BustED Pencils

Dread it, run from it, the school year arrives all the same. Dr. Johnny Lupinacci has already spotted school supplies making their return to stores near him! Is it time to go back to school already??? Not quite, but the clock is ticking! Johnny and Dr. Tim Slekar discuss those latter days of summer when teachers start to sniff the return to class a'percolatin' just beyond the horizon in THIS episode of BustED Pencils! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Today on BustED Pencils, Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci are joined by a very special guest. Rural Superintendent Mike Beighley of Whitehall School District in western Wisconsin has come to tell us about some exciting changes happening in rural schools. Mike and his organization, Liftoffs Learning, are taking a step back from the business-as-usual approach to education and embarking on a bold journey to reshape how schools approach learning. Mike may not represent the largest school district in the country, but he and his team are proving that small schools and big ideas can make a difference. Producer Jakob has brought back the show's old intro voice over in an exciting and unexpected move that Tim and Johnny welcome with open arms. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Mike Beighley

Last week on the Producer's Choice Show we had two incredible guests battle to see who could answer the most questions about the 4th of July. Much fun was had. BUT today Producer Jakob is having the tables turned on him as HE is put to the test. Who asks better interview questions? Will it be Producer Jakob and the human team? Or will the AI generated questions prove to be too much to handle? Drs. Johnny Lupinacci and Tim Slekar will field both sets of questions and decide once and for all who wins in the battle of MAN vs MACHINES on this episode of the Producer's Choice Show! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Dr. Tim Slekar, Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

Today Drs. Timothy Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci discuss a recent article by Tim's favorite A.I. commentator Ethan Mollick. The article dredges up a recent MIT study which found that writing performance appeared to dip in users of A.I. assistants like Chat GPT. What's that all about? Do A.I. robot helpers hurt our ability to think on our own? Yes. But what do we think about that? Find out today on this exciting episode of BustED Pencils and DARE to stay off Chat GPT! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci are joined by Producer Jakob to phone in a quick episode of BustED Pencils as they all recover from a wild 4th of July weekend. Now imagine if you will; a simpler time, a time before the modern world brought us down with fancy things. Those were the days. But they could come back! Because Tim Slekar is on the bleeding edge of a revolution in single-room-schooling! What's that? Tim explains here for all to see! So please join us for an expedited journey into an exciting blast from the educational past! Producer Jakob messed up the Moment of Zinn today. He will be disciplined accordingly. But hey, buttons, how do they work? Nobody knows. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Happy 4th of July weekend, guys and gals! We hope that each and every one of you has had a chance to spend time with family, friends, see some fireworks, or just get a few moments of rest and relaxation. On a downer note, Donald Trump's fiscally and ethically irresponsible new budget bill has passed both houses of congress. It's a tough time in America, but thankfully Drs. Johnny Lupinacci and Tim Slekar are here to get through it with you as we deal with the big bill bummer. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Today on our 4th of July Spectacular episode of the Producer's Choice Show we're honoring America by having guests Drs. Johnny Lupinacci and Tim Slekar battle to the death in the ultimate American trivia contest. After spending weeks plumbing the depths of the Library of Congress, our host, Producer Jakob, has come up with the GREATEST AMERICAN TRIVIA QUESTIONS OF ALL TIME! So sit back, fire up the colortini, and enjoy an especially American-y episode of the Producer's Choice Show! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Dr. Tim Slekar, Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

Wisconsin is well known for leading the world in several important categories; cheese, milk, leather hides, mooing. But what many don't know is that we also lead the world in using technology to advance the field of milling lumber. Because right here in Antigo, Wisconsin, we've unveiled a cutting (ha) edge high tech training sawmill. Drs. Johnny Lupinacci and Tim Slekar are excited to see this news because they love localized education, investment in the trades, and the use of fancy tech to make education the best it can be. So join us as we learn about the new system turning students into lumberjacks of all trades! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

