David had a great conversation with Christina Dougay who is the founder of Practical Education and Knowledge LLC (P.E.A.K.) a microschool in Houston, Texas. With a background in both education and the mental health sector, she brings a unique perspective to creating safe, supportive, and engaging learning environments for children. Driven by a desire to find an alternative to traditional public education for her own children and others in need, Christina strives to provide a positive, trauma-inf...
Jun 11, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 5
David had a great conversation with Don Soifer who is the CEO of the National Microschooling Center. They discussed the recent report just released from the National Microschooling Center that illuminates important data about microschools like what percentage are private, public, what types of students microschools serve, facilities, types of models, and so much more! We get to be one of the first to share this and get to hear Don’s analysis which is super exciting. Here is a more about Don and ...
May 28, 2025•53 min•Season 2Ep. 4
David had a great conversation with Raphael Gang who is a Program Officer at the Stand Together Trust (STT) where he makes investments focused on supporting a dynamic education marketplace for families, educators, and entrepreneurs. Prior to joining STT, he worked at 4.0 Schools, a nonprofit national incubator for early-stage education impact ventures, where he coached education entrepreneurs and led 4.0’s communications, fundraising, and research. He helped launch and implement the statewide sc...
May 14, 2025•57 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Enjoy this episode with Tyler Thigpen who is co-founder and CEO of The Forest School: An Acton Academy in Georgia, The Forest School Online, and the Institute for Self-Directed Learning. He also serves as Academic Director at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. A Georgia native, Tyler has worked across public, private, and charter schools, as well as national nonprofits like Transcend. He’s helped lead innovative school initiatives including nXu, The Academy Group, and...
Apr 30, 2025•42 min•Season 2Ep. 2
David shared the relaunch of the podcast focusing on all things microschools and the vision going forward as follows. This is a podcast about all things microschools. It will share the nuts and bolts of opening and running a successful microschool. He will share leadership development tips and tricks. He will share how to embody an entrepreneurship mindset. He wants this podcast to help anyone in the process whether they join Changemaker Education officially or not. He then shared a little about...
Apr 02, 2025•20 min•Season 2Ep. 1
David shares his wisdom today about what happens when you feel inspired from the depths of your soul to create change and be the best version of yourself. He asks you to clarify the change you want to create, and see where fear is holding you back. David shares that when you are following your soul’s calling, it is typically those that are closest to you that project their fears onto you and unintentionally ask you to play small. David recommends that you use these opportunities to learn and gro...
Mar 27, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 53
David has a great conversation with Elana Feinberg. They discuss the current trends in education, what Elana is seeing in schools that she thinks more people should be doing, and reforming the inside or outside of the system. You will hear great advice from Elana about problems with implementation and some of the unique ways that great schools across the country are creating innovative change for all types of different kinds of learners. Elana has almost 25 years of experience in education, soci...
Mar 06, 2024•45 min•Season 1Ep. 52
One Stone, co-founded by Teresa Poppen, revolutionizes education by empowering students to take charge of their learning journey. Initially focusing on experiential service, One Stone evolved into Lab 51, a student-driven school fostering real-world impact and self-discovery. At One Stone, students drive the organization's direction, with student-majority boards ensuring their voices shape its activities. Service projects, like Project Good, instill leadership and empathy, while the Hatch Studio...
Feb 28, 2024•47 min•Season 1Ep. 51
In this solo episode, David shares his own experiences with letting life show him the way. He talks about various experiences from his own life where he was in resistance to something that he knew to be true. Throughout the episode, David talks about ways you can be aware of the truth and take one step at a time to move toward it. This simple concept of listening to the truth that life is showing you day by day, can ultimately change your life. David shares the way it has changed his life. We’re...
Feb 23, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Are you curious about finding magic in the Middle School experience? If so, join David and Chris as they discuss all the ups and downs, ins and outs, challenges and most importantly, the opportunities for parents and educators with these middle years! In this engaging episode, David delves into a thought-provoking conversation with Chris Balme, an esteemed education expert and the author of "Finding the Magic in Middle School." The dialogue unfolds with Chris sharing his personal journey as a on...
