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Harvard EdCast

Harvard Graduate School of Education·98 episodes

EducationEducation interviewsShort episodesPolicy and practiceStandalone episodesAcademic perspective

A series of conversations with thought leaders in the field of education from across the country and around the world.

Why listen

Harvard EdCast gives you short, accessible conversations with major voices in education, from policy leaders and researchers to filmmakers, artists, activists, and classroom advocates. Episodes are compact enough for a commute but still substantive, making it a good fit for educators, parents, policy watchers, and anyone curious about how schools shape society.

Episodes

12 min
Feb 13, 2013
Mrs. Edelman Makes Some Noise

Marian Wright Edelman, president of the Children's Defense Fund, reflects on the Newtown shooting, school violence, gun control--and how above all, we must continue to protect the world's children.

14 min
Jan 30, 2013
Straight Talking Education

Rick Hess, education writer and director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, reflects on his personal story of learning and his role in the education reform movement.

13 min
Jan 25, 2013
Understanding Baggy Pants

In this edition of the Harvard EdCast, Assistant Professor Natasha Warikoo, Ed.M.'97, discusses her new book Balancing Acts: Youth Culture in the Global City.

12 min
Jan 25, 2013
20 Years of TFA

In this edition of the Harvard EdCast, Wendy Kopp, founder and president of Teach For America reflects on 20 years of leading this national teaching corps and talks about how it has changed American (and global) education.

15 min
Jan 25, 2013
Solutions to a Segregated School System

Charles Willie, professor emeritus at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, reflects on the challenges of desegregating schools in Boston in the 1970's.

11 min
Jan 25, 2013
Won't Back Down

Daniel Barnz, director of the film "Won't Back Down" reflects on why writing/directing a movie about education was just a perfect fit.

18 min
Jan 25, 2013
Teaching AIDS

Three UNESCO HIV education specialists discuss the role of teachers and schools in educating students around HIV/AIDS awareness and the importance of World AIDS Day.

22 min
Jan 25, 2013
The World Bank Education Strategy

World Bank Lead Economist Halsey Rogers discusses the World Bank Education Strategy 2020 and how we can make the next decade one in which all children and youth, everywhere, are in school and learning.

11 min
Jan 25, 2013
The Jazz in Teaching

Wynton Marsalis, musician and educator, opens up on how the spirit of music informs his unprecedented series of ongoing Harvard lectures.

16 min
Jan 25, 2013
The War on Kids

Cevin Soling, director of the education documentary "The War on Kids" discusses his controversial views on the American school system.

12 min
Jan 25, 2013
Beyond 'Waiting for Superman'

In this edition of the Harvard EdCast, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Davis Guggenheim, director of Waiting for "Superman", discusses his film and its impact on education reform.

10 min
Jan 25, 2013
A Steward of the Profession

Dennis Van Roekel, president of the National Education Association discusses the perception of unions, his personal legacy, and how to make the teaching profession more of a dream job for young Americans.

13 min
Jan 25, 2013
Celebrating World Teachers' Day

Qian Tang, Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO discusses how WTD is experienced around the world.

18 min
Jan 25, 2013
I Play a Teacher on TV

Jim True-Frost, cast member of the HBO series "The Wire" discusses portraying Baltimore public school teacher Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski and the impact his character has on education in media.

22 min
Jan 25, 2013
The Urban Education Toolkit

In this edition of the Harvard EdCast, Warren Simmons, Executive Director of the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University shares his insights on improving urban schools in America. Direct download: simmons.mp3

16 min
Jan 25, 2013
Knight of Reform

In this edition of the Harvard EdCast, Sir Michael Barber, head of McKinsey's Global Education Practice discusses a new international report, hope for U.S. public schools, and what is means to be a reformer.

16 min
Jan 25, 2013
History Hip Hop

Educational rappers Scott Free and Shoeless Jeff discuss how they are using hip hop and 'smart songs' to effectively teach social studies both inside and outside the classroom.

12 min
Jan 25, 2013
The Smarter Charter Starter

In this edition of the Harvard EdCast, Steve Barr, founder of Green Dot Public Schools discusses progress of the charter school movement and why politics is so integral in education reform.

13 min
Jan 25, 2013
Designing a Digital Curriculum

Susan Sclafani, vice president of programs for the Pearson Foundation shares insight into the new digital curriculum being developed to adopt the common core standards.

15 min
Jan 25, 2013
Taye Diggs This Children's Book (and so do we)

Taye Diggs, author and actor, along with Shane Evans, illustrator, discuss their new book "Chocolate Me!" on the Harvard EdCast.

18 min
Jan 25, 2013
Holding Reformers Accountable

Whitney Tilson, investor and champion of education initiatives, from KIPP to TFA, discusses genuine school reform and reflects on why he spends his free time committed to this fight.

10 min
Jan 25, 2013
Who's the Boss of Education?

Tony Danza, actor and author of "I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had" shares experiences from his year as a rookie teacher at Northeast High.

14 min
Jan 25, 2013
Toxic Stress in Early Childhood

Jack Shonkoff, director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, shares new research on the lingering effects of toxic stress during early childhood.

22 min
Jan 25, 2013
College for All? Maybe Not

In this edition of the Harvard EdCast, Bill Symonds, director of the Pathways to Prosperity Project, discusses the project, its implications, and how the country has reacted.

