In this special anniversary episode, Dr. Sher Downing reflects on the five-year journey of the EdTech Speaks podcast. Born during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, the show has evolved into a living documentary of transformation in education, technology, and human-centered innovation. As we enter year six, Sher invites listeners to imagine and create a future where technology enhances human flourishing —not just functionality. Takeaways/Highlights: The podcast began during the pandemic t...
Jun 30, 2025•7 min•Season 3Ep. 63
Thanks for tuning in to Forward Thinking Experts! In this podcast episode, Sher Downing and Andy Bell discuss the innovative approaches of Thinkery, a children's museum in Austin, Texas, that focuses on STEAM education. They explore the importance of community engagement, the role of technology in education, and the need for a shift in how learning is approached. Andy shares his personal journey and the transformative impact of his experiences on his perspective towards education and learning. T...
May 26, 2025•44 min•Season 2Ep. 62
Welcome back to Forward Thinking Experts! In this episode, Dr. Emily Levy and Sher discuss innovative educational products, including Dr. Levy's Writing Mastery program and multi-sensory math workbooks. She emphasizes the importance of immediate feedback in learning, the need for foundational skills in math, and the significance of study strategies for students. Dr. Levy shares her journey into entrepreneurship, the impact of her family's legacy in education, and the role of multi-sensory teachi...
Apr 28, 2025•26 min•Season 3Ep. 61
In this conversation, Sher Downing and Ryan Duffy discuss the journey of entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of service in business and introducing Stack, a new platform designed to assist aspiring solopreneurs. Ryan shares insights from his background in Hollywood and how those experiences shaped his approach to client service. The discussion highlights the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, particularly in the wake of AI disruption, and how Stack aims to provide resources, mentor...
Mar 31, 2025•57 min•Season 2Ep. 60
In this episode, host Sher Downing sits down with Patrick Boylan, the visionary behind Museflow AI , to explore the intersection of music, technology, and education . From his early days as a band nerd to becoming an entrepreneur in edtech , Patrick shares how Museflow AI is transforming music education by making it more accessible, engaging, and innovative . They discuss the limitations of traditional music education , how gamification and AI can keep students motivated, and why a flow-state ap...
Feb 24, 2025•45 min•Ep. 59
Thanks for listening in on another episode of the Forward Thinking podcast where Sher Downing and Ben Bressington explore the transformative power of AI and automation in business. Together, they dive into the importance of starting automation processes even when they are not perfect, the significance of timely communication, and how to leverage AI for content creation and repurposing. We dig a bit deeper and uncover the need for businesses, especially startups, to define their goals and ROI, an...
Jan 27, 2025•42 min•Season 3Ep. 58
Welcome to another episode of the Forward Thinking podcast. In this conversation, Sher Downing and Michaell Magrutsche delve into the complexities of AI, the importance of human-centric technology, and the impact of financial systems on society. They discuss the need for collaboration over competition, the significance of transparency in AI, and the lessons learned from crises like the pandemic. Discussions emphasize the potential for rebuilding and the importance of fulfillment in our pursuits,...
Dec 30, 2024•38 min•Season 2Ep. 57
In this conversation, Sher interviews Jose Moreno, founder and CEO of IntelliTear NewLite, about his transition from major tech companies like Microsoft and Netflix to the EdTech space. They discuss the challenges in education technology, the importance of user experience, and how IntelliTear aims to improve student support through AI-driven solutions. Jose shares his personal experiences that fueled his passion for creating impactful educational tools and emphasizes the significance of data-dri...
Nov 25, 2024•40 min•Season 2Ep. 56
In this episode, Sher Downing and Matt Raad explore transitioning from traditional business to digital assets, discussing Matt’s background in zoology and how he and his wife shifted to online entrepreneurship. The conversation highlights the pandemic’s role in accelerating interest in digital assets, the importance of patience and training, and the power of mentorship. Matt also emphasizes leveraging online courses, AI, and website investments for financial independence. Through his eBusiness I...
Oct 28, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 55
In this conversation, we interview Emily Chase Coleman from HAI Analytics about the importance of analytics and statistical analysis in higher education. Emily's company is dedicated to helping colleges and universities optimize their enrollment and financial aid strategies through predictive modeling, ensuring that these institutions meet their goals while maintaining financial sustainability. Emily shares her background in social psychology and statistics and how she got into the field of enro...
