Topic: High School

"Austin the Pool Guy" contributes to the show, leading to a discussion about family histories of heart bypass surgery. Dvorak reflects on his own recovery and the differences between private insurance and Medicare. Austin also celebrates his daughter Marley's high school graduation and requests "baby making karma" for the community.

The trial of Colin Gray, the father of the Appalachee High School shooter, marks a shift toward holding parents criminally liable for providing weapons to their children. Separately, a report from an ER nurse discusses the high rates of suicidal ideation and medical complications among transgender patients. The segment criticizes the healthcare system for failing to provide adequate long-term support for individuals who undergo gender transition.

A high school biology teacher from Washington state writes in to describe being instructed to teach that "carbon" (rather than carbon dioxide) is an evil particle. He expresses frustration with the politicization of science education but notes that high school students remain open to counter-ideas before they are "turned" by university environments.

A high school girl in Washington State was reportedly charged with bullying and harassment after misgendering a biological male on an opposing softball team. The school's athletic director stated they follow state law over federal executive orders regarding gender identity in sports. The girl's family has sought legal counsel to fight the school's disciplinary actions.

A teacher featured on the YouTube channel HaloHaley describes a significant decline in student literacy and attention spans due to constant smartphone and TikTok use. Students reportedly struggle to sit through movies or write basic paragraphs without attempting to use AI tools like ChatGPT. The educator advocates for cutting off personal technology in schools until students reach the college level.

A guest speaker at a high school discussed the definition of propaganda and its roots in the work of Edward Bernays. The presentation covered the 1929 "Torches of Freedom" campaign and how communication is used to influence human emotions. Students identified Donald Trump as a primary modern example of a propagandist due to his use of slogans and symbolic apparel.

A host describes an upcoming invitation to speak to an Advanced Placement media communications class at a local high school. The planned presentation involves using "Supercuts" of news media to demonstrate propaganda techniques to 10th and 11th-grade students. The segment highlights the generational gap in media consumption and the role of podcasting in modern discourse.

A clip from Kamala Harris's DNC speech regarding her childhood moves to Wisconsin and Illinois is criticized for omitting her formative years spent in Montreal, Canada. Harris attended Westmount High School in Quebec from ages 13 to 15, a fact the hosts suggest she downplays to maintain a specific American narrative.

Police in Maryland alleged that a gym teacher at Pikesville High School used AI to create a fake recording of the principal making racist and antisemitic remarks. The teacher, Daren Medley, reportedly acted in retaliation for a financial investigation. However, audio experts and the hosts questioned the "monotone" description used by police, suggesting the audio sounds more like human editing than typical AI generation.

An audio clip featuring racist and antisemitic comments allegedly made by Pikesville High School Principal Eric Eiswert has sparked outrage in Baltimore. While school officials and some experts suggest the clip might be an AI-generated deepfake, the hosts analyze the audio and speculate it may be a genuine recording being dismissed as AI to cover up a scandal.

James and Jennifer Crumbley were sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison, marking the first time parents have been held criminally responsible for a school shooting committed by their child. The judge cited gross negligence for ignoring warning signs and providing their son, Ethan, with a firearm. Legal experts suggest this sets a significant precedent that could affect future cases involving juvenile delinquency.

James Crumbley was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the school shooting carried out by his son at Oxford High School. This follows the conviction of his wife, Jennifer Crumbley, marking a legal trend of holding parents criminally responsible for the actions of their children in mass shooting cases.

James Madison High School in Brooklyn was temporarily closed to students and converted into a shelter for 2,000 migrants during a severe storm. Students were forced into remote learning, sparking outrage among local parents. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has warned that the continued influx of over 160,000 migrants could "destroy" the city.

Texas Democrats criticized a bill allowing 21-year-olds to carry firearms without paperwork, using racially charged language about "pimps" and the "Wild West." The hosts reflect on the history of gun safety education in US high schools, noting that students used to bring rifles to school for target shooting clubs.

A high school teacher in Austin reports that many 17-year-old students use "anxiety" as a frequent excuse for incomplete work and bring stuffed animals or "blankies" to class for comfort. Teachers on Reddit confirm the trend, describing the use of "emotional support sloths" and other plushies to help students cope with the psychological effects of the 2020 lockdowns.

San Francisco voters recalled three school board members following a controversy over renaming schools and changing the merit-based admissions at Lowell High School to a lottery system. The move alienated the city's Asian and ethnic minority populations who relied on the elite school for their children's advancement. Mayor London Breed has since shifted her stance to support more moderate policies.

A donor's note about the "409" promotion sparks a nostalgic look at the history of vocational shop classes at Hayward High School. The hosts lament the disappearance of auto, metal, and agricultural programs in favor of a universal college-prep track, which they argue has left a gap in trade skills.

Parents at Exeter High School in New Hampshire expressed outrage after unvaccinated students had numbers written on their hands for contact tracing during the senior prom. The school defended the "branding" as a way to allow a near-normal experience. This led to a satirical suggestion for a "Kovogatchi"—a contact-tracing device modeled after the 1980s Tamagotchi toy.

Bartram Trail High School near Jacksonville, Florida, faces backlash after 83 girls' yearbook photos were digitally edited to cover cleavage. Parents and students criticize the poor Photoshop quality and the inconsistent application of the school's dress code.

Auckland, New Zealand, entered a seven-day Level 3 lockdown following the discovery of a single new COVID-19 case. The case involved a student who had previously tested negative three times, prompting strict stay-at-home orders for the community.