Why Are We So Afraid of Getting Older? Make This Make Sense ep12 Ashton Applewhite

Getting older is inevitable. So why does our culture treat aging like something to fight, hide, apologize for—or fear? Author and anti-ageism activist Ashton Applewhite joins us to unpack the stereotypes we’ve absorbed about getting older, why ageism affects people of all ages, and how our fear of aging may actually make aging harder. We talk about beauty standards, work, retirement, relationships, health, the billion-dollar anti-aging industry—and what changes when we stop seeing aging as decline and start questioning the story we’ve been sold about it.

Topics

🎂 Why we’re afraid of getting older 🧠 The stereotypes we absorb about aging 🚫 What ageism actually looks like 👩 Why ageism hits women differently 💰 The business of “anti-aging” 🪞 Beauty standards and looking “good for your age” ❤️ Relationships, sexuality, and aging 🩺 Aging vs. illness and disability 👵 Why “young at heart” isn’t necessarily a compliment 📱 Ageism in media and popular culture

About Ashton Applewhite

Ashton Applewhite is an author, activist, and one of the world’s leading voices challenging ageism. She began writing about aging and age bias in 2007, driven by a deceptively simple question: Why is our view of getting older so relentlessly negative when the lived experience is often so different? That question became This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism, which the United Nations has credited with helping raise global awareness about ageism and how to dismantle it. She is also the co-founder of the Old School Hub for Age Equity and Ageism Awareness and has spoken about ageism everywhere from universities and community organizations to the Library of Congress, the United Nations, and the TED mainstage.

Applewhite’s work has been recognized by the New York Times, NPR, the New Yorker, and the American Society on Aging, and she has been named a fellow by organizations including the Knight Foundation, Yale Law School, and the Royal Society for the Arts. In 2022, the United Nations named her one of its Healthy Ageing 50, recognizing leaders working to make the world a better place to grow older, and in 2026 she received the American Society on Aging’s Ageism & Culture Award. At the heart of her work is a challenge that fits Make This Make Sense perfectly: If growing older is something almost all of us hope to do, why have we been taught to fear it?

🔗 Connect with Ashton

https://thischairrocks.com/

https://oldschool.info/

https://ashtonapplewhite.substack.com/

🔗 Connect with Make This Make Sense

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more episodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense on Substack, YouTube, Spotify or Apple. And connect with us on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook: @makethismakesensepod

NOTE: The views expressed on Make This Make Sense are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated.

Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All Rights Reserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution.

Chapters

0:00:00 Welcome to Make This Make Sense 🎙️

0:00:27 Meet Ashton Applewhite & Rethinking Everything We Know About Aging 👩‍🦳

0:03:03 What Is Ageism — And Are We All Doing It? 🧠

0:04:24 Ageism Doesn't Start When You're Old 🎂

0:05:31 How Ageism Changes the Way We See Ourselves 🪞

0:15:10 The Economic Cost of Ageism 💰

0:27:25 How Ashton Became an Anti-Ageism Activist 📚

0:31:45 The Secret to a Good Old Age: Your Social Network 🤝

0:39:30 What We Get Wrong About Nursing Homes & Aging 🏡

0:41:00 Who Profits From Our Fear of Getting Older? 💸

0:46:00 The Perfect Response to “You Look Great for Your Age” 😂

0:48:30 Getting Older Would Make More Sense If... 💡

0:49:00 Ashton’s Resources for Rethinking Ageism 📖

0:52:00 Final Thoughts & Making Aging Make Sense ❤️

Who Gets Left Out of Clinical Trials of the Medicine That Treats Us?: Make This Make Sense ep11 Dr. Jennifer Kim

Who gets included in the clinical trials that determinewhether our medicines are safe and effective—and who gets left out? Organizational psychologist Dr. Jennifer Kim of Tufts University joins us to unpack inequity in drug development, physician bias, patient advocacy, and why better healthcare starts with treating the patient experience and health outcomes as the real ROI.

