Podcasts about virtual workshops

#254When was the last time you had enough time to actually think about your teaching instead of just keeping up with it? If you're like most language teachers, the school year is a constant cycle of planning lessons, grading, answering emails, attending meetings, and preparing for the next day. Summer offers something different: space. Space to reflect, learn, create, and prepare for the kind of teaching you want to do next year. But I also know that summer doesn't look the same for everyone. In this episode, I'm sharing five ways language teachers can use whatever time they have this summer to grow professionally without sacrificing the rest and balance they deserve.Topics in this Episode:  summer is one of the few opportunities teachers have to work on their teaching instead of simply surviving their teachingfive things language teachers can do during the summer that are genuinely difficult to find time for during the school year.reflect on what actually worked this yearlearn one new teaching skill deeply instead of ten superficiallyexplore ideas you've been curious about all yearstart next year feeling prepared instead of panicked Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win CourseA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#253What if your students could use the language they're learning to build real relationships with peers across the globe? In this episode French teacher Heidi Trude joins me to explore how authentic global connections can transform language learning. Heidi shares how a partnership that began with a simple idea grew into meaningful collaborations that deepen students' language proficiency, cultural understanding, and confidence. We talk about virtual exchanges, international partnerships, practical starting points, sustainability, and the role of technology in making it all possible.Topics in this Episode:Heidi's initial spark for building global connections and moving from “this would be nice” to actually making it happenthe benefits of global connections for students and the teacher and some unexpected benefits that Heidi has seen the various types of global connections (virtual connections, in-country visits) and what it looks like in practice a few realistic entry points for a teacher who wants to create authentic global connectionsmaking these connections sustainabletech tools for global collaborations and ensuring the technology enhances communication rather than distract from itHeidi's Resource: Making The Global ConnectionConnect with Heidi TrudeEmail: techietrude@gmail.com Website: Tech with TrudeFacebook: Heidi.TrudeInstagram: @hlt2007X/Twitter: @htrude07A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#252Have you ever wondered whether your tests, quizzes or assessments truly measure what your students can do with the language, or are they just looking at what students can memorize or explain about the language? In this episode we're diving into Integrated Performance Assessments, or IPAs, an effective way to assess how students are actually able to use the grammar, vocabulary and cultural understanding. An IPA assesses how students engage with the language through the interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes. If you've been working toward proficiency-based instruction and looking for assessments that align with those goals, this episode will help you with that.Topics in this Episode: Many teachers are moving toward proficiency-based instruction, but assessment often remains disconnected from communication goals.If our goal is communication, then assessment should provide opportunities for students to communicate.What is an Integrated Performance Assessment (IPA)? IPAs assess students through the three modes of communication: Interpretive, Interpersonal, PresentationalThe three tasks are connected rather than separate activities.Students move through a sequence that mirrors real-world communication: Receive information, Discuss information, Share informationAn IPA focuses on what students can do with language rather than how many grammar rules they can identify.Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win Course: Integrated Performance Assessments.A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#251Have you ever felt like you're not allowed to say this out loud? That Comprehensible Input works beautifully with novices… but something feels different at Intermediate High and Advanced? That maybe your students plateau, avoid complex structures, or fossilize errors and you quietly wonder if you're doing something wrong? What if the issue isn't you… and it isn't your students… but the choice we've created between CI or explicit instruction?Topics in this Episode: The tension around CI and explicit instruction: CI has become dominant; Some spaces treat explicit instruction as regression; Teachers feel pressure to claim “pure CI;" Meanwhile, many quietly supplement.Most SLA studies focus on novice/intermediate learners; there simply aren't many rigorous studies examining advanced learners.When you attend CI workshops or read CI literature, the vast majority of examples, materials, and strategies target novice learners. This isn't because CI can't work at higher levels. It's because we haven't developed robust models for what it looks like there.The 'bandwagon effect': CI has achieved near-ideological status in some circles. Teachers feel pressure to claim 'pure CI' success even when they're supplementing with explicit instruction. The research does NOT support abandoning CI at advanced levels. It DOES support integrating strategic explicit instruction, particularly for complex features that are infrequent or non-salient in input.Blog Post with Cited Research: Balancing CI and Explicit Instruction Across Proficiency LevelsA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#250What if a few intentional moments of gratitude each day could help you feel more connected, energized, and sustained in your teaching life? In this episode, I speak with Dr. Allyson Power about how gratitude practices can help world language teachers reconnect with what they enjoy most about teaching. Drawing from her doctoral research and years in the classroom, Dr. Power shares practical insights on teacher well-being and resilience while also creating space for reflection, connection, and renewed energy in our schools and classrooms.Topics in this Episode:what Dr, Power to gratitude as the focus of her work, especially as a world language teacher and department chairthe assumptions and hypotheses that Dr. Power had about how gratitude might support world language teachershow she gathered and analyzed datawhat she saw in journals and why these moments of noticing and recognizing gratitude matter teachers' day-to-day well-being and resilienceavoiding “toxic positivity” and staying realistic for educators who are under real stresswhat teachers can do right away to notice moments of gratitude and how that can support their and well-beingConnect with Dr. Allyson Power:Instagram: @profesorapowerEmail: apower@ridgefieldps.net A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#249Do you spend hours correcting student writing—marking every error, fixing every verb, circling every agreement mistake—only to see those same exact errors show up on the next assignment? What if the issue isn't your students… and it's not your effort… but the way you're giving feedback? Today we're talking about how to shift your writing feedback so students actually use it, improve their accuracy, and build confidence—without you spending your entire weekend gradingTopics in this Episode: The core issue: When we correct everything, student writing doesn;t seem to improve.  Why? Because:There's no clear focusThere's too much cognitive loadThere's no pattern recognitionThere's no prioritizationAnd most importantly:  Students don't know what matters.Instead of correcting everything, it is more effective to focus on a few things that actually move learning forward.Two key approaches: Focused Error Correction (Gianfranco Conti),  Focus Correction Areas (Collins Writing)When you make this shift:Students actually read your feedbackThey know what to fixThey improve in targeted areaYou spend less time gradingAnd here's the big one: Writing starts to feel doable for studentsReady For Tomorrow Quick Win PD Course: Quick and Effective Writing FeedbackA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#248When you think about participation in your classroom… who comes to mind first? Is it the students raising their hands? The ones who always have something to say? The ones who are quick, confident, and ready with an answer? Now think about everyone else. The quiet processors. The students building confidence. The ones still developing language. Are they participating—or are they being left out of how we define participation? These are great questions to consider to ensure that we recognize and honor what participation means for all students.Topics in this Episode: Many participation systems unintentionally reward:Confidence over communicationSpeed over thinkingPersonality over proficiencyParticipation is not just about speaking, it's about engaging with meaning.Participation = Evidence of engagement and communication, Not just who talks.To Foster Participation by all students in all of the communication modes:Purposeful: Connected to communication goals—not just complianceVisible: Students know what participation looks likeStructured: Tasks require engagementSupported: Students have language scaffoldsReady For Tomorrow Quick Win PD Course: Participation That Works for All StudentsA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#247Do you use songs and films with your students? Do you have some go-to activities that you normally do, but could maybe use some new ideas?  In this episode I'm joined by Sybil Sanchez Jacome, a Spanish teacher in New Jersey and the president-elect of AATSP. We explore how music and film can move beyond being classroom “extras” to become meaningful sources of input, culture, and communication. Sybil shares practical ideas for choosing the right materials, keeping listening and viewing purposeful, and designing tasks that help students move from enjoying a song or scene to actually using the language with confidence. Topics in this Episode:how music and film can be essential tools for language learning and cultural understanding rather than just an "extra"how teachers can use music and film to support comprehension and communicationselecting music and film that are age-appropriate, culturally meaningful, and effective for language learning and pitfalls teachers should try to avoid when choosing materialstasks or routines that help move students from just simply enjoying music or film to actually using the language in meaningful ways, and what this looks like at the novice and more advanced levelsa simple strategy teachers can try right awayadvice to build confidence in using music and film regularlyAATSP Conference Connect with Sybil Sanchez Jacome:Facebook:/sybil.sanzInstagram: @sybsanzLinkedIn: /profesanzTwitter/X: @Mrs_SSancheZA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#246Your students read the text and you had comprehension questions ready, yet the conversation never really took off. Instead of an authentic discussion, it became a sequence of teacher questions and short student answers. Today we're going to talk about how to move beyond simple Q&A and toward richer literary and cultural discussions in language classes so students actually respond to each other, interpret ideas, and build real conversations together. Topics in this Episode:Moving beyond Teacher question → Student answer → Teacher confirms → Next questionAuthentic conversation and discussion are challenging to achieve when students believe you (the teacher) are the conversation partner, not each other. True communication begins when the teacher stops being the center of the conversation.Strategies:Use Discussion Moves Instead of Questions: 1. Clarify; 2. Ask for Evidence; 3. Invite Expansion; 4. Offer and Alternate InterpretationPass the Conversation to Students:  Try the three-person rule. After a student speaks, invite two additional students to comment before adding your own comment or moving on.Anchor the Conversation in the Text: Students should reference from the text - a line, a scene, a moment, vocabulary.  Several students may share the same opinion or understanding, bit ground in different parts of the text.Use a Two-Minute Thinking Start:  Give students two minutes of writing first before discussion so that they  enter discussion with ideas already forming.Push Toward Cultural Interpretation: Instead of focusing only on plot, ask questions like " What cultural values appear in this scene?" or "How is this similar or different from our own culture?"When teachers focus on clarifying ideas, pressing for evidence, and inviting students to respond to each other, discussions become more natural, more engaging, and far more meaningful.A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

What if language class could help students talk about the issues shaping our world today? In this episode, I'm joined by Carmen Reyes, a Spanish teacher in Virginia, to explore how the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals can bring language, culture, and global citizenship together in meaningful ways. We talk about what the SDGs are, why they matter, and how they can help students move beyond vocabulary lists to real communication about real issues. Carmen also shares practical, age-appropriate ways to bring these global themes into your classroom without losing the focus on proficiency and communication. Topics in this Episode:what the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are, who created them and whywhat makes the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals a useful framework for teaching language and culturehow the SDGs help students move beyond vocabulary and grammar to see language learning as a way to understand global issues and perspectiveshow teachers can adapt the SDGs so they are meaningful and accessible for all levelsactivities or resources that work especially well for integrating the SDGs while keeping the focus on communication in the target languagesimple and practical ways to start using the using the SDGsUnlocking Fluency: Exploring SDG 16 Through Children's LiteratureUnited Nations Sustainable Development GoalsConnect with Profe. Carmen Reyes:Instagram - @profe_carmenreyesLinkedIn: Carmen ReyesA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#244Have you ever reached the last five minutes of class and thought, I wish my students spoke or wrote a little bit more today… but we didn't have time. That moment happens to all of us. Not because speaking and writing aren't important, but because we think those activities require planning, materials, or a carefully designed task. But what if meaningful communication could happen any time in your lesson with almost no preparation? Today I want to share some simple ways to make that happen. Topics in this Episode: Sometimes teachers hear “no-prep activity” and imagine something random or filler. But effective quick tasks still have a communicative goal.Students can use language to:describereactsuggestexplaingive an opinionOne of the easiest ways to build communication into your lessons is having two or three task structures you can use anytime. Here are three that work across levels.Describe and GuessReact and RespondPredict and ConfirmUse What You Already Have. One of the biggest misconceptions about speaking tasks is that teachers need special materials. In reality, everyday classroom content can easily become communication prompts.Keep Prompts Open-Ended, Another key feature of effective quick tasks is open-ended prompts. Closed prompts often limit communication.Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD Course: No-Prep Speaking and Writing Tasks A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#243Have your students finished listening to something or reading in the target language and you looked around the room, and wondered… Did anyone actually understand that? Not because your students weren't trying. Not because the language was too challenging. But because they didn't yet know how to listen for meaning. Today's episode is about something that often gets overlooked in language teaching: students have to learn the skill of comprehension. A few small daily routines can have a big impact on students learning this essential skill. Topics in this Episode: Comprehension is a skill, not a byproductCI is useful for building language subconsciously. It is the essential ingredient for language acquisition, allowing students to understand and internalize new language naturally. Now we need to consider the skill of comprehension when students engage with language that does not have CI embedded. Daily micro-comprehension moves.  