Best TOSAs Podcasts (2025)

1
34. Facilities, Enrollment, Stability [TOSA] 43:42

10d ago43:42

43:42

LINKS! Secondary School Ad Hoc Committee (including application) Secondary School Configuration summary

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Navigating Leadership Changes in Japan with Carlo La Porta 59:11

1d ago59:11

59:11

In this episode of the FocusCore Podcast, host David Sweet interviews Carlo La Porta, Managing Director of Mpowered Sales about the challenges of disengagement in large Japanese firms. Carlo discusses his 35-year career in Japan, his book on generational management issues, and the importance of empowering employees. He shares insights on the evolut…

1
AI and PR Tech Innovations: An Interview with Dan Nestle 55:37

18d ago55:37

55:37

In this episode, an award-winning strategic communications executive and tech leader, host of the Trending Communicator podcast, Dan, is highlighted for his expertise and influence in the field. He has been recognized on PR Week's Dashboard 25 and the Propel 100 list. With over two decades of corporate and agency experience, Dan specializes in corp…

1
33. April School Referenda Recap! 48:26

21d ago48:26

48:26

A couple of colleagues from School Perceptions join me to talk about what we saw with the 89 school referendum questions on the ballot April 1st! Here's the info on Tosa's Secondary Ad Hoc Committee. And here's a link to the School Perceptions podcast, for any school leaders out there!

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The Generational Shift in Japanese Rugby: An Interview with Makoto Tosa 43:05

1M ago43:05

43:05

In this episode of the Focus Core Podcast, host Simon Jelfs interviews Makoto Tosa, a professional rugby player for NEC Green Rockets and Mitsubishi DynaBoars, and an Executive MBA student at the University of Cambridge. They discuss the fast-paced generational cycle in rugby, Tosa's career journey starting from junior high school in Japan to playi…

1
32. Board Accountability, School Quality Measures, and Perverse Incentives, with Vladimir Kogan 43:12

1M ago43:12

43:12

In this episode: Meet Vlad Kogan Learn about quality measures that isolate school effects from out-of-school effects. Understand some of the factors that impede school board accountability. Hear a bit about Vlad's forthcoming book

1
Startup Ecosystem and Corporate Innovation in Japan with Tim Romero 42:20

2M ago42:20

42:20

In this episode of the Focus Core podcast, we dive into the innovative world of Japanese startups and corporate innovation with Tim Romero, partner at Jira Ventures and host of the Disrupting Japan podcast. Tim shares insights from his 30-year journey in Japan's startup scene, discussing the evolving ecosystem, key changes in corporate collaboratio…

1
31. The April 1 School Referendum [TOSA] 33:34

2M ago33:34

33:34

Sara Lerand comes on the show to talk about the local referendum question on our ballots in April, which would change the way local school board elections run -- undoing a decision that Tosa originally made in 1994. LINKS: The text of the referendum question Wauwatosa News-Times pre-election coverage from 1994 Wauwatosa News-Times post-election cov…

1
Japan's Recruitment Challenges and Opportunities: An Interview with Roop Kaistha 50:32

2M ago50:32

50:32

In this episode of the FocusCore Podcast, host David Sweet interviews Roop Kaistha, the head of Asia Pacific at AMS, about the evolving landscape of talent acquisition in Asia, particularly in Japan. With nearly two decades of experience, Roop shares her career journey, insights on the challenges and opportunities in talent acquisition, and the imp…

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29. Kaitlin Lemke candidate interview [TOSA] 27:42

2M ago27:42

27:42

My interview questions Kaitlin's website Her campaign Facebook page Her campaign phone number

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30. Heidi Bach candidate interview [TOSA] 19:38

2M ago19:38

19:38

My interview questions Heidi's website Her campaign facebook page Her campaign instagram

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28. What We Mean By Public Education [STATEWIDE] 21:21

2M ago21:21

21:21

For Public Schools Week, here, I got a little worked up.

