Edufuturists

In this episode of the Edufuturists podcast, we are joined by Dr Emily Musil from the Milken Institute to explore how education, philanthropy and technological change are colliding in powerful ways. Emily shares her journey through higher education, EdTech and global learning projects, before unpacking her current work helping philanthropists and institutions invest in the future of education.The conversation explores why AI literacy and computational thinking now need to be seen as part of the core learning experience, not as optional extras or specialist subjects. We discuss the growing pressure on higher education to rethink old models, the importance of lifelong learning, and the role of philanthropy in funding experimentation, innovation and system change.Emily also reflects on the balance between high tech and human-centred learning, arguing that the future of education should combine personalised digital support with collaboration, empathy and real-world problem solving. It is a conversation about imagination, urgency and the need to build learning systems that are more flexible, more equitable and more fit for the world ahead.Chapters00:00 Introduction02:15 Emily Musil’s background in Education and EdTech05:09 The Milken Institute and Strategic pPhilanthropy07:33 Global Trends, Regional Priorities and Systems Thinking10:11 AI Disruption and the Need for Future-focused Thinking14:51 Why AI Literacy Must Become a Core Skill16:01 Personalised Learning and What Schools Can Do Differently19:26 Higher Education, Business Models and Resistance to Change24:15 New University Models and Experimental Approaches26:46 Lifelong Learning and Education as a Continuum30:08 How Philanthropy can Catalyse Change in Education35:47 Computational Thinking, AI+ and Human-Centred Learning40:11 Competition, Global Opportunity and Prize-based Innovation45:22 Quickfire QuestionsFind out more about Emily here
Download the Milken Institute's latest AI Report
Hear about Milken's latest partnershop with Drew University
Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Follow us on X: https://www.twitter.com/edufuturistsFollow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edufuturists/Join the WhatsApp Community: https://chat.whatsapp.com/IWXj4PvbvvI5frLGVUj6ih?mode=ems_copy_h_cCheck out all about Edufuturists at https://www.edufuturists.comWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touch: [email protected] your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2026 at: edufuturists.com/uprising26

In this episode of the podcast, we have mashed together all of our interviews from Bett 2026. We aren't going to lie...putting this together has been a nightmare and we almost didn't put it out. We lost footage, some of the audio tracks haven't transcribed and it's not really our best work.But, we thought it's important we don't always have to be polished AND the audio content here with some incredible folks is just magical. Let's focus on that eh?! Don't judge; be kind!Chapters 00:00 Andrew Sliwinski, Lego14:21 Gavan Vetesse-Wilson, Salamander Soft31:38 John Roberts, Oak National Academy41:07 Taryn Sullivan, Google01:16:38 Mark Hadley, Blackout Technologies01:19:58 Simon Blower, Pobble01:24:41 Jon Neale, Kahoot01:39:14 Polly Morgan, IDEA.org01:49:40 James Weatherill, Arbor01:58:49 Aanya Niaz, AWS02:14:45 Alison Clark-Wilson, UCL02:27:00 Bett Awards02:33:40 Christian Turton02:36:53 Louisa & Yash, BeyondThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Follow us on XFollow us on LinkedInCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touch
Get your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2026

In this episode of the podcast, we get into a deep conversation with Dr. Iain MacRitchie about the transformative power of mentoring in education. We discuss the importance of building relationships, the role of failure in learning, and the need for a supportive education system that prioritises human connection. Iain shares his journey from business to social impact, emphasising the significance of trusted adults in the lives of young people. The conversation also explores the integration of technology in mentoring and the potential for community support systems to enhance educational outcomes. Ultimately, the episode highlights the necessity of hope and the collective effort required to uplift young individuals in their educational journeys.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Community Engagement03:02 Dr. Iain MacRitchie's Journey06:16 Bridging Business and Education08:52 The Importance of Mentoring12:04 Learning from Failure14:45 The Role of Relationships in Education17:44 Building a Trusted Adult Model20:34 Transformational Outcomes for Young People23:25 The Framework of MCR Mentoring26:26 Creating a Village for Support29:05 Scaling the Impact of Mentoring30:06 The Power of Mentorship and Community Engagement31:26 Innovative Approaches to Mentoring with Technology33:43 Balancing AI and Human Intelligence in Education35:49 Creating Safe Spaces for Young People37:56 Addressing the Impact of Social Media on Youth42:48 Revitalising Community Spaces for Learning49:20 Sustainability in Mentoring ProgrammesFind out more about MCR Pathways and Keytu
And if you're quick, sign up for a webinar with Ben & Iain on 10th March:
Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Follow us on XFollow us on LinkedInCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touchGet your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2026

In this episode of the podcast, we chat with our friend from over the short pond in Ireland, Rita Bateson, an expert in AI and education and founder of Eblana Learning. We explore Rita's journey in the educational landscape, the impact of AI on teaching and learning, and the importance of balancing AI literacy with human-centred approaches.
The conversation delves into the challenges and opportunities presented by AI, the need for critical thinking, and the evolving purpose of education in a rapidly changing world. Rita shares insights from her work at Eblana Learning and emphasises the importance of thoughtful implementation of AI in schools, advocating for a future where education is enriched by technology without losing its human touch.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Context Setting
01:06 Rita's Journey in Education
05:16 The Impact of AI on Education
09:14 Navigating Educational Trends and Data
13:43 The Role of AI in Teaching and Learning
17:51 Eblana Learning's Mission and Vision
20:59 Balancing AI Literacy and Human-Centred Learning
24:35 Critical Thinking and AI in Education
28:30 Conflict Resolution and Learning
30:25 Agentic AI: Future Implications
34:50 Rethinking Education's Purpose
41:03 Final Thoughts and Reflections
Find out more about Eblana
Check out the Sustainable AI Course Rita mentioned

Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve x
Championing those who are making the future of education a reality.
Follow us on X
Follow us on LinkedIn
Check out all about Edufuturists
Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touch
Get your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2026

In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by the brilliant Nici Foote to discuss the importance of joy in learning, the challenges faced by neurodiverse students, and the need for personalised education. Nici shares her journey in education, emphasising the significance of creating engaging and inclusive learning environments.
The conversation explores the role of play, the messiness of learning, and the impact of time constraints on effective teaching. We also dig into Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a framework for meeting diverse student needs and the importance of collaborative planning among educators.

Chapters00:00 Introductions
01:14 Nici's Journey in Education
03:50 Navigating Barriers in Education
06:36 Bringing Joy into Learning
11:13 The Importance of Messy Learning
15:06 Personalising Education for Every Student
23:12 Cultural Learning Experiences
25:34 Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Explained
30:26 The Importance of Engagement in Learning
37:05 Barriers to Implementing UDL
40:15 Rethinking Time in Education
43:11 The Myth of Limiting Abilities

Find out more about Nici's amazing work at unbarrier.me and connect with her on LinkedIn
Thanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve x

Championing those who are making the future of education a reality.
Follow us on X
Follow us on LinkedIn
Check out all about Edufuturists
Want to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touch
Get your tickets for Edufuturists Uprising 2026