We connect students around the world to primary source experts from a wide variety of topics and subjects. For more information, visit edutainmentlearning.com.
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Andini Makosinski is an award-winning Canadian inventor, entrepreneur, speaker, and creative innovator who gained international recognition while she was still a teenager.
At just 15 years old, Andini invented the Hollow Flashlight, an innovative flashlight powered by the heat of the human hand rather than traditional batteries. Her invention earned her the top prize in her age category at the Google Science Fair and introduced her work to audiences around the world.
That same year, TIME named Andini one of its “30 People Under 30 Changing the World.” She was later recognized by Forbes’ 30 Under 30, further establishing her as one of the most exciting young innovators of her generation.
Andini later developed the eDrink, a mug designed to capture excess heat from a hot beverage and convert it into electricity. Her creativity and inventions have led to appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, multiple TEDx stages, and speaking engagements around the world.
What makes Andini’s journey especially interesting for students is her belief that science and creativity don't have to exist separately. Her interests span invention, entrepreneurship, technology, media, storytelling, and the arts.
For students, Andini’s story demonstrates that you don't have to wait until adulthood to begin creating or solving problems. Curiosity, experimentation, persistence, and a willingness to pursue an unusual idea can open doors you never imagined.
Marianne Leone is a writer, actress, and screenwriter. Her essays have appeared in the Boston Globe, Lithub, Ploughshares, Post Road, Bark Magazine, Coastal Living, Solstice, and others. She is the author of three memoirs, Jesse (Simon & Schuster, 2010), Ma Speaks Up (Beacon Press 2017) and Five Dog Epiphany ( Akashic 2024). She had a recurring role on HBO's “The Sopranos" for four seasons as Joanne Moltisanti, Christopher's mother. She has also appeared in films by David O. Russell, Larry David, John Sayles, Nancy Savoca and Martin Scorsese. JESSE is published in Italy by Nutrimenti. Her coming of age novel, Christina the Astonishing, was published by Akashic Books in September 2025.
Chris Cooper has most recently been in the History of Sound with Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor. Cooper has appeared on Broadway in A Doll’s House, Part 2, and was nominated for a Tony award as Best Actor. He debuted in the John Sayles film Matewan (1987). On television, Cooper has been featured in the mini-series "Lonesome Dove" and "Return to Lonesome Dove",“11/22/63,” and most recently “Homecoming,”season two on Amazon Prime. He has appeared in over fifty films and in 2003 won an Oscar for best supporting actor for his portrayal of John Laroche in “Adaptation.”
Carol O’Donnell, PhD is the Douglas M. Lapp and Anne B. Keiser Director of the Smithsonian Science Education Center, which is dedicated to transforming K–12 Education through Science in collaboration with communities across the globe. O’Donnell is responsible for all operational activities and planning for the unit, including building awareness for preschool through 12th-grade science-education reform, conducting programs that support the professional growth of P–12 teachers and school leaders and overseeing all research and curricular-resource development, philanthropic development and administration. O’Donnell serves as the U.S. representative on the Global Council of the InterAcademy Partnership Science Education Programme, an appointment by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and she serves on the UN Broadband Commission Working Group on School Connectivity: Hybrid Learning. O’Donnell also represents the Smithsonian on the Subcommittee on Federal Coordination in STEM Education, which advises and assists the Committee on STEM Education of the Office of Science and Technology Policy of the Executive Office of the President.
Before joining the Smithsonian in 2015, O’Donnell worked at the U.S. Department of Education where she oversaw nearly $17 billion in annual federal investments under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. These investments focused on education reform, school improvement, teacher professional development, improved student achievement and assistance for states building their capacity to implement and sustain education reforms and achieve improvement in student outcomes. She also oversaw the cognition and student-learning research program at the Institute of Education Sciences, the research arm of the Department of Education.
While earning her doctorate at the George Washington University, O’Donnell managed a five-year, National Science Foundation-funded trial aimed at identifying the conditions under which effective middle school science curricular interventions improve student learning and reduce achievement gaps when scaled-up. Her research on curriculum implementation was published in the Review of Educational Research and earned her an “American Educational Research Association Division of Learning and Instruction Graduate Research Award” in 2008.
Before attending George Washington University, O’Donnell spent 11 years developing science-curriculum materials for the Smithsonian Science Education Center’s science and technology concepts elementary and secondary programs.