They take 10–30 seconds and fit inside any lesson. The goal is helping students actively process meaning. Not CI because the goal is not to acquire vocabulary and structures, but to understand without the intentional scaffolds.PointChooseSequenceRestatePredictable Routines Reduce Cognitive Load. Predictability allows students to spend less mental energy on what the activity is and more on understanding the language.Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD Course: Daily Strategies that Build ComprehensionA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#242Do you have required vocabulary lists by units that you're expected to teach? Let's say that you have a list of 30 or 40 words per unit. Your colleagues teaching other sections have the same list for consistency. You introduce them, do a few games, quiz students on the definitions… but something feels incomplete. Because while your students know the words, they're not really using them. So how do we move from word lists to real communication? That's what we're talking about today. So, let's jump in.Topics in this Episode: Instead of asking, "How do I teach this list of words?", ask: “What communication can these words support?”Communicative goals drive how you teach the vocabulary. The vocabulary becomes the vehicle, not the destination.Classroom Strategies:Chunk the List into Functions. Instead of introducing 30 words on Day 1, group them by communicative function and frame your activities around those functions.Turn the List into a Task: “What could students do with these words that feels real and authentic?”These shifts don't require rewriting your curriculum. They just require reframing how you approach the vocab.Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD Course: From Vocabulary Lists to Communicative Tasks.A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#241What would happen if the artwork on your classroom walls became the catalyst for real communication in the target language? In this episode I'm joined by Spanish teacher Courtney Bonino to explore how adding art to your curriculum can transform engagement and deepen proficiency. We talk about why art is such a powerful entry point for learners at different levels, how to integrate it into units you already teach without adding prep time, and how to keep the focus on meaningful communication. You'll get practical ideas you can try right away that spark curiosity, engagement and confident language students. Topics in this Episode:why art is such an effective entry point for language learning, especially for engaging students at different proficiency levelshow teachers can realistically add art into units they already teach  small changes teachers can make to start integrating art without adding prep timestrategies for using the same piece of art with different proficiency levels and what this looks different for novice versus intermediate learnershow teachers can keep the focus on communication and the kinds of prompts or tasks that generate the most meaningful language usetuning your classroom into an art gallery; what it looks like in practice even in a small or shared classroom spaceFree Art Vocabulary Lesson for Spanish Class Learning Llama Blog Post - Turning Your Classroom into an Art GalleryConnect with Courtney Bonino of Learning Llama:Instagram - @llearningllama Facebook - /thellearningllama FB Group - /groups/artinspanishclassPinterest -/llearningllama/A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#40Do your students sometimes struggle to get their ideas down in writing because they aren't sure how to start or how to say exactly what they mean? Writing can feel overwhelming without the right support—but it doesn't have to be that way. In this episode, we'll explore how sentence frames and scaffolds can give students the structure they need to write confidently and accurately, while still expressing their own ideas. Whether you teach novices or more advanced learners, you'll get practical strategies you can use right away.  So, Let's jump in.Topics in this Episode: Writing is an effective and useful way for students to show what they know, who they are, and what they can communicate in the target language.But writing is also one of the most intimidating skills for learners. Why? Because writing asks students to juggle Vocabulary, Grammar, Word Order, Agreement, Spelling and Organization.That's where sentence frames and scaffolds come in. They provide just enough support to help students express meaningful ideas without feeling stuck or overwhelmed.Sentence frames and scaffolds are not about giving answers. They are about Reducing cognitive overload, Highlighting patterns, Modeling structure, Making expectations visibleSentence frames and scaffolds are like training wheels. We don't put training wheels on a bike because we expect students to use them forever. We use them so learners can experience success early and build balance gradually.Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD Course: Support Writing with Frames & ScaffoldsA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#239Do your students sometimes feel overwhelmed or a little hesitant when you ask them to write in the target language? Building writing confidence doesn't happen overnight. It grows with small, purposeful moments every day. In this episode, we look at how integrating short, focused writing tasks into your lessons can help students process language, express ideas, and build confidence in their writing. Whether you teach novice or advanced language learners, these practical strategies will fit into your teaching routine. Topics in this Episode: Many learners equate writing with grades, red ink, and getting it “right.” That pressure alone can shut down risk-taking.But writing confidence and skill grow best through frequent, low-stakes practice that feels doable and purposeful. Frequent, low-pressure writing is one of the most effective ways to help students develop both confidence and communicative ability.Short writing prompts give learners space to:Reflect on inputOrganize thoughtsRehearse languageCommunicate meaning without the pressure of perfectionThe key is thoughtful management:Clear purposeAppropriate lengthDefined time limitsMeaningful follow-upWhen writing is framed as practice—not performance—you create a classroom culture where students are willing to try, revise, and improve.Classroom Strategies:Keep Writing Tasks Short and PurposefulAlign Tasks to Proficiency LevelsManage Time, Space, and Follow-UpWhen students write often, briefly, and with purpose: Proficiency develops naturally.Fluency increases.Anxiety decreases.Confidence grows.Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD Course:  Short Writing Tasks That Build Confidence and Proficiency A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#238Do you want to deepen your practice as a world language teacher and sharpen your skills around proficiency?  In today's episode, we're exploring a way to do just that through the lens of National Board Certification. I'm joined by Erin E.H. Austin, a French teacher in Colorado, and Lisa Bartels, a French teacher in North Carolina. They are both National Board Certified Teachers.  Together, we'll break down why the process is especially beneficial for language teachers and what it actually looks like to go through the process, step by step.Topics in this Episode:what National Board Certification is and how it is different from state certification why world language teachers should consider pursuing National Board Certification and the  professional benefits how the certification process impacts teachers and their classroom practicewho a good candidate for National Board Certification iswhat the National Board Certification process look like for a world language teacher and the  part of the process that tends to feel most challenging for language teachers what teachers can realistically expect in terms of timeline, time commitment, and cost and how teachers can plan strategically so the process feels manageable Erin and Lisa's Book: Achieving National Board Certification in World Languages, Proven Strategies and Tips for Accomplished Teaching.  20% discount code : 25AFLY4 (valid through the end of March 2026)Connect with Erin E.H. Austin:YouTubeLinkedInBlueSkyWebsite: onygomadame.comConnect with Lisa Bartels:YouTubeLinkedInFacebook Twitter/X Website: explorecurriculum.comA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#237What keeps students coming back to your language program each year?  Especially when graduation requirements, scheduling and competing electives are pulling them in other directions? This is the second episode in our advocacy series.  Last week I looked at local, state and national efforts. Today we are in the classroom. I'm joined by Ann LeClair-Ash, a National Board Certified French teacher in Milton, Georgia. We move beyond “convincing students to stay” and dig into designing programs students want to be part of. We look at what advocacy looks like in daily practice in our classrooms. If enrollment trends have you worried, this conversation offers practical steps and genuine hope grounded in real classroom experience.Topics in this Episode: factors that influence whether students choose to continue with a language beyond the required levelclassroom practices or program-level decisions that make a real difference in helping students feel connected, successful, and excited to keep goingwhat advocacy for retention looks like when it's embedded in classroom culture, student voice, and everyday interactionsmindset shifts or actionable steps that help teachers build momentum for their language programsdesigning learning experiences that students want to be part ofJNCL (Joint National Committee for Languages) and NCLIS (National Council for Languages and International Studies)Language Advocacy DaysACTFL's Advocacy Resource CenterConnect with Ann LeClair-Ash:Instagram: madame_leclair_ashLinkedIn: Ann LeClair-AshEmail: AshAnn@fultonschools.orgWebsiteA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#236Curious how language programs thrive even with tight budgets and shifting graduation rules? In this episode, I share insights from conversations at the Klett World Languages booth at ACTFL. We'll explore why language learning matters, from building communication and literacy skills to preparing students for future careers. I  share practical, actionable strategies teachers can use to advocate for their programs locally, at the state level, and even federally.  Stick around for tips you can put into action this week.Topics in this Episode: JNCL (Joint National Committee for Languages) and NCLIS (National Council for Languages and International Studies)Language Advocacy DaysWhy Language Learning MattersCommunication skillsCognitive and academic benefitsStudent confidence and engagementNational and workforce relevanceThemes from ACTFL ConversationsChallengesSuccess storiesAttitudes and mindsetsConcrete Advocacy StrategiesLocal advocacyState and Federal-levelSupporting Professional AssociationsOvercoming Common ObstaclesLanguage isn't core contentSmall enrollment / low demandAdvocacy feels like extra workHere's what you can do this week:Visit ACTFL's Advocacy Resource Center and pick one tool to use.Identify a program goal — graduation requirement, Seal of Biliteracy, or enrollment growth — and start building a local coalition.Share your program's successes with administrators, parents, and policymakers — focus on outcomes and skills, not ideology.Consider joining or renewing membership in professional associations to support advocacy efforts at the state and national level.A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#235What actually motivates our students? Today we explore that question through the lens of Self-Determination Theory with teacher Martha Cox-Stavros, a middle school Spanish teacher in Massachusetts. Whether this theory is brand new to you or something you've heard mentioned in passing, this conversation breaks it down in clear, classroom-ready ways. We dig into how competence, autonomy, and relatedness show up in real language tasks and how small, sustainable shifts can help students feel successful, motivated, and confident in your classroom. Topics in this Episode:what Self-Determination Theory is and how it applies to the language classroom. how teachers can design tasks so students consistently feel that sense of progress and success?practical, manageable strategies teachers can use to give students real choice and agency without losing focus on required contentlow-stress, high-impact ways teachers can foster relatedness and connection among students how can teachers can begin to build sustainable practices that lead to competence, autonomy, and relatednessConnect with Martha Cox-Stavros:Instagram:@profecox_stavrosA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#234When did you last speak with a colleague about what really worked in your lesson? Or reflected on what helped students communicate, not just what they covered? In this episode we look at how small, intentional habits, such as weekly reflection or purposeful collaboration, can build a shared culture of growth. You'll walk away with actionable ideas to implement tomorrow, whether you're working solo or surrounded by a full team.Topics in this Episode:“We don't rise to the level of our goals. We fall to the level of our systems.” -James Clear, Atomic HabitsGrowth happens when teachers pause to reflect. Not once a year during an evaluation, but in small, consistent moments.Take 10 minutes once a week to reflect on your teaching: 1.) “What helped students communicate today?” 2. )“What would I repeat? What might I tweak?” 3.) “What was challenging? Was it student specific?”Collaboration doesn't have to mean full-blown PLCs. One conversation, one shared lesson, or one observation can shift practice.We grow the most when the PD we choose is relevant to our classroom realities, not trends.Reflection fuels improvement; Collaboration builds confidence; PD is most powerful when it's chosen, not just assigned.A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#233Do you want your students to feel more confident and eager to share their ideas in the target language? In this episode, we'll explore strategies that help learners move beyond words and phrases and into real discourse and communication. I'm joined by Christina Margiore, a Spanish teacher in New York, who brings practical routines and low-prep techniques that create a supportive environment and spark authentic conversations. You'll get simple ways to increase student talk time right away.Topics in this Episode:barriers or obstacles that keep students from speaking in the target language and how to support studentsroutines and strategies that create a safe, low-pressure environment for student talk?technique that support hesitant studentsdesigning tasks that lead to authentic, meaningful interactionsstrategies teachers can do right awayChristina's Free Chat MatsConnect with Christina Margiore:Instagram:@supersenora Blog: www.supersenora.comEmail: christina@supersenora.comA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#232Last week in episode 231 I began a two-part series on using a simple story to show what CI looks like in real classroom practice. In this episode, I continue by building on the same story and walking through how CI activities help students stay engaged, deepen comprehension, and interact with the text in meaningful ways. These 2 episodes are focused on seeing familiar CI practices. Topics in this Episode:CI Activity Episodes218: Interaction and Discussion222: Reading and Writing228: Storytelling and NarrativeEpisode 231: CI Activities in Practice in the Classroom., Part 1CI ToolboxInteraction and Discussion ActivitiesPicture Talk: Picture Talk uses images to drive meaning-based discussion. The teacher asks simple questions so students describe what they see using familiar language.PQA: PQA connects story language to students' own lives through highly scaffolded, repetitive questions, helping them acquire language through personal relevanceSpecial Person Interviews: Students are interviewed using familiar structures, often taking on a role. The class listens and helps co-construct meaning.Card Talk: Students draw something meaningful to them, and the class discusses it using shared, high-frequency language.Weekend Chat: Weekend Chats build community and routine by talking about what students do on certain days, using simple present-tense language.Calendar Talk: Calendar Talk uses the daily date and routine events to recycle language in a predictable format.Reading and Writing ActivitiesOne Word at a Time: Students slowly build or reconstruct a sentence word by word, focusing on meaning and structure.Embedded Reading: Embedded readings move from very simple to more detailed versions of the same text, increasing