Joining the Dots

Season 2, Episode 3 - Unlocking Estonia's E-Residency Success, Skills & Education with Liina Vahtras

In this conversation, Liina Vahtras, the managing director of Estonia's e-residency program, discusses the evolution and impact of the program on entrepreneurship and the digital economy in Estonia with Al Kingsley and Matt Jessop. She highlights the innovations being implemented to streamline the application process, the unique digital ecosystem of Estonia, and the importance of aligning education with the needs of a digital economy. The conversation also touches on the role of AI in education, data ownership, and the challenges faced by young Estonians entering the workforce.

Some of our key takeaways

• Estonia has over 130,000 e-residents from 185 countries.
• E-residents have created close to 38,000 companies in Estonia.
• The e-residency program aims to cut application time from two months to two weeks.
• Estonia's digital ecosystem is unique due to its fully digitized government services.
• The country has no corporate tax on reinvested profits, attracting startups.
• Education in Estonia is adapting to include AI and digital skills.
• Parents can choose additional courses for their children, including coding and robotics.
• Trust in technology is built on data ownership and transparency.
• Estonia's small size allows for quick decision-making and innovation.
• The e-residency program encourages international collaboration and learning.

 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Estonia's E-Residency Program
00:56 Innovations in E-Residency and Future Developments
02:31 The Impact of E-Residency on Startups and Entrepreneurs
05:33 The Unique Estonian Digital Ecosystem
09:57 Aligning Education with a Digital Economy
13:00 The Role of AI in Education and Digital Skills
18:45 Data Ownership and Trust in Technology
22:00 Challenges and Opportunities for Young Estonians
27:02 Final Thoughts and Resources for Interested Entrepreneurs

Season 2, Episode 2 - Navigating AI Safely: Protecting Our Children with Tara Steele

In this conversation, Al Kingsley, Matt Jessop and Tara Steele discuss the urgent need for safeguards in the use of AI by children. They explore the dangers of AI companions, the role of AI in education, and the importance of regulation and governance.

The conversation emphasises the necessity of educating children about AI, the risks of emerging technologies, and the challenges of keeping up with rapid AI development. They also highlight the need for regulatory safeguards and how individuals can get involved with the Safe AI for Children Alliance.

 

Our key takeaways

• Children need to be taught how to use AI ethically and safely.
• AI companions pose significant risks to children under 18.
• The dangers of AI include misinformation and harmful advice.
• Education on AI should be a priority in schools.
• Cyberbullying is exacerbated by AI technologies.
• Small language models may offer safer alternatives in education.
• Regulation of AI is crucial for child safety.
• Companies often delay implementing safeguards until after harm occurs.
• Long-term thinking is necessary for AI governance.
• Getting involved with organisations like Safe AI for Children Alliance is important. 

Find out more about "The Safe AI For Children Alliance" from here www.safeaiforchildren.org

Season 2, Episode 1- Empowering Education: The Role of Character and Mindset with Baasit Siddiqui

In this engaging conversation, Baasit Siddiqui discusses with hosts of the "Joining the Dots Podcast" Matt Jessop and Al Kingsley about his extensive experience in education and the importance of character education, mindset, and the seven Cs. He emphasises the need for project-based learning and collaboration between schools and businesses to better prepare students for the future. The discussion also touches on the challenges facing the education system, the role of technology, and the importance of courage and curiosity in both students and educators.

