Freedom to Learn
Freedom to Learn is for policymakers and advocates fighting for parental rights and education freedom for students and teachers. Host Ginny Gentles, Director of Education Freedom and Parental Rights at the Defense of Freedom Institute, interviews guests who are confronting powerful unions and bureaucratic systems. Each episode demystifies school choice, counters misconceptions, and spotlights the people who put students over systems. Freedom to Learn is produced by the Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC.
Episodes
35 episodes
Rabbi A. D. Motzen on the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit’s Coalition, Champions, & Future
This week’s episode dives into the intricacies of the newly enacted federal scholarship tax credit with Rabbi A.D. Motzen, national director of government affairs at Agudath Israel of America. We explore how this groundbreaking legislation is s...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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32:16
Senator Ted Cruz on School Choice, Federal Scholarship Tax Credits, & 529 Plan Expansion
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz joins the podcast to share a behind-the-scenes look at the Senate’s passage of the new federal scholarship tax credit. He details negotiations with the Senate Parliamentarian, fending off a middle-of-the-night amendment to...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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21:55
John Schilling on the New Federal School Choice Tax Credit, Rulemaking Realities, & the Future of School Choice
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by the President on July 4th includes a new federal K-12 scholarship tax credit that could expand education freedom nationwide. Starting in 2027, individual taxpayers can receive a dollar-for-dollar federal...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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29:54
Jason Bedrick on School Choice Whoppers, New Hampshire’s EFAs, & What Happens Next
School choice trailblazer Jason Bedrick joins the podcast to explore the evolution of education freedom in New Hampshire and beyond. From his roots as a young legislator to his role in passing groundbreaking policies, Jason shares insights on t...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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31:10
TN Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds on Getting Education Freedom, Literacy Instruction, & Flexible Pathways Right
After Tennessee expanded the state’s Education Freedom Scholarships program during a special legislative session earlier this year, demand for the state’s education savings accounts (ESAs) soared. TN Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds joi...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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25:54
Madison Yandell & Vanessa Tanner on Passing Education Savings Accounts in Texas
Last month, Governor Greg Abbott signed the nation’s largest day-one universal school choice program into law. Madison Yandell, the governor’s education advisor, and Vanessa Tanner, chief of staff to Texas House Public Education Committee Chair...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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42:22
Jody Underwood on Expanding, Understanding, & Navigating New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Options
New Hampshire is now the 17th state to offer an education freedom program to every student in the state. Governor Kelly Ayotte recently signed legislation that expanded eligibility for the state’s education savings accounts (ESA) program to all...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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25:03
Paul Zimmerman on Title IX, the RESPECT Title IX Act, & the Need for Congressional Action
Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funding. My colleague Paul Zimmerman joins the podcast to explain Title IX’s original intent to ensure equal educational opportunities regardl...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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31:40
Erin Lee on Protecting Children, Families, & Schools from the Cult-like Mentality of Gender Ideology
Erin Lee, executive director of Protect Kids Colorado, shares her harrowing experience navigating gender ideology’s impact on her daughter. She discusses the alarming rise of rapid onset gender dysphoria, the cult-like mentality surrounding gen...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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35:44
Tony de Nicola on Education Freedom, Budget Reconciliation, & the ECCA
The U.S. House budget reconciliation bill includes a federal tax credit that could make K-12 scholarships available to students in every state across America. Tony de Nicola, Invest in Education chairman, joins the podcast to discuss the Educat...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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24:05
Starlee Coleman on Charter School Victories, Red Tape Battles, & Bipartisan Wins
Starlee Coleman, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools’ new CEO, joins the podcast to celebrate National Charter Schools Week and the 30th anniversary of the federal Charter School Program. Coleman discusses her 25 years of fighting for ...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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36:32
David Zweig on Union Power Grabs, Media Complicity, & “Expert” Manipulations During Covid School Closures
David Zweig joins Freedom to Learn to discuss his new book, "An Abundance of Caution: American Schools, the Virus, and a Story of Bad Decisions," a piercing exposé of America’s COVID-era school closure debacle. Zweig reveals how media, health “...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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33:18
