Join Broadway dancer, actor and all-around entertainer Andrew Pirozzi in a deeply illuminating and heartfelt discussion of just what it takes to follow your wildest dreams and make them a reality, and how those with dedication and passion can follow in his footsteps. He also shares some of the wildest stories from career, and the unexpected but life-changing way he made it to Broadway. Enjoy this episode? Please consider rating and subscribing at Apple Podcasts  or Podchaser, it’s the best way to help get the word out about the show and ensures you get updates on each new episode as they come out. Thank you!Want to jump ahead in this episode?Andrew’s Career: 4:15The Critical Importance of Community: 23:55The Role of Sven on Broadway: 28:00How Passion Pushes You - 36:55Advice for Aspiring Performers - 50:15Andrew Pirozzi has been in the world of entertainment for over 15 years, and his credits are extensive. He appeared as a dancer at the Oscars, presented at the Tony’s, and has performed in numerous tv shows, movies, and televised stage performances like Grip and Electric, A Million Ways to Die in the West, and Hairspray Live! He officially made it to Broadway when he played the role of Sven in Disney’s Frozen, to widespread acclaim, a role which was featured in the New York Times and a character study video on Broadway.com. He has also branched out into the world of singing and acting, and more than anything credits his continued success to the sense of community and heartfelt joy he approaches all of his work with. Interested in getting access to the full, unedited video interview from this episode? Go to the Exclusive Content tab at TheEducatorPodcast.com to find out how. There you’ll also see how to get access to the full library of unedited video and audio interviews from The Educator Podcast, as well as your own shout-outs on the show, and the opportunity to be personally interviewed on any topic of your choice. Check it out!The Educator Podcast is hosted, produced and edited by Matt Douglas. For more information on him and his work please visit lifecoachingsd.com or follow him at lifecoachingsd on Instagram. This episode was recorded on July 2, 2021.

In honor of Independence Day we visit the Battle of Yorktown, the final and most important battle of the Revolutionary War which resulted in American independence from Great Britain. This episode does a deep dive into the battle, discussing its background, the chess game that Washington was playing with the British, and the battle itself. Finally, we end by discussing what it’s like to visit this incredible battlefield today.Want to jump ahead in this episode?Summary: 4:35 Interesting Facts: 7:15 Background of the Battle: 8:35 The Battle: 32:55 Aftermath: 52:50 Visiting Today: 55:20The Battle of Yorktown, also known as the Siege of Yorktown, was the final and most important battle of the Revolutionary War, resulting in the complete surrender of the British forces under General Lord Cornwallis to General George Washington and eventually leading to the full British surrender and independence for the United States. Culminating on Oct. 19th, 1781, the battle pitted a combined force of about 17,000 American and French troops against just over 8,000 British. The British had been holed up in the port town of Yorktown, Virginia, near the Chesapeake Bay since the summer, but by October they found themselves trapped between a French fleet at sea and American and French troops by land. Without escape or reinforcement the British forces were sitting ducks.By 1781 the American Revolution had reached its 6th year of fighting, with both sides tired, but momentum was on the side of the Americans. The French had allied with the Americans and were providing soldiers, supplies, and their powerful navy. The British had tried unsuccessfully for years to control the Middle and New England colonies, and by 1781 their only force, though a large one, in the northern colonies was stationed in New York City. Washington’s strategy of protracted fighting and avoiding large, pitched battles had worn down the enemy, and support for independence steadily grew throughout the new United States. But victory was far from certain. British forces, particularly those under General Cornwallis, were attacking throughout the south, and the British forces in New York City far outnumbered Washington’s and could defeat or capture his army at any time. The Americans, and French, however, with a great deal of ingenuity and a little bit of luck, managed to corner and defeat Cornwallis’ southern force. “Oh God! It’s all over.” Said British Prime Minister Lord North upon hearing the news of the defeat at Yorktown. For all intents and purposes it was, although Washington and the rest of those fighting didn’t know it yet, still afraid of the British force in New York. The British would not attack, however, and soon peace negotiations began, finally ending with the Treaty of Paris in 1783. It secured full independence for the fledgling United States, creating the first democracy the world had seen since Rome, and proved that the world’s most powerful countries and their monarchs could be challenged and overcome.The Educator Podcast is hosted by Matt Douglas, former history teacher, longtime educator and life coach for teens and young adults. To see more of The Educator Podcast, including the Perspectives and How To series, visit TheEducatorPodcast.com. Please rate, review, subscribe and share to help support the show and to get updates on each new episode as it comes out. For more information on Matt Douglas and his work, please visit www.lifecoachingsd.com or follow him on Instagram at lifecoachingsd. This episode was recorded on June 16, 2021.  