Takeaways

Baasit Siddiqui has over 20 years of experience in education.
Character and mindset are increasingly important in the AI age.
The seven Cs include curiosity, creativity, collaboration, compromise, communication, community, and courage.
Project-based learning can help bridge the gap between education and industry.
Technology should be integrated into education to enhance learning.
Collaboration between schools and local businesses can provide valuable resources.
Teachers need to feel empowered to innovate within the education system.
Courage is essential for both students and educators to thrive.
Education should focus on developing the whole child, not just academic skills.
Curiosity and reflection are key to effective teaching and learning.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Baasit Siddiqui and His Journey
00:45 The Role of Education in Today's Society
03:11 The Importance of Character and Mindset
06:07 The Seven Cs of Education
09:28 Project-Based Learning and Inclusivity
11:31 Balancing Foundational Skills with Modern Learning
14:42 The Digital Divide and Educational Equity
17:14 Technology's Role in Education
21:50 Collaboration Between Schools and Industry
22:57 Navigating the EdTech Landscape
29:02 Challenges in the Education System
38:11 The Role of Courage in Education

Episode 18 with Richard O'Neil

Joining the Dots Podcast with Richard O’Neill MBE on Storytelling, Skills & Resilience

Al Kingsley and Matt Jessop interview Richard O’Neill MBE – Author, master storyteller, founder of Lumberjunkers, visiting professor at Durham, campaigner for men’s health.

 

🔑 Episode Highlights:

• Storytelling as the heart of communication:
  Richard shares how his Romany upbringing shaped his love of oral storytelling and literacy. He argues that storytelling develops oracy, confidence, and resilience—vital human “soft” skills often overlooked in education and business.

• Woodwork + Word work = Learning through making:
  His Lumberjunkers project combines woodworking with storytelling. Children build physical items (like shelves or mirrors), developing pride, persistence, teamwork, and creativity. It’s particularly impactful for girls and students who don’t always shine in traditional classrooms.

• Storytelling in business and digital age:
  Richard explains how storytelling makes data and business pitches more relatable and memorable, as well as how it helps children critically evaluate narratives in our information-rich, tech-driven world—an important element of digital citizenship.

• Useful tech vs. gadgets:
  All three agree technology should serve a clear purpose rather than being used for its own sake. Human connection and practical skills remain key in an increasingly digital society.

• Broadening the curriculum:
  Discussion about how narrowing education to core subjects sidelines creativity, arts, and practical skills—areas that foster resilience, innovation, and career pathways in creative industries.

• Mental health & initiative:
  Richard recounts how he founded National Men’s Health Week, stressing the importance of taking initiative and showing children they can lead change in their communities.

• Hybrid learning & flexibility:
  Richard draws parallels with nomadic communities who’ve embraced hybrid learning for decades, suggesting schools could learn from this model to support experiential education.

 

🎯 3 things Richard would put in Room 101:

1. Paperwork/data nobody ever looks at.

2. Overly rigid systems that restrict teacher and student agency.

3. “Useless” tech that serves no real learning purpose.

 

✨ Memorable Quote:

“Storytelling isn’t just a skill; it’s the beating heart of human connection. Stories build resilience, empathy, and pride—and help us make sense of our world.”

Episode 17 with Bianca Farthing

🎙️ Joining the Dots: Challenging the Rhetoric of AI in Education with Bianca Farthing 

In this thought-provoking episode of Joining the Dots, Al and Matt are joined by Bianca, founder of AI Edify, history teacher, and digital leader — to explore how education can rise above the hype of AI and technology to truly serve learners.

Together, they dive into:
✨ Why education must prioritise ethics, safeguarding, and humanity over efficiency when adopting AI.
✨ The dangers of letting commercial agendas drive how children experience technology — from grief bots to Snapchat AI.
✨ How schools can use AI responsibly to deepen learning, not just save time.
✨ What a truly balanced, future-ready education system should aim to develop: kindness, resilience, critical thinking, and agency.
✨ Why personalised learning risks being more about platforms than learners, and how to reclaim it.

Bianca shares her motivation for founding AI Edify, a teacher-led consultancy and toolkit provider designed to challenge assumptions, put pedagogy first, and keep the teacher at the heart of the classroom.

She also reflects as a parent on what she hopes education will look like when her young son enters secondary school, and her fears that little may change without more courageous leadership and investment.

💡 “AI should help us think deeper, not just work faster,” Bianca reminds us, calling for evidence-informed, sustainable, and truly learner-centred innovation.

