Moneyball Politics with Ted Dintersmith

Frogmore Stew

In this episode of Frogmore Stew, Grace welcomes Ted Dintersmith, a former venture capitalist turned education reformer and political activist. The conversation begins with a discussion on Ted's past experience in venture capital then transitions to Ted's focus on education reform, noting the outdated structure of current schools and the lack of essential skills being taught, especially in the age of AI. They touch on Ted's political engagement, including his support for Barack Obama and involvement in promoting state-level political candidates. The conversation wraps up with Ted's critiques on modern political fundraising, his initiative 'Moneyball Monday,' and the broader implications of education and political reform for a healthy democracy.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:09 Ted's Journey from Venture Capital to Education

02:17 The State of Education Today

03:31 The Role of Fact-Checking and Critical Thinking

04:06 Challenges in the Current Education System

04:56 The Impact of AI on Education

08:51 Ted's Transition into Politics

10:30 Involvement in Obama's Campaign

14:47 Insights from International Education Models

16:35 New Educational Initiatives in the US

18:49 The Importance of Political Engagement

22:01 Moneyball Monday: Strategic Political Funding

23:09 Challenges in Political Fundraising

30:36 The Need for State-Level Political Focus

35:08 The Influence of Big Money in Politics

36:53 Closing Thoughts and Inspirational Quotes

Copyright 2025 Grace Cowan

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