Maria Baltazzi - Take a Shot at Happiness: How to Write, Direct, and Produce the Life You Want. This is episode 643 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Maria Baltazzi is a Happiness Explorer. Her experience as an Emmy-winning TV producer, wellbeing teacher, world traveler, and luxury travel designer specializing in transformative adventures has given her a unique lens into conscious living. Maria has developed and produced shows throughout the world. She was one of the original supervising producers of the mega TV hit, Survivor. She is a member of both the Producers and Directors Guilds of America, a Fellow National Member of The Explorers Club, and an Advisor for the Transformational Travel Council. Maria holds an MFA in film from ArtCenter College of Design and a PhD in Conscious-Centered Living from the University of Sedona. Additional studies include Mindfulness Meditation Teaching Training with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, Primordial Sound Meditation Teacher Training from The Chopra Center, Happiness Studies with Tal Ben-Shahar, Positive Neuroplasticity Training with Rick Hanson, Spiritual Psychology with Ron and Mary Hulnick at the University of Santa Monica, Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, the Science of Happiness at the University of Berkley, and an Inner MBA from MindfulNYU. Our focus today is Maria's book - Take a Shot at Happiness: How to Write, Direct, and produce the Life You Want. Thanks for listening and sharing. Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee. This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.  Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you! Okay, one more thing. Really just this one more thing. Could you follow the links below and listen to me being interviewed by Chris Nesi on his podcast Behind the Mic about my podcast Teaching Learning Leading K12? Click this link Behind the Mic: Teaching Learning Leading K12 to go listen. You are AWESOME! Thanks so much! Connect & Learn More: https://mariabaltazzi.com/ https://www.facebook.com/mariabaltazzi/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariabaltazzi/ https://www.instagram.com/mariabaltazzi https://www.amazon.com/Take-Shot-Happiness-Direct-Produce/dp/1637588607/ref=sr_1_1?crid=21ZO12Z397QV7&keywords=take+a+shot+at+happiness&qid=1695399543&sprefix=take+a+shot+at+ha%2Caps%2C100&sr=8-1 Length - 53:58

photo by Alex Knight - downloaded from PEXELS Technology Directors of the School Systems of NGRESA (North Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency): Technology, A.I., and Cybersecurity. This is episode 642 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. The technology directors of the five-member school systems of North Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency and the technology director of NGRESA share their thoughts with me about what interested them in technology, what they think about A.I., and a few comments about getting better at cybersecurity. This conversation features - Alan Gayton, Chris Saxon, Joey Satterfield, John Call, Kyle Yates, Patrick Shea, Time Shaver, Shannon Carrol, Bobby Blount, Matt Roper, and Craig Paluszcyk. Lots to learn. So much to think about and consider. Thanks for listening and sharing. Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee. This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.  Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you! Okay, one more thing. Really just this one more thing. I mentioned in the opening of the show that you could hear me interviewed on Behind the Mic about my podcast Teaching Learning Leading K12. Click this link Behind the Mic: Teaching Learning Leading K12 to go listen. You are AWESOME! Thanks so much! Length - 1:04:47

David & Susan Schwartz - The Joy of Costco: A Treasure Hunt from A to Z. This is episode 641 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. David Schwartz is the author of several books, most recently “The Last Man Who Knew Everything: The Life and Times of Enrico Fermi, Father of the Nuclear Age,” (Basic Books, 2017). He holds a BA from Stanford and a PhD from MIT. He has had a varied career, as a foreign policy specialist, an investment banker, and HR specialist, and an executive search recruitment professional. David spent much of his youth in San Francisco, where his parents were early members of Price Club, Costco’s predecessor.   Susan Schwartz received a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Columbia University and has worked at Nabisco and General Foods. After leaving corporate America, she worked freelance making TV commercials for thirteen years before joining her husband David in executive search consulting. She worked as a professional baker for two years after college. She grew up in Philadelphia where she delighted in shopping at Costco with her beloved parents. She became a member of Costco in 2009. Susan and David are proud grandparents and avid birdwatchers. Our focus today is their book The Joy of Costco: A Treasure Hunt from A to Z.   A little bit about The Joy of Costco: A Treasure Hunt from A to Z…   In their book, The Joy of Costco: A Treasure Hunt from A to Z (September 12, 2023; Hot Dog Press, LLC), they hope to share with the over 3.2 million people who enter one of Costco’s warehouses every day the answers to some pressing questions, such as how does Costco keep the price of its foot-long hot dog at $1.50? In a whimsical A to Z format, the book covers topics ranging from Chicken and Eggs to more serious topics like Costco’s Code of Ethics, Sustainability and Good Works. Thanks for listening. Thanks for sharing. Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee. This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.  Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you! Okay, one more thing. Really just this one more thing. I mentioned in the opening of the show that you could hear me interviewed on Behind the Mic about my podcast Teaching Learning Leading K12. Click this link Behind the Mic: Teaching Learning Leading K12 to go listen. You are AWESOME! Thanks so much! Learn More: https://www.amazon.com/Joy-Costco-Treasure-Hunt/dp/1959505009/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3N65CBLG53JD&keywords=the+joy+of+costco&qid=1687273574&sprefix=the+joy+of+costco%2Caps%2C110&sr=8-1 Length - 50:18

