November 5, 2025 • 52 mins
Student empowerment, empathy, hope - the driving force behind Sweethearts and Heroes' message.
Today's episode is a perfect example of just this.
Today's episode is a perfect example of just this.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Good morning, Welcome to the Aired Out podcast, seen and
heard live from North Main Street in beautiful Berry, Vermont,
where the sun is not shining this morning. We've got
some clouds, maybe some more weather here coming in over
the next day or so. Just realized that I haven't
(01:58):
taken my Halloween decoration since out of the window yet.
It's it has been a couple of busy days. When
Dabie wins New York City probably the biggest headline this morning.
It is, It's huge, it's huge here locally. We have,
(02:20):
my understanding, is a couple of days to make sure
that everything is counted and everything is accurate before we
reveal results in some local decisions, mainly the bond voting
on Sevenary Street right here in the Granite City, as
(02:44):
well as the proposal for the new Central Vermont Career Center.
With us on the line every Wednesday is dep Philips
from the World Newspaper. Good morning, dep.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
How are you, Good morning, Jad doing great.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Pleasure to have you on. What are we looking at
in today's world? I know there's a lot of discussions
these days about local politics and some big decisions made.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Yeah, well we won't have much focus on that, but
we will have. We have the Veterans Day Salute to
Veterans that also has information about a parade and open houses.
We have the congratulations page for the You thirty two
boys cross country team won their state championship and they
(03:37):
are for ten years in a row. And also included
on that page is a You thirty two freshman Bubba Chamberlain.
He got the medalist in golf.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
And yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
So we also have the money saving coupons, which this
time of year is really helpful because it's for oil
changes and for tire changeovers, pool and autos. Doing something
really special this year. You can get an oil change
for twenty nine ninety nine if you bring in a
(04:12):
food donation for the remant food bank.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
That's fantastic. We've had the Vermont Food Bank on the
air over the last couple of days. A lot to
talk about in that department, for sure, But thanks, thank
you so much. Deb. You know I always look forward
to getting it, and I know it's coming today. Chrys
will bring it.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Here they're they're getting them right now and starting to
distribute them.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Thank you so much, Deb. We appreciate you. Always a
safe bet to advertise with the World VT dashworld dot com.
Get in touch with them four seven nine. What is
it twenty five to eighty two over there, right, TEB.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
That's that's right. JD.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
All right, sales at VT dashworld dot com. If you
want to send them an email. What's the deadline? Deb?
If you want to post a anything in there? Thursdays, thursdays,
get it done, all right, yes, yeah, all right, say
hello to Gary.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
We'll do thanks Jad, all.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Right, Deb, we'll talk to you soon. Deb. Phillips with
the world on the phone with us joins us every
single Wednesday. We appreciate their partnerships so much and their collaboration,
of course, with the time Sargus. Some very very very
busy people. Listen, there is so much chatter about politics
(05:36):
right now. There is so much going on. The temperature
is very high nationally. Take a deep breath today, Okay,
just take a deep breath. We'll post up what we know,
We'll post up what we have, and we will post
(05:57):
up and discuss what we find out when we find
out local decisions. Hey, just get a note here. River
and Center Street is closed between George Street and forrit
teeny Place. They've got some traffic detours set up this morning,
so please obey the signage and be careful of if
(06:20):
there's anyone that's part of the crew that's working in
that area. All right, River and Center Street here in
the Granite City between George Street and forretteeny Place is
closed this morning, every single Wednesday for the last I
don't even know how long we have been featuring Sweethearts
and heroes on the air, and it has been with
(06:42):
such great pleasure. They have brought some of the most
profound and insightful and positive content ever to my program.
And it is with great pleasure that Win and Buttonton
is with us this morning. Went and good morning, buddy.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
How are you morning, j D. I'm great today. It's
a beautiful day.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Man. Josiah was not able to make it kind of
the last minute. You're the pinch hitter this morning. Look
at that shirt. I wonder if I'll ever get a
chance to see a shirt like that up close and personal.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
I I hope, So I gotta get I gotta get
there and have a chance to sit on your couch
and see you in person some day.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Yeah, man, I that's that's right. I haven't met you yet,
have I?
Speaker 3 (07:30):
No, just virtually.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Well, you're a few hours away Rochester, New York, to
be exact, right, that's correct, yep, man, what's what's going on?
Are things? Are things red hot over there in Rochester too?
With with with all of the uh you know, voting
and discussions politically of what's happening over there.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Yeah, it's you know, it's I think it's everywhere, and
it you know, the biggest thing on the ballot in
New York. We had a proposition for the Adirondack Park
to allow some development in the Adirondack Park for ski
trails around Mount van Hobenberg and things. And as part
(08:16):
of that though, they would make about twenty five acres
natural forever wild. So it's kind of a trade off,
and some of it is due because some work had
already started. So that was the biggest proposition on the
ballot in New York, and just the local elections and
(08:37):
things going on. So it's we'll see how where we
are when all the votes are counted.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Listen. Of course we're going to talk about what the
great things that you guys are are up to and
what you're doing. But you know it, I'd be remiss
if I didn't just say, and I just want to
put this message out on the air this morning. You know,
I always having a conversation with a friend. Just a
(09:05):
few days ago, it was working on my truck and
told me that he has lost a friend over some
political differences that have been expressed on social media between
the two. And I'm like, man, it's like, how unfortunate,
(09:26):
how divided we are. I have friends who are on
the total opposite end of the political spectrum than I am,
but we're still friends at the end of the day. Man,
It's like, if you don't share my belief system, is
(09:47):
that really grounds for terminating a friendship? Man? It's like,
is there not more to life? This is so many
of these discussions and decisions that involve politics, that involve taxes,
(10:08):
and I know, man, it's like there's a lot of
stuff going on right now. Everybody's worked up. The government's
still shut down, a historical event, and people are just
getting like, like, it's become personal now. If if you
don't share my belief system, you're you're you're hurting me,
(10:28):
You're you're damaging me and my family. I mean, this
is the temperature. The temperature is red hot, you know.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
That, yeah, and it's you know, it's one of the
things that in our in the circle work that we do.
It's one of the things we focus on, is the
power of circle is listening to each other and listening
to each other's thoughts and ideas and experiences to understand
(10:57):
each other. Because we're all human, we all deserve dignity,
and we can have different opinions and that's okay, and
that we learn from each other. And there's times I've
learned from people and my opinion on some things may
have shifted because of those conversations.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
If you're yeah, yeah, yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Well, and it's just you know, our we all have
different experiences that lead to the perspectives that we have. Yeah,
and when we we understand you know, just because somebody
has a different perspective doesn't mean they're right or wrong.
It's just different. And and that's to me, the beauty
of our system of government is to enable those conversations
(11:45):
about different perspectives to take place. And that's that's one
of the things I think we need to get back to,
is having some of those substance of conversations about about
our whatever the topic is, whether it's health, care or
anything else.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Sure, So you know, you know what what we all
need is we need not necessarily some of us need
more friends, some of us need maybe fewer friends, but
better friends. We just need to be able to, uh,
to come together and have a conversation here, whether it's
(12:24):
on social media or face to face. I mean, so
many of us we hide behind our keyboards and it
we just need to just take a freaking deep breath here. Man,
you are if you're just joining us. Wint and Buddington
is with Sweethearts and Heroes, which is the world's biggest
(12:44):
greatest student empowerment advocacy group organization in the world. You
guys have infiltrated yourselves into so many different schools all
around the country, mostly here in New England, roots in Vermont.
(13:05):
This started with Tom Murphy and rick Yarish right here
in Vermont, and it is spread immensely. It is so impressive.
