No Name Paper: A Teacher Podcast

Episode 227: From Innovation to 5th Grade: What Actually Translates We talk a lot about innovation in education. We talk about best practices. We talk about professional development, systems, and big ideas. But what happens when you go back to the classroom? In this episode, Meghan sits down with returning guest Alex Valencic—former Director of Innovation—who is heading back into a 5th grade class...

Episode 226 (Replay): Teacher PD That Actually Sticks with Andrea Bitner 📅 Originally recorded April 2025 Let’s be honest—most professional development doesn’t stick. In this replay episode, Meghan sits down with Andrea Bitner to talk about what actually makes professional learning meaningful—and why so many PD experiences fail to translate into real classroom impact. This conversation moves beyo...

Episode 225: Learning, Imagination, and the Limits of “Innovation” with Jon Madian What if the problem in education isn’t a lack of innovation—but a misunderstanding of learning itself? In this episode, Meghan sits down with Jon Madian—author, psychotherapist, and longtime innovator in educational technology—to explore the intersection of imagination, identity, and instructional design. From early...

What if we stopped chasing quick fixes in education—and focused on what actually works? In this episode, Meghan sits down with longtime educator, author, and widely trusted voice in education, Larry Ferlazzo. With over two decades in the classroom and nearly twenty years as a community organizer before that, Larry brings a perspective grounded in practice—not theory. From English language learners...

Episode 223 (Replay): Creativity, Equity, and the Future of Learning with Hedreich Nichols 📅 Originally released August 28, 2025 What does a Grammy-winning vocalist have in common with an instructional tech specialist and equity consultant? In this replay episode, Meghan sits down with Hedreich Nichols—an educator, artist, and advocate who brings creativity, cultural competence, and authenticity...

In this replay of December 13,2025, we sit down with George Couros — speaker, consultant, former principal, and author of The Innovator’s Mindset, Innovate Inside the Box, and his upcoming book Forward Together. George is one of the most influential voices in education today, known for his blend of practical innovation, storytelling, humor, and deep belief in what schools can become when we center...

🎧 Episode 221: Breaking Cycles (For Students—and Ourselves) with Justin Pickens What does it actually mean to break cycles in education? In this episode, Meghan sits down with Justin Pickens—educator, coach, and motivational speaker—to unpack a phrase we hear all the time in schools… but rarely define. From growing up in generational poverty and adversity to becoming an award-winning teacher and...

Episode 220: PLCs That Actually Work with Kurtis Hewson So you may know what a PLC is—or at least think you know what a PLC is. In this episode, Meghan sits down with Kurtis Hewson, co-founder of Jigsaw Learning and co-author of Collaborative Response , to unpack what meaningful collaboration actually looks like in schools—and why so many PLCs fall short. From compliance-driven meetings to action-...

🎧 Episode ___: Connection Before Content with Josh Tovar What happens when schools stop focusing on systems—and start focusing on people? In this episode, Meghan sits down with Josh Tovar , principal of Memorial Pathway Academy in Garland, Texas—a non-traditional high school serving newcomer students and those who haven’t found success in traditional settings. With over 30 years in education and...

What if the most important thing happening in your classroom… isn’t measurable? In this episode, Meghan sits down with Manny Curiel , a former classroom teacher and instructional coach who now works with educators around the world through Edpuzzle’s community team. Manny’s philosophy centers on one powerful idea: 👉 “Measure in love.” Because while schools often focus on data, scores, and outcomes...

Teacher Burnout, Resilience, and Sustainable Impact with Julie Schmidt Hasson What does it really take to make an impact as a teacher—and keep going long enough for it to matter? In this episode, Meghan sits down with Dr. Julie Schmidt Hasson , professor, former teacher and principal, and researcher focused on teacher impact, resilience, and sustainability in education. Julie shares insights from...

What if behavior isn’t something to manage—but something to understand? In this episode, Meghan sits down with Debbie Leonard and Marcey Aronson , two educators who have spent their careers in the classrooms most people tend to avoid—alternative settings, severe behavior programs, and working with students navigating trauma and instability. Together, they developed the BrainZones Framework , a neu...

Episode 215: Clarity, Leadership, and Building Aligned Teams with Casey Watts What if the problem isn’t your team… but the clarity they’re working with? In this episode, Meghan sits down with Casey Watts , speaker, author, and leadership coach, to unpack what it really means to lead with clarity in schools. With over 20 years in education, Casey developed the Clarity Cycle Framework to help leader...

