A podcast that gets to the heart of schools in California and beyond, bringing you the personal stories behind the headlines, from preschool to college. Join the team at EdSource each week to hear the voices that are too often drowned out in the broader conversation: parents, teachers, and the students themselves.
Five years ago in 2021, EdSource launched Education Beat for the first time. Today, we say goodbye. This will be the final episode. Over the years, we've aimed to bring you personal stories of students, teachers, parents — regular people who bring EdSource stories alive by showing how education policy affects their lives.
In this final episode, editor-at-large John Fensterwald interviews Zaidee Stavely about the essence of Education Beat and what she aimed to accomplish, and we share some of the most memorable moments of the podcast over the years.
Guests:
John Fensterwald, editor-at-large, EdSource
Zaidee Stavely, Education Beat podcast host
Coby McDonald, Education Beat podcast producer
Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.
Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube
20 Aug 2026
The long road to college graduation for one immigrant family
On a sweltering hot day at UC Merced in May 2025, three siblings crossed the stage in blue gowns and caps, to receive their diplomas. Watching with pride from the audience were their mother, father and younger sister.
This moment, with all of them celebrating together, was the culmination of years of struggle, dedication, and overcoming the challenges of a family navigating the U.S. immigration system.
This episode is a peek back at the Ruiz Gutiérrez family, who was featured on one of our very first episodes in 2021, after their college dreams were temporarily derailed when their dad was forced to remain in Mexico after being denied a green card. Here's how they got back on track.
Guests:
José Luis Ruiz Arévalos
Armanda Ruiz
Elena Gutiérrez Ramírez
Nathan Gutiérrez Ramírez
Ignacio Gutiérrez Ramírez
Priscila Ruiz Ramírez
Listen to past episodes about the Ruiz Gutiérrez family:
A family separated and their education derailed
Family reunited after four years separated by immigration policy
Read more from EdSource:
How immigration policy forced a California family apart and disrupted their education
Family reunited after four years separated by Trump-era immigration policy
Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.
Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube
13 Aug 2026
Kids and teens turn to AI for emotional support
Liliana Messinger was in fourth grade when she first turned to an AI chatbot for help with panic attacks. Over the years, she turned to AI again and again.
For a growing number of teenagers, AI chatbots have become a first stop when things get tough, in part because of the shortage of mental health therapists and counselors in schools.
This episode of Education Beat is a sneak preview of a special project about teenagers’ use of AI for mental health support.
Guests:
Liliana Messinger, high school graduate
Mallika Seshadri, reporter, EdSource
Education Beat is a weekly podcast hosted by EdSource’s Zaidee Stavely and produced by Coby McDonald.
Subscribe: Apple, Spotify, SoundCloud, YouTube
Who has been a guest on Education Beat
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Cristian Reyes
Michael Burke
Rosa Lopez
Miguel Lopez
Laura Brown
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
20 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 45 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
56
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
85
Contact Education Beat
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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