Teacher Answers

It's my pleasure to bring you this awesome interview all about motivation, health, diet and exercise featuring Alicia Hurps our school's Exercise Science Sports Medicine instructor. We get deep into the weeds of all these topics and hear Alicia's answers to my silly happy fun time questions. Please enjoy!

It has taken me 2 years to figure this out, but I finally have an answer to how the pandemic has changed current students. I believe this is profound and once you understand my chat bubble theory, you'll see evidence of it every time you interact with teenagers. Joining me on this episode is return guests, Kim Tatman and Shannon Kenily. If you can listen until you understand the first 20 min of this episode you'll be way better interacting with kids today and you'll stop thinking they are "different." Please take time to pay attention to this. It might be my most important work to date.

I put three questions from high school students together into this episode that addresses the issue of not letting friends drag you under.  The questions are Should I make decisions to better myself or to make others feel good about themselves, can my happiness determine my success, and Is cutting off negative people in your life a normal thing?

In an activity at the beginning of the new year, I asked students to list their classes and the grades they'd like to receive in those classes.  Then I asked them to write three things they could do to earn that grade.  I compiled their answers and picked the top 5.  In this podcast, you'll also learn what makes a gray goal and how to turn these goals into clear black and white goals.  After almost 30 years of teaching, I'm confident if students did these 5 things, it would almost guarantee an A.  Can you guess what they are?

Should students use calculators?  When should they use calculators?  Do they over-rely on calculators?  Do we teach math right?  Find out how math should be taught like martial arts.  It's the perfect system.  

Here are several questions from actual high school students. How do you get unstuck when you are in a rut and feel like you can't complete a project? The answer to that one is between the answers. Enjoy!

It's back to school time

2020 - pandemic started - heard about a school that had a graduation for the 2020 students. Good on them.

2021 - The mask year

2022- the normal year filled with learning gaps, online/in-person teaching, and quarantines

2023 - Let's call this one back to normal. - so what do we need to do

The 3 most important things teachers should do this year

1. Get way into your subject and get consistent about communication and deadlines. Become a team with your students. Gen Z wants the subject first and you second. Millennials were a little bit the other way. Gen X was totally the other way. Remember to a Gen Z Wi-Fi and cell phones are like lights and running water. Deadlines are so important. Accountability will be key this year.
2. Increase and develop interpersonal skills.
   1. Handshaking with gloves if you have to.
   2. Encouraging them to speak up and develop their voice.
   3. I've heard many teachers talk about how they forgot how to act. Of course, they were forced into a zoom world and told to stay home and not touch anything for a long time. Mask up and stay 6 feet apart.
   4. Covid is still real but this has caused the strange behavior.
3. Stress that career and retirement are really important.
   1. Grades matter -       remember people with 4-year degrees make about double what people who don't have a college education do.
   2. Building some long-term career is super solid advice. How many people do you know will never be able to retire? This all starts in high school.
   3. Changing jobs every 3 years is hazardous. Wouldn't it be much better to figure out what you want to do and go all in on it? This is the point of high school.
   4. You may have little deflections on the way up, but you can't see what you don't aim at. High school is to teach people how to aim.

Life is rough no doubt about it. Sometimes it's really, really bad. I don't want to downplay how bad someone may have it but many times though our perspective gets off and our imagination takes over making life seem way worse than it really is. Is your perspective off? Come with me in this episode and lets explore our perspectives.

This is the manual and pretty much the exact speech I gave my classes on how to work in groups of 3 and 4.  If you get this wrong you have nothing but a big waste of time.  Students struggle with group work - this will help.

S3|EP 4 Red alert show - What do I do when I stop caring about school?  It's so easy to get behind, let it pile up, lose motivation, and feel like you can't catch up.  Then you can reach the point of saying that it's not even worth it.  This is a warning light.  This episode is your game plan to reset your brain and motivation, and get on top of things instead of under them.

