The EdisonOS Podcast

Hosted by EdisonOS

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Episodes

326

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Insights and Strategies on Standardized tests to improve student's scores. Join us as we explore proven test prep methodologies through the eyes of top tutors, score improvement specialists, and industry leaders. Each week, we'll bring you in-depth interviews with experts from across the globe as they share their strategies for driving real score gains, navigating question quality standards, leveraging digital tools, and adapting to the evolving college admissions landscape. From mastering targeted skill development for student progress to keeping parents updated in test prep!

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60 recent

July 10, 2026Episode 33050 min

Episode 330 | Doug Poggioli | Learn Locus | Part 2 | The EdisonOS Podcast

In this episode, Doug, an experienced AP math tutor, shares how leaving classroom teaching behind led him to a more fulfilling one on one tutoring practice where he could focus entirely on working directly with students across a wide range of math subjects. Drawing from years of private tutoring experience, Doug explains why the students who excel at AP are not just technically skilled but adaptable, reading carefully, thinking flexibly, and knowing when to reach for a graph instead of an equation.He discusses the three core approaches every AP Calculus student needs, graphical, numerical, and algebraic, and why students who rely on only one method tend to struggle even when they have reached the AP level. He also shares what a tutor can and cannot realistically do, being clear that a tutor can pinpoint weak spots and guide the work but cannot replace the consistent effort and time a student must put in on their own.

July 5, 2026Episode 32941 min

Episode 329 | Megan Padden | O.W.L. Educational Services | Part 2 | The EdisonOS Podcast

In this episode, Megan Padden, owner and founder of O.W.L. Educational Services, reveals about what the PSAT really measures and how families should use it as a readiness tool for the SAT rather than a scholarship checkpoint. Megan explains common early mistakes students make, why practice matters even when a score won't count toward admissions, and how the right age to start prep often comes down to a student's math background. She breaks down which skills matter most for PSAT success, why students trained to read every word in school struggle with pacing on test day, and how she diagnoses whether a student needs content repair or strategy coaching.The conversation also covers building a realistic study routine, interpreting rescores without overreacting, which AP subjects reward deeper understanding over memorization, balancing multiple AP preps without burnout, how digital testing has changed preparation, lingering learning gaps from the COVID era, and why strong academic students can still underperform on standardized tests due to testing anxiety.

June 30, 2026Episode 32827 min

Episode 328 | Dan Marlin | Galin Education | Part 2 | The EdisonOS Podcast

In this episode, Dan, Test Prep Director at Galin Education, breaks down why the PSAT is low stakes, low risk, and often misunderstood, with most students simply not knowing what it is or what it can offer rather than misunderstanding it outright. He explains the score ranges that signal real National Merit potential, around 28 to 29 and above on the ACT or 1350 and higher on the SAT, and why prepping for the PSAT looks almost identical to SAT prep given how closely aligned the two tests have become.He discusses how the section adaptive format works in practice, why getting students into the harder second module is the real key to a top score, and shares his honest take on the new digital ACT, including why he still recommends paper and pencil over computer for students who have the choice, and what the ACT still needs to catch up to where the SAT's digital platform already stands.

June 27, 2026Episode 32743 min

Episode 327 | Rhea Wanchoo | M&W Education | Part 2 | The EdisonOS Podcast

In this episode, Rhea Wanchoo, co-founder of M&W Education, shares how her background in academic psychology shaped a company built at the intersection of test prep, college admissions, and student confidence. Drawing from her experience working with students through high school and into the college transition, Rhea explains why effort alone is never enough and why the biggest gap she sees is not hard work but the absence of structure, clear feedback, and a personalized system.She discusses how the computer adaptive format of the digital PSAT triggers a different psychological reaction than the old paper based test, why high GPA students still struggle on test day due to anxiety and poor simulation of real conditions, and shares why she considers the overwhelmed student the hardest to help, not the underprepared one, because stress blocks execution even when the ability is fully there.

