PODCAST · society
Drivetime Diaries
by Chuck Baker
Ride along this drivetime with a public school educator in a newfound challenge: a daily commute. Join Chuck Baker as he navigates this journey, where every mile to school intersects with culture, community, faith, and family. Chuck may not have all the answers, but he's trying to ask the right questions, and that's where the learning happens!Listen to Drivetime Diaries every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on Spotify, YouTube Music, or Apple Podcasts!
Episodes
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My Theory of Aging in the 21st Century - Ep 2:8
Are we "aging" slower now than we did in the past? What's the reason that 40 year olds in the 1990s (Think Steve Martin and Diane Keaton in Father of the Bride) looked older than we do now? I think some of it has to do with the way technology and streaming of media has made the past and present...
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Why Are Christians Over-Spiritualizing Donald Trump? - Ep 2:7
I've had several videos on my social media this year that start out making you think they are describing Donald Trump (womanizer, adulterer, etc) that then turn at the end to describe King David of ancient Israel. My wife says she's seen NONE of these, so this illustrates the echo chamber I...
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Valentine's Day
My thoughts on Valentine's Day have changed a lot over the years - for this bonus episode, here's a story of a time I really put my foot in my mouth about Valentine's Day
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Why Are We So Fixated On Being Unique? - Ep 2:6
When you think of how we tell stories in our culture, or builds community, what is more important - the characteristics and experiences we have in common, or those that make us unique and different? Adam Conover from "Adam Ruins Everything" gave what I think is a great argumentagainst...
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Are DOGE and Elon Musk's Method of Innovation Good for America? - Ep 2:5
There's a lot to think about innovative problem solving this week as Deepseek AI shakes up the market and Elon Musk and DOGE get to work on "inefficiency" in the federal government. Is this JUST what American needs, or is this going to be a disaster? And what can we learn about innovative problem...
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Why Is My IG Feed All the Same? - Ep 2:4
What's the *right* amount of time on social media? How do we avoid echo chambers as we build community online? How and why is it important to make sure we have differing perspectives as we navigate social media and consume news and entertainment? There's something here to make everyone mad, so…
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You Won't Believe What You're Hearing! - Ep 2:3
While trying out a new Google AI tool today, Notebook LM, I put in my lesson plans for my GRC Podcasting class and besides summarizing my lessons into a clear unit summary, it also offered me an AI conversation discussing my notes - what a tool! Listening to other "people" discuss my lesson plans...
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Are All Teachers Liberal? - Ep 2:2
Its a commonly held assumption that public school teachers and administrators typically lean left politically, but why? Does the culture of "indoctrination" and professional development breed liberalism, or are left-leaning individuals simply more likely to go into education? What do you think of...
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Checkout GRC's TheLouCast!
I'm teaching a podcasting class the next 6 weeks on Saturday's with The Lou's very own Gifted Resource Council. Subscribe now so you don't miss any of my students' work - they're gonna be great! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theloucast Let me know what you think! IG: @mrcbakerislearning...
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Would You Go Back to Middle School? - Ep 2:1
I'm back in middle school this year! teaching middle school, particularly gifted classes is special to me because my gifted class in 7th and 8th grade was a safe haven for me from the jungle of the rest of my schedule. We didn't always do things I liked, but it was always a space I knew I could…
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Why do we teach kids math?? Ep 1:74
It's been said that teaching math in our schools is really just about problem solving - if that's true, why are we torturing kids with completing the square and geometric theorems? Isn't there SOME OTHER WAY we could find to teach problem solving? Let me know what you think? IG: @mrcbaker4math |...
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Are You an Eclipse Chaser Now? | EP 1:73
It feels like lots of people I know were VERY into the eclipse this week (myself included) - are you eclipse crazy now, are is this "craze" we're observing more about having a shared cultural moment in time? Eclipses might have more in common with "where were you when the towers fell?" than only...
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Do I have ADHD?? | Ep 1:72
Did you know you can use AI to generate quizzes and self-assessments? I asked Chat GPT to create an ADHD self-assessment for me and then we chatted through my responses like talking to a therapist or an old friend! Obviously my results were to be taken with a huge AI sized grain of salt, but it…
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Am I Neurotic?
In a kitchen conversation with my wife and one of my kids yesterday, I guess we figured out that I have neurotic tendencies! How would being neurotic affect me in the classroom? These episodes don't always feel like therapy, but I know this drive did! Let me know what you think! X: @chuckcbaker...
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I'm Leaving Math!
I have a NEW new job next year... transitioning to the "gifted teacher" classroom at our middle school. It's the same building, same front door, and same parking lot, but it's going to feel very different! Being a math teacher is a specific identity that comes with assumptions and co-identities…
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Who is the "Trump Bible" For? Christian Nationalism, Freedom of Religion, and MAGA Marketing
In one of daily newsletters from NYT this week, I heard about the new "God Bless the USA Bible" being endorsed by former president Trump in a video he posted to his social media platform. The Bible is a leather bound King James Version translation of the Christian Bible and also includes the full...