When you feel things are not worth it, you may be trying to please others and giving but getting nothing or not as much as you’d like in return.

It’s ok to be focusing on yourself when you are in high school.  In fact, I’d highly recommend it.

The internet will tell you to simply say you are worth it every morning and you should do that but does it help?  Is it a cure?  What is the fix for this?

You are behind and it’s piling up on you and now that you’re trying to get out from under it more piles on you.  This can make you feel like it’s not worth it for sure.

How do you fix this?

Your motivation has now gone to zero

Always remember motivation comes from doing, and I mean starting with very simple things to get traction.

The joy of a brain dump

I want you to do this today.

Do you have goals or even tasks written on paper right now?

The mind is not meant to hold information

David Allen in the book Getting things done - says the mind is only meant to be creative and solve problems.  It’s not meant to remember everything.

If you are trying to hold all the information in your head - you must be stressed out to the max.

Be present with what you are doing.

Trying to multitask is killing your productivity.

Remember productivity is like football - One play at a time.

If you have earbuds in your ears when you are trying to learn something else you are not being present and it’s part of what’s stressing you out.  I’m not talking about listening to music when you wash dishes or do a chore like that.

Concern yourself with your future.  These next few months are extremely important.

The friends you make, the future contacts with your teachers are valuable,  and this is when you should be setting some kind of aim for your life.

Remember school is to help you see enough to aim at what you want in life.

I’m convinced that 30 years of your life can fly by on a path you don’t want if you are unmotivated your senior year.

Sure you can change, but it’s easier to put the train on the track now.

Remember you can do it - you can.

I’d recommend listening to “A graduation speech I would want to hear” S2 EP 38.

Respect is the hardest thing to gain quickly and the easiest thing to lose quickly.  Why do we respect some people and not others?  Do the things in this podcast and you'll most definitely build quality respect with people.

No one likes to be told no. No one likes telling other people no, especially your own kids. However, being told no and learning to tell others no may be what the world needs most right now. Let's take a journey together with this podcast episode and find out the 7 benefits of telling someone NO. I'd love to know what you think about this episode. If you like it please consider giving me a 5-star review on Apple podcasts or a written review. Feel free to contact me with questions at our website tapodcast.net.

Welcome to Season 3!  Some of the seven involve working with each other, some involve working on yourself.  None of which are easy.  The hell with easy.  We can make this coming year better than the last two.  Here are seven things that you can do immediately, that I believe will help.  Take a breath, have a sip of coffee, and enjoy the season opener.  Crank it up.

1. Be outrageously kind to each other
2. Put education at the top of the priority list.
3. [warning I still love you]  Talk about politics face to face and have an actual conversation where both people grow.
4. Avoid hot issues on social media especially in the comment section.
5. If you are going to binge news watch Fox and MSNBC and divide by two.  That’s where the news really is.  The truth is most likely when they say the same thing.

Don’t join team MSNBC or team FOX.

Separate facts and what actually happened from people’s opinions about what happened.  Realize news shows are 24 hours per day and they have to fill up the time.  Don’t forget it’s about shocking you into watching today and to keep you coming back.

6. Work on yourself

1. New year’s resolutions are you making one?

What is a resolution?:  A firm decision to do or not do something.  A pledge, intention, or decision to work on a project to better yourself.

I’ve asked a lot of people if they have any new years resolution and the vast majority say no.  Why?  - No doubt it’s fear of failure.

People think why put yourself through something hard that has a very high probability of failure.  I get that!

1. Should you make one

A pledge, intention, or decision to work on a project to better yourself - Should you do that?  How is the answer not yes?

In season one I answered a student’s question, “What if I don’t feel good enough?”  (Season 1 episode 8).

Saying you’re good enough or something is just good enough is drawing a finish line and that’s not good.

We all have stuff to work on - How is life not a continuous path of improving ourselves?

1. If you don’t know where to start

You should definitely check out S2 Ep 7-9 on how to set goals, break bad habits and start new ones.