In today’s episode I interview Sarah Hernholm, the Founder and President of WIT – Whatever It Takes, a 3 time TEDx speaker, and Forbes and Today Show community contributor who has made a lasting impact on the world of education, for what turns into a fascinating interview where she gives tons of advice for teens and any would-be entrepreneur, discusses her work and life story, the WIT program she runs and education in general. See this interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPsRSUecW9oWant to jump ahead in this episode? Why Education? 3:00 How and Why Sarah Started WIT: 14:00 What is WIT?: 29:30 Advice for Educators: 55:00 Advice for Teens: 1:01:00 Sarah Hernholm is the Founder and President of WIT – Whatever It Takes, an entrepreneur and leadership program for teens and tweens that offers students around the world college credit, a community of like-minded peers, mentorship and business coaching, and even a week-long intensive Camp WIT that culminates in a pitch competition with a $1000 cash prize. Started in 2009, WIT has grown into a world-wide, one-of-a-kind business, education and mentoring organization. Sarah began her career in education as an elementary school teacher before leaving to found her company, which she still runs.WIT - Whatever It Takes - https://www.doingwit.org/  WIT on IG: @doing_wit Sarah Hernholm on IG: @miss_wit If you liked this episode and want to see more like it please rate, review, subscribe and share, it really helps support the show, and to find more information and episodes of The Educator Podcast, including the How To and Walking History series, visit https://www.theeducatorpodcast.com/ or your favorite podcast app. For more information on Matt Douglas, the host and creator of The Educator Podcast, please visit https://www.lifecoachingsd.com, or follow me at lifecoachingsd on Instagram. This episode was recorded on June 3, 2021.Special thanks to MaxKoMusic for this episode’s theme music.Positive Hip-Hop by MaxKoMusic |  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Dive into the history and words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have A Dream” speech, which he gave on August 28, 1963 in front of a crowd of 250,000 people at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.  Stick around or jump ahead to the end of the episode to discover what it’s like to visit the location of this incredible moment in American history today.Want to jump ahead in this episode?Summary: 4:00Interesting Facts: 5:55 Background of the Speech: 7:45The Speech: 27:20Aftermath of the Speech: 40:00Visiting Today: 46:00Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech has earned its place as one of the most influential speeches in American history, alongside such iconic orations as Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and helped solidify King as the unofficial face of the Civil Rights movement in America and one of the greatest leaders of a nonviolent movement in history. In the speech, King combined raw, emotional power with artful eloquence, commanding the moral high ground on the issues of civil rights and economic equality while seamlessly painting a painfully clear but accurate depiction of the oppression African Americans had and continued to face and the need for circumstances to drastically change. He did this masterfully, in a way that was relatable not just to the African Americans in the US who had experienced it first hand for centuries, but for the many whites who were willing to listen but had only witnessed it as outsiders.Martin Luther King Jr’s speech helped invigorate the Civil Rights movement and was instrumental in creating the public and political will necessary to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the two most significant pieces of legislation of the Civil Rights era. His words, which rise and fall like a symphony, finally crescendoing with the depiction of his infamous dream, have been immortalized in the American consciousness, taught in classrooms across the United States and the world for decades, and inspired countless activists to uphold his legacy to fight for justice, equality, freedom and democracy. This episode discusses the speech itself, the buildup to it, including how the March on Washington came to be, and the incredibly significant aftermath, which help vault King to international renown and was crucial to the passing of the most significant civil rights legislation of the 20th century.Are you a fan of interesting facts? Listen to discover how the speech had been given very little attention until the day before he gave it, how without singer Mahalia Jackson the iconic “I have a dream” refrain may have never happened, and much more. If you liked this episode and want to see more like it please rate, review, subscribe and share, it really helps support the show, and to find more information and episodes visit TheEducatorPodcast.com or your favorite podcast app. For more information on me and my work, please visit lifecoachingsd.com, or follow me at lifecoachingsd on Instagram. This episode was recorded on May 26, 2021.   

