Dr. Laura Scherck Wittcoff welcomes Dr. Leah Hanes, CEO of Two-Bit Circus Foundation, to discuss how hands-on, experiential learning is transforming education for students across Los Angeles and beyond. After 13 years leading the organization, Dr. Hanes shares her personal journey from a student labeled a "slow learner" due to undiagnosed dyslexia to becoming a passionate advocate for reimagining how we teach creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. The conversation explores the Foundation's innovative programs—STEAM Labs, Makerspaces, STEAM Carnivals, and immersive learning experiences—all designed to make education engaging and accessible regardless of economic background.

A core theme throughout the episode is the failure of traditional, lecture-based education to engage modern learners. Dr. Hanes emphasizes that students retain only 10% of what they read after two weeks, while learning skyrockets when knowledge is applied to real projects. She advocates for "doing, not sitting"—flipping classrooms to spend 40 minutes making and 10 minutes talking, rather than the reverse. The episode also tackles timely issues like AI in education (which Dr. Hanes sees as an assistive technology when used ethically), the $25 billion annual cost of standardized testing with minimal educational value, and the power of collaborative group work to build empathy and real-world readiness.

Dr. Hanes shares compelling stories, including a young artist who discovered she could become an engineer through a STEAM project and went on to UC Berkeley on a full scholarship—the first in her family to attend university. She also discusses the Foundation's "Trash for Teaching" initiative, which has diverted over 900 tons of manufacturers' clean waste from landfills, giving schools free creative materials while providing companies tax benefits. The Foundation recently opened a 13,000 sq. ft. warehouse and is planning to expand its teacher training programs, partner with local universities, and scale the Trash for Teaching model globally.

Key Takeaways

* Education should prioritize doing over sitting. Hands-on, project-based learning dramatically improves retention and student engagement.
* Collaboration builds empathy and strength. Group work mirrors real-world environments and allows students to discover their unique strengths.
* Creative materials (not kits) foster invention. Open-ended "trash" encourages students to become designers and engineers, not 'instruction-followers'.
* Teachers need to experience joyful learning themselves. Professional development that models creativity and fun transforms how teachers approach their classrooms.
* Scaling innovation requires partnership. Two-Bit Circus Foundation's umbrella model brings together complementary nonprofits to reach more students sustainably.

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Resources & Links

Small & Gutsy Podcast
https://www.smallandgutsy.org

Two-Bit Circus Foundation
https://twobitcircus.org