Category: Podcast Episodes

Ep. 246 | What Would Peter Rackham Do? Roy Francis’ First Ever FETC

In my latest episode, Roy Francis shares his first-time FETC experience, offering tips, takeaways, and creative edtech ideas for music and French classrooms.

*This episode is sponsored by Class Companion. To learn more and get started, Click Here!

What’s it like to attend your first major edtech conference? In this episode, I sit down with Roy Francis, a music and French teacher from Nova Scotia, who attended his first-ever FETC conference. We discuss his initial expectations, how he and his team planned their conference experience, and the strategies they used to maximize their learning.

Roy also shares how he integrates edtech into his curriculum, from engaging students in music composition to enhancing language acquisition in French. Whether you’re a conference veteran or gearing up for your first big event, you’ll find plenty of insights and inspiration in this conversation. And you’ll know what we mean when he states, “What would Peter Rackam do?”. Buen provecho!

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About Roy Francis

Roy teaches junior high general music at a school in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. In his classes, he teaches music theory and history while also helping students learn to write and perform songs on the ukulele.

He is passionate about using technology in education and strives to incorporate it into all aspects of his teaching. Recently, he completed his Master’s in Educational Technology and is excited to be part of the AI lead team in the Halifax Regional Centre for Education.

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Listen Below!

Ep. 245 | Maximizing Teacher Time: How Class Companion Delivers Real-Time Insights for Student Success w/ Avery Pan And Brittany Blackwell

Discover how Class Companion empowers teachers with time-saving tools and real-time insights, helping them focus more on student engagement and success.

*This episode is sponsored by Class Companion. To learn more and get started, Click Here!

Are you ready to reclaim your time and supercharge student learning? In this episode, recorded live at FETC 2025, we sit down with Avery Pan (Co-Founder) and Brittany Blackwell (Marketing and Community Lead) of Class Companion to explore how their innovative platform saves teachers hours of work and provides timely insights into student progress. Discover how you can spend less time grading and more time engaging with your students. Whether you’re a teacher, administrator, or instructional coach, this conversation will inspire you to rethink what’s possible in the classroom. Buen provecho!

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Ep. 244 | Less Is More: Simplifying Your 2025 Classroom Plan

This episode is designed to get you in the mindset of “less is more”. This applies to the classroom and kitchen. Check out how this mentality can help alleviate some of the issues you might be causing yourself.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Colleague AI. Colleague AI can create new ideas and help teachers brainstorm ideas, create unique lesson plans, new high level rubrics, and grade homework with ease. Colleague AI is also able to manage administrative tasks with parental controls to help students succeed with ease. To learn more and get started, visit www.colleague.ai

As educators, the start of a new year often comes with ambitious plans to do it all. But what if less is more? In this episode, I dive into the power of simplicity in lesson planning for 2025. Learn how focusing on one or two impactful activities per week can not only reduce your stress but also enhance your students’ learning outcomes. Whether you’re a seasoned teacher or just starting out, this episode will help you embrace intentional planning for a smoother, more effective classroom experience.

Plus, stick around for a simple yet delicious recipe that perfectly illustrates the “less is more” philosophy—Chicken, Rice, and Squash Bowl. With protein-packed chicken, hearty rice, and the natural sweetness of roasted squash, this dish is a healthy, balanced meal that will leave you inspired to simplify your teaching and your cooking!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • Why overplanning can overwhelm both teachers and students.
  • How to design focused lesson plans that drive deeper understanding.
  • Practical examples of “less is more” teaching strategies for concepts like the water cycle or literary themes.
  • A minimalist recipe (Chicken, Rice, and Squash Bowl) to bring the “less is more” concept to life in the kitchen.
  • How simplifying your approach can reduce stress and increase classroom impact.

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Ep. 243 | Why You Should Join The X-Factor EDU Virtual 5k Turkey Trot

This Thanksgiving, focus on your own educator wellness by joining our virtual 5k Turkey Trot!

