A podcast on ideas shaping the future of K-12 education.
About This Podcast
Are you a school policymaker, teacher, or parent who cares about making schools a better place for students? In this education podcast series, host Ben Thompson, K-12 Practice Leader with McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture (MPS) talks to experienced and insightful education leaders about issues like funding, safety and security, mental health, career and technology programs, and more. Education matters because it’s something we all share in common. Subscribe now!
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Building Better Healthcare Facilities: What a Hospital President Has Learned
What makes a great healthcare facility? Beyond exceptional physicians, compassionate nurses, and life-changing care are thousands of decisions made long before the doors open. In this episode, Dr. Jeff Strickler draws on more than three decades of healthcare leadership to explore how successful facilities balance vision with reality, current needs with future possibilities, and budgets with bold ideas. He shares practical lessons on planning, simulation, stakeholder engagement, patient experience, workplace violence prevention, operational flow, and the importance of keeping people at the center of every decision.
What does it take to build a high school designed for the future — and make it work for students today? In this episode of ideaXchange: The Future of K-12 Education, Les Tillery talks with Matt Massey, President of the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering (ASCTE), about rethinking what school can be. From AI, cybersecurity, and engineering woven into every subject, to a campus intentionally designed to support collaboration, innovation, and student career-readiness, ASCTE offers a compelling model for education leaders to consider. Listen for insights on future-ready learning, culture-driven leadership, student support, workforce partnerships, and how architectural design shapes educational outcomes.
Designing for Dignity: Rethinking the Treatment of Behavioral Health
In this episode, hosts Minta Ferguson and Heather Hayes are joined by Dr. Karen Lommel, the Robert A. Jolly Jr. Endowed Chair for Psychiatry and Community Health at Prisma Health, and a professor at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville. Dr. Lommel shares her insights on how thoughtful design and improved access can help reduce the stigma surrounding behavioral health. With many years of experience leading clinical and design initiatives, she discusses the importance of creating environments where mental health patients feel valued and supported — just like their medical counterparts.
Tune in to learn how healthcare leaders are reimagining spaces to promote equity, dignity, and healing for all patients. Listen on your favorite platform or subscribe for future episodes and leave us a comment here.
Transforming Higher Education with Data-Driven Planning and Advisory Insights
In this episode of the Future of Education, Jana Hartenstein, Minta Ferguson, and Alec Stover have a compelling discussion on how leveraging advisory services can revolutionize higher education planning. Jana, an architect and higher education practice leader at McMillan Pazdan Smith, and Minta, director of planning and MPS Advisors, and Alec, an advisory services data analyst, delve into the integration of analytics with advanced planning. Listen as this team reveals how they help institutions make informed decisions about space utilization, growth planning, and facility design.
Higher Education institutions today need every advantage they can find to maximize use of space, adapt facilities for future use, and plan for optimum growth and efficiency. Tune in to discover how Higher Education is using data-driven advisory services to shape the future.
Working with Advisory Services: Helping Healthcare Leaders Improve Margins, Solve Problems, and Sustain Growth
This episode of Ideas Shaping Healthcare features a conversation on healthcare strategy and facility planning with Samer Hamde, Healthcare Practice Leader for McMillan Pazdan Smith, engaging Minta Ferguson and Heather Hayes from MPS Advisors as they share their unique perspectives and experiences helping healthcare providers solve complex problems and plan for the future. From greenfield hospitals to complex renovations, you’ll learn how experienced healthcare advisors help clients succeed with pre-design strategies.
This episode is about phased K-12 construction on an active campus, with important lessons from the James F. Byrnes High School Project. To cover this relevant topic, we’re joined by two accomplished guests, Dr. Randall Gary, Superintendent of Spartanburg District 5 schools and Ryan Cloonan, Chief of Operations for Spartanburg District 5. Discover how educational goals were prioritized, including planning for flexibility in future programming. Additional conversations include:
– Decision-making and factors that influence phasing. – The impact of community feedback. – Safety protocols to protect students and staff. – Budget implications. – Improvements in the educational environment post-renovation.
Tune in to gain valuable insights on managing large-scale, K-12 construction projects while maintaining high standards of education. Listen on your favorite platform or subscribe now and leave us a comment here.
AI in Higher Education: Strategies, Challenges, and Success Stories
Hosted by Dr. Galen DeHay, this episode dives deep into the transformative power of AI in higher education. Dr. Melissa Hortman a leader in academic innovation and digital transformation in higher education from Microsoft, explores how AI is reshaping the way we teach, learn, and lead.
Learn how AI has the power to personalize learning, create equitable opportunities, streamline operations, and give students and educators the tools to shape the future of higher education.
“Higher education institutions can’t afford to wait — AI is here, transforming learning, operations, and the student experience,” says Dr. Hortman. This is a pivotal moment to innovate, adapt, and prepare for the future, or risk being left behind.”
Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform to stay informed, inspired, and leave us a comment here. Together, let’s unlock the potential of AI for the future of higher education.
The Impact of Community Colleges on Today’s Workforce and Industry Partnerships
How can community and technical colleges help solve some of the biggest challenges facing advanced manufacturing today? This episode explores how institutions are collaborating with business and industry partners to meet both current and future workforce demands, creating a skilled talent pipeline.
Dr. Galen DeHay is joined by two industry leaders: Melanie McLane, Senior HR Director at Arthrex, and Elba Lizardi, Site Director at BASF Environmental Catalyst and Metal Solutions. Together, they share insights into the dynamic partnership between higher education and industry, and how colleges can customize educational programs to directly address specific manufacturing needs.
We also discuss the distinct opportunities for women in leadership within the advanced manufacturing sector and explore how diversity is shaping the industry’s future.
Tune in for an enlightening conversation on the future of education and its critical impact on workforce development! Listen on your favorite platform or subscribe now and leave us a comment here.
Telehealth Infrastructure that Promotes Effective Care Delivery
In this episode, we discuss high-reliability telehealth infrastructure as a transformative innovation in the healthcare industry. Joining us is Dr. James McElligott from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Dr. McElligott shares some of the history and impact of the Telemedicine rise, including its integration into medical education. Listeners will discover how a pioneering center has evolved over the years and how its scope and reach differ from other telehealth solutions.
MPS host Minta Ferguson also engages Dr. McElligott in a discussion about the telehealth opportunities and challenges posed by the built environment. They discuss the implications of the repeal of the Certificate of Need (CON) in South Carolina and how telemedicine can bridge the gap in access to care in rural communities.
If you want to learn the essentials of effective telehealth infrastructure or stay updated on emerging telemedicine technologies, don’t miss this episode! Listen on your favorite platform or subscribe for future episodes and leave us a comment here.
Community Collaboration and Funding Transform School Construction
In this episode,Dr. Corey Murphy, Superintendent of Aiken County Public Schools, and Laura Slagel, project architect from McMillan Pazdan Smith discuss intricacies of school construction, community inclusion, funding, and equal opportunities for small, rural schools. Dr. Murphy shares advice on balancing differing opinions from community members, students, and school leaders. Learn how strategic use of ESSER funds has made new school construction possible, transforming educational landscapes. Dr. Murphy also emphasizes the importance of integrating workforce training into the curriculum to prepare students for future careers.
Tune in to discover how thoughtful planning can create schools that empower communities. Listen on your favorite platform or subscribe now and leave us a comment here.
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