BustED Pencils

Friend of the show Heather DuBois Bourenane returns to talk about a number of pressing topics in public education. As we spoke about with Rep. Angelina Cruz, Heather and the Wisconsin Public Education Network are working on keeping promises to fund special education, WPEN is leading the way on their voucher/charter taxpayer transparency project, and bringing folks together for their annual summer summit. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Heather DuBois Bourenane

With America coming together to celebrate Groundhog Day this week, the Producer's Choice Show is posing a medley of groundhog adjacent questions. Host Producer Jakob asks his guests Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci about the magic of Groundhog Day, inquires about the validity of superstition, and questions what about 2026 leaves us asking "Am I waking up in 2025 again?" Jakob's brother Lincoln asks about our favorite spring sports on THIS sprung episode of the Producer's Choice Show! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Dr. Tim Slekar, Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

You know her, you love her, it’s Britni Walz! Britni has made her exciting return to the podcast to update the educated educators on recent developments with friends of the show CESA 4 and LIFToFFS. Britni talks about the process of finding constructive, useful ways to integrate technology into schools to ensure we replace quantity screentime with quality screentime. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Britni Walz

As we brace ourselves for frigid temperatures and a cascade of snow blanketing our streets, Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci are thinking about snow days. We love them, don't we folks? But someone who DOESN'T love snow days is New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani who has announced that snow days in his city are being replaced by remote learning. How do we feel about this atrocity? You'll have to listen to find out as we discuss Zohran vs snow days! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Today on BustED Pencils Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci discuss a new bill in Nebraska which would require their state senators to take a civics test. Passing the test would not be mandatory, but the results would be made public. Is this a good idea? Tim and Johnny CLASH over this vital question as Nebraska's putting politicians to the test. Producer Jakob channels George W. Bush during this episode. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Welcome to the final Producer’s Choice Show of the month of January. Today your host Producer Jakob is looking back on the first month of this year to see what trends we’ve noticed developing in the world of education. Equipped with a list of 4 education trends to watch out for in 2026 provided by K12 Dive and joined by two education policy wonks, Drs. Johnny Lupinacci and Tim Slekar, we're reviewing January on this FRIGID episode of the Producer's Choice Show! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Dr. Tim Slekar, Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

Today Dr. Tim Slekar is breaking through the paradigms through which we see the world by highlighting an interesting scientific question; gravity, how does that work? Dr. Johnny Lupinacci does his best to answer Tim's question using facts and logic. Producer Jakob has no idea what's going on. The point? Well, you'll just have to listen to find that one out for yourself. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Today Dr. Tim Slekar has found an interesting news story about the ongoing battle to roll back the Trump Administration's efforts to implement sweeping right-populist reforms in education. After a long legal battle, the government has given up efforts to appeal a court ruling that limited its ability to use threats to cut federal funding in order to coerce policy changes at schools and universities. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Today Dr. Johnny Lupinacci and Producer Jakob are joined by Craig Randall to talk about a better way to approach teacher observation. It's something all teachers have experienced; having their work evaluated. It's a stressful time that can make teachers feel like they're being judged and often results in few opportunities for genuine growth. Craig Randall doesn't think it has to be that way, and he's here to tell us how it can be different. With Trust-Based Observations, teachers can become part of a genuine dialog that's focused on reinforcing strengths and building relationships that can produce real improvement. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Craig Randall

Producer Jakob is joined by special guest Dr. Johnny Lupinacci to talk all about heroes! What is a hero? Why do we build people up into heroes just to tear them down? Should we have heroes at all? And who are Jakob and Johnny's heroes? Find out on this HEROIC episode of the Producer's Choice Show! Who's your hero? The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

