Based on Dr. Olatunji’s new book, this topic provides a powerful overview of why a new paradigm in education is needed. Many youth underachieve because we focus on making them skillful but not willful. This insightful and engaging presentation leaves audiences with a new sense of clarity and conviction about the need to align education with students—not just standards—so that they will thrive!

In this episode, Dr. O speaks to us about his book “Don't Let School Get in the Way of Education: How to Improve the Performance and Well-being of Our Nation's Youth.”

If your child is stressed by grades, bored by worksheets, or just “over it,” this episode will flip the script. Dr. O breaks down the “broccoli model” of school that kills joy, the “pumpkin muffin” approach that fuses rigor with fun, and his FACES framework that gets kids engaged fast. 

What you’ll hear

• How schools accidentally train kids to detach from learning and what to do instead

• The “pumpkin muffin” method that keeps rigor and adds relevance

• FACES, explained: Fun, Affirmation, Challenge, Expression, Success

• Easy swaps that boost curiosity without letting grades slide

• A start-of-year student interest survey that powers lesson design

• Dinner table prompts that open up real conversations and critical thinking

• Why leadership support and teacher PD make or break culture change

• Success skills you can teach inside any subject, without a new curriculum

Quick wins you can try today

• Ask: “What do you want this school year to feel like?” Follow with “What was missing last year that we can change now?”

• Teachers: run a simple interest survey, then plug those interests into math, reading, and science tasks

• Pair content with real life. Example: use a car payment scenario to teach division and budgeting

• Speak strengths out loud. Create a one-page “Gifted and Talented Declaration” at home to build confidence

Highlights

• The core problem is not kids; it is a tired paradigm that values test scores over well-being and purpose

• When students see themselves in the lesson, engagement rises and behavior issues drop

• Fun is not the enemy of learning; it is rocket fuel

• Aim for willful and skillful. Kids need both

Call to action

If this conversation helped, share it with one teacher and one parent. Tag @DaliTalks and tell us which FACES element you’ll try first.

Get the book at: 

https://www.droinspires.com/coming-soon-02o 

Follow Dr. O on Instagram @ananeolatunji 

Connect with him on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/droinspires

Visit his website a https://droinspires.com 

Follow Dali at https://instagram.com/Dalitalks

Visit her website at https://www.dalitalks.com

In this episode of DaliTalks Podcast, I chat with Luz Nazario, a dedicated teacher, about her career journey and professional growth. We explore:

• How she began her journey in teaching

• What a typical day in her life looks like

• The importance of fostering critical thinking in children

• Advice for parents supporting kids who aspire to become teachers
  

🎧 Tune in now and get inspired by Luz’s journey! Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with anyone passionate about education.

Connect with Luz Nazario

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luz-m-nazario/ 

Connect with me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dalitalks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dalitalks

Website: https://www.dalitalks.com 

In this episode, Nury Castillo Crawford, owner of 1010 Publishing, speaks to us about her mission to encourage Latinos to write their own stories.

As an immigrant from Peru, Nury’s own journey to publish a children’s book inspired her to create a publishing house when she was asked to change the character she had written—one that was a true reflection of herself, from her skin tone to her experience growing up as a young brown Latina in the U.S.

She opens up about:

• The “whitening” of the Latino experience in mainstream publishing

• How families can think like authors and honor their lived experiences

• The importance of writing down legacy and preserving cultural identity

• The process of writing a book from start to finish

• The books she wished existed when she was younger

Ready to be inspired? Hit play now and join us as we explore representation, legacy, and the power of telling your own story. Don’t forget to subscribe and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it!

Connect with Nury Castillo Crawford

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurycastillocrawford/ 

Connect with me:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dalitalks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dalitalks 

Website: https://www.dalitalks.com 

In this episode, we sit down with Melissa Bird (Democratic Party), who is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Oregon's 4th Congressional District in the 2026 election. 

Melissa shares:

• Her lifelong love for politics, a topic that has always been a conversation at the dinner table in her household.

• Her important work supporting homeless LGBTQ youth, highlighting the challenges they face, and how she’s making a difference.

• What lobbying actually is 

Tune in for an engaging conversation about politics, advocacy, and making an impact in your community.

Connect with Melissa Bird

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/melissabirdforcongress/ 

Connect with me: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dalitalks?igsh=MTJtcnNoMnFjNzh1bA== 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dalitalk 

Website: https://www.dalitalks.com 

In this episode, I sit down with holistic practitioner Candice Van Dertholen to explore the powerful work she’s doing to help people navigate life’s biggest transitions. Candice shares her journey, her approach to holistic healing, and the transformative impact her clients experience when they align their energy with the life they truly desire.

We dive into:

Candice’s clients often come to her at a crossroads—when the old way of living no longer feels right, but the new path forward isn’t yet clear. Through modalities like Reiki and energy alignment, she helps them shift the patterns holding them back so they can gain clarity, attract soul-aligned relationships, create more ease with money, and break generational cycles.

Whether you’re in a season of transition, seeking greater clarity, or simply curious about holistic practices, this episode will give you an inspiring look at how energy work can unlock lasting change.

Connect with Candice Van Dertholen

Website: https://heal.me/candice#about 

Connect with me: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dalitalks?igsh=MTJtcnNoMnFjNzh1bA== 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dalitalk 

Website: https://www.dalitalks.com 

In this episode, I sit down with Burcu Onaranel Erten, a Marketing & Branding Coach, NLP Master Practitioner, and Certified Professional Life Coach. Burcu shares her inspiring journey of leaving the HR industry in Turkey to pursue her passion for coaching through NLP.