📍 Find Bianca and her work at: www.aiedify.com or here on LinkedIn.

 

Episode 16 with Carla Aerts

In this thought-provoking episode of Joining the Dots, Al Kingsley and Matt Jessop are joined by global education innovator and learner-centred strategist Carla Aerts. With decades of experience in EdTech, AI, and digital learning, Carla brings a passionate, challenging, and compassionate lens to the big question: what is education really for?

🧠 From soft skills (or rather, “power skills”) to digital equity, learner agency, neuroplasticity, and the troubling persistence of high-stakes testing, this episode is a tour de force through the most pressing issues facing education today. The trio tackle:

• Why education should be the catalyst for children’s potential, not just a pathway to employment

• The hidden dangers of retrofit EdTech and surface-level AI use in schools

• Why teachers must be supported to experiment safely with AI, not excluded by fear or poor infrastructure

• The critical need for curriculum reform beyond political cycles — and why tweaking around the edges won’t do

• How teaching kids about how their brains work can supercharge motivation and learning

• The growing assessment crisis, and why we should stop trying to monitor broken systems with new tech

• The risks of inequity if we fail to provide digital access as a basic right

💬 Carla calls for a new kind of education—adaptive, co-created, scaffolded for safe experimentation, and deeply human. Expect challenging takes, energising provocations, and plenty to reflect on long after the episode ends.

🔁 As ever, grab a notebook – or better yet, gather your team – because this one’s packed with ideas to take back to your school or trust.

Episode 15 with Naomi Timperley

🎙️ Joining the Dots – Episode: Bridging Business, Education & Innovation with Naomi Timperley
Hosts: Al Kingsley & Matt Jessop | Guest: Naomi Timperley

In this energising episode, Al and Matt are joined by powerhouse Naomi Timperley—innovation consultant, tech community builder, and passionate advocate for youth and entrepreneurship. Naomi shares her inspiring journey across the UK’s tech and education ecosystems, from launching digital startups to supporting apprentices in Greater Manchester.

Together, the trio explore:

• 🚀 Why real-world problem solving and entrepreneurship should be part of every classroom

• 🎓 The disconnect between education and business—and how to fix it

• 🧠 The role of soft skills, creativity, and local context in preparing young people for the future of work

• 💡 Naomi’s hands-on work with design sprints, apprenticeships, and AI pilot programmes

• 📉 Why university isn't the only path—and how we're failing young people by not showing them all the options

• 🔄 The importance of "joining the dots" between skills, schools, and business ecosystems

Naomi also opens up about her own experience with late ADHD diagnosis and how diverse learning needs must be better recognised in schools. Her message is clear: young people need more visibility, more pathways, and more belief in their potential.

👉 Connect with Naomi on LinkedIn and discover her brilliant work across innovation, education, and digital skills.

Episode 14 with Caroline Allams

In this lively and thoughtful episode, Al Kingsley and Matt Jessop are joined by educator and co-founder of Natterhub, Caroline Allams. Together, they dive into the evolving challenges and opportunities in education, especially around digital safety, parental engagement, and the impact of technology on both learning and wellbeing. Caroline shares her journey from early years teaching to EdTech entrepreneurship, and the trio explore how we can better prepare children for the digital world. Topics range from phonics fatigue and curriculum overload to the need for experiential, inquiry-led learning and equipping children with "power skills" to thrive in today’s world.

🎧 Key topics discussed:

• The relevance and limitations of the current education system

• Online safety, digital behaviours and the parent-teacher-child triangle

• Distractions of technology and its effect on early years development

• The case for cross-curricular, experience-led learning over box-ticking

• Reflections on phonics, assessment pressures and reading enjoyment

• Natterhub’s mission and its free cross-curricular tools for schools and families

🔗 Find out more:
Visit www.natterhub.com or connect with Caroline Allams on LinkedIn to explore free resources and school sign-ups.