Academic esports is often dismissed as "just playing video games," but teams and coaches around the nations are using esports as an ecosystem for career exploration.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Katrina Lewis, founder of TAEL, who’s helping schools turn gaming into something much bigger—like real pathways into careers in tech, media, and leadership.

We talk about what it actually looks like to start an esports team (without it feeling overwhelming), and why the magic isn’t just in the games—it’s in how teams are designed. Dr. Lewis shares how getting students to rely on each other in meaningful ways can build communication skills, responsibility, and even ethical decision-making.

If you’ve ever been curious about esports—or maybe a little skeptical—this episode might change how you see it. And if you’re ready to try something new with your students, you’ll walk away with ideas you can actually use.

Find Dr. Lewis on LinkedIn

Check out her upcoming book

View this episode's transcript

What happens when a broken shoe strap turns into a thriving small business?

Instead of waiting for the future, today's students are using technology to build their own opportunities right now.

In the concluding half of our special student-voices edition of the One-to-One Podcast, we shift our focus to the entrepreneurial side of student tech. In this episode, you'll hear from eighth-grader Blake about launching his Etsy shop, Blake's Thingamajigs, and helping lead his school’s weekly PantherCast broadcast club.

Join us as we explore how students are using technology to connect with their communities and turn what they love into something that matters.

A special thank you to Blake, his family, and Ms. Katie Dollahon for sharing their story and inspiring the next generation of creators.

Learn more about 72 Acts of Kindness: facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575722702000

Learn more about Blake's Thingamajigs: blakesthingamajigs.com/

View this episode’s transcript: docs.google.com/document/d/1icm9hW5J4eU3obS2mdZ5X0j4745cyug7/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106574838625581400572&rtpof=true&sd=true

What happens when you give a student a computer, a 3D printer, and the permission to build?

Once, a classroom was a place for quiet rows and worksheets, but today, it is becoming a workshop.

In this special student-voices edition of the One-to-One Podcast, we travel to classrooms across Illinois to hear directly from the next generation of makers, designers, and young entrepreneurs. In this episode, you'll hear from 3rd graders using TinkerCAD to design highly detailed miniature worlds and 4th graders engineering adaptive and assistive devices to help individuals with disabilities navigate daily life.

Join us as we explore how technology is shifting students from passive consumers of media into active, empathetic architects of their own imaginations.

A special thank you to Christy McGraw, her students, and her district for giving us their time -- and inspiring us one print at a time.

View the transcript here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yiTKZO5QiAqizhJj1kaiwsT17yvEv8tc/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106574838625581400572&rtpof=true&sd=true