The TechEd Podcast

What actually happens inside those massive Amazon facilities—and how do products arrive at your door with such astonishing speed?In this episode of The TechEd Podcast, host Matt Kirchner explores these questions with Amanda Willard, Strategic Workforce Development, and Logan Schulz, Senior Manager of Reliability & Maintenance Engineering at Amazon. They take us behind the scenes of the advanced robotics, mechatronics, and automation systems that power Amazon’s fulfillment network—and the skilled technicians who keep the entire operation running.Amanda and Logan share how the Reliability & Maintenance Engineering (RME) team prepares the workforce behind this technology, including Amazon’s mechatronics and robotics apprenticeship. They reveal what today’s technicians actually do, the durable skills that matter most, and how Amazon develops talent capable of maintaining one of the world’s most complex automation ecosystems.Listen to learn:How Amazon uses robotics, AMRs, vision systems, and miles of automation to move products at remarkable speedWhat actually happens inside the RME apprenticeship, from 12 weeks of training to 2,000 hours of structured mentorshipWhy durable skills like troubleshooting, analytics, and system connectivity matter more than any specific technologyHow data, AI, and predictive maintenance are reshaping the technician’s roleWhat technical educators should teach now to prepare learners for next-generation automation careers3 Big Takeaways from this Episode:1. Maintenance roles have shifted from mechanical work to high-level cognitive problem-solving. Technicians at Amazon diagnose interconnected networks, sensors, PLC systems, and smart devices alongside mechanical equipment. This evolution requires system-level thinking, the ability to interpret data, and strong analytical abilities—skills that anchor long-term career growth.2. Apprenticeships are a business strategy that strengthens the entire talent pipeline. Amazon’s mechatronics and robotics apprenticeship builds internal talent, increases employee retention, and prepares the workforce for future technology needs. With industry certifications, structured mentorship, and extensive hands-on training, the program creates a sustainable pipeline of highly skilled technicians.3. Durable skills prepare learners for technologies that don’t exist yet. Troubleshooting methods, programming fundamentals, data analytics, and understanding how systems interconnect form the foundation technicians will rely on as automation accelerates. As AI, predictive maintenance, and IoT devices expand, adaptability and analytical reasoning will matter more than the specific robots or tools a technician first learned on.Resources in this Episode:Learn more about Amazon Reliability & Maintenance EngineeringLearn more about the Amazon RME Mechatronics & Robotics Apprenticeship programFind more resources on the episode page! https://techedpocdast.com/amazonWe want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

With states stepping directly into the venture capital arena, a major shift is underway in how early-stage companies are funded—and where the next generation of innovation will be built.In this episode of The TechEd Podcast, host Matt Kirchner dives into this emerging movement with Pete Martin, Director of Portfolio Management at the MSU Research Foundation, and Alison Todak, Vice President of Entrepreneurship & Innovation at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Together, they unpack why states like Michigan are deploying public capital into startups, how PitchMI became one of the largest pitch competitions in the country, and what this means for founders, investors, educators, and the broader innovation economy.From filling early-stage capital gaps to catalyzing private investment, Michigan is using public VC models to strengthen its entrepreneurial ecosystem—and the results are showing. Pete and Alison detail the strategy behind PitchMI, the sectors driving the next decade of growth, the role of universities in spinning out new technologies, and how public and private capital partners are increasingly collaborating rather than competing.Listen to learn:Why states are stepping into early-stage VC and where private capital is falling shortHow PitchMI became a $2M competition drawing 375 statewide applicantsThe sectors Michigan is betting on—from mobility to clean tech to AI and health innovationWhy founding teams matter more than anything else at the pre-seed stageHow public VC and private VC now work together to accelerate growth rather than compete3 Big Takeaways from this Episode:1. States are stepping into early-stage VC because private capital isn’t meeting the needs of pre-seed founders. Michigan’s earliest-stage companies often start in a funding vacuum, and state-backed dollars are designed to close that first-capital gap. The PitchMI model shows how public investment can de-risk companies enough for private VCs to participate later.  2. PitchMI is creating a statewide pipeline of founders, companies, and investors. The competition drew 375 applicants in two weeks and activated partners across smart zones, universities, investors, and the private sector. Even companies that didn’t win are already raising capital, hiring talent, and gaining visibility through the program.  3. Public and private VC are becoming collaborators in building regional innovation economies. Founders backed by public funds gain access to non-dilutive programs, state networks, and industry connections, while private firms gain earlier access to high-potential deals. This shared model is shaping how capital formation and startup ecosystems will evolve over the next decade.Resources in this Episode:Learn more about PitchMI: https://msufoundation.org/pitchmi/MSU Research FoundationMichigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)Find more on the episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/msuresearch/We want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

