Podcast appearances and mentions of albert cheng

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Strong Public Schools' Alisha Searcy speak with Neal McCluskey and James Shuls, co-editors of Fighting for the Freedom to Learn: Examining the Nation's Centuries-Old School Choice Movement, about the historical roots and modern evolution of educational freedom in America. […]

In celebration of Women's History Month, this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and MassPotential's Mary Tamer speak with Roxana Robinson to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Georgia O'Keeffe, the pioneering artist often called the “Mother of American Modernism.” Drawing from Robinson's 1989 biography Georgia O'Keeffe: A Life, […]

In celebration of Women's History Month, this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and MassPotential's Mary Tamer speak with Roxana Robinson to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Georgia O'Keeffe, the pioneering artist often called the “Mother of American Modernism.” Drawing from Robinson's 1989 biography Georgia O'Keeffe: A Life, she traces O'Keeffe's life from the farmlands of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin to the bustling cultural landscape of early 20th-century New York City and to North Central New Mexico. The artist's reverence for natural landscapes, color, and light was shaped by her rural Midwestern upbringing and formal artistic training in Virginia. Robinson explains how O'Keeffe's stark transition to city life is reflected in her artwork, which often explores the line between modernism and traditional landscape painting. O'Keeffe's personal and professional relationship with celebrated photographer and art dealer Alfred Stieglitz marked another major turning point in her life and career. While Stieglitz championed her artistic talent, O'Keeffe also became the subject of more than 350 of his photographic portraits—some sparking public acclaim and controversy, while also helping shape her carefully constructed public image. Ms. Robinson further explores O'Keeffe's most famous works including Cow's Skull: Red, White, and Blue and Ram's Head, White Hollyhock – Hills, as well as her large-scale, magnified floral paintings, Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1 and Red Canna. From O'Keeffe's early abstract experiments to her late-life desert visions, Robinson shares how the artist's expansive body of work reshaped American art and left a legacy that continues to inspire artists, scholars, and students in the 21st century. She closes with a reading from her book Georgia O'Keeffe: A Life.

In this special American Revolution 250 episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Kelley Brown, Massachusetts state champion U.S. history and civics teacher, sit down with renowned Brown University historian Gordon Wood to explore the life and legacy of Benjamin Franklin and the American Revolution. Drawing on his book, The Americanization […]

In this special American Revolution 250 episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Kelley Brown, Massachusetts state champion U.S. history and civics teacher, sit down with renowned Brown University historian Gordon Wood to explore the life and legacy of Benjamin Franklin and the American Revolution. Drawing on his book, The Americanization of Benjamin Franklin, Prof. Wood examines Franklin's journey from obscure beginnings in colonial Massachusetts to global fame as an entrepreneur, scientist, and statesman. He discusses Franklin's embrace of Enlightenment ideals, his rise in Philadelphia through printing, publishing and civic leadership, and his immense wealth, which fueled his image as America's quintessential self-made man. Prof. Wood also traces Franklin's evolution from loyal British subject and aspiring gentleman to revolutionary American patriot. In closing, he highlights Franklin's scientific genius, his pivotal diplomatic triumph in securing the 1778 French alliance, and enduring cultural symbolism as the embodiment of American ingenuity and statesmanship.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy of the Center for Strong Public Schools speak with Ron Matus, Director of Research and Special Projects at Step Up For Students in Florida and former longtime education reporter for The Tampa Bay Times. Mr. Matus reflects on his career […]

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy of the Center for Strong Public Schools speak with Ron Matus, Director of Research and Special Projects at Step Up For Students in Florida and former longtime education reporter for The Tampa Bay Times. Mr. Matus reflects on his career from journalism to helping lead the nation's largest portfolio of K–12 school choice programs. Drawing on decades of covering Florida education policy, he explains how the state became a national leader in school choice through steady, incremental expansion rather than sudden universal eligibility. Matus discusses how key U.S. Supreme Court rulings and COVID-era school disruptions accelerated parent demand for flexible options, positioning Florida as the state serving the most students through education savings accounts and scholarship tax credits. He outlines the core principles behind that growth: building durable political coalitions, focusing relentlessly on families, safeguarding program integrity, and maintaining public trust. Looking ahead, he examines challenges including scaling ESA implementation, encouraging high-quality private schools, and addressing accountability concerns.

