In this episode, Seth and Lauren interview Harben Porter and KK Neimann from World Savvy, an education nonprofit focused on embedding global competence into teaching and learning. They discuss the concept of global competence and the importance of mindset shift in education. The guests explain how global competence is not just about geographic knowledge, but also about the skills and dispositions needed to navigate a diverse and interconnected world. They emphasize the need for a shift in teaching approach, moving away from a focus on content and compliance towards student-centered, project-based learning. The guests also address challenges and pushback in implementing this approach and provide advice for teachers in traditional systems. They highlight the importance of humility and curiosity in fostering a mindset for lifelong learning. Overall, the conversation explores the transformative potential of global competence in preparing students for a complex and ever-changing world.TakeawaysGlobal competence is about the skills and dispositions needed to navigate a diverse and interconnected world.A shift in teaching approach is necessary, moving from content-focused education to student-centered, project-based learning.Implementing a mindset shift in the classroom requires teachers to decenter themselves and create relevant learning experiences.Maintaining a mindset shift in the face of turnover requires building a collaborative school community and supporting new teachers.Teachers can bring about change in traditional systems by advocating for professional learning opportunities and engaging in conversations with school leaders.Humility and curiosity are essential to fostering a mindset for lifelong learning and preparing students for a complex world.Guest links:https://worldsavvy.org/Co-Host Links:Seth FleischauerFounder and President of Banyan Global LearningLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-fleischauer/Website: https://banyangloballearning.com/Lauren PintoCofounder of Ambitious Ed, Educational Technology SpecialistLinked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-s-pinto/Website: https://www.ambitioused.com/
In this episode, Seth and Lauren interview Harben Porter and KK Neimann from World Savvy, an education nonprofit focused on embedding global competence into teaching and learning. They discuss the concept of global competence and the importance of mindset shift in education. The guests explain how global competence is not just about geographic knowledge, but also about the skills and dispositions needed to navigate a diverse and interconnected world. They emphasize the need for a shift in teaching approach, moving away from a focus on content and compliance towards student-centered, project-based learning. The guests also address challenges and pushback in implementing this approach and provide advice for teachers in traditional systems. They highlight the importance of humility and curiosity in fostering a mindset for lifelong learning. Overall, the conversation explores the transformative potential of global competence in preparing students for a complex and ever-changing world.
Takeaways
Guest links:
https://worldsavvy.org/
Co-Host Links:
Seth Fleischauer
Founder and President of Banyan Global Learning
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seth-fleischauer/
Website: https://banyangloballearning.com/
Lauren Pinto
Cofounder of Ambitious Ed, Educational Technology Specialist
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-s-pinto/
Website: https://www.ambitioused.com/
Make It Mindful: Insights for Global Learning is a podcast for globally minded educators who want deep, long-form conversations about how teaching and learning are changing — and what to do about it.
Hosted by former classroom teacher and Banyan Global Learning founder Seth Fleischauer, the show explores how people, cultures, technologies, cognitive processes, and school systems shape what happens in classrooms around the world. Each long-form episode looks closely at the conditions that help students and educators thrive — from executive functioning and identity development to virtual learning, multilingual education, global competence, and the rise of AI.
Seth talks with teachers, researchers, psychologists, and school leaders who look closely at how students understand themselves, build relationships, and develop the capacities that underlie deep learning — skills like perspective-taking, communication, and global competence that are essential for navigating an interconnected world. These conversations surface the kinds of cross-cultural experiences and hard-to-measure abilities that shape real achievement. Together, they consider how to integrate new technologies in ways that strengthen—not replace—the human center of learning.
The result is a set of ideas, stories, and practical strategies educators can apply to help students succeed in a complex and fast-changing world.