The TechEd Podcast

Movie theaters have taken hit after hit, from streaming to COVID to fewer studio releases. But this is a case study for any business leader: organizations can survive disruption by knowing what business you're really in, adapting the model around changing consumers, and holding onto the fundamentals that still create value.
Greg Marcus leads one of America’s largest theater circuits at a time when the entertainment business is being constantly disrupted. Streaming has changed consumer habits. The pandemic halted moviegoing altogether. Studios are releasing fewer films. Younger audiences are discovering movies differently. And theaters are being pushed to rethink everything from pricing and premium formats to loyalty programs, social media, concessions, customer data and the overall experience of going out.
In this episode, Greg joins Matt for a wide-ranging conversation on what it takes to lead a legacy business through major market disruption. He explains why movie theaters are still differentiated from at-home entertainment, why attendance still matters even as spending per patron rises, how proprietary data and AI could reshape the business, and why Marcus Theaters has leaned into everything from premium screens to TikTok to keep audiences engaged.
The conversation also gets into jazz, family business and the leadership principles that have guided The Marcus Corporation for nearly 90 years. Greg even shares lessons from his grandfather Ben Marcus. Get ready for a wild ride full of laughter, dad jokes, and valuable business lessons!
Resources in this Episode:
Visit Marcus Theaters
"The $50 Movie Ticket Has Arrived" - WSJ
Milwaukee Jazz Institute
Connect with Greg & Marcus Theaters on Social Media!
Instagram  |  Facebook  |  TikTok
Find more notes & resources on the episode page.
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On the eve of America 250, The TechEd Podcast steps away from its usual format to reflect on the American Dream, the values that built the nation, and the ideals that continue to bind us together.
In this special episode, Matt Kirchner revisits two of the greatest presidential speeches ever delivered: Ronald Reagan’s 1984 address at Pointe du Hoc, honoring the courage and sacrifice of the U.S. Army Rangers on D-Day, and John F. Kennedy’s 1962 Rice University speech, challenging America to go to the moon not because it was easy, but because it was hard.
One speech looks back on the blood and sacrifice that defended freedom. The other looks forward to the science, ambition and conviction required to advance it. Together, they reveal a shared American creed rooted in courage, righteousness, sacrifice, honor and belief in a future worth building.
This episode is a reflection on the values that have carried America for 250 years, and the responsibility of this generation to remember them, renew them and carry them forward.
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The Reagan and Kennedy speeches featured in this episode are public domain recordings sourced directly from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum.
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As chairman and CEO of USG Corporation, Bill Foote led one of the most remarkable Chapter 11 restructurings in American business — an achievement Warren Buffett called “the most successful managerial performance in bankruptcy that I’ve ever seen.”
Bill’s career spans some of the most respected institutions in American business and finance. He spent 27 years at USG Corporation, including 15 years as chief executive, where he helped more than double the company from roughly $2 billion to $5.6 billion at its peak. He also served as chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago during the financial crisis, held board roles with major companies including Kohler and Walgreens, and served on the board of his alma mater, Williams College.
In this episode, Bill joins Matt to unpack the leadership mindset behind a business strategy so effective it became a Harvard Business School case study. Learn about how leaders make decisions when the stakes are high, how they balance competing obligations, and how they keep an organization focused when the path forward is anything but simple.
Drawing on 50 years in business, Bill shares the leadership principles that guided his career, organized around three major themes: the fundamentals of leadership, leadership style and timing. From staying grounded while rising above problems, to understanding when collaboration matters more than consensus, to knowing when it is actually time to make a decision, this conversation offers a rare look at how great leaders think, lead and endure.
Get all 12 leadership lessons and more on the official show notes page!
🔗 https://techedpodcast.com/foote/
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A Wall Street Journal op-ed about the University of California’s SAT ban sparked a national conversation about college admissions, academic standards and whether students are arriving on campus ready for rigorous STEM coursework.
In this episode, Matt speaks with Svetlana Jitomirskaya, professor of mathematics at UC Berkeley and one of the faculty members behind an open letter calling on the University of California system to reinstate standardized testing. More than 1,500 faculty members have signed on, warning that test-blind admissions have masked severe preparation gaps among incoming students.
But this conversation is not really about one test. It’s about what happens when high school grades no longer signal readiness, when universities lose an objective baseline for admissions, and when students are placed into STEM programs without the math foundation they need to succeed.
Svetlana argues that removing the SAT was supposed to expand access, but in practice may be hurting the very students it was meant to help. Without a clear measure of readiness, students from underprepared K-12 systems can arrive at elite universities only to face remedial math, repeated calculus failures, major changes or the collapse of a STEM dream they were told they were ready to pursue.
For educators, employers and policymakers, the stakes are bigger than the SAT. This is a conversation about standards, equity, accountability and the future STEM talent pipeline.
Resources in this Episode:
Read the op ed in the Wall Street Journal: "The University of California Needs the SAT Back"
Read the official open letter to the UC Board of Regents
See more on the episode page: https://techedpodcast.com/svetlana/
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Smart manufacturing has moved past the pilot phase, and manufacturers that still treat AI and automation like side projects are running out of time.
Rockwell Automation Chairman and CEO Blake Moret joins us to talk about the next era of smart manufacturing: AI-enabled operations, digital twins, autonomous mobile robots, cybersecurity, factory modernization and the workforce needed to enable it.
Blake breaks down what Rockwell means by the “factory of the future,” including the company’s planned million-square-foot facility and the modernization of its existing manufacturing footprint. He explains why the future of automation starts with identifying manufacturing problems, not technology for technology’s sake, and why domain expertise still matters in an AI-driven world.
We also dig into Rockwell’s 11th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report, where AI and machine learning have moved to the top of manufacturers’ investment priorities. Blake shares what manufacturers are getting right, where they’re still vulnerable, and why U.S. companies need to adopt advanced technology “like they mean it” if they want to stay competitive globally.
From digital twins of production lines to the possibility of digitally modeling entire enterprises, this conversation offers a clear look at where manufacturing is headed, and what industry, education and workforce leaders need to do now to keep up.
3 Big Takeaways from this Episode:
1. Smart manufacturing has moved from experimentation to execution.
Rockwell’s $2 billion investment in plants, talent and digital infrastructure shows how seriously the company is modernizing its own operations. Blake explains how the planned New Berlin facility and upgrades to existing plants will use digital twins, mobile robots, MES software and edge data to improve customer service, efficiency and scalability.
2. AI is changing the way factories are designed, operated and improved.
Blake explains that AI and machine learning are simplifying automation by helping engineers design, commission, operate and maintain systems more efficiently. He also describes how digital twins and emulation can de-bottleneck production before physical equipment is running, and how those models could eventually extend beyond the plant floor into supply chain and financial forecasting.
3. U.S. manufacturers need to adopt technology like they mean it.
In discussing Rockwell’s State of Smart Manufacturing Report, Blake points to a sharp contrast between U.S. and Chinese approaches to external risk. His message to manufacturers is clear: advanced technology adoption cannot be a hobby, a pilot or a box to check. It has to become a real source of competitive advantage.
Resources in this Episode:
Read the 11th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report
Academy of Advanced Manufacturing (AAM) Program for Veterans
Rockwell Automation's planned 1-million-square-foot "factory of the future"
Find more resources on the episode page! https://techedpodcast.com/moret2/
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