Lifelong Learning: Financial Survival in Uncertain Times
🎙 You’re tuned in to The Education Evolution—and this is Lifelong Learning.
This podcast is for the thinkers, the doers, and everyone who knows the most important lessons aren’t always taught in school.
💭 How do you navigate open enrollment during a government shutdown?
💭 What does financial literacy look like when the economy feels uncertain?
💭 And how can we build stability when our energy—and our paychecks—are running low?
In this episode, Jihad (Mr. Jihad) gets real about money, mindset, and survival literacy in today’s unpredictable world. Using lessons learned from his own open-enrollment confusion, he breaks down the small but powerful financial moves that build control and confidence—even when life feels chaotic.
We’ll cover:
✅ How to actually understand open enrollment, benefits, and pre-tax tools
✅ Why the 15% rule for retirement saving still matters
✅ The hidden benefits you might be sleeping on—like your EAP, HSA, and FSA
✅ Strategies for freelancers and 1099 workers during financial slowdowns
✅ A quick-fire challenge of small moves that make a big impact
This episode is about empowerment, not perfection. Because knowing your benefits, your protections, and your options isn’t just financial literacy—it’s survival literacy.
📅 New episodes every Wednesday.
🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
🎙 Welcome to The Education Evolution!
This is Hall Pass to the Real World — where we connect what’s happening in classrooms to what’s happening in the world around us.
💭 What happens when AI in schools mistakes a student’s chip bag for a gun?
💭 Who’s accountable when technology meant to protect instead causes harm?
💭 And how do we keep “school safety” human-centered in the age of AI?
In this episode, Lindsay (Ms. Black) breaks down the Baltimore County high school incident where an AI-powered security system misidentified a snack as a weapon—leading to a Black student being handcuffed at football practice.
We unpack:
✅ What actually happened that night at Kenwood High School
✅ How Omnilert’s “gun detection” AI failed the human-in-the-loop test
✅ Why miscommunication between school officials and law enforcement made things worse
✅ The racial optics and emotional toll incidents like this have on Black students and communities
✅ Why empathy, context, and human judgment must always come before automation
This episode isn’t just about tech—it’s about trust, accountability, and the urgent need for AI literacy in education. Because if we’re going to integrate these tools into schools, we have to do it responsibly.
📅 New episodes drop every Wednesday.
🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform.
🎙 Welcome to The Education Evolution!
This is Unscripted — where we ditch the lesson plans and lean into honest conversations about education, life, leadership, and whatever’s on our hearts.
💭 How are you closing out the year—intentionally or just surviving?
💭 What does reflection actually look like when life keeps lifing?
💭 And how can we set goals that feel aligned, not forced, heading into the next quarter?
In this episode, we’re keeping it real about goal setting, accountability, and balance as we head into the fourth quarter. From gym routines and financial check-ins to professional milestones like HR certifications, we’re unpacking what it looks like to end the year with purpose.
We’ll also recap our most recent episodes—covering AI in education, the OpenAI vs LinkedIn credential wars, and current events in schools—and share what we’ve learned along the way. This one’s part catch-up, part reflection, and all about growth in real time.
Because whether you’re mapping out Q4 goals or just trying to finish strong, we want you to know it’s okay to pivot, pause, and still push forward.
📅 New episodes every Wednesday.
🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
🎙 Welcome to The Education Evolution!
This is Tech Evolution — where we break down how technology, learning, and opportunity collide in real time.
💭 Would you choose a LinkedIn Learning badge—or an OpenAI certification?
💭 How do you prove your skills when degrees aren’t the default anymore?
💭 And what does “qualified” even mean in a world driven by AI?
In this episode, we’re diving into the credential wars between OpenAI and LinkedIn—two power players fighting to define what professional credibility looks like in this new era of work.
We’ll get into:
✅ What OpenAI’s new Certification Hub and jobs platform are actually offering
✅ How it stacks up against LinkedIn Learning and traditional degree programs
✅ Why skills-based hiring is overtaking the “you need a 4-year degree” mentality
✅ Where to find legit AI learning spaces, bootcamps, and certs you can grab now
✅ And how getting in early on AI education can give you a serious career edge
This one’s for anyone navigating the shift from resume-based validation to proof-based performance. Because in this new world, proof beats pedigree—and those who learn, build, and show their work early are the ones who’ll lead the change.
📅 New episodes drop every Wednesday.
🎥 Catch the full episode on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform.
🎙 Welcome to The Education Evolution!
This is Lifelong Learning — where we explore how schools, culture, and language shape our daily lives and the way we show up in the world.
💭 Are we using these psychology terms wrong?
💭 When did therapy language become TikTok talk?
💭 And how can we stop letting social media redefine mental health?
In today’s episode, we’re talking about something that’s been everywhere on social media: psychology terms that are being completely misused. From “gaslighting” to “trauma bonding” to “love bombing,” we’re setting the record straight — because words mean things.
