All Episodes

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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Love It or Hate It: A Surprisingly Human (And Very Fun) Conversation About Math – Dr. Jordan Ellenberg, Mathematics Professor at the University of Wisconsin

Love It or Hate It: A Surprisingly Human (And Very Fun) Conversation About Math Dr. Jordan Ellenberg, Mathematics Professor at the University of […]

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The Smart Farm Era Is Here—and It’s Changing How America Grows Food – Dick Pavelski and Andy Diercks, Food + Farm Exploration Center

Farming has entered the smart era. GPS-guided tractors, drones, and real-time data are reshaping agriculture. In this episode, experts reveal how technology is transforming America’s farms, boosting efficiency, and redefining careers in one of our oldest industries.

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AI Can Close the Learning Gap in Underserved Classrooms. But We Have to Guide, Not Just Give – Sam Whitaker, Director of Social Impact at StudyFetch

AI is already reaching underserved classrooms—but access alone isn’t enough. This episode explores how guided, responsible use of AI can support literacy, close learning gaps, and bring personalized learning to the students who need it most.

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The Rules for Earning College Credit Are Changing, and Competency (Not Time in Seats) Matters Most – Dr. Paul Carlsen, President of Lakeshore College

How does a rural college lead a national shift? Dr. Paul Carlsen shares how Lakeshore is transforming credit through competency-based education, early college pathways, industry credentials, and $32M in competitive grant funding.

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Rethinking Risk: How Strategic Guardrails Can Actually Empower Innovation – Abim Kolawole, Chief Audit Executive at Northwestern Mutual

Abim Kolawole shares how Northwestern Mutual uses risk as a strategic tool—empowering innovation, protecting trust, and helping a 167-year-old company stay relevant in a fast-changing, tech-driven world.

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They Haven’t Graduated Yet, but They’re Already Tackling the Big Problems of 2045 – Duncan Kane, SVP at Toshiba

How do we help students think beyond the world as it is and start shaping the world as it could be? This episode explores how K–12 learners develop creativity, purpose, and problem-solving skills when they’re encouraged to tackle the challenges of the future.

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Teaching in the Age of Distraction: Why Students Can’t Focus – And What Educators Should Do About It – Dr. Gloria Mark, Author of Attention Span

Attention spans are shrinking—but it’s not just TikTok’s fault. Dr. Gloria Mark joins us to explore how digital habits, stress, and AI are reshaping student focus—and what educators can do about it.

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