Goals can be overwhelming and if you set what I call a doomed goal because it’s too broad like “I want to be more healthy” or “I want to get ripped” or “ I want to be more productive.”  These goals have great intentions but you can’t measure them at all.

Goals can be also overwhelming if you set them too focused.  Like if you chart out where you want to be everyday for the next 6 months.  Or like if you say I want to lose 30 lbs.  If you lose 19lbs are you a failure?

Instead have goals like:  I’m not going to touch my phone for the first hour of the day, or until I’m out of the shower and had breakfast.  Or everyday I’m going to put my shoes on, walk outside and take at least 10 steps.  Or I’m going to read for 2 minutes per day and set the book where you can’t miss it.  What can happen then is you can become a person that does those things?

7. Stop comparing yourself to other people.

Compare yourself to who you were yesterday.

In this episode, we get to know public information coordinator Kim Tatman.  Come with us as we talk about her life journey and her amazing work.  Kim is the person behind the "Dude Be Kind" movement.  There is so much wisdom in this episode including very eye-opening information about the importance of your social media footprint, staying positive, and crushing life.  If you enjoyed this episode and want to say thanks, consider a 5-star rating at apple podcasts.  There will be a special episode kicking off season 3 all about "Dude Be Kind."  

Merry Christmas and happy new year!! - Sam

Special guests Alexis Stokes and Taylor Hites join me discussing 5 questions that they picked out.  This fun episode will make you smile and maybe think about the meaning of success differently.  As always thanks for listening and sharing this with friends.

How do you stop beating yourself up?

1. Act like you are counseling someone else that is coming to you with those concerns.  

a. You wouldn't say stuff as you suck, you loser, you are never going to be able to do that.

b. You would be supportive but in a real way.

2. Stop saying you are the only one and the victim stuff.

a. All other people are also struggling

b. You have to understand that no matter what, no one has it all together all the time.

c. Be present with what you are feeling 

i. Don't try to fight it - because you'll constantly be thinking about it.

ii. Don't fight for it - If you argue for your limits and weaknesses you become that.

iii. There is no perfection - Do not catastrophize everything.

iv. Be accepting of yourself and your flaws but also figure out what it is you need to work on.  Like someone is taking care of you.  What would they tell you?

v. Use the word YET.  I'm not where I want to be yet.  I don't read as much as I want to yet.  I don't have as many friends as it want yet. Etc (This gives you something to work on)

3. You fight the negative thoughts with the inertia of confidence

a. Sure you can say stuff like "Hey negative thought, I'm shutting you down!"  However, if people knew how to do that we wouldn't have this problem.  If you dwell on it you create it permanently.  Imagine saying that to a student, hey just shut it down?  Don't you think they/everyone already know that??  So how do you fight it?

b. How do you get confidence?

i. By doing, not by thinking about it…by doing something, and most of the time for someone else.

4. The world and our thoughts naturally tilts toward the negative

a. Ted talk study about how people get stuck in the negative

i. Survey of doctors about a procedure that has a 70% success rate and the other group was presented a 30% failure rate.  Group A looked at this at first favorable but when presented like group B they looked at it unfavorably.  Group B stayed negative even when looking at it like group A after they were presented 70% success rate.  

5. You have to work at staying positive. - THE KEY TAKEAWAY

a. Steve Harvey talks about the foreman on the positive side of the brain and the foreman on the left side of the brain.  

b. Being grateful.

Inspiration

Jim Kwik  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XkviCyYmZ0

Steve Harvey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWDo-y-tK7k

Teachers and parents may want to study this.  This is an eye-opening episode for anyone working with students in school. Hear the words of current high school students, as they describe their weaknesses. I promise anyone listening to this will learn something about school-age students. Do NOT miss this episode. If you'd like to say thanks consider giving me a 5-star review or even a written review on apple podcasts.  As always share it with a friend and thanks for listening!  You can sign up for my newsletter at tapodcast.net and get updates and episodes emailed to you directly.

