Gains in the quality of America’s K-12 education in the late 20th and early 21st century have largely plateaued—and , in several instances, reversed—in the last few decades. This week, Alpha School co-founder MacKenzie Price joins the show to discuss her fast-expanding network of AI-powered private schools, which she says represent the reform the system so badly needs. She explains why Alpha students learn core academics in two hours a day via a personalized learning platform—not human teachers—and then devote the rest of the school day to passion projects, life skills, and real-world learning. Plus, we hear from Alex, a high school senior at Alpha’s Austin, TX location, about his experience.
For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/
Topics:
3:45 - Hellos and intros
4:12 – MacKenzie’s path from Stanford psychology to Alpha Schools
6:11 – Updating traditional school systems with AI
7:46 – What makes Alpha Schools different
12:01 – The 2-Hour Learning model
15:40 – Key lessons from AI in classrooms
18:11 – AI supercharges students with the “four C’s”: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity
20:47 – Teacher-student connection and mentorship
21:54 – Scaling Alpha Schools & lowering costs
25:47 – AI-driven assessment & personalized learning plans
29:38 – Midroll
29:47 – Alex shares his experience as an Alpha School student and entrepreneur
34:19 – Challenges of scaling
36:09 – Student incentives & using Alpha currency to teach kids financial literacy
38:55 – Alpha students learn life skills & develop entrepreneurial projects
41:44 – GT School for highly accelerated learners
44:55 – “Future of Education” podcast highlights
47:16 – Teachers vs. guides & redefining expertise in education
49:21 – Using AI for public speaking & coaching
51:02 – Rapid fire questions
Select mentions:
Alpha School, AI-Driven Education Founded in Austin, Is Coming to More Cities — New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/us/politics/ai-alpha-school-austin-texas.html
Future of Education Podcast: https://futureofeducationpod.com/
Berry: https://berryplush.com/
Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Each episode seeks to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.
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55:34
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55:34
Reid riffs on GPT-5, Figma's IPO, and the end of AOL dial-up
This week, Reid and Aria discuss the much-anticipated launch of GPT-5, Figma's blockbuster IPO, Perplexity’s bid to acquire Google Chrome, and the end of AOL’s dial-up internet service. Plus, Reid offers his take on why some companies find explosive growth and others fade just as fast.
For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/
Select mentions:
For the Hamilton v.s. Satoshi Bitcoin Rap Battle: https://reid.medium.com/bitcoin-rap-battle-hamilton-vs-satoshi-de3058b3dff0
The innovator’s dilemma by Clayton Christensen
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18:28
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18:28
Audrey Tang and Divya Siddarth on Outfitting Democracy for the AI Era
How can we take digitally-empowered democracy straight out of science fiction into reality?
This week, Reid and Aria are joined by two digital democracy pioneers, Audrey Tang and Divya Siddarth. Audrey Tang is a cyber ambassador-at-large and former inaugural Minister of Digital Affairs for Taiwan. Their pioneering initiatives like the Sunflower Movement, g0v, and vTaiwan have fought misinformation and influenced policy decisions. Audrey is also a senior research fellow for the Collective Intelligence Project, co-founded and directed by Divya Siddarth. Divya leads projects worldwide that give voice to the public in building better AI.
Audrey and Divya have spent years investigating how people converge on uncommon ground and how to beat polarization. They discuss the power of collective input and collaboration to create a cycle of collective intelligence. Plus, how AI tools—informed by public input—can enhance governance, digital life, and bring out the best in all of us.
For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/
Topics:
3:07 - Hellos and intros
3:38 - Audrey and Divya's partnership backstory
7:06 - Challenges and surprises with AI in governance
10:19 - What problems do CIP's projects aim to solve?
