Who Needs A Classroom Podcast

After testing positive for both Covid and the flu, the Professor had some anecdotal evidence to share--mostly relating to his symptoms and the overall experience of being sick with Omicron. 

The world of youth sports can be a real test for even the most patient, level headed parents and kids. After spending the last 12 months coaching his son in 3 different sports, the Professor highlights two key points of focus that can be used by both children and adults: attitude and effort. While many things are out of our hands, the perspective we utilize to assess our situation and the work ethic we're willing to put towards our goals are largely in our control. 

How do we make sense of all the tragedy in the world? How can we get anything done with all the madness going on? Sometimes we have to put blinders on, narrow our focus, and create a bubble that works for us. 

After taking a break to reassess and recalibrate what's important, the Professor is back with a new season of episodes. Since you can't do it all, and you especially can't do it all today, each of us has to figure out what our priorities are if we hope to progress towards them. Spending some time figuring out our why and our what can help save us a lot of wasted energy on things that aren't important. Actualizing our vision involves aligning our big goals with our everyday little habits.

Part 4 of the Professor's series on Biostatistics. Epidemiologists know that if we can hold on a little longer, we can beat this thing. Remember that even if you're vaccinated, kids everywhere aren't. If we jump the gun and try to get back to normal too soon, we'll end up making this drag out even longer--and endanger millions of people in the process. 

Trying something new puts you in the beginner category. While new beginnings are beautiful, they can also be frustrating, confusing, and disappointing, especially when expectations aren't realistic. Embracing the idea of a child's mind--one of curiosity, wonder, and fresh perspective--in both our personal and professional lives can bring new opportunities and help us break out of rigid thought processes and preconceptions. 

Staying at home with our kids in online learning scenarios allows us a special window into the teaching environments and curriculum that otherwise wouldn't have been available. After listening in on his son's 4th grade class for the past year, Shreve shares some principles that we can all apply. 

The third installment in C.Shreve's series on Biostatistics focusses largely on measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and measures of variation (range, standard deviation, coefficient of variation). Nominal & ordinal scales are discussed as well as qualitative and quantitative variables. The usefulness of figures is highlighted and a sample standard deviation problem work through is included.

Big tasks and projects have to be broken down incrementally. The entire journey cannot be completed in one day--and thus only the part of the process you're in now demands your full attention. Finding a way to focus in and concentrate your energy on the step at hand is vital to unlocking your full potential. 

You gotta put in work if you expect to build anything. Your time has value and if you waste it, a part of you knows that you've lost an opportunity. Working at something improves your competence, which in turn improves your confidence. Work is the simple four letter word that can make all the difference.

Part 2 of the Professor's series on Biostatistics drives home the point that the way the sample is selected is more important than its overall size. A large sample is useful, but not if the numbers reflect a sampling bias. Selecting a sample that is representative of the population being studied is absolutely vital to reaching solid conclusions. 

For more than a decade, Professor Shreve taught Biostatistics to public health students. An understanding of how scientific data & information is collected, analyzed, and presented is vital for critical thinking. This first episode of the series introduces several basic concepts such as significance, blinding, randomization, bias, and more. 

As the world attempts to reopen and get back to normal, performing artists are left to make the difficult choice of when it makes sense to start touring and hosting shows again. Though Shreve makes the point that things aren't grey at all right now, there will certainly be a transition period where each artist will have to make the decisions that feel best regarding live shows. 

Microwaves were introduced to American consumers in the 1960s and were billed as a way to save time for busy workers and their families. Shreve discusses how a mass shift towards quick ready made meals and marketing that directly addresses this go-go-go lifestyle has rippled outward. In life, we learn, some things just take time. 

Preventative maintenance isn't just something for automobiles. You can't wait until game day to get your shot right. You have to upkeep your tools if you expect them to work when they're called upon.

The foundation of human relationships is trust and reciprocity. The networks of individuals we develop connections with can prove to be a rich resource if we learn how to develop mutually beneficial dynamics. Shreve references Social Capital Theory and his experiences in both the rap world and football. 

Doubt can eat you alive. A focus on doing the work required can work wonders for increasing your belief in your own ability. Whether you think you can or can not, you'll probably end up right.

Ahh branding. Always exciting when someone comes by to spend most of their day trying to convince you that Coca-Cola is not the right answer to the question "what kind of cola do you want?" 

See what you want and then execute a plan to make it happen. It's all so simple in theory, yet how often do we end up off-course because things weren't going as expected. Somehow the big picture has to inform all of the tiny decisions that become the momentum we move through the world with. When we can't find our motivation to do what's necessary, the big picture can remind us. 

The final day of 2020 brought with it the news of the tragic passing of one of hip hop’s greatest MCs of all time, MF DOOM. The first week of 2021 brought the unimaginable: a siege of the Capitol and an attempted insurrection lead by the President. Studying the Super Villain helps America's craziness make sense.

Attempting to commercialize one's art has always been difficult. Navigating the highly competitive independent music landscape during the social media era amidst a pandemic might just kill you. 

Doing too much? Under too much pressure? Too much on your plate? Going too hard? You need to moderate muthafucka. Since the days of Aristotle, moderation has been highlighted as a tenant of "virtuous living." The pandemic provides a much difference context, but moderation is still as relevant as ever. 

In a process that feels very counterintuitive, the obstacles we face and the constraints we live through end up being a source for our drive and inspiration. Somehow, the monsters we face and the missions we complete earn badges of honor for our psyche which end up building the armor we use to take on the world. 

Shreve shares his thoughts on the ways that comparisons can affect us both negatively and positively. From keeping up with the Joneses to social media influencers. From debates about Jordan vs. Kobe vs. LeBron to MC top 5s. Americans love to make comparisons--is our sense of joy suffering as a result?

Being able to show gratitude for the little things in life can make a world of difference. Remaining grateful through hardships and staying thankful for small blessings can help provide the glimmer of hope and the thread of strength we need to get through. 

Americans seem to think that a coronavirus vaccine is right around the corner when the simple truth is that it's not. The sooner we embrace preventative measures en masse, the sooner we have a chance to climb out of this. Shreve references Diffusion of Innovations theory and relates it to Americans' hesitancy to adopt known disease spread reduction methods.  

Maybe the ultimate psilocybin cautionary tale. In life sometimes you learn lessons the hard way. C.Shreve the storyteller presents us with his College Story aka the top 5 things you don’t want to experience on mushrooms. Parental discretion advised.

After taking in way too much news coverage during the 2020 election, the Professor highlights the importance of choosing accurate information channels in our decision making. Essentially, what's on your curriculum? The experiences we feed into our life with intention can have powerful impacts on where we go and how we get there. Blindly checking out only half the story will only get you half way there.

Who Needs A Classroom Podcast will be many things. Sometimes a social commentary, sometimes a travel journal / parenting spout off, sometimes a classroom experience. Since Professor Shreve is no longer on campus, he needed a space to speak. An anything but predictable podcast from rapper & educator C.Shreve the Professor.  

Prior to the pandemic, Shreve was preparing for the End of the Weak MC competition in New York City. His appearance (like all NYC shows) is in somewhat of a holding pattern, so he's been extensively training his freestyle abilities in new ways to stay sharp. He discusses what freestyling means and how it can apply philosophically to life.

Shreve spent the early 2000s walking on to the Michael Vick led Virginia Tech football team. The experience was philosophically formative and affected how he’s approached things ever since. The walk-on mentality, he explains, can be applied to any situation where you have to create your own opportunity.

In this kickoff episode, Shreve introduces listeners to his classroom philosophy, his perspectives on teaching, and a little bit of what to expect. Since he was forced to remain apolitical for his entire university teaching career, the Professor enjoys a dive into the 2020 election and serves up his scathing takes on the Trump presidency, the modern republican party, and why the entire MAGA concept is way off course. Summarily, Shreve reminds his listeners about the importance of voting.