Let's Get Personal : the Learning Lab Podcast

After more than 25 years in the high school English classroom, Mike Bogner has watched the way students learn and communicate change dramatically.

And he’s had to evolve along with them.

On this week’s episode, Mike — who also happens to be our co-host Kristin’s husband — joins us for a conversation about what it’s like to teach teenagers today. He shares his perspective on Kansas’ new cell p...

Brianna Gilliland wasn’t homeschooled herself, and neither was her husband. But as their oldest child approached kindergarten, she knew she wanted something different for her own family.

Gilliland decided to homeschool her two children, but she also knew she didn’t want to do it alone.

She found community, resources and support at Learning Lab Wichita, giving her family a place to connect as they begin their homeschool jo...

Tamara Petrin learned firsthand how important mindset can be for young athletes when she struggled to show her potential as a bowler at Wichita State University.

That experience helped inspire her to create Mindset Gear, an organization that provides mental and emotional training for youth bowlers and their parents. Drawing on her degree in social work and experience working for a large nonprofit, Petrin and her husband, Roger, have...

Dyslexia affects one in five people, and READ Redefined co-founders Jane Hayes and Amy Taylor are committed to expanding access to effective literacy services.

When the duo founded READ Redefined in 2022, one of their goals was to reach people in rural communities who did not have access to services grounded in the science of reading. Their work has since grown, including a partnership with Newman University to help properly train e...

Finding the right environment for your children can transform them.

When Sarah Collins’ delightful 5-year-old son unexpectedly struggled to adjust to kindergarten, she was flabbergasted. At home, she knew him as intelligent, curious and happy. So why was school so difficult?

After weeks of searching for answers, the Collins family visited Fundamental Learning Center (now Phillips Fundamental Learning Center), where her son was ...

Student teaching is a rite of passage for most aspiring teachers, but for Wichita State University high jumper Matte Swartz, it looked a little different.

Swartz completed her student teaching alongside Olivia Sumner at Creative Minds, Wichita Public Schools' microschool located inside Learning Lab. She joins Lydia and Kristin to discuss her unconventional student teaching placement at Creative Minds, Wichita Public Schools' microsc...

As chief information officer for Wichita Public Schools, Rob Dickson oversees technology decisions that impact nearly 50,000 students. In more than 25 years in public education, he's witnessed and helped lead some of education's biggest technological shifts.

From the arrival of the Internet and the rise of social media to today's focus on AI, Dickson has managed to remain focused on one thing: using innovation to improve learning. D...

Choosing a school used to be simple. For most families, the options were public school, homeschooling or private school.

Today, the education landscape is changing. Microschools, hybrid programs and other innovative learning models are giving families more choices than ever before, but with these choices comes uncertainty.

On this week's episode of Let's Get Personal, Lydia and Kristin share the top five myths they hear about new alt...

Think kids are glued to their phones with no understanding of the risks of being online? Think again.

As part of our Creators and Changemakers Week, Aleeya, Piper, Gunnar, Reagan and Rhys share their favorite creators, debate the pros and cons of today's digital world and offer thoughtful perspectives on what kids should know about navigating life online. On our first student-created and hosted podcast episode, these kids shared exa...

A career pivot sometimes helps you toward your destiny.

Roy Moye III achieved his dream of becoming an aerospace engineer, but once he got there, he realized his true passion was music. Instead of ignoring his calling, he took a leap of faith and built a career that combines singing, education, and entrepreneurship.

Today, through STEMusic LLC, Roy inspires young people to explore STEAM through music. His unique path has earned him a...

Self compassion is at the root of growing into the best version of ourselves, says Audra Dinell, founder of The Thread and host of A LOT with Audra.

In this episode of Let’s Get Personal, Audra reflects on the teacher who first recognized her leadership potential, the joys and challenges of motherhood, and her family's experience with neurodivergence.

She also shares how she found the work she was meant to do and what she's lea...

How are schools tangibly preparing students for the future workforce?

Four years ago, Wichita Public Schools partnered with WSU Tech to launch its first FutureReady Center, giving students hands-on experience in manufacturing. Today, the FutureReady program has expanded from one center to three, with additional opportunities in the works.

In this episode, Eric Shipman, principal of FutureReady Centers, discusses why schools should fo...

As the literacy services librarian at the Wichita Public Library, Savannah Ball combines her deep commitment to helping people access the resources they need to thrive with her love for books.

Driven by a passion for helping others, Ball connects people with resources, opportunities and stories that help them grow. Her own educational journey gives her perspective on the importance of supporting people in finding their own right pat...

Isabel Peine's background is impressive. She earned degrees in biomedical engineering and mathematics while competing as an NCAA Division I cheerleader.

But at NTegrity Athletics in Goddard, Peine uses those talents in a different way. She uses her critical-thinking skills to help kids who have disabilities or other differences take tumbling lessons, and she uses her welcoming personality to make all kids feel like they belong.

In th...

Lauren Mason is often the first face families see when they walk into Learning Lab Wichita, and her warmth, organization and care help set the tone for a positive experience.

Behind the scenes, Lauren plays a vital role in keeping Learning Lab moving forward, combining relationship-building and project management to support our community of students, families and educators.

But, like many people, Lauren did not always know what path ...

Leah Ellis believes the only thing standing in the way of kids achieving extraordinary success is limitations placed on them by adults. 

Ellis is the founder of the Society of Child Entrepreneurs, which provides hands-on learning, business experiences and community spaces for kids ages 6–17. Her work encouraging kids to start businesses builds confidence, independence and real-world skills.

An entrepreneur herself, Ellis i...

When Shane Carter came to Wichita in 2025 to start his role as executive director of The Kansas African American Museum, he was no stranger to educational programming. 

While leading the Lincoln Community Center in Troy, Ohio, Shane started and grew a successful and effective after-school program. Now, he’s bringing that same energy and vision to TKAAAM’s educational programming and outreach efforts.

On this episode ...

Everyone can lead, and high school students are no exception.

That idea is at the heart of Lead Now, a new curriculum from Kansas Leadership Center designed to empower high school students to lead in their own lives and communities. In this episode, Jason Bosch, KLC’s Director of Curriculum Innovation, shares how the program came to life and how students themselves helped shape it.

Jason also reflects on his journey from higher...

Ever think about starting your own school?

At its core, Learning Lab Wichita is designed to support educators and founders starting new K-12 education models, providing families with more options for their children's education. 

Learning Lab Wichita hosts seven K-12 education models. In this episode, Lydia and Kristin chat about what it takes Learning Lab does to support these models and why the Lab is an ideal location to start...