This week we celebrate the Class of 2024 with several seniors who join the show to talk about their high school experiences, their plans after graduation, and which celebs they wish had given their commencement speeches.

This week we're featuring podcasts made by students! Press play for some family fishing fun, near death experiences, and some behind-the-scenes podcast data you'll have to hear to believe!

This week, we find out which states are the happiest in the USA before sitting down with the Bethel High School band to talk about music, life after graduation, and the school's new marching band, which will take the field this fall.

This week, members of the Superintendent’s Student Leadership Council join the show to discuss the way they are helping to influence district and school culture, engagement, policies, procedures, and practices. We also chat about their dreams for after graduation, and find out what song was last stuck in their heads.

This week, we venture to the Pierce County Skills Center's Criminal Justice class to talk with students who are learning Crime Scene Investigation in high school. We also find out where they're heading after graduation, and ask them about a key moment in history they'd like to visit.

Our annual Elementary Battle of the Books is upon us! This week we sit down with students at Katherine G. Johnson Elementary to hear more about the competition, books they recommend, and what their dreams are after high school.

This week we chat with students about how their high schools have prepared them for life after they cross the graduation stage. Conor and Doug also ponder the following question: If you could snap your fingers and instantly become an expert in something, what would it be and why?

This week, we talk with students who are using their middle school years to challenge themselves academically. We also sit down with a principal who played a concert on the Great Wall of China!

This week, Bethel legend Ed Niehl joins the podcast to celebrate the district's 75th anniversary! Ed taught in our district when it was formed back in 1949. Hear about the history of the district from a man who was there, along with plenty of stories, advice, and lots of laughs!

This week, 8th grade students who have been in our Dual Language program since kindergarten talk about the impact it has had on their lives, both socially and academically. Conor and Doug also kick around the age-old question, if you could walk in someone else's shoes for 24 hours, who would it be and why?

This week, all three of our Daffodil Princesses join the show to talk about their high schools, their future plans, and which fictional family they'd like to be part of. Find out why the "Jones family" is a top pick, which student store sells the most iced coffee, and a whole lot more!

On this week's show, a mystery guest stops by the studio to talk about the ways her school is innovating and changing the game when it comes to PLTs. We also discuss social/emotional skills for students, why our elementary schools are talking about high school graduation, and how running, coding, and Dungeons & Dragons are making an impact on students.

Before the COVID shutdown, teachers and principals on our Behavior Task Force were already working hard to create strategies to help educators across the district. This week, Conor and Doug sit down with members of the Task Force to learn more about the work they're doing, how COVID changed behaviors in students, and how they plan to keep our district moving in a positive direction.

This week, Conor and Doug discuss inclusive building design with some experts from NAC Architecture. NAC has designed many schools in our district and has a philosophy that uses classroom design, building layout, and more to help special education students feel welcome and included.

This week, Conor and Doug analyze the recent projections of student enrollment growth for the next 20 years. Along with this week's special guest, Executive Director of Operations Paul Marquardt, they talk about the need for future schools, learn about the work of the community's Facility Advisory Committee, and examine county zoning changes that are accelerating families moving into our district. To wrap it all up, Conor, Doug, and Paul also discuss who would play each of them in a...

This week, students from Camas Prairie Elementary join the show to talk about LEGO Robotics. Their team recently advanced to the semifinals and they share their thoughts on the competition, teamwork, and the future of robotics.

This week, Conor talks karaoke anthems and bowling scores with the Spanaway Lake High School bowling team. Learn who on the team recently bowled a 299, and how bowling fosters a welcoming and inclusive "family" at school.

Kristyn Dahl and Jodi Borrelli went to junior high school together. They stayed in touch into adulthood until Jodi disappeared. It was a period Kristyn refers to as the "blank pages" from Jodi's life. Jodi resurfaced and those blank pages are now full of her harrowing story – from being a soccer mom to being one of Washington's Most Wanted – all thanks to an addiction that started with a prescribed pain killer and ended with heroin. But Jodi's is a story of hope. She is now a drug and alcohol...

This week, Doug introduces us to Pancake the Wonder Dog, and Conor talks to some of our students who wrote persuasive essays for a local animal rescue. Find out how many dogs and cats got adopted, who owns a bearded dragon, and what happened after Conor's dog Cooper licked a toad – all on this week's episode!

This week, Conor and Doug daydream about where they'd buy a vacation home, before posing that question and more to a Spanaway Lake High School teacher and her students.

Conor and Doug are joined this week by Principal Lisa Whitmire. Lisa has been in our district longer than Doug and Conor combined, and she shares her journey from teacher to principal, her excitement for the new bond-funded expansion to her school (thank you, voters!), and even weighs in on the question of the week: If you were the host of a late night talk show, who would be your first guest, and why?

Conor reveals some surprising ancestral heritage which prompts today's titular question. The boys reveal their own answers and bring in some outside help to get some more perspective, including Transitional Kindergarten teacher Jennifer Kimble who tells them all about the TK program and how it's helping our youngest students be successful.

This week, Conor and Doug kick off the New Year with singer/songwriter Kage Dallas. Kage spends his days as a grounds maintenance specialist here in Bethel, and his nights as an up-and-coming country music star. They discuss life, love, and the pursuit of well-maintained school grounds before Kage performs his hit single, "Only If You're Sure."

This week, school counselor Sarah Avila joins the show to talk about her favorite Pixar film, what holiday movie character she most identifies with, and how counselors help students to, "become better humans."This is the last new episode of 2023.The next new episode will be posted on January 4th, 2024!