Topics

🧪 Who gets represented in clinical trials 👩 Gender gaps in medical research 🌎 Racial and ethnic disparities 🩺 Physician bias in trial referrals 🚧 Systemic barriers to participation 🗣️ Advocating for yourself as a patient 🔎 Finding and researching clinical trials 💊 How drugsmove through clinical trial phases 📊 Why long-term drug data matters 🤝 Community-based research 💉 Vaccine hesitancy and better messaging ❤️ Making patient outcomes the real ROI

About Dr. Jennifer Kim

Dr. Jennifer Kim is an organizational psychologist andresearch associate professor at Tufts University whose work explores a deceptively simple question: What actually helps people and organizations work better? Her research spans leadership and workplace inclusion as well as equity in clinical drug development, where she examines who gets represented in clinical trials, who gets left out, and what influences people’s decisions to participate.

Her work brings a human-centered perspective to systems that can often feel anything but human—especially when it comes to making sure the medicines and treatments developed through clinical trials are safe, effective,and representative of the populations they are intended to serve.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Jennifer Kim

Visit: https://medicine.tufts.edu/people/faculty/jennifer-kim

Publications: https://facultyprofiles.tufts.edu/jennifer-kim/publications

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jykphd/

Podcast – Hidden in Plain Sight: On Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-in-plain-sight-all-things-asian-in-the-workplace/id1701906819

On Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0r96oWgoYKAex4VNxPhd6E?si=6fGoLWvfTA2teXvPbONe0w

🔗 Connect with Make This Make Sense

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more episodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense on Substack, YouTube, Spotify or Apple. And connect with us on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook:@makethismakesensepod

NOTE:  The views expressed on Make This Make Sense are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated.

Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All RightsReserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution.

Chapters

0:00:00 Welcome to Make ThisMake Sense 🎙️

0:00:27 Meet Dr. Jennifer Kim & the Human Side of Drug Development 🧠0:03:13 Why Representation in Clinical Trials Matters 🧪0:05:10 Women, Race & Who Gets Left Out of Medical Research 👩🌎0:07:45 The Hidden Bias Behind Clinical Trial Referrals 🩺0:11:15 How Patients Can Advocate for Themselves 🗣️0:16:45 How to Find Out Who Was Actually in a Drug Trial 🔎0:18:20 Clinical Trials 101: Preclinical Through Post-Market 💊0:20:00 How Do We Know When a Drug Is Really Safe? 📊0:22:00 Bringing Psychology & Human Behavior Into Healthcare 🧠0:24:00 Why Patients Should Help Design the Research 🤝0:25:45 Community Advisory Boards & Vaccine Confidence💉0:28:45 The Real ROI: Better Patient Outcomes 0:31:00 Closing Thoughts ✨

The Myth of Meritocracy and Harsh Medicine: Make This Make Sense ep10 Dr. Jennifer Grandis

What happens when highly accomplished women do everything “right” and still face barriers that talent and hard work can’t overcome? Dr. Jennifer Grandis joins us to unpack the research behind her book Harsh Medicine, exploring gender inequity in science and healthcare, the hiddencost of “barreling through,” and why real change requires better systems—and more honest conversations.

From the gender pay gap and the myth of meritocracy to theseemingly small behaviors that quietly diminish women’s expertise, Dr. Grandis explains why these issues persist decades after we first identified them. Most importantly, she offers a hopeful path forward: talk to each other, findallies, get comfortable being uncomfortable, and stop trying to fight systemic battles alone.

Topics

👩‍⚕️ Women in medicine 💰 The gender pay gap 🧠 The myth of meritocracy 🚧 Harassment & systemic barriers 🩹 Why “microaggressions” aren’t so micro 🎓 “Doctor” vs. first names 🤝 The power of allies 💬 Having uncomfortable conversations 👥 Finding your people ❤️ Being loved outside of work ✨ Creating better systems

About Dr. Jennifer Grandis

Dr. Jennifer Grandis is a physician-scientist, cancer researcher, and author of Harsh Medicine. After spending much of hercareer as one of relatively few women in her field—and later experiencing workplace harassment herself—she turned her scientific lens toward understanding gender inequity in medicine and biomedical science.

