The EdisonOS Podcast

In this episode, Eliza Kimball, founder of Crimson Connections LLC, shares how she launched her tutoring company during her senior year of high school in 2020 and has since built it into a full-time venture connecting Ivy League students with high schoolers. Drawing from her own experience as an overachieving student at Harvard, Eliza explains why she targets seventh and eighth graders, believing that real impact comes from building character, critical thinking, and genuine passion over years, not just improving grades.She discusses her student-to-student mentorship model, her belief that AI can be a powerful homework aid and exam prep tool but should never replace human mentorship, and shares why she recruits tutors not just for academic expertise but for personality, authentic curiosity, and the ability to truly connect with kids.

In this episode, Dr. Emily Levy, founder of EBL Coaching, shares how growing up around her mother's school for students with learning disabilities in Florida shaped her path from Wall Street back into special education. Drawing from her doctorate and years of hands-on experience, Emily explains how a multi-sensory approach, integrating visual, auditory, and tactile methods, can be life-changing for students with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning differences.She discusses how pandemic learning gaps are still showing up today, particularly in students who missed early foundational skills in reading and math, and shares why she now sees a diagnosis not as a label but as a gift that unlocks the right tools and resources for a child to thrive.

In this episode, Gabe Futrell, principal of Bill Metz Elementary in Monte Vista, Colorado, shares how over 15 years in one rural school community has shaped his approach to leadership. Drawing from more than two decades in education, Gabe explains how a love for small towns and the mountains first brought him to the San Luis Valley and why the people around him have kept him there.He discusses the IE Time intervention model his school adopted just before COVID, targeting every student with daily small group reading and math support, and shares how sticking with that approach through and after the pandemic drove significant academic growth. He also reflects on the challenges of high poverty, the importance of distributive leadership, and why saying no to good ideas is sometimes the only way to become great at the right ones.

In this episode, Patty McGee, literacy consultant, educator, and author, describes herself as a "traveling teacher" who spends time in schools helping teachers and students rather than staying distant from the classroom. Drawing from her own early struggles with poor literacy instruction, Patty explains why strong literacy teaching must center student choice, student voice, and goal-centered responsive instruction.She challenges the growing overreliance on phonics in the wake of the science of reading movement, warns against the assign and assess culture in writing instruction, and shares why she sees AI as a tool to amplify human voice rather than replace it. She also offers a simple yet powerful shift for teachers: to look at student writing with the same admiring eye we bring to student art.

In this episode, Don Sevcik, creator and founder of Math Celebrity with eight million users annually and zero paid marketing, reveals how watching a team in India struggle with a 300-page pension book led him to build Excel step-by-step calculators that became the blueprint for automating his math tutoring brain on a website. Drawing from 17 years building the platform, Don explains his pattern IQ philosophy teaching students to identify problem types before solving them, a skill missing when teachers label everything but critical when problems appear unlabeled on exams.He discusses his sixth-year breakthrough in 2013 when someone typed an actual equation instead of searching for concepts, forcing him to partner with a Czechoslovakian programmer to build pattern recognition that launched version 2.0 and exploded traffic. Don shares his inversion mental model borrowed from Charlie Munger, focusing on eliminating unforced errors rather than chasing perfect presentations, emphasizing he can control stupid mistakes but not whether customers say yes. He reveals his biggest belief reversal that good products don't sell themselves, admitting if he started over he'd build a sales team first and validate demand before writing code, and stresses his 80-20 rule and first principles thinking from homeschooling his kids, explaining if you can't teach it at fifth grade level you don't understand it.

In this episode, Hassan and Kimberly, founders of The Lauziere Education Group with backgrounds in physics, math, English, and literature, reveal how they left corporate careers to build a holistic learning ecosystem after traveling to over 50 countries and discovering education should extend beyond classroom walls. Drawing from their diverse subject expertise, they explain how all disciplines are intertwined through critical thinking, logic in essays mirrors physics problem-solving, and math requires reading comprehension just as literature demands analytical rigor.They discuss the breakdown in modern education from curriculum abandoning classics for newer books without foundational history and philosophy, to culture prioritizing sports over developing minds, to social media destroying the focused attention needed to actively engage with past thinkers. Hassan and Kimberly share their reading restoration approach starting students with 10 minutes daily and gradually building stamina, emphasizing mastery over speed and letting students choose topics that interest them. They reveal their evolution from thinking students should pursue highest-paying jobs to realizing fulfillment comes from alignment with purpose, and share their practice of daily prayer, meditation, and learning something new while having interesting debates with each other, urging 16-year-olds feeling school is pointless to view it holistically as people, teachers, experiences, and environment rather than just classes preparing their future selves.

