

Life Is The Future
Scott Todnem
Thoughts from the Health Education classroom, brought to you by Scott Todnem and his middle school students.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 31, 2025 • 25min
Trick or Treat Lost Its Magic? Holidays Through Teen Eyes (Part 1) - S8 E5
What do holidays look like as an aging teen?This week's 8th grade hosts, Piper and Mwanashe, partner up to interview classmates Irika and Avery. The teens take on the topic of holidays while growing up-- specifically focusing on Halloween. They talk about the excitement changes, celebrating in a different manner, mischief vs. kindness, teen stereotypes, and of course favorite candy to get while trick or treating.This is Part 1 of their mini-series about holiday traditions.Part 2 focused on Halloween: https://youtu.be/xWXYOuEu2p8Stay tuned for Part 3 in the new year!What other concepts should the students have mentioned in this episode?Tune in soon as our other two Season 8 hosts, Maddie and Arbaaz, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2025-2026 school year!BOOKING & CONTACT 🛒 Shop & Gift Ideas: https://www.amazon.com/shop/scottampersand🗞️ Email Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/LifeIsTheFutureNewsletter🎙️ Partner Program: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com/partner-program📲 Teaching insight, blog posts, books, and more: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com

Oct 22, 2025 • 31min
Behind the Mic: Teens Unpack "A.I. in Media" | Podcast Understudy
We present to you our 7th grade understudies! These students are a part of our Health Class Media Crew and help record raw, unedited footage of our podcast AND live, on-the-spot reflection both during and after each episode.Watch the behind-the-scenes of “Do Teens Trust A.I. in Media?” - Life Is The Future Podcast - S8 E4.BACKGROUNDThis video series provides the public with a look into our recording ins-and-outs while simultaneously allowing younger students to learn from our 8th grade hosts. Imperfections are part of the learning process! We are witnessing the development of adolescents as they practice life skills and navigate the ever-growing internet world— all with a positive lens.🎙️ Full podcast episode:Video Podcast: https://youtu.be/Wn4_vftFxHQAudio Only: https://open.spotify.com/episode/048e2tzg5mOZDe3OQSHKVfDETAILSThis week's 8th grade hosts, Maddie and Arbaaz, partner up to interview classmates Mason and Alicia. The teens take on the topic of social media and artificial intelligence. They talk about the impact of media on social health, positives and negatives of connecting with friends online, the influence of the internet felt in a school setting, the increasingly real look of AI generated content, potential help or harm of AI, propaganda and false information, the loss of original thought, and other related connections to AI and media in our society today and in the future.This week’s 7th grade understudies, Nivi and Aaliyah, offer their own opinions on important quotes, meaningful takeaways, and additions or corrections to their slightly older peers.REFLECTIONChime in: How did everyone do? What other related concepts did the students forget to mention in this episode?Tune in soon as our other two 8th grade hosts, Piper and Mwanashe, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests while our other two 7th grade understudies provide a sneak peek into the podcast and reflections of their own.Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our work throughout the 2025-2026 school year! BOOKING & CONTACT 🛒 Shop & Gift Ideas: https://www.amazon.com/shop/scottampersand🗞️ Email Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/LifeIsTheFutureNewsletter🎙️ Partner Program: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com/partner-program📲 Teaching insight, blog posts, books, and more: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com

Oct 17, 2025 • 25min
Authentic vs. Artificial - Do Teens Trust A.I. in Media? - S8 E4
Media or Mind of Its Own? This week's 8th grade hosts, Maddie and Arbaaz, partner up to interview classmates Mason and Alicia. The teens take on the topic of social media and artificial intelligence. They talk about the impact of media on social health, positives and negatives of connecting with friends online, the influence of the internet felt in a school setting, the increasingly real look of AI generated content, potential help or harm of AI, propaganda and false information, the loss of original thought, and other related connections to AI and media in our society today and in the future.What other concepts should the students have mentioned in this episode?Tune in soon as our other two Season 8 hosts, Piper and Mwanashe, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2025-2026 school year!BOOKING & CONTACT 🛒 Shop & Gift Ideas: https://www.amazon.com/shop/scottampersand🗞️ Email Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/LifeIsTheFutureNewsletter🎙️ Partner Program: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com/partner-program📲 Teaching insight, blog posts, books, and more: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com

