Best Working Together With Schools To Educate Students Better Podcasts (2025)

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Balancing Language, Academic Content Areas, and Executive Functioning (featuring Jill Fahy) 42:50

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17h ago42:50

42:50

What if choosing between language and executive functioning for your students wasn't an "either/or" decision? And how can we effectively balance academic content with broader cognitive skills? It's a complex challenge, and the answer isn't always obvious. In this episode, I share commentary and a clip of my conversation with Jill Fahy, where we dis…

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Budgeting for college students 25:56

6m ago25:56

25:56

A new semester has begun, which means college students across the country are taking on debt, opening credit cards and navigating meal plans and housing on their own. Budgeting and managing money, especially as a first-year college student, can be daunting. In this episode, we cover how to plan for student loans, look for scholarships, get part tim…

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Dr. Morris Leis on School Safety Innovations in Coffee County 19:13

19h ago19:13

19:13

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged, host Addison Davis sits down with Dr. Morris Leis, Superintendent of Coffee County Schools in Georgia. Recorded live at the AASA Conference, the conversation offers an in-depth look at Dr. Leis’ remarkable 16-year journey as a superintendent, including 14 years leading his hometown district. A native of…

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Lost your keys? A better way to find them 18:06

23h ago18:06

18:06

Searching for an item you've misplaced, like a passport, wedding ring or keys, can get frustrating quickly. Luckily, there are tips to help make your search process faster, smoother and calmer. Life Kit digital editor Malaka Gharib talks with visual search experts about their best tricks for finding what's lost. This episode originally published Oc…

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E19. Changing Your Mindset About Challenging Student Behavior 33:17

1d ago33:17

33:17

This episode might look a little different, but Stephanie is excited to give listeners a peek into one of the expert guest trainings from The Intentional IEP. Stephanie sits down with Sam to tackle changing your mindset about challenging student behaviors and explore practical strategies for managing behavior in the classroom. In this episode, you’…

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A head-to-toe check-in for the fall 22:54

5d ago22:54

22:54

It’s not just school kids who could use a back-to-school reset. Your body could use one too. This episode of Life Kit, medical professionals share advice to help you care for your ears, eyes, teeth, feet and skin. We hope these tips leave you feeling healthy and strong as the fall season begins. Follow us on Instagram: @nprlifekit Sign up for our n…

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Finding a Place for AI in Therapy and Product Development (with Natalie Yona) 1:02:00

8d ago1:02:00

1:02:00

In this episode of De Facto Leaders, I’m joined by speech-language therapist Natalie Yona from Cognishine to explore one of the most nuanced conversations happening in today: Where does AI actually belong in therapy? Cognishine is a multilingual, multidisciplinary digital intervention platform designed for therapists, educators, and care profession…

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Teens are using AI. Here’s how parents can talk about it. 23:33

9d ago23:33

23:33

High school and college students graduating in 2026 will have had access to artificial intelligence models like ChatGPT since their freshman year. Teens are using it in creative ways to help them study, but many have also received little to no guidance on responsible use. In this episode, we discuss how to talk to teens about AI, including its risk…

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Transforming Education: Strategies and Stories from "On Fire, Under Fire, or Fired." 22:14

8d ago22:14

22:14

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged, host Addison Davis sits down with two of the nation’s most respected education leaders—Dr. Kristi Wilson and Dr. Susan Enfield—for an unfiltered conversation on leadership, resilience, and the realities of the superintendency. Together, they delve into their new book, On Fire, Under Fire, or Fired, a ca…

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Boost your mood in 15 minutes 23:58

8d ago23:58

23:58

Sometimes you're just feeling blah: maybe the weather's bad, you can't get out of bed and you're struggling to shake off that listlessness. In these moments, the solution is often simpler than we think. This episode, NPR's Science desk and Life Kit staff present research-backed mood boosters to instantly shake yourself out of a slump and turn your …

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E18. The Problem with 80% Accuracy in 3 of 4 Trials 24:16