When Dr. Johnny Lupinacci was young the future looked so bright. The whole neighborhood was so alive, and every kid on the gosh darn street was gonna make it big and not be beat. But now, however, a recent article by K12 Dive is painting a picture of great uncertainty on behalf of the nation's youth. With a recent survey revealing that a majority of high school students do NOT feel prepared for life after graduation, Johnny and Producer Jakob are called into action to solve the crisis. Why do our talented youngsters feel this way? How can we better prepare kids and parents alike for life after high school? And should we make kids pick up litter in Colorado? But one thing is for sure, the kids aren't alright and something needs to change. We discuss all of this and more on THIS exciting episode of BustED Pencils. The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

Good news / bad news. The good news is that the ongoing military confrontation with Iran has not yet spilled over into a full-blown war. The bad news is that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is taking his ball and going home, starting his own parallel, anti-woke, university accrediting agency. Is it a good thing for there to be separate education systems for liberals and conservatives? Should we ever meet or interact with people who don't agree with us? Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci certainly have their thoughts on the matter. So join us as BustED Pencils takes on the Confederacy of Accreditation. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

The red carpet has been unrolled, the stars are out, and everyone who's anyone is in attendance as the BustED Pencils go to Hollywood in this glamorous episode of the Producer's Choice Show! Today your fabulous host Producer Jakob is joined by two of the hottest stars in education; Dr. Tim Slekar (Borat, Die Hard 2- With a Vengeance) and Dr. Johnny Lupinacci (Kindergarten Cop, There's Something About Mary). Our topic is a fun one; what are our favorite films about education? What do these movies get right about going to school, being a teacher, or our system in general? During the show sit back, grab your popcorn, and enjoy this cinematic journey through Hollywood on today's Producer's Choice Show! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Dr. Tim Slekar, Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

Today Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci discuss an article Tim found in the New York Times about a law student at the University of Florida. This student wrote an academic paper which made controversial arguments suggesting that the United States constitution only applies to white people. What happens when an academic work doesn't just approach the line of decency but breaks right through it? What obligations do educators and administrators have as they weigh their competing duties to protect both academic freedom and safe and diverse campuses? The Drs. discuss. Producer Jakob is a free speech supporter, and he thinks that this guy seems like a jerk to him. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

With Dr. Johnny on assignment scouting hockey players in Siberia, Dr. Tim Slekar and Producer Jakob have a quiet, contemplative conversation. Jakob thinks that AI is rotting Tim's brain out of it's socket and Tim thinks that Jakob should drop out of college to become a plumber (thus proving Jakob's point). It's a wild episode of BustED Pencils as Tim's brainrot brings him down to Jakob's level! So sit back, fire up the colortini, and enjoy! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

The Democratic Party has a problem, and Drs. Johnny Lupinacci and Tim Slekar are ready to step up to the plate and take a swing at fixing it. With friend of the show Randi Weingarten and activist wunderkind David Hogg departing from the DNC leadership this week, the left-of-center option in American politics is going through an identity crisis. How can Democrats reconnect with average, hardworking Americans? Does the party need to be more welcoming and less judgmental of diverse viewpoints? Where do we go from here? Find out today on a special Saturday edition of BustED Pencils as a couple of blue collar scholars try to bring democracy to the Democrats! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Welcome back to the Producer's Choice Show with your host, Producer Jakob! Today Drs. Johnny Lupinacci and Tim Slekar are heading down to the mall and visiting their favorite store, Build-A-Department. What should the Department of Education look like? How should it work? What role should it play? Tim and Johnny get to decide it all as Producer Jakob appoints the both of them to run their own Department of Education. So join us in fielding some softball questions on today's Producer's Choice Show! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Dr. Tim Slekar, Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

