Moneyball Politics with Ted Dintersmith

In this episode of Frogmore Stew, Grace welcomes Ted Dintersmith, a former venture capitalist turned education reformer and political activist. The conversation begins with a discussion on Ted's past experience in venture capital then transitions to Ted's focus on education reform, noting the outdated structure of current schools and the lack of essential skills being taught, especially in the age of AI. They touch on Ted's political engagement, including his support for Barack Obama and involvement in promoting state-level political candidates. The conversation wraps up with Ted's critiques on modern political fundraising, his initiative 'Moneyball Monday,' and the broader implications of education and political reform for a healthy democracy. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:09 Ted's Journey from Venture Capital to Education 02:17 The State of Education Today 03:31 The Role of Fact-Checking and Critical Thinking 04:06 Challenges in the Current Education System 04:56 The Impact of AI on Education 08:51 Ted's Transition into Politics 10:30 Involvement in Obama's Campaign 14:47 Insights from International Education Models 16:35 New Educational Initiatives in the US 18:49 The Importance of Political Engagement 22:01 Moneyball Monday: Strategic Political Funding 23:09 Challenges in Political Fundraising 30:36 The Need for State-Level Political Focus 35:08 The Influence of Big Money in Politics 36:53 Closing Thoughts and Inspirational Quotes Copyright 2025 Grace Cowan "Blue Sky" - Allman Brothers Band The Arena - South Carolina The Alliance Coalition - South Carolina All Things Frogmore Stew SC Votes - South Carolina Election Commission The Poets of Rhythm - "South Carolina