Dr. Tim Slekar
Make Peace, Not Culture War. Producer’s Choice Show #16
Today host Producer Jakob is joined by Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci for a somber episode of the Producer's Choice Show to help him grapple with the frightening proliferation of political violence in America. In the wake of Wednesday's assassination of right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, as well as a tragic shooting at Evergreen High School in Colorado, violence continues to scar our educational environments. How do we begin to heal as a society? How can language lead to violence? And how do we start to see our political opponents as fellow citizens again rather than as enemies to be disposed of? We discuss these topics and more on today's Producer's Choice Show.
Producer's Note: As any of us who have lost a love one well before their time can well attest, it is a feeling of devastation that cannot be healed in a day, nor a week, nor a year, and perhaps not within a lifetime. We feel for the family of Charlie Kirk, we feel for the families impacted by the Evergreen shooting in Colorado, and we feel for all of those people across this country suffering tonight from the scourge of violence which plagues American life.
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!
When Books Gather Dust and Test Scores Drop (Hour 1)
In a world where reading books is becoming passé, high school seniors are hitting rock bottom in literacy, with scores worse than their 1992 counterparts. The hosts debate modern reading habits, blaming the rise of social media and smartphones for the decline in deep reading. Household chores and dryer sheet debates add a quirky touch, while Tim Slekar from BustED Pencils dives into why modern education might be failing. The podcast explores the cultural shift away from books and the impact on young minds, with AI now advising teens on everything from dating to conflict resolution. It's the age of immediacy, and deep reading is the casualty.
The John and Gordy Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-8 am on WMDX in Madison. 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 to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with John & Gordy!
Staying Home, Producer’s Choice Show #15
It's time to go back to school. You know what that means, don't ya? My tummy hurts... mom, can I stay home? Today your host Producer Jakob interviews two esteemed educators about their experiences with faking sick, hearing bad excuses from their students, enjoying snow days, and much much more. Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci bring decades of experience as educators to this groundbreaking discussion on staying home from school 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!
Parents in Education. Producer’s Choice Show #14
When we think about education, we usually think of two types of people; teachers and students. Today’s guests have played both of those roles at different points in their lives. But there’s a third role in education that Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci have experience with as well. That’s right, parents! You can’t have a show about education without talking about parents. So what role should parents play in their children's education? What is the right role for parents in education? How should teachers deal with parents when issues arise? Your host Producer Jakob extracts quality answers to all these questions and more 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!
Get Back to School Ya Bums! Producer’s Choice Show
Producer Jakob has had enough. This week he's sending Drs. Johnny Lupinacci and Tim Slekar back to school, whether they like it or not. But that's got his noggin' joggin'. What's it like to be a teacher when it's time to go back to school? Your host Producer Jakob asks Tim and Johnny to share some back to school stories, their thoughts on the move from teaching secondary school to teaching at university, and their go-to icebreaking activities for the first day of class 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!
Top 3 TV Teachers! Producer’s Choice Show
It's the second ever BustED Pencils Go To Hollywood today as Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci guest on the Producer's Choice Show to list their top 3 teachers from television. Host Producer Jakob breaks protocol and actually brings a list of his own, adding to the tension and setting the stage for a competition for the ages! Who is your favorite TV teacher of all time? Contact us to let us know after listening to 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!
PragerU vs. PBS: The Battle for Educational Influence
John and Gordy dive into a lively discussion about PragerU's controversial educational content stepping in as PBS funding cuts loom. They highlight PragerU's revisionist takes on history, including a bizarre clip justifying slavery. The show also touches on AI's potential maternal instincts to prevent a robotic uprising, as suggested by AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton. Amid the banter, they cover rising meat prices due to tariffs and the Brewers’ winning streak. With guests like Dr. Tim Sleckar and caller Mark, they explore the cultural implications of these shifts, while injecting humor and skepticism throughout their morning banter.
The John and Gordy Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-8 am on WMDX in Madison. 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 to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with John & Gordy!
Weekly Best of John and Gordy Show for Aug 9
Welcome back to The Best of the John and Gordy Show! If you missed a minute of the action this week, we’ve got you covered with a full recap of the weird and wacky conversations that made mornings on WMDX unforgettable!
Our week began with Savannah Tomei Olson, WMDX's News Bureau Chief, diving into a major education story with serious local impact. She brought attention to a troubling development: Wisconsin’s STEM summer camps for neurodivergent kids may soon disappear after the federal government pulled critical funding. These camps have long provided vital, inclusive opportunities for hands-on learning — and their potential loss raises deep concerns for families and educators alike.
Next, we tackled some of the week’s most pressing national issues. Dr. Tim Slekar, Host of BustEd Pencils, joined the guys to unpack the ongoing student loan forgiveness debate, along with the worrying trend of defunding public broadcasting. It was a powerful conversation about the value of education — not just in classrooms, but in every corner of civic life. From there, the topic of media literacy started to rise — and how crucial it is in an age flooded with misinformation.
Later in the show, Mike McCabe offered a refreshingly honest take on generational change. While defending the Boomer generation’s legacy of civil rights and social progress, he also acknowledged their struggles with addressing economic inequality. But Mike didn’t stop at reflection — he turned toward the future, spotlighting Gen Z as the rising generation of changemakers. “They’re picking up the torch.”
The John and Gordy Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-8 am on WMDX in Madison. 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 to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with John & Gordy!
Tim and Johnny; Young Teachers, Producer’s Choice Show
Today on the Producer's Choice Show host Producer Jakob sits down with two very special guests to talk about those formative experiences as educators that made them the celebrity teachers they are today. Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci will partially listen to questions about their early teaching experiences, both good and bad, and reflect on the lessons they took with them on their teaching journeys. It's another blast from the past as we visit Tim and Johnny; young teachers 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!
Student Loan Forgiveness (Hour 1)
John and Gordy dive into a whirlwind of topics, from the absurdity of modern politics to personal tales of misadventure. They lambast a 'troubled' White House and discuss tariffs, while also venting about personal issues, like John's electric car breakdown. They humorously debate 'Would You Rather' scenarios and critique Scott Walker's attempts to reclaim the spotlight. The episode heats up with discussions on student loan forgiveness, public broadcasting defunding, and the importance of media literacy. Dr. Tim Slekar chimes in on educational issues, and a hacked interview with Linda McMahon adds a bizarre twist.
The John and Gordy Show is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-8 am on WMDX in Madison. 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 to see the entire broadcast line up. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with John & Gordy!
