An Educated Guest

Why does a bachelor’s degree take four years? Is it because that is how long it takes to learn, or is it just a historical accident?

On this episode of An Educated Guest, Todd Zipper sits down with Madeleine Green of the "College in 3 Exchange" to discuss the movement that is challenging the 120-credit hour monopoly. Madeleine explains how the four-year standard was originally created not for students, but for a faculty pension scheme, and why the time is right to redesign the undergraduate experience.

In this episode, we cover:

• The surprising history of the "Carnegie Unit" and seat-time requirements.
• How institutions are redesigning curricula to cut fluff without sacrificing quality.
• The financial and career benefits for students entering the workforce a year early.
• The regulatory hurdles at the state level that are slowing down innovation.
• Why "College in 3" is about rigorous design, not just speed.

To learn more about the institutions involved, visit the College in 3 Exchange website.

How does a university reach 180,000 students while maintaining a billion-dollar research engine and a "perpetual" culture of innovation? In this episode of An Educated Guest, Todd Zipper sits down with Dr. Chris Howard, EVP and COO of Arizona State University, to explore the "Public Enterprise" model that is shaking the foundations of higher education.

Chris shares his remarkable journey from being a Rhodes Scholar and helicopter pilot to leading ASU’s operations alongside President Michael Crow. We dive into the "Crow Transformation," the crisis of belief in modern higher ed, and how ASU is using Hollywood-style storytelling through Dreamscape Learn to revolutionize the way students learn biology.

We also tackle the complex world of college athletics, the legacy of Pat Tillman, and why Chris believes that partnership—not just enrollment—is the key to a resilient workforce. Whether you're curious about the future of AI in the classroom or how military leadership translates to the boardroom, this conversation offers a masterclass in agency, service, and strategic growth.

Is the United States facing a new "Sputnik moment" in education? On this episode of An Educated Guest, Todd Zipper sits down with Jeff Riley, the leader of Day of AI, to discuss the urgent need for AI literacy in our schools.

Jeff, a veteran educator with over three decades of public service, argues that AI is no longer optional—it is the "Fourth R" of education, as fundamental as reading, writing, and arithmetic.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why the U.S. risks falling behind globally in AI literacy by 2029.
• The "Driver's Ed" analogy: Why we need to teach students how to drive the technology before giving them the keys.
• How AI can finally unlock true differentiation and personalization in the classroom.
• The dangerous "knowledge gap" between what kids are doing with AI companions and what parents actually know.
• Practical advice for parents and educators on navigating this rapid technological shift.

To learn more about the free curriculum and tools discussed, visit the Day of AI website.

What happens when you stop asking kids to sit in 45-minute "silos" and instead ask them to solve real-world problems for their community? In this episode, host Todd Zipper sits down with Jeremy Lugbill, CEO of the Career Academy Network of Public Schools (CANOPS) in Indiana, to discuss the radical redesign of the American high school.

Jeremy shares how his network achieved a staggering 98.48% graduation rate by focusing on "durable skills" like communication, critical thinking, and agency. We explore the Portage School of Leaders, where students operate without bells and engage in three-week interdisciplinary "immersions" to tackle local challenges. Jeremy also dives into the power of "blurring the lines" between K-12 and industry through their award-winning partnership with the Boys & Girls Club and their pioneering AI Career Pathway.

Whether it's student-run manufacturing businesses or earning stackable credentials in healthcare while still in high school, this conversation is a masterclass in how to move from "school type" debates to high-quality student outcomes.

It is an all-too-common story: a student graduates with a degree but is rejected from entry-level jobs because they lack "real-world experience." On this episode of An Educated Guest, Todd Zipper sits down with Dana Stephenson, co-founder of Riipen, to discuss how his company is dismantling this barrier.

Dana shares how Riipen connects universities with a global network of employers to embed real-world projects directly into the curriculum. Instead of theoretical case studies, students work on actual business challenges, allowing them to build a portfolio and professional network before they ever leave campus.

Key topics discussed:

• The Origin Story: How a student project at the University of Victoria turned into a global marketplace.
• The Ecosystem: Solving the "chicken and egg" problem for schools and companies.
• Equity in Access: How virtual, project-based learning opens doors for non-traditional students and those who can’t afford unpaid internships.
• The Future of Work: Why 61% of entry-level jobs now require 3+ years of experience and how higher ed can adapt.

Sabari Raja, Managing Partner at JFF Ventures, joins us to discuss her unique journey from founder (NEPRIS, now Pathful) to leading a pioneering venture fund focused on economic mobility. JFF Ventures operates at the intersection of philanthropy and venture scale, proving that investments focused on the middle and low-wage worker can achieve both high returns and massive social impact.

In this powerful conversation, Sabari breaks down the three main investment themes that target the worker's full journey, from skills access to career advancement. We dive into the most difficult areas of the market, including the challenge of investing in wrap-around support like childcare and credit access.

Sabari shares the questions every investor and founder should be asking about AI—is it taking away agency or expanding it? Finally, she reveals a surprising area of alignment for future capital: the $1 trillion investment needed to support the industrial backbone of the AI economy (power grids, data centers, and semiconductors).

