To counter what critics describe as illiberalism at colleges, politicians and disillusioned academics are rallying around the teaching of civics and Western civilization. A private university with that academic focus recently opened, and Republican lawmakers have mandated such programs at more than a dozen public universities. Will this movement achieve its stated goals of bringing intellectual diversity? Or does it ensure that, like our news media, higher education will become siloed echo chambers? Speakers: Jacob Howland, Jack Stripling, Pauline Strong

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Three dynamic professionals from across higher education with varying roles and experiences will share how they have been both directly and indirectly impacted by the ever-shifting political landscape. They will discuss the ways they have had to innovate in order to sustain their work, support students, educate the community on emerging issues, and maintain self-care throughout it all. Speakers: Taya Britten, Jeremy Reece, Kijua Sanders-McMurtry

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Trending in Education returns to the podcast stage at SXSW EDU for the fifth time to kick off our yearly March Madness of Learning Trends Tournament for 2025. Join a panel of special guests as they introduce and curate the latest trends in learning, media, and the future of work in these tumultuous times. And this year, SXSW EDU will weigh in! Speakers: Michael Palmer, Julia Shatilo, Mike Yates

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Adults call the shots in our education. We’re tired of that. We believe that young people’s voices deserve to be heard. We’re reporters for P.S. Weekly, a student-produced podcast about the New York City public school system, made in collaboration with Chalkbeat. This live-recorded episode will dive into our experiences of inequities in NYC Public Schools. We’ll tell you what policies we would implement if we could, and what we, as students, think educators and officials should know. Then, we’ll end with a debate about today’s hot education topics, including cell phone bans and AI in schools. Speakers: Salma Baksh, Bernie Carmona, Marcellino Melika, Alex Zimmerman

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We will do a live recording of The Disagreement podcast about whether Education Savings Accounts can help students, parents and K-12 schools. I will bring together an expert who thinks highly of ESAs (for parent empowerment, improved learning/outcomes for students, the expansion of alternative schooling) with an expert that is skeptical of how ESAs will be used, whether they will exacerbate inequalities and/or have a detrimental impact on public schools. I will host a healthy, productive disagreement that explores these nuances and helps the audience understand ESAs in a unique light. Speakers: Catherine Cushenberry, Shaka Mitchell, Jaime Puente

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In an era of heightened political tension, how must school leaders evolve to meet the moment? Or should they? This conversation explores the real-word challenges principals and superintendents face, as we hear from leaders who’ve transformed adversity into opportunity, fostering wellness and academic excellence. Gain concrete strategies for navigating systemic obstacles and political friction, and enhancing leadership capacity in the process. Creating inclusive schools and systems that thrive amidst change, turmoil, and resistance isn’t easy, but it is possible. We’ll discuss how. Speakers: Nancy Gutiérrez, Ed.L.D., Heather Harding, Ed.D., Gene Pinkard, Yetunde Reeves, Ed.D.

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Despite ongoing calls for gender equity in the music industry, significant disparities persist. To drive meaningful change, support must come from industry leadership. In 2021, a staggering 86.1% of top executives were men, leaving just 13.9% to women. The '2025 Inclusion in the Music Business Study' sheds new light on the current state among top industry executives. This panel will discuss findings from the study, share personal experiences surrounding gender-based discrimination, and call on the entire industry to take actionable steps towards building a more equitable industry. Speakers: Katie Bain, Andreea Gleeson, Stacy Smith

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Join Comedian and host of After Midnight Taylor Tomlinson as she brings her signature humor to the SXSW stage. Speakers: Taylor Tomlinson

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Nearly everyone tries to use social media to further their cause nowadays. But what's actually working? This conversation will explore the art and science of organic trendbuilding, reveal social media strategies you can use to convert online viewership into offline impact and shatter the traditional assumptions holding back modern organizers. Hear inspiring stories that explain viewer psychology and how you can craft strong, inviting campaign narratives to recruit for your cause. This is an effective new perspective on how to build a movement. Speakers: Geoff Bennett, Alex Haraus

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In this session, we'll explore the transformative potential of democratizing AI evaluation. Drawing from insights of 5,000 critical voices around the world, we'll discuss practical steps to rebuild AI systems that are transparent, fair, and accountable. Speakers: Rumman Chowdhury

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