#9 (5/4/20): "What Do You Love About High School?" Laurie & Matt dive into what makes high school great with this episode's essential question, "What Do You Love About High School?" Laurie assumes administrative duties and starts off the show with a weekly routine she would adopt in "If I Was Principal," and Matt closes out the show celebrating students that willfully take on extra stress in "That's the Beauty of it All."  NOTE: Renamed on 5/3/20. Recorded as episode 7, episode double "O" 7.

 #10 (5/11/20): "What Students Drive Us Crazy?" Laurie & Matt reveal the types of students that can cause their heart to sink and their blood pressure to rise with this episode's essential question, "What Students Drive Us Crazy?" Matt gets things rolling with a call for a uniform grading system in "If I Was Principal," and Laurie finds a way to insert squeezable tuna into a retelling of a dog's rescue in her "That's the Beauty of it All" finale. NOTE: Originally recorded as episode 8 and then renamed later. We left the recording as is to increase its value, like a misprinted stamp.

 #11 (5/14/20) Special Episode: The 5 Levels of Motivation Laurie & Matt lay out the 5 Levels of Motivation to assist parents and teachers in their quest to keep the teens in their care moving forward. From carrots and sticks to finding use and value, knowing the levels, the increasing strength of their motivation, and how to move teens to the next level is vital knowledge for mentors of young people. To go deeper, read Why We Do What We Do by Edward L. Deci with Richard Flaste. 

The 5 Levels

Level 5- Intrinsic Motivation (very strong)

Level 4- Value Based Motivation (strong)

Level 3- Usefulness Based Motivation (good)

Level 2- Rule Based Motivation (low)

Level 1- Rewards/Punishment Based Motivation (very low)

 #12 (5/18/20): "What Students Bring Us Joy?" Laurie & Matt  balance out last week's episode by sharing the ten student types that make them the happiest by answering this episode's essential question, "What Students Bring Us Joy?" Laurie shares a way for principals to connect with their fellow educational leaders in "If I Was Principal," and Matt closes out the show sharing a good use for our extra time in "That's the Beauty of it All." NOTE: Originally recorded as episode 9. We changed the number afterwards but left the recording as is because flaws make us unique. Re-recording was just not something we wanted to tackle, either.

#13 (5/25/20) "Are Cellphones Ruining Teenagers?" Laurie & Matt try to contain their apocalyptic notions while discussing this episode's essential question, "Are Cellphones Ruining Teenagers?" Matt kicks off the show trying to find a spot at school for each student to connect in "If I Was Principal," and Laurie riffs on the connection between teacher and classroom in "That's the Beauty of it All." NOTE: Originally recorded as episode 10, but renamed afterwards and recording left as is.

At the top of the show, Laurie & Matt discuss their journey with intermittent fasting, and how their first ever podcast was actually as co-guests on Gin Stephens' podcast "Intermittent Fasting Stories." If you'd like to listen to that episode, it's #68. You can visit GinStephens.com and IntermittentFastingStories.com to find out more.

#14 (5/28/20): Commonplace Episode: Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon: Laurie & Matt pull a quote from a book they've read and discuss its implications on the teaching and parenting of teenagers. This episode's quote comes from Steal Like an Artist by Austin Kleon. Here's the quote:

You are, in fact, a mashup of what you choose to let into your life. You are the sum of your influences.

 #15 (6/1/20) "What is a Growth Mindset?" Laurie & Matt discuss one of the most influential concepts on education and parenting of this century with the essential question, "What is a Growth Mindset?" Laurie starts the show by proposing that school events adopt a Broadway quality in "If I Was Principal," and Matt closes it by sharing how he became an Anglophile in "That's the Beauty of it All." 

#16 (6/8/20) "How Should Students Be Graded?" Laurie & Matt discuss one of a high school teacher's most important jobs that receives surprisingly little guidance and oversight with the essential question, "How Should Students Be Graded?" Matt kicks off the show trying to improve the health and wellness of his school community in "If I Was Principal," and Laurie closes it out sharing what it was like to be punk in Hawaii with "That's the Beauty of it All."