The What & Who of Edu

Recent Episodes

10 Things Successful Students Do Differently, According to the People Who Grade Them

In this episode of The What and Who of EDU, we asked instructors: what are the habits that actually set students apart? From growth mindset to academic risk-taking, these are the real-world patterns that quietly predict success, straight from the people who grade the work.

Episode 13 · July 30, 2025

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Advice New Teachers Actually Need: 10 Tips From Educators Who’ve Been There

Remember your first semester teaching? The syllabus was hot off the printer, you weren't sure how to curve grades, and someone just called you “professor” for the first time. The next generation of instructors is now feeling all of that, hardcore. This episode brings real talk from educators who've been there, survived that, and even enjoyed office hours. Maybe… In this episode: Surviving flop assignments, balancing feedback, and remembering that even Slytherins need support.

Episode 12 · July 16, 2025

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From “Is This on the Test?” to “Here’s What I Think”: 10 Ways to Make Critical Thinking Happen

In this episode of The What & Who of EDU, we dig into 10 real-world strategies from educators across the country who’ve figured out how to move beyond right-or-wrong thinking. Whether it’s removing the fear of failure, sneaking in some stealth logic through iClicker questions, or letting students spar with ChatGPT, these instructors are making critical thinking tangible, and totally teachable.

Episode 11 · July 2, 2025

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The Heartbeat of Berea: How Hutchins Library Builds Community and Critical Thinkers

In this episode of The What & Who of EDU, host LaShawn Springer sits down with Amanda Peach, Associate Director of Library Services at Berea College, a place where students don’t just study in the library; they co-author, co-create, and even campaign for their favorite databases.

Episode 10 · June 18, 2025

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About Us

Welcome to The What and Who of EDU. Join us as we talk with thought leaders, educators, and experts to explore the latest trends, innovations, and best practices shaping education today. Whether in the classroom or beyond, we equip educators with the tools and insights to support student learning anytime, anywhere. The What and Who of EDU is a podcast by Macmillan Learning.

Your Hosts

Marisa Bluestone (she/her)

With more than 20 years of experience shaping conversations and telling brand stories, Marisa Bluestone is an award-winning communications leader passionate about the power of education, learning, and publishing. As Senior Director of Communications at Macmillan Learning, she helps elevate voices that inspire learning and spark change. When she’s not crafting compelling narratives, you’ll find her attempting Pilates, traveling, or getting lost in the Cosmere and other literary worlds. In The What and Who of EDU, Marisa brings her storytelling expertise to the mic—leading insightful conversations with thought leaders, educators, and innovators shaping the future of learning.

LaShawn Springer (she/her)

LaShawn Springer is the Director of Inclusive Pedagogy at Macmillan Learning, sitting on the newly formed Pedagogical Design Group Team (PDG). PDG aims to shape a future where education is transformative, equitable, and accessible for all, a thru thread in LaShawn's career. With over 15 years of experience in higher education and secondary schools (and a brief stint in the tech space), she has served in a variety of administrative roles, organizing, leading and facilitating workshops, training and symposia for students, faculty and staff. A central question for LaShawn has always been what kind of young person are we graduating into the world, making it imperative that we think about not just the content we endeavor to teach but also what type of learning environments we're cultivating for our students. She's excited to bring these conversations to listeners as she digs into a range of pedagogical practices educators are employing to support their students' development. LaShawn is a graduate of Wesleyan University and Harvard Graduate School of Education.

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Your Producer

Derek Lambke (he/him)

While you may not hear Derek Lambke’s voice in every episode, he is present in every one. As our podcast’s producer, Derek weaves each episode together from start to finish, creating cohesive and compelling narratives for our listeners. As Senior Communications Specialist at Macmillan Learning, he is passionate about ensuring that all voices are heard because he believes that the best stories are the ones that haven’t yet been told. Derek earned his master’s degree from Yale University with an emphasis in Film and Media Studies.

The What & Who of EDU

Latest

AI Tutors: Friend, Foe, or Faculty Ally? Here’s What the Data Says

Recent Episodes

10 Things Successful Students Do Differently, According to the People Who Grade Them

Advice New Teachers Actually Need: 10 Tips From Educators Who’ve Been There

From “Is This on the Test?” to “Here’s What I Think”: 10 Ways to Make Critical Thinking Happen

The Heartbeat of Berea: How Hutchins Library Builds Community and Critical Thinkers

Listen to More Episodes

About Us

Your Hosts

Marisa Bluestone (she/her)

LaShawn Springer (she/her)

Host Firstname Lastname

Host Firstname Lastname

Your Producer

Derek Lambke (he/him)

Producer Firstname Lastname

Producer Firstname Lastname

Producer Firstname Lastname

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