On this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy of the Center for Strong Public Schools speak with David Hodges, a school choice attorney with the Institute for Justice, and Ariella Hellman, director of government affairs for Agudath Israel of New England. Together, they discuss the U.S. First […]

On this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy of the Center for Strong Public Schools speak with David Hodges, a school choice attorney with the Institute for Justice, and Ariella Hellman, director of government affairs for Agudath Israel of New England. Together, they discuss the U.S. First Circuit case Hellman v. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, exploring how Hodges and the IJ team are shaping legal arguments around private school choice and religious liberty. They also explore how Hellman's personal journey as a mother, lawyer, and advocate highlights the real-world stakes of centuries-old anti-aid laws. From the influence of U.S. Supreme Court rulings like Trinity Lutheran, Espinoza, and Carson, to the ongoing negative impact of Massachusetts' 1850s Know-Nothing Amendment, Hodges and Hellman explain how a positive ruling could expand educational access and opportunities for families of faith across the Bay State. They talk about their experience working together on this U.S. Circuit case, exploring some of the challenges within the Massachusetts legal process. In closing, Hodges and Hellman offer an inside look at the legal battles and personal determination necessary to shape the future of education law in the Bay State and across the U.S.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, we celebrate Black History Month as co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy of the Center for Strong Public Schools speak with A'Lelia Bundles, an accomplished journalist, television producer, and biographer of Madam C. J. Walker, about the life, legacy, and enduring significance of her remarkable great-great-grandmother. […]

In this episode of The Learning Curve, we celebrate Black History Month as co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy of the Center for Strong Public Schools speak with A'Lelia Bundles, an accomplished journalist, television producer, and biographer of Madam C. J. Walker, about the life, legacy, and enduring significance of her remarkable great-great-grandmother. Ms. Bundles traces Walker's journey from her birth as Sarah Breedlove in post–Civil War Louisiana through an orphaned childhood marked by poverty, labor, and faith, and into her formative years in St. Louis, where church, music, and education shaped her ambitions. She explores how Breedlove's experiences with marriage, motherhood, and economic hardship informed her entrepreneurial drive, leading to the creation of innovative hair-care products and the launch of the Madam C. J. Walker brand. Bundles discusses Walker's development of a national training network that empowered Black women economically, her rise as America's first self-made female millionaire, and her philanthropic leadership. She also highlights Madam Walker's Westchester County, NY,  mansion estate "Villa Lewaro" as a Harlem Renaissance hub, and explores the cultural impact of Self Made. In closing, Ms. Bundles reads a passage from On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker.

On this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Great Hearts Academies' Dr. Helen Baxendale speak with Jay Tolson, editor of The Hedgehog Review and author of Pilgrim in the Ruins: A Life of Walker Percy. Tolson delves into the literary legacy of Walker Percy, the celebrated 20th-century Southern Catholic novelist. He […]

On this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Great Hearts Academies' Dr. Helen Baxendale speak with Jay Tolson, editor of The Hedgehog Review and author of Pilgrim in the Ruins: A Life of Walker Percy. Tolson delves into the literary legacy of Walker Percy, the celebrated 20th-century Southern Catholic novelist. He explores how Percy's many personal hardships and family tragedies shaped his voice as a writer, and Percy being mentored by his uncle William Alexander Percy of Greenville, Mississippi. Mr. Tolson also describes the lifelong friendship Walker Percy formed with the American novelist and Civil War historian Shelby Foote. He also discusses how Percy being stricken with tuberculosis was pivotal to his Catholic conversion and literary mission, as well as Percy's first novel The Moviegoer, which examined the human search for meaning within 20th-century America's often soulless media culture, winning the 1962 National Book Award. Mr. Tolson concludes the episode by reading an excerpt from his award-winning biography, Pilgrim in the Ruins: A Life of Walker Percy.