Now there's a huge team of you, there's a huge
staff of you, and you're all busy every day trying
(13:27):
to make a difference in the world. And you're starting
with young lives, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and
saying we may not be able to change the course
of adults. Maybe we can, but the real answer lies
(13:54):
with the foundation of our future, and it's getting children
to be better versions of themselves. To learn. And you
and I've had this discussion in the past. To learn. Yes,
you go to school to learn, but also outside of
the classroom and inside the classroom, just be a better person,
have a different mindset, Understand what bullying looks like, Understand
(14:18):
what it means to build character and have conviction and
stand up for something when you when you know that
something is not right, stand up and defend others, stand up,
defend yourselves, and just be better at who you are.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Yeah, and and the schools that we're in, the students
are just phenomenal. It's it's incredible watching students take step
into leadership roles. We have older students working with younger
students in our Brave program and it's just an incredible
experience for sets a students, you know. And we've got
(15:04):
a couple you know, talking about coming together and we
need to come together to have some conversations. We've got
a couple events coming up where your listeners can come
together and they can they can meet rick Yarish, our
Chevy sponsors have done a great job supporting us in
(15:24):
schools this year. And if I can plug a couple events.
On this Friday, November seventh, up in Burlington, Burlington at
KIA Burlington, Rick's going to be doing a meet and
greet and giving away some of his books from starting
at three point thirty. And then on Veterans Day, November eleventh,
(15:46):
he's going to be at Alderman Chevrolet in Rutland, Vermont
from one to five. And that'd be a great time
for folks to come out see Rick get a copy
of his book A Bridge named Amos and and he
celebrate a veteran that has just done incredible work for
our country and now talking to over a million students
(16:07):
in our schools, over.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
A million students. When that's a basing Man, Yeah, who
would have thunk it? And then Monday, uh the tenth,
What's happened happening over in Danville?
Speaker 3 (16:27):
Monday the tenth Domin Rick are presenting in Danville.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
And I think it's Little Chevrolet that's back in that one.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Little Chevrolet is back in that one. Yep.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
So they're going to be in the in the elementary
school there.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
They're going to be actually uh middle school, high school.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Okay, man, I'm.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Holding three through sick. Yeah, so yeah, we get everybody
I am.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
I am so hoping to able to catch one of these.
Maybe Friday in Burlington, meeting up with with Rick. Uh,
such a great guy.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Tom and Rick are both in Plattsburgh today, Mariah in
New York. Later. I think you were you were saying.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
They're in They're in Mariah today. Tom was in Plattsburgh
yesterday doing a circle training, and then they're going to
be in South colin A, New York at lash and
Kill Middle School tomorrow. So they've got a busy week.
And then over the weekend, Tom is working with the
lineman again, so he's he's not getting much much rest.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
What a what a conversation that we've had lately about
that and mental mental health. And you know, the thing
about you guys is you do go up forty thousand feet,
but you really take your time getting down into the
into the roots of things. And that is so impressive.
(17:59):
Not every organization can do that. A lot of a
lot of them just like to hang up, you know,
up top and just kind of stay generic. You guys
really really get your fingers into it. And and I
know that that's that's just kind of part of Tom's personality.
He just that's just who he is. He's like, we
(18:22):
got we're getting to nuts and bolts here, man, We're
getting into it well.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
And it really, you know, as we get into it,
you it's a few people can really make a huge difference,
whether it's for a school, whether it's for an organization
like the Ligneman It. You know, you get a few
students that empower, have a little bit of training, a
little bit experience with us, and have the empowerment they
(18:48):
can really change and shape the culture positively for their school. Yeah,
and and that's really it takes getting down to digging
in to do that. You can't just do it with
a single presentation that that affects the individual. He make
some individual changes students here Rick's story, and it really
(19:10):
changes their perspective about their own problems and challenges. But
that's an individual change. To really change the culture is
when we empower students through the circle work and the
other programs that we have to really start to take
control of their school climate and culture.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Rick's going to be in here next Wednesday, I believe
I believe in the studio. He may be remote, not
sure where he's going to be.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
I think he's going to be in the studio because
he's coming awesome. He's at Alderman Chevrolet in Rutland on Tuesday,
and then he's back in the Albany area at Academy
of the Holy Names on Thursday. So I think he's
going to plan it to come into the studio.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Rick Yarish a veteran who almost died in Iraq when
his badly was blown up a roadside bomb and he
was uh. His whole body was covered in diesel fuel
and burned alive, and for a very long time it
(20:15):
was questionable whether or not he was going to make it.
His whole body has been melted, his ears, his nose
are gone, his his fingers, but he survived and he's
you know, his his message has has always been.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Man.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
Physically I was, I was damaged, but I still have
my my heart and my soul, my passion not only
to love, but to be loved and to persevere. We're
regardless of what challenges lie ahead of us. And man,
(21:04):
if you think that the ship is not going to
hit the fan in your life, you're wrong, because it's
it's going to and if it hasn't already, and if
it has already, it's gonna again. And it's you have
to expect this, and it's it's how to have the
(21:26):
right mindset to know ahead of time that you're going
to be okay.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
And and that part of that mindset that we talk
to students and people about is what hope stands for
for us, which is hold on possibilities exist there it is,
you know, and that that is so I even in
my own life as I faced challenges and things, you know,
I don't I don't don't know what tomorrow is sure
(21:56):
and tomorrow, but there are possibilities that exists in the future,
you know. I when I was I was a middle
school principal for fourteen years and decided to retire. I
didn't have a plan to work with Sweethearts and heroes.
That was something that just it was a possibility that
(22:17):
happened after I had retired. Wow. And so you know,
and when Tom called me up, it was I jumped
at the chance because I had worked with him for
about seven years in my building and saw the impact
on our climate and culture. But it wasn't something. When
I made the decision to retire. It wasn't like I
was retiring to work with Sweethearts and Heroes. So there
are possibilities out there in the future that we don't
(22:40):
know what's going to align for us, right, we just
have to know that those possibilities exist.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
Tom says that you were a middle school principal for
the length of fourteen years, which is crazy, and that
that that's mostly the reason why you've you've lost all
your hair because you were just pulling it out by
the by the clumpful. Is that true.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
No, I tend to run hot, so keeping the hair
short is much more pooling for the I know it's
time to get my haircut when I start getting a
little warm or it gets too warm.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Listen. One of Tom's techniques with Sweethearts and Heroes has been,
as you were just saying a little while ago, to
to bring students and faculty uh together and to sit
down in a circle, which you don't even gonna have
to say another word. So many of us just hear
(23:44):
that alone, and we're like, WHOA, I do not want
to do that. I don't want to sit down and
talk and I definitely don't want to sit down in
a circle where we can all see each other. Do
I have to talk? Do you get that?
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Yeah? And one of our guidelines for circle is we
need good listeners. You don't have to talk, you can pass,
you don't have to respond to the question. And circle
also it circles, not a dialogue that we have a
talking piece. It goes in one direction around the circle.
So if somebody says something, there's not a back and forth.
