Season Finale feat. Rob Buller-Taylor who is a high school PE teacher and coach.

Topics Covered: The Power of Story, Sports, Coaching

This is the season finale of SOTMT. It was recorded about a month ago, but due to the busyness of the start of the school year, it’s just now being released. This episode features Rob Buller-Taylor who was an influential teacher for yours truly, and it was a blessing to get to spend time and have a conversation with him.

In this episode we talked about a wide range of things how he ended up becoming a teacher, meeting Terry Fox, becoming a Christian, the subjects we taught, the difficulty of teaching online, the evolution of sports and coaching, how we connect with students, and many other random things along the way.

BT was an influential teacher for me and for many others as well, and I hope there’s something encouraging for anyone listening this episode.

Shoutout to all the teachers who have influenced over the years.

If you liked these series, let me know! Follow on Social Media. Like and subscribe wherever you get your podcast. Maybe I’ll pick this show up in the future but till then enjoy this episode!

Timestamps

Recorded: August 19

Released: October 2

Mason (@_nicholsanddimes) is a 3rd grade teacher from San Antonio Texas. You can check out his Instagram where he posts about the variety of picture books that he recommends that he’s reading to his students.

Topics Covered: Picture Books, Virtual Author Meet & Greets, Travel,

Mason and I met via Instagram, and although we are in different countries and timezones, it was incredible to get to hear his passion for picture books and how he connects the authors with students in a time of COVID.

Our conversation starts with shoutouts to two of his elementary school teachers and how they have influenced him when it comes to creativitiy and making kids feel like they belong. Mason then shares about what’s happening education wise in his area of the world, the demographics of his area and how he builds rapport with his students.

He shares about his passion for picture books and how he was able to conduct virtual meet and greets with the authors of the various picture books and the positive impact that it has had on his students. There’s a lot of really good recommendations that he has that you should check out.

Shoutout to Mrs. K and Mrs. L!

Timestamps:

Recorded: August 13

Released September 20

Rockie (@iamtheclaritycoach) is a relationship coach. You can check out his work at claritycoach.ca

Topics Covered: Relationship Coaching, Dating, Singleness, Marriage, Art of Listening

We talk all things relationships in this episode. I start by asking what a relationship coach does and how Rockie became one. Our conversation goes into the importance of being clear about what you want and the difference between compatibilities and commonalities.

He talks about what photography taught him in noticing details. Rockie also shares different things he’s observered: from the need for forgiveness in broken relationships, to patterns that he’s seen in couples, to how we’ve lost the art of listening to the impact of COVID in relationships.

This is definitely one of the most enlightening episodes and there’s so much good wisdom about life and relationships from Rockie aka Clarity Coach!

Shoutout to photography mentor, Don MacGregor.

Timestamps:

Recorded: August 13

Released: September 13

Conner is one of the homies and we go way back.

Topics: Line Chef, Working in the Kitchen, Restaurants, Richmond BC, Mentors

In this episode, Conner talks about what it’s like being a line chef, experiences in different kitchens, and gives a shoutout to the mentors and role models in his life, including his dad and Chef T.

There’s a lot of tangents, from the grind of culinary school to different experimental recipes to dank smells in the kitchen. Both of us grew up in Richmond, BC, which is a foodie paradise, and we basically talked about our favourite restaurants in Richmond.

Shoutout to Chef T, dad, and friendship Fridays.

Timestamps:

Recorded - August 12

Released – September 2

Job G. is an elementary special ed. teacher who also runs an incredible art journaling /bullet journaling account which you can check on Instagram at @jobsjournal.

Topics Covered: Bullet Journaling, Art Journaling, Introspection, Reflection, Mentor Teachers

In this episode, we start of by reminiscing of our days as student teachers, and Job talks about what art journaling, bullet journaling is, and how he got started and what his design process for art journaling is like.

We did our PDP experience together, and it was great to catch up and talk about teaching, travel, art and design.

