Unmuted Podcast

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Channel • 3 Shows

Education

Education

Updated Semiweekly
Parenting

Parenting

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Mental Health

Mental Health

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4D AGO

Episode 35 (Natural Healing, Herbal Wisdom, and Alpenglow Natural Living with Terri)

In this episode, we welcome Terri, owner of Alpenglow Natural Living in Casper, Wyoming, to talk about her journey from education into natural healing and herbal wellness. Terri shares how personal experiences with her children’s health, family healing stories, and her own recovery from a serious injury led her deeper into natural medicine and eventually to taking over one of Casper’s long-standing wellness businesses. We talk about the roots of herbal healing, the difference between treating symptoms and finding the source, and why so many people are looking for more natural options for pain relief, immune support, detox, and everyday wellness. Terri also shares practical insight into culinary herbs, teas, tinctures, natural cleaning products, and the value of returning to simple habits that support long-term health. This conversation is a reminder that there are many paths to wellness, and that small, intentional choices can make a big difference. Show Notes In this episode: Terri shares her path from education to owning Alpenglow Natural Living The history of Alpenglow and its long-standing place in Casper How natural healing became part of her life and family story Common reasons people seek herbal and natural wellness support The importance of identifying the root cause of pain Culinary herbs and everyday ingredients that support wellness Natural approaches to reducing toxins in the home Why simple habits still matter for long-term health Featured Business: Alpenglow Natural Living Casper, Wyoming Listener Offer: Mention this podcast episode in-store and receive 10% off your purchase.

4d ago

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44 min
MAR 23

Episode 34 (From School Counseling to Cold-Pressed Wellness: Anna Studer of The Lovely Lemon)

In this episode, we take a refreshing break from our usual education-focused conversations to talk health, wellness, and community impact with Anna Studer, owner of The Lovely Lemon in Casper, Wyoming. Anna shares how her personal journey with juicing, motherhood, and health led her from school counseling into entrepreneurship, and how Casper helped turn her passion into a thriving local business. We talk about the benefits of cold-pressed juice, the difference between juice and smoothies, the realities of building a small business, and how Anna is creating community through her Lunch and Learn events. Along the way, the conversation also explores career transitions out of education, the value of transferable skills, and what it means to keep educating others in a new way. Plus, Derek shares details about his upcoming Love and Logic parenting class, designed to help parents bring more calm, connection, and confidence into family life. Show Notes In this episode: Anna Studer shares the story behind The Lovely Lemon Why cold-pressed juice is different Health, nutrition, and community in Casper Leaving education and building something new The Lovely Lemon’s Lunch and Learn events Derek’s upcoming Love and Logic parenting class Love and Logic Parenting Class Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5CiVftB5c6TfGMo0tqmStuKMsuUNEbz-ljordfFxKTn8-aQ/viewform

Mar 23

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1h 7m
MAR 16

Episode 33 (Charter Schools in Wyoming: What They Are, How They Work, and What’s Next)

With school closures stirring anxiety for parents across Natrona County, the conversation turns to one big question: what other options are there? In this episode, the hosts sit down with Joe Feiler—a 35-year education veteran, former CTE teacher, and current member of the Wyoming Charter School Authorization Board—to break down what charter schools actually are in Wyoming (and what they’re not). Joe walks through Wyoming’s charter-school history, the two pathways to launch a charter (district-authorized vs. state-authorized), and how funding, enrollment, special education services, and statewide accountability work. The group also tackles common misconceptions—like “charters are private schools”—and discusses why families are increasingly drawn to theme-based models like classical education. The conversation then expands into what could come next: CTE and trades-focused charter schools, stronger partnerships with industry, and how Wyoming might better connect academic learning to real-world skills—without abandoning core standards. If you’re a parent, educator, or community member wondering what school choice could look like after closures, this episode is a practical starting point.

