How Principal Lamb Almost Burned Down His Classroom

Lauran: This podcast has content that may be distressing to some listeners. Be sure to check the description below for content warnings. And now, a poem in the style of William Shakespeare. Hark, dear listener, and lend thy careful ear, For tales we tell may bring thee joy. Perchance our words may pierce thy tender heart, Or stir old wounds as shadows oft impart.

Yet fret thee not, for thou art free to stray, Or linger here and choose the thoughtful way. Guard well thy soul, take heed, and tread with care, for words once spoken linger in the air. 

Jared: I would grab one of these flaming torches from a kid in the front row and I just like shove it into the Gatorade bottle And I just took the hard boiled egg, and I just slammed it in and then I'm like put out the fire

Theme: Jordan, Jordan, where's Jordan? Okay listen, uh, 

Lauran: I I guess I'm going to have to do this podcast solo today because I don't know where my host is. 

Jordan: I think what you meant to say is you rigged this challenge to force me to be the pineapple host with the most. 

Theme: Um. 

Jordan: And a fresh box 

that isn't cold of pizza with pineapple on it.

Lauran: I don't think you guys understand how excited I am that Jordan has to sit and do this entire episode. Oh, we all know how excited you 

Jordan: are. We know. Not not just 

Lauran: with me, but we have guests today. Stop. We have an Administrator. 

Jordan: We have a wait. Whoa, hold on. Gosh, I'm gonna look like an idiot. Yeah, it's great You know, this is this what happens is my big mouth gets me into dumb things like this 

Lauran: So Jordan, yeah in his big mouth.

He we had an episode a while back where he was claiming Anchovies belong on pizza. Yes, 

Jordan: they do. They do not. I am insulted by the lack of anchovy support. 

Lauran: I don't know how you could be insulted when anchovies are so salty. Shut up. That was a good one. 

Jordan: That was a good one. I did like that one. 

Lauran: Anywho. 

Jordan: That's a good joke.

Lauran: Thank you. They don't 

Jordan: belong on pizzas. They absolutely do. I'm gonna contest this and fight this. Well, you've already lost. We're taking it to the supreme pizza court. 

Lauran: Where's the Supreme Pizza Court? Um. Where's the SPC? Where are they located? I need to know. New York City. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Alright, so, I guess New York City, if you're located in New York City, go ask someone from, uh, a really famous pizza place in there, Do anchovies belong on pizza?

And let us know. They're gonna tell you yes. I 

Theme: don't know. I don't know. I've had New York pizza, and I 

Lauran: Nary have I seen an anchovy on said slice. So I did, I disagree. 

Jordan: Liar. 

Lauran: I disagree. 

Jordan: You're a liar, but as part of your 

Lauran: punishment I was gonna say, 

Jordan: as part of the deal, it is not enough for me. Not a deal, 

Lauran: as part of your punishment.

Jordan: Sorry, as part of my punishment, 

Lauran: I am not 

Jordan: allowed to just only wear the pineapple costume. I also have to eat a dreaded piece of pizza with pineapple on it. 

Lauran: That's definitely not Three hours old. 

Jordan: Yeah, it's definitely not cold. So, as you see here, I have a very nice box of pizza from a non non descript location.

Lauran: And I love that our producer was like, Did you at least get a pizza place you enjoy? No, I I did not get one that shows a chain restaurant because our area is like we have very good pizza in our area So like if you're getting pizza, you don't order it from a chain restaurant You get it from one of the family owned businesses And so we ordered from a chain restaurant this time to make it extra punishing 

Jordan: So I did, I did make sure for me to order thin slice or yeah, thin slice.

Lauran: What kind did you get? Did you just put cheese and pineapple? And 

Jordan: marinara sauce. 

Lauran: I made it. 

Jordan: Yeah. 

Lauran: Okay. I, I would have thought you would have gotten like a Hawaiian pizza. The 

Jordan: specification was that we said was a pizza with pineapple on it. Right, but 

Lauran: like if you're gonna do it, like at least I thought you would have made it less.

Jordan: That's a Hawaiian pizza. 