June 22, 2026Episode 32651 min

Episode 326 | Michael Scheller | Astute Academics | Part 2 | The EdisonOS Podcast

In this episode, Michael Scheller, an experienced test prep coach, shares his direct and no-nonsense perspective on PSAT and AP preparation, explaining why he believes prepping specifically for the PSAT is a waste of resources and why strong SAT prep naturally covers it. Drawing from tens of thousands of hours working with students across New Jersey and Connecticut, Michael breaks down how cutoff scores, state testing requirements, and AP placement policies vary dramatically by district and why knowing your school is the single most important rule.He discusses the dangers of overloading on AP courses, sharing a real student story where jumping from one AP to five led to a downward spiral that was only reversed by scaling back, and warns families against blindly following advice from social media, reminding listeners that what works in one state can be completely irrelevant in a highly competitive market like New Jersey or Massachusetts.

June 18, 2026Episode 32552 min

Episode 325 | Charles (CJ) Palma Jr | CJ101 Tutoring | Part 2 | The EdisonOS Podcast

In this episode, CJ Palma, founder of CJ101 Tutoring, shares how his unique background in marine science, computer science, and psychology shapes his approach to teaching AP Environmental Science, and how growing up as a second generation American informs the empathy driven strategies he brings to test prep. Drawing from his own academic and entrepreneurial journey, CJ explains why building resilience in students matters just as much as the score itself.He discusses common misconceptions students have about the digital and adaptive PSAT, including how to handle the emotional reaction to a tougher second module, the careless calculator errors he sees most often, and why he believes consistent quality study time matters more than cramming, while also reminding students that what they take away from this process goes far beyond the test score.

June 17, 2026Episode 3241 hr 13 min

Episode 324 | Philip Bates | UWorld | Part 2 | The EdisonOS Podcast

In this episode, Philip Bates, who leads college readiness at UWorld, reveals how the digital and adaptive shift in the PSAT and AP exams is reshaping test prep and what it will take for these exams to stay relevant in a test optional world. Drawing from his work with school districts nationwide, Philip explains why teaching content alone isn't enough, students also need to be taught executive function skills like how to study, write effective essays, and use tools such as the embedded Desmos calculator.He discusses the importance of using PSAT and AP data to find curriculum gaps rather than just piling on more practice questions, and shares why successful rollout of resources like UWorld depends on building teacher buy in early, training school leaders the spring before launch, and being ready to fix problems quickly when something doesn't go smoothly.

May 1, 2026Episode 32354 min

Episode 323 | Eliza Kimball | Crimson Connections LLC | The EdisonOS Podcast

In this episode, Eliza Kimball, founder of Crimson Connections LLC, shares how she launched her tutoring company during her senior year of high school in 2020 and has since built it into a full-time venture connecting Ivy League students with high schoolers. Drawing from her own experience as an overachieving student at Harvard, Eliza explains why she targets seventh and eighth graders, believing that real impact comes from building character, critical thinking, and genuine passion over years, not just improving grades.She discusses her student-to-student mentorship model, her belief that AI can be a powerful homework aid and exam prep tool but should never replace human mentorship, and shares why she recruits tutors not just for academic expertise but for personality, authentic curiosity, and the ability to truly connect with kids.

April 22, 2026Episode 32242 min

Episode 322 | Dr. Emily Levy | EBL Coaching | The EdisonOS Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Emily Levy, founder of EBL Coaching, shares how growing up around her mother's school for students with learning disabilities in Florida shaped her path from Wall Street back into special education. Drawing from her doctorate and years of hands-on experience, Emily explains how a multi-sensory approach, integrating visual, auditory, and tactile methods, can be life-changing for students with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning differences.She discusses how pandemic learning gaps are still showing up today, particularly in students who missed early foundational skills in reading and math, and shares why she now sees a diagnosis not as a label but as a gift that unlocks the right tools and resources for a child to thrive.

April 22, 2026Episode 32141 min

Episode 321 | Gabe Futrell | Principal | The EdisonOS Podcast

In this episode, Gabe Futrell, principal of Bill Metz Elementary in Monte Vista, Colorado, shares how over 15 years in one rural school community has shaped his approach to leadership. Drawing from more than two decades in education, Gabe explains how a love for small towns and the mountains first brought him to the San Luis Valley and why the people around him have kept him there.He discusses the IE Time intervention model his school adopted just before COVID, targeting every student with daily small group reading and math support, and shares how sticking with that approach through and after the pandemic drove significant academic growth. He also reflects on the challenges of high poverty, the importance of distributive leadership, and why saying no to good ideas is sometimes the only way to become great at the right ones.