Edtech Insiders
Edtech Insiders
Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell
Why Edtech Needs Less Hype and More Honesty with Tony Wan & Betsy Corcoran
50 minutes Posted Aug 24, 2026 at 12:00 pm.
The origins of EdSurge and the need for an edtech “water cooler.”
Why teacher-turned-founders deserve a bigger voice in the tech backlash.
Starting with the “why” instead of treating technology as the solution.
Tony on the legitimate concerns around screen time and edtech.
Betsy on why edtech needs more honesty about what doesn’t work.
Why humility and learning from failure matter in edtech.
Tony on where AI can genuinely add value in education.
Betsy on the questions edtech should keep asking: Why, when, and when not to use technology.
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Show notes
Send us Fan Mail Tony Wan is Head of Platform at Reach Capital and co-founder and former managing editor of EdSurge. Betsy Corcoran is a writer, speaker, serial entrepreneur, and co-founder of EdSurge who explores AI and learning through her work and podcast, Future Fluent. 💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode: How EdSurge helped shape the early edtech ecosystem.Why edtech needs more honest and nuanced storytelling.What the tech backlash gets right and where it misses the bigger picture.Wh...