Topics in Education

As families head into a busy season of gatherings, late nights, and less structure, many parents quietly wonder how to protect their kids from early substance use. In this episode, host Sam Shapiro talks with educator and author Jessica Lahey about what really keeps kids safer, why early use matters so much, and how parents can stay connected and influential in the years that count most.

Stanford professor of education and expert Dr. Denise Pope calls AI an “alarm bell” for a necessary education reform. She argues the solution to today’s challenges is Authentic Assessment—engaging, real-world projects that are so interesting, students want to do the work. Listen as she defines the core human skills (like compassion and empathy) that technology can never replace, and how to talk to your child about family values in the age of AI.