Episodes

As educators, summer is an important time for us to refresh, renew, and regroup. This summer playlist can help! Whether you're on a road trip, hanging out by the pool, or enjoying an evening with family and friends, check out these songs and allow them to inspire your summer, relax your mind, and renew your spirit. Happy Summer! Enjoy. And happy birthday to Kasey! He turns 45 today. Songs: I Love It, by Icona Pop Vices, by Sarah and the Sundays Sunroof, by Nicky Youre and Daisy Step Out, ...

It's okay to give up on systems - even healthy. It's never okay to give up on people - keep knocking! In this episode, Brian and Kasey discuss the complexity of being persistent, why it matters, and how it plays out in difficult situations. Sadly, Kasey doesn't have an acronym. What Persistence Looks Like: - Be visible and available - Be friendly - it can't always feel like you need something - Engage in the work with them - Know what's worth being persistent for - avoid fads! Things Wort...

*Warning, there are curse words that are unbleeped in this episode Remove ants and bees from the planet and the whole system will collapse. Remove humans and the world improves. Why is that? And how does it relate to leadership? In this episode, Brian and Kasey work through the unique difficulties of educational leadershi* and why - at times - it is the most difficult form of leadership. From frustrated parents, unengaged students, combative staff members, and all the pressures of a demanding ...

In 1973, design theorists Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber introduced the term "wicked problem" in order to draw attention to the complexities and challenges of addressing planning and social policy problems. Education is such a problem. In this episode, Brian and Kasey work through the complexities of education as a Wicked Problem. They provide potential solutions for both teachers and school leaders on how to not only engage this unique complexity but also how to move towards purposeful and ef...

"More than 80 percent of supervisors claim they frequently express appreciation to their subordinates," The Power of Moments claims, "while less than 20 percent of the employees report that their supervisors express appreciation more than occasionally. Call it the recognition gap." In this episode, Brian and Kasey discover WHY this gap exists and wrestle through ways in which leaders can support their people and intentionally close the gap of recognition. Big Picture: Why does this gap exist? ...

Reggie Jackson was nicknamed "Mr. October" because of his clutch hitting in the postseason. He finished the year strong! And so should we. In this episode, Brian and Kasey discuss ways teachers and administrators can finish the year with clarity and purpose. From roundtable discussions, award ceremonies, and renewing educational vows, how we end the year not only impacts how we remember the entire year, it prepares and excites us for what comes next. Finish strong! And earn the nickname Mr. (o...

Does education have a problem with ignoring the "boring child?" And is being "boring" even bad - as a student or as a teacher? In this episode, Brian and Kasey discuss the idea of education focusing too much on the fringe, why it's important to "grow the boring group," and why we should work hard to always separate the person from the idea. Solutions: - Autonomy Week (If you would like more information on how to implement this, please reach out!) - Names in Jars - Utilize their Otherness So...

Even if you've never seen the show, Ted Lasso, this episode is still relatable to anyone interested in leadership or building culture in the workplace. Brian and Kasey both love Ted Lasso, but not because he is perfect. In fact, he is far from it! In this episode, Brian and Kasey acknowledge the faults and weaknesses of Ted, draw out their impacts on building culture, and highlight his many gifts and talents as a leader. Favorite Ted Quotes: "If you care about someone, and you got a little lov...

Whenever people are gathered, gossip is present. And that is okay! In this episode, Brian and Kasey point out the positives of gossip, explain how we can embrace it in our homes, communities, and workplace, and provide tangible ways to address this topic that encourages community and creates safety. The key distinction rests on clarifying the conversation. Does it magnify the problem, or clarify it? Positives of Gossip: - Spreads and affirms social norms - Helps define the problem that exist...

Happy 25! To celebrate this simple milestone, Brian and Kasey spend time reflecting on those who have influenced their journey, what good teaching looks like, and reminding us all why this profession deeply matters. Mr. D; Mr. Donut; Mr. Denison: "Take nothing on its looks. Take everything on evidence. There is no better rule." - Charles Dickenson, Great Expectations. Mr. Furman: Be purposeful with your positive words of affirmation, and specific. They matter. Mr. Metzger: “You see, some thin...

All too often, we try to solve complex problems with large-scale, pie-in-the-sky solutions. Anxiety is one of those problems. In this episode, Brian and Kasey wrestle through some very tangible, use-it-tomorrow solutions that combat the growing epidemic of teen (and adult) anxiety. Why Are We Anxious? 1. Culture of success (Cult of achievement) 2. Origin stories 3. You are what you data Solutions: 1. Re-establish our purpose 2. Rest 3. Restore Podcast Referenced: Why the Cult of Achievem...

Punishment and consequence are often used synonymously in our schools and homes, but they shouldn't be, largely because the key distinction between the two (me-focused vs you-focused) makes a world of difference in the short and long term. For the child and the adult. In this episode, Brian and Kasey draw a line of distinction between punishments and consequences, wrestle with why that distinction is important for implementing systemic change, and argue over spankings . . . are they a punishmen...

