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An Educated Guest

Todd Zipper

61 episodes

1 week ago

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 o...

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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 o...

Show more...

Episodes (20/61)

An Educated Guest

S3E22 | Scaling Experiential Learning with Dana Stephenson: Solving the "No Experience, No Job" Paradox

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 o...

1 week ago

50 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3E21 | The Entrepreneurial Investor: Sabari Raja on Venture Capital for the Frontline Workforce & the $1 Trillion Infrastructure Boom

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 ...

2 weeks ago

46 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3E20 | The Parent Power Tipping Point: Jeanne Allen on School Choice and the Future of K-12 Education

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—...

3 weeks ago

46 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3E19 | From Stanford to Skilled Trades: Shaun McAlmont's Vision for Career Pathways in Education

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...

1 month ago

47 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3E18 | Scaling Learning with Agentic AI: Mark Naufel on Building the New OS for Education

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 s...

1 month ago

58 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3E17 | Elevating Life Skills: Advocacy, Innovation, and the Future of Family & Consumer Sciences with AAFCS Karin Athanas

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, equ...

1 month ago

53 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3E16 | The Co-Creation Engine: Katie Boody Adorno on Why Teachers and Community Must Lead EdTech Design

In this insightful episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Katie Boody Adorno, Founder and CEO of LEANLAB Education. Katie shares her journey from the front lines of a middle school classroom to becoming a national voice for community-led innovation. She explains the genesis of LEANLAB, which was born from the frustrating realization that conventional reform efforts were failing to close the achievement and opportunity gaps for vulnerable student populations. The core of...

1 month ago

45 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3E15 | The Innovator's Mindset: D2L’s John Baker on Why EdTech Should Stop Solving Yesterday's Problems

In this exclusive episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with John Baker, the visionary Founder and CEO of D2L. John shares the remarkable 25-year journey of D2L, tracing its evolution from a student startup into a publicly traded global learning platform. The conversation explores the massive industry shift from simply managing content to building a "true perpetual learning platform" that serves K-12, higher education, and corporate clients. John argues that AI is the criti...

2 months ago

45 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3E14 | Education Freedom: Shaka Mitchell on School Choice, Opportunity, and the American Dream

In this deeply personal and timely episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Shaka Mitchell, Senior Fellow at the American Federation for Children. Shaka shares his compelling journey from the classroom and the courtroom into the heart of the school choice movement. He explains why his advocacy is driven by his core belief that education is the "surest way to access Whatever your version of the American dream is," and why the current system fails to deliver that promise fo...

2 months ago

55 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3E13 | Chaos and Opportunity: Michael Moe on AI, The Seven C's, and the Future of Education Investment

In this powerful episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Michael Moe, Founder and CEO of GSV Ventures, to discuss the seismic shifts occurring across the entire learning ecosystem. Michael, who was a key figure in analyzing the first online education boom, shares his perspective on the current state of education, which he describes as a mix of "chaos and dynamic opportunity." The conversation moves from the historical rise and fall of institutions like the University of ...

3 months ago

55 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3E12 | A Founder's Journey: Matthew Pittinsky on Blackboard, Parchment, and the Future of Ed-Tech

In this fascinating episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Matthew Pittinsky, a true pioneer in education technology. Matt, the co-founder of Blackboard and former CEO of Parchment, shares his incredible journey from the dawn of the internet to the age of AI. He takes us back to 1997 to reveal the core problem he and his co-founder, Michael Chasen, were trying to solve with Blackboard and how that platform became a ubiquitous force in online learning. The conversation t...

3 months ago

56 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3E11 | K-12's Moment of Truth: Sari Factor on the Evolution of Education and the Future of Learning

In this illuminating episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Sari Factor, the Vice Chair and Chief Strategy Officer of Imagine Learning, to discuss the monumental shifts occurring in K-12 education. With a career spanning several decades, Sari shares the powerful journey of Imagine Learning, from its early days as a credit recovery provider to its current position as a leader in digital-first curriculum, serving over 15 million students. The conversation delves into the ...