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27. Shannon Malnory-Silbernagel candidate interview [TOSA] 23:52

2M ago23:52

23:52

My interview questions Shannon’s campaign email Shannon’s campaign website Shannon’s Facebook page

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26. Sarah Burzynski candidate interview [TOSA] 22:48

2M ago22:48

22:48

My interview questions Sarah's campaign website Sarah's email address Sarah’s Facebook page

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Mindfulness and the Art of Corporate Wellness in Japan with Misha Yurchenko 44:51

3M ago44:51

44:51

In this episode of the FocusCore Podcast, Tokyo-based certified meditation teacher Misha Yurchenko discusses the importance of mindfulness, especially in corporate settings. With over a decade of experience, Misha shares his journey through burnout and how it led him to found Tokyo Mindfulness. The conversation covers how mindfulness can be integra…

1
25. Jason Wautier candidate interview [TOSA] 46:02

3M ago46:02

46:02

My interview questions Jason's links: Hiswebsite Hisfacebook page Hisemail address Hiscampaign phone number

1
24. Chris Merker candidate interview [TOSA] 28:00

3M ago28:00

28:00

My interview questions Chris's links: Hiswebsite HisFacebook page Hiscampaign email address Findings fromhis survey of the community

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Leadership and Business Mastery in Japan, with Dr. Greg Story 1:08:53

3M ago1:08:53

1:08:53

The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide Welcome back to the FocusCore podcast with host Dr. David Sweet. This week we are talking about leadership and business mastery with Dr. Greg Story, President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training Japan. Greg is an author of a suite of books focusing specifically on mastering various aspects of…

1
23. Troy Woodard candidate interview [TOSA] 19:26

3M ago19:26

19:26

My interview questions Troy's links: His campaign phone number His email address His facebook page His website

1
22. Chris Bauer candidate interview [TOSA] 21:35

3M ago21:35

21:35

My interview questions Chris's links: His bio His facebook page His website His email address

1
21. A Citizen's Guide to Your District's Finances [STATEWIDE] 33:30

3M ago33:30

33:30

How are voters supposed to know whether a school district has been spending tax dollars responsibly? How are community members supposed to evaluate a district's claim that it needs a referendum? This episode gives you some public resources to start with -- what's driving cost increases and where are they occurring? How have revenue sources changed …

1
20. Why Shiny Reforms Often Fail 32:03

3M ago32:03

32:03

In this episode, I'm basically giving an academic paper on how our default approach to improving schools gets something wrong about how we inherit values and practices from the past and how we project them into the future. Is it nerdy? Extremely. Enjoy!

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The Nuances of Effective Marketing in Japan, with Ricardo Tasca 45:29

4M ago45:29

45:29

The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide Welcome to the first episode of 2025 for the FocusCore podcast! This week we are joined by yet another amazing guest at the forefront of marketing and business leadership in Japan, Ricardo Tasca. Ricardo is currently the General Manager and Representative Director of Hill’s Colgate (Japan…

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19. BONUS: What We Can and Should Expect from School Boards, with Rachel White 57:59

4M ago57:59

57:59

School Board elections are coming up in April, and so I invited a national expert on district leadership to talk about what boards do, how they do and should work with district administrators, and how boards respond to community members, parents, and teachers. LINKS: My contact info, again

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Developing Successful Leaders in Japan, with Paul Dupuis 53:27

5M ago53:27

53:27

The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide On this episode of the FocusCore podcast we are joined by global leadership expert Paul Dupuis. Paul has over 25 years of professional experience in multiple countries across Asia including Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea and India. He is also the founder and CEO of Take-5 Global…

1
Japan Talent Trends 2025 Revealed! 48:14

5M ago48:14

48:14

The latest FocusCore Salary Guide is here:2025 Salary Guide This week on the FocusCore podcast, host David Sweet is joined by Simon Jelfs, Managing Director of FocusCore Japan. In the episode David and Simon discuss the biggest talent trends that will impact Japan’s recruitment landscape in 2025. These trends include things like new technologies an…

1
18. State Report Cards and Thoughtful Accountability 42:34

5M ago42:34

42:34

In this episode: What data (from which years) goes into state report cards How "achievement," "growth," "target groups," "on-track-to-graduation," "chronic absenteeism," etc. are technically defined How different stakeholders can/should interpret state reports Just to keep it interesting, does WSTEM have "incubator" value? Why or why not? LINKS: Wa…

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Pushing the Boundaries of Biotechnology with Arjuna Kumarasuriyar from Illumina 50:18

6M ago50:18

50:18

The latest Focus Core Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide Welcome to the latest episode of the FocusCore podcast. In this episode we are talking about the field of Genomics and how the applied genomics technology company, Illumina is pushing the boundaries of genomic biotechnology for research and in applied medicine. Our guest is General Manag…

