Episodes

Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Al Olson - The History of the American Renaissance Festival - 602
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Thursday Sep 28, 2023
Al Olson - The History of the American Renaissance Festival. This is episode 602 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.
Al Olson is one of a select handful of eccentric, quirky, and entertaining people who helped grow the American Renaissance Festivals into being a very popular ticket. He shares his story in his comprehensive book, A History of the American Renaissance Festival. While attending the University of Minnesota, working nights in a parking ramp and pumping iron at the Dove’s bicep gym, he also performed his original songs in the same coffee houses that Bob Dylan had a few years earlier on the west bank of the Mississippi. The artistic director of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival attended a theatrical presentation of his original works at Theatre in the Round and hired him on the spot.
He began performing at Renfairs as a member of the group, “Pumpkin,” writing original Renaissance music. After less than a season, he noted the greater crowd impact of groups like Penn and Teller, Avner the Eccentric, the Flying Karamazov Brothers, and Puke and Snot. As a result, Smee and Blogg were formed out of frustration and a desire to present something unique. The tandem comedic vaudeville act performed for 36 years, singing and dancing across the U.S. and Canada at 56 renaissance festivals and medieval faires.
After the act stopped performing in 2013, he continued as the Singing Executioner and renaissance and medieval faires in Texas and Oklahoma to this day. For the past decade he has served as the master of properties for Texas Ballet Theatre. For six years he was the general manager and co-founder of the Tennessee Renaissance Festival. Over the past two decades he has performed voice-overs for radio commercials for various festivals. Earlier in his career, he produced a musical album and served on the board of directors for Real Community Theater in Minneapolis. He’s been interviewed on dozens of radio and TV shows and has been featured in over100 newspaper articles. Olson, who grew up in South Minneapolis, now resides in Ft. Worth, Texas. For more information, please see: www.singingexecutioners.com and https://www.smeebuchs.square.site.
Love this talk!
Time to go to a Renaissance Festival!!!
Don't forget to reach out to Al and get a signed copy of his book - The History of the American Renaissance Festival.
Before you go...
Could you do me a favor? Please go to my website at https://www.stevenmiletto.com/reviews/ or open the podcast app that you are listening to me on, and would you rate and review the podcast? That would be so cool. Thanks!
If you are listening on Apple Podcasts on your phone, go to the logo - click so that you are on the main page with a listing of the episodes for my podcast and scroll to the bottom. There you will see a place to rate and review. Could you review me? That would be so cool. Thank you!
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!
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Connect & Learn More:
https://www.amazon.com/History-American-Renaissance-Festival-Hippies/dp/B09NHD9FSK
https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/arts-and-culture/photos/best-renaissance-festivals-in-the-us
https://www.therenlist.com/all-fairs
https://www.smeebuchs.square.site
Length - 42:48

Monday Sep 25, 2023
Monday Sep 25, 2023
Todd Bloom - Chief Learning Officer at Kami - Helping to Increase Student Engagement. This is episode 601 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.
Kami is an all-in-one classroom sidekick that makes K–12 learning personalized, accessible and engaging, is a popular tool among educators and empowers students through more than 40 tools and features, including rich annotation and markup tools, voice and video comments, read-aloud and voice typing options, imported multimedia, PDF editing and more—providing students multiple means of engagement.
Todd Bloom, the Chief Learning Officer at Kami, talks with me about Kami.
So much to learn and think about.
Before you go...
Could you do me a favor? Please go to my website at https://www.stevenmiletto.com/reviews/ or open the podcast app that you are listening to me on, and would you rate and review the podcast? That would be so cool. Thanks!
If you are listening on Apple Podcasts on your phone, go to the logo - click so that you are on the main page with a listing of the episodes for my podcast and scroll to the bottom. There you will see a place to rate and review. Could you review me? That would be so cool. Thank you!
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!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for listening!
Connect & Learn More:
https://www.tiktok.com/@kamiapp
https://www.instagram.com/kamiapp/
https://www.youtube.com/user/notablepdf
https://www.facebook.com/kamiapp/
Length - 43:45

Saturday Sep 23, 2023
Saturday Sep 23, 2023
Sandra T. Elliot - Chief Academic Officer at TouchMath: Explains Dyscalculia and TouchMath. This is episode 600 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.
Sandra T. Elliott, Ph.D., Chief Academic Officer at TouchMath
Dr. Eliott is a career educator who has spent over 4 decades working to enhance education for all students and improve schools and their systems around the globe. She has served as a Special Education teacher, and five-time principal in Florida and Colorado, as well as a district-level administrator. She has held executive level positions at for-profit education providers and foundations and was part of the EngageNY – Eureka Math team for several years.
Dr. Elliott is also a member of the UNESCO-sponsored international EDUsummIT that meets biennially to write education policy recommendations to be adopted by the United Nations. She is thrilled to be able to combine her focus on Special Education and Math at TouchMath and champion for dyscalculia.
So much to learn.
Before you go...
Could you do me a favor? Please go to my website at https://www.stevenmiletto.com/reviews/ or open the podcast app that you are listening to me on, and would you rate and review the podcast? That would be so cool. Thanks!
If you are listening on Apple Podcasts on your phone, go to the logo - click so that you are on the main page with a listing of the episodes for my podcast and scroll to the bottom. There you will see a place to rate and review. Could you review me? That would be so cool. Thank you!
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!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for listening!
Connect & Learn More:
https://www.youtube.com/c/TouchMath
https://www.pinterest.com/touchmath/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliottsandra/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/touchmath/
https://twitter.com/touchmath/
https://www.instagram.com/touchmath.official/
https://www.facebook.com/TouchMath/
Length - 39:56

Wednesday Sep 20, 2023
Wednesday Sep 20, 2023
Sweethearts & Heroes - Tom Murphy and Rick Yarosh - Promoting Healthy, Positive Social Connections and Relationships. This is episode 599 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.
Sweethearts & Heroes is a team focused on promoting healthy, positive social connections and relationships while fostering a sense of community and emotional resilience. We bring the power of HOPE and ACTION into schools and communities.
Our focus is to teach human skills, both in school and digitally, to build empathy and compassion in our youth, and develop young Sweethearts & Heroes by promoting bystander empowerment through leadership roles.
TOM MURPHY - Founder
Tom Murphy is the proud husband and father of four living in the charming City of Saint Albans, VT. Born and raised in Philadelphia, PA where his parents ran a small shelter and recovery home for the hopeless in their own house, Tom has gone on to take this mantra of helping and caring for others in need his life’s mission.
Tom graduated from Cooperstown High School and then became an All-American at the University of Brockport, taking second place at the 1997 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championships. Tom spent the next 16 years advancing through the railroad industry, eventually becoming a Corporate Director for the world’s largest short line regional railroad company, RailAmerica. He ran their National Rail Traffic Control Center until stepping down and pursuing his full-time passion of being a Superhero. On top of his “mild-manner” role in the railroad, Tom has gone on to become the successful entrepreneur of multiple small-town businesses, namely one of Northern Vermont’s premiere restaurants and bars – Twiggs: An American Gastropub and The Clothier.
Tom is also a former professional mixed martial artist with a record of 8-0, competing in both amateur and professional fights, including on the popular UFC Ultimate Fighter Season 2. Tom now travels the nation with his good friend and wounded warrior Rick Yarosh. The two have spoken to over 2-million students on the power of HOPE and Action, focusing on empathy activation and student empowerment. Their unique message leaves students, educators and parents inspired and with tangible strategies that give students the courage to Jump into Action to change and save lives!
RICK YAROSH - HOPE Expert
Rick Yarosh is a Retired Sergeant with the United States Army turned husband and father of two. Rick was deployed to Iraq in December 2005 where he spent nine months before being severely injured by an IED in Abu Ghraib on September 1, 2006.
For half a year, Rick recovered in the hospital at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX, fighting through his 2nd and 3rd degree burns on over 60% of his body. He had his right leg amputated below the knee, lost both ears, his nose, multiple fingers, and most of the function in both hands. For his heroic service, Rick received the purple heart and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Since then, Rick has spoken to millions from all walks of life, including sports teams, schools, churches, the military, non-profits, and even on Fox News! His message of overcoming adversity and turning a negative situation into a positive one has made Rick one of the world’s HOPE experts. Today, Rick is happily married and can honestly say he is better than he has ever been before. The only reason he would change that fateful moment on September 1 is if he could bring back his brothers in arms who were lost in combat.
This is such a powerful episode.
So much to learn about hope and staying focused on what matters.
Amazing conversation!
Before you go...
Could you do me a favor? Please go to my website at https://www.stevenmiletto.com/reviews/ or open the podcast app that you are listening to me on, and would you rate and review the podcast? That would be so cool. Thanks!
If you are listening on Apple Podcasts on your phone, go to the logo - click so that you are on the main page with a listing of the episodes for my podcast and scroll to the bottom. There you will see a place to rate and review. Could you review me? That would be so cool. Thank you!
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!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for listening!
Connect & Learn More:
Sweethearts and Heroes:
Tom Murphy
Rick Yarosh
info@sweetheartsandheroes.com
38 N Main St, Suite 233
Saint Albans, VT 05478
Sweethearts & Heroes (sweetheartsandheroes.com)
https://www.tiktok.com/@sweetheartsandheroes
(20) Sweethearts & Heroes (@SweetheartHero) / X (twitter.com)
Sweethearts & Heroes | Education (@sweetheartsandheroes) • Instagram photos and videos
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChmbRNNgpGWkMRIUxSS-bGg
Sweethearts and Heroes | Facebook
802-309-9539
13 PILLOWS | SWEETHEARTS & HEROES
Length - 01:01:39

