The OpenEd Podcast

What happens when you trade a traditional life for a 300-square-foot RV, three kids, and a dream of freedom? Zach Koon shares his family's journey of homeschooling on the road, creating meaningful learning experiences, and leveraging Bottega University to help homeschool families get ahead.What you’ll learn:- Why Zach and his wife chose to homeschool- The reality (and beauty) of living, working, and schooling in an RV- How travel can transform education and family life- Practical advice for finding the right curriculum for different kids- How Bottega University helps students earn dual credits (and even associate degrees)Resources & Links:- [Bottega University](https://bottega.edu/)- [OpenEd Marketplace](https://opened.co/)- [HSLDA – Homeschool Legal Defense Association](https://hslda.org/)Chapters:(00:14) - Why the Koons Chose Homeschooling(02:04) - Trading a House for a 300-Square-Foot RV(03:28) - A Day in the Life of RV Homeschooling(05:58) - Kids Taking Ownership of Their Learning(07:46) - How Travel Shapes Their Education(09:30) - Building Roots and Routine on the Road(11:58) - Finding the Right Curriculum for Each Child(16:08) - Turning Adventures into Science Lessons(18:41) - Managing Chaos in a Small Space(20:43) - Strengthening Marriage Through the RV Lifestyle(22:01) - Introducing Bottega University and the Bottega Advantage(25:01) - Who the Program Is For(27:44) - Resources and Practical Advice for FamiliesWant even more? Sign up for the OpenEd Daily newsletter at https://opened.co for practical tips and insights about more open and innovative approaches to education.Subscribe:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-opened-podcast/id1760216903https://open.spotify.com/show/6Kf7SZ8XASA6tSqMEuHmVCFollow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/openedHQhttps://www.facebook.com/openedhqhttps://x.com/OpenEdHQhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/openedhq/

The man who created Stanford's first online high school in 2005 explains why most online education fails—and it's not about the technology. Ray Ravaglia built two successful online schools by breaking every rule Silicon Valley taught him.Ray pioneered online education before anyone knew what to call it—developing the first online AP Calculus course in 1989 when CD-ROMs cost $4,000 to produce and blanks were $45 each. As founder of Stanford Online High School and Vice Chairman of Dwight Global School, he's learned that technology was supposed to democratize education but instead isolated learners. His breakthrough: synchronous learning with real relationships dropped attrition from 30% to 3%. After 30+ years in the field, his message is clear: you're the employer of your child's school, not their servant.Stanford Online High School: https://onlinehighschool.stanford.edu/Dwight Global Online School: https://www.dwight.edu/dwight-global-online-schoolRay's Book - Bricks and Mortar: https://www.amazon.com/Bricks-Mortar-Making-Education-Stanford/dp/1575867397Perspectives from the Disciplines: https://www.amazon.com/Perspectives-Disciplines-Stanford-Online-School/dp/1575867400Ray Ravaglia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayravaglia/Chapters:(00:00) - The Calculus Problem Nobody Could Solve(05:45) - When $4,000 CD-ROMs Were Cutting Edge(12:44) - Why Self-Paced Learning Actually Fails(15:40) - The 30% Attrition Rate Crisis(16:00) - Education Is About Relationships(22:17) - Fire Your School (You're the Employer)(27:20) - AI Will Replace Tools, Not Creators(31:00) - The Boutique vs Scale Problem(46:23) - When Teachers Hated The Internet(51:20) - Building Schools for Non-ConsumersWant even more? Sign up for the OpenEd Daily newsletter at https://opened.co for practical tips and insights about more open and innovative approaches to education.Subscribe:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-opened-podcast/id1760216903https://open.spotify.com/show/6Kf7SZ8XASA6tSqMEuHmVCFollow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/openedHQhttps://www.facebook.com/openedhqhttps://x.com/OpenEdHQhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/openedhq/

