Episode notes
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…
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23 Jan 2026 · 40 min
Who's Your Hero? PCS#35
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…
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21 Jan 2026 · 36 min
MLK Day Thoughts- Class in Session
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…
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19 Jan 2026 · 24 min
Teacher Mercenaries- Homeroom
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…
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17 Jan 2026 · 43 min
Epidemic of Loneliness
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…
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16 Jan 2026 · 34 min
Reacting to Reddit Teaching Advice. PCS#34
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…
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12 Jan 2026 · 46 min
Greenland; From Erik the Red to Donald the Orange
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…
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10 Jan 2026 · 43 min
Talking About the Minnesota Fraud Scandal
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…
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9 Jan 2026 · 39 min
The Students Are Revolting. PCS #33
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…
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7 Jan 2026 · 34 min
A Decade of Emergency- Class in Session
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…
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5 Jan 2026 · 15 min
End of Winter Break- Homeroom
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…
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