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Today, I interview Toni Okamoto, founder of Plant-based on a Budget and Michele Cehn, founder of World of Vegan to talk about their new book and their journey in building their business. Combined, they have over 1.5 million Instagram followers and numbers in the six figures on various platforms such as youtube, email lists, and everything else. Toni and Michelle built their following from scratch and turned what they did from hobby to business. In this episode, you will learn the journey that Toni and Michelle took to get there as long as some really insightful tips on running an influencer company. But most importantly, they’re a dynamic duo and an amazing case study of how collaboration amplifies everyone. The funny story is that I’ve met them personally and have even playtested their recipe. Why Funny you should ask. Toni’s husband is Paul Shapiro, author of Clean Meat, and a popular interview in episode 102. When I moved to Sacramento to start Better Meat Co, Toni was one of the first people I met in Sacramento and Michelle also lives there. Since they loved to cook, they would do a lot of fun parties and cook delicious food. One of my favorites is a chocolate pie made of silken tofu. Toni and Michelle are probably the most down to Earth people I’ve ever met.  They are super authentic, super passionate in what they do, and they are just such nice, accommodating people who are just full of sunshine. You can find their new, collaborative cookbook The Friendly Vegan Cookbook wherever you can find books, and we have a link to it in our shownotes! About Toni Toni Okamoto is the founder of Plant-Based on a Budget, the popular website and meal plan that shows you how to save dough by eating veggies. She’s also author of the Plant-Based on a Budget Cookbook, co-author of The Friendly Vegan Cookbook, and the co-host of The Plant-Powered People Podcast. Okamoto’s work has been profiled by NBC News, Parade Magazine, and she’s a regular presence on local and national morning shows across the country, where she teaches viewers how to break their meat habit without breaking their budget. She was also featured in the popular documentary What the Health. When she’s not cooking up a plant-based storm, she’s spending time with her husband and their rescued dog in Sacramento, CA. About Michelle Michelle Cehn is the founder of the popular food and lifestyle website World of Vegan and a YouTube personality who has reached millions through her creative and relatable videos. She is also co-host of the Plant-Powered People Podcast and co-creator of the 12-Day Dairy Detox, Plant Based on a Budget Meal Plans, and 7 Days documentary. Michelle has been on a lifelong mission to make kind and healthy living enticing, easy, and fun, ever since the age of eight when she first became a vegetarian. Also a passionate photographer and filmmaker, you can find her dishing out mouth-watering food photos and inspiration daily on Instagram, hanging with her pup Chance, and stepping into parenthood with her hubby Dan. Show Notes During the pandemic Michelle now has a new baby Toni now has a new dog. Pitbull handle - @eddiethepittie Toni Okamoto – I’m an author Michelle – I own the website World of Vegan Toni’s Platform Toni’s Instagram: 400,000 followers E-newsletter: 60,000 followers Website Plant-based on a budget: 15,000 users/day Michelle’s Platform Michelle’s Instagram: @vegan: 1.1 million people Also do youtube videos Toni’s audience is more budget friendly Michelle’s audience is more focused on veganism Over time, our audience blends We chose the word The Friendly Vegan to promote the love of food On our book, we look for cheaper ways and more available options for the world What’s the most underrated plant-based protein?: Lentils Lentil Shepard’s pie Tuna Salad made of Chickpeas How does the process work?: We started veganiging our family recipes and went from there How did you find out about Veganism? Toni Okamoto’s story: stopped eating meat at 16, then became full vegan in college and then with 11 years of experience, did animal advocacy. Plant-based on a budget is actually a side project What the Health exposure exploded Toni’s career Michelle Cehn’s story: I worked on world of vegan for a while and when I lost my job, I had a choice and ended up working my butt off and ended up getting much more money than I thought I could get What were your metrics on going forward with your blogging projects?: I always had low expectations in terms of how much I need to survive. I would always review business goals Toni Okamoto’s Story: I was always poor and to the point, I was always surviving. I had Paul Schwartz (friend of ours) help me push myself to make bigger goals. I found a $70k salary was an extremely ambitious goal Patreon What was your first Sponsorship story? Toni Okamoto: I did a sponsored post for a baby stroller and got $200 dollars. I had no kids and was transparent that I was doing this to keep the lights on Michelle Cehn: I went to Natural Products Expo West and saw people paying social media influencers I would give companies my media kit and charged $25 dollars per post. Every time I would communicate for a brand and they kept on saying yes so I double the price As an Influencer, surprisingly the difference in success is price per user. If you charge more, you survive more All big companies have a plant-based company now There’s a lot of information, too much so a lot of our content is focused on recipe development and help lift that sector up Vegan is generally a bad word. A lot of people who approach us love us because we’re friendly What is one piece of advice about becoming a professional blogger?: Just do it. Know that there will be challenges and don’t try to focus on the competition What was the make-or-break point that made you keep going?: For Toni, she got an email that talked about this mother taking care of her family using plant-based on a budget For Michelle, it’s every warm piece of feedback Plant-powered People Podcast

