Best Magic EdTech Podcasts (2025)

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Dipesh Jain: AI, Accessibility, and the Future of Learning with Magic EdTech 26:47

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2d ago26:47

26:47

What does it take to create digital learning that is truly for everyone? In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Dipesh Jain, Vice President of Revenue at Magic EdTech, a company with a 35-year mission to make learning accessible and transformative. Dipesh shares his unique journey from physical therapist to tech leader a…

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David Nelson: Why 76% of Students Want to Study Abroad 29:15

9d ago29:15

29:15

Student interest in studying abroad is at an all-time high, but so are the challenges of cost, safety, and accessibility. In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with David Nelson, Director of Study Abroad at Terra Dotta and a veteran international education leader. David breaks down the findings from Terra Dotta's latest surv…

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The Secret to Building an AI-Ready Workforce at Scale 35:04

10d ago35:04

35:04

What does it take to shift from degrees to skills-based hiring while tackling the AI skills gap? Lydia Logan, VP of Global Education and Workforce Development at IBM, joins host Laura Hakala to discuss how IBM’s SkillsBuild program and its culture of lifelong learning are helping close global skills gaps. She shares what it takes to build responsib…

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Joshua Meredith: From Dean to Deloitte: Tech, Strategy & Student Success 34:31

16d ago34:31

34:31

How can universities break free from outdated systems and siloed data to create a seamless, modern experience for students and staff? In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Joshua Meredith, JD, a Client Relationship Executive at Deloitte Consulting with over 12 years of experience inside higher ed. Joshua brings a unique…

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Episode 151: AI in Practice: Learning from Law & Beyond with Pritesh Patel 54:50

20d ago54:50

54:50

In this episode, Sean and Kelly welcome Pritesh Patel, a computer scientist specializing in AI who brings over 20 years of experience from companies like Turner Broadcasting, Walmart, and GE to his current role at Fisher Phillips law firm. Pritesh shares fascinating insights about implementing AI in knowledge-based industries, from automating his p…

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Jenny Li Fowler: Elevating MIT's Digital Presence 28:58

23d ago28:58

28:58

Join host Jeff Dillon for a conversation with Jenny Li Fowler, the Director of Social Media Strategy at MIT. In this episode, Jenny pulls back the curtain on what it's really like to manage the social presence for one of the world's most innovative universities. She discusses her journey from TV journalism to leading MIT's digital strategy, growing…

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Cracking the Engagement Code in EdTech 31:33

26d ago31:33

31:33

What turns “edutainment” into real learning that lasts? Clarence Tan, co-founder of Boddle Learning, shares how thoughtful game design can keep students engaged without losing instructional focus. He unpacks strategies to reduce cognitive load, signals districts should track to judge impact, and the AI guardrails that keep student data safe. The co…

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Melanie Lindahl: Beyond the Red Stapler, Budget Friendly UX Strategies for Higher Ed 29:21

1M ago29:21

29:21

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Melanie Lindahl, Senior UX Designer at UT Austin and winner of the Red Stapler Award for her groundbreaking conference talks on user experience. With a unique background in fine arts and web development, Melanie breaks down how higher ed institutions can implement powerful UX strate…

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Ethan Braden: Building Iconic University Brands 33:31

1M ago33:31

33:31

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Ethan Braden, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Texas A&M University—and the Content Marketer of the Year—to explore how iconic academic brands cut through the noise in a crowded higher ed landscape. From his days launching billion-dollar pharma brands at Eli Lilly to tr…

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Jenny Leigh Morris: From Fortune 100 to Higher Ed: Lessons in AI, Innovation and Vendor Partnerships 30:03

1M ago30:03

30:03

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Jenny Leigh Morris, a technology strategist at Doctums who bridges the worlds of Fortune 100 innovation and higher education modernization. With a background in designing AI education programs for giants like Walmart, L’Oreal, and Microsoft, Jenny brings a unique perspective on how …

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The Blind Spot Holding Back Higher Ed's Future 44:23

2M ago44:23

44:23

What does it take to put career services at the center of the college experience? Christine Cruz‑Vergara, Chief Education Strategy Officer at Handshake, joins Eric Stano to unpack why higher ed’s value is under pressure, what today’s students expect, and how campuses can respond to close the trust‑usage gap. Christine shares what Handshake is seein…

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Emily Chase Coleman: How Data Can Fix Higher-Ed’s Pricing Problem 25:15