Lauran: Right, but it has pineapple, so I'm saying, I thought you would have at least made it less miserable for you. No, 

Jordan: it's a punishment. Okay. See, I, it's not that I don't like pine, I love pineapple. Pineapple's like one of my favorite fruit. I just don't like it on pizza. 

Theme: Well. 

Jordan: So. Now's 

Theme: the time.

Jordan: For our audio listeners, we have a very just. It's a little cold, sad looking pizza. It, it would be happy looking if it was warmer and fresh out the oven. It's because it's been sitting around for three hours. Cause this is when we got to this challenge. So, we're gonna dive in. Alright, is this technically a mukbang now?

Brenna: I 

Jordan: guess. Alright, here's, Cheers to my pineapple homies in Bruges.

Theme: I didn't see pineapple touch your lips. Is there pineapple on that bite? There is.

I feel like I can't talk to us with your mouth full of pizza. 

Jordan: I don't like the combination of like the pineapple leaf flavor with the tomato. 

Lauran: Well, that's because I don't know if people actually get pineapple with. Marinara sauce, which is why I was trying to say. That was on the Hawaiian 

Jordan: pizza! They had 

Lauran: marinara sauce on the Hawaiian pizza?

Yes! 

Jordan: Yes, at least this place did. 

Lauran: Oh. I don't know. I honestly have never gotten a Hawaiian pizza, so I don't know what sauce usually goes on it. If it were me, I feel like I would have done like a barbecued chicken and added pineapple on top. That would have been really good. Cause barbecue and chicken go together, and then I feel like the pineapple would just be like a nice little refreshing bite on top.

Jordan: So I took my second bite. It 

does not get better. Like, I was thinking for a second there, I was like, alright, we got through the first bite, bite number two, it'll, it'll improve. 

Lauran: I was really hoping that you would like, eat this and realize that you actually loved it. 

Jordan: No. What it makes me want, I don't know why, what it makes me want Is olives to replace it because it kind of has like a similar texture to olives like the cooked pineapple 

Lauran: I can see that 

Jordan: it's disappointing because instead of like 

Lauran: salty, it's fruity.

Jordan: Yeah. 

Lauran: Well while you continue eating your pizza I'm gonna let our our lovely listeners know who we have on the show today as you suffer through that pizza So the rest 

Jordan: of this pizza I got I did make you order this 

Lauran: I have to eat the whole pizza No, you do not have to eat the whole pizza I don't know.

We'll find someone who likes pineapple pizza and give it to them. 

Jordan: Eric and Jake are coming over after this, so. Okay, 

Lauran: they can eat it. 

Jordan: Yeah, we'll definitely. Jake, Jake will eat this. 

Lauran: Yeah, for sure. 

Jordan: So, I just, I didn't want to make, I wanted to make sure this wasn't going to waste. I would, I feel bad. 

Lauran: Alright guys, so today we have Principal Lam and his wife Brenna on the show.

We're super excited to have them. They are awesome. If you've seen any of Principal Lam's videos, you already know who I'm talking about. He is the principal on a cart in his school. Rolling around making a difference. So we are going to be right back with Principal Lam But in the meantime, while we're on a little break I want you guys to immediately dash down to the comments if you're on YouTube or Literally anywhere where you can comment and let us know what challenge we should do next What is the next thing that we should punish Jordan with?

Jordan: No, not 

1. No, no, no. No. 

Lauran: Sorry I want a fair fight. What is the next thing that we should fairly Challenge. I see you winking, ma'am. I see you winking. If you have any ideas, we would love to hear your challenge ideas because I need more costumes in Jordan's life. 

Jordan: I would love just a plethora of just dumb costumes I've had to wear over the filming of this podcast.

Lauran: I want a rack in my basement with all kinds of costumes on it. 

Jordan: It would be funny if I did lose every single contest. 

Lauran: Yes, I would appreciate. No, 

Jordan: uh, not gonna have more of these No, 

Lauran: so let us know down below and we'll be right back with the lambs All

right, guys, we are so excited because today we have our very first Principle on the on the podcast. Yeah, I've never had a principle before 

Jared: I know I'm excited about this I'm honored to be the first. Yeah. 

