BustED Pencils
Listen Live: Monday - Friday 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Host: Civic Media
BustED Pencils; Fully Leaded Education Talk is a powerful radio show/podcast dedicated to public education. BustED Pencils is known for its commitment to the hard facts with a humorous twist. Hosts Dr. Tim Slekar and Dr. Johnny Lupinacci cover the “real” issues in education. The show establishes an alternative space and discusses education reform from an entirely progressive perspective. Our approach is funny, edgy, passionate, witty and gritty and features an array of guests. BustED Pencils explores the political and commercial influences behind education policy. We deliver trending education news without the jargon, and most importantly, we promote a vision of public schools that all children deserve. BustED Pencils appeals to ”your neighbor”—parents, grandparents, guardians, teachers, policymakers, taxpayers and students alike.
In the Headlines
Cicadas have started to emerge in Wisconsin
May 21, 2024
It’s a Monday but we got this! Join Tim and Johnny and guests Chris Saldana and Heather Dubois Bourenane as they check in on budgets that haven’t kept pace with inflation and how much it really takes to education one student for one year. Chris talks us through how school budgets are determined and where […]
The birth of knowing- what education really means. In the weekly wrap-up, Tim and Johnny wrestle again with how to use powerful tools like AI in the classroom for good and what to do when curriculum mandates get in the way of real learning opportunities.
A conversation with Aaron Makelky on the pros and cons of using AI in the classroom. Is it a powerful tool that we should be teaching students to harness for good? Or is it a dangerous cesspool for nothing better than cheating?
With insights from teachers Hallie and Joanna, the conversation delves deep into the realities of the teaching profession, exploring the struggles of maintaining balance and wellness in a demanding educational environment. They address the pressing need for a shift in how well-being is integrated within schools, arguing for a system that supports both teachers and […]
Its just Johnny, Tim, and the latest hits in education news, namely the so-called ‘science’ of reading.
It’s almost like putting the tests ahead of the students was a bad idea… Join Dr. Johnny on a solo show with guest Dr. Amanda Fraiser as they discuss the wide differences between the charter school conundrum from Wisconsin to Tennessee to Washington. Dr. Amanda Fraiser is a well-published researcher who has been in and […]
Dr. Tim Slekar and Dr. Johnny Lupinacci, along with guest Teacher Hallie, dive into the profound impact of educators during Teacher Appreciation Week. They share personal anecdotes and heartfelt tributes to teachers who have significantly influenced their lives, underscoring the transformative power of education. The conversation extends beyond mere appreciation as they critically examine the […]
Continuing Teacher Appreciation Week, Dr. Tim and Dr. Johnny are excited to welcome Dr. Diane Ravitch to the program! She is an esteemed educator and education historian, and you can check out her books at dianeravitch.com. She talks with Tim and Johnny about the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on education. In 2020, she published […]
Bust-ed Pencils is glad to break up your Monday monotony by bringing you TWO excellent guests! You know her as “Matt Damon’s Mom” but we get to call her Nancy Carlsson Paige – she joins us to discuss all that’s happening in her wild world. Plus, Alex Bohr of the University of Michigan’s ‘Grow Your […]