AN MSA PODCAST
SEASON 2 IS HERE! Catch all Episodes to date.
New voices, new insights, same mission.
Season 2 explores the future of learning through the people building it.
EPISODE 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.
EPISODE 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.
EPISODE 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.
EPISODE 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.
EPISODE 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.
EPISODE 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.
EPISODE 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.
EPISODE 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.
EPISODE 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.
EPISODE 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.
EPISODE 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.