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discussion on Ted's past experience in venture capital then transitions to Ted's focus on education reform, noting the outdated structure of current schools and the lack of essential skills being taught, especially in the age of AI.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
