The Path Forward Podcast with Ashley B. Cash

Ashley
  • 5.0 (1)
  • EDUCATION

In this podcast, we will be exploring all aspects of education. We will discover where our system is successful and failing. Through conversations with teachers, chancellors, government officials and more, we will identify the problems and how to change them. It's time we flipped this education!

  1. JAN 26

    Senator Charles Perry: When Common Sense Wins - Aptitude Testing, Teacher Rights, and Real Reform

    Texas State Senator Charles Perry joins host Ashley B. Cash for an expansive conversation about what happens when common sense finally breaks through the legislative process. With decades of experience navigating the complexities of state government, Senator Perry offers a rare glimpse into how meaningful reform actually gets done—and why it takes years of persistence to move the needle on issues everyone agrees need fixing. This isn't just an education conversation, though Texas schools are central to the discussion. Senator Perry tackles everything from the multifaceted problems plaguing our public school system to the infrastructure crisis threatening to push Texas toward third-world conditions. He's candid about the challenges: teachers functioning as surrogate parents, rural communities losing students to mega-schools, middle-tier kids getting squeezed and left behind, and a generation shaped by technology designed to manipulate rather than empower. But Senator Perry is equally clear about the solutions. After six years of work, he helped pass the Teacher Bill of Rights, giving educators the power to control their classrooms again. He championed cell phone bans that superintendents now call transformational. And he's pushing for mandatory aptitude testing—a game-changing approach that meets students where they are and helps them discover what they're actually passionate about, rather than forcing everyone through the same narrow pipeline. From the ethics of AI and its impact on the workforce, to the critical role of CTE programs in preparing kids for real work, to why we need different educational models for different kinds of learners, Senator Perry makes the case that common sense isn't common in policy—it's hard-won. He believes Texas is finally in a position to get education right, but only if we're willing to prioritize student outcomes over bureaucratic mandates and teach our kids to think critically, problem-solve, and work together. This is what leadership looks like when it's focused on results instead of rhetoric—and why the future of Texas depends on getting back to basics while thinking differently about our hardest problems.

    1h 4m

  2. JAN 19

    Transforming Education Through Purpose, Relationships & Timeless Values | President Scott McDowell

    In this powerful conversation, Dr. Sean McDowell, President of Lubbock Christian University, challenges the modern education system's failures and offers a vision for genuine transformation. We explore why today's students are underprepared despite grade inflation, how technology addiction is replacing critical thinking, and what it truly takes to restore excellence in education. Key Topics: The crisis of underpreparedness in higher education and why even "elite" students struggle with basics like reading comprehension and critical thinking How prolonged adolescence and decreased maturity levels are affecting student outcomes Why this generation is returning to traditional values and demanding authenticity from educators The role of AI in education—and why we must teach it through an ethical and moral framework Parent involvement as the #1 factor in K-12 success and how we can support working families The case for aptitude-based education tracks, entrepreneurship programs, and eliminating the stigma around skilled trades Why "life shared with life" matters: how teacher-student relationships and mentorship change trajectories LCU's approach: "We walk with you" - custom-made education that meets students where they are Dr. McDowell reminds us: There is no substitute for competence. When students master real skills and discover their unique gifts, confidence follows—and with it, a love of learning that lasts a lifetime. If you're a parent, educator, or concerned citizen ready to fight for education that actually prepares students for life, this conversation is for you.

    1h 17m

  3. JAN 12

    Beyond the Echo Chamber: What Education Reform Actually Looks Like with LindaGail Walker

    We're sending kids out of high school completely unprepared for the real world, and wondering why they're anxious, directionless, and failing to launch. This week on The Path Forward, I sat down with LindaGail Walker - a 30-year education veteran, nationally recognized expert in post-traumatic growth, and lead co-author of USC's Trauma Readiness course. In this episode, we talked about how: → Kids are slipping through the cracks while we obsess over college prep for everyone  → We're missing high-risk students - especially the quiet ones internalizing their struggles  → Screen time is destroying empathy, communication, and decision-making skills  → Without financial literacy and employable skills, we're setting kids up to fail LindaGail's insight hit home: "You can tell kids all day long that they are empowered, but until they have some level of success, they are never going to feel that way." If you're tired of the education echo chamber and ready for real solutions, this episode is for you. For more, visit www.ashleybcash.com and www.pathforwardpodcast.com. Follow @AshleyBCashOfficial on Instagram.

    1h 1m

  4. JAN 5

    Keeping Passionate Teachers in the Classroom - A Conversation with Jackie Fagan Perry

    Jackie Fagan Perry joins The Path Forward to discuss the critical challenges facing Texas teachers and practical solutions to keep passionate educators in the classroom. From merit pay and the Teacher Incentive Allotment to early intervention strategies and coaching models, Jackie shares insights on how Texas can recruit, retain, and support the teachers our students desperately need. We explore teacher burnout, the importance of ongoing development over punitive measures, and why bringing retired educators back into schools could transform student outcomes.

    59 min

  5. 12/29/2025

    Education Freedom in Texas: A Conversation with Tim Lambert

    Join me and Tim Lambert, president of the Texas Homeschool Commission, for a conversation about Texas public education and the state's homeschool landscape. We'll discuss the current challenges in public schools, the growth of homeschooling in Texas, and what's driving more families to explore alternative education options. Tim will share his perspective on curriculum choices, academic outcomes, and the practical realities of homeschooling in Texas. Whether you're homeschooling, considering it, or just interested in education policy, we'll cover the key issues facing Texas families and what makes Texas one of the most homeschool-friendly states in the country.

    46 min

  6. 12/22/2025

    Grant Cardone - Education, Success, and the 10X Mindset

    The education system is outdated. Grant Cardone and I break down what how the K-12 education system in America is falling short, what our students need, and how 10X thinking can reshape the future of learning - and life.

    44 min

  7. 12/15/2025

    The Path Forward Podcast with Ashley B Cash & Mandy Drogin: Making The Lives and Education of Our Kids Better

    The Path Forward Podcast with Ashley B. Cash

    51 min

  8. 12/08/2025

    The Path Forward Podcast with Ashley B Cash & Chancellor Kent Hance: Education, Policy and How To Fix it

    The Path Forward Podcast with Ashley B. Cash

    49 min
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About

In this podcast, we will be exploring all aspects of education. We will discover where our system is successful and failing. Through conversations with teachers, chancellors, government officials and more, we will identify the problems and how to change them. It's time we flipped this education!

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