If you visit a college campus today you'll likely have one question in mind; where all the students? Now, right now there aren't students there because it's summer break, BUT there's also less students going to college in general. Today Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci dig into an article exposing new trends in views on attending university among youngsters. Why don't young people want to go to college? Let's dive on in. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Today Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci talk about Linda McMahon's push for diversity of thought in higher education. What does she mean by that? Well, apparently it has to do with reeducation camps that would make the Viet Cong blush. Look, we all appreciate being able to express our views in a educational setting, that's part of learning, but what Trumpism wants is not a free and open exchange of ideas. Trumpists want a cultural revolution, but this time they want to be the ones calling the shots. Long story short; what does Trump want? It's like DEI, but for Republicans. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Today on BustED Pencils, elderly Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci discuss an interesting development related to the youngins using their phones too much. A pair of new laws in Virginia have banned children from using cellular telephones while in school and made it illegal for kids under 16 to use social media for more than one hour per day. Is this a good thing? Tim thinks kids should put their d*mn phones down, but Johnny isn't so sure. Who will win? You decide! It's BustED Pencils! Producer Jakob thinks that social media and cellphones are bad for kids, and that anything gained by the advent of the internet has ultimately been dwarfed by the downsides. It's the new opium, but heck I ain't gonna stop smokin' it anytime soon. Shoot, I love these little videos. They're better than having friends. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Welcome back to the Producer's Choice Show with your host, Producer Jakob! Today we're boarding the USS Education and traveling overseas to find lessons that we can import back to America. We'll see what aspects of foreign education systems, methods, and educators Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci are most inspired by, and how THEY intend to bring those lessons home in their daily lives. So join us in learnin' round the world on today's Producer's Choice Show! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Dr. Tim Slekar, Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

As the government handles its response to protests in Los Angeles in high controversial fashion, Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci come together to discuss how educators should relate challenging moments to their students. Stick with us as we tackle how to teach in tough times. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Today Dr. Tim Slekar comes to the show with a very moving email from a listener who shared a local school district superintendent's open letter to the Trump administration. In the letter they said that they would stand up for the children in their district against cold political decisions being made in Washington. Dr. Johnny Lupinacci and Producer Jakob talk about the importance of our local democracy. Whether it's on school boards or in the classroom, we love to see locals standing up for kids. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Everybody's workin' for the weekend, are we right? Well, that's not all we're working for this Saturday. We're also working to stand up for international students against an administration that seems to think America's paramount interest is in dividing every segment of our population. Should we be banning international students? Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci (as well as Producer Jakob) believe that overseas students expose American students to other cultures, enrich our communities, bring the world's most talented minds to work in and for this country, and expose millions of people to American values. It's a win-win. We all benefit. So butt out, Donny, foreign students are our domestic strength. Also, Jakob is driving a Tesla this weekend. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Welcome back to the Producer's Choice Show with your host, Producer Jakob! Do you ever tune into a podcast and ask yourself, "Jeez, who are you people?" Well you won't have to ask that about BustED Pencils ever again! This week I'm joined by Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci, hosts of BustED Pencils, to talk about their journeys from construction worker and 2nd grader respectively to becoming teaching icons. How did these fellas decide to become teachers? When and how did BustED Pencils come about in the first place? And is Jakob the Travis Barker of the show? It's a backstory heavy episode! Enjoy! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Dr. Tim Slekar, Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

Dr. Johnny Lupinacci and Producer Jakob are extremely fortunate this Wednesday as they're briefly able to establish a ham radio connection with Dr. Tim Slekar. Tim takes a brief break from his long march through the countryside to discuss Marxism, Communism, and how you don't necessarily have to be a dirty pinko to think that the government should care about its people. Also featured; discussions of roleplaying as leftist intellectuals (Jakob calls dibs on Trotsky), discussion of the obligations of citizens in a democratic society, and a few crickets. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

The Biden administration gave Wisconsin a $10 million grant for school-based mental health services for K-12 education programs. Yay! Oh, Donald Trump just canceled the checks. Why? He's kind of a jerk. Today Dr. Johnny Lupinacci and special guest Producer Jakob (notably not a doctor) discuss the impact these cuts will have on young people in our state as well as the importance of investing in our young people. It's not socialism, it's just common sense. Young people that have bellies full of food, brains full of knowledge, and minds full of peace grow up to be productive members of society. So join us as we discuss these bloody mental cuts being targeted at kids that are having a hard time. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

There's so much going on this week, there's hardly time to talk about it all! How was Memorial Day? We talk about it. Can you sue someone if your child isn't being taught how to read? Covered. And is Claude AI really trying to blackmail people, or is ChatGPT just a gossip who needs to shut his lying mouth? This is bound to be a Saturday you'll never forget as well tackle all of this and more on BustED Pencils! So, for the record, can you sue an A.I. for blackmailing you? Asking for a friend... BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

