Johnson & Orders: Outside the Box

Taking inventory and talking about how relationships change, based on context and contact (which everyone is missing right about now). Thanks for listening!

Ever peer into your past and wonder how you could have been so different -- or so much the same? Recorded on the brink of the Fall 2020 school reboot, this massive, meandering episode explores the complexities of growing up... and staying the same. Welcome to Season Four! Image Credit: “The Good News about Regrets | Oliver Burkeman.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 2 Feb. 2018, www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/feb/02/good-news-about-regrets-oliver-burkeman.

This "time capsule" of an episode was recorded almost a month ago, when we were still poised on the brink of the COVID-19 pandemic. The orders to stay home and eschew contact with other families have since become more intense. This episode marks the last time either of us interacted with anyone outside of our own families in person, with the exception of "essential service" workers. We're now all too familiar with terms like social distancing, online learning, and contactless delivery, and it's quaint to hear how foreign they felt to say just four weeks ago. Apologies for not getting this posted closer to its creation... but it is an interesting snapshot of the very beginning of the long lockdown. Be well out there, and keep staying home. Thanks for listening!

Well, this one took a while to post! What with all this healthy living, early to bed & early to rise stuff, when does a guy have time to edit?! Thanks for listening through our crazy challenge, and good luck keeping up with all the small changes you've instituted to make life a little better in big ways.

Almost through with the OTB 2020 Challenge -- just five days to go! This one started as an update, but as we settled in, we realized we missed doing full episode-long sessions. So we just stretched out and made ourselves comfortable. Thanks, as always, for listening!

A quick update, with an audial glimpse of M. Johnson submitting to the "acute stress" of the cold shower on the air...

We are halfway through the challenge, and still going strong! Today we drop science on acute stress, cold therapy, and the importance of keeping perspective. Keep going strong with your goals, and thanks for tuning in for our daily updates and half-way reflections. Rock on!

It's the weekend! Keep it going strong... in this bite-sized update, we chew on sea salt, wakeful productivity, and limited connections to email and other stresses. We'll include a numbers check in the next round.

It's the end of week one of our little OTB Challenge, and we have some more reflections to share! As we share stories about the last few days, we also dig deeper into why water is so important to all of our brain and body functions. Keep keepin' it real, keep making great choices, and keep listening and telling us about your own stories! Also, if you want to suggest ideas for what the winningest winner should get, we're all ears. See you at the next update!

We kick off the challenge with a couple daily check-ins, in case you're wondering how it's going. Thanks to everyone for listening, joining in with your own versions of self-improvement, health, and wellness -- and HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2020 is off to a great start. More updates to come...

We're wishing you a Happy New Year and inviting you to join us on our quest for better sleep and hydration! Among other things, here we explore some of Dr. Matthew Walker's more salient points about sleep science, eventually working our way up to the wellness challenge we toyed with last episode. We'll both be tracking sleep quantity, sleep quality, and water intake for the month of January -- if you want to join us, you can use the listeners' version of our tracking spreadsheet here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1yXcU32kwgL7DOMqdxy__oBnFmafSr5ZfoZLj8O0WBKE/copy. The daily formula is pretty simple: 1 point for every minute of sleep over 6 hours; 10 points for every percent of sleep quality over 75%, and one point for every ounce of water over your daily recommendation (0.5 oz/pound). If you're tracking with us -- or tracking something else for health and wellness -- let us know! Thanks for listening, and here's to a great start to 2020! -Matt & Steve

On the cusp of winter break, we sit down to talk books, kids, and positivity. Lots of shouts out (shout outs?) in this one -- thanks for listening and Happy Holidays! (The author not mentioned is Elaine Aron, btw...) Image Credit: https://insights.ehotelier.com/insights/2016/08/10/empathy-secret

Lots to catch up on, including concerts and other routine-busting experiences. Props to Hobo Johnson and Naval Ravikant, both of whom feature prominently in this episode's exploration of all the ways we keep trying to break out of boxes in the pursuit of a meaningful existence.

