The Future of Education Podcast is the place to find out what's happening in schools. Our guests are wide and varied, from educators, entrepreneurs, athletes, celebrities, influencers and most importantly-our students! They all have one thing in common- they are passionate about reinventing education to make it relevant and efficient.
Our host, MacKenzie Price, is the Co-Founder of 2hr Learning (2hourlearning.com) and some of the top-performing schools in the country. 2 Hour Learning is a groundbreaking school model that is reshaping the landscape of K-12 education. It's powered by AI technology, enabling schools to provide personalized curriculum to students. Our K-12 schools perform in the top 2% nationwide by leveraging this personalize model to help students love school, learn twice as much, and build life skills. MacKenzie is at the forefront of educational transformation, striving for a balanced and enriching learning experience for every child. She graduated with a BA in Psychology from Stanford University and resides in Austin, Texas, with her husband and two daughters.
The Future of Education podcast is produced by 7 Lyons Media (7LyonsMedia.com). Please send press inquiries to mkp@2hourlearning.com.
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S2E363: How to Be a Mentor to Your Kid (Not Just a Parent)
Season 2 · Episode 363
Friday, October 23, 2026 • Duration 38:24
Many parents worry about whether their kids are developing the character, resilience, and adaptability needed for a fast-changing world. In this episode, Mackenzie sits down with Chauncey—a former Teach for America core member, NYC Department of Education leader, Goldman Sachs talent executive, and current Alpha School guide. Chauncey shares how combining high standards with high support creates the ultimate mentor mindset, and how parents can bring these exact frameworks into their homes.
Chauncey breaks down why most life lessons are "caught, not taught," how to decouple age from learning stage so kids master concepts without shame, and practical ways parents can step into their child’s world to unlock quiet or anxious kids.
Episode Timestamps
03:28 - Chauncey’sJourney: Teach for America, Penn, Dept of Ed & Goldman Sachs
08:08 - Why AI Education Is 90% Human Mentorship, 10% Technology
09:02 - The "Big Game" vs. "Little Games": Raising Kids with Character
11:57 - Transitioning from Traditional Teaching to the MentorModel
13:59 - Lessons Are Caught, Not Taught: TheMirrorLoop for Parents
15:33 - The "Glows, Grows & Everyone Should Know" Daily Framework
18:31 - How TakingImmediateOwnership Neutralizes Conflict
20:04 - "Love of School Is Love of Life": MakingDaily RoutinesJoyful
22:50 - High Standards + High Support: Why Kids Crave Real Challenges
26:18 - Decoupling Age and Stage: Eliminating Academic Shame in Kids
31:20 - How to Step Into the World of a Quiet or Anxious Child
34:09 - Bringing World-Class EducationalInnovation to a Billion Kids
Watch the Future of Education on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@future_of_education
Learn more about our schools: www.2hourlearning.com/schools
Learn more about Alpha School: www.alpha.school
S2E362: Is Your Kid's School Teaching Reading Wrong? 5 Non-Negotiables from a Curriculum Expert
Season 2 · Episode 362
Friday, October 16, 2026 • Duration 44:16
National reading scores are plummeting, yet many schools are still using reading programs that completely ignore basic learning science. In this episode, Mackenzie sits down with curriculum expert and learning scientist Karen Vaites to unpack the national literacy crisis and expose what most schools get wrong about teaching kids to read.
Karen unveils the 5 non-negotiables every parent must evaluate their child’s elementary reading curriculum for. She exposes why traditional classrooms are failing young readers and gives parents an actionable 5-step checklist—covering phonics, progress screening, knowledge-building, reading volume, and writing—to ensure their child gets the reading education they deserve.