Episode 214: AI, Balance, and Rethinking Tech in the Classroom with Kasey Bell What happens when one of the biggest voices in edtech starts asking harder questions about… edtech? In this episode, Meghan sits down with Kasey Bell , educator, author, and founder of Shake Up Learning , to talk about the evolving role of technology in the classroom—and why balance matters more now than ever. From her...

Episode 213: Encouragement, Self-Regulation, and Community Care with Brad Hughes What if the role of a school leader wasn’t just to manage—but to encourage, connect, and uplift ? In this episode, Meghan sits down with veteran educator and school leader Brad Hughes , who brings over 30 years of experience in education—and a whole lot of heart—to the conversation. Known as a “Chief Encouragement Off...

What does it really mean for every student to feel like they belong? In this episode, Meghan sits down with educator, author, and advocate Melisa Hayes to talk about building inclusive classrooms that go far beyond surface-level strategies. With over 25 years in education—and a deeply personal journey as a mother of a daughter with Down syndrome—Melisa shares what inclusion looks like when it’s do...

What if education didn’t have to feel so heavy all the time? In this episode, Meghan sits down with David Metler, founder of the Swing Set Institute, to explore what happens when we bring whimsy back into a system that often forgets joy . From his early experiences with transformative education in Nicaragua to his work supporting educators through burnout and mental wellness, David shares a perspe...

TLDR: Open Educational Resources OER Teacher resources Curriculum Higher education / K-12 This week on The No Name Paper , Meghan sits down with Meghan Zara , an OER librarian at the University of Texas at Arlington whose career path has moved through K–12 classrooms, district digital learning leadership, and now into higher education. If you’ve ever wondered what Open Educational Resources (OER)...

This week on No Name Paper , Candace and Meghan talk with Jon Corippo , co-creator of EduProtocols , about how teachers can dramatically increase engagement while reducing their workload. If you’ve ever felt buried in grading, frustrated by disengaged students, or stuck repeating lessons that just aren’t working, this conversation is for you. Jon shares the philosophy behind EduProtocols and why r...

Candace is back this week as we talk with Kyle Larson, former ESL teacher and founder of a language learning platform designed specifically for secondary English learners. Kyle shares how teaching across Latin America, China, and the United States shaped his perspective on language acquisition, and how those experiences led him to design tools that better support newcomers and long-term English le...

Teach Like a Pirate: Engagement, Creativity, and Courage with Dave Burgess In this high-energy episode of The No Name Paper Podcast , Meghan Wells is joined by veteran educator Heather Sanders to interview the one and only Dave Burgess — author of Teach Like a Pirate , keynote speaker, and founder of Dave Burgess Consulting. Together, they dive into the power of engagement, teacher creativity, and...

What does it actually take to make technology work for students—not just sound good in a strategic plan? In this episode of The No Name Paper Podcast , Meghan and Candace sit down with Sephali Thakkar, a National Board Certified educator and STEM leader with nearly three decades of experience supporting schools, districts, and connected learning communities. Together, they unpack how digital equit...

How do we help students face challenges with courage, clarity, and joy — instead of shutdown, avoidance, or “I’m cooked”? In this episode of The No Name Paper Podcast , Meghan Wells is joined by co-host Candice to talk with Jay Jackson , a longtime educator in Fremont Unified School District, former Stanford wrestling coach, and author of Up to the Challenge . Jay blends sports psychology, classro...

What does leadership really look like when it doesn’t come with a title—and when rest, belonging, and humanity are part of the work? In this episode of The No Name Paper Podcast , Meghan Wells is joined by returning co-host Debbie Tannenbaum for a powerful conversation with Dr. Sarah-Jane Thomas , educator, connector, and founder of EduMatch. Sarah shares her unexpected journey into education, the...

Trauma-Informed Teaching Isn’t Extra—It’s Essential with Dr. Katie Welch & guest co-host Debbie Tannenbaum In this episode of No Name Paper , Meghan Wells is joined by guest co-host Debbie Tannenbaum for a powerful, honest conversation with Dr. Katie Welch , educator, assistant principal, and researcher focused on trauma-informed, human-centered schools. Dr. Welch shares what trauma-informed p...