The Good Life EDU Podcast

This week on The Good Life EDU Podcast, we close out the summer by welcoming internationally renowned education expert Dr. Dylan Wiliam to the show for a timely conversation at the intersection of formative assessment, teacher growth, and artificial intelligence in education. As AI tools become more accessible in schools, this discussion explores how educators can respond thoughtfully, leveraging...

What happens when a school leader brings a coach’s mindset, a heart for people, and a relentless commitment to culture into their role as principal? In this episode, West Dodge Station Principal Benji Hoegh joins The Good Life EDU to reflect on the systems, habits, and heart behind building a thriving school culture. From his “TRAIN” acronym that powers the school’s values to his commitment to dai...

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Phillip Alcock (CEO and Co-Founder) and Thom Markham (Creative Director) of PBL Future Labs join the show to share how they’re fusing the best of project-based learning (PBL) with the transformative possibilities of AI. With decades of experience in PBL design, coaching, and implementation, Phil and Tom reflect on PBL’s origins, the challenges that hav...

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we sit down with Elizabeth Dampf, a school administrator in the Chicagoland are and author of the new book from ASCD, Am I Cut Out for This? An Educational Leader’s Guide to Navigating Self-Doubt. Together, they explore the often unspoken realities of school leadership from early career challenges and feeling like an “instructional imposter” to facing...

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, host Andrew Easton reconnects with longtime friend (and podcast guest) Rachelle Dene Poth for a timely and insightful discussion about the legal implications of AI in education. Drawing from her experience as an educator, speaker, and attorney, Rachelle unpacks some of the critical and often overlooked considerations educators should keep in mind when...

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, John White, the CEO of Great Minds and former Louisiana State Superintendent of Education, joins the show for a timely conversation on why curriculum matters more than ever in today’s evolving educational landscape. Drawing from his national leadership experience and current work supporting schools across the country, John reflects on the critical role...

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we’re joined by Suzie Fogarty and Theresa Hamer of Smart Gen Society, a Nebraska-based nonprofit working at the intersection of digital wellness, education, and youth empowerment. Together, Suzie and Theresa share the story behind Smart Gen’s founding and its evolving mission to equip young people, families, and schools with the knowledge and tools nee...

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we welcome Lauren Heil, a passionate learning experience designer and the creator of the Stickity Add-On. Lauren shares her journey and insights on how thoughtful design enhances learning experiences and addresses crucial accessibility needs in digital environments. Discover practical tips for optimizing digital materials, as Lauren also introduces Sti...

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, national edtech speaker, Brian Buffington, returns to the show to preview his upcoming session at the 2025 Future Ready Nebraska Conference. Known for his energetic style and practical insights, Brian shares timely encouragement for educators navigating change, embracing AI, and leaning into creativity with confidence. This conversation touches on the...

In this special follow-up episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Dr. Larianne Polk (CEO of the Nebraska ESU Coordinating Council) and Dr. Dan Schnoes (CEO of ESU 3) return to reflect on their recent educational exchange in Singapore and South Korea. Their journey, part of a national effort to build global education partnerships through AESA, opened new doors for reimagining how service agencies and...

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Brian Lamb, CEO of Swivl, joins the show to discuss the M2—an innovative AI-powered co-teacher that’s transforming instructional support. Designed to enhance—not replace—the work of educators and coaches, the M2 leverages AI to deliver in-the-moment teaching tips, facilitate whole-group dialogue and feedback, and provide on-demand student support in mu...

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, English teacher, blogger, and national thought leader Jen Roberts joins the show to discuss the evolving intersection of literacy instruction and artificial intelligence. With humor, candor, and classroom-tested wisdom, Jen shares how she models ethical AI use, fosters student agency, and navigates the challenges of writing instruction in a world where...

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we welcome back renowned UDL expert and author Dr. Katie Novak to discuss her latest work at the intersection of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and artificial intelligence (AI) in education. Building on her keynote at the 2024 NeMTSS Summit and ahead of her upcoming presentations at the 2025 Future Ready Nebraska Conference, Katie introduces a fou...

