'WALL-E' With Megan Brown, Ron Lamarre, Carla Cummins And Kevin Stoller Better Learning podcast

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'WALL-E' with Megan Brown, Ron Lamarre, Carla Cummins and Kevin Stoller

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In Pixar's WALL-E, a lonely robot's quest to clean up a deserted Earth becomes a sweeping meditation on sustainability, technology, and the human spirit. As WALL-E and Eve spark change aboard the Axiom, the film asks: what does it take to break free from comfort, complacency, and the status quo? And how can educators plant the seeds of curiosity and responsibility in a world shaped by screens, systems, and inertia?

Through the eyes of WALL-E, the Captain, and the humans rediscovering their planet, we see the power of small acts, the danger of losing connection, and the hope that comes from daring to do things differently. The movie reminds us that transformation—of people, schools, or even the world—often begins with a single spark, a question, or a leader willing to make a bold decision.

On this episode of the Better Learning Podcast, host Kevin Stoller and co-host Carla Cummins are joined by Ron Lamarre and Megan Brown to explore what WALL-E reveals about education, leadership, and the urgent need for change in how we learn, build, and care for our communities.

Takeaways:

True change in education and society starts with leaders willing to challenge the status quo and act with conviction.
Comfort and convenience can stifle curiosity, connection, and growth—educators must help students (and themselves) break out of complacency.
Every system, from schools to cities, is shaped by the values and choices of its people; small actions can tip the balance toward regeneration and hope.
Fostering empathy, critical thinking, and a sense of responsibility prepares students not just for tests, but for life on a changing planet.
Like WALL-E, educators can be the spark that helps others rediscover wonder, care, and the courage to build something better.

About Megan Brown:

Megan Brown

AIA, CPHD, LEED AP BD+C

Associate, FA Energy Team Manager

Megan brings a diverse range of project experiences in various typologies, including laboratories, higher education, civic and cultural projects. Many of these undertakings have been unique and highly technical, such as research greenhouses, cleanrooms, and aerospace engineering labs.

Megan's true passion lies in high-performance buildings, building science, healthy materials, and embodied carbon studies. As a Certified Passive House Designer, she is eager to apply this knowledge to all future projects. She is constantly mindful of the pressing need to reduce carbon emissions in the built environment. Megan thrives on delving into research and technical details to discover more sustainable construction methods.

Megan's initial fascination with architecture stemmed from her love of physics, dating back to her high school days of building egg drop models and toothpick bridges. Her very first architectural drawing, crafted around the age of 10, featured a three-level circular house, complete with spiral staircases. It may have had a few inefficiencies!

Outside of the office, you'll often find Megan in the great outdoors, enjoying quality time with her family and fluffy dog amidst the lush forest behind their home.

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganwbrown16/

About Ron Lamarre:

Ron Lamarre

AIA, ALEP, ALA, LEED-WELL AP, MCPPO, NCARB

Senior Associate, Architect, Accredited Learning Environment Planner

As an architect focused on the planning and design of inspiring and meaningful environments that encourage life-long learning, Ron's success has always been attributed to listening to clients, colleagues, industry partners, and all members of our community. He believes leading the process that creates memorable places and spaces is an honor; requiring constant innovation found in continuous research to understand and implement evolving technologies that enable long-lasting value and a sustainable future. When Ron is not "doing", he's learning, whether the easy way through researching the success of others or the hard way by re-doing failed improvement attempts on his camp in Maine.

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronlamarre/

Learn More About Kay-Twelve:

Website: https://kay-twelve.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kay-twelve-com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kay_twelve/

Episode 250 of the Better Learning Podcast

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

For more information on our partners:

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/

EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/

Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/

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