1
17. So What's Next? 33:11

6M ago33:11

33:11

In this episode: What the passage of the referenda means for us What the district is doing and can do more of in building trust What makes participation in local school gov't difficult and what we can do about it. A surprising amount of Hannah Arendt. LINKS: My contact info The district's long-range facilities plan WSD facilities referendum project…

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16. BONUS: Why Local School Accountability Matters, with Jack Schneider 45:19

6M ago45:19

45:19

University of Massachusetts professor Jack Schneider joins us to talk about what local school governance does for us as citizens, how to do it well, and what stands in the way. LINKS to stuff we've written together: "Putting the Public Back Into Public Accountability" (Kappan) "In Praise of Ordinary Measures" (Educational Theory) Educational Accoun…

1
Bringing Big Retail Food Brands to Japan, with Paul Kraft 53:57

6M ago53:57

53:57

The latest Focus Core Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide Welcome back to the FocusCore podcast. In this episode we are talking to a titan of the food industry in Japan, Paul Kraft. In his over twenty years experience, Paul has launched and led multiple brands to succeed in the Japanese market. He is now the Founder and President of JapanIQ, a …

1
15. BONUS: How to Change State Policy, with Heather DuBois Bourenane and Jenni Hofschulte 38:10

6M ago38:10

38:10

Okay, if every local district is in the same bind, and taxpayers and schoolkids everywhere are being pitted against each other, then how do we get together and apply pressure on the state? I'm joined by two folks who've been organizing pressure campaigns and harnessing the kind of anger we're seeing in our community for a long time: the Wisconsin P…

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14. Back to Basics (feat. Zombie Ideas for Halloween) 45:58

6M ago45:58

45:58

In this episode: What the referenda are asking for What the money will be used for What effects can we expect if they pass What are the plans if they fail? Why our community loses no matter which way the vote goes. And of course: What the state might do to help, and why it has to. LINKS: ADA standards (the law), since people keep asking. MDRoffers …

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13. BONUS: School Finance and Reciprocal Accountability, with Chris Saldaña 53:28

6M ago53:28

53:28

UW-Madison's Chris Saldaña joins us to talk about Wisconsin's school finance regulations in comparison to other states' policies, and we think through some ideas we've considered before, around the way that local institutions--including citizen groups and taxpayer organizations--might hold states or local institutions accountable themselves. LINKS:…

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12. BONUS: Trust, Legitimacy, and Local School Governance, with Kathleen Knight Abowitz 58:24

7M ago58:24

58:24

Kathleen Knight Abowitz joins us to talk about her recent research into school board members in her home state of Ohio, the squeezes that school leaders find themselves in between state pressures from above and constituent demands from below, and how easy it is to forfeit local trust and how hard it is to rebuild. LINKS: Kathleen's Publics for Publ…

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How Media & Marketing are Evolving in Japan, with John Flanagan 58:46

7M ago58:46

58:46

The latest Focus Core Salary Guide is here: 2025 Salary Guide On the latest episode of the FocusCore podcast, host David Sweet discusses the current Media and Marketing landscape in Japan with John Flanagan, President and Managing Director of A+E Networks Japan and SE Asia. John has 30 plus years experience in the Media industry in Japan and has se…

1
11. October Surprises 21:45

7M ago21:45

21:45

In this episode: Bipartisan agreement(?!) between Tosa representatives on increasing special ed funding? Facilities referenda, 20-year bonds, and time-indexed community-building How did our $4m budget mistake happen, and what does it mean? Are upgrades to ADA standards "needs" or "wants"? LINKS: WSD School Board budget presentation (10/9) WSD 2022-…

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10. What Gets Cut If the Operating Referendum Fails? 30:11

7M ago30:11

30:11

In this episode: I correct myself to say MUHS does indeed enroll student with disabilities I go through the district's published plans to save $14m annually in case we vote down the operating referendum I acknowledge and go through the facts that (a) total state aid to WSD has indeed kept up with inflation and (b) spending on administration rose by…

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Creating Thriving & Inclusive Organizational Cultures, with Sanae Endo 41:55

7M ago41:55

41:55

Welcome to the latest episode of the FocusCore podcast. This week we are talking with Sanae Endo, a seasoned HR professional, coach, and engagement consultant with a wealth of experience spanning over two decades. Join Sanae and host David Sweet as we dive into her journey, explore the trends shaping HR in Japan and beyond, and gain valuable insigh…

