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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 platform! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ […]
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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 Love the […]
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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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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 Haven Love […]
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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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Why STEM Can Future-Proof Private Universities Against the Enrollment Cliff – Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, President of Augustana University
The enrollment cliff is coming. If you want to future-proof your university (especially private ones!), you should invest in growing and marketing your STEM programs. These are the programs students will enroll in, since they tie to high-wage, high-demand careers.
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Developing an AI Strategy: Best Practices for Business Leaders – Todd Wanek, CEO of Ashley Furniture Industries
AI is here – how are you building a strategy to leverage these tools in your business? Todd Wanek, CEO of Ashley Furniture, gives business leaders best practices for creating an AI strategy. Learn from him in this podcast episode!
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Education Reimagined: What America Can Learn from the Success of North Dakota – Governor Doug Burgum
From student-centric learning, to a K-12 career readiness roadmap, North Dakota has continuously updated their approach to education in order to best serve its students and communities. Now, hear from Governor Doug Burgum about how these lessons can be applied nationwide.
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STEM Education Opens Doors to Top Tech Careers at the DoD – Dr. David Honey, Deputy Undersecretary for R&E – U.S. Department of Defense
A “STEM-Powered Enterprise” with 100,000 engineers in its employ, the U.S. Department of Defense is on the cutting-edge of tech innovation in the world. DUSD Dr. David Honey gives us a unique glimpse into this work and how STEM education can pave the way to a career at the DOD.
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The Titanium Economy: The Companies You’ve Never Heard of That Keep America Running – Asutosh Padhi, Managing Partner for McKinsey & Company North America
There’s a whole subset of our economy that you’ve never heard of, making products vital to your everyday life. The Titanium Economy is a major driver of the U.S. economy, providing jobs, products and well-being like you wouldn’t believe.
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Building America’s Skilled Workforce – Chelle Travis, Executive Director of SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis talks about how the organization is preparing students for highly-skilled technology & STEM careers through programs, competitions and industry partnerships.
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What’s New in Automation: AI, Digital Twins, Cobots and More! – Mike Cicco, President & CEO of FANUC America
FANUC is the global leader in industrial robotics and CNC controls. FANUC America President & CEO Mike Cicco shares the latest trends in the industry, including technology innovation, R&D sneak peaks, and how we’re training next-gen automation experts.
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What the CHIPS and Science Act Means for Technology and Education – U.S. Senator Todd Young
Senator Todd Young, U.S. Senator for Indiana, joins us to talk about the CHIPS and Science Act and how it will impact semiconductor manufacturing and research around emerging technologies in the United States
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The Journey to 1,000 Hours in Space – NASA Astronaut Dr. Don Thomas
NASA Space Shuttle Astronaut Dr. Don Thomas shares about his journey to becoming an astronaut, his four missions to space, and what the future of space exploration could look like.
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Leading the Smart Manufacturing Revolution – Blake Moret, Chairman and CEO of Rockwell Automation
Blake Moret, Chairman and CEO of Rockwell Automation talks about smart manufacturing, Industry 4.0 and the workforce of the future.
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