The TechEd Podcast
Bridging the gap between technical education & the workforce 🎙 Hosted by Matt Kirchner, each episode features conversations with leaders who are shaping, innovating and disrupting the future of the skilled workforce and how we inspire and train individuals toward those jobs.
STEM, Career and Technical Education, and Engineering educators - this podcast is for you!
Manufacturing and industrial employers - this podcast is for you, too!
Episodes
232 episodes
Could We Really Make Anything, Anywhere, Anytime? A Deep Dive into Distributed Manufacturing - Dr. Charles Johnson-Bey, ERVA Co-Principal Investigator
Distributed manufacturing allows goods to be produced closer to where they’re needed — but enabling that future requires a complete rethink of infrastructure, systems, and workforce development.In this episode of The TechEd Podcast
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Episode 231
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56:49
The $10 Million Workforce Experiment That Could Redefine Apprenticeships in America - Lindsay Blumer, CEO of WRTP | BIG STEP
Workforce systems are often fragmented—built around short-term funding, disconnected programs, and a lack of coordination between industry, education, and community.But a different model is taking shape - one that’s not only working in p...
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Episode 230
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48:49
Love It or Hate It: A Surprisingly Human (And Very Fun) Conversation About Math - Dr. Jordan Ellenberg, Mathematics Professor at the University of Wisconsin
What happens when a world-class mathematician meets ’80s college radio, Bill Gates’ top-10 favorite books, and a host with an algebra redemption arc? A surprisingly funny, fast-moving conversation. Dr. Jordan Ellenberg—John D. MacArthur Profess...
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Episode 229
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1:04:53
The Smart Farm Era Is Here—and It’s Changing How America Grows Food - Dick Pavelski and Andy Diercks, Food + Farm Exploration Center
If you still picture farming as dusty tractors and endless manual labor, think again. Today’s agriculture runs on GPS-guided equipment, drones, real-time soil sensors, and data systems that look more like Wall Street trading floors than old bar...
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Episode 228
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40:03
AI Can Close the Learning Gap in Underserved Classrooms. But We Have to Guide, Not Just Give - Sam Whitaker, Director of Social Impact at StudyFetch
In schools with limited resources, large class sizes, and wide differences in student ability, individualized learning has become a necessity. Artificial intelligence offers powerful tools to help meet those needs, especially in underserved com...
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Episode 227
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48:52
The Rules for Earning College Credit Are Changing, and Competency (Not Time in Seats) Matters Most - Dr. Paul Carlsen, President of Lakeshore College
With technical education under pressure to deliver skilled talent faster, Lakeshore College is flipping the model—measuring learning by competency, meeting students where they are (even in high school), and using grants + national advocacy to s...
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Episode 226
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48:47
Rethinking Risk: How Strategic Guardrails Can Actually Empower Innovation - Abim Kolawole, Chief Audit Executive at Northwestern Mutual
What if audit wasn’t just a watchdog—but a catalyst for innovation, trust, and long-term growth? And what can education learn from it?In this episode of The TechEd Podcast, Matt Kirchner sits down with Abim Kolawole, Chie...
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Episode 225
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49:34
They Haven't Graduated Yet, but They're Already Tackling the Big Problems of 2045 - Duncan Kane, SVP at Toshiba
In this episode of The TechEd Podcast, Duncan Kane, Senior Vice President at Toshiba America, shares insights from nearly two decades of working at the intersection of industry and education. Drawing from his leadership in STEM outreac...
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Episode 224
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48:49
Teaching in the Age of Distraction: Why Students Can’t Focus – And What Educators Should Do About It - Dr. Gloria Mark, Author of Attention Span
In a world of digital overload, short-form media, and AI-powered personalization, staying focused has never been harder. Today, the average attention span on any screen is just 47 seconds. What's causing this decline in focus, and what should e...
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Episode 223
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50:13
Inside the Tour de France: Strategy, Technology, and the Science of the World’s Toughest Race - Jason Gay, Sports Columnist at The Wall Street Journal
What does the Tour de France have to do with STEM education? More than you might think.This week, host Matt Kirchner is joined by Wall Street Journal columnist and cycling expert Jason Gay to unpack the world’s most deman...
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Episode 222
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46:17
"Open to Anything" = Hired for Nothing: Accelerate Your Career Search with Smarter Networking
Submit your question for Ask Us Anything!Networking can be the best way to land your first (or next) big job, but are you going about it the wrong way?Too often, networ...
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Episode 221
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24:11
AI Engineering: The Emerging Field Poised to Secure America’s AI Advantage - Pramod Khargonekar, ERVA Co-Principal Investigator and Vice Chancellor for Research at UC Irvine
A new era is emerging where engineering drives AI—and AI transforms engineeringThis week Matt Kirchner is joined by Dr. Pramod Khargonekar—Vice Chancellor for Research at UC Irvine and lead author of the ERVA report
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Episode 220
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55:52
The 5 Strategies Driving Transformative K-12 Education - Dr. Annalies Corbin, Founder of the PAST Foundation
What do all high-impact, disruptive—and sustainable—K-12 programs have in common?In this episode of The TechEd Podcast, host Matt Kirchner sits down with Dr. Annalies Corbin, founder and CEO of the PAST Foundation and a...
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Episode 219
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54:50
Robots, Ice Cream and Instagram: The Viral Mechatronics Lab Turning Engagement Into Employment - Danny Murphy, Mechatronics Professor at CVCC
After 20 years in automation and controls engineering, Danny Murphy received a call from a local community college that would bring his journey full circle—back to the kind of impact his own high school electronics teacher once had on him. Toda...
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Episode 218
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48:41
Rebuilding Higher Education Around Solving Real-World Problems - Dr. Kristin Wobbe, Director of the Center for Project-Based Learning at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
What happens when a university rethinks the whole higher ed model rebuilds it around hands-on, project-based learning?Matt Kirchner dives into the bold model pioneered by Worcester Polytechnic Institute with Dr. Kristin Wobbe, Dir...
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Episode 217
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40:02
How to Build & Grow an Industry-Aligned CTE Program - Maroun Nehme, Director of Advanced Robotics and Mechatronics at BPHS
Host Matt Kirchner sits down with Maroun Nehme, Advanced Robotics and Mechatronics teacher at Buena Park High School in California. Maroun has built one of the most impressive high school mechatronics & robotics programs in the country—comp...
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Episode 216
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45:54
Inside the Bipartisan Push for America’s Skilled Workforce - U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin
How do we build bipartisan momentum to support the future of CTE?In this episode of The TechEd Podcast, host Matt Kirchner sits down with U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a national leader and co-chair of the bipartisan Congre...
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Episode 215
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24:36
From the Shop Floor to the Fast Lane: How Racing, Technical Skills and Workforce Strategy Collide - Justin Mondeik, Owner & Driver at Mondeik Racing
By day, Justin Mondeik applies his technical skills in engineering; by night and weekend, he races Super Late Model cars.From racing snowmobiles at age four to competing just one level below NASCAR, Justin has built a career on technical...
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Episode 214
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36:45
Changing Tariffs Will Impact Technical Education—Here’s What to Do About It
What do tariffs have to do with technical education? A lot more than you might think.As U.S. trade policy shifts, it’s not just manufacturers who will feel the effects—STEM and technical education programs will too. From rising eq...
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Episode 213
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38:21
AI Regulation Can Wait—But Education Reform Can’t - State Senator Julian Bradley
State Senator Julian Bradley joins Matt Kirchner for a wide-ranging conversation on how policymakers should be thinking about AI, energy, and education. Bradley explains why his committee chose not to recommend regulation of AI, how th...
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Episode 212
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52:50
The 50/50 University Model that Leaves Grads with 2.5 Years of Work Experience and $75k - Dr. Robert McMahan, President of Kettering University
Is the traditional university model failing today’s students—and the industries that depend on them?Dr. Robert McMahan, President of Kettering University, shares a bold, workforce-driven vision for higher education.From co-...
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Episode 211
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41:53
Microsoft, the Packers, and the Venture Firm Betting on Midwest Innovation - Jill Enos, Managing Partner of TitletownTech
What happens when a legendary NFL team partners with a tech giant to fuel regional innovation?In this episode of The TechEd Podcast, host Matt Kirchner sits down with Jill Enos, Managing Partner at TitletownTech — the one-of-a-k...
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Episode 210
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48:59
The Lifelong Impact of Mentorship for STEM Students - Joe Tanner and Curtis Althaus, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation
The right mentor can totally change the college and career trajectory of a student. Today, we're exploring the power of mentorships through the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.Join former NASA astronaut Joe Tanner and current Astronaut ...
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Episode 209
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35:29
What Rising Tariffs Mean for Companies, Workers, and the Future of Trade - John Murphy, SVP & Head of International at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
With tariffs back in the spotlight, what’s their real impact on trade, business, and jobs? Are they a necessary tool for protecting American industry, or do they do more harm than good?This week, host Matt Kirchner sits down with John Mu...
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Episode 208
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43:28
The Athlete’s Mindset in the Classroom: The Power of Confidence, Goal-Setting and Positivity in STEM - Kathy Meyers, Teacher at Corner Canyon High School
Why do so many students (and adults) believe they “just aren’t good at math”? How can educators shift that mindset and build confidence in STEM learning?In this episode of The TechEd Podcast, host Matt Kirchner sits down ...
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Episode 207
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41:50