Unbounded Curiosity–The SCHool Podcast

Springside Chestnut Hill Academy

Unbounded Curiosity–The SCHool Podcast connects listeners to impressive experts from the Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH) community. With each episode, guests—including Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, professional athletes, professors, and industry leaders—share their thoughts on diverse and important issues of our time. SCH is an innovative school whose mission statement inspired its podcast’s title: “We are an inclusive community on a mission to inspire unbounded curiosity and independent thought in every one of our students.” Hopefully these conversations spark your curiosity, too!

Episodes

  1. 06/26/2025

    FutureCast Part 12: Featuring Cory Kilbane, Engineering, Robotics, and CEL Teacher, Coach and Mentor

    In our season finale, Pete DiDonato and Ed Glassman sit down with Corey Kilbane—engineering innovator, robotics coach, and CEL educator at SCH Academy. Corey dives into the hands-on impact of his innovation grant, which brought cutting-edge tools like a materials tester and fluid dynamics simulator to the classroom. From testing 3D-printed volleyballs to go-kart aerodynamics, Corey shares how his students are bridging the gap between theory and real-world engineering. This episode celebrates curiosity, design thinking, and the next generation of problem solvers. A perfect wrap to Season 1 of Future Cast!

    15 min

  2. 06/26/2025

    FutureCast Part 11: With Carie Szalay Joyful STEM

    This episode explores Carie's use of FabLab Studio software, cutters and bringing the joy into the learning process with lower school students at SCH Academy. This episode features a special appearance by a lower school student discussing their experience with the tech. The show is hosted by Pete DiDonato, CIO of SCH Academy

    15 min

  3. 06/03/2025

    FutureCast Part 9: Featuring Paper Buck Combined New Tech & Wood Working

    In this episode listen to SCH Academy teacher Paper Buck discuss how they are integrating new technologies like CNC Machines with true wood working craftsmanship.

    18 min

  4. 05/22/2025

    FutureCast Part 8: Jessica Tiffany and Middle School Student Journalists

    Welcome to SCH FutureCast Part 8 with Middle School English Teacher Jessica Tiffany and a group of student journalists. Today's microgrant recipient explores 21st century journalism, ethics & AI in this episode co-hosted by Ed Glassman (Executive Director of CEL) and Pete DiDonato (Chief Innovation Officer). Check out the SCH Campus Lantern Student Newspaper (click "The Torch" to visit the Middle School section.

    21 min

  5. 05/09/2025

    FutureCast Part 7: With Stephanie Waters: PreK Girls Code and Build

    This episode explores SCH Academy PreK Girls Code and Build, a project focusing on STEM and coding in early childhood classrooms. Inspired by Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani, SCH teacher Stephanie Waters empowers PreK girls to be brave tinkerers through hands-on, unplugged coding and engineering experiences—bringing a bold vision for early STEM education to life.

    14 min

  6. 04/16/2025

    FutureCast Part 6: Featuring Bill Dawe. Tabletop Game Design at SCH

    This episode of FutureCast features an interview with Bill Dawe, an English teacher at SCH, who received an innovation microgrant to develop a new high school elective on tabletop game design. The course aimed to teach game theory, design, and fabrication to upper school students, culminating in attending a national board game convention. Year 1 of the grant will launch a middle school activity incorporating game design principles. The hosts and Dawe express optimism for the future of the high school course and discuss the educational value and engagement fostered by tabletop games.

    16 min

  7. 04/16/2025

    FutureCast Part 5: Featuring Heidi Painter Innovation in Middle School Theater: Puppetry and Pedagogy

    This podcast episode of FutureCast features a discussion about an innovation microgrant awarded to the middle school theater program at SCH Academy. Middle School Theater director Heidi Painter and sixth-grader Leighton K. explain how the grant funded a puppetry element for their production of "The Wizard of Oz," including a workshop with professionals from Monkey Boys Productions to train students in puppet manipulation. Leighton shares her experience learning to operate the Toto puppet and the challenges of bringing the character to life. The conversation also touches on future opportunities for innovation in the theater program and concludes with the announcement of a second year of microgrants and a summer sandbox program for faculty and staff.

    12 min

  8. 02/19/2025

    FutureCast Part 4: Scott Kirker Discusses a New Course, The Future of AI and Computer Science

    In this episode, Ed Glassman, executive director of the Sands Center for Entrepreneurship (CEL), and Pete DiDonato, chief innovation officer, interview Scott Kirker, a "reformed banker" turned CEL teacher and self-taught coder. Scott discusses his journey, how AI is impacting his teaching and his students, as well as a new course that SCH will soon be offering. FutureCast Episode 4: Scott Kirker Discusses a New Course, The Future of AI, and Computer Science

    18 min

  9. 02/18/2025

    FutureCast Part 3: Corinne Dionne Discusses AI Tutors & World Languages

    Listen to SCH Academy Upper School Teacher Corinne Dionne and 3 Students who discuss AI use in US Spanish Classes.

    18 min

  10. 01/22/2025

    FutureCast Part 2: Adam BW and Dolby Atmos

    Adam BW and Dolby Atmos in the New Media Program at SCH Academy

    13 min

  11. 12/04/2024

    FutureCast Part 1: Launching our Microgrant Program

    Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH) is excited to announce the launch of our Innovation Grant Program, designed to support and nurture intentionally embedded innovation within our school community. This initiative aligns with our strategic priority to foster a culture where creativity and forward-thinking approaches to teaching, learning, and working are encouraged, recognized, and rewarded. Podcast features Pete DiDonato, Chief Innovation Officer & Ed Glassman, Executive Director of the Sands Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

    11 min

  12. 05/08/2023

    Chat GPT and the Rise of Artificial Intelligence

    Is Chat GPT heralding an intellectual revolution or simply widening the gap between human knowledge and understanding? Hear about the philosophical and practical implications of generative artificial intelligence. Our panel discusses what all of this could mean for our students, the field of education, and society as a whole. This episode of Unbounded Curiosity features moderator Youngmoo Kim, director of the Expressive and Creative Interaction Technologies (ExCITe) Center and a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Drexel University. Kim is an SCH parent, trustee, and robotics mentor. He is joined by 3 panelists: Amit Gandhi, vice president and technical fellow at AirBnB and a professor of economics at Penn’s Wharton School of Business and an SCH parent of two. Paul Boehringer, a software engineer with Aim-Squared, part of SparkCognition, a market-making company that uses AI for trading and an SCH alumnus in the Class of 2015 and former member of the school’s robotics team, Team 1218! Sarah McDowell, SCH history department chair and the parent of 3 SCH alumni.

    1h 1m
  • 12 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Unbounded Curiosity–The SCHool Podcast connects listeners to impressive experts from the Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH) community. With each episode, guests—including Pulitzer Prize-winning authors, professional athletes, professors, and industry leaders—share their thoughts on diverse and important issues of our time. SCH is an innovative school whose mission statement inspired its podcast’s title: “We are an inclusive community on a mission to inspire unbounded curiosity and independent thought in every one of our students.” Hopefully these conversations spark your curiosity, too!

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