Podcast appearances and mentions of albert cheng

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Amanda McMullen, President & CEO of the New Bedford Whaling Museum (NBWM). Ms. McMullen explores NBWM's remarkable mission, collections, and economic impact on the Southcoast of Massachusetts. She discusses NBWM's historical roots in the 19th-century Yankee whaling industry that made New Bedford the wealthiest city in the world per capita. She […]

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Amanda McMullen, President & CEO of the New Bedford Whaling Museum (NBWM). Ms. McMullen explores NBWM's remarkable mission, collections, and economic impact on the Southcoast of Massachusetts. She discusses NBWM's historical roots in the 19th-century Yankee whaling industry that made New Bedford the wealthiest city in the world per capita. She highlights the museum's iconic exhibits, including five full whale skeletons and the Lagoda, the world's largest model whaling ship. Ms. McMullen touches on the whaling industry's close relationship with Quaker abolitionists, the museum's unparalleled collections of scrimshaw and whale ship logbooks, as well as Herman Melville and Moby-Dick's literary legacy in New Bedford and beyond. In closing, she shares how NBWM reaches 140,000 people annually and contributes to the regional economy, while offering a preview of summer plans and exciting future projects under her leadership.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Benjamin Moynihan, Executive Director, and, William Crombie, Director of Professional Development, for the Algebra Project, Inc. Mr. Moynihan and Mr. Crombie reflect on the life and legacy of Civil Rights era icon, and math educator, Bob Moses. They trace Moses's journey from a Harlem upbringing and elite liberal arts education to his transformative […]

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Benjamin Moynihan, Executive Director, and, William Crombie, Director of Professional Development, for the Algebra Project, Inc. Mr. Moynihan and Mr. Crombie reflect on the life and legacy of Civil Rights era icon, and math educator, Bob Moses. They trace Moses's journey from a Harlem upbringing and elite liberal arts education to his transformative grassroots activism in 1960s Mississippi, organizing Black voter registration and co-directing the Freedom Summer Project 1964. They discuss his collaboration with Mississippi sharecropper and Civil Rights era legend Fannie Lou Hamer, and his principled departure from the U.S. to raise a family and teach math in Tanzania, where his educational vision deepened. Bob Moses later founded the Algebra Project to confront math illiteracy as a modern civil rights issue, empowering students of color through community-based Algebra instruction. Moynihan and Crombie explore the Algebra Project's enduring mission; its pioneering role advocating for Algebra I as the gateway course to all higher-level math; and the importance of local buy-in for K-12 education reform. They reflect on Bob Moses's profound, often quiet leadership; Pulitzer-winning Civil Rights Movement historian Taylor Branch's high praise of his courageous voter registration work in Jim Crow Mississippi; and how the Algebra Project's grassroots model of organizing promotes access to high-level math instruction for all American schoolchildren.

In this special episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Charlie Chieppo interview New York Times bestselling American sportswriter, biographer, and author Jane Leavy.  Ms. Leavy offers a vivid exploration of Babe Ruth's life and towering legacy. Leavy sheds new light on Ruth's difficult Baltimore childhood, his formative years at St. Mary's Industrial School, and his remarkable early success as a star pitcher with the […]

In this special episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Charlie Chieppo interview New York Times bestselling American sportswriter, biographer, and author Jane Leavy.  Ms. Leavy offers a vivid exploration of Babe Ruth's life and towering legacy. Leavy sheds new light on Ruth's difficult Baltimore childhood, his formative years at St. Mary's Industrial School, and his remarkable early success as a star pitcher with the Boston Red Sox. She discusses Ruth's pivotal sale to the Yankees, his celebrity rise alongside New York City's 1920s boom, his legendary 1927 season with “Murderers' Row,” and his bittersweet final years. Ms. Leavy reflects on Babe Ruth legacy and why he remains the Ruthian symbol of American sports greatness. In closing, Ms. Leavy reads a passage from her book, The Big Fella: Babe Ruth and the World He Created.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Ret. MN Justice Barry Anderson speak with Wilfrid Prest, Emeritus Professor and Visiting Research Fellow in History and Law at the University of Adelaide in Australia, and biographer of Sir William Blackstone, among the most influential figures in the history of English common law. Prof. Prest discusses Blackstone's […]

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Ret. MN Justice Barry Anderson speak with Wilfrid Prest, Emeritus Professor and Visiting Research Fellow in History and Law at the University of Adelaide in Australia, and biographer of Sir William Blackstone, among the most influential figures in the history of English common law. Prof. Prest discusses Blackstone's formative years in mid-18th-century London and at Pembroke College, Oxford, where a classical education, Enlightenment thought, and legal scholarship shaped his intellectual path. He describes Blackstone's early legal and academic career, including his role as the first Vinerian Professor of English Law and author of An Analysis of the Laws of England. Prest explores how Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England brought clarity and coherence to England's centuries old legal tradition, drawing from foundational documents like Magna Carta and formative figures such as Bracton, Fortescue, and Coke. He examines the Commentaries' lasting impact on American Founding Fathers, including both admirers like Alexander Hamilton and Chief Justice John Marshall and critics like Thomas Jefferson. Prest concludes with reflections on Blackstone's enduring legacy in promoting the rule of law and legal education worldwide. In closing, Prof. Prest reads a passage from his book, William Blackstone: Law and Letters in the Eighteenth Century. 

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng, speak with Michael Duffy, President of GO Tutor Corps, a nonprofit dedicated to closing achievement gaps through high-dosage tutoring in low-income communities. Mr. Duffy shares insights from his distinguished career in public service and education reform, beginning in Massachusetts state government under Governor Bill […]

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng, speak with Michael Duffy, President of GO Tutor Corps, a nonprofit dedicated to closing achievement gaps through high-dosage tutoring in low-income communities. Mr. Duffy shares insights from his distinguished career in public service and education reform, beginning in Massachusetts state government under Governor Bill Weld and later in Boston's charter school movement. He reflects on the influence of the book Reinventing Government and the 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act, which helped make the Bay State a national leader in K–12 outcomes. Mr. Duffy also discusses Boston's charter sector, its formative leaders, and how its successful model migrated to New York City, where he worked under Chancellor Joel Klein and Mayor Michael Bloomberg to scale innovation in public education. Now leading GO Tutor Corps, Duffy describes the organization's intensive, relationship-based tutoring model as a powerful tool for addressing pandemic-related learning loss. He offers lessons for policymakers and educators across the country seeking to improve equity and academic outcomes for students most in need.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Pioneer’s Mary Connaughton interview Ambassador Mary Ann Glendon, Harvard Law professor emerita and former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See. Ambassador Glendon reflects on her formative education, mentors, and how law and faith have shaped her worldview. She discusses her admiration for Western Civilization's intellectual and spiritual heritage—especially Cicero, Edmund Burke, and […]

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Pioneer’s Mary Connaughton interview Ambassador Mary Ann Glendon, Harvard Law professor emerita and former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See. Ambassador Glendon reflects on her formative education, mentors, and how law and faith have shaped her worldview. She discusses her admiration for Western Civilization's intellectual and spiritual heritage—especially Cicero, Edmund Burke, and […]

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Pioneer's Mary Connaughton interview Ambassador Mary Ann Glendon, Harvard Law professor emerita and former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See. Ambassador Glendon reflects on her formative education, mentors, and how law and faith have shaped her worldview. She discusses her admiration for Western Civilization's intellectual and spiritual heritage—especially Cicero, Edmund Burke, and […]

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Pioneer's Mary Connaughton interview Ambassador Mary Ann Glendon, Harvard Law professor emerita and former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See. Ambassador Glendon reflects on her formative education, mentors, and how law and faith have shaped her worldview. She discusses her admiration for Western Civilization's intellectual and spiritual heritage—especially Cicero, Edmund Burke, and the harmony of Catholicism with reason. Ambassador Glendon offers insights from her memoir In the Courts of Three Popes, recounting her service under Popes St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. She explores Vatican diplomacy, the Church's governance, the Vatican Bank, and key challenges facing the Church today, including the upcoming papal conclave. In closing, she reads a passage from her book, In the Courts of Three Popes.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Steven Wilson, a senior fellow at Pioneer Institute and a leading voice in education reform. Mr. Wilson discusses his journey into K-12 education policy, reflecting on his early work with Gov. Bill Weld and the landmark 1993 Massachusetts Education […]