In this episode, Cynthia Millhorn, founder of Tutor2Order with 20 years of experience blending journalism, performance, and creative writing, reveals how she left tutoring companies after noticing they matched tutors based on subject knowledge alone without pedagogy or ability to assess student needs. Drawing from her background in qualitative research and therapy, Cynthia explains how pandemic students elevated with individual attention now lack communication skills and self-advocacy, unable to work in teams or comfortably address needs with teachers.She discusses her anecdotal storytelling approach teaching students that asking questions means paying more attention rather than being unintelligent, and shares her holistic assessment philosophy connecting poor class performance to underlying issues parents might not know about. Cynthia reveals her strong AI resistance, staying far away because it feeds user information into databases and lacks integrity compared to wonderful existing resources, emphasizing human tutors provide non-negotiable rapport that bots cannot establish. She evolved from believing diagnoses were fixed limitations to discovering the brain can rewrite neuropathways, proving students with dyslexia can become excellent writers and those who can't spell aloud can overcome it, urging parents to give children freedom to fail because crushing perfectionism prevents the trying that leads to surprising success.

In this episode, Jackie Postelnick, founder of Conscious College Planning with over a decade starting in financial aid, reveals how today's broken system puts undue pressure on students to choose majors before understanding their purpose and impact they want to have on the world. Drawing from guiding over a thousand families, Jackie explains her conscious decision-making philosophy that combines college fit with student identity and affordability rather than chasing top 50 rankings.She discusses the biggest shift she's noticed in student preparedness: pandemic-era writing skill gaps that leave students unable to express themselves authentically in essays despite getting A's in English. Jackie shares her concern about University of Illinois this year where normally admitted students were outright declined, not even waitlisted, highlighting record competition. She reveals her evolution from dismissing gut feelings about schools to embracing both research and sensation, helping students name why they feel drawn to certain colleges. Jackie explains her frustration with high school counselors being off put by independent consultants rather than partnering together, and emphasizes her fit-first philosophy choosing a decent college with 60% scholarship over a great college with student loans because affordability is part of fit.

In this episode, Emily Axelrod, an English tutor with over a decade teaching teens for standardized tests, reveals how the digital SAT has become more challenging despite shorter passages because students have less material to grasp and form answers. Drawing from her experience working with neurotypical students and those with attention deficit disorder and on the spectrum, Emily explains her rapport-first approach that establishes compatibility and identifies special needs including undiagnosed ones before administering diagnostic tests.She discusses her pattern-focused strategy analyzing where students make errors, whether at the beginning when not paying attention or toward the end when running out of time, and emphasizes both academic skills and test-taking skills must be learned despite College Board not wanting students to think that way. Emily shares her cautious AI perspective, revealing one useful application where a student used AI to decode why he got something wrong better than College Board's explanation, while strongly discouraging AI-generated practice questions in favor of official Blue Book materials. She explains her pricing philosophy that experienced tutors charging $50 to $100-plus per hour may require fewer sessions than cheaper alternatives, and encourages families to get creative with small group discounts and sliding scales so financial burden doesn't block access to quality tutoring.

In this episode, Gerene Keesler, founder of Admissions Untangled with over three decades in college admissions, reveals how her Hispanic background kept her learning differences hidden until a neuropsychological exam in her 30s that she dragged her parents to. Drawing from living with epilepsy and being on the autism spectrum, Gerene explains her knots philosophy for two types of stressed students: high achievers taking maximum AP and dual enrollment who risk burnout, and students especially boys who refuse accommodations out of shame despite everything being confidential.She discusses her eight-minute application reality where admissions officers spend limited time reviewing materials, making the essay the one place students have complete control to shine and tell a cohesive story. Gerene shares her test-optional success story of a California student awarded $245,000 in merit scholarships across 19 schools without submitting any test scores. She reveals her ninth and tenth grade starting philosophy that builds extracurricular profiles from non-traditional activities like caring for ailing grandparents, teaching leadership and empathy that becomes meaningful essay material, and emphasizes families must stop pushing students toward their own alma maters because fit matters more than legacy, and stresses the one habit that would change outcomes is reading regularly instead of seeking quick answers online.

In this episode, Dr. Tiffany Bannworth, founder of Bannworth Academy voted best private school in Florida three years running, reveals how sitting in a rigid eight-hour meeting where she was starving and running campuses from her cell phone convinced her traditional education was fundamentally broken. Drawing from her background in archaeology and paleontology, Dr. Tiffany explains her Bannworth Education Method ™ combining global teaching and Chrono teaching to break free from the Rockefeller industrial age model designed to produce button-pushers rather than genius.She discusses her Maslow-based philosophy that students cannot engage in upper-level thought when basic needs like hunger or temperature discomfort are unmet, and shares why she believes one-size-fits-all education fails because there is no one-size-fits-all child. Dr. Tiffany reveals her three-part AI approach teaching literal prompt writing to help socially bashful and autistic students practice saying exactly what they want, correcting AI hallucinations to build vocabulary for standing up for themselves, and using AI to curate primary source lists while maintaining critical thinking. She emphasizes her three concrete home practices for families: staying involved in what children learn to avoid indoctrination, doing monthly warrior activities together as a family, and allowing children to be bored because boredom gives way to creativity rather than constant tap-dancing entertainment.

