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The Learning Curve

Pioneer Institute
School Choice
Charter Schools
Education Policy
Education Reform
Education
K-12 Education
Civil Rights Movement
Israel
Massachusetts Education Reform Act
American History
Education Savings Accounts
American Revolution
Slavery
Zionism
Sir William Blackstone
Massachusetts
Civics Education
Social Justice
Holocaust
Catholic Schools

Join The Learning Curve every Wednesday for insight and perspective on education, learning trends, school choice, and public policy. Our hosts and guests offer a mix of provocative commentary as they interview school leaders, innovators, bestselling authors, policymakers, and more. Send any suggestions, tips, and fan mail to pioneer@pioneerinstitute.org.Listen to all episodes of The Learning Curve... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes356Founded7 years ago
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Education

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Artwork for The Learning Curve

Latest Episodes

In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Prof. Albert Cheng of Ohio State University and Alisha Searcy of the Center for Strong Public Schools speak with Dr. Suzanne Marrs, Professor Emerita of English at Millsaps College and acclaimed ... more

In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of the Center for Strong Public Schools and Jake Tawney of the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education speak with Dr. Snezana Lawrence, an independent scholar affiliated with Middl... more

In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Prof. Albert Cheng of the University of Arkansas and Alisha Searcy of the Center for Strong Public Schools speak with Leslie Hiner, Senior Advisor for Legal Policy at EdChoice, about the constitu... more

In this week’s episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Prof. Albert Cheng of the University of Arkansas and Alisha Searcy of the Center for Strong Public Schools speak with Andrew Hadfield, Emeritus Professor of English at the University of Sussex an... more

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Recent Guests

Leslie Hiner
Vice President of Legal Policy at EdChoice; senior advisor on school-choice litigation
EdChoice
Episode: EdChoice's Leslie Hiner on School Choice Litigation
Andrew Hadfield
Emeritus Professor of English, University of Sussex (UK) and Spenser biographer
University of Sussex; British Academy
Episode: UK U-Sussex's Andrew Hadfield on Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, & Epic Poetry
Rachel Canter
Director of Education Policy for Reinventing America's Schools Project at the Progressive Policy Institute; founder of Mississippi First
Progressive Policy Institute; Mississippi First
Episode: Progressive Policy Institute's Rachel Canter on Mississippi’s Academic Gains
Kevin Gutzman
Professor and author of The Jeffersonians
Western Connecticut State University
Episode: NYT-Best Seller Dr. Kevin Gutzman on the Jeffersonian Presidents
Julie Young
Entrepreneur, educator, innovator, former FLVS president and CEO, author
Arizona State University; Florida Virtual School
Episode: Florida's Julie Young on Say Yes! How Virtual Became Reality
Stephen Greenblatt
Harvard University Professor of the Humanities; author and scholar of English Renaissance literature
Harvard University
Episode: Harvard Pulitzer Winner Stephen Greenblatt on Christopher Marlowe - Elizabethan Playwright & Spy
Keri Ingraham
Senior Fellow at Discovery Institute; Director of the Institute's American Center for Transforming Education
Discovery Institute
Episode: Discovery Institute's Dr. Keri Ingraham on School Choice & Edu Federalism
Katie Everett
Executive director of the Lynch Foundation
Lynch Foundation
Episode: DFI's Jim Blew & Lynch's Katie Everett on Fed. Ed. Tax Credit in Blue States
Gijs van Hensbergen
Dutch art historian, food critic and author of Gaudí biographies
Author of Gaudí biographies; Scholar
Episode: Gijs van Hensbergen on Antoni Gaudí & the Sagrada Família

Hosts

Albert Cheng
Co-host of The Learning Curve with a focus on education policy and reform.
Alisha Thomas Searcy
Co-host guiding discussion and bringing context from education policy and practice.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 32 ratings
  • My Go-To Podcast for Real Conversations

    The Learning Curve isn’t your typical education podcast that skims the surface or plays it safe. Every episode, the hosts bravely ask the tough questions—the ones we all think but don’t always say out loud. They’re bold, curious, and unapologetically challenge the usual ways of thinking and doing.