21 min
Jan 25, 2013
Are You a Global Citizen?

In this podcast, Professor Fernando Reimers, director of the Ed School's International Education Policy Program, discussed the importance of global citizenship.

9 min
Jan 25, 2013
Seeking Peace

Janet Connors, social justice activist in Dorchester, MA reflects on the unique philosophy of restorative justice and examines how it can bring peace into difficult situations.

12 min
Jan 25, 2013
Community Organizing 101

Alberto Retana, Executive VP of Community Coalition in LA discusses community organizing in the context of the 2012 National Community Organizing and School Reform conference held at HGSE.

9 min
Jan 25, 2013
Education 2016

Paul Reville, secretary of education for Massachusetts, sheds light on the future of education policy with four more years of the Obama administration.

10 min
Jan 25, 2013
A Man of Principals

Roland Barth, founder of The Principals' Center at HGSE reflects on the unique and evolving position of school leader.

12 min
Jan 25, 2013
Stray Dogs, Saints, and Saviors

Alexander Russo, author of the book "Stray Dogs, Saints, and Saviors" discusses how one of the toughest schools in the country was turned around.

13 min
Jan 25, 2013
Educations Nations

Carnell Chosa and Regis Pecos, cofounders and codirectors of the Leadership Institute and Summer Policy Academy at the Santa Fe Indian School share a brief history of educational sovereignty and Native American education in New Mexico.

20 min
Jan 25, 2013
How Schools Teach Character

Scott Seider, author of the book "Character Compass," shares his research on how powerful school culture can point students toward success.

16 min
Jan 25, 2013
Toxic Stress in Early Childhood

Jack Shonkoff, director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, shares new research on the lingering effects of toxic stress during early childhood.

16 min
Jan 25, 2013
Make Just One Change

Dan Rothstein and Luz Santana, authors of the book, Make Just One Change, explain why teaching students to ask their own questions just may revolutionize the classroom.

13 min
Jan 25, 2013
Oprah Winfrey: Thoughts on Gaga, Bullying, and Harvard

Oprah Winfrey, media icon and philanthropist, reflects on helping Lady Gaga launch the Born This Way Foundation during her visit at Harvard on Feb 29th, 2012.

14 min
Jan 25, 2013
The Illiterate High Schooler?

Paul Penniman, executive director, Resources for Inner city Children (RICH), explains the plight of not being able to read in high school and what he's trying to do to help.

12 min
Jan 25, 2013
Not Your Typical Rainn Wilson College Tour

Rainn Wilson, actor and activist shares details of the denial of higher education rights to people of the Bahá'í Faith in Iran, while discussing the film 'Education Under Fire' at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

15 min
Jan 25, 2013
The Voice of the Teachers' Union

In this edition of the Harvard EdCast, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, discusses protests in Madison, the continued need for unions, and shares a bit about her own personal life outside of work.

17 min
Jan 25, 2013
Stacking Up School Libraries

Rebecca Morris, assistant professor of library and information science at Simmons College, describes the evolving landscape of school libraries and reframes the perception of the 21st century school librarian.

10 min
Jan 25, 2013
Boys Will Be Boys?

Niobe Way, author of "Deep Secrets: Boys' Friendship and the Crisis of Connections" reveals the intense intimacy among teenage boys during adolescence yet explains as boys become men, they become distrustful, lose these friendships, and feel isolated and alone.

11 min
Jan 25, 2013
Pigskin Pedagogy

Tim Daly, president of TNTP and his brother Brendan Daly, defensive line coach for the Minnesota Vikings discuss how the teaching profession can learn from fundamentals of the NFL.

20 min
Jan 25, 2013
Madam President

Nan Keohane, former president of Duke University and Wellesley College shares her story of leadership and offers insight on how gender has influenced her career.

12 min
Jan 25, 2013
The Core Problem

Richard Murnane, professor of education at HGSE shares new research on how family income affects education equality.

14 min
Jan 25, 2013
Behind Glee Ed

Michael Hitchcock, writer and producer of the TV show "Glee," shares his behind the scenes perspective on writing student storylines and prosocial messages for the popular school based program "Glee."

15 min
Jan 25, 2013
Giving a Year

Michael Brown, co-founder and CEO of City Year reflects on how City Year is strengthening human capital through a year of national service in the education sector.

15 min
Jan 25, 2013
On the Education Beat

In this edition of the Harvard EdCast, John Merrow, education correspondent for The PBS NewsHour and president of Learning Matters discusses education reporting, the influence of teachers, and changes in over 35 years covering education in the media.

19 min
Jan 25, 2013
Teaching 9/11

Meira Levinson, political philosopher at HGSE reflects on the challenges of teaching 9/11 in the classroom and how to explain these events as both a mother or teacher to children born after September 12th.

13 min
Jan 25, 2013
Eight Decades of Education

In this edition of the Harvard EdCast, Mel King, educator and founder of the South End Technology Center shares his thoughts, wisdom, and perspective on education over eight decades in the South End of Boston.

16 min
Jan 25, 2013
The National Opinion on School Reform

Martin West, assistant professor of education at HGSE shares surprising new data on the public's perception of school reform.

10 min
Jan 25, 2013
Lawyer and Teacher

Martha L. Minow, dean of the Harvard Law School shares her thoughts on the convergence of education and law, her new book 'In Brown's Wake', and teaching a young Barack Obama.