Victoria is now in a declared "State of Disaster" with category 4 lockdown and some States have closed their borders to Victorians, as well as to their own residents who have been living elsewhere. In this episode we speak to Constitutional Law expert, Professor Kim Rubenstein from the University of Canberra about how the Australian Constitution is being used by Clive Palmer to challenge the WA border closures, and discuss what the High Court will consider when determining whether the closures are lawful.This is a critical legal issue which will have far reaching implications for many Australians currently living interstate. We interview, Amber, a Western Australian with family in Perth, who recently moved to Melbourne for study and now finds themself unable to return to WA despite facing homelessness in Melbourne.**Update (05/08/2020) - Our guest Amber was granted an exemption by the WA State Government to enter Western Australia after our interview regarding their circumstnaces.Show Notes:During the episode Professor Kim Rubenstein made reference to the following oral history record about Marlene Ann Hall:Australian Woman Lawyers as Active Citizens - Professor Kim Rubenstein interview with Marlene Ann HallPrevious High Court Judgements referred to in discussion:Cole v Whitfield [1988] HCA 18 Castlemaine Tooheys Ltd v South Australia [1990] HCA 1 The Australian ConstitutionThe episode discusses section 92 and section 117.  

Frances chats about decorating quick fixes in this Facebook Live, discussing elements to incorporate into your home to give it a new lease of life. Things you already have at home, or won’t cost a fortune. SHOW NOTES: During times of isolation and staying at home, it’s a perfect time to sort out all those little things that have been annoying you at home. along with some of the bigger bugbears. In this podcast, Frances chats about decorating quick fixes and elements to incorporate into your home. Move things around You don’t need to remodel a room to make the space feel different or make it look more appealing. In fact, it can be accomplished without spending a cent! To inject new life into a room, move what you have to different rooms, change it with another piece, and circulate your artwork so you can change it around to create a different look in a room.  Add things that makes you happy Identify what may be missing in your home and start adding things that makes you happy. You can fill empty walls with artwork, items your children have made, or simply paint or wallpaper empty walls to add colour and texture.  Hanging photographs of travel or your family is also a great way to personalise your space. Maximise every space in your home Get rid of unnecessary items sitting around in a room, particularly if they are not functional. Make sure you are maximising every space in your home to be as useful and functional as possible.  Think about spaces and rooms that may be under-utilised. For example, there might be a space that you can set up for the kids  homeschooling environment or a master bedroom with a spare corner that can have a desk temporarily set up for your own working from home area. There are always at least one or two things you can do in your home to reinvigorate it’s look and feel and purpose.   Services Available: If you feel you need some help with your home we have several online services available here. Related resources: Injecting New Life Into Your Home 

How can I have optimism, happiness and social connectivity during the coronavirus pandemic?    Acclaimed happiness expert Shawn Achor reminds us that it’s in the darkest times that we need optimism, gratitude and social connection the most.   After spending 12 years at Harvard earning dozens of distinguished teaching awards, Shawn went on to become a New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential, deliver a TEDx with over 19 million views and work with 30+ Fortune 100 companies.   Today, Shawn joins me to talk about coronavirus and what you can do to be happy and feel connected during this season of unprecedented adversity. You’ll leave today’s conversation with research-based reasoning to be optimistic and 3 practical tips to increase during any season of uncertainty. SHOW NOTES: During high school, Shawn recalls the Branch Davidians + how the Waco siege gave him insight and compassion for people trying to understand conflicts.  Shawn is fascinated by how some people can rise out of a challenge and use it to propel them forward while it can paralyze others. As a volunteer firefighter, Shawn unexpectedly was accepted to Harvard and granted a military scholarship. His admission essay focused on his hunger to expand his small world and how he'd want to remind his peers how privileged they were. Expectations affect gratitude: Quickly, Shawn recognized that many of his peers' expectations were met in attending Harvard and didn't experience the same level of gratitude because his acceptance was not expected.  Rather than embracing the gift of the moment, we often are too focused on looking forward.  While doing research on Harvard, Shawn saw that success wasn't yielding happiness because your brain adjusts to what the goal is. Does success = happiness? If people become happier, raise their gratitude for the present, deepen social networks or raise their levels of optimism, then success rates rise dramatically. "Happiness during good times is more of a luxury item. When things get difficult, happiness has an even more beneficial effect." "In the darkest times is when we need optimism, gratitude and social connection the most." "Happiness is not irrational optimism." "Optimism allows your brain to be the most adaptive possible when the negative occurs." Rational optimism: starts with a realistic assessment of the present but maintains the belief that eventually my behavior will matter if linked to the right people. While teaching and researching happiness, Shawn courageously shared he was battling depression. While battling depression, Shawn learned that the majority of our happiness is interconnected with each other. In his book Big Potential, Shawn shares groundbreaking University of Virginia research on how our very perception of reality is transformed by the presence of others. If someone who is genetically predisposed to pessimism can make small tweaks to their day, they can experience impactful change.  Three practical tips to increase optimism, happiness and social connectivity:   Each day, practice scanning for 3 new things that happened in the last 24 hours that you're grateful for.  When anything positive happens, jot it down on a piece of paper, throw them in a bowl and read back through them at a later date. Take a few minutes to send a positive message, email or text to someone which will create a ripple effect and a reciprocal loop. "Happiness is not the belief that we don’t need to change; it is the realization that we can." Get Shawn Achor's New York Times bestselling books Big Potential, The Happiness Advantage and Before Happiness. To combat all this negativity and fear around coronavirus and the other uncertainty we face, I created a 21-day challenge to inspire our community to focus on what they can control and to remain ferociously optimistic that their best remains ahead. Sign up for the IN AWE 21-Day Challenge here. SHAWN ACHOR'S LIVE INSPIRED 7 1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. 2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Confidence. 3. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? A broken guitar that I love. 4. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be? C.S. Lewis. He's been the biggest influence in my life and who I've modeled my career after. 5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received?  My mentor Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar said, "You're never as great as you think you are and you're never as bad as you think you are." 6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? Make friends. If you want friends, you have to be a friend. Don't let loneliness and insecurities stop you from feeling socially connected. 7. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read?  He made other people feel understood and that happiness was actually possible. *** Pre-order your copy of IN AWE today to receive access to fun, interactive bonus features emailed to you in the lead-up to the book’s release! Visit ReadInAwe.com.  *** Did you enjoy today's episode? Share it with your friends! Then subscribe, rate + review on Apple Podcasts. Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