This week we're looking back and remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci are sharing their thoughts. How are we celebrating Dr. King in 2026? Has his image and the way he's remembered changed since MLK Day became a holiday in 1986? And how can Dr. King's example guide our actions today? We talk about this and more as Tim and Johnny share their MLK Day thoughts. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Today Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci are talking about alternative career paths for teachers. Do all teachers need to end up in a school? Or are the skills of an educator applicable and, indeed, VALUABLE in other walks of life? We discuss these teacher mercenaries that rake in the big bucks on THIS episode of BustED Pencils Homeroom! In feudal Japan, there existed a class of samurai warrior that knew no master. These samurai were free to roam the various domains in search of lords to serve on a temporary basis, fighting under the banner of whomever could offer them the greatest compensation. What they lacked in security was rewarded with freedom. These warriors were known as ronin. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Today on BustED Pencils we're talking about the epidemic of loneliness impacting millions of young Americans. Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci delve into the problem, talking about the sources and how schools can step in and play a role in finding a solution. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Today on the Producer's Choice Show we're taking a look at some of the advice being shared around on the internet forum Reddit. Our host, Producer Jakob, has found three pieces of advice for new teachers posted to r/teaching. Does the internet give good advice? Today Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci join Producer Jakob to break it down and react to Reddit teaching advice on THIS dialed-up episode of the Producer's Choice Show! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Dr. Tim Slekar, Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

Today on Class in Session we're joined by Wisconsin State Legislator Angelina Cruz from the Fightin' 62nd District. Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci talk to Representative Cruz about her fight to pass the Keep Our Promise on Special Education Reimbursement Act, a bill which aims to hold the state legislature accountable for funding special education. This interview was recorded on January 7th, 2026. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Angelina Cruz

Today Dr. Tim Slekar and Producer Jakob share the Greatest Story Ever Told; the history of Greenland. From Erik the Red to Donald the Orange, Greenland has a rich history. Vikings, Hitler, and delicious shrubbery being killed by climate change; Greenland's history takes us into discussion of history's wildest topics. So get your battle axe ready because we're setting sail for the bountiful shores of Greenland on this history-centric Homeroom! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

Today on BustED Pencils, Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci are joined by Producer Jakob to break down the Minnesota fraud scandal. A recent viral video has brought nationwide attention to investigations into an alleged mass fraud scheme involving childcare in Minnesota. What happened? Who's to blame? And is the Trump administration dealing with the scandal in good faith? We talk about it all on this episode of BustED Pencils! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

On today's fantastic edition of the Producer's Choice Show we're talking about student protests and how teachers should handle those moments that stoke the flames of youthful passions. Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci join host Producer Jakob to talk about creating healthy classroom discussions around causes their students care about. How should teachers talk about challenging times? What role do educators play in preparing young citizens to express their views constructively? And how can teachers and schools maintain safety while the students are revolting against the wrongs they see in their world? We discuss on this ACTIVIST episode of the Producer's Choice Show! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Dr. Tim Slekar, Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

Today Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci teach Producer Jakob about the subject of "emergency teaching licenses". With Wisconsin Public Radio reporting that the state issued 20% more emergency licenses in 2025 than in 2022, Tim reminds us all that the teacher staffing issue isn't about a lack of quality teachers; it's about districts failing to retain them. What are emergency teaching licenses? Why is the state depending on them? Do they serve the teachers who receive them and the students they teach? And how can you have a decade of emergency measures without adopting a serious policy? We get into it all on this EMERGENCY episode of BustED Pencils! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci have sharpened their pencils, straightened their ties, and trimmed their beards. Why? Because winter break is over! The holidays have come and gone, so it's time to get back to homeroom and get ready to learn! Highlights; Johnny gets stuck in a snowbank and Tim gets stuck singing a random song from the 1980s. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Every year on BustED Pencils we like to start things off by making a few predictions for the new year. Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci aren't just two educated educators; they're also two predictable predictors who predict predictions. What will change in education? What storylines do we see coming? And how can our challenges be turned into opportunities? We discuss it all as we deliver our predictions for 2026! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

Happy New Year! As the Producer's Choice Show wraps up its first year on the air, host Producer Jakob has invited Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci back on their own show to discuss their resolutions for 2026. What do we want to see change for education? How can we be better educated educators? And what does the future hold for BustED Pencils in the new year? We talk about it all on THIS sentimental episode of the Producer's Choice Show! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Dr. Tim Slekar, Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

