Pencils Down is a podcast from the University of Chicago’s Public Policy Podcast team focusing on education, policy, education policy, policy education, and everything in between. Hosted by Sam Zuckert, each episode features interviews with students, educators, academics, and policy makers about notable education and policy topics and their own educational journeys.

Sam Zuckert is a graduate student at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy. Previous to attending the Harris School, Sam worked in Boston Public Schools as a data analyst and systems manager. His favorite style of architecture is Brutalism, his favorite mathematician is Georg Cantor, and his least favorite mathematician is Leopold Kronecker.