8d ago24:16

24:16

That phrase on IEPs — “80% accuracy in 3 out of 4 trials” — doesn’t actually measure mastery. On today's episode, Stephanie breaks down why this one-size-fits-all approach is a red flag, what it does to your data, and how to write mastery criteria that actually matter. You’ll get real examples, reflection questions, and strategies for creating goal…

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MOSUL LIBRARY; REBUILDING KNOWLEDGE - A conversation with Dr Mohammad Jassim 24:09

12d ago24:09

24:09

Dr Mehiyar Kathem speaks with Dr Mohammed Jassim on rebuilding Mosul University’s Central Library after ISIS.Date of episode recording: 2025-08-01Duration: 24:08Language of episode: EnglishPresenter:Mehiyar KathemGuests: Dr Mohammed JassimProducer: Mehiyar KathemTranscript link: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/media/podcasts/transcript-conversation-d…

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Dear Life Kit: When money makes relationships murky 20:20

12d ago20:20

20:20

Behavioral scientist Wendy De La Rosa and personal finance expert Katie Gatti Tassin answer murky money questions from Dear Life Kit listeners. Follow us on Instagram: @nprlifekit Sign up for our newsletter here. Have an episode idea or feedback you want to share? Email us at [email protected] Support the show and listen to it sponsor-free by signing…

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Part 5: Five Skills to Create Your Executive Functioning Intervention Framework 13:13

14d ago13:13

13:13

One of my favorite “hooks” or titles to use when I’m talking about executive functioning centers around the idea that executive functioning intervention is about “more than just checklists”. I like this title so much because one of the go-to interventions or accommodations for students with executive functioning difficulties includes some type of v…

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Road safety for pedestrians and cyclists 16:28

14d ago16:28

16:28

No matter whether you're walking, biking or driving, there are things you can do to stay safe on the road. NPR health correspondent Pien Huang shares her reporting on tips to keep each other safe while sharing our busy streets. Follow us on Instagram: @nprlifekit Sign up for our newsletter here. Have an episode idea or feedback you want to share? E…

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Driving Educational Change: Dr. Horton Discusses Strategies and Successes in DeKalb County 19:53

15d ago19:53

19:53

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged, host Addison Davis sits down with Dr. Devon Horton, superintendent of Georgia’s DeKalb County School District—home to over 92,000 students and the third-largest school system in the state. Broadcasting from AASA’s national conference, this candid conversation dives into Dr. Horton’s 25-year journey in p…

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How to deal with intrusive thoughts 20:46

15d ago20:46

20:46

Have you ever had a disturbing thought pop up into your head? Thoughts that are distressing, repetitive and unwanted are called intrusive thoughts. NPR's senior Visuals producer LA Johnson talks with a therapist and a researcher to figure out what these thoughts mean, where they come from and how best to handle them. Follow us on Instagram: @nprlif…

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E17. 10+ Things Not to Say in an IEP Meeting 22:23

15d ago22:23

22:23

We spend so much time preparing for IEP meetings—writing goals, gathering data, pulling everything together—yet when we finally sit down at the table, the words we use can make or break the entire conversation. There are a handful of phrases that can instantly shift the tone of a meeting, and not in a good way. Some of them come out of habit, other…

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Ouch, I've got a crick! Neck pain 101 26:38

19d ago26:38

26:38

Have you ever woken up with a crick in your neck after a bad night's sleep? Or feel like you can't rotate your head? Many people will experience neck pain at some point in life. Luckily, there are science-backed treatments and exercises to ease those nagging aches. This episode, a spine surgeon, sports medicine doctor, sleep expert and physical the…

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Part 4: Five Skills to Create Your Executive Functioning Intervention Framework 13:34

22d ago13:34

13:34

Every time I give a session on executive functioning, I have clinicians and teachers ask me the same thing: “How can I motivate students who don’t seem to care or don’t want to try new things?” Or something like “How can I convince students why this (insert task) is going to be important to them in the future?” The short answer is that you don’t “c…

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A better way to support your teens as they go back to school 22:56