Every year Tim and Johnny celebrate the New Year by making predictions for how they think the next year is going to go. The problem is that they have NEVER been held accountable for their predictions... UNTIL NOW. Producer Jakob has dug up Tim and Johnny's 2025 predictions and on the final day of the year we will now judge their powers of divination. Can these educated educators really see the future? Find out if our 2025 predictions were any good on THIS special Class in Session as we're looking back at 2025! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

On the final Homeroom episode of 2025, Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci are joined by Producer Jakob to reflect on the past year. What moments really stuck in our minds? Which episodes are our favorites? And what changes to the show helped make it even better in 2025? We discuss it all on the ultimate episode of BustED Pencils Homeroom 2025 edition as we're reflecting on 2025. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

Today on the Producer's Choice Show Jakob is interviewing education expert Dr. Tim Slekar about the supposed war on Christmas. Has the way in which the holidays are celebrated within public schools changed since Tim was a wee lad? How should teachers approach the holidays in a way that lets the whole class participate in the fun? And do we have to completely marginalize Christmas or can yuletide whimsy and inclusive classrooms coexist? We discuss it all on THIS inoffensive holiday episode of the Producer's Choice Show! Click here to see Tim and Jakob discuss controversial nativity scenes! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Dr. Tim Slekar

Today we have a rare treat; Dr. Tim Slekar is actually teaching something! Producer Jakob dons his dunce cap, brings in his freshest apple for Mr. Slekar, and prepares to learn the true history of Santa Claus. Where did jolly old Saint Nick come from and how did he become the treasured simple of Christmas that we all know and love today? Find out in this spectacular episode of BustED Pencils! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Santa Claus, Jakob

Today Dr. Tim Slekar and Producer Jakob are going nativity after a series of inflammatory news stories about controversial nativity displays at churches spark conversation. How do we feel about using the nativity as a venue for protest? Do religious people have a right to practice their beliefs as they please even if some find it offensive? And how can people of different religious beliefs coexist peacefully in a society? We talk about it all on this local civics packed edition of BustED Pencils Homeroom. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

We're talking publicization and Mamdani with Jonathan Gyurko as one of our favorite guests makes his return to the show. Author of the fantastic book Publicization, Gyurko is back at it again with two fantastic articles that have set the education world ablaze. Whether it's giving educated educators the framework they need to "strengthen the public education narrative" or covering Zohran Mamdani's plans to improve public ed in New York City, Gyurko's on top of it all. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jonathan Gyurko

On the final Producer's Choice Show before Christmas, Producer Jakob has brought in movie expert Dr. Johnny Lupinacci for a discussion of their favorite festive films! Every era has its own classics, every family has their own tradition, and every person has their own personal favorite. Today we'll be finding out which Christmas classics put Johnny in the holiday spirit on THIS festive episode of the Producer's Choice Show! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

Today Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci are doing their best VJ impressions as they discuss their recollections of MTV, its cultural impact, and the importance of music education. With MTV continuing to wind down the last vestiges of its music content, now seems like as good a time as any for a good old fashioned retrospective. Has TikTok killed the video star? You tell us! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

The Department of Education has announced a deal to end Joe Biden's student loan repayment assistance program just in time for the holidays! Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci discuss the decision as well as its potential impacts. In addition, Tim shares his frustration with the Biden administration for failing to enshrine student loan forgiveness into law, leaving the door open for this reversal. Merry Christmas, here's some debt! Bah humbug... Jakob plays his 12 Shows of Christmas song again. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Today on BustED Pencils Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci talk about the value of post-graduate education for educators. Does earning a master's degree or doctorates make you a better teacher? What's the point of getting one of these degrees? And should teachers even bother with them? They also discuss efforts to eliminate some programs within the University of Wisconsin system and debate the merits of these moves. So, does a doctorate make you cool or is it more like doctor schmockter? BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

