The Next Class 2.0

Season 6 - Episode 9 - End of the year

Season 6 - Episode 8 - Fabrice Gautrat

This inspiring episode highlights leadership lessons relevant to school leaders: add outrageous value, build unparalleled environments, and meet people where they are. Coach Gautrat emphasizes clear vision, extreme owner

Season 6 - Episode 7 - Peter Stokes

The Future of Higher Education: What Catholic School Leaders Need to Know Higher education is confronting major demographic and financial challenges. This is essential information for Catholic school leaders advising stu

Season 6 - Episode 6- Steve Cheeseman

Join Rob Birdsell and Erin Barisano in an inspiring dialogue with Dr. Steve Cheeseman, President of NCEA. Dr. Cheeseman shares encouraging insights on the future of Catholic education, noting renewed hope and mission‑dri

Season 6 - Episode 5 - School Board best practices

Join this thought-provoking podcast as Erin Barisano talks with Catholic Education Services President Rob Birdsell and Kent Hickey on the transformative power of Catholic school boards. They explore why today’s governanc

Season 6 - Episode 5 - Board best practices

Join this thought-provoking podcast as Erin Barisano talks with Catholic Education Services President Rob Birdsell and Kent Hickey on the transformative power of Catholic school boards. They explore why today’s governanc

Season 6 - Episode 4 - John Reyes & Angela Mitchell

Join Rob Birdsell and Erin Barisano in this episode as they engage in a thought-provoking dialogue with John Reyes, Director of Research and Program Evaluation, and Angela Mitchell, Director of Leadership Formation Progr

Season 6 - Episode 3 - Brandon Jacobs

Join Rob Birdsell and Kent Hickey as they dive into a thought-provoking episode with Brandon Jacobs, Search Consultant at Carney, Sandoe & Associates, as they explore the ever-evolving landscape of leadership in private

Season 6 - Episode 2 - Marco Clark

In this episode, Dr. Erin Barisano and Rob Birdsell connect with Marco Clark to kick things off. The conversation explores what excites Marco most about college life and how he’s navigating this new chapter. Erin reflect

Season 6 - Pilot

Kicking off season 6 of The Next Class 2.0, host Robert Birdsell is joined by returning co-hosts Dr. Erin Barisano and Kent Hickey, along with new producer Carlos Cárdenas. This season introduces a refreshed format—each

Episode 11 - Ashling Preston

In this special unedited edition of The Next Class, hosts Rob Birdsell and Erin Barisano welcome Ashling Kelly Preston, Associate Director of Government Relations for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Recorded jus

Episode 10 - Kirsten Oates

In this episode of The Next Class, Rob Birdsell and Kent Hickey sit down with spiritual leadership coach Kirsten Oates. With a background spanning law, consulting, and executive strategy at the Center for Action and Cont

Episode 9 - Kerry Robinson

In this powerful episode, hosts Rob Birdsell and Erin Barisano sit down with Kerry Alys Robinson, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, to explore the vital role of faith, leadership, and service in today’s world.

Episode 8 - Jeff Thielman

In this episode of Next Class 2.0, hosts Rob Birdsell and Kent Hickey welcomes Jeff Thielman, President and CEO of the International Institute of New England. Jeff shares his unique journey from his Jesuit volunteer expe

Episode 7 - Ed Jennings

In this episode, hosts Rob Birdsell, and Kent Hickey sit down with Ed Jennings, CEO of Quick Base, for an insightful conversation about leadership, adaptability, and lifelong learning. The discussion covers the mindset a

Episode 6 - Lannie Davis

In this enlightening episode of The Next Class, hosts Rob Birdsell and Erin Barisano sit down with Lannie Davis, a trailblazer in inclusive education, to discuss her transformative work at the Julie Billiart Schools. Fro

Episode 5 - Lori Stanley

Join Rob Birdsell, Erin Barisano, and Lori Stanley in a thought-provoking discussion on faith and leadership in today’s world. From exploring Ignatian spirituality to leveraging technology for deeper connections, they sh

Episode 4 - Kelby Woodard

In this episode of The Next Class, hosts Rob Birdsell and Kent Hickey chat with Kelby Woodard, CEO of The Cristo Rey Network. From his start in corporate security to his unexpected pivot into politics and education, Kelb

Episode 3 - Fr. Belmonte & Dr. Rigg

In this insightful episode, host Rob Birdsell and co-host Dr. Erin Barisano engage with Dr. Jim Rigg and Fr. John Belmonte, superintendents from Miami and Sarasota. They explore Florida’s universal school choice and its

Episode 2 - Dan Porterfield

In this episode, Rob Birdsell, Kent Hickey, and Dan Porterfield explore the transformative power of education, diving into how mentorship and growth mindsets shape student success. They discuss Dan's new book, "Mindset M