In the very first episode of EDUcation Unscripted & Xplored, co-hosts Dr. Kari Vogelgesang and Dr. Mark McDermott invite you into an honest, unfiltered dialogue about the complex and ever-changing world of PK–12 education. 

Kari and Mark share their journeys from growing up in education-focused families, to teaching in PK–12 classrooms, to shaping teacher preparation today. Along the way, they talk candidly about lessons learned (including a silent-bus-ride-gone-wrong story you won’t forget), how their perspectives have shifted over time, and why they believe schools cannot be separated from the communities they serve.

The episode sets up future conversations that will explore the big questions shaping today’s schools: What’s working? What isn’t? And how do our communities and school systems shape one another? If you care about students, families, teachers, and the future of education, you’re in the right place. Read the full episode transcript.

Published: January 8, 2026

Season 1, Episode 1

Listen Now