The Old School

The highly rated "State series" has returned and this time, with Mr. Stanton Cole - history teacher extraordinaire and Washingtonian. The hosts and guest discuss the state of Washington, its history, Mr. Cole's experience and memories of growing up there as well as some of the more quirky and fun traits of this Pacific northwest state. Personally, Mr. Miller was hoping for harsh words between the fans of the University of Washington and Oregon, respectively, but alas, a great time was had instead. Enjoy this dive into the Evergreen State.

Your two musically adroit podcasters tackle the notion of live music in the aftermath of Mr. Miller's experience at a concert. The hosts discuss their first concerts, how they experience live music and what they see as the benefit of such experiences. They also discuss some of the downsides and how might live music change in the years to come. Two music lovers, one who has both attended and performed in concerts and other, rarely an attendee, discuss concerts, live music and the wonders of the medium. 

Your two aging podcasters defy their age and speak about all things books - reading them, carting them around and moving them from one residence to another. Evidence to our stage of life, we discuss the empty nest syndrome, homes will smaller capacities and what to do with all those books? Of course, it would not be an Old School podcast without a discussion of the state of books and how we consume them and how present trends could effect the future of how books will be consumed and benefited from. It is an easy, breezy discussion about the...

During this episode, your two sports-loving hosts take a look at the cultural and athletic phenomenon that is the FIFA World Cup. The hosts dive into exactly why Dr. Bourgeois is now interested in soccer, what are the qualities that has hooked him and millions of Americans into the tournament and to what degree is sports, as it is often said, a unifying force in the world and one for good. We discuss the action on the pitch as well as the cultural mash up that is taking place around the country as Americans are coming face to face...

Your two lovable hosts have returned to talk about the state of Ohio and the two hosts' experiences with the state. Additionally, the hosts will get into the success and meaning behind Dr. Bourgeois' recent conference he attended and presented at in Geneva, Switzerland. There are also some allowances for Mr. Miller to go on a rant regarding a car commercial he found particularly infuriating. Both men admit to some serious issues with his take and the degree he finds it upsetting. It is a feel good moment when the two estimable hosts return for two weeks in a...

Your two wonderful hosts have returned to talk about memory - losing memory as well as preserving it. The hosts start with the worrisome idea of losing memory as two ageing but still charming and handsome individuals. But then, they segue into the notion of memory and forgetting for good reasons and outcomes as well as for bad. It is an interesting conversation that centers on something that most people have struggled with and should be an illuminating conversation. 

Yet another hiatus comes to an end, but this time the Old School re-emerges with the dynamic Dan Albaum. Mr. Albaum speaks on his new book, The Giving Edge: Why Putting Others First Creates a Lasting Advantage in Leadership, Business, and Life. The marketing entrepreneur and fellow podcaster (Market Impact Insights) lays out the skills and traits that separate the best leaders with those who wish to be so. His book drops on 9 June (just in time for Father's Day) and his podcast is available using the link above. 

Your two intrepid hosts explore Dr. Bourgeois' recent trip to the Big Apple - his very first trip there in his life. The hosts first tackle perceptions and Mr. Miller, of course, works in a little history to show how the city became what it is today. Then, Dr. Bourgeois explores the best, most exciting and most unexpected elements of the largest city in the United States. Towards the end, and because they can't help it, the two gentlemen tackle the things that give them pause about the exciting collection of five boroughs surrounded by the Hudson and East...

Your two loveable hosts draw on a topic that is near and dear to their hearts - the wonderful culture of the Germans. Using an episode of the German language podcast Easy German as inspiration, the Old School look at a few characteristics and quirks of the German culture and see to what it extent it applies to them in particular and the American culture in general. And in many cases, given the long history of German immigration to the United States, these are not foreign ideas. These are fun comparisons, looking at the some of the great, unique...

Your two favorite podcasters tackle the deep and complicated issue of rootedness. The United States has one of the most dynamic social mobility of any other country in the world - a statistic that is often defined by how far one lives compared to the birthplace of their parents. Additionally, many social commentators often speak to a lack of community, which can be a by-product of how little social mobility. The two hosts attempt to discuss and tease out the characteristics of rootedness and what are the advantages of it and what is lost without it. Dr. Bourgeois and...