In this episode, Harrison Kmiec, founder of Harrison Kmiec Tutoring, reveals how his stressed college experience as a math and stats major inspired him to become an additional resource for STEM students who couldn't always access office hours. Drawing from his own neurodivergent background, Harrison explains how he views ADHD and neurodivergent mindsets as having creative strengths, not just flaws, and develops multiple solution methods outside sessions so students can find their own learning style and build confidence.He discusses his long-term goal setting approach that reassures students about gradual progress rather than fixing everything in one session, and shares why he avoids homework-heavy strategies, instead pointing out minor consistent mistakes students should review in spare time. Harrison reveals his $50 hourly rate philosophy of setting prices to the lowest amount he needs to get by financially while never half-assing quality, and explains why he doesn't rely on AI tools like ChatGPT for tutoring because they lack the long-term learning strategy that comes from tutors who understand the sustained process of mastering a subject over time.

In this episode, Judith S Bass, founder of Bass Educational Services, LLC reveals how watching her brother diagnosed with minimal brain dysfunction in 1965 shaped her 25-year mission serving neurodivergent students. Drawing from personally visiting over 400 colleges nationwide, Judith explains her early-start philosophy of meeting students freshman year to teach life skills like taking medicine independently before discussing college in junior year.She discusses her three-tier support system from basic compliance to comprehensive programs, and shares how she evaluates whether staff genuinely enjoy this population because students sense when someone is just going through the motions. Judith reveals her new PRISM platform with a student quiz assessing readiness that sometimes recommends gap years. She explains her strengths-based counseling approach focusing on what students can do rather than limitations, and shares her ideal college redesign eliminating timed tests entirely, integrating disability services into main campus buildings, and educating professors on simple accommodations like giving five-minute transition warnings for autistic students.

In this episode, Marc Hoberman, owner of Grade Success Education with over 33 years of experience teaching English, shares how his hidden teenage epilepsy diagnosis helped him develop a deeper understanding of students who struggle silently.Marc discusses how education has shifted toward teaching-to-the-test, increasing stress and test anxiety for students. He explains the importance of teaching study skills, early intervention, and open communication with teachers. Through real classroom experiences, including a student who improved dramatically on the ACT after receiving the right support, Marc highlights how identifying challenges early can transform academic success and student well-being.

In this episode, Lizz Wilson, a private teacher and former engineer in the Bay Area, reveals how she applies century-old mastery learning principles to modern test prep through highly tailored one-on-one curricula. Drawing from her belief that reducing students to test scores is part of the educational system's core problem, Lizz explains her conversation-based diagnostic approach that prioritizes understanding what students have truly mastered over simply grading their performance.She discusses her perspective on learning styles as a neuromyth—arguing students must approach subjects from all modalities to achieve true mastery, not just their preferred style. Lizz shares her hidden curriculum philosophy of understanding each student's home environment without judgment, explaining how knowing a parent's pressure about scores helps her address student panic more effectively. She reveals her unconventional approach to building grit by helping students recognize their dedication to personal interests like video games or movies—showing them they already know how to work hard, even in pursuits that aren't academic, and emphasizing that humans weren't made to be productive machines but to enjoy beauty for its own sake.

In this episode, Judy Cinesi, founder of College Path Consultants with 20 years of high school counseling experience, reveals how she bridges the gap created by public school counselors managing 500-700 students each. Drawing from her work in both private college preparatory schools with 100 students and traditional public schools, Judy explains her best-fit philosophy—believing happiness on campus drives student success regardless of the institution's prestige.She discusses her anxiety-reduction approach that helps families understand not every student needs AP Calculus to succeed, and shares why pushing advanced coursework in middle school often backfires when children aren't ready. Judy reveals what University of Chicago admissions officers told her directly: they can identify parent interference in applications and set those aside without review. She emphasizes the most expensive mistake families make is not doing homework on in-state tuition incentives, and warns against AI-generated essays that use vocabulary 17-year-olds don't know, explaining how students should polish their own authentic voice rather than let parents or technology dehumanize their applications.

In this episode, Viktoriya Furina, founder of Exam IQ with 25 years of experience, reveals how the high-stakes, one-shot nature of New York's SHSAT—the sole admission criterion for eight specialized high schools—shapes her rigorous approach. Drawing from teaching students from second grade through SAT, Viktoriya explains how she prepares 12 and 13-year-olds to perform under extreme pressure by having them take 20 to 30 practice exams until test-taking becomes routine.She discusses her skills-first philosophy that goes beyond test prep, teaching seventh through tenth grade material at no additional cost—even adding an extra hour to every SHSAT class this year after noticing students are less prepared than in the past. Viktoriya shares her grammar-as-framework approach to clear thinking, emphasizing that students who struggle with writing need structure, high expectations, and weekly revision cycles. She personally spends three hours every night reviewing homework submissions from parents, treating families as partners in the transformative middle school years.