Show Notes During a two day enterprise challenge facilitated by Ian for Sunderland University, we held a panel discussion. We heard from  Mark Stuart Bell, Elise Hanna and Robert Banerjee about their experiences of starting up a business following their graduation.  The panel share; Students journey What happens after you graduate? Startup Cashflow Payment Terms Reinvestment Collaboration Equity and investment Working with Influencers Best / worst piece of advice Covering many roles in the business Q & A Show Sponsors:- Far North Sales & Marketing Far North Sales & Marketing Consultancy are all-encompassing Business Development specialists, our aim is growth, your growth. We understand that the overhead of permanent experienced members of a team may be a step too far, maybe you would like to take a product to market, run a fresh pair of eyes over the sales process or just get over a lean period, we can help.

Keah Brown, the journalist behind the viral #DisabledandCute, exudes pride, confidence, and humor – but that’s not always been the case.  Through years of introspect, Keah has learned to celebrate her cerebral palsy and strives to bring awareness to the struggles and triumphs of persons with disabilities. Her new book The Pretty One explores her journey to self-love and what it means for you. This candid conversation explores how to better accept, love, and empower ourselves and each other. SHOW NOTES: During her adolescence, others began calling attention to Keah's disability, leading her to believe it as negative. Keah has reformed a friendship with her non-disabled twin sister Leah after a season of resentment in high school.  Keah put the view of her self in the hands of others. "Insecurity is often the catalyst that sparks the most judgment." Every day, Keah would remind herself four things that she loved about herself allowing her to accept + love herself. #DisabledAndCute: To celebrate her self-love, Keah posted 4 photos she loved of herself on Twitter that led to a viral campaign. Oscar-winning actress Brie Larson personally requested Keah to write her Marie Claire cover story. Read the article here. "When you treat having a child with disabilities as the worst possibility in the world of having a child, that means you treat all of us adult with disabilities that we are the worst outcome." Keah sees strength as beyond physical assertions and includes survival + vulnerability. Get Keah Brown's The Pretty One here. If you enjoyed today's episode, you'll love hearing from Live Inspired Podcast guests Ben + Amy Wright, owners of Bitty & Beau’s Coffee which proudly employing people with disabilities. Listen to Ben + Amy on ep. 85 here. KEAH BROWN'S LIVE INSPIRED 7 1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory. 2. What is a characteristic or trait that you possessed as a child that you wish you still exhibited today? Fearlessness. 3. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? Photo of my grandma. 4. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be? Oprah Winfrey and ask “what it means to have an impact and influence on millions of people around the world?” 5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? Keep going even when it feels like there is no point to it. Push through the fear and exhaustion to make sure you’re doing the things that you love and that matter to you. 6. What advice would you give your 20-year-old self? Girl, you’re going to look back on this time and laugh fondly at yourself. You think you have everything figured out. Relax and don’t be so hard on yourself. 7. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read? Keah Brown changed the world but first, she had to change herself by choosing love in the face of kinds of things. *** Did you enjoy today's episode? Subscribe, rate + review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts! Live Inspired with John daily on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram + get his Monday Motivation email.

