Edtech Insiders

Why AI Alone Won’t Fix Education—MacKenzie Price Explains the Missing Ingredient


Listen Later

Send us a text

MacKenzie Price is a Stanford grad, mom of two, and the Co-Founder of 2 Hour Learning - a revolutionary learning platform that harnesses the power of AI to give kids a 1:1 personalized learning experience. Her students excel in academics while spending most of their day learning life skills that set them up for future success. She founded the first Alpha School ten years ago in Austin, Texas and now has eight schools, with others opening in the fall.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  1. Why motivation is the missing key in EdTech.
  2. How AI enables personalized, mastery-based learning.
  3. The new role of teachers as motivational guides.
  4. How to build life skills alongside academics.
  5. What’s next for AI in education—and why it’s exciting.

Episode Highlights:

[00:03:19] MacKenzie on Founding Alpha Schools to create a better model for her own children.
[00:06:36] Why tech alone can’t drive student success without human connection.
[00:12:54] How Alpha Schools deliver two hours of academics and a full day of life skills.
[00:21:56] Teachers become motivational coaches, not just content experts.
[00:28:11] The power of AI to connect learning with students’ passions.
[00:38:05] Rethinking assessments: AI makes feedback immediate and actionable.

😎 Stay updated with Edtech Insiders! 

  • Follow our Podcast on:
    • Apple Podcasts
    • Spotify
    • Amazon Music
  • Sign up for the Edtech Insiders newsletter.
  • Follow Edtech Insiders on LinkedIn!

🎉 Presenting Sponsor/s:

Innovation in preK to gray learning is powered by exceptional people. For over 15 years, EdTech companies of all sizes and stages have trusted HireEducation to find the talent that drives impact. When specific skills and experiences are mission-critical, HireEducation is a partner that delivers. Offering permanent, fractional, and executive recruitment, HireEducation knows the go-to-market talent you need. Learn more at HireEdu.com.

Every year, K-12 districts and higher ed institutions spend over half a trillion dollars—but most sales teams miss the signals. Starbridge tracks early signs like board minutes, budget drafts, and strategic plans, then helps you turn them into personalized outreach—fast. Win the deal before it hits the RFP stage. That’s how top edtech teams stay ahead.

Tuck Advisors is the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Edtech InsidersBy Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

22 ratings


More shows like Edtech Insiders

View all
EconTalk by Russ Roberts

EconTalk

4,248 Listeners

a16z Podcast by Andreessen Horowitz

a16z Podcast

1,063 Listeners

The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch by Harry Stebbings

The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

519 Listeners

The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish by Shane Parrish

The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish

2,666 Listeners

Acquired by Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal

Acquired

4,216 Listeners

Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy by Colossus | Investing & Business Podcasts

Invest Like the Best with Patrick O'Shaughnessy

2,283 Listeners

Masters of Scale by WaitWhat

Masters of Scale

3,986 Listeners

Your Undivided Attention by The Center for Humane Technology, Tristan Harris, Daniel Barcay and Aza Raskin

Your Undivided Attention

1,517 Listeners

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg by All-In Podcast, LLC

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

9,252 Listeners

Dwarkesh Podcast by Dwarkesh Patel

Dwarkesh Podcast

423 Listeners

Hard Fork by The New York Times

Hard Fork

5,479 Listeners

No Priors: Artificial Intelligence | Technology | Startups by Conviction

No Priors: Artificial Intelligence | Technology | Startups

126 Listeners

Possible by Reid Hoffman

Possible

119 Listeners

BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley by BG2Pod

BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley

463 Listeners

Uncapped with Jack Altman by Alt Capital

Uncapped with Jack Altman

33 Listeners