It's the middle of December, which means we’re in the midst of what we like to call Finals Season here in the US of A. It’s a time when students around America are buckling down, going over flash cards, and trying their best to make up for having not paid attention in class for the last few months. Today Producer Jakob has asked Drs. Johnny Lupinacci and Tim Slekar to recount their own study habits, give some friendly studying advice to current students, and tell some hilarious stories from finals' past. Whether you shall choose to cram, or not to cram, you'll be more than prepared thanks to THIS studious episode of the Producer's Choice Show! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Dr. Tim Slekar, Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

Today on BustED Pencils we're joined by author / educator Allen Levie and filmmaker Rommel Genciana to discuss the upcoming documentary film based on the book Thriving in Public Schools. We talk to Allen about his real life experiences teaching in Racine, Wisconsin, that inspired him to write the original book, and Rommel explains the process of bringing the book to the big screen. If you enjoyed this episode, consider joining the WEAC book club's special event for Thriving in Public Schools. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Allen Levie, Rommel Genciana

It's December and that can only mean one thing; it's time for finals! Youngsters across this great nation are staying up late, cramming for their exams, and Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci are joined by Producer Jakob to talk about their memories of finals' past. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

Today on BustED Pencils Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci take a look at a troubling article out of Wisconsin. According to the Department of Public Instruction, 36% of children who attend 4K through 3rd Grade are considered at-risk for reading proficiency. What does that actually mean? What are the primary causes behind children's struggles with reading? And what can the powers that be do to empower teachers to help their students? We're talking about it all on this full hour of blue collar scholars we like to call the Saturday edition of BustED Pencils! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Today on the Producer's Choice Show we have two amused musicophiles musing about music. Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci join host Producer Jakob to talk about the bands and artists they've been listening to this year, their policies about music in their classrooms, and the role of music education in schools. The show is alive with the sound of music on THIS melodic episode of the Producer's Choice Show! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Dr. Tim Slekar, Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

BREAKING NEWS; a student at the University of Oklahoma got a bad grade. Yes, this is the biggest education story in the country right now. The student, a Sooner undergrad, received a 0/25 on an assignment for using the Christian bible to defend traditional gender roles. Was the grade appropriate? Is this a massive free speech issue? And how would educated educators Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci deal with a similar situation if it occurred in their classrooms? We talk about it all on today's edition of BustED Pencils as we confront the dastardly tale of Oklahoma student gets bad grade! Happy birthday, Alex! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

With Dr. Johnny Lupinacci in a turkey-induced coma, Dr. Tim Slekar and Producer Jakob discuss a hot topic in education. Across America, particularly in our high schools, young people are stomping out their cigarettes and picking up vape pens. What's the big deal with vaping? Why are kids doing it even though it makes them look lame? And what's the right way for schools to respond to it? Tim and Jakob discuss this and more as they're water vapor-in' in the boys room on THIS episode of BustED Pencils! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

On this exciting post-Thanksgiving episode of BustED Pencils Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci start things off with a chat about the holiday and then move into the education news of the week. Various agencies are gobbling up the department of education, which makes us wonder, is Trump handing education back to the states? Or is he just making education dumber and less effective? And if so, why's he doing it? We discuss! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

On this festive Thanksgiving edition of the Producer's Choice Show host Producer Jakob is joined by Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci to talk turkey! What are their favorite Thanksgiving food items? What did they do for Thanksgiving this year? And how soon is too early to take out the Christmas decorations? We talk about all this and more on THIS exciting Thanksgiving episode of the Producer's Choice Show! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Dr. Tim Slekar, Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

Today on BustED Pencils Dr. Tim Slekar and his comrade Producer Jakob take a look at a developing story out of Wisconsin. As enrollment continues to decline, Republicans in Madison have passed bills aimed at aiding and encouraging school consolidation, and while Democrats in the state are against it, Tim and Jakob think the Republicans are right (at least in part). What is school consolidation? What are the positive and negative aspects of it? And should people that love education reject it outright or take up the fight for doing consolidation right? We talk about it all on today's edition of Class in Session. BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

Today Dr. Tim Slekar and Producer Jakob grab their pencils and notebooks as Dr. Johnny "The Yoot" Lupinacci teaches them all about the viral meme six seven. What the heck is a six seven? Why are kids yelling it in classrooms across this great nation? And is it something about Satan or am I just too old to understand? Johnny breaks it all down for us on this episode of BustED Pencils! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

