Alfie Kohn (@alfiekohn.sciences.social.ap.brid.gy)

Over more than a third of a century, Alfie Kohn has offered a multifaceted defense of progressive education as well as research-based critiques of rewards and punishments, grades, standardized testing, homework, competition, and other aspects of traditional schooling (and parenting). If all his books and essays have one thing in common, however, it’s that they are extremely inconvenient to read while driving, exercising, or making dinner. Thus, when he learned (just a few weeks ago) that something called “podcasts” had been invented….well, you can see where this is going… Each episode of _Kohn’s Zone_ offers 20-30 minutes of provocative reflections on a topic having to do with teaching and learning — or with human behavior more generally; occasional longer segments feature conversations with leading experts in education. Watch this space for new episodes, which will appear as if by magic every two weeks or so. You can listen on any of the Big Tech podcast platforms or, better yet, here on this website. Links to all available episodes appear below, and if you’d like to be notified as soon as new ones are added, just click this button: Remind Me ** _A note from Alfie Kohn_** : I made two decisions when I decided to start this podcast. The first was not to accept ads. The second was to avoid putting certain episodes behind a paywall (or offering special content only to those who pay). But this means that I depend on the generosity of everyone who listens to help cover the production costs. So: Can you afford a modest contribution — ideally on a regular basis, since a podcast, after all, is not a one-shot event? If so, I’d be grateful if you’d support the project with whatever amount seems fair to you. (Your generosity will also confirm the thesis of my book _The Brighter Side of Human Nature_.) Oh, and if you enjoy the podcast, please tell other people about it. Thanks! Please click the button below to donate. If you don’t see a button, just use this link. Donate _Just one example of what we promise never to send you if you support the podcast._ * * * #### **Podcast Episodes** ### How to Kill Kids’ Interest in Reading 01/15/2026 ### Who Gets to Decide – Part 2 01/01/2026 ### Who Gets to Decide? – Part 1 12/15/2025 ### The Curious Case of the Incurious Children 12/01/2025 ### It’s Not Just You 11/15/2025 ### Making Kids Work a Second Shift 11/01/2025 ### A.I., as in Anti-Intellectual 10/15/2025 ### Death by Civics 10/01/2025 ### The Failure of Failure 09/15/2025 ### Bad Signs 09/01/2025 ### Confusing Harder with Better 08/15/2025 ### Number Sense and Nonsense 08/01/2025 ### Skip the Sugarcoating 07/15/2025 ### Little Ed Koches 07/01/2025 ### The Back-to-School-Night Speech We’d Like to Hear (Ep. 1) 07/01/2025 * * * #### **You can listen and/or subscribe without leaving this page. But if you prefer Big Tech…** Apple PodcastsSpotifyYouTubeRSS * * * PRODUCTION SUPPORT: Ultraviolet Audio ART: Abi Kohn https://www.alfiekohn.org/podcasts/