In this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy of the Center for Public Schools speak with Dr. Lerone Martin, Martin Luther King, Jr. Centennial Professor at Stanford University, and Dr. Jason Miller, Distinguished Professor of English at North Carolina State University. They explore […]

In this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy of the Center for Public Schools speak with Dr. Lerone Martin, Martin Luther King, Jr. Centennial Professor at Stanford University, and Dr. Jason Miller, Distinguished Professor of English at North Carolina State University. They explore the religious, literary, and historical foundations of MLK's thought and rhetoric, highlighting his vision of saving the soul of America and promoting human dignity. Dr. Martin discusses MLK's early spiritual leadership in Montgomery, AL, the influence of the Old Testament prophets, and the role of largely female-led grassroots activism in the 1955–56 Bus Boycott. Dr. Miller examines Langston Hughes's poetry, including “Harlem (A Dream Deferred)” and “Mississippi –1955,” and how it shaped King's sermons, speeches, and approach to civil rights leadership. Their conversation also covers key moments in King's career, including co-founding of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Freedom Rides, the 1963 March on Washington, and his Nobel Peace Prize. In closing, Dr. Miller reads a passage from his book, Origins of the Dream: Hughes's Poetry and King's Rhetoric.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Strong Public Schools' Alisha Searcy discuss state and national K-12 education reform with Katherine Haley, Founder and Partner of the Oak Rose Group and President of the Arizona State Board of Education. Haley shares her remarkable career journey from […]

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Strong Public Schools' Alisha Searcy discuss state and national K-12 education reform with Katherine Haley, Founder and Partner of the Oak Rose Group and President of the Arizona State Board of Education. Haley shares her remarkable career journey from Capitol Hill—where she served as chief policy advisor to former U.S. House Speaker John Boehner—to leading education reform in Arizona. She discusses founding the Oak Rose Group to advance human flourishing through strategic consulting, and her work on the Arizona State Board of Education, where she addresses the state's academic challenges on NAEP despite robust charter public and school choice programs. Ms. Haley provides an insider's perspective on the political dynamics of federal education lawmaking, the influence of special interests, and the complexities of programs like IDEA, Title I, and the DC voucher program. She examines why American K-12 education struggles to improve despite massive expenditures exceeding $800 billion annually, and offers advice for what governors, legislators, local officials, and parents can do to dramatically transform academic outcomes for America's schoolchildren.

This week on The Learning Curve we're looking back on memorable episodes of 2025: In this special MLK Day episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Prof. Lerone Martin, Martin Luther King, Jr. Centennial Professor at Stanford University and Director of the MLK Research and Education Institute. Dr. Martin offers deep insights into the life and legacy of […]

This week on The Learning Curve we're looking back on memorable episodes of 2025: In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Trish Schreiber, senior fellow in education at the Frontier Institute in Montana. Schreiber shares her journey from Silicon Valley to Montana and her passion for expanding educational opportunities. She discusses the impact of […]

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy of the Center for Public Schools speak with Julie Young, Julie Petersen, and Kay Johnson, co-editors of Pioneer Institute's new book, Virtual Schools, Actual Learning: Digital Education in America. They explore the evolution of online education in the U.S., […]

