Episodes

Better PD

"Build relationships," we say. But what does that mean? What does that look like? In this episode, Brian and Kasey (well, mostly Kasey) provide some purpose to the over generalized statement, breakdown what it means and looks...

Acknowledging culture is to see the person. Their heritage, their values, and their familial norms. Ignoring culture is to frustrate, separate, suppress, and oppress. Healthy schools celebrate culture and share stories. In th...

Few people understand the current and future landscape of education like Steve Bollar. As an educational leader and master motivator, " Stand Tall Steve " "works with forward-thinking organizations to generate new ideas, impr...

What does it mean for a school to be whole-child centered? What does it mean to be a mentally and physically healthy school? And more importantly, what do they look like and how do we get there? In this episode, Brian and Kas...

AI is here to stay. And as educators, we've been told that we must be prepared to embrace it, to teach about it, with it, and around it. But how? In this episode, Brian and Kasey invite Vera Cubero, a GenAI Enthusiast, AI Li...

The best runners run hardest at the end. And as we enter the final weeks of the school year, as our exhaustion threatens to overcome and encourage us to coast, it is imperative that we dig in and finish the year strong. In th...

Voldemort was the one “who shall not be named.” In The Village, the creatures in the woods were “those we don’t speak of.” Yet, they were the driving force to the story.Engagement is no different.It may be the tabu word w...

Happy Spring Break! Here are a few Schurtz and Ties favorites. Hopefully, it can add some beauty and intentionality to your break! Growing Pains, by Alessia Cara Scared to Start, by Michael Marcagi I Wish I Was the Moon, by N...

With Kasey out of town, guest Darrin Peppard steps in to talk about how we can nail our next interview. Darrin is an author, publisher, speaker, and consultant focused on what matters most in leadership. Darrin’s an expert in...

Is Education Cultish?

Are kids really struggling? Is their technology-driven life truly as bad as we make it out to be? Maybe. Maybe not! Are phones ruining our students? Is there a romanticism to yesteryear's boredom? Are the dangers real? Unprec...

Mental health is a hot topic, especially in public education. The problem is, how do we honestly and purposefully wrestle with it without tripping on the buzzwords? Who do we service first, students or staff? And what role ca...

Are boys lost in education? Are teachers struggling? And should educational leaders be student-centered, or teacher-centered?In this episode, Hal Bowman, the mastermind behind Teach Like a Rockstar, Be the One, and co-author...

Erica Heilman

The melancholy of winter is real. Ignoring It won't help. Neither will wallowing in it. Acknowledging it, however, will. In the episode Brian and Kasey discuss the dark side of motivation and wrestle with potential solutions....

Superheroes can save the world, but can they teach children? Should they be in your classroom? Our schools? In this episode, Kasey and Brian discuss the qualities of their favorite superheroes and whether or not they should b...

The future of American education is set. Especially when seen through the lens of history. That doesn't mean we don't have a choice. Because we do. Dr. Flamm explains how. Over 20 years ago, Dr. Flamm changed the trajectory o...

Jim Papoulis is a world renowned conductor (not trains). He also works directly and consistently in schools and with students from all walks of life, using music as a bridge to guide students toward "self empowerment, self es...

Happy New Year

"You can either entertain guests or clean up the house, but you can't do both." The same can be said about reflection and action. In this episode, Brian and Kasey discuss the importance of reflection, what we can learn from t...

Jerry Jones

From "Don't let data be your Bible verse," disharmony bringing peace, and how trees can help us make decisions, in this episode, Brian and Kasey run through a list of thoughts that have been on their minds but not thought com...

Are educators consumed by the abyss of seriousness? Is fear winning? It certainly seems so. In this episode, Brian and Kasey wrestle with why it seems education is struggling to find joy, teach with confidence, and see beyond...