Joachim (Joe) Reimann, PhD shares his books - "Immigrant Concepts: Life Paths to Integration" and "Immigrant Psychology: Heart, Mind, and Soul." This is episode 640 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Joachim (Joe) O.F. Reimann, Ph.D., serves as the president of the Group For Immigrant Resettlement & Assessment, is a psychologist in private practice, and is the co-author of several books related to immigration. For the past 25 years as a psychologist, he has provided direct clinical services as well as organizational, community development, and research consulting. Much of his work focuses on culturally and linguistically distinct populations. Over his career Dr. Reimann has also been a researcher at San Diego State University's Graduate School of Public Health, has taught undergraduate, masters, and doctoral level courses at several institutions, and has authored or co-authored a number of articles in peer-reviewed academic journals. As president of The Group for Immigrant Resettlement & Assessment, Dr. Reimann leads a team of clinical and social psychologists, researchers, career development specialists, leaders of community-based organizations, and additional members who have expertise relevant to immigrants, refugees, and others subjected to forced migration. Its mission is to create and implement psychometric measures that help integrate immigrant groups into host countries.  For more information, please consult www.immigrantscreening.com. An immigrant from Berlin, Germany, Dr. Reimann earned a BA in Psychology and an M.Ed. in Educational Psychology from the University of Texas at El Paso. He then earned an MA and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology (now Alliant International University). He resides with his wife Dr. Dolores I. Rodriguez-Reimann, co-author of their books Immigrant Concepts: Life Paths to Integration and Immigrant Psychology: Heart, Mind, and Soul, in Chula Vista, CA. So much to learn. Thanks for listening. Thanks for sharing. Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee. This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.  Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you! Okay, one more thing. Really just this one more thing. I mentioned in the opening of the show that you could hear me interviewed on Behind the Mic about my podcast Teaching Learning Leading K12. Click this link Behind the Mic: Teaching Learning Leading K12 to go listen. You are AWESOME! Thanks so much! Connect & Learn More: https://immigrantscreening.com/ joe@immigrantscreening.com Length - 53:36

Terri Lynn Soutor - CEO of ParentPowered - Empowering Family Engagement Digitally. This is episode 639 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Terri Lynn Soutor is the Chief Executive Officer at ParentPowered. An experienced C-suite leader and go-to-market strategist, Terri is skilled at building and growing education technology companies. In fact, she made the list of CEOs in The Real Power 50 by Minnesota Business and was a recipient of a Titan for Technology award from Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Our focus is learning about ParentPowered - Supporting family engagement digitally to help students succeed in school.  Awesome talk! So much to learn! Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee. This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.  Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you! Okay, one more thing. Really just this one more thing. I mentioned in the opening of the show that you could hear me interviewed on Behind the Mic about my podcast Teaching Learning Leading K12. Click this link Behind the Mic: Teaching Learning Leading K12 to go listen. You are AWESOME! Thanks so much! Connect & Learn More: https://parentpowered.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/company/parentpowered/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrisoutor/  Length - 41:48