(24:28):
It goes around. Talking piece can go around again if
you want to comment on something somebody else said. But
that process is designed to have people listen to what
other people are saying and to think about what other
people are saying. And in circle you go through a
lot of self regulated thinking. You think of you're listening,
(24:50):
you have a question, you're thinking about what you want
to say, and you're thinking about how comfortable you are,
how vulnerable you're willing to make yourself to share that
information with it screw. The part of what we do
in our circle practice is we do activators before we
sit down to circle. And the activators are activities that
(25:11):
just get people moving, have them connecting, and start having
them be a little bit vulnerable. When you're having fun
or laughing or making an awkward movement, you start making
yourself a little bit vulnerable. And then when you sit
down and circle, you're already at a place where you're
(25:31):
a little bit more open to have some dial some
of that conversation and sharing.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
Is this the wonder questioning technique that I've heard you
guys talk about.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Well, our wonder questioning technique is built off of the
question formulation technique research and what it leads us. What
we found is is we sat down in circle and
started doing circles. We were coming up with questions, and
as we were coming up with questions, we realized we
were kind of going through a process for that, and
(26:03):
we said, well we as schools. We worked with schools
and trained teachers to run circle. They started working with
kids on coming up with questions, and the two kind
of merged together for us in our Wonder question technique,
which is just expanding kids thinking, expanding people's thinking to
just wonder and come up with thoughts and questions about
(26:27):
a topic, an object, or something. So I know, in
your studio, you've got a beautiful red couch and it's
got some ornate would work around it. So the idea,
like the wonder questioning technique, if that couch was what
we were talking about, would be we'd start by just
brainstorming as wonderstorming questions about the couch, you know, who
(26:50):
carved it, who sat on it, what stories can it tell?
All those kind of questions, and then we filter those
down to say, which questions really interesting? Why? Why? Why
did I ask that question? Why might I be curious
about who carved all of that would on the couch?
Maybe that's something that I'm I think interested in, Maybe
(27:13):
I whittle and that's why I would think of that question.
And then we it narrows down further to get to
the apex questions about which questions are kind of those
quick answer questions versus a broader question, and which questions
really connect with the human experience across multiple people. And
(27:34):
you get down to a question where, you know, what's
the role of a couch? Could be a circle question?
And so it really takes kids through that process and
helps them develop questions for their own circles.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
It's it's a portal really into into some of these open,
open questions. And I, you know, I experienced circle one
time with Tom and a bunch of students up at
Peru High School. And I was fascinated because the direction
(28:14):
of the of the subject, of the conversations, of the
thought processes are changing constantly, and it's the furthest thing
from boring. It's absolutely fascinating. And for someone like Tom
(28:36):
and I, both who are naturally inquisitive people, Yeah, we
we have a lot of questions, We have a lot
of follow up questions. That's that's that's what I do
for a living. Was extremely, extremely difficult for me to
(28:58):
sit and keep my mouth shut and I didn't really
I didn't really understand the rules that when it's your
turn to speak, it's your turn to speak, and if
you're not speaking, you're listening, which is very hard to do,
and it's very hard to do right now. It's hard
(29:21):
to do at home with our husband and wife and children,
but it's also difficult to do with our neighbors, our friends,
folks that might be strangers that are on social media
who have vastly different political views, in opinions about what
(29:50):
is right and what is wrong and what's going to
hurt us and what's going to be better for us? Wow,
is it difficult to listen when holy crap.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
Yeah. And you know, we talk in our circle training about,
you know, when do we teach kids to listen besides
just saying, hey, listen to me, you know. And some
of our best teachers where we're teaching kids to listen
are in our music programs because they're teaching the clarinets
to listen to the saxophones. They're teaching, you know, where
(30:22):
when you come in are you are you on the
same pitch as somebody else and they're explaining what they
should be listening for. One of the techniques that Tom
talks about in our circle training for listening is in
your head, as someone else is talking, repeat the words
that they're saying, yeah, and you'll and you'll find that
(30:42):
you can't think because there's so oftentimes we're thinking of
a response, we're thinking, there's so many things running through
our head, we're not really focused and present fully with
the person. But if you're repeating what they're saying in
your head as they're saying it, you'll be much more focused.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Thing about this thing about circle, that one experience that
I had up at Peru High School with those students
that was really difficult for me is I live with
a pen and a piece of paper close by all
the time. It's next to my bed where I sleep,
(31:21):
it's in my car, it's here in the studio, it's
everywhere I go. I've got a pad of paper and
a pen, several pens in case one runs out of ink.
And that's happened to me before, and it sends me
into an absolute panic. But I didn't know what I
(31:44):
was getting into when I sat down in that circle
in Peru. My pad of paper and my pen were
on a desk about thirty feet behind me, and I
wanted to take notes on everything that I was hearing,
everything that I was listening to. It's not easy, man,
(32:06):
It's it's not easy.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
It takes practice. Circle. It's circle is a practice, and
that's part of the you know, the the more you
do circle, the more you it, the easier it becomes
to follow that and be in that environment. And the
(32:30):
more you're connections you're making.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
While you're there, you know, and and the students need
to there's a difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is biological.
My wife keeps telling me that I have a huge
hearing problem, but a listen. You know, listening issue is
(32:54):
in my opinion, so much worse. Students need to listen
to their teachers. They need to think not just about
what their teachers are saying, but why they're saying it,
that maybe there's a greater reason. Maybe they're not just
picking on you or or bugging you, but maybe they
(33:18):
have good reason behind it. But the adults, man, it's
like the teachers, the administrators, they need to listen to
the students too. That often there's a much bigger picture.
There's something underlying, that's that's not in the forefront, that's
that's being covered up. That's huge.
Speaker 3 (33:39):
Yeah, and and it's for for everybody. You know. As
a principal, I really worked hard to listen to my teachers.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
And read and read between the lines.
Speaker 3 (33:50):
Yeah, and you know what, you know, we also talk
about behavior as a form of communication, and it's it's
it's the non verbal form, right, So there's something going
on and to figure that out, we need to listen
and understand. If somebody says, no, I'm not gonna I
don't want to do that, let's figure out what's behind that.
(34:12):
And they might have a very valid reason why they
shouldn't do that or you know why that shouldn't happen
in a school or whatever. And if we're not listening,
we don't understand that perspective and that that reason, and
we're just moving forward with that kind of compliance authoritarian position.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
One of the amazing things about Tom and what you
guys have have done with part of your your circle training,
which I know is just one stem of what you
guys do sweethearts and heroes in schools, but when you're
bringing people into a circle that certain faces would never
(34:58):
be sitting in the same circle with each other and
looking across at each other for lots of different reasons.
Maybe they just flat out don't like each other. Maybe
one's a geek, maybe one's a jock, whoever whatever Emo Yeah,
(35:20):
which my kid is still teaching me about. But it
gets people to like get be uncomfortable for a little
bit for a little while. Usually that kind of goes
away soon though.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
Well, kids realize things that they haven't thought about, you know.
So if we've got the Thanksgiving holiday coming up, if
you're in circle and you're talking about what's a what's
a tradition, what's a tradition something your family does at holiday? Time,
whether it's Thanksgiving or Christmas or whatever. And two or
(35:54):
three of those students you're talking about talk about something
at graham own Grandpa's house, and they may never have
really consciously thought about that person that they don't like
has a grandma and grandpa too, and that they have
a tradition and maybe the tradition is the same, maybe
they do the same thing or have the same you know,
(36:17):
and that all of a sudden, their perspective about that
person shifts just a little bit. It doesn't doesn't mean
they're going to become best friends automatically, but there's a
little bit more of a connection there that, hey, this
person isn't that different from me than I thought they were.
Speaker 1 (36:35):
Sure. And not only that, but when the circle splits
up and we go about our days in the days
in the weeks that follow, that one student who sees
(37:00):
another student passing the hallway will know something about that
person reciprocal that they never knew and maybe think of
them in a different way, or maybe even if they're
not associated in several several different ways, but at least
(37:21):
get eye contact and nod ahead, fist bump, whatever, some
kind of connection.
Speaker 3 (37:30):
Yeah, and and even if you know, they see that
person looking a little glom one day, right, they might
they might say, hey, how you doing, because they've got
that that connection, and that can make the world of
difference for that student.
Speaker 1 (37:45):
Yeah, so so true. I want you to explain to
folks a little bit in closing this morning what it
is that you do with sweethearts and heroes. Maybe a
little explanation of what Sweethearts and Heroes is and how
(38:09):
schools can get involved. I mean, we're going to be
Danville on Monday, which you guys have been to in
the past. You've been to my daughter's school here in Fromont,
You've been to so many different schools. But a little
bit about who you are, what you do for sweethearts
(38:30):
and heroes.
