The Learning Future Podcast with Louka Parry

In a world increasingly driven by technology, Isabelle Hau emphasizes a shift back to what makes us truly human: our relational abilities. During her conversation with Louka Parry on the Learning Future Podcast, Isabelle champions the idea of relational intelligence, arguing that the future of education and work will hinge on our capacity to connect, collaborate, and navigate complex social landscapes.

In this episode of the Learning Future Podcast, Louka Parry connects with Guy Claxton and Emily Poel, authors of Bodies of Learning: How Embodiment Science Transforms Education. Their conversation dives deep into the relationship between our physical selves and the learning process, shedding light on how embodiment can reshape our understanding of intelligence and education. Guy challenges the tendency to equate intelligence with intellect alone. He argues for a broader understanding of intelligence that includes movement, perception, emotion, intuition, physical experience and action — what he and Emily describe as the body-mind. Emily brings a practical lens to embodiment — particularly the importance of reconnecting with our own experience, noticing the body, creating space for reflection, and allowing learners and educators to experiment with what helps them learn.

In this episode, Louka Parry speaks with architect, urban designer and author Danish Kurani about the powerful but often overlooked role of physical space in shaping how we think, feel and learn. From classrooms and homes to supermarkets and cities, Danish argues that design is never neutral. It influences behaviour, wellbeing, creativity and connection in ways we rarely notice until we learn to see it. Together, they explore what great learning environments require, why flexible furniture alone is not enough, and how educators, leaders and parents can become more intentional designers of the spaces that shape human flourishing.

In this episode of The Learning Future Podcast, Louka Parry speaks with Andreas Schleicher, Director for Education and Skills at the OECD, about the changing purpose of education in an age of AI, uncertainty and rapid technological change. Together, they explore how technology is shifting from being merely a tool to something that challenges what it means to be human. Andreas reflects on both the promise and risk of AI in education: its capacity to free teachers from routine tasks and personalise learning, but also its tendency to encourage cognitive offloading, weaken social connection and erode essential human capabilities if used poorly. Louka and Andreas also discuss the changing role of teachers, not as content deliverers, but as mentors, designers of learning environments and builders of human connection. Drawing on examples from high-performing systems such as Estonia, Andreas highlights the importance of teacher professionalism, collaborative culture, student belonging and a more intentional design of schools as social spaces.

In this episode, Louka Parry is joined by Justin Reich, Associate Professor of Digital Media at MIT and Director of the MIT Teaching Systems Lab, for a thoughtful conversation about AI, schooling and the future of learning. Together, they explore how generative AI is disrupting familiar classroom practices, why friction and productive struggle still matter deeply for learning, and how schools can respond when there is no clear “best practice” to follow. Justin argues that educators should be cautious of easy answers and instead listen closely to students and teachers, run local experiments, and assess what is actually improving learning rather than just performance. The conversation also dives into assessment, agency, cognition, technology’s mixed record in education, and the importance of humility in a time of rapid change. It’s a rich and grounded discussion about uncertainty, experimentation, and what schools should hold onto as they navigate an AI-shaped future.