LIVE from beautiful sunny Racine, Wisconsin, it's THE PRODUCER'S CHOICE SHOW with your host, Producer Jakob! *fanfare*. Thank you all for tuning in to my show today as I, Producer Jakob, seize the means of production and speak truth to power (my bosses Tim and Johnny). This week we look at Donald Trump's attempt to coerce Harvard University by denying them the right to enroll foreign students. Is this just a shameless power grab by the government? Or is there something more to it? Find out as my guests Dr. Tim Slekar (BustED Pencils, Teaching) and Dr. Johnny Lupinacci (BustED Pencils, Beard) face a gauntlet of tough questions on THIS episode of The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Dr. Tim Slekar, Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

Today Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci join Producer Jakob to discuss an interesting social media post. Where did they find it? Why, on Civic Media's Instagram account, of course! On Mornings with Pat Kreitlow, Wisconsin Rep. Christian Phelps pointed out all the ways that Wisconsin's Republican dominated Joint Finance Committee is hurting education in Wisconsin, and the Drs. have some thoughts. Local schools are darn important. They educate our kids, they bring us together, they employee our people. In many ways, schools are our communities. So don't miss this episode of BustED Pencils! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

We all have Memorial Day marked on our calendars as the unofficial start of good weather, cookouts, and days at the beach; but what is it really all about? Today Dr. Johnny Lupinacci and his guest Jakob go through the history of Memorial Day. Did you know that Memorial Day dates back to the 1860s? How about the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day? We talk about it all in today's somber and respectful edition of BustED Pencils as we remember those have gave everything for America and ponder the spirit of Memorial Day. Special thanks to all those who served our country! Plus Johnny makes an exciting announcement regarding Jakob's ever evolving role within the BustED Pencils conglomerate. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

On today's episode of BustED Pencils Dr. Tim Slekar returns from his sabbatical to respond to Dr. Johnny Lupinacci's 5 Point Education Plan from Wednesday's Class in Session. But wait, there's more! We have breaking news as the Supreme Court shoots down efforts to have publicly funded religious charter schools in Oklahoma and Donald Trump's never-ending pettiness results in Harvard University being banned from accepting any foreign students. It's a wild day, but don't worry; Tim and Johnny and here to help. So sit back, relax, and prepare for a smooth landing as Tim brings us back to Earth with classy, intelligent commentary on higher education. Producer Jakob is dazed and confused during this episode. Busted Pencils is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-7 pm across Wisconsin. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook, X and Instagram to keep up with Dr. Tim, Dr. Johnny and the show!

It's a very, very special episode of BustED Pencils today as we're able to play our part in introducing America to one of the world's fastest growing sports. Pickleball? GET THAT STUFF OUT OF HERE. Jai alai? NEVER HEARD OF IT. No, dear listener, today we're talking about your grandson's favorite sport; Esports. And who better to teach us about that very subject than acclaimed educator and Esports coaching expert Matthew Mooney? Nobody, that's who. So don't touch that dial, because Dr. Johnny Lupinacci and Jakob the Elite Gamer are here to hack the mainframe into the cyber world of Esports on this episode of BustED Pencils! Dr. Tim Slekar WILL RETURN in BustED Pencils The Movie. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Matthew Mooney

If you want to get a 10,000 foot view of higher education, you don't need a $500 million Qatari super jet. All you need is Dr. Johnny "The Condor" Lupinacci! Today The Condor is joined by Jakob (aka Baby Bird) for a discussion of how our universities can turn challenges into opportunities. If fewer young people are choosing to go to college, how can universities adapt to present a better value proposition? How can our institutions adopt meaningful missions that give direction to faculty and students alike? Johnny "The Condor" Lupinacci has a few ideas, plus he prepares some homework for Tim to turn in on Saturday's show. So DON'T MISS IT, it's BustED Pencils! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