Sep 23, 2024•44 min•Season 2Ep. 54
In this insightful episode of the Forward Thinking Podcast , we sit down with Prashant Raizada, the visionary behind Lumi—a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to empowering young people to tackle the world's most pressing global issues. Lumi equips students with the necessary skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world, disrupted by advancements in AI and other technologies. Prashant shares his journey as an entrepreneur in the education sector, detailing the challenges and setbacks he faced a...
Aug 26, 2024•56 min•Season 3Ep. 53
Thanks for tuning into this educational interview with Namit Jindal on the EdTech Speaks podcast! Namit, founder of Deliverability Ninja, discusses the importance of effective sales strategies and email deliverability for startups and small businesses. He emphasizes the need to focus on sales from the beginning and highlights the impact of email deliverability on open rates and replies. Namit explains the process of working with his company, which includes optimizing email deliverability, crafti...
Jul 29, 2024•34 min•Season 2Ep. 52
Thanks for joining us during this episode of the EdTech Speaks podcast as we dive into the innovative world of Reading.com with Stephanie Barber and her play-based learning app. The app is designed as a co-play activity, with scripted lessons and interactive books. It is personalized for each child, and the program is structured and cumulative. The app also includes 60 decodable books that are introduced parallel to the lessons. The books hide the pictures until the child reads the text, encoura...
Jun 24, 2024•34 min•Season 2Ep. 51
In this enlightening episode, we are joined by Annette Levesque, a pioneer in the e-learning space and author of "E-Learning Goal: The Ultimate Guide for Leaders." Annette shares her extensive experience in virtual education, emphasizing the importance of a human-centric approach to online learning. She discusses the need to enhance access to education and tailor learning experiences to meet diverse learner needs. Annette provides insights into the challenges of selecting and implementing e-lear...
May 27, 2024•55 min•Season 2Ep. 50
Welcome back to the EdTech Speaks podcast where this episode dives into Terawatt, a groundbreaking B2B marketplace reshaping the coaching landscape by making it more affordable and accessible through group coaching. Francie Jain introduces us to this concept of recruiting and vetting expert coaches, then offering services to multiple individuals, allowing costs to be shared among them. This approach fosters cultural adaptation and change within organizations while covering a wide range of coachi...
Apr 29, 2024•49 min•Season 2Ep. 49
Have you heard the term, "make it stick?" Join me for an interesting conversation as I interview Chris Fenning on the EdTech Speaks podcast. Chris discusses his book '39 Ways to Make Training Stick' and the importance of making training memorable and effective. Chris makes it easier for us to communicate at work, helping experts talk to non-experts, teams talk to executives, and much more. Chris's practical methods are used in organizations like Google and NATO, and have appeared in the Harvard ...
Mar 25, 2024•50 min•Season 2Ep. 48
In this week's episode of the EdTech Speaks podcast, Dr. Sher Downing interviews one of our own team members, Jeremy Hopper, Senior Director of Learning Solutions at Downing EdTech. Throughout the conversation, Jeremy shares about his journey in the field of instructional design and its evolution over the years, as the challenges arose from moving to virtual content and the importance of the user experience in online courses. Jeremy shares his experience working in both higher education and the ...
Feb 26, 2024•28 min•Season 2Ep. 47
Welcome to the EdTech Speaks podcast where today's guest, Xenia Muether, shares her journey as the founder of Pink Orange, an agency with a mission to revolutionize education marketing. Xenia is the Founder, CEO and Startup mentor who focuses on targeted and customized strategies for clients. Xenia, a digital native, draws from her extensive experience in the education marketing space, having collaborated with over 100 countries across 6 continents. Tune in to discover how Xenia and her London-b...
Jan 02, 2024•42 min
When is the last time you heard about data fraud? Living in 2023, it probably wasn't long ago that you read an article or heard a news piece on the topic. We welcome you to listen in to this week's EdTech Speaks episode as we interview Nick Lambert. Nick has been working with technology companies his entire career. Starting out with IBM and Sanmina-SCI, Nick moved into the decentralized space in 2011 with Scottish start-up MaidSafe and was their Chief Operating Officer for seven years. Nick is n...
Nov 27, 2023•42 min
Curious about communication? Tune in to this week's episode of the EdTech Speaks podcast where we interview Matt Abrahams, a leading expert in communication with decades of experience as an educator, author, podcast host, and coach. As a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, he teaches popular classes in strategic communication and effective virtual presenting. He received Stanford GSB’s Alumni Teaching Award in recognition of his teaching stud...
