Better Learning PodcastNow casting: The Blueprint Series
The best school stories start before the ribbon cutting.
For The Blueprint Series, we're selecting a small group of district leaders and architects whose big projects are still in planning and early design. If you're making the decisions that will shape a school right now, apply to tell that story on the show.
Limited guest spots this season. Applications are reviewed as they come in.
- 70,000impressions per episode
- 350+episodes
- Virtualrecording, no studio needed
Jeremy Calles
Jeff Kubiak sits down with Jeremy Calles, Superintendent of Tolleson Union High School District in Arizona’s West Valley, to discuss student-centered leadership,…
This season
The Blueprint Series
Most podcasts talk to leaders after the building opens. We want the conversation while the big decisions are still being made.
The Blueprint Series follows major school projects in their early stages: the bond conversations, community input, design trade-offs and hard calls that shape a building long before construction starts. It's an honest, in-progress view that other leaders can learn from right away.
We feature only a few projects each season, so we ask guests to apply. Tell us what you're building and why it matters, and make the case for your story.
Who we're looking for
The strongest applications have four things in common
A major project in motion
A new school, a major renovation or a district-wide initiative, not a single classroom refresh.
Early-stage timing
You're in visioning, planning or early design, and doors open in roughly the next two years.
A seat at the table
You're a superintendent, district or facilities leader, board member, or the architect leading the work.
A lesson worth sharing
A risk you took, a mistake you avoided or a community win that other leaders need to hear.
Project already open? Apply anyway and tell us what you learned. We keep strong stories on file for future seasons.
Why guests say yes
More than an interview
Being on the show gives you a platform, a sounding board and a finished story you can keep using long after the episode drops.
-
Reach 70,000 people per episode
Every episode averages 70,000 impressions. Your project reaches the superintendents, facility leaders, architects and educators who tune in to learn from projects like yours.
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Rally your community
Send the episode to your board, staff and families so they hear the why behind the project in your own words.
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Get a sounding board
Before we record, you'll talk through your project with a team that works inside school planning and design every day.
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We handle production
A relaxed, story-driven conversation recorded virtually on Riverside. Our team takes care of editing, artwork and publishing.
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Content you can reuse
Episode artwork, video clips and a link to post on your district and personal channels.
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Bring your team
Invite your architect, principal or board president. Some of our best episodes have the whole project team at the table.
How selection works
From application to episode
- 1
Apply
Tell us about your project and make your case. It takes about three minutes.
- 2
Intro conversation
If your story fits the season, we'll invite you to a 30-minute conversation about your project and what other leaders should hear.
- 3
Go deeper
Shortlisted guests meet with one of our project specialists to dig into the details that will make the episode.
- 4
Record and share
Selected guests get a recording date, a short prep guide and everything they need to share the finished episode.
Not every application becomes an episode. That's by design: it keeps each season focused and worth listening to.
Applications open
Make the case for your story
We review every application personally.
Know a district leader or architect with a big project in the works? Nominate them, and we'll let them know someone thinks their story belongs on the show.
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One short email when a new episode drops, plus guest spots as they open up.
From our host
Read the book behind the podcast
Planning a project? Radically Student Centered™ by Kevin Stoller is the playbook for aligning people, pedagogy and place.
Request a copyListen first
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Before you apply
Does it cost anything to be a guest?
No. Being a guest is free, and our team covers production.
How long does recording take?
Plan on about an hour. Episodes are recorded virtually on Riverside, so all you need is a laptop with a camera and a quiet room. We'll send a short prep guide beforehand.
Can I bring my architect or team?
Yes. Some of our best conversations include the district and design team together. Tell us who you'd bring when you apply.
Our project is still early. Is that too soon?
No, that's the point of this series. We want the in-progress story, including the questions you haven't answered yet.
What if I'm not selected?
We'll let you know by email. Strong stories often fit a later season, and we'll keep your application on file.
Spots in The Blueprint Series are limited.
If your district is planning something big, this is the season to tell the story. Each episode averages 70,000 impressions.