Show Notes: During today's show, we discuss the article by Clair Cain Miller in the New York Times called "The Relentlessness of Modern Parenting" and ultimately its impact on schools and teachers. * How does the "filling of time" lead to a "parenting gap" between poor and wealthy families?  * How is the type of parenting that is on the rise widening the reality between income levels? NYTimes - Britain’s Risky parks: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/10/world/europe/britain-playgrounds-risk.html Dear Betsy News Round Up: Betsy DeVos gets bad reviews from employees as morale at Education Department plummets, survey finds  

Show Notes: During today's interview segment, we chat with Andrew Marcinek, former (and first) Chief Open Education Adviser for the US Department of Education, and current Chief Information Officer at Worcester Academy in Worcester, Massachusetts.  In his role at the Department of Education, Andrew focused on accelerating the adoption of open education policies within the Department and across the federal government. As part of this campaign, Andrew organized a White House event that launched a national movement called #GoOpen and brought together EdTech companies, district and state leaders, and nonprofits. His ultimate goal was to increase the curation and sharing of open educational materials by educators throughout the country. Prior to that, he served as Director of Technology, Instructional Technology Specialist, and secondary English teacher in schools in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.   During our discussion, we ask Andrew about his role as Chief Information Officer at Worcester Academy, how the use of technology may be impeding student learning and widening achievement gaps, and what #EdTech may look like in the coming years and decades. Questions and Resources: 1. Recently, research from Finland was published that said that "digital-based curriculum impedes learning" - what kind of balance should teachers seek when utilizing technology in their classrooms? Is there a right/wrong way to do so? 2. In your previous work, you worked to integrate 1:1 technology learning environment for schools. What does a 1:1 classroom look like in an ideal environment and how should school leadership teams go about facilitating this work? 3. With more and more student data being shared and hosted online (e.g., Google Apps for Education), and with your depth of experience as it pertains to implementing technology in schools, what are your concerns for the future of student privacy? What are some things that schools/teachers/families should concern themselves with?  

Show Notes: During this episode's Teacher Tips segment, the gang discusses tips and tricks for how to check for student understanding throughout and at the end of each lesson, why it's important, and how to most effectively implement strategies. Resource mentioned: 52 Ways to Check for Understanding    

Show Notes: During the first segment of Episode 4, the crew discusses a recent piece by Valerie Strauss entitled: Linda Darling-Hammond VS Diane Ravitch and Carol Burris (https://wapo.st/2ziklcc) Darling-Hammond's side takes exception in this piece that there is room for charters in America. She takes up "the issues of choice in public education from a different perspective from the one that has been driving debates since the election of President Trump." This piece comes in response to what Diane Ravitch wrote about charter schools: Does it matter who operates America’s public schools? (https://wapo.st/2qU3iZF) "That’s a central question in the national debate about education and the movement to find alternatives to school districts that are publicly funded and operated. While charter schools are publicly funded, they are privately operated and are not required in most places to be as transparent as publicly operated schools. The public also has little say in key operations of private and public schools that accept publicly funded vouchers."

Show Notes: During today's interview, we discuss gamification and standards based grading with Mr. Andrew Kozlowsky, high school social studies teacher from Maryland (@MrKoz31). In his fifth year of teaching, Andrew has transformed his classroom from what was always a welcoming, rigorous social studies class, to one that is gamified: where students are motivate to learn by using video game design and game elements in the classroom environment. Listen along as Mr. Koz explains how he pushes kids for excellence each and every day! Resources: Zombie Nation Site: https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/zombienation/home Abraham Lincoln Movie Trailer Side Quest: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V9Q3_ZL2RbwgYik_Ms2WNCmYD_X6wba6/view?usp=sharing Jamestown Minecraft Side Quest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UDkNMVu8fo&feature=youtu.be Standards Based Grading Rubrics: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WcsfCwX68fPSHiEaM8N6EAN6LczcxkPaO8e-vTd-NrE/edit?usp=sharing  

Show Notes: During today's main segment, we discuss: * The Lost Generation of Millennials - how does the financial insecurity of our times impact schools, the teacher workforce, and teacher retention? Business Insider: The 'lost generation' of millennials born in the 1980s may never be as rich as their parents Chalkbeat: Voices: Get with it: Millennials are the future of teaching * Dear Betsy - what is good 'ole Betsy up to lately? Judge unblocks Obama rule on student debt relief after delays by DeVos DeVos’ security detail projected to cost up to $7.7M during the next year Betsy tells students to not be mean on Twitter  

Show Notes: During today's main episode release, we discuss David Geurin's (@DavidGeurin) piece about why some educators burn out while others grow to be more passionate.  We all agree on the six points posited by Geurin, but must one be outwardly passionate in order to be an effective educator? We end the main episode with a wonderful AARP quiz on how much sugar we eat, and more importantly a better quiz that checks our knowledge on Hispanic Heritage Month. Why Do Some Educators Burn Out While Others Seem to Grow More Passionate http://www.davidgeurin.com/2018/03/why-do-some-educators-burn-out-while.html

Show Notes: During today's show, we discuss how the push for grit and growth mindset in schools could lead to deficit thinking in teachers and communities. We reference the article: "Grit and Growth Mindset: Deficit Thinking? Examining the cultural narrative around these ideologies" by Rick Wormeli: http://www.amle.org/BrowsebyTopic/DiversityandSocialEquity/DivDet/TabId/185/ArtMID/791/ArticleID/937/Grit-and-Growth-Mindset-Deficit-Thinking.aspx#.W2r3jf644kp.twitter And during our first ever Teacher Tips segment, Robby, Peter, and Casey share their "go to" tips for beginning the school year on the right foot.