Feb 15, 2024•46 min•Season 1Ep. 49
David shares a simple message in today’s episode. After doing a short guided practice, David asks us to let love guide the way. He shares his own personal journey of believing that talking about love was “soft”, and how he now believes the opposite. You can hear more about how he debunks that myth. David also talks about how it all starts with loving yourself. Take the moments in your day to notice when you are being harsh with yourself and requalify those thoughts and that habit. And, finally, ...
Feb 07, 2024•23 min•Season 1Ep. 48
Amar Kumar, founder and CEO of Chipotle Learning, shared insights on the transformative potential of micro schools in a conversation with David. Having worked in online education, Kumar recognized the limitations of solitary online learning, acknowledging the importance of social interaction and support in education. This realization led to the creation of Kai Pod, a hybrid model combining online schooling with in-person learning hubs. The essence of micro schools lies in providing personalized ...
Jan 31, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 47
David shares a simple message in today’s episode. Give yourself permission to be playful and childlike - not childish but be free and have fun like a child. Laugh a little. Don’t take everything so seriously. He asks you just to try it and see how your day goes! Stay tuned for an announcement about David’s latest program and some new structures for the podcast! We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social s...
Jan 24, 2024•13 min•Season 1Ep. 46
In today’s episode, Mary Jo and David continue discussing their exciting announcement about launching Pathfinder, a program to support others who are inspired to open a school, program or learning center, and need the guidance and structure to achieve their dream. Listen to hear some tips and tricks from David and Mary Jo to move closer to your dream of opening a school or supporting others who are committed to creating change in this way. Specifically, they speak to the importance of values and...
Jan 17, 2024•36 min•Season 1Ep. 45
In today’s episode, Mary Jo and David share their exciting announcement about launching Pathfinder, a program to support others who are inspired to open a school, program or learning center, and need the guidance and structure to achieve their dream. Listen to hear some tips and tricks from David and Mary Jo to move closer to your dream of opening a school or supporting others who are committed to creating change in this way. Mary Jo Fairhead is the Founder of Onward Learning, a K-8 micro school...
Jan 10, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 44
We are all born with a strong intuition. But at around 7 years old, we begin to lose this and start becoming conditioned to the outside world telling us what is right or wrong, good or bad. Today, I discuss the basics of following your intuition as a leader. Launching this podcast brings me right back to being 8 years old and knowing I wanted to be some sort of host. At that time, I wanted to be a gameshow host, but as people around me said to choose something realistic, my dreams faded. I dug i...
Jan 03, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 43
David shares his end of year reflections and his gratitude for all of you who have listened over the year. He also shares so recommendations for how to finish out the year including getting some rest during this time of year. We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from J...
Dec 27, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Meet Anita Lennon who was born and raised in Hungary. She came to the United States alone when she was 21. She went to college, then law school and she became a lawyer. Anita has been working on Wall Street since then as a compliance consultant to brokerage firms. Around 2016, she realized that she feels much more fulfilled when she is giving personal advice and helping people. Anita completed several life coaching training certifications including Dr. Shefali Tsabary’s Conscious Parenting Coach...
Dec 20, 2023•51 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Tanya Sheckley is Founder and President of UP Academy, a TK-8 micro school which values innovation, empathy and strength. Tanya’s vision and mission show it’s possible to celebrate differences, challenge what’s broken in the American education system, and that all children can receive a rigorous, well rounded education. She is an “Edupreneur”, Author of Rebel Educator: Create Classrooms Where Imagination and Impact Meet and host of the Rebel Educator podcast. Tanya speaks frequently on the futur...
Dec 13, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Peter Gray is a research professor of psychology and neuroscience at Boston College. His recent research focuses on the role of play in human evolution and how children educate themselves through play and exploration, when they are free to do so. He has expanded on these ideas in his book, Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life He also authors a regular blog called Freedom to Learn , for Psychology Today ...