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy of the Center for Public Schools speak with Julie Young, Julie Petersen, and Kay Johnson, co-editors of Pioneer Institute's new book, Virtual Schools, Actual Learning: Digital Education in America. They explore the evolution of online education in the U.S., from the founding of Florida Virtual School (FLVS) to the innovations at ASU Prep Digital. Young, Petersen, and Johnson discuss key principles of educational leadership, pivotal historical milestones in virtual schooling, and the early challenges of creating student-centered, technology-driven learning models. The co-editors highlight lessons from states' high-performing digital programs, the role of state regulations, and strategies for addressing national learning loss, including insights about shortcomings of remote education during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also examine state funding structures, policy best practices, and critiques of online education, including concerns about equity of access. They discuss the book's policy recommendations, offer a forward-looking vision for “unbound” learning, as well as the future of K-12 digital education across the globe. In closing, Julie Young reads a passage from Virtual Schools, Actual Learning: Digital Education in America.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Ark Prof. Albert Cheng and Dr. Helen Baxendale of Great Hearts Academies speak with Paul Andrew Hutton, Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus at the University of New Mexico and author of the New York Times Bestseller, The Undiscovered Country: Triumph, Tragedy, and the Shaping of the American West. Prof. Hutton discusses the central themes of his new book and explains how the American West became foundational to the nation's identity. He reflects on iconic figures such as Daniel Boone, Red Eagle, Davy Crockett, Mangas Coloradas, and Kit Carson, and emphasizes the enduring significance of Sitting Bull, the Hunkpapa Lakota leader who played a pivotal role in the Plains Indian Wars and the 1876 victory at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Drawing on his extensive historical research, Hutton also explores how through “Buffalo Bill” Cody's Wild West Show the cowboy emerged as a powerful worldwide symbol of American individualism, resilience, and self-determination. In closing, Prof. Hutton reads a passage from his book, The Undiscovered Country: Triumph, Tragedy, and the Shaping of the American West.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Strong Public Schools' Alisha Searcy speak with Sir Hew Strachan, Professor of International Relations at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, and recipient of the 2016 Pritzker Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement in Military Writing. Prof. Sir Hew, author […]

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Strong Public Schools' Alisha Searcy speak with Sir Hew Strachan, Professor of International Relations at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, and recipient of the 2016 Pritzker Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement in Military Writing. Prof. Sir Hew, author of numerous award-winning books, including The First World War, the basis of the definitive 10-part Channel 4/BBC documentary, discusses how World War I shaped the 20th century and beyond. He explores how European imperial rivalries contributed to the conflict; the role of Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II; the First Battle of the Marne, the Battle of Verdun, and the Battle of the Somme; and the significance of V. I. Lenin's 1917 return to Russia sparking the Bolshevik Revolution. Prof. Strachan also examines how the Zimmermann Telegram contributed to U.S. entry into the war; U.S. Army General John "Black Jack" Pershing as the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces; and the ways in which new mechanized weapons made WWI the first modern war. Sir Hew concludes by reflecting on the Great War's enduring impact on the world today and reads an excerpt from his forthcoming essay due to be released later this month.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Great Hearts Academies' Dr. Helen Baxendale interview Leo Damrosch, Ernest Bernbaum Professor of Literature Emeritus at Harvard University, and acclaimed biographer of some of the world's greatest literary figures. Prof. Damrosch discusses his newest book Storyteller: The Life of Robert Louis […]

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Great Hearts Academies' Dr. Helen Baxendale interview Leo Damrosch, Ernest Bernbaum Professor of Literature Emeritus at Harvard University, and acclaimed biographer of some of the world's greatest literary figures. Prof. Damrosch discusses his newest book Storyteller: The Life of Robert Louis Stevenson. He reflects on Stevenson's childhood in Scotland and the close relationship he maintained with his nanny, Alison Cunningham. He shares how Stevenson lived an adventurous life, with his travel inspiring classics like Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and A Child's Garden of Verses. Prof. Damrosch explores the moral dualities in Stevenson's gothic masterpiece, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, examining how the novella reveals humanity's capacity for good and evil. He also discusses Stevenson's later years in Samoa, his marriage to the American Fanny Osbourne, and his involvement with the politics and people of the South Pacific islands before dying at the age of 44. Prof. Damrosch concludes with reading an excerpt from Treasure Island.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Public Schools' Alisha Searcy interview Dr. Anna Lembke, MD, professor of psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine, chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, and author of the NYT bestselling book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance […]