23d ago22:56

22:56

Today's teens struggle with perfectionism and mood swings, and their parents struggle to have hard conversations with them, according to a 2024 Walton Family Foundation and Gallup poll. Teen psychologist Lisa Damour explains how parents can better support their kids as a new school year begins. This episode originally published August 27, 2024. Fol…

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From Crisis to Clarity: Dr. David Moore on Reengineering a School District for Success 15:54

22d ago15:54

15:54

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged, host Addison Davis sits down with Dr. David K. Moore, Superintendent of the School District of Indian River County, for a masterclass in transformative educational leadership. As a former counselor turned nationally recognized superintendent, Dr. Moore brings a compelling blend of heart, strategy, and u…

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Quitting isn't always bad. How to know when it's time to walk away 18:02

24d ago18:02

18:02

Quitting is often associated with failure. But choosing to walk away from a goal can help you save time, identify what you truly want and create space for other pursuits. This episode, how to evaluate your goal, figure out its cost and know when it's time to throw in the towel. For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s P…

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E16. What Every General Education Teacher Needs to Know 16:44

22d ago16:44

16:44

If you teach in a general education classroom, this episode is for you. Students with IEPs are in your class every day, and knowing how to read, understand, and use those IEPs makes a real difference—for your students and for your teaching. This episode gives you practical, clear guidance to feel confident supporting every learner. Here’s what we’l…

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What eating disorders do to the brain and body 14:08

26d ago14:08

14:08

Eating disorders are complicated illnesses that are often misunderstood. Dr. Eva Trujillo, a specialist in eating disorders, says eating disorders "literally rewire the brain," decrease brain size and make it harder to concentrate and regulate emotions. Emily Kwong, host of NPR's Short Wave, talks about the physical and mental impacts of eating dis…

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Part 3: Five Skills to Create Your Executive Functioning Intervention Framework 20:54

29d ago20:54

20:54

Students with executive functioning challenges often intend to complete tasks or meet expectations—but struggle to execute consistently. The reason? They aren’t mentally envisioning future scenarios, predicting the steps needed to reach a goal, and thinking about what they need to be doing NOW in order to meet that goal. This cognitive skill, calle…

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Tiny pep talks for everyday problems 13:34

30d ago13:34

13:34

We use encouragement and support to get through life's big moments. But what about a little pep talk for those smaller moments, like when it's raining and your dog needs to go out? Or some inspiration to help you parallel park or send that email you've been avoiding? In this episode, Paula Skaggs and Josh Linden, co-authors of the book Tiny Pep Tal…

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Philly Roots, Data Moves: The Lajara Cousins Reimagine Urban Education 20:13

29d ago20:13

20:13

In this episode of Superintendents Unplugged, host and former superintendent Addison Davis sits down with two powerhouse educational leaders—and cousins—Dr. Ariel Lajara and Dr. Renato Lajara, both Assistant Superintendents in the School District of Philadelphia. What unfolds is more than a professional conversation; it’s a moving, unfiltered explo…

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E15. Goals VS Objectives VS Benchmarks 13:24

29d ago13:24

13:24

Let’s be honest — writing IEP goals can feel overwhelming and confusing, especially when it comes to understanding the difference between annual goals, objectives, and benchmarks. In this episode, Stephanie breaks it all down so you can finally feel confident and clear about what you’re writing and why it matters. You’ll learn how the annual goal a…

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How to talk to your parents about their money 20:05

1M ago20:05

20:05

Helping an aging parent with end-of-life planning? Financial journalist Cameron Huddleston explains how to broach the topic with your parents — and the documents and plans they should have in place. This episode originally published on Sept. 25, 2023. For handpicked podcast recommendations every week, subscribe to NPR’s Pod Club newsletter at npr.o…

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Is your phone becoming a time suck? Try a boring phone 21:09

1M ago21:09

21:09

Phones can be addicting: There are endless texts to answer, notifications to check and games to play. We often end up on our phones without intending to. But Jose Briones, author of Low Tech Life: A guide to Mindful Digital Minimalism, says there is a solution. This episode, tips on quitting your smartphone in favor of simpler technology. This epis…