fabian Barthel, Co-Founder of Vytal, a circular economy packaging-as-a-service startup, joins host Mike Toffel to explore the innovation, behavioral science, and regulations shaping the market for reusable containers for take-out food and beverages. Fabian shares how Vytal is tackling packaging waste by building a reusable container system for rest…

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A Florida farm-based, faith-filled Acton Academy 35:10

10d ago35:10

35:10

Today's guest is Michael Bonifacio, the founder of Acton Academy Estero in Fort Myers, Florida. Part of the global Acton Academy network of learner-driven schools, Acton Academy Estero operates on a 32-acre working farm. It opened in January 2024 with 9 learners, and today has over 40—with more than 60 students projected for this fall. *** Sign up …

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Episode 377: DIVINE - CEO & Co-Founder, Notes 50:16

11d ago50:16

50:16

Episode #377 of The VentureFizz Podcast is Victor D. Lombard (aka DIVINE), CEO & Co-Founder of Notes.As the host of this podcast, I have the honor of being able to help tell the story of so many founders and investors and each story is unique.But this one is a whole new level.DIVINE’s full story is probably the most unique entrepreneurial story tha…

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Homeschooling To College: Two Seniors Talk About Which College to Attend 56:20

14d ago56:20

56:20

In the final episode of our 4-part series on Homeschooling To College, Kym Kent and I are joined by our two homeschooled high school seniors as they reflect on their homeschooling experience, what the college admissions process has been like, and how they are narrowing down their many college acceptances to choose the one that is right for them by …

1
Why a homeschooling mom in Washington, DC created Kids & Culture Camp 35:06

17d ago35:06

35:06

Today’s guest is Jania Otey, a homeschooling mom and founder of Kids and Culture Camp, an educational enrichment program for homeschoolers and conventionally-schooled children located in Washington, DC. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly LiberatED e-newsletter on education trends and entrepreneurial stories at fee.org/liberated.…

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Episode 376: Prem Sharma - CEO & Founder of Tandem Vet Care 52:37

18d ago52:37

52:37

Episode #376 features Prem Sharma, Founder & CEO of Tandem.When you are a serial entrepreneur like Prem, you are probably coming up with lots of ideas but how do you decide which one is viable to focus on and actually build a company around?For Prem, it comes down to recognizing an experience that is broken and lots of market research. And this is …

1
An online learning community for self-directed teens 35:24

21d ago35:24

35:24

Today's guest is Terry Travers, the founder and director of Astrolabe Academy, a unique high school experience and teen community that supports self-directed learners on their individual learning journeys. Terry has a background in communication design, ocean science, and sustainable farming. Passionate about alternative education, she began homesc…

1
Carbon Credit Ratings and Market Integrity: A Conversation on the Calyx Global Case 42:21

23d ago42:21

42:21

In this bonus episode of Climate Rising, we share an episode from Harvard Business School’s Cold Call podcast, featuring HBS professor Mike Toffel and Duncan van Bergen, Co-Founder of Calyx Global. The discussion focuses on Mike’s recent HBS case study, Calyx Global: Rating Carbon Credits, which explores how the company is helping improve transpare…

1
What is "school choice"? 36:36

24d ago36:36

36:36

Today's guest is Colleen Hroncich, a policy analyst with the Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom. She maintains the Private Schooling Status Tracker, which tracks private school openings and permanent closures along with tuition and demographic information when available. Each week in the Friday Feature blog series, Colleen shares inter…

1
Homeschooling To College: Insights from a College Admissions Counselor 55:49

28d ago55:49

55:49

In part 3 of our 4-part series on Homeschooling To College, Kym Kent and I talk to Rebecca Stuart-Orlowski, an independent college admissions counselor based in Southern California who helps students and families navigate the college admissions process. A former public school teacher, Rebecca homeschooled for 25 years, sending her own three childre…

1
Our 300th episode! Celebrating founders & families 4:45

1M ago4:45

4:45

Welcome to the 300th episode of the LiberatED Podcast! That’s hundreds of conversations, stories, and insights all centered around one core mission: reimagining education and helping families, educators, and innovators discover what’s possible beyond the conventional classroom. Check out Kerry's forthcoming book: Joyful Learning: How to Find Freedo…

1
The Growth and Impact of Sudbury-Model Schools & Spaces 28:34

1M ago28:34

28:34

Today's guest is Ben Draper, Executive Director of the Macomber Center, a self-directed education center for homeschoolers in Massachusetts. Ben is a graduate of the Sudbury Valley School, where he spent most of his childhood and adolescence before attending college at Tufts University and later earning a studio art degree from the Boston Museum Sc…