1
9. Teacher Compensation 37:59

7M ago37:59

37:59

In this episode: Can we fix our budget issue by cutting administrators rather than teachers? Why are teachers suddenly having their raises wiped out by new healthcare contributions? How do we cut our expenses without affecting our teachers? Can we boost revenue by robbing casinos instead? LINKS: Wisconsin Policy Forum report on teacher pay (Nov, 20…

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8. Open Enrollment, Part Two 35:23

8M ago35:23

35:23

In this episode: The correct tax impact of our two referenda Does Open Enrollment "solve MKE's problems?" School Choice and (State-)Constitutional Promises Resident Enrollment Projections and National Population Decline Show notes! Comprehensive revenue (select district from dropdown) (Also, if we WERE interested in a low-cost, politically-inexpens…

1
Strategic Leadership for Business Growth with Timothy Connor from Synnovate 56:37

8M ago56:37

56:37

In this latest episode of the FocusCore podcast, host David Sweet is joined by Timothy Connor from Synnovate, a company that helps companies launch and succeed in the Japan market through four key practice areas. If you are a business leader in the Japanese market this conversation will provide some invaluable insights. In the episode Timothy expla…

1
7. Open Enrollment, Part One 38:58

8M ago38:58

38:58

In this episode: The recent "merger" revelation and what it means The history of school district boundaries and the things they separate How and why Open Enrollment and Chapter 220 were created What we have gained from OE over the years and what we hope to gain by drawing it down Show notes: WSD merger stuff Special school board meeting to release …

1
Managing Global Operations with Scott Smalley from DSV Japan 43:23

8M ago43:23

43:23

Welcome back from the August break. On this episode of the podcast we sit down with the Managing Director and President of DSV Solutions in Japan, Scott Smalley. Scott is a senior management executive with over 35 years of experience, 25 of which have been dedicated to global logistics in Japan. Scott is bilingual, multicultural, well-connected and…

1
Summer Re-release #4 - Turning the Tables and Interviewing Dr. David Sweet, with guest host Simon Jelfs 49:12

8M ago49:12

49:12

During the month of August we will be enjoying some summer weather and taking a break from recording new episodes. To satiate your thirst we will be re-releasing the hottest episodes of the year, every week, for you to enjoy with a Mai Tai by the pool like David will be. In this episode of the podcast from March this year, we switched things up and…

1
6. What's This About Middle Schools, Now? 30:44

8M ago30:44

30:44

In this episode: WSD's long-range facilities plan How and why junior highs emerged How and why middle schools replaced them What happened when K-8 models became popular Will 6th graders do okay in elementary schools? What does the research say about 7-12 models? Contact me with questions! References/Bibliography (or: my browser tabs for the last tw…

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Summer Re-release #3 - Demystifying Corporate Boards in Japan, with Catherine O’Connell 44:42

9M ago44:42

44:42

During the month of August we will be enjoying some summer weather and taking a break from recording new episodes. To satiate your thirst we will be re-releasing the hottest episodes of the year, every week, for you to enjoy with a Mai Tai by the pool like David will be. In this re-release episode from February, I turn the podcasting tables on my g…

1
5. The Politics of Educational Research 29:37

9M ago29:37

29:37

In this episode: Important background for interpreting educational research How we deal with value pluralism and fundamental uncertainty How educational research responds to and provokes anxiety and moralizing How we can avoid enmity and grift as we argue about research Contact me!

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Summer Re-release #2 - Fearless Innovation as a Business Leader in Japan, with Hideo Goto 30:43

9M ago30:43

30:43

During the month of August we will be enjoying some summer weather and taking a break from recording new episodes. To satiate your thirst we will be re-releasing the hottest episodes of the year, every week, for you to enjoy with a Mai Tai by the pool like David will be. This week we will revisit our second most popular episode of 2024 thus far, ou…

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Summer Re-release #1 - Listening to the Market with Ashley Harvey 46:00

9M ago46:00

46:00

During the month of August we will be enjoying some summer weather and taking a break from recording new episodes. To satiate your thirst we will be re-releasing the hottest episodes of the year, every week, for you to enjoy with a Mai Tai by the pool like David will be. This week’s Summer Re-release was originally released on Thursday February 1st…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

TOSAs Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen