SMILE Factor

WE’RE BACK! Season 4 of the SMILE Factor Podcast is officially here! 

We’re kicking things off by catching up, reflecting on an incredible summer of learning, and looking ahead to all the energy, possibilities, and excitement that come with a new school year.

New conversations. New guests. New ideas. And plenty of reasons to SMILE.

Join us as we launch Season 4 and get ready for an amazing season ahead.

Season 4 starts NOW. Let’s SMILE!

Everyone leaves ISTE inspired, energized, and filled with new ideas. But what happens after the conference ends? In this episode of The SMILE Factor, we reflect on our biggest takeaways from ISTE 2026 and explore how educators can turn inspiration into meaningful action. We discuss the moments that challenged our thinking, the conversations that mattered most, and practical ways to avoid letting great ideas fade once the school year begins. Because the true impact of any conference is measured not by what happens in the convention center, but by what happens back in our classrooms, schools, and communities.

Sometimes the most valuable thing we bring home from a conference isn't a new strategy. It's a renewed sense of purpose. Joy Lives in the People and this episode is live from Confluence. We share lessons from an incredible event in Texas and why relationships, gratitude, and community remain at the heart of great education.

This week, we welcome Carl Hooker and Matt Holley to the SMILEFactor podcast to talk all things Confluence, an incredible event that brings technology, innovation, and education together in Lubbock, Texas on June 8.

We dive into what makes Confluence such a powerful learning experience, why collaboration matters, and how events like this help educators connect, grow, and bring fresh ideas back to their schools.

In this episode, we talk about getting back into a routine after a setback. Whether it is a tough week, a missed goal, or a moment that knocks you off track, the key is not perfection, it is the next step. We discuss how small actions, grace, and consistency can help us reset, refocus, and move forward with purpose.

This episode explores the power of taking risks and learning from the flops along the way. Growth rarely comes from playing it safe. Matt and Laurie discuss why some of the biggest lessons often come from ideas that did not work as planned, how setbacks can become stepping stones, and why embracing risk can lead to unexpected opportunities. Because sometimes the moments that feel like failures become the experiences that shape us the most.

This week, we welcome Matt Holley for a conversation that hits at the heart of what it means to lead, teach, and take risks.

His message is simple but powerful. Impact does not start loud, it starts brave.

We talk about the small moves that create big ripples. Trying something new, stepping into discomfort, and taking chances even when they might flop.

Because in education and leadership, it is not about perfection. It is about movement.

If you are looking to bring more purpose, courage, and belief into your work, this episode is for you.

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Marialice B.F.X. Curran for an important conversation about digital wellness. Together, we explore how educators can help students build healthy, balanced, and responsible relationships with technology. From online behavior to screen time, digital identity, and well-being, this episode highlights why digital wellness is not just a tech topic, it is a human one.

In this episode, Matt and Laurie explore how enthusiasm is contagious and why the energy we bring into a space can spark innovation. They share how passion, optimism, and a willingness to lean in can inspire new ideas and move people to action.

In this episode, Laurie and Matt focus on the power of collaboration and what it really looks like in action. We talk about how working together across roles, departments, and perspectives leads to better ideas, stronger outcomes, and real impact in schools.