In this episode, Ellie Smedley, founder of Confidence Academics and former math curriculum writer for eight years, reveals how her confidence-first approach shapes her nine-session SAT prep program. Drawing from her curriculum development background, Ellie explains her "show what you know" philosophy that encourages students to display all their work and build from existing knowledge rather than focusing on pass-fail outcomes.She discusses her unique benchmark session where students rank SAT math domains by confidence level—not scores—opening conversations about their mathematical beliefs and anxieties. Ellie shares her curriculum creation insights about crafting wrong answer choices that target common misconceptions without confusing students, emphasizing that questions should be crystal clear even if answers seem viable. With marketing partner Jacob handling business development, she explains their realistic pricing strategy based on national averages and intro session discounts to remove commitment barriers for families unsure about personality fit.

In this episode, Dan, Test Prep Director at Gallin Education, reveals how his company navigated the digital SAT transition while maintaining paper-pencil ACT prep in Wisconsin, where most testing centers haven't switched. Drawing from his journey starting as a graduate student recruited on LinkedIn who never left, Dan explains his diagnostic-first approach that helps families choose between ACT and SAT based on actual performance rather than regional myths about coastal versus Midwest preferences.He discusses his philosophy that having a test score is better than not—even in the test-optional era—because it provides flexibility for scholarships and specific programs that still require scores. Dan shares his perspective on AI in tutoring, acknowledging free tools like Khan Academy while emphasizing the human value-add of pattern recognition and dynamic adjustment that comes from knowing each student personally, especially when students struggle to identify what a mixed problem is asking them to do.

In this episode, Arthur Smith, founder of Arthur Smith Advising with nearly 30 years in higher education, reveals how his dual experience as a Cornell admissions dean and 23-year track coach shaped his mentorship philosophy. Drawing from chairing admissions committees at an Ivy League institution, Arthur explains how he looks for "spark" in applications—that genuine curiosity and vulnerability that separates piled-up achievements from authentic student identity.He discusses the two critical gaps he saw in college counseling: the shortage of counselors for millions of students, and widespread misconceptions creating unnecessary stress about the opaque admissions process. Arthur shares his quality control approach of personally vetting every application despite working with multiple counselors, all longtime colleagues who share his philosophy. He explains his evolving perspective on AI—using it ethically to organize thoughts while ensuring students write their own essays, and understanding which colleges use AI screening tools that could inadvertently hurt applicants.

In this episode, CJ Palma, founder of CJ 101 Tutoring, reveals how his unique combination of degrees in Marine Science, Computer Science, and Psychology—plus his experience as a first-generation American—shaped his empathy-driven approach to test prep. Drawing from personal experience taking the SAT without preparation (thinking it was an IQ test), CJ explains his mission to democratize information about standardized testing for families without privileged access.He discusses his human-first philosophy where AI handles test bank generation while tutors focus on what technology can't replicate—gathering information about students faster than their underdeveloped frontal lobes can articulate. CJ shares his unconventional path from software engineering to tutoring after his father's illness, and explains why he prioritizes building a small business over scaling, advocating for accessible information without paywalls so parents can make informed decisions regardless of economic background.

In this episode, Nicholas Sennott, founder of The College Lad, reveals how the pandemic forced his pivot from pure SAT/ACT prep into college essays and AP tutoring, ultimately strengthening his business. Drawing from his journalist parents' influence, Nicholas explains his signature "three reasons answers are wrong" technique that helps students move beyond gist-based reading to the close reading these tests demand.He discusses his unconventional philosophy of having students take the actual SAT or ACT early—after just one month of prep—to eliminate test-day anxiety and leverage superscoring policies, rather than waiting six months to take it for the first time. Nicholas shares why he prioritizes small group classes of four to five students where peers learn from each other, and explains his no-package approach that bills by session to ensure genuine connection before long-term commitment.

In this episode, Lauren Price, founder of Academic Independence, reveals how her background in educational psychology and brain science shapes her unique approach to test prep. Working with around 500 students annually, Lauren explains her philosophy of empowering students to become academically independent rather than tutor-dependent, rooting her methods in self-regulated learning and executive function development.She discusses her diagnostic self-report surveys that assess students' self-regulation, motivation, and mindset before beginning work, and shares why she trains tutors to ensure students talk more than the tutor during sessions. Lauren explains her strategic timing recommendations based on math exposure, and emphasizes setting realistic goals in first sessions to align parent and student expectations before the work even begins.

In this episode, Wes Carroll, founder of a 30-year-old tutoring practice with a team of 20, reveals his mission to help high-potential students achieve their potential faster. Drawing from decades of experience, Wes explains how he identifies high potential not just through academic ease, but through grit, self-awareness, and goal clarity—traits that often don't reveal themselves as superpowers until college.He discusses his toolkit-based coaching approach that prioritizes teaching humans over subjects, and shares why math competitions like AMC 12 are underrated pathways that develop thinking capacity colleges truly value. Wes challenges the notion that standardized test scores alone tell the full story, explaining how different skill sets—from meticulous execution to deep problem-solving—should inform how students approach both testing and their academic futures.

In this episode, Susan Richman, co-founder and director of AP Homeschoolers, shares how she pioneered one of the earliest online AP programs for homeschool students—long before online learning was mainstream. Drawing from decades of homeschooling her own four children, Susan explains how structured pacing, teacher-led courses, and academic community help homeschoolers succeed on AP exams. She also discusses her philosophy of growth-minded learning, the importance of student interaction, and why AP courses should build confidence, discipline, and intellectual curiosity—not just test scores.