With the pace of change in technology, geopolitics, infrastructure, and the economy, what should technical educators and workforce leaders be watching most closely in 2026?In this year’s annual Predictions episode, host Matt Kirchner shares the fifth edition of a listener-favorite tradition, scoring last year's predictions and looking ahead to the trends and technologies that will shape Tech Ed in 2026.What's in store for 2026? Energy, defense, materials, biomimicry, AI, smart tech, humanoids, design...and the future of technical education. Listen to the whole episode to hear about these and more!Full show notes, links & resources on the episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/predictions26We want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

Watch the episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/f5gWUVQI0jIMelissa Martin and Matt Kirchner are back to answer your questions, covering everything from university curriculum design, to AI in the classroom, to what employers actually expect when they invest in education.This one moves fast, but it’s focused: how do you build programs that truly prepare students for modern work? How do you keep education from falling behind as technology accelerates? Along the way, Matt and Melissa break down what universities need to change, how to raise the bar in the age of generative AI, why ethics can’t be an afterthought, and how to help HR teams understand the value of credentials and new pathways.Listen to learn:What university programs should teach (in one course) to better prepare grads for modern manufacturing workHow educators can help students identify when AI is wrong and why we need to level-up our homework in the age of AIThe role of ethics in modern CTEThe five components of a world-class, modern advanced manufacturing high school programHow educators can measure program effectiveness and show ROI to industrial partnersWhat HR teams need to understand about changing credentials, degrees, and how to evaluate technical candidates3 Big Takeaways from this Episode:1. have to teach applied industrial skills, not just theory. Matt argues that a four-year program can cover a lot of “cool stuff in the lab,” but it still needs authentic manufacturing equipment and technology so graduates understand what they will actually see in industry. He frames this as an employer expectation problem: even when budgets are tighter at the four-year level, universities still need to build around the same core technologies students will encounter on day one in manufacturing. 2. AI changes the standard for student work and makes ethics a core requirement. Melissa and Matt point out that AI is designed to produce an answer even when it doesn't know (causing a 'hallucination'), which means students must learn to question outputs and verify accuracy instead of treating AI as a sole source of truth. From there, the conversation moves from classroom integrity into broader ethics: what it means to do original work, and how humans should think and behave as AI becomes more capable and more embedded in decision-making. 3. Industry and HR and educators must understand each other's needs to build a successful partnership. Education and Industry both have a responsibility to do their part in a partnership. HR departments must understand the changing landscape of certifications, 3-year degrees and other credentials that students are gaining to demonstrate their technical competency. Likewise, educators must adopt industry practices of tracking metrics to show employer partners the ROI of their investments in the program.Access tons of links & resources on the episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/askusanything-122025/We want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn

The clearest way to understand Ronald Reagan’s leadership may not be from a podium, but from a saddle, a woodpile, and a quiet table where he worked through the ideas that shaped an era.In this on-location episode of The TechEd Podcast, host Matt Kirchner sits down with former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker inside the Reagan Ranch Center, recorded at the same table and microphones Reagan used for his radio addresses. The conversation moves beyond “Reagan the icon” and into Reagan at Rancho del Cielo, the place Ed Meese famously pointed to as the best window into Reagan the man. You’ll hear how the ranch functioned as Reagan’s “open air cathedral,” where he worked the land, cleared brush, and rode horses to clear his mind before returning to the weight of world events.  You’ll also hear the personal stories that make Reagan feel three-dimensional again, including the extraordinary bond he formed on horseback with Secret Service agent John Barletta, and the deeply human way Nancy Reagan talked about letting the ranch go.Matt and the Governor also discuss timeless values that define Reagan's legacy. Walker frames Reagan’s optimism as more than tone, because it was paired with firm beliefs, disciplined preparation, and a sustained message about freedom as something fragile that must be defended and passed on.   Listen to learn:How Reagan’s time at Rancho del Cielo shaped the way he thought, reset, and ledWhy Reagan’s optimistic “happy warrior” tone worked because it was anchored in uncompromising convictionHow Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) reframed the Cold War, and how we're seeing that technology in play todayThe short list of speeches that best capture Reagan’s worldview, from “A Time for Choosing” to Brandenburg Gate to Pointe du Hoc3 Big Takeaways from this Episode:1. Reagan’s optimism was anchored in conviction. Walker points to Reagan as a “happy warrior” who appealed to people’s better nature while staying strong in his positions. These timeless values are why he had such strong support, even in a divided government.2. Reagan treated freedom as a generational responsibility, not a permanent condition. Walker highlights Reagan’s repeated warning that freedom is “never more than one generation away from extinction,” and that it must be defended and passed on.  He ties that message to Reagan’s Cold War moral clarity, including the belief that if freedom is lost here, “there’s nowhere else in the world left,” and the urgency behind “tear down this wall.” 3. Reagan’s legacy is a case study in the long-term impacts of a great leader. Great American Presidents like Washington, Lincoln and Kennedy are remembered more for their character than their politics. This podcast is an exploration into the character of Ronald Reagan, another great leader who is remembered for his optimism, conviction and humility.Access resources, links and more on the episode page!We want to hear from you! Send us a text.Instagram - Facebook - YouTube - TikTok - Twitter - LinkedIn