On a somber episode of BustED Pencils, Dr. Tim Slekar and Jakob the Wonder Boy discuss a growing problem in higher education. As universities struggle with enrollment amidst a growing demographic crisis, states and their college systems face tough choices when it comes to allocating funding. This has led smaller branch schools (think UW-Whitewater or UC-Davis) to have to fight hard for their roles in education as resources are pushed to marquee locations. Can these withering branches be saved? Will their fall lead to the rising of a new, stronger education system of the future? Let's talk about it. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

Two titans of learning, two colossal minds, two high-flying education commentators at the top of their game; and this time they're agreeing with each other?!?! Today we exit the A.I. Wars era of BustED Pencils (perhaps briefly) and get back to something Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci can agree about; making classrooms better places for kids and teachers alike. What stressors make teaching a mentally and physically draining career for so many of our nation's teachers? Why is the current administration so intent on making our classrooms a literal and metaphorical battlefield? Johnny returns from a teaching conference with a whole bunch of thoughts on just that, and Tim is loving what he's hearing. Long story short, it's about time the people in charge of our education system wise up and embrace a simple slogan; make learn, not war. Producer Jakob was also there, but he didn't contribute very much. The NHL playoffs are in full swing and perhaps his mind is just a million miles away. Nonetheless, rest assured he will be duly reprimanded for his inattention. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

We're all a couple of Fonzies today as Tim continues traveling the globe in search of rare herbs and spices, leaving Dr. Johnny Lupinacci and non-Dr. Jakob no choice but to go it alone. Thankfully, the fellas have a great topic for today! What can teachers learn from coaches? What can coaches learn from teachers? Are these two jobs all that different after all? Or are they just different applications of the same ideas and practices? That's what Johnny's got on his mind today and Jakob is down to clown. So stick with us as we discuss how coaching is teaching and teaching is coaching on THIS exciting episode of BustED Pencils. Thank you for listening to today's program. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

Class truly is in session this week as Dr. Johnny Lupinacci returns from his sojourn to a teachers' meeting fit to burst with thoughts on this week's Homeroom episode. Johnny talks about the value of early child education in enabling children to start life on a strong footing and how Sesame Street has played a part in that effort for over fifty years. Plus how can we make education and the study of teaching both accessible to newcomers AND challenging? Johnny has thoughts. So join Johnny and his young ward Jakob as they search near and far for answers to today's burning education questions. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

Our worst fears have come true; Monday is here and Dr. Johnny Lupinacci is nowhere to be found. Some say he's in Nepal climbing Mount Everest. Others speculate he may be deep undercover behind the Iron Curtain. Or, perhaps, he has a meeting. Regardless, Dr. Tim Slekar and Non-Dr. Jakob are here to discuss pressing issues in education. The government is trying to cut funding for PBS, leaving Bert and Ernie facing a fiscal crisis, and Indiana is turning down free money meant for feeding hungry kids (or as the President may misunderstand it, "Feeding Hungary kids".) Tune in for an in-depth discussion of Monday's biggest headlines in education. On another note, Producer Jakob would like to apologize for implying that enjoying NASCAR is in anyway linked to being closed-minded. Jakob would never, NEVER, want to denigrate NASCAR fans.* BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! *For NASCAR fans, "denigrate" means "put down." Guest: Jakob

In this episode of Busted Pencils, Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci are joined by a couple of very special guests to talk about Wisconsin's number one issue. Heather DuBoise Bourenane and Jenni Hofschulte from the Wisconsin Public Education Network are here to talk about the contentious budget session underway in Madison. This isn't just about bureaucracy, it's about the funding that keeps our schools safe, stimulating, and sustainable places that serve our communities. Don't let anti-education forces get away with their shenanigans, speak up and make your voice heard! Producer and simple farmer Jakob provides perspectives from Middle America. Busted Pencils is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-7 pm across Wisconsin. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook, X and Instagram to keep up with Dr. Tim, Dr. Johnny and the show!