What if schools are measuring the wrong things? Mike Goldstein built a charter school with 42 tutors living in a dorm above the classrooms, proving that one-on-one attention changes everything—but that's just the beginning of what's broken in education.Mike founded Match Charter School in Boston in 2000, revolutionizing education with high-dosage tutoring and unconventional approaches that actually work. After scaling his model internationally with Bridge International Academies (serving 1.4 million students across Africa), he's now focused on helping parents understand why so many "average" kids are struggling. His insight: every child needs to discover something they're genuinely good at—not for college applications, but for the confidence that comes from earned excellence.Mike Goldstein Education: https://www.mikegoldsteineducation.com/Match Charter School: https://www.matchschool.org/Match Education: https://www.matcheducation.org/Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-a-goldstein/Phoning Parents Book: https://www.matcheducation.org/export/prior-projects/overviewChapters:(00:00) - Schools Are Boring By Design(03:00) - The One-on-One Tutoring Revolution(09:39) - Building a Dorm for 42 Tutors(15:07) - Why Good Ideas Fail at Scale(18:00) - The Advisory Period Nobody Wants(27:14) - Parents Need Exit Rights(36:52) - Finding Your Kid's First Win(43:18) - The "I'm Not Good at Anything" Crisis(46:00) - What $30,000 Per Student Actually Buys(51:04) - The 360-Degree Child Nobody Does---Every child needs to discover something they're genuinely good at. Not for college applications or report cards—but for the confidence that comes from earned excellence. Sometimes the best education investment isn't another program, it's finding that one thing they can win at.Want even more? Sign up for the OpenEd Daily newsletter at https://opened.co for practical tips and insights about more open and innovative approaches to education.Subscribe:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-opened-podcast/id1760216903https://open.spotify.com/show/6Kf7SZ8XASA6tSqMEuHmVCFollow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/openedHQhttps://www.facebook.com/openedhqhttps://x.com/OpenEdHQhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/openedhq/

Ela Richmond and Isaac Morehouse talk with Michelle Rhee and Michael Horn about the future of work, apprenticeships, and helping young people thrive in a changing job market.From K–12 reform to workforce innovation, this conversation covers why the college-for-all model is cracking, how apprenticeships can solve skills gaps, and the power of exposure, doing, and networks.Key Takeaways:- Why college-for-all is losing ground- How employers can embrace hands-on learning- The role of networks in career success- Practical steps for parents guiding teens toward work readinessChapters:(00:01) The Future of Work Panel(01:00) From Schools to Startups(02:42) Disrupting Higher Ed(04:35) Reverse Career Path(08:25) The Career Conversation Shift(12:09) What Kids Really Want(14:49) Exposure, Doing, and Networks(19:08) The Apprenticeship Roadblock(25:15) Sports Pipeline Playbook(31:50) The Confidence Reps Method(36:15) VR Training Gets Real(47:28) Passion vs. Paycheck(52:07) Breaking the Linear Career(57:47) Parent Playbook FinaleWant even more? Sign up for the OpenEd Daily newsletter at https://opened.co for practical tips and insights about more open and innovative approaches to education.Subscribe:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-opened-podcast/id1760216903https://open.spotify.com/show/6Kf7SZ8XASA6tSqMEuHmVCFollow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/openedHQhttps://www.facebook.com/openedhqhttps://x.com/OpenEdHQhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/openedhq/

When your child struggles with reading, it's easy to grasp at any solution that promises to help. But what if the very interventions you're being told will work are actually making things worse? In this episode, we dive deep into the dangerous myths surrounding dyslexia that are preventing kids from getting the help they actually need. From vision therapy to colored overlays, reading specialists Kris Vassel and Jaime Lesko reveal why these popular 'treatments' don't work—and what science-backed approaches actually do. Whether you're a parent, teacher, or homeschool educator, this conversation will change how you think about reading intervention and give you the tools to advocate for what your child really needs.00:00 – Welcome & Why Dyslexia Myths Persist02:00 – Meet the Experts: Kris Vassel & Jaime Lesko04:00 – The Most Harmful Myths (Vision, Reversals, and More)06:00 – The Biggest Myth: "Dyslexic Kids Can't Learn to Read"08:00 – What "Research-Based" Really Means10:00 – The Science of Reading Explained12:00 – Data-Driven Intervention: How to Know What's Working14:00 – What "Intervention" and "Assessment" Actually Mean17:00 – The RTI (Response to Intervention) Framework19:00 – Why Fidelity Matters: Curriculum & Training22:00 – Choosing the Right Program: Orton-Gillingham, Wilson, Barton, and More25:00 – The Investment Required: Training, Time, and Teamwork28:00 – Support for Homeschool & Open Ed Families31:00 – When to Seek Professional Help (and the "Second Person Theory")34:00 – Reading at Home: Daily Habits That Make a Difference38:00 – How to Choose Books at the Right Level40:00 – Handling Reading Errors & Building Confidence42:00 – The Best Resources for Parents (Books, Websites, Programs)44:00 – Final Advice: Patience, Celebration, and Next StepsWant even more? Sign up for the OpenEd Daily newsletter at https://opened.co for practical tips and insights about more open and innovative approaches to education.Subscribe:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-opened-podcast/id1760216903https://open.spotify.com/show/6Kf7SZ8XASA6tSqMEuHmVCFollow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/openedHQhttps://www.facebook.com/openedhqhttps://x.com/OpenEdHQhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/openedhq/

