All Episodes

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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Finding STEM (and Purpose) in Unexpected Places: Why Fashion Needs More Scientists – Michael Drescher, Vibrant Body Company

Finding STEM (and Purpose) in Unexpected Places: Why Fashion Needs More Scientists Michael Drescher, Founder of Vibrant Body Company Love the episode? Leave […]

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Ask Us Anything: Early Career Choices, the War for Talent and the Rise of AI

Advice for students from elementary school through their first interview; the war for high-skilled talent (and how education can help); and the growing rise of artificial intelligence in the classroom & workplace

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How Technical Colleges Are Redefining Learning for the Future of Work – Layla Merrifield, President of the WTCS

Technical colleges don’t look like they did three years ago—and the next decade will flip higher education on its head.

In this conversation, Layla Merrifield, President of the Wisconsin Technical College System, shares why these institutions are leading education innovation, preparing diverse learners, and driving the future workforce.

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Applied AI in K-12, Higher Ed and Industry – Live Panel from Titletown Tech

Four leaders from K-12, higher education, manufacturing, and startups share how AI is reshaping learning, operations, and workforce development—recorded live at TitletownTech in this cross-sector panel.

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A Finance Pioneer’s Take on Education, Inclusion and Opportunity – Mary Ellen Stanek, Founder and Chief Investment Officer Emeritus of Baird Asset Management

Scholarships, internships, and trust—the real investments shaping lives. This episode explores how education creates opportunity for first-generation students and builds stronger communities for the future.

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Could We Really Make Anything, Anywhere, Anytime? A Deep Dive into Distributed Manufacturing – Dr. Charles Johnson-Bey, ERVA Co-Principal Investigator

What happens when supply chain resilience meets local production and advanced tech? Charles Johnson-Bey breaks down the five pillars needed to realize distributed manufacturing—starting with equity, education, and connectivity.

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The $10 Million Workforce Experiment That Could Redefine Apprenticeships in America – Lindsay Blumer, CEO of WRTP | BIG STEP

WRTP | BIG STEP is leading a $10 million apprenticeship initiative with national implications. CEO Lindsay Blumer shares how this effort is reshaping workforce systems and building scalable, industry-aligned talent pipelines.

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