In this episode KQED’s Marlena Jackson-Retondo speaks with Scott R. Levy, adjunct lecturer at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education and a former school board member, about why school boards matter more than ever. Levy’s new book, Why School Boards Matter: Reclaiming the Heart of American Education and Democracy,  explains how school boards function, how their power has shifted over time and how school boards can serve as a rare space for civic engagement and democratic participation.

Lillian Zhang is a financial and career educator. Her book, "The New Money Rules: The GenZ Guide to Personal Finance" covers how to eliminate debt and offers non-judgmental advice on saving and investing. Zhang talks to KQED's Marlena Jackson-Retondo about the tips she gives to young people managing their own finances for the first time.

This month MindShift is sharing an episode from MIT's TeachLab podcast. Hosts Jessie Dukes and Justin Reich have interviewed teachers, school leaders, and students about how the debut of ChatGPT and Generative AI is actually playing out in schools. 

They’ve compiled their learnings into a mini series called the Homework Machine.

Listen to more episodes here: https://www.teachlabpodcast.com/

KQED's Ki Sung talks to longtime MindShift contributor and child development expert Deborah Farmer Kris. In her book "Raising Awe-Seekers: How the Science of Wonder Helps Our Kids Thrive," she shares how exploring the emotion awe can help students engage with classwork and also open us all up to connecting more with our communities.

This month MindShift is sharing an episode from our friends at KQED's Close All Tabs. Close All Tabs breaks down how digital culture shapes our world through thoughtful insights and irreverent humor. 

Host Morgan Sung talks to Max Spero, founder of the AI detection company Pangram Labs, MindShift reporter Marlena Jackson Retondo and educator Jeremy Na about three different approaches educators are adopting to deal with AI in their classrooms.
Listen to more episodes here: https://www.kqed.org/news/program/close-all-tabs

Host Ki Sung takes listeners inside some of the public libraries that have made significant transformations to better serve community needs. Inspired by Chicago’s pioneering YOUmedia model, similar teen-centered library programs are now thriving in cities like New York and San Francisco.  These teen spaces support not just digital learning and creativity, but also emotional well-being and community-building after the isolation of the pandemic. Listeners will hear directly from students, and librarians about how these innovative programs are helping teens flourish, proving that libraries can be much more than just places for books—they can be places to belong.

Interacting with people from different generations has been shown to accelerate students’ social skills, improve literacy, and provide valuable lessons about history and culture.

However, many students have limited opportunities to engage with older generations. And when these interactions do happen, they often remain one-sided or surface-level. In this episode, MindShift explores intergenerational programs at two schools, highlighting their benefits and uncovering research-backed strategies for creating impactful and enriching experiences for all involved.

Do you remember the sting of not being invited to a birthday party or watching your friend sit at a different lunch table? Most adults can recall a falling out with a friend—also known as a friendship breakup. While romantic relationships and their endings get plenty of attention, friendship breakups are often overlooked, despite being just as painful and impactful.

For adolescents, whose brains are wired for social connection, these rifts can feel world-ending. Parents and counselors play a crucial role in helping students navigate these experiences while also teaching them what it takes to build healthy, reciprocal friendships. In this episode, MindShift explores the science of friendship with journalist Lydia Denworth and hears from students, parents, and counselors about their experiences in the messy, meaningful world of adolescent friendships.

There is a common perception that Asian Americans don’t get involved with civic life, but a closer read of AAPI history proves that to be false.

When you think of debate, you might picture presidential candidates interrupting each other, pointing fingers, and undermining their opponents. It often feels like a reflection of today’s fractured and tense civic discourse.

But in high school debate clubs, students are learning a different approach. These clubs provide a rare space where young people can engage with current events, articulate their ideas, and—perhaps most importantly—practice active listening. At a time when algorithms often reinforce a single perspective and fewer young people engage with the news, that’s no small thing.

A 2022 RAND report found that only 37% of schools have debate clubs. What are these clubs doing right, and should that number be higher?