Speaker 3 (38:33):
So we bring our We're a student empathy empowerment group
organization is how I describe it. Have we bring our
message of hope, empathy, empowerment and bystander activation to schools
and to students and staff. And we do that through
(38:53):
our presentations, our circle work. We've got a Brave program
that older kids are working with younger kids. Got a
Step program where we're training high school students to deliver
our K two and three five presentations. We do circle
training for teachers and students. We have a community Ambassador
program where we have one of our staff in a
(39:15):
school on a regular basis helping with this work very frequent,
whether weekly or every other week, monthly throughout the year.
We have three leadership classes for high school that embed
this work in a sustainable model for high school leadership
courses so that after our school works with us for
a period of time, they can continue this work without us.
(39:41):
And our website is Sweethearts Andheroes dot com and if
you go on the website you can see all the information.
There's a contact form on there. If you're interested in
having us come in or want to talk to us
about the programs and services we offer, fill out the
form and that's part of my job is to get
in touch and follow up there. Tom will follow up
(40:02):
with a school that submits a form and then I'll
follow up and we talk about more in depth of
the programs. And then the other part of my role
is to help schools what does that look like, what's
that implementation plan? And we have our Hope Classroom online
resources on the Thriveway platform, which is a strength based
(40:23):
social emotional platform that really let's helps with continuing the
work once we're not there. We come in for a presentation,
we know there's voltage drop. We know that was a
great presentation. Everybody's excited, But when you get back to
your regular routine, how do you keep that message going.
That's where our hope classroom resources come in with our
(40:44):
lessons and activities online that are the anticipatory set that
leads into classroom conversations as well. So that whole package
is what really we help schools with, and that's part
of my job right now is a Director of Outreach
and Logistics is my title, and it's to help people
figure out what we have to offer and how we
(41:08):
can integrate it with what they have going on in
their school.
Speaker 1 (41:11):
What do you I always love to ask this question.
What do you say to a parent or a teacher,
an administrator anywhere that's listening this morning that hasn't yet
discovered sweethearts and heroes and they haven't had them in
the school yet.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
Let's talk, is what I say. You know what, Let's
figure out how we can work with you and what
your your school climate and culture needs and how we
can help support that there's no harm in a conversation.
And you know, we we're already booked up through getting
(41:57):
booked up through February now, so our calendar's getting pretty
full for this year. So as we have conversations starting now,
we may be talking more about next year and some
And it takes a little while to to locate financial
resources and things for programs and services that we offer
and through grants and things, so we're happy to work
(42:19):
with people on that aspect as well. So what I
would say is, let's have a conversation.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
Give our listeners to uh to close up this morning
went and give our listeners heads up on what to
expect next Wednesday. When Rickyrish comes in.
Speaker 3 (42:37):
Here, oh tune in. I mean it, Rick. I love
just talking with Rick. He's he's funny, he's he's entertaining
and incredible personality and just so inspiring with everything he's
(42:58):
been through and and the effort he's put in and
everything he's overcome to be a husband, a father, and
motivational speaker. He works with tunnels to towers, just so
many things that he does that he is one of
(43:23):
my heroes. And just your audience is going to enjoy
and be inspired by a great man.
Speaker 1 (43:34):
Yeah, understatement. He really is something else. Man. I can't
wait when man, you bring the goods every time. Absolutely
love Wednesdays and I love having you guys on here.
You bring so much positivity to my airwaves and to
(43:57):
the ears of my listeners, my followers here at aired
out and I cannot thank you guys enough.
Speaker 3 (44:06):
Well, we appreciate it. And you know, while we're the
work we do for schools, we know that the messages
and the things we're talking about, like hope, standing for,
hold on, possibilities exist, are good for everybody to hear
adults as well, and we appreciate the opportunity to talk
with you and share that our messages with your listeners.
Speaker 1 (44:29):
Thank you so much, my brother, have a fantastic christ
of your day, Bud, Wynt and Buddington, Sweethearts and Heroes
here live this morning. The rest of my day is well,
it's going to be an interesting one, I'll tell you that.
(44:50):
But I hope that some of what Wynton was saying
this morning will resonate with you throughout the rest your
day and the rest of your week and maybe beyond again.
Hop On, Sweethearts Andheeroes, dot com today, I'm going to
be heading over to Optical Expressions. I'm wearing my Optical
(45:14):
Expressions studio glasses so that i can see what the
hell's going on right now. Will put these together. He
made these for me and they're wonderful. But they've got
some deals going on right now in the month of
November that I'm probably going to be taking them up on,
(45:34):
maybe some progressive lenses. It's very difficult for me to
say by folks. I cannot say byfocals. I won't say
byfocals because if I do, then I sound like an
old man. So I'm not going to say the word byfocal.
I'll say progressive lenses. But anyway, I'll be over there
(45:58):
at some point soon today. Look at some of the
different they got frames right now for ninety nine bucks
in a month in November. If you haven't been over
to Optical Expressions, I also need to book an eye exam.
You need to get over there Monday through Friday eight
to six in their new location, the fourth floor of
the Blanchard Block in Berrier. I say new location because
they've been up at the Berlin Mall for a million years,
(46:19):
but they've also been at the blanch block now for
quite a while. So if you haven't yet explored, hop
in the elevator press floor four and the door's open
and you're right there in front of Optical Expressions two
two three, twenty ninety to set up an exam today.
One of our presenting sponsors, who we love so much, eyesight,
(46:46):
talk about something that so many of us, if not
all of us, take for granted right there, so you
may see new pair of specs on this old feller
at some point, I don't know. Once again, River and
Center Street closed between George Street and Frettini Place this
(47:13):
morning they've got traffic detours set up. River Street and
Center Street closed between George Street and Frettini Place. Keep
that in mind today on your travels. What's happening with
the results of our local voting yesterday. We should get
(47:41):
a better picture here very soon, I know, the the
bond vote on the Central Fromont Career Center. We should
have some results by Thursday. But there's a lot of
work that needs to be done and some patients that
we need to exercise in the meanwhile, So we'll be watching,
(48:03):
we'll be listening, we'll be paying attention not only to
that proposal of a new career center, but also the
new city garage and the housing project on Seminary Street
here in Barry. Paying attention, watching, listening, and yes, I
(48:26):
will be in touch with Nicholas Starelli Castro, our city manager,
to get some more information. Okay, listen, please deep breath today,
stay well, take good care of yourself tomorrow. I know
Bob Ross was in here last Thursday, caused it a
(48:47):
lot of problems. Tomorrow Ge wants to do something that
I'm not fully in support of frankly a little nervous about.
But we're gonna have some fun and hopefully if we
(49:12):
don't make you laugh tomorrow, if we don't make you
laugh on Thursdays, maybe we can at least bring an
internal smile to your soul or make you close your
eyes and say, what a couple of jerks. That's our goal.
(49:35):
We love Thursdays. We hope you do too. It's coming tomorrow.
I can hardly wait, even though I'm slightly nervous. Have
a fantastic rest of your day, everybody, all right, take
good care, be kind. We'll get through the rest of
this week together. Thanks for tuning in the school sy
Good morning, Welcome to the Aired Out podcast, seen and
heard live from North Main Street in beautiful Berry, Vermont,
where the sun is not shining this morning. We've got
some clouds, maybe some more weather here coming in over
the next day or so. Just realized that I haven't
(01:58):
taken my Halloween decoration since out of the window yet.
It's it has been a couple of busy days. When
Dabie wins New York City probably the biggest headline this morning.
