The NorthStar Narrative

NorthStar Academy
  • 5.0 (47)
  • Education
  • Updated Weekly

Join us for inspiration and encouragement through real stories from around the globe. Students, parents, and scholars will share advice on many topics including college, online learning, homeschooling, health, faith, and navigating daily life. #educated To learn more about NorthStar Academy, visit us at nsa.school

  1. 17h ago

    Build A Healthy Culture That Delivers Results

    We talk with leadership coach and author Dr. Jay Raines about why presence is harder than it looks and why it matters more than most teams admit. We walk through his Culture Brand framework and land on a simple challenge: build character first so your culture can carry results and relationships through change.  • learning presence and peace through forced slowing down  • shifting daily rhythms to build awareness and character  • using story to keep leaders engaged and honest  • connecting purpose, mission, vision, and values to culture brand  • keeping culture stable during departures by returning to mission  • spotting microcultures, silos, and over-managed environments  • noticing the micro behaviors that quietly build or erode trust  • owning mistakes with transparency and calling people up  • viewing leadership as cultivation and dependence on God

  2. Jul 1

    A Values First Approach To Kids And Screens

    We talk with Christina Crook about moving from fear and overwhelm toward a values-based approach to technology that helps kids thrive. We share practical questions and clear boundaries that turn parents and schools into digital mentors who protect attention, joy, and formation.  • naming overwhelm and shifting the focus to what brings kids joy  • anchoring screen choices in family values like truth courage and generosity  • choosing digital mentoring over enabling or limiting extremes  • partnering with schools by not contacting kids during the school day  • spotting breakdowns like sleep loss and late-night device access  • putting devices out of bedrooms and charging them in shared spaces  • asking “What’s working and what’s not working?” on a regular cadence  • connecting technology habits to goals body cues and real life joy

  3. Jun 16

    How Busy Leaders Learn To Be Present

    We talk with Dr. Andy Goodwin about what it really takes to be present when leadership pressure never turns off and your calendar keeps filling itself. We explore small, practical shifts that help us choose our spouse and kids without pretending work and responsibility will magically disappear. • why Walking Slowly is written “in the margins” of a full life  • presence as a daily choice, not a personality trait  • using your calendar to reveal real priorities  • refusing the false solution of “just do less”  • integrating rest, reading, workouts, and meals into normal rhythms  • building a culture where rest is expected and modeled  • student formation that values personhood over performance  • listening well, trusting the Spirit, seeking the kingdom first

  4. May 26

    Faith That Holds In The Dark

    We share Michael Perkins’ family story of walking through 11 years of breast cancer, brain metastasis, and the grief of losing his wife Denise, while choosing steady trust in Jesus the whole way. We also talk about how God uses hard seasons to shape purpose, and how faith can move into the marketplace through work, business, and mentorship. • What “suffer well” looks like when the outcome is unknown • Brain metastasis, long-term treatment, and learning to rely on God daily • Hospice, final moments, and the peace their family experiences in the room • Perspective, loneliness, and waiting on the Lord after loss • Why Christian entrepreneurs need teams, coaches, prayer, and community • Physical therapy as a relationship-based career and a natural space for ministry • Seeing work as worship, excellence as witness, and purpose as obedience • Contagious Hope podcast and how legacy grows through planted seeds

  5. May 12

    Designing Online Learning That Builds Real Connection

    We talk with Dr. Brooke Helling about how an unexpected path led her into English, ESL, and curriculum work, and why student connection matters as much as content. We also share what makes NorthStar Academy’s online model feel personal, growth-focused, and worth remembering for the relationships.  • Brooke’s real-life snapshot as a teacher, church leader, wife, and mom of four boys  • The “accidental English teacher” story and what she learns from ESL students’ resilience  • Designing a strong learning experience through belonging, buy-in, and student choice  • Measuring growth with mastery learning, reteaching, and assignment retries  • Why online school can deepen teacher-student connection through feedback and messaging  • What traditional sit-and-get models miss in a short-attention-span world  • Boy-mom lessons on grace, consistency, listening, and saying yes wisely  • “Anything worth doing is worth doing well” and why excellence points beyond ourselves  • The hope that students remember people and community most of all

  6. Apr 22

    I Support You Failing Spectacularly

    “I support you failing spectacularly” might be the most freeing sentence a teacher can hear, and it sets the tone for a hopeful conversation about online Christian education done with courage and care. We celebrate what God is doing at NorthStar Academy through Katherine’s story as an alumna, teacher, and curriculum designer who turns research into practical tools for online student success. We talk about pacing, student agency, and the kind of supportive culture that helps students get unstuck and become lifelong learners. • Katherine’s journey from student to teacher at NorthStar Academy   • Earning a master’s and applying capstone pacing research   • Designing online course tools that support student success right away   • “Failing spectacularly” as a leadership posture that fuels innovation   • Building student agency through reflection, good questions, and flexible project choices     • Reframing pacing as partnership, relationship, and individualized support   • Alumni council growth and the value of shared formative experience

  7. Mar 3

    How AI Can Make Teaching More Human

    In this episode, we sit down with Paul Matthews—an Australian classroom teacher, writer, TED Talk speaker, and leading voice at the intersection of AI and Christian education—to tackle the question so many educators are asking: Is AI going to harm learning…or can it actually help? Paul shares the conviction that “AI should make education more human, not less,” and explains what that looks like in real classrooms. You’ll hear practical, approachable examples for teachers who are brand new to AI (including a simple way to differentiate texts in minutes), plus wise guidance for school leaders navigating student use, academic integrity, and clear expectations. This conversation is hopeful, grounded, and deeply formative—because the goal of education isn’t just producing work, it’s producing a person. Whether you feel excited or anxious about AI, you’ll walk away with language, frameworks, and next steps to move forward with clarity and confidence under the lordship of Christ. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why AI can make teaching more human (not less)A practical “first step” any teacher can try this weekHow to set clear AI expectations for students (without constant policing)Why foundational skills still matter more than everHow Christian faith shapes a wise, steady approach to tech changeConnect with Paul: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulmatthewsai/Website: https://paulmatthews.ai/ChatGPT Features Guide: https://paulmatthewsai.gumroad.com/l/FeaturesGuideTed Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgqiGuIV6-Q

  8. Feb 17

    The Ripple Effects of Faithful Teaching

    In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with longtime NorthStar Academy teacher Brittany Mee as she reflects on nearly a decade of ministry, mentorship, and global impact. As she steps into a new season centered on family, homeschooling, and local calling, Brittany shares powerful stories of God’s faithfulness — from walking alongside students through mental health and medical challenges to witnessing Christ-centered education ripple across cultures and continents. This conversation captures the heart of NorthStar: testimony, discipleship, and the quiet ways God works through faithful teaching. In this episode, we talk about: • testimony as the core story of NorthStar • student growth across academics, faith, and emotional health • flexibility that supports students through illness and hardship • parenting, homeschooling, and discerning seasons of calling • encouragement to keep your eyes on Jesus and rest in His grace • building alumni connection and lifelong community

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5
out of 5
47 Ratings

About

Join us for inspiration and encouragement through real stories from around the globe. Students, parents, and scholars will share advice on many topics including college, online learning, homeschooling, health, faith, and navigating daily life. #educated To learn more about NorthStar Academy, visit us at nsa.school

Information

  • Creator
    NorthStar Academy
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    263
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The NorthStar Narrative
  • Show Website
    The NorthStar Narrative