208 Weeks Podcast

Julie L. Rowse and AE Stueve

In which two teachers discuss the highs and lows of teaching during the 47th presidency of the United States. 208weeks.substack.com

  1. Week 67

    May 11

    Week 67

    First and foremost, there is a spoiler in here for “The Pitt,” so listen/watch at your own peril. Social media is all a-chattering about America’s literacy crisis, so we weigh in. If you didn’t know, the Book-It program is back! On a related note to the literacy discussion, we have the Wall Street Journal’s story about how much YouTube students are watching during school (sorry for the paywall—if you subscribe to Apple News, here’s that link instead). Here’s a link to our latest Golden Sower pick, “The Scarlet Alchemist.” And finally, as we’ve been revisiting our old vlog over the last 19 episodes of this podcast, here’s the last episode of our vlog from 2012. It is a must watch, if for no other reason than to see the t-shirt Stueve is wearing. Thanks for listening. We’ll be back with an episode or two over the summer. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

    36 min
  2. Week 63

    Apr 8

    Week 63

    This week we explain our unplanned hiatus and discuss our latest Golden Sower pick, “Give Me A Sign.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

    33 min
  3. Week 52

    Jan 19

    Week 52

    This week we are talking about Adam Kirsch’s article in The Atlantic, “Reading is a Vice.” (That’s a gift link for you—please READ it!) We reference a quote attributed to a CBC journalist early in the episode; sadly, I cannot find any actual print or video evidence it was uttered by anyone affiliated with the CBC. Social media strikes again. Here’s a link to our next Golden Sower book, “Give Me A Sign”. If you want to see all the Golden Sowers for the year, check them out here! If you want to watch the vlog where we talk about Marco Rubio (amongst other things), go wild. As usual, we’d love for you to share, like, subscribe, etc. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

    42 min
  4. Week 47

    12/19/2025

    Week 47

    This week we have a few pieces of good news and our discussion of “Swarm” by Jennifer D. Lyle. Here’s the stories we reference in the podcast—but beware falling down the Steve Hartman rabbit hole. My advice if you do? Take a box of Kleenex. * This kid who ran against his high school teacher for a board of supervisors position. * This coach who told his team they lost after they thought they won. We hope you have a great holiday season, and we will see you in 2026! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

    56 min
  5. Week 45

    12/01/2025

    Week 45

    We figured the time for us to yap about conferences was *not* around the time we are actually having them, so this week, we are sharing our thoughts on ye olde tradition of parent-teacher conferences. Here is the dissertation Rowse references in the episode, if you’re into that sort of thing. Don’t forget—our next episode is when we are discussing Jennifer D. Lyle’s “Swarm,” so you have two weeks to read it! And you can always subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and listen to us there. We’d be honored. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

    53 min
  6. Week 43

    11/19/2025

    Week 43

    This week, we address trends we see in the physical health of our students, namely, vaccinations and energy drinks. We reference the Americas losing measles eradication status, due to the number of cases in Canada. One point we talked about was barriers to vaccinations and cost, and someone I follow on Instagram who lives in Alberta posted after we taped this episode that for her family to receive the Covid-19 vaccine this year, it would cost $600. I trust this person, but as a journalism teacher, I follow the adage “If your mom tells you she loves you, find two independent sources to verify,” and I found this story from the CBC, and this story about the MMR vaccine from the Calgary Herald. Both sources, it appears, show that cost may be a barrier for some. Want read a terrifying YA book? Join us in reading Swarm! We’ll be talking about it on our December 9 episode of the podcast. Thanks for hanging with us. Share with a friend, if you feel so obliged. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

    47 min
  7. Week 41

    11/03/2025

    Week 41

    This week we are back at it, talking about teachers’ mental health as our education issue of the week. So please, listen with care. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please reach out to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. Also, you can go to the National Alliance on Mental Illness for a variety of resources. Here’s the link to the Golden Sowers that Rowse talks about. Read our first book with us: Swarm. Thanks for reading 208 Weeks! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

    36 min
  8. Summer Special: AI in Education

    07/21/2025

    Summer Special: AI in Education

    It took us most of the summer to get around to yapping, but we finally did, and it’s a doozy. We chat about AI and its impact on our day to day life, but also its infiltration into the education space. If you’re a teacher and you’re not sure how to talk about AI beyond “ugh it’s cheating,” we have some ideas for you in the last half of the episode. If you have more ideas, drop them in the comments! REMINDER! Send us your favorite teacher info! We’d love to share your favorite teacher with our listeners. You can write to us at ms.rowse@gmail.com or stueveae@gmail.com and we will just read it on air or we are happy to schedule a recording session. The articles we yap about are here, and yes they are paywalled. Support good journalism! If you have an Apple News subscription, a couple are available there. Everyone is cheating their way through college from New York Magazine. Reporting from NBC news about the Chicago Sun-Times article that was found to have been written in part by AI. The Wall Street Journal’s reporting about the family business that makes blue books. Sharon McMahon’s Substack about AI hallucinations. Article about removing a ban on AI regulation from H.R. 1. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 208weeks.substack.com

    51 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
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2 Ratings

About

In which two teachers discuss the highs and lows of teaching during the 47th presidency of the United States. 208weeks.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Julie L. Rowse and AE Stueve
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Julie Rowse
  • Show Website
    208 Weeks Podcast