Maine Rep. Laurel Libby on Defending Girls, Getting Censured, & Refusing to Back Down
Maine State Representative Laurel Libby joins Freedom to Learn to share the personal and political fallout from her public stand on women’s sports. After posting a photo exposing a biological male’s victory in a girls’ track event, Lib...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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25:06
RE-RELEASE: May Mailman on President Trump’s Actions to Protect Women’s Sports, Spaces, & Dignity
When asked, “Should we keep men out of women’s sports?” the vast majority of the American people respond with a resounding “Yes!” May Mailman, Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Policy Strategist, joins Freedom to Learn to di...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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29:03
Jenny Clark on Students with Disabilities, Education Freedom, & Loving Your School
Arizona mother Jenny Clark shares her family's challenging educational journey and how these experiences led her to establish Love Your School, an organization that provides personalized support for parents navigating educational options. Jenny...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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28:20
Michael McShane on School Choice Research, Fearmongering, & Milton Friedman
Do school choice programs really increase segregation, harm rural communities, and deny students with disabilities access to services? Dr. Michael McShane, Director of National Research at EdChoice, joins Freedom to Learn to tackle the...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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40:22
Julie Hamill on California’s Violations of Title IX, FERPA, & Common Sense
Last week, the U.S. Department of Education opened an investigation into California’s practice of requiring schools to lie to parents about their child's "gender identity." Julie Hamill, founder of the California Justice Center, joins Freed...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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38:06
Congressman Kevin Kiley on Charter Schools, Teachers Unions, & School Closures
Congressman Kevin Kiley (R-CA), a former teacher in inner-city Los Angeles and California State Assembly member, joins Freedom to Learn to discuss the need for education freedom options that prioritize student success...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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23:36
Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Cutting Bureaucracy, Empowering States, & Fighting Anti-Semitism
Recently confirmed U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon joins Freedom to Learn to discuss her plans to reduce bureaucracy at the federal Department of Education while ensuring critical federal funding streams like IDEA and Title I...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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14:39
Lindsey Burke on Winding Down the Department of Education, Stopping the Education Funding Spending Spree, & Expanding Education Freedom
While awaiting President Trump’s specific plans to dissolve the U.S. Department of Education and “send education back to the states,” congressional committees are holding hearings to explore the policy possibilities. In this episode, Dr. Lindse...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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38:31
Cade Brumley on Louisiana’s Reading Revival, Impressive NAEP Scores, & New ESA Program
Louisiana was a rare bright spot amid grim Nation’s Report Card math and reading results. Dr. Cade Brumley, Louisiana’s superintendent of education, joins Freedom to Learn to discuss the state's impressive progress and his ambitions for further...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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21:41
May Mailman on President Trump’s Actions to Protect Women’s Sports, Spaces, & Dignity
When asked “Should we keep men out of women’s sports?” the vast majority of the American people respond with a resounding “Yes!” May Mailman, Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Policy Strategist, joins Freedom to Learn to dis...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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27:29
Walter Blanks on Escaping a Failing School, Tennessee’s Big Win, & The Truth About School Choice Critics
In this episode of Freedom to Learn, Walter Blanks Jr., spokesperson for the American Federation for Children, shares his personal story of escaping a failing school—thanks to a mother who refused to accept the status quo. He reveals how a scho...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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31:21
Shaka Mitchell on Education Freedom, Teacher Bonuses & Rural Schools in Tennessee
This week on Freedom to Learn, we break down a major development in Tennessee’s education landscape—the passage of the Education Freedom Act of 2025. Passed during an emergency legislative session, this new statewide program expands school choi...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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34:42
Mark Schneider on NAEP, Federal Research, & Dismantling the U.S. Department of Education
In this episode of Freedom to Learn, we lament the troubling 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results. Despite billions in recovery funds, the latest data paints a grim picture, particularly for minority, low-income, and ...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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32:14