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Was a Car Stolen Because I Hesitated??
I had a moment of less than ideal action recently and it led to someone's car being stolen - and what if the stakes had been even higher and the perpetrator and been looking for more than just a joyride??
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Whose Free Speech Matters?
Do we reallyvalue free speech for EVERYONE, or just until your free speech makes me feel uncomfortable or is in tension with my free speech? It's a topic in schools and it's on my mind on today's drivetime.
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What did you want to be when you grow up?
I got an email from a student on the yearbook today asking me some questions for the spread they're doing on the new teachers for the yearbook, and I was not surprised by the questions about what did I think about the year what did I think about teaching at my school, but my interest was piqued…
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I think I'm a Swiss Army Knife
What kind of tool/blade are you? Are you finely crafted to precision, made for professionals to craft masterpieces, or are you more of a versatile tool - slightly less refined to a specific job, but highly useful in a variety of situations? Let me tell you my story so you can share yours!
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Do I have to be perfect?
The worst best thing happened to me last week on a quiz I had to take in grad school. It was a pretty straightforward quiz that I should have gotten a hundred on because really I just had to read a document to answer the questions but I got one question wrong out of 20 which meant I no longer…
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POLY-what? That Thing I Said In Class Today
We were introducing the idea of polynomials today and I had students think of words they knew that started with "poly" so we could think about what polynomial meant. Besides polygon and polytheistic (school-ish words), polyamorous and Polynesian came up. How did I respond with my freshman when...
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Should I Be a PRINCIPAL?
I started grad school again in January working toward an EdS degree and administrator certification - am I a good fit??
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Is STEM Just a Class At Your School?
STEM or STEAM or STREAM - whatever you call the integration of tech, engineering, science and math subjects together in the curriculum - if that's just an optional, elective class at your school, you or your student are missing out!
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My Personality Test Results - An AI Conversation - Ep 1:58
My students were taking the Myers-Briggs Personality test this week for their Intro to Internship class and then discussing it during academic lab and my curiosity was stirred to get my own results. To say I've been obsessed this week would be accurate. Seeking more info on my personality type,...
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Parents Helping Parents With Homework - Ep 1:57
A routine around the world - parents sitting with their childen at the kitchen table trying to finish math assignments. I got an SOS text from my wife one day this week while I was still at school asking for help on a word problem from our kid's Algebra assignment. Seriously, this problem was...
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Should We Be Sharing Our Goals and Resolutions? - Ep 1:56
Do you share your goals with the people closest to you or do you keep them to yourself to keep from letting others down? Recently I had someone close to me who just completed a year of totally changing their morning and evening routine and I was a little disappointed they hadn't shared with me…
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The Power of Partners - Ep 1:55
I was able to kick into high gear planning for next semester and I am incredibly excited! A lot of that has to do with the planning partners I've opened myself up to this semester. How well do you collaborate in your practice?
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ASMR - Go home With Me
Meta (Facebook) just launched a new chatbot inside of FB messages, so I asked it for a podcast episode and it suggested ASMR.
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Flapjack Friday - Ep 1:54
I made pancakes as a class incentive - what happens when Mr. Baker bakes? A year ago I started doing "class points" as whole-group incentives for students' collective positive behaviors and following directions as a part of the district-wide emphasis on the 4-step "no-nonsense nurturer" model. I...
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Is Duolingo ACTUALLY Teaching Us? - Ep 1:53
I started messing around in German recently in Duolingo and have really been enjoying it, but what am I really learning so far I basically know please thank you bread water and wine plus a couple others... Are we actually learning from Duolingo or is this just another thing we occupy ourselves…
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"Anything But Country" - Ep 1:52
Do we still each other this question? "What kind of music do you like?" What does your answer to that question say about you? Let me know what you think!
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Secret and Hidden Talents - Ep 1:51
I was surprised recently by one of my kids skills and it almost felt like it was a secret talent but I should have known better after thinking about it and observing things that he does really well so that had me also thinking about my students what secret talents do my students have that I just...
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Christmas Decorations, Inclusivity and Virtue Signaling - Ep 1: 50
What level of diversity, equity, and/or inclusion (DEI) is necessary for it be authentic or meaningful, rather than paying lipservice to the idea or virtue signaling to others? Does it even matter? Is SOME effort better than NONE? Viewing a teacher's recent IG reel of them putting up Christmas...
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What is a KINGDOM WORKER? - Ep 1:49
One of the most asked personal questions in my classroom this year - what is a "kingdom worker"? I was introduced to the term for the first time at a student conference this summer from an organization called, CIY, and have since adopted the moniker. In this episode, we'll talk about the…
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Mondays Shouldn't Suck - Ep 1:48
Should Mondays be so bad?? Here me out!
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2023 Word of the Year: Authentic - Ep 1:47
Merriam-Webster has published their 2023 "word of the year" - AUTHENTIC. That's a big word for this podcast, too!
