In this episode of Make It Mindful, Seth Fleischauer welcomes Chris O’Shaughnessy, international speaker, author, and advocate for third culture kids (TCKs) - children who grow up in a culture different from their parents’ or passport country and who often attend international schools. The episode explores how the TCK experience is becoming increasingly relevant for students everywhere. Chris and Seth discuss how growing up with multiple cultural inputs and frequent transitions shapes identity, empathy, conflict resolution, and resilience—and why these same themes are essential in today’s rapidly changing world. The episode highlights how we can build the small “weights” of resilience into classrooms and homes, helping students better navigate discomfort, conflict, and complexity.

Key Topics Discussed:

• What defines a third culture kid and why their experiences matter beyond international schools
• Identity formation and the challenge of answering “Where are you from?” in a globalized world
• How relational resilience is undermined by both transience and technology
• The cost of avoidance and the rise of “relationship disposability”
• Why adaptability is a critical life skill and how to help students build it
• The need for intentional inefficiencies to build resilience in the age of convenience
• How rethinking culture as a non-zero-sum game creates more compassionate global citizens

Guest Bio:
Chris O’Shaughnessy is a speaker, author, and passionate advocate for international and third culture kid communities. With a background in both performance and global education, Chris brings humor and insight to topics like identity, cross-cultural communication, and resilience. He has worked with international schools, diplomatic organizations, and corporate groups around the world.

Host Bio:
Seth Fleischauer is the founder of Banyan Global Learning and an advocate for global, digital, and cultural competencies in education. Through live virtual programs and thought leadership, he helps students and educators explore the interconnectedness of people, cultures, and systems.

Episode Links:

• Chris O’s website: www.chris-o.com
• Chris’s podcast Diesel & Clooney Unpack the World
• Book: Arrivals, Departures, and the Adventures In-Between by Chris O’Shaughnessy

Host Links:

Seth Fleischauer’s Banyan Global Learning provides meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students across the globe for success in an interconnected world.

In this episode of Make It Mindful, Seth Fleischauer welcomes Chris Brida, district administrator at Portland Public Schools, to explore how career and technical education (CTE) can transform K-12 learning. They discuss the urgent need for public-private partnerships and the role of cross-functional teams in driving educational systems change. The episode highlights how aligning education with workforce needs can empower students with durable, transferable skills—without sacrificing choice or creativity.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The evolution of CTE: from vocational stigma to future-ready pathways
• Why CTE must start before high school: awareness, exploration, and preparation
• Building public-private partnerships to align K-12 with workforce needs
• How to design systems that are nimble, sustainable, and equitable
• The power of cross-functional teams to solve educational problems
• Why K-12 must stop working in isolation—and what happens when it doesn't
• How bringing in outside expertise can solve internal challenges (like teacher burnout)

Guest Bio:
Chris Brida is a district administrator for Portland Public Schools, overseeing Career and Technical Education (CTE), Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. He is also a doctoral candidate at the University of Kentucky, where his research focuses on the role of public-private partnerships in education systems change.

Host Bio:
Seth Fleischauer is the founder of Banyan Global Learning and an advocate for global education. He leads conversations with forward-thinking educators who are shaping the future of learning by connecting people, cultures, and systems.

Episode Links:

• Connect with Chris Brida on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Portland Public Schools’ Career and Technical Education programs

Host Links:

Seth Fleischauer’s Banyan Global Learning provides meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students across the globe for success in an interconnected world.

In this episode of Make It Mindful, Seth Fleischauer welcomes Chris Balme, educator, author, and founder of Hakuba International School and Millennium School, to explore how middle school can be redesigned to better support adolescent development. They discuss how current structures often fail kids during this crucial time—and how identity, social belonging, and real-world engagement can drive meaningful transformation. The episode highlights the importance of brave spaces, authentic adult role models, and trusting students to lead.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Why middle school “doesn’t have to suck”—and how to redesign it
• Three developmental drivers in early adolescence: identity, social belonging, and contribution
• The role of advisory in creating safe and brave spaces for meaning-making
• How weird (authentic) adults help model real growth for students
• The power of apprenticeships and real-world learning experiences
• Navigating cultural authenticity in American and Japanese school contexts
• How distance learning can level access to global ideas and connections

Guest Bio:
Chris Balme is an internationally recognized educator, school founder, and author of Finding the Magic in Middle School. He founded Millennium School in San Francisco and Hakuba International School in Japan, both designed around the developmental needs of adolescents. Chris is also the creator of Spark, a nonprofit that has facilitated over 17,000 apprenticeships for middle schoolers. His newsletter, Growing Wiser, shares ongoing insights on adolescent learning.

Host Bio:
Seth Fleischauer is the founder of Banyan Global Learning and an advocate for teaching digital and cultural competencies through a global lens.

Episode Links:

• Chris Balme’s book: Finding the Magic in Middle School – https://www.findingthemagicinmiddleschool.com
• Growing Wiser Newsletter – https://chrisbalme.substack.com
• Hakuba International School – https://www.hakuba-is.jp
• Millennium School – https://millenniumschool.org