Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning

Seth Fleischauer
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Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning is a podcast for globally minded educators who want deep, long-form conversations about how teaching and learning are changing — and what to do about it. Hosted by former classroom teacher and Banyan Global Learning founder Seth Fleischauer, the show explores how people, cultures, technologies, cognitive processes, and school systems shape what happens in classrooms around the world. Each long-form episode looks closely at the conditions that help students and educators thrive — from executive functioning and identity development to virtual learning, multilingual education, global competence, and the rise of AI. Seth talks with teachers, researchers, psychologists, and school leaders who look closely at how students understand themselves, build relationships, and develop the capacities that underlie deep learning — skills like perspective-taking, communication, and global competence that are essential for navigating an interconnected world. These conversations surface the kinds of cross-cultural experiences and hard-to-measure abilities that shape real achievement. Together, they consider how to integrate new technologies in ways that strengthen—not replace—the human center of learning. The result is a set of ideas, stories, and practical strategies educators can apply to help students succeed in a complex and fast-changing world.

  1. #76 AI Is an Experiment: "Local Science" and Tech Hype Cycles with The Homework Machine's Justin Reich

    3 DAYS AGO

    #76 AI Is an Experiment: "Local Science" and Tech Hype Cycles with The Homework Machine's Justin Reich

    Justin Reich (MIT) on “local science,” AI hype cycles, and why schools need to do less. Justin Reich returns to the podcast with an “applied historian” lens: not dismissing generative AI as just another hype cycle, but insisting we treat early classroom uses as experiments—because history says our first instincts about new tech in schools are often wrong. We talk about what Reich learned while making the excellent podcast The Homework Machine (hundreds of teacher conversations, dozens of student interviews), why “policy” isn’t enough without social movements, and what educators can do right now while the research base lags behind practice. The throughline: experiment with humility, collect local evidence, share what you’re learning—and beware the trap of “efficiency” that just increases the amount of work schools try to do. A late pivot goes straight at the emotional core: if Justin had the power to “turn off” AI forever, would he? His answer is less about tools and more about what developing humans most need—time with their own thoughts, and time with each other. Key moments (approx.) 00:00 — Back on the show + Seth’s “homework” assignment: The Homework Machine 02:18 — “It is different… they’re all different”: tech revolutions and the education pattern that repeats 06:47 — Tech won’t solve inequality; social movements change norms, politics, and resource distribution 09:05 — The web literacy cautionary tale: 25 years of teaching the wrong methods 11:19 — “Local science”: teach as experimentation, then look hard for evidence it helped 15:11 — When there’s no historical control: talk to students, use “Looking at Student Work” protocols 18:49 — Why “big science” takes so long—and why expert practice has to exist before we can teach it 20:45 — The “copilot” problem: even elite engineers don’t yet know how to train novices well 32:46 — What’s likely to happen: business incentives degrade “consumer” tools schools rely on 35:06 — “Subtraction in Action”: schools are maxed out; improvement often requires doing less 38:57 — Listener question: if he could turn off AI, would he? 40:33 — The case for schools as a refuge from attention-harvesting tech: boredom, thought, and people Themes you’ll hear recur Reich draws a sharp line between healthy teacher experimentation and premature system-wide adoption. He argues schools can run experiments, but they should label them as experiments, gather some evidence (even simple comparisons), and share results—because otherwise we risk repeating the web-literacy story: good-faith instruction that felt right, wasn’t obviously failing day-to-day, and later turned out to be counterproductive. He also pushes against the fantasy that AI will “solve” structural problems (inequality, overburdened systems, disengagement) without political and social work. And he returns to a point that’s easy to miss in the AI noise: when systems get “more efficient,” they often don’t get simpler—they just try to do more. Links mentioned TeachLab Presents: The Homework Machine (TeachLab) — https://www.teachlabpodcast.com/ MIT Teaching Systems Lab — https://tsl.mit.edu/ A Guide to AI in Schools: Perspectives for the Perplexed (TSL guidebook page) — https://tsl.mit.edu/ai-guidebook/ Teacher Moments (digital clinical simulations) — https://tsl.mit.edu/practice_space/teacher-moments/ National Tutoring Observatory — https://nationaltutoringobservatory.org/ Closing thought If you’re waiting for definitive answers about “best practice,” this episode is a reality check: we’re early, the expert playbooks are still being invented, and schools can’t afford to improvise at scale. But you can run local experiments with honesty, protect what already works, and prioritize the rare thing schools can uniquely give students now: space away from the machines—space for thinking, writing, and relationship. Support for Make It Mindful is brought to you by Banyan Global Learning, creating live, human-centered global learning experiences that help students use language in real contexts—through virtual field trips and international collaborations.

