The What & Who of Edu

Recent Episodes

College Is Hard. Life Is Harder. 10 Ways Instructors Help Students Survive Both.

What happens when “college should be hard” collides with “students are barely holding it together”? We’re unpacking how instructors balance academic rigor with student mental health. Because challenge builds growth but unmanaged stress can just shut learning down. From reset days and scaffolded assignments to flexible deadlines and second chances, we’re counting down 10 practical strategies instructors are using to keep expectations high without burning students out.

S2 Episode 9 · May 20, 2026

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The Algorithm vs the Classroom: Where Students Are Actually Learning

Students aren't waiting for class to start learning science. They're getting it from their feeds first. In this episode, we sit down with journalist and Newsreel founder Jack Brewster to discuss how algorithms, influencers AI-generated content, and viral misinformation are shaping what students think they know before they ever walk into the classroom. This conversation explores why more access to information hasn't translated into better understanding, and what educators can do about it.

S2 Episode 8 · May 6, 2026

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10 Burnout Strategies for Educators That Don't Require Working More

Burnout in higher education doesn't always show up as a crash. More often, it looks like reheated coffee, a growing to-do list, and the sense that the work never really ends. In this episode, we share 10 strategies from real educators who have figured out how to keep going without burning out, from setting boundaries and saying no, to redesigning assignments and letting go of perfection. These are practical, classroom-tested ways to protect your energy while still showing up for your students.

S2 Episode 7 · April 22, 2026

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The Hidden Curriculum: 10 Life Skills Students Learn Without Realizing It

What if some of the most important things students learn in your classroom… aren’t on your syllabus? In this episode, we’re unpacking the hidden curriculum, the life skills students develop alongside your course content. From learning how to actually listen and ask better questions, to navigating uncertainty, analyzing trade-offs, and staying in the discomfort of real learning, these are the skills that stick long after the final exam.

S2 Episode 6 · April 8, 2026

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About Us

The What & Who of EDU is a podcast built for educators who are navigating the real challenges of teaching today. Each episode features practical strategies, research-backed insights, and candid conversations with instructors, authors, and education experts. From classroom confidence and AI in education to critical thinking, assessment, and belonging, we focus on what’s actually working across subjects, levels, and learning environments.

Produced by Macmillan Learning, the podcast highlights our continued focus on sharing useful, research-informed strategies that help educators support student learning, wherever and however it happens.

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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The What & Who of EDU

Latest

Why Students Go Quiet and 10 Instructor-Approved Class Discussion Strategies That Actually Work

Recent Episodes

College Is Hard. Life Is Harder. 10 Ways Instructors Help Students Survive Both.

The Algorithm vs the Classroom: Where Students Are Actually Learning

10 Burnout Strategies for Educators That Don't Require Working More

The Hidden Curriculum: 10 Life Skills Students Learn Without Realizing It

Listen to More Episodes

About Us

Your Hosts

Marisa Bluestone (she/her)

LaShawn Springer (she/her)

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