I asked over a hundred high school juniors and seniors, "What are the strengths and weaknesses of your generation -Generation Z?  This episode will go over the strengths of generation Z in the words of actual teenagers.  This will be continued in the following episode with the weaknesses.  If you are interested in looking inside the head of current kids this series is for you.

Strengths

1. Knowledge of Tech

2. Can learn fast if they try, everything is at their fingertips

3. Accepting of things, not in the normal and other people's diversities.  People my age that have not been exposed to things may believe it's wrong. 

4. More open to who they really are.

5. Multitaskers

6. Less Brutal - meaning more sensitive

7. Good communicators.

8. More worldly than gen x - Exposed online through other viewpoints from a variety of countries and backgrounds.

9. Flexible with learning.

10. Creative with content

Why do people get offended so easily now compared to a couple of generations ago? Let's take a look at Generation X and some of the differences between now and then. Sit back and enjoy this episode.

Why?

1. People who are easily      offended have the victim mindset (See S1|EP 25)
   1. Everything is       negative
   2. You ask yourself why are       people mean
   3. You Ruminate the script.
   4. Angry of other people's gains.
2. The only way to break out of it is to start accomplishing something. Anything! But build the little puzzles first to gain confidence.
3. Have an external locus of      control
4. Need to be validated - beware of making posts that bring fake encouragement.
5. Offended people tend to magnetize toward other offended people to get validated.

Let's talk about a couple of generations ago which is gen x.

1. If we didn't know we didn't know? No internet
2. The birth of the personal      computer
3. The birth of video games
4. College is the way to      everything
5. Outside a lot more, a lot more overall.
6. Punishment was physical
7. Keep your mouth shut about stuff.
8. Used to being told to shut up and know your place. (Bonus question: Why do managers who are      40 think that a 16-18-year-old needs to do their job?
9. Technology has outgrown most      gen x
10. Because we were not desensitized and didn't have access to everything extreme, we thought a      bit more about what was said and how it made people feel. Because it was face to face.

Now…

1. We also live in a world where people think it's ok to run their mouths and say absolutely anything whether it's based on any truths or not.
   1. When you do you'll get 10 people agreeing with you and offend another 10 people.
   2. Probably better to actually talk to the person instead of jumping into the polluted pool of social media comments.
2. People who make extreme political comments are automatically offending, on purpose at least 50% or so that's reading what you wrote.
   1. By the way that's permanent.
   2. Sharing it is saying it btw.
   3. It makes you look close-minded. - a conversation is much       less offensive
      1. Because it allows a back in forth dialogue to occur. With comments, you can't hear the whole viewpoint of either side.
      2. The written word is much more        powerful

Warning #1: We are losing our empathy with each other because of this.

Warning #2: Being close-minded contributes to taking things personally

Not only do we all now have calculators in our pockets, but we have apps that will do complex math for us. Is this awesome? Is this a big problem? Find out how I recommend dealing with apps that allow students to cheat themselves out of learning.  If you enjoy my show please consider saying thanks by leaving a 5-star review on apple podcasts.  Enjoy!

Will there be a generation C? Are students different after going through the last two years of remote/modified/hybrid/covid education? In this episode, I go over a course of action for any senior that is starting their last year of high school. This episode is also for teachers and parents, not just seniors. Enjoy!

If you are new to my podcast and don't want to go back and listen to all of them, I have something for you. If I had to pick a baker's dozen, these are my top 13 favorite podcasts that you should listen to right now. In this episode, I go over why they are special to me and why I know they will help you if you listen to them. Take the challenge - Eat the whole box of donuts.

1. S1|EP 3 What is happiness?
2. S1|EP 8 What if I don't feel good enough?
3. S1|EP 25 Bullying part 6: The only way to reduce bullying
4. S1|EP 29 What is pressure and how do I deal with it?
5. S1|EP 46 What is school for?
6. S1|EP 52 Why saying you're not going to need to      know this is horrible advice
7. S1|EP 54 When the universe says go for it, you should listen
8. S2|EP 7 How to create clear goals part 1
9. S2|EP 19 Where are they now? - Josh Swingle
10. S2|EP 27 High school money questions answered with Scott Webb
11. S2|EP 28 Cell phone addiction part 3 - What we can do about it.
12. S2|EP 33 The 7 best predictors of long term success
13. S2|EP 56 When you should and shouldn't question everything

This is a problem! There is enough information out there to find expert opinions on anything you want to think is true. The question is what is true? This may help you known when to question things and when to accept the truth. Sometimes we don't ask enough questions and sometimes we overthink everything.

Join Brianne Paisley and me as we talk about her journey from being a 2006 high school graduate to now. Enjoy this inspiring story and learn how to take control of your future and make each day worth remembering.

This episode focuses on confrontation and dealing with friends being mean. The questions are “How should I confront someone in the wrong without upsetting them or making them feel like I’m attacking them?” “How should I deal with animosity in the workplace?” Finally, “How do I deal with your friends turning mean?” Enjoy this episode on confrontation I’m sure you’ll pick something up that will help you in your day to day journey through life. - Sam

Life turning out sounds like a finish line to me. Does it ever really turn out? Is this just the end of a chapter? Also in this episode is "How can I make myself have reasonable goals rather than impossible dreams?" Good stuff on the way to or from work. Put it in your ears! Thanks as always for listening. - Sam

This episode answers a couple of questions about effective ways to listen to each other but arrives at not focusing on the little bit of bad in things. Instead, maybe we should see all of the 99% good in things and not hyper-focus on the negative. Would life be better? I'm not saying we should ignore the bad stuff, but we are constantly being saturated with the small amounts of negativity in the biggest way possible in the media. We may be becoming victims of it. This is just a reminder to see the good stuff too!

Live from the Ohio ACTE Conference in Columbus Ohio!  Starting a podcast can be super intimidating.  From learning how to record, edit, what to say, avoiding getting stuck or saying something offensive, I go over all the ways to keep your head in the game.  I was presenting a PowerPoint at the same time I was recording this so it was a little overwhelming for me at the time too.  Make sure to check out my other episodes at tapodcast.net.  You all in the audience in Columbus, thanks for attending.  Everyone listening at home, thank you so much, for listening and sharing with friends. - Sam

Do you look at life as a competition or are you finished racing?  Come with me on this exploration of why some people do 10 times more than other people, and why that may be a good thing and a bad thing.  Never forget to be content with what you have.  Also in this episode, I take on the question of why am I scared to graduate?  I believe this is a natural and healthy reaction to graduating high school.  Enjoy!

Chris Smith is a former student of mine that graduated fifteen years ago.  After the "Where are they now interview," we continued our discussion and reflected on the class of 2020 and the way people behaved during the pandemic.  Most importantly, we talk about what we learned from the "year out of time."  Enjoy part two of the Chris Smith interview.

I think a child starts negotiating with a parent at the dinner table over vegetables.  Everything is a negotiation.  We even negotiate with ourselves.  A student asked me, "What's the best approach to negotiating with parents?"  Come with me and explore this answer.  The bonus question on this show is "Why do people belittle other people?"  Take this with you on a walk, drive, or over a relaxing cup of coffee.  Binge all my shows at tapodcast.net.  Consider subscribing to my show and as always, thanks for listening! - Sam

The Teacher Answers Podcast proudly brings you an interview with former student Chris Smith for the "where are they now" series. Chris graduated in 2005 from the Digital Media program and has gone on to work for many organizations including the Cleveland Browns. Join us for a wonderful conversation, as we catch up on old times and find out what lies ahead.  Listen to and subscribe to my show at tapodcast.net.  Spoiler alert - this is part 1 of a two-part interview.  If you are a first-time listener, welcome to my podcast.