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Public Schools' Alisha Searcy interview Dr. Anna Lembke, MD, professor of psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine, chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic, and author of the NYT bestselling book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence. Dr. Lembke explains how dopamine functions in the human brain and contributes to addictive behaviors. She explores how modern American life fuels a culture of addiction, drawing parallels between past waves of opioid and alcohol abuse and today's dependence on the internet and smart phones. Dr. Lembke also examines how overuse of technology is influencing dopamine-driven addiction and contributing to rising rates of teen mental illness. Drawing on her extensive research, she offers practical strategies for people seeking to break addictive habits and be more restrained in using technology. Dr. Lembke concludes the interview by reading an excerpt from Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, offering a valuable lesson on how individuals can find greater fulfillment by living a more balanced life without excessive dopamine.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Public Schools' Alisha Searcy interview Jack Johnson Pannell, founder and head of Trinity Arch Preparatory School for Boys in Phoenix. Mr. Pannell discusses his career as an educational leader, including founding a nationally recognized charter school in Baltimore, and […]

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Public Schools' Alisha Searcy interview Jack Johnson Pannell, founder and head of Trinity Arch Preparatory School for Boys in Phoenix. Mr. Pannell discusses his career as an educational leader, including founding a nationally recognized charter school in Baltimore, and shares how his background in the liberal arts and law has informed his approach to schooling. He explores the enduring value of a liberal arts education, American studies, and legal reasoning in cultivating civic-minded, intellectually engaged students. Pannell also addresses the impact of educational fads like school-to-work programs, social-emotional learning, and 21st-century skills on academic achievement, noting the importance of grounding boys in rigorous, time-tested curricula. Drawing on his experience moderating the Teen Socrates program at the Aspen Institute, he shares strategies for engaging teen boys in meaningful academic and philosophical discussions. Finally, Pannell explains how Trinity Arch Prep uses choice options available in AZ to impart Christian faith and strong academics to develop young men of character, intellect, and civic purpose.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Walter Blanks of the American Federation for Children interview Prof. Robert Maranto and Sean Woytek co-authors of the Education Next piece, “Why Academically Intensive Charter Schools Deserve Our Attention.” They explore how rigorous charter school networks like BASIS Ed have achieved exceptional outcomes and what […]

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Walter Blanks of the American Federation for Children interview Prof. Robert Maranto and Sean Woytek co-authors of the Education Next piece, “Why Academically Intensive Charter Schools Deserve Our Attention.” They explore how rigorous charter school networks like BASIS Ed have achieved exceptional outcomes and what their success can teach policymakers and educators nationwide about improving academic performance nationwide. Maranto and Woytek trace BASIS's origins to 1998, when it opened with 56 students in Tuscon, Arizona. Today, the network operates 40 schools across five states, consistently ranking among the nation's top performers. Despite these results, Maranto and Woytek note that “Academically Intensive Charter Schools” (AICS) remain largely overlooked, even as national reading and math scores continue to decline. They explain how AICS differ from specialized or “No Excuses” charter models by emphasizing broad, rigorous academics and high expectations for all students. Spending roughly $12,350 per student—far less than traditional public schools—AICS achieve remarkable academic outcomes and demonstrate strong accountability. Maranto and Woytek conclude by urging educators and policymakers to recognize, study, and replicate the AICS model to expand access to high-quality, academically rigorous education across the country.