He then opens up about his experiences living abroad in Korea. At the core of this episode is a discussion about the importance of reflection. It can be a bit of an empty word, especially in the world of education. Nevertheless, it’s still important as a life skill.

Finally, Job gives a shout out to some of the co-workers/mentors and talks about how they have helped him transition into his current role and the value of community in a school.

Recorded via Zoom call.

Timestamps:

1:40 – Reminiscing about student-teacher days.

6:00 – Starting Job’s Journal in Korea and what is Bullet Journaling/Art Journaling is.

10:00 – Job’s Design Process, Gear, Set-up and Midori Travel’s Notebook, and nerding about equipment.

20:10 – Experiences and lessons learned working abroad as a teacher in Korea.

24:47 – The importance of introspection and reflection.

31:50 – Benefits of Bullet Journaling; the link of writing and journaling.

35:20 - Cursive writing and why kids should learn about cursive writing.

38:48 – Tangent about Baybayin, ancient Filipino writing system.

42:28 – Job’s shoutout to co-workers Mr. Y and Ms. C and how they showed him the value of community in a school.

49:39 – Our shoutout to our Faculty Adivsor while we were student-teachers and how she was a great mentor.

54:10 – Being bold and being ourselves as teachers and artists.

56:30 – More shoutouts.

Recorded: August 12

Released: August 28

Leia Morit is a teacher who recently finished the PDP. We go way back, and it was great to catch up and talk about our experiences as fellow educators.

Topics Covered: Teenagers and Social Media; Teacher-Candidate Experience during COVID; Private Schools;

In this episode, Leia and I start with a long tangent about the differences between Gen Z and Millennials, which led to a discussion about how difficult it is growing up, as a teenager in today,’s social media driven culture.

She then opens up about how her English teacher Mr. G.Y. inspired her to become an English teacher and how he created a space were students were valued and could be themselves. She also shares what it was like being a Teacher-Candidate and how COVID disrupted the program.

Finally she asks me what it’s like working in a private school, and she opens up about her experience growing up in Dubai and having to go to a private school designated for children of Overseas Filipino Workers.

Shoutout to Mr. G.Y!

1:44 – Gen Z vs Millenials 

10:44 – Growing up as a teenager in today’s world and the pressures of social media 

18:34 – Think before you text? How do you model respectful online use is? 

31:01 – Leia’s shoutout to Mr. G.Y and how he influenced her to become a teacher

47:09 – How COVID impacted Student-Teacher/Teacher Candidates 

55:54 – The new reality disrupting old models of teaching and uncertainties of September

1:09:59 – Leia asks Anthony what it’s like working in a private school

1:17:22 – Leia’s experience growing up in Dubai, and Private Schools for OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers)

Recorded: August 10

Released: August 24

Marcelo is a University student studying Criminology and a former student.

Topics Covered: Parents and Coaches; Transitions from High School to University; Being a Student during COVID; Criminology

In this episode I get to catch up with Marcelo who is a former student of mine who reached out to me about joining the podcast . He talks about the examples his parents set for him in working hard and shoutouts his soccer coach who gave him opportunities to prove himself on the soccer field. We then talk about the transition between high school and university, the growth Marcelo’s experienced as an individual and how COVID changed student and social life.

As an educator it’s a joy and blessing to get to catch up with alumni and hear from them and what they’ve been up to. Along the way we reminisce about our senior English class and Marcelo teaches me about some of the things he’s learned in his criminology classes.

Shoutout to Marcelo’s parents, Coach Eric, Mr. W and all the kids who graduated with Marcelo.