Today we're joined by Civic Media's very own Wisconsin sports expert Jimmie Kaska. Jimmy brings us an update on the changes coming to high school athletics. How will name, image, and likeness rules impact the average young athlete in our state? Is NIL going to change the game, or is it just a small part of our overall athletic culture? And what impact will Alex's Orange Chicken have? Jimmie has all the answers, and Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci bring plenty of questions. So join us, won't you? For an exciting episode of BustED Pencils! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jimmie Kaska

Today, Drs. Johnny Lupinacci and Tim Slekar welcome special guest Sofia Mirza to discuss her journey from educator to entrepreneur and to hear her thoughts on how the education system can benefit from lessons learned in the private sector. Big institutions play a valuable role in society, but their size and long history often create significant institutional inertia. Sometimes, we need an outsider's perspective to shake things up and provoke change. That perspective becomes even more valuable when it comes from someone like Sofia, who brings experience from both the education and business worlds. She has worked as both an educator and a private businesswoman. Can an outside perspective improve learning outcomes in education? Today, we explore this and more on BustED Pencils. Armed with a master's degree in education, Sofia entered the classroom determined to inspire students. But she quickly realized that the system often restricted true creativity. Despite the challenges, she deeply respects the teachers who work tirelessly to engage students in a system that doesn't always support innovation. So she chose a different path—earning a second master's in design, applying her background in psychology, and diving into the tech world. Now, as Principal of Drift2 Web Solutions, Sofia combines all those elements in her role as an interaction designer. She creates digital experiences that are not only useful and usable but also genuinely enjoyable. This episode was produced by Jakob. Jakob does not feel insecure about being the only non-doctor regularly featured on the podcast. Afterall, we're all just people. He's so non-insecure about it that he feels that it doesn't ever bear mentioning. Frankly, he doesn't know why you brought it up at all. This description was written by Producer Jakob. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Sofia Mirza

Today Dr. Johnny Lupinacci and Dr. Tim Slekar discuss an interesting development in education as the Supreme Court is set to rule on whether or not religious charter schools can receive public funding. What truly makes a public school? Is it an elected schoolboard, direct state funding, or something else? Can a religious organization provide a secular education? And how can we make sure that public tax dollars are used to serve the public good rather than to prop up any one particular religious ideology? Find the answers to these questions and more as we wade into unchartered waters on THIS episode of BUSTED PENCILS. Producer Jakob had a wild weekend. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Join us this Saturday for the epic final showdown between Dr. Johnny Lupinacci and Dr. Tim Slekar's A.I. Clone as two giants of the education industry settle once and for all the question of how A.I. is going to change our classrooms. Will Johnny prevail and prove that no teaching machine can replace a good human instructor? Or will Tim's Clone prove that an A.I. like himself can do just as good of a job teaching as any fleshy meat bag (A.I. slang for human). It's the question that has dominated not just this show but the entire education landscape for months, and finally we will have our decisive answer; Johnny Henry vs the Teaching Machine. Who will win? Find out today on BUSTED PENCILS. Producer Jakob dedicates this episode to his Japanese A.I. girlfriend. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

The times they are a-changin', that's for darn sure. Eight-man football? New headgear for sprinters? Kids signing big money contracts while they're in high school? Oh my! Today Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci discuss these topics and more as they delve into some big changes coming to Wisconsin's essential curriculars within high school sports. Will A.I. education be the death of essential curriculars or will it enable them to become a greater part of education as kids and teachers alike spend less time on busy work and more time on their passions? Does NIL mean that high school athletes will become commodities beholden to their local Alex's Orange Chicken Restaurant or will is it finally allowing young people to be fairly compensated for all they bring to their communities? Producer Jakob holds the boys' feet to the fire with the hard-hitting questions listeners like YOU deserve the answers to! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

On Monday Dr. Johnny Lupinacci (Lup' Skywalker) delivered a devastating blow to the prospect of A.I. replacing simple, hard-working teachers (the Death St-A.I.-r?). Now Dr. Tim Slekar (Darth V-A.I.-der) makes his long anticipated return to the show to remind Johnny of the positive impact that the inevitable rise of the machines can have on schools and student education outcomes. Which side will prevail? Will Lup' Skywalker manage to carve out a role for humans in the education system of tomorrow? Or will Darth V-A.I.-der and the Emp-A.I.-re (Empire?) Strikes Back prove to be too much for teachers and schools to adapt to in time? Producer Jakob spends the entire podcast frozen in carbonite (but don't worry, he gets to marry Princess Leia later so it all works out). BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