Albert Cheng has led growth at three of the world's most successful consumer subscription companies: Duolingo, Grammarly, and Chess.com. A former Google product manager (and serious pianist!), Albert developed a unique approach to finding and scaling growth opportunities through rapid experimentation and deep user psychology. His teams run 1,000 experiments a year, discovering counterintuitive insights that have driven tens of millions in revenue.What you'll learn:1. How to use the explore-exploit framework to find new growth opportunities2. How showing premium features to free users doubled Grammarly's upgrades to paid plans3. What good retention looks like for a consumer subscription app4. Why resurrected users drive 80% of mature product growth5. Why “reverse trials” work better than time-based trials6. The three pillars of successful gamification: core loop, metagame, and profile —Brought to you by:Vanta—Automate compliance. Simplify security.Jira Product Discovery—Confidence to build the right thingMiro—A collaborative visual platform where your best work comes to life—Where to find Albert Cheng:• X: https://x.com/albertc248• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/albertcheng1/• Chess.com: https://www.chess.com/member/Goniners—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—Referenced:• How Duolingo reignited user growth: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-duolingo-reignited-user-growth• Inside ChatGPT: The fastest-growing product in history | Nick Turley (Head of ChatGPT at OpenAI): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/inside-chatgpt-nick-turley• Explore vs. Exploit: https://brianbalfour.com/quick-takes/explore-vs-exploit• Grammarly: https://www.grammarly.com/• Reforge: https://www.reforge.com/• Chess.com: https://www.chess.com/• Everyone's an engineer now: Inside v0's mission to create a hundred million builders | Guillermo Rauch (founder & CEO of Vercel, creators of v0 and Next.js): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/everyones-an-engineer-now-guillermo-rauch• Building Lovable: $10M ARR in 60 days with 15 people | Anton Osika (CEO and co-founder): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/building-lovable-anton-osika• Figma: https://www.figma.com/• Cursor: https://cursor.com/• The rise of Cursor: The $300M ARR AI tool that engineers can't stop using | Michael Truell (co-founder and CEO): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-rise-of-cursor-michael-truell• Claude Code: https://www.anthropic.com/claude-code• GitHub Copilot: https://github.com/features/copilot• Noam Lovinsky on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noaml/• The happiness and pain of product management | Noam Lovinsky (Grammarly, Facebook, YouTube, Thumbtack): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-happiness-and-pain-of-product• Kyla Siedband on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylasiedband/• The Duolingo handbook: https://blog.duolingo.com/handbook/• Lenny's post on X about the Duolingo handbook: https://x.com/lennysan/status/1889008405584683091• The rituals of great teams | Shishir Mehrotra of Coda, YouTube, Microsoft: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-rituals-of-great-teams-shishir• Duolingo on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@duolingo• Kasparov vs. Deep Blue | The Match That Changed History: https://www.chess.com/article/view/deep-blue-kasparov-chess• Magnus Carlsen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_Carlsen• Elo rating system: https://www.chess.com/terms/elo-rating-chess• Stockfish: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockfish_(chess)• AlphaGo on Prime Video: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/AlphaGo/0KNQHKKDAOE8OCYKQS9WSSDYN0• Statsig: https://www.statsig.com/• The State of Product in 2026: Navigating Change, Challenge, and Opportunity: https://www.atlassian.com/blog/announcements/state-of-product-2026• Erik Allebest on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikallebest/• Daniel Rensch on X: https://x.com/danielrensch• Chariot: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chariot_(company)• San Francisco 49ers: https://www.49ers.com/• Breville Barista Express: https://www.breville.com/en-us/product/bes870—Recommended books:• Snuggle Puppy!: A Little Love Song: https://www.amazon.com/Snuggle-Puppy-Little-Boynton-Board/dp/1665924985• Ogilvy on Advertising: https://www.amazon.com/Ogilvy-Advertising-David/dp/039472903X• Dark Squares: How Chess Saved My Life: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Squares-Chess-Saved-Life/dp/1541703286—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. To hear more, visit www.lennysnewsletter.com

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Public Schools' Alisha Searcy interview Randall Woods, John A. Cooper Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Arkansas, and author of John Quincy Adams: A Man for the Whole People. Prof. Woods shares the life and career of American statesman John Quincy Adams, the “first son of the […]

