Episode 48: Redefining Excellence and Equity in Education

About this episode

In this episode, Ryan Lo interviews Dr. Richard Weissbourd about redefining excellence and equity in education.

In this episode, I talked with director of Harvard's Making Caring Common, Dr. Richard Weissbourd. Focused on developing empathy and a sense of justice in children, while reframing how adults perceive student success, Dr. Weissbourd explained both how quality educational institutions are often privileges and that with such academic pressures, students often feel overstressed. In his work to improve the educational experience for students in multiple ways, Dr. Weissbourd demonstrated Making Caring Common's range of programs, from focusing college admission culture on quality over quantity, to ensuring all students have adult role models in their lives. As a graduating senior myself, our conversation enlightened me on the role education is meant to play in our lives versus how it often pans out. Tune in now to learn more!

People in this episode

Host: Ryan Lo

Guest: Dr. Richard Weissbourd

Topics covered

• education
• empathy
• student success
• academic pressure
• role models

Keywords

• education
• empathy
• student success
• academic pressure
• role models
• Harvard
• Making Caring Common

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Harvard's Making Caring Common

More episodes of A Change is a Chance

• Episode 47: Dispelling Disinformation and Building Power Among Youth · December 1, 2025 · 30 min
• Episode 46: Inspiring Empathy and Persistence through the Language of Music · October 27, 2025 · 28 min
• Episode 45: Uncovering the Human Within American Homelessness · September 17, 2025 · 36 min
• Episode 44: Creating Hope and Action to Protect American Democracy · July 12, 2025 · 51 min
• Episode 43: Uncovering Corporate Lies, Climate Justice, and Colonialism · May 2, 2025 · 32 min
• Episode 42: Exploring Education and Childcare Equity · April 5, 2025 · 32 min