    47 min
  2. #75 Systems Thinking for Clinical Impact with Karen Dudek-Brannan

    26 JAN

    #75 Systems Thinking for Clinical Impact with Karen Dudek-Brannan

    What happens when the “direct service” model—pull-out support, isolated practice, and heroic effort—doesn’t translate into real independence for students in real classrooms? In this episode, Seth Fleischauer is joined again by Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan—speech-language pathologist, executive functioning specialist, and host of the De Facto Leaders podcast—to talk about what breaks down when clinicians become the bottleneck, why generalization fails (especially with EF and social “read the room” skills), and how to build systems that scale beyond one specialist’s calendar. Karen’s core argument is simple: even if schools had more money and more staff, direct sessions alone can’t carry the full weight of the cognitive + language demands students face. The answer isn’t “do more.” It’s design repeatable routines, simplify what works, and make it transferable—first to teachers, then to whole-building practices. We dig into: Why executive functioning doesn’t generalize well from isolated support sessions into classrooms—especially “soft skills” like social executive functioning and real-time feedback loops.The clinical decision-making bottleneck: how highly skilled clinicians unintentionally make themselves irreplaceable (and exhausted) by re-inventing everything.Why burnout often isn’t about being busy—it’s about not feeling effective (and why “self-care as escape” doesn’t fix the core problem).Karen’s idea of “clinical containers”: a way to organize EF and language work so you can iterate without chaos, and document without pretending your system is “finished.”Change management in schools: don’t go nuclear. Build a minimum viable version, pilot with willing partners, and scale through phased rollout.The practical reality: teachers don’t need “one more thing.” They need support that fits existing workflows and solves problems in their language, not yours.Lightning round Karen shares what she’s rethinking right now: micromanaging vs. scaffolding (when are you over-controlling, and when are you responsibly building capacity?).Her comfort-watch recommendation—surprisingly relevant to public-sector life: Parks and Recreation.We also surface a leadership tool Seth has been leaning on: The Coaching Habit (the “ask more, tell less” approach). (Leadership Foundations)One actionable starting point (Karen’s): If you want to shift from “I can’t possibly do building-wide influence” to actually moving the system: Create a non-negotiable block of weekly time to build the solution. The content of that block can change, but the container has to exist first. Links and resources mentioned Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan — main site + leadership resources (drkarendudekbrannan.com)De Facto Leaders podcast (De Facto Leaders)Dr. Karen Speech — language therapy + “containers” training (Dr. Karen Speech and Language)The Coaching Habit (Michael Bungay Stanier) – 7 questions framework (Leadership Foundations)Prior Make It Mindful context: Episode 50 with Karen (Executive Functioning Part 2) + Part 1 with Mitch Weathers (Organized Binder)Organized Binder (Mitch Weathers) (Organized Binder)Guest Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan is a speech-language pathologist and executive functioning specialist who helps clinicians and school teams build sustainable systems that improve transfer, reduce bottlenecks, and increase impact across the school day. (Dr. Karen Speech and Language) About the sponsor Support for Make It Mindful is brought to you by Banyan Global Learning, creating live, human-centered global learning experiences that help students use language in real contexts—through virtual field trips and international collaborations. If this episode moved you, share it with a colleague who’s stuck in the “we’re doing so much but nothing is sticking” problem—and leave a rating or review.

    41 min
  3. BONUS: Why We Trust Numbers More Than Words

    19 JAN

    BONUS: Why We Trust Numbers More Than Words

    In this short bonus episode, Host Seth Fleischauer reflects on a question sparked by a recent conversation with Stephanie Frenel of SchoolOps AI: why do schools so often default to quantitative data and shy away from qualitative insight? Drawing on his own teaching experience and conversations with fellow educators, Seth explores how numbers feel safer, more objective, and easier to defend—while words require judgment, confidence, and accountability. He contrasts traditional grading systems with narrative assessments at The Earth School, where qualitative data demanded deeper observation and, ultimately, better teaching. The episode makes a simple case for mixed methods and for reclaiming qualitative data as a rigorous, human-centered tool—especially in a system that often asks teachers to hide behind numbers.