comprehension and confidence.Volleyball Reading: Students take turns reading and clarifying meaning, often in pairs, with a strong focus on comprehension.Draw the Sentence: Students draw what a sentence says, then match it back to the text, reinforcing comprehension.Running Dictation: Students move, read, and reconstruct text collaboratively,Dictation with a Twist: Students hear a sentence and rewrite it with a small, controlled change, encouraging creative output within a safe structure.A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclasSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#231Over a series of 3 episodes we looked at a range of CI activities, and I promised I'd be back and to show exactly how they work together in practice. This is the first of 2 episodes where I'll take a simple story and use it to model what CI can look like in an actual classroom. Today's focus is on setting the scene and preparing students for the story, and next week we'll continue with what happens once the story is underway.Topics in this Episode:CI Activity Episodes218: Interaction and Discussion222: Reading and Writing228: Storytelling and NarrativeCI ToolboxThe CI Story:  "Problem in the Market": It's Saturday morning. Sofía's family is at a market in Oaxaca, Mexico. There are many colorful fruits, vegetables and flowers. Sofia wants to buy mangoes. Her little brother, Diego, sees some piñatas. Diego says: “I'm going to look at the piñatas!” and walks alone. There are many people in the market. Diego looks at the piñatas and doesn't see his family. He feels nervous and says, “Where is my mom?” A fruit seller sees Diego. She says, “Hello, are you lost?” Diego responds: “Yes… I can't find my mother.” The saleswoman walks with Diego through the market. After a few minutes, they see Diego's family near a tortilla stand. His mother hugs Diego. She says, “Thank you, Miss.” The family buys mangoes and tortillas, and everyone is happy.Storytelling and Narrative ActivitiesStory Listening: Story Listening is teacher-led, highly comprehensible storytelling using gestures, visuals, and repetition to support listening comprehension.Write and Discuss:The teacher and students co-construct a short text on the board, discussing meaning as it's written.Clip Chat:Clip Chat uses short video clips to provide visual input while the teacher narrates and asks comprehension questions.A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#230It's the start of new year and a chance to recharge our educator battery. Sometimes a little easier said than done, I know. In this episode, recorded at the NYSAFT Annual Conference in Albany, NY, we are going to look at ways to make sure that your teaching  spark is still alive and well. Will Andersson joins me for this insightful conversation. He is a long time language teacher and language department administrator.  He is now an Associate Dean at Hofstra University's School of Education. Will shares practical and actionable ways to recharge our educator battery.Topics in this Episode:The State of the Profession: the biggest factors that either drain or recharge educators todaySustainable Teaching: practical, everyday strategies teachers can use to sustain their energy and passion throughout the school yearMentorship and Renewal:  the value of mentoring student teachers and how working with the next generation of educators can help seasoned teachers feel energized in their own practiceConnection and Community: the role of professional communities (colleagues, conferences, online spaces) in recharging our educator batterAdvice for Language Educators: how to stay connected to your “why” and keep your professional battery chargedConnect with Will Anderson:Email: William.C.Anderson@hofstra.eduA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#229What do you do when there is a change in your schedule, like shortened class time because of a delayed opening?  What if several students need to miss class because of a school event or responsibility? This is sometimes the reality of our teaching.  We had a plan, but need to figure out in the moment how to best use the time we have. This is where sponge activities are useful. Jessica Hall, a Spanish teacher in Connecticut, joins me to talk about what we can do when we find ourselves in these situations. Topics in this Episode:what sponge activities are and why are they such an important tool for language teachershow can sponge activities help teachers make sure that every minute in the classroom is purposeful and engagingstrategies to adjust the same sponge activity so it works for beginners as well as more advanced learnershow do you keep sponge activities fun and interactive while still ensuring that they support language growthsimple low-to-prep sponge activities you can try right awayPDF with all the activities that Jessica mentions in the episodeConnect with Jessica Hall from Miss Señorita:Instagram: @MissSenoritaTptA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#228Do you use stories in your classroom? Do you have some engaging ways for students to, well, engage with those stories? In this third episode of the CI Toolbox series, we look at storytelling and narrative-based activities that hook students through emotion, curiosity, and creativity. You'll learn how to deliver compelling stories, co-write summaries with students, and use video clips as interactive narratives, all while keeping input comprehensible and student-centered.Topics in this Episode:Stories provide context, emotion, and predictability. The foundation for language acquisition. They build engagement and allow us to recycle high-frequency structures meaningfully.Story Listening: Deliver rich input by telling stories live, with built-in visual and physical support.Write and Discuss: Reinforce and recycle the story language through co-created written text.Clip Chat: Turn short video clips into interactive storytelling experiences.Ep 218: 6 Activities for Interaction and Discussion in the Language ClassroomEp 222: 6 Reading and Writing Activities in the CI ClassroomCI ToolboxA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#227Have you noticed how a well-chosen reading can spark curiosity in your students? Reading can be one of the most engaging, communicative parts of your language class. With the right support, reading is incredibly empowering for students. In this episode, we'll explore how pre-, during-, and post-reading activities can give your students the confidence and tools to dive into texts with purpose and curiosity. You'll walk away with a practical framework you can use tomorrow, or even today.Topics in this Episode:Reading is more than a comprehension check—it's a gateway to vocabulary growth, cultural exploration, and communicative opportunities.5 Key Benefits of Reading in the World Language ClassroomReading Provides the Input That Drives AcquisitionReading Builds Vocabulary and Grammar NaturallyReading Strengthens Interpretive Skills That Transfer to All ModesReading Lowers Anxiety and Builds ConfidenceReading Opens the Door to Culture and Authentic CommunicationReading FrameworkPre-Reading: Set the Stage for SuccessDuring Reading: Focus Their AttentionPost-Reading: Extend the LearningReady For Tomorrow Quick Win PD Course: Engaging Reading Activities That Build ProficiencyA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#226Have you ever played an audio or clip for your class, only to see blank stares and puzzled expressions? It's not that your students aren't listening—it's that they need tools to know how to listen. In this episode, we'll explore three essential strategies: prediction, summarizing, and focus tasks. These make listening more intentional, more engaging, and more effective. Whether your learners are novices or advanced, these techniques will help them process language with purpose and confidence.Topics in this Episode:Listening isn't passive, it's active.When students predict what they might hear, listen with a specific purpose, and summarize afterward, they aren't just hearing language they're processing it in real time. This builds comprehension, retention, and confidence, no matter the proficiency level. We are supporting the skill in ways that won't happen in real situations, but students are learning the skill of listening in our classrooms (with our support) that they will transfer to realistic situations where they will draw on these skills and have the confidence.Classroom Strategies:Prediction Before ListeningFocus Tasks During ListeningSummarizing After ListeningReady For Tomorrow Quick Win PD Course: Build Strong Listening SkillsA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#225There's something special about ACTFL. The energy, the connection, the spark that comes from being in a space filled with teachers who care deeply about students, language, culture, and each other. Whether you are listening to reflect on your conference experience, shared your own voice in this episode or were  would like a window into what it's like to be part of this incredible community…this episode is for you.A huge thank you to Klett World Languages. They invited me to set up a podcast table at their booth in the ACTFL exhibit hall, and without that collaboration, none of these conversations would have happened. It truly opened the door to gathering these voices, these reflections, and this sense of community that you're about to hear.Topics in this Episode:Hear from teachers about their personal experiences, collaborations and takeaways from ACTFL 2025 in New Orleans.ACTFL Teacher of the Year Nathan CampbellNavigating the many optionsTeaching ideasRepresentationElementary teaching Making connectionsInspirationA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#224How long are your classes? Do you see your students 2,3, 4 maybe 5 times a week? We all have different schedules in our schools and learn to adapt to the time that we have. Block schedules, extended class periods that meet fewer times in a given week, are becoming more common in many schools and districts. In this episode, we are talking about teaching in this format.  Marilyn Pichardo, a Spanish teacher in New Jersey, joins me to talk about teaching in a block schedule for over 2 decades.  Lots to learn about planning and class pacing whether you have 20, 40, 60 or even 85 minute classes. Topics in this Episode:opportunities that block schedules open up for world language teachers that might be harder to achieve in a traditional schedulesustaining student focus in language classes with longer blocks.  strategies or lesson structures that keep students engaged and actively using the target language for the full periodbalancing pace, repetition, and variety so that students continue to build proficiency in a block schedule without feeling overwhelmed or burnt outConnect with Marilyn Pichardo:Instagram:@perfectspanishplansbyMarilynTikTok: @perfectspanishplansbyMarilynChat Mat MembershipA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#223Have you ever taught a grammar concept and then watched your students completely forget it during a speaking or writing task? It can be frustrating. In this episode, we're looking at why that disconnect happens and how to bridge it by teaching grammar in context. I'll share manageable, beginner-friendly steps you can take to make grammar more meaningful, communicative, and effective without rewriting your whole curriculum. Topics in this Episode:Teaching grammar in context makes sense in theory, but putting it into practice often feels messy. We'll look at some practical first steps and scaffolds that make grammar instruction more natural and effective so students build accuracy while staying focused on communication.Grammar instruction should be anchored in communication, not separated from it.When students learn grammar in the context of meaningful input and purposeful output, it becomes more than just rules. It becomes a tool. A tool they use to understand and to be understood.Classroom Strategies:The “Grammar-First” Pathway: Use an authentic or teacher-created resource where the structure occurs naturally. The “Text-First” Pathway: Choose a reading, listening, or viewing resource and highlight structures that are crucial for making sense of the text.Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD Course: First Steps in Teaching Grammar in Context.A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#222Do your reading and writing tasks feel like an afterthought or are they building blocks for language proficiency? In this second episode of the CI Toolbox series we focus on reading and writing activities that engage students through movement, visuals, collaboration, and just the right amount of challenge. I'll share strategies to help students process and produce language in meaningful, low-stress ways.Topics in this Episode:Reading and writing should feel interactive, connected to input, and in line with students' proficiency level.In this episode, we're looking at six activities from my “CI Toolbox” that focus on reading and writing and are adaptable for many levels, with support for engagement and growth.One Word at a TimeEmbedded ReadingVolleyball ReadingDraw the SentenceRunning DictationDictation with a TwistEpisode 218: 6 Activities for Interaction and Discussion in the Language ClassroomGet the PDF with all of the CI Toolbox Activities: A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#221Have you ever noticed how students light up when language learning feels real, active, and connected to their world? In this episode, I'm joined by Heidi Lechner, an inspiring German teacher and instructional coach in Illinois. Heidi shares how hands-on, student-centered activities keep learners motivated, curious, and communicating authentically. We'll talk about why teachers benefit from stepping into the learner's shoes, how collaboration transforms language use, and strategies you can use to make your classroom come alive.Topics in this Episode:activities that spark curiosity and keep students motivated in the German classroomWhy it's important for educators to experience activities from the student perspective and how can shift shift the way they teachstrategies to move students beyond individual practice into authentic, communicative tasks with their peersexamples of how to help students see themselves in the content and connect the language to real-world contextsKlett World Languages Sessions at ACTFLConnect with Heidi Lechner:Email: heidi@heidilechner.comA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#220Have you ever felt the pressure to “teach to the test” in your AP language class, only to wonder if it's actually helping students communicate more confidently? In today's episode, I speak with Diego Ojeda, a Spanish Teacher in Louisville, KY about how he has transformed his AP course through authentic projects that do more than prepare students for the exam, they prepare them for the real world. Diego shares how to design tasks rooted in authentic input, student voice, and cultural relevance so that learners not only perform well on the AP exam, but also connect deeply with the language.Topics in this Episode:shifting the focus away from drill and test prep while still preparing students for success on the AP examauthentic input and real-world tasks as the foundation for meaningful assessmenthow incorporating student voice into projects changes the way students engage with the AP themesdesigning projects that align with the AP themes while still keeping the activities creative and relevantadvice for practical project ideas that teachers can do right away that help students experience the target language in a more authentic, engaging wayKlett World Languages Sessions at ACTFLConnect with Diego Ojeda:Instagram: @Sr_OjedaA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#219You just wrapped up a fun, high-energy activity. The room was buzzing, students were laughing and moving, but now you're wondering: Did they actually use the language? In this episode, we're unpacking what makes an activity not just fun, but truly communicative. You'll learn how to spot the difference, adapt your favorite games, and keep language use at the center, without losing the fun and joy. Topics in this Episode:Here's the lens I want to offer you in this episode: Just because students are participating doesn't mean they're communicating. With just a few tweaks, your fun activities can become communicative and support proficiency and performance objectives.We don't have to throw out our favorite games or routines. We don't need to make everything serious or structured. But, we do need to look at each activity through a new lens: Does it give students a reason to use the language with purpose?Classroom Strategies:Add Purpose and PersonalizationUse the “Does It Build Proficiency?” Checklist: 1. Are students using the target language to express meaning?2.Is there a real-world connection or purpose? 