Too often, distance learning gets dismissed as fragmented or disjointed, seen as a patchwork of tech tools rather than a cohesive educational system. Teachers feel pulled in too many directions, and programs struggle to sustain impact beyond the novelty of going virtual. In this episode, Dr. Chris Harrington - leader of the EmpowerEd Research Institute, AccredVEd, and Digital Learning Works - shares how real transformation happens when virtual education is approached as a system. From curriculum...
Jul 21, 2025•35 min•Ep. 62
Can hands-on career training truly happen online? Skeptics argue that virtual education falls short when it comes to preparing students for high-touch, high-stakes professions—especially in healthcare. Amanda Bell, a visionary CTE leader and creator of High STEP Virtual Academy, proves otherwise. In this episode, Amanda shares how she’s revolutionizing health science education for rural and under-resourced schools through virtual reality, AI simulations, and hybrid learning models. From virtual ...
Jul 07, 2025•30 min•Ep. 61
In this episode of Why Distance Learning , Seth Fleischauer, Tami Moehring, and Allyson Mitchell welcome Alan Tang, founder of Collaboration Laboratory, to explore the power of play as a core instructional strategy in live virtual learning. They dig into what happens when games aren’t the reward—but the curriculum itself. Alan shares how CoLab uses escape rooms, missions, and collaborative challenges to build communication, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking for kids around the world...
Jun 23, 2025•39 min•Ep. 60
In this episode of Why Distance Learning , your hosts sit down with Desiré Mosser, a veteran instructional coach supporting over 125 virtual educators at Pasco eSchool and Vice President of BOLD (Blended Online Learning Discovery of Florida). A former brick-and-mortar science teacher turned online education leader, Desiré brings over two decades of hands-on virtual teaching experience, systems thinking, and heartfelt coaching into a conversation that dives deep into what it really takes to make ...
Jun 09, 2025•39 min•Ep. 59
How can distance learning meet the vastly different needs of students who are disengaged, displaced, or underserved—and still deliver equity, engagement, and academic excellence? In this episode of Why Distance Learning , Dr. Lori Wiggins, principal of Pasco eSchool, shares how her team runs 12 distinct programs under one virtual roof using a tiered system of support. She walks us through how they combine asynchronous learning, live sessions, adaptive tools, and in-person days to respond to ever...
May 26, 2025•32 min•Ep. 58
In this episode of Why Distance Learning, Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Joe Titus, founder and CEO of Hiveclass, to reimagine what physical education can look like in the digital age. They explore how Hiveclass brings inclusive, skill-based movement instruction to students who are often left out of traditional PE—whether due to cost, confidence, access, or classroom logistics. Joe shares how his platform breaks down barriers to participation by offering bite-sized...
May 12, 2025•43 min•Ep. 57
In this special episode of Why Distance Learning , the hosts become the guests. Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring step out from behind the mic to share their personal journeys into distance learning, their current work in the field, and why this podcast exists. From museum basements to prairie dresses to viral Mets fandom, this episode dives into the stories that shaped their passion for virtual education. They discuss the unique mission of the Center for Interactive Learning...
Apr 28, 2025•49 min•Ep. 56
In this episode of Why Distance Learning , Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Yuliya Kosko, founder of Svitlo Education, to explore how live virtual learning becomes a lifeline in the darkest of times. They discuss the founding of Svitlo School during the Russian invasion of Ukraine and how distance learning has supported nearly 2,000 Ukrainian students with free, high-quality instruction amidst trauma, displacement, and daily threats to safety. Yuliya shares how her a...
Apr 14, 2025•37 min•Ep. 55
This is a special crosspost episode of host Seth Fleischauer's other podcast, Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning . In this episode of Why Distance Learning?, host Seth Fleischauer welcomes Heather Rhodes, founder of Highgrove Education and former leader of Harrow School Online. Together, they explore how international online schools can foster academic excellence, cultural competence, and learner autonomy—challenging the perception that online learning lacks rigor, community, or real-...
Mar 31, 2025•38 min•Ep. 54
Traditional classrooms can be overwhelming for neurodivergent students. Rigid schedules, sensory overload, and one-size-fits-all approaches leave many feeling anxious, disconnected, and unable to thrive. Parents often ask: Is online education a viable alternative? In this episode, we sit down with Kate Longworth , CEO and founder of Gaia Learning , a global online school designed for neurodivergent learners. Kate shares how personalized online learning can reduce stress, increase accessibility, ...