Truffle Media Update 0013 Show Notes: During the 2018 Animal Agriculture Alliance Stakeholder Summit, Dallas Hockman, Vice President for Industry Relations for the National Pork Producers Council, participated on a panel titled "Postmodern Animal Ag Begins Now".

Show Notes: During the first part of our final episode of season 1, we interview Dr. Johann Neem, author of the new book "Democracy's Schools: The Rise of Public Education in America." Dr. Neem is a senior fellow at the University of Virginia's Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture and a professor of history at Western Washington University. He is the author of Creating a Nation of Joiners: Democracy and Civil Society in Early National Massachusetts, and the book that we will be discussing tonight. Questions / Topics Discussed: Dr. Neem's book covers a comprehensive history of public education in America, but looking toward the future: what do you believe the future of public education will look like? What worries you about the state of public education in America? What gives you hope? What parallels do you see from the time of Andrew Jackson and our current political climate as it pertains to the purposes of public education?      

Show Notes: During today's show (a two-parter!), we talk with the legendary, the one and only, Dr. Carol Ann Tomlinson about all things differentiation. During Part 1, we focus on the "big picture" of differentiated instruction:   Inspiration for beginning research on differentiation... Maintaining high expectations for all... Improving belief systems in teachers...

Show Notes: During today's show, we discuss the following:  Restructuring middle and high schools as they currently stand (departmentalization; interdisciplinary teams) How has departmentalization impacted student achievement in secondary schools? We end the episode with another outstanding, engaging and rigorous quiz administered by Casey - awards given to all! What do you know about the history of education in the US? Resources Mentioned/Referenced: Maryland PTSA Diversity Conference Semi Self-Contained Learning Communities in Grade 6: Bringing New Evidence to Bear on Middle Grades Education Twitter for Project SUCCESS    

Show Notes: During today's show, we discuss a number of education stories from the news of the past two weeks.  Nationwide Teacher Walkouts The deaths of two major figures in education history: Linda Brown Thompson (of Brown v. Board) and Johan van Hulst, a principal in Amsterdam who saved the lives of over 600 children from the Nazis. We end this episode with another outstanding, engaging and rigorous quiz administered by Casey - awards given to all! What do you know about the history of teacher strikes in the US? Resources Mentioned/Referenced: ‘Starbucks classrooms,’ plus six other new approaches in education Linda Brown Thompson, girl at center of Brown v. Board of Education case, dies Johan van Hulst, Who Helped Save 600 Children From the Nazis, Dies at 107 No end in sight to Oklahoma teachers strike

Show Notes: During today's show, we debrief Betsy DeVos' terribly embarrassing interview on 60 Minutes during our first segment. What are the impacts of having an education secretary with such little experience and investment in and around public schools? In our second segment, we have Tara García Mathewson from The Hechinger Report about the lack of physics teachers in schools with high poverty levels and schools that are composed largely of students of color. Tara García Mathewson is a staff writer for The Hechinger Report where she covers national education issues. After graduating from Northwestern University, Tara worked at the Daily Herald, Illinois' third largest newspaper where she covered city government and education in Chicago's suburbs. Tara grew up in rural Western New York, and currently lives in Boston. "Physics is widely considered to be a building block for a range of STEM disciplines— science, technology, engineering and math — and taking the course in high school is strongly correlated with getting a degree in a STEM field. Educators, policymakers and the general public agree that education in STEM is important. STEM occupations, jobs data show, pay more, and employment in STEM fields has grown at a faster rate than overall job growth." In our final segment, we discuss new playground/recess ideas in Britain, and Casey leads us through a quiz show that will blow your mind! Resources Mentioned/Referenced: WaPost Transcript of 60 Minutes Interview DeVos Takes Shot at 60 Minutes Interview https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/betsy-devos-calls-60-minutes-a-waste-of-a-half-hour Analysis of PISA and TIMMS The Hechinger Report page for Tara Garcia Mathewson One reason students aren't prepared for STEM careers? No physics in high school In Britain's Playgrounds, 'Bringing in Risk' to Build Resilience 

