In this episode, Walt and Mike get personal—and pointed—about a comment that tried to dismiss their teaching model as just a “nice theory.” But they push back with experience, neuroscience, and a challenge to every instructor stuck in old methods.
They break down:
Why “Autonomy, Relevance, and Practical Application” isn’t theory—it’s brain science
How their workbook system primes cadets' brains for real application
What dopamine, effort, and retrieval have to do with long-term retention
Why some instructors cling to familiar methods, even when they’re not effective
The cultural pull of nostalgia and the danger of mistaking it for strategy
Bottom line: If you want your students to grow, you’ve got to grow too.
This episode is a call for instructors to stop prioritizing their own comfort—and start focusing on instructor and student competence.