O’Donnell began her science-teaching career in Virginia public schools. She currently serves on the part-time faculty of George Washington University’s physics department.
O’Donnell earned her bachelor's degree in education from the University of Pittsburgh, her master’s degree in geosciences from Mississippi State University, her doctorate in curriculum and instruction from George Washington University and an Executive Education certificate in nonprofit management from the Harvard Business School.
Doug E. Fresh is a legendary hip-hop artist, performer, producer, and pioneer known around the world as “The Human Beat Box.” Using only his mouth, voice, and microphone, he helped transform beatboxing into an art form and became one of the most influential figures in the early history of hip-hop.
Born in Barbados and raised in New York City, Doug E. Fresh emerged during hip-hop’s groundbreaking early years. He became famous for his extraordinary ability to recreate drum machines, rhythms, and sound effects with his voice. Alongside Slick Rick, he recorded the classics “The Show” and “La Di Da Di,” songs that became enormously influential in hip-hop culture and have inspired generations of artists.
Over a career spanning more than four decades, Doug E. Fresh has performed around the world and has remained an important ambassador for hip-hop, helping new generations understand the music’s history, creativity, and cultural impact.
Beyond entertainment, he has also used his platform to promote education, health, community involvement, and opportunities for young people.
For students, Doug E. Fresh’s journey demonstrates how creativity, originality, confidence, perseverance, and developing a talent that makes you unique can turn an idea into a lifelong career and cultural legacy.
Darrell M. Blocker is a retired CIA Senior Intelligence Service officer, retiring at the equivalent rank of a three-star General. He spent the majority of his CIA career undercover, and ran the Agency’s famous training facility known as “the Farm.”
Mr. Blocker is a frequent on-air contributor to ABC News, a nonresident fellow at the Benson-Bertsch Center for International Trade and Security (BBCITS) at the University of Georgia, and an Independent Board Member for Rendeavour, Africa’s largest urban land developer. His TEDx talk, Listen More, Speak Less: Lessons in Kindness from a CIA Operative, has reached audiences who didn’t expect to find operational wisdom there. (They usually do!)
He is a committed mentor and humanitarian, donating time to anti-child trafficking organizations, children’s online safety initiatives, and to children in the foster care system. BPIA (Black Professionals in International Affairs) recently named him Man of the Year, citing his commitment to mentorship and his willingness to open doors many didn’t know they could even walk through.
His work on behalf of the U.S. and the many he has served since his retirement earned him the 2025 Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
Rosalind Wiseman is a New York Times bestselling author, educator, and leadership expert who has spent her career helping young people better understand relationships, friendships, leadership, and the challenges of growing up.
She is best known as the author of Queen Bees and Wannabes, the groundbreaking book that helped inspire the hit movie and Broadway musical Mean Girls. Her work explores topics students experience every day, including friendships, fitting in, peer pressure, bullying, social groups, communication, and treating others with respect.
Rosalind has written several other books about young people, families, and leadership, including Masterminds & Wingmen. She has worked with students, educators, parents, schools, and organizations around the world to create healthier and more respectful communities.
Her expertise has taken her to some extraordinary places. She has spoken at organizations and institutions including the White House, U.S. Department of Justice, Library of Congress, Google, Microsoft, and SXSW.
Rosalind also works internationally with schools and educators, helping adults better understand the experiences of today's young people and how they can support students as they develop confidence, independence, and leadership skills.
Throughout her career, Rosalind has encouraged students to think about an important idea: you don't have to change who you are simply to fit in. Her work challenges young people to develop the confidence to be themselves, build meaningful relationships, stand up for others, and become thoughtful leaders in their schools and communities.
Gianni Russo is an American actor, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker best known for portraying Carlo Rizzi in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather, one of the most celebrated and influential films in cinema history. Remarkably, The Godfather was his very first acting role, launching a career in entertainment that would span more than five decades.
Gianni’s journey began with significant challenges. As a child, he battled polio, an experience that required tremendous determination and resilience. His unconventional path eventually led him to Hollywood, where he worked alongside legendary actors and filmmakers including Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Talia Shire, and Francis Ford Coppola. He went on to appear in numerous film and television productions while also building a career as an entrepreneur, singer, and speaker.
Beyond entertainment, Gianni established Gianni Believes You Can, an organization focused on helping young people facing financial barriers through educational opportunities, scholarships, mentorship, and resources.
