Our worst fears have come true; Monday is here and Dr. Johnny Lupinacci is nowhere to be found. Some say he’s in Nepal climbing Mount Everest. Others speculate he may be deep undercover behind the Iron Curtain. Or, perhaps, he has a meeting. Regardless, Dr. Tim Slekar and Non-Dr. Jakob are here to discuss pressing […]

Guest: Jakob

May 12, 2025

23:53

In this episode of Busted Pencils, Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci are joined by a couple of very special guests to talk about Wisconsin’s number one issue. Heather DuBoise Bourenane and Jenni Hofschulte from the Wisconsin Public Education Network are here to talk about the contentious budget session underway in Madison. This isn’t just […]

May 10, 2025

45:33

Today we’re joined by Civic Media’s very own Wisconsin sports expert Jimmie Kaska. Jimmy brings us an update on the changes coming to high school athletics. How will name, image, and likeness rules impact the average young athlete in our state? Is NIL going to change the game, or is it just a small part […]

Guest: Jimmie Kaska

May 9, 2025

24:00

Today, Drs. Johnny Lupinacci and Tim Slekar welcome special guest Sofia Mirza to discuss her journey from educator to entrepreneur and to hear her thoughts on how the education system can benefit from lessons learned in the private sector. Big institutions play a valuable role in society, but their size and long history often create […]

Guest: Sofia Mirza

May 7, 2025

26:41

Today Dr. Johnny Lupinacci and Dr. Tim Slekar discuss an interesting development in education as the Supreme Court is set to rule on whether or not religious charter schools can receive public funding. What truly makes a public school? Is it an elected schoolboard, direct state funding, or something else? Can a religious organization provide […]

May 5, 2025

26:30

Join us this Saturday for the epic final showdown between Dr. Johnny Lupinacci and Dr. Tim Slekar’s A.I. Clone as two giants of the education industry settle once and for all the question of how A.I. is going to change our classrooms. Will Johnny prevail and prove that no teaching machine can replace a good […]

Guest: Jakob

May 3, 2025

45:33

The times they are a-changin’, that’s for darn sure. Eight-man football? New headgear for sprinters? Kids signing big money contracts while they’re in high school? Oh my! Today Drs. Tim Slekar and Johnny Lupinacci discuss these topics and more as they delve into some big changes coming to Wisconsin’s essential curriculars within high school sports. […]

Guest: Jakob

May 2, 2025

25:00

On Monday Dr. Johnny Lupinacci (Lup’ Skywalker) delivered a devastating blow to the prospect of A.I. replacing simple, hard-working teachers (the Death St-A.I.-r?). Now Dr. Tim Slekar (Darth V-A.I.-der) makes his long anticipated return to the show to remind Johnny of the positive impact that the inevitable rise of the machines can have on schools […]

Apr 30, 2025

25:45

Good morning. Today Dr. Johnny Lupinacci (no relation) unveils Johnny’s fool-proof 4 point plan to save higher education. With Tim out on assignment and Jakob too ignorant to disagree, Johnny is finally fully free to put his measured manifesto into action. Can Johnny’s 4 Point Plan ™ turn a turbulent tide of teaching travails into […]

Apr 28, 2025

24:15

You know her, you love her, it’s Britni Walz! As the Instructional Services and Educational Technology Director at CESA 4, Britni has been at the forefront of integrating AI into rural Wisconsin classrooms. Fresh from the ASU+GSV Summit—a premier gathering of educators, innovators, and tech leaders—she’s here to share insights on how the summit’s discussions […]

Guest: Britni Walz

Apr 26, 2025

45:40