From Arcades to Education: Brent Bushnell of Two Bit Circus on a STEAM-Powered Learning Revolution

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Brent Bushnell is an entrepreneur and engineer focused on experiences for entertainment and learning. He's the founder of Two Bit Circus, a live entertainment company that builds and exhibits all-ages, social attractions. He’s chairman of the non-profit Two Bit Foundation which uses games and play to inspire students about invention. Brent is a Sir Edmund Hillary Fellow, a supporter of Clowns Without Borders and publishes on social media @brentbushnell.

💡 5 Things You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. How Brent’s journey from arcade builder to education innovator unfolded.
2. The origin and impact of the STEAM Carnival and how it helped reframe STEM learning through art and play.
3. Why clean waste is a powerful, untapped resource for hands-on learning in schools.
4. How DIY arcade cabinets are empowering students to learn CAD, electronics, business—and earn income.
5. The exciting future of immersive learning with escape rooms, virtual reality, and AI-guided experiences.

✨ Episode Highlights:

[00:03:33] How a viral OK Go music video accidentally sparked an education movement
[00:04:49] “STEAM not STEM”: Why art is essential to innovation
[00:08:45] Inside the Two Bit Foundation’s clean waste model and its success in LAUSD
[00:13:10] The Open Source Arcade Project: A full-spectrum STEAM learning experience
[00:21:26] The evolution of the maker and open-source movements
[00:27:58] How AI can bridge the gap for students lacking tech or coding skills
[00:34:25] New venue in Santa Monica: Turning entertainment spaces into learning spaces

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🎉 Presenting Sponsor:

This season of Edtech Insiders is once again brought to you by Tuck Advisors, the M&A firm for EdTech companies. Run by serial entrepreneurs with over 25 years of experience founding, investing in, and selling companies, Tuck believes you deserve M&A advisors who work as hard as you do.

Chapters

1. From Arcades to Education: Brent Bushnell of Two Bit Circus on a STEAM-Powered Learning Revolution (00:00:00)

2. How a viral OK Go music video accidentally sparked an education movement (00:03:51)

3. “STEAM not STEM”: Why art is essential to innovation (00:05:07)

4. Inside the Two Bit Foundation’s clean waste model and its success in LAUSD (00:09:03)

5. The Open Source Arcade Project: A full-spectrum STEAM learning experience (00:13:51)

6. The evolution of the maker and open-source movements (00:22:07)

7. How AI can bridge the gap for students lacking tech or coding skills (00:28:39)

8. New venue in Santa Monica: Turning entertainment spaces into learning spaces (00:35:06)