It is, It's huge, it's huge here locally. We have,
(02:20):
my understanding, is a couple of days to make sure
that everything is counted and everything is accurate before we
reveal results in some local decisions, mainly the bond voting
on Sevenary Street right here in the Granite City, as
(02:44):
well as the proposal for the new Central Vermont Career Center.
With us on the line every Wednesday is dep Philips
from the World Newspaper. Good morning, dep.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
How are you, Good morning, Jad doing great.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Pleasure to have you on. What are we looking at
in today's world? I know there's a lot of discussions
these days about local politics and some big decisions made.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Yeah, well we won't have much focus on that, but
we will have. We have the Veterans Day Salute to
Veterans that also has information about a parade and open houses.
We have the congratulations page for the You thirty two
boys cross country team won their state championship and they
(03:37):
are for ten years in a row. And also included
on that page is a You thirty two freshman Bubba Chamberlain.
He got the medalist in golf.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
And yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
So we also have the money saving coupons, which this
time of year is really helpful because it's for oil
changes and for tire changeovers, pool and autos. Doing something
really special this year. You can get an oil change
for twenty nine ninety nine if you bring in a
(04:12):
food donation for the remant food bank.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
That's fantastic. We've had the Vermont Food Bank on the
air over the last couple of days. A lot to
talk about in that department, for sure, But thanks, thank
you so much. Deb. You know I always look forward
to getting it, and I know it's coming today. Chrys
will bring it.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (04:33):
Here they're they're getting them right now and starting to
distribute them.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Thank you so much, Deb. We appreciate you. Always a
safe bet to advertise with the World VT dashworld dot com.
Get in touch with them four seven nine. What is
it twenty five to eighty two over there, right, TEB.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
That's that's right. JD.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
All right, sales at VT dashworld dot com. If you
want to send them an email. What's the deadline? Deb?
If you want to post a anything in there? Thursdays, thursdays,
get it done, all right, yes, yeah, all right, say
hello to Gary.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
We'll do thanks Jad, all.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Right, Deb, we'll talk to you soon. Deb. Phillips with
the world on the phone with us joins us every
single Wednesday. We appreciate their partnerships so much and their collaboration,
of course, with the time Sargus. Some very very very
busy people. Listen, there is so much chatter about politics
(05:36):
right now. There is so much going on. The temperature
is very high nationally. Take a deep breath today, Okay,
just take a deep breath. We'll post up what we know,
We'll post up what we have, and we will post
(05:57):
up and discuss what we find out when we find
out local decisions. Hey, just get a note here. River
and Center Street is closed between George Street and forrit
teeny Place. They've got some traffic detours set up this morning,
so please obey the signage and be careful of if
(06:20):
there's anyone that's part of the crew that's working in
that area. All right, River and Center Street here in
the Granite City between George Street and forretteeny Place is
closed this morning, every single Wednesday for the last I
don't even know how long we have been featuring Sweethearts
and heroes on the air, and it has been with
(06:42):
such great pleasure. They have brought some of the most
profound and insightful and positive content ever to my program.
And it is with great pleasure that Win and Buttonton
is with us this morning. Went and good morning, buddy.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
How are you morning, j D. I'm great today. It's
a beautiful day.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Man. Josiah was not able to make it kind of
the last minute. You're the pinch hitter this morning. Look
at that shirt. I wonder if I'll ever get a
chance to see a shirt like that up close and personal.
Speaker 3 (07:20):
I I hope, So I gotta get I gotta get
there and have a chance to sit on your couch
and see you in person some day.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Yeah, man, I that's that's right. I haven't met you yet,
have I?
Speaker 3 (07:30):
No, just virtually.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
Well, you're a few hours away Rochester, New York, to
be exact, right, that's correct, yep, man, what's what's going on?
Are things? Are things red hot over there in Rochester too?
With with with all of the uh you know, voting
and discussions politically of what's happening over there.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Yeah, it's you know, it's I think it's everywhere, and
it you know, the biggest thing on the ballot in
New York. We had a proposition for the Adirondack Park
to allow some development in the Adirondack Park for ski
trails around Mount van Hobenberg and things. And as part
(08:16):
of that though, they would make about twenty five acres
natural forever wild. So it's kind of a trade off,
and some of it is due because some work had
already started. So that was the biggest proposition on the
ballot in New York, and just the local elections and
(08:37):
things going on. So it's we'll see how where we
are when all the votes are counted.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Listen. Of course we're going to talk about what the
great things that you guys are are up to and
what you're doing. But you know it, I'd be remiss
if I didn't just say, and I just want to
put this message out on the air this morning. You know,
I always having a conversation with a friend. Just a
(09:05):
few days ago, it was working on my truck and
told me that he has lost a friend over some
political differences that have been expressed on social media between
the two. And I'm like, man, it's like, how unfortunate,
(09:26):
how divided we are. I have friends who are on
the total opposite end of the political spectrum than I am,
but we're still friends at the end of the day. Man,
It's like, if you don't share my belief system, is
(09:47):
that really grounds for terminating a friendship? Man? It's like,
is there not more to life? This is so many
of these discussions and decisions that involve politics, that involve taxes,
(10:08):
and I know, man, it's like there's a lot of
stuff going on right now. Everybody's worked up. The government's
still shut down, a historical event, and people are just
getting like, like, it's become personal now. If if you
don't share my belief system, you're you're you're hurting me,
(10:28):
You're you're damaging me and my family. I mean, this
is the temperature. The temperature is red hot, you know.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
That, yeah, and it's you know, it's one of the
things that in our in the circle work that we do.
It's one of the things we focus on, is the
power of circle is listening to each other and listening
to each other's thoughts and ideas and experiences to understand
(10:57):
each other. Because we're all human, we all deserve dignity,
and we can have different opinions and that's okay, and
that we learn from each other. And there's times I've
learned from people and my opinion on some things may
have shifted because of those conversations.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
If you're yeah, yeah, yeah, go ahead.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Well, and it's just you know, our we all have
different experiences that lead to the perspectives that we have. Yeah,
and when we we understand you know, just because somebody
has a different perspective doesn't mean they're right or wrong.
It's just different. And and that's to me, the beauty
of our system of government is to enable those conversations
(11:45):
about different perspectives to take place. And that's that's one
of the things I think we need to get back to,
is having some of those substance of conversations about about
our whatever the topic is, whether it's health, care or
anything else.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
Sure, So you know, you know what what we all
need is we need not necessarily some of us need
more friends, some of us need maybe fewer friends, but
better friends. We just need to be able to, uh,
to come together and have a conversation here, whether it's
(12:24):
on social media or face to face. I mean, so
many of us we hide behind our keyboards and it
we just need to just take a freaking deep breath here. Man,
you are if you're just joining us. Wint and Buddington
is with Sweethearts and Heroes, which is the world's biggest
(12:44):
greatest student empowerment advocacy group organization in the world. You
guys have infiltrated yourselves into so many different schools all
around the country, mostly here in New England, roots in Vermont.
(13:05):
This started with Tom Murphy and rick Yarish right here
in Vermont, and it is spread immensely. It is so impressive.
Now there's a huge team of you, there's a huge
staff of you, and you're all busy every day trying
(13:27):
to make a difference in the world. And you're starting
with young lives, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and
saying we may not be able to change the course
of adults. Maybe we can, but the real answer lies
(13:54):
with the foundation of our future, and it's getting children
to be better versions of themselves. To learn. And you
and I've had this discussion in the past. To learn. Yes,
you go to school to learn, but also outside of
the classroom and inside the classroom, just be a better person,
have a different mindset, Understand what bullying looks like, Understand
(14:18):
what it means to build character and have conviction and
stand up for something when you when you know that
something is not right, stand up and defend others, stand up,
defend yourselves, and just be better at who you are.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Yeah, and and the schools that we're in, the students
are just phenomenal. It's it's incredible watching students take step
into leadership roles. We have older students working with younger
students in our Brave program and it's just an incredible
experience for sets a students, you know. And we've got
(15:04):
a couple you know, talking about coming together and we
need to come together to have some conversations. We've got
a couple events coming up where your listeners can come
together and they can they can meet rick Yarish, our
Chevy sponsors have done a great job supporting us in
(15:24):
schools this year. And if I can plug a couple events.