For students, Gianni’s remarkable journey offers lessons about overcoming adversity, recognizing unexpected opportunities, perseverance, making important choices, learning from experience, and believing that where you begin in life does not have to determine where you ultimately go.
James Rhee is a globally recognized entrepreneur, investor, educator, author, and former CEO whose career has been shaped by a belief that kindness, purpose, and strong business fundamentals can work together to create meaningful and lasting change.
A former high school teacher, James graduated with honors from Harvard College and Harvard Law School, where he served as an editor of the Harvard Law Review. He went on to build a successful career in private equity and investing, helping manage billions of dollars in capital before founding his own investment platform, FirePine Group.
James gained international attention during his seven-year tenure as owner, Chairman, and CEO of Ashley Stewart, a fashion retailer with deep roots in the Black American community. When James became involved, the twice-bankrupt company was facing enormous financial challenges. Working alongside its predominantly Black female workforce, he helped lead an extraordinary turnaround by combining rigorous financial thinking with trust, relationships, and human connection—an approach he calls “Kindness and Math.”
Those experiences helped inspire his bestselling book, red helicopter—a parable for our times: lead change with kindness (plus a little math). Published in 2024, the book explores leadership, business, humanity, and how people can balance life, money, purpose, and joy. Its ideas have since expanded into Red Helicopter, a broader media, investment, and education platform.
James has also devoted a significant part of his career to education. He has served as the Johnson Chair of Entrepreneurship and Professor of Entrepreneurship at Howard University and has taught at MIT Sloan School of Management and Duke Law School. At Yale University, he has served as an entrepreneur and artist in residence, bringing together his interests in business, education, storytelling, and music. His book even inspired Red Helicopter: An American Rock Opera, which debuted at Yale in 2026.
Beyond education, James continues to advise business leaders and organizations and serves on the board of Xponance, a major asset-management firm. His leadership and impact have been recognized by organizations spanning business, education, entrepreneurship, technology, retail, and civic leadership.
Despite his many accomplishments, the philosophy behind James's work can be traced to a simple childhood experience. As a five-year-old, he shared his lunch with a classmate who sometimes came to school without one. The child's father later gave James a toy red helicopter as a gesture of gratitude. That experience became a lifelong symbol of the extraordinary impact that seemingly small acts of kindness can have.
When James joins us, students will have the opportunity to learn about his journey from teacher to investor and CEO, entrepreneurship, leadership, overcoming challenges, defining success, and why kindness and human connection can be every bit as important as numbers and achievement.
Charles L. Alphin, Sr. is a retired law enforcement captain, educator, and internationally recognized teacher of Kingian Nonviolence who has spent decades helping young people, police officers, educators, and community leaders learn peaceful ways to manage conflict.
Charles served for more than 26 years with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, working in roles ranging from patrol officer and detective to lieutenant and captain. During his career, he commanded units including homicide, rape and child abuse, and later vice and narcotics. (DDK Tours)
His life took an important turn after learning more deeply about the philosophy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through civil rights leader Dr. Bernard LaFayette Jr. Charles came to believe that nonviolence was not weakness, but a practical and powerful way to prevent violence, resolve conflict, and strengthen communities. He began using those principles in his work with law enforcement and young people in St. Louis. (Mahatma Gandhi Website)
After retiring from the police department in 1992, Charles was invited by Coretta Scott King to work at The King Center in Atlanta. He went on to help teach Dr. King’s philosophy of nonviolence to law enforcement officers, correctional officers, educators, students, activists, community leaders, and young people around the world. He continues to serve as a senior instructor and curriculum consultant with The King Center. (The King Center)
Charles also founded DDK Historical and Educational Tours, an initiative designed to help students and adults better understand the history of the Civil Rights Movement by visiting important historical sites and learning about the people who helped shape that history. (DDK Tours)
For students, Charles Alphin’s journey offers a powerful lesson about growth, service, leadership, and the idea that people can change their perspectives throughout their lives. His work shows how skills such as listening, empathy, courage, and peaceful conflict resolution can be used not only to solve disagreements, but also to make communities safer and stronger.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Edutainment Learning? Edutainment Learning is an online educational platform that connects students and teachers to primary sources of learning from a wide variety of subjects. Our goal is to provide students access to in-person conversations with industry leaders, historical figures, athletes, musicians, and more.
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