The Groundhog Day of EdTech | Justin Reich | Director of the MIT Teaching Systems Lab and Educational Researcher at MIT | Season 13 Episode 15 | #236

The Groundhog Day of EdTech | Justin Reich | Director of the MIT Teaching Systems Lab and Educational Researcher at MIT | Season 13 Episode 15 | #236

In this episode, I sit down with Justin Reich, Director of the MIT Teaching Systems Lab, to examine the recurring cycle of technological hype in education. We explore why every new wave of innovation from film strips to smartboards to ChatGPT arrives with promises of transformation, yet rarely produces the sweeping improvements people expect. Justin argues that educational technology follows a predictable pattern: excitement, overreach, weak evidence, and eventual normalization. Large language models may feel unprecedented, but the underlying dynamics are deeply familiar. Our conversation moves into what schools should actually do in moments of uncertainty. Rather than chasing “best practices” for AI literacy, Justin suggests that we don’t yet know what works—and pretending we do may cause more harm than good. He explains why schools must experiment locally, evaluate student work carefully, and resist the pressure to race toward adoption. We also discuss the idea of subtraction in schools: instead of constantly adding initiatives, educators may need to remove practices to make space for thoughtful experimentation. What stayed with me most is the call for humility. Schools are designed to conserve knowledge, not to chase every technological shift. If the past century of edtech teaches us anything, it is that transformation rarely comes from the tool itself. This episode invites listeners to slow down, question hype cycles, and think more carefully about what real learning actually requires. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 01:35 – From Classroom Teacher to MIT Researcher 05:00 – The “Groundhog Day” Pattern in EdTech 10:05 – Why Technology Rarely Transforms Schools 15:50 – AI in Classrooms: Arrival Without Adoption 21:30 – The Problem with “Best Practices” for AI 27:00 – Experimentation Over Certainty 32:15 – Subtraction in Schools: Doing Less to Do Better 38:20 – Discipline Differences and Local Context 44:00 – Improvement Science and Small Experiments 49:30 – Humility, Uncertainty, and the Future of AI 52:15 – Closing Reflections Justin Reich https://tsl.mit.edu/team/justin-reich/

The Evolution of Money Over 2,500 Years | Barry Eichengreen | Professor of Economics and Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley | Season 13 Episode 14 | #235

In this episode, I sit down with Barry Eichengreen, Professor of Economics and Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, to trace the evolution of money across more than 2,500 years of history. We begin with the Lydian king Croesus and the invention of coinage, exploring how early societies transitioned from commodity money to state-backed currencies. Barry explains how monetary systems spread through empires, how technological innovations like paper money and credit transformed exchange, and how each shift reshaped global power. Our conversation then turns to the rise of dominant global currencies, from the Roman solidus to the British pound and eventually the U.S. dollar. We examine what it actually means for a currency to be “dominant,” why the dollar is used in transactions even when the United States is not involved, and what economic, political, and military conditions make a currency globally trusted. Barry outlines the advantages of dollar dominance, including lower borrowing costs, safe-haven flows, and geopolitical leverage, while also explaining the risks that come with debt, political instability, and institutional decline. What stayed with me most is the historical perspective. Monetary systems do not last forever. They evolve, rise, and sometimes collapse as technology, power, and institutions change. From coinage to fiat money to digital currencies and crypto, the story of money is ultimately a story about coordination, trust, and political authority. This episode places today’s debates about the dollar and digital currency into a much larger historical arc. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 01:37 – Writing Money Beyond Borders 03:30 – The Lydians and the Birth of Coinage 06:20 – From Commodity Money to Paper and Credit 10:00 – Money as Social Convention and State Authority 14:15 – Multiple Currencies and Local Systems 17:00 – Why Global Monetary Systems Rise and Fall Faster Over Time 21:40 – What Makes a Currency “Dominant”? 24:50 – The Dollar as Global Lingua Franca 27:55 – The Advantages of Dollar Dominance 31:40 – Debt, Political Stability, and Currency Decline 35:50 – Teaching Economics: Models vs. History 42:45 – Living in a World of Black Boxes 49:30 – Individuals Who Shape Monetary History 52:10 – Final Reflections on the Future of Money

Capitalism After Neoliberalism | Fred Block | Research Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Davis | Season 13 Episode 13 | #234

