In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Belén Quellet, Executive Director of The Learning Quest, to explore what it really looks like to turn an entire city into a learning environment. Belén shares how Falls Church, Virginia is becoming an open-walled learning ecosystem where curiosity, repair, and real-world problem solving guide learning far beyond the classroom.

Together, we dig into learner voice, community partnerships, and why experiences like repair clinics, education passports, and local internships matter just as much as traditional academic pathways. Belén also reflects on shifting definitions of success, the future of work, and the importance of helping parents reimagine what learning can look like for their children.

This conversation is a thoughtful look at how communities can stitch together existing resources to support agency, exploration, and lifelong learning. Join us to explore what’s possible when learning truly belongs to everyone.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• What a citywide learning ecosystem looks like in practice
• How repair and sustainability spark curiosity and problem solving
• Elevating learner voice through real community roles
• Rethinking credit, credentials, and success beyond classrooms
• Building trust with parents around nontraditional learning paths

Resources:

• The Learning Quest
• Education Reimagined: Learn more about learner-centered education and ecosystem labs nationwide
• Repair Café: Discover how community repair events support sustainability and hands-on learning
• Acton Academy: Learn more about learner-driven education models influencing Learning Quest’s work

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we sit down with Ishan Shivanand, founder of Yoga of Immortals and author of the international bestseller The Practice of Immortality. Together, we explore why resilience training and inner work are becoming essential supports for students and educators navigating rising levels of stress, burnout, and disconnection. Ishan shares how his research-backed, non-pharmaceutical approach blends breathwork, meditation, and cognitive awareness to improve mental health and overall well-being.

Our conversation digs into what resilience training actually looks like in practice and why even small, consistent moments of awareness can make a measurable difference in learning environments. We also discuss how schools can integrate these tools in culturally respectful, non-theological ways that support both students and teachers. Join us to explore how building resilient minds can reshape the future of learning.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• The growing mental health challenges facing students and educators
• Research-backed resilience training and its impact on learning
• Burnout, anxiety, and sleep issues in high-performing students
• Practical ways to integrate mindfulness into classrooms
• Why inner work is a lifelong skill, not an add-on

Resources:

• The Practice of Immortality by Ishan Shivanand
• Yoga of Immortals – Learn more about the research-backed mental health program and its applications in education
• Peer-reviewed research in Frontiers in Psychiatry

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re reconnecting with returning guest and “serial school starter” Nathan Gorsch, executive director and principal of the Colorado Springs School of Technology. Nathan shares how his experience launching Village High School shaped the vision for this new, industry-driven high school designed around immersive, future-focused learning. We explore how a powerful coalition of district leaders, higher education, and local industry came together to create a tech-focused ecosystem serving both students and the regional workforce.

We also dig into what school actually looks and feels like for students: flexible, workplace-inspired spaces, pathway-based coursework in aerospace, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, and leadership, and short, high-impact industry sprints led by professionals. Nathan reflects on why ethical leadership matters just as much as technical skills—especially in fields like AI—and hints at what’s coming next in the broader innovation zone. Join us to explore how schools can truly partner with the community to prepare students for emerging careers.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• Launching the Colorado Springs School of Technology as an industry-driven innovation high school
• Lessons learned from Village High School and applying them in a new context
• Designing flexible, workplace-inspired learning spaces and student-centered pathways
• Monday “industry sprints” with professionals in branding, ethics, design thinking, and rocketry
• Embedding ethical leadership and social responsibility into high-tech career preparation
• Envisioning an innovation zone with future medical, public service, and middle school models

Resources:

• Colorado Springs School of Technology – Explore the school’s pathways in aerospace, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, and leadership to see how an innovation high school can partner with industry.
• Village High School – Look into Nathan’s first school startup to understand the blended, learner-agency model that inspired this next chapter.
• Colorado Springs School District 11 – Learn more about the district context and its commitment to a school of innovation and a broader innovation zone.
• Challenger Learning Center – Check out their 3D printing, rocketry, and aerospace experiences that support hands-on learning for CSSOT students.
• DECA– Discover how student participation in business and marketing competitions builds real-world skills and confidence.
• Portfolio School (NYC) – Explore other innovative school models experimenting with short, intensive projects and student-centered design.
• Follow Nathan Gorsch on LinkedIn

Produced by NOVA