We’ll cover:
✅ The real definitions behind today’s most overused psychology terms
✅ How social media has twisted mental health language into buzzwords
✅ Why misusing these terms can actually harm the people who live with real diagnoses
✅ The difference between boundaries and control, intrusive thoughts and overthinking, trauma dumping and venting
✅ Why accuracy and empathy matter when we talk about mental health online
This one’s for the lifelong learners, the overthinkers, and the scroll-stoppers who want to know what’s actually true. Because while we may not all be in a classroom anymore, we’re still learning every day — and that includes how to use our words with care.
📅 New episodes every Wednesday.
🎥 Watch full episodes here on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform.
🎙 Welcome to The Education Evolution!
💬 What really happens when the government shuts down—and how does it ripple through our classrooms, student loans, and school systems? Share your thoughts in the comments: teachers, parents, and students—we want to hear how policy impacts your day-to-day.
This is Hall Pass to the Real World — where we connect current events to the education system and explore what it really means for learning in America.
In today’s episode, we break down:
✅ How the 2025 government shutdown affects Head Start, Title I, and teacher pay
✅ What furloughs mean for 1:1 aides, special education, and student supports
✅ Why school improvement plans are on pause just as the year begins
✅ The hidden impacts beyond TSA lines—like funding delays, oversight gaps, and family stress
✅ How these shutdowns deepen inequities in schools across the country is about context and clarity—what happens when politics meets the classroom, and how we can stay informed as educators, families, and advocates.
📅 New episodes every Wednesday.
🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
🎙 Welcome to The Education Evolution!
💬Have you ever gone through a major transition — leaving a career, grieving a loss, or starting over? How did you find your way through? Share your story in the comments — someone might need to hear it.
This is Unscripted — where we ditch the lesson plans and lean into honest conversations about education, life, leadership, and whatever’s on our hearts. Sometimes messy, always meaningful.
In today’s episode, we’re catching you up on everything since our last drop in May 2023 — and explaining why we rebranded from The Reformist Pipeline to The Education Evolution.
We’ll cover:
✅ Why we left the classroom and what “education evolution” really means
✅ Career pivots into HR, talent, and new creative opportunities
✅ Navigating grief after loss and rebuilding life during transitions
✅ How our four new show formats (Hall Pass, Lifelong Learning, Tech Evolution, and Unscripted) connect to this new chapter
✅ The values grounding us: community, accountability, and growth
This episode is less about notes and more about real talk — about purpose, resilience, and what it looks like to evolve in both career and life.
📅 New episodes every Wednesday.
🎥 Watch full episodes here on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform.
Welcome to The Education Evolution!
This is Hall Pass to the Real World — where we break down current events through an educator’s lens and connect the classroom to what’s happening in the world right now.
In today’s episode, we’re talking about AI in education and breaking down the White House’s Executive Order: Advancing AI Education for American Youth. We’ll cover:
What the order actually says (no fluff, straight from the source)
How it impacts schools, teachers, and students
The funding, free tools, and training coming to classrooms
The benefits and potential challenges of this massive AI push
Whether you’re an educator, parent, student, or lifelong learner, this episode will help you understand why this moment matters — and how AI is shaping the future of learning.
Join the conversation:
Have you heard of any AI-related projects in your local schools or districts? Are you excited, skeptical, or somewhere in between? Drop your thoughts in the comments — we want to hear from you!
New episodes every Wednesday.
Watch full episodes here on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform.
🎙 Welcome to The Education Evolution!
This is Lifelong Learning — where we explore how education systems shape our daily lives and the lessons that follow us far beyond the classroom.
In today’s episode, we’re unpacking why traditional job training often misses the mark — and how we can fix it. We’ll cover:
✅ The difference between orientation and onboarding (and why it matters)
✅ Why most new hires leave training still confused about their roles
✅ How “fresh eyes” from new employees can drive change inside organizations
✅ Practical fixes to make job training meaningful, effective, and human-centered
Whether you’re a new professional, an HR leader, or a lifelong learner, this episode will help you see job training in a whole new way.
💬 Join the conversation:
What’s the best — or worst — onboarding experience you’ve had? Drop your story in the comments.
📅 New episodes every Wednesday.
🎥 Watch full episodes here on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform.
🎙 Welcome to The Education Evolution!
This is Tech Evolution — where we explore how technology is transforming the way we learn, work, and live.
In today’s episode, we’re breaking down how AI is showing up in classrooms and what it means for teachers, students, and lifelong learners. We’ll cover:
✅ What ChatGPT actually is (no jargon, just clear definitions)
✅ How to craft better prompts with context + task
✅ Real examples of AI use in schools — from parent communication to classroom management
✅ Tools like MagicSchool AI that are designed specifically for educators
✅ The benefits, risks, and the future of AI in education
Whether you’re an educator, parent, or just curious about AI, this episode will help you understand what AI integration really looks like — and how to make it work for you.
💬 Join the conversation:
Are you seeing AI pop up in your local schools or in your own work? Excited? Skeptical? Let us know in the comments.
📅 New episodes every Wednesday.
🎥 Watch full episodes here on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform.