Father Greg Boyle has spent most of his adult years helping transform the lives of former gang members at Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles. In this conversation he applies his many lessons learned to how we can increase joy and reduce loneliness in schools through kinship, mercy, and meaning.

Michelle Pledger confronted the internalized oppression from her experiences as a Black girl in a predominately white school; then she converted her newfound wisdom into a commitment to promote culturally relevant teaching practices that honor and support the lived experiences of all students. Her story is essential listening for anyone committed to true equity in schools.

Humans, young and old, share a basic need to have some authorship in our own lives. Dr. Russell Quaglia has built his entire career around how to bring students’ voices into focus in classrooms and schools across the world. The result is happier students who learn more.

When Dr. Stuart Slavin received disturbing data about the dismal mental health of students at St. Louis University School of Medicine, he broke into action. The changes that Dr. Slavin and his faculty made transformed the mental health of their students…AND improved their learning outcomes! This is a MUST LISTEN episode.

We are in the midst of a youth mental health crisis, especially among kids in “high achieving” schools. Neuropsychologist William Stixrud has a front row-seat to the crisis, with unique insight into emerging research on the impact that “achievement-culture” related chronic stress and anxiety have on the adolescent brain. 

In our race to cover state content standards and prepare students for high-stakes tests, many educators are overlooking a powerful strategy for transforming students’ futures and making serious strides toward equity. Policy analyst and author Julia Freeland Fisher preaches the game-changing impact of expanding students’ social networks.

In October 2022, educators from across the country gathered at NIHF STEM Middle School in Akron, Ohio for TeachBetter22. In this special edition episode, you'll hear 22 conference participants share the most powerful learning experience of their youth. The episode closes with an unforgettable tale from conference keynote speaker and Grammy winner Mickey Smith Jr.

Today Sam Levin is the 29-year-old Oxford PhD CEO of a biotech company. Thirteen years ago he was a high school junior exasperated at his friends’ disengagement and unhappiness at school. So he did something about it! Now students, teachers, and parents are taking note of his bold vision.

A surprise package arrived at 11-year-old Tony Wagner’s house that permanently impacted his understanding of learning. Decades later, after a career that included twenty years of thought leadership at Harvard University and multiple best-selling books on school reform, Wagner connects the dots to the essential 21st century skills our schools are missing.

Julie Kim is an L.A.-based college admissions counselor who helps young people gain entrance into America’s most selective colleges. In this conversation Julie pulls back the curtain on the college admissions process and shows young people how they can not only get into selective colleges, but how they can be happier and more excited as they do it.

Before Daniel Pink was the author of four NYTimes bestsellers, he was a reporter for his high school paper, The Bexley Torch. While writing his first story, he had an epiphany about experiential learning that would permanently redefine his ideas about motivation and learning.

Gavin Levine spent his junior year of high school as a Rotary Youth Exchange student in Taoyuan, Taiwan. This engaging conversation reveals the enormous growth young people can experience when they leave their comfort zones to enter new cultures, whether across the globe or close to home.

Bryan Drewry is a community leader and a serial connector. He developed his talent for engaging with people through a series of high school experiences that served as the “hidden curriculum” of his education. Listen in for ideas about how we can help young people become more like Bryan!

Emmy Huefner did what everyone told her to do so she could get into a “good college.” In 2017 she graduated burned-out and lost. Emmy’s reflective insights will resonate with young people trying to navigate the high school experience. Every American teenager and parent should hear her story.

By seeking out internships in computer coding and game development, Duncan Johnson turned his high school years into a series of exciting, challenging, fun learning experiences that ignite him and prepare him for a bright future. It’s as if he listened to Emmy Huefner’s episode. Essential listening for all teenagers and parents.

Chad Hemmelgarn was an energetic kid for whom school just didn't work, until some visionary teachers found a way to identify and develop his creative gifts. Their utilization of experiential learning helped Chad develop into a beloved high school teacher who provides similar opportunity and inspiration to his students.

Eric Acton has been a beloved teacher and coach for more than three decades. As an 18-year-old custodian at the Columbus science center, he could never have dreamed of the life he was about to lead. That all changed because of the Girl Scouts and a guy named Jarvis. Eric's story is an inspiring reminder of the immense potential locked inside every child.

Stacy Bell was preparing to become a teacher when an experiential lesson in one of her education classes transformed her approach to teaching and learning. Her encounter with owl pellets has impacted countless elementary and middle school students during her nearly three-decade teaching career.

In the wake of George Floyd's murder, then 19-year-old Kaia Woodford headed to the Ohio Statehouse to join the protests. She began speaking at rallies, leading her to join other Bexley alumni in founding the Bexley Anti-Racism Project (BARP). She reflects on her journey to becoming a powerful voice in the fight against racism in her community.

At age 10, Olivia Weinstock started a babysitting "camp" for her kid sister's friends. By 18 it was a thriving business with strong brand recognition. Two years later she expanded the service and became the Founder and CEO of a venture capital-funded business. 

After graduating high school, Zach Shapiro embarked on a global gap year with Thinking Beyond Borders. This interview captures the enormous power and wisdom young people can gain when they take on bold new challenges.