Lauran: Thank you for being here We have Jared and Brenna lamb and they are I mean from how you describe each other a power couple in my eyes So tell us a little bit about yourselves 

Jared: So, uh, we are the parents of three wonderful children, and, uh, I, of course, spend my days, uh, rolling around on my principal cart at school, uh, and my wife is a fabulous COO.

Brenna: Yeah. Uh, when Jared and I just, uh, first met each other, he was the principal and I was working sort of on the, uh, like the business ops. side of education and he really sort of said if it's not police officer, fireman, or teacher, I don't really understand the job. So I try not to spend too much time talking about work, but I work in philanthropy as he described it.

So, uh, that's awesome. Yeah. And it's a lot of fun because our kids actually go to his. school. So that's actually been pretty wonderful. That's, 

Lauran: that's really cool. Uh, yeah, you mentioned the cart, of course, that you're famous for. And, um, you actually, I, I mean, I know of another, another teacher that just became an assistant principal who took a page out of your book and actually is using a cart also instead of being, you know, stationed in their office all the time, which I think is.

So cool. I mean, obviously you're making an impact. Um, but I, so I actually am in my second master's degree right now. Oh, yeah. Um, I'll graduate in May with my, um, admin license. Awesome. My degree. So, uh, yeah, I'm here for all the tips and all the advice. I 

Jared: mean, you, the first, the first matter of business is you got to find a cart.

Lauran: Yeah, I'm going to start looking. I'm going to look for a good one. Lots of storage. 

Jared: I can, I can send you some rec. I mean, actually, no, I actually don't. People ask me like on, on my social media channels, like what would be a good cart? And it's actually like, I'm actually really embarrassed. Like I have like the worst cart.

Like I didn't go into this, like trying to like show off this car. I went, I went for just being functional. And so I, I literally, when I first started rolling through my school, I just grabbed like the, Just the cart that was at the end of the hallway with dust on it. Uh, and so it rattled, it squeaks. Like, we, when we, like, we'll film videos for social media on the weekend, and like, we can never have any audio when I'm actually rolling the cart, because the cart, you can't hear anything but the cart.

Lauran: I feel like we should, we should send him to, like, an episode of, like, Pimp My Ride. 

Jordan: Well, that's what I was going to say is, I think this is the perfect business opportunity is to develop your own cart. Custom carts. Yeah, the Principal Lam approved cart. 

Jared: This is true, but I need, I need some help with that because I am clearly not a model for a great cart.

Lauran: That is amazing. So what was like the, what was the vibe when you started doing that? Did you get like some side eyes or like, were people just like, eh, that's principal lamb? I think 

Jared: so. I first started doing it. So, so I first started doing it at the school that I'm currently working at where I, and so I, I started rolling the cart as I started working at this new school three years ago.

And so people were just kind of looking at me like, who's this new guy who, and now he's saying he's doing a cart. Like, so everyone was always like, People just started looking at me like I was a complete weirdo. And then when I announced that I was going to roll a cart, then they were like, okay, yeah, he's even more weird than we thought.

But it was met with like a lot of like cynicism. Like there was actually another administrator on our team who was like, this is going to last a week, uh, who like straight up told me that. And so here we are three years later, I haven't stopped rolling. 

Brenna: But it's really funny. As long as I have known you, you have spent like max 30 minutes.

per day, maybe per week in your office. He's just not that guy. Uh, he used to like collect mountains of papers, books and confiscated objects from students. He just, that's all his office was really good for. 

Jared: So it actually like has helped me because like now I don't have like a place to just throw all my crap.

Brenna: No, well, well, 

Jared: oh, no, except the stuff that I shove in my school bag. 

Lauran: Okay, I'm, I'm guilty of just shoving things in my school book bag. Oh, 

Jordan: absolutely. Random 

Lauran: stuff. And then I'll go looking for it and I don't know where it is. And I find it like a year later when I clean out the book bag. 

Jared: I'm guilty of the same.

Very guilty of that. 

Lauran: Yeah. It's because I like, so I'm. I, I'm type A, I'm very type A, my classroom is the same way, like everything organized, I don't like having loose papers laying all over the place. But like, there are some times when you have papers you have to put somewhere, but there's nowhere for it to go, so where does it go?