Mar 17, 2025•38 min•Ep. 53
🎵 Can Music Be Taught Effectively Online? Exploring Distance Learning in the Arts Pain Point: Many believe that subjects like music require in-person instruction to be truly effective. Can students really learn to play an instrument, develop musicality, and experience meaningful arts education online? Solution: In this episode, Why Distance Learning? hosts welcome Caleb Smith , a professional musician and experienced online music educator. Caleb shares how virtual learning is breaking barriers,...
Mar 03, 2025•32 min•Ep. 52
Is distance learning just a pandemic-era stopgap, or does it have lasting potential in education? Virtual learning skeptics often assume that online education was a temporary fix—an emergency response rather than a viable long-term model. Many educators and policymakers still equate today’s online learning with the chaotic transition of 2020, failing to recognize how far the field has come. In this episode, John Watson , founder and CEO of DLAC and the Digital Learning Annual Conference , joins ...
Feb 17, 2025•46 min•Ep. 51
🚨 “Distance learning isn’t the problem—bad implementation is.” 🚨 Too many virtual students feel disconnected and unseen , struggling in a system that wasn’t designed with them in mind. Educators want to create engaging, inclusive online spaces—but without the right tools, distance learning can feel like a barrier rather than a bridge . 🎧 In this episode of Why Distance Learning , hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring sit down with Dr. Breauna Wall , founder of Collaborat...
Feb 03, 2025•38 min•Ep. 50
🚨 “We don’t care about grades or completion right now. We want every student to feel a connection.” 🚨 Too many virtual schools struggle with student disengagement, teacher burnout, and the overwhelming challenge of building culture in an online environment. Leaders and educators are left wondering— Can we really create a strong, connected school community without a physical space? 🎧 In this episode of Why Distance Learning? , hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring sit dow...
Jan 20, 2025•37 min•Ep. 49
In this episode of Why Distance Learning , hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome environmental science educator and distance learning pioneer, Kasey Gaylord-Opalewski, to explore the intersection of marine science, education, and the transformative potential of live virtual learning. Kasey shares her journey from North Dakota to becoming a leading voice in environmental education, highlighting how distance learning can ignite curiosity and inspire action, even from ...
Jan 06, 2025•42 min•Ep. 48
In this episode of Why Distance Learning? , hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Noam Gerstein, CEO of the Bina School and a leading expert in precision education. Noam shares her journey of creating a global, digitally native school that reimagines how education serves young learners, blending emotional connection, cultural diversity, and innovative uses of live virtual learning. The episode explores Bina School’s unique approach to play-based, personalized learni...
Dec 23, 2024•41 min•Ep. 47
In this episode of Why Distance Learning , hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Patrick Boylan , co-founder of Museflow, a groundbreaking music education platform described as the "Duolingo of music education." Patrick shares his journey of rethinking traditional music lessons, combining gamification, flow state learning, and AI-driven personalization to make music learning engaging, accessible, and effective. Key Topics Discussed: The origins of Museflow and Patri...
Dec 09, 2024•39 min•Ep. 46
In this episode of Why Distance Learning, hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Liz Huson, Distance Learning Specialist at Erie 2 BOCES, for a dynamic discussion on the transformative power of virtual education. Liz shares how her passion for student engagement, differentiated instruction, and equity informs her role in curating live virtual experiences that break down classroom walls and spark curiosity in students across New York State. This episode highlights how...
Nov 25, 2024•42 min•Ep. 45
In this episode of Why Distance Learning? , hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring are joined by Dr. Kimberly Berens, founder of Fit Learning and CEO of Fit Learning Online, to discuss the critical role of behavior science in education. Dr. Berens shares her journey from establishing Fit Learning in a small closet to growing it into a global network of centers that use science-based methods to produce dramatic academic gains for students in just 40 hours of training. The con...
Nov 11, 2024•56 min•Ep. 44
In this episode of Why Distance Learning , hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Jillian Luciow from the Butterfly Pavilion in Denver (Jillian from the Pavilion!). They explore how live virtual learning programs bring invertebrates like butterflies, tarantulas, and crabs into classrooms through engaging, curriculum-aligned content. Key Topics Discussed: Butterfly Pavilion Overview : Jillian shares how the Pavilion is the world’s first AZA-accredited invertebrate-onl...
