Why We’re Building a Podcast Studio

At STAR21, we’ve always believed in sharing the journey — not just the destination.

We launched Starlight, the UK’s first AI-powered coaching platform for teachers, to tackle one of the most persistent challenges in education: giving every teacher the specific, timely, actionable, and regular feedback they deserve - that's what we call STAR21 feedback, feedback fit for the 21st Century. But building Starlight has never been just about the product. It’s about the bigger vision — using AI with care to create abundance, unlock human potential, and help people flourish.

That’s why this week we've been building our own podcast and video studio.

It’s more than a set of microphones and cameras. It’s a space where we can:

• Share our story in real time — the highs, the setbacks, and the lessons from growing an education startup from the ground up.

• Learn publicly — testing ideas, exploring new possibilities, and refining them with your input.

• Grow together — building a community of educators, innovators, and leaders who believe in thoughtful, human-centred uses of AI.

• Connect with you directly — opening up real conversations, answering your questions, and making sure our journey is shaped by the people we’re building this for.

• Expand our reach — taking our insights, conversations, and resources beyond blog posts into podcasts, YouTube, and other channels.

In a world of AI, the trusted chalkboard still has a place.

One of the first props we wanted to incorporate into the space was a chalkboard. It’s a nod to the roots of teaching — a simple, timeless tool that’s been part of classrooms for generations. A recognition of the traditional methods that still work in teaching so we don't ever lose sight of this in our enthusiasm for technology. In a studio built to talk about the future of education and AI, the chalkboard reminds us where we’ve come from, and that the heart of great teaching has always been human connection. It's also the chalkboard that I've been using to write down the next big idea for improving Starlight before forgetting! To get it ready as the background for the studio ready we added a fresh coat of chalkboard paint this week.

In this new studio, our vlog will focus on teaching and learning insights, school improvement, leadership, practical ways to reduce workload, protecting teacher wellbeing, and cutting through the noise around AI in education to show what’s truly possible.

Let us know what you'd like to hear more of.

We want to approach this exciting project with the same focus that ultimately drives everything we do in building out Starlight:

Serve teachers.

Support schools.

Empower students.

The future we want to help shape is not a cold, automated one — but one of creativity, connection, and human flourishing. Our podcast and video channels are another way to invite you into that vision.

First video coming soon! Watch this space...

We hope you’ll join us for the journey.

Follow our work:

▶️ YouTube

🌐 coaching.software

🌐 starlightmentor.com

X/Twitter: @star21starlight

The Insight Engine is written by Adam Sturdee, co-founder of Starlight — the UK’s first AI-powered coaching platform — and Assistant Headteacher at St Augustine’s Catholic College. This blog is part of a wider mission to support educators through meaningful reflection, not performance metrics. It documents the journey of building Starlight from the ground up, and explores how AI, when shaped with care, can reduce workload, surface insight, and help teachers think more deeply about their practice. Rooted in the belief that growth should be private, professional, and purposeful, The Insight Engine offers ideas and stories that put insight — not judgment — at the centre of development.