Dec 06, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Meet Michael Strong who is one of the most experienced designers of innovative schools in the US. He has created a school for highly gifted children, a charter school in a low performing region in the US that was ranked in the 36th best public school in the US, and the Montessori high school model for the largest Montessori network in the US. He is currently leading The Socratic Experience, a virtual school grades 3-12. He is the author of The Habit of Thought: From Socratic Seminars to Socratic...
Nov 29, 2023•51 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Meet Mia Howard who is a Managing Partner at NewSchools Venture Fund. In her role, she leads the Innovative Schools investment area, which supports educators with bold new visions for schools that embrace an expanded definition of success, equity, and innovation. Prior to joining NewSchools, Mia was the Founding Partner of Schools and Talent at The Opportunity Trust. Before that, Mia was Founder and CEO of Intrepid College Prep Schools, a growing network of public charter schools in Nashville, T...
Nov 22, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Meet Manisha Snoyer, a “teacherpreneur” and the CEO and co-founder of Modulo, a curated online community for homeschooling families, facilitated by experienced educators and certified child life specialists. Over the last 20 years, Manisha has taught over 2,000 children in 3 countries in private school, public school and as a tutor. She’s passionate about making a more inclusive educational system that values the individuality and autonomy of each child and helps parents and communities play a m...
Nov 15, 2023•51 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Meet Steve Buzzard, a passionate entrepreneur who loves to do many things. He is in his 27th year of teaching P.E. and being an athletic director. He is the Founder and Director of Buzzardball Youth Basketball which consists of a Summer Camp (27 years), Winter League (17 years), and Summer League (3 years). He is also a DJ and Auctioneer and has enjoyed that way of life for nearly 20 years. He also has his own podcast called Experience the Buzz. Steve’s passion started with Sports Broadcasting. ...
Nov 08, 2023•53 min•Season 1Ep. 35
David starts with a guided practice to bring you to a state of peace and calm and he asks you to be open to hear what inner discipline means. David shares that he has a different way of thinking about discipline. He asks that you don’t think about it in the traditional sense of someone making you do something, but rather to look at it as the discipline you have within you to be the captain of your own ship. He breaks down what he means by inner discipline and shares examples such as knowing your...
Nov 01, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Don Soifer is Chief Executive Officer of the National Microschooling Center, America’s comprehensive resource center, movement-builder and authority for the most exciting new education movement in a generation. He co-created and co-directed the Southern Nevada Urban Micro Academy, the nation’s first public–private partnership microschool with the City of North Las Vegas, delivering unprecedented academic growth with a previously underserved population of families under pandemic operating conditi...
Oct 25, 2023•46 min•Season 1Ep. 33
David starts with a guided practice to bring you to a state of peace and calm and he asks you to take this opportunity to just be while you listen today. From this space of calm, he asks you to see from a more expansive perspective and get out of our narrow view of opinions and being right or wrong. David then shares the main part of the episode and the importance of disrupting with love instead of your ego. He shares that if you are trying to create change by trying to prove you are better or r...
Oct 18, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Meet Serj, Founder & CEO of City as a School, pre-building infrastructure for a new education system fit for the 21st century. A technologist with an activist stance. Serj is fascinating to listen to and recently is working on City as a School which is similar to Outschool but with a great twist in that they help you build industry skills by creating a portfolio that gets you hired. They are also working on a microinternship model which allows youth to do a set of projects to help them pract...
Oct 11, 2023•56 min•Season 1Ep. 31
In this solo episode, I share the story of how a flat tire on the highway with my young children on a 100+ degree summer day taught me to lean into the discomfort of building new belief systems and reminded me that sometimes our worst fears are an opportunity to discover infinite possibilities. I also remind my listeners that there really is no such thing as good and bad. We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, a...
Oct 04, 2023•16 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Adam is the co-founder of Point B, which is a startup tech platform that helps young people find purpose and exposure to post secondary options. He has spent his career building organizations that provide young people with life-changing opportunities. Adam founded and led Marshall Street Initiatives , which now serves over 100,000 students per year through teacher certification , leadership development , and technical assistance . Previously, Adam led the design and launch of Summit Public Schoo...
Sep 27, 2023•51 min•Season 1Ep. 29
