In this episode, Ann Pham, an education veteran and a volunteer tutor for trauma survivors and low-income families, reveals her unconventional approach that achieved a 200-point SAT increase in just three weeks with her first private client. Drawing from her extensive background in brain teasers and critical thinking puzzles, she explains how she transforms traditional test prep through games, escape rooms, and physical activities that engage students' natural learning patterns.

Ann discusses her three-category diagnostic system for identifying whether students struggle with foundational knowledge, reasoning gaps, or executive functioning issues, and shares why she encourages solving math problems by hand rather than relying on Desmos calculator shortcuts. She also reveals her vision for democratizing education by helping high-achieving students from all backgrounds access quality instruction, explaining why she believes brilliant students should attend community colleges rather than just elite institutions, challenging traditional assumptions about educational prestige and accessibility.