Calling all educators! Feeling burnt out before Thanksgiving even hits? This episode’s for you! In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Matthew Joseph of X-Factor EDU, Jon Laven, and Jeff Plourd of Snorkl.app to get you pumped for the X-Factor EDU Virtual 5K Turkey Trot sponsored by Snorkl!

This fun, FREE event is all about educator wellness, giving you a chance to prioritize your health and connect with fellow teachers from around the world. We dive deep into:

  • How the Turkey Trot came to be
  • Why Snorkl is on board as a sponsor
  • Training tips to get you ready for race day (or walk day!)
  • How to sign up and join the virtual fun!

Plus, learn how you can score some sweet prizes just for participating!

Don’t miss out! Head over to xfactor.link/trot to register and get ready to move your body this Thanksgiving break! This episode is perfect for any teacher, administrator, or educator looking to boost their wellbeing and connect with their amazing community.

Ep. 242 | Why Educators Are Moving to Bluesky for Social Media Privacy w/ Alice Keeler

Make sure you purchase a copy of my book Cooking Up Experiences In The Classroom: Focus On Experiences, Not Just Lessons from Amazon. Once you do that, listen to Alice Keeler school us on why educators should be flocking over to Bluesky for their #Edusky Social Media needs.

Make sure you purchase a copy of my book Cooking Up Experiences In The Classroom: Focus On Experiences, Not Just Lessons from Amazon.

Why are so many educators flocking to Bluesky? In this episode, Alice Keeler shares her journey to Bluesky, how it champions data privacy, and why it’s the next big thing for social media in edtech. Learn how Bluesky empowers educators, its unique features, and how to get started today. Tune in for practical tips and insights to make the move smoother!

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About Alice Keeler

Alice Keeler has a BA in Mathematics and an MS in Educational Media Design and Technology. She started teaching high school math in 1999 in the laptop Algebra program. Alice has taught 1:1 her entire teaching career and is passionate about using technology to create student centered classrooms.

Paperless is not a pedagogy. We should not seek to use technology to save paper, but rather to improve learning, improve relationships, and improve student engagement.

The tool is not what creates the learning, but rather an intentional approach for how a tool can create feedback loops, allow choice and voice, allows for communication of ideas in a creative medium, and increase collaboration.

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Ep. 241 From Badge Collector To Community Building- EdTech Certifications and Career Planning w/ Victoria Thompson

This episode is sponsored by MagicSchool AI. If you’re ready to transform the way you teach, With over 3.5 million users worldwide, MagicSchool AI is the #1 educational AI platform. They’re committed to data privacy for all users in order to keep classrooms protected. Save time and focus on creating experiences with your students with MagicSchool AI. To learn more and get started, visit www.magicschool.ai

In this episode, I’m joined by Victoria Thompson while at the Georgia Educational Technology Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. We catch up to discuss the difference between badge collecting and building edtech certifications. A lot of us educators become ambassadors for companies but she unpacks the ways we can align what we do and strategically plan out our career with true edtech certifications. This is not to say that badge collecting is a bad thing. Being an ambassador for an edtech company means true understanding and application of that particular product which empowers teachers in many ways. She comes at it from a different angle and aligns skills with career planning and community building. You NEED to give this episode a listen and connect with Victoria. Buen provecho!

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Connect With Victoria Thompson

Ep. 240 | Teacher, Parent, and Student CyberSafety with Desiree Alexander

This episode is sponsored by MagicSchool AI. If you’re ready to transform the way you teach, With over 3.5 million users worldwide, MagicSchool AI is the #1 educational AI platform. They’re committed to data privacy for all users in order to keep classrooms protected. Save time and focus on creating experiences with your students with MagicSchool AI. To learn more and get started, visit www.magicschool.ai

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Desiree Alexander while at the Georgia Educational Technology Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. She discusses Student Cybersafety and how that is geared towards students, teachers, and parents. She gives us a couple or red flags to look for when having conversations with our students and children and how to have those open conversations with one another continuously. This episode is full of great advice for any student, teacher, and parent so make sure you give it a listen. Buen provecho!