Oct 13, 2025 • 29min
Behind the Mic: Teens Unpack "Religion & Bias" | Podcast Understudy
We present to you our 7th grade understudies! These students are a part of our Health Class Media Crew and help record raw, unedited footage of our podcast AND live, on-the-spot reflection both during and after each episode.Watch the behind-the-scenes of “Religion & Bias” - Life Is The Future Podcast - S8 E3.BACKGROUNDThis video series provides the public with a look into our recording ins-and-outs while simultaneously allowing younger students to learn from our 8th grade hosts. Imperfections are part of the learning process! We are witnessing the development of adolescents as they practice life skills and navigate the ever-growing internet world— all with a positive lens.🎙️ Full podcast episode:Video Podcast: https://youtu.be/SuEqTglPbOEAudio Only: https://open.spotify.com/show/0nbMOW9gyhyyKkNR3QmIIjDETAILSThis week's 8th grade hosts, Piper and Mwanashe, partner up to interview classmates Aadhya and Meera. The teens take on the topic of religion and related social issues. They talk about spirituality, practicing vs. non-practicing faith, bias and prejudice, tolerance and empathy, theism and atheism, and other related connections to religious differences in today’s society.This week’s 7th grade understudies, Kyzen and Advik, offer their own opinions on important quotes, meaningful takeaways, and additions or corrections to their slightly older peers.REFLECTIONChime in: How did everyone do? What other related concepts did the students forget to mention in this episode?Tune in soon as our other two 8th grade hosts, Maddie and Arbaaz, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests while our other two 7th grade understudies provide a sneak peek into the podcast and reflections of their own.Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our work throughout the 2025-2026 school year! BOOKING & CONTACT 🛒 Shop & Gift Ideas: https://www.amazon.com/shop/scottampersand🗞️ Email Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/LifeIsTheFutureNewsletter🎙️ Partner Program: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com/partner-program📲 Teaching insight, blog posts, books, and more: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com

Oct 7, 2025 • 23min
Different Beliefs, Shared Humanity - What Religion Means to Teens Today - S8 E3
How do teens view religion in a modern world? This week's 8th grade hosts, Piper and Mwanashe, partner up to interview classmates Aadhya and Meera. The teens take on the topic of religion and related social issues. They talk about spirituality, practicing vs. non-practicing faith, bias and prejudice, tolerance and empathy, theism and atheism, and other related connections to religious differences in today’s society.What other concepts should the students have mentioned in this episode?Tune in soon as our other two Season 8 hosts, Maddie and Arbaaz, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests.Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2025-2026 school year!BOOKING & CONTACT 🛒 Shop & Gift Ideas: https://www.amazon.com/shop/scottampersand🗞️ Email Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/LifeIsTheFutureNewsletter🎙️ Partner Program: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com/partner-program📲 Teaching insight, blog posts, books, and more: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com

Oct 2, 2025 • 20min
Behind the Mic: Teens Unpack “Athletics & Academics” | Podcast Understudy
We present to you our 7th grade understudies! These students are a part of our Health Class Media Crew and help record raw, unedited footage of our podcast AND live, on-the-spot reflection both during and after each episode.Watch the behind-the-scenes of “Athletics & Academics” - Life Is The Future Podcast - S8 E2.BACKGROUNDThis video series provides the public with a look into our recording ins-and-outs while simultaneously allowing younger students to learn from our 8th grade hosts. Imperfections are part of the learning process! We are witnessing the development of adolescents as they practice life skills and navigate the ever-growing internet world— all with a positive lens.🎙️ Full podcast episode:Video Podcast: https://youtu.be/ly_TSW6lVfwAudio Only: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0xIfjYlAQPOJi0rFehaWFJ?si=sFgPf0XGQvGYHuyHpOebDgDETAILSThis week's 8th grade hosts, Maddie and Arbaaz, partner up to interview classmates Mason and Carys. The group of teens talk about life balance as it relates to athletic and academic performance. They examine stress for both sports and grades, time management, pressure from coaches and teachers, training and study discipline, future hopes and potential, increasing responsibilities, and other related benefits of being a teen athlete in today’s society.This week’s 7th grade understudies, Nivi and Aaliyah, offer their own opinions on important quotes, meaningful takeaways, and additions or corrections to their slightly older peers.REFLECTIONChime in: How did everyone do? What other related concepts did the students forget to mention in this episode?Tune in soon as our other two 8th grade hosts, Piper and Mwanashe, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests while our other two 7th grade understudies provide a sneak peek into the podcast and reflections of their own.Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our work throughout the 2024-2025 school year! BOOKING & CONTACT 🛒 Shop & Gift Ideas: https://www.amazon.com/shop/scottampersand🗞️ Email Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/LifeIsTheFutureNewsletter🎙️ Partner Program: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com/partner-program📲 Teaching insight, blog posts, books, and more: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com