Show Notes: During today's show, we discuss the Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS shooting during our first segment. Despite all the noise on this issue, as educators, how do you think we should improve what we do to keep students and staff safe in our schools? We discuss the major points in the case, who is on each side, and the implications for teacher unions moving forward. In our second segment, we discuss the Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court Case. Public employees in Illinois did not want to pay mandatory union fees in a state where all employees who work in a job with unions must pay "fair share" dues, omitting portions of the fee that go towards political action. Janus argues that the required fees are a violation of his First Amendment free speech rights because the Union engages in speech and causes that he disagrees with, referred to as a compelled speech. Unions obviously view a decision against them as 1) would bring about their demise, 2) would take away worker protections as it relates minorities and women, and 3) there is no first amendment right to be free from compelled subsidies, 4) that Janus’ characterization of unions as purely political is a gross mischaracterization of union activities.  In our final segment, a new Dear Betsy segment devolves into a discussion about nothing, kind of like Seinfeld, and kind of like Betsy Devos' actual work with education...nothing!  Resources Mentioned/Referenced: Dana Milibank: The Koch’s are Trying to Kill Unions George Will on Janus Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court Case Why was Betsy DeVos at a Supreme Court hearing about the fate of workers unions?  

Show Notes: During today's show, we discuss the following topics during our first segment: From The Denver Post, we discuss the pros and cons of shortening the school week: "The four-day week, once a tool of rural districts, is coming to a Denver metro school district." Funding issues are causing school districts across the country to cut days from the school week. Achievement levels seem to stay at similar levels (in spite of the loss of an instructional day). In our second segment, we interview Mr. Rick Wormeli, who is a national voice in standards based grading, differentiated instruction, and all things education. Rick Wormeli was one of the first Nationally Board Certified teachers in America, he brings 38 years of teaching experience in math, science, English, physical education, health, and history, and coaching teachers and principals. Rick’s work has been featured on Good Morning America, National Geographic Magazine, and the Washington Post. He is a frequent contributor to AMLE Magazine, and ASCD’s Education Leadership Magazine. Rick is the author of the award-winning book, Meet Me in the Middle, as well as the best-selling books Day One and Beyond, Fair Isn’t Always Equal, among others. In our final segment, Casey leads us through a pop quiz on Higher Education!  Resources Mentioned/Referenced: Rick Wormeli's Website: "Let's Change Education Together" 4 Day School Week Coming to Suburban Denver Study Shows Math Gains in 4 day School Week AMLE.org

Show Notes: During today's show, we discuss the following topics during our first segment: From EducationNext, we discuss Chester Finn's piece entitled: Emphasis on Thinking Skills over Facts in Schools Contributes to Truth Decay. Are teachers teaching thinking skills devoid of facts? What is the difference between math/science facts and social studies facts? Is there room for interpretation? What does Finn mean when he talks about "curricular squeamishness"? In our second segment, we interview Ms. Gillian Williams, President of The Rensselaerville Institute. During our interview, Gillian and the gang discuss how TRI and their turnaround efforts are effective, what "durable change" looks like, and the key areas of successful educational change. In our final segment, Robby leads us through the "Top Ten Most Controversial Education issues in US History."  Resources Mentioned/Referenced: Robby's Published! Semi Self-Contained Learning Communities in Grade 6: Bringing New Evidence to Bear on Middle Grades Education EducationNext: Emphasis on Thinking Skills over Facts in Schools Contributes to Truth Decay by Chester Finn Jr. The Rensselaerville Institute  

Show Notes: During today's show, we discuss the following topics during our first segment: From the Washington Post, we discuss the previously lauded Ballou High School where it was just discovered that many students who received a diploma missed an extensive amount of school (so much so that they probably shouldn't have graduated by traditional metrics).  More than 1 of every 10 students receiving a diploma from a D.C. public high school last year missed most of the academic year, according to an investigation released Tuesday that casts a shadow on a district that has trumpeted improvements in graduation rates. What does it mean to receive a diploma? Why is there doubt cast upon the students, when in reality it is an adult-created / system-created problem? In our second segment, we bring back Hot Takes! and talk about school awards, teacher evaluations, tracking students to specific careers, and extracurricular activities.  In our final segment, we bring back another beloved segment all about #DearBetsy! During #DearBetsy, we discuss Devos' most recent speech that posits that Bush 2 and Obama's respective education reforms have done little to impact students. Resources Mentioned/Referenced: Devos: Nothing Presidents Barack Obama or George W. Bush did in Education Reform Really Worked No More School Awards! What to do with extracurricular activities?   Article about just Ballou High School (WaPost) DC Graduating Chronically Absent Students (WaPost) Ask the Right Questions and Learn Something (WaPost Op-Ed) Not Ballou's Fault (WaPost Op-Ed from Valedictorian)  

