PODyssey of the Mind

Sammy Micklus – Part 2: OM Origins and Tales

Odyssey of the Mind HQ's international director, Sammy Micklus, recounts the origins of what was then Olympics of the Mind – when his father and founder of the program Dr. Sam recruited him to volunteer. Sammy goes on to tell the tales – or tails, as OMER might say – of the program's milestones and memorable solutions, including a look at what goes into writing problems, scoring guidelines, and clarifications.  This conversation was originally recorded in 2020, and released in 2023 following a busy three years this side of the pandemic – and, well, extreme procrastination.  To support PODyssey of the Mind, you can share information about our Jumpstart Grant program with PA educators and parents at paodyssey.com/grants, or visit paodyssey.com/podcast to make a donation.  Support the show [http://www.paodyssey.com/podcast]

Sammy Micklus – Part 1: Competing Virtually

Odyssey of the Mind's top dog (top raccoon?) joins us to discuss this past year's Virtual World Finals and how the coming 2020-21 season is shaping up. We're thrilled to have Sammy Micklus, Odyssey of the Mind HQ's program director, in this first part of a two-part series.  Sammy's father, Dr. Sam, founded the program in 1978. Over the past 40 decades, Sammy has watched Odyssey of the Mind grow. This year, Sammy and his team at Odyssey HQ led thousands of creative problem-solvers and volunteers from around the world to navigate through an unprecedented "spontaneous problem." In this episode, he reflects on the outcome and looks forward to the new season.  Support the show [http://www.paodyssey.com/podcast]

PINcast sPINoff – David, Olivia, Paisley, and Ryan

Good people of the PINternet, we're back! This week's ePINsode is chock full of pins. Pin trading is a staple of the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals experience. Long-time World Finals officials and pin gurus Ryan Blackman, Olivia Holvik, David Palermo, and Paisley Ramstead join us for our first coast-to-coast show to discuss the economics of pin trading, their favorite pins, displaying their pins, and their friendship born of a mutual love of – you guessed it – pins.  These four Odyssey alums also extol the virtues of participating in Odyssey of the Mind and discuss the skills they use in their careers and lives to this very day. As Paisley says, "No matter what you're into, or what your skills are, there's a spot in Odyssey for you." Support the show [http://www.paodyssey.com/podcast]

Makers, Take the Stage! Anna, Leah, Melody, Natalie, Nikki, Ruby, and Coach McGee

Are they coaches, or are they OMers? The answer is – both!  We caught up with a team of 11th grade OMers who run a creative problem-solving summer camp called "Makers, Take the Stage!" in western Pennsylvania. It's a mini version of Odyssey of the Mind that the students came up with a few years ago when they didn't want the fun to stop after competing.  From Mt. Lebanon High School in western Pennsylvania, we're joined by Nikki LaSota, Anna Mares, Natalie McGee, Melody Reynolds, Ruby Siefken, Leah Vuillemot, and their coach Kerry McGee.  They discuss the genesis of "Makers, Take the Stage!" and some of the things they've learned from the younger students they mentor. They also discuss their experiences as OMers, having competed in nearly every different long-term problem and applying their skills in unique, Ranatra-worthy ways. Support the show [http://www.paodyssey.com/podcast]

Ariel and Drew

Back in Pennsylvania this week, we get the scoop from two rising high school seniors in the Masterman School Odyssey of the Mind program in Philadelphia. Long-time OMers Ariel Weinbaum and Drew Brown talk about pushing the envelope with their long-term and spontaneous solutions, their World Finals buddy teams, Ari's family's Odyssey obsessions, Drew's unconventional competition day diet, and why they choose to be a part of Odyssey of the Mind among all of the options high school students have today. Support the show [http://www.paodyssey.com/podcast]