2M ago25:15

25:15

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Emily Chase Coleman, CEO and co-founder of HAI Analytics, to explore how data is reshaping higher education strategy. With over two decades of experience blending social psychology and statistics, Emily shares her journey from academia to entrepreneurship and how HAI’s AI-powered pl…

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Episode 150: LLMs with Simon WIllison 1:36:27

2M ago1:36:27

1:36:27

In this milestone 150th episode, hosts Kelly Schuster-Paredes and Sean Tibor sit down with Simon Willison, co-creator of Django and creator of Datasette and LLM tools, for an in-depth conversation about artificial intelligence in Python education. The discussion covers the current landscape of LLMs in coding education, from the benefits of faster i…

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Jarrett Smith: The Biggest Disconnect on Campus? What Students Want vs. What Colleges Think They Want 31:59

2M ago31:59

31:59

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon talks to Jarrett Smith, Senior VP of Strategy at Echo Delta and co-author of the groundbreaking Designing for Decisions report. Fresh from his eduWeb conference presentation, Jarrett dives into the eye-opening findings from their survey of over 1,000 prospective students, revealing what students a…

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Building EdTech Through a Neurodiverse Lens 47:06

2M ago47:06

47:06

Students with ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning differences are often underserved by traditional school systems. Diana Heldfond, Founder and CEO of Parallel Learning, joins Tech In EdTech to unpack how edtech can help close that gap. Drawing from both personal and professional expertise, Diana shares how districts can deliver precision interventio…

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Jennifer Beyer: Making Small Colleges Love Their Student Information Systems 31:42

2M ago31:42

31:42

Host Jeff Dillon sits down with Jennifer Beyer, VP of Product at Thesis, to explore the evolving landscape of student information systems (SIS) and the unique challenges faced by small to mid-sized colleges. With over two decades of experience spanning campus administration and EdTech leadership, Jennifer shares her mission to simplify higher educa…

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Eric Kim: The Creative Mind Behind Higher Ed’s Mobile Future 30:41

2M ago30:41

30:41

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Eric Kim, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Modo Labs, to explore how mobile technology has reshaped higher ed—and where it’s headed next. From Modo’s origins at MIT (inspired by Kabuki stagehands!) to its global impact today, Eric shares how universities can break down silos…

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Building a Workforce That Bends, Not Breaks 28:58

2M ago28:58

28:58

As AI, automation, and talent shortages reshape the future of work, Bijal Shah, CEO of Guild, offers a clear, practical roadmap for building teams that bend, but don’t break. In this episode, she shares how to support frontline talent, track the real ROI of learning programs, and build a workforce that adapts, evolves, and drives business forward. …

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Beyond the Funnel: How EMU is Rethinking Student Success 30:29

3M ago30:29

30:29

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Katie Condon, Vice President of Enrollment Management at Eastern Michigan University, to unpack the urgent challenges and innovative strategies shaping higher ed’s future. With over a decade of experience spanning West Virginia University and EMU, Katie offers a candid look at how r…

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Proof Over Play: The New Rules for EdTech Engagement 49:31

3M ago49:31

49:31

Vadim Polikov, CEO of Legends of Learning, joins Dipesh Jain to explore what it takes to make game-based learning effective in K–12. He breaks down the difference between gamification and true game-based learning, the importance of curriculum alignment, and how AI is driving personalization and collaboration across edtech tools.…

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What If We Recruited Musicians Like We Do Athletes? 33:27

3M ago33:27

33:27

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Eytan Wurman, founder of Common Time Pathways, to explore the untapped potential of music in college admissions. A former music teacher turned entrepreneur, Eytan reveals how his platform is bridging the gap between student musicians and $5 billion in overlooked scholarships—more th…

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Smart Consolidation: How Pathify Is Rewiring Campus Tech 24:58

3M ago24:58

24:58

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Chase Williams, CEO and co-founder of Pathify, to explore how modern digital engagement platforms are transforming the fragmented student experience. Born out of Chase’s own frustrations as a student at Monash University, Pathify has grown into a global solution serving nearly 250 i…

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Episode 149: Guiding Education with Sheena O'Connell 47:42

3M ago47:42

47:42

Description In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Sheena O'Connell, an educator and developer from South Africa who has been making waves in the Python education community. Sheena shares her journey from electrical engineering to founding Prelude, where she runs advanced Django learning sprints and teamwork training courses. We explore the cri…