Mar 16

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1h 22m
FEB 23

Episode 30 (Taking Ownership of Education: A Conversation on Homeschooling and Connection)

In this episode, the hosts sit down with Cross True—homeschooled K–12 and now planning to homeschool his own children—to unpack why more families are considering homeschooling and what it actually looks like day to day. The conversation avoids “anti-public school” framing and instead focuses on the real questions parents are asking: safety and peer environments, moral formation, family connection, and flexibility. Cross shares what homeschooling looked like across a large family, from early play-and-learn rhythms to a more demanding high-school season built around Casper College dual-enrollment (BOCES), athletics, and higher-level coursework. The group digs into common misconceptions (academic rigor and “socialization”), argues that education always forms a worldview, and explores how incentives in large systems can drift away from student outcomes. They close by emphasizing responsibility and intentionality—whatever education model a family chooses—and the importance of staying connected to kids in a rapidly changing world.

Feb 23

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1h 14m
MAR 9

Episode 32 (From Jetsons to Westworld: When AI Gets Useful—and When It Gets Scary)

Cody Sullivan returns and the conversation goes from light jokes to big questions fast. The crew debates whether AI is “smarter” than humans, why our brains run on about 12 watts while AI gulps city-sized power, and what happens when automation doesn’t just replace jobs—but replaces purpose. From robot caregivers (Jetsons) and sci-fi warnings (Westworld, Ex Machina, Subservience) to real-world concerns like farming, education adapting to AI, and AI-powered cyberattacks, the discussion keeps circling back to one core tension: we’re building powerful tools faster than we can agree on the morals guiding them. They close by unpacking the “positive reinforcement” issue—when AI mirrors your assumptions so well that truth, wisdom, and virtue matter more than ever, especially for raising kids in a world where the tool is everywhere.

Mar 9

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1h 3m
FEB 11 · BONUS

Bonus Episode (What Recalibration Could Mean for Teachers: Class Sizes, Cuts, and Categorical Funding)

Julie Jarvis returns with a boots-on-the-ground legislative update as Wyoming heads into session—and the stakes for public education are high. In this episode, the crew breaks down the Wyoming school funding “recalibration” bill and why Julie believes the current proposal could reshape classrooms across the state. Julie explains recalibration in plain terms, then highlights key concerns educators should track: proposed class size changes, a potential reduction of hundreds of classroom teachers, and a major shift away from a block-grant model toward categorical funding—which could reduce local flexibility in how districts staff schools, support students, and use Title I resources. The conversation also digs into the bill’s language around teacher pay (base vs. average salary), the loss of longer-term funding stability, and how these changes could affect everything from staffing to services like counselors, nurses, and intervention supports. From there, the discussion widens to the bigger budget picture: property tax, the use of the term “backfill,” and how Wyoming’s reserve and investment accounts tie into school funding and statewide services. Julie lays out why she believes the public narrative doesn’t match Wyoming’s education outcomes—and why she’s urging citizens to pay attention and get involved as decisions move quickly. If you’re a teacher, parent, or taxpayer trying to understand what’s coming and why it matters, this episode is your roadmap to the debate—and what to watch next.

Feb 11 · Bonus

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40 min
FEB 16

Episode 29 (CTE: The Workforce We Can’t Afford to Lose)

In this episode of Unmuted, we’re joined by Rob Hill and Andy Elston for a candid conversation about Career & Technical Education (CTE) and the urgent workforce gap facing Wyoming. Rob shares his path from the trades into teaching and workforce policy, and Andy explains how early hands-on experience turned into a career in engineering and building systems across the state. Together, we break down why Wyoming is facing an aging skilled workforce, why students often get blocked out of CTE pathways (capacity, scheduling, “level one bottlenecks”), and why “industry-ready” can’t just mean a couple of classes and a credential. We also challenge some long-held assumptions in education: what “21st century jobs” really require, why competency-based learning matters, and why communities need stronger partnerships between schools, employers, colleges, and mentors. If Wyoming wants to stop exporting talent—and start building opportunity at home—this conversation is a blueprint.