3. Are students interpreting, negotiating, or producing language? 4.Will this support what they'll do on an upcoming assessment?Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD Course: Design Activities that are Fun and CommunicativeA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#218This is the first of 3 episodes in a series on CI Strategies.  There will be an episode on Story Telling and Narrative techniques, one on Reading and Writing procedures and today's episode on Interaction and Discussion.  In this episode, we look at six comprehensible input strategies that foster real interaction and personalized discussion. From Picture Talk to Calendar, I'll share detailed examples, differentiation tips, and practical ways to make your classroom a space for meaningful communication, no matter your students' proficiency level.Topics in this Episode:Students are technically “participating,” but are then truly communicating? This has led me to rethink how I define interaction in a language classroom and to find activities that center personal connection and comprehensible input.Six activities from my “CI Toolbox” that promote interaction and discussion adaptable for many levels, with built-in support for engagement and growthPicture TalkPQA (Personalized Questions and Answers)Special Person InterviewsCard TalkWeekend ChatsCalendar TalkGet the PDF with all of the CI Toolbox Activities: A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#217Have you ever wanted to use an authentic resource like a menu, a meme, or a social media post, but thought, “My students aren't ready for this”? Actually, they are. In this episode, I'll show you how to use authentic texts at every proficiency level, even with absolute novices. I'll share practical suggestions for selecting and scaffolding activities that support student engagement with authentic resources. Topics in this Episode:If you've ever hesitated to use authentic materials because you thought students weren't “ready,” this episode will help to shift your thinking by giving you the tools to bring real-world input into your classroom now, no matter the level.Authentic resources are not the reward for reaching proficiency—they are the pathway to proficiency.The key is in how we select and scaffold those resources.  You don't have to wait until students understand every word. In fact, they shouldn't. Because interpretive communications one of the most essential skills we can build.Classroom StrategiesAdjust the Task, Not the Text:you don't need to change the text. You change what you're asking students to do with it.Use Visual Context and Chunking:include visuals, labels, and structure—and then break the text into manageable chunks.Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD Course: Use Authentic Documents at Every LevelA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#216Are your assessments really capturing what your students can do with the language? Or are they just measuring memorization and correctness? In today's episode, we're diving into what it looks like to assess for performance and proficiency. I'll share tips for aligning tasks to the modes of communication, using Can Do Statements to drive growth, and giving feedback that supports risk-taking rather than only focusing on what is not completely accurate.Topics in this Episode:Assessment and feedback are teaching tools, not just measurement toolsQuestions to consider when looking at feedback and assessments in your classroom: Do Your Assessments Reflect Performance & Communication? Do Assessments inInclude the 3 Modes of CommunicationDo Students Understand How They're Being Assessed?Does the Feedback Encourage Growth? Assessment doesn't have to feel like a judgment. It can be an opportunity to motivate by showing what was done well and guidance on improving on that. Let your assessments and feedback tell students: ‘You can do this—and here's what's next.A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#215Do your students freeze up during partner conversations? Rely on memorized phrases? Default to English? It's not just your students, I assure you, and the issue isn't their ability, it's the way we structure the speaking task. In this episode, I'll show you how to get students talking, really communicating, no matter their proficiency level. You'll learn how to design interpersonal speaking tasks that are spontaneous and supported, with strategies you can right away. Whether your students are Novice Low or headed toward Intermediate High, you'll leave with a clear framework to make unscripted speaking feel safe, doable, and fun.Topics in this Episode:how to increase real, unscripted student talk without overwhelming themstudents don't need more vocabulary lists or more scripted dialogues, they need support for real-time interaction. spontaneous speaking doesn't mean unprepared. It means unscriptedwe often think of “spontaneous” speaking as something students either can do or can't do. But just like writing or reading, it can be taught and scaffolded.classroom strategies:frame the Conversation with Can-Do Statementsuse a repeatable framework: Set the Purpose, Prep the Language, Create the Conditions, Reflect and RepeatReady For Tomorrow Quick Win PD Course: Boost Interpersonal Speaking at All LevelsA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#214Do your lessons ever feel like a mix of good activities that just don't quite connect? You're not alone—and it's frustrating when all your effort doesn't lead to real language growth. In this episode, we talk about how planning intentionally from the first input to the final assessment so everything works together to build proficiency. You'll get practical ideas, a clear framework, and a fresh approach that makes planning easier and more effective. So, let's jump in.Topics in this Episode:We have to start planning with the end goal of communication in mind, not the content, not the textbook unit, not even the grammar point. But communication. When we think about what students need to be able to do with language—what they'll say, write, listen to, and read—and then work backwards from there, everything starts to click into place.This is the foundation of backward design and intentional planning.Classroom startegies: Start with the “I Can” StatementsAlign the Input, Tasks, and AssessmentReady For Tomorrow Quick Win PD Course:  Intentional Planning for Proficiency: From Input to Assessment.A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#213Are you always looking for better ways to support your language learners? That's probably why you listen to this podcast—because you care about teaching. But time is limited, and sometimes you just need a quick, practical idea you can try tomorrow. That's exactly why I created the Ready for Tomorrow Quick Win PD series. In this episode, I'll walk you through these short, focused courses designed specifically for world language teachers—with real classroom strategies that actually stick.Take a look at the courses!What Is the Ready for Tomorrow Series?A collection of 30-minute mini-courses for world language teachers.Focused on quick wins—you can watch today and use it in class tomorrow.Includes: A short, focused audio lesson (like a podcast episode with visuals), Printable note sheet, Planning templates, Proficiency-level examples, Reflection prompts, Certificate of completionTake a look at the courses!What Makes These Different?Specifically for language teachers. No need to adapt or translate strategies from other content areas.Truly actionable. Not theory-heavy or overwhelming.Efficient and practical. Just 30 minutes each.Flexible. Learn anytime, anywhere.Made for teachers like you. Focused on your goals, your learners, your classroom realities.Pricing and Access OptionsEach course is available individually for $10.Or grab the growing bundle (20% Discount):Take a look at the courses!A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#212Are your goals for this year focused on what you'll teach or what your students will be able to do with the language? In this episode, we're talking about goal setting, for you and your students, in a way that's centered on language proficiency, not just study habits or behavior. I'll walk you through a practical framework to set meaningful goals that set you up and your students up for a year that's focused, communicative, and confidence-building.Topics in this Episode: why student goal setting is importantSMART goals and proficiency-based goalswhy teacher goal setting is importantchoosing a focus area for setting teacher goalssuggestions for keeping goals active throughout the school yearStudent Goal Setting SheetsA Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

#211Do your students know exactly what they can do in the target language? If you asked them right now, could they tell you their current proficiency level and the specific skills they're working toward? In my experience, when students understand the proficiency path, they take ownership of their progress in a very meaningful and personal way. In this episode, I share how I help students visualize and track their growth using a Path to Proficiency Wall and how you can do the same in your classroom.Topics in this Episode: make  proficiency levels clear and student-friendlyhow to use text type and functions to explain growthdesign a Path to Proficiency Wall for your classroomhelp students self-assess and set goalsuse the wall to guide family and student conversationshow shift feedback toward leveling up instead of gradesSee an example and get your own Proficiency Path A Few Ways We Can Work Together:Ready For Tomorrow Quick Win PD for Individual TeachersOn-Site or Virtual Workshops for Language DepartmentsSelf-Paced Program for For Language DepartmentsConnect With Me & The World Language Classroom Community:Website: wlclassrom.comInstagram:  @wlclassroomFacebook Group: World Language ClassroomFacebook:  /wlclassroomLinkedIn: Joshua CabralBluesky: /wlclassroom.bsky.sociaX (Twitter):  @wlclassroomThreads: @wlclassroomSend me a text and let me know your thoughts on this episode or the podcast.

In this episode of the PolicyViz Podcast, Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic joins me to discuss the evolution of her work in data storytelling—from corporate workshops to her newest venture into children's literature. We explore how the pandemic transformed training formats, the collaborative nature of her team, and the creative process behind her latest book, Daphne Draws Data. Cole reflects on the importance of introducing kids to the visual language of data early in life and shares how simple storytelling principles can empower learners of any age.Keywords: data, data visualization, flourish, graphic design, how to, information design, graphic design tutorials, graphic design portfolio, graphic design course, online learning, graphic design photoshop, graphic design trends 2024, how to draw, data scientist, Federica fragapane, accurat, AccessibilityInDesign, EngagingVisuals, Inspiration, DataNarratives, VisualizationDesign, InstagramPortfolio, BehancePortfolio, mathematics, Al, machine learningSubscribe to the PolicyViz Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.Become a patron of the PolicyViz Podcast for as little as a buck a monthCheck out Cole's latest book, Daphe Draws Data on Amazon or wherever you get your books!Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Substack, Twitter, Website, YouTubeEmail: jon@policyviz.com

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   Justin interviews John Baldwin of Discount Tire. Justin and John explore risk management topics, including Tire Safety Month, tire safety education of customers, and the tire selection tool he developed, Treadwell. John shares information about ongoing projects at Discount Tire and also his work on the board of the Tire Recycling Foundation. Listen to gain awareness of how tire selection can be a safety factor in your ERM program.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:17] About this episode of RIMScast. Our guest is John Baldwin of Discount Tire. He's joining us for National Safety Month and National Tire Safety Month here in June 2025. We're going to learn about the risk tool that he developed at Discount Tire. [:49] RIMS-CRMP Workshops! The next RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Workshop will be presented in conjunction with NAIT on June 10th and 11th. Register by June 9th. That course will be led by former RIMS President, Nowell Seaman. [1:11] Links to these courses can be found on the Certification Page of RIMS.org and through this episode's show notes. [1:18] Virtual Workshops! On June 12th, Pat Saporito will host “Managing Data for ERM”, and she will return on June 26th to present the very popular new course, “Generative AI for Risk Management”. [1:35] A link to the full schedule of virtual workshops can be found on the RIMS.org/education and RIMS.org/education/online-learning pages. A link is also in this episode's show notes. [1:47] We have a special new 12-week virtual workshop course, The Advanced Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Certificate Program, instructed by James Lam, one of the most famous Chief Risk Officers in the world! [2:04] He will lead an intensive 12-week program, beginning July 16th, bi-weekly until September 2025. Registration closes on July 7th. [2:17] James will join us next week to discuss this program and his ERM philosophy. Check out the link in this episode's show notes and the Education page of RIMS.org. Register today before we reach virtual capacity! [2:33] On with the show! It's our first episode of June 2025. That means that it is National Safety Month here in the U.S. and also Tire Safety Month. I was delighted to book today's guest, John Baldwin, PhD. He is the Chief Product and Technical Officer of Discount Tire. [2:56] He developed a risk tool for Discount Tire called Treadwell. This is the company's personalized tire recommendation tool. [3:05] Treadwell utilizes extensive real-world testing data, including nearly a million tread depth measurements annually and evaluations of dozens of new tire models each year. [3:17] John is also a member of the Enterprise Risk Committee at Discount Tire, so we will also learn about his risk philosophies and his efforts to bolster sustainability when it comes to tires, tire manufacturing, and tire recycling. [3:33] Interview! John Baldwin, welcome to RIMScast! [3:52] John says risk management is like safety. You incorporate it in every decision you make. It's good to make it part of the daily oxygen. [4:10] John started consulting with Discount Tire in 2007 and became full-time in 2012. [4:25] John is a Senior Vice President and Chief Product and Technical Strategist. He's responsible for the fitment guide on the website. Discount Tire measures each vehicle it can and puts that in the fitment guide. [4:56] They consider product quality and performance. They test tires, wheels, and lug nuts, before offering them for sale. John's background is technical. [5:10] John is also in charge of sustainability and government affairs. [5:24] John has a bachelor's degree in chemistry and a PhD in polymer science, the study of plastics and rubber. He was at 3M for a lot of years working on filter media for filter masks, which had a resurgence 25 years after he left. [5:49] John went to automotive working in adhesives. He was hired by Ford. He was at Ford when the Ford Firestone recall happened. He got drafted onto the Root Cause Team, to find out what was going on with the tires because of his background. [6:08] John worked in advanced manufacturing on a cross-functional team. [6:22] John's advice to folks coming up in a company is “Saying No is career-limiting.” He had said No a lot, at the beginning of his career. When he started saying Yes, things changed. [6:38] Coming from the larger companies where he had worked, John says the vibe at family-owned Discount Tire is an entrepreneurial spirit. There's a lot less bureaucracy. You go talk to people to get things done. It's very comfortable for John. [6:58] John says Discount Tire is for everyone but the people who thrive here are more self-starting, think it out, and occasionally color outside the lines. It's nice. You learn a lot. [7:13] John has a small group of about 25 people. They are cohorts of the risk group. The risk group collects and manages thought processes and information. The people who own the risks have to take care of them. The risk group shares a framework for them to manage risks. [8:23] John is on the Enterprise Risk Committee. It's a group of the different functional areas, Technical Fitment, Real Estate, IT, Cybersecurity, Store Management, Product Quality, Legal, HR, and other areas from around the corporation represented. [8:52] The Enterprise Risk Committee is one level below the Steering Committee. They use a tool called Riskonnect. They analyze and bring the risks to the Steering Committee. Justin and John first connected through the last Riskonnect webinar! [9:46] There are technical issues in managing the stores, including customer safety. Customer safety is a founding philosophy at Discount Tire. Customer safety is the first consideration. [10:21] When John first came on board at Discount Tire, it was after the Firestone Tire recall and Discount Tire focused on tire quality. Everyone at Purchasing hated him for being “Dr. No.” He told them: Let's put a process together where we validate whom we're buying from. [10:51] He said, we validate the quality of the tires and wheels that we're buying and that frees you up. We could entertain buying from people we would never have entertained buying from because they meet our criteria. Suddenly, it goes from closing the box to expanding the box. [11:07] That's how we have to get people thinking. Once you have the process down, it unburdens you. It allows you to take more risks because you have a way of assessing what the risk is and doing something about it. [11:34] June is Tire Safety Month, promoted by the NHTSA. John is planning on a visit there next week. Tire Safety Month is an opportunity to engage and ask customers: Have you looked at your tires? Do you know what your air pressure is? Discount Tire does free air checks and fills. [12:20] One of the number one things for safety is making sure you have plenty of air in your tires. Most people don't think about it or check it. Talk with customers about tire tread depth and why there are treads. [12:54] Tire Safety Month is June because school is over and people will be taking road trips. Be aware of your tires. Check your air pressure and tread depth. The tread is essential for driving in rain or snow so you don't hydroplane and you can brake properly. Get your tires checked. [13:47] These things matter. There's a reason tires are designed the way they are. The public generally doesn't know. When John started working in tires he had no idea they came in different sizes. Everybody has a first day at work. [14:26] People generally don't change tires on their own, because you need a machine. [14:34] Plug Time! RIMS Webinars! On June 5th, Zywave joins us to discuss “Today's Escalating Risk Trajectory: What's the Cause and What's the Solution?”. [14:49] On June 17th, Origami Risk returns to present “Strategic Risk Financing in an Unstable Economy: Leveraging Technology for Efficiency and Cost Reduction”. [15:00] More webinars will be announced soon and added to the RIMS.org/Webinars page. Go there to register. Registration is complimentary for RIMS members. [15:11] Are you a summer intern and interested in learning more about career opportunities in the insurance industry? Are you based in the Greater Chicago area? If so, join Chicago RIMS in a free event sponsored by Origami Risk. [15:29] Students and insurance professionals will come together to explore the wide variety of career paths in insurance and the captive industry. This event will provide you with valuable insights into the industry and allow you to start building your network with peers in the area. [15:44] This is an opportunity to learn from industry experts and kickstart your career in insurance. Register at ChicagoRIMS.org and mark your calendar for this free event on July 10th at 3:30 p.m. at 222 N LaSalle, STE 2100 in Chicago, IL. [16:04] Let's Return to Our Conversation with John Baldwin of Discount Tire!  [16:23] John points out mistakes in tire safety and maintenance. Are you overloading your vehicle? If you pull a trailer, are you loading the trailer correctly? Are you overdriving your abilities in bad weather? It's not about going fast, it's about stopping fast and being able to steer. [16:57] Be mindful of the conditions around you and how other people are driving. Most people tend to overestimate their abilities, especially if they're not in those conditions often. [17:19] Fleet safety is another topic. You have to pay attention to the details. [18:10] Discount Tire is a large purchaser of tires. Tire salesmen came in and boasted about their tires and downplayed their competition's tires. Discount Tire didn't have a basis for pushing back so they hired a driver and started testing the tires. They got warranty information. [18:39] A year after Discount Tire started testing tires for internal information, Chief Strategy Officer Dave Ginsberg, a data scientist, joined Discount Tire. He was thinking of an algorithm to help people pick tires. John told him of the data they gathered to help Discount Tire pick tires. [19:10] Both Discount Tire and the consumers have the same problem, what to buy. There's a lot out there. David put together the math behind Treadwell, and John's team generated the data. It's based on what you drive, where you drive, and how you drive, on city roads or a highway. [19:48] Not every car is a commuter. Some people just drive on the weekend. On different cars, different trim levels come with different tire sizes and wheel sizes. A key issue is what mileage you can expect. Discount Tire does free rotations. That gives them data on how long a tire lasts. [20:41] Discount Tire tests in winter and rain. They also test worn tires that they've buffed down to 4/32nds and test them in the wet. Tires are only new for the first couple thousand miles. Then various changes occur in how your tires perform over time. [21:11] So that's what we're trying to get at with people. We've changed a lot about how the tire industry's looking and talking about that, all for the customer, to relay to you how this is going to work over the life of your tire. [21:26] There are annual evaluations of over 75 new tire models each year. When Cooper was bought by Goodyear, the track Discount Tire was using for testing became redundant for Goodyear, so Discount Tire purchased it. They have a third-party test for them. [22:16] John tells tire manufacturers that Discount Tire uses Treadwell internally when talking about what tires to buy. It's the same version and data that consumers see. It's a unique tool. [22:58] There were some other sellers doing testing. Tire Rack was one of them. Discount Tire bought Tire Rack at the beginning of '22. They continue to do testing. Tire Rack is for the in-depth enthusiast. [24:08] Discount Tire is for the consumer who needs a tire but doesn't know a lot about tires, doesn't have a lot of time, and doesn't want to get ripped off. There's a lot of technical data. Discount Tire Treadwell quickly boils it down to suggest which tire the customer should buy. [24:18] Another point about Treadwell is that it has nothing to do with the cost of the tire or how much money Discount Tire makes from the sale. It's about the performance of the tire. It encourages the customer to look down the list for the diamond in the rough. It's a good tool. [24:49] The tire manufacturers have looked at the tool and said they want to win at Treadwell. It's impossible to do. The local weather affects the algorithm. Chances are, a good tire in Arizona is not a good tire in Minnesota because of the weather. Treadwell is objective. [25:31] Treadwell took two years to launch from conception. They had to get enough data from the stores in the field and enough testing to launch a small subset of tires. Now, they have almost every tire tested or it's on the list to get tested. When a new tire comes, they test it. [26:16] One of the things Discount Tire found is that it took some time after launch for the store managers to buy into using it with customers. They didn't understand it was a real tool. [26:40] In the last year or so, Discount Tire has started taking store managers through Treadwell to be tire evaluators for a day, testing at the track. They get a T-shirt, The Treadwell Experience. It has been game-changing. The tool has been embraced internally. [27:32] One of the store managers said Treadwell is like having a test track behind every store. [27:41] Plug Time! The very first RIMS Texas Regional Conference will be held from August 4th through the 6th in San Antonio at the Henry B. González Convention Center. Early Bird Registration is now open through June 7th. Save up to 20% on a Full-Conference Pass. [28:03] Hotel cut-off for the discounted rate is available through July 7th. The full Conference Agenda is now live so you can start planning your experience. Don't miss the post-conference workshop, the RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Course, available onsite. [28:19] Also register by June 7th for your Early Bird Registration and save $200. Any chapter member can attend and anyone who is not a RIMS member has to email RIMStexas@RIMS.org to request a unique registration code. Links are in this episode's show notes. [28:39] You can also visit the Events Page of RIMS.org for more information. We look forward to seeing you in Texas! [28:47] About the Spencer Educational Foundation's Grants program. Spencer's goal to help build a talent pipeline of risk management and insurance professionals is achieved, in part, by its collaboration with risk management and insurance educators across the U.S. and Canada. [29:04] Since 2010, Spencer has awarded over $3.3 million in General Grants to support over 130 student-centered experiential learning initiatives at universities and RMI non-profits. Spencer's 2026 application process is now open through July 30th, 2025. [29:25] General Grant awardees are typically notified at the end of October. Learn more about Spencer's General Grants through the Programs tab of SpencerEd.org. [29:35] Let's Return to the Conclusion of My Interview with Discount Tire's John Baldwin! [30:01] Discount Tire tests rolling resistance; how much fuel or energy per mile one tire absorbs, vs. another tire. Tires that roll easier don't take as much fuel. With battery vehicles, range is a big deal. Tire rolling resistance ranking for electric vehicles is incorporated into the algorithm. [30:47] If you have the same tire, size, construction, and everything, one on a gas vehicle and one on an electric vehicle, there is typically 10 to 15% faster wear on the battery vehicle because of the weight and a little bit of the torque. They factor the car in for the mileage estimation. [31:15] Noise becomes more of a consideration with electric vehicles because there's no engine noise. The whirring noise electric cars make is added so they're not completely silent. [31:49] Amazon made a big commitment to electric vehicles with Rivian. A lot of Uber drivers are starting to use Model 3 vehicles. There is a trend toward hybrid gas/electric vehicles. [32:41] Treadwell is testing off-road tires. If you take a truck out in the mud, you want a tire that works in the mud and rocks. Treadwell just expanded into testing winter tires. [33:27] Discount Tire is thinking about working with Tire Rack to rank summer tires and more. [33:52] John is on the Board of Directors of the Tire Recycling Foundation. The foundation is jointly put together through the United States Tire Manufacturing Association and also the Tire Industry Association, the retailers. [34:17] We need to find more recycling uses for tires. Twenty percent of scrap tires that come off today are landfilled. Thirty percent are burned in kilns. Fifteen percent are sold used. Used tires are not optimized for safety. [34:51] Is there a way to recycle these tires back into tires rubber-modified asphalt, or mats? There are so many other things you can do with tires besides burning them and burying them. [35:12] To go into asphalt, tires are ground up and then added to the mix. It's a different process, which when done right, provides a quieter surface with a better grip and it lasts longer. It's a good use of tires and would take care of the scrap tire problem. [35:37] Being in the Tire Recycling Foundation complements John's job at Discount Tire. How to recycle tires has been a problem in the U.S. tire industry for 100 years. [36:34] Municipalities sometimes have a Waste Date to drop off your hazardous waste. Instead of taking it there, you can bring it to a Discount Tire or a competitor. Then it will be recycled. [38:04] People can go to TireRecyclingFoundation.org for more information. It's a broad-based coalition. [38:59] John, it has been a real pleasure to speak with you. It's been illuminating. I'm glad that we're shining a lot on how important tires are to our daily lives and the supply chain. I don't know that we've ever done an episode devoted to tires! This is super cool for us at RIMS! [39:22] Special thanks again to John Baldwin of Discount Tire for joining us. [39:26] I've got links in this episode's show notes for information about Treadwell, the Tire Recycling Foundation, and Discount Tire's appearance on the RIMS Riskonnect on April 24th, 2025 webinar, “Better Together: The Marriage of Insurable Risk and Business Continuity”. [39:46] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [40:13] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [40:32] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [40:49] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [41:05] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [41:19] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. You can email Justin at Content@RIMS.org. [41:27] Thank you all for your continued support and engagement on social media channels! We appreciate all your kind words. Listen every week! Stay safe!   Links: RIMS Texas Regional 2025 — August 4‒6 | Advance registration rates are now open. RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Risk Management magazine RIMS Now The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center Spencer Educational Foundation — General Grants 2026 — Application Deadline July 30, 2025 RIMS-CRMP Advanced Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Certificate Program — Featuring Instructor James Lam! Register by July 7. | Bi-weekly course begins July 16. Tire Safety Month — NHTSA The Tire Recycling Foundation “All About Treadwell” — John Baldwin Interview “Better Together: The Marriage of Insurable Risk and Business Continuity” — A RIMS Webinar, Sponsored by Riskonnect and featuring Discount Tire (April 24, 2025) RIMS Webinars: RIMS.org/Webinars “Today's Escalating Risk Trajectory: What's the Cause & What's the Solution?” | Sponsored by Zywave | June 5, 2025 “Strategic Risk Financing in an Unstable Economy: Leveraging Technology for Efficiency and Cost Reduction” | Sponsored by Origami Risk | June 17, 2025   Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Virtual Workshop — June 10‒11, 2025 | Presented by RIMS and NAIT Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule “Managing Data for ERM” | June 12 | Instructor: Pat Saporito  “Generative AI for Risk Management” | June 26 | Instructor: Pat Saporito See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS-CRMP Prep Workshops   Related RIMScast Episodes: “Company Safety and RIMS Chapter Leadership with Tamieka Weeks” “Safety and Preparedness in 2024 with National Safety Council CEO Lorraine Martin” “Traffic Awareness with Carol Fritzsche of Subaru of America” “Fleet Safety with NETS Executive Director Susan Gillies-Hipp” (2022)   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: “The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience” | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) “Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs” | Sponsored by Zurich “Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding” | Sponsored by Zurich “What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping” | Sponsored by Medcor “Risk Management in a Changing World: A Deep Dive into AXA's 2024 Future Risks Report” | Sponsored by AXA XL “How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips” | Sponsored by Alliant “RMIS Innovation with Archer” | Sponsored by Archer “Navigating Commercial Property Risks with Captives” | Sponsored by Zurich “Breaking Down Silos: AXA XL's New Approach to Casualty Insurance” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Weathering Today's Property Claims Management Challenges” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Storm Prep 2024: The Growing Impact of Convective Storms and Hail” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Partnering Against Cyberrisk” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Harnessing the Power of Data and Analytics for Effective Risk Management” | Sponsored by Marsh “Accident Prevention — The Winning Formula For Construction and Insurance” | Sponsored by Otoos “Platinum Protection: Underwriting and Risk Engineering's Role in Protecting Commercial Properties” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Elevating RMIS — The Archer Way” | Sponsored by Archer   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Kristen Peed!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guest: John M Baldwin, PhD, Chief Product & Technical Officer, Discount Tire   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.  