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Mr. Baker's Stress Meter - Ep 1:46
I had an astute student tell me after school that my class must have been stressful that day because my hair was sticking up like I'd run my hand through it lots of times. It was an interesting observation and had me thinking about how various levels of stress (or lack thereof) manifest in me...
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Why Do I Challenge "The Way We Do Things"? - Ep 1:45
I don't think I intend to always challenge "the way we do things," but as a tell my kids at home, the way things happen is the reality, whether we intend it. So... what do I do with that? How do I keep myself lead-able and collaborating on the team while using my gifts to look forward? Let me…
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On Prayer: "Our Father in Heaven..."
We've been going through the model prayer that Jesus teaches his disciples in the gospel account of Matthew, and so I've just been thinking about that a lot more the past week and wanted to do some bonus episodes sharing how I reflect on that model prayer and how I think about my mission teaching...
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How to Be a Christian If You're Not Perfect - Ep 1:44
If you identify in a public space as a Christian, it's pretty inevitable that when you make a mistake or have a bad day, someone will be thinking (or say outloud), "You shouldn't act like, that. I thought you were a Christian!" What do you do then? Today's episode reflects on my most recent...
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I've Only Ever Wanted To Be A Teacher - Interview w/ Jennifer Bearden - Ep 1:40
On this episode, I interviewed fellow educator and life-long co-sympathizer, my sister, Jennifer Bearden. Jen is a 23 year veteran elementary teacher - ALL in the same school! After much persuasion that I would be nice, I was able to coerce her to allow me to interview her for the podcast! Jen...
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Teachers Are in Short Supply: Does Illinois Have the Solution?! - Ep 1:43
Listening to the news on the way to school recently, it was reported that teaching hirings are up 16% over the last four years in Illinois! That seems like great news, but how did they do it? Without being able to research it while driving, my assumption is that they have strong avenues to...
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On Being the First or Only - Ep 1:42
Thinking this morning about times I've had friends leave organizations or I've felt lonely myself because there was no one "like me". Some of us are gifted in building bridges and making space for others, some are less gifted, but it's the work were called to nonetheless. if you're an only...
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Am I a VETERAN? Honoring Veterans w/ Charlie and Sue Baker - Ep 1:41
Happy Veteran's Day in the U.S.! I have mini-US, Navy, and Marine Corps flags in my classroom, so kids often ask if I was in the military, and I always have to sort of dodge the question because its a bit complicated in my opinion. Here's the story why. Along with that, my parents' stories as...
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"Fair and Balanced"...but also Curated? - Ep 1:39
Are you intentional about where and how you consume your media and news? I had a conversation on Friday night with a friend (and fan of the pod) about an app he had just started using to make sure that he wasn't just consuming liberal or conservative news perspectives. It's important how and why…
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Am I a "hardcore" Christian? - Ep 1:38
I was asked recently if I am a "hardcore" Christian... the way most people would think about it, yes, probably! I am deeply devoted to following Jesus and putting Christ first in all aspects of my life. But do I think that's "hardcore"? No, I don't. I think that's what Jesus tells us to do if we...
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Are You a Snoozer? My Morning Routine - Ep 1:37
I was a proud member of the roll-out-the-door crew for a LONG time, but part of my parenting journey has been finding the joy of time in the morning before kids get up/the day begins. What about you?
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White Guy's Guide to DEI: Diversity - Ep 1:36
Some people might say...it doesn't matter what I have to say about diversity, equity, and inclusion because I do not share much intersectionality with basically any "marginalized" groups. So, if that's you, this episode might not be for you. However, I am of the opinion that everyone should be...
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Bragging About My Duolingo Streak and Other Parent-Teacher Conference Highlights - Ep 1:35
Parent-Teacher Conferences 2023 are done! I used it to make a connection, but are there many things more ridiculous than bragging to native Spanish speaker that you have a 150 day streak on Duolingo?! 🤡 PT conferences are a key component to the public schools social contract I talk about a lot…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Ride along this drivetime with a public school educator in a newfound challenge: a daily commute. Join Chuck Baker as he navigates this journey, where every mile to school intersects with culture, community, faith, and family. Chuck may not have all the answers, but he's trying to ask the right questions, and that's where the learning happens!Listen to Drivetime Diaries every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on Spotify, YouTube Music, or Apple Podcasts!
HOSTED BY
Chuck Baker
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Drivetime Diaries have?
Drivetime Diaries currently has 87 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Drivetime Diaries about?
Ride along this drivetime with a public school educator in a newfound challenge: a daily commute. Join Chuck Baker as he navigates this journey, where every mile to school intersects with culture, community, faith, and family. Chuck may not have all the answers, but he's trying to ask the right...
How often does Drivetime Diaries release new episodes?
Drivetime Diaries has 87 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Drivetime Diaries?
You can listen to Drivetime Diaries on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Drivetime Diaries?
Drivetime Diaries is created and hosted by Chuck Baker.
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