...And, we're back! Kicking off another season of meandering ruminations and explorative conversations. Thanks for listening! [image credit: https://www.moillusions.com/awesome-twist-on-the-impossible-cube/]

What is it about REAL challenges that make them worth the risk... and what makes us yearn for the next chance to expand our experience? In the final episode of Season Two, we explore what drives us to risk vulnerability as we reach beyond our current abilities, and the importance of trusted coaches who help us improve. (Special props to Jack Orders, future Olympian; and a link to the Finland "risk-takers" study: https://www.sintef.no/en/latest-news/risk-takers-are-smarter/)

JWMS principal intern Kevin Yates runs it down: when to take a stand, how to just let go, and the importance of recognizing the influence we can have every day. (Special thanks to Michael Barbaro and his NYTimes podcast "The Daily" for solid reporting and constant inspiration.) [Image credit: “Tug of War - Pulling Rope.” Wacomms, wacomms.co.uk/brexit-betrayal-sense-reality/tug-of-war-pulling-rope/.]

Tonight we're jamming out with principal Nate Provencio, talking about his award-winning school, Minnieville ES (VA). We run down the fascinating parallels between education, healthcare, Chik-fil-A, and good old Rock 'n Roll. (To hear more of the music featured in this episode, check out "Trystic" on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, or your favorite streaming service.)

A brief conversation about finding hope in the face of despair, and connections in the face of disparity. Featuring reflections on Cormac McCarthy's novel "The Road" and Kate Tempest's record "Let Them Eat Chaos." McCarthy, Cormac. The Road. Picador, 2010. Tempest, Kate. "Let Them Eat Chaos," Lex Records, 2016.

What's it like to "be the County?" In part two of our look at Central Office, we sit down with English Curriculum spokesperson Rachel Bennett to talk about creativity, innovation, engagement, and equity.

When do you feel 100% comfortable saying: "Yeah, I unequivocally vouch for _________!"

In this mini-episode, we explore two words that have us thinking -- and why they have us thinking about our thinking. "Mercurial" and "Metacognition" are on the OTB Word Wall!

In this two-part feature, we dish with some of the thinkingest people in Central Office, to find out exactly what it means to make the move from a schoolhouse to "The Dark Side." Scores of forward-thinking, creative educators make this move every year; here we ask two leaders to expound upon how they leverage their own personal visions and styles to influence the higher echelons of our educational system.

This one's all about being grateful and giving thanks. Thank you for listening, and Happy Thanksgiving!

In our first episode for Season Two, we sit down with Jeff Brown, principal of Roberto Clemente MS, to discuss the importance of vision and developing a personal style.

With this last [rough-cut & mobile] podcast as active Wolverines, we say "adios" and "hasta pronto!" to many of our well-loved friends. We explore the excitement and vulnerability of heading off to new challenges, just like so many of our graduates. Thanks for listening, and join us in our next iteration... whatever that may be!

So what, we're on break and in different hemispheres? We can still take a couple moments over break to share perspectives and reflections -- albeit in low fidelity.

What can we actually learn about anyone from a 20-minute interview, or from a single test? We discuss limitations of the snapshots offered by various interviews and tests, and explore how we REALLY want to be assessed. Image credit: K, Karol. “How to Create a Killer 'Hire Me' Page as an SEO, Instead of a 'Meh' One.” SEO Blog by Ahrefs, 27 Oct. 2016, ahrefs.com/blog/hire-me-page/. (Various sound clips included under Fair Use.)

But a man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or what's a heaven for? (Robert Browning) This week we puzzle over what makes us want to try -- and it's not about threats OR treats. How can we find work that is intrinsically motivating, and maximize our effectiveness at doing tasks that matter? Image Credit: “Using Stick and Carrot To Motivate Employees.” Don't Look Back, douglasemerson.blogs.com/dont_look_back/2010/07/using-stick-and-carrot-to-motivate-employees.html.

The good news -- and the bad news -- is that we are condemned to be free. Free to interpret our world in a way that gives our lives meaning. What you see when you look out at the world around you, and how do you choose to interpret it, makes all the difference. "The really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day. That is real freedom. " -David Foster Wallace, May 2005 ("Kenyon Commencement Speech," a.k.a "This is Water") Image Credit: Magritte, René. The False Mirror. 1928. Museum of Modern Art, New York. Museum of Modern Art. Web. 21 Jan. 2015.

Had to put off posting this episode until we finished our "real" work...but here it is. We discuss three big reasons why we all procrastinate, and how best to escape the cycle. Don't put it off -- tune in now! Image credit: “The Art of Jugaad.” IDEX Global Fellowship, www.idexaccelerator.com/blog/2016/12/16/the-art-of-jugaad.