In 2019, Dr. Grandis conducted in-depth interviews with 54men and 54 women across the country, examining the experiences, assumptions, and systems that allow inequity to persist. Her research ultimately became Harsh Medicine, which explores not only what happens to women in science and healthcare, but why these patterns remain so difficult to change—and what individuals and institutions can do differently.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Jennifer Grandis

Read Harsh Medicine: https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/54050/harsh-medicine

on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Harsh-Medicine-Women-Science-Health/dp/1421454785

Visit Dr. Grandis’ profile: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/jennifer.grandis  

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-grandis-md/

🔗 Connect with Make This Make Sense

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more episodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense on Substack, YouTube, Spotify or Apple. And connect with us on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook:@makethismakesensepod

NOTE:  The views expressed on Make This Make Sense are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated.

Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All RightsReserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution.

Chapters

0:00:00 Welcome to Make This Make Sense 🎙️

0:01:04 Hats, Mexico & the Great Airplane Standing Debate✈️0:04:45 Meet Dr. Jennifer Grandis & Harsh Medicine 👩‍⚕️0:07:00 When Harassment Became Personal—and Became Research 🔬0:09:20 Why Publishing the Problem Wasn’t Enough 📚0:11:30 The Myth of Meritocracy in Medicine 🏥0:13:30 “You’re Not Alone”: What Women Need to Hear ❤️0:17:00 Why “Microaggressions” Aren’t Actually Micro 🩹0:21:30 From Cancer Research to 108 Personal Interviews 🔍0:25:00 Why Gender Inequity Hurts All of Society 🌎0:29:30 What Gives Dr. Grandis Hope ✨0:31:00 How to Have the Conversations We Avoid 💬0:35:00 The “Difficult Woman” Problem & Finding Allies 🤝0:37:30 “I Can Do This Work Because I’m Loved” ❤️0:40:00 This Would All Make Sense If… 💡0:42:00 Final Thoughts & Closing 🎧

Making Sense of How We're Wired: Make This Make Sense ep9 Dani Williams

What if better relationships with our kids, partners,coworkers—and ourselves—start with understanding how each person is actually wired? Dani Williams, founder of NXT Generation Wellness, joins us to talk neurodivergence, family dynamics, self-regulation, Human Design, and why creating environments where people can show up authentically may be more powerful than trying to make them fit into someone else's box.

Topics

🧠 Neurodivergence & individualized support 👨‍👩‍👧 Supporting the whole family 🎨 Rediscovering play 🔋 Understanding your energy 🧬 Human Design 🧘 Self-regulation isn't always being calm 👂 Rethinking what "listening" looks like ❤️ Better relationships through understanding 📦 Creating your own box 🚀 Entrepreneurship for neurodivergent individuals ✨ Making sense of yourself

About Dani Williams

Dani Williams is the founder of NXT Generation Wellness,where she works with neurodivergent youth and their families to help them function better as a family unit. Her philosophy centers on the idea that when parents better understand themselves, they can create an environment where their children can better understand and embrace themselves, too. Dani’s work explores how self-awareness, communication, relationships, and emotional intelligence can help families build stronger, healthier connections.

🔗 Connect with Dani Williams

Visit:  https://www.NXTgenerationwellness.com/

Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nxtgeneration_wellness

💬 Memorable Quotes

"I don't think that I'm changing myself at all. I thinkthat it's quite the opposite. I'm just reclaiming who I've always been." —Dani Williams

"It's okay to pivot when something no longer feelsright within my body." — Dani Williams

"I think that regulation is the number one priority inany environment in which you find yourself." — Dani Williams

"Just because they're over there climbing on thestaircase doesn't mean that they're not listening to what you have tosay." — Dani Williams

"They do not traditionally fit inside of a box. Sotherefore, [they've] got to create their own box." — Dani Williams

"This would all make a lot more sense if people couldmake sense of themselves." — Dani Williams

🔗 Connect with Make This Make Sense

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more episodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense.

