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The ThoughtStretchers Podcast

ThoughtStretchers Education
Inquiry-Based Learning
Cognitive Load Theory
Cognitive Science
Education
Project-Based Learning
Critical Thinking
Equity In Education
Education Policy
School Choice
Explicit Instruction
Dyslexia
Teaching Strategies
Knowledge-Rich Curriculum
Educational Research
Artificial Intelligence
Leveled Reading, Leveled Lives
Educational Equity
Curriculum Design
Reading Education
Professional Development

Dialectic Conversations For Intellectually Rigorous Educators

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes465Founded11 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Education

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Artwork for The ThoughtStretchers Podcast

Latest Episodes

Drew Perkins hosts a live conversation at the Festival of Education with Lianne Cottrell of the Jack Miller Center, Ronnie London of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and Rachel Humphries of the Bill of Rights Institute on re... more

Drew Perkins hosts a live panel at the Festival of Education with Elise Stephenson, Patrice Bain and Valentina Devid on the so-called pedagogy wars between explicit instruction and inquiry. Recorded in front of an audience, the conversation asks what... more

Drew Perkins talks with Sean Morrisey to discuss the pedagogical philosophy and curriculum design behind the Word Mapping Project. Discover how this innovative approach interweaves spelling, vocabulary, morphology, and fluency into a single manageabl... more

Drew Perkins sits down with Heather Peske, President of the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) to examine critical strategies for teacher compensation, fiscal constraints, and strategic school funding.

As school districts nationwide confron... more

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Recent Guests

Lianne Cottrell
Teacher, educational consultant and teacher education fellow.
Jack Miller Center
Episode: Restoring Enlightenment Civics
Ronnie London
General Counsel and Director of Litigation at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
Episode: Restoring Enlightenment Civics
Rachel Davidson Humphries
Senior Director of Civic Learning and former middle and high school educator.
Bill of Rights Institute
Episode: Restoring Enlightenment Civics
Elise Stephenson
Director of the Washington International School Institute for Teachers and advocate for Project Zero's work
Washington International School Institute for Teachers
Episode: Can We Move Beyond the Pedagogy Wars?
Patrice Bain
Educator who worked with cognitive scientists studying how children learn in authentic classrooms
Episode: Can We Move Beyond the Pedagogy Wars?
Valentina Devid
Co-founder of Formative Action School, writer and professional development provider
Formative Action School
Episode: Can We Move Beyond the Pedagogy Wars?
Sean Morrisey
Founder of the Word Mapping Project
Word Mapping Project
Episode: What is the Word Mapping Project?
Heather Peske
President of the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ)
National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ)
Episode: Spending Smarter on Teacher Pay
Neal McCluskey
Author and researcher; co-editor of Fighting for the Freedom to Learn
Florida State University Institute for Governance and Civics (FGC) / Cato Institute
Episode: The History of School Choice

Host

Drew Perkins
Host of The ThoughtStretchers Podcast

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 53 ratings
  • Always insightful conversations!

    Drew is a good interviewer and has really interesting conversations. I highly recommend this podcast anyone that works in education!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Z Cress
    United States6 years ago
  • New Educator

    This was the first podcast that I listened to and what a wealth of knowledge and insight!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ambitious Blue
    United States7 years ago
  • Every Educator and Parent Needs to Listen

    Each conversation is filled with inspiration. If you are trying to teach your children what really matters and not just the material to pass tests, this podcast is a must!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bburtteaches
    United States8 years ago
  • Transforming education

    What a great podcast authentically changing education by providing valuable expertise in how to teach the 21st century learner!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AwesomeMontana
    United States8 years ago
  • Teacher

    I am a new teacher. It is my 3rd or 4th career. I teach in a private religious school. This podcast helped melearn about what isgoing on outside my school. It also exposed me to ideas on the cutting edge of education. Thank you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NDCARMI
    United States10 years ago

Listeners Say

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

- High-quality guests spanning researchers to practitioners, with practical takeaways.
- Positive, informative show for educators seeking evidence-based strategies.
- Thoughtful, insightful conversations with strong host interviewing.
- Clear, respectful debates about reform and pedagogy, with actionable ideas.
- Audience appreciates grounding in cognitive science and real-world classroom relevance.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Restoring Enlightenment Civics
Q: How do First Amendment rights play out differently among K-12 and higher education, and how can schools create a culture that supports open discussion?
London says college students have broad First Amendment protections and public-university faculty receive distinct protections for academic work. K-12 students retain speech rights subject to rules against substantial disruption or interference with others, while teachers' classroom speech is largely controlled by curriculum and school authorities. The panel also stresses preparing and supporting teachers to lead discussion.
Restoring Enlightenment Civics
Q: To what extent and in what ways do the ideals of our founding and perhaps Western civilization rest on Enlightenment liberalism?
Cottrell says Enlightenment values underpin the American founding, while differences between Scottish and French Enlightenment traditions shape how people interpret shared ideals such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Humphries adds that education often treats these philosophical foundations superficially, and London notes that the founders sought to establish a new tradition of rights.
Can We Move Beyond the Pedagogy Wars?
Q: How faithfully should we attend to the lessons of the expertise reversal effect when deciding how to treat novices versus experts differently?
The panel emphasizes constantly checking what students understand and making their thinking visible. Teachers should use that information to adapt support, recognizing that students can be ahead in some areas and still need help in others.
Can We Move Beyond the Pedagogy Wars?
Q: Can we think critically with little to no domain knowledge?
The panel says knowledge supports comparison, reflection and critical questions, while students also bring knowledge and ways of thinking that may not show up in test scores. They argue that teaching can build knowledge while helping students connect it and think critically.
What is the Word Mapping Project?
Q: How can interested teachers reach out or learn more about implementing Word Mapping?
Sean Morrisey launched the curriculum in April and maintains the website wordmappingproject.com, where teachers can purchase the curriculum and get in touch. He emphasizes prompt responses (within 24 hours) and notes that the program is not intended to be a universal fit for every district, but it is robust for upper-grade word study and can be integrated with novels and other activities.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The ThoughtStretchers Podcast

What is The ThoughtStretchers Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Thought-provoking conversations centered on education, pedagogy, and cognitive science drive practical insights for educators, administrators, and edtech professionals. Episodes frequently explore teacher preparation, formative assessment, cognitive load theory, inquiry-based learning, and the translation of research into classroom practice. Guests tend to be researchers, policy advocates, and seasoned educators who share concrete strategies, classroom realities, and reform-minded perspectives. The show frequently threads in questions of how to balance foundational knowledge with inquiry, how to scale evidence-informed approaches, and how to leverage technology and policy to improve learning outcomes. A standout throughline is a commitment ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The ThoughtStretchers Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The ThoughtStretchers Podcast:

1. Chalk & Talk
2. The Cult of Pedagogy Podcast
3. Science of Reading: The Podcast
4. Sold a Story
5. Huberman Lab

How many episodes of The ThoughtStretchers Podcast are there?

The ThoughtStretchers Podcast launched 11 years ago and published 465 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 The ThoughtStretchers Podcast?

Recent guests on The ThoughtStretchers Podcast include:

1. Lianne Cottrell
2. Ronnie London
3. Rachel Davidson Humphries
4. Elise Stephenson
5. Patrice Bain
6. Valentina Devid
7. Sean Morrisey
8. Heather Peske

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