S2E239: Why This 12-Year-Old Moved Across the Country for School (Part 1)

Alpha students Ella and Eva join MacKenzie to talk about their mental health app for teen girls, built as part of a school project- but that’s just the beginning. They dive into the unique ways Alpha emphasizes motivation models, including a system where students earn customized rewards for hitting academic goals. From building real-world tools to boosting confidence in and out of the classroom, this episode gives a front-row look at what happens when students take the lead.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Rourke, a 12-year-old student at Alpha, we dive deeper into what life is really like at school. 

In this episode, MacKenzie chats with Rourke, a 12-year-old Alpha student who moved from New York City to Austin, Texas to attend our flagship location of Alpha School. Rourke shares what her traditional school experience was like in Manhattan, what made her family choose Alpha, and how the two models compare from a student’s point of view.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Alpha dads, MacKenzie asks the dads to reflect on their biggest parenting wins, proud moments, and yes—their most memorable fails. They also share honest feedback about Alpha, what they love, and where they think there’s still room to grow. It’s a candid, thoughtful conversation about raising kids in a world that’s changing fast.

Blazify has over 3.6 million subscribers on YouTube—but he’ll be the first to tell you school didn’t teach him how to get there. In this episode, he opens up about growing up, how video games taught him real-life skills, and everything he had to learn outside the classroom to build his business. Now he’s branching out beyond YouTube, even launching his own chocolate product that’s sold in Walmart. This is a story about creativity, hustle, and rewriting the rules of success.

In this episode of Future of Education, MacKenzie sits down with Kendall Maynard—a small-town girl, straight-A student, and rising influencer with over 2 million followers on TikTok. Kendall shares how playing soccer shaped her discipline, why dreaming big matters even when you're from a tiny town, and how her sudden social media success has opened doors she never imagined. From work ethic to wild opportunities, this is a conversation about building a future that doesn’t follow the traditional playbook.

In this episode, MacKenzie sits down with three Alpha dads to hear why they chose a different path for their kids' education. They reflect on their own school experiences, what stood out about Alpha’s model, and how their children have grown since making the switch. From academics to confidence and independence, these dads open up about what really matters when choosing a school—and why alternative education is gaining traction.

In Part 2 of our conversation, MacKenzie sits down again with Alpha Guide Jawaan to explore how artificial intelligence is used inside the classroom at Alpha. They discuss how A.I. supports Alpha’s 2-Hour Learning model, what it can and can’t replace, and the evolving role of teachers in an A.I.-powered school. If you’ve ever wondered whether technology can take the place of a real educator, this episode offers key insight.

In this episode, MacKenzie is joined by Jawaan, a Guide at Alpha School. With years of experience teaching prior to joining Alpha as a Guide, Jawaan brings a powerful perspective on what’s broken in the education system—and what’s possible. He shares how Alpha’s model challenges conventional norms, what he’s learned from working inside a system designed to reinvent learning from the ground up, and the state of education as a whole.

In Part 2 of our conversation with NFL linebacker Demario Davis and his wife Tamela, we dive deeper into how life skills shape everything—from parenting to performing under pressure on the football field. They share how these lessons show up in their homeschool approach, their family life, and Demario’s career in the NFL.