The Learning Scientists Podcast

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A podcast for teachers, students, and parents about evidence based practice and learning.

Learning Scientists


    • May 22, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 23m AVG DURATION
    • 90 EPISODES

    4.9 from 104 ratings Listeners of The Learning Scientists Podcast that love the show mention: i'd love to hear, effective, teachers, practices, students, teaching, strategies, parents, kids, research, resource, school, ideas, help, love this podcast, always, like, learning scientists.


    Ivy Insights

    The Learning Scientists Podcast is an invaluable resource for parents, educators, and students alike. As a mother of a young child and a non-traditional student myself, I have found this podcast to be incredibly informative and helpful in both aspects of my life. The hosts are not like pedantic academics but rather effective communicators who present the information in a well-organized manner.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is its ability to effectively communicate complex concepts in a way that is easy to understand. The hosts use clear language and provide plenty of concrete examples and anecdotes to illustrate their points. This makes it much easier to grasp the strategies they discuss and apply them in real-world situations. Whether you are a teacher looking for implementable learning-improvement strategies or a parent wanting to help your child learn more effectively, this podcast provides practical advice backed by the latest research.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is its focus on retrieval practice, which has been shown to enhance learning. Through listening to this podcast, I have gained a deeper understanding of why retrieval practice works and have been able to incorporate it into my own study practices as well as my approach to teaching my children at home. The hosts also touch on other important topics such as spacing, interleaving, and metacognition, providing valuable insights into how these techniques can be utilized for optimal learning.

    If there were any downside to this podcast, it would be that there could be more content specifically geared towards parents helping their children learn after school. While the strategies discussed on the podcast can certainly be applied by parents, it would be beneficial to have more episodes dedicated explicitly to tips and techniques for aiding children's learning outside of the classroom.

    In conclusion, The Learning Scientists Podcast is an exceptional resource for anyone interested in improving their learning or helping others do so. The hosts are effective communicators who present information in a clear and enjoyable manner with plenty of practical examples. Their focus on retrieval practice and other evidence-based learning strategies makes this podcast a must-listen for teachers, parents, and students. Whether you are looking to enhance your own study practices or help others optimize their learning, this podcast is a valuable tool for personal and educational growth.



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    Latest episodes from The Learning Scientists Podcast

    Episode 90: Dual Coding-Can There Be Too Much of a Good Thing?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 8:30


    In Episode 90, Megan reads her blog post Dual Coding: Can There be too Much of a Good Thing?

    Episode 89: Who Should Create Study plans?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 8:30


    For some of our podcast episodes, we are going to read blog posts, audiobook style. This allows listeners to access the written material from the blog in audio form, which we imagine may help some who don't have much time for reading (but DO have time to listen in the car). It also allows us to bring some of our most interesting, important, and/or popular posts back into the spotlight. Today's episode is our first of this type! In Episode 89, Carolina reads her blog post Who should Create Study Plans?

    Episode 88: Quick Podcast Updates and a Discussion About Multitasking

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 22:17


    In Episode 88, Megan, Cindy, Carolina, and Althea talk about the new direction of the Learning Scientists Podcast, and about multitasking!

    Episode 87: Executive Functioning Skills with Mitch Weathers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 37:51


    In Episode 87, Cindy chats with Mitch Weathers, a veteran teacher and Founder and CEO of Organized Binder. Mitch discusses what exactly is meant by executive functioning, his own learning struggles as a student, and his many projects aimed at improving students' executive functioning skills including his recently released book, Executive Functions for Every Classroom: Creating Safe and Equitable Learning Environments. 

    Episode 86: EdTech and AI with Jared Cooney Horvath (Recorded Live from ResearchED)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2024 42:26


    In episode 86, Cindy talks with Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, neuroscientist, educator, and author of Stop Talking, Start Influencing: 12 Insights from Brain Science to Make Your Message Stick. In this episode, Jared reviews some of the history of technological advancements, how technology has impacted learning, and shares some of his ideas for how artificial intelligence may impact both learning and society moving forward. Visit our website, learningscientists.org/podcast-episodes, for the show notes, including a link to share your thoughts with Jared.