On this Friday, November seventh, up in Burlington, Burlington at
KIA Burlington, Rick's going to be doing a meet and
greet and giving away some of his books from starting
at three point thirty. And then on Veterans Day, November eleventh,
(15:46):
he's going to be at Alderman Chevrolet in Rutland, Vermont
from one to five. And that'd be a great time
for folks to come out see Rick get a copy
of his book A Bridge named Amos and and he
celebrate a veteran that has just done incredible work for
our country and now talking to over a million students
(16:07):
in our schools, over.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
A million students. When that's a basing Man, Yeah, who
would have thunk it? And then Monday, uh the tenth,
What's happened happening over in Danville?
Speaker 3 (16:27):
Monday the tenth Domin Rick are presenting in Danville.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
And I think it's Little Chevrolet that's back in that one.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
Little Chevrolet is back in that one. Yep.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
So they're going to be in the in the elementary
school there.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
They're going to be actually uh middle school, high school.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Okay, man, I'm.
Speaker 3 (16:51):
Holding three through sick. Yeah, so yeah, we get everybody
I am.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
I am so hoping to able to catch one of these.
Maybe Friday in Burlington, meeting up with with Rick. Uh,
such a great guy.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Tom and Rick are both in Plattsburgh today, Mariah in
New York. Later. I think you were you were saying.
Speaker 3 (17:15):
They're in They're in Mariah today. Tom was in Plattsburgh
yesterday doing a circle training, and then they're going to
be in South colin A, New York at lash and
Kill Middle School tomorrow. So they've got a busy week.
And then over the weekend, Tom is working with the
lineman again, so he's he's not getting much much rest.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
What a what a conversation that we've had lately about
that and mental mental health. And you know, the thing
about you guys is you do go up forty thousand feet,
but you really take your time getting down into the
into the roots of things. And that is so impressive.
(17:59):
Not every organization can do that. A lot of a
lot of them just like to hang up, you know,
up top and just kind of stay generic. You guys
really really get your fingers into it. And and I
know that that's that's just kind of part of Tom's personality.
He just that's just who he is. He's like, we
(18:22):
got we're getting to nuts and bolts here, man, We're
getting into it well.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
And it really, you know, as we get into it,
you it's a few people can really make a huge difference,
whether it's for a school, whether it's for an organization
like the Ligneman It. You know, you get a few
students that empower, have a little bit of training, a
little bit experience with us, and have the empowerment they
(18:48):
can really change and shape the culture positively for their school. Yeah,
and and that's really it takes getting down to digging
in to do that. You can't just do it with
a single presentation that that affects the individual. He make
some individual changes students here Rick's story, and it really
(19:10):
changes their perspective about their own problems and challenges. But
that's an individual change. To really change the culture is
when we empower students through the circle work and the
other programs that we have to really start to take
control of their school climate and culture.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Rick's going to be in here next Wednesday, I believe
I believe in the studio. He may be remote, not
sure where he's going to be.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
I think he's going to be in the studio because
he's coming awesome. He's at Alderman Chevrolet in Rutland on Tuesday,
and then he's back in the Albany area at Academy
of the Holy Names on Thursday. So I think he's
going to plan it to come into the studio.
Speaker 1 (19:53):
Rick Yarish a veteran who almost died in Iraq when
his badly was blown up a roadside bomb and he
was uh. His whole body was covered in diesel fuel
and burned alive, and for a very long time it
(20:15):
was questionable whether or not he was going to make it.
His whole body has been melted, his ears, his nose
are gone, his his fingers, but he survived and he's
you know, his his message has has always been.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Man.
Speaker 1 (20:41):
Physically I was, I was damaged, but I still have
my my heart and my soul, my passion not only
to love, but to be loved and to persevere. We're
regardless of what challenges lie ahead of us. And man,
(21:04):
if you think that the ship is not going to
hit the fan in your life, you're wrong, because it's
it's going to and if it hasn't already, and if
it has already, it's gonna again. And it's you have
to expect this, and it's it's how to have the
(21:26):
right mindset to know ahead of time that you're going
to be okay.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
And and that part of that mindset that we talk
to students and people about is what hope stands for
for us, which is hold on possibilities exist there it is,
you know, and that that is so I even in
my own life as I faced challenges and things, you know,
I don't I don't don't know what tomorrow is sure
(21:56):
and tomorrow, but there are possibilities that exists in the future,
you know. I when I was I was a middle
school principal for fourteen years and decided to retire. I
didn't have a plan to work with Sweethearts and heroes.
That was something that just it was a possibility that
(22:17):
happened after I had retired. Wow. And so you know,
and when Tom called me up, it was I jumped
at the chance because I had worked with him for
about seven years in my building and saw the impact
on our climate and culture. But it wasn't something. When
I made the decision to retire. It wasn't like I
was retiring to work with Sweethearts and Heroes. So there
are possibilities out there in the future that we don't
(22:40):
know what's going to align for us, right, we just
have to know that those possibilities exist.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
Tom says that you were a middle school principal for
the length of fourteen years, which is crazy, and that
that that's mostly the reason why you've you've lost all
your hair because you were just pulling it out by
the by the clumpful. Is that true.
Speaker 3 (23:08):
No, I tend to run hot, so keeping the hair
short is much more pooling for the I know it's
time to get my haircut when I start getting a
little warm or it gets too warm.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Listen. One of Tom's techniques with Sweethearts and Heroes has been,
as you were just saying a little while ago, to
to bring students and faculty uh together and to sit
down in a circle, which you don't even gonna have
to say another word. So many of us just hear
(23:44):
that alone, and we're like, WHOA, I do not want
to do that. I don't want to sit down and
talk and I definitely don't want to sit down in
a circle where we can all see each other. Do
I have to talk? Do you get that?
Speaker 3 (24:05):
Yeah? And one of our guidelines for circle is we
need good listeners. You don't have to talk, you can pass,
you don't have to respond to the question. And circle
also it circles, not a dialogue that we have a
talking piece. It goes in one direction around the circle.
So if somebody says something, there's not a back and forth.
(24:28):
It goes around. Talking piece can go around again if
you want to comment on something somebody else said. But
that process is designed to have people listen to what
other people are saying and to think about what other
people are saying. And in circle you go through a
lot of self regulated thinking. You think of you're listening,
(24:50):
you have a question, you're thinking about what you want
to say, and you're thinking about how comfortable you are,
how vulnerable you're willing to make yourself to share that
information with it screw. The part of what we do
in our circle practice is we do activators before we
sit down to circle. And the activators are activities that
(25:11):
just get people moving, have them connecting, and start having
them be a little bit vulnerable. When you're having fun
or laughing or making an awkward movement, you start making
yourself a little bit vulnerable. And then when you sit
down and circle, you're already at a place where you're
(25:31):
a little bit more open to have some dial some
of that conversation and sharing.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
Is this the wonder questioning technique that I've heard you
guys talk about.