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Center for Public Schools' Alisha Searcy interview Randall Woods, John A. Cooper Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Arkansas, and author of John Quincy Adams: A Man for the Whole People. Prof. Woods shares the life and career of American statesman John Quincy Adams, the “first son of the Republic,” whose upbringing in the household of John and Abigail Adams shaped his lifelong devotion to public service. He reflects on Adams's early diplomatic triumphs, including the Treaty of Ghent and the Monroe Doctrine, as well as the 1824 election that resulted in him becoming the sixth U.S. President. Prof. Woods describes the highlights of Adams's congressional career—his leadership in overturning the “gag rule” on antislavery petitions and his powerful U.S. Supreme Court defense of the Amistad Africans' revolt at sea — before turning to the significance of his voluminous diaries in guiding future generations of the Adams family and American public servants. Woods concludes the interview by reading a favorite passage from his biography, John Quincy Adams: A Man for the Whole People.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and the Center for Public Schools' Alisha Searcy interview Kerry McDonald, Senior Education Fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE), host of the LiberatED podcast, and author of Joyful Learning: How to Find Freedom, Happiness, and Success Beyond Conventional Schooling (2025). […]

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and the Center for Public Schools' Alisha Searcy interview Kerry McDonald, Senior Education Fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE), host of the LiberatED podcast, and author of Joyful Learning: How to Find Freedom, Happiness, and Success Beyond Conventional Schooling (2025). As a leading advocate for alternative schooling, McDonald shares how her educational background shaped her philosophy of learner-driven schooling and traces the history of homeschooling in America, highlighting the hurdles families have overcome in recent years. She reflects on the COVID-19 shutdowns that placed more than 50 million students into “Zoom school,” discussing lessons from that period and the ongoing problem of learning loss. McDonald concludes the interview examining the expansion of school choice programs in more than 20 states, weighing taxpayer costs and potential positive impact on students' academic performance.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Eos Foundation's Andrea Silbert interview Dr. Gil Troy, senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, Distinguished Scholar in North American History at McGill University, and editor of Theodor Herzl: The Collected Zionist Writings and Addresses of Israel's Founder. He offers […]

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Eos Foundation's Andrea Silbert interview Dr. Gil Troy, senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, Distinguished Scholar in North American History at McGill University, and editor of Theodor Herzl: The Collected Zionist Writings and Addresses of Israel's Founder. He offers an overview of Herzl's upbringing in 19th-century Vienna, the antisemitic events that shaped his worldview, and how the infamous Dreyfus Affair spurred his determination to establish a Jewish State. Dr. Troy highlights Herzl's most influential works, including The Jewish State and the Old New Land, and explained how they bolstered support for the Zionist movement. He also reflects on Herzl's role in creating the First Zionist Congress and his impact as the “spiritual father of the Jewish State,” addressing how his influence continues to confront rising global antisemitism today. Dr. Troy concludes the interview with a reading from Theodor Herzl: The Collected Zionist Writings and Addresses of Israel's Founder.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Great Hearts Academies' Dr. Helen Baxendale interview Dr. Kathryn Hughes, academic historian and award-winning author of George Eliot: The Last Victorian. Dr. Hughes discusses the significance of 19th-century novelist Mary Ann Evans, better known by her pen name George Eliot, in […]