Timestamps:

3:45 – Shoutout to Marcelo’s parents: examples of hard work set by parents; thankfulness; sayings and lessons from parents that have stuck

9:48 – Marcelo’s shoutout to his soccer coach Eric; opportunities to prove himself on the field;

15:04 – Marcelo’s transition from High School to University: tangents about studying techniques; length of media content and shorter attention spans excitement of being accepted into University and future aspirations

23:20 – Marcelo teaches Anthony some of the things he’s learning in Criminology: labeling theory; concentric zone theory

29:43 – Being a University student during COVID; missing the social aspect of school; reminiscing about crazy high school English classes, missing in class debates, discussions and arguments; new routines because of COVID and weirdness of it

42:38 – Change as a person since High School: shoutout to Mr. W; needing to take more responsibility; from small school to big university

Recorded: August 7

Released: August 20

Berlin Capalad is a high school English teacher

Topics Covered: Second-Generation Canadian Filipino Experience, Social Justice Education, Anti-Racism in an English Classroom.

In this episode we primarily talk about the experience of being Canadian-Filipino and how that impacts and influences the way we teach. Berlin shares about how her different teachers were an influence for developing a passion for social justice causes and anti-racism.

We then talk about different activities and lessons that we use to unpack power and privilege, and how we processed the events of the recent BLM protests with the students online. At the end of the episode, Berlin talks about the importance of doing the internal work in becoming a better ally.

Timestamps:

1:50 – First Nations land acknowledgements: the purpose and the importance of it during assemblies, how often we should say it?

6:50 – Understanding our immigrant backgrounds in relation education: Berlin’s heritage and experience shuffling between Manila and Vancouver; Anthony’s heritage and educational background, loss of ability to speak Filipino languages; acknowledgement of privileges;

12:42 – How Berlin got into teaching: heart for humanitarianism and social justice; parallel experiences between a school trip to the Dominican Republic and growing up in the Philippines; Asian parents and expectations for education and how it’s led to a place of privilege;

18:29 – Lessons learned from the Dominican Republic: shoutout to Berlin’s Latin American Studies Prof. B.A.; being shocked about others being shocked by poverty; learning about Spanish colonization;

23:59 Berlin’s shoutout to grade 10 Social Studies teacher Mr. R.M. and learning about Residential schools; Empathy and growing up in immigrant settler backgrounds: parents reminding us of privilege;

27:55 – Shoutout to Mr. H.C.; being proud of being Asian; example of a template for being yourself as a teacher

30:12 – Being a Filipino-Canadian teacher: diversity of teachers and students; being a role model; “Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay”; random tangents of feeling out of place, or in-between

42:34 – What’s worked in discussing race and discrimination in an English classroom; inquiry questions about teaching privilege; privilege walk activity; “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas; codeswitching; scaffolding topics such as power and privilege; how the recent BLM protests has normalized discussions about race; hosting online sessions to process with students what’s happening; the privilege of being able to shut off social media;

1:00:19 – Being an Ally - to post or not to post; dealing with the discomfort negative guilt; importance of doing the internal work of understanding identity; getting to a point of anti-racism; highlights of seeing students working to understand what’s happening in the world

Recorded: August 6

Released: August 17

Richard Conanan is one of the homies and we go way back.

Topics Covered: Study Techniques, Lo-Fi Hip Hop, Guilty Pleasure Music; Friendship

Shoutout to Phyllis for better studying techniques and to the homies.

In this episode, Richard shares about how he went from being a high school slacker to getting straight A's by the end of his university career and how a car accident changed his perspective on life. We talk about studying techniques, in particular the Pomodoro Technique and how it works for both us.The rest of the episode is a vibe and we talk about our love for lo-fi hip hop, our favourite guilty pleasure music, and friendships.

Timestamps:

Recorded: July 27

Released: August 13

Stewart is a middle school teacher and fellow musician.

Topics Covered: Body Art, Creating Positive Relationships with Students, Youth Ministry; Being Seen & Known

In this episode, we start by talking about our various tattoos and their symbolic meaning. We then talk about his transition from being a youth pastor to being a middle school teacher, skillsets that are similar, and the importance of creating an atmosphere where kids can feel welcome, seen and known.

We get into many tangents from scholastic book fairs to random things kids do in band class. Stew shares about the impact his volleyball coach and band teacher had on him and the qualities that he hopes to be remembered for as an educator.

Shout out to Mr. H and Mr. M.

Recorded: July 27

Released: August 10