In this episode of Chalk and Code, host Theron Davis sits down with Dr. Joseph Guastalli-Atman, the philosopher-turned-founder behind Middle Tree, a nonprofit education center that’s redefining what supplemental learning can be.

Dr. Atman shares his journey from academia into mission-driven entrepreneurship, reflecting on how his studies in consciousness and sacred theology led him to launch an organization that prioritizes access, equity, and human-centered learning. Middle Tree’s approach flips the traditional model on its head: no appointment-based sessions, no rigid timelines, no financial barriers.

Instead, learners are invited to show up when they need help, stay as long as they like, and follow a personalized path, all built on the belief that time, autonomy, and relationships are central to real learning. This conversation moves from the philosophical to the practical, offering a candid look at education systems, edtech’s role, and what it really means to honor student potential.