In this episode of Evidence in the Wild, Josh sits down with internationally recognized bonsai artist Ryan Neil, founder of Bonsai Mirai and the nonprofit One Tree Project, to explore an unexpected but powerful intersection of bonsai, youth development, and the psychology of measurement.

Bonsai is so much more than horticulture. It becomes a living metaphor for developmental science: slow growth, intentional shaping, environmental responsiveness, and the cultivation of potential over time. Curious to learn more? See how we are advancing learning and research at rockymountain-research.org

In this reflective and forward-looking conversation, Josh Stewart sits down with education researcher and entrepreneur David Blumenthal to unpack what 2025 meant for the research and evaluation community. Following mass federal layoffs and deep uncertainty across the education research sector, David shares how he navigated professional upheaval, transitioned into independent consulting, and ultimately founded a new AI-driven education technology company.

Together, Josh and David explore personal and nationwide resilience, and the widening gap between research and classroom practice. Explore David's project Eddie AI, a tool designed to assist educators in making better, evidence-based decisions.

Curious to learn more? See how we’re advancing learning and research at rockymountain-research.org

In this episode of Evidence in the Wild, Superintendent Michelle Miller and Director of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships Matthew Callison from South Fayette Township School District unpack how meaningful research and development can thrive inside a public school system, without massive budgets or rigid frameworks. South Fayette’s “little bets” approach of small, low-risk micro-experiments led by teachers and school leaders to test new ideas before scaling them district-wide. Rather than relying solely on traditional metrics, the district looks to student engagement, enrollment choices, and participation as key indicators of success. Curious to learn more? See how we’re advancing learning and research at rockymountain-research.org