The Rant Podcast

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The Rant Podcast

Eloy Ortiz Oakley

71 episodes

3 weeks ago

Send us a text What if AI actually made college more human—more supportive, more accessible, and more affordable? We sat down with Arizona State University CIO Lev Gonick to unpack how agentic AI, low-code tools, and faculty communities are transforming the student journey from recruitment to graduation. Lev takes us inside “Agentic AI and the Student Experience,” a standing-room-only event that drew 650+ attendees from 25 countries. The focus wasn’t jargon; it was outcomes. We talk about “E...

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Send us a text What if AI actually made college more human—more supportive, more accessible, and more affordable? We sat down with Arizona State University CIO Lev Gonick to unpack how agentic AI, low-code tools, and faculty communities are transforming the student journey from recruitment to graduation. Lev takes us inside “Agentic AI and the Student Experience,” a standing-room-only event that drew 650+ attendees from 25 countries. The focus wasn’t jargon; it was outcomes. We talk about “E...

Show more...

News Commentary

Episodes (20/71)

The Rant Podcast

Agentic AI and the Student Experience with Lev Gonick

Send us a text What if AI actually made college more human—more supportive, more accessible, and more affordable? We sat down with Arizona State University CIO Lev Gonick to unpack how agentic AI, low-code tools, and faculty communities are transforming the student journey from recruitment to graduation. Lev takes us inside “Agentic AI and the Student Experience,” a standing-room-only event that drew 650+ attendees from 25 countries. The focus wasn’t jargon; it was outcomes. We talk about “E...

3 weeks ago

31 minutes

The Rant Podcast

Earnings Premium Under The Microscope with Phil Hill

Send us a text A single number now threatens to define whether a program survives: does it deliver an earnings premium over a high school diploma? We sit down with Phil Hill to unpack how federal accountability just shifted from dashboards to consequences, why the current metric is misaligned with how real labor markets work, and what leaders must fix before 2026. We break down the design choices that matter—statewide medians versus sub‑state regions, demographic blind spots, and the absence...

1 month ago

44 minutes

The Rant Podcast

If Learning Is A Commodity, What Makes College Worth It

Send us a text Trust in college is slipping, yet the desire for opportunity is stronger than ever. We dig into that tension and lay out a clearer path forward: build programs around working learners, publish honest numbers, and align skills with jobs so students see—and feel—real value. We unpack fresh survey findings showing that Americans still view higher education as a path to mobility, but frustration with cost, debt, and opaque outcomes is eroding confidence. From soaring living expens...

2 months ago

14 minutes

The Rant Podcast

How Americans Feel About Higher Education with Sophie Nugyen

Send us a text Americans still believe a college education opens doors, but patience is running out for a system that too often feels overpriced, inflexible, and out of touch. We sit down with New America’s Sophie Nguyen to unpack the Varying Degrees 2025 survey and what the data really says about confidence, cost, and the changing needs of working learners. The headline: value and frustration now live side by side. We dig into where Americans agree across party lines—purpose, value, and the...

2 months ago

28 minutes

The Rant Podcast

Serving Working Learners at UMGC

Send us a text What does it look like when a “global campus” is truly global—and built for working learners from the ground up? We sit with UMGC president Dr. Greg Fowler to trace a line from faculty boarding planes after WWII to teaching through evacuations, tsunamis, and base alerts, all while keeping one promise: meet students where they are and prove value with real outcomes. Along the way, we dig into credit for prior learning mapped directly to military rank, why time is the enemy of th...

3 months ago

37 minutes

The Rant Podcast

Golden Returns: Measuring Value in California's Two-Year Colleges

Send us a text Season four of the Rant Podcast kicks off with a deep dive into educational value and economic mobility. Host Eloy Ortiz-Oakley welcomes returning guest Michael Itzkowitz to discuss their groundbreaking "Golden Returns" report examining which California community colleges and certificate programs deliver the strongest financial returns for students. The conversation unveils surprising findings about which two-year institutions truly help students climb the economic ladder. Itz...

3 months ago

36 minutes

The Rant Podcast

Season 3 Finale

Send us a text The education landscape has transformed dramatically over the past six months, and we're only at the beginning of what promises to be a defining era for colleges and universities nationwide. As we wrap up Season 3 with our milestone 65th episode, we reflect on the seismic shifts reshaping higher education while looking ahead to even greater disruption in 2025 and beyond. Throughout our journey, we've been fortunate to partner with forward-thinking sponsors who recognize the im...

5 months ago

10 minutes

The Rant Podcast

Navigating the Next Four Years with Kelly McManus

Send us a text The higher education landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, with a new focus on measuring value and ensuring economic mobility for students. In this revealing conversation with Kelly McManus, Vice President of Higher Education at Arnold Ventures, we explore the reconciliation bill currently moving through Congress and its far-reaching implications for colleges, universities, and most importantly, students. At the heart of this policy shift lies a deceptively simple...

6 months ago

50 minutes

The Rant Podcast

Navigating the Next Four Years with Ted Mitchell

Send us a text The American higher education system stands at a crossroads, facing unprecedented challenges that threaten its very foundation. In this revealing conversation, Eloy Ortiz Oakley sits down with Ted Mitchell, President of the American Council on Education (ACE), to discuss how colleges and universities across the country are responding to these threats. Mitchell, whose organization represents over 1,700 diverse institutions, offers a compelling perspective on how higher educatio...