Speaker 3 (25:42):
Well, our wonder questioning technique is built off of the
question formulation technique research and what it leads us. What
we found is is we sat down in circle and
started doing circles. We were coming up with questions, and
as we were coming up with questions, we realized we
were kind of going through a process for that, and
(26:03):
we said, well we as schools. We worked with schools
and trained teachers to run circle. They started working with
kids on coming up with questions, and the two kind
of merged together for us in our Wonder question technique,
which is just expanding kids thinking, expanding people's thinking to
just wonder and come up with thoughts and questions about
(26:27):
a topic, an object, or something. So I know, in
your studio, you've got a beautiful red couch and it's
got some ornate would work around it. So the idea,
like the wonder questioning technique, if that couch was what
we were talking about, would be we'd start by just
brainstorming as wonderstorming questions about the couch, you know, who
(26:50):
carved it, who sat on it, what stories can it tell?
All those kind of questions, and then we filter those
down to say, which questions really interesting? Why? Why? Why
did I ask that question? Why might I be curious
about who carved all of that would on the couch?
Maybe that's something that I'm I think interested in, Maybe
(27:13):
I whittle and that's why I would think of that question.
And then we it narrows down further to get to
the apex questions about which questions are kind of those
quick answer questions versus a broader question, and which questions
really connect with the human experience across multiple people. And
(27:34):
you get down to a question where, you know, what's
the role of a couch? Could be a circle question?
And so it really takes kids through that process and
helps them develop questions for their own circles.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
It's it's a portal really into into some of these open,
open questions. And I, you know, I experienced circle one
time with Tom and a bunch of students up at
Peru High School. And I was fascinated because the direction
(28:14):
of the of the subject, of the conversations, of the
thought processes are changing constantly, and it's the furthest thing
from boring. It's absolutely fascinating. And for someone like Tom
(28:36):
and I, both who are naturally inquisitive people, Yeah, we
we have a lot of questions, We have a lot
of follow up questions. That's that's that's what I do
for a living. Was extremely, extremely difficult for me to
(28:58):
sit and keep my mouth shut and I didn't really
I didn't really understand the rules that when it's your
turn to speak, it's your turn to speak, and if
you're not speaking, you're listening, which is very hard to do,
and it's very hard to do right now. It's hard
(29:21):
to do at home with our husband and wife and children,
but it's also difficult to do with our neighbors, our friends,
folks that might be strangers that are on social media
who have vastly different political views, in opinions about what
(29:50):
is right and what is wrong and what's going to
hurt us and what's going to be better for us? Wow,
is it difficult to listen when holy crap.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
Yeah. And you know, we talk in our circle training about,
you know, when do we teach kids to listen besides
just saying, hey, listen to me, you know. And some
of our best teachers where we're teaching kids to listen
are in our music programs because they're teaching the clarinets
to listen to the saxophones. They're teaching, you know, where
(30:22):
when you come in are you are you on the
same pitch as somebody else and they're explaining what they
should be listening for. One of the techniques that Tom
talks about in our circle training for listening is in
your head, as someone else is talking, repeat the words
that they're saying, yeah, and you'll and you'll find that
(30:42):
you can't think because there's so oftentimes we're thinking of
a response, we're thinking, there's so many things running through
our head, we're not really focused and present fully with
the person. But if you're repeating what they're saying in
your head as they're saying it, you'll be much more focused.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Thing about this thing about circle, that one experience that
I had up at Peru High School with those students
that was really difficult for me is I live with
a pen and a piece of paper close by all
the time. It's next to my bed where I sleep,
(31:21):
it's in my car, it's here in the studio, it's
everywhere I go. I've got a pad of paper and
a pen, several pens in case one runs out of ink.
And that's happened to me before, and it sends me
into an absolute panic. But I didn't know what I
(31:44):
was getting into when I sat down in that circle
in Peru. My pad of paper and my pen were
on a desk about thirty feet behind me, and I
wanted to take notes on everything that I was hearing,
everything that I was listening to. It's not easy, man,
(32:06):
It's it's not easy.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
It takes practice. Circle. It's circle is a practice, and
that's part of the you know, the the more you
do circle, the more you it, the easier it becomes
to follow that and be in that environment. And the
(32:30):
more you're connections you're making.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
While you're there, you know, and and the students need
to there's a difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is biological.
My wife keeps telling me that I have a huge
hearing problem, but a listen. You know, listening issue is
(32:54):
in my opinion, so much worse. Students need to listen
to their teachers. They need to think not just about
what their teachers are saying, but why they're saying it,
that maybe there's a greater reason. Maybe they're not just
picking on you or or bugging you, but maybe they
(33:18):
have good reason behind it. But the adults, man, it's
like the teachers, the administrators, they need to listen to
the students too. That often there's a much bigger picture.
There's something underlying, that's that's not in the forefront, that's
that's being covered up. That's huge.
Speaker 3 (33:39):
Yeah, and and it's for for everybody. You know. As
a principal, I really worked hard to listen to my teachers.
Speaker 1 (33:47):
And read and read between the lines.
Speaker 3 (33:50):
Yeah, and you know what, you know, we also talk
about behavior as a form of communication, and it's it's
it's the non verbal form, right, So there's something going
on and to figure that out, we need to listen
and understand. If somebody says, no, I'm not gonna I
don't want to do that, let's figure out what's behind that.
(34:12):
And they might have a very valid reason why they
shouldn't do that or you know why that shouldn't happen
in a school or whatever. And if we're not listening,
we don't understand that perspective and that that reason, and
we're just moving forward with that kind of compliance authoritarian position.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
One of the amazing things about Tom and what you
guys have have done with part of your your circle training,
which I know is just one stem of what you
guys do sweethearts and heroes in schools, but when you're
bringing people into a circle that certain faces would never
(34:58):
be sitting in the same circle with each other and
looking across at each other for lots of different reasons.
Maybe they just flat out don't like each other. Maybe
one's a geek, maybe one's a jock, whoever whatever Emo Yeah,
(35:20):
which my kid is still teaching me about. But it
gets people to like get be uncomfortable for a little
bit for a little while. Usually that kind of goes
away soon though.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
Well, kids realize things that they haven't thought about, you know.
So if we've got the Thanksgiving holiday coming up, if
you're in circle and you're talking about what's a what's
a tradition, what's a tradition something your family does at holiday? Time,
whether it's Thanksgiving or Christmas or whatever. And two or
(35:54):
three of those students you're talking about talk about something
at graham own Grandpa's house, and they may never have
really consciously thought about that person that they don't like
has a grandma and grandpa too, and that they have
a tradition and maybe the tradition is the same, maybe
they do the same thing or have the same you know,
(36:17):
and that all of a sudden, their perspective about that
person shifts just a little bit. It doesn't doesn't mean
they're going to become best friends automatically, but there's a
little bit more of a connection there that, hey, this
person isn't that different from me than I thought they were.
Speaker 1 (36:35):
Sure. And not only that, but when the circle splits
up and we go about our days in the days
in the weeks that follow, that one student who sees
(37:00):
another student passing the hallway will know something about that
person reciprocal that they never knew and maybe think of
them in a different way, or maybe even if they're
not associated in several several different ways, but at least
(37:21):
get eye contact and nod ahead, fist bump, whatever, some
kind of connection.
Speaker 3 (37:30):
Yeah, and and even if you know, they see that
person looking a little glom one day, right, they might
they might say, hey, how you doing, because they've got
that that connection, and that can make the world of
difference for that student.
Speaker 1 (37:45):
Yeah, so so true. I want you to explain to
folks a little bit in closing this morning what it
is that you do with sweethearts and heroes. Maybe a
little explanation of what Sweethearts and Heroes is and how
(38:09):
schools can get involved. I mean, we're going to be
Danville on Monday, which you guys have been to in
the past. You've been to my daughter's school here in Fromont,
You've been to so many different schools. But a little
bit about who you are, what you do for sweethearts
(38:30):
and heroes.