Jordan: A folder. 

Lauran: In the school bag. It goes in the book bag. And just, that's where it gets housed. I, I, I totally understand where people are Coming from like they're, they're being like cynical of you being on a cart and trying to do something different because I feel like I had a similar experience at my school when I was like one of the first classrooms to do like flexible seating and I didn't have a seating like I don't have a seating chart.

My kids. Like, get to pick their seats. They can move when they want. Like, and I remember having, you know, a colleague that was just like, that's so weird. That'll never work. Like, the kids are going to get out of control and it's just like, until they saw it in motion and saw it actually working in the classroom and how I was doing it and then it started to click and make sense to them.

So I'm sure people at your school now it's like, Totally the norm. And it's just principally I'm rolling down the hall with this cart. And that's, it's probably an odd day when you're not on the cart. 

Jared: That's like the weird thing. So now it's, it is like the opposite. It's just like, it's just part of my daily routine and people would get used to it.

And so now it's like, if there's ever a morning where like something comes up and I don't make my morning rounds and I'm not rolling, like I'll have teachers come up and like, where, where, where have you been? Where's the cart? Like people will legit ask me that. 

Brenna: Yeah. And also your, your whole admin team.

Now you're in your. Two, your entire admin team is not wheels too. So it's just become like the norm that . So we're like 

Jared: all rolling around. We have all of our administrators rolling around adult. Wait a 

Lauran: minute, you got the whole admin team in on this? Yeah. 

Jared: Oh my God. I couldn't get them to, to, so I have like no office, like the cart is my legit office.

I don't have a desk. It's it's, it's the cart for me, I couldn't convince all of our administrators to go office list. So everyone, they have a home base. However, I am very happy that they all are successfully rolling around the building. And I, I think our teachers love it too. Like our teachers, like there is never, you really can't walk down a hallway without seeing an administrator either down the hall or around the corner, uh, just because everyone's out and present.

Brenna: And I feel like our kids who are students at the school know more of the administrators as well. They literally just see them in the hallways all the time. 

Lauran: 100 percent 

Jordan: I think that's so cool just because I remember when I was in elementary school and middle school and all that like our Principals were very much the behind the desk Like hidden away and you never really had a relationship with them.

And that's just like if 

Lauran: you did see them It wasn't for good reasons. Yeah You never wanted to see the principal and I I feel like a lot of schools are somewhat still like that and like administrators and it's not always it's not always like a choice even sometimes I feel like sometimes they're like, okay, my school.

We are a really tiny district and we have one elementary principal and one high school middle school principal so like there's only two administrators in the whole building and They're in charge of everything So it's like okay, they maybe they want to get out and go to the classrooms But then this happens and they can't and then this happens and then they have a meeting So it's really like how do you balance?

all of the, I guess, bureaucratic work that goes along with being a principal, and also being visible to your students and staff, because that's something that I feel like is really important in, in a school environment, is being able to see administrators in a good light and not only when something negative happens.

Jared: Yeah, I think it's, it's something that I really grapple with because, again, there's always that pressure of, I got to respond to this email. I got to take care of this compliance paperwork like that stuff is always kind of been in the back of my head just and and on my to do list. I think what I what I recognize is that like as a principal, like the number one thing I can do that I think I can do is support the faculty and staff.

Uh, and, and my belief behind that is if I support the faculty and staff, then, um, I'm empowering and enabling them to do the best work with students. Um, and so for me, it's like all that other stuff, though, the behind the scenes stuff, it still needs to get done. But I think earlier in my career, I, I, I just let that stuff just like take over my day.

So I would, I was the principal, I was the invisible principal because I was in my office all day and I was responding to emails and doing all the, all the things behind the desk. I really, I, I, I was actually at a school where like teachers started to leave the school, uh, and the staff satisfaction and morale was low, and so I realized that there's changes that I need to make.

And so I just kind of put my stake in the, in the ground on, I got to really work on being present, being visible. And so the biggest thing for me is I just, I, I just plan around it. So like in the first hour of my day, I spend walking the campus. So like our school secretary knows, like if someone's trying to reach out to Principal Lamb, like we're gonna, we're gonna, we're gonna let, let, Uh, that person know that he's not available for the first hour.