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 - The National Literacy Crisis & Guest Introduction
01:12 - Why Early Reading Is the Tailwind for All Academic Success
02:51 - What’s Driving the Reading Decline? Screens & School Distractions
05:23 - Science of Reading vs. Faddish Classroom Methods
S2E361: The Harvard Business Approach to Raising Critical Thinkers
Season 2 · Episode 361
Friday, October 9, 2026 • Duration 43:46
Many kids today are struggling to think independently, handle high-pressure moments, and make strategic choices on their own. Terrence McMullen—a Harvard MBA graduate and Dean of Parents at Alpha—is on a mission to fix that. Having spent 15 years teaching advanced business acumen and negotiation to K-12 students, Terrence has built programs alongside Goldman Sachs and partnered with over 20 top independent schools across New York.
In this conversation, Terrence shares how adapting the Harvard Business School case method equips parents to build deep critical thinking, refine real-world communication, and raise adaptable children who know how to analyze complex situations on the fly.
In this episode, we discuss:
The Harvard Business School Case Method: How Socratic questioning and real-world business scenarios encourage kids to think on their feet and question their own assumptions.
Teaching Strategy Through Scenarios: An inside look at how a Steve Jobs iPhone launch case teaches 10-year-olds pricing, positioning, and market trade-offs.
Real-World Application: How student-led projects give kids direct experience.
Practical At-Home Exercises: Simple strategies parents can use during daily routines.
Recognizing Critical Thinking Gaps: Behavioral signs that indicate a child needs practice in evaluating alternatives.
Strategic Communication & Empathy: How teaching kids to read non-verbal cues improves social competence and negotiation skills.
Episode Timestamps:
01:28 - The Socratic case method at Harvard Business School
02:37 - Adapting businesschallenges for young students
04:13 - Example: Using the Steve Jobs iPhone to teach marketing and pricing
S2E360: A Stanford ER Doctor’s Blueprint for Raising Healthy Kids— With Dr. Viveta Lobo
Season 2 · Episode 360
Friday, October 2, 2026 • Duration 57:14
What does it actually take to keep kids healthy, active, and out of the emergency room? In this episode, MacKenzie sits down with Dr. Viveta Lobo—a Stanford ER physician, professor, Alpha parent, and mother of three—to unpack a practical, preventive approach to childhood health, physical fitness, and nutrition. In this conversation, Dr. Lobo breaks down commonly asked questions in a compilation of essential, doctor-approved best practices for parents.
In this episode, we cover:
Movement as Brain Fuel: How physical activity releases BDNF ("Miracle-Gro for the brain") to improve executive function, memory, and classroom focus.
Strength Training for Kids: Dispelling myths around weightlifting, and why resistance training helps kids—especially those carrying extra weight—build physical competence over humiliation.
Building Child Agency: Why letting kids handle age-appropriate responsibilities (from setting alarms to planning family meals) builds real-world judgment that AI cannot replace.
Practical Family Nutrition: The 80/20 approach to snacks, hitting daily protein targets (~1.5g/kg), and enforcing the "three-bite rule" for picky eaters.
Preventive Healthcare: Moving away from reactive ER visits to establish core lifestyle habits (movement, nutrition, mental health, community) early in life.
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 - Meeting Dr. Viveta Lobo
00:56 - Shifting from Reactive ER Care to Preventive Health
03:38 - Relocating to Austin & Choosing Texas Sports Academy
05:00 - Why Physical Activity is "Miracle-Gro" for the Brain (BDNF)
S2E359: The Reality of Building an Alternative School—With Infinity Academy Founders Gillian and Jenna
Season 2 · Episode 359
Friday, September 25, 2026 • Duration 49:26
What actually happens when you leave traditional careers to build an alternative school from scratch? In this episode, MacKenzie sits down with fellow alternative school founders Gillian Berard (former public school teacher) and Jenna Baggott (former NICU nurse) to unpack the practical realities of launching Infinity Academy, a project-based microschool on 17 acres in Ontario.
From navigating local zoning laws using yurt classrooms to balancing AI-powered personalized academics with outdoor life skills, it’s a candid, unfiltered look at the practical realities of launching an alternative school today.