Ever wonder what it’s like to chaperone Prom? How about a Prom from hell? In this episode of The Educator Podcast: Perspectives I tell the story of a Prom gone horribly wrong. It involves an explosion, a highway, and some very stressed-out chaperones. Don’t worry though, it all worked out alright! All of us, adults and students, made it back in one piece to tell the tale of a Prom story that could have been taken straight out of a movie, one that I probably wouldn’t have believed unless I'd been there to see it for myself. If you liked this episode and want to see more like it please rate, review, subscribe and share, it really helps support the show, and to find more information and episodes visit TheEducatorPodcast.com or your favorite podcast app. For more information on me and my work, please visit lifecoachingsd.com, or follow me at lifecoachingsd on Instagram. This episode was recorded on May 7, 2021.  Special thanks to MaxKoMusic for this episode’s theme music.Positive Hip-Hop by MaxKoMusic |  https://maxkomusic.com/Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

Professional comedian Adam Mamawala takes us on a wild ride in this extended interview as he discusses his unique and remarkable life and breaks down what it takes to make it as a comedian today. He details his rise through the comedy world and all the challenges, hardships, glories and hilarious anecdotes he’s experienced along the way, and gives tons of advice for any aspiring comic, entertainer or really anyone looking to break out and make it on their own. Listen through the whole thing or check the show notes below to jump to a specific section.Want to jump ahead in this episode?Why Comedy? - 6:00How Adam Started In Comedy  - 17:15Leaving The College Circuit - 36:15Making It As A NYC Comic - 42:20Daily Life Of A Comedian - 57:10Practical Advice - 1:03:50 Adam Mamawala is a professional comedian who has been active and successful in the field of comedy for close to 15 years. His breakout fame came early, when as a college student he won the 2007 NJ Comedy Festival and was crowned the “New Jersey King of Campus Comedy”, and was soon featured in Funny or Die’s Top 30 to Watch Under 30. Since then he’s headlined at Caroline’s on Broadway, performed in 40 states at colleges, comedy clubs and comedy festivals, appeared as a comedian and sketch comedy artist on MTV, Comedy Central, and BET, worked as a freelancer contributor to Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update and his 2017 standup comedy album “One of the Good Ones” debuted at #1 on the iTunes Comedy Charts. Undeterred by Covid, he has performed in a variety of virtual format comedy shows and was recently featured in the New York Times for performing live on the 1 Train with the group Stand Up NY, a story that was picked up by media outlets across the globe. He has also recently branched out into acting and podcasting, and hosts two sports related podcasts, Away Games and HORSE, which was featured in the New York Times as a “Sports Podcast even a newbie can enjoy”. To see more of Adam Mamawala, check the links below: Website - www.adammamawala.com Instagram - www.instagram.com/adammamawala Twitter - https://twitter.com/adammamawala “One Of The Good Ones” Comedy Album - https://music.apple.com/us/album/one-of-the-good-ones/1286799533 Stand Up NY On The 1 Train – NYT Feature https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/02/arts/television/subway-comedy-show.html  If you like this episode and want to see more like it please rate, review, subscribe and share, it really helps support the show, and to find more information and episodes, including the Walking History and Perspectives series, visit TheEducatorPodcast.com or your favorite podcast app. The Educator Podcast is hosted, produced and edited by Matt Douglas. For more information on him and his work, please visit lifecoachingsd.com, or follow him at lifecoachingsd on Instagram. This episode was recorded on April 25, 2021. 