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Dr. Cabrini Pak Breaks Down the Future of AI in Academia 30:16

3M ago30:16

30:16

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Dr. Cabrini Pak—professor, interdisciplinary scholar, and systems thinker—to explore how cutting-edge concepts like stigmergy (a cybernetic coordination mechanism) and AI can transform higher education. With degrees in biology, theology, business, and cultural studies, Dr. Pak bridg…

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CTE 2.0: Scaling Hands-On Skills for Global EdTech Market 38:21

3M ago38:21

38:21

In this episode, Adam Reid, Online CTE Teacher at Anchorage School District, joins Sean Strathy and talks about what it takes to run effective virtual Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. He shares insights from his unique approach at his school district in Alaska, balancing course breadth with access, using industry partnerships to enric…

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Beyond the Inbox: How Ashley Budd is Rethinking Alumni Engagement 29:07

4M ago29:07

29:07

In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Ashley Budd, Director of Digital Marketing at Cornell University, to explore the evolving landscape of university marketing and alumni engagement. With over a decade of experience at Cornell, Ashley shares insights into how digital innovation has transformed alumni outreach, the sur…

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Orchestrating the Future: What Higher Ed Can Learn from Composable Architecture 28:32

4M ago28:32

28:32

In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Sana Remekie, CEO of Conscia and a pioneer in composable digital experiences, to explore how universities can break free from legacy systems and embrace AI-driven agility. From her roots in enterprise search architecture to building Conscia’s "DXGraph" for unified data, Sana reveals…

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Rethinking Knowledge Mastery in a Skill-Centric World 36:50

4M ago36:50

36:50

In this episode, Brainscape CEO Andrew Cohen joins Olivia Lara-Gresty and talks about how edtech products can better support serious learners preparing for high-stakes exams and certifications. Find out why active recall and spaced repetition still outperform AI shortcuts, how to design study tools that reduce learning fatigue, and what truly motiv…

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From Hotels to Horned Frogs: Lessons in Scalable Web Management 31:08

4M ago31:08

31:08

In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon chats with Corey Reed, Director of Web Management at TCU, about bridging the gap between marketing and IT in higher ed’s digital landscape. From his early days designing Flash websites (RIP) to leading TCU’s search optimization and accessibility efforts, Corey shares how his hospitality tech backg…

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Student Success by Design, Insights from a CSU CIO 26:28

4M ago26:28

26:28

In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Dr. Bao Johri, CIO at Fresno State and 2025 Top Women Leader in Technology, to explore how universities can harness AI as a force for equity and transformation. From launching Fresno State’s campus-wide AI initiative (with 60+ faculty collaborators) to mentoring the next generation …

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Rewriting the Future of Work, Skills, and Hands-On Learning 30:53

4M ago30:53

30:53

In this episode, Olivia sits down with Sara Leoni, CEO of Ziplines Education, to talk about what learners truly need: credentials that carry weight, hands-on simulations that reflect real work, not busywork, and support that builds confidence along the way. They dive deep into why higher ed is still stuck on outdated skill sets, what practical, lon…

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Episode 148: PyCon 2025 AI Education Open Space 57:25

4M ago57:25

57:25

In this special episode of Teaching Python, hosts Sean Tibor and Kelly Schuster-Paredes convene an open space discussion at PyCon US 2025 in Pittsburgh. Surrounded by a diverse group of educators, developers, and learners, they hand the mic to the community to answer two key questions: How are you using AI personally, and how do you see AI shaping …

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Keeping 100 Editors in Sync Running a University Website with Jill Whitaker 30:13

5M ago30:13

30:13

In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Jill Whitaker, Director of Web Services at Southern Utah University, to explore the evolving landscape of higher ed website management. With 25 years of experience, Jill shares candid insights on balancing short-term fixes with long-term strategy (inspired by her half-marathon coach…

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How AI Will Redefine Learning in the Next Decade with Slalom's Jennie Wong 25:33

5M ago25:33

25:33

In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon chats with Jennie Wong, Global Director of Education at Slalom, about how universities can harness AI and data to drive strategic value. Jennie shares her innovative "car metaphor" framework for AI implementation, reveals surprising GenAI use cases, and explains why federated data models are the f…

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From Band-Aids to Breakthroughs: Rethinking Innovation in Education 43:44

