EDUcation Unscripted & Xplored
EDUcation Unscripted & Xplored, co-hosted by University of Iowa College of Education professors Kari Vogelgesang and Mark McDermott, is a research- and reality-backed podcast for anyone passionate about harnessing the power of education for positive change.
Unlike most education podcasts that stick to classroom strategy or faculty development, we bring together teacher preparation, K–12 systems, and wellness to ask the hard questions about what actually drives meaningful change for people and systems.
Our goal is to explore the hopes, tensions, and trends shaping the field today and to offer listeners honest, evidence-based conversations that help them think differently about the work. Join us as we help schools better serve students, families, and communities—and empower those same communities to support schools in return.
Sound Effect by Shiden Beats Music from Pixabay
Episodes
6 episodes
Systems & Leadership: Building Policies That Promote Educator Wellness
What if educator wellness wasn't a side initiative, but the design principle at the center of every school policy, schedule, and leadership decision?In this episode, Kari and Mark sit down with Courtney Cook, PK-12 principal at
Rural Realities: Attracting and Supporting Educators in Small Communities
This episode spotlights the unique strengths and struggles of rural schools, from limited resources and geographic isolation to the shifting landscape of state-level influence on local decision-making.West Burlington Independent School D...
Everyday Counts: Tackling Chronic Absenteeism Through Connection and Care
Chronic absenteeism has surged since the pandemic, and the numbers tell only part of the story. In this episode of EDUcation Unscripted & Xplored, Kari and Mark dig into what's really driving students away from school and what it takes to b...
Teacher Preparation: Developing the Next Generation of Sustainable, Healthy Educators
One bee. Thirty kids. One very real math standards test. Mark's unforgettable first-grade classroom story opens a window into what teachers actually navigate every day and why preparing the next generation of educators for that reality is so cr...
Literacy as a Wellness Predictor: How Reading Skills Shape Lifelong Outcomes
What if literacy isn’t just an academic benchmark — but a powerful predictor of student wellbeing, identity, and opportunity?In this episode of Education Unscripted & Xplored, co-hosts Dr. Kari Vogelgesang and Dr. Mark McDer...
Why We’re Going Off-Script: Who We Are and Why This Matters
In the very first episode of EDUcation Unscripted & Xplored, co-hosts Dr. Kari Vogelgesang and Dr. Mark McDermott invite you into an honest, unfiltered dialogue about the complex and ever-changing world of PK–12 education.&n...