Disrupted Podcast

Bonfire Branding: How Solo Stove Sparked a Customer Movement with Liz Vanzura (Episode Two)

As people seek relief from constant digital noise, the backyard has quietly become a modern “third space” in everyday life. Outdoor living, fire pits, and at-home hosting continue to grow as consumers prioritize connection, ease, and experiences that feel meaningful without requiring more complexity. Brands that understand this shift aren’t just selling products—they’re offering…

The DisruptED Journey with Tim Maitland at MarketScale (Episode Three)

Storytelling is changing fast, shaped by new platforms, shifting audiences, and a growing demand for authenticity. What started as traditional podcasting has evolved into community-driven ecosystems built on real voices and lived experience. In this landscape, storytelling isn’t just content—it’s a way to build connection, spark engagement, and drive meaningful change. When done well,…

The DisruptED Journey with Tim Maitland at MarketScale (Episode Two)

Education is at a crossroads. As AI, online learning, and workforce demands rapidly reshape how people gain skills, long-standing gaps in access and outcomes remain a major concern in Michigan. Recent reporting on the 2025 State of Education and Talent shows Michigan has fallen to its lowest ever ranking in per capita income, underscoring…

The DisruptED Journey with Tim Maitland at MarketScale (Episode One)

Education doesn’t change in neat, predictable cycles—it shifts when people start asking better questions. Over the past several years, those questions have become louder and more urgent, driven by workforce disruption, new technologies, and a growing demand for learning that actually prepares people for real life. At the same time, media itself has evolved, favoring…

What the University of Michigan Center for Innovation Means for Detroit: Education, Jobs, and a Community-Driven Vision for the Future

Detroit is in the middle of a historic transformation—powered increasingly by technology, workforce innovation, and community-driven economic mobility. As industries shift and new tech corridors rise, cities like Detroit are asking a critical question: How do we ensure the future of innovation belongs to everyone who lives here? The upcoming launch of the University of…

How Detroit Homecoming is Turning the City’s Diaspora into Champions of its Comeback (Ep. 2 with Mary Kramer)

Detroit’s resurgence story is impossible to ignore. Following decades of economic decline, the city has seen major revitalization, most recently highlighted when the NFL Draft drew over 700,000 visitors downtown. The stakes are high: Detroit’s growth depends not only on investments from billionaires, but on reconnecting with former residents whose personal and professional contributions…

How Program Growth and Innovation has Increased Student Success at Adrian College with President Docking

Small colleges across the United States face mounting pressure from shifting student expectations, rising costs, and an increasingly competitive higher education market. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, undergraduate enrollment rose 3.5 percent in spring 2025 compared to the prior year, reaching 15.3 million students, but still remains 2.4 percent below pre-pandemic…

From Bitter to Better: How Purpose and Second Chances Can Change Entire Communities (Ep. 2)

In the second installment of this powerful two-part series, DisruptED turns from personal origin stories to the enduring lessons that come from surviving life’s hardest seasons. For host Ron J Stefanski and guest John Valverde, President and CEO of YouthBuild Global, the conversation is rooted in lived experience: moments of deep loss, the resilience…

How Colleges Can Reinvent Themselves to Win the Higher Ed Brand War

Higher education in the U.S. is facing a perfect storm: declining enrollments, rising skepticism about its value, and fierce competition for a shrinking pool of students. According to Gallup, confidence in higher ed has dropped sharply over the past decade—driven by concerns over cost, elitism, and relevance—though recent data shows a slight rebound tied…

Bringing Community into the Transformation of K-12 Schools: The Impact of Mentors, Local Voices, and Student Entrepreneurs

As K-12 schools across the U.S. struggle to recover from the learning loss and emotional fallout of the pandemic, a deeper reckoning is underway—one that challenges the very foundation of who’s responsible for educating our children. Despite billions in federal relief, a third of U.S. students are not even reading at a basic level…

AI, Inclusion and Talent Strategies of the Future

As organizations race to integrate AI into every corner of business, an equally urgent conversation is emerging: How do we ensure this adoption doesn’t widen existing equity gaps? AI is both a disruptive force and an opportunity engine, as recent data shows that AI adoption among HR professionals jumped to 72 percent in 2025, up…

The AI-Powered Edge in Education: How LearningClues Is Enabling Student Success with Co-founder and CEO Dr. Perry Samson

As AI continues to reshape education, institutions face a growing challenge in ensuring students succeed without compromising engagement or integrity. Today’s college students are often juggling jobs, family, and coursework, leading to limited study time and increased dropout risk. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 40% of full-time undergraduates and 74% of…

How Human-Centered Design Led to a Startup Accelerator for Education: A Conversation with Transcend Network’s Co-founder Michael Narea