NOTE: The views expressed on Make This Make Sense are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated.

Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All RightsReserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution.

Chapters

0:00:00 Welcome to Make This Make Sense 🎙️

0:02:17 Meet Dani Williams & NXT Generation Wellness 👋
0:05:24 Why Supporting the Child Means Supporting the Family 👨‍👩‍👧
0:08:20 Giving Parents Space to Rediscover Themselves ❤️
0:11:16 Independence, Family Dynamics & Rediscovering Play 🛝
0:15:20 Why Can Siblings Be SO Different? 👯
0:21:04 Human Design: An Energetic Blueprint for Understanding Yourself 🧬
0:27:29 Self-Regulation Doesn't Mean Being Zen All the Time 🧘
0:31:18 "My Child Isn't Listening to Me" — But Are They? 👂
0:34:33 Improving Relationships Starts With Understanding the Other Person ❤️
0:38:00 Human Design — And Things Get Personal 🔮
0:42:24 Entrepreneurship & Neurodivergence: Create Your Own Box 🚀
0:45:25 Entrepreneur by Design: Turning Passions Into Possibilities 💡
0:47:32 What's Next for Dani & NXT Generation Wellness ✨
0:49:38 "This Would All Make More Sense If..." 🎤

Brain-Based Learning and Teaching that Actually Works: Make This Make Sense ep8 Dr. Katie McKnight

Why do so many students struggle in school even when they're trying their best? Literacy expert Dr. Katie McKnight explains how brain-based learning, adolescent development, and evidence-based teaching strategies, including improv, can transform the way we educate—and why understanding how students learn is just as important as what we teach.

Topics

🧠 Brain-based learning 📚 Literacy development 👩‍🏫 Teaching strategies 👧 Adolescent brain development ✍️ Reading comprehension 🗣️ Vocabulary growth ❤️ Student engagement using improv 🎓 Helping every learner succeed

About Dr. Katie McKnight

Dr. Katie McKnight is an award-winning educator, literacyexpert, author, and international speaker who has spent more than three decades helping educators translate learning science into practical classroom strategies. In this episode, she shares how brain-based learning, literacy development, improv, and our growing understanding of adolescent braindevelopment can help teachers, parents, and schools better support every learner.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Katie McKnight

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiemcknightphd/ 

Visit EngagedLearners.com: https://www.katherinemcknight.com/

Podcast: https://www.katherinemcknight.com/sorpodcast

The Science of Reading: https://www.katherinemcknight.com/sorbook

The Second City Guide to Improv in the Classroom: UsingImprovisation to Teach Skills and Boost Learning (Jossey-Bass Teacher): https://a.co/d/09HkHER7

💬 Memorable Quotes

"The brain is shaped by relationships, experiences, andenvironment."

"Students learn best when they feel safe enough tolearn."

"We know far more today about adolescent braindevelopment than we did even ten years ago."

"Learning isn't about memorizing facts—it's abouthelping the brain make meaningful connections."

"When we understand how the brain learns, we becomebetter teachers."

🎧 Who Should Listen?

👩‍🏫 K–12 teachers looking for research-backed classroom strategies.

🎓 College faculty interested in improving student engagement and learning.

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents wanting to better understand how children and teenagers learn.

📚 Reading specialists, literacy coaches, and instructional leaders.

🧠 Anyone fascinated by neuroscience, learning, and human development.

🔗 Connect with Make This Make Sense

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for more episodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense.

NOTE: The views expressed on Make This Make Sense are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated.

Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All RightsReserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution.

