Policymakers talk about solutions, but which ones really work? MDRC's Evidence First podcast features experts—program administrators, policymakers, and researchers—talking about the best evidence available on education and social programs that serve people with low incomes.
Evidence First
Claim This Podcastby MDRC
4.9(18 reviews)
74 episodes
Updated Bi-weekly
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
46
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality60
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement82
Podcast Overview
Policymakers talk about solutions, but which ones really work? MDRC's Evidence First podcast features experts—program administrators, policymakers, and researchers—talking about the best evidence available on education and social programs that serve people with low incomes.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/6/2015
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46
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality60
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement82
7
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2
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10
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excellent
Episode Length
22 minutes
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3.0/5
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Every 56 days
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Recent Episodes
June 18, 2026
The Role of Evidence in Ensuring Student Success: A Conversation with John B. King, Jr.
<p class="paragraph" style= "margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style= "font-family: 'Public Sans'; color: #212529;">Researchers and practitioners are shaping the future of education and social policy by putting data and research evidence at the center of their decisions. </span></p> <p class="paragraph" style= "margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style= "font-family: 'Public Sans'; color: #212529;"> </span></p> <p class="paragraph" style= "margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style= "font-family: 'Public Sans'; color: #212529;">In this episode, Leigh Parise talks with John B. King, Jr., chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), which is the largest comprehensive system of public higher education in the country. King previously served as the secretary of the U.S. Department of Education under President Obama, led the nonprofit organization EdTrust, and was education commissioner for the state of New York. King also serves on MDRC's Board of Directors.</span><span style= "font-family: 'Public Sans'; color: #212529;"> </span></p> <p><span style= "font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Public Sans'; mso-fareast-font-family: Aptos; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; color: #212529; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> King and Parise discuss the role of evidence in ensuring student success and the top challenges facing higher education today.</span></p>
May 26, 2026
Career and Technical Education in an Evolving World of Work
<p class="paragraph" style= "margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style= "font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;"> As the global economy has grown increasingly competitive, interest in career and technical education (CTE) has experienced a resurgence among policymakers and educators</span><span style= "font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;">as a way to</span><span style= "font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;">ensure that more students leave school prepared for well-paying jobs.</span><span style= "font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;"> </span></p> <p class="paragraph" style= "margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style= "font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"> </span></p> <p class="paragraph" style= "margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style= "font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;"> Innovative new programs at both the secondary and postsecondary education levels seek to give students technical training for specific careers, durable skills training to prepare them for the workforce, and work-based learning opportunities where they can get hands-on experience and develop connections to employers and the workforce.</span></p> <p class="paragraph" style= "margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style= "font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;"> </span></p> <p class="paragraph" style= "margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style= "font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;"> In this episode, Leigh Parise talks with</span> <a href= "https://members.careertech.org/contacts/kate-kreamer"><span style= "font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif;">Kate Kreamer</span></a><span style= "font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;">, Executive Director of Advance CTE, the national nonprofit that</span><span style= "font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;">represents</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; color: black;">state CTE directors and state leaders of career and technical education. They discuss how CTE has evolved, how it can meet the needs of learners in a changing labor market, and where more research is needed.</span></p>
April 28, 2026
Using Data and Evidence to Support Communities: A Conversation with Milton J. Little, Jr.
<p class="paragraph" style= "margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style= "font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; color: black;"> Using data and research evidence can help nonprofit and community-based organizations develop new programs, support existing ones, and advocate for more effective government investments. <br /></span><span style= "font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"><br /></span></p> <p class="paragraph" style= "margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style= "font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; color: black;"> In this episode, Leigh Parise talks with Milton J. Little Jr., President and CEO of the United Way of Greater Atlanta – one of the nation's largest United Ways, serving 13 counties in the Atlanta metro area. Little is a member of MDRC's Board of Directors, where he serves as treasurer.</span> <span style= "font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;"> <br /> <br /></span></p> <p class="paragraph" style= "margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style= "font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast; color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;"> Little and Parise discuss the importance of independent research and how using data and evidence can help community-based organizations improve the lives of the people they serve.</span></p>
74 total episodes available
Recent guests on Evidence First
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Shira Mattera
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John Martinez
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Evidence First?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates bi-weekly.
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This podcast is available on 9 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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