Jason McKenna - What STEM Can Do for Your Classroom: Improving Student Problem Solving, Collaboration, and Engagement. This is episode 638 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. In the book What STEM Can Do for Your Classroom: Improving Student Problem Solving, Collaboration, and Engagement, author and educator Jason McKenna describes how teaching STEM education in his elementary school changed his classroom and his life, improving his students’ and his own approaches to problem-solving, collaboration, and general motivation to learn. Offering examples, tried and tested classroom projects, and collaborative strategies, this innovative resource opens up STEM education in K–6 classrooms in exciting and expansive new ways. Awesome conversation! So much to learn and use in your classroom! Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee. This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.  Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you! Okay, one more thing. Really just this one more thing. I mentioned in the opening of the show that you could hear me interviewed on Behind the Mic about my podcast Teaching Learning Leading K12. Click this link Behind the Mic: Teaching Learning Leading K12 to go listen. You are AWESOME! Thanks so much! Connect & Learn More: https://www.jmckenna.org/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/1954631456/ref=jmckenna https://twitter.com/MckennaJ72  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-mckenna/ Length - 59:58

Sydney Lea - A Pulitzer Finalist in Poetry; Vermont's Poet Laureate from 2011 to 2015; Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts 2021 - Shares his Latest Poetry Collection "What Shines". This is episode 637 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.  A former Pulitzer finalist in poetry, Sydney Lea served as founding editor of New England Review and was Vermont’s Poet Laureate from 2011 to 2015.  In 2021, he was presented with his home state’s Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts.  He has published twenty-four books: a novel, five volumes of personal and three of critical essays, and sixteen poetry collections, most recently What Shines (Four Way Books, NYC, 2023).  His sixth book of personal essays, Such Dancing as We Can, is due in early 2024, and his second novel, Now Look, in spring. Our focus today is on poetry, writing, and his work - What Shines. This is an awesome conversation! Enjoy! Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee. This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.  Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you! Okay, one more thing. Really just this one more thing. I mentioned in the opening of the show that you could hear me interviewed on Behind the Mic about my podcast Teaching Learning Leading K12. Click this link Behind the Mic: Teaching Learning Leading K12 to go listen. You are AWESOME! Thanks so much! Connect & Learn More: Sydney Lea Length - 01:04:35

Jason Dietrich - Certified NASA STEM Educator: Hyperlexia, Building STEM Participation, the Virginia Space Flight Academy, and SSAI (Science Systems and Applications, Inc.). This is episode 636 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Jason is a highly motivated, certified NASA STEM educator with more than four years of teaching experience seeking to influence and engage students to participate in STEM career pathways. Jason has Hyperlexia, which is a form of autism. Even though he struggled with reading comprehension, he never gave up. He is interested in increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM as well as building a solid foundation for STEM literacy. In this technology-based society, he seeks to build computational literacy and develop critical thinkers capable of analyzing and integrating data to formulate solutions to complex real-world problems through the use of innovative and differentiated instructional methods.  He is experienced in training and professional development, global education policy and methods, statistical analysis, curriculum development, and assessment strategies. In addition, he has been mentored by a current Virginia Space Flight Academy (VASFA) STEM Engagement Specialist and has authored a NASA application design to identify hidden barriers to STEM engagement.  Jason is eager to promote and use STEM engagement activities through NASA’s missions to inspire a diverse future STEM workforce. Our focus today is Jason's role as a certified NASA STEM Educator, dealing with hyperlexia, building STEM participation, the Virginia Space Flight Academy, and SSAI (Science Systems and Applications, Inc.).  Lots to learn. Great conversation! Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee. This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.  Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you! Okay, one more thing. Really just this one more thing. I mentioned in the opening of the show that you could hear me interviewed on Behind the Mic about my podcast Teaching Learning Leading K12. Click this link Behind the Mic: Teaching Learning Leading K12 to go listen. You are AWESOME! Thanks so much! Learn More: camp@vasfa.org https://www.vasfa.org https://www.instagram.com/vaspaceflightacademy/ https://www.facebook.com/VaSpaceFlightAcademy https://www.youtube.com/@virginiaspaceflightacademy7029 https://www.linkedin.com/company/virginia-space-flight-academy/about/ Length - 52:12

