Hand students a real budget and a ballot, and watch a campus transform. We sit down with Tara Bartlett (ASU), KaRa Lyn Thrasher, and Sabrina Estrada (Center for the Future of Arizona) to unpack how school participatory budgeting turns student voice into visible change—without adding noise or partisanship. From the first Arizona pilot to 80+ schools statewide, the story is clear: when students lead, engagement grows, trust deepens, and communities benefit.

We break down the complete PB cycle in plain language: forming an inclusive student steering committee, collecting ideas from the whole school, vetting costs and feasibility, building a transparent ballot, campaigning with civil discourse, and running a real vote day complete with booths and “I Voted” stickers. You’ll hear vivid examples—water bottle refill stations and AEDs that solved urgent needs, therapy dogs that scaled district-wide, and a Watho shade structure built with tribal partners—that showcase how culture shifts when young people drive decisions.

Beyond inspiring stories, we dig into outcomes you can measure. Using a CASP framework—civic knowledge, attitudes, skills, and practices—students report stronger public speaking, teamwork, project management, empathy, and confidence to act. We address common hurdles like educator time, funding myths, and adultism, and share practical solutions: integrate PB into coursework, set aside a budget slice, recruit “not the usual suspects,” and use bite-sized trainings and resource hubs to make facilitation easier.

Curious to bring PB to your district or classroom? Explore the toolkit, try the short training videos, and start with a student-led committee and a real line item. If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a review telling us what your students would put on the ballot.

Check it out: https://www.arizonafuture.org/programs/education-programs/school-participatory-budgeting-in-arizona/

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We explore how Mark Twain’s writing, not his public persona, teaches a demanding civic balance: democratic equality joined to a living culture of excellence. Through Huck Finn and Connecticut Yankee, we trace how humor, empathy, and imagination form judgment without sliding into cynicism.

• distinguishing Twain the persona from the unified teaching in the work
• equality, liberty and the cultivation of greatness in tension
• Connecticut Yankee as a parable of science, soul and trade-offs
• Huck and Jim’s shared fate and moral growth
• literature as civic education and imagination-building
• satire that critiques pretension while honoring the noble
• teaching Twain in class through short forms and humor
• America 250 as a moment to reread Twain
• patriotism as rededication, not reflex; moderation over hubris
• warnings against technocratic certainty and the loss of the human

Listeners, I will be putting a ton of links into the show notes to make sure that everything that we've talked about is available, as well as Dr. Dobski's books.

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A crowded kindergarten room, a sudden crack in the ceiling, and a teacher who jumps first to shield her students—Laura Terech’s story starts with instinct and turns into impact. From art history to Title I classrooms, from a six‑year health battle to the Arizona State House, we explore how a winding path can still lead straight to the heart of public service.

We dig into the moment Arizona cut full‑day kindergarten funding and why early learning time isn’t “just babysitting” but the bedrock of literacy, social growth, and long‑term success. Laura walks us through the call that went unanswered, the decision to take the fight to the Capitol, and the long road back from illness that began with one small act: showing up to volunteer. That habit—care deeply, raise your hand often—opened doors to campaign work, nonprofit policy tracking, and ultimately a seat in a purple district where cooperation wasn’t a slogan but a mandate. You’ll hear how a teacher caucus prepared seven and a half hours for a 30‑minute debate, how bipartisan trust helped pass major policy on water and elections, and how the simple phrase “I hear your passion” can cool a midnight negotiation.

Now, as executive director of Arizona America 250, Laura brings that educator’s mindset to a statewide celebration of the nation’s semi‑quincentennial. We highlight a student town hall with all three branches of government, a traveling museum that will tour the Replica Liberty Bell through all 15 counties, and a pathway to the Seal of Civic Literacy for students. Plus, discover Passport 250—a partnership with the Arizona Office of Tourism featuring 250 sites across the state—and the powerful moment a 17‑year‑old’s winning logo design headed to the Smithsonian. Along the way, we talk about patriotism as something personal: how you show up for neighbors, define community broadly, and make room for everyone in the story.

If you believe small steps can spark big change, press play—and then tell a friend. Subscribe, leave a review, and share your take: what’s one action you’ll take for your community this week?

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What if a 10-minute story from the past could make today’s headlines finally click? We sit down with David Olson, Director of Education at Retro Report, to unpack how short documentaries and first‑person voices turn history into a powerful lens for understanding civics now—without turning classrooms into battlegrounds. David shares why narrative structure matters, how unintended consequences make the best teachable moments, and why the “40-word” version of a story can distort what students think they know.

We trace vivid examples—the Berlin Airlift’s path to NATO, the real stakes behind the McDonald’s hot coffee case, and camp newspapers from Japanese American incarceration that list baseball scores next to a military draft notice. Along the way, David lays out practical routines for tackling fast-moving news: mapping what we know, what we think we know (with sources), and what questions still stand. We dig into primary sources as a safer foundation for hard conversations about political violence, polarization, and rights, shifting authority from opinion to evidence.

You’ll also get a first look at timely classroom tools: a new film on the 2008 financial crisis for students born after it, an eye-opening exploration of Island Trees v. Pico and who decides what stays on library shelves, plus upcoming pieces on Tiananmen, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and America 250. Every resource is free, scaffolded for diverse learners, and built with teacher feedback through Retro Report’s ambassador network.

If you’re a civics, history, ELA, or social science teacher looking to connect past and present with less risk and more clarity, this conversation is your playbook. Dive into the full library at retroreport.org, share these resources with a colleague, and tell us which story helps your students “get” the world today. And if you found this helpful, follow, rate, and leave a review—your support helps more educators find practical, free tools that work.

