{"podcast":{"title":"The Signal","slug":"the-signal-7024065","podcast_index_feed_id":7024065,"rss_url":"https://feeds.castos.com/4xqr8","website_url":"https://edtechconnect.castos.com","image_url":"https://episodes.castos.com/66cf7b74d67cb0-47099354/images/podcast/covers/c1a-mp079-qd154xrxu74q-t9z0us.jpg","author":"Jeff Dillon","episode_count":96,"summary":"With more than 450,000 downloads, The Signal is the definitive podcast for higher education’s transformation leaders. Hosted by Jeff Dillon, The Signal cuts through the noise of the \"status quo\" to bring you the strategic intelligence needed to reshape how institutions recruit, support, and retain students. Every Friday, we sit down with the practitioners and technology builders who are actively defining the next decade of campus life. Why Higher Ed Leaders Listen: In one of the most consequential periods for academia, we move past the hype to focus on Human-Centered Innovation. Our episodes feature deep-dive interviews with guest experts focusing on the \"real work\" of institutional evolution. Core Topics & AI Strategy: * Artificial Intelligence: Practical AI adoption, governance, and the \"Human in the Loop\" mindset. * Enrollment Marketing: Modern recruitment strategies and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization). * Student Success: Data-driven retention, mental health, and digital engagement. * Institutional Transformation: Navigating digital transformation with a focus on workforce readiness and AVPs reimagining student care. Whether you are a C-suite leader, IT Director, or Facult…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-17T20:20:41.808526+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-signal-7024065"},"episode":{"title":"Ep. 77 - Stephen Laster: From Harvard to Panopto -  Scaling EdTech That Matters","slug":"ep-77-stephen-laster-from-harvard-to-panopto-scaling-edtech-that-matters","published_at":"2026-03-06T09:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-signal-7024065/ep-77-stephen-laster-from-harvard-to-panopto-scaling-edtech-that-matters","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-signal-7024065","url":"https://edtechconnect.castos.com/episodes/ep-77-stephen-laster-from-harvard-to-panopto-scaling-edtech-that-matters","audio_url":"https://episodes.castos.com/66cf7b74d67cb0-47099354/2351695/c1e-7o408fvqqpvbd2dnp-0v944230cz6d-savmbr.mp3","summary":"Stephen Laster is the CEO of Panopto and a veteran leader in digital education whose career spans Harvard Business School, McGraw-Hill, D2L, and Ellucian. Stephen shares how his own experience as a dyslexic learner—and an early adopter of the Apple II—shaped his lifelong mission to use technology to make learning more accessible and human. He unpacks what it truly means to be a “human-centered AI-first” platform, how Panopto is using AI to extend—not replace—the learning community, and why interoperability and focus are more critical than ever in edtech. From navigating institutional change to fostering a culture of smart risk-taking, Stephen offers a candid look at the patterns, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of teaching and corporate training. Whether you’re leading digital transformation, building learning tools, or thinking about how to scale knowledge in a rapidly changing world, this conversation is packed with wisdom from the front lines. Key Takeaways Technology as an Accessibility Lifeline – Stephen’s dyslexia led him to an Apple II in 1981, where he built his own spell checker and word processor. This personal experience cemented his belief that technology should empower learners by removing barriers, not creating them. Human-Centered AI Expands Community, Not Replaces It – Panopto’s AI strategy focuses on automating time-consuming tasks (summarization, translation, generating knowledge checks) to give time back to instructors and learners—strengthening human connection rather than substituting it. Interoperability Is Non-Negotiable – Seamless LMS integration and open ecosystems are essential for adoption. Panopto’s success is rooted in making technology “fade into the background” so teaching and learning can take center stage. Institutional…","meta_description":"Stephen Laster is the CEO of Panopto and a veteran leader in digital education whose career spans Harvard Business School, McGraw-Hill, D2L, and Ellucian.…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1516,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-signal-7024065/episodes/ep-77-stephen-laster-from-harvard-to-panopto-scaling-edtech-that-matters/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-signal-7024065/ep-77-stephen-laster-from-harvard-to-panopto-scaling-edtech-that-matters.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}