Amy M. Pollack - Coming of Age Book Series by a Retired Teacher and Grandparent: The Adventures of Jelly Bean & The Further Adventures of Jelly Bean. This is episode 635 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Amy Meislin Pollack was a teacher for over four decades, raised three children, and loves to play with her seven grandchildren. From her own childhood to the classroom and as a parent and grandparent, she is perfectly positioned to pen her coming-of-age book series. The Adventures of Jelly Bean, followed by The Further Adventures of Jelly Bean, first came into being when the author's fourth-grade teacher used to ask her to get up in front of the class and tell the stories about this character she would make up as she went along.  Several years later she started writing these stories down and would work on them periodically in any free time she had during her teaching career and raising her three children.  Now retired from a 40-year career in teaching - spanning a wide range of subjects and grade levels - she has embarked on a lively writing career. The silver lining of the Covid pandemic for Pollack was that she was more or less forced, after approximately 60 years, to finish her Jelly Bean books. Her books are about a young girl whose life is always changing and how she adapts to these changes. She tries to work out relationships with her friends, her parents, her older brothers, her uncle. Her parents do not want her best friend, who is of mixed race, to visit. Another friend is anorexic. One brother drops out of school. A grandparent dies. Pollack earned a BA in English from Goucher College in Baltimore and received her Master’s in English from University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. She was certified as a secondary education and reading specialist for grades K-12 and earned a special education teaching degree from NYU, allowing her to teach disabled students.  For six years she was a professor of writing, and a teacher in the tutoring center at Montclair State University in NJ.  She lives in central New Jersey with her husband and their dog named Bunny.  For more information, please see her website, www.amypollack.com. About The Adventures of Jelly Bean: What if the start to your day was falling into the toilet, which caused you to miss your carpool, that in turn caused you to get to school late, that ultimately caused you to miss getting one of the decent parts in the upcoming Thanksgiving play? That is exactly what happens to fourth-grader Jelly. Bean on the day we first meet her. Things only go downhill from there and no one at home seems to have much time for her. Except Roger-Over, her beloved dog. About The Further Adventures of Jelly Bean: Jelly Bean in the continuation of her adventures as she seeks solutions to the challenges that confronted her in book 1. Michael, her oldest brother, has dropped out of school and joined the Marines, which usurps much of her parents' attention. Kylie, the new girl in school, faces a medical emergency. And Jelly Bean is still forbidden from going to her best friend's house. She has to decide how to deal with these dilemmas and more. Along the way she learns about love, death, pain, relationships, the difference between right and wrong and the value of friendship. See the world through the eyes of this forthright fourth grader as she discovers two truths about life - that it is always complicated, and always changing. Awesome conversation! Cool books! Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee. This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.  Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you! Okay, one more thing. Really just this one more thing. I mentioned in the opening of the show that you could hear me interviewed on Behind the Mic about my podcast Teaching Learning Leading K12. Click this link Behind the Mic: Teaching Learning Leading K12 to go listen. You are AWESOME! Thanks so much! Connect & Learn More: https://www.amypollack.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-pollack-9b111882/ https://twitter.com/AdvOfJellyBean https://www.facebook.com/Author.AmyMeislinPollack/ https://www.instagram.com/jellybeanthebookseries/ Length - 50:36

Ryan Ross - Founder & CEO - Olivia Technologies: Providing Digital Access for All Students. This is episode 634 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Ryan Ross is a determined, innovative, and productive professional with a proven track record in Edtech, emerging Fintech and WiFi edge technologies, as well as early-stage sales and business development. With his impressive skills and experience, Ryan has also secured a patent in his field. He is highly motivated by new and emerging technologies and stays ahead of the curve in his field. Ryan's in-depth knowledge of go-to-market strategies is impressive. He has extensive experience in IoT edge content, advertising, and services for transit, retail, and enterprise solutions, as well as payment transactions and point-of-sale infrastructure. Ryan is also well-versed in biometric payments, recurring payments, B2B commerce, and consumer e-commerce services. His exceptional knowledge and ability to deliver revenue and customers make him a valuable asset in strategic thinking and execution, ultimately leading to success. Ryan's specialties include business development, strategic partnerships, reseller, and alliances, making him a versatile and well-rounded professional. - B2B Commerce and consumer e-commerce services. This knowledge base along with the ability to deliver customers and revenue provides a level of strategic thinking and execution that leads to success. Ryan is the founder & CEO as well as a Board member of Olivia Technologies. So much to learn! Great conversation! Before you go... You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee. This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.  Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you! Okay, one more thing. Really just this one more thing. I mentioned in the opening of the show that you could hear me interviewed on Behind the Mic about my podcast Teaching Learning Leading K12. Click this link Behind the Mic: Teaching Learning Leading K12 to go listen. You are AWESOME! Thanks so much! Connect & Learn More: https://www.olivia.school https://www.linkedin.com/in/rossrr3/ https://twitter.com/OliviaParity Length - 46:03