No matter how you're celebrating V-Day 2018, we hope you'll enjoy this compilation of love, laughter, and advice from the staff and students of WMHS. Thanks for sharing this Hallmark holiday with us... and keep it OTB!

BOOM! These are quick, "bite-sized" episodes that explore interesting words in about three minutes each. Today we discuss "canon" (not "cannon") and who decides what's hot and what's not. Music credit: Hamilton: An America Musical. Performances by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr., Phillipa Soo, and Jonathan Groff. Atlantic Records, 2015.

Gotta love snow in Moco, and #MoCoSnow! Turn your jammies inside out and tune in... thanks for another little breather, Muhkips! (And if you haven't yet, check out @MCPSsnow and @TheMoCoShow on Twitter and elsewhere!) Photo credit: Angie. “Snow day Superstitions.” Angies Grapevine, 7 Jan. 2015, angiesgrapevine.wordpress.com/2015/01/07/snow-day-superstitions/.

Is it live, or is it Memorex? We hash out the struggle to be "in the moment" and have authentic interactions, in the face of a million distractions. (Also, Johnson eats a tiny portion of pasta.) Special thanks to Mike Milosh and NPR's "All Songs Considered," and apologies for the weird audio glitch around 15:30 -- just another reminder of how much we rely on technology! You can check out the entire NPR Mike Milosh interview here: https://tinyurl.com/y722rbly Film sound clip (borrowed under Fair Use): Chazelle, Damien, director. La La Land. Summit Entertainment, 2016. Photo credit: Kanellos, Michael. “Can Sound Waves Reduce Power Consumption?” Gtm, Greentech Media, 1 Mar. 2010, www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/can-sound-waves-whack-power-consumption#gs.N8GScy8.

How does my "Snooze" button keep me down? Johnson shares some sleep cycle science, and applies it to our waking lives. (Featuring special guest Roc, as himself.)

Not about to be "grounded" by today's school closing, we convene in the home studio to discuss some books that have us thinking about winning, learning, falling down, and getting back up. (Special thanks to Muhkips for granting us another little break from the crazy pace of the end of the semester!)

Use your PC or PD, ASAP, to hear the latest OTB... Photo credit: “Scrabble Tiles.” Gateway to Science - North Dakota's Hands-on Science Center, 29 Oct. 2014, online.

Discussing some resonant concepts from Clint Smith's conversation with our English RTs this week... Who we are, who we're expected to be, and how we navigate the space between. Photo & sound clip credit: Smith, Clint. “Clint Smith.” Speaker | TED, Aug. 2014, www.ted.com/speakers/clint_smith.

Exploring interesting words and the stories behind them... Photo credit: “Nothing To Do With Arbroath.” Thief digs car out of snow then steals it as neighbours chat to him, 11 Dec. 2010, arbroath.blogspot.com/2010/12/thief-digs-car-out-of-snow-then-steals.html.

Not to be deterred by today's school closing, we break new ground with a Skype session podcast. Fresh from winter break, we discuss our shared resolution to spend more time with the various families we belong to -- both the ones we were born into and the ones we've created. Photo credit: CFD907. “Monster Bus.” YouTube, YouTube, 10 Jan. 2010, www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF2kFfyagbY&feature=related.

What CAN'T you learn to do online? We talk about pushing ourselves to learn new skills, and how accessible this kind of learning has become in recent years. Google it, YouTube it, and learn it. Photo credit: “Reading Babies??? Update – Your Baby Can’t Really Read.” Boogers on the Wall, 26 July 2012, boogersonthewall.com/2012/07/26/reading-babies-update/.

Look up, would ya?! Today we're talking about all the ways our portable tech can connect us to the world around us...or be an excuse to isolate ourselves and waste our potential. (Special thanks to Banksy, for not giving us permission to post this photo of the graffiti he didn't have permission to create.) Photo credit: Gander, Kashmira. “Banksy's Mobile Lovers: Youth club owner who sold artwork in Bristol receives death threats.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 27 Aug. 2014, online.

This week, we host an interview with two special guests from the Watkins Mill Current, our school newspaper. We give a little more background about the show itself, and discover that some people are already tired of Mr. Johnson. You can read their article here: [paste link when available].

How do the jobs we hold as young people shape the adults we become? This week we discuss odd jobs, lessons learned, and Henry V.

Getting our first episode off the ground! We talk about what brought us to these roles, and why we love the work we're doing.