Key Takeaways You Won't Want to Miss:

• Impact as an Enabler: Why JFF Ventures views strong outcomes (like reduced transfer credit loss via companies like Advisely) as a direct line to revenue and growth.
• The AI Agency Test: The fundamental question investors should ask to gauge a startup’s longevity: Does your AI give the worker more agency or less?
• The Industrial Investment Thesis: How JFF Ventures is aligning with the global infrastructure boom, targeting the massive labor shortage in energy and utilities.
• The Lived Experience: Why founders with a lived understanding of problems—like the transfer credit crisis or lack of social capital—are better positioned to build mission-driven, scalable solutions.

In this insightful episode, host Todd Zipper sits down with Jeanne Allen, Founder and CEO of the Center for Education Reform (CER). Jeanne walks us through her three decades of relentless advocacy, tracing the evolution of education reform from the dawn of the charter school movement to today's rapidly accelerating landscape of school choice.

They discuss the principles of the Yass Prize's STOP framework—finding providers who are Sustainable, Transformational, Outstanding, and Permissionless—and the monumental impact it has on scaling innovation. Jeanne unpacks the complexity of education funding, addressing criticisms of choice programs by revealing the opaque, century-old way government-run public education is funded. She also details the Parent Power Index, an initiative designed to hold state leaders accountable and truly empower parents with information on their education laws. Finally, they explore the critical need for civics education through the "Why America" initiative, the importance of foundational virtues and a moral compass in schooling, and the necessity of teacher autonomy as a means to increase student engagement and satisfaction.

Don't miss this conversation on how we can accelerate the pace of change, put students first, and ensure a better future for education in America.

Join us on Educated Guest as we sit down with Dr. Shaun McAlmont, a true visionary in the education sector. With an extraordinary career spanning three decades, Shaun has impacted every level of learning, from K-12 to higher education and workforce development.

In this episode, Shaun shares his journey, beginning with his early days advising students at Stanford and his core belief that every student holds untapped potential. We delve into:

• The Power of Vocational Training: Shaun's experience as CEO of Lincoln Tech, discussing the vital role of for-profit institutions in providing alternative career paths and gainful employment, even amidst tough regulatory challenges.
• K-12's Career Revolution: How he pioneered virtual Career and Technical Education (CTE) at Stride (formerly K-12 Inc.), bridging academic learning with real-world career preparation for high school students.
• Adult Learning & Cybersecurity: His innovative approach to behavior change in corporate cybersecurity training with NINJIO, leveraging storytelling and adaptive methods to address human vulnerabilities.
• Reimagining Higher Ed Efficiency: Shaun's latest work with CHESS (Collaborative for Higher Education Shared Services), tackling the high costs and complexities of technology adoption in colleges through a shared service model.

Shaun's insights reveal a consistent thread: building systems that empower learners to set goals, find motivation, and achieve career success. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about the future of education and how we can better prepare every individual for a fulfilling career.

The AI Agent Revolution: Mark Naufel on Why the $1.8T Higher Ed System Must Change Now

Mark Naufel is not just talking about the future of education; he’s building it. As the Founder of Axio Education and the President of the University of Silicon Valley, Mark has a unique, radical view of how Agentic AI is finally forcing higher education to innovate.

In this explosive conversation, Mark details his journey from running the "Skunk Works" lab at ASU to founding Axio, the AI-native operating system designed to dramatically increase learning quality while cutting costs.

Key Takeaways You Won’t Want to Miss:

• The Dystopian Classroom: Why the current "click-click-click" online learning model is unsustainable and how Axio’s Socratic AI replaces static content with active, conversational learning.
• Agentic Workflows: A masterclass on the difference between basic Generative AI and the Agentic AI systems that power the ability to create dynamic, relevant curricula in seconds.
• The Polymathic Mandate: Why Mark is re-chartering USV to fuse liberal arts and technical skills, ensuring graduates are prepared to be "entrepreneurs" and "great thinkers" rather than just entry-level coders.
• The Cost Correction: Mark’s bold prediction on why the student debt crisis will force costs down significantly, and how AI is the only way to deliver better quality for less money.
• Advice for the New CEO: Mark offers direct, high-level advice on scaling the company and maintaining a mission-driven, polymathic team culture.

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Karin Athanas, Executive Director of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Karin shares her strategic vision for the organization, focusing on how FCS professionals are uniquely positioned to empower individuals, families, and communities for a better quality of life. We dive deep into AAFCS's crucial advocacy efforts to ensure Family and Consumer Sciences is formally recognized as a core Career Cluster in education, equipping students with essential skills from personal finance and nutrition to human development. Learn about the value of AAFCS professional certifications, the new Collaborative Network fostering community, and the surprising, modern relevance of this foundational field. If you're passionate about life skills education, career pathways, and community well-being, you won't want to miss this conversation!

On today’s podcast, we are talking to Karin Athanas who is with AAFCS. Karin is the Executive Director of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS), the premier professional association for the FCS field. She is a recognized nonprofit leader and an expert in standards and conformity assessment, bringing a scientific mind and strategic vision to the association. Since joining in 2023, Karin has focused on advancing the FCS mission to empower individuals, families, and communities through research, leadership, and service, and she is a strong advocate for establishing Family and Consumer Sciences as a key Career Cluster in national education frameworks.