When you walk into a room is your head down? Are you avoiding the eyes of other people? When you are worried about letting everyone else down you cannot do your best work. Always remember no one is perfect. Trying to be or expecting others to be is dooming yourself.  Enjoy this episode with a cup of coffee, a 2-mile walk, sitting at the pool.  If you'd like to say thanks share this episode with someone that might need it.  Agree/disagree email me at teacheranswers@gmail.com.  Contact me and see all my episodes at tapodcast.net.  5-star reviews of my show at apple podcasts are always appreciated!  As always thanks so much for listening.  

Sam

Robin McQuaid has dedicated her life to education and has had the unique experience of working with high school students volunteering in the community with a variety of projects. Come with us and learn how volunteering and working with students outside of the classroom is extremely beneficial to both teacher and student. Congratulations to Robin for a successful year in education and being an example of a wonderful, positive educator.

Is it better to wait a year before going to college?  In this episode, I go over the pros and cons of taking a gap year.  

Graduating in 2006 from the practical nursing program, Brooke Campbell was then a true leader in her class, and now in the field of health care. Take a listen to one of my former students' 15-year journey from her senior year in my math class to today. I am so proud of Brooke as she is so well-spoken and a leader in our health care community.  Enjoy and if you'd like to say thanks, all I ask is that you share this with a friend.

Should work come before sports? Should I miss a student council meeting to finish up my classwork? What are the priority between work, school, and sports? In this episode we go into a logical discussion about these priorities and why School > Sports > Work is the answer in most scenarios. Listen to all the shows at tapodcast.net. Thanks so much for listening! - Sam

In 2014 I had Michael and Harley as students in separate math classes and now they are married, successful parents. It's so wild to step into the time machine that is the "where are they now" series. For Michael and Harley, it's like going backward in time but for me, it's like going forward in time 7 years. Enjoy this interview and remember to find all my shows at tapodcast.net.

Happy one-year anniversary!  Featured on this episode are questions from Cindy Price, David Mowry, Denny Polvinale, Nikki Bettinger, Shala Wallace, Shannon Kenily, J.C. Shively, Scott Webb, Jamie Harrop, and James Lehner.  I especially like the answer to James' question at the end of the show.  Thanks for all the encouraging words and support this past year!  This show is for you.

Find it all at tapodcast.net

HAPPY 100!  On this milestone show I take rapid-fire questions from past guests I've had on the show including, John Howe, Maria Griffin, Alexis Hartnell, Mark Still, Sue Lake, Taylor Hites, Jalena Lasko, Sam Gianettino,  and Matt Sheridan.

Guestlist

1. Maria Griffin S1 EP 30- What is the biggest lesson you have learned in your 27 years of teaching?  Who is your role model and why?

2. Alexis Hartnell S1 EP 43 and S2 EP 30-What are your top 5 favorite movies

Or

Who is the person that inspired you to become a teacher? If you could design a classroom what would it look like?

3. John Howe S1 EP37 - What made you want to do this podcast thing? What’s your family think about you doing this? And what radio DJ/personality do you like to listen to?

4. Mark Still S1 EP 39 - Would you rather be on a survival reality show or dating game show (if single)?

5. Sue Lake S1 EP 39- You are a drummer, why is music important to our lives?

If you weren't a teacher, what would you be?

Life is complicated and hard at times.  Who do you look to for happiness and support during hard times? (other than your family)

What is the hardest lesson you have learned?

How do you make every day a good day?

6. Taylor Hites S1 EP 43 - Is a hot dog a sandwich?  What legacy do you want to leave behind?  What is humankinds greatest invention?

7. Jalena Lesko S1 EP 47- If you had to describe yourself as a cereal what cereal would it be and why?

8. Sam Gianettino S1 EP 47- If you had to do a top ten of your podcasts, what would your 10 have to hear podcasts, be and rational of thinking for them?

Which podcast was your, top 5, most enjoyable and why?

Any bloopers addition or funniest pods pack?

"New teacher" in the world today "must know", after this year's experiences.