In this episode, Annie Tadros, founder and director of MyCollegePrepOnline, shares her candid perspective on the digital SAT and Enhanced ACT, explaining why she remains concerned about transparency despite consistent score accuracy. Drawing on more than two decades in test prep, Annie breaks down how released exams, real practice conditions, and careful diagnostics reveal what students truly know—and why SAT and ACT ultimately measure the same academic skills.She details her fully individualized, one-on-one approach, starting with baseline scores and tailoring materials to each student’s strengths, weaknesses, and goals. Annie also explains how controlled, proctored practice reduces test anxiety, why frequent testing can backfire, and how personalized pacing helps students build confidence and achieve meaningful score improvements.

In this episode, Abhimanyu Sharma, founder of Pantheon Prep serving 200 students annually who started the company in 12th grade after submitting college apps, reveals his skeptical view of digital SAT's adaptive format—questioning why easier sections exist when "if they don't do well, they don't do well" and noting only two difficulty levels mean serious test-takers above 1100 never see the easier version anyway.He discusses his "no BS" philosophy of challenging students through "the gauntlet" with pressure and rigor, sharing a dramatic success story of taking one student from 1300 to 1570 in two months with two hours daily of tutoring, only hiring coaches scoring 1570+. Abhimanyu reveals he's already planning his nine-year-old sister's college strategy focused on making her "as intelligent and as academic as possible," and identifies college admissions' biggest pain point: validating whether students actually did their claimed extracurriculars, citing "borderline fraud" of fake nonprofit presidents.

In this episode, Harley Kinberg, New York City-based tutor working with 20-30 students annually over 15+ years, reveals her initial nervousness about SAT going digital—worrying "how am I going to recreate that realism?"—and explains why she analyzes not just wrong answers but correct ones taking over two minutes, since "we need a new strategy for that question" to address timing issues.She discusses her philosophy that standardized tests aren't intelligence problems but "performance problems" that are trainable, and shares her approach of offering free 30-minute meet-and-greets where she asks zero academic questions, just builds connection—comparing finding the right tutor to finding the right therapist. Harley explains why she won't fight students who prefer one test despite scoring better on another, believing "they will fight against the process" otherwise, and stays intentionally small rather than scaling because she's a "control freak" who prefers intimate relationships.

In this episode, Rhea Wanchoo, co-founder of M&W Education and UC Berkeley neuroscience student serving 20-30 test prep students annually, reveals her psychology-backed approach including the "serial position effect"—teaching students to read first and last sentences of passages to leverage how we remember beginnings and endings better than middles—and "sentence diagramming" exercises where students identify parts of speech despite many not even knowing what prepositions are.She discusses her "sunflower method" for essay brainstorming where prompts are the center and ideas branch out as petals students can "pluck off," and explains yield protection—why she was waitlisted at Virginia Tech but accepted to Harvard and Berkeley, as less selective schools sometimes reject overqualified applicants they assume won't enroll. Rhea shares her "whiteout test" for scholarship essays: if you can substitute any college name, it's not specific enough.

In this episode, Dov Engelberg, founder of Mulholland Prep with over 25 years of experience serving 300-400 students annually in Los Angeles, reveals why he jokingly felt "entirely betrayed" when SAT went digital but questions the "enhanced ACT" marketing—asking "when's the last time something was enhanced by getting smaller?"—while explaining he doesn't use old paper tests for digital SAT prep unlike some tutors.He discusses his philosophy of never advertising for students or tutors, growing organically through word-of-mouth by "being the best tutoring service you can be," and refusing to hire separate math and reading tutors because it indirectly tells students "this person can't do the other thing we expect you to do." Dov shares his sobering reality check for Ivy-obsessed parents: Stanford's sub-4% acceptance rate is of applicants already self-selected, not random students, and explains why he steers families toward free resources when they can't afford tutoring.

In this episode, Daniel Benton, Johns Hopkins student and founder of Benton Tutoring who achieved a perfect 1600 SAT score, reveals how he took one test weekly for two months then doubled to twice weekly before his exam—calling much of it "overkill" but necessary for the consistency stamina requires at that level, even running out of College Board's practice tests and resorting to "black market" questions.He discusses why he got nationally certified by the National Tutoring Association at age 15 for confidence and learning how to teach diverse learners, and shares his diagnostic philosophy: wrong answers aren't Boolean—some students get questions "way more wrong" than others, distinguishing between misadding versus fundamental misconceptions. Daniel explains his fatalistic anxiety cure: telling stressed students "what is done is done, you have made your bed," while balancing Hopkins rigor with tutoring by rigidly blocking schedules.