It's been a whole seven days since the last BustED Pencils broadcast, and Dr. Tim Slekar has found this week's biggest stories in education for us to discuss! From Linda McMahon butchering the Department of Education with little regard for those impacted, to efforts by high schools to revive the dying art of meat carving, BustED Pencils is ready to report on education from the national level all the way down to the local communities in which we all live. It's America, it's Wisconsin, it's every city and town, but at the end of the day, it's about educated educators talking education on BustED Pencils! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Today on the Producer's Choice Show we're tackling a subject raised earlier this week on Class in Session; are teachers lazy? With the Wisconsin legislature enforcing new demands on what they guess it means for professors to be working hard, Producer Jakob has invited Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci on to discuss the work professors do. Experts in working hard / playing hard, they're just the right guests to answer Jakob's questions. What do professors do? Who makes sure they're doing their jobs? And should we live in an anarchist wonderland or a French Second Empire inspired enlightened despotism? We discuss on THIS hard-working episode of the Producer's Choice Show! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Dr. Tim Slekar, Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

Today on BustED Pencils Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci take a look at a developing story out of Madison, Wisconsin. The statewide budget passed earlier this year included $256 million in increased funding for the University of Wisconsin system, but that money comes with a price; newly imposed demands on the amount work that faculty members have to do. Are these demands what they seem? Are educators not working hard enough? And how many hours of work go into each hour of class time? We discuss it all as we get our lazy butts back to work on this episode of BustED Pencils! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

It's a special Homeroom as Dr. Johnny Lupinacci and Producer Jakob talk about trust in media. Who better to do it than two of the most trusted voices in the media, right?! Johnny brings us a concerning article from Education Week showing that 84% of teens distrust the news, and Jakob brings info from a Gallup poll showing 72% of adults are in the same boat. What's going on? Is being able to trust the news important? And how can we restore some confidence in our ability to tell what's true or false? We discuss on this episode of BustED Pencils. Who can you trust? BustED Pencils, of course! Though you should still check our sources, just in case. Klein, A. (2025, November 7). 84% of teens distrust the news. Why that matters for schools. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/84-of-teens-distrust-the-news-why-that-matters-for-schools/2025/11 Brenan, M. (2025, October 2). Trust in media at new low of 28% in U.S. Gallup.com. https://news.gallup.com/poll/695762/trust-media-new-low.aspx The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob

Today on BustED Pencils Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci discuss a new law coming into effect in Ohio. The law takes aim at higher education, listing out forbidden topics and tamping down discussion, but that's not all. The law also takes an axe to several programs of study. What's the real aim of this law? What is is doing to our Ohioan neighbors? And what happens to a democracy when higher education comes under threat? We discuss it all on this episode of BustED Pencils because when you bring education and democracy together, the people win! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message!

Today on the Producer's Choice Show we look back at the history of Veterans Day and look forward to a future of supporting vets in education. Host Producer Jakob welcomes guests Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci to discuss the contributions veterans make on campus, the strengths of our system in helping veterans transition into civilian life through education, and the areas with room for improvement. It's a grateful, patriotic education discussion on THIS exciting episode of the Producer's Choice Show! The Producer's Choice Show with Producer Jakob is part of BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk which is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guests: Dr. Tim Slekar, Dr. Johnny Lupinacci

With Tim out on assignment, Dr. Johnny Lupinacci is joined by Producer Jakob to talk about something near and dear to their hearts; the link between coaching and teaching. What are the similarities between coaching and teaching? What can coaches and teachers learn from each other? And what core aspects apply to both of these similar disciplines? Johnny lays it all out for us as he explores the coach-teacher connection on this episode of BustED Pencils! BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is part of Civic Media. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! Go to bustedpencils.com for swag, all of our episodes, and for information on partnering with us! For information on all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows. Join the conversation by calling or texting us at 608-557-8577 to leave a message! Guest: Jakob