13:04 - Breakthroughs in collective intelligence
15:08 - Fighting polarization in the age of social media
16:50 - Capitalizing on innate collective intelligence
18:51 - The difference between collective intelligence and democracy
20:33 - Design principles for democracy-forward AI
23:30 - Involving the public in AI model building
26:18 - Midroll
28:32 - Bringing Taiwan's civic wins worldwide
30:41 - Radical transparency in digital tools
35:18 - Why aren't Taiwan's initiatives landing in the U.S.
38:09 - Creating digital twins
39:52 - Reid and Aria's outlook on AI and democracy relations
42:04 - Who would Reid delegate AI centralization to?
45:05 - Rapid-fire
Select mentions:
Plurality by E. Glen Weyl, Audrey Tang, and Community
Global Dialogues — The Collective Intelligence Project
Alignment Assemblies — The Collective Intelligence Project
“Anthem” by Leonard Cohen
A Half Built Garden by Ruthanna Emrys
The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia by Ursula K. Le Guin
Terra Ignota series by Ada Palmer
Taiwan’s Digital Minister Knows How to Crush Covid-19: Trust | WIRED
What Could BG Be?
Engaged California
How the Sunflower movement birthed a generation determined to protect Taiwan
Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Each episode seeks to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.
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52:16
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52:16
Reid riffs on the energy arms race and AI addressing climate change
Could the very technology that requires massive amounts of energy to power it also be key to solving the climate crisis? This week, Reid and Aria discuss the global energy arms race and why the U.S. is lagging behind competitors like China. Reid weighs in on the environmental impact and human costs of AI infrastructure, along with mounting tensions between hyperscalers and the communities that host their data centers.
For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/
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16:44
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16:44
Tony Marx on the Future of Libraries, AI, and Trust
What can public libraries teach us about finding and sharing trustworthy information in the age of AI? How can—and should—AI build upon the technology that is books? This week, Reid and Aria head to the New York Public Library in Manhattan for a conversation with the storied institution’s president and CEO, Tony Marx. They explore the function of libraries in the age of AI, debate the future of work, and discuss what it looks like for civic institutions to embrace transformative technology without sacrificing core values.
For more info on the podcast and transcripts of all the episodes, visit https://www.possible.fm/podcast/
Topics:
2:54 - Hellos and intros
3:23 - Tony’s studies and work in South Africa
5:25 - Taking a job as president of Amherst College
8:43 - Eliminating library fines and fees
9:23 - Visiting the Inwood Library
13:30 - Determining what gets digitized
16:20 - New media
17:42 - AI’s function for libraries
23:08 - Navigating hallucinations
27:57 - AI becoming our epistemology
29:36 - Technological advancements at the NYPL
33:54 - Future of work and human costs of AI
39:41 - Can AI close the educational gap?
42:43 - Trust, reliability, and AI
45:18 - Rapid-fire questions
Select mentions:
Possible | Kim Stanley Robinson on the future of civilization: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6OlJbPDpyc
Possible is an award-winning podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Most of all, it asks: what if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Tune in for grounded and speculative takes on how technology—and, in particular, AI—is inspiring change and transforming the future. Hosted by Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, each episode features an interview with an ambitious builder or deep thinker on a topic, from art to geopolitics and from healthcare to education. These conversations also showcase another kind of guest: AI. Each episode seeks to enhance and advance our discussion about what humanity could possibly get right if we leverage technology—and our collective effort—effectively.
What if, in the future, everything breaks humanity's way? Possible is an award-winning, weekly podcast that sketches out the brightest version of the future—and what it will take to get there. Hosts Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger explore what’s possible with forward-thinking leaders, deep thinkers, and ambitious builders across many fields, such as technology, art, education and healthcare. These conversations center on the ways technology—and, in particular, AI—is shaping the future. In episodes, AI tools such as OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Inflection’s Pi are at work, offering informational asides, prompting guests, or demoing what they can do. Lastly, between guest episodes, Aria interviews her co-host Reid on his latest takes on what’s possible if we use technology—and our collective effort—effectively.
Ireland