    Episode 85: Digital Literacy with Natalia Kucirkova

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2024 28:18


    In Episode 85, Megan talks with Natalia Kucirkova, PhD, a Professor of Early Childhood and Development at the University of Stavanger in Norway and Professor of Reading and Children's Development at The Open University, UK. Natalia leads a network of learning scientists, WiKIT, who support diverse EdTech organizations to be more evidence-based and aligned with the science of learning. She is author of the open-access book, How and Why to Read and Create Children's Digital Books: A Guide for Primary Practitioners and The Future of the Self: understanding Personalization in Childhood and Beyond.

    Episode 84: An Evidence - Based Approach to Teaching Reading and Writing – An Interview with Dominic Wyse and Charlotte Hacking

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 50:48


    In Episode 84, Carolina talks to Dominic Wyse and Charlotte Hacking; the authors of the brand-new book “The Balancing Act: An Evidence-Based Approach to Teaching Phonics, Reading and Writing”. Together they explore the chapters of the book that takes a research-informed approach to teaching pupils how to read and write.

    Episode 83: An Interview with We Do It For the Culture founder Jamila Sams

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2024 21:36


    In Episode 83, Althea interviews Jamila Sams, CEO and founder of We Do It For the Culture (TM), a culturally responsive social emotional learning curriculum rooted in Hip-Hop culture for middle and high school students. Jamila discusses the five components of social-emotional learning, hip-hop, and shares examples of how the curriculum has connected with students.

    Episode 82: An Interview with Robert Malkin on Academic Research for High School Students

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2024 18:23


    Episode 81: STP Talk -- Science Communication about Retrieval Practice

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2024 21:00


    In Episode 81, Megan, Cindy, Carolina, and Althea walk through their Society for the Teaching of Psychology (STP) Annual Conference on Teaching (ACT) talk! The episode was recorded in October 2023 when all four Learning Scientists were together in Portland, Oregon for the conference. After they gave their formal talk, they recorded their talk in one of their hotel rooms to reach more people.

    Episode 80: An Interview with Kareem Farah from The Modern Classrooms Project

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2024 23:12


    In Episode 80, Cindy interviews Kareem Farah, CEO and co-founder of the Modern Classrooms Project.

    Episode 79: Toddlers Can Read with Spencer Russell

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2024 36:16


    In Episode 79, Althea interviews Spencer Russell, an award-winning teacher and educator about early childhood literacy. You can learn more about Spencer's approach to early childhood literacy at https://www.toddlersread.com/. Follow him on Instagram (@toddlerscanread) for tips and videos!

    Episode 78: learningscientists.org Resource Refresher

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2023 12:41


    In Episode 78, Megan, Cindy, Carolina, and Althea talk through the resources available on learningscientists.org.

    Episode 77: EF+Math -- Interdisciplinary Teams Co-Creating Evidence-Based Approaches

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2023 44:32


    In Episode 77, Megan interviews Maxim Vickerie and Adam Smith from EF+Math, a program supported by the nonprofit AERDF.

    Episode 76: Meeting at the Intersection of Research and Education

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2023 33:23


    In Episode 76, Cindy interviews Sarah Oberle (@S_Oberle) about the intersection between research and education.

    Episode 75: Introducing our New Book Ace That Test!!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2023 18:18


    In Episode 75, Megan, Cindy, Carolina, and Althea talk about their new book, Ace That Test: A Student's Guide to Learning Better. They provide an overview of the book, provide some examples, and discuss the writing process. Ace That Test: A Student's Guide to Learning Better is out July 19th! Preorders are available now with a 20% off code if you access through our website.

    Episode 74: Boys Do Cry – An Interview With Matt Pinkett

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2023 43:54


    Content warning: Please be advised that in this episode we discuss the topic of suicide in depth with a lived experience story. Matt reads a part of his book where a mother describes her personal experience with this topic. In Episode 74, Carolina interviews Matt Pinkett – the author of Boys Don't Try? – to talk about his new book Boys Do Cry: Improving Boys' Mental Health and Wellbeing in Schools which comes out this month.

    Episode 73: An Interview with the Director of IES

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2023 36:08


    In Episode 73 Althea interview Mark Schneider, Director of the Institute of Educational Sciences (IES). Mark discusses some of the challenges facing educators today and how IES can facilitate education research.