We dive into:

• • How her career transition began and what sparked the change
  • What NLP coaching really is and how it can transform lives
  • The practical side of building a client base in a new field
    
  • Burcu’s advice for anyone ready to take a bold leap into a completely new career path
    

  Whether you’re curious about NLP, considering a career shift, or simply need encouragement to follow your passion, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration.

Tune in now and discover what it takes to embrace change with courage and clarity.

Connect with Burcu Onaranel Erten

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/joyyburcu/?hl=en 

Website: https://joyyburcu.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@joyyburcu/featured

Connect with me: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dalitalks?igsh=MTJtcnNoMnFjNzh1bA== 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dalitalk 

Website: https://www.dalitalks.com 

Are you leveraging your relationship with your child’s pediatrician?

In this episode of DaliTalks, we’re joined by Dr. Kristen Cook, a pediatrician with over 15 years of experience and a mom herself.

Dr. Cook opens up about her journey into pediatrics, the lessons she’s learned from supporting families, and the powerful ways parents and pediatricians can collaborate to help children thrive.

From navigating tricky conversations with kids to understanding common struggles children face today, this conversation is filled with practical insights and compassionate advice every parent can use.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Dr. Cook’s background and why she’s passionate about pediatrics
• How parents and pediatricians can work as a team to support a child’s development
• Approaches for navigating difficult conversations with childrenCommon struggles children are facing in today’s world, and how parents can help+ Her insight into prescribing birth control
• Medical insurance challenges for both doctors and parents

Whether you’re a new parent, experienced caregiver, or simply curious about working better with your child’s pediatrician, this episode offers a refreshing mix of professional expertise and real-life parenting wisdom.

Connect with Kristen Cook

• Website: https://www.kristencookmd.com/

Connect with me:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dalitalks?igsh=MTJtcnNoMnFjNzh1bA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dalitalk
• Website: https://www.dalitalks.com

Welcome to the Careers Pathways Series on the DaliTalks Podcast! 

Are you or your teen wondering which career path is the right one? 

In this series, we explore the real stories behind career journeys—from the unexpected detours to the big wins.

Every Friday at noon (ET), professionals share:

✅ Their school & career experiences (including the struggles and the triumphs)

✅ How they navigated career pivots and found work they love

✅ Income insights, challenges, and opportunities in their fields

✅ Encouragement for parents & teens that grades are NOT the end-all, be-all

🎓 Whether your teen is applying to college, exploring different careers, or just figuring out their next step, this series gives families the tools and inspiration to navigate college and career readiness with confidence.

📌 Timestamps (add after upload)

00:00 – Introduction

00:30 – Why Careers Pathways series matters

01:15 – Real stories from professionals

02:45 – Why success isn’t one-size-fits-all

04:30 – What’s coming next in the series

Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes!💬

Drop your questions for our guests in the comments—they’ll be checking in to respond.

📅 New Career Pathways episodes every Friday at 12 PM ET.📅 New personal/professional growth interviews every Wednesday.

👉 For more parenting resources, bullying prevention tools, and confidence-building strategies for kids, visit: https://DaliTalks.com

Follow me @DaliTalks Instagram

Listening to someone’s story can uplift and give us strength. If you are in need of any of that, join me for this powerful event!

In this episode, I speak with Nancy and Amy Harrington, creators of the Passionistas Project Virtual Summit 2025 Awakening Your Power event and the ones who spearheaded the writing of an anthology that can transform mindsets in powerful ways. 

The Harrington sisters discuss how they came about creating the Passionistas Project, the purpose of the summit, what you can expect from it and they invite you to join the Passionistas Sisterhood. 

The summit kicked off August 26th and runs through the 28th. So, if you are watching and it has already kicked off, it’s not too late to join before it ends. 

#sisterhood #author #awakeningyourpower

In this episode, I open up about the two resources I created to help parents and educators take real action against bullying:

📖 Confident, Bully-Proof Kids – a guide packed with confidence-building strategies, everyday scripts parents can use, and practical steps to help kids stand tall against bullying. It’s about giving your child the inner armor they need.

📖 Your Guide to Bullying Prevention – a straightforward handbook for parents and educators that breaks down the types of bullying, signs to watch for, and clear steps to advocate with schools. It’s the “how-to” manual you wish you had earlier.

Both are important because they don’t just explain bullying — they hand you tools you can use today to protect and empower kids.

Along with my books, I briefly share other services I provide for families and schools, including:

• Keynote speeches that motivate and educate audiences

• Interactive workshops for parents and students

• One-on-one consulting for families who need tailored guidance

• Professional development sessions for school staff

👉 If you’re ready to bring this training and advocacy to your home or school, let’s connect.

We can stop bullying before it starts — but only if we work together.

hIf you’re ready to bring this training and advocacy to your home or school, let’s connect: Book a workshop | Schedule a 1:1 consult

We can stop bullying before it starts — but only if we work together.

If you’re ready to bring this training and advocacy to your home or school, let’s connect: Book a workshop | Schedule a 1:1 consult

We can stop bullying before it starts — but only if we work together.

https://www.dalitalks.com/linktree

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