The Human Development Revolution: A Conversation with Thom Markham, Ph.D. | Benjamin Freud, Ph.D.

This is a particularly nourishing episode of the Meaningful Learning podcast by Coconut Thinking. Our guest is Dr. Thom Markham, considered one of the founding fathers of Project Based Learning. Thom Markham is an educator by trade, a positive psychologist by training, and a global entrepreneur dedicated to expanding educator mindsets in service to a positive future. This conversation is the first of I hope many amongst a nascent community of thinkers and doers who believe that we need to shift our values away from anthropocentrism toward biocentrism, toward purpose that benefits other living beings. We had the Agricultural Revolution, the Industrial Revolution… now it’s time for another revolution, one where humans develop beyond themselves. In this conversation, Thom and I discuss:

  • How the neuro-cognitive model we use is breaking down
  • Social Growth Mindset
  • Sustainability as the driving standard for learning and doing.

Join us for another episode of the Meaningful Learning podcast by Coconut Thinking.

Erratum: at the end I say “beyond ecocentrism” when I meant “buying anthropocentrism!” Sorry about the confusion.

Benjamin Freud, Ph.D.

Benjamin Freud, Ph.D. is the co-founder of Coconut Thinking, which creates learning and action experiences where all learners have a common purpose; positive impact on the welfare of the bio-collective — any living thing, sentient or plant, that has an interest in the healthfulness of the planet. Benjamin also works as the Whole School Leader of Learning and Teaching at an International School in Thailand. He was the Academic Coordinator at Misk Schools, which, as the school of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is the most prestigious and high profile school in the kingdom. In 2018-2019, he was also the Head of Upper Primary and Middle School at Misk. Prior to this, he was Vice Principal of the Middle School and High School at the Harbour School in Hong Kong. He holds a Ph.D. in History, an MSc in Education, an MBA, an MA in International Relations, and a BA in International Affairs. Benjamin was born and grew up in Paris, France. He moved to the U.S. when he was 15 and spent 11 years there in different cities, before living in the U.K., Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, and now Thailand. He started his career in consulting for Internet start-ups in Silicon Valley in the late 1990s, working with people whose ambitions were no less than to change the world. This experience had a profound effect on Benjamin’s outlook on education, innovation, and entrepreneurialism.

One thought on “The Human Development Revolution: A Conversation with Thom Markham, Ph.D. | Benjamin Freud, Ph.D.

  1. This was an amazing and uplifting conversation! Thank you, Drs. Freud and Markham! I will share and I look forward to connecting further somehow, as my vision of what needs to be done is rapidly shifting in ways that resonate with what I just heard on this podcast, but could never have articulated myself. Thank you again!

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