In this episode, Dante Dyches-Chandler, CEO and founder of Reach Test Prep, reveals how taking the ACT six times in high school—more than anyone he's met—drove him to build a gamified mobile app that measures test-taking endurance invisibly through games like "time trials" and "break the bank," adjusting difficulty in real-time without traditional diagnostic tests.He discusses why AI-generated questions aren't up to par despite building an AI-powered platform, explaining they use human writers while AI analyzes student behavior patterns. Dante shares surprising data learnings: engagement time predicts success better than right/wrong answers, and remote rural schools demonstrate highest need while large city schools show less incentive—proving not every school actually wants standardized test prep despite the assumption.

In this episode, Michael from Astute Academics, tutoring 100+ students annually including nonprofit outreach, reveals his brutally honest approach to college admissions—telling parents upfront he can't guarantee Ivy League admission and advising one family to choose St. Joe's over George Washington to save money and ensure their son thrived in the top 25% rather than struggling at bottom third.He discusses why he refuses to use AI for tutoring despite personal use, explaining how it decreases critical thinking and gives false confidence to lower-performing students. Michael shares his homework negotiation framework in the post-smartphone era, where seven-hour screen time creates illusions of workload, and why he believes anyone can achieve a perfect score with enough grit—citing a student who jumped from 580 to 1150, demonstrating more value than someone improving from 1200 to 1250.

In this episode, Austin Parsons, a professional tutor with a master's degree in chemistry who "fell into tutoring and fell in love with it," shares his philosophy that the worst kind of stress comes from regret—so he front-loads preparation to help students achieve success early rather than face "I only have one more shot" panic. Tutoring 25-30 students weekly, Austin explains why he limits homework to just one hour per week during school year, believing "the best homework plan is the one that a student will actually do," and uses MentorMind to create bite-sized 30-minute test sections instead of overwhelming full-length exams.He reveals his deeply personal approach of sharing his phone number with all students, telling them "text me if you have a question Wednesday, don't wait till next week," and discusses how he worked with an anxious student by starting with proctoring practice tests over Zoom at home, then gradually moving to coffee shops and libraries.

In this episode, Doug Poggioli, a master's degree mathematician who taught at prestigious schools in Miami and London for decades before launching Learn Locus in 2019, shares his controversial perspective on the digital SAT's short passages—believing they sacrifice the ability to assess character intent and deeper comprehension skills that longer passages reveal. Operating exclusively online since 2019, Doug explains his fundamental principle: tutoring is different from teaching because students arriving at 6:30 PM need their homework done, not 30-minute abstract theory discussions.He reveals his "six things about rational functions" approach—getting students competent in techniques first while understanding seeps in along the way—and discusses why he tells parents upfront that strong students who rush through tests should slow down, even if it means answering fewer questions.

In this episode, John Heidenreich, a PhD chemist with 35 years in IT who returned to his passion for teaching, shares how a high school physics teacher transformed his life by explaining that "someone would pay me money to solve problems all day." Now teaching physics and chemistry at the French American School of New York while running his own tutoring business, John reveals his diagnostic approach to test-taking: analyzing why students miss questions and discovering most errors come from going too fast, not lack of knowledge.He shares the powerful story of a volleyball player who used her sports "happy dance" ritual to recover focus after a proctor incorrectly challenged her calculator mid-ACT—going on to score her highest ever. John discusses the challenge of getting students to do 100 repetitions when distractions constantly pull them away, his conversational classroom approach where he expects students to bring questions rather than memorized answers, and why he uses AI to generate multiple metaphors until one finally clicks. He emphasizes that anxiety doesn't need to disappear—students just need to learn what to do with it.

In this episode, Jeff Negus, a private tutor with over 11 years of experience, shares how he initially felt skeptical about the SAT's digital shift but grew positive after seeing reduced student anxiety from shorter passages and the elimination of the no-calculator section. Tutoring 9-11 standardized test students annually plus over 50 Air Force officer candidates, Jeff reveals his "in an instant method"—analyzing the most common question types students miss and providing targeted worksheets for incremental improvement on each exam.He discusses the challenge of students rushing homework right before sessions, explains why coastal areas favor SAT while central US prefers ACT, and shares his most difficult parent conversation: a father who wouldn't let his son take the actual test until achieving perfect scores on every practice exam. Jeff also unveils his exciting new AI-powered web application, AFOQT Wingman, designed to help military test-takers master extremely time-sensitive sections with as little as 10-12 seconds per question.

In this episode, Andre Hampshire, founder of Hampshire Academia with seven years of experience, reveals why he uses the older paper-based SAT to prepare students for the digital test—a contrarian approach that addresses implicit evidence-based reasoning skills. Managing up to 20 tutoring hours weekly, André explains his ground-up grammar methodology that treats structure as the foundation for both reading and math.He discusses his philosophical approach to college counseling, helping students articulate authentic "why this school" answers beyond brand-name prestige, and shares why he views AI as a conversation partner rather than a shortcut. Andre also explains his boutique model philosophy: doing deep work with fewer students rather than scaling, including issuing refunds when sessions are missed for legitimate reasons.