Sep 26, 2025 • 15min
Athletics and Academics - How Do Teens Balance Both? - S8 E2
How are teens able to balance athletics and academics? This week's 8th grade hosts, Maddie and Arbaaz, partner up to interview classmates Mason and Carys. The teens take on the topic of life balance as it relates to athletic and academic performance. They talk about stress for both sports and grades, time management, pressure from coaches and teachers, training and study discipline, future hopes and potential, increasing responsibilities, and other related benefits of being a teen athlete in today’s society.What other related concepts should the students have mentioned in this episode?Tune in soon as our other two Season 8 hosts, Piper and Mwanashe, take over with a new topic and a new set of guests. Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes throughout the 2025-2026 school year!BOOKING & CONTACT 🛒 Shop & Gift Ideas: https://www.amazon.com/shop/scottampersand🗞️ Email Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/LifeIsTheFutureNewsletter🎙️ Partner Program: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com/partner-program📲 Teaching insight, blog posts, books, and more: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com

Sep 24, 2025 • 12min
The Growth Mindset Playbook - Animated AiudioBllogs
Motivation through Animation! Check out this audio blog-- having fun and continuing a series using Adobe Character Animator and other creative tools.What do you think? Feedback welcome :)Read the full blog post here: https://lifeisthefuture.com/teaching-blog/growth-mindsetPeople tend to fall into one of two mindsets when it comes to learning:🧱 Fixed MindsetBelieving that your intelligence, skills, and talents are unchangeable. If you’re bad at something now, you’ll always be bad at it. You either have it or you don’t.🚀 Growth MindsetBelieving that your intelligence, skills, and talents can improve through effort, practice, and learning. If you struggle with something, it just means you haven’t mastered it yet.Listen in for details."Mindset," "Grit," and more books & resources:https://www.amazon.com/shop/scottampersand/list/17A4NA0XZJGP2?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_aipsfscottampersand_8CAC9583RP857ZR8K0WZBOOKING & CONTACT 🛒 Shop & Gift Ideas: https://www.amazon.com/shop/scottampersand🗞️ Email Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/LifeIsTheFutureNewsletter🎙️ Partner Program: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com/partner-program📲 Teaching insight, blog posts, books, and more: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com

Sep 17, 2025 • 23min
Leading a Podcast as a Busy Teen - Meet our 8th Grade Hosts (2025-2026)
Say hello to our new leaders! We meet our Season 8 podcast hosts, Arbaaz, Maddie, Mwanashe, and Piper. They will take control of the mic in our new school year, and join two other students to be our 8th grade leaders.We hear about the 8th graders hobbies and interests, how the school year has started in comparison to previous grades, potential topics and guests, social media, and a bit on the whole process of practicing Health Ed life skills to create debates and discussions.Subscribe and tune in to catch all of our episodes as the 2025-2026 school year begins! BOOKING & CONTACT 🛒 Shop & Gift Ideas: https://www.amazon.com/shop/scottampersand🗞️ Email Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/LifeIsTheFutureNewsletter🎙️ Partner Program: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com/partner-program📲 Teaching insight, blog posts, books, and more: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com

Jun 4, 2025 • 32min
Seniors Revisit Middle School - Teens React to Their Younger Selves (2021 to 2025)
High School Seniors react to their old 8th Grade podcast! Previous Life Is The Future hosts, Naomi, Tami, and David (S3 2020-2021), return to break down a few of the episodes they recorded back in middle school.Cool concept, right? We are fortunate these alumni were still in the area to analyze their prior opinions on life as teenagers.Focus points include mental health, dating relationships, and social life all as they relate to growing up through the COVID pandemic.Do you agree with their opinions? Which were “good takes” and which were “bad takes” from four years ago? How has the world changed in the meantime?Make sure to subscribe to keep up to date on our podcast episodes as we begin the 2025-2026 school year and Season EIGHT of the Life Is The Future podcast!RESOURCES"Middle School Issues Commonly Faced By Kids"https://www.greatschools.org/gk/parenting/academics/fixes-for-7-common-middle-school-problems/"What is High School Really Like?"https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/starting-high-school.html"Advice for High School Freshmen from Departing Seniors"https://www.wgu.edu/heyteach/article/advice-for-high-school-freshmen-from-departing-seniors1808.html BOOKING & CONTACT 🛒 Shop & Gift Ideas: https://www.amazon.com/shop/scottampersand🗞️ Email Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/LifeIsTheFutureNewsletter🎙️ Partner Program: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com/partner-program📲 Teaching insight, blog posts, books, and more: http://LifeIsTheFuture.com