Chapters

0:00:00 Welcome to Make This Make Sense 🎙️0:04:24 What Is Brain-Based Learning? 🧠

0:07:47 How the Adolescent Brain Develops 🌱

0:12:46 Why Traditional Teaching Doesn't Always Work 📚

0:19:57 Using Improv in the Classroom 🎭

0:27:19 Creating Classrooms Where Students Thrive ❤️

0:35:20 Improving Literacy in HigherEd ✍️

0:40:51 New Book 📖

0:50:21 The Lore behind “Cookie Pusher” 🍪

0:52:06 Final Thoughts 🌟

She Built a Business That Saved 2,500 Cats and counting: Make This Make Sense ep7 Amber Redfren

What happens when you ignore the rulebook, go into business with your spouse, and build a café where the customers come for coffee but leave with a new best friend? Amber Redfren shares the remarkable story behindCattyshack Café, the realities of balancing entrepreneurship and marriage, and how a purpose-driven business has helped more than 2,500 rescue cats find forever homes.

Topics

☕ Building Caddyshack Café 🐈Rescue cats & adoptions ❤️ Mission-driven entrepreneurship 💍Running a business with your spouse 📈 Growing through purpose 🤝Nonprofit partnerships 🏡 Foster networks 💡 Advice for aspiringentrepreneurs

About Amber Redfren

Amber Redfren is the co-founder of Cattyshack Café, aunique cat café that combines great coffee with cat adoption and rescue. Alongside her husband, she has built a mission-driven business that has helped more than 2,500 rescue cats find permanent homes while creating a welcoming community space. Through Cattyshack Café and its nonprofitinitiatives, Amber demonstrates how entrepreneurship can be both financially sustainable and deeply impactful.

🔗 Connect with Amber and CattyShack

Connect on Instagram and TikTok: @cattyshackcafe

Visit Cattyshack Cafe: https://www.cattyshackcafe.com/  

Donate to Cattyshack Cares: https://www.cattyshackcafe.com/Donation

💬 Memorable Quotes

"Life doesn't care about your five-year plan."

"As long as we know what our mission is, the hard daysmake sense."

"The business doesn't create problems (in marriage)—itmagnifies what's already there."

"You're really not building a business at the end ofthe day. You're building something bigger."

"It isn't about finding the perfect business. It'sabout finding the mission worth building around."

🎧 Who Should Listen?

🐈 Animal lovers and anyone passionate about pet rescue
☕Entrepreneurs dreaming of opening a purpose-driven business
💍Couples thinking about starting a business together
❤️Anyone interested in social entrepreneurship and nonprofits
📈Students and aspiring founders looking for honest startup advice
🌎People who want to see how businesses can create real community impact

🔗 Connect with Make This Make Sense

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for moreepisodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense.

NOTE: The views expressed on Make This Make Sense are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated.

Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All RightsReserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution.

Chapters

0:00:00 Welcome to Make This Make Sense 🎙️
0:05:02 – What Is Caddyshack Café? 🏡
0:07:24 – How the Business Idea Came to Life 💡
0:09:01 – Running a Business With Your Spouse 💍
0:12:55 – Why Mission Matters More Than Money ❤️
0:16:03 – Entrepreneurship Lessons Learned 📈
0:22:32 – Building a Social Enterprise & Nonprofit 🤝
0:25:17 – Favorite Cat Adoption Stories 🐱
0:29:44 – How the Rescue & Foster System Works 🏠
0:35:04 – Final Advice for Future Entrepreneurs 🎓

AI Won't Replace You… But It Will Change How You Think: Make This Make Sense ep6 Tina Austin

Artificial intelligence is transforming education faster than most institutions can adapt—but how do we embrace AI without losing critical thinking? In this episode, AI education leader Tina Austin explains why traditional teaching models need an upgrade, introduces her UnBlooms framework, and shares practical strategies for helping students and educatorsuse AI responsibly, thoughtfully, and effectively.