Your two masters of the message (whatever message that may be) take a look at volcanoes, with a particular attention to the one whose last eruption will soon be observing its 46th anniversary - Mount St. Helens. Despite Dr. Bourgeois' assertion that he knew little about it despite living mere hours away, the two tackle the events that led to the explosion and the lives lost. In discussing the volcano, we also discuss those who refused to leave and what might justify such a decision, even though in this case, it proved fatal. An interesting look at an event...

Your two jet-setting hosts take a deeper look at plane travel. Dr Bourgeois and Mr. Miller consider the pros and cons of traveling by plane. They recount our favorite and least favorite parts of the experience. For all of the technological wonders that planes represent, the hosts also detail their scariest experiences. This is all preceded by controversies surrounding Southwest Airlines, as the attempt to re-brand their operations.

During the discourse on planes, the hosts discussed Mr. Miller's guided trip to Germany in October to visit some of the sites that represent some of the biggest moments...

In this episode, your two favorite intrepid podcast hosts tackle the spine-tingling topic of fear. As they attempt to define it, the two learned gentlemen speak first of phobias but then, tackle the messier notion of personal fears - things that cannot be defined by some Greek mish-mash word but rather speaks to an internal insecurity. The hosts finish by discussing how to tackle fear and whether it works to hold on to some fear - are people better with fears or seeking to banish them all?

Your two forward thinking, future loving hosts celebrate the podcast's 150th episode by looking at changes in language. Inspired by an episode of Words Unraveled with Rob Watts and Jess Zafarris (link below), the hosts take a look at changes in language and whether they are ultimately good, bad or just a part of the dynamic nature of language as seen in the centuries before. They will look at profanity, euphemisms, the downgrade of grammatical importance and the growing informality of language. All the while, trying to figure out the level of which they are comfortable with the changes...

Your two favorite curmudgeons set their sights on doctors in particular and the health care system in general. While there is much to love and admire about our health system, there are idiosyncrasies that annoy the hosts - from quick primary doctor visits to the tone that some physicians have when speaking to us to a host of other little things that lead to one big episode. What are you biggest pet peeves about going to the doctor? Leave a comment. The pod would love to hear from you.

The Old School podcasters celebrate the Olympics as the final events conclude in Milan on 22 February. There is a great deal of talk on what makes it special, what makes it annoying and what the hosts would add or subtract to the list of events. Mr. Miller regales in his story of his visit to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver while Dr. Bourgeois dwells in the wonder of watching track and field events. All of this Olympic talk of finely tuned athletes with bodies at the peak of their power is preceded by a discussion on the wonders of...

Your two intrepid podcast hosts tackle the subject of mysteries and conspiracies. Theories are debated regarding John F. Kennedy, fake pigeons and dodgy mattress stores. There is also a look at mysteries such as the cases of Amelia Earhart, D.B. Cooper and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The two hosts also broach the subject of the psychology of believing in conspiracies and the lionization of such dubious figures as criminals Cooper, Bonnie and Clyde and Butch and Sundance. Dr. Bourgeois gets Mr. Miller's goat, Mr. Miller takes it head long and hilarity ensues. 

Returning to the field of education, your two favorite podcasters delve into a subject that has been touched on before but never elaborated upon and that is the hiring of teachers. The Old School first addresses how teachers are trained and whether, despite historical precedence, a nationalized and uniformed certification process is favorable to the various, and at times questionable, local and state-wide versions. Second, the hosts dive into the interview process and the best way to discover the best teaching prospects and finally, ending with the on-the-job training teachers get or don't. The podcast covers a lot of...

As snow and temperatures fall on North Texas and nearly the entire eastern half of the country, your two intrepid hosts battle the conditions within their warm, cozy offices to deliver an episode on winter. The hosts focus on such conditions as seasonal affected disorder on one end of the spectrum but also the fact that some of the coldest countries in the world are also at the top of the happiness index. Dr. Bourgeois and Mr. Miller consider the dichotomy of those two ideas and everything in between about the coming of winter. Not really coming anymore. Winter...

