In this highly anticipated return episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper welcomes back Paul LeBlanc, former President of SNHU and current Chairman of the new AI education startup, Matter and Space. This captivating conversation dives deep into how Artificial Intelligence is not just a buzzword, but a transformative force fundamentally reshaping education.

Paul explains how AI is being leveraged today for massive productivity gains in operations and curriculum design, challenging educators to rethink pedagogy from "product" to "process." They explore the critical question of whether AI can finally bend the cost curve of higher education and democratize access, where previous technologies fell short. The discussion also bravely confronts the societal implications of AI, from its potential to inadvertently increase loneliness if not carefully managed, to its power to unlock a "golden age" focused on uniquely human jobs like teaching, social work, and healthcare. Paul shares his vision for Matter and Space's human-centered approach to AI-powered learning and paints a compelling picture of what the learning ecosystem could look like in 5-10 years.

Key Takeaways from this Episode:

• AI's Real-World Impact in Education: Discover how AI is driving significant productivity gains in university operations and curriculum development right now.
• Rethinking Pedagogy in the AI Age: Learn why educators must shift their focus from assessing "products" (like essays) to guiding the "process" of learning with AI, using advanced prompting and critical evaluation.
• Bending the Cost Curve: Paul's perspective on whether AI can finally make quality higher education radically more affordable and accessible, addressing the systemic challenges he outlined in his book "Broken."
• The Human-Centered Future of Work: A bold vision for how AI might displace information-age jobs, creating an imperative to prioritize and properly value distinctly human roles focused on care, connection, and community.
• AI's Societal Dichotomy: A candid discussion on the risk of increased loneliness and decreased social competency due to technology, and AI's potential to either exacerbate or mitigate these challenges by fostering genuine human interaction in learning environments.

About Our Guest:

Paul LeBlanc is the former transformative President of Southern New Hampshire University and now serves as Chairman of Matter and Space, an AI education startup. A renowned innovator and author of "Broken," Paul is recognized for his pioneering work in online and competency-based education, and his deep insights into the future of learning, technology, and access.

In this captivating episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Dr. Robert Rohm, a renowned expert in human behavior and the DISC model, for a deep dive into understanding ourselves and others. Dr. Rohm shares the fascinating personal story that ignited his lifelong dedication to personality insights, and then unpacks the foundational principles of DISC – revealing how this powerful framework can revolutionize communication, leadership, and personal effectiveness in every aspect of life.

The conversation goes beyond simple collaboration, exploring how companies can strategically leverage DISC for everything from optimizing hiring and sales to fostering a more empathetic and productive culture. Dr. Rohm also makes a compelling case for integrating personality assessments into K-12 and higher education, demonstrating how understanding behavioral styles can help tailor teaching, improve student relationships, and guide career exploration. Ultimately, this episode offers actionable takeaways for applying DISC to achieve greater personal and professional success, even as technology like AI reshapes our interactions.

Key Takeaways from this Episode:

• The Unexpected Origin of DISC's Impact: Hear Dr. Rohm's surprising personal story of how his "difficult" daughter became the unexpected catalyst for his lifelong dedication to understanding human behavior.
• DISC for Strategic Business Growth: Discover how companies can leverage DISC insights beyond basic teamwork to optimize hiring, enhance leadership, resolve conflict, and improve customer relations, ensuring the right personalities are in the right roles.
• The Vital Role of "Soft Skills": Dr. Rohm makes a powerful case for why communication, empathy, and interpersonal skills, often dismissed as "soft," are in fact the most fundamental and vital for success in every area of life.
• Revolutionizing Education with DISC: Learn how schools can transform classrooms by understanding student and teacher personality types, fostering better engagement, tailoring instruction, and preparing students for real-world interactions and career exploration.
• Practical Application & Lifelong Growth: While AI can offer DISC insights, Dr. Rohm reveals why true mastery of human behavior comes from continuous learning, intentionally building diverse relationships, and relentless personal practice.

About Our Guest:

Dr. Robert Rohm is a highly respected expert in human behavior and personality insights. As a leading voice in the application of the DISC model, he helps individuals and organizations understand diverse communication styles. Through his company, Personality Insights, he's dedicated his career to empowering people to improve collaboration, leadership, and personal effectiveness. His work extends across corporate training, professional development, and educational settings, guiding both employers and employees to greater success.

In this premiere episode of An Educated Guest Season 3, host Todd Zipper sits down with Brandon Busteed, CEO of BrandEd, for a compelling conversation about the seismic shifts occurring at the intersection of education and workforce development. This episode explores why employer brands are increasingly stepping into the role of educators, redefining how talent is developed and valued in a rapidly changing economy. From the growing skepticism about traditional degrees to the urgent need for relevant skills, Brandon offers a nuanced perspective on the forces driving companies to build innovative learning solutions and strategic partnerships.

The discussion delves into critical data points, including why today's 18-24 year-olds represent the least working generation in U.S. history despite high demand for internships. Brandon makes a powerful case for why employers must embrace work-integrated learning, viewing it as a crucial "try before you buy" strategy for talent acquisition. They discuss the vital importance of effectively measuring the return on investment for these educational initiatives, and Brandon shares a bold prediction: the future will see the distinction between a school and a workplace become increasingly indistinguishable, creating a new educational blueprint for the 21st century.

Key Takeaways from this Episode:

• The "Least Working Generation": Understanding the alarming trend of declining work experience among young adults and its implications for the future workforce.
• Employers as Educators: How leading companies are building their own educational programs and talent pipelines to address critical skills gaps and drive competitive advantage.
• The ROI Imperative: The vital need for robust metrics to quantify the true return on investment for employer-sponsored education and talent development.
• Work-Integrated Learning: Why hands-on, real-world experiences (like internships and apprenticeships) are becoming non-negotiable for student success and employer recruitment.
• Blurred Lines: Brandon's vision for a future where education and the workplace are seamlessly integrated, making it difficult to distinguish between the two.

About Our Guest:

Brandon Busteed is a prominent figure in the education and workforce development space, currently serving as the CEO of Branded. He is widely recognized as a thought leader on the future of higher education, career readiness, and the evolving relationship between employers and educational institutions. His work often focuses on how to improve America's "talent health" by aligning educational outcomes with workforce needs and demonstrating the value of education through career success.

How do you build skills and cause proven, sustained wage gains for young adults in the US? Just ask Gerald Chertavian, founder and CEO of the youth workforce development non-profit, Year Up. Tune into this episode of An Educated Guest and join Gerald and host Todd Zipper, Executive Vice President and GM at Wiley, to learn how Year Up is closing the Opportunity Divide, returning $2.46 to society for every $1 invested in the organization, and teaching employers how to implement inclusive, skills-based hiring. Key Takeaways: Year Up’s leadership in operationalizing emergent talent at scale by combining workforce and youth development How the organization has caused the largest proven sustained wage gains for young adults in the US How Year Up provides high support and high expectations through its multi-modality, three-stage program Why social capital and building higher socio-economic connections are critical to talent career success Year Up’s virtuous, ecosystem approach of bringing young adults and employers together through skills-based hiring Guest Bio Gerald Chertavian is dedicated to closing the Opportunity Divide that exists in our nation. Determined to make his vision a reality, Gerald combined his entrepreneurial skills and his passion for working with young adults to found Year Up in 2000. Gerald’s commitment to working with young adults spans more than 25 years. In 1999, he sold his technology company, Conduit Communications, and left his career on Wall Street to help low-income, at-risk youth. A year later, in 2000, Year Up was born. Gerald holds a B.A. in Economics from Bowdoin College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He’s also a New York Times best-selling author of his book published in 2012 called A Year Up.