    9 min
  4. #74 What School Leaders Actually Need From AI with Stephanie Frenel

    12 JAN

    #74 What School Leaders Actually Need From AI with Stephanie Frenel

    School leaders are drowning in data—test scores, surveys, observations, behavior reports—but starving for insight. In this episode of Make It Mindful, Seth Fleischauer is joined by Stephanie Frenel, founder and CEO of SchoolOps AI, for a deep conversation about what it actually takes to make sense of complexity in schools—and how AI can support that work without stripping out the human judgment that matters most. Stephanie brings a rare combination of experience to this conversation: former principal, instructional coach, systems-level leader, and now founder working at the intersection of school leadership and artificial intelligence. Drawing on her work at Fair Schools, Rocketship Public Schools, and Shusterman Family Philanthropies, she shares why mixed-methods data—quantitative and qualitative—is essential for understanding what’s really happening inside a school. Together, Seth and Stephanie explore how principals can move beyond dashboards and compliance metrics toward tools that surface root causes, support collaborative decision-making, and reduce operational burden—freeing leaders to spend more time with students, families, and teachers. This conversation is not about AI replacing educators. It’s about AI working quietly in the background to help schools become more coherent, more humane, and more responsive. In This Episode, We Discuss Why school leaders are overwhelmed by data—but still lack actionable insightThe limits of purely quantitative metrics in understanding student learning and school cultureHow qualitative data (observations, interviews, rubrics) can be analyzed responsibly at scaleWhat “mixed-methods” analysis looks like in real school improvement workHow SchoolOps AI integrates academic, behavioral, and social-emotional data without compromising privacyFERPA compliance, data security, and why AI shouldn’t retain student-level memoryThe role of AI as a collaborative tool for principals, coaches, and teacher teamsWhy coaching remains essential—and how AI can support, not replace, human relationshipsWhat meaningful impact looks like beyond test scoresA case study where triangulated data revealed student agency—not academics—as the real lever for changeAbout the Guest Stephanie Frenel is the founder and CEO of SchoolOps AI, a platform designed to help school leaders make sense of complex data systems through research-backed, human-centered insights. She is a Pahara Institute Fellow and former Teach For America corps member, with degrees from Georgetown University and Stanford University. Her career spans teaching, instructional coaching, school leadership, and system-level philanthropy, including leadership roles at Fair Schools, Rocketship Public Schools, and Shusterman Family Philanthropies. Recommended Listening Stephanie recommends: The Knowledge ProjectThe Diary of a CEOLinks & Resources SchoolOps AI: https://schoolops.aiStephanie Frenel on LinkedInMake It Mindful #26 Navigating Change and Ambiguity with World SavvyWorld Savvy - Building future-ready schoolsPahara Institute - Developmental opportunities for educationHost Bio Seth Fleischauer is the founder and president of Banyan Global Learning, an international education organization delivering experiential and distance learning programs that build global competency. A former classroom teacher, Seth explores how mindful innovation—across psychology, technology, and global learning—can strengthen education systems and support the wellbeing of young people. Credits Hosted, written, and produced by Seth FleischauerEdited by Lucas Salazar

    39 min
  5. #73 Global Competence Starts with Belonging: Managing Transitions with Valerie Besanceney

    29/12/2025

    #73 Global Competence Starts with Belonging: Managing Transitions with Valerie Besanceney

    In this episode, Seth speaks with Valérie Besanceney, an international educator, author, former Executive Director of Safe Passage Across Networks (SPAN), and current International Advisor on Transitions, Care, and Mobility Services for the Council of International Schools (CIS). Her work focuses on helping globally mobile students—and the educators and institutions that support them—navigate transitions with clarity, care, and a grounded sense of belonging. The conversation traces Valérie’s journey as a third culture kid, her early ease with adapting to new environments, and the later reckoning with identity, rootlessness, and belonging that many cross-cultural students eventually face. She describes how those experiences shaped her writing, her consulting practice Roots with Boots, and her broader mission to ensure schools understand that belonging is not a destination but a lifelong practice. Together, Seth and Valérie explore: Identity formation as a prerequisite for genuine belongingThe distinction between belonging and fitting in, and why the latter often demands self-abandonmentHow cross-cultural mobility affects learning, confidence, and relationshipsWhy help-seeking is an essential skill for all students—not only those who move between countriesThe systems-level work required for schools to create coherent, sustainable transitions-care programsThe role of teachers, counselors, admissions teams, parents, and students in building cultures of careHow intentional schoolwide practices can transform mobility from an isolating experience into one that strengthens self-knowledge and global competenceValérie also discusses her children’s book B at Home: Emma Moves Again and the companion My Moving Booklet, both designed to help young people name emotions, anticipate challenges, and talk openly with adults during relocation. Her core message: even in difficult transitions, you are not alone, and conversation—grounded in honesty and curiosity—is a powerful tool for resilience. A brief lightning round touches on linguistics in the age of AI, books that challenge us to seek out differing perspectives, and the value of connection during personal hardship. Books Mentioned Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds by David Pollock, Michael Pollock, & Ruth Van RekenSeek: How Curiosity Can Transform Your Life and Change the World by Scott ShigeokaBelonging by Owen EastwoodDemon Copperhead by Barbara KingsolverGuest Links Valérie’s work: https://rootswithboots.com

