208 Weeks Podcast

This week we explain our unplanned hiatus and discuss our latest Golden Sower pick, “Give Me A Sign.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

This week we are talking about Adam Kirsch’s article in The Atlantic, “Reading is a Vice.” (That’s a gift link for you—please READ it!)We reference a quote attributed to a CBC journalist early in the episode; sadly, I cannot find any actual print or video evidence it was uttered by anyone affiliated with the CBC. Social media strikes again.Here’s a link to our next Golden Sower book, “Give Me A Sign”. If you want to see all the Golden Sowers for the year, check them out here!If you want to watch the vlog where we talk about Marco Rubio (amongst other things), go wild.As usual, we’d love for you to share, like, subscribe, etc. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

This week we have a few pieces of good news and our discussion of “Swarm” by Jennifer D. Lyle. Here’s the stories we reference in the podcast—but beware falling down the Steve Hartman rabbit hole. My advice if you do? Take a box of Kleenex.* This kid who ran against his high school teacher for a board of supervisors position.* This coach who told his team they lost after they thought they won.We hope you have a great holiday season, and we will see you in 2026! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

We figured the time for us to yap about conferences was *not* around the time we are actually having them, so this week, we are sharing our thoughts on ye olde tradition of parent-teacher conferences.Here is the dissertation Rowse references in the episode, if you’re into that sort of thing.Don’t forget—our next episode is when we are discussing Jennifer D. Lyle’s “Swarm,” so you have two weeks to read it! And you can always subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and listen to us there. We’d be honored. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

This week, we address trends we see in the physical health of our students, namely, vaccinations and energy drinks.We reference the Americas losing measles eradication status, due to the number of cases in Canada. One point we talked about was barriers to vaccinations and cost, and someone I follow on Instagram who lives in Alberta posted after we taped this episode that for her family to receive the Covid-19 vaccine this year, it would cost $600. I trust this person, but as a journalism teacher, I follow the adage “If your mom tells you she loves you, find two independent sources to verify,” and I found this story from the CBC, and this story about the MMR vaccine from the Calgary Herald. Both sources, it appears, show that cost may be a barrier for some.Want read a terrifying YA book? Join us in reading Swarm! We’ll be talking about it on our December 9 episode of the podcast. Thanks for hanging with us. Share with a friend, if you feel so obliged. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

This week we are back at it, talking about teachers’ mental health as our education issue of the week. So please, listen with care.If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please reach out to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.Also, you can go to the National Alliance on Mental Illness for a variety of resources.Here’s the link to the Golden Sowers that Rowse talks about. Read our first book with us: Swarm.Thanks for reading 208 Weeks! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

It took us most of the summer to get around to yapping, but we finally did, and it’s a doozy. We chat about AI and its impact on our day to day life, but also its infiltration into the education space. If you’re a teacher and you’re not sure how to talk about AI beyond “ugh it’s cheating,” we have some ideas for you in the last half of the episode. If you have more ideas, drop them in the comments!REMINDER! Send us your favorite teacher info! We’d love to share your favorite teacher with our listeners. You can write to us at [email protected] or [email protected] and we will just read it on air or we are happy to schedule a recording session. The articles we yap about are here, and yes they are paywalled. Support good journalism! If you have an Apple News subscription, a couple are available there.Everyone is cheating their way through college from New York Magazine.Reporting from NBC news about the Chicago Sun-Times article that was found to have been written in part by AI.The Wall Street Journal’s reporting about the family business that makes blue books.Sharon McMahon’s Substack about AI hallucinations.Article about removing a ban on AI regulation from H.R. 1. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

Shout out to our dedicated listeners who let us know early this morning that the full episode did not upload. Sorry to spam your feed twice in one day, but if you got the first 20 minutes and would like the final 18, fast forward, and enjoy.In case you missed the show notes on the first attempt, this is our last episode this season, and we welcome anyone who’d like to record a guest spot for next season! And if you don’t want to be on camera, just send us a write-up of your favorite teacher and we’ll read it for you. We’ll even leave out your last name if you prefer that level of anonymity.Also, here’s a link to Stueve’s book: available to pre-order now! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

