EPISODE 222: ‘Battle Royale’ with Brandontoksmovies & Ben Treadway
March 5, 2025
Can we actually learn anything from this extreme scenario to improve schools? How does this dystopian scenario reflect the pressures students face today? Tune in as we try reading between the lines and figure out what Battle Royale can teach us.
Overview:
In this episode, we dive into Battle Royale—the cult classic that makes The Hunger Games look like a friendly school fundraiser—to uncover any connections to education. Joined by TikTok movie reviewers BrandonToksMovies and Ben Treadway, we break down the film’s themes of competition, authority, and survival—and how they (thankfully, in a less deadly way) mirror the struggles students face in real life.
Can we actually learn anything from this extreme scenario to improve schools? How does this dystopian scenario reflect the pressures students face today? Tune in as we try reading between the lines and figure out what Battle Royale can teach us.
Meet Our Guest:
Brandon and Ben are the hosts of The Cinemast Podcast, a film podcast where they discuss both new and favorite films from two different perspectives, Ben is the everyman and Brandon is the cinephile. In addition to the podcast, Brandon creates movie-related content on TikTok and Instagram under the username @brandontoksmovies. They both live in Arizona with their families.
Check Out The Cinemast Podcast:
Website: https://brandontoksmovies.com/
Connect with BrandonToksMovies:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brandontoksmovies
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandontoksmovies/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BrandonToksMovies
Watch on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/8ztyvqw0jAATakeaways:
- The teacher on the very first day sets the tone for how the class is going to be run
- Creating connection creates care
- Don’t pit students against each other, foster connection and growth together
- As a teenager, hormones run the show
The Host:
Host, Kevin Stoller:
Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.
Connect with Kevin:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/
Connect with co-host, Carla Cummins:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-cummins-01449659/
Our Partners:
For more information on our partners:
Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) – https://www.a4le.org/
Education Leaders’ Organization – https://www.ed-leaders.org/
Second Class Foundation – https://secondclassfoundation.org/
EDmarket – https://www.edmarket.org/
Catapult @ Penn GSE – https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/
Be a Guest on the Better Learning Podcast!
Are you rethinking what learning environments can be? We are always looking for thoughtful school leaders, designers, and educators to join the Better Learning Podcast and share real stories from the field.
As a guest, you will take part in meaningful conversations about student centered design, planning, and collaboration and how these ideas show up in real schools. We explore what is working, what is evolving, and what educators can do today to create learning spaces that truly support students and teachers.
If you are passionate about improving learning environments and have insights, experiences, or lessons to share, we would love to have you on the podcast.
Better Learning Podcast Request Form
"*" indicates required fields
About the podcast
Through in-depth conversations, the podcast highlights how Radically Student Centered™ approaches can make a tangible difference in schools, inspiring educators, administrators, designers, and anyone passionate about the future of learning.