    41 min
  6. BONUS: Is AI Slay or Cringe? Gen Alpha Weighs In

    22/12/2025

    BONUS: Is AI Slay or Cringe? Gen Alpha Weighs In

    In this short follow-up episode, Seth revisits a moment from his recent conversation with Karle Delo about student use of AI. While recording that episode, Karle mentioned catching a student actively using AI to cheat on math homework during her workshop—an anecdote that raised a question Seth forgot to ask in the moment: When she paused the workshop and asked students why any of this matters, what did they actually say? So Seth reached out afterward. Karle shared her students’ answers, and Seth decided to run his own tiny, completely unscientific survey by asking kids in his own life—from Gen Alpha to teenagers—how they think about AI, what they use it for, and what worries them. The result is a  snapshot of how young people are forming their early beliefs, habits, and anxieties around AI long before adults have caught up. This episode explores what Karle's students said, what Seth’s informal sample revealed, and what this all means for parents and educators who want to help kids build a healthy relationship with AI rather than default to avoidance, fear, or unchecked dependence. What Karle's Students Said AI will shape future careers. Students are hearing this in school—even if they can’t yet articulate the implications.Misuse leads to trouble. Kids associate AI with academic integrity issues, even if some (like a student Seth heard from) think, “My work is handwritten, so it doesn’t matter.”AI is a tool they’ll need later. This was the strongest theme, echoed repeatedly by Seth’s sample of students.AI can help, but overuse can stunt learning. Only one student in Seth’s survey—his daughter—expressed this strongly, with a visceral “this feels wrong” reaction.It’s advancing fast, and kids know it. Students feel the need to “keep up,” even if that feeling comes more from cultural osmosis than formal instruction.What Seth Heard from Kids in His Life Kids are already using AI in highly practical ways: A 10-year-old using AI to analyze a story draft, choosing which feedback to accept or reject.A student generating quizzes to help study.Another using it for creative programming.A teen redesigning his bedroom with his mom using AI for visualization.They’re also experimenting: One student making joke assignments with a deepfaked LeBron James.Another generating an image of himself with exaggerated features “for fun.”But beneath the experimentation sits a surprising emotional and moral range: Environmental concerns. Kids who care about climate see AI’s energy use and question whether it’s worth it.Moral boundaries. A young musician is troubled by AI systems that can copy an artist’s voice or style without permission.Therapeutic utility. A student with AuDHD uses character.ai to safely practice social interactions—while simultaneously feeling uneasy about the technology’s footprint.The contrast between moral discomfort and personal utility appears again and again. The Most Consistent Theme: Parents Aren’t Talking About AI. The answer Seth heard most often: “We haven't talked about it at home.” This silence leaves kids without guidance and leaves adults unable to speak from experience when young people ask for support. Seth argues that adults don’t need to love AI—but they do need to engage with it enough to understand their own stance. Otherwise, conversations about learning, opportunity, ethics, creativity, and risk happen without them. What’s Coming Up on Make It Mindful Valerie Besonceney on cultural competency and the complexities of student transitions—especially in international school contexts.Dr. Karen Dudek-Brannan returns for a new conversation about executive functioning, following one of the podcast’s most popular episodes.

