Bill Selak Talks

You’ve heard the story behind the music, now it’s time to listen to the track itself. Here’s November Tragedies the ninth and final song from Rising Decline’s 9-track album, newly remixed and reimagined with the power of AI.

This is part of my 18-episode series, where I break down each track from the album, share the process, and bring you along on a journey of nostalgia and innovation. Enjoy this song—free for a limited time. And by limited, I mean forever.

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In this episode, we reach the conclusion of our retrospective on Rising Decline’s second album with the track, “November Tragedies.” I talk about the emotional weight behind the song, exploring themes of loss, heartbreak, and the cathartic power of creativity. We’ll discuss the importance of embracing the artistic process without the pressure of perfection.

Stick around for the full track in the next episode!

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You’ve heard the story behind the music, now it’s time to listen to the track itself. Here’s Hey Mr. Corporate Plantation Owner Man, the eighth song from Rising Decline’s 9-track album, newly remixed and reimagined with the power of AI.

This is part of my 18-episode series, where I break down each track from the album, share the process, and bring you along on a journey of nostalgia and innovation. Enjoy this song—free for a limited time. And by limited, I mean forever.

<img width="1024" height="1024" data-tf-not-load src="https://www.billselak.com/wp-content/podcast/2025/08/bst126thus.png" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" alt="" decoding="async" srcset="https://www.billselak.com/wp-content/podcast/2025/08/bst126thus.png 1024w, https://www.billselak.com/wp-content/podcast/2025/08/bst126thus-300x300.png 300w, https://www.billselak.com/wp-content/podcast/2025/08/bst126thus-150x150.png 150w, https://www.billselak.com/wp-content/podcast/2025/08/bst126thus-768x768.png 768w, https://www.billselak.com/wp-content/podcast/2025/08/bst126thus-308x308.png 308w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />

In this episode, we’ll talk about how collaboration fuels creativity in both music and education. The idea is simple: connect with inspiring people and share ideas that can lead to exciting new projects.

Stick around for the full track in the next episode!

You’ve heard the story behind the music, now it’s time to listen to the track itself. Here’s What Was Who, the seventh song from Rising Decline’s 9-track album, newly remixed and reimagined with the power of AI.

This is part of my 18-episode series, where I break down each track from the album, share the process, and bring you along on a journey of nostalgia and innovation. Enjoy this song—free for a limited time. And by limited, I mean forever.

In this episode, I talk about the importance of playfulness in education, but not just being silly because it’s fun or random… being intentionally playful as an instructional strategy. It’s good times, and so is the song I talk about. Stick around for the full track in the next episode!

You’ve heard the story behind the music, now it’s time to listen to the track itself. Here’s Happy Face, the sixth song from Rising Decline’s 9-track album, newly remixed and reimagined with the power of AI.

This is part of my 18-episode series, where I break down each track from the album, share the process, and bring you along on a journey of nostalgia and innovation. Enjoy this song—free for a limited time. And by limited, I mean forever.

In this episode, we’re diving into track five of Rising Decline’s second album, Camden Road. This episode unpacks the complexities of authenticity in education through the song “Happy Face.”

I break down the bass lines and share how the joy of performing led me to reflect on the emotional masks we wear—especially in education. From the pressure to stay upbeat to the reality of teaching during fall 2020, I talk about learning to show up more honestly.

This one’s all about balancing positivity with being real, and how embracing your full self can lead to deeper connections with students and colleagues. Stick around for the full track at the end!

You’ve heard the story behind the music, now it’s time to listen to the track itself. Here’s I Got Fired From Moondoggies, the fifth song from Rising Decline’s 9-track album, newly remixed and reimagined with the power of AI.

This is part of my 18-episode series, where I break down each track from the album, share the process, and bring you along on a journey of nostalgia and innovation. Enjoy this song—free for a limited time. And by limited, I mean forever.

Lyrics:
Dear sir
Please don’t be alarmed. I don’t mean you any harm
By these words that I feel so compelled to say

I was thinking about the past and how
The time went by so fast that we
Had a meeting just three months ago today

You told me things weren’t working out
That the company and everyone was better off without…

It’s hard to stand up very tall
When I have my foot propped on the wall
and why should I clean the counters or vacuum the floors

Although it felt like time should still
I try but I couldn’t find the will
To care if a customer went in or out the door

You told me things weren’t working out
That the company and everyone was better off without
Someone they were always telling twice: a little bit more effort would be nice

Hey kids! It’s me without a doubt:
I’m the slacker that your guidance counselor’s warning you about
So let’s make an example out of me
Or you better move somewhere where the rent’s free
Yah-hey!

That shirt looks nice
But it’s twenty times the price of my Kirkland white short sleeve (I shop at Costco)
Your Hurley wallet’s fine
But take a look at mine That I got at Chuck E Cheese Oh yeah! (Three hundred fifty tickets)
Whoa-ho!

You told me things weren’t working out
That the company and everyone was better off without
Someone they were always telling twice: a little bit more effort would be nice
So nice. Yeah!

In this episode, we’re diving into track five of Rising Decline’s second album, Camden Road. This episode unpacks the hilarious (and insightful) story behind “I Got Fired from Moondoggies,” written by our singer Brent after—well—you guessed it, getting fired from a surf shop. We’ll talk about the bridge (both the musical kind and the life lesson kind), creating lyrics on the fly in the studio, and how this story connects to the bigger idea of redefining success in education. Spoiler alert: sometimes you’re just not cut out for retail, and that’s okay. Stick around for reflections on passion, career fit, and why giving students choice is the key to unlocking their true potential. Let’s do this!

If you haven’t yet, listen to the previous tracks in the series, Camden Road, Picture Framed Candle, Carousel, and Lemonade. Stay tuned for the next episode, where you’ll hear the song Lemonade in its entirety. This is song four of nine from Rising Decline’s second album. Enjoy the journey of nostalgia and innovation!