    Episode 72: An Interview with the Authors of Planting an Idea

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2023 34:56


    In Episode 72, Althea interviews Jerry Apps and Natasha Kassulke, authors of Planting an Idea: A Guidebook to Critical and Creative Thinking about Environmental Problems.

    Episode 71: An Interview with John Hattie, Author of Visible Learning

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2023 28:56


    In Episode 71, Althea interviews John Hattie, author of Visible Learning. They talk about his newest book, Visible Learning: The Sequel.

    Episode 70: An Interview with the Authors of Study Like a Champ

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2023 31:26


    In Episode 70, Cindy interviews John Dunlosky from Kent State University and Regan Gurung from Oregon State University. John and Regan recently published a book entitled Study Like A Champ: The Psychology-Based Guide to Grade A Study Habits. In this episode John and Regan discuss a little bit about their research and how they practice what they preach in the classroom.

    Episode 69: An Interview with the Psych Sessions Podcast Hosts

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2023 38:41


    In Episode 69, Cindy interviews Garth Neufeld from Cascadia College and Eric Landrum from Boise State University.

    Episode 68: Intersectionality with Zayba Ghazali-Mohammed and Arun Verma

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2022 48:58


    In Episode 68, Carolina interviews Dr Zayba Ghazali-Mohammed (@Zayba_G) and Dr Arun Verma (@drarunverma) to learn more about the concept of intersectionality.

    Episode 67: How to Support Students with MTSS with Eva Dundas

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2022 20:59


    In Episode 67, Megan interviews Eva Dundas from Branching Minds (@BranchingMinds). Visit Branching Minds www.branchingminds.com, for free resources for teachers and leaders.

    Episode 66: Talking about Talking with Children, an Interview with Rebecca Rolland

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2022 19:52


    In Episode 66, Cindy interviews Rebecca Rolland, a speech pathologist, Harvard Lecturer, author of The Art of Talking with Children, and mom of two! Listen to learn about talking with your own children, as well as the children in your classroom.

    Episode 65: Teaching about Climate Change with Protect Our Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2022 38:11


    In Episode 65, Althea interviews Lyndsey-Lee Dunwoody (@LyndseyDunwoody) of 1851 Trust (@1851Trust) about their new platform Protect Our Future.

    Episode 64: Lived Experience of Higher Education Students With the 'Dyslexia Label'

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2022 27:23


    In Episode 64, Carolina interviews Emma Noble who is a final year Psychology student at the University of Glasgow. Emma gives an overview of her final year dissertation project where she explored the lived experience of Higher Education students with a formal dyslexia diagnosis.

    Episode 63: A Chat with the Lab Out Loud Podcast Hosts

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2022 54:41


    In Episode 63, Megan chats with the hosts of the Lab Out Loud Podcast, Brian Bartel and Dale Basler. Last month (February 2022) we talked on the Lab Out Loud Podcast, and in this episode, we continue our conversation.

    Episode 62: Effective Professional Development with Laura Nevins and Frank Patranella

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2022 43:53


    In Episode 62, Cindy interviews Dr. Laura Nevins and Dr. Frank Patranella on making professional development workshops effective.

    Episode 61 - Discussing the Digital Divide with Amber Birsen

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2022 23:19


    In Episode 61, Althea interviews Amber Birsen,. Amber recently made a contribution to a report by Oxford University Press called, ‘Addressing the Deepening Digital Divide'. Much of what she discusses she learned and has taken from the report as well as her experiences as a teacher over the last two years.

    Episode 60 - Using the Motivation Literature to Support Teachers

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2021 32:01


    In Episode 60, Cindy interviews Mary Chappell (@LiteracyMary), A Department of Education Special Education Curriculum Specialist.

    Episode 59 - Neurodiversity in Education

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2021 25:14


    Episode 58 - Bite-Size Research on Delayed and Immediate Feedback in the Classroom

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2021 11:40


    In this bite-size research episode, Megan discusses research on delayed vs. immediate feedback in the classroom.

    Episode 57 - Using the Science of Learning in Organizations

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2021 17:14


    In Episode 57, Cindy interviews Kathryn Desmarais, a Senior Director of Global Education Solutions at Johnson & Johnson.