Topics

🤖 AI in education 📚 UnBlooms framework 🧠 Critical thinking ⚖️ Responsible AI 🎓 Faculty adoption 💬Cognitive offloading 🚗 AI hallucinations 📝 Assessment redesign 🚀 Future-ready classrooms

About Tina Austin

Tina Austin is an AI education strategist, professor, andcreator of UnBlooms, a modern reimagining of Bloom's Taxonomy designed for the age of artificial intelligence. Her framework is used by educators in more than 100 countries to help measure critical thinking and metacognition before,during, and after AI use.

Recognized as one of ASU GSV's Top Leading Women in AI(2025), Tina has been featured by OpenAI Academy and CNN and serves as a technical reviewer for the U.S. Department of Education while advising California's AI & Workforce initiatives. She also collaborates with organizations including Microsoft, Canva, Duolingo, and the Gates Foundation onresponsible AI implementation.

🔗 Connect with Tina Austin

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinaaustin/

Connect on Substack: https://substack.com/@tinaaustin

Tina Austin’s website: https://tinaaustin.com/

The UnBlooms™ model: A Problem-Centered Framework forLearning Design in the AI Era by Tina Austin, AI in Education at Oxford University (AIEOU), https://zenodo.org/records/17298679

The UnBlooms™ Workbook on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0hXiAfBn

💬 Memorable Quotes

"The conversation isn't whether students use AIanymore—it's how they use it."

"AI can generate information, but it can't replacehuman judgment."

"Bloom's Taxonomy was designed for a world whereinformation was scarce. That world no longer exists."

"Responsible AI isn't about avoiding thetechnology—it's about learning to think alongside it."

"The goal isn't to stop AI from changing education. Thegoal is to make sure learning doesn't disappear."

🎧 Who Should Listen?

👩‍🏫 Faculty and instructors trying to adapt their teaching for AI.

🎓 College leaders designing future-ready curricula.

🤖 Anyone curious about how AI is reshaping education.

📝 Instructional designers rethinking assessments.

💼 Business leaders responsible for AI adoption and workforce training.

🎒 Students who want to use AI without sacrificing real learning.

🔗 Connect with Make This Make Sense

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for moreepisodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense.

NOTE: The views expressed on Make This Make Sense are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated.

Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All RightsReserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution.

Chapters

0:00:00 Welcome to Make This Make Sense 🎙️
0:00:25 Meet Tina Austin & the UnBlooms Framework 🌸
0:04:15 Why Bloom's Taxonomy Needs an AI Update 🤖
0:11:40 Helping Students Think Instead of Copy 🧠
0:19:35 Cognitive Offloading: Are We Outsourcing Our Brains? 💭
0:29:20 AI Hallucinations & Why Human Judgment Still Matters 🚗
0:37:30 Redesigning Assessments for the AI Era 📝
0:47:10 Practical AI Advice for Faculty & Institutions 🎓
0:56:20 What the Future of AI in Education Really Looks Like 🔮
1:02:30 Final Takeaways & Rapid-Fire Advice 💡

Why Great Teachers Are Leaving—and What Can Bring ThemBack: Make This Make Sense ep5 Rachel Robins

Instructional coach Rachel Robins joins Make This Make Sensefor a candid conversation about why teacher burnout has reached a crisis point—and what schools can actually do about it. From cell phone policies and student relationships to educator wellness and sustainable leadership, Rachelshares practical strategies that remind us why teaching is still one of the most impactful professions in the world.

Topics

📱 Cell phone policies • 🧠 Teacher burnout • ❤️ Educator wellness • 🤝 Building student relationships • 🎓 Supporting new teachers • 🌱 Healthy boundaries • 🏫 School culture • ✨ Finding joy in teaching

About Rachel Robins

Rachel Robins is an instructional coach and educator dedicated to helping teachers thrive through practical coaching, educator wellness, and sustainable classroom practices. Her work focuses on strengthening school culture, reducing teacher burnout, improving instructional practice, and helping educators create meaningful learning environments where both teachers and students can succeed. Rachel is also recognized for her work and writing on classroom cell phone policies and supporting teachers through today's evolving educational landscape.

