Edumacation

New school year, new location, and new opportunities, but no fancy mics... this Edumacation comeback is a little bananas. In this episode, David visits L at her new master's program in our nation's capital. D.C. is home to iconic landmarks, a robust ecosystem of museums, and now, most importantly, the inaugural Banana Bowl. As the leaves change, David and L discuss what it means to adapt to new environments, recognize what you take for granted, and participate in something greater than yourself.

Thanks to artist Mr Smith and the Free Music Archive for the use of our theme song, "Funk Five."

What happens when the classroom simply isn't built for how your brain is wired, in more ways than one? In this episode, Savanna Goldstein introduces us to the complexity of the brain in multiple dimensions. Through her research at Gallaudet University, the world's only university built by and for Deaf people, Savanna shares the power of reframing perceived "deficits" into unique and valuable perspectives on the world. Armed with both vast knowledge and deep compassion, she aims to translate the often inaccessible world of academia into tangible benefits for her community.

Want to learn more? Here are some resources Savanna mentioned to help you get started:

• Dr. H-Dirksen Bauman and Dr. Joseph J. Murray on “hearing loss” and Deaf Gain: https://gallaudet.edu/deaf-studies/deaf-gain-authors-reflect-on-why-deaf-gain-is-more-important-than-ever/
• The Neuroscience of You by Dr. Chantal Prat
• Dr. Gregory Farber at The Learning Center for the Deaf: https://www.tlcdeaf.org/contact-tlc-school-leadership

Thanks to artist Mr Smith and the Free Music Archive for the use of our theme song, "Funk Five."

[But wait, where is ep. 21? We had a live episode on Facebook Live! Our goal is to stream on TikTok next time, so if you wanna see us there, be sure to follow @davidnash970 on TikTok!]

Life is skittles and life is beer. In this episode, cosmopolitans David and L return from their travels with stories about textiles, invisible bookbags, mapping out the future, and California traffic. The lesson at the heart of it all: no matter how you choose to express yourself, your art has the power to teach the world to be a kinder place.

• Wanna be cooler than Indiana Jones? Provenance researcher Annie Shanley has a whole blog sharing her investigations of the stories behind artifacts! Read Den of Antiquity here: https://carlos.emory.edu/den-antiquity-blog
• Check out GWU's Textile Museum: https://museum.gwu.edu/
• Learn from Carol James, a sprang expert: https://www.spranglady.com/about-the-artist.html
• Sprang for yourself (I want to be Sally Pointer when I grow up): https://www.sallypointer.com/
• Find our cool cousin Jeff Robin @jefecarlosrobin on Instagram, or check out his website: https://www.jeffrobin.com/

Have you ever heard a stranger, friend, or family member say, "I'm sooo OCD" when what they mean is, "I like to keep things organized"? Have you seen characters on TV fret over the tiniest speck of dirt or a hair out of place? In this episode, David and L welcome back Lindsay Cohen to break down what Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder really looks like, how it impacts every aspect of daily life, and what people living with OCD (and, crucially, their support networks) can do to build resilience over time.

Want to learn more? Here are some resources that Lindsay recommends (and uses in her own research):

• https://iocdf.org/
• https://childmind.org/

This episode was directly inspired by a recent OCD episode on Ologies with Alie Ward and special guest Dr. Wayne Goodman.

Thanks to artist Mr Smith and the Free Music Archive for the use of our theme song, "Funk Five."

Did you know that if your favorite hosts don’t show up for a month, they don’t actually have to let you out of class early? Common misconception. In this episode, David and L make a triumphant return to the education world with everybody’s favorite subject: testing. If you’ve ever stared at a question in total confusion and wondered just how we all ended up here (and if you’ve ever woken up in a cold sweat many years later), this is the episode for you. Armed with historical context and modern experience, we tackle the controversial question at the heart of the testing debate: what are tests actually useful for in 2026? There may be more to the answers than you realize.

*Correction: The timeline we use in this episode is from the National Education Association, not the U.S. Department of Education, although their histories are intertwined. Behold the timeline, complete with mysterious gap. All hail the mysterious gap.

What was that book David mentioned about the history and science of reading? Check out Proust and the Squid by Maryanne Wolf and tell us what you think!

To learn more about how anxiety shapes our thinking, go back and listen to our episode with Lindsay Cohen, and stay tuned for a new episode with her on OCD!

Thanks to artist Mr Smith and the Free Music Archive for the use of our theme song, "Funk Five."

The most effective teachers know that leadership skills are essential to educators, and character is essential to leadership. In this episode, adjunct professor and retired Lieutenant Commander Mark Jacobson helps David and L kick into high gear as the fall semester winds down and finals loom on the horizon. Mark compares his time at summer camp to his time at boot camp, navigates military and civilian hierarchies on Capitol Hill, and models to both his students and his son what it truly means to lead.

Did you miss our bonus episode with Mark about the outsider experience at Kweebec? It's on the syllabus, so be sure to go back and check it out!

Thanks to artist Mr Smith and the Free Music Archive for the use of our theme song, "Funk Five."

Our newest episode about leading with purpose is in the works! In the meantime, here's a sneak peek at our guest, Mark Jacobson. Among the many angles we wanted to discuss with him was his rare position at Kweebec: a beloved counselor and group leader, he was never himself a camper. On top of that, his Michigan upbringing meant that despite his family's Kweebec connections, he didn't share a geography with any of his fellow counselors, much like L, and (to our surprise) David. Enjoy, and stay tuned for the full episode where we dive into Mark's military life, the ups and downs of academia, and what it means to be a leader.

Did you know that David and L love The West Wing? If you didn't before, you certainly will now. In this episode, we dive into walk-and-talks, favorite episodes, and the values that make The West Wing so near and dear to our hearts. Note to the hesitant listener: this is required reading. Sorry, we don't make the rules, except we do.

• Josh, Stanley, and Yo-Yo Ma in "Noel"
• Toby Ziegler in "In Excelsis Deo"
• Lionel Tribbey and his cricket bat
• Joey Lucas the pollster
• Opening of The Newsroom
• Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men

Too often, conversations around cognitive differences in the classroom focus only on students, but neurodiversity presents in people of all age ranges, including teachers! In this episode, Jessica Bishop describes her experience with ADHD: first as an undiagnosed student and young teacher, and later as an advocate for students with all kinds of learning differences. We talk about the role of community in a child's support system, the importance of individualized learning, and, of course, basketball.

Thanks to artist Mr Smith and the Free Music Archive for the use of our theme song, "Funk Five."

Have we got the scoop! In this episode, David and L go on the record with writer, editor, and Broadway enthusiast Keith Loria. From school papers to celebrity interviews, Keith honed his writing skills at the school of hard knocks as well as the UMiami School of Communication. He has decades of experience covering every topic you can imagine (and a few you probably didn't see coming!) for every level of media outlet. Keith discusses the influences that shaped his passion for journalism, the challenges of competing with clickbait, and advice for up-and-coming writers.

Did we mention Keith has a podcast? About classic TV? And it's called Don't Touch That Dial? ...oh we did? Okay, never mind then.

Thanks to artist Mr Smith and the Free Music Archive for the use of our theme song, "Funk Five."