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Great Hearts Academies' Dr. Helen Baxendale interview Dr. Kathryn Hughes, academic historian and award-winning author of George Eliot: The Last Victorian. Dr. Hughes discusses the significance of 19th-century novelist Mary Ann Evans, better known by her pen name George Eliot, in shaping British literature and capturing the societal tensions of the Victorian era. She highlights Eliot's formative years in rural Warwickshire, her intellectual and scandalous personal relationship with the philosopher George Henry Lewes, and how her unconventional experiences shaped her writing. Additionally, she delves into Eliot's most celebrated works, including Adam Bede, Silas Marner, and Middlemarch. Dr. Hughes reflects on recurring themes of marriage, women's roles, and political reform, solidifying her reputation as one of the greatest writers of the 19th century and ensuring her lasting impact on modern readers. She concludes the interview with an excerpt from her book, George Eliot: The Last Victorian.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and American Federation for Children Senior Fellow Shaka Mitchell interview John Kirtley, Managing Partner and co-founder of Keswick Partners, and founder and Chairman of Step Up For Students, a nonprofit that manages Florida's state-funded K-12 scholarship programs serving over half a million students. Kirtley shares his journey from the private sector into education reform in the late 1990s, and why business leaders must actively engage in shaping K-12 policy. He reflects on Florida's steady, incremental expansion of school choice programs, explaining how this long-term approach built a critical mass of school choice families despite longstanding opposition, and offers lessons for newer ESA states like Arizona, Texas, and Iowa that seek to accelerate growth. Mr. Kirtley addresses challenges ahead, from ensuring a strong supply of high-quality private schools to managing the complexities of universal ESA programs. He also discusses how to measure and maintain accountability in parent-driven school choice programs, strategies to reverse stagnating NAEP scores, and the opportunities presented by the new federal education tax credit program.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Pioneer Senior Fellow Charlie Chieppo interview award-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author Jane Leavy. Ms. Leavy discusses her lifelong love of baseball, and her forthcoming book, Make Me Commissioner: I Know What's Wrong with Baseball and How to Fix It, which comes out in September. She reflects on the magic of the Cape Cod Baseball League, contrasting it with today's Major League Baseball, and explores the commissioner's role since the tenure of Bart Giamatti in the 1980s. Leavy examines how labor disputes, steroid scandals, and the rise of Big Data have reshaped the game, fueling declining popularity, unprecedented pitcher injuries, and frustration among fans and Hall of Famers alike. At the same time, she highlights ways in which analytics have boosted performance at cutting-edge training centers like Driveline in Washington State. She shares candid insights on MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred's media ambitions, the sport's future, and her vision for restoring baseball's timeless beauty. In closing, Ms. Leavy reads a passage from her book, Make Me Commissioner: I Know What's Wrong with Baseball and How to Fix It.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Ret. MN Supreme Court Justice Barry Anderson interviews Prof. Keith Hylton, William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professor and Professor of Law at Boston University. Prof. Hylton shares insights from his academic career and the book Laws of Creation: Property Rights in the World of Ideas, which he co-authored. The discussion […]

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Ret. MN Supreme Court Justice Barry Anderson interview Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Pepperdine Law's, Prof. Edward Larson. Prof. Larson marks the 100th anniversary of the Scopes “Monkey Trial,” a landmark case in America's long-running debate over science, religion, and public education. Drawing on his acclaimed book Summer for the Gods, Prof. Larson […]

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Dr. Helen Baxendale of Great Hearts Academies interview longtime public education champion and Learning Curve co-host Alisha Searcy. Alisha joins the show as a guest to share her story and insights into K-12 public education reform. Herself a product of public-school choice, she […]

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview University of Maryland Emeritus Professor of English Vincent Carretta. Prof. Carretta explores the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of the first African-American to publish a book of poetry in English, Phillis Wheatley Peters. He offers insight into Phillis' […]

We continue our Summer Playlist this week with Albert Cheng, CEO of the Singapore Bullion Market Association (SBMA). SmarterMarkets™ host David Greely sits down with Albert to discuss the SBMA's vision for Singapore to become a leading global center for the trading of gold and other precious metals – and the SBMA's roadmap to making that vision a reality.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Walter Blanks interview Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick, who has served as superintendent-director of the Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional School District since 1994. A leader in vocational-technical education, Dr. Fitzpatrick reflects on his own educational journey and offers insights into leadership that puts […]

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview John Burt, the Paul Prosswimmer Professor of American Literature at Brandeis University. Prof. Burt offers rich insight into the life and work of one of the 20th century's greatest American writers, Robert Penn Warren. Raised in rural southwestern Kentucky, Warren was deeply shaped […]