Episode 50 - Edtech Series | Julian A. Reed: Edtech Founder on Movement and Cognition
Episode:
50
guest episode
January 15, 2026
Edtech Series | Julian A. Reed: Edtech Founder on Movement and Cognition
Education Technology
Boys Education
Neurodiversity in Education
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In this episode of the special series on Edtech, host Jason Buccheri sits down with Dr. Julian Reed, a professor at Furman University and founder of ActiveEd, the company behind Walkabouts. Dr. Reed’s journey bridges deep academic research with the startup world, offering a blueprint for building tools that truly serve the classroom.
A self-described hyperactive kid who struggled in school, Julian has dedicated his career to studying how physical activity improves cognition and academic performance. In this conversation, he shares the physiological science behind movement—including how it stimulates brain growth factors—and explains why traditional classrooms are often poorly designed for how children learn.
Julian discusses the founding of Walkabouts and offers critical advice for Edtech founders on team building and navigating the complex K-12 procurement market. This conversation provides essential insights into scaling a practice for maximum impact on student performance.
resources
Walkabouts Links
About The Guest
Julian A. Reed
Dr. Julian A. Reed is a Professor in the Department of Health Sciences at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Hobart and William Smith Colleges; a Master of Science in Exercise and Sport Sciences from the University of Miami, a Doctorate in Exercise and Sport Sciences from the University of Northern Colorado and most recently received his Masters of Public Health from the University of South Carolina. His research focuses on examining links between physical activity and cognitive function of youth as well as investigating associations between the built environment and physical activity. He has disseminated his research in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, Preventive Medicine, Preventing Chronic Disease and the Journal of American College Health. Dr. Reed is also the author of Active Education: Lessons for Integrating Physical Activity with Language Arts, Math, Science and Social Studies and Activating the Modern Classroom.
Entrepreneurship Advice Risk-Taking and Learning From Failure
Episode Intro Bridging Classroom Research and Edtech Startups
Meet Dr Julian Reed ActiveEd and Walkabouts Founder
Edtech Blueprint How to Build Tools That Actually Help Teachers
Academic Background Health Sciences and Child Cognition Research
Early Education Struggles and the Impact of Boarding School
Academic Journey Transitioning From Physical Therapy to Sports Medicine
Researching Physical Activity Cognition and Child Kinesiology
Combating Childhood Obesity through Active School Days
Scaling Educational Impact Through Digital Business Models
Partnering With Experts Finding Complementary Skill Sets
Scientific Evidence The Empirical Link Between Movement and Learning
Case Study Improved Performance in Under-Resourced Schools
Leveraging Physical Activity for Better Classroom Management
Physiological Benefits Blood Flow Oxygen and Brain Development
Executive Function How Movement Stimulates Brain Control Centers
Professional Development Practical Movement Lessons for Teachers
Kinetic Pedagogy Reaching Different Types of Learners
Scaling Edtech Impact Using Cloud Based Platforms
Edtech Fundraising Friends Family and Angel Networks
The Challenges of Selling Into the Education Market
Founding Advice Skin In The Game and Team Building
Fixing Education Promoting Community Engagement and Parental Empowerment
Modern Literacy Rates and the Need for Entrepreneurial Education
Closing Remarks Final Lessons for Edtech Founders
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