Feb 16

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55 min
07/15/2025

Episode 1 (Interview w/ Coebie on Resigning Part 1)

Coebie, a principal with 31 years of experience, recently retired on June 30, 2025. She discussed her emotional journey, including the challenges of balancing intuitive leadership with data-driven policies, the impact of school closures and COVID-19, and the frustration with one-year-only contracts for new teachers. Coebie emphasized the importance of valuing and supporting children and teachers, and expressed concerns about the current educational system's focus on test scores over holistic development. She plans to explore new passions and inspire other leaders to think outside the box.

07/15/2025

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1h 7m
JAN 25

Episode 26 (Grit, Grace, and a Broken System w/ Prairie Wife in Heels)

In this episode of Unmuted, we sit down with Cathy Holman, known to many as Prairie Wife and Heels, to talk about a story no family should ever have to live through: an adult stalking and harassing a minor through fake numbers, impersonation, and calculated attacks meant to isolate and destabilize kids. Cathy shares how it started, how long it lasted, and what it did to her daughter, her family, and their small-town sense of safety. We unpack the investigative hurdles (including months-long delays to obtain digital evidence), the emotional toll of living on high alert, and the brutal reality of what happens when the legal system lacks teeth. Most importantly, we discuss Wyoming House Bill 8—a one-sentence fix with major implications: making adult stalking of a minor a felony. This isn’t about attacking a person; it’s about repairing a broken system, protecting kids, and ensuring background checks and school safeguards can actually do their job. Content note: This episode includes discussions of stalking, harassment, sexualized rumors about minors, and mental health impacts.

Jan 25

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1h 7m
MAR 2

Episode 31 (The Wellness Way: Why We Test, Not Guess with Dr. Isaac Castellanos)

The hosts shift into the wellness space with special guest Dr. Isaac Castellanos, a chiropractor and former Fleet Marine Force Corpsman whose path into healthcare began in high school volunteering in the ER and running emergency calls with a California fire department. Isaac shares how years in emergency medicine, deployments, and repeated exposure to seriously ill and injured children shaped his focus on pediatric and perinatal care and, ultimately, pushed him to look beyond “protocol-only” treatment. A pivotal part of his story involves his sister’s long struggle with chronic illness, misdiagnosis, and dismissal inside the conventional medical system—until she was finally tested and treated for Lyme disease. That experience, along with watching providers get penalized for practicing outside narrow guidelines, led Isaac toward chiropractic and a more investigative, whole-person approach. The conversation explores the difference between emergency care and long-term healing using Isaac’s “firefighter vs. carpenter” analogy: medicine is critical for putting out the fire, but real recovery requires rebuilding the house. From nervous system regulation and individualized adjustments to advanced lab work (hormones, stool testing, inflammation, toxins), the group discusses why supplement quality matters, why many health plans fail due to incomplete testing, and how lifestyle, stress, and environment drive outcomes in areas like energy, digestion, and fertility. Isaac also shares how people can find him locally through The Wellness Way Casper and why he believes a doctor’s job is to teach—not just prescribe.

Mar 2

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1h 15m

Too many important voices in education, parenting, and leadership go unheard—we’re here to change that. Join former administrators, educators, and a serial entrepreneur as we challenge outdated systems, discuss real struggles, and explore fresh ideas. No red tape. No sugarcoating. Just honest conversations that matter.

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Unmuted Podcast

Top Shows

Episode 35 (Natural Healing, Herbal Wisdom, and Alpenglow Natural Living with Terri)

Episode 34 (From School Counseling to Cold-Pressed Wellness: Anna Studer of The Lovely Lemon)

Episode 33 (Charter Schools in Wyoming: What They Are, How They Work, and What’s Next)

Episode 30 (Taking Ownership of Education: A Conversation on Homeschooling and Connection)

Episode 32 (From Jetsons to Westworld: When AI Gets Useful—and When It Gets Scary)

Bonus Episode (What Recalibration Could Mean for Teachers: Class Sizes, Cuts, and Categorical Funding)

Episode 29 (CTE: The Workforce We Can’t Afford to Lose)

Episode 1 (Interview w/ Coebie on Resigning Part 1)

Episode 26 (Grit, Grace, and a Broken System w/ Prairie Wife in Heels)

Episode 31 (The Wellness Way: Why We Test, Not Guess with Dr. Isaac Castellanos)

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