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro: Meeting the Founders of Infinity Academy
01:29 - Why Reforming Public Education Feels Like "Steering the Titanic"
03:22 - Leaving Nursing & Teaching to Build Something New
19:09 - The Reality of Year 1: Zoning, Funding & Risk
24:09 - Yurt Classrooms & Bypassing Structural Permits
25:30 - Using Social Media to Prove What School Can Be
27:45 - Practical Advice for Launching Your Own Microschool
S2E358: The Ambitious Parent Trap (& The Leadership Skill You Need to Escape It) with Heather Chauvin
Season 2 · Episode 358
Friday, September 18, 2026 • Duration 44:18
Leadership skills in the workplace don't always translate to leadership skills in the home. Often times, the well-intentioned efforts of ambitious parents can lead to surprising consequences for their kids. As it turns out, the secret to raising extraordinary, self-driven kids isn't just pushing harder and chasing optimization...and today's guest is here to unpack just that.
In this episode, MacKenzie sits down with Heather Chauvin—former social worker, stage 4 cancer survivor, host of the Emotionally Uncomfortable podcast, and advisor to high-achieving leaders—to talk about how ambitious parents can lead their families without burning out in the process.
We're covering:
Energy Management vs. Time Management: What happens when you fill your calendar without first seeking emotional alignment.
Intentionality vs. Control: How to stop micromanaging and support your child's innate development.
The Overparenting Trap: Why high achievers accidentally create a "comfort crisis" for their kids and how to break the cycle.
Parenting as Quiet Leadership: How to shift out of being "the doer" who controls every task.
Episode Timestamps:
02:42 – Performative Parenting: Trapped in the Comparison Game
05:14 – A Stage 4 Cancer Diagnosis and a Burnout Crisis
07:47 – Energy Management vs. Time Management
09:53 – Why Reactive Living Drains Your Daily Capacity
14:43 – Intentionality vs. Control: Are You Supporting or Micromanaging?
15:43 – The "Time & Energy Audit": Making Invisible Stress Visible
18:44 – The #1 Mistake High-Achieving Parents Make With Their Kids
S2E357: The 15-Minute Weekly Habit That Turns Kids into Self-Starters
Season 2 · Episode 357
Friday, September 11, 2026 • Duration 45:30
What if one focused conversation each week could help your child identify roadblocks, set meaningful goals, and take ownership of what happens next?
In this episode, MacKenzie speaks with Jackson—an Alpha Guide with a background in sports psychology—about Limitless Meetings: recurring, one-on-one coaching conversations that transform a student's ability to set and stick to goals. Jackson explains how to structure a quick, focused check-in, adapt the conversation to a child’s age and interests, and use motivational interviewing instead of defaulting to lectures or quick solutions.
Parents and educators will leave with a practical framework for helping children articulate what they want, identify what is getting in the way, choose their own next step, and determine exactly how they want to be held accountable.
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 – An Introduction to Limitless Meetings
02:58 – Finding the Sweet Spot: Ideal Meeting Lengths for Every Age
05:06 – From Songwriting to Social Skills: Setting Clear, Actionable Goals
06:36 – The Paint-by-Numbers Trick: Keeping Kids Engaged During Deep Conversations
10:48 – Moving from Parent-Led Directives to Student-Owned Agendas
11:56 – The Two Golden Rules: Confidentiality and Tying Goals to Real Life Skills
16:58 – Motivational Interviewing: A Simple Questioning Framework for Parents
24:28 – Positive Reinforcement vs. Negative Punishment
27:28 – The "WTF" Framework
29:21 – How to Use AI to Grade Coaching Conversations
S2E356: "Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire": A Skeptical Educator Tested Our Learning Model in India
Season 2 · Episode 356
Friday, September 4, 2026 • Duration 45:36
When Dr. Tasha Arnold came across Alpha's MAP test scores, she was in disbelief. As a lifelong lover of traditional schooling with two decades of experience teaching everywhere from Chicago public schools to top private schools in London and Mumbai, Tasha decided to test the learning model out for herself.
In this episode, MacKenzie and Tasha (who is now the Head of School at Alpha!) dive deep into the massive paradigm shift required to accept AI in the classroom, why technology actually increases human interaction, and why giving kids the space to fail might be the most important thing we can do for their future.
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: The Ultimate Skeptic
02:37 - Dr. Tasha’s Global Education Background
05:13 - The New Scarcity: Human Connection vs. Content
07:21 - The Reality of Traditional Classrooms & Lesson Plans
16:44 - Building Life Skills: "UN" Style Town Halls
21:12 - Protecting the Good Teachers (And Filtering the Rest)
25:44 - The "Failure Loop" & Practicing "Support, Not Solve"
30:53 - Building True Confidence Through Competence
34:42 - Data Privacy & Addressing AI Skepticism
38:05 - The Future of AI in Public Schools
41:50 - The Mumbai Experiment: From Skeptic to Believer
Watch the Future of Education on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@future_of_education
S2E355: Steal the Stock Market Simulation We Use to Build Young Investors
Season 2 · Episode 355
Friday, August 28, 2026 • Duration 36:42
In this episode, MacKenzie sits down with Alpha guide Chris Hays to break down the stock market simulation he uses to make investing, risk, and reward click for students. Using classroom currency, multiple investment options, and fictional market news, Chris turns a complex topic into a 20-minute weekly game that parents and educators can recreate- even if they're new to investing themselves.
The conversation goes beyond investing and explores practical ways to teach kids how to earn, save, spend, and donate. From needs-versus-wants discussions to a student-run claw machine business, this episode is full of approachable ideas for building financial confidence, curiosity, and strong money habits early on.
Episode Timestamps:
01:20 - Caricaturizing Money: "Professor Dinero"
02:19 - Needs vs. Wants Explored
03:32 - Steal the "Alpha" Currency System We Use
07:12 - Exploring the Controversy of Paying Students
09:55 - The Student Stock Market Explained
18:50 - Elevating Ordinary Lemonade Stands: A Case Study
24:11 - Entrepreneurship Anecdotes
29:41 - Alternative Reward Systems
34:30 - The Five Buckets of Financial Literacy
Watch the Future of Education on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@future_of_education
S2E354: Are You Passing Limiting Beliefs to Your Kid? (6 Simple Fixes)
Season 2 · Episode 354
Friday, August 21, 2026 • Duration 50:33
How do you help a child who says "I'm bad at math," "I can't read," or "That's just not my thing"? In this episode, Mackenzie sits down with Alexis Wilson, growth mindset and performance coach, to discuss how parents and educators can help kids break out of fixed mindsets and build genuine self-confidence (hint: empty affirmations without evidence don't work). Plus, they confront the harsh fact that parents' hidden fears can cause more issues in kids than any lack of natural talent—and how small shifts at home can completely change a child's identity.
Episode Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction: Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset
03:40 - The Science: How Brains Change with Neuroplasticity
05:09 - Spotting a Fixed Mindset: "That's Just Not My Thing"
06:40 - How to Change a Child's Negative Self-Talk
10:37 - Why Confidence Requires Real Evidence & Reps
17:33 - How Kids Unconsciously Pick Up Their Parents' Fears
23:14 - Are You Secretly Sabotaging Your Child's Mindset?
29:08 - The Power of "Yet" & Normalizing Mistakes
33:55 - How Growth Mindset Transforms Family Dynamics at Home
39:24 - "Mom, I'm Not Dumb": A 7th Grader's Identity Shift
42:42 - Step-by-Step: How Parents Can Reframe Limiting Beliefs Today
44:42 - Knowing When to Pivot vs. When to Keep Pushing
Watch the Future of Education on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@future_of_education
33:21 - Non-Negotiable 4: High Volume of Reading Full Books
