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Artwork for Kohn's Zone

Kohn's Zone

Alfie Kohn
Education
Progressive Education
Learning Engagement
Artificial Intelligence
Achievement Focus
Math Education
Assessment Practices
Failure
Democracy
Critical Thinking
Learning
Fundamental Attribution Error
Curiosity
Educational Psychology
K-12 Education
Corporate Influence
Kindergarten
Classroom Management
Standardized Testing
Teaching Methods

Over more than a third of a century, Alfie Kohn has offered a multifaceted defense of progressive education as well as research-based critiques of rewards and punishments, grades, standardized testing, homework, competition, and other aspects of traditional schooling (and parenting). Each episode of Kohn’s Zone will offer 20-30 minutes of provocative reflections on a topic having to do with teachi... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes23Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Social SciencesKids & FamilyScienceParenting

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Artwork for Kohn's Zone

Latest Episodes

May 15, 2026 Grade Inflation Is Not the Problem

When you look at student transcripts (rather than at self-reports), it’s less clear that average grades are rising over time. And even if some grades are higher, that doesn’t mean they’re “inflated” ... more

YouTube

May 1, 2026 Beneath the What and the How Is the Why

In the absence of an affirmative definition of mental health, psychology doesn’t become value-free; its values – and the goals of therapy – are just driven underground. Similarly, if we don’t ref... more

YouTube

April 15, 2026 The Best Classroom Discussions, Hands Down

In traditional classrooms, students may contribute to a discussion only by raising their hands and waiting for the teacher to call on them. In even more controlling environments, students m... more

YouTube

April 1, 2026 The Assault on Public Education: A Conversation with Jennifer Berkshire

Public schools, says Jennifer Berkshire, are the places “where we start to solve problems together” and from which no child can be excluded even if she has speci... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Jennifer Berkshire
Author and education commentator; co-author of The Education Wars
Have You Heard? podcast (co-host); Edjuscheister blog
Episode: The Assault on Public Education
Susan Engel
A psychologist specializing in the intersection of education and developmental psychology, author of several books including The Hungry Mind, and The End of the Rainbow.
Williams College
Episode: The Curious Case of the Incurious Children
Joel Westheimer
University Research Chair in Democracy and Education at the University of Ottawa.
University of Ottawa
Episode: Death by Civics
Jo Boaler
A prominent professor of mathematics education and author
Stanford University
Episode: Number Sense and Nonsense

Host

Alfie Kohn
Host of Kohn's Zone; prominent educator, author, and proponent of progressive education and research-based critiques of traditional schooling.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 42 ratings
  • Enlightening

    Always provocative and interesting. I agree with much of the views here, but even when I don’t, I’m thinking anew about the nature of the problem. Thank you to Mr. Kohn for his thinking, writing, and research.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    music-ish
    United States4 months ago
  • Everyone should know about Alfie Kohn

    Alfie shows time and time again that what teachers, parents and employers think they know is often cobblers and not backed up by research. Unfortunately some ideas are so entrenched, throughout the world, that these ideas persist in the teeth of the evidence. I’ve seen pretty much every post where Alfie appears on YouTube and I’ve read many of his books. I admire him so much: and I am neither a teacher nor a parent. Thank you Alfie. These podcasts should be compulsory listening for teachers and ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hokeykokey
    United Kingdom8 months ago
  • A Fabulous Listen

    Listening to Kohn speak about education is always impactful. All of the research he cites truly backs up what he says.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cookininpennsy
    United States8 months ago
  • More, please!

    I’ve been reading Alfie Kohn’s books for decades and eagerly await his newest articles and blogs. What a bonus to hear this podcast! My only suggestion for improvement is to keep these episodes coming more and more. Thanks!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gnatgnatg
    United States9 months ago
  • A Lot to Like

    There is a lot to like about this podcast by Alfie Kohn. There is a lot to appreciate and admire. His comprehensive understanding of the available research, his acerbic wit and trenchant observations, his unflappable devotion to progressive education. But of all the things to love about Kohn’s Zone, my favorite part is the deep empathy that pervades every episode. He cares deeply about the experience of children in the education system. The parents, the teachers, the administrators. His apprecia... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JasonDeeble
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the show for its research-backed arguments and practical implications for educators and parents.
All episodes are provocative and intellectually stimulating, pushing me to rethink what education should be.
The host's empathy for students and teachers shines through, making hard critiques feel constructive and humane.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Assault on Public Education
Q: Why is public education considered a foundational democratic institution, and what challenges does it currently face from right-wing policy moves?
Public education is seen as the entry point for collective problem solving and shared civic life, but it is under threat from coordinated political efforts to privatize or privatize-adjacent structures, expand voucher schemes, and impose religious or market-based models that undermine equality and civil rights protections.
Beyond “Electronic Flashcards”
Q: What distinguishes the good from the bad version of a given idea, including but not limited to each kid getting their own laptop?
It's more about the vision and leadership behind implementation rather than the technology itself.
Beyond “Electronic Flashcards”
Q: Why is it that traditional schools seem at least as excited about Ed Tech as schools that you and I would view as authentic and exciting and progressive?
Traditional schooling and Ed Tech are merging due to a confluence of factors, with a focus on turning students into compliant outputs rather than fostering true learning.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Kohn's Zone

What is Kohn's Zone about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Thoughtful, evidence-driven critiques of education and behavior, with a strong emphasis on progressive approaches to teaching, learning, and human development. Episodes typically blend scholarly references, practical classroom strategies, and policy-level perspectives to challenge conventional schooling norms—covering topics from intrinsic motivation and democratic classrooms to the impact of homework, testing, and technology. A standout trait is the host's clear commitment to humane, student-centered education, often pairing theoretical insights with concrete examples and calls for democratic participation in learning communities. This combination of rigorous research, accessible discussion, and principled critique is likely to appeal to e... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Kohn's Zone:

1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. Have You Heard
3. The Daily
4. Fresh Air
5. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

How many episodes of Kohn's Zone are there?

Kohn's Zone launched a year ago and published 23 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Kohn's Zone?

Recent guests on Kohn's Zone include:

1. Jennifer Berkshire
2. Susan Engel
3. Joel Westheimer
4. Jo Boaler

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