All Episodes

Cultural Mapping: How to Build Trust and Influence In Your Organization – Dr. Ben Johnson and Bobby Dodd

Culture shifts when trust and influence align. In this episode, Ben Johnson and Bobby Dodd share the Cultural Mapping framework leaders use to see how influence really moves through an organization, identify formal and informal influencers, and build the trust that turns resistance into momentum.

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Reframing Higher Education: A Connected Model for Colleges and Universities – Dr. Katherine Frank & Dr. Sunem Beaton-Garcia

Higher education is shifting toward a connected model where colleges and universities work as one learner ecosystem. This episode explains what that looks like in practice—stackable credentials, seamless transfer, and flexible pathways that let learners move in and out of education without losing momentum.

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Training the Technicians at the Heart of Amazon’s Highly-Automated Facilities – Amanda Willard and Logan Schulz, Amazon RME

Go inside Amazon’s highly automated facilities and learn how the RME team develops the technicians who keep complex robotics and mechatronics systems running. This episode breaks down the apprenticeship model, core skills, and workforce strategy behind one of the country’s most advanced automation environments.

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The Rise of State-Backed VC: Michigan’s Bet on Emerging Entrepreneurs

States are stepping directly into venture capital — and Michigan is leading the way. In this episode, Matt Kirchner talks with Alison Todak of the MEDC and Pete Martin of the MSU Research Foundation about why state-backed VC is rising, how PitchMI fuels early-stage innovation, and what this shift means for founders, investors, and the future of tech and talent in the Midwest.

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13 Predictions for Technical Education in 2026

Predictions for Technical Education in 2026 Matt Kirchner, Host of The TechEd Podcast Love the episode? Leave a review on your favorite podcast […]

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Ask Us Anything: Workforce ROI, AI Hallucinations, and the 5 Pillars of World-Class CTE

Ask Us Anything: Workforce ROI, AI Hallucinations, and World-Class CTE Matt Kirchner – Host & Melissa Martin – Producer of The TechEd Podcast […]

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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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