Matt Sheridan S1 EP51 -If you could choose three people from any time period in history to interview for your podcast, what three would you choose/why/what would you want to ask them?

See all my shows at tapodcast.net

Thank you so much! 

Sam

Put yourself in the chairs of someone who graduated this year or last year. What would you want to hear? Well here is 16 minutes of what I would want and need to hear. Congratulations to all the 2020 and 2021 graduates!

Here is my outline

• Congratulations
• Made it through the most difficult year of my career. I applaud you for hanging in there through
  • A pandemic
    • Masks, cleaning, remote learning, being flexible.
  • A divisive election
  • Increased cell phone use.
• You must -
  • Avoid multitasking important work - Monotask instead. Don't do math and watch twitch at the same time.       Multitasking makes those important tasks take longer.
  • Increase your personal connections with people
  • Stop playing the ultimatum game. Be giving - 100 dollars to someone
    • Research shows that unless you give about 1/2 people will screw themselves to screw you over. The ones that give extra get the biggest returns. So give extra.
  • Have a plan - See episode S2|EP 22 "Coming to terms with graduating"
  • Be open to change
  • Learn as you go
  • Work your butt off
  • Never be content with mediocrity
    • The valedictorian can still fail if the plan falls idle
    • The student struggling to find direction - can blow past them
    • The student with bad grades can blow past them.
    • There are no guarantees in life and people don't owe you.
    • You have to create your future by doing things you are annoyed with and don't want to do and are tired of doing. These are the things you should be doing.  Go after it!

S2|EP 37 Where are they now? - Morgan Mulligan. Sit down with a former nursing student of mine from 2017 and hear her journey from vocational school nursing class to being a labor and delivery nurse. This is feel-good stuff for your ride to work.  As always find all my shows at tapodcast.net..

It is my pleasure to bring you an interview with Sheriff Matt Lutz, Deputy John Howe, and Criminal Justice instructor Phil Snider! These questions are unedited and taken from actual high school students. As we bring appreciation week to a close, this can live on and inspire those who wish to learn more about what it's like being a police officer. This is my biggest podcast to date, and if you like it consider sharing it with friends and family.

Welcome to Police Appreciation week! Leading off is the Muskingum County Sheriff, Matthew J. Lutz. I hope this interview helps people understand what it's like to be a Police officer. Join us for 40 minutes of talk ranging from the day the tigers escaped to the trying times of today. Thanks for listening!  If you'd like to get this important topic in the ears of others consider a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts.

The Teacher Answers Podcast proudly presents another episode in the where are they now series. I had James Lehner as a student in 2014 and was always impressed by his positive vibe, politeness, and respectful attitude. Hear this amazing story from going from what James calls being "slightly timid" to a proud Marine and union electrician. You'll love this story - don't miss it.  The bit at the end is surreal to me as a teacher.  Don't forget to find all my shows at tapodcast.net.

In this episode I answer the question, What is the best predictor of long term success? I dive into many lists and cross referenced them into what I believe is a good set of things to work on. Thank you so much for listening and supporting me through my efforts in podcasting. Be sure to check out my brand new website tapodcast.net.

We continue our journey with the youth pastor and football coach Jamie Harrop in part 2 of our getting uplifted interview. In this episode, we go over topics involving teen mentoring and a set of off the rails happy fun-time questions you don't want to miss.

Jamie Harrop is a youth pastor at Cornerstone Full Gospel Church and varsity assistant football coach at Philo High school. Join Jamie and me as we talk about the struggles of growing up and becoming an outstanding citizen and mentor to the youth of the community. This uplifting episode will leave you smiling ear to ear. This is part 1 of 2.

Alexis Hartnell joins me for some rapid-fire Q&A from the spring 2021 stack of student questions. The best explanation of why you should care what other people think of you and why you shouldn't care sometimes is featured in this episode. I call this "adjusting the shields" with people. Master this concept and reduce anxiety.