In this episode of Walking History we visit and discuss the detailed history of the National Mall in Washington, DC, one of the most iconic and historic spaces in America.  The National Mall was first conceived by President George Washington’s handpicked designer for the new capital of Washington, DC, Pierre L’Enfant, in 1791. It has seen many changes from his original design, but the original intent remains, and today this sprawling, 2 mile wide green space host over 25 million visitors each year and is home to some of the most impressive cultural and historic museums, memorials and monuments in the country.   Want to jump ahead in this episode?  Overview of the National Mall: 2:55 Interesting Facts: 5:15 History of the National Mall: 6:20 Visiting the Mall Today: 12:30 Washington Monument: 22:00 WWII Memorial: 31:50 Vietnam Veterans Memorial: 39:45 Lincoln Memorial: 48:00 MLK Jr. Memorial: 53:30 Jefferson Memorial: 1:00.15The National Mall was first conceived in 1791, but throughout even the majority of the 1800s it looked very different than it does today. Originally, half the area we know of as the National Mall today was under water, and the only main structures visible were the White House, Capitol Building, a few museums, and the Washington Monument, which sat half finished for decades until its capstone was finally placed in 1884. That all changed in 1902 with the adoption of the McMillan plan, which reimagined the National Mall as the centerpiece of the city and a vast, open, memorial and museum filled park. That’s exactly what it has become today, with the creation of world renowned museums such at the Air and Space Museum, Hirshorn Museum, National Gallery of Art and Holocaust Museum, just to name a few, stunning memorials and monuments honoring famous Americans like Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Martin Luther King, Jr, and honoring veterans from wars including WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam. It’s beautiful, wide open spaces attract tourists and locals alike, it has hosted some of the most famous marches and rallies in American history, was home to Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech, and draws 1.5 million visitors each year during the few short weeks at the beginning of spring for the stunning Cherry Blossom Festival. Let this episode be your guide as we travel to the National Mall and discuss its detailed history, including a deep-dive into 6 of its most iconic memorials and monuments, and discuss what it’s like to visit this beautiful and quintessentially American space, including visiting, parking and travel information.Are you a fan of interesting facts? Jump ahead to discover the oldest structure still standing there today, where the term “Mall” comes from, and what happened after a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit the city in 2011. The Educator Podcast is hosted by Matt Douglas, former history teacher, longtime educator and life coach for teens and young adults. To see more of The Educator Podcast, including the Perspectives and How To series, visit TheEducatorPodcast.com. Please like, review, subscribe and share to help support the show and to get updates on each new episode as it comes out. For more information on Matt Douglas and his work, please visit www.lifecoachingsd.com or follow him on Instagram at lifecoachingsd. This episode was recorded on April 19th, 2021. 

In this episode of Walking History we discuss The Battle of Antietam, also known as The Battle of Sharpsburg, one of the most consequential battles of the American Civil War and the single bloodiest day in American history. We also take a look at what it’s like to visit this extremely well-preserved battlefield today.  The Battle of Antietam took place on September 17th, 1862 in the Appalachian foothills of western Maryland, just across the border from Virginia. It resulted in almost 23,000 casualties and over 3,500 deaths, although the actual numbers are likely far higher, and lead President Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. Want to jump ahead in this episode?Summary: 2:08Interesting Facts: 6:40Context of the Battle: 8:16The Battle: 31:26Aftermath of the Battle: 50:38Visiting the Battlefield Today: 59:58 In the weeks before the battle, more than 40,000 Confederate troops lead by General Robert E. Lee had made their way north into Union held Maryland and were pursued by almost 90,000 Union troops under the command of General George B. McClellan. Lee eventually positioned his forces in a somewhat precarious position near the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland, with his back to Potomac River. A master tactician, he knew the many faults of his opponent, and was willing to bet his smaller force could still win the day. McClellan positioned his forces north to south, opposite Lee’s, across a small river called Antietam Creek, and set up to attack. Small-scale skirmishing occurred on the evening of September 16th, and early on September 17th the Union attack began in earnest. McClellan attacked first at the northern end of the line, and for hours Union forces bombarded Confederate troops in a bloodbath that left thousands dead and wounded. Unable to dislodge the Confederates, McClellan then sent his forces towards the center at what would become one of the most hallowed grounds on a Civil War battlefield, the Sunken Road, also known as the Bloody Lane. Finally, McClellan ordered attacks towards the south of the line where a small bridge crossed Antietam Creek. For hours thousands of Union troops were held back by only 500 Confederates who held the high ground across the river until Union troops finally broke through at 1pm. Almost in a position to outflank Lee’s army and potentially cut them off from retreat, a Confederate force arrived at the last possible moment, stalling the Union advance and effectively ending the battle. Lee, outnumbered and battered, remained in his position the next day and then retreated back to Confederate held Virginia. McClellan, despite repeated pleas by Lincoln and the War Department, refused to pursue.The battle was a strategic victory for the North in that it stopped a Confederate invasion, but could have resulted with the complete defeat or capture of Lee's forces had McClellan acted more decisively or had a more competent commander been in charge. Seeing the battle as an important morale boost for the country, however, President Lincoln used the opportunity to issue one of the most famous and consequential statements in American history, the Emancipation Proclamation, changing the nature of the war and forever altering the course of US history. The Educator Podcast is hosted by Matt Douglas, former history teacher, longtime educator and life coach for teens and young adults. To see more of The Educator Podcast, including the Perspectives and How To series, visit TheEducatorPodcast.com. Please like, review, subscribe and share to help support the show and to get updates on each new episode as it comes out. For more information on Matt Douglas and his work, please visit www.lifecoachingsd.com or follow him on Instagram at lifecoachingsd. This episode was recorded on March 28, 2021. 

