Episodes

  • Timothy and Karinna Karsten: Founders of Global Galactics: Inspiring Awe, Wonder, and Curiosity while Making Learning Fun - 810
    Jan 16 2026

    Timothy and Karinna Karsten - Founders of Global Galactics: Inspiring Awe, Wonder, and Curiosity while Making Learning Fun. This is episode 810 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.

    Timothy Karsten is the CEO and co- founder of Global Galactics, a branded ecosystem of content designed to educate, entertain, and inspire young children with original stories about the world around them.

    A longtime advisor to leaders, families, and mission-driven organizations, he brings decades of experience in strategic guidance, business building, philanthropy and ecosystem design to the vision and growth of the company.

    Karinna Karsten is the co-founder of Global Galactics and a serial entrepreneur known for transforming research and insight into human-centered innovation. A recognized voice in emotional wellness and relationship intelligence, her work spans global executives, celebrities, and major media platforms. Karinna is inspired by a deep passion for people, planet, and purpose.

    The Karsten’s inspiration for Global Galactics came from their 19 years travelling with their own Jack Russell, Sparky across twenty-two countries and all throughout the United States.

    Timothy took Sparky into schools in Teach for America classrooms in Los Angeles, along with visiting schools and communities in India and Thailand.

    Karinna and Timothy continued to travel with Sparky across the globe building good will across continents, and cultures. The eye-opening result was a deep understanding of what was missing for kids.

    Global Galactics was created to inspire awe, wonder and curiosity and make learning fun, providing kids with content and tools to build confidence and understand themselves and their place in the world around them.

    Fun conversation!

    I love the focus!

    Thanks for listening!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Before you go...

    You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee.

    This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.

    Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you!

    You are AWESOME!

    Connect & Learn More:

    https://www.globalgalactics.com/

    https://www.instagram.com/globalgalactics

    https://www.facebook.com/globalgalactics/

    https://www.youtube.com/@SparkStarKids

    https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-galactics/

    https://www.tiktok.com/@globalgalactics

    Length - 40:38

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    41 mins
  • Dr. Darla Bishop - Piggy Bank Pathways: Helping You Raise Money Smart Kids - 809
    Jan 12 2026

    Dr. Darla Bishop - Piggy Bank Pathways: Helping You Raise Money Smart Kids. This is episode 809 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.

    A mother, a former high school educator/bilingual elementary school reading coach, children’s book author, and passionate entrepreneur, Dr Darla Bishop was motivated by her own challenging childhood in Detroit to help children learn. From motivating parents to transcend limiting beliefs about wealth to helping children to cultivate a positive financial mindset early in their lives, she believes that empowering families with financial knowledge is pivotal in creating prosperous and resilient communities for the future.

    Dr. Darla is known as the ”FinanSis” founder of Finansis, LLC. She founded the company in order to use her innate gifts (humor, intelligence, and tough love) to help families and communities improve their relationship with money and set their children up to be financially responsible for life. Dr. Darla is all too aware of the correlation between low credit scores and short lifespan; her mission is to change that narrative.

    A woman of many passions, Dr. Darla is an Author, Doula, Military Spouse, Project Manager, 15+ yr public health leadership veteran, Healthcare Consultant, Financial Accountability Partner, Professor of Health Policy, Mentor, and Real Estate Investor, but some of her proudest accomplishments are writing her children's book Madeline’s Money Adventure with her daughter Maddie and coaching bilingual elementary students in reading through “America Reads”.

    Awesome conversation!

    Incredible focus!

    Thanks for listening!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Before you go...

    You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee.

    This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.

    Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you!

    You are AWESOME!

    Connect & Learn More:

    https://www.darlabishop.com/

    https://www.piggybankpathways.org/

    Dr. Darla Bishop | Money doesn’t have to feel this hard (@my_finansis) • Instagram photos and videos

    https://www.tiktok.com/@my_finansis

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/darlabishop/

    Length - 51:26

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    51 mins
  • Shellee Howard - College Ready - Helping High-Achieving Families Unlock the Path to College Without Debt - 808
    Jan 7 2026

    Shellee Howard - College Ready: Helping High-Achieving Families Unlock the Path to College Without Debt. This is episode 808 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.

    Shellee Howard helps high-achieving families unlock the path to college without debt. As the founder of College Ready and a Certified Educational Consultant, she blends insider admissions knowledge with financial strategy to guide teens toward top-tier schools—including her own children, who all graduated college completely debt-free.

    What sets Shellee apart is not just her expertise, but her lived experience. A single mother of four, she navigated the admissions process herself—juggling academics, scholarships, and ambition across blended family dynamics and diverse child personalities. From Ivy League dreams to international study paths, Shellee has done it all. She now works with families worldwide to develop a “Stand Out Strategy” that aligns academic goals with emotional readiness and return on investment.

    She’s a two-time bestselling author, international speaker, and host of the podcast Parents, Is Your Teen College Ready? Her work has been featured on FOX, CBS, NBC, and in numerous national publications.

    So much to learn and think about!

    Thanks for listening!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Before you go...

    You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee.

    This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.

    Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you!

    You are AWESOME!

    Connect & Learn More:

    https://collegereadyplan.com/

    collegereadyplan.info

    crfuturenow.com

    https://empowereducation.world/

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleehoward/

    https://www.youtube.com/@collegereadyplan

    https://www.instagram.com/collegereadyplan

    https://www.facebook.com/CollegeReadyPlan

    Length - 48:02

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    48 mins
  • Sue Ann Highland - Reimagining Learning Spaces: Designing Educational Environments for a New Generation - 807
    Jan 2 2026

    Sue Ann Highland - Reimagining Learning Spaces: Designing Educational Environments for a New Generation. This is episode 807 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.

    Dr. Sue Ann Highland is the National Education Strategist at School Specialty and author of Reimagining Learning Spaces: Designing Educational Environments for a New Generation. With over 30 years of experience in schools and districts across the country, she has served as a teacher, consultant, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Principal, Federal Programs Director, and CTE Director.

    A specialist in school improvement and turnaround efforts, she is also an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist, passionate about aligning people, processes and learning environments for student success.

    Our focus today is her book - Reimagining Learning Spaces: Designing Educational Environments for a New Generation.

    Excellent topic!

    Wonderful conversation!

    So much to learn and think about!

    Thanks for listening!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Before you go...

    You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee.

    This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.

    Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you!

    You are AWESOME!

    Connect & Learn More:

    https://www.drsueannhighland.com/

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/sueannhighland/

    https://www.corwin.com/books/reimagining-learning-spaces-293272

    https://www.schoolspecialty.com/

    Length - 47:25

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    47 mins
  • Dennis A. Feece - The Phantom Grasp: A T.B. Stone Mystery -806
    Dec 17 2025

    Dennis A. Feece - The Phantom Grasp: A T.B. Stone Mystery. This is episode 806 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.

    Dennis A. Feece may not sound like your typical novelist who crafted a murder mystery, but he calls upon a variety of experiences, hobbies, and schooling to create the realism in his books - his latest one is The Phantom Grasp: a T.B. Stone Mystery.

    For three decades, he engaged in a career of book manufacturing, serving from frontline supervisor to vice president of operations. He worked for several companies, including Bertelsmann, Maple-Vail Book Manufacturing, and RR Donnelley. He then became a Pastoral Associate at a local church, serving for several years.

    Feece earned a B.S. majoring in Psychology and minoring in Religious Studies from College Misericordia in PA. He earned an MA in Theology from University of Scranton in PA.

    Born and raised in Plymouth, Indiana, he has also lived in CT, NH and now resides in Montrose, PA. He enjoys weightlifting, writing, and exploring his spiritual curiosity.

    He has written three TB Stone novels …

    Our focus today is Dennis’ latest TB Stone Mystery - The Phantom Grasp.

    Great talk!

    Awesome story!

    Dennis shares how he works on his novels. Great information!

    Thanks for listening!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Before you go...

    You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee.

    This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.

    Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you!

    You are AWESOME!

    Connect & Learn More:

    Gus.Young@Yahoo.com

    https://www.instagram.com/DennisAFeece/

    https://www.facebook.com/DennisAFeece/

    https://www.linkedin.com/DennisAFeece/

    https://www.amazon.com/stores/Dennis-A-Feece/author/B0C3BDMTF2?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

    Length - 45:48

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    46 mins
  • Sandra T. Elliott, PhD - Sum Thing Is Up: A Practical Guide to Dyscalculia - Tips, Tools, and Resources for Parents, Educators, and Anyone Affected by Dyscalculia - 805
    Dec 11 2025

    Sandra T. Elliott, PhD - Sum Thing Is Up: A Practical Guide to Dyscalculia - Tips, Tools, and Resources for Parents, Educators, and Anyone Affected by Dyscalculia. This is episode 805 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.

    Sandra T. Elliott, Ph.D., is a career educator who has spent over four 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, a five-time principal in Florida and Colorado, a district-level administrator and state level consultant.

    She has held executive-level positions at for-profit education providers and foundations and was part of the EngageNY – Eureka Math team and led the TouchMath team that developed DySc- the free dyscalculia screener for ages 3-adult.

