The Play Ed3 Podcast

Welcome to The Play Ed3 Podcast — where educators, learners, and behind-the-scenes change-makers all have a voice. Hosted by Tisha Poncio and Rick Butterworth, this show brings real stories, practical insights, and meaningful conversations from across the world of education. Whether you’re in the classroom or reimagining systems, you’re a recurring guest here. Join us to learn, grow, and play your part in the future of education.

The Play Ed3 Podcast is a education podcast hosted by Play Ed3, with 62 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Play Ed3 hosts The Play Ed3 Podcast, a education show with 62 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #13

  Why Won't AI Solve Education's Real Problems? with Jeffrey Bradbury

  Aug 17, 20261h 5mS2

  AI keeps getting pitched as the fix for everything wrong with education. Rick and Tisha sit down with Jeffrey Bradbury — founder of TeacherCast Educational Network — to make the case that it isn't. Jeffrey shares his journey building TeacherCast into a resource reaching educators in 180 countries, and why the real work of teaching still comes down to self-care, community, and consistency — not technology. They explore the surprising parallels between music and teaching, why every teacher is essentially building a personal brand whether they realize it or not, and the vital role instructional coaches play in helping educators see their own potential. Then the conversation turns to AI head-on: why it can't replace clear goals or strong leadership, how the digital divide is quietly widening, and why teachers need to know their 'why' before any tool — AI included — can actually help. It wraps with a lighthearted Juice Box Confessional that'll have you smiling. 00:00 Introduction and New Beginnings 01:03 Avoiding Teacher Burnout 02:25 Guest Introduction: Jeffrey Bradbury 03:19 The Influence of Family and Personal Growth 05:23 Turning Around to Help Others 06:55 The Impact of Teaching and Community Support 09:19 The Connection Between Music and Education 10:59 Performing Arts and Teaching Dynamics 12:54 The Delayed Gratification of Teaching 14:41 The Importance of Consistency in Teaching 16:02 The Role of Instructional Coaches 18:54 Seeing Teachers as Conductors 20:45 The Potential in Every Classroom 22:12 Building a Personal Brand as a Teacher 24:52 Teachers as Businesses of One 27:53 The Importance of Personal Identity 30:14 Maintaining Professional Identity Beyond Job Titles 34:38 The Role of AI in Education 41:42 Navigating the Digital Divide 46:04 Vision and Leadership in Education 51:52 Personalized Learning and Advocacy 56:00 Juice Box Confessionals: Fun and Reflection About Jeffrey Bradbury Jeff Bradbury is an ISTE+ASCD 20 to Watch Award winner, globally recognized digital learning strategist, educational broadcaster, author, and proud triplet dad whose mission is to help educators maximize their impact in the classroom. Jeff created the TeacherCast Educational Network in 2011, building it into an award-winning resource reaching educators in 180 countries and ranked among the top 50 educational websites and podcasts. His work supporting instructional coaches earned him the ISTE Instructional Coaches Award, leading to the creation of The TeacherCast Instructional Coaches Network and GEG Instructional Coaches. Jeff currently serves as a Digital Media Teacher at Schaghticoke Middle School in New Milford Public Schools (CT) and as an Adjunct Instructor at Fort Hays State University. His first book, Impact Standards: Designing District Systems that Power K-12 Learning, provides a roadmap for school districts to transform their culture through standards-based innovation. A sought-after speaker, Edcamp New Jersey co-founder, and TEDx Speaker, Jeff is a Google Certified Innovator, Google Certified Coach, and Microsoft Innovative Educator. Follow Jeffrey Bradbury on: YouTube: https://www.teachercast.net/YouTube LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreydbradbury/ X: https://x.com/teachercast BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/jeffreybradbury.bsky.social Website: https://teachercast.net/ Press Play Newsletter: https://played3.com/?newsletter=1 Listen and subscribe on your favorite platform:Spotify | Apple Podcast | Amazon Music | YouTube Follow Play Ed3 Podcast on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/played3podcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/played3podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlayEd3Podcast?sub_confirmation=1 Want to be a guest?: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCaEyQrrPcYsKdQHaSlFbVXVVC_eNyXMMfy5NTj0aRNcR6Vw/viewform?usp=header Let's learn, grow and play together

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  Episode #12

  Is AI Killing Creativity or Unlocking It?