🔗 Connect with Rachel Robins

Connect with Rachel on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-robins-85631468

Connect with Rachel on Instagram: @therealmrsrobins

💬 Memorable Quotes

"You don't have to take care of everybody else'semotions—you have to take care of yourself first."

"When teachers are healthy, students benefit."

"Relationships will always matter more than the newestinitiative."

"We can acknowledge the hard things without lettingthem define our profession."

"Every student deserves that one teacher who changesthe trajectory of their life."

🎧 Who Should Listen?

🍎 K–12 teachers looking to avoid or recover from burnout

🏫 School leaders, principals, and instructional coaches

🎓 Education students preparing to enter the classroom

📱 Educators navigating classroom technology and cell phone policies

❤️ Anyone passionate about improving teacher well-being and school culture

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents interested in understanding today's classroom challenges

🔗 Connect with Make This Make Sense

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for moreepisodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense.

NOTE: The views expressed on Make This Make Sense are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated.

Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All RightsReserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution.

Chapters

0:00:00 Welcome & Introducing Rachel Robins 👋

0:01:00 Rachel's Journey from Classroom Teacher to Instructional Coach 📚

0:03:00 Why Teachers Are Burning Out 🔥

0:06:00 The Reality of Instructional Coaching 🤝

0:10:00 Leadership, School Culture & Supporting Teachers 🏫

0:15:00 Cell Phones in the Classroom—What's Actually Working? 📱

0:21:00 Building Strong Relationships with Students ❤️

0:26:00 Practical Wellness Strategies for Educators 🌱

0:31:00 Setting Healthy Boundaries Without Losing Your Passion ⚖️

0:36:00 Advice for Future Teachers & Final Takeaways ✨

Why Most Workplace Training Fails (And How to Fix It): MakeThis Make Sense ep4 with Dr. Heidi Kirby

What if the biggest problem with education isn't students—it's how we've designed learning itself? Dr. Heidi Kirby joins the professors to unpack instructional design, why most corporate training misses the mark, how AI is reshaping education, and why meaningful human learning experiences matter now more than ever.

Topics

🎓 Instructional design explained • 🤖 AI changes learning but doesn't replace humans • 📊 Measure outcomes not completion rates • 🧠 Better questions create better learning • 💼 Freelancing in learning design • 🚀 Turning rejection into opportunity

About Dr. Heidi Kirby

Dr. Heidi Kirby is an instructional design strategist, consultant, and educator with experience spanning NASA, billion-dollar SaaS companies, government, retail, and nonprofits. She specializes in helping organizations design learning experiences that improve real-world performance—not just course completion—and is passionate about blendinghuman-centered learning with emerging technologies like AI.

Heidi is also the creator of the Learning Rejects Conference, an innovative event showcasing conference proposals that were rejected elsewhere, proving that great ideas deserve a second chance.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Heidi Kirby

LinkedIn: /heidiekirby https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidiekirby/

Website: https://heidikirby.com/

Learning Rejects Conference: https://www.getusefulstuff.com/learningrejects

💬 Memorable Quotes

"Instructional design is finding out what people needto work or learn better—and creating education that helps them get there."

"Stop measuring whether people completed the course.Measure whether anything actually changed."

"What game have you ever played that quizzes you at theend?"

"AI makes creating content easier—but human connectionis becoming even more valuable."

"Sometimes the best opportunities come from the thingsthat rejected you."

🎧 Who Should Listen?

🎓 College faculty and educators looking to improve student engagement.
💼Corporate trainers, HR professionals, and learning & development leaders.
🚀Entrepreneurs building onboarding, customer education, or training programs.
🤖Anyone curious about how AI is changing education and workplace learning.
📈Freelancers and consultants interested in instructional design as a career.

🔗 Connect with Make This Make Sense

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for moreepisodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense.

NOTE: The views expressed on Make This Make Sense are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated.

Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All RightsReserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution.

Chapters

0:00:00 👋 Welcome to Make This Make Sense0:02:10 🎓 Meet Dr. Heidi Kirby & What Is Instructional Design?0:04:21 📊 FUSE Framework0:07:12 🤖 Could this course have been an email?0:09:25 😅 Beyond CYA: Real Business Results for Training0:16:00 ❓ Change Your Questions, Change Your Life0:21:25 🤝 Why In-Person Learning Is Making a Comeback0:24:51 💡 Winning Trust & Changing Organizational Culture0:28:42 🚀 Skills New Instructional Designers Need Today0:30:46 🎤 Engaging Audiences & Breaking the Ice0:33:47 💥 The Learning Rejects Conference & Turning Rejection Into Innovation0:37:00 👏 Final Takeaways & Closing Thoughts

Why Trauma-Informed Yoga Is Different: Make This MakeSense ep3 with Jess Ramos

What if yoga wasn't about touching your toes—but aboutlearning how to feel safe in your own body again? In this episode, the hosts sit down with trauma-informed yoga instructor Jess Ramos to explore how breathwork, mindfulness, and intentional movement can reduce stress, support healing, and help anyone build a more compassionate relationship with themselves.

Topics:

🧘 Trauma-informed yoga 🌬️Breathwork 🧠 Nervous system regulation ❤️Healing through movement 🤝 Creating safe spaces 💭Mindfulness 🌱 Starting a yoga practice ✨Everyday wellness

About Jess Ramos:

Jess Ramos is a double-certified trauma-informed yogainstructor who has been practicing yoga for over 11 years and teaching since 2017. She specializes in Vinyasa and trauma-informed yoga, helping individuals use movement, breath, and mindfulness to support healing and overall well-being. Jess completed her trauma-informed training through the Yoga to Transform Trauma program under the late Catherine Ashton and is passionate about creating safe, inclusive spaces where people can reconnect with themselves and build resilience.

About Catherine Ashton: https://news.wttw.com/2020/11/22/chicago-yoga-community-remembers-catherine-ashton

 🔗 Connect with Jess Ramos on Instagram:  @Jessramos108  https://www.instagram.com/jessramos108/ 

💬 Memorable Quotes

"Yoga isn't about the pose—it's about creating safety in your body."

"Breath is one of the simplest tools we have to regulate our nervous system."

"Healing happens when we create space instead of judgment."

🎧 Who Should Listen?

This episode is perfect for:

🧘 Anyone curious about yoga but unsure where to begin.

🌿 People interested in managing stress and anxiety naturally.

🎓 Educators, leaders, and caregivers looking to better understand trauma-informed practices.

💜 Anyone wanting practical tools for improving mental and emotional well-being.

🔗 Connect with Make This Make Sense

If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe for moreepisodes where we break down the systems, trends, and ideas that shape our everyday lives with experts who make them make sense.

NOTE: The views expressed on Make This Make Sense are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent Florida Gulf Coast University or any other institution with which they are affiliated.

Copyright © 2026, Make This Make Sense Team. All RightsReserved. Reuse/remix allowed with attribution.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Welcome to Make This Make Sense 🎙️

00:01:35 Meet Jess Ramos: Trauma-Informed Yoga Instructor 🧘

00:03:22 What Is Trauma-Informed Yoga? ❤️

00:08:05 Breaking Misconceptions About Yoga 🙌

00:11:49 Breathwork & Calming the Nervous System 🌬️

00:14:51 Healing, Stress & Everyday Resilience 🌱

00:17:28 Creating Safe Spaces for Everyone 🤝

00:31:19 Facilitating Energy ☀️

00:35:18 Breathe with us 😮‍💨

00:38:41 Final Takeaways & Where to Learn More 🎙️