    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.

    Dr Elliott has presented at national and international conferences on mathematics for the struggling student and dyscalculia, has published in national and international journals, and recently released her debut book, Sum Thing is Up: A Practical Guide to Dyscalculia - Tips, Tools, and Resources for Parents, Educators, and Anyone Affected by Dyscalculia.

    Awesome conversation!

    So much to learn and understand.

    Thanks for listening!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Before you go...

    You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee.

    This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.

    Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you!

    You are AWESOME!

    Connect & Learn More:

    https://touchmath.com/

    https://www.linkedin.com/company/touchmath/

    https://www.youtube.com/@TouchMath

    https://www.instagram.com/touchmath.official/

    https://www.facebook.com/TouchMath/

    https://www.amazon.com/Sum-Thing-Practical-Dyscalculia-Resources/dp/1966551231

    Length - 32:44

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    33 mins
  • Will & Josh - The HiTech Podcast: Jobs and A.I. - Not Doom & Gloom, but Definitely Silly - 804
    Dec 8 2025

    Will & Josh - The HiTech Podcast: A.I. & Jobs: Not Doom & Gloom but Definitely Silly. This is episode 804 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.

    Will & Josh of the HiTech podcast invited me to talk with them about A.I. & Jobs that might look different or could be replaced by A.I. Doing a Christmas podcast has become a tradition now between us. If you go to their YouTube channel or their webpage you will see my great T-Rex Christmas Sweater!

    Will notes, "This year's festive episode takes an unexpected turn as we dive deep into the big question everyone's asking: What would it look like if AI actually replaced different jobs? We explore everything from AI substitute teachers with dystopian "shock rooms" to robot baseball players and AI sound engineers. Steven brings his educator perspective while we speculate on scenarios ranging from hilariously absurd to surprisingly plausible. Plus, we test our theories against what Claude AI actually thinks about job replacement!"

    Additionally, Will comments, "But don't worry - this isn't doom and gloom. We balance the speculation with honest takes on what makes human work irreplaceable and why some jobs are safer than others. Perfect holiday tech conversation for your family dinner table!"

    This was fun!

    What an awesome conversation!

    Even if they did pick on me for my eighty's references, this was a blast!

    Thanks for listening!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Before you go...

    You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee.

    This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.

    Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you!

    You are AWESOME!

    Connect & Learn More:

    https://hitechpod.us

    https://youtu.be/H0BgJJnLGlA?si=-H6UemK21F1MNiWg

    HiTech Podcast | #hitechhijinx (@hitechpodcast) / X

    https://www.youtube.com/@hitechpodcast

    Length - 01:00:52

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • Annamarie Omanga - The Magnolia School: An Independent K-8 School for Girls - 803
    Dec 4 2025

    Annamarie Omanga - The Magnolia School: An Independent K-8 School for Girls. This is episode 803 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast.

    Originally from Chicago, Annamarie Omanga has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. She began her career in the middle school classroom and then spent six years directing a supplemental education program for inner city youth in Chicago. Annamarie then took her teaching skills to the business arena where she started in training and development and then enjoyed a career in Human Resources with Cap Gemini America and AIG.

    Throughout her career, Annamarie has presented a variety of seminars and given talks on a wide range of topics, including education, the formation of virtues, and marriage enrichment. Annamarie is thrilled and humbled to be the first Head of School at Magnolia School.

    The Magnolia School is an independent K-8 school for girls located in Houston, Texas. The school has reimagined the core curriculum. The students are introduced to Latin and focus on developing logic and leadership skills. The school also deemphasizes technology and introduces hands-on activities as well as "outdoor time". To assist the students with success and resiliency the school has cross-grade mentoring.

    So much to learn and think about!

    Awesome conversation!

    Thanks for listening!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Before you go...

    You could help support this podcast by Buying Me A Coffee. Not really buying me something to drink but clicking on the link on my home page at https://stevenmiletto.com for Buy Me a Coffee or by going to this link Buy Me a Coffee.

    This would allow you to donate to help the show address the costs associated with producing the podcast from upgrading gear to the fees associated with producing the show. That would be cool. Thanks for thinking about it.

    Hey, I've got another favor...could you share the podcast with one of your friends, colleagues, and family members? Hmmm? What do you think? Thank you!

    You are AWESOME!

    Connect & Learn More:

    https://magnoliaschool.org/

    annamarie.omanga@magnoliaschool.org

    https://www.instagram.com/magnoliaschoolhouston/

    https://www.facebook.com/magnoliaschoolhouston

    Length - 51:42

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    52 mins