It’s our last episode before summer break! We are still looking for guests to talk about their favorite teachers for our next season, and if you are camera shy, please write in and we are happy to read what you have to say instead!Most important, here’s a link to pre-order Stueve’s book, out June 18. Go get your copy today!Thanks for reading 208 Weeks! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

This week we chat about STEM, and how Ian Malcolm in “Jurassic Park” had it right lo these many years ago. To be crystal clear here in writing, as well as what we say in the podcast—STEM in education isn’t an either/or situation. As with many things in life, it’s a both/and. As always, we would love to hear stories about your favorite teachers so comment, email, text, or send carrier pigeons to let us know you’d be willing to share! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

We could all be a little better at apologizing and accepting consequences, right? Find out how in this week’s episode, and watch us do what all seasoned teachers must learn to do: pivot. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

This week we share how we run businesses in addition to our teaching responsibilities—and we aren’t talking about side hustles. We’re talking about the businesses attached to our teaching assignments. Many of the teachers you know are running clubs and sports that function as small businesses in addition to their teaching responsibilities. Did you know that?Always looking for guests to talk about their favorite teacher, so let us know if you are interested! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

We realized we miscounted at some point and today marks the start of Week #11 of the current administration, so we’ve adjusted this week’s title to reflect that. We regret the error.Here is a link to the bill we reference in this week’s episode, if you are so inclined to read it. As usual, if you have a favorite teacher you’d like to chat with us about on the podcast, let us know! Leave a comment here, text one of us if you’re lucky enough to have our number, or find us on the socials. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

A note about this week’s episode: we recorded on Wednesday March 19. President Trump signed an executive order on March 20 to close the Department of Education. His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, clarified prior to the signing that critical functions such as student loans and funding for students with disabilities would remain with the department. After a press conference where a new fighter jet was announced on March 21, he announced that student loans would be moved to the Small Business Administration and IDEA oversight would be moved to HHS. To be fair, he did not name IDEA, he said “Bobby Kennedy, with the Health and Human Services Department, will be handling special needs.” What does all of this mean? No one knows yet. But if our discussion in today’s podcast feels a bit tone deaf, that’s why. Although, we still think the messaging conversation is one worth having: at the very least, call your elected representative and share your concerns about either or both of these moves and how it might impact you personally. That’s the best messaging out there right now.Here’s a link to the Pew Research Center article mentioned in the episode. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

We’ll be on at least a two-week podcast hiatus as Rowse kicks off the one-two punch of tech week and show week for the school musical. But we hope to be back the week of March 10!Here’s a gift link to the Washington Post article referenced in this week’s podcast. If you’d like to be a guest on the pod and talk about your favorite teacher, let us know! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

A couple of things you might want to know:* We meant to have a post before this one but it helps to hit the record button (that’s on me —Rowse. Whoops)* We meant to have Week Four posted earlier but it helps to not work in a germ factory that needs heavy sage-ing (my fault again—been sick for several days and spinning plates are just falling all over the place)* In our haste to “just do the thing” we forgot that we each do the equivalent of 4 full time jobs and there will be some weeks that we straight up do not have the time for a 5th. We don’t plan to go another month in between pods but it might happen. We hope you stick with us just the same.In this episode we mention some creators who do MUCH better analysis of Kendrick Lamar’s show than we do. You’ll have to go back to Feb. 10-15 to find what they say, but I promise it’s worth it. Check them out on Threads:* keithboykin* msartsyace* heymrsbond This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

AE Stueve and Julie L. Rowse are teachers and writers and one day Stueve said, “You know what? We should start another podcast!” And Rowse said, “Okay!” So they hammered out a rough outline and idea and followed Ira Glass’ advice of “Don’t wait. Just make the thing. Make a version. And then make it better.”This is our thing. Our first version. We’ll make it better over the next 208 weeks.We hope you join us. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com