You know her, you love her, it's Britni Walz! As the Instructional Services and Educational Technology Director at CESA 4, Britni has been at the forefront of integrating AI into rural Wisconsin classrooms. Fresh from the ASU+GSV Summit—a premier gathering of educators, innovators, and tech leaders—she's here to share insights on how the summit's discussions and discoveries will influence her work back home. From AI literacy to equitable access, we'll delve into how cutting-edge ideas from the summit can be translated into meaningful change for rural educators and students. Essentially, Britni is here to tell us whether AI is something so be feared or something that can bring us to the educational stairw-A.I. to heaven. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Britni Walz

Mighty serious accusations are flying in this week's edition of Class in Session as Dr. Johnny Lupinacci strikes back at Dr. Tim Slekar and his vision for an AI dominated education utopia. Is AI going to revolutionize the way we learn? Are teachers becoming obsolete? Or is AI a powerful tool that requires a skilled teacher to use to its full potential? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Luddite Lupinacci and Tim the Professor Hater face off in a clash of titans! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

With Dr. Johnny Lupinacci indisposed, Dr. Tim Slekar has no choice but to try to educate junior producer-in-training Jakob about the intricacies of school choice. What is Texas Governor Greg Abbot planning to do with so-called universal school choice rules in his state and why does Tim think that they might backfire on him? Does Jakob know that the nationwide school choice movement started right here in Wisconsin? And how does universal school choice create a whole new mess of problems for rural parents and students? And what about our choice to support our public schools? Find the answers to all of these questions and more in today's episode of BustED Pencils! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Hail the conquering heroine! Friend of the show Hallie Newman Schmeling, or Teacher Hallie as we call her around these parts, is back on BustED Pencils for the first time since being elected to the Menomonee Falls school board! Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci have a lot of catching up to do with Hallie as she discusses her journey from educator to deciding to run for public office, the good times and the tough moments of running a political campaign in 2025, and how to bring good old fashioned classroom lessons into the realm of public service. Join us as we talk about it all on THIS exciting episode of BustED Pencils. Teacher Hallie and her partner Teacher Joanna are Educators Amplified, a podcast dedicated to raising up the voices of educators.  BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Hallie Schmeling

You've all been waiting for it, and we're finally delivering. For the first time in 28 DAYS sports whiz kid Jimmie Kaska has made his TRIUMPHANT return to the podcast to discuss the wide and wonderful world of Wisconsin sports. Jimmie informs our intrepid hosts Drs. Johnny Lupinacci and Tim Slekar about the WIAA's upcoming slate of reforms to high school athletics covering everything from allowing kids to earn money through NIL deals to coaches being allowed to give their players a few pointers during the off-season. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jimmie Kaska

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon promises Americans an A1 education as she confuses A.I. with a popular barbecue sauce brand, Dr. Tim Slekar makes his triumphant return to the show after getting his pearly whites repaired, and Dr. Johnny Lupinacci takes a walk on the bright side by pointing out some of the opportunities presented by a rapidly shifting education landscape. With higher education facing a turbulent sea of challenges and threats, Tim and Johnny discuss the way that declining demographics and economic austerity are forcing institutions of higher learning to either adapt or die. And producer Jakob does a great George W. Bush impression. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Blue-collar scholars and warrior poets Dr. Johnny Lupinacci and producer Jakob overcome their grief over Tim's absence to take a look at one of the perhaps not unexpected results of Donald Trump's executive order banning “DEI” and “woke” from classrooms as in Idaho a 6th grade teacher finds herself in a difficult situation when her school's administration asks her to take down a classroom poster that simply reads “everyone is welcome here.” When the definition of controversial changes, should our values change too? Or do we all have an obligation to continue making everyone feel welcome regardless of what certain forces within society might like to scare us into doing? And what could be more patriotic than loving your country enough to want to see it improve? BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!