In this episode, I sit down with Fred Block, Research Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Davis, to examine the relationship between markets and the state. We explore the persistent myth that markets operate independently of government intervention, and Fred argues that modern capitalism has always depended on public institutions, policy design, and state-backed innovation. From industrial development to technological breakthroughs, the role of government is far more central than popular economic narratives suggest. Our conversation moves into the rise of neoliberalism, the political shifts that reshaped economic governance, and the consequences of privileging market logic above all else. We discuss how innovation ecosystems rely on public investment, why the self-regulating market is largely a fiction, and how democratic institutions can guide economic transformation. Fred challenges the idea that state involvement distorts markets, instead showing how markets are structured, sustained, and stabilized through public authority. What stayed with me most is the recognition that economic systems are political systems. They are shaped by choices, institutions, and power. This episode invites listeners to reconsider what capitalism is, who builds it, and how democratic societies might reclaim a more intentional role in shaping economic life. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 02:10 – Fred Block’s Intellectual Background 07:30 – What Was Neoliberalism? 14:20 – The Myth of the Self-Regulating Market 21:40 – How States Actually Build Markets 29:10 – Innovation, Public Investment, and Hidden Government 36:25 – The Political Shift Toward Market Fundamentalism 43:15 – Inequality, Power, and Economic Institutions 50:30 – What Comes After Neoliberalism? 58:10 – Reclaiming Democratic Economic Governance 01:02:40 – Final Reflections & Closing Fred Block:- https://sociology.ucdavis.edu/people/fred-block

Professional Capital and the Future of Teaching | Andy Hargreaves | Research Professor at Boston College and Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto | Season 13 Episode 12 | #233

In this episode, I sit down with Andy Hargreaves, Research Professor at Boston College and Professor Emeritus at the University of Toronto, to explore what meaningful educational change actually requires. We examine decades of reform efforts, from standardization and accountability to professional collaboration and leadership. Andy argues that many reform movements fail because they prioritize short-term metrics over long-term capacity building. Our conversation focuses on the idea of professional capital, the collective expertise, judgment, and collaboration that enable teachers to thrive. We discuss why teaching cannot be reduced to technical compliance, how leadership shapes school culture, and why sustainable improvement depends on trust, equity, and system-level coherence. Andy reflects on global reform movements, the tension between policy mandates and professional autonomy, and the importance of investing in human relationships within schools. What stayed with me most is the emphasis on sustainability. Educational change is not about quick wins or competitive ranking. It is about cultivating environments where educators can grow, collaborate, and respond thoughtfully to complex social realities. This episode invites listeners to reconsider what it truly means to reform education in a way that lasts. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 02:05 – Andy Hargreaves’ Journey into Educational Reform 07:10 – The Rise of Standards and Accountability 13:40 – Why Reform Movements Fail 19:30 – Professional Capital and Teacher Expertise 26:15 – Leadership, Trust, and School Culture 33:00 – Equity and System-Level Change 40:10 – Global Reform Trends and Lessons Learned 47:25 – Sustainability vs. Short-Term Results 54:10 – The Future of Teaching as a Profession 01:00:40 – Final Reflections & Closing Andy Hargreaves: https://www.andyhargreaves.com/

The Architecture of Modern Capitalism | Neil Fligstein | Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley | Season 13 Episode 11 | #232

In this episode, I sit down with Neil Fligstein, Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, to explore how markets are constructed and stabilized. We discuss his argument that markets are not natural or spontaneous outcomes of exchange, but political and social projects shaped by states, firms, and power struggles. Neil explains how modern capitalism emerged through deliberate institutional design and how firms actively seek stability rather than constant competition. Our conversation examines the relationship between the state and the market, challenging the idea that economic systems operate independently of political authority. We explore how firms use legal frameworks, governance structures, and strategic alliances to shape competition in their favor. Neil emphasizes that markets require rules, enforcement, and shared understandings in order to function, and that these arrangements reflect ongoing negotiations among powerful actors. What stayed with me most is the recognition that capitalism is neither purely competitive nor purely efficient. It is organized, stabilized, and often protected by political institutions. This episode invites listeners to rethink where markets come from, who benefits from their structure, and how economic order is maintained over time. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 02:20 – Neil Fligstein’s Intellectual Background 07:30 – Are Markets Natural or Constructed? 14:10 – The Political Foundations of Markets 21:40 – Firms, Competition, and the Search for Stability 29:00 – The Role of the State in Capitalism 36:20 – Power, Governance, and Market Rules 44:10 – How Markets Evolve Over Time 52:30 – Financialization and Modern Capitalism 01:00:40 – Crisis, Regulation, and Institutional Change 01:09:10 – What the Future of Capitalism Might Look Like 01:15:20 – Final Reflections & Closing