In this episode, Walt and Mike get personal—and pointed—about a comment that tried to dismiss their teaching model as just a “nice theory.” But they push back with experience, neuroscience, and a challenge to every instructor stuck in old methods.

They break down:

• Why “Autonomy, Relevance, and Practical Application” isn’t theory—it’s brain science

• How their workbook system primes cadets' brains for real application

• What dopamine, effort, and retrieval have to do with long-term retention

• Why some instructors cling to familiar methods, even when they’re not effective

• The cultural pull of nostalgia and the danger of mistaking it for strategy

Bottom line: If you want your students to grow, you’ve got to grow too.

This episode is a call for instructors to stop prioritizing their own comfort—and start focusing on instructor and student competence.