5M ago43:44

43:44

Dr. Annalies Corbin, CEO of the PAST Foundation and author of Hacking School, brings an anthropologist’s lens to educational change. In this episode, she breaks down why many EdTech initiatives fail to stick, pointing to short funding cycles, lack of strategy, and cultural disconnects. For EdTech leaders aiming to build products that go beyond temp…

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Artificial Intelligence Will Transform How We Learn and Teach Forever with Sasha Sidorkin 30:51

5M ago30:51

30:51

In this episode of Edtech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Dr. Alexander "Sasha" Sidorkin, Chief AI Officer at Sacramento State University, to explore the transformative impact of AI on education. From debunking myths about AI replacing teachers to discussing practical applications in the classroom, Sasha shares his insights as an "AI reali…

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Breaking Silos and Building AI at Arizona State University with Gemma Garcia 28:38

5M ago28:38

28:38

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Gemma Garcia, Executive Director of Learning Technology at Arizona State University, to explore how ASU is leading the charge in scalable digital learning innovation. With over 130,000 learners worldwide, Gemma shares insights on balancing bold experimentation with practical impleme…

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The Hardest Conversation About Schools We Need to Have: School Safety, Technology, and Tough Decisions 33:40

5M ago33:40

33:40

How do you protect a school from threats you can’t predict? Philip Selton, CEO of Lockdown Experts, unpacks the realities behind school safety technology - what works, what doesn’t, and what most people get wrong. From the fire alarm systems we take for granted to the rising debate around metal detectors, reinforced doors, and AI surveillance, this…

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Cracking Higher Ed Content and AI Discovery with Brian Piper 30:13

5M ago30:13

30:13

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Brian Piper, Director of Content Strategy at the University of Rochester and author of Epic Content Marketing for Higher Education, to explore how AI is transforming content creation and audience engagement in higher ed. Brian shares practical insights on building AI-driven personas…

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Revolutionizing Higher Education Through Performance TV with Jennifer Lonchar 31:53

6M ago31:53

31:53

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Jennifer Lonchar, founder of AmbioEdu, to explore how streaming TV is revolutionizing higher ed marketing. Jennifer shares her journey from traditional digital marketing to pioneering performance-based TV advertising for colleges and universities. Discover how AmbioEdu ‘s cutting-ed…

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Mapping the Course: Data, Discovery, and Innovation with Lee Rainie 32:04

6M ago32:04

32:04

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Lee Rainie, Director of Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center, to explore the transformative impact of AI on higher education. They delve into groundbreaking research on how AI is reshaping teaching, learning, and academic integrity, uncovering surprising divides amo…

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From Google to Doowii: Making EdTech Data Actually Useful with Jeff Rubenstein 29:52

6M ago29:52

29:52

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Jeff Rubenstein, Chief Product Officer at doowii and a seasoned leader in educational technology with experience at Google, 2U, and Kaltura. They dive into the transformative power of AI-driven data analytics in education, exploring how doowii’s platform turns fragmented student dat…

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The Future of Social Emotional Learning: Access, Agency, and Action 39:22

6M ago39:22

39:22

In this episode of Tech in EdTech, Sean Strathy sits down with Jason Kahn, Founder and Chief Science Officer at Mightier, to explore how digital play can power real emotional growth in children. They dive into timely topics like the urgency for SEL programs in schools, the impact of the pandemic on social development, the difference between gamific…

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AI, Black Holes, and the Future of Learning with Saugata Chatterjee 31:10

6M ago31:10

31:10

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Saugata Chatterjee, an AI and machine learning expert with a background in theoretical physics and corporate AI strategy. Saugata shares his journey from academia to leading AI initiatives at major companies like Apple and Cisco, and now at Tensor Product and is the host of the Mach…

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From PDF's to Personalization: Higher Ed's Content Shift with WIll Noble 27:40

7M ago27:40

27:40

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Will Noble, an expert in digital content solutions and SaaS sales, to explore the challenges and opportunities in higher education content creation. Will shares his journey from information retrieval to content creation, discussing why universities still rely on outdated formats lik…

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From Newsrooms to Universities: Digital Strategy Evolution with Georgy Cohen 32:08

7M ago32:08

32:08

In this episode of EdTech Connect, host Jeff Dillon sits down with Georgy Cohen, Vice President of Digital Strategy at OHO Interactive. With nearly two decades of experience in digital content and strategy, Georgie shares her insights on crafting sustainable digital strategies that resonate with audiences and drive institutional success. From her e…