Your two favorite podcast hosts tackle one of the touchiest subject they've ever discussed - a midlife crisis. In the course of the discussion, there is a great deal of digging into the myths associated with these phases of life, the symptoms and the extent of this condition. Much of what people know is a distortion created by media but the psychological evidence paints a different picture and the hosts will try to, in the modern parlance, unpack it.

The two loveable hosts welcome back the great Dr. Alex Fingers to discuss the idea of collecting things. From sports cards and comics as kids to music and more refined items as adults. Why do we collect things? How does it help us emotionally, socially and how does that help in other aspects of our lives? It is not just hoarding things - though it can certainly go in that direction. Rather, it is something that fires passions, fosters connections and in the end, become the things that define us.

Your two loveable hosts, in the midst of bowl games and the soon-to-begin NFL playoffs, talk about being a sports fan. The two attempt to draw out its positives but also the increasing number (of late) of negatives. What is acceptable? What should not be acceptable? Are fans using their status as paying customers to forget about social norms and mores? The hosts, while going down a few rabbit holes - including, whether Dr. Bourgeois can really call himself a "good fan" - attempt to answer these questions and discuss many other items.

The Old School Podcast welcomes Mr. Ferrell Yeokum to discuss classroom management and his new book, Mastering Classroom Discipline for New Teachers: A Practical Guide to Create an Orderly Classroom, Prevent Disruptions and Improve Student Performance. The three educators discuss the forces within the classroom, within the school and outside the school that can impact a well-run classroom and the teachers who attempt to accomplish their goals. In doing so, Mr. Yeokum provides some strategies and some approaches that can greatly assist new teachers with the incredibly difficult task to point their students in one, successful direction.

This week on the podcast, Mr. Miller reports live from the most magical place on Earth — and no, he’s not entirely sure how he got there.

Join us as we unpack his family’s whirlwind trip to Disney World, including stops at EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and the infamous international pub crawl — all while trying to make sense of what Disney has become in the 21st century. Spoiler: this is not your granddaddy’s Disney.

Between the fireworks and the funnel cakes, there’s plenty of room for reflection — on nostalgia, consumerism, and whether the collapse of We...

Your two favorite hosts are back as we discuss the nature of building and fixing things. With Mr. Miller's recent foyer into woodworking and carpentry, the two gentlemen discuss some of the ideas of famed woodworker Nick Offerman and expound upon that to touch on topics of self-efficacy, the happiness index and blue zones. The hosts expertly weave the seemingly disparate ideas while discussing the importance of being handy and how it could help the individual and the community as well. 

Next week - Mr. Miller rings in from Florida as we discuss the history of the s...

Your two favorite hosts are back to talk about the advantages of taking the hard road. What are the lessons, what is the value of not seeking the easier path but one filled with potholes and detours. Often, it is these things that define a person and their ability to endure. The Old School endeavors to tease out some of the lessons that can be learned and the dangers in seeking the easier path. Additionally, Mr. Miller pays tribute and honor to a great man who left us way too soon. 

Your two loveable hosts go back to their bailiwick and speak to the dynamic Dr. Ericka Johnson who details her journey from teacher to education consultant and the traits needed to be a good leader. We cover the full scope of the education experience, as seen by Dr. Johnson throughout her career as an educator. It is an interesting and thoughtful conversation that you will enjoy.

If you want to find Dr. Johnson's entire story unabridged, check out her book From Sub to Sup: The Journey of a Transformational Leader: The Turnaround Blueprint. 

Building on the previous episode on dinner parties, Dr. Steven Bourgeois and Ross Miller tackle other bygone ideas, these stemming from the 1970s and whether we are better off without them or should we bring them back. There is a bit of reminiscing as the hosts think back to days gone by and share some laughs along the way.

Your two favorite podcasters tackle a dying art - the dinner party. The hosts discuss the qualities of a good dinner party, drawing on the experiences growing up in a socially active household as well as their own efforts. They then segue into dissecting what has happened to the art - what are the reasons they are not as prevalent as they used to be. Additionally, what has been lost with the lack of them and what can be gained by bringing them back. 