    8 min
  7. #72 How Students Really Use AI with @CoachKarle

    15/12/2025

    #72 How Students Really Use AI with @CoachKarle

    In this episode of Make It Mindful, host Seth Fleischauer welcomes Karle Delo, AI Strategist at Michigan Virtual and one of EdTech Magazine’s Top 30 IT Influencers to Follow in 2023, for a deeply practical conversation about how students actually use AI. With 14 years of experience as a science teacher, tech integration specialist, and curriculum director, Karle brings a grounded, student-centered perspective to AI literacy—one shaped by direct conversations with learners, classroom observations, and her work helping publish Michigan Virtual’s Student Guide to AI. Together, Seth and Karle explore what real AI literacy looks like in classrooms: how students are experimenting, where they’re already sophisticated, and what teachers need to know to prevent cognitive bypass while building authentic agency. The episode highlights the role of intentionality, the power of desirable difficulty, and why students must be positioned as co-designers and leaders in shaping the future of AI in education. Key Topics Discussed How students actually experience AI Why the most insightful conversations about AI often come from learners—not adults.Intentionality and the habit of noticing Practical strategies for helping students recognize where AI shows up in daily life—especially in the places they least expect.Preventing cognitive bypass What students lose when AI removes the “desirable difficulty” essential for learning, and how AI can serve as a coach rather than a shortcut.The gym metaphor for AI use Why relying on AI to “lift the weights for you” undermines learning—and how to shift toward AI as a trainer, not a replacement.Sophisticated student use cases From quizzing themselves to vibe-coding entire debate-coaching tools, students are using AI in ways many adults have never considered.AI literacy, privacy, and data awareness Plain-language guidance for students: what’s safe to type, what’s never okay, and how platforms infer far more than we think.Maintaining human relationships at the center of learning Why AI feedback is powerful only when paired with teacher guidance, identity development, and student voice.Creativity, boundaries, and student agency How formulaic assignments—not AI—may be what stifles creativity, and why students must help shape the norms around healthy AI use.Guest Bio Karle Delo is an AI Strategist at Michigan Virtual with over 14 years of experience in public education. A former science teacher, technology integration specialist, and curriculum director, Karle was recognized by EdTech Magazine as a Top 30 IT Influencer to Follow in 2023. She recently helped publish Michigan Virtual’s Student Guide to AI and leads statewide work on AI literacy, student voice, and practical implementation strategies for schools. She shares resources and insights at @CoachKarle on social platforms. Host Bio Seth Fleischauer is the founder and president of Banyan Global Learning and a former classroom teacher with extensive experience in global education, digital literacy, and live virtual teaching. He hosts Make It Mindful and Why Distance Learning?, where he explores how emerging technologies and human connection shape modern learning. Episode Links Michigan Virtual AI Hub: https://michiganvirtual.org/ai Michigan Virtual Student Guide to AI: https://michiganvirtual.org/ai/students TheySeeYourPhotos.com - website where you can see what information AI can glean about you just from a photograph. Follow Karle: @CoachKarle on all platforms

    44 min
  8. BONUS: When AI Listens In... And What That Could Mean for Coaching, Advising and PLCs

    08/12/2025

    BONUS: When AI Listens In... And What That Could Mean for Coaching, Advising and PLCs

    In this special bonus episode, host Seth Fleischauer unpacks a surprising insight from his recent conversation with Dr. Chandler Chang of Therapy Lab: an AI “scribe” that listens to therapy sessions and supports teens between appointments. Yes, it raises privacy flags. Yes, it feels futuristic. But if we can suspend disbelief and concerns for a moment, the implications could be huge. Seth explores how this same model could transform coaching, advising, and teaching: - What if an advisor’s best insights were available to students 24/7? - What if overloaded professors or mentor teachers could extend their presence through a trained AI assistant? - What if PLCs, leadership groups, or even families could capture their collective wisdom and make it accessible on demand? He even shares a deeply personal experiment—training an AI on years of emails from his late father to approximate his voice when he needed advice. This episode wrestles with the big tension: Are AI tools expanding our humanity, or eroding it? Helping us connect, or helping us avoid connection? And it sets the stage for the next full conversation with Karle Delo, who brings a ground-level look at how students are actually using AI in classrooms today.

    8 min
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About

Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning is a podcast for globally minded educators who want deep, long-form conversations about how teaching and learning are changing — and what to do about it. Hosted by former classroom teacher and Banyan Global Learning founder Seth Fleischauer, the show explores how people, cultures, technologies, cognitive processes, and school systems shape what happens in classrooms around the world. Each long-form episode looks closely at the conditions that help students and educators thrive — from executive functioning and identity development to virtual learning, multilingual education, global competence, and the rise of AI. Seth talks with teachers, researchers, psychologists, and school leaders who look closely at how students understand themselves, build relationships, and develop the capacities that underlie deep learning — skills like perspective-taking, communication, and global competence that are essential for navigating an interconnected world. These conversations surface the kinds of cross-cultural experiences and hard-to-measure abilities that shape real achievement. Together, they consider how to integrate new technologies in ways that strengthen—not replace—the human center of learning. The result is a set of ideas, stories, and practical strategies educators can apply to help students succeed in a complex and fast-changing world.

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