AN MSA PODCAST
SEASON 3 IS HERE! New Episodes Drop Every Wednesday.
New voices, new insights, same mission.
Season 3 explores the future of learning through the people building it.
S.03 Ep.04:
The Third Path: Discernment, Resistance, and Getting Your Whole School to Move with Ellen Devine
When AI arrived, Choate Rosemary Hall didn't reach for a policy. They reached for a stance. Ellen Devine, Director of Studies and Chair of Choate's AI Steering Committee, walks through what it took to build community-wide AI adoption on terms that actually reflected their values.
S.03 Ep.03:
The Price of Progress: What 17 Years at One School Teaches You with Mark Pingitore
Mark Pingetore of the American School of Barcelona joins Evolution Stories to explore what 17 years of leading change in international education teaches you, why cultural humility matters more than zero-tolerance certainty, and how to build momentum without overwhelming the people driving it.
S.03 Ep.02:
The Change Leader's Real Resources: Inclusion, Attention, and Letting Go with Lauren Jones
Lauren Jones of Lauren Jones Consulting joins Evolution Stories to reflect on why inclusion is a justice issue, what a failed scholarship program in Rwanda taught her about whose voices get missed, and how leaders drive lasting change by reallocating attention before they ever touch the budget.
S.03 Ep.01: NEW SEASON!
Place and People: Designing for Flourishing and Collective Efficacy with Dr. Brian Kelly
Dr. Brian Kelly of Carol Morgan School joins Evolution Stories to explore how physical space shapes student flourishing, why meeting the pace of change takes more than innovation, and how leaders catalyze change by building collective efficacy instead of having all the answers.
S.02 Ep.11: THE SEASON FINALE!
The Science of Motivation, Regret, and Leading Change with Dan Pink
Bestselling author Dan Pink joins Evolution Stories to explore what truly motivates people, why leaders under-communicate change, how regret can become a strategic advantage, and what skills matter most in an AI-driven world.
S.02 Ep.10:
Why Culture, Not Strategy, Determines Whether Change Sticks: When Doing What’s Right for Students Is Not Enough with Elinor Scully
In this episode of Evolution Stories, Elinor Scully, Head of School at National Cathedral School, shares hard-earned lessons about leadership, fear, culture, and courage. From failed schedule reform to making high-stakes decisions during COVID, this conversation explores why change is rarely technical and almost always human.
S.02 Ep.09:
The Leadership Shift Schools Aren’t Ready For Yet: Why Agency, Not Achievement, Predicts What Comes Next with Maria Vogelei
What does it take to lead change in education when the model itself challenges long-held assumptions? In this episode of Evolution Stories, Christian Talbot speaks with Maria Vogelei, Head of School at the Village School in Arlington, Virginia, about learner agency, trust-building, and leadership beyond traditional pathways.
S.02 Ep.08:
Rethinking College, Credentials, and the Future of Learning Together in Crisis with Jeff Selingo
In this episode of Evolution Stories, Jeff Selingo joins the conversation to unpack how education systems are being reshaped by shifting student needs, changing labor markets, and growing skepticism about traditional college pathways. Drawing from decades of reporting and his latest book, Dream School, Jeff explores what meaningful learning looks like today, how institutions can better align with real-world outcomes, and why students need clearer signals about value, purpose, and possibility. The discussion challenges long-held assumptions about higher education and invites educators to imagine more responsive, learner-centered futures.
S.02 Ep.07:
Risk Taking, Resilience, and Real Leadership: Bringing School Leaders Together in Crisis with Laura Light
This episode features Laura Light, Executive Director of the Association for the Advancement of International Education, in conversation with Christian Talbot. Laura shares how she supports school leaders across the globe through geopolitical instability, AI disruption, and rapid change. She explores why community, risk taking, and kindness have become essential leadership tools for today’s schools.
S.02 Ep.06:
Adversity, Agency, and AI: Dr. Tim Stuart on the Future of Learning
Dr. Tim Stewart joins Evolution Stories to unpack the hard lessons of leading schools, from safeguarding failures to transforming learning in elite environments. He shares how adversity shaped his purpose and why AI may finally allow educators to personalize learning for every student.
S.02 Ep.05:
From Fashion to School Leadership, Catarina Song Chen’s Third Culture Journey
This episode features Catarina Song Chen, a global educator and senior leader with the U.S. Department of State. In conversation with Christian Talbot, she reflects on her unexpected path from fashion to education, the complex challenges of leading an international school in Brazil, and the deep work of building trust, culture, and sustainable change.
S.02 Ep.04:
From Brooklyn to Brazil: Building Strategic Change in Schools with Liz Perry
This episode features Liz Perry, Assistant Head of School for Academics at St. Luke’s School in Connecticut. With a career spanning classrooms in Brooklyn, Boston, Brazil, and Pine Ridge, Perry reflects on her diverse journey and shares how strategic planning, leadership, and global experience shape her vision for academic excellence.
S.02 Ep.03:
Microschools on the Rise: Don Soifer’s Vision for Education
This episode features Don Soifer, CEO of the National Microschooling Center, discussing his pioneering work in the microschool movement. From co-creating the nation’s first public-private partnership microschool in Las Vegas to shaping charter school policy, Soifer explores how microschools empower families, foster innovation, and expand educational options for students.
S.02 Ep.02:
From Germany to DC: Suzanna Jemsby on Leading with Empathy and Vision
This episode features Suzanna Jemsby, Head of School at Washington International School and Middle States Commissioner. From Germany to Atlanta to DC, her career reflects a deep belief in global citizenship and people-centered leadership. Suzanna shares lessons learned from both failed and successful change projects, highlighting empathy, resilience, and relational leadership.
S.02 Ep.01:
From Reopen to Reinvent: Michael Horn’s Vision for Schools
This episode features Michael Horn, author, speaker, and education innovation leader, in conversation with Christian Talbot. Horn reflects on his journey from writing From Reopen to Reinvent to shaping the future of learning. He explores how schools can embrace change, adapt to disruption, and design student-centered learning environments.