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A quiet chill has crept into civics classrooms: teachers are pulling back from timely, contested topics because they fear blowback. We sit down with Liam Julian, vice president of programs and public policy at the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy, to unpack what that looks like on the ground, why vague standards and thin district guidance leave educators exposed, and how to rebuild a culture of confident, evidence-based civic dialogue.

Liam shares striking findings from a new policy brief—nearly 80% of teachers report self-censoring—and explains why “safe,” purely procedural civics isn’t just dull; it deprives students of the core skills democracy needs: civil disagreement, compromise, and reasoned argument. We explore practical strategies teachers are using right now to lower the temperature without ducking substance, from anchoring debates in founding documents and Supreme Court cases to designing classroom norms and protocols that keep criticism on ideas, not people. The conversation also dives into preparation gaps—many educators never had strong civics themselves—and what high-quality professional development looks like when it blends deep content with facilitation moves for tough moments.

Looking ahead to America 250, we talk state standards that are clear and teachable, district leadership that backs educators when complaints arise, and the power of making civics visible across the campus—in band rooms, math classes, and student councils. If you care about democratic literacy, teacher support, and helping students connect government to daily life, this is a timely, hopeful roadmap from fear to confidence.

If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a review telling us the one change you want to see in civics education. Your feedback shapes what we explore next.

Check out the policy briefs here: https://oconnorinstitute.org/research/

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Dr. Porwancher takes us on a fascinating journey through the hidden influence of James Bradley Thayer, a Harvard Law professor whose mentorship shaped America's legal giants like Louis Brandeis, Oliver Wendell Holmes, and Felix Frankfurter. What makes this exploration particularly special is its creation – a collaborative book co-authored with former students, mirroring Thayer's own dedication to mentorship and student development.

At the heart of Thayer's legacy lies his philosophy of judicial restraint – the revolutionary idea that unelected judges should defer to democratically elected legislatures except in the most egregious constitutional violations. This principle resonates through generations of American jurisprudence, with Chief Justice John Roberts channeling this very philosophy when he wrote that "it is not the role of this court to save the American people from their political choices." The intellectual lineage from Thayer to Roberts spans just three degrees of separation, demonstrating how profoundly one professor's teachings can echo through centuries of legal thought.

What's particularly striking about Thayer's approach is how it transcends partisan politics. His philosophy has been embraced by progressives and conservatives alike at different historical moments, depending on who controls the judiciary. This cyclical pattern reveals a fundamental truth about American constitutional governance – the tension between democratic majorities and counter-majoritarian rights protection. Through vivid stories of Thayer's teaching methods and the almost religious reverence his students held for him, we discover how the formative experiences of young law students eventually shape the monumental decisions that govern our lives and liberties today. Beyond just legal doctrine, this conversation reminds us that behind every Supreme Court opinion lies a deeply human story of mentorship, influence, and intellectual inheritance.

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How does a state like Arizona – not even in existence when the Declaration of Independence was signed – celebrate America's 250th birthday? Secretary of State Adrian Fontes joins us to share the ambitious and creative plans underway for America 250 AZ, a multi-year celebration culminating in 2026.

Far from being just another patriotic party, this semi-quincentennial celebration showcases Arizona's unique perspective on American history. As Fontes explains, our land was very much "in existence" in 1776, home to indigenous peoples and later visited by Spanish explorers (including Fontes' own ancestors). This rich tapestry of cultures continues to define Arizona's approach to commemorating national milestones.

The centerpiece of Arizona's celebration is Passport 250, a statewide initiative encouraging residents and visitors to explore the Grand Canyon State through themed experiences. From Dine 250 promoting local eateries to Hike 250 showcasing our natural beauty, each program invites participation while supporting local communities. The Liberty Bell project will create a mobile museum around Arizona's replica Liberty Bell, touring communities throughout the state before returning to a new ceremonial base containing time capsules for future generations.

Perhaps most inspiring is the story behind the America 250 AZ logo, created by a 17-year-old high school student whose artwork now heads to the Smithsonian. This exemplifies what Fontes sees as the celebration's core message: how ordinary individuals connect to our extraordinary collective achievement. Through this commemoration, he hopes Arizonans will gain both humility about our place in history and gratitude for those who helped build our society.

Want to get involved? Visit https://azsos.gov/az250 to discover upcoming events and opportunities to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime celebration that brings together our past, present, and future as Arizonans and Americans.

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Alice Sheehan from AllSides joins us to discuss media literacy and the importance of understanding diverse perspectives in our fragmented media landscape. AllSides provides balanced news by showing how left, center, and right-leaning sources cover the same stories, helping readers recognize patterns in media bias while developing critical thinking skills.

• AllSides uses a patented technology and multi-partisan team to provide balanced news coverage
• Their media bias ratings examine 16 different types of bias using expert panels and blind surveys
• Seeking multiple perspectives helps clarify your own thinking by understanding why others disagree
• Teachers can use AllSides for current events lessons without appearing partisan
• AllSides recently released classroom dialogue guides with Harvard Graduate School of Education
• Seeing how different media outlets cover the same story reveals how bias shapes narrative
• The X Influencer Bias Chart helps users diversify their social media feeds with different perspectives
• Media literacy involves recognizing that bias exists in all sources, not eliminating it
• Creating healthy information habits means balancing news consumption with offline activities

AllSides is hosting a journalism contest for students to create AllSides-style headline roundups, with three winners receiving $500 and potential publication on their site.

Media bias ratings:
https://www.allsides.com/media-bias

X Influencer chart:

https://www.allsides.com/media-bias/x-bias-chart

Classroom dialogue guides:

https://mismatch.org/dialogue-in-the-classroom/

The Arizona Constitution Project

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Interested in a Master's Degree? Check out the School of Civic and Economic Leadership's Master's in Classical Liberal Education and Leadership