The Play Ed3 Podcast
The Play Ed3 Podcast
Podcast Description
Welcome to The Play Ed3 Podcast — where educators, learners, and behind-the-scenes change-makers all have a voice. Hosted by Tisha Poncio and Rick Butterworth, this show brings real stories, practical insights, and meaningful conversations from across the world of education. Whether you’re in the classroom or reimagining systems, you’re a recurring guest here. Join us to learn, grow, and play your part in the future of education.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores various themes related to education and technology, focusing on topics such as teacher resilience, the integration of AI, student agency, and innovative teaching strategies. Episodes feature discussions on the AIM framework for student success, strategies for catering to neurodiversity, and the crucial role of community and authenticity in learning environments.

Welcome to The Play Ed3 Podcast — where educators, learners, and behind-the-scenes change-makers all have a voice. Hosted by Tisha Poncio and Rick Butterworth, this show brings real stories, practical insights, and meaningful conversations from across the world of education. Whether you’re in the classroom or reimagining systems, you’re a recurring guest here. Join us to learn, grow, and play your part in the future of education.
Why are teachers expected to be perfect when other professions get room to practice? Rick and Tisha open up the first responses to “What Are You Noticing?”, the anonymous section of their new Press Play newsletter, and read them out on air.
One listener asks why doctors and attorneys have a career practice while educators face a performance expectation of near perfection. Another sent in a powerful piece on the painful gap between what educators live through in classrooms and what the systems above them ask for, from the divide the pandemic opened and never closed to self-care swag standing in for real support. That sparks a conversation about the crab-in-a-bucket mentality, why growth highlights stagnation, and why people cling to comfort instead of admitting what they’re afraid of.
Then things take a turn: Tisha’s late-night ant experiment, a bone to pick with LinkedIn’s game leaderboards, and a stack of stacks: habit stacking from Atomic Habits, journal stacks, and why she’s enjoying Substack Notes.
Honest, funny, and a reminder that we know better, so it’s time to do better.
00:00 The Importance of Mindset in Podcasting
02:59 Navigating the Podcasting Journey
06:09 Engaging with the Audience: The Press Play Newsletter
09:02 The Expectations of Educators vs. Other Professions
12:08 The Disconnect in Education Systems
15:00 The Impact of COVID-19 on Education
17:47 The Need for Real Support in Education
21:02 Reflections on Educator Experiences
23:59 The Crab in the Bucket Mentality
30:44 Challenging the Status Quo
32:18 Facing Fears and Embracing Change
34:32 Navigating Social Media Trends
40:52 The Power of Anonymity and Community
41:08 LinkedIn Games and Self-Esteem
46:54 Habit Stacking for Productivity
55:30 Exploring New Platforms and Creativity
Join the newsletter: https://played3.com/?newsletter=1
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🙋♀️Follow Tisha on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tishaponcio
X (Twitter): https://x.com/tishaponcio
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tishaponcio
🙋♂️Follow Rick on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickbutterworth
X (Twitter): https://x.com/r1ck11
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rickbutterworth
Want to be a guest?: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCaEyQrrPcYsKdQHaSlFbVXVVC_eNyXMMfy5NTj0aRNcR6Vw/viewform?usp=header
🧠 Let’s learn, grow and play together

Disclaimer
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