What happens when you challenge everything you've been told about education? Darryll Stinson discovered the educational freedom most parents don't know they have—and his family will never be the same.From surviving suicide attempts in college to becoming a transformation speaker with over 2 million TED Talk views, Darryll has always been a disruptor. But when it came to his children's education, he was trapped in the same paradigm as everyone else—until one conversation changed everything.In this raw and powerful episode, Darryll shares:- Why his first question about pulling kids from school was "Is that even allowed?"- How they "broke the system" while keeping kids on honor roll- The law of exposure that changed their family forever- Why they don't tell grandma about their educational choices- How your freedom reminds people of their lack thereofWhat You'll Learn:- The hybrid education approach that's completely legal (but rarely discussed)- Why traditional school felt like sending kids "into the belly of the beast"- How to navigate family resistance to educational alternatives- The mindset shift from "only option" to "intentional choice"- Why sometimes what you don't know won't hurt youKey Moments:00:00 - Your Freedom Reminds People of Their Lack Thereof02:00 - From Overprotective Mother to Identity Crisis07:00 - The Athletic Dream That Became a Nightmare13:00 - Finding Purpose Through Pain and Faith21:00 - Marriage, Family, and the Challenge of Parenting26:00 - The Moment Everything Changed: Meeting Matt29:00 - Breaking the System: Our Hybrid Education Experiment34:00 - Why We Don't Tell Grandma About Homeschooling42:00 - Turning Your Message Into a Movement48:00 - The Future of Authentic CommunicationDarryll's story proves that you have more educational freedom than you think. The question isn't whether you can do this—it's whether you're ready to discover what you and your kids are truly capable of.Connect with Darryll:- Website: daryllstinson.com- Social: @StinsonSpeaks- Email: [darryl@daryllstinson.com](mailto:darryl@daryllstinson.com)Resources Mentioned:- Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA.org)- Open Education book by Matt Bowman- Darryll's TED Talk (2.1M+ views)Want even more? Sign up for the OpenEd Daily newsletter at https://opened.co for practical tips and insights about more open and innovative approaches to education.Subscribe:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-opened-podcast/id1760216903https://open.spotify.com/show/6Kf7SZ8XASA6tSqMEuHmVCFollow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/openedHQhttps://www.facebook.com/openedhqhttps://x.com/OpenEdHQhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/openedhq/

Katie Kimball—founder of Kids Cook Real Food and a pioneer in practical life skills education—reveals why America has fallen off the list of the world's 20 happiest countries (hint: it's our anxious teenagers).We dive deep into the unintended consequences of helicopter parenting, why participation trophies backfired, and how teaching kids to cook, clean, and take care of themselves builds the confidence they need to thrive. Katie shares practical strategies for creating family culture, allowing low-stakes failure, and raising kids who see themselves as capable problem-solvers rather than helpless dependents.Whether you're homeschooling, traditionally schooling, or somewhere in between, this episode will change how you think about chores, independence, and what it really means to prepare kids for adulthood.Timestamps:00:00 - Why Katie started teaching kids life skills08:45 - The anxiety epidemic in American youth15:30 - How helicopter parenting backfires24:15 - Building confidence through competence32:40 - Creating family culture with high standards41:20 - The entitlement crisis and American innovation48:50 - Practical strategies for teaching life skills56:15 - Starting where your kids are curiousLinks and Resources- [Kids Cook Real Food](https://kidscookrealfood.com/) - Katie Kimball's cooking courses for children of all ages- [Kitchen Stewardship](https://kitchenstewardship.com/) - Resources for families interested in building competence and confidence through practical life skills- [Life Skills Now Summer Camp](https://kidscookrealfood.com/life-skills-now/) - Katie's summer program featuring 100+ skill workshops for kidsWant even more? Sign up for the OpenEd Daily newsletter at https://opened.co for practical tips and insights about more open and innovative approaches to education.Subscribe:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-opened-podcast/id1760216903https://open.spotify.com/show/6Kf7SZ8XASA6tSqMEuHmVCFollow us on social:https://www.instagram.com/openedHQhttps://www.facebook.com/openedhqhttps://x.com/OpenEdHQhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/openedhq/

Every educator knows the moment when you've lost control of your classroom. Michelle Rhee—the woman who transformed Washington DC's failing school system from worst in the nation to leading the country in academic gains—once had students who "ate her for lunch." Her first-year teaching experience was so catastrophic that parents pulled their kids from her classroom. Yet by her third year, those same parents were begging her to stay. Her transformation wasn't magic—it was strategy, structure, and an unwavering commitment to not letting eight-year-olds run her out of town. From classroom disaster to DC Schools Chancellor to venture capitalist, Michelle's journey offers powerful lessons for anyone committed to transforming how children learn.CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS:00:01 - Welcome & Introductions01:27 - Growing Up as a Child of Korean Immigrants04:10 - The Academic Pressure Paradox06:18 - Service Over Status: Her Father's Influence08:16 - Discovering Teaching Through Teach for America08:48 - First Year Teaching: Complete Disaster12:01 - The Transformation: Team Teaching & Looping12:25 - The 13th Percentile to Grade Level Miracle15:16 - Why the System Fails Kids Who Need It Most18:56 - The Power of Teacher-Student Continuity21:43 - Context Matters: Structure vs. Freedom23:13 - Becoming DC Schools Chancellor25:00 - Taking Over the Nation's Worst School District27:28 - The Political Cost of Education Reform29:08 - Why Successful Reforms Don't Spread32:48 - From Curmudgeon to Optimist: Entering Venture Capital37:07 - Building an Apprenticeship Platform41:34 - The Perfect Storm for Education Innovation42:04 - VR, ESAs, and AI: The Future Convergence45:05 - Meeting Young Founders Who Will Change the World46:05 - Final Thoughts on the Future of EducationLinks & ResourcesMichelle Rhee- [LinkedIn Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-rhee-9929b98/)- [EO Ventures](https://www.eoventures.com/) - Michelle's current venture capital firmOrganizations & Programs MentionedTeach for America- The program that launched Michelle's education careerThe New Teacher Project - Organization Michelle led for 10 yearsStudents First- Education advocacy organization Michelle foundedBuild Within- Apprenticeship platform startup Michelle co-foundedDocumentary & Media- [*Waiting for Superman*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiting_for_%22Superman%22) - Documentary featuring Michelle's DC reformsBooks ReferencedThe Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt - Mentioned in discussion about structure vs. freedom for kids

Benton Crane (CEO of Harmon Brothers and Angel Studios executive) shares how alternative education models and audience-driven content are disrupting established systems. From the untold story of young George Washington's transformation from failure to legend, to how Angel Studios is changing Hollywood's gatekeeper model, this conversation explores what happens when we trust people to make their own choices.Chapters:(00:00) - Introduction to Benton Crane and His Work(04:09) - Bro School: Real-World Skills vs. Traditional Education(07:13) - A 6th Grader's Pitch Video That Outperformed Professionals(09:42) - The Death of Captive Audiences in Marketing(15:30) - Harmon Brothers' Approach to Authentic Advertising(23:41) - Young Washington: The Untold Origin Story(25:55) - Washington's Defining Moment of Heroism Under Fire(32:10) - Creating Films That Hollywood Won't Make(41:15) - Breaking Hollywood's Gatekeeper Model with Angel Studios(45:20) - The Homestead Project: Family, Faith, and Community Links & Resources:[Angel Studios Website](https://angel.com/)[Young Washington Film Project](https://youngwashington.com/)[Harmon Brothers](https://harmonbrothers.com/)[The Homestead Series](https://homesteadseries.com/)Want even more? Sign up for the OpenEd Daily newsletter at https://opened.co for practical tips and insights about more open and innovative approaches to education.Subscribe:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...https://open.spotify.com/show/6Kf7SZ8...Follow us on social:  / openedhq    / openedhq  https://x.com/OpenEdHQ  / openedhq  

"How can I tell if my student is on level?" It's the question every parent asks—and as Andrea Fife reveals in this episode, it might be the wrong question entirely.66% of 4th graders read below grade level. 70% never catch up. But Tony Mickelsen (CMO of Savvy Learning) shares a counterintuitive approach that's helping thousands of kids not just reach grade level, but actually enjoy reading again.In this episode, Andrea Fife talks with Tony Mickelsen (CMO of Savvy Learning) and Jen Johnson (OpenEd curriculum expert) about why traditional hour-long tutoring sessions are failing our kids—and the method that research shows works 20x better.RESOURCES MENTIONED: Savvy Learning Free Reading Assessment (15 min): https://savvylearning.com/free-readin... Full list of reading resources: [blog post link] OpenEd Marketplace: https://opened.coTIMESTAMPS:0:00 The reading crisis no one's talking about2:36 66% of kids are behind—here's why7:25 How homeschool parents can spot reading struggles early15:42 When reading problems create behavior problems23:10 "Reading is connected to everything"30:00 The 25-minute solution that's 20X more effective38:52 Your next steps: Free assessment and resources#ReadingCrisis #HighDosageTutoring #DyslexiaSupport #HomeschoolReading #EducationReform #ReadingIntervention #OpenEducation #ParentingHelpWant even more? Sign up for the OpenEd Daily newsletter at https://opened.co for practical tips and insights about more open and innovative approaches to education.Subscribe:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...https://open.spotify.com/show/6Kf7SZ8...Follow us on social:  / openedhq    / openedhq  https://x.com/OpenEdHQ  / openedhq