workforce skills

Future of Work

Harnessing Flow: From Hollywood to Remote Work with Steven Puri Founder & CEO The Sukha Company

Host Mike Palmer is joined by ⁠Steven Puri⁠, founder and CEO of ⁠The Sukha Company⁠. Before building tools for deep work, Puri was a senior executive at major motion picture studios, overseeing production on blockbusters like Independence Day and Braveheart, and managing franchises like Die Hard and Wolverine. He shares how the same rigorous focus required to produce massive films can be applied to modern productivity through the concept of Flow—a state popularized by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.

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Future of Work

The State of Workforce Development in 2026 with Paul Fain

Paul Fain, the founder of ⁠Work Shif⁠t and author of ⁠The Job ⁠newsletter, returns to ⁠Trending in Education ⁠ for a look at the state of workforce development in 2026. He describes a challenging environment for early-career professionals where emerging technologies are driving significant shifts in hiring and job stability. While four-year degree holders often dominate the media discourse, Paul emphasizes the critical need to report on non-degree workers, particularly those in clerical and administrative roles who face high risks from automation.

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Future of Work

Career Exploration in the Age of AI with Gina Worthey, Steve Jurch, and Shalin Jyotishi

How do we prepare Gen Z for a workforce being reshaped by Artificial Intelligence? Recorded live from the National Youth Apprenticeship Summit in Alexandria, Virginia, this episode explores the “Wild West” of the modern innovation economy and the vital role of youth apprenticeships in building future-ready career pathways.

Host Mike Palmer is joined by three experts to discuss the intersection of emerging technology, educational equity, and early career development.

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Future of Work

🎮 Endless Possibilities: Game Design, AI, and the Future of Education with Matt Dalio

Matt Dalio, founder and CEO of ⁠Endless Studios⁠, joins host Mike Palmer to explore the profound connection between games, technology, and workforce development. Matt, who grew up with an early global perspective—including a transformative year in China at age 11—brings his philanthropic drive to the world of scalable tech solutions .

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Education

Reimagining Assessment for the Age of AI with Amit Sevak, CEO of ETS

The global landscape of education and work is changing at a pace that requires an entirely new approach to measurement. ⁠Trending in Education⁠ host ⁠Mike Palmer⁠ welcomes ⁠Amit Sevak⁠, CEO of ⁠ETS ⁠(Educational Testing Service), the organization responsible for millions of assessments worldwide, to discuss the high-stakes transformation of how we identify talent.

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K12 Education

Beyond Teacher Burnout: Nate Eklund on Transforming Teacher Engagement and the Vital Network

In this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer interviews Nate Eklund, founder and CEO of ⁠Vital Network⁠, about the critical issues of teacher and administrative burnout in the U.S. Nate shares his journey from a high school teacher to an expert in education workforce development, driven by a passion for creating sustainable and engaging work environments in schools. We also touch on Nate’s groundbreaking work: ⁠How Was Your Day at School: Improving Dialog About Teacher Job Satisfaction⁠.  

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Future of Work

Career Connected Learning and the Science of You with Edson Barton, YouScience CEO

In this enlightening episode of ⁠Trending in Ed⁠, host Mike Palmer engages in a dynamic conversation with Edson Barton, co-founder and CEO of ⁠YouScience⁠, diving deep into the transformative power of career education and aptitude assessment. Edson shares his own compelling origin story, reflecting on how his early struggles in school ignited a passion for revolutionizing the way we approach education and career guidance.  

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Higher Education

Who Needs College Anymore? with Author Kathleen deLaski

Kathleen deLaski, author of Who Needs College Anymore? Imagining a Future Where Degrees Won’t Matter joins host Mike Palmer for a candid conversation about the future of higher education. With rising college costs and a shifting job market, many are questioning the value of a traditional college degree. We dig into it with Kathleen who brings her unique blend of experience at the Education Design Lab and beyond to bear on the conversation.

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Future of Work

Building a Future Ready Workforce with Joshua Wright

In this episode of Trending in Education, Mike Palmer sits down with Josh Wright, Executive Vice President of Growth, Education and Government for Lightcast, to discuss the future of work and workforce demographic shifts. We dive deep into Lightcast’s report “The Rising Storm: Building a Future Ready Workforce to Withstand the Looming Labor Shortage.” Josh shares insights on the demographic drought facing the workforce, including accelerated baby boomer retirements, declining birth rates, and decreasing labor force participation.

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Higher Education

Bridging the Skills Gap with Sara Leoni

In this special bonus episode recorded at the HolonIQ Back to School Summit in New York City, we catch up with Sara Leoni, CEO & Founder of Ziplines Education, for a candid hallway conversation. Sara shares her journey from Division I softball player to EdTech entrepreneur, discussing how her athletic background shaped her leadership style and business acumen.

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Future of Work

Breaking Barriers to Workforce Participation with Jane Oates

In this episode of Trending in Education, host Mike Palmer welcomes back Jane Oates, senior policy advisor at Working Nation, for her third (fridge-magnet-earning) appearance on the show. Jane and Mike dive deep into workforce development, education, and the role of technology in shaping the future of work. We discuss Working Nation’s “Breaking Barriers” series, the challenges of implementing new technologies in education and workforce development, and strategies for encouraging employee upskilling and AI literacy.

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