Your two favorite podcast hosts tackle the notion of resiliency and the ability to stay focus in the face of leisure and relaxation. The allure, the benefits and the drawbacks of dedication and commitment becomes the focus on the episode. The hosts evaluate their own behavior during their working years and compare it with others and other examples of dedication. They look at the words of wisdom from the ancients as well as the more modern concepts of resiliency, dedication and stick-to-itiveness. 

Your two favorite hosts dive into a product of their times - albums. They discuss the nature of albums, how they were used and what we've lost or not from their disappearance. They have reemerged but has technology changed the way we consume music and is that a negative, neutral or a positive? 

Weathering a series of technological issues, your two tech-savvy hosts managed to encapsulate some of the brilliance that is Dr. Alex Fingers. It is a shorter episode than most but in the short time available, the hosts and Dr. Fingers take a look at a principal's job in setting the tone of a new school year and the three also speak on the nature of mentoring - one administrator to another.

The great Dr. Matt Post rejoins the Old School podcast to discuss the research that he and Dr. Bourgeois are conducting on the notion of character and virtue among undergraduates. This study seeks to identify what these students do or don't do that can be identified as virtuous but also why. Mr. Miller seeks to tease out what these two learned scholars have done over the last five years and what they hope to achieve when the research project comes to an end. This is a fascinating discussion, with one of our favorite people, about issues that can have...

After an unexpected break, brought on the thousands of miles and week-long ailments, your two intrepid heroes seek to come to a better understanding of the North - the stereotypes of the North and the promise that people have held about the North. Additionally, the hosts seek to draw comparisons with characteristics of the South - all of this not necessarily specific to the U.S. but with a more global understanding. Additionally, the hosts discuss their own perceptions and where they view their future taking place. All of this and a little vacation discussion regarding the wonderful Canadian...

In the next installment of our state series, the Old School hosts take a look at Oregon - the home state of Dr. Bourgeois. The hosts take a look at the history, topography and the many cultural factors that make up this wonderful state. The hosts then end while waxing philosophically about what draws Dr. Bourgeois home often and won Mr. Miller's heart on his only trip to the Beaver State - Oregon. 

Your two amicable hosts look into a topic that has plagued parents for centuries - what to do with the kids during the summer break. Since the hosts do not have the great minds of history to lean on, the listener will have to make do with The Old School as they consider and reflect on the various activities kids can partake in - where they are not checking their brain at the door. Not only do they reflect on the old days that so many speak of today and wish for the children of today, but the two...

Your two favorite hosts peal back the curtain to unveil the happenings in a school prior to and after the school day - as well as a few things during the day. From custodians, to early birds, administrators and secretaries, the hosts take you through the aspects of a typical day in American education that most people may be unaware of. In doing so, it is hoped that some light is shined on the hard working people that do not get many accolades. 

This episode is sponsored by Ahart Solutions.

Your two estimable hosts address the events of this week - the birthday of the United States of America. While plenty of people are commenting on the problems the country faces, and rightly so, Dr. Bourgeois and Mr. Miller decide to focus on the positive. During the episode, both hosts present the five reasons why they love this country so much. In doing so, they take the opportunity to highlight the reasons why this country is great - a needed reminder in tough times. 

This episode is sponsored by Ahart Solutions. 

In the aftermath of Mr. Miller's surgery, your two friendly hosts discuss the operation as well as the notion of growing old. The two discuss limitations, changes in latitudes and attitudes (thank you Mr. Buffett) and what they see as the purpose and direction older people take and take on. Of course, though perhaps on the face, a dour topic, the two address it with their typical thoughtfulness and humor under the notion that not everything is as it seems. 

This episode is sponsored by Ahart Solutions.

Your two gregarious hosts take a look at Mr. Miller's return to retirement - for the umpteenth time. There is also a discussion about the possibility of working in a lighthouse as part of a larger project - one that combines the loves, interests and abilities of our hosts. In the meantime, the two hosts tackle notions of work and loneliness as they work through the opportunities that lie ahead.  

Be sure to follow us on Instagram at theoldschoolpodcast2021. 

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