Unmuted Education Podcast

Episode 40 (Practice Equals Growth: Rebuilding Education Through Trust, Coaching, and Community)

In this episode, Coebie, Seth, and Derek sit down with longtime educator and author Grover Swick to talk about what it really means to inspire students, build learning communities, and help kids believe in their own growth. Grover shares stories from more than three decades in education, including the teachers, family members, and students who shaped his philosophy. The conversation explores how athletics, reading, math, technology, Love and Logic, and creative problem-solving can all become tools for reaching kids where they are. Grover reflects on the difference between teaching and coaching, why “practice equals growth and growth equals success,” and how schools can lose sight of the natural curiosity children bring into the world. Together, they discuss the dangers of top-down systems, the power of modeling instead of lecturing, and the need to rebuild education around trust, inspiration, freedom, and community. Grover also shares the heart behind his upcoming book, Practice Equals Growth and Growth Equals Success, and offers encouragement for teachers who feel burned out but still believe in the spark of learning. A thoughtful and energizing conversation for educators, parents, and anyone who cares about helping kids grow.

Episode 39 (The Whole-Body Tune-Up: Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, and Learning to Listen to Your Body)

In this episode, Coebie and Derek sit down with Alicia Bynum, owner of Sweetgrass Acupuncture in Casper, Wyoming, for a wide-ranging conversation about acupuncture, Chinese medicine, herbs, intuition, and whole-person wellness. Alicia shares her journey from graphic design and marketing into acupuncture, the personal experiences that led her toward holistic care, and how traditional Chinese medicine views the body through meridians, organs, emotions, seasons, and energy. The conversation explores the difference between acupuncture and dry needling, how stress and environment affect the nervous system, why Wyoming wind might be wearing out your liver, and how food, herbs, and seasonal living can support health. They also dig into the tension between Western medicine and alternative care, the importance of asking better questions, and why healing often requires looking beyond symptoms to the whole person. A thoughtful, funny, and curious conversation about what it means to care for the body, trust your intuition, and use every tool available on the path to wellness.

Episode 38 (Cathy and Brandy Go to Cheyenne: How HB 8 and HB 9 Became Law)

Cathy Holman and Brandy Sorensen return to share the powerful story behind Wyoming’s HB 8 and HB 9, two new laws aimed at protecting children from stalking and grooming. They walk through the emotional, exhausting, and unexpected journey from committee hearings to unanimous votes, the governor’s signature, and the real impact these laws are already having for Wyoming families. This episode is a look at advocacy, persistence, and what can happen when everyday citizens refuse to let broken laws stay broken.

Episode 37 (How Natrona Lost the Table)

In this episode, we sit down with longtime Natrona County educator Doreen McGlade to trace the origins of the district’s compact and the trust-based, consensus-driven process it was meant to protect. From its roots in the turmoil of 1999 to today’s concerns over school closures, broken communication, and missing stakeholder voices, this conversation asks a hard question: what happens when a system designed to bring people to the table stops being used? Alongside Dirk Andrews and others, we explore what the compact originally meant, why it mattered, and what it could take to rebuild trust for students, staff, and the community

Episode 36 (The Sandlot Comes to Wyoming: Grant Gelt on Baseball, Nostalgia, and Community)

In this special episode, we sit down with Grant Gelt, best known as Bertram from The Sandlot, for a fun and heartfelt conversation about the lasting legacy of the film, lifelong friendships with the cast, and how that childhood classic has grown into something bigger than baseball. Grant shares the story behind Play Forever, a nonprofit founded by members of The Sandlot cast that helps remove barriers keeping kids out of youth sports. We also talk about Celebrities for a Cause and Grant’s upcoming trip to Wyoming for a weekend of golf, softball, community events, and fundraising. If you love The Sandlot, believe in the power of sports, or just want to hear a great conversation about nostalgia, purpose, and giving back, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Play Forever says it works to remove obstacles and equip young athletes with the support they need to participate in sports, and Celebrities for a Cause lists its 2026 Wyoming events for August 6–9.  Websites mentioned in the episode Play Forever: playforever.org  Celebrities for a Cause: celebritiesforacausewyo.org