Show Notes: During today's show, we discuss the following topics during our first segment: From the New York Times (linked below), the way schools are evaluated may be changing. We discuss how a new study shifts how we look at "underperforming" schools. This study suggests that policy makers and education leaders may be thinking about student outcomes in all the wrong ways! In our second segment, we have two very special guests to discuss Social Emotional Learning and a program they created called "TEAMology." Resources Mentioned/Referenced: How effective is your school district? A new measure shows where students learn the most TEAMology Invent Penn State backs TEAMology with $75,000 award from Fund for Innovation TIME: Betsy Devos: The Biggest Controversies from year one Devos reverses policy on campus sexual assault investigations Ed Dept says it will scale back civil rights investigations Betsy Devos wants to spend millions on school vouchers. Two new students say they don't actually work A raw deal from Betsy Devos For-profit college regulations Devos Forcing scammed students to repay loans for meaningless degrees Devos has 10 boats, two helicopters, a yacht scheduler and a lifestyle that you can’t afford ($580m in assets) The Polarizing Pick to be Betsy Devos’ right-hand man Students boo Betsy Devos as commencement speaker at HBCU Republican Tax plan is an early christmas gift for Devos family (Senator Toomey inserted amendment that exempts schools that don’t accept federal funds from being taxed on their endowments) Guest Information: Tonight we have two guests who are experts in Social Emotional Learning and building Character in our young students. Students who rank higher on the Social Emotional Learning scale have demonstrated they are more successful students, as they demonstrate higher levels of skills such as problem solving, resiliency, and leadership, they are shown to score higher on tests, attend school more regularly and become more valuable assets to future employers and society. Linsey Covert is a former teacher and school counselor and now instructor in the Penn State College of Education. As a graduate student, she saw a need for a practical solution to help students develop better relationships and life skills for a more successful future. She began developing ideas for Project TEAM over a dozen years ago and is now the director of Project TEAM, a school-wide anti-bullying movement developed at Penn State to help schools evolve into TEAM-oriented climates. She founded TEAMology, which under license from the university, began recently spreading the SEL and Character Foundations to schools throughout the region by launching a cloud based platform allowing teachers to easily access research based SEL curriculum, track progress, earn badges in SEL, and most importantly communicate, collaborate, and support one another. Linsey is joined by Lisa DiBernardo, who not only taught these skills successfully to students in NJ for 6 years, and won awards, she joined the TEAMology movement as an Education Director and has been largely credited with helping 1,200 teachers and now 14,000 students improve their Social, Emotional and Character skills.

Show Notes: During today's show, we discuss the following topics during our first segment: From the Washington Post piece on private school enrollment (below), how are private schools contributing to school segregation? To what extent are private schools necessary for a high-functioning education system? In our second segment, we have THE Zaretta Hammond on our show, author of Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain. Zaretta Hammond joins us from the beautiful state of California, right after a full day of leading professional development! Resources Mentioned/Referenced: New research says schools don’t matter much in helping kids climb the economic ladder Private School enrollment contributes to school segregation Zaretta Hammond's Blog "Ready4Rigor" Guest Information: Zaretta Hammond is the author of the bestselling book, Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain. Zaretta is a former writing teacher turned equity freedom fighter and over 19 years ago, Zaretta moved from supporting students in her classroom to supporting teachers who are committed to getting better results with their culturally and linguistically diverse students. Zaretta has trained instructional coaches, designed national seminars for teachers and school leaders and is a regular presenter at national conferences for education. Zaretta's research revolves around literacy, vocabulary development and equity. Zaretta established and writes for the blog "Ready4Rigor" and is most widely known at present for her more recent publication: "Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain." Finally, Zaretta is the proud parent of two young adult children, both of whom she taught to read before they went to school. She resides in Berkeley, California with her husband and family. So let’s get into it

Show Notes: During today's show, we discuss the following topics during our first segment: Clandestine meeting between Randi Weingarten (President of TFA) and Steve Bannon, former top advisor to President Trump. Reed College, a private liberal arts school in Oregon, is experiencing ongoing and persistent student protests over a required humanities course: "Lectures for one of Reed College’s signature learning experiences, a humanities course on the ancient Mediterranean, were canceled after protesters tried to interrupt the class to protest perceived Eurocentrism. What’s the future for courses grounded in ancient -- largely Western -- texts?" In our second segment, we have yet another excellent guest to continue our conversations over equity in schools, Mr. Troy Boddy. Troy Boddy is currently the Director of Equity Initiatives in Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland. Resources Mentioned/Referenced: Why did Steve Bannon meet with teachers union leader Randi Weingarten? The man who set it up says Trump ‘likes her.’ Professors like me can’t stay silent about this extremist moment on campuses Occupation of HUM 110 Tami Jimenez (Twitter) , elementary teacher and education enthusiast! Check out her podcast, "Time to Teach" on Libsyn! Guest Information: Troy Boddy is currently the Director of Equity Initiatives in Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland. Troy began his career as a reading teacher, staff development, assistant principal, and elementary school principal prior to his current role as director of the equity unit, whose purpose is to support and collaborate with schools to address equity and cultural competence in the 16th largest school district in the United States. Troy's office help schools and offices address structural barriers that enable the racial achievement gap to persist.