Oct 30, 2023•41 min
In this episode of the EdTech Speaks podcast, Sher has the privilege of interviewing Tucker Graves, CEO and Co-Founder of the Pineapple Academy, a company with a mission of advancing the world's deskless workforce through training and skills development. The Pineapple Academy was founded by two friends who refused to accept the levels of turnover in the food service industry (about 30% higher than the average of all other industries). Tucker grew up in the food service industry, first working at...
Sep 25, 2023•55 min
EdTech Speaks welcomes another esteemed guest, Steven Emanuel, a legal educator and visionary who has spent nearly five decades transforming how law students approach learning. Join us as he shares his insights into revolutionizing education through AI and machine learning. As a legal scholar and author, Steven has been a prominent figure in the field of legal education for over 48 years. Steven's journey began in 1974, when he started writing and publishing books for law students, focusing on s...
Aug 28, 2023•1 hr 1 min
Welcome back to the EdTech Speaks podcast, as we interview a special guest, Laura C. Wells, founder and CEO of Awake Teams, a collaborative learning platform that develops critical social and emotional skills in workplace teams and measures impact. This episode delves into the unique approach of Awake Teams, where teams engage in a three-month program that focuses on building emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills. The program includes bite-sized learning modules, team sessions, and reg...
Jul 31, 2023•47 min
Welcome to the third anniversary of EdTech Speaks! Host Sher Downing celebrates the anniversary of the podcast and reflects on the exciting year that Downing EdTech Consulting has had. The podcast has been instrumental in sharing impactful messages and insights from guests who are making a difference. Take a look back at some of the remarkable guests: Episode 30 : Ahsan Rizvi, CEO and founder of Kiddom, discussed their innovative tool that combines curriculum, technology, and a learning communit...
Jun 26, 2023•10 min
Welcome back to EdTech Speaks podcast! In today's episode, we have a remarkable guest joining us. Sheryl Cababa, the Chief Design Officer at the Insights, Design + Development Studio, Substantial, is here to share her insights and experiences in the EdTech industry. Sheryl is a multi-disciplinary design strategist with over two decades of experience and a strong focus on reinventing learning and collaboration approaches in the educational environment. With her extensive experience in human-cente...
May 29, 2023•54 min
Welcome back for another brilliant interview on the EdTech Speaks podcast where we interview Ryan Gialames, an experienced edtech product and design leader as Head of Product for Robot & Pencils’s education technology. He is responsible for launching edtech products, such as Student Apps, and bringing them to market while also driving the future innovation of these products. Although Ryan’s background started in theatre and filmmaking, he now uses those skills to engage with educators, desig...
Apr 24, 2023•52 min
What an intriguing guest on the EdTech Speaks podcast! Tune in as I interview a thought leader and expert in the field of air quality and purification, Frederik Hendriksen . Before COVID you may not have given much thought to the topic, but since 2020 when the entire world was restricted to 6 feet separations and mandatory masks, air purification has become a need versus a want. Frederik joins us today to share how his company, Rensair, provides an air purification solution through technology, p...
Mar 27, 2023•33 min
I'm excited to share today's guest, Rachel B. Lee, with the EdTech Speaks podcast listeners. Her story is one of an ambitious female overachiever who’s created a new path for our career and life by sharing her voice and dreaming big. Being an overachiever, she followed a structured path, because that was the right thing to do - getting a college education, working in corporate, etc. But she felt constrained and knew she was destined for more. She knew she could only be her most authentic self by...
Feb 27, 2023•36 min
Have you heard of Wyebot? If not, then be sure to tune in to today's episode of the EdTech Speaks podcast where I welcome back Roger Sands, co-Founder and CEO of Wyebot, Inc. We unpack the ideas behind Wyebot, a WiFi automation platform used in education facilities, as well as enterprise and healthcare facilities. During our conversation, we discuss how Wyebot makes sure WiFi networks are optimized and working to their fullest potential, which is especially important considering the amount of te...
Jan 30, 2023•37 min
What will 2023 hold for you? Every year I get asked about my predictions for the upcoming year. After three years of chaos in business and continuous upheaval of the technology and employment landscape, my prediction is this... we'll need to pay attention. In 2023, business, education and technology will continue to influence how we live, when we work and when we play. Changes at the federal level, such as interest rates, are going to impact the ways we look to be more cost-effective in how we d...
Dec 26, 2022•5 min