    What I love most is how honest and necessary these conversations feel. They dig into the hard truths—what’s really working, what’s falling short, and what we need to rethink if we truly want to suppor... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    doncook12345
    United Statesa year ago
  • Excellent!

    Interesting interviews with people I never heard of with facts and insight

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jsail52
    United States2 years ago
  • Yet another fantastic interview!

    You guys have the best guests. I wonder if I’ll live long enough to get through my Learning Curve reading list. John and Abigail Adams’ works are moving to the top of my list. Thank you all!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sad about the app
    United States4 years ago
  • Tackling the Nation’s Worst Problem

    The great Bob Bowden continues his long crusade on behalf of the nation’s most vulnerable children.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Crmnctns
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Thoughtful, challenging conversations that push beyond the surface.

Top Education Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EdChoice's Leslie Hiner on School Choice Litigation
Q: Where do you see private school choice litigation heading in the next five to ten years, especially with the federal tax credit on the table?
She envisions an inflection point with multiple moving pieces—First Amendment arguments, free speech considerations in schools, and contestations around adequacy funding—predicting continued growth and new types of litigation as the federal tax credit interacts with state programs.
EdChoice's Leslie Hiner on School Choice Litigation
Q: Could you share with our listeners a snapshot of your background and what drew you to advocate for school choice?
Leslie explains she became an accidental lawyer due to a pivotal case in Indiana and shifted into international law to focus on parental rights and educational freedom, ultimately dedicating her career to expanding school choice.
UK U-Sussex's Andrew Hadfield on Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, & Epic Poetry
Q: Could you briefly discuss Spenser's legacy as amongst the greatest craftsman of the English language?
Spenser is a phenomenal poet with a vast range, capable of integrating diverse forms—from sonnets to longer narrative sequences—while weaving complex ideas through rhythm, rhyme, and layered meaning; his influence persists in how later poets imitate the Spenserian stanza and in his foundational role in shaping English epic and lyric tradition.
Harvard Pulitzer Winner Stephen Greenblatt on Christopher Marlowe - Elizabethan Playwright & Spy
Q: What are the key aspects of Marlowe's death and legacy as discussed?
Marlowe's death remains shrouded in mystery and rumor, but his legacy endures through the example he set in defying conventional religious and social constraints, pushing English drama toward epic, morally ambiguous figures that Shakespeare would later perfect.
Harvard Pulitzer Winner Stephen Greenblatt on Christopher Marlowe - Elizabethan Playwright & Spy
Q: How did Tamburlaine revolutionize the English stage?
Tamburlaine broke away from the then-standard verse forms, introduced powerful, almost prose-like heightened speech and a large, dynamic stage presence, creating a template for intense, ambitious characters that influenced later playwrights including Shakespeare.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Learning Curve

What is The Learning Curve about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly discussion series centered on education policy, school choice, and public policy dynamics, with hosts guiding probing conversations with guests ranging from policymakers and scholars to authors and advocates. Episodes frequently dissect landmark legal decisions, funding models, and reform strategies, while weaving in historical context, leadership lessons, and real-world implications for families, districts, and students. Notable strengths include a consistent focus on practical policy design, accessible explanations of complex issues, and a track record of high-profile guests who shape national debates around education freedom and reform. This show is likely to appeal to education professionals, policymakers, researchers, and fund... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Learning Curve?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Learning Curve:

1. WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch
2. The Ezra Klein Show
3. The Daily
4. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat
5. Modern Love

How many episodes of The Learning Curve are there?

The Learning Curve launched 7 years ago and published 356 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Learning Curve?

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What guests have appeared on The Learning Curve?

Recent guests on The Learning Curve include:

1. Leslie Hiner
2. Andrew Hadfield
3. Rachel Canter
4. Kevin Gutzman
5. Julie Young
6. Stephen Greenblatt
7. Keri Ingraham
8. Katie Everett

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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