In this deep and at times shocking episode of The Educator Podcast: Perspectives, I interview Union Representative and veteran high school Health and PE teacher Josh McGoun. We dive in and discuss the inexcusable disrespect the teaching profession has faced in America, the critical role teachers’ unions play in public schools and the lives of teachers, the teacher retention crisis that is currently plaguing American public schools, the dramatic changes to the teaching of Health and PE in the past two decades, the effects of Covid on students, teachers, and education, and much more. This episode is a must-listen to anyone currently working or considering working in a public school, as well as anyone who is interested in improving the public school system in America, and provides a number of important action-items educators and even the everyday public can take to help advocate for and improve public education. Josh explains the central role teachers’ unions play in American education and how their benefits are widely unknown or misunderstood, the dire need to address the teacher retention crisis – 47% of teachers leave the profession in the first few years, according to his research – and the top three reasons why new teachers resign.  He also explains just how dramatically the Health and PE field has changed, as long gone are the days of gym teachers leading dodgeball games just to pass the time that most of us grew up with. Josh loathes the term “gym teacher”, as now the field has radically professionalized to focus on student learning, teaching healthy habits, and discussing complex and often emotionally sensitive topics. We also discuss the Covid crisis and much more in this wide-ranging, and at times painful, but ultimately inspiring interview. Want to jump ahead in the episode?Teachers’ Union Discussion: 6:00 Teacher Retention Crisis: 28:10 Top 3 Reasons Teachers Resign: 32:40 Changes in Health and PE: 41:00 Effect of Covid in Schools: 56:45  Josh McGoun is a veteran Union Representative and High School Health and PE Teacher who has spent the past 12 years of his education career at Howard High School in Howard County, Maryland. He graduated with a Bachelor’s of Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a Masters of Education in Reading Education from Towson University, and will soon receive his Doctorate of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of South Carolina. He has done extensive research addressing teacher retention and hiring, has played a role in teacher contract negotiations, and has been a vocal voice supporting teachers in his community. He is also a Varsity Golf and Ice Hockey Coach.The Educator Podcast is hosted by Matt Douglas, longtime educator and life coach for teens and young adults. To see more of The Educator Podcast, including the Walking History and How To series, please visit TheEducatorPodcast.com. For more information about me and my work, please visit www.lifecoachingsd.com or follow me on Instagram at lifecoachingsd. This episode was recorded on March 18, 2021. Special thanks to MaxKoMusic for this episode’s theme music.Positive Hip-Hop by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

In this episode of The Educator Podcast: Perspectives I share two of the most shocking and borderline scary stories of my educational career from my time as a naïve 21 year old from the suburbs of New Jersey student-teaching in an inner-city high school just outside of Washington, DC. The Educator Podcast is hosted by Matt Douglas, longtime educator and life coach for teens and young adults. To see more of The Educator Podcast, including the Walking History and How To series, please visit TheEducatorPodcast.com. Please like, review and subscribe to support the show and to get updates on each new episode as it comes out! For more information about me and my work, please visit www.lifecoachingsd.com or follow me on Instagram at lifecoachingsd. This episode was recorded on March 11, 2021. Special thanks to MaxKoMusic for this episode’s theme music.Positive Hip-Hop by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/  Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com  Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US