6 months ago

35 minutes

The Rant Podcast

Navigating the Next Four Years with Andrew Magliozzi

Send us a text What happens when artificial intelligence meets human connection? Magic, according to Andrew (Drew) Magliozzi, CEO and co-founder of Mainstay. In this eye-opening conversation from the ASU GSV Summit, Drew reveals the surprising secret behind effective AI in education: human involvement. After a decade of deploying conversational AI to support college students, Mainstay discovered that having just 2% of messages sent by actual humans triples the effectiveness of their system. ...

7 months ago

38 minutes

The Rant Podcast

Navigating the Next Four Years with Ellie Bertani

Send us a text Ellie Bertani, CEO of GitLab Foundation, revolutionizes philanthropy with a data-driven approach that puts measurable economic impact at the center of every grant decision. This eye-opening conversation reveals how GitLab Foundation aims to generate at least $100 in increased earnings for every dollar they invest – a "North Star 100X goal" that guides their work across the United States, Colombia, and Kenya. What happens when you apply financial modeling to philanthropy? Berta...

7 months ago

33 minutes

The Rant Podcast

Navigating the Next Four Years with John King

Send us a text When higher education comes under attack, who stands up to defend its core mission? In this compelling conversation, Chancellor John King of the State University of New York brings his unique perspective as a former high school teacher, Secretary of Education under President Obama, and leader of a major education advocacy organization to address the most pressing challenges facing American universities today. Chancellor King doesn't mince words as he articulates how SUNY mainta...

8 months ago

33 minutes

The Rant Podcast

Navigating the Next Four Years with Janet Napolitano

Send us a text The drumbeat against higher education continues to grow louder. In this revealing conversation with Janet Napolitano—former Arizona Governor, Secretary of Homeland Security under President Obama, and President of the University of California—we explore the existential threats facing America's great research universities. Janet pulls no punches when discussing the political headwinds threatening higher education. With potential cuts that could strip "billions of dollars" from r...

9 months ago

30 minutes

The Rant Podcast

Navigating the Next Four Years with Mike Madrid

Send us a text Republican political consultant Mike Madrid joins host Eloy Ortiz-Oakley to examine the seismic shifts occurring in American democracy through the unique lens of Latino voter behavior. As co-founder of the Lincoln Project and author of "The Latino Century," Madrid brings data-driven insights that challenge conventional wisdom about minority voting patterns. The conversation delves deep into how Latino voters—now America's largest minority voting bloc—are transforming the politi...

10 months ago

53 minutes

The Rant Podcast

Navigating the Next Four Years with Michael Itzkowitz

Send us a text The pursuit of higher education has always been seen as a pathway to success, but how effectively are colleges serving low and moderate-income students? In this episode, we engage with Michael Itzkowitz to unveil the California Mobility Index, a new tool that examines how various institutions rank in terms of creating genuine opportunities for their students. The Mobility Index serves not merely to illuminate which colleges offer the best return on investment but to challenge t...

10 months ago

32 minutes

The Rant Podcast

Navigating the Next Four Years with Phil Hill

Send us a text What if the challenges plaguing the edtech sector are actually opportunities in disguise? Join us as we welcome Phil Hill, the publisher of the On EdTech newsletter, who offers a wealth of insights into the complexities of the education technology landscape. Together, we tackle the financial struggles of major players like 2U and Anthology while uncovering the potential for stabilization and growth. Phil also sheds light on the groundbreaking role of generative AI in education,...

10 months ago

38 minutes

The Rant Podcast

Navigating the Next Four Years with Brandon Busteed of BrandEd

Send us a text Ever wondered how immersive, real-world learning can redefine higher education? Join us as we engage with Brandon Busteed, the innovative CEO of BrandEd, as he unravels the transformative power of work-based learning, especially during disruptive times like the Trump years ahead. Brandon shares his unique vision for BrandEd since his 2024 appointment, highlighting partnerships with prestigious brands such as The New York Times, Sotheby's, Manchester City and Vogue. These collab...

11 months ago

32 minutes

The Rant Podcast

Navigating the Next Four Years with Former Under Secretary James Kvaal

Send us a text This episode delves into the transformative changes in higher education under the Biden Administration, featuring insights from Undersecretary of Education James Kvaal. Key topics include student loan forgiveness achievements, the simplification of FAFSA, and the future of education amidst emerging technologies and political challenges. • Highlights the significant accomplishments in student loan forgiveness • Discusses the ongoing modernization of FAFSA • Provides...

11 months ago

24 minutes

The Rant Podcast

Welcome to 2025

Send us a text The future of higher education faces uncertainty as 2025 approaches, emphasizing the need for innovation, inclusivity, and economic mobility. The episode discusses the critical role of artificial intelligence, the challenges rejective institutions will face, and the ongoing fight for equity. • Reflection on 2024 achievements and past guests • Challenges and opportunities for higher education in 2025 • The role of AI in transforming learning experiences • Econ...

1 year ago

4 minutes

The Rant Podcast

Growing Talent with Bijal Shah, CEO of Guild

Send us a text Join Eloy Ortiz-Oakley for an interesting conversation with Bijal Shah, the trailblazing CEO of Guild, as we unravel the company's transformative journey in reshaping talent development. Want to uncover how a mailroom employee discovered their true potential as a pharmacy technician? This episode reveals the secret sauce behind Guild's innovative coaching services that unlock hidden talents and align them with career dreams, including the embrace of generative AI to stay ahead ...

1 year ago

26 minutes