As educators, we can hold a single story of poverty, often understanding it and all its forms from an academic or "other" point of view. In this episode, Brian tries to gain a more personal understanding of poverty by asking Kasey to dive deeper into his childhood and inviting an old group-home friend, Kairi Hyman, to join the conversation. Brian and Kasey (along with Kairi) also try to wrestle through the complexity of raising teens, the impact of music, the power of peer pressure, and how edu...

Hippopotamus laws, more commonly referred to as Eponymous Laws, are principles or rules named after a particular person. In this episode, Brian and Kasey discuss a variety of Eponymous Laws, the ethics of data collection, and wrestle through the distinctions between facts and truth. Amara's Law: "We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run." Shobita Parthasarathy: "Our research shows that large language models such as ChatGPT...

Life and work are busy. They are also consumed by screens. In this episode, Brian and Kasey discuss how leaders, teachers, parents - people! - can be intentional about making the intangible moments tangible, and why doing so can have a deep and meaningful impact on your schools, homes, and community groups. Books Referenced: The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact Raising a Modern-Day Knight: A Father's Role in Guiding His Son to Authentic Manhood Quotes: "Like ...

Brian attended Innovative Schools Summit in New York; Kasey attended Solution Tree Summit in Arizona. In this episode, they reflect on their experiences, the ideas discussed, and the importance of relationships - which, as it turns out, is the most innovative thing in our buildings! People and resources mentioned: "Clarity proceeds competency" - Mike Mattos (@mikemattos65) Inspiration gets us out of our seats. Conviction ensures we won't sit back down. Mario Accosta (marioacosta31) The Dip, ...

From hallway decorations to graduation, fear of humiliation to content, even the pursuit of safety, what gods are we intentionally or unintentionally serving, and what impacts do they have on our schools, classrooms, and students? In this episode, Brian and Kasey wrestle with the culture of our schools, the purpose of graduation, and why today's students aren't much different than those of the past - they simply serve different gods. Brian references the books: The End of Education: Redefinin...

Dr. Mary Jo Fresch has been an elementary teacher, literacy professor, has published more than 22 books, and is a brilliant and calming mind in the world of literacy learning. In this episode, Dr. Fresch walks through the history of teaching literacy, dissects the science of how we read, and provides practical, in-the-classroom advice for how to naturally engage students and teach reading. Most importantly, Dr. Fresch takes hold of the swinging pendulum of literacy learning and encourages teache...

Anchors give us stability and direction when times are tough. In this episode, Kasey and Brian discuss the value of living a life focused on doing GREAT things (Give - Relate - Explore -Analyze - Try), why it matters, and how it looks. Give: - "If you’re a taker, you help others strategically, when the benefits to you outweigh the personal costs. If you’re a giver, you might use a different cost-benefit analysis: you help whenever the benefits to others exceed the personal costs . . . if you’re...

ChatGPT is changing the educational landscape. In this episode, Brian and Kasey argue that this change is not only good for education, it is also needed. Becase of ChatGPT we have an opportunity to shift our focus away from content and towards what truly matters, on the things that will actually change the world . . . the human being stuff. You can check out ChatGPT here. Kasey quotes Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. "There is something at work in my soul, which I do not understand." "Nothing is...

Responsibility Centered Discipline (RCD) "has helped educators across North America transform student discipline and improve school climate." In this episode, Brian and Kasey discuss the format of RCD, its potential for impacting behavior, and why it is foundational in strengthening relationships and building the whole child. For more information, check out: Website: Givemfive.com Book: Roadmap to Responsibility The Power of Give 'em Five to Transform Schools Twitter: @RCDGivemFive Unpaid Adv...

In this episode, Brian and Kasey dive deeper into UDL and offer a few tangible ways we can eliminate unnecessary physical and psychological barriers to life. Kasey pushes back on Brian's belief that hard lives create better people. Kasey references a blog post he wrote, "And."

Universal Design for Learning is an attempt to accommodate the needs of all learners by removing unnecessary hurdles. In this episode, Brian and Kasey wrestle with what UDL means for schools, classrooms, and daily living. But they only scratch the surface. Offering suggestions such as living an untimed life, savoring simple moments, and providing opportunities for all students to learn at their own rate and in their own way (link below), this episode sets the stage for a more in-depth and direct...

In this episode, Kasey and Brian talk through some of their thoughts and convictions from the break. Much like a barstool conversation, their discussion ranges from how we can change our experiences by simply adding mirrors, why not liking someone is very different (and much better) than disliking someone, and why schools should ditch Debate Teams in favor of an Arbitration Team. Podcasts Referenced: Two Bits of Optimism with Simon Sinek, Brene Brown, and Adam Grant: Part One This conversatio...