Deep Dives

On today’s episode of Catalysts for Change, we talk to Dan Giusti, the founder of Brigaid. A world-class chef who formerly served as the head chef at Noma, in Copenhagen, Dan left the #1 restaurant in the world and headed back to the U.S. to work in school food. Dan started Brigaid, with the mission of helping school districts trade processed meals for meals made from scratch.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode of Catalysts for Change, we talk to Todd Rogers. A behavioral scientist and professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. He has dedicated his career to studying the gap between intention and action, helping families effectively support student success, and improving democracy.

Our conversation with professor Rogers explores the ins and outs of behavioral science, cost-effective strategies to reduce absenteeism in schools, and the power of persuasion in voting. Behavioral science explains the drivers of behavior, and professor Rogers’ work analyzes how we use what we learn from those drivers to help people follow through on their virtuous intentions. 

As referenced in professor Rogers’ Reducing Student Absences at Scale by Targeting Parents’ Misbeliefs paper, 10% of U.S. public school students are chronically absent each year. In a large-scale randomized experiment to reduce absenteeism, professor Rogers tested repeated rounds of mail-based messaging targeting parents of at-risk students. This experiment reduced total absences by 6% and chronically absent students by 10%. Professor Rogers’ Harvard EdCast: Reducing Absences, Capturing Days, highlights that motivating and empowering parents with useful information plays a significant role in student success. 

Professor Rogers is a leader in improving democracy. His work focuses on translating insights into voter mobilization. A Pew Research Center analysis showed that millennials continue to have the lowest voter turnout of any age group, where approximately 46% voted in the last presidential election. Through research, he’s discovered that peer pressure can be a motivational tool and yield a better voter turnout. 

Professor Rogers reminds us all that being silent is complicit, and creating plans to shift from intention to action is so important. We appreciate his forward-thinking work around why family engagement to improve student attendance, and exercising your right to vote is essential. As mentioned in our conversation, learn more about professor Rogers' company, InClass Today, now, EveryDay Labs, his paper, Poison Parasite, and New York Times bestseller, Nudge.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode of Catalysts for Change, we talk to Todd Rogers. A behavioral scientist and professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. He has dedicated his career to studying the gap between intention and action, helping families effectively support student success, and improving democracy. 

Our conversation with professor Rogers explores the ins and outs of behavioral science, cost-effective strategies to reduce absenteeism in schools, and the power of persuasion in voting. Behavioral science explains the drivers of behavior, and professor Rogers’ work analyzes how we use what we learn from those drivers to help people follow through on their virtuous intentions. 

As referenced in professor Rogers’ Reducing Student Absences at Scale by Targeting Parents’ Misbeliefs paper, 10% of U.S. public school students are chronically absent each year. In a large-scale randomized experiment to reduce absenteeism, professor Rogers tested repeated rounds of mail-based messaging targeting parents of at-risk students. This experiment reduced total absences by 6% and chronically absent students by 10%. Professor Rogers’ Harvard EdCast: Reducing Absences, Capturing Days, highlights that motivating and empowering parents with useful information plays a significant role in student success. 

Professor Rogers is a leader in improving democracy. His work focuses on translating insights into voter mobilization. A Pew Research Center analysis showed that millennials continue to have the lowest voter turnout of any age group, where approximately 46% voted in the last presidential election. Through research, he’s discovered that peer pressure can be a motivational tool and yield a better voter turnout. 

Professor Rogers reminds us all that being silent is complicit, and creating plans to shift from intention to action is so important. We appreciate his forward-thinking work around why family engagement to improve student attendance, and exercising your right to vote is essential. As mentioned in our conversation, learn more about professor Rogers' company, InClass Today, now, EveryDay Labs, his paper, Poison Parasite, and New York Times bestseller, Nudge.

On today’s episode of Catalysts During Covid, we talk to Tim Daly, founding partner of EdNavigator. With nearly two decades of experience in public education, Tim has been an advocate in supporting public education and working to help ensure greater access of high quality schools to all families and assisting families understand and work with the public education system.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s episode of Catalysts for Change, we talk to Tim Daly, founding partner of EdNavigator. With nearly two decades of experience in public education, Tim has been an advocate in supporting public education and working to help ensure greater access of high quality schools to all families and assisting families understand and work with the public education system.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of our special series, Catalysts During the Crisis, we talk with Jon Feinman, CEO and Founder of InnerCity Weightlifting (ICW). Having previously talked with Jon, this conversation focuses on how ICW has adapted and changed due to COVID-19 and his response to important problems that ICW faces on a daily basis. Jon’s work is a clear example of change agents throughout the city forging ahead to accomplish their missions, and solving new problems along the way. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, we hear from Manny Lopes, President of East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (EBNHC). We hear how EBNHC has adapted to continue to support their patients and those being affected by COVID-19, the community response in East Boston, Chelsea and Revere, and what needs to continue to happen to support communities being impacted the most by this pandemic. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s Catalyst for Change, we talk to Jon Feinman, Founder and CEO of InnerCity Weightlifting (ICW). Working with those most impacted by gun violence and incarceration in the City of Boston, Jon works to provide economic mobility and social inclusion through InnerCity Weightlifting’s Impact Model.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joining us for this episode of Catalysts for Change is Will Austin, CEO of the Boston Schools Fund. A graduate of the Boston Public School system, and a former educator in Boston, Will works with and invests in high-performing public, private and charter schools to help them increase the number of seats in their schools and move the city to a goal of providing high quality seats for all Boston students.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on Catalysts for Change we are joined by John Connolly, former City Councilor for Boston and founder of the non-profit organization School Facts. A lifelong resident of Boston, John’s work focuses on helping Boston families advocate for positive changes in education and other sectors across the city.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices