All Episodes

At the Reagan Ranch: The Life & Legacy of One of America’s Greatest Presidents – Scott Walker, President of Young America’s Foundation

Recorded live at The Reagan Center, Matt and Governor Scott Walker discuss the character, ranch life, and legacy of President Ronald Reagan

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Using Values and Customer Experience to Guide an AI and Data-Driven Strategy – Irv and Ryan Blumkin, Chairman and EVP of Nebraska Furniture Mart

How do you build an AI- and data-driven strategy without losing sight of values or customer experience? Irv and Ryan Blumkin of Nebraska Furniture Mart share the playbook.

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Six Days in China: The Speed, Scale and Strategy Outpacing U.S. Innovation – Todd Wanek, CEO of Ashley Furniture

China is moving at a speed and scale the U.S. has never seen—and we saw it firsthand. In this episode, Matt Kirchner and Ashley Furniture CEO Todd Wanek break down what they witnessed inside China’s most advanced tech companies, robotics labs, logistics hubs, and manufacturing clusters, revealing insights few Americans ever get access to.

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Applied AI on the Edge Proves There’s More to AI Than ChatGPT – Brian Cavanaugh, CEO of VigilanteX

Artificial intelligence isn’t just ChatGPT anymore. LtGen Brian Cavanaugh, CEO of VigilanteX, joins Matt Kirchner to talk AI agents on the edge, safety and security, national defense, and why students must understand the full edge-to-cloud continuum.

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What’s Your Region’s Economic DNA? Lessons for CTE from an Aviation High School – Adam Snoddy, Principal of Butler Tech Aviation Center

Southwest Ohio built a high school aviation campus shaped by its regional economic DNA. Learn what CTE leaders everywhere can take from Butler Tech’s flight, maintenance, and engineering model.

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Technical Colleges: Breaking Generational Poverty and Building Economic Mobility – Dr. Anthony Cruz, President of MATC

MATC President Dr. Anthony Cruz breaks down how technical colleges can end generational poverty, build economic mobility, and prepare students for an AI-driven workforce—all while serving one of the nation’s most diverse student populations.

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Moving from “Just-in-Case” Education to a Demand-Driven, Industry-Led Model — Paul Lavoie, VP of the University of New Haven

Moving from “Just-in-Case” Education to a Demand-Driven, Industry-Led Model Paul Lavoie, Vice President of Innovation and Applied Technology at the University of New […]

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How to Get Started with AI in Your Business (Practical Tips & Real Technologies)

What does it really take to get started with artificial intelligence in a small or mid-sized company right here in the U.S.? In this two-part series, Matt Kirchner breaks down a practical, actionable framework for implementing AI in your business.

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The $1 Trillion Workforce Opportunity for Rural Education – Duwain Pinder, Partner at McKinsey & Company

$1 trillion in new manufacturing investment is coming to rural America. Duwain Pinder of McKinsey & Company explains what it means for schools, employers, and the future workforce

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A Vision Built on Alignment: Wanek Center of Innovation Reinvents the Path to Industry 4.0 Careers

The Wanek Center of Innovation is changing everything: 39 robots, digital twins, industry pathways, and a new model for advanced manufacturing education. In this episode, we unpack how true alignment between education and industry has transformed the future of tech talent.

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