The convergence of human-centered design and education innovation is reshaping how edtech ventures emerge and scale. As AI enables hyper-efficiency and bootstrapped entrepreneurship becomes more viable, the real differentiator is empathy—founders who listen deeply to users before building solutions. A McKinsey study of 300 public companies found that design-led organizations significantly outperformed their peers, with…

Unity’s Jessica Lindl on Playing the Career Game Loop: Learning to Earn in the New Economy (Episode 2)

Today’s workforce is facing profound disruption, driven by automation, AI, and shrinking entry-level job opportunities. According to SignalFire’s 2025 State of Talent report, entry-level hiring in tech has dropped by 50% from pre-pandemic levels. In this shifting landscape, younger workers aren’t just seeking jobs—they’re demanding agency, feedback, and purpose. Game-based learning models like the…

The Future of Higher Ed? Mass Experiential Learning That Delivers Durable Skills

Higher education is at a turning point. As employers demand more than technical proficiency, schools are being challenged to equip students with durable skills like collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. Traditional classroom models often fall short of this need. This shift has fueled growing interest in mass experiential learning as a way to prepare…

From Freshmen to Founders: Michigan Students Take on Higher Ed’s Summer Melt Crisis with MeetYourClass

A growing number of colleges are struggling to convert applicants into enrolled students—and to keep them engaged through graduation. With Gen Z students relying heavily on familiar digital platforms like Instagram and Discord for social interaction, traditional college tools for orientation, enrollment, and community-building often miss the mark. According to research, between 10 to 40…

AI in the Classroom: Why AI-Powered Personalized Learning Might Not Deliver on its Promise

AI is everywhere—and it’s evolving rapidly. From predictive algorithms to large language models like ChatGPT, artificial intelligence is reshaping how we work, communicate, and learn. As schools explore AI in the classroom, educators and researchers are asking: Does AI really understand us? Or are we projecting human-like thinking onto systems that are fundamentally different? The…

Getting Elite Level Support for College Admissions with ESAI Founder Julia Dixon

College admissions have long favored those with access—whether that’s legacy ties, zip code advantages, or the ability to afford pricey private consultants. But now, the game is changing. Artificial Intelligence is emerging as a powerful equalizer in education, and one startup is turning that promise into reality. Just days ago, Shark Tank investor Mark…

Representation in Tech Is Evolving And Storytelling Is Leading the Way: A Conversation with Microsoft’s Bryan Kelly (Ep. 2)

Narrative-driven mentorship and media are reshaping how tech leaders inspire underrepresented youth to pursue STEM careers

Driving Diversity in Tech Through Storytelling and Early STEM Exposure with Microsoft’s Bryan Kelly (Ep. 1)

Early exposure to science and technology could be the key to closing the nation's critical STEM talent gap and building a more diverse workforce

The DisruptED World of Manufacturing and Design at Lind with Anders Dellson

Engineering meets artistry as manufacturers harness e-mobility breakthroughs to create power-dense recreational vehicles that redefine consumer expectations

DisruptED in the D: A Story of Hope with Portia Roberson (Ep. 1)

A Detroit nonprofit leader shares how workforce development can ensure the city's economic revival reaches those left behind

DisruptED in the D: Building an Inclusive Future with Black Leaders Detroit’s CEO Dwan Dandridge (Ep. 2)

One Detroit leader is ensuring Black entrepreneurs share in the city's economic growth through strategic capital deployment

Employee Education Drives Workforce and Business Growth

Companies leveraging education benefits gain competitive advantage while helping employees escape the burden of student debt

Disrupting the Sport of Cheerleading: Creating a Juggernaut Business and Brand (Episode One)

From sideline tradition to billion-dollar empire, one innovator transformed an underestimated activity into a global athletic force

Engaging the Learner and Optimizing the Learner Experience in Online Education

Virtual learning platforms must balance engagement with accessibility to prepare students for real-world success while closing equity gaps in underserved commun

Hip-Hop Museum Aims to Preserve the Genre’s Impact in a DisruptED World Part 2

A music producer and record executive is building the first major institution dedicated to preserving hip-hop's 50-year cultural revolution

Hip-Hop Museum Aims to Preserve the Genre’s Impact in a DisruptED World Part 1

A half-century legacy faces preservation as cultural institutions race to document hip-hop's evolving influence on education and society

Community and Belonging in the DisruptED World of Education

Students thrive when they feel connected, even as technology transforms how and where they learn

AI in Workforce Development: Businesses Must Harness the Power of Technology to Ensure Career Development Among Employees

Companies leveraging machine learning tools can bridge skills gaps while creating clearer career paths for their workforce