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   Justin interviews Megan Smalter about her schooling and career path and what excites her about risk management. They discuss her winning the RIMS Rising Star Award 2025 at RISKWORLD on the main stage before the triple keynote addresses. She discloses what the honor means to her. They speak about her past role in Chicago, her participation and leadership in the Chicago RIMS Chapter, and how her career has changed by moving to New York to work at Lloyd's in the Americas in December.   Listen to Megan's advice for students and young risk management and insurance professionals. Give yourself the grace to learn your way in the field, reach out and connect to people around you, and learn about all the career opportunities in the industry.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:17] About this episode of RIMScast. We will be joined by RIMS Rising Star Award Winner 2025, Megan Smalter of Lloyd's. [:42] RIMS-CRMP Workshops! The next RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep will be presented in conjunction with AFERM and led by instructor Joseph Mayo. This is a two-day course, June 2nd and 3rd. Register by May 26th. [1:03] The next RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Workshop will be presented in conjunction with NAIT on June 10th and 11th. Register by June 9th. That course will be led by former RIMS President, Nowell Seaman. [1:21] Links to these courses can be found on the Certification Page of RIMS.org and through this episode's show notes. [1:28] Virtual Workshops! On June 12th, Pat Saporito will host “Managing Data for ERM”, and she will return on June 26th to present the very popular new course, “Generative AI for Risk Management”. [1:46] A link to the full schedule of virtual workshops can be found on the RIMS.org/education and RIMS.org/education/online-learning pages. A link is also in this episode's show notes. [1:57] We are already making preparations for the RIMS ERM Conference 2025 on November 17th and 18th in Seattle, Washington. RIMS is accepting educational session submissions through May 29th. [2:14] The best submissions will address current and future challenges facing ERM practitioners as well as provide leading practices and concrete takeaways for a diverse audience of risk professionals from industries or organizations of varied sizes, disciplines, functions, and roles. [2:30] These include officers, leaders, managers, and students. The link to the submission form is in this episode's show notes. If you are listening on the day of this episode's release, this is the last call for submissions, so get them in! [2:46] We have a special new 12-week virtual workshop course, The RIMS-CRMP Advanced Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Certificate Program, instructed by James Lam, one of the most famous Chief Risk Officers in the world! [3:04] He will lead an intensive 12-week program, beginning July 16th, bi-weekly until September 2025. Registration closes on July 7th. [3:17] James will join us in early June to discuss this program and his ERM philosophy. Check out the link in this episode's show notes and the Education page of RIMS.org. Register today before we reach virtual capacity! [3:33] On with the show! Our guest this week is Megan Smalter. She is a Market Development Executive at Lloyd's and the former Chicago RIMS Chapter Rising Risk Professional Committee President. For her many achievements, she was named RIMS Rising Star for 2025. [3:48] If you were at RISKWORLD 2025, you were lucky enough to see her accept the award onstage. We're going to talk all about her contributions to the risk profession during her 9-to-5 and beyond and delve into what is a pivotal moment in her career. [4:04] Everyone listening, especially young risk professionals with big career decisions ahead of them, will get some fresh perspective. [4:14] Interview! Megan Smalter, welcome to RIMScast! [4:35] Megan Smalter talks about the honor of receiving the RIMS Rising Start Award with her entire team present as well as her family. It was a super special moment for her. [5:01] Megan grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, so she says she's from Illinois. She lived in downtown Chicago for five years before relocating. [6:04] The awards ceremonies were scattered throughout the RISKWORLD 2025 week. Megan's award was presented right before the triple threat of keynotes. Megan and her parents enjoyed the keynotes. [6:50] Megan went from being a private company management liability underwriter at CNA Insurance in Chicago to joining Lloyd's as a Market Development Executive for the Americas and relocated to New York City in December. [7:22] Megan describes changing jobs and moving. It's been interesting. She went from being established in an insurance company where she knew everyone and knew her role to starting over, new and fresh. It's exciting, being in a new environment and company. [7:54] Megan says it comes with growing pains. Learning the tasks, trying to see the fun and excitement in them, and settling down in a new region has been super interesting and a great learning curve. [8:25] Megan was previously in the retail space. Now having exposure to the E&S wholesale world and more of the international space has been fascinating. It's a direction she wants to take her career, which inspired her to take this new role. It's been gratifying so far. [9:02] Megan says it has been bittersweet, leaving the Chicago RIMS Chapter. She first got involved as a student at the Katie School of Insurance at Illinois State. There, she met one of her greatest mentors, Theresa Severson. They've stayed in touch over the years. [9:29] After being involved as a student, she joined Chicago RIMS as a Membership Committee member and became Education Chair, then Vice President, and then President, right before she moved. There's a lot to say goodbye to. Starting over after being deeply involved is a switch. [9:58] Megan's teammates joked that she should carry the award around the RISKWORLD conference the entire time. [10:34] Megan believes the risk profession allows for flexibility to adapt. Everyone in the industry and at Lloyd's is keen to help and provide their experience. It's been a great way for Megan to learn about a new company culture and a new segment of the industry. [11:08] Justin notes that most people are not going to have one job for their entire career, although he knows one person at RIMS who has been there since 1981 and somebody at Spencer who goes back even further. [11:29] Justin adds that risk is a profession where there is such a camaraderie among the professionals that they will give you time to adapt. They will extend that olive branch. [11:49] Megan thinks it's important to give yourself grace and allow yourself to recognize that you're not going to know everything on the first day. You may jump into something new and think “I've got this,” but things like that take time. Give yourself grace. [12:25] At the RIMS Chicago Chapter, the energy in the group drove Megan to get involved and come up the ranks. At the start, event attendance was low. One successful event was the Summer Mixer with the Young Risk Professionals group and the Insurance Associates group. [13:18] There were over 250 folks who attended. Seeing the demand of young professionals to network and get together on an afternoon was an awesome experience. Megan is thankful she got to be part of it. [14:25] A big part of the Chicago RIMS initiative was to have separate membership events, education events, and social events. It's easy to get people to come to social events but education events can be tougher. They tried to keep them interesting. [14:42] One educational event Megan found valuable was the MBA Information Night with a panel of four. Two represented RM&I MBA programs; two were alumni of RM&I MBA programs. To hear from them and get their experiences and advice about continuing education was great. [15:15] They hosted Negotiation Workshops and Book Clubs. One book was Atomic Habits by James Clear. Megan has kept a few key takeaways from that in her day-to-day routine. They do a variety of events through RRP. It's nice to see the support of that with the members. [15:54] Plug Time! RIMS Webinars! On June 5th, Zywave joins us to discuss “Today's Escalating Risk Trajectory: What's the Cause and What's the Solution?”. [15:59] On June 17th, Origami Risk returns to present “Strategic Risk Financing in an Unstable Economy: Leveraging Technology for Efficiency and Cost Reduction”. [16:10] More webinars will be announced soon and added to the RIMS.org/Webinars page. Go there to register. Registration is complimentary for RIMS members. [16:21] About the Spencer Educational Foundation's Grants program. Spencer's goal to help build a talent pipeline of risk management and insurance professionals is achieved, in part, by its collaboration with risk management and insurance educators across the U.S. and Canada. [16:38] Since 2010, Spencer has awarded over $3.3 million in General Grants to support over 130 student-centered experiential learning initiatives at universities and RMI non-profits. Spencer's 2026 application process is now open through July 30th, 2025. [16:59] General Grant awardees are typically notified at the end of October. Learn more about Spencer's General Grants through the Programs tab of SpencerEd.org. [17:09] Let's Return to Our Conversation with RIMS 2025 Rising Star, Megan Smalter!  [17:18] As a Market Development Executive at Lloyd's, Megan engages with key trading partners, whether retail or wholesale brokers in the U.S., making sure that they know how to access Lloyd's in the London market. [17:51] Megan engages with insurance carriers who are interested in coming onto the Lloyd's platform, managing agents, excess lines associations in different states, and universities (one of Megan's favorite aspects of her role). [18:11] Since Megan was a student who studied risk management and insurance, she loves helping out with the next generation and trying to pull talent into the risk field. [18:19] Megan also promotes the Lloyd's Lab and helps with the Lloyd's Boot Camp Programs in Chicago and San Diego. She has a multi-faceted role and gets to touch a lot of aspects of Lloyd's which has been interesting. [18:45] Megan is part of a team representing the Americas, with people in Toronto, Canada, Miami, Florida, and Brazil. [19:10] Justin and Megan spoke in April for the article in the Awards Edition of RIMS Risk Management magazine, which may be out now. Megan mentioned that she is a calculated risk-taker. [19:38] Having a background in underwriting has helped Megan to think of questions to ask whenever a different situation or scenario has been proposed. She walks through the different exposures and thinks through things that the Average Joe probably wouldn't. [20:03] Megan says, the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. Moving to Lloyd's in New York is an example of a high-risk, high-reward scenario that worked for Megan. She had only been to New York City once, for a conference. [20:30] When Megan looked for an apartment, she signed, sight-unseen, after a video call with the REALTOR® and a search of the area on Google Maps. She took a leap of faith and hoped for the best, but expected for the worst. It turned out in her favor. It's the biggest risk she has taken. [20:58] Megan's career goal for now is locking into Lloyd's and getting to know the nitty-gritty of the “Lloyd's-isms.” Learning the niche aspects of what Lloyd's is, the capital structure, and all the different facets of what Lloyd's has to offer to articulate that to its trading partners. [21:37] Megan is a success story, dating back to the Risk Manager on Campus program, which is how she got hooked. Not every school has a Risk Manager on Campus program.  [21:53] Megan advises young students who are considering the risk management and insurance industry, first to ask questions and ask for introductions. If there's someone who has a role that you're interested in, reach out. Everyone in the industry Megan has interacted with is so nice. [22:30] Especially get to know folks who do jobs outside of what you're considering. If you have an internship in property, get to know the liability folks and the cyber folks, the claims adjusters, and anyone else in the company, and learn what they do. [22:49] The career path opportunities are what drew Megan to the risk management field and how you can always pivot into a different segment of the industry. That keeps it exciting. [23:07] Special thanks again to RIMS 2025 Rising Star, Megan Smalter. You can read more about her in our RIMS RISKWORLD Show Daily Coverage. A link is on this page. Of course, be on the lookout for the RIMS Risk Management magazine Special Awards Edition 2025. [23:27] More award winners will be on RIMScast soon. Be sure to check out Episode 338, featuring Risk Manager of the Year, Jennifer Pack. [23:35] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [24:03] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [24:21] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [24:39] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [24:55] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [25:09] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. You can email Justin at Content@RIMS.org. [25:17] Thank you all for your continued support and engagement on social media channels! We appreciate all your kind words. Listen every week! Stay safe!   Links: RIMS Texas Regional 2025 — August 3‒5 | Advance registration rates now open. ERM Conference 2025 — Call for Submissions (Through May 27) RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Risk Management magazine | RIMS 2025 Awards Edition RIMS Now The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center Spencer Educational Foundation — General Grants 2026 — Application Deadline July 30, 2025 RIMS-CRMP Advanced Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Certificate Program — Featuring Instructor James Lamb! Register by July 7. | Bi-weekly course begins July 16. “Career Opportunities In Insurance and Captive Industry” | Hosted by Chicago RIMS and Origami Risk | Free | July 7, 2025 in Chicago! RIMS Webinars: RIMS.org/Webinars “Today's Escalating Risk Trajectory: What's the Cause & What's the Solution?” | Sponsored by Zywave | June 5, 2025 “Strategic Risk Financing in an Unstable Economy: Leveraging Technology for Efficiency and Cost Reduction” | Sponsored by Origami Risk | June 17, 2025   Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep with AFERM — June 2‒3, 2025 | Presented by RIMS and AFERM RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Virtual Workshop — June 10‒11, 2025 | Presented by RIMS and NAIT Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule “Managing Data for ERM” | June 12 | Instructor: Pat Saporito  “Generative AI for Risk Management” | June 26 | Instructor: Pat Saporito See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS-CRMP Prep Workshops   Related RIMScast Episodes: “Live from RISKWORLD 2025” “RIMS 2025 Risk Manager of the Year, Jennifer Pack” “Risk and Leadership Patterns with Super Bowl Champion Ryan Harris” (RISKWORLD 2025 Keynote) “(Re)Humanizing Leadership in Risk Management with Holly Ransom” “Risk and Relatability with Rachel DeAlto”   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: “The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience” | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) “Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs” | Sponsored by Zurich “Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding” | Sponsored by Zurich “What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping” | Sponsored by Medcor “Risk Management in a Changing World: A Deep Dive into AXA's 2024 Future Risks Report” | Sponsored by AXA XL “How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips” | Sponsored by Alliant “RMIS Innovation with Archer” | Sponsored by Archer “Navigating Commercial Property Risks with Captives” | Sponsored by Zurich “Breaking Down Silos: AXA XL's New Approach to Casualty Insurance” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Weathering Today's Property Claims Management Challenges” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Storm Prep 2024: The Growing Impact of Convective Storms and Hail” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Partnering Against Cyberrisk” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Harnessing the Power of Data and Analytics for Effective Risk Management” | Sponsored by Marsh “Accident Prevention — The Winning Formula For Construction and Insurance” | Sponsored by Otoos “Platinum Protection: Underwriting and Risk Engineering's Role in Protecting Commercial Properties” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Elevating RMIS — The Archer Way” | Sponsored by Archer   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Kristen Peed!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guest: Megan Smalter, Market Development Executive at Lloyd's   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.  