Monday Sep 18, 2023
Judith Sanders - The Huntsman: A Psychological Thriller - 598
Monday Sep 18, 2023
Monday Sep 18, 2023
Judith Sanders - The Huntsman: A Psychological Thriller. This is episode 598 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.
Judith Sanders was born and raised in New Jersey, where she spent most of her childhood exploring the great outdoors and dreaming of one day becoming a nurse. After graduating high school, she pursued her passion for healthcare and earned a bachelor's degree in nursing from Graceland University.
The Huntsman is her fourth novel. Her first book, Crescent Veil, is a novel about germ warfare which Heartland Reviews praised as 'nonstop action based on the real deal by authors who should know what they are presenting'. Other books by Judith - In His Stead and Star Finder
She was an Indie Excellence Award Finalist for In His Stead and was shortlisted for Chanticleer International Book Awards for Star Finder. She has been featured in interviews by dozens of news media outlets.
Judith's dedication to her profession led her to work on the front lines in community hospitals and as a civilian nurse at the US Army's lead infectious Disease Institute in Maryland, where she gained invaluable experience and knowledge that would shape her life and career.
After raising three boys and moving around, living in Somerville, NJ, San Antonio Tx, Albany, NY, Frederick and Clarksburg MD, Phoenixville, PA, and Leland/Wilmington NC, she and her husband finally settled in rural New Hampshire, where she found solace in the quiet lakeside days and evenings that inspire her writing.
Judith's extensive experience in nursing has not only helped her develop a keen sense of empathy and understanding for people from all walks of life but has also allowed her to draw inspiration for her writing from the stories of real people living and struggling through life one chapter at a time. Her best stories are a collage of bits and pieces taken from these experiences, creating a rich tapestry of characters and situations that resonate with readers of all ages.
Frank is Judith Sanders’ husband of 42 years and was coauthor on Judith’s first book “CRESCENT VEIL”, a fiction novel about the hunt for a biologic weapons terrorist on the loose in the Middle East.
Frank is trained as a medical virologist and had a career in the military (US Army Lieutenant Colonel, retired) and then civilian pharmaceutical medicine developing vaccines to help prevent infectious diseases before retiring from practice in 2022.
In the course of Judith’s novels Dr. Malinoski has supported and facilitated the publication and promotion of her works. Frank has been a confidant to Judith in her writing and an early reviewer of her books. Judith is known for taking bits and pieces of real people she has met to mold the characters she writes about although Frank believes he was not a model for THE HUNTSMAN.
Frank’s first reaction after reading THE HUNTSMAN was to decide if he should hide the kitchen knife sets.
Education:
BA from Colby College
PhD from Rutgers University
MD from Albany Medical College of Union University
A little bit about The Huntsman…
ICU nurse Max Mason fears his pregnant wife is the latest victim of a serial killer who has terrorized their small New Hampshire town. The investigation is at a standstill as the prime suspect, Lincoln Raider, is in a coma. In a desperate and unethical act, Max sits at Lincoln’s bedside night after night employing brainwashing techniques and subliminal suggestion to convince the suspect they are kindred-spirits, hoping it will lead to a confession or at least a clue. When Lincoln awakens, he draws Max into a whirlpool of terror, deception, and violence, ultimately pulling Lincoln’s wife and daughter into the vortex as well.
Cool story!
Page turner!
Awesome talk!
Before you go...
Could you do me a favor? Please go to my website at https://www.stevenmiletto.com/reviews/ or open the podcast app that you are listening to me on, and would you rate and review the podcast? That would be so cool. Thanks!
If you are listening on Apple Podcasts on your phone, go to the logo - click so that you are on the main page with a listing of the episodes for my podcast and scroll to the bottom. There you will see a place to rate and review. Could you review me? That would be so cool. Thank you!
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!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for listening!
Connect & Learn More:
Here is that special email address that you heard Frank mention:
https://judithsandersbooks.com/
https://www.facebook.com/InHisStead/
https://twitter.com/judithasanders
https://www.instagram.com/judithsandersauthor
https://www.tiktok.com/@judithasanders
Length - 37:48