In this episode, Kevin McMullin, Chief Education Officer of Collegewise and founder who grew the company from 9 students in 1999 to serving over 30,000 families, shares insights from 26 years in college admissions. Starting at Princeton Review's corporate headquarters as their spokesperson, Kevin explains how he transitioned to driving to students' kitchen tables before scaling to the largest admissions consulting firm in the industry with 150+ counselors processing roughly 2,000 applications per available position—statistically harder to get hired than getting into Harvard.Kevin breaks down the brutal mathematics of highly selective admissions, explaining why Princeton could fill two and a half freshman classes with nothing but valedictorians, and reveals the surprising truth behind early decision statistics—Tulane admitted 68% of early decision applicants versus only 2.5% regular decision. He addresses the biggest misconception families have about college essays, explaining why admissions officers can spot when teenagers write "playing volleyball taught me many important lessons about hard work" instead of sounding like themselves, and shares the story of a successful applicant whose opening sentence was "the worst part about being the slowest runner on my cross-country team is that sometimes I fall so far behind I have to stop and ask spectators for directions." Kevin emphasizes that great college essays are "equal opportunity employers" where everyone starts with a blank slate senior year, unlike GPAs and test scores that can't be dramatically improved in one semester, and stresses that students should spend more time building on their strengths than polishing perceived weaknesses—the B-minus in chemistry after studying harder than ever before deserves celebration, not disappointment.

In this episode, Heather Krey, co-president of World Class Tutoring, shares insights from nearly two decades of standardized test prep experience. Managing 50 students annually alongside three other tutors in her virtual company, Heather explains how the pandemic forced her transition from a brick-and-mortar office to Zoom-based tutoring, and reveals her initial excitement followed by reality check when the SAT went digital—making her "hustle to be the expert" in her town on the new format.Heather addresses the growing gap between straight-A students and their SAT scores, citing a UC San Diego study showing how GPAs now reflect effort rather than content mastery, leaving high-achieving students confused when they score only 500 on math despite their A grades. She breaks down her "revenge on a question" strategy and her business partner Anna's error log system, explaining the crucial difference between understanding something today versus retaining and transferring that knowledge weeks later. Heather emphasizes that the most common skill students lack isn't algebra or grammar—it's the discipline to study for something weeks away instead of homework due tomorrow, and she's frank that tutoring without homework simply doesn't work. She discusses her experiments with AI question generation, admitting ChatGPT initially "did horribly" but now serves as her efficiency tool for double-checking math answers and generating sentence variations, while stressing that one bad question can destroy student confidence or make them dismiss all future questions as flawed.

In this episode, Dennis Vidach, CEO of The College Admissions Experts, shares insights from 12 years of guiding students through the college admissions process. Working with top-tier applicants targeting Ivy League and elite schools, Dennis explains why he sometimes has to scrap well-written essays and start from scratch—many students write about their childhood or treat it like a high school english assignment instead of understanding what admissions officers actually need to see. He reveals his framework for differentiation through the story of a videography student who created compelling homeless interview documentaries instead of traditional volunteering, generating significant donations and demonstrating genuine initiative.Dennis breaks down the brutal reality of 5-10% acceptance rates, explaining the inherent randomness when choosing between remarkably qualified candidates and why families need to understand that admissions is fundamentally a marketing campaign, not just form-filling. He addresses common mistakes including parents over-editing essays and losing the student's voice, expensive consulting packages that provide poor essay support, and the financial implications of early decision applications that eliminate negotiating power. Dennis emphasizes that beyond the top 20 colleges, the next tier offers exceptional education that families often overlook in their pursuit of prestige.

In this episode, Brooke Henry, a 20-year-old college student and founder of Henry College Prep, shares her journey from taking the SAT in seventh grade through Duke Talent Search to building a thriving test prep business at 18. She explains why the digital SAT represents a radical shift that most prep resources haven't caught up with—particularly how Desmos has transformed math strategy from teaching 15-20 concepts down to just 5-8 patterns.Brooke reveals why she believes the SAT is the better choice for 95% of students doing any kind of prep, and how her students achieve an average 16-point increase per tutoring hour—triple the national average. She discusses her AI-powered app Stratify, which tracks not just what students missed but why they missed it by analyzing wrong answer choices to identify thinking patterns rather than just content gaps.From her unconventional marketing approach of taping 100 flyers to neighborhood mailboxes to offering free SAT prep sessions at private schools, Brooke shares how she built her business through uncomfortable but effective face-to-face outreach. She also addresses the biggest mistakes parents make—waiting until junior year and resume stuffing—and explains why college essays actually begin on the first day of freshman year through the depth and initiative students show in their chosen pursuits.