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   Justin interviews Chris Maguire about his professional journey and what led him to focus on the intersection of legal, compliance, and innovation. This leads to a discussion about AI and predictive analytics. Chris shares examples of General Counsel and compliance offices using AI to improve risk forecasting and decision-making. Chris comments on the expanding role of Compliance in the General Counsel's office.   Listen to Chris's take on the importance of values. He shares some of the core values of Thomson Reuters.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:17] About this episode of RIMScast. We will talk about how technology is driving innovation in compliance, risk, and the legal profession, with Chris Maguire of Thomson Reuters. [:41] RIMS-CRMP Workshops! The next RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep will be presented in conjunction with AFERM and led by instructor Joseph Mayo. This is a two-day course, June 2nd and 3rd. Register by May 26th. [1:02] The next RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Workshop will be presented in conjunction with NAIT on June 10th and 11th. Register by June 9th. That course will be led by former RIMS President, Nowell Seaman. [1:20] Links to these courses can be found on the Certification Page of RIMS.org and through this episode's show notes. [1:27] Virtual Workshops! On June 12th, Pat Saporito will host “Managing Data for ERM”, and she will return on June 26th to present the very popular new course, “Generative AI for Risk Management”. [1:45] A link to the full schedule of virtual workshops can be found on the RIMS.org/education and RIMS.org/education/online-learning pages. A link is also in this episode's show notes. [1:56] We are already making preparations for the RIMS ERM Conference 2025 on November 17th and 18th in Seattle, Washington. RIMS is accepting educational session submissions through May 20th. [2:14] The best submissions will address current and future challenges facing ERM practitioners as well as provide leading practices and concrete takeaways for a diverse audience of risk professionals from industries or organizations of varied sizes, disciplines, functions, and roles. [2:30] These include officers, leaders, managers, and students. The link to the submission form is in this episode's show notes. If you are listening on the day of this episode's release, this is the last call for submissions, so get them in! [2:46] Let's get on with the show! How is your organization navigating regulatory uncertainty in 2025? Are you leveraging advancements in technology to help achieve your goals? Our guest this week is Chris Maguire, the General Manager for Corporates Risk at Thomson Reuters. [3:06] We are going to talk about how technology is driving innovation in compliance, risk, and legal. We will talk about how AI and predictive analytics are reshaping corporate legal and compliance functions, and more. Let's get to it! [3:22] Interview! Chris Maguire, welcome to RIMScast! [3:29] Chris Maguire started in a Big Four firm in the '90s, in the auto practice. It was a great way to learn business and how they worked, focusing on understanding financial controls and risk, and how to make sure that companies were behaving correctly. [3:59] After an MBA, Chris started working for Thomson Reuters. He has been with them for about 20 years in the legal tech space. He started on the strategy side and transitioned after several years to driving the commercial teams in the risk business. [4:24] Now, Chris has the role of looking at product and industry strategy for corporations. Thomson Reuters is at the intersection of legal, risk, and compliance, and how they affect enterprises. [5:07] Chris says that 20 years ago, AI was not a fast-moving industry. There have been dramatic changes in the last few years. AI adoption by Thomson Reuters customers has doubled in the last year. Generative AI has been seen in a wide range of tasks. It started with drafting NDAs. [5:38] Salespeople are always asking for NDAs and how they can be drafted more quickly and easily. Now AI conducts legal research or helps draft a research memo or a complaint from a particular point of view. We're seeing it in drafting HR employment policies and rote tasks. [6:21] Chris explains the use of AI prompts tied to data sources, such as your data, data from Thomson Reuters, or other data providers. Chris is also seeing big data AI used a lot in analyzing outside spending and looking for cost savings. [7:14] Chris tells how AI helps in decision-making, using the example of knowing the vendors you choose for your supply chain and knowing your customers. AI can weed through all the news out there to make sure you're not dealing with a sanctioned entity. [8:22] AI can help with reputation risk. Is there forced labor in your supply chain? That matters to your reputation. It's not just whether a country is sanctioned, but what the individual entities in your supply chain are doing. There's a lot of focus on reputation today. [9:10] Justin recently had the Chief Impact Officer of EcoVadis on RIMScast Episode 329. They talked about forced labor and human trafficking in the supply chain. Use AI to help identify where forced labor and human trafficking are big risks, avoid them, and report them. [9:35] This is important on the corporate side and the government side of the business. Chris says it will be interesting to see the effect of tariffs. Thomson Reuters has updated about 50 million changes to its global trade products so far this year, compared to 100 million in 2024. [10:16] Plug Time! RIMS Webinars! We are back on May 22nd, with GRC, a TÜV SÜD Company, and their newest session, “Asset Valuations in 2025: Managing Tariffs, Inflation, and Rising Insurance Scrutiny”. [10:33] On June 5th, Zywave joins us to discuss “Today's Escalating Risk Trajectory: What's the Cause and What's the Solution?”. [10:413] On June 17th, Origami Risk returns to present “Strategic Risk Financing in an Unstable Economy: Leveraging Technology for Efficiency and Cost Reduction”. [10:54] More webinars will be announced soon and added to the RIMS.org/Webinars page. Go there to register. Registration is complimentary for RIMS members. [11:05] Spencer Educational Foundation's Grants program is starting soon. Spencer's goal to help build a talent pipeline of risk management and insurance professionals is achieved, in part, by its collaboration with risk management and insurance educators across the U.S. and Canada. [11:23] Since 2010, Spencer has awarded over $3.3 million in General Grants to support over 130 student-centered experiential learning initiatives at universities and RMI non-profits. Spencer's 2026 application process is now open through July 30th, 2025. [11:43] General Grant awardees are typically notified at the end of October. Learn more about Spencer's General Grants through the Programs tab of SpencerEd.org. [11:54] Back to the Conclusion of my Interview with Chris Maguire of Thomson Reuters!  [12:27] Chris refers to RIMScast Episode 335 with Jeff from Academy Sports. Jeff talked about how the Compliance function now sits in the General Counsel's office. At Thomson Reuters, more of the Compliance group has moved into the General Counsel's office in the last year. [12:48] The General Counsels are being charged with understanding the full weight of risk across an organization, from reputational risk to who you should or should not do business with. [13:16] The Sales organization at Thomson Reuters has discussed that a lot with the GC office, from a reputation, sanctions, and everything perspective. A lot of GC offices now include the Compliance role. [13:50] Chris's ERM philosophy is Trust. Companies need to trust who they are doing business with. Companies need to trust that their employees have what they need to make decisions not to deal with a risky customer, but to follow the laws and rules of global companies. It's trust. [14:29] There is so much change going on. Chris talks about values that resonate. One Thomson Reuters value is Act Fast, Learn Fast. You have to move and learn. Companies can help you, but it is on individuals to take the responsibility to act fast and learn fast about what is changing. [14:59] Thomson Reuters is bound by the Trust Principles. It started with Reuters in the 1940s around WWII, but it goes back to its 150 years of legal content. [15:17] The information Thomson Reuters provides its customers has to be free from bias. It has to be right. It has to be updated. It can't be an opinion about a philosophy. It has to be fact-based. It has to provide customers with the information they need to get work done. [15:36] Applying AI on top of trusted, unbiased, correct, up-to-date information is going to be vital, moving forward. Act fast, learn fast, and trust. [15:57] Chris believes the legal industry hasn't always been the fastest-moving industry. The technology is now there to allow us to move more quickly and learn more quickly. That's an exciting thing! [16:23] Chris says AI is no longer a future concept. It's here. It's transforming our lives; it's starting to transform our business environment. If you don't adapt quickly, you're going to be at a significant disadvantage. [16:36] For people in General Counsel's offices, people in compliance functions, the value is your expertise, your knowledge, and you as a human, and what you can bring to the situation. [16:48] If AI can help you get there, and give you a platform on which to add your judgment and expertise, knowledge, and professional opinion, that's a hugely valuable thing. [17:01] Thomson Reuters doesn't see AI taking away jobs. We see people who use AI, potentially taking away the jobs of people who don't use AI. It all comes back to the humans and how they use it. There's never been a time when Thomson Reuter's expertise has been more important. [17:34] Chris, it has been such a pleasure to have you here on RIMScast! I do appreciate that you listened to some previous episodes! Get my unique download count up there! [I7:50] I appreciate that we're reaching a very important segment of our audience and our RIMS membership. I think they're going to learn a lot in this episode. Thank you! [18:02] Special thanks to Chris Maguire for joining us here on RIMScast. Links to RIMS coverage about AI, legal, and compliance risks are in this episode's show notes.  [18:13] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [18:41] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [19:00] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [19:18 ] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [19:34] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [19:48] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. You can email Justin at Content@RIMS.org. [19:55] Thank you all for your continued support and engagement on social media channels! We appreciate all your kind words. Listen every week! Stay safe!   Links: RIMS Texas Regional 2025 — August 3‒5 | Advance registration rates now open. ERM Conference 2025 — Call for Submissions (Through May 20) RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Risk Management magazine “Balancing Innovation and Compliance When Implementing AI” — Risk Management magazine, April 2025 RIMS Now The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center Spencer Educational Foundation — General Grants 2026 — Application Deadline July 30, 2025 2025 Coast-To-Coast Risk Management Challenge — Applications Open Through May 23 RIMS Webinars: RIMS.org/Webinars “Asset Valuations in 2025: Managing Tariffs, Inflation, and Rising Insurance Scrutiny” | Sponsored by GRC, a TÜV SÜD Company | May 22, 2025 “Today's Escalating Risk Trajectory: What's the Cause & What's the Solution?” | Sponsored by Zywave | June 5, 2025 “Strategic Risk Financing in an Unstable Economy: Leveraging Technology for Efficiency and Cost Reduction” | Sponsored by Origami Risk | June 17, 2025   Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep with AFERM — June 2‒3, 2025 | Presented by RIMS and AFERM RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Virtual Workshop — June 10‒11, 2025 | Presented by RIMS and NAIT Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule “Managing Data for ERM” | June 12 | Instructor: Pat Saporito “Generative AI for Risk Management” | June 26 | Instructor: Pat Saporito See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS-CRMP Prep Workshops   Related RIMScast Episodes: “(Re)Humanizing Leadership in Risk Management with Holly Ransom” “AI and Regulatory Risk Trends with Caroline Shleifer”   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: “The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience” | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) “Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs” | Sponsored by Zurich “Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding” | Sponsored by Zurich “What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping” | Sponsored by Medcor “Risk Management in a Changing World: A Deep Dive into AXA's 2024 Future Risks Report” | Sponsored by AXA XL “How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips” | Sponsored by Alliant “RMIS Innovation with Archer” | Sponsored by Archer “Navigating Commercial Property Risks with Captives” | Sponsored by Zurich “Breaking Down Silos: AXA XL's New Approach to Casualty Insurance” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Weathering Today's Property Claims Management Challenges” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Storm Prep 2024: The Growing Impact of Convective Storms and Hail” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Partnering Against Cyberrisk” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Harnessing the Power of Data and Analytics for Effective Risk Management” | Sponsored by Marsh “Accident Prevention — The Winning Formula For Construction and Insurance” | Sponsored by Otoos “Platinum Protection: Underwriting and Risk Engineering's Role in Protecting Commercial Properties” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Elevating RMIS — The Archer Way” | Sponsored by Archer   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Kristen Peed!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guest: Chris Maguire, General Manager, Corporates Risk at Thomson Reuters   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.  

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   Justin interviews three RISKWORLD attendees at RISKWORLD 2025. They are first, Audrey Trim of Thomson Rivers University, second, Lucy Straker of Beazley, and third, François Beaume of Sonepar and AMRAE.   Audrey Trim shares information about her career and her experiences at RISKWORLD and on the Board at BC RIMS. She introduces the Second Annual Coast to Coast Risk Management Legacy Challenge for Canada and tells how student teams can compete.   Lucy Straker describes the growing risk of political violence and active assailant events, and what insurance products are needed on top of general liability. She offers strategies for preventing and mitigating violent events.   François Beaume presents the 17th Annual AMRAE RMIS Panorama, a survey of vendors and risk managers, with insights into the software and technology available to corporate risk teams. The Panorama and data sets are freely available online in French and English at the link below. Listen in for a glimpse of the variety of education at RISKWORLD. Be sure to save the dates May 3rd through the 6th for RISKWORLD 2026 in Philadelphia.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:16] About this episode of RIMScast, coming to you live from RISKWORLD 2025 in Chicago. There are so many topics and perspectives to cover! [:40] RIMS-CRMP Workshops! RIMS is co-hosting an intensive four-day program, which is your gateway to achieving two prestigious certifications, the DRI Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) and the RIMS Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP). [:59] This workshop will be held from May 19th through the 22nd in collaboration with DRI International. Links to these courses can be found through the Certification page of RIMS.org and this episode's show notes. [1:14] Virtual Workshops! On June 12th, Pat Saporito will host “Managing Data for ERM”, and she will return on June 26th to present the very popular new course, “Generative AI for Risk Management”. [1:31] A link to the full schedule of virtual workshops can be found on the RIMS.org/education and RIMS.org/education/online-learning pages. A link is also in this episode's show notes. [1:42] We're at RISKWORLD this week, but preparations are already underway for the RIMS ERM Conference 2025 on November 17th and 18th in Seattle, Washington. RIMS is accepting educational session submissions through May 20th. [2:00] The best submissions will address current and future challenges facing ERM practitioners as well as provide leading practices and concrete takeaways for a diverse audience of risk professionals from industries or organizations of varied sizes, disciplines, functions, and roles. [2:16] These include officers, leaders, managers, and students. The link to the submission form is in this episode's show notes. [2:26] Of course, mark your calendars for November 17th and 18th, and I'll be sure to alert you when registration opens. [2:34] RISKWORLD 2025 was one of the highlights of the 75th Anniversary of RIMS. We had a fantastic time here at McCormick Place in Chicago. We've got a lot of perspectives that we're going to cover! [2:47] Our first guest is the Responsible Use of Space Coordinator in the Risk Management Department of Thomson Rivers University in British Columbia and a Board Member of BC RIMS. She is making her RISKWORLD and RIMScast debut. [3:04] Audrey Trim is here to tell us about her experience as a first-time attendee and the 2025 Coast-to-Coast Risk Management Legacy Challenge, which was a big draw among the students at RIMS Canada 2024, and we expect that to possibly outdo itself in 2025. [3:24] You could sense the energy on the exhibit room floor on Day 1 of RISKWORLD. Let's get to it! [3:32] Interviews! Audrey Trim, welcome to RIMScast! [3:38] On RISKWORLD Day 1, Audrey enjoyed the Matha Stewart opening keynote. It was a great, inspirational show. Audrey has taken in some great sessions. She's looking forward to some educational seminars. This is Audrey's first RISKWORLD; it will not be her last! [4:57] Audrey explains her job title, Responsible Use of Space Coordinator. She oversees the non-academic space, among other things, on the Thomson Rivers University campus. She focuses on the best use of the space in a responsible way. [6:07] In earlier roles, Audrey worked on the 2014 Tim Hortons Brier in Kamloops and was an Event Coordinator for the City of Kamloops. She also coordinated a Buskers Festival. Then she fell into risk management, and she's loving it. [6:28] Audrey joined the Risk Group at Thomson Rivers three years ago. She became a BC RIMS member and now serves on the chapter board. Audrey is on the organizing committee of the Coast to Coast Risk Management Legacy Challenge, working with the SA RIMS Chapter. [7:01] This is the Second Annual Coast to Coast Risk Management Legacy Challenge for Canada. They will try to outdo the premier year. The Challenge involves students in teams of four from universities across Canada. [7:31] The teams get a case study and compete for the top two spots. The top two teams will get a chance to present their findings at the 2025 RIMS Canada Conference, which will be in Calgary, Alberta, from September 14th through 17th. [7:50] This year, Ken Letander, Case Study Champion, owner and Founder of Strat First Inc., a Canadian risk management firm, has chosen the case study topic: Reporting, Set Aside, Spend: Indigenous business joint venture, ethical dilemmas, and program integrity benefits. [8:15] It's going to be a big draw. Audrey hopes lots of teams apply. Ken Letander and others will judge the entries. [8:45] Audrey describes the passion and thought that went into the submissions to the 2024 Coast to Coast Challenge. The winning submission developed a tool to measure health equity across the province. The tool was given to the Fraser Health Authority to use day-to-day.  [9:35] The Coast to Coast Challenge is open to students across Canada. One of the members of the winning team last year changed her direction from business to risk management, because she had such a great experience at the conference and during the case study. [10:38] Apply to join the Coast to Coast Risk Management Legacy Challenge by May 24th. The case study will be assigned on May 30th. Each team submits a 10-page report. The judges will pick the top two teams to present at the RIMS Canada Conference 2025. [10:55] A link to the submissions page and contact information is in this episode's show notes. [11:16] Audrey's advice to anyone considering attending RISKWORLD 2026: “Know where you're going and how to get around the conference. Also, curate your sessions. There are a lot of options here. Pick out the ones that will have an impact on you and teach you something great.” [11:35] “There are so many networking opportunities. Take advantage of those. Get out there. Don't be afraid to try new things!” [11:39] RIMS Canada 2025 will be held from September 14th through 17th in Calgary. Registration will open soon. Audrey says, “Do it! The RIMS Canada Conference was a great opportunity to meet people and network!” [12:20] Plug Time! RIMS Webinars! We are back on May 22nd, with GRC, a TÜV SÜD Company, and their newest session, “Asset Valuations in 2025: Managing Tariffs, Inflation, and Rising Insurance Scrutiny”. [12:36] On June 5th, Zywave joins us to discuss “Today's Escalating Risk Trajectory: What's the Cause and What's the Solution?” [12:47] On June 17th, Origami Risk returns to present “Strategic Risk Financing in an Unstable Economy: Leveraging Technology for Efficiency and Cost Reduction”. This session was rescheduled from May. If you were already registered, you do not need to take any action. [13:03] More webinars will be announced soon and added to the RIMS.org/Webinars page. Go there to register. Registration is complimentary for RIMS members. [13:15] Spencer Educational Foundation's Grants program is starting soon. Spencer's goal to help build a talent pipeline of risk management and insurance professionals is achieved, in part, by its collaboration with risk management and insurance educators across the U.S. and Canada. [13:34] Since 2010, Spencer has awarded over $3.3 million in General Grants to support over 130 student-centered experiential learning initiatives at universities and RMI non-profits. Spencer's 2026 application process is now open through July 30th, 2025. [13:55] General Grant awardees are typically notified at the end of October. Learn more about Spencer's General Grants through the Programs tab of SpencerEd.org. [14:05] On the 7th of October, the New Jersey RIMS Chapter will return to the beautiful Fiddler's Elbow Country Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, for their Annual Charity Golf/Pickleball Event. [14:18] Registration is open, and the event proceeds are used to fund the chapter's Spencer and Kids' Chance Scholarships. It was the filming location for the upcoming movie sequel, Happy Gilmore 2. For more information and to register, please NewJersey.RIMS.org. [14:42] My next guest was a panelist on several RIMS webinars. I was delighted to see her, so we could record this special segment live at RISKWORLD 2025. She is Lucy Straker. She is the focus group leader for U.S. Political Violence & Deadly Weapons Protection at Beazley. [15:00] We will talk about the trends she's seeing in her area of practice. [15:06] Lucy Straker, welcome to RIMScast!  [15:29] In 2016, Beazley looked at the landscape as it relates to terrorism and active assailant events and realized that traditional insurance options weren't providing sufficient solutions for its clients. Beazley created a product and a marketplace around active armed assailant events. [16:02] Lucy says what you see in the media is a fraction of what's happening. The media report the biggest and worst events. The risk is far higher than what is reported in the media. [16:31] Violence and shootings have increased. People are now more aware of the risk and are trying to respond to it through insurance products and legislation such as California's SB-553, with much more focus on preventing these events from occurring. [16:54] We want to avoid workplace violence before it becomes something. A lot of clients think they already have coverage for workplace violence in their traditional general liability insurance. [17:19] Recently, general liability carriers have put exclusions on their products for AMB, firearms, weapons, or the expected or intended injury exclusion found in a traditional ISA form. [17:38] Lucy says clients need to be aware that there is a potential coverage gap. A misconception among clients is that none of them think they will have a shooting. They're in denial. When there's a shooting, you hear, “I never thought it would happen to me!” [18:03] We're at a stage where gun violence is so prevalent in the U.S. that you can't argue you didn't think something was going to happen. You have to plan and prepare for the worst-case scenario. [18:28] Lucy advises risk leaders to buy coverage to help them cover the gap. They do not have to be alone. With most shootings, there is a warning sign. There is a trail. There are things to do to prevent it. [18:52] As a company, protocols have to be embedded from top-down and bottom-up. The company has to communicate every plan and procedure to its employees. Employees have to be trained and retrained. This is not something they're going to be thinking about every day. [19:09] You have to engage with your security team. You have to screen people. You have to screen the company. You have to create a culture of reporting. People are not going to report something unless they feel comfortable reporting it. You need to have anonymous reporting. [19:24] You need to instill a culture in your company of “See something, say something, report it.” It could be someone coming in and acting funny, or someone posting on social media, “I'm going to go carry out a shooting.” [19:46] More often than not, if someone's going down a path to violence, there are signs. They don't just wake up one morning and say they're going to go carry out a shooting. There are warning signs, and we want to catch them before it becomes something more material. [20:13] There are different lines of coverage and ways that coverage can respond, such as active assailant forms. Think about your business and other areas of your business you might not have thought about. Lucy mentions the United Health Care CEO being shot off the premises. [20:38] It was a targeted event. Were there warning signs online by Luigi, the perpetrator? How can you identify those threats? Make sure you have risk management and preventive measures in place. Think of the litigious landscape. We're now seeing more nuclear verdicts. [21:02] People always want someone to blame. You've got to make sure that, if something happens, you're doing right by the people to try and eliminate and reduce that liability on the back end. [21:15] RIMS Plug! The first of hopefully many RIMS Texas Regional Conferences will be held in San Antonio from August 4th through the 6th, 2025. This groundbreaking event is set to unite the Texas RIMS Chapters and welcome risk management professionals from around the world. [21:35] Guess what, folks! Registration is now open! The advance rate is available through May 16th. A link is in this episode's show notes. You can also visit the Events page of RIMS.org to register. We look forward to seeing you in Texas! [21:51] Let's Move to My Final Guest, François Beaume, The SVP for Risks and Insurance at Sonepar and the VP of AMRAE (The Association for Corporate Risk and Insurance Management)! [22:16] François Beaume is here to discuss the findings of the 17th Edition of the RMIS Panorama that AMRAE produces in association with and with the support of several groups, including RIMS. [22:36] François Beaume, welcome back to RIMScast! [23:02] AMRAE has the 17th Annual Edition of the RMIS Panorama available. In 17 years, the most significant evolution in risk management information system offerings has been the integration of advanced technologies like AI, automation, and data visualization. [23:57] These add-ons transform the software from a pure data management tool to a much more sophisticated platform that provides productive analyses and real-time risk monitoring to enhance decision-making capabilities and processes in a wider scope of topics. [24:40] Panorama is a collection of surveys. One survey focuses on vendors and one survey focuses on risk managers. François says there is still room for improvement in this solution. Progress has been made on flexibility and integration capability, with changes to come. [25:12] François sees a need to guarantee the success of such solutions, train users, and provide support to users to streamline how they use the system. Vendors receive feedback to provide customizable solutions, enhanced integration capability, training, user clubs, and more. [26:07] Interconnection is a key area of these tools. With APIs, modular architecture, and code-based solutions, more and more, these tools can connect with other risk management information systems. Some corporations have several risk management systems. [26:45] There are more and more interconnected features in these systems, to allow the risk manager and all the teams involved in the use of the risk management programatics to extract the most important benefits from the use of the tool. [27:04] ESG is a key area where this matters more and more. In Europe, there is a strong push for ESG compliance that requires corporations to gather and manage a huge volume of data that, when organized, is helpful to fuel the risk management processes. [27:33] The report evaluates 52 solutions in four functional categories, covering 17 functional modules and 14 technical modules to allow you to compare and assess the value of the solutions and if they are compatible with your company's technology for audit, risk, and more. [28:22] AMRAE is looking at the functional scope and the depth of the features that are offered. Is the scope well-covered? They are looking at technical capabilities; is it easy to integrate a solution? Is it scalable? How is the user interface? What can the admin customize? [28:45] AMRAE also gathers user feedback and testimonials from using a given tool in real life. That feedback provides robust data capabilities, seamless integration capabilities, and more user-friendly interfaces that will benefit the users of the tool. [29:36] RMIS vendors use AI in predictive analytics of historical data. Risk management is gathering and dealing with historical data linked to risk management topics to anticipate future risks. [29:59] Vendors use AI to automate workflows and streamline data from the field and validation from the stakeholders, reducing manual intervention and increasing confidence in the data quality. All data will be analyzed more easily with AI and integrated into interactive dashboards. [30:34] Dashboarding has improved over the past year to provide more interactive dashboards for better risk insights and risk decision-making processes. [31:10] François has advice for risk managers looking for RMIS software. His most valuable advice is to use the RMIS Panorama. It's freely available to anyone. You can get it in French or English. Besides the Panorama PDF, there is an online platform that allows customization. [31:48] The entire data set from the vendor and risk manager surveys is freely available online. You can customize your analytics of the data based on your use case. [32:32] François speaks of captives and the evolving reinsurance market. The market today is favorable toward captives, a powerful tool for improving corporate risk management and the way corporations are living with ESG. There is a strong push in Europe for captives. [33:22] François has seen the creation of about 20 captives in France. Corporations need captives in the risk management process and risk financing optimization. [34:00] Special thanks again to all of our guests and all of the RISKWORLD attendees who made this year's RISKWORLD Conference so very special. Links to RISKWORLD coverage are in this episode's show notes. [34:13] Mark your calendars for May 3rd through the 6th, and join us at RISKWORLD 2026 in Philadelphia. [34:20] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [34:49] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [35:06] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [35:24] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [35:40] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [35:54] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. You can email Justin at Content@RIMS.org. [36:01] Thank you all for your continued support and engagement on social media channels! We appreciate all your kind words. Listen every week! Stay safe!   Links: RIMS Texas Regional 2025 — August 3‒5 | Advance registration rates now open. ERM Conference 2025 — Call for Submissions (Through May 20) RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Risk Management magazine RIMS Now The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center Spencer Educational Foundation — General Grants 2026 — Application Dates RISKWORLD 2025 — Show Daily! [Bottom of page] 2025 Coast-To-Coast Risk Management Challenge — Applications Open Through May 23 AMRAE RMIS Panorama 2025 New Jersey RIMS Spencer Golf/Pickleball Outing — Oct. 7 Global Trio of Risk Leaders Inducted Into RIMS Risk Management Hall of Fame RIMS Webinars: RIMS.org/Webinars “Asset Valuations in 2025: Managing Tariffs, Inflation, and Rising Insurance Scrutiny” | Sponsored by GRC, a TÜV SÜD Company | May 22, 2025 “Today's Escalating Risk Trajectory: What's the Cause & What's the Solution?” | Sponsored by Zywave | June 5, 2025 “Strategic Risk Financing in an Unstable Economy: Leveraging Technology for Efficiency and Cost Reduction” | Sponsored by Origami Risk | June 17, 2025   Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: CBCP & RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Virtual Bootcamp: “Mastering Business Continuity & Risk Management” | May 19‒22, 2025 | In Collaboration with DRI International Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule “Managing Data for ERM” | June 12 | Instructor: Pat Saporito  “Generative AI for Risk Management” | June 26 | Instructor: Pat Saporito See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS-CRMP Prep Workshops   Related RIMScast Episodes: “RIMS 2025 Risk Manager of the Year, Jennifer Pack” “Risk and Leadership Patterns with Super Bowl Champion Ryan Harris” (RISKWORLD 2025 Keynote) “(Re)Humanizing Leadership in Risk Management with Holly Ransom” “Risk and Relatability with Rachel DeAlto” “Live From RISKWORLD 2024!” “The Rise of RMIS with AMRAE's VP, François Beaume” (2019)   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: “The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience” | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) “Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs” | Sponsored by Zurich “Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding” | Sponsored by Zurich “What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping” | Sponsored by Medcor “Risk Management in a Changing World: A Deep Dive into AXA's 2024 Future Risks Report” | Sponsored by AXA XL “How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips” | Sponsored by Alliant “RMIS Innovation with Archer” | Sponsored by Archer “Navigating Commercial Property Risks with Captives” | Sponsored by Zurich “Breaking Down Silos: AXA XL's New Approach to Casualty Insurance” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Weathering Today's Property Claims Management Challenges” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Storm Prep 2024: The Growing Impact of Convective Storms and Hail” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Partnering Against Cyberrisk” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Harnessing the Power of Data and Analytics for Effective Risk Management” | Sponsored by Marsh “Accident Prevention — The Winning Formula For Construction and Insurance” | Sponsored by Otoos “Platinum Protection: Underwriting and Risk Engineering's Role in Protecting Commercial Properties” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Elevating RMIS — The Archer Way” | Sponsored by Archer   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Kristen Peed!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guests: Audrey Trim, BTM, Responsible Use of Space Coordinator, Risk Management, Risk and Safety Services, Thomson Rivers University BC RIMS Board Member   Lucy Straker, Focus Group Leader U.S. Political Violence & Deadly Weapons Protection, Beazley   François Beaume, SVP Risks and Insurance, Sonepar, VP AMRAE, [Association for Corporate Risk and Insurance Management]   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.  

Could you do us a favour?If you have the capacity or need for it, could you message us on Intagram and let us know what you enjoy about this Podcast? And what would you love to hear us talk about it? It really helps us keep delivering value to all of you. Thank you so much!Keep tagging us, keep sharing, we appreciate it and it's how more ears get to listen to this.Kim has started using a new workout platform which she LOVES!!!!!! It's new, it's fresh, it's simple movement and nutrition, and you will love it.Check it out here: https://made4affiliates.com/kfitzpatrick42/page/how-to-joinOn that note, Kim and I talk about how our identities were formed, we talk how we became so involved in wellness.  If you tell yourself "I don't like to workout." You never will.  Because you are creating your identity with that belief.  And crazy enough, when you say things out loud, or even in your head, there are physiological changes that take place.  Cellular change.And remember, ALL YOUR BELIEFS, good and bad, positive and negative, can transfer over to your children.The question Kim asked a client and friend about her existing money blocks "Do you want to transfer this to your son?"  It was a question that really hit deep for her.  Listen to the advice Kim gives, it's really gold.We talk about so much more in this episode and we really hope you enjoy it!Thanks you for listening!K&JLINKS:Purchase any of Kim's latest 3 Virtual Workshops here: https://legacybykim.com/collections/legacy-workshops-with-kim-fitzpatrickBecome a Growth Day Ambassador with Kim: https://bit.ly/GrowthDayWithKimSIGN UP FOR WORKSHOPS, RETREATS, AND APPLY TO WORK WITH KIM & JAMIE: bit.ly/WorkWithKimFitzpatrickInterested in Wellness Products we love and use: https://bit.ly/FitzWellnessInsiderSHOP OUR CLEAN AND NON-TOXIC WELLNESS SITE: