
Sweat The Technique
How do we get better, faster? A group of pathbreaking educators come together weekly to answer that question, applying lessons from the classroom to all areas of life — from parenting, to relationships, to sports, to hobbies and more.Sweat the Technique is hosted by four former principals and superintendents who’ve led gap-closing schools.That includes: Doug Lemov, author of the international bestseller Teach Like a Champion and trainer to many successful educators and professional sports coaches, Ryan Hill, founder and CEO of a network of 23 KIPP public charter schools in New Jersey and Miami, Stacey Shells Harvey, founder and CEO of ReGeneration Schools, and Ravi Gupta, former leader of Tennessee's highest performing network of charter schools and founder of the largest-ever training organization for Democratic candidates and staffers.
Latest episodes

May 20, 2025 • 49min
Ep 57 | How Doctors Teach and Learn (with Lindsay Dow and Bob Arnold)
This week on Sweat the Technique, Doug sits down with medical doctors and educators Lindsay Dow and Bob Arnold to discuss best practices from teaching and learning in the medical field.
And if you are interested in the Teach Like a Champion for Medical Educators online course, make sure to email tlac@teachlikeachampion.org for more info!

Apr 30, 2025 • 51min
Ep 56 | World Class Coaching (with Eddie Jones)
This week on Sweat the Technique, Doug sits down with world class rugby coach Eddie Jones for some invaluable lessons on excellence on and off the pitch.

Mar 12, 2025 • 51min
Ep 55 | The Knowledge Organizer (with Ben Katcher)
This week on Sweat the Technique, Doug sits down with Ben Katcher, a teacher at Brightstar Schools and publisher of Knowledge First. They discuss Ben’s favorite teaching tool - the knowledge organizer.And make sure to subscribe to Ben's newsletter here!

Mar 5, 2025 • 56min
Ep 54 | The Future of Education: Part 2 (with Ravi Gupta)
This week on Sweat the Technique, Doug sits down with his co-host Ravi Gupta to continue a conversation about the future of education, along with some possible solutions to our schools’ greatest challenges.

Feb 26, 2025 • 47min
Ep 53 | The Future of Education (with Ravi Gupta)
Ravi Gupta, a former leader of Tennessee's charter school network and founder of a training organization for Democratic candidates, dives into the future of education. He shares transformative ideas like education savings accounts and the benefits of decentralized systems. Gupta discusses the erosion of trust in schools and the need for cross-partisan collaboration to bridge societal divides. He also emphasizes the importance of teacher autonomy and cognitive science in improving reading comprehension, advocating for a reevaluation of American teaching methods.

31 snips
Feb 19, 2025 • 1h 8min
Ep 52 | Lessons on Excellent Teaching (with Pritesh Raichura)
In this discussion with Pritesh Raichura, an innovative science teacher and assistant principal at Arc Zone Academy, he shares his journey in education, highlighting his high-achieving students and unique teaching strategies. Pritesh emphasizes the power of building student relationships and fostering a collaborative classroom culture. He discusses effective engagement techniques like hand raising and structured participation that promote psychological safety. Through examples, he illustrates how clear teaching methods and interactive learning enhance student understanding and confidence.

14 snips
Jan 15, 2025 • 59min
Ep 51 | Shaping Behavior (with Tom Bennett)
Tom Bennett, founder of ResearchEd and acclaimed author, dives into the realms of classroom behavior and education. He discusses the vital role of self-discipline over mere motivation for student success. Bennett explores how disruptive behaviors hinder learning and advocates for structured environments. He also addresses modern distractions, emphasizing the need for silence to enhance focus. He delves into the emotional aspects influencing educational achievement and reflects on restoring faith in educational institutions amidst skepticism.

Nov 27, 2024 • 40min
Ep 50 | Rethinking America’s Schools (with Ashley Rogers Berner)
This week on Sweat the Technique, Doug sits down with Ashley Rogers Berner, author of Educational Pluralism and Democracy: How to Handle Indoctrination, Promote Exposure, and Rebuild America’s Schools.Berner, who has studied school systems around the world, describes how ‘pluralism’--multiple pathways within a system of publicly supported schools–is the norm among democracies. Pluralism allows families to choose schools that align to their values and beliefs but also ensure consistent outcomes necessary to sustaining democracy. She proposes a reimagining of both the structure and content of the US public school systems to educate the citizens of tomorrow.

Aug 21, 2024 • 27min
Ep 49 | Lessons from Team Academy (with Ryan Hill’s former students)
Kinyette Henderson, a former student of Ryan Hill at KIPP Team Academy, is now an English teacher and co-director of diversity and inclusion at the Hotchkiss School. She reflects on her transformative school experiences, discussing how early lessons shaped her success. The conversation touches on the importance of maintaining discipline and evolving educational practices. Kinyette also emphasizes balancing structure with student autonomy, highlighting how these influences affect her teaching methods today.

Aug 14, 2024 • 38min
Ep 48 | How to Get Better at Anything (with Scott Young)
Scott Young, an author known for his expertise in mastering skills and personal development, shares valuable insights on personal growth and learning. He discusses the balance between ambitions and realities, highlighting how to align personal goals with the demands of everyday life. Scott also tackles the myth of learning styles, emphasizing a more universal approach to education. The importance of variability in practice is explored, alongside strategies for overcoming fear through exposure, paving the way toward mastery and confidence.