    Episode 56 - A Conversation on Researchers and Teachers Working Together

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2021 25:02


    In Episode 56, Cindy interviews Andrew Watson (@AndrewWatsonTTB), author of The Goldilocks Map and founder of Translate the Brain.

    Episode 55 - An Interview with Two Students Focused on Inclusivity in Education

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2021 22:36


    In episode 55, Carolina interviews two students who have been heavily involved in inclusivity in education, Ally Lloyd and Anna Gallagher. Together, they co-lead The Luna Project. Their goal is to increase awareness and support of young people with chronic illnesses disabilities and long-term health conditions.

    Episode 54 - An Interview with the Co-Founders of Podsie

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2021 28:04


    In Episode 54, Megan interviews Josh Ling and Jesse Mao, the co-founders of Podsie. Podsie is a nonprofit organization, and its mission is to empower teachers and improve student learning by providing free access to evidence-based learning techniques.

    Episode 53 - An interview with Applied Linguist and Author Alex Poole

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2021 29:32


    In Episode 53, Althea interviews applied linguist and author of Learning a Foreign Language: Understanding the Fundamentals of Linguistics, Alex Poole.

    Episode 52 - Two University Students Share Their Experiences with Online Learning During A Pandemic

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2020 30:27


    In Episode 52, Carolina interviews two of her students, Ellie Brownlie and Alicja Turek, about their experiences with online learning.

    Episode 51 - An Interview with Memory Expert Boris Konrad

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2020 18:00


    In Episode 51, Cindy interviews memory expert Boris Konrad (@borisnkonrad).

    Episode 50 - Metacognitive Monitoring of Adolescents and Young Adults

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2020 22:28


    In today’s episode, Althea covers a paper about metacognitive monitoring and differences between adolescents (ages 11-12) and traditional university-aged adults (ages 18-25) when using different learning strategies.

    Episode 49 - Learning Styles and Dual Coding

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2020 19:56


    In today’s episode, Megan and Althea cover a paper that tests learning styles and dual coding theories within one experiment.

    Episode 48 - Prevalence-Induced Concept Change

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2020 21:20


    In today’s episode, Cindy talks about prevalence-induced concept change and implications for society and the classroom!

    Episode 47 - Emergency Distance Learning

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2020 30:34


    In this episode, Megan shares her current thoughts about the pivot to distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Episode 46 - The Application of Research with Pooja Agarwal

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2020 31:48


    In today’s episode, Cindy interviews Pooja Agarwal (@PoojaAgarwal).

    research application pooja agarwal
    Episode 45 - Bite-Size Research on Seductive Details

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2020 13:46


    In this bite-size research episode, Carolina discusses research on seductive details—the details we include in our teaching that are not necessarily relevant for understanding the topic but make the lesson more interesting.

    Episode 44 - Literacy and Making Mistakes with Kristen McQuillan

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2019 22:11


    In this episode, Cindy Nebel interviews Kristen McQuillan, her student in the Vanderbilt EdD program in Leadership and Learning in Organization. Kristen is a director at TNTP, a non-profit organization that helps schools reach goals for students. Cindy and Kristen talk about learning mistakes in literacy.

    Episode 43 - Evidence-based Strategies and the Whole Learning Process

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2019 28:42


    In this episode, Megan and Althea discuss a listener question about the focus on evidence-based strategies and other important aspects of the whole learning process.

    Episode 42 - Bite-Size Research on Attention and Retrieval Practice

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2019 14:05


    In this bite-size research episode, Althea describes a study about how attention affects learning with retrieval practice when students are studying on their own by Neil Mulligan and Milton Picklesimer (2016).

    Episode 41 - Feedback with Dr. Naomi Winstone

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2019 16:29


    In this episode, Carolina Keupper-Tetzel interviews Dr. Naomi Winstone (@DocWinstone) an expert in assessment and feedback.

    Episode 40 - Memorizing Facts vs Using Information with Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2019 27:28


    In this episode, Cindy Nebel interviews Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath (@JCHorvath), neuroscientist and educator affiliated with University of Melbourne and author of Stop Talking Start Influencing: 12 Insights From Brain Science to Make Your Message Stick. During the interview, they discuss how we take information in, and how do we use it, or transfer it to new situations.

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