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Steven Wilson, a senior fellow at Pioneer Institute and a leading voice in education reform. Mr. Wilson discusses his journey into K-12 education policy, reflecting on his early work with Gov. Bill Weld and the landmark 1993 Massachusetts Education […]

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Steven Wilson, a senior fellow at Pioneer Institute and a leading voice in education reform. Mr. Wilson discusses his journey into K-12 education policy, reflecting on his early work with Gov. Bill Weld and the landmark 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act (MERA), which helped propel the state's schools to national and international success. Steven highlights the contributions of Linda Brown and Building Excellent Schools in fostering high-performing charter leaders and networks and addresses the political and curricular challenges charters face today. Wilson also examines the academic stagnation that continued with the 2024 NAEP results, linking it to the adoption of Common Core and broader shifts in education policy. He explores the intersection of K-12 curricula with race- and class-based politics and discusses themes from his newly published book, The Lost Decade. He continues by discussing policy recommendations, calling for a renewed focus on rigorous academics to close achievement gaps and restore excellence and equality of opportunity in American education. In closing, Wilson reads a passage from The Lost Decade.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Dr. Sheila Harrity, former Worcester Tech principal and nationally recognized vocational-technical education leader. Dr. Harrity shares insights from her distinguished career in voc-tech schooling. She discusses how Massachusetts voc-tech schools leveraged provisions of the 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act to achieve academic and occupational excellence, built strong partnerships […]

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Dr. Sheila Harrity, former Worcester Tech principal and nationally recognized vocational-technical education leader. Dr. Harrity shares insights from her distinguished career in voc-tech schooling. She discusses how Massachusetts voc-tech schools leveraged provisions of the 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act to achieve academic and occupational excellence, built strong partnerships with industry and higher ed, and dramatically reduced dropout rates. Dr. Harrity reflects on Worcester Tech's national acclaim, VIP visits from President Barack Obama and the late former Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell, and school reform policy challenges, while offering three key strategies to strengthen urban voc-techs nationwide.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Dr. Helen Baxendale interview noted literary biographer, Dr. Jeffrey Meyers. Dr. Meyers discusses The Great Gatsby on its 100th anniversary. He explores F. Scott Fitzgerald's tragic life, his marriage to Zelda, and how their tumultuous relationship shaped his iconic novel. Dr. Meyers delves into the timeless themes of Gatsby's yearning, the elusive […]

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Dr. Helen Baxendale interview noted literary biographer, Dr. Jeffrey Meyers. Dr. Meyers discusses The Great Gatsby on its 100th anniversary. He explores F. Scott Fitzgerald's tragic life, his marriage to Zelda, and how their tumultuous relationship shaped his iconic novel. Dr. Meyers delves into the timeless themes of Gatsby's yearning, the elusive American Dream, and 1920s decadence while analyzing major characters and symbols like Daisy, the green light, and Gatsby's reinvention of himself. He also reflects on Fitzgerald's later struggles and enduring literary legacy. In closing, Dr. Meyers reads a passage from his biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Dr. James Lynn Woodworth, research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and former commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Dr. Woodworth discusses the role of data in shaping K-12 education policy. He explores the […]

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Dr. James Lynn Woodworth, research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and former commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Dr. Woodworth discusses the role of data in shaping K-12 education policy. He explores the impact of assessments like NAEP, PISA, and TIMSS on global education trends, the challenges of declining U.S. student performance, and the uncertain effectiveness of federal K-12 spending. Dr. Woodworth also shares insights from his work at the Center for Research on Educational Outcomes (CREDO) on charter school results and the importance of data-driven policymaking in urban school districts. Finally, he highlights key education research priorities at Hoover and strategies for addressing achievement gaps nationwide.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Robert Enlow, president and CEO of EdChoice. Mr. Enlow discusses his decades of leadership in school choice advocacy, from his early work with the Milton and Rose Friedman Foundation to spearheading policy reforms nationwide. He examines the persistent stagnation in U.S. K-12 education despite […]

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Robert Enlow, president and CEO of EdChoice. Mr. Enlow discusses his decades of leadership in school choice advocacy, from his early work with the Milton and Rose Friedman Foundation to spearheading policy reforms nationwide. He examines the persistent stagnation in U.S. K-12 education despite massive funding and highlights the rapid expansion of charter schools and education savings accounts (ESAs). Enlow also reflects on the legal victories school choice achieved in the U.S. Supreme Court's Espinoza and Carson rulings, the rise of microschools and homeschooling post-COVID, and the evolving coalitions shaping school choice. Additionally, he previews upcoming legal and political battles as opponents push back against further reforms.

send us a text via Fan Mail!A fascinating conversation on a recent study of homeschooled adults.  Co-author Albert Cheng, PhD, is a Cardus senior fellow and associate professor in the Department of Education Reform at the University of Arkansas.Among his many achievements and areas of study, his research interests include character formation, school-choice policy, faith-based schooling, and homeschooling.  Our conversation about this study, Diverse Outcomes for a Diverse Population, reveals some interesting data about home educated adults as well as food for thought on our goals for family education.  Support the showContact On Instagram at @make.joy.normal By email at makejoynormal@gmail.com Search podcast episodes by topic Thanks for listening to Make Joy Normal Podcast!

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 the United States Supreme Court's ruling in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, the state’s growing […]

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 the United States Supreme Court's ruling in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, the state's growing education tax credit program, and the recent passage of Montana's charter school law. Ms. Schreiber also examines challenges posed by entrenched special interests in K-12 education and highlights key resources that inform her work in advancing school choice and education reform.

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Margaret Washington, the esteemed historian and author of Sojourner Truth's America. Prof. Washington delves into Truth's remarkable life, from her early years in slavery in New York to her transformation into a powerful abolitionist, women's rights advocate, and religiously driven reformer. She explores Northern […]

In this week's episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Margaret Washington, the esteemed historian and author of Sojourner Truth's America. Prof. Washington delves into Truth's remarkable life, from her early years in slavery in New York to her transformation into a powerful abolitionist, women's rights advocate, and religiously driven reformer. She explores Northern slavery, the Second Great Awakening, her famous “Ain't I a Woman?” speech, and her Civil War-era activism. Prof. Washington also reflects on Truth's enduring legacy as a symbol of justice, equality, and resilience in American history. In closing, Prof. Washington reads a passage from her book, Sojourner Truth's America.

In this special St. Valentine’s Day episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview renowned Shakespeare scholar Professor Sir Jonathan Bate to discuss the timeless tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. Exploring its enduring greatness, Sir Jonathan delves into Shakespeare's classical influences, particularly Ovid's Metamorphoses, and how Elizabethan literature shaped the portrayal of lovers. He examines the interplay of passion, violence, and fate in Verona's warring streets […]

In this special St. Valentine's Day episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview renowned Shakespeare scholar Professor Sir Jonathan Bate to discuss the timeless tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. Exploring its enduring greatness, Sir Jonathan delves into Shakespeare's classical influences, particularly Ovid's Metamorphoses, and how Elizabethan literature shaped the portrayal of lovers. He examines the interplay of passion, violence, and fate in Verona's warring streets and explains Romeo and Juliet's eternal love—from Romeo's early infatuation with Rosaline to his deep romantic connection with Juliet. Sir Jonathan highlights the poetic brilliance and intimacy of the famous window scene, Mercutio's pivotal role in shifting the play's tone, and the tragic consequences of miscommunication and hasty action. He also reflects on Shakespeare's overarching themes of love and death, and the poetic depth of his love sonnets. Additionally, he shares insights into what Romeo and Juliet and Shakespeare's works teach us about the enduring human desire for love. In closing, Sir Jonathan reads a passage from his book Mad about Shakespeare: From Classroom to Theatre to Emergency Room.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Steven Wilson, a senior fellow at Pioneer Institute and a leading voice in education reform. Mr. Wilson discusses his journey into K-12 education policy, reflecting on his early work with Gov. Bill Weld and the landmark 1993 Massachusetts Education […]

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Steven Wilson, a senior fellow at Pioneer Institute and a leading voice in education reform. Mr. Wilson discusses his journey into K-12 education policy, reflecting on his early work with Gov. Bill Weld and the landmark 1993 Massachusetts Education Reform Act (MERA), which helped propel the state's schools to national and international success. Steven highlights the contributions of Linda Brown and Building Excellent Schools in fostering high-performing charter leaders and networks and addresses the political and curricular challenges charters face today. Wilson also examines the academic stagnation that continued with the 2024 NAEP results, linking it to the adoption of Common Core and broader shifts in education policy. He explores the intersection of K-12 curricula with race- and class-based politics and discusses themes from his upcoming book, The Lost Decade. He continues by discussing policy recommendations, calling for a renewed focus on rigorous academics to close achievement gaps and restore excellence and equality of opportunity in American education. In closing, Wilson reads a passage from his new book The Lost Decade.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview historian Marcus Rediker, Distinguished Professor of Atlantic History at the University of Pittsburgh and author of The Amistad Rebellion. Prof. Rediker explores the 1839 slave revolt aboard the schooner La Amistad. He recounts the leadership of Sengbe Pieh (Joseph Cinqué) and the wider history and human toll of the transatlantic slave trade. Prof. Rediker details […]

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview historian Marcus Rediker, Distinguished Professor of Atlantic History at the University of Pittsburgh and author of The Amistad Rebellion. Prof. Rediker explores the 1839 slave revolt aboard the schooner La Amistad. He recounts the leadership of Sengbe Pieh (Joseph Cinqué) and the wider history and human toll of the transatlantic slave trade. Prof. Rediker details the Amistad Africans' journey from Sierra Leone to Havana's barracoons, their rebellion at sea, and their capture off Long Island. He examines the legal battle, from their defense by abolitionists to American statesman John Quincy Adams' stirring legal argument before the U.S. Supreme Court, which helped secure their freedom. Prof. Rediker highlights the Amistad SCOTUS case's impact on the abolitionist movement and the fate of Cinqué and his comrades upon returning to West Africa. He discusses how the Amistad revolt should be remembered and taught, ensuring that this extraordinary story of resistance and justice remains a vital part of our historical consciousness. In closing, Prof. Rediker reads a passage from his book The Amistad Rebellion.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Nicole Stelle Garnett, Associate Dean and John P. Murphy Foundation Professor of Law at Notre Dame Law School, and a national expert in education law and school choice. Dean Garnett discusses the vital role Catholic education plays in fostering faith, community, and the pursuit of “the true, the good, and the […]

In this episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Alisha Searcy interview Nicole Stelle Garnett, Associate Dean and John P. Murphy Foundation Professor of Law at Notre Dame Law School, and a national expert in education law and school choice. Dean Garnett discusses the vital role Catholic education plays in fostering faith, community, and the pursuit of “the true, the good, and the beautiful.” She explores the challenges posed by the decline of Catholic schools in urban areas, as outlined in her book Lost Classroom, Lost Community: Catholic Schools' Importance in Urban America, and highlights policy solutions such as expanding educational choice options to support Catholic school families. She delves into recent landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions, including Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue and Carson v. Makin, which undermined the legal barriers to school choice, like Blaine Amendments, while strengthening religious liberty in K-12 schooling. Dean Garnett also examines the growth of private school choice programs, education savings accounts, and education tax credits across the U.S., and offers insights into upcoming legal challenges as the opponents of school choice and religious education strategize to push back.

In this special Holocaust Remembrance Day episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and the Heritage Foundation’s Jason Bedrick interview Alexandra Popoff, a former Moscow journalist and acclaimed biographer. Ms. Popoff delves into the life and legacy of Vasily Grossman, a 20th-century Jewish Soviet writer and journalist. She explores Grossman’s transition from chemical engineering to writing, influenced by his Jewish heritage […]

In this special Holocaust Remembrance Day episode of The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and the Heritage Foundation's Jason Bedrick interview Alexandra Popoff, a former Moscow journalist and acclaimed biographer. Ms. Popoff delves into the life and legacy of Vasily Grossman, a 20th-century Jewish Soviet writer and journalist. She explores Grossman's transition from chemical engineering to writing, influenced by his Jewish heritage and the historical context of the time. Popoff discusses Grossman's role as a war correspondent for the Red Army newspaper, covering key WWII battles and providing early reports on Nazi death camps, including Treblinka. She highlights his 1944 piece, "The Hell of Treblinka," which was used as evidence in the Nuremberg Trials. Popoff also examines Grossman's major literary works, including Stalingrad and Life and Fate, which were censored and "arrested" by the Soviet government for their anti-totalitarian content. She reflects on Grossman's historic contributions to Holocaust literature and the lessons his writings offer on the political nature of Nazism and Soviet communism. In closing, she reads a passage from her book, Vasily Grossman and the Soviet Century.