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Larianne Polk, CEO of the Nebraska ESU Coordinating Council, and Dr. Dan Schnoes, CEO of ESU 3, ahead of their journey to South Korea and Singapore as part of AESA's Global Leadership Academy. This unique opportunity—coordinated through the national AESA organization and ACES International—offers service agency leaders the chance t...

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, Tara Gossman, a Teaching and Learning Specialist at ESU 4, returns to share insights from the continued work with Pawnee City Elementary around high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) in math. This follow-up conversation highlights the critical instructional strategies of purposeful questioning, student discourse, and productive struggle that are t...

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we explore how Vosaic—a powerful video-based platform developed by Nelnet—is transforming professional learning, coaching, and instructional reflection in Nebraska schools. Terry Chvatal, Director at New Ventures, Emir Plicanic, General Manager of Vosaic, and Mikki Brooks, Education Consultant at ESU 3, join us to unpack the tool’s features, including...

This episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast explores a timely and impactful initiative from Nebraska's ESU network focused on the integration of artificial intelligence in writing instruction. Along with Katrina Gotschall, professional development coordinator at ESU 8, we unpack a collaborative project designed to help educators navigate the nuanced, often contentious space between embracing AI and...

In this insightful episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we're joined by Nick Potkalitsky, a secondary writing teacher, adjunct professor, and the founder of Pragmatic AI Solutions, as we explore the nuanced roles AI can play in the classroom. Nick introduces his innovative framework that visualizes the teacher-student-AI interaction as a dynamic triangle, emphasizing collaborative, intentional, a...

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we explore how Hemingford Public Schools is transforming instructional leadership, curriculum alignment, and school culture through its partnership with the NDE SEED Team. Join us as Dr. Julie Downing of NDE/ESU 13 returns to the podcast alongside Hemingford’s leadership team—Eric Arneson, Mandy Plog, and Dr. Travis Miller—to share the story of how a s...

Navigating the educator certification process can feel overwhelming, but Nebraska’s Educator Certification team is working to change that! In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we sit down with Katelyn Larsen, Director of Educator Certification, and Molly Barnett, Assistant Director, to discuss how their team at the Nebraska Department of Education is improving communication, streamlining...

This special episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast explores the latest initiatives supporting world language education in Nebraska! Dr. Chrystal Liu, a World Language Specialist at NDE, and Dr. Nick Ziegler, a World Language Coordinator at ESU 5, join the pod to share some exciting updates, including competency-based crediting, the Seal of Biliteracy, and the new high-ability learner identification...

Kick off the new year with this insightful solo episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast! Host Andrew Easton explores the latest advancements in AI technology from OpenAI’s "12 Days of OpenAI" and updates within Google’s Notebook LM. Dive into the transformative potential of these tools for education, from enhancing lesson planning and student engagement to supporting professional learning and legisla...

In this episode, we reconnect with the Nebraska SEED Team—Dr. Julie Downing, Jeff Gilbertson, and Dr. Ryan Ricenbaw—to explore their ongoing commitment to supporting leadership and learning across the state. The team shares insights into their work, which centers on moving from a compliance-driven mindset to a focus on growth and development, all while fostering collective efficacy and effective l...

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we spotlight the JAG Nebraska (Jobs for America’s Graduates) effort and its mission to prepare students for the future. We're joined by Jessica Hedlund, JAG Nebraska’s Senior Expansion and Onboarding Manager, and Brock Paul, a JAG student leader at Tekamah-Herman Community Schools and the Nebraska State Vice President, to discuss how this transformativ...

In this episode of The Good Life EDU Podcast, we explore Nebraska’s newly revised 2024 Science Standards with Kellen Conroy of ESU 1 and Dianah Steinbrink of ESU 10, co-leads of the ESU Science Cadre. Kellen and Dianah provide insights into the collaborative process behind updating the standards and the focus on supporting teachers statewide with resources and professional development. Together, w...