Author: Palmer Media

Kumar Garg, President of ⁠Renaissance Philanthropy⁠, rejoins host Mike Palmer for his third appearance on Trending in Ed, earning his highly coveted refrigerator magnet. Kumar discusses RenPhil’s growth and its mission to help donors invest effectively in science and technology research areas like AI, climate, and education. Big If True: The conversation explores the concept of “Big If True” and the ⁠Big If True Science (BITS) accelerator⁠. This framework focuses on transformative ideas that can have a tangible impact on a field within a three to five-year timeline. Rather than funding incremental research, BITS encourages researchers to identify the biggest…

In this special edition of Trending in Education, former colleagues reunite as Mike Palmer interviews Lorin Thomas-Tavel, the CEO of ⁠BrainPOP⁠. We explore the evolution of a major brand in EdTech and discuss how it continues to simplify complex topics for students and teachers alike. We dive into the 27-year history of BrainPOP, which began when a doctor created animated content to help young patients understand their own bodies. Today, the platform serves as a trusted companion for teachers in K-8 classrooms, focusing on sense-making during complicated times. We discuss the unique parasocial bond children and adults share with iconic…

LIVE! from the Harbor Terrace at ⁠ASU+GSV 2026⁠ in San Diego, Mike Palmer sits down with Victoria Weinfeld, Vice President of Enrollment, Marketing, and Sales at ⁠Edconic⁠. In this fast-paced environment of “drinking from a fire hose,” Victoria shares the evolution of Edconic (formerly known as BrandED) and its unique mission to bridge the gap between traditional education and the future of work. Edconic specializes in creating industry-immersive programs alongside some of the world’s most recognizable brands, including Vogue, The New York Times, Sotheby’s, Manchester City, and their newest partner, ⁠Mayo Clinic⁠. Victoria explains how these partnerships go beyond simple…

LIVE! from the ⁠ASU+GSV Summit⁠, Mike Palmer catches up with ⁠College Board⁠ President Jeremy Singer against the backdrop of the San Diego marina to dive into the launch of Jeremy’s new podcast, ⁠The Education Equation⁠. Produced by Mike, this new series aims to bring a much-needed level of scientific rigor to the education space, drawing inspiration from data-heavy health and fitness media to identify scalable, evidence-based practices that actually move the needle for students. Jeremy shares candid insights from his 13-year tenure, detailing how the College Board moved from a culture of slow stability to one of lean, COVID-tested responsiveness…

Recorded LIVE! on the Harbor Terrace at the ⁠ASU+GSV Summit⁠ in San Diego, Mike Palmer is joined by Dr. Steven Taylor, Policy Director and Senior Fellow for Economic Mobility at ⁠Stand Together Trust⁠. Steve brings a unique perspective to the table, combining a national philanthropic lens with his roles on the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and the National Advisory Committee for Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI). The conversation captures the shifting energy of the summit, moving away from the peak of AI hype toward what Steve calls “optimistic skepticism” – a more mature look at how technology…

Coming to you live from the harbor terrace in sunny San Diego, Mike Palmer sits down with Karl Rectanus, the new CEO of ⁠Really Great Reading⁠, amidst the buzz of the ⁠ASU+GSV Summit⁠. Between views of sailboats and silver-lined clouds, the duo digs into why literacy remains the fundamental building block of the educational system and how we might finally be cracking the code on systemic improvement. Karl shares his unique path to leadership, which began with chasing a girl to Australia and starting a digital Q&A service for children museums during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. This early taste of…

Mike Palmer catches up with Ruth Bauer, President of ⁠InsideTrack⁠, amidst the sun and high-stakes energy of San Diego for the ⁠ASU+GSV conference⁠. Ruth shares her transition from a first-generation college student and mall-employed English major to an e-learning “OG” (like Mike) to leading a powerhouse in student success at Inside Track. The conversation dives into the “secret sauce” of Inside Track: a potent mix of technology and deep human connection. Ruth explains how coaching supports the entire student journey, from first-time enrollment to the critical “some college, no degree” population. With more than 40 million Americans in that category,…

We’re back in Austin for the 2026 SXSW EDU “March Madness of Learning Trends” LIVE panel. Host Mike Palmer is joined by AJ Gutierrez (CEO of ⁠Equal Opportunity Schools⁠), Jasmine Maze (Senior Managing Director at ⁠Teach for America’s Reinvention Lab⁠), and Justin Serrano (CEO of ⁠Littera Education⁠) to reveal a bracket of 16 trends shaping the future of education. The conversation moves past the usual AI hype to focus on human capital and accountability. Justin Serrano introduces the “outcomes economy,” describing a shift in procurement where school districts move away from buying software and toward outcomes-based contracting that holds providers…

When the house is on fire, you don’t want to be reading the manual for the first time. On this episode of ⁠Trending in Education⁠, Mike Palmer sits down with Jeff Hunt, the founder of ⁠Legend Labs⁠ and a professor at the University of Texas, to discuss the high-stakes world of crisis communication in higher education. Jeff brings a unique perspective shaped by 18 years at a global firm and a career spent managing issues across the world, from Seoul to London . His deep dive into higher education began with the reputational recovery of Penn State after the Jerry…

Mike Palmer⁠ and virtual co-host Nancy are back from the podcast stage at ⁠SXSW EDU⁠ in Austin, Texas. In this special update, we break down the Sweet 16 of Learning Trends and announce which four have fought their way into the Final Four. This episode explores the collective zeitgeist of the education world, from the challenges of chronic absenteeism to the futuristic potential of vibe coding and agentic intelligence. The conversation begins with a look at the trends submitted by ⁠AJ Gutierrez⁠ of ⁠Equal Opportunity Schools⁠. AJ highlights the pressing issue of chronic absenteeism in K-12 and the need for…