Show Notes: During today's show, we discuss what some Kansas education policy makers are planning on doing with their public schools (hint: it's probably not a good idea). From the Lawrence Journal-World, we discuss the idea of no longer adhering to age-level grading, the impacts it may have, and why it actually might be a decent idea (to some degree). In our second segment, we have a very special guest on from our friends over at Education Excellence - Ardith Wieworka is our guest tonight.  Resources Mentioned/Referenced: Kansas schools may no longer group students by grade level as part of plan to remake education system Massachusetts Afterschool Partnerships EdWeek: Ed. Dept. Sweets Away Old Special Education Guidance and Regulations (List of regulations lifted) Tami Jimenez (Twitter) , elementary teacher and education enthusiast! Check out her podcast, "Time to Teach" on Libsyn! Guest Information: Ardith is the Chief Executive Officer of the Massachusetts Afterschool Partnership, a non-profit agency dedicated to ensuring that all children and youth have equal access to high quality afterschool and summer programming, before school, after school, and during the summer months. She also serves on the senior management team of Child Development and Education, an early education and school age care program serving 4000 children in Massachusetts. Prior to her work in the private for-profit and non-profit education sectors, Ardith served in state government as the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Office for Children and the Office of Child Care Services, overseeing the field of early education and expanded learning opportunities.

Show Notes: During today's show, we discuss how Florida is in the process of "resegregating" their schools and what that means for closing the opportunity gaps across the nation. Using Moriah Balingit's article from the Washington Post (linked here) we discuss why it is happening, and what we should be thinking about in regard to its impact across the country. Then, we have the absolute pleasure in having THE Curtis Linton on the show with us for Part 1 of our series on equity in schools. During our discussion, we discuss how equity is defined for schools, how it different schools experience success in equitable outcomes, how student autonomy=greater equity, and the difference between multiculturalism and equity in schools. Resources Mentioned/Referenced: Angela Watson's "Truth for Teachers" Episode 106: 3 Beliefs that Damage Teacher Relationships with black male students Florida's Schools - once integration's great hope - are resegregating by Moriah Balingit School Segregation Report by Race, Poverty, and State by Gary Orfield Equality of Educational Opportunity: A 40-Year Retrospective (on the Coleman Report) by Gameron and Long Guest Information: Curtis Linton is the CEO and founder of Curious School. He is a renowned expert in educational equity and growth leadership. In his career, he has documented on film and in writing with School Improvement Network the successful practices of hundreds of successful schools, organizations, and leaders. He is the best-selling author of the Equity 101 series and co-author of the award winning Courageous Conversations About Race. With Curious School, Curtis is supporting the development of principals and educational leaders through the Growth & Equity Leadership Institute--a dynamic peer-to-peer collaborative learning experience that brings together engaged educators who aim to become Authentic Leaders, Equity Advocates, and Social Entrepreneurs capable of building equitable learning environments that work for diverse learners. After adopting their children, Curtis and his wife Melody started the Domino Foundation, which serves families that have adopted transracially with social and learning opportunities. They live with their two beautiful children in Salt Lake City, Utah.

  Season 2, Episode 7 For Wednesday, November 4, 2015 “Being Content and Thankful” HOSTS: Wesley & Denise Skelton     Show Notes: During the month of November, we tend to focus on being thankful, but contentment & thankfulness is something we want our children (& ourselves!) to experience all year.  On this episode, we […]

Michell and Dan began their working relationship as friends.  Dan supervised a group of 8 employees; 7 young men plus Michelle.  Michelle was only 21. Before work each morning, however, she had to drop off her young son at her mother’s house.  As a result, Michelle often arrived between 5 and 15 minutes late. But Dan was sympathetic to Michelle’s struggles as a single mom.  He was the only other person at work with children.  Plus, how could you not like Michelle?  She worked hard, she was cute, and she could talk “like one of the boys.”  In fact, sometimes she made the boys blush! Yet, little voice in the back of Michelle’s head kept telling her that the crude sex talk at work wasn’t something to be proud of.  In fact, she admitted to herself that she wouldn’t want her son talking like this.  But Michelle never spoke up… until one day when one of the guys said something so crude and disgusting that even she couldn’t take it any longer… Listen to the podcast to hear how Michelle and Dan’s relationship changed forever, how Dan nearly lost his job, and to learn if Michelle was able to keep her position with the company. Just by listening to this true story you will learn about retaliation in the workplace, and also about the importance of timing when establishing retaliation claims. Show Notes:During the show I mentioned the blog article by "Careerguyd" about violence in the workplace.  If you would like to read that article yourself just click HERE.I also mentioned that one of the members of the Forums has her own blog that is worth reading.  That is "HR Wench" and you can reach her blog by clicking HERE.Finally, I revealed that my ace WordPress customizer is Sherry Dedman of Blog-Solace.  If you have your own blog and would like a technical expert to help you spiff it up, add complex plug-ins, or you just need some advice, you can check out Sherry's blog about blogs HERE and her forum about the technical side of blogs HERE.