Send us a text An easy justification for ineffective teachers, for years, has been "I'm not here to entertain the kids." The fact is, to be a great teacher, you have to have the ability to inspire and entertain kids... and in this episode, Ryan articulates exactly why this is true.

Send us a text There are pros and cons to any decision or situation, and choosing what to do after high school is no different. As usual, it pretty much entirely depends on the kid!

Send us a text While this is an obvious attempt at humor, and involves some hyperbole, once you hear the similarities between prison and large high school campuses, you can't "unsee" them. Having worked in these schools, Ryan paints a funny picture of how the two are similar... but a lot of truth is said in jest.…

Send us a text Ask yourself, any kid you know, and anyone who you can corner... "Did you read the books assigned in high school?" The resounding answer will be "No." But why? We inherently love reading... don't we? Ryan breaks down the reason, and its potential solution.

Send us a text For some of us, having our kids addicted to video games is our worst fear... but what if it is an indicator of a broader interest in computers and computer science in general? Ryan explains the pattern he's seen between kids that love video games and their success in programing and computer science, and how we may benefit from managing and encouraging the pursuit, rather than demonizing it.…

Send us a text Before you celebrate the resumption of old policies and ideas about the benefits of a strict home or classroom, it might pay to give the potential outcomes of those policies some thought. That is exactly what Ryan does in this episode.

Send us a text It is hard to decide if we are in favor or against a particular bill without going deep on what it entails... which is exactly what Ryan does in this episode. Ultimately, it seems to come down to what your perception of what homeschooling really is, and what homeschool families look like. Ryan will help to shape that perception.…

Send us a text In this episode, Ryan explains how and why the majority of kids begin to dislike school in middle and high school, as opposed to elementary school. Spoiler alert... it has to do with the innate development of kids, and how the system is directly adversarial to that development.

Send us a text In a take on Robert Kiyosaki's book, "Why A students work for C students," Ryan points out how and why this is exactly true. He also promotes the idea of eradicating the notion that A students in school are somehow "better" than C students... as well as offers some advice on what to do if you have either, at home.…

Send us a text People that are obsessed with their house plants will know that, by simply moving a plant to the spot at which it will do best, solves the majority of problems associated with growing flourishing plants. Well... the same goes for kids. In this episode, Ryan explains how and why we can change the environment for our kids, to allow them to grow and thrive the most.…

Send us a text It is nearly impossible that a group of kids would learn at exactly the same pace, so why do we do it that way in school? More importantly, is there any other way to do it, efficiently and effectively? Funny you ask... Ryan breaks down exactly how that could be done, and at much lower costs than schools are run today.…

Send us a text Rather than judging kids for cheating in school, Ryan suggests we look at the "why" behind it, and some possible solutions for eliminating the students' perceived need for it.

Send us a text In this episode, Ryan explains why districts can't afford to offer kids dozens of different electives, and how Nexbooks has solved that problem. Now, you can literally allow each kid to follow their passions and interests, and to take electives that will change their lives forever, and for the better.…

Send us a text The reason our schools vary so dramatically across districts, cities, and states is not from funding, or standards... it has to do with teacher talent. Imagine if only the best lessons were put in front of our kids, and everyone could access those lessons... regardless of location or socioeconomic status. That is how video-based learning could fix education immediately.…

Send us a text Adolescence can be a hard time for both parents and kids to navigate, and this topic of "finding identity" is an important one. How we respond to this pursuit, and how we help, as parents, is critical.

Send us a text Did you know that pediatricians banned homework for kids in grades k-8 at one point, in the history of this country? In this episode, Ryan explains how, apart from being entirely ineffective, homework really is a net-negative for kids development and wouldn't be missed if it was eliminated all together.…

Send us a text This episode is an explanation on what constitutes success in high school, as viewed through a lens other than just that of academics. Not only that, it offers ideas and tips as to how we, as parents, can help to facilitate that success, for our kids.

Send us a text In this episode, Ryan breaks down what the DOE is, what it does, and whether or not it would be missed. Just like accepting money from an overbearing parent, sometimes we have to measure freedom against support, and choose to take control of our own destiny.

Send us a text In this episode, Ryan points out how insane the logic is that every single kid needs to meet the same exact standards to graduate from high school... and how, if we extended that logic to adults, it would be a catastrophic failure.

Send us a text Offering teachers tenure, while likely having the purest of intentions, has been nothing but negative for kids and families. This episode explains how we should reward excellence, energy, and creativity, over time in the saddle.

Send us a text There is nothing more human than the desire for choice, and education is not exempt from that reality. In this episode, Ryan makes a case for school choice, and not just which school one can attend, but even down to which curriculum kids are able to learn from.

Send us a text As parents, it is normal to worry about our kids and to wonder if their behavior is dangerous, or just part of growing up. In this episode, Ryan offers a snapshot of what is commonly going on with teenagers, so that we can measure our own kids against the norm.

Send us a text Just as there is sparring in dojos around the world, teen sass is another form of simulating self-defense. Be careful in how much you forbid it, as you may be preventing your kid from developing a well-needed skill for both school and life.

Send us a text In this episode, Ryan explains the origin of the frustration behind many of the tragic school shootings, and some potential solutions for eliminating them forever.

Send us a text Learning is similar to packing for a trip... but we should consider the trip we are going on. Ryan explains that the current secondary school model in America is helping kids to pack for a trip that they'll never go on, and that it needs to be reconsidered.

Send us a text In this episode, we discuss how the requirement of a teaching credential is doing more damage than good to our school system, and that the requirement has locked some of the best talent in our country out of the profession.

Send us a text Countless parents are considering this very question and are super unsure as to what it takes to homeschool. In this episode, Ryan breaks down what it looks like to homeschool, the pros and cons, and why it might be good for you.

Send us a text Ryan reveals his "Seat belt" theory, in which a ride home from the delivery room, with his newborn daughter, taught him just about everything you need to know about parenting.

Send us a text Never mind the controversial premise of why the idea has been floated, the concept of a universal free online university for all Americans is super exciting and can have a life-changing impact on millions.

Send us a text Every parent struggles with the question of how much they should help their kid/s with their school work, and in this episode, Ryan explains how to go about making that decision.

Send us a text In this episode, Ryan rips apart the logic that math teaching critical thinking skills, or logic, and suggests a better way forward for kids.

Send us a text In this episode, we dissect the concept of grades, and where they come from. And as you'll soon find out, grades offer nothing to the kids being graded, but rather are only a tool for the system to filter and track them.

Send us a text This is where Ryan introduces himself, his professional past, and why he has decided that the world could use another podcaster!