Radically Pragmatic, a podcast from the Progressive Policy Institute

Latest Episodes:

A New College Accreditor Focused on Employment and Upward Mobility ? ft. Stig Leschly Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

In the last episode of his "Back to School Series," PPI's Bruno Manno sits down with Stig Leschly to talk about the need to accredit more universties that focus on innovation and successful outcomes for their students.

Is There a Way Out of The DEI Wars? With Rick Kahlenberg and Steven Wilson Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

In the third episode of PPI's Back to School Series, PPI's Bruno Manno sits down with Richard Kahlenberg and Steven Wilson to discuss DEI in both K-12 and Higher Education and what educators can do to lessen the current cultural divide in the US.

How Governors Can Empower All Students, ft. Governor Jared Polis Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

In the second episode of his "Back to School" series, PPI's Bruno Manno sits down with Colorado Governor Jared Polis to talk about his new report "Let’s Get Ready! Educating All Americans for Success."

Higher Education and the OBBB, ft. Preston Cooper Sep 16, 2025

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In the first episode of his "Back to School" series, PPI's Bruno Manno sits down with Preston Cooper from the American Enterprise Institute to talk about the effects on higher education from the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Preparing Tomorrow's Workforce, ft. Hans Meeder May 20, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Radically Pragmatic, PPI’s Senior Advisor and Director of the What Works Lab, Bruno Manno is joined by Hans Meeder, Principal Consultant of Blue Crab Talent Strategy and Senior Fellow for Education and Workforce Innovation at YouScience.

The two discuss Meeder's new book, “Preparing Tomorrow's Workforce: How to help every young person navigate their personal career path.” He explores how today’s youth can develop the critical Career Navigation Skills necessary to thrive in an evolving workforce shaped by AI, robotics, and automation.. By fostering these abilities, the book aims to help schools and communities create pathways for student success and long-term workforce readiness.

Meeder’s book can be ordered ⁠here.

Untapped Expertise: HBCUs as Charter Authorizers, Part 4 Apr 10, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of RAS Reports, Curtis Valentine, the Director of PPI’s Reinventing America’s Schools Project, and Naomi Shelton, CEO of the National Charter Collaborative, sit down with Dr. Said Sewell, the President of Morris College in Sumter, South Carolina.

They discuss Dr. Sewell's path to becoming the 11th President of Morris College, as well as how he sees his role in enhancing student success and the broader role of HBCUs as a whole.

This episode is the 4th in a series titled Untapped Expertise: HBCUs as Charter Authorizers, based on the paper of the same title by Curtis Valentine and Dr. Karega Rausch, President and CEO of NACSA.

Who Needs College Anymore? ft. Kathleen deLaski Apr 03, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Radically Pragmatic, PPI’s Senior Advisor and Director of the What Works Lab, Bruno Manno is joined by Kathleen deLaski, a Senior Advisor at the Project on Workforce at Harvard.

The pair discuss deLaski's new book, “Who Needs College Anymore?”, which she describes as a blueprint for a world in which a college degree is not the only way to unlock professional success. She touches on the workarounds that could well become the “new normal” for how America prepares for work.

Kathleen’s book can be ordered ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

The Disengaged Teen, ft. Rebecca Winthrop Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of Radically Pragmatic, PPI's Senior Advisor and Director of the What Works Lab, Bruno Manno is joined by Rebecca Winthrop, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Universal Education at The Brookings Institution.

Winthrop discusses the motivation behind and premise of her and Jenny Anderson's new book, "The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and Live Better." She touches on the growing teen disengagement problem and explains her four modes of student engagement. She also discusses practical strategies for how parents and educators can engage students in learning.

Rebecca's book can be ordered here.

And check out Manno's recent Forbes article on the book and revisiting the K-12 student engagement cliff.

Untapped Expertise: HBCUs as Charter Authorizers, Part 3 Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of RAS Reports, Curtis Valentine, the Director of PPI’s Reinventing America’s Schools Project, and Naomi Shelton, CEO of the National Charter Collaborative, sit down with Dr. Yolanda W. Page, the President of Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

They discuss Dr. Page's journey in becoming the 8th President of Stillman College, as well as how she sees the role of HBCU administrators in higher education evolving in today's environment.

Learn more about the Reinventing America's Schools Project ⁠here⁠.

Learn more about the Progressive Policy Institute ⁠here⁠.

Untapped Expertise: HBCUs as Charter Authorizers, Part 2 Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

On this episode of RAS Reports, Curtis Valentine, the Director of PPI’s Reinventing America’s Schools Project, and Naomi Shelton, CEO of the National Charter Collaborative, sit down with Dr. Lester McCorn, a graduate of Morehouse College and President of Paine College in Augusta, GA.

The group discusses Paine's role in preparing African-American K-12 students for college, as well as what it would mean for schools like Paine to create schools on campus as an authorizer of public charter schools.

Learn more about the Reinventing America's Schools Project here.

Learn more about the Progressive Policy Institute here.

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