Speaker 3 (38:33):
So we bring our We're a student empathy empowerment group
organization is how I describe it. Have we bring our
message of hope, empathy, empowerment and bystander activation to schools
and to students and staff. And we do that through
(38:53):
our presentations, our circle work. We've got a Brave program
that older kids are working with younger kids. Got a
Step program where we're training high school students to deliver
our K two and three five presentations. We do circle
training for teachers and students. We have a community Ambassador
program where we have one of our staff in a
(39:15):
school on a regular basis helping with this work very frequent,
whether weekly or every other week, monthly throughout the year.
We have three leadership classes for high school that embed
this work in a sustainable model for high school leadership
courses so that after our school works with us for
a period of time, they can continue this work without us.
(39:41):
And our website is Sweethearts Andheroes dot com and if
you go on the website you can see all the information.
There's a contact form on there. If you're interested in
having us come in or want to talk to us
about the programs and services we offer, fill out the
form and that's part of my job is to get
in touch and follow up there. Tom will follow up
(40:02):
with a school that submits a form and then I'll
follow up and we talk about more in depth of
the programs. And then the other part of my role
is to help schools what does that look like, what's
that implementation plan? And we have our Hope Classroom online
resources on the Thriveway platform, which is a strength based
(40:23):
social emotional platform that really let's helps with continuing the
work once we're not there. We come in for a presentation,
we know there's voltage drop. We know that was a
great presentation. Everybody's excited, But when you get back to
your regular routine, how do you keep that message going.
That's where our hope classroom resources come in with our
(40:44):
lessons and activities online that are the anticipatory set that
leads into classroom conversations as well. So that whole package
is what really we help schools with, and that's part
of my job right now is a Director of Outreach
and Logistics is my title, and it's to help people
figure out what we have to offer and how we
(41:08):
can integrate it with what they have going on in
their school.
Speaker 1 (41:11):
What do you I always love to ask this question.
What do you say to a parent or a teacher,
an administrator anywhere that's listening this morning that hasn't yet
discovered sweethearts and heroes and they haven't had them in
the school yet.
Speaker 3 (41:34):
Let's talk, is what I say. You know what, Let's
figure out how we can work with you and what
your your school climate and culture needs and how we
can help support that there's no harm in a conversation.
And you know, we we're already booked up through getting
(41:57):
booked up through February now, so our calendar's getting pretty
full for this year. So as we have conversations starting now,
we may be talking more about next year and some
And it takes a little while to to locate financial
resources and things for programs and services that we offer
and through grants and things, so we're happy to work
(42:19):
with people on that aspect as well. So what I
would say is, let's have a conversation.
Speaker 1 (42:25):
Give our listeners to uh to close up this morning
went and give our listeners heads up on what to
expect next Wednesday. When Rickyrish comes in.
Speaker 3 (42:37):
Here, oh tune in. I mean it, Rick. I love
just talking with Rick. He's he's funny, he's he's entertaining
and incredible personality and just so inspiring with everything he's
(42:58):
been through and and the effort he's put in and
everything he's overcome to be a husband, a father, and
motivational speaker. He works with tunnels to towers, just so
many things that he does that he is one of
(43:23):
my heroes. And just your audience is going to enjoy
and be inspired by a great man.
Speaker 1 (43:34):
Yeah, understatement. He really is something else. Man. I can't
wait when man, you bring the goods every time. Absolutely
love Wednesdays and I love having you guys on here.
You bring so much positivity to my airwaves and to
(43:57):
the ears of my listeners, my followers here at aired
out and I cannot thank you guys enough.
Speaker 3 (44:06):
Well, we appreciate it. And you know, while we're the
work we do for schools, we know that the messages
and the things we're talking about, like hope, standing for,
hold on, possibilities exist, are good for everybody to hear
adults as well, and we appreciate the opportunity to talk
with you and share that our messages with your listeners.
Speaker 1 (44:29):
Thank you so much, my brother, have a fantastic christ
of your day, Bud, Wynt and Buddington, Sweethearts and Heroes
here live this morning. The rest of my day is well,
it's going to be an interesting one, I'll tell you that.
(44:50):
But I hope that some of what Wynton was saying
this morning will resonate with you throughout the rest your
day and the rest of your week and maybe beyond again.
Hop On, Sweethearts Andheeroes, dot com today, I'm going to
be heading over to Optical Expressions. I'm wearing my Optical
(45:14):
Expressions studio glasses so that i can see what the
hell's going on right now. Will put these together. He
made these for me and they're wonderful. But they've got
some deals going on right now in the month of
November that I'm probably going to be taking them up on,
(45:34):
maybe some progressive lenses. It's very difficult for me to
say by folks. I cannot say byfocals. I won't say
byfocals because if I do, then I sound like an
old man. So I'm not going to say the word byfocal.
I'll say progressive lenses. But anyway, I'll be over there
(45:58):
at some point soon today. Look at some of the
different they got frames right now for ninety nine bucks
in a month in November. If you haven't been over
to Optical Expressions, I also need to book an eye exam.
You need to get over there Monday through Friday eight
to six in their new location, the fourth floor of
the Blanchard Block in Berrier. I say new location because
they've been up at the Berlin Mall for a million years,
(46:19):
but they've also been at the blanch block now for
quite a while. So if you haven't yet explored, hop
in the elevator press floor four and the door's open
and you're right there in front of Optical Expressions two
two three, twenty ninety to set up an exam today.
One of our presenting sponsors, who we love so much, eyesight,
(46:46):
talk about something that so many of us, if not
all of us, take for granted right there, so you
may see new pair of specs on this old feller
at some point, I don't know. Once again, River and
Center Street closed between George Street and Frettini Place this
(47:13):
morning they've got traffic detours set up. River Street and
Center Street closed between George Street and Frettini Place. Keep
that in mind today on your travels. What's happening with
the results of our local voting yesterday. We should get
(47:41):
a better picture here very soon, I know, the the
bond vote on the Central Fromont Career Center. We should
have some results by Thursday. But there's a lot of
work that needs to be done and some patients that
we need to exercise in the meanwhile, So we'll be watching,
(48:03):
we'll be listening, we'll be paying attention not only to
that proposal of a new career center, but also the
new city garage and the housing project on Seminary Street
here in Barry. Paying attention, watching, listening, and yes, I
(48:26):
will be in touch with Nicholas Starelli Castro, our city manager,
to get some more information. Okay, listen, please deep breath today,
stay well, take good care of yourself tomorrow. I know
Bob Ross was in here last Thursday, caused it a
(48:47):
lot of problems. Tomorrow Ge wants to do something that
I'm not fully in support of frankly a little nervous about.
But we're gonna have some fun and hopefully if we
(49:12):
don't make you laugh tomorrow, if we don't make you
laugh on Thursdays, maybe we can at least bring an
internal smile to your soul or make you close your
eyes and say, what a couple of jerks. That's our goal.
(49:35):
We love Thursdays. We hope you do too. It's coming tomorrow.
I can hardly wait, even though I'm slightly nervous. Have
a fantastic rest of your day, everybody, all right, take
good care, be kind. We'll get through the rest of
this week together. Thanks for tuning in the school sy
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Are You A Charlotte?
In 1997, actress Kristin Davis’ life was forever changed when she took on the role of Charlotte York in Sex and the City. As we watched Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte navigate relationships in NYC, the show helped push once unacceptable conversation topics out of the shadows and altered the narrative around women and sex. We all saw ourselves in them as they searched for fulfillment in life, sex and friendships. Now, Kristin Davis wants to connect with you, the fans, and share untold stories and all the behind the scenes. Together, with Kristin and special guests, what will begin with Sex and the City will evolve into talks about themes that are still so relevant today. "Are you a Charlotte?" is much more than just rewatching this beloved show, it brings the past and the present together as we talk with heart, humor and of course some optimism.