1
Investing in Carbon Markets: A Conversation with Luke Leslie of Key Carbon 43:26

1M ago43:26

43:26

Luke Leslie, Co-Founder and CEO of Key Carbon, joins Climate Rising as part of our series on voluntary carbon markets. Luke has spent over 20 years in carbon markets and finance, working in investment banking, private equity, and structured finance. Luke explains how Key Carbon is financing high-integrity carbon projects and how new overlaps betwee…

1
Microschool in a Mall: Dominque Burgess on education entrepreneurship in North Carolina 39:18

1M ago39:18

39:18

Today's guest is Dominque Burgess, a former public school teacher, visionary education entrepreneur, and a national leader in the microschool movement. As the founder of Burbrella Learning Academy Inc. in Burlington, North Carolina she has successfully launched multiple innovative microschools, including transforming an old Foot Locker in a mall in…

1
Episode 374: Dave Blundin - Serial Entrepreneur & Investor 1:06:40

1M ago1:06:40

1:06:40

Episode 374 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Dave Blundin, serial entrepreneur & investor.Dave’s track record is legendary as one of the top entrepreneurs and investors in the Boston tech scene. He’s co-founded 23 companies… and many have been incredibly successful:* DataSage - acquired by Vignette for over $1B in today’s dollars* EverQuote - wh…

1
Makenzie Oliver on helping teachers to let their light shine! 48:42

1M ago48:42

48:42

Today's guest is Makenzie Oliver, host of the popular podcast Teacher, Let Your Light Shine! and its associated Facebook community. An award-winning public school teacher, Makenzie decided to leave the conventional classroom to launch her own microschool, Lighthouse Learning Microschool and Homeschool Hybrid, in 2020 in Longwood, Florida. She now h…

1
Homeschooling to College: Common Myths Around Admission & Affordability 53:45

2M ago53:45

53:45

In this second episode in our series, Homeschooling To College, Kym Kent and I talk about some of the common myths around college admissions and affordability, as well as how to navigate the Common App as a homeschooling family. "A trend colleges might not want applicants to notice: It's becoming easier to get in" (The Hechinger Report, Nov. 2024) …

1
From homeschooling mom of 7 to Kentucky microschool founder 58:33

2M ago58:33

58:33

Today's guest is Lauri Muse, a mom of of 7 children who has been actively homeschooling for 27 years. She recently launched World of Wonder Hybrid Microschool and Homeschool Enrichment Program in Union, Kentucky, near Cincinnati, Ohio. Her weekly homeschool enrichment program now serves over 140 kids, while the 3-day-a-week microschool she opened l…

1
Episode 373: Jeff Bussgang - General Partner, Flybridge 58:15

2M ago58:15

58:15

Episode 373 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Jeff Bussgang, General Partner at Flybridge. Jeff has accomplished so much throughout his career. I’m sure lots of people probably know him best as a Venture Capitalist and Professor at Harvard Business School.But... you might not know the details about his startup career prior to Flybridge which I wa…

1
Navigating Carbon Markets: A Conversation with Alexia Kelly of High Tide Foundation 58:17

2M ago58:17

58:17

Alexia Kelly, Managing Director of the Carbon Policy and Markets Initiative (CPMI) at theHigh Tide Foundation, joins host Mike Toffel for the fifth episode in our series on voluntarycarbon markets. Alexia has worked for nearly two decades atthe intersection of carbonmarkets, policy, and finance, with roles spanning government, private industry, and…

1
How 3 families got together to create Three Cords Academy in Georgia 44:53

2M ago44:53

44:53

Today's guests are Katie Kilgore and Michael Frost who are the cofounders, along with a third family, of Three Cords Academy, a student-focused, Biblically-centered microschool currently serving 2nd-6th grades which they launched in Fall 2024 in Carrollton, Georgia. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly LiberatED e-newsletter on education trends at …

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MacKenzie Price on 2-Hour Learning, Alpha School, and AI in Education 42:15

2M ago42:15

42:15

Today's guest is MacKenzie Price, cofounder of 2 Hour Learning and Alpha School, a K-12 private school in Austin, Texas which she launched in 2014. MacKenzie is currently working to scale the Alpha School model nationwide, with additional schools currently operating or opening soon in several states. A graduate of Stanford University, MacKenzie hos…

1
Episode 372: Florian Hillen - Founder & CEO, VideaHealth 46:05

2M ago46:05

46:05

Episode 372 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Florian Hillen, CEO & Founder of VideaHealth.It goes without saying that AI is going to transform pretty much every industry, but I think there is such a unique opportunity in healthcare as the benefits are hopefully going to be extraordinary. The tricky thing about building a company in healthcare is…

1
Homeschooling To College: High School Prep and the Pre-Application Process 56:09

2M ago56:09

56:09

In this episode, Kerry chats with Kym Kent, a veteran homeschooling mom of 6 and founder of a Maryland-based homeschooling program who has already graduated 4 of her children and is currently going through the college admissions process with her son Samuel. Kerry's daughter Molly is a lifelong homeschooler who is also going through the college admi…

1
Episode 371: Melissa Withers - Managing Partner & Co-Founder, RevUp Capital 1:04:11

2M ago1:04:11

1:04:11

Episode 371 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Melissa Withers, Managing Partner & Co-Founder of RevUp Capital.As an entrepreneur, are you thinking about your capital stack? Meaning, how are you going about funding your company? There are lots of options… you could bootstrap, raise money from friends & family, grants, and of course, raise venture …

1
How a teacher and Minnesota mom of 4 created Our Village School, serving 150 learners 42:58

2M ago42:58

42:58

Today's guest is Maria Stalsberg, founder of Our Village School, a creative learning environment for homeschooled kids ages 6 and over in Lakeville, Minnesota. Maria holds a Master’s degree in Teaching and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. She began her career in Corporate America before transitioning to becoming a classroom teacher in the t…

1
Enhancing Integrity Standards in Carbon Markets: A Conversation with Amy Merrill of ICVCM 42:29

2M ago42:29

42:29

Amy Merrill, CEO of the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) joins host Mike Toffel in this fourth episode of the Climate Rising series on voluntary carbon markets. Amy has extensive experience in carbon markets, including leading negotiations on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and advising on global carbon finance. Amy explai…

1
A Big Announcement! 3:35

2M ago3:35

3:35

I am so excited to share the news with you that my new book, Joyful Learning: How To Find Freedom, Happiness, and Success Beyond Conventional Schooling, is now available for preorder! Published by the big New York City publisher Hachette, under its PublicAffairs imprint, Joyful Learning is brimming with information and inspiration for parents and t…

1
A conversation with the cofounder of the Modern Classrooms Project 27:11

2M ago27:11

27:11

Today's guest is Robert Barnett, a former teacher in both public and private schools, and the cofounder and Chief Product Officer at the Modern Classrooms Project, a nonprofit teaching and professional development resource which he helped to launch in 2018. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly LiberatED e-newsletter on education trends at fee.org/l…

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Episode 370: Toshit Panigrahi & Olivia Joslin - Co-Founders, TollBit 52:13

2M ago52:13

52:13

Episode 370 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Toshit Panigrahi, Co-Founder & CEO and Olivia Joslin, Co-Founder & COO of TollBit.There are going to be so many amazing benefits and advancements that are a result of the platform shift to AI. However, in this new world, many industries will need to go through radical transformation and the publishing…

1
How one mom unschooled her way to opening a school for unschoolers 45:24

2M ago45:24

45:24

Our guest today is Jennie Jones, a former professional ballerina, turned homeschooling mom of four, turned education entrepreneur. In September 2024, Jennie launched The Treehouse Agile Learning Community as a home-based microschool in St. George, Utah that uses agile learning tools to foster intentional community, natural learning, and independenc…

1
Episode: 369: Krenar Komoni - CEO & Founder, Tive 54:05

3M ago54:05

54:05

Episode 369 of The @Venturefizz Podcast features Krenar Komoni, CEO & Founder of Tive.The question: “What led you down the path to start this company?” is always interesting, as you never know what ultimately inspired the entrepreneur. It could be years of experience working in an industry, maybe it is a personal experience, or it could be a tremen…

1
The future of the fast-growing Acton Academy network, with Jake Thompson 39:02

3M ago39:02

39:02

Jake Thompson is the founder of Heroes Academy, an Acton Academy in Boise, Idaho that he opened in 2016. Jake is also now the head of the entire Acton Academy network, which includes over 300 learner-driven schools serving thousands of students worldwide. Check out Kerry's LiberatED interview with Acton Academy network cofounder, Jeff Sandefer. ***…

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Strengthening Carbon Claims via the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI): A Conversation with Mark Kenber 54:30

3M ago54:30

54:30

This episode, the third in our series on Voluntary Carbon Markets, features Mark Kenber, Executive Director of the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI). Mark has worked in carbon markets and climate finance for nearly three decades, with experience at organizations like WWF, The Climate Group, and Fundación Natura in Ecuador. Mark d…

1
Two teachers and a Texas microschool: How to rekindle your love of teaching 53:07

3M ago53:07

53:07

Today's guests are Taylor Munro and Lacey Fickes, cofounders of Peak Academy, a microschool in Richmond, Texas currently serving students in grades K-8, with a high school expansion in the works. They launched Peak Academy in August 2022, but prior to that both founders worked for many years as public school teachers in Texas. *** Sign up for Kerry…

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“I shouldn’t have to sneak around to make my students feel successful and be happy.” A former public school teacher explains why she opened her own school 35:42

3M ago35:42

35:42

Tonya Kipe was an elementary school teacher in Florida public schools for over a decade before launching Kipe Academy, a microschool in Polk City, Florida. She grew her microschool from one student in January 2024 to 26 students today, including those with special learning needs. Read more about Tonya's microschool in Kerry's latest article at The …

1
Episode 368: Matthias Hofmann - Co-Founder & CEO, Eyebot 45:52

3M ago45:52

45:52

Episode 368 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Matthias Hofmann, Co-Founder & CEO of Eyebot.I met Matthias and Jack, Eyebot’s Co-Founder & CTO at a pre-party for TechCrunch’s Early Stage event in Boston a couple of years ago.It was one of those meetings that when someone describes their product - an AI powered kiosk that could conduct vision tests…

1
“As a classroom teacher, I felt helpless.” Founder Latoya Nelson on launching a hybrid homeschool-microschool 38:43

3M ago38:43

38:43

Today's guest is Latoya Nelson, founder of The Attuned Community School, a hybrid homeschool program in Warner Robins, Georgia. Latoya is an experienced educator who taught in public schools and charter schools for over a decade. She has been especially interested in working with children in foster care, as well as adoptive families. Latoya launche…

1
Episode 367: Vivjan Myrto - Founder & Managing Partner, Hyperplane 50:38

3M ago50:38

50:38

Episode 367 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Vivjan Myrto, Founder & Managing Partner at Hyperplane.Why Boston Be The Star of the AI Revolution - this is the title of an article that Zach Winn wrote for VentureFizz seven years ago. It talks about the history of AI in the Boston area including Marvin Minksy’s first neural net machine back in 1951…

1
Microschooling Predictions for 2025, with the National Microschooling Center 34:34

3M ago34:34

34:34

Don and Ashley Soifer of the National Microschooling Center join me to talk about some of their microschooling predictions for 2025. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly LiberatED e-newsletter on education trends at fee.org/liberated.By Kerry McDonald

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The Potential and Challenges of the Voluntary Carbon Market 56:59

3M ago56:59

56:59

Our second episode on the voluntary carbon market is a bonus episode of a panel discussion recorded at Harvard Climate Action Week in 2024. Harvard Kennedy School Professor Joe Aldy moderates this discussion with Nat Keohane from the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Donna Lee from Calyx Global, UC San Diego Professor David Victor, and Carol…

1
Learning the business side of running a school: Founder Giselle McClymont on the shift from teacher to entrepreneur 40:21

3M ago40:21

40:21

Giselle McClymont knew from second grade that she wanted to be a teacher. She went on to earn an education degree in college and taught in Florida’s Broward County public elementary schools for six years before leaving the system in 2022 to be a stay-at-home-mom with plans to homeschool her daughter. A year later, she learned about microschools and…

1
Entrepreneurship & Education Choice in North Carolina: “The state scholarships have been really, really important for opening up accessibility.” 41:58

3M ago41:58

41:58

Susan Haws is the founder and Executive Director of Insight Colearning, a private learner-centered, micro-high school located in Durham, North Carolina. She began her career as a Teach For America member in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas in 1993. She went on to teach middle school and high school in traditional public schools, until she left the cl…

1
Episode 366: Graham Brooks - Partner, .406 Ventures 55:58

3M ago55:58

55:58

Episode #366 of The VentureFizz Podcast features Graham Brooks, Partner at .406 Ventures.“Data is the new oil” - it’s a slogan that you hear everywhere these days… it’s on TV commercials, print ads, LinkedIn posts… but this is not a new trend or revelation for Graham. His interest in data goes back to his first job out of college and his passion fo…

1
How microschool teachers can benefit from professional development 38:10

3M ago38:10

38:10

Our guest today is Coi Morefield, founder of The Lab School of Memphis in Tennessee whose newest endeavor is Microschool Masters, a masterclass program for innovative schools and spaces that provides professional development resources for microschool teachers and leaders. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly LiberatED e-newsletter on education tren…

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Harvard Innovation Labs Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen