Freedom to Learn
Freedom to Learn is for policymakers and advocates fighting for parental rights and education freedom for students and teachers. Host Ginny Gentles, Director of Education Freedom and Parental Rights at the Defense of Freedom Institute, interviews guests who are confronting powerful unions and bureaucratic systems. Each episode demystifies school choice, counters misconceptions, and spotlights the people who put students over systems. Freedom to Learn is produced by the Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC.
Episodes
22 episodes
RE-RELEASE: May Mailman on President Trump’s Actions to Protect Women’s Sports, Spaces, & Dignity
When asked, “Should we keep men out of women’s sports?” the vast majority of the American people respond with a resounding “Yes!” May Mailman, Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Policy Strategist, joins Freedom to Learn to di...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 21
•
29:03
Jenny Clark on Students with Disabilities, Education Freedom, & Loving Your School
Arizona mother Jenny Clark shares her family's challenging educational journey and how these experiences led her to establish Love Your School, an organization that provides personalized support for parents navigating educational options. Jenny...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 20
•
28:20
Michael McShane on School Choice Research, Fearmongering, & Milton Friedman
Do school choice programs really increase segregation, harm rural communities, and deny students with disabilities access to services? Dr. Michael McShane, Director of National Research at EdChoice, joins Freedom to Learn to tackle the...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 19
•
40:22
Julie Hamill on California’s Violations of Title IX, FERPA, & Common Sense
Last week, the U.S. Department of Education opened an investigation into California’s practice of requiring schools to lie to parents about their child's "gender identity." Julie Hamill, founder of the California Justice Center, joins Freed...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 18
•
38:06
Congressman Kevin Kiley on Charter Schools, Teachers Unions, & School Closures
Congressman Kevin Kiley (R-CA), a former teacher in inner-city Los Angeles and California State Assembly member, joins Freedom to Learn to discuss the need for education freedom options that prioritize student success...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 17
•
23:36
Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Cutting Bureaucracy, Empowering States, & Fighting Anti-Semitism
Recently confirmed U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon joins Freedom to Learn to discuss her plans to reduce bureaucracy at the federal Department of Education while ensuring critical federal funding streams like IDEA and Title I...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 16
•
14:39
Lindsey Burke on Winding Down the Department of Education, Stopping the Education Funding Spending Spree, & Expanding Education Freedom
While awaiting President Trump’s specific plans to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education and “send education back to the states,” congressional committees are holding hearings to explore the policy possibilities. In this episode, Dr. Lindse...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 15
•
38:31
Cade Brumley on Louisiana’s Reading Revival, Impressive NAEP Scores, & New ESA Program
Louisiana was a rare bright spot amid grim Nation’s Report Card math and reading results. Dr. Cade Brumley, Louisiana’s superintendent of education, joins Freedom to Learn to discuss the state's impressive progress and his ambitions for further...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 14
•
21:41
May Mailman on President Trump’s Actions to Protect Women’s Sports, Spaces, & Dignity
When asked “Should we keep men out of women’s sports?” the vast majority of the American people respond with a resounding “Yes!” May Mailman, Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Policy Strategist, joins Freedom to Learn to dis...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 13
•
27:29
Walter Blanks on Escaping a Failing School, Tennessee’s Big Win, & The Truth About School Choice Critics
In this episode of Freedom to Learn, Walter Blanks Jr., spokesperson for the American Federation for Children, shares his personal story of escaping a failing school—thanks to a mother who refused to accept the status quo. He reveals how a scho...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 12
•
31:21
Shaka Mitchell on Education Freedom, Teacher Bonuses & Rural Schools in Tennessee
This week on Freedom to Learn, we break down a major development in Tennessee’s education landscape—the passage of the Education Freedom Act of 2025. Passed during an emergency legislative session, this new statewide program expands school choi...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 11
•
34:42
Mark Schneider on NAEP, Federal Research, & Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education
In this episode of Freedom to Learn, we lament the troubling 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results. Despite billions in recovery funds, the latest data paints a grim picture, particularly for minority, low-income, and ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 10
•
32:14
Tommy Schultz on School Choice Wins, NAEP Losses, & Federal Education Freedom Opportunities
Tommy Schultz, CEO of the American Federation for Children, joins Freedom to Learn for a deep dive into the state of school choice in America. From exciting wins in expanding school choice across the nation to major developments ahead in Texas ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 9
•
30:15
Nicki Neily on Radical Ideologies, SEL, & Foreign Influences in K-12
Nicki Neily, founder of Parents Defending Education, joins Freedom to Learn to discuss the troubling trends reshaping our nation's K-12 schools. From divisive racial and gender ideologies to foreign influence in our educational system,...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 8
•
29:49
Shelby Doyle on National School Choice Week, Homeschooling Myths, & Supporting Families
Have you ever wondered how school choice really works? On this episode of Freedom to Learn, we’re joined by Shelby Doyle, Vice President of Public Awareness for the National School Choice Awareness Foundation, to explore education free...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 7
•
18:47
January Littlejohn on Gender Ideology, Social Transitions, & Parental Rights
Socially transitioning children in schools is not a neutral or benign act–it is a serious intervention that can lead children down a dangerous path toward irreversible medical procedures. Florida mother, January Littlejohn, joins Freedom to...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 6
•
33:30
Nathan Cunneen on School Choice, Union Opposition, & Lessons Republicans Learned the Hard Way
In this episode of Freedom to Learn, Nathan Cunneen, Texas State Director for the American Federation for Children, addresses the momentum behind the push for universal education freedom in the Lone Star State. Nathan shares his personal journe...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 5
•
32:49
Marguerite Roza on Declining Birth Rates, Closing Schools, & the Fate of Education Funding
The education world is fixated on the fate of the U.S. Department of Education, but federal funding is a small portion of school budgets. Dr. Marguerite Roza, director of Georgetown University’s Edunomics Lab, joins the podcast to break down th...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 4
•
29:53
Rep. Tim Walberg on Career Pathways, Education Options & Gender Ideology
Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) envisions a more flexible, competitive system that better prepares students for the workforce—no matter the path they choose. In this episode, Rep. Walberg shares his insights on the evolving landscape of educatio...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 3
•
32:15
Rep. Burgess Owens on Merit, Innovation, & National Security
Congressman Burgess Owens (R-UT), former NFL player, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for education freedom, joins the second episode of Freedom to Learn to discuss how education is a critical national security issue and the foundation of ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 2
•
29:45
Rep. Virginia Foxx on Antisemitism, Education Freedom & the FAFSA Fiasco
In the opening episode of the “Freedom to Learn” podcast, host Ginny Gentles speaks with Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, chairwoman of the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce, about expanding education freedom, protecting parental ...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 1
•
29:45