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Connect With Dr. Desiree Alexander

Ep. 239 | When The Professional Learning Impact Comes Full Circle w/ Kathryn Laster and Tisha Poncio

This episode is sponsored by MagicSchool AI. If you’re ready to transform the way you teach, With over 3.5 million users worldwide, MagicSchool AI is the #1 educational AI platform. They’re committed to data privacy for all users in order to keep classrooms protected. Save time and focus on creating experiences with your students with MagicSchool AI. To learn more and get started, visit www.magicschool.ai

In this episode, I’m joined by Kathryn Laster while at the Georgia Educational Technology Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. We’ve been connected and have crossed paths at various conferences but never formally met until GaETC 2024. She’s served in various roles in education such as a math teacher, Instructional Technology Coach, and Digital Learning Consultant. She’s passionate about building professional development and professional learning. We discuss the difference between the two and then…the conversation comes full circle! Tisha Poncio joins us at the table because Tisha was a teacher in one of Kathryn’s cohorts years ago. These two take us through the journey and Tisha lets us know how much of a pivotal role Kathryn played in her educational journey. This is such a special episode for these two that you have to hear for yourself. While listening to this, think about who has made an impact on your own educational journey and what you’d like to say to them. Buen provecho!

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Connect With Kathryn Laster

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Ep. 238 | Hip Hop x STEM = Engagement w/ Manny Faces

This episode is sponsored by MagicSchool AI. If you’re ready to transform the way you teach, With over 3.5 million users worldwide, MagicSchool AI is the #1 educational AI platform. They’re committed to data privacy for all users in order to keep classrooms protected. Save time and focus on creating experiences with your students with MagicSchool AI. To learn more and get started, visit www.magicschool.ai

In this episode, I’m joined by Manny Faces while at the Georgia Educational Technology Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. He’s the founding director of The Center For Hip Hop Advocacy. I came across his session title while scrolling through the GaETC app and the title of his session “Hip Hop x STEM = Engagement” caught my attention. I was able to find him and ask him to tbe a part of the show to discuss his work and how Hip Hop ties into education. I’m a HUGE Hip Hop head so this conversation is very organic and will probably require a part 2 at some point. Give this episode a listen because you’ll be surprised to hear how many connections there are between Hip Hop and education. Buen provecho!

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About Manny Faces

Manny Faces is an award-winning journalist, public speaker, podcast professional, DJ, and, if none of that is impressive enough, living kidney donor. Much of Manny’s work focuses on preserving, protecting, and promoting the ability of Hip Hop music and culture to improve society and uplift humanity — particularly in areas including education, science and technology, health and wellness, politics and social justice, business and entrepreneurship, the fine arts, and much more.

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Ep. 237 | The CTE Pipleline: From School To Career w/ Angela Moore

This episode is sponsored by MagicSchool AI. If you’re ready to transform the way you teach, With over 3.5 million users worldwide, MagicSchool AI is the #1 educational AI platform. They’re committed to data privacy for all users in order to keep classrooms protected. Save time and focus on creating experiences with your students with MagicSchool AI. To learn more and get started, visit www.magicschool.ai

In this episode, I’m joined by Angela Moore. She’s a Health Care Science Teacher in Muscogee County, GA with a passion for what she does in and out of the classroom. We discuss the positive impact that Career and Technical Education has on our students and how this educational strand puts students on the path to a career as soon as they leave high school. She shares some personal stories of seeing her ex-students on the job and how that makes her feel as an educator. This is an awesome topic and conversation with an even more awesome educator. Listen to this conversation because it will leave you thinking, “I wish they had that when I was in school”. Buen provecho!

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