3 months ago

55 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3E10 | Outcomes at Scale: Carl Madi on Stepful's Mission to Close the Healthcare Skills Gap

In this powerful episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Carl Madi, the founder and CEO of Stepful. Carl shares his journey from Uber and Handy, where he developed a passion for creating career mobility for workers, to building a company that is radically transforming how the healthcare workforce is trained. He explains how Stepful's innovative model addresses chronic shortages in allied health, providing a more affordable and time-efficient alternative to traditional tr...

3 months ago

44 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3E9 | The Expertise Upheaval: Matt Sigelman on AI, The Experience Paradox, and Reshaping the Workforce

In this eye-opening episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Matt Sigelman, CEO of the Burning Glass Institute, to decode the seismic shifts occurring in the labor market. Matt shares data-driven insights from his groundbreaking research, including the "experience paradox," which reveals why so many entry-level jobs now demand prior experience, and what that means for recent college graduates. The conversation delves into the accelerating pace of skill obsolescence, the r...

4 months ago

55 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3E8 | The Age of AI: Raoul-Gabriel Urma on Education, Entrepreneurship, and a Future of Creative Work

In this engaging episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Raoul-Gabriel Urma, the founder and CEO of Cambridge Spark. Raoul shares his unique journey from a self-taught coder to leading a company at the forefront of the AI education revolution. The conversation explores how Cambridge Spark is helping individuals and organizations prosper in the age of AI by equipping them with critical data and technical skills. Raoul offers a compelling perspective on AI’s impact on the ...

4 months ago

44 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3 E7 | Minds Matter: Erika Halstead on Mentorship, Equity, and the Power of People to End Poverty Through Education

In this deeply inspiring episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Erika Halstead, CEO of Minds Matter National, an organization close to Todd's heart. Erika shares her personal journey from starting her career as a bilingual teacher to leading Minds Matter, an organization that started in 1991 with no full-time employees and has grown to serve 1,100 high-achieving, low-income students annually with the support of 2,000 volunteers across 14 chapters. Erika unpacks Minds Ma...

4 months ago

45 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3E6 | The Kaplan Way: Andy Rosen on Reinvention, Global Scale, and the Future of Outcomes-Driven Education

In this insightful episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper welcomes Andy Rosen, CEO of Kaplan, for a deep dive into the evolution of one of the world's most enduring education companies. Andy shares his personal journey at Kaplan, reflecting on over 30 years of continuous reinvention that transformed a test prep company into a global powerhouse in higher education, professional training, and international student pathways. The conversation explores Kaplan's unique "outcomes-first" DNA,...

5 months ago

42 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3 E5 | From Princeton Review to Noodle: John Katzman on Reinventing Higher Ed and Fixing K-12

In this provocative and incredibly insightful episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with John Katzman, a serial entrepreneur and one of the most influential figures in education, known for founding The Princeton Review and Noodle. John offers a no-holds-barred perspective on the seismic shifts needed across the entire education landscape. The conversation delves into the evolution of online program management (OPM), why its traditional model is unsustainable, and how Noodle...

5 months ago

46 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3E4 | The Job-First Degree: Reach University's Apprenticeship Revolution - with Joe Ross

In this illuminating episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper sits down with Joe Ross, CEO of Reach University, a pioneering non-profit college. Joe shares his compelling personal journey to education leadership and unpacks Reach University's groundbreaking model, which literally "turns jobs into degrees" to address critical talent shortages, particularly in teaching. He explains the "ABC's" of the apprenticeship degree – Affordability, being Based in the workplace from day one, and ear...

5 months ago

43 minutes

An Educated Guest

S3E3 | Paul LeBlanc: AI in Education - From Systemic Traps to Intelligent Human Solutions

In this highly anticipated return episode of An Educated Guest, host Todd Zipper welcomes back Paul LeBlanc, former President of SNHU and current Chairman of the new AI education startup, Matter and Space. This captivating conversation dives deep into how Artificial Intelligence is not just a buzzword, but a transformative force fundamentally reshaping education. Paul explains how AI is being leveraged today for massive productivity gains in operations and curriculum design, challenging educa...

6 months ago

54 minutes