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 Dr. King. He explores MLK's role as a spiritual and political leader, advocating for […]

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 Dr. King. He explores MLK's role as a spiritual and political leader, advocating for nonviolent protest and “soul force.” Prof. Martin discusses the dynamic between Dr. King, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and figures like Bob Moses and Fannie Lou Hamer. He highlights how MLK's understanding of history, literature, poetry, and hymns influenced his iconic speeches, including the famous “I Have a Dream” address. Dr. Martin then delves into MLK's struggles in Birmingham, the challenges he faced from FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, and his "Mountaintop" speech before his assassination. Prof. Martin also examines the Civil Rights Movement's impact on both Southern and Northern cities and its place in contemporary education, urging policymakers, schools, and parents to learn from MLK's teachings.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Dr. Kymyona Burk, Senior Policy Fellow at ExcelinEd and former state literacy director for Mississippi. Dr. Burk shares insights from her remarkable career in K-12 education reform. She discusses her journey from classroom teacher to leading transformative literacy initiatives in […]

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Dr. Kymyona Burk, Senior Policy Fellow at ExcelinEd and former state literacy director for Mississippi. Dr. Burk shares insights from her remarkable career in K-12 education reform. She discusses her journey from classroom teacher to leading transformative literacy initiatives in Mississippi that resulted in groundbreaking improvements in early literacy and NAEP reading scores. She examines the strengths and weaknesses of teaching approaches like “whole language” and phonics and emphasizes the importance of early childhood education, leadership, and high-quality reading materials in fostering young readers. Reflecting on Mississippi's successes and the broader national learning loss exacerbated by COVID-19, Dr. Burk offers actionable advice for state policymakers to help students recover and thrive with the science of reading.

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Leo Damrosch, the Ernest Bernbaum Professor of Literature Emeritus at Harvard University and author of Tocqueville's Discovery of America. Prof. Damrosch delves into Alexis de Tocqueville's historic nine-month journey through the United States in 1831–1832, which inspired his masterpiece, Democracy in America. He explores […]

This week on The Learning Curve we're looking back on memorable episodes of 2024: The Learning Curve co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Dr. Jocelyn Chadwick interview Cheryl Brown Henderson, daughter of the lead plaintiff in the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education. She explores her family’s pivotal role in the Brown case, detailing her father's part within the NAACP’s wider legal strategy. Cheryl discusses the influence of religious faith on the Civil Rights Movement, as well […]

This week on The Learning Curve we’re looking back on memorable episodes of 2024: From January, guest co-hosts Prof. Albert Cheng of the University of Arkansas and Alisha Searcy interviewed Gabby Thomas, a world-class track sprinter and Olympian, originally from the Pioneer Valley in western Massachusetts. She shares her journey from the Williston Northampton School to […]

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng and Dr. Jocelyn Chadwick interview distinguished British television journalist, author, and Classic FM presenter, John Suchet, OBE. Mr. Suchet explores the life and legacy of Pyotr Tchaikovsky, one of Russia’s greatest composers. He shares insights into Tchaikovsky's upbringing, his late start in composing, and […]

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Dan Hamlin, an Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Oklahoma. Prof. Hamlin offers his insights on the state of K-12 education policy and reform. He shares how his academic […]

This week on The Learning Curve, co-hosts Alisha Searcy of DFER and U-Arkansas Prof. Albert Cheng interview Dava Sobel, acclaimed author of The Elements of Marie Curie: How the Glow of Radium Lit a Path for Women in Science. Sobel delves into the life of Marie Curie, the “scientific Joan of Arc,” exploring her extraordinary […]