The Optimalist Podcast

Having taught at the high school level for almost 10 years and currently as a Director of Technology, Greg Kulowiec understands the complexity of change in education and the experience of educators working to navigate change. With over 20 years of experience in education, and a passion for professional development, Greg brings an engaging atmosphere to your school or district. From keynotes to hands-on professional learning, he understands educators.

In this episode, Greg and I talk about the delicate balance between sustained effort on hard things vs removing barriers and arbitrary roadblocks that can be resolved with various AI tools. How does this impact the need for improved attention in the classroom, and how can it force educators to rethink assessment?

Links Mentioned

Read: Shoe Dog / Think Like a Monk / Think Again

Watch: Succession 

Listen: Midnight Marauders, Harry's House, Renaissance (Music)

Listen: ReThinking by Adam Grant (Podcast)

Greg's Focus Method - Play an album the entire way through & work on a task until the album is done. Go-to album? Into the Wild soundtrack.

Find us & join us:

• Follow Sara Candela on Twitter at @Scandela9

• Subscribe to The Optimalist Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, your favorite podcast player - or right here, on Substack - to get each episode as soon as it’s released.

• Join our Community Discord server at https://discord.gg/SWhQ76mEZD

The Optimalist Podcast is brought to you by Focusable, the only app that gives you the pulse you need to find better attention. Sign up for free today at getfocusable.com or by downloading on any iOs or Android device.

• Follow Focusable on Twitter at @getfocusable

Credits:

• Music: “Goodnight, Shapeshifter” by MusicForNothing, used under Creative Commons BY-ND 3.0.

• Audio Editing & Production: Tim Belmont (@tbelmontedu) 

Introducing The Optimalist podcast!

• This show is a product of the community it serves 
• We seek to bring educators conversations about mindfulness, attention, focus, happiness, motivation - and so much more
• We believe that to flourish, we need to retain the ability to embrace challenges and do the deep work.
• Investing in your ability to focus is the foundation.
• We hope this podcast helps connect more and more educators to the importance of this effort towards prioritizing better attention and mindful living- in school, work, and at home. 

Your host is Sara Candela, former high school English teacher and current community manager for Focusable and the Optimalist community that supports it. 

Each Wednesday:

• new conversations and roundtable discussions 
• guests that range from classroom teachers, to mindfulness coordinators, to consultants, to researchers in attentional psychology.

Find us & join us:

• Follow Sara at @Scandela9 on Twitter or Focusable at @getfocusable for the latest updates. 
• Subscribe to The Optimalist Podcast on your favorite podcast app - or on Substack - to get each episode as soon as it’s released.
• Substack: https://theoptimalist.substack.com/
• Community Discord: https://discord.gg/SWhQ76mEZD

Credits:

• Music: “Goodnight, Shapeshifter” by MusicForNothing (https://soundcloud.com/musicfornothing/goodnight-shapeshifter…) used under Creative Commons BY-ND 3.0.
• Audio Production: Tim Belmont (@tbelmontedu)