  Aug 10, 20261h 18mS2

  AI is everywhere in education right now — but is it making us more creative, or quietly flattening everything into sameness? Rick and Tisha dig into the question with real, honest experiences from their own lives. They start with feedback from past episodes before diving into AI in the classroom — why critical thinking and digital citizenship matter more than ever, and why asking the right questions is the real skill worth teaching. Rick then walks through his personal journey building a website with AI, from the importance of having a clear vision before you start, to what he calls the sea of sameness in AI-generated design. The conversation gets practical fast — prompting, generating variants, why you should never accept the first result, and how AI works best as a creative partner, not a shortcut. Honest, curious, and genuinely useful for anyone still figuring out where AI fits in their classroom or their life. 00:00 Introduction and Feedback on Previous Episodes09:02 Exploring AI in Education22:06 Critical Thinking and AI Literacy26:55 Human vs. Technology in Information Access27:55 The Teacher's Journey: Embracing Knowledge and Technology29:15 Learning Together: Sharing Experiences with AI31:10 Building with AI: A Designer's Perspective34:46 The Sea of Sameness: AI's Impact on Creativity45:13 Crafting a Unique Process: Building a Website with AI53:48 Exploring AI Prompting Techniques56:20 The Importance of Variants in AI Responses1:00:04 Navigating AI Processing Times1:01:40 Critical Thinking in AI Results1:04:01 Iterating on AI Outputs1:09:34 Feedback and Reflection in AI Usage Listen and subscribe on your favorite platform:Spotify | Apple Podcast | Amazon Music | YouTube Follow Play Ed3 Podcast on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/played3podcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/played3podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlayEd3Podcast?sub_confirmation=1 ‍♀️Follow Tisha on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tishaponcio X (Twitter): https://x.com/tishaponcio TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tishaponcio ‍♂️Follow Rick on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickbutterworth X (Twitter): https://x.com/r1ck11 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rickbutterworth Want to be a guest?: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCaEyQrrPcYsKdQHaSlFbVXVVC_eNyXMMfy5NTj0aRNcR6Vw/viewform?usp=header Let's learn, grow and play together

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  Episode #10

  What Happens When a High-Achiever Hits a Mental Health Wall? with Eric Kussin

  Jul 27, 20261h 35mS2

  What do you do when you've built a career most people dream of — and then lose everything to your own mind? Rick and Tisha sit down with Eric Kussin, former Chief Revenue Officer with the Florida Panthers and founder of #SameHere Global, for one of the most powerful conversations PE3 has ever had. Eric spent over 15 years at the top of professional sports — NBA, NHL, the works — before a severe mental health crisis left him bed-bound for more than two and a half years. He talks openly about burnout, treatment resistance, ECT, and the moment he finally said "I need help." And out of that darkness, he built a movement. #SameHere Global is now in K-12 schools, college campuses, pro sports teams, corporations, and government agencies — all with one message: mental health is a universal experience, not a personal failing. This episode doesn't flinch. It's raw, real, and exactly the kind of conversation educators need to hear. 00:00 "I started to lose interest in things." 18:24 "I was hired to build it the right way." 19:01 "I didn't notice it as a sign." 20:35 "I was pouring more into my work." 26:48 "The issues are in the tissues." 27:17 "How do we work on reconnecting the two?" 28:52 "I want to create this company because..." 30:59 "The smallest tasks were so mountainous." 32:03 "What is wrong with me?" 41:47 "I need help." 57:33 "I wrote a book about my experience." 59:02 "I was deemed treatment resistant." 1:05:38 "The compounding of trauma — complex CPTSD." 1:09:09 "What if I get sick? What if I die?" 1:13:35 "You can't attack this problem at all." 1:20:46 "You don't taste what you don't have." 1:27:35 "Everyone is going through something." 1:30:09 "Emotional pain is emotional pain." About Eric Kussin Eric Kussin founded and leads #SameHere — The Global Mental Health Movement, dedicated to normalizing mental health as a universal experience affecting "5-in-5" people through life's inevitable challenges. A magna cum laude Cornell graduate, Eric built a 15+ year career in professional sports — starting at the NBA League Office and advancing to Chief Revenue Officer with the Florida Panthers. A severe mental health crisis in his mid-30s left him bed-bound for over 2½ years. Through integrative healing, he recovered and launched #SameHere in 2017, uniting athletes, celebrities, experts, advocates, and everyday people to promote open conversations and proactive wellbeing. #SameHere delivers programs to K-12 schools, college campuses, professional teams, corporations, and agencies like the NYPD and Department of Defense. He co-hosts the podcast We're All A Little Crazy with NHL star Theo Fleury and is the author of the upcoming book DiagNOsis: How We Defeat the Mental Health Epidemic by Labeling Less and Connecting More. Follow Eric Kussin on: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@samehere_global Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samehere_global/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SameHereGlobal YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@samehere_global LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-kussin Website: https://samehereglobal.org/ Listen and subscribe on your favorite platform: Spotify | Apple Podcast | Amazon Music | YouTube Follow Play Ed3 Podcast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/played3podcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/played3podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlayEd3Podcast?sub_confirmation=1 ‍♀️Follow Tisha on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tishaponcio X (Twitter): https://x.com/tishaponcio TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tishaponcio ‍♂️Follow Rick on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickbutterworth X (Twitter): https://x.com/r1ck11 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rickbutterworth Want to be a guest?: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCaEyQrrPcYsKdQHaSlFbVXVVC_eNyXMMfy5NTj0aRNcR6Vw/viewform?usp=header Let's learn, grow and play together

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  Episode #9

  Why Is Intentionality the Missing Piece in Professional Development?

  Jul 20, 20261h 7mS2

  Rick and Tisha just got back from ISTE — and they came home with a lot more than a tote bag and a lanyard. In this episode, they unpack what it really means to show up intentionally at a conference (and in life). From the significance of ISTE's name change to the moments that actually moved them, they dig into creativity, self-care, physical expression in education, and the gap between attending professional development and truly absorbing it. Plus: humorous conference stories, honest reflections on pacing and presence, and why personal growth is inseparable from professional growth. If you've ever sat through a PD session and wondered what you were supposed to take from it — this one's for you. 00:00 Introduction and Conference Overview 01:57 The Significance of the ISTE Name Change 03:57 Personal Reflections and Humorous Stories from the Conference 10:02 Lessons on Intentionality and Self-Care at ISTE 20:04 The Importance of Physical Expression and Creativity in Education 30:11 Transforming Education: Technology, Policies, and Practices 39:48 The Art of Exploration and Perspective in Learning 49:57 Conference Takeaways: Pacing, Presence, and Personal Growth 01:00:02 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Episodes Listen and subscribe on your favorite platform: Spotify | Apple Podcast | Amazon Music | YouTube Follow Play Ed3 Podcast on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/played3podcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/played3podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlayEd3Podcast?sub_confirmation=1 ‍♀️Follow Tisha on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tishaponcio X (Twitter): https://x.com/tishaponcio TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tishaponcio ‍♂️Follow Rick on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickbutterworth X (Twitter): https://x.com/r1ck11 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rickbutterworth Want to be a guest?: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCaEyQrrPcYsKdQHaSlFbVXVVC_eNyXMMfy5NTj0aRNcR6Vw/viewform?usp=header Let's learn, grow and play together

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  Episode #8

  Can Talking About Mental Health Actually Change How Students Learn? with Dr. Marialice Curran

  Jul 13, 20261h 20mS2

  Mental health isn't a detour from learning — it's the foundation of it. Rick and Tisha welcome Dr. Marialice Curran, educational consultant and Community Impact Director for #SameHere Global, for a conversation that goes deep. Dr. Marialice shares her personal journey navigating dyslexia and neurodivergence, and makes the case that what schools often treat as a deficit is actually a superpower waiting to be unlocked. They explore the connection between dyslexia and mental health, the role community plays in wellbeing, how to break intergenerational trauma, and why creating safe spaces for students isn't optional — it's essential. Packed with personal stories, practical tools, and a Juice Box Confessional that takes a trip back to classroom tech nostalgia, this one will stay with you long after it ends. 00:00 Summer Vibes and Personal Reflections02:22 Introducing Dr. Mary Alice Curran06:48 Inspiration and Influences14:07 Navigating Dyslexia and Education23:19 Embracing Neurodivergence as a Superpower27:05 Understanding Dyslexia and Its Impact30:15 The Connection Between Dyslexia and Mental Health35:23 Personal Stories and the Importance of Counseling39:31 Breaking Intergenerational Trauma42:40 The Role of Community in Mental Health48:01 Tools for Mental Health Awareness54:53 The Evolution of Technology in Education55:59 The Power of Technology in Education57:31 Disconnecting for Mental Health01:00:01 Juice Box Confessional: Reflecting on Teaching Experiences01:02:54 Nostalgia for Classroom Technology01:05:59 Coping Mechanisms for Rough Days01:08:59 Creating Safe Spaces for Students01:14:05 Advice for Today's Educators About Marialice B.F.X. Curran Marialice B.F.X. Curran, Ph.D. is an educational consultant, mental wellness advocate, and community architect who helps schools and organizations translate research into practical, human-centered systems. She also serves as Community Impact Director for #SameHere Global, designing programs that normalize mental health conversations and integrate social-emotional wellbeing into everyday life. Her work brings together educators, students, and community members across generations to learn, grow, and support each other at school, home, play, and work. Follow Marialice B.F.X. Curran on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_mbfxc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mbfxc/ X: https://x.com/SameHere_Global BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mbfxc.bsky.social Website: https://mentalhealthbydesign.com/ or https://samehereglobal.org/ 📢 Listen and subscribe on your favorite platform: Spotify | Apple Podcast | Amazon Music | YouTube 📱Follow Play Ed3 Podcast on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/played3podcast TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/played3podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PlayEd3Podcast?sub_confirmation=1 🙋‍♀️Follow Tisha on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tishaponcio X (Twitter): https://x.com/tishaponcio TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tishaponcio 🙋‍♂️Follow Rick on:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickbutterworth X (Twitter): https://x.com/r1ck11 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rickbutterworth Want to be a guest?: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCaEyQrrPcYsKdQHaSlFbVXVVC_eNyXMMfy5NTj0aRNcR6Vw/viewform?usp=header 🧠 Let's learn, grow and play together

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