In this episode, Jeremy Ciampa, founder of Higher Learning Test Prep with nearly two decades of experience, shares how starting as a digitally-native company with Skype tutoring made the digital SAT transition seamless for his organization. Working with 60-100 students one-on-one and another 200+ in small groups annually, Jeremy explains how the digital shift gave test makers back control of their materials, making it harder for students to find leaked tests on Reddit. He reveals his approach to the SAT versus ACT decision: strong reading comprehension is the biggest ceiling for SAT success, while the ACT rewards efficiency and speed. Jeremy discusses his evolved homework philosophy—moving away from assigning six days of massive homework to offering on-call support with multiple tutors throughout the week, recognizing that overscheduled high-achieving students were doing SAT work at midnight.Drawing from his background as a musician and mountaineering experience, Jeremy shares practical anxiety-management techniques including the counterintuitive strategy of squeezing every muscle as hard as you can instead of trying to relax. He explains his systematic approach of coding every released SAT question from 2015-2023 by type, his use of AI trained on 10,000 hours of his tutoring transcripts to generate practice questions, and why the most common skill students lack is breaking hard problems into smaller pieces—citing the quote: "Small minds are capable of great ideas, but great minds proceed by the smallest of stages." Jeremy concludes by reframing test prep not as a hurdle to leap over but as a doorway to walk through—an opportunity for young people to take something seriously for the first time and become serious people in the world.

In this episode, Ben Paris, former Kaplan Curriculum Director with over 30 years of experience and millions of assessment questions under his belt, reveals how today's students have fundamentally changed—from lacking basic study skills to lying about practice test scores post-pandemic. He shares why he now spends time teaching students how to actually study (assembling notes, setting priorities) versus just completing assignments, and discusses the alarming trend of students trusting TikTok and ChatGPT over experienced tutors.Ben exposes red flags parents should watch for when hiring tutors—including demands for $5,000 upfront payments and seven-page contracts—and explains his philosophy of charging only at the end so families pay for what they use. He shares memorable stories about teaching students when to trust themselves through data analysis, and offers practical advice on evaluating tutors based on connection and communication rather than credentials alone.

In this episode, Jessica Liou reveals why the "simpler" digital SAT micro-passages actually demand sharper precision than long passages—and shares her unexpected approach of teaching strategy before timing. Working with 10-12 students annually, many with learning accommodations, she explains which Bluebook tools can hinder performance and discusses challenging college prestige obsession.She uncovers scholarship strategies most families miss—including why filing FAFSA/CSS forms matters even when you think you won't qualify—and reveals how merit aid can make elite private schools cheaper than public ones. Jessica shares what "right education" means beyond test scores: students feeling supported, curious, and inspired

In this episode, Jeff Eisenberg, founder of Long Island Test Prep with over 30 years of experience, reveals how the digital transformation forced him to embrace technology despite initially working in a paper-and-pencil world. Managing 110-120 students annually, Jeff explains why most students arrive with pro-SAT bias but need ACT evaluation, and shares his balanced approach to calculator dependency—including the moment he physically grabbed a student's calculator to prevent her from using it for "three squared." He discusses his systematic analysis of both correct and incorrect answers to find time-saving efficiencies, and explains why New York State's Regents exams create unique tutoring opportunities beyond standardized testing.

In this episode, Henry Nguyen, former engineer turned founder of A STEM Tutoring, reveals how he transformed his approach to education by creating "safety valves" for overwhelmed students—including letting them hit his taekwondo pad when anger strikes. Drawing from his engineering background and self-defense expertise, Henry explains why he tells students they can quit anytime they want, creating psychological freedom that paradoxically increases commitment. He discusses the digital SAT's adaptive testing challenge where getting early questions wrong dooms your score, and shares his unconventional philosophy of tackling the hardest problems first using martial arts principles of neutralizing the most dangerous opponent.

In this episode, Daniel Ryave, SAT/ACT prep tutor and social media content creator with 262,000 followers, reveals how he transformed from Peace Corps teacher to viral TikTok educator launching satpreptutordaniel.com. Drawing from tutoring 32 students in 2025 alone, Daniel explains why the digital SAT's biggest challenge isn't the content but helping students bounce back after missing questions in the new rapid-fire format. He discusses his unconventional homework assignments—like taking practice tests with ticking clock YouTube videos playing to simulate test anxiety—and shares why he gives students a dollar every time he makes a mistake during sessions, creating psychological safety that transforms the tutoring dynamic.

In this episode, Megan Padden, owner and founder of O.W.L. Educational Services, reveals how the digital SAT transformation has created unexpected ripple effects across all standardized testing, including the new Enhanced ACT. Drawing from nearly 20 years in test prep, Megan explains how COVID-era educational gaps are still visible today—she can instantly identify which grade level a student experienced their "COVID year" based on specific skill deficits. She discusses her diagnostic-first approach using full practice tests to target individual weaknesses, and shares why she believes in using multiple resources rather than "reinventing the wheel," explaining how she strategically moves students between easier and harder materials to build confidence before crushing overconfidence.

In this episode, Steve Schecter, founder of MuchSmarter, reveals how his accidental entry into tutoring evolved into a revolutionary learning methodology that positions his company as more neuroscience than test prep. Drawing from classical piano instruction, Steve explains how most 16-17 year olds become "experts on what they can't do" and shares his three-part framework fusing growth mindset, grit, and deliberate practice into unified "habits of thinking, feeling, and learning." He discusses transforming his boutique practice into Much Smarter games platform and why he treats standardized tests as "safe challenges" that unlock human potential, citing how one "average" student rejected from honors math became a rocket scientist through the right learning framework.