Oct 28, 2024•33 min•Ep. 43
In this episode of Why Distance Learning , hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Maddie Roach, the Distance Learning Specialist at the National World War II Museum. Maddie shares her experiences building engaging virtual programs that connect learners to history in unique ways, discusses how the museum adapted post-Katrina, and explores how distance learning makes education accessible across the globe. Key Topics Discussed: Maddie's journey from museum volunteer to ...
Oct 14, 2024•31 min•Ep. 42
In this episode of the Why Distance Learning? Podcast , hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Mandy Perry, a virtual school principal and president of the Blended and Online Learning Discovery (BOLD) of Florida Executive Board. Mandy shares her journey in virtual education, her leadership role in BOLD, and how virtual schools in Florida are evolving to meet the needs of students across the state. Key topics discussed include: The Birth of BOLD: Mandy shares the orig...
Sep 30, 2024•38 min•Ep. 41
In this episode of Why Distance Learning , hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Jeff Young, editor, reporter, and host of the EdSurge podcast, to discuss the intersection of technology, education, and podcasting. Jeff shares his experiences covering education for over 20 years and reflects on how podcasting has emerged as a powerful tool for professional development, storytelling, and education journalism. Key topics discussed include: Podcasting plays a crucial ro...
Sep 16, 2024•41 min•Ep. 40
In this episode of Why Distance Learning , hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome three special guests: Julie Silverbrook from the National Constitution Center, Jocelyn Kho from the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, and Andrea (Ang) Reidell from the Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics. Together, they discuss an exciting upcoming event for Constitution Day that brings together these prestigious organizations to engage students in a unique virtual learning expe...
Sep 02, 2024•43 min•Ep. 39
About today’s guest Dr. Jennifer Williams is the founder of Teach SDGs and co-founder of the nonprofit organization Take Action Global. She is a thought leader in using educational technology to promote global perspectives and social good. As an educator and author of Teach Boldly: Using EdTech for Social Good , Dr. Williams champions the role of technology in fostering equity, diversity, and social action in education. Connect with Dr. Williams on X (formerly Twitter) at @JenWilliamsEDU. In thi...
Aug 19, 2024•40 min•Ep. 38
“Geography should not keep us from learning and creating together.” Music education thrives on real-time collaboration—but for years, online instruction has struggled with one major roadblock: latency. For music teachers, conductors, and performers, even a slight delay makes synchronous playing nearly impossible. What if that problem disappeared completely? In this episode, Why Distance Learning hosts Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell and Tami Moehring welcome Terry Lowry , a composer, conducto...
Aug 05, 2024•39 min•Ep. 37
In this exciting episode of "Why Distance Learning," we delve into the fascinating world of Virtual Excursions Australia with co-founders Karen Player and Ben Newsome. Their stories highlight the transformative power of digital technologies in education, providing insight into how virtual excursions can bridge gaps in access and enrich learning for students across diverse geographies. Karen and Ben share the origin story of Virtual Excursions Australia, born from a casual conversation at a tech ...
Jul 22, 2024•41 min•Ep. 36
In this most special of special episodes, Seth, Tami, and Allyson record LIVE at the ISTE conference in Denver, Colorado. As an official session at the conference, your podcast hosts - along with 40 other conference participants - were hosted by Kate Neff, the virtual Programs Coordinator at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The episode unfolds in two parts, beginning with an insightful discussion on Kate’s innovative distance learning programs at the museum. The live recording at ISTE fo...
Jul 08, 2024•41 min•Ep. 35
In this fascinating episode of the Why Distance Learning podcast, your hosts sit down with Heidi Clements, an Instagram influencer with a substantial following, to explore the intersections between social media influence and educational strategies. Heidi, known traditionally for her work as a Hollywood producer but now for her vibrant presence online - particularly on platforms like Instagram and TikTok - shares how her journey as a content creator involves significant elements of distance learn...
Jun 24, 2024•35 min•Ep. 34
In this episode of the Why Distance Learning? podcast, our hosts interview Sara Burmenko from the Center for Puppetry Arts, delving into the unique world of puppetry as an educational tool. Sara shares her journey from an education major to becoming the director of the digital learning department at the Center for Puppetry Arts, emphasizing how puppetry bridges cultural and educational gaps globally. Her insight into the evolution of puppetry underscores its universal appeal and educational pote...
Jun 10, 2024•40 min•Ep. 33
