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We hit “Go Live” to close our longest season yet and lean into a simple truth: growth beats perfect. Holiday crunch time made the choice easy—pivot, try the new thing, and share what’s working for educators and parents who want less noise and more clarity. We review the milestone that mattered most this year—CPD credits for listeners—so your professional learning can count toward recertification while you collect practical strategies you’ll actually use.

Across the season, AI literacy became a defining throughline. We highlight four standout conversations featuring innovators who make AI useful, ethical, and human-centered. From Endless Studios and its free pathway for students to build real portfolios, to teacher- and parent-friendly guidance on boundaries, citations, and transparency, we map a path from curiosity to confident use. You’ll hear about Notebook LM for source-grounded studying that turns dense readings into clear summaries and audio explainers, Canva AI for building interactive learning games in minutes, and InstaLesson for drafting adaptable, standards-aligned lessons that save precious time.

We also talk candidly about moving to video, why showing the unpolished version matters, and how small rituals—at school and at home—keep everyone steady when routines fall apart. Parents get practical advice on setting expectations and modeling ethical AI use, while teachers get permission to start small, iterate, and invite students to use tools responsibly rather than banning them. Innovation, we argue, is about people first and tools second; relationships and good judgment turn new tech into better learning.

Season four launches January 15 with more conversations, more practical resources, and more human stories from the brighter side of education. If this resonated, subscribe, share it with a colleague or parent, and leave a quick review—what tool or mindset will you try next?

Great News! The Brighter Side of Education is now CPD Accredited!

Sponsored by Dr. Gregg Hassler Jr., DMD
Trusted dental care for healthy smiles and stronger communities—building brighter futures daily.

Head to the show notes to find if this episode is CPD eligible and details on how to claim your CPD certification!

Sponsored by Dr. Gregg Hassler Jr., DMD
Trusted dental care for healthy smiles and stronger communities—building brighter futures daily.

Support the show

If you have a story about what's working in your schools that you'd like to share, email me at lisa@drlisahassler.com or visit www.drlisahassler.com. Subscribe, tell a friend, and consider becoming a supporter by clicking the link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2048018/support.

The music in this podcast was written and performed by Brandon Picciolini of the Lonesome Family Band. Visit and follow him on Instagram.

Send us a text

Are we preparing young people to follow instructions or to solve real problems? We explore a better path with Barry Garapedian—financial advisor, mentor, and author of Winning the Game of Life—who makes a compelling case for teaching value creation as the antidote to uncertainty, inflation, and the AI upheaval. Together, we unpack the hidden curriculum, why compliance still shadows classrooms, and how to build graduates who contribute, not just compete.

Barry maps out his Seven Fs—family, faith, friends, fitness, financial, fun, philanthropy—as a practical life blueprint. We dig into the systems that turn big ideas into daily progress: mentors over guesswork, a color-coded calendar, KPIs for sleep and routines, and 90-day goals across work, personal growth, and wellness. He shares the “impossible goal” that raises your baseline, plus a decision-board approach that keeps your aspirations visible and actionable.

We go tactical with micro-leadership: “practice going first,” replace weasel words, and learn to hold “third vault” conversations that create trust and impact. Barry reframes ADHD as a superpower when paired with structure, and offers an anxiety playbook—never worry alone, get the facts, make a plan. For parents and educators, we lay out how to allow healthy struggle while opening doors to mentors and networks. For students, we emphasize AQ—adaptability—as the new edge in an AI-powered economy, backed by four reliability habits anyone can master.

By the end, you’ll have a toolkit to help young adults measure ROI as return on impact, choose better books and better rooms, and codify shared values with a family constitution. Ready to shift from achievement to contribution and help the next generation become confident problem solvers? Follow the show, share with someone who needs a nudge, and leave a review to help more listeners find us.

💡 This episode is CPD accredited! Educators can now earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) minutes by listening. To claim your certificate:

1. Listen to the full episode
2. Visit https://thecpd.group/podcast
3. Enter code 800151 to check in and download your certificate

Listen. Learn. Earn.

Great News! The Brighter Side of Education is now CPD Accredited!

Sponsored by Dr. Gregg Hassler Jr., DMD
Trusted dental care for healthy smiles and stronger communities—building brighter futures daily.

Head to the show notes to find if this episode is CPD eligible and details on how to claim your CPD certification!

Sponsored by Dr. Gregg Hassler Jr., DMD
Trusted dental care for healthy smiles and stronger communities—building brighter futures daily.

Support the show

If you have a story about what's working in your schools that you'd like to share, email me at lisa@drlisahassler.com or visit www.drlisahassler.com. Subscribe, tell a friend, and consider becoming a supporter by clicking the link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2048018/support.

The music in this podcast was written and performed by Brandon Picciolini of the Lonesome Family Band. Visit and follow him on Instagram.

Send us a text

Imagine a school where grades reward collaboration, character, and genuine mastery—not just memorization and speed. In this episode, Dean of Academics Marc Aronson shares how his school, Cheshire Academy, rethought assessment through Grading What Matters, a framework focused on authentic learning, student agency, and mission-aligned outcomes.

We explore Final Demonstrations of Learning instead of exams, a Community of Learners model that grades students on contribution and engagement, and a fully open honors pathway where any student can earn honors inside their regular class.

Drawing from research by Grant Wiggins and Eric Mazur, Marc explains why performance assessments build deeper learning, why narrative feedback matters more than percentages, and how shifting to mission-based grading builds belonging, confidence, and durable skills.

What you’ll learn:

• How to design authentic assessments & FDOLs

• How to grade collaboration and community contribution

• Why narrative feedback drives real motivation

• Practical steps to begin grading what truly matters

If grades shape how students see themselves, let them measure what counts: mastery, growth, and contribution.

💡 This episode is CPD accredited! Educators can now earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) minutes by listening. To claim your certificate:

1. Listen to the full episode
2. Visit https://thecpd.group/podcast
3. Enter code 800150 to check in and download your certificate

Listen. Learn. Earn.

Great News! The Brighter Side of Education is now CPD Accredited!

Sponsored by Dr. Gregg Hassler Jr., DMD
Trusted dental care for healthy smiles and stronger communities—building brighter futures daily.

Head to the show notes to find if this episode is CPD eligible and details on how to claim your CPD certification!

Sponsored by Dr. Gregg Hassler Jr., DMD
Trusted dental care for healthy smiles and stronger communities—building brighter futures daily.

Support the show

If you have a story about what's working in your schools that you'd like to share, email me at lisa@drlisahassler.com or visit www.drlisahassler.com. Subscribe, tell a friend, and consider becoming a supporter by clicking the link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2048018/support.

The music in this podcast was written and performed by Brandon Picciolini of the Lonesome Family Band. Visit and follow him on Instagram.