Higher education is due for a reckoning and Dan Futrell is answering the call. In this energizing episode, Matthew Millstein sits down with the founder of Polymath University to unpack a bold new model of college: one that’s apprenticeship-based, interdisciplinary, and 100% debt-free.

From growing up in foster care to leading platoons in Baghdad, Dan’s story is rooted in service, grit, and a relentless commitment to expanding opportunity. He shares why the current higher ed system built on a 1950s business model and 1880s educational standards is failing modern students, and how Polymath aims to be the matchmaker between high-potential talent and future-forward employers.

What We Cover in This Episode:

• What is Polymath University?
  A new kind of college that trades lecture halls for real-world apprenticeships without the crushing debt.

• A New Role for Universities in 2025 and Beyond:
  How the traditional ROI model misses the mark and why human skills, not just job skills, matter more than ever.

• Borrowing from the Military, Without the Military:
  Polymath’s debt-free tuition model takes inspiration from ROTC, but trades military service for employer-sponsored pathways in high-demand sectors.

• From Foster Care to Founder:
  Dan’s personal story, his “men for others” philosophy, and the moment he realized the higher ed system needed a full rebuild.

• Breadth, Depth, and Integration:
  What it really means to be a modern polymath and why it’s the key to thriving in a tech-driven world.

• Starting from Zero (Literally):
  The leap from nonprofit CEO to social entrepreneur with no salary, no product—just an idea that top education leaders believed in.

• Why Fine Arts Still Matter:
  Dan makes the case for a broader definition of ROI in education, one that includes meaning, creativity, and impact, not just salary projections.

• Generational Impact, One Student at a Time:
  How Polymath can thrive even at a small scale and still change lives across generations.

Key Moments

05:51 Betting on Myself, Embracing Stress

08:50 Value of Art Beyond Economics

10:54 Cross-Disciplinary Innovation Benefits

13:32 "Building a New University Vision"

17:06 "Commitment to Giving Back"

Connect with Dan Futrell

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danfutrell

Website: https://www.polymathu.org/team

Book Mentioned: Moral Ambition by Rutger Bregman

Recommended Read: Alternative Universities by Dr. David Staley

This is a must-listen for anyone rethinking what college should be in a post-AI, post-debt-crisis world. Whether you’re an educator, student, policymaker, or just a concerned citizen, this conversation will expand your thinking.