And so, because I'm committed to just doing the morning rounds, checking in with all our faculty and staff members. Uh, so for me, it's really, a big part of it has just been scheduling. Uh, I think in the beginning, I would just, I would go into the day and see, it was like, see what happens, which way is the wind going to blow?

And now I'm a lot more protective of my time and how I'm utilizing it. 

Lauran: I think that's a really good tip because I, it's, You know, if you make the time to be around this, the classrooms and be around the teachers and students, then it's gonna happen. And if you, you know, if you prioritize the paperwork over the people, then that's where things, I think, definitely get to put, get put on the back burner, I guess.

So that makes total 

Brenna: sense. And you've talked about, by being more present, you actually are able to preempt. As well. Mm-hmm . Like you see issues developing and sort of, you're not having to be on the back foot. You're able to like actually proactively solve with educators and with teachers and staff. 

Jared: I think that's a part of it too, is that like sometimes is, 'cause people often look at it as like, oh, well you're not doing X, Y, and Z if you are rolling around on your cart.

I, but I think. Brandon brings up a great point is that part of it is about allows me to be more proactive. So there are certain student situations where I actually see it unfolding before it breaks out into a bigger situation or a teacher is really frustrated about something, but I'm checking in with the teacher at 7 45 in the morning.

So it's, I'm able to troubleshoot the situation so it doesn't blow up into a huge thing at nine 30 because we've already talked about it when I did my walk around the building and walk into that person's room. 

Lauran: Yeah, that's, I mean, I think that that's a great strategy because so many things, even like just from a teacher's perspective, like, I feel like we do that in the classrooms all the time.

We see something unfolding in front of our eyes and we try to get a handle on it before it becomes a bigger issue. And, you know, as an admin walking around and doing that for teachers, I'm sure it takes so much stress off of them. And is so supportive because I've, I've been, I've been at both schools.

I've been at the school where the admin was amazing and was always there for you, always had your back and, you know, would support you with whatever you needed, cared about your personal life, cared about your wellbeing as a human. And then I've been at the other school where, you know, the admin is kind of just there to be your overlord, not really care about you as a human or, you know, hope.

That you're doing well, just, you know, making sure you're getting those spreadsheets in on time. So it definitely makes a difference and I'm sure, I mean, I've seen in all your videos. Your staff seems to love you. I mean, your teachers seem amazing. So they're, I would, I love your school. I have never even been there.

Jared: You gotta come visit. You gotta come visit, Lauren. I 

Lauran: will! Yeah, for sure. I would love to. That'd be so fun. I'll bring Pineapple Man with me. Yeah, why not? 

Jordan: He will be a huge hit. I can already tell. 

Lauran: You have to do a song and dance for the kids. Oh, 

Jordan: you know what? I don't think it's gonna be a hard to ask. I think I want to do it, so.

Jared: And we'll bring, we'll bring some, we'll bring some non anchovy pizzas. 

Lauran: Yes. 

Jordan: Now I'm sad. 

Lauran: No, non anchovy pizzas. So I have to know, like, what is the most chaotic thing that has ever happened during a school day where, like, In the moment, you were like, Oh my God, this is a disaster, but now you can kind of look back and laugh at it.

Brenna: Jared was an educator down in New Orleans for 20 years, so they were quite a few stories. 

Jared: Yeah, I have, uh, there's a lot to draw on. One of the more, uh, recent stories that I have, uh, is that we had, uh, so we were doing an assembly, uh, in celebration of the Chinese New Year. Uh, and so we actually had, we had all these, and so, and this was actually when I was, I just started working out at the current school that I'm working at.

And it was our first school wide assembly. So we're at that point, we had a K through eighth grade, uh, and probably about 750 students, uh, and we brought everyone into the gym and this is our first school assembly. And I, and I did a horrible job at just, uh, of just preempting and explaining like assembly.

etiquette and how we're going to conduct ourselves in the assembly. And the kids are, the kids were great like that. So we get in and they're, you know, they sit there, they're sitting down on their lines and they're doing an awesome job. And the challenge was though that then for, as part of this Chinese new year celebration, they bring in these enormous dragons, uh, and it's, it's, it's people coming out in costume.

And so, The kids just start running up to the dragons because they're so excited by it. And I found myself, I'm like trying to like, like shield the dragon from the kids who are like all just like running up. So it was actually really sweet. Like the students were like so excited and like, but, but I find I'm having like stiff arm, like the kindergartner who's like trying to run up to like tackle the dragon.

Uh, so it was, uh, we were able to Get, like, bring back the peace, uh, but, uh, it was, it was touch or go there for a little while. 

Brenna: Oh my gosh. See, here I thought you were going to talk about the time you almost burned down your classroom on day one. Well, now I now, yeah, I was 

Jordan: going to say, now we got to hear that one.

Lauran: I guess I'm hearing about the, 

Jordan: the 

Lauran: dragon bodyguard, but I need to know about this burning down the classroom. All right, 

Jared: yeah, I almost never even made it to, uh, Day two. To day two, yeah, much less, uh, this whole dragon experience. Uh, no, it was my first week of teaching and 

Lauran: like ever, 

Jared: like ever, like I'm a new, I'm a, so I'm a first year teacher.

So I'm teaching 10th grade biology, uh, in, I'm, I'm teaching at a public school in New Orleans. And, uh, so I went in, I went in just like with this mindset of like, I'm just gonna be the fun teacher. I'm gonna make the lessons so awesome and like everyone was telling me as a first year teacher that like, oh, you can't smile to Christmas.

You gotta come in with the rules and expectations. And I'm like, no way. Like we're having fun right out of the gate. And so we came up with this experiment. I came up with this experiment. I'm doing a demonstration for the students. And so I have I have like one of these is a 62 ounce Gatorade bottle that I have.

And so the way this demonstration works is you take a peeled hard boiled egg, and you put some paper towel inside to the Gatorade bottle, you light the paper towel on fire, and then you put the peeled hard boiled egg on top of the bottle. And the smoke then consumes the oxygen. So the egg gets sucked into the bottle.

So I've 

Jordan: done that one before you've done it. 

Jared: All right. Yes, I've done that. Hopefully yours was more successful than mine. Jordan. 

Jordan: We did not burn down my high school. 

Jared: So I'm like, so again, it's my, it's my initial days of teaching. I'm like, I'm like, Oh, this is going to be awesome. We're going to do this awesome experiment.

The kids are going to love it. And, uh, and so we get into it. So it's my last period class, which for the record, I have 36 students, 33 boys, uh, in the classroom. Uh, so I was like, I was way over my head. I'm trying. I realized like mid demo. I have one of those lighters with like the, the, uh, what is it? Like the, it's one of those like, uh, automatic lighters that you have, right?

And so I use the click, so I realized that when you get smoke into the barrel of the click lighter, it just doesn't. It doesn't work. Yeah. And oh, so I initially lit the paper towel, but the fi, the flame goes out. And so now I have smoke in the barrel. And so it's not, it's, it's, it's not working. And so I can't, I , I, I, so, so this whole demo is about, is like blowing up in my face.

Uh. It's, uh, we have, the AC is not working in the room. So like I have like these armpit stains that are like growing and I'm getting increased, like I'm dripping in sweat. I'm getting increasingly nervous. And you 

Lauran: have an audience of teenagers. And I have an audience of mostly teenage boys. 

Jared: Yes. 

Lauran: And 

Jared: everything is 

Jordan: going wrong.

Jared: Everything's going wrong. And then it just goes even more wrong because then. What happens, we have students who start taking out, like, their notebook, it's like, again, the third, second or third day of school, so students are, like, taking out, like, their brand new notebooks, and they start making these, like, torches.

Out of like their notebook paper and so and so several of the kids in the class have lighters and so they actually light they start light and like one kid does it and then another kid does it. Wait, they 

Lauran: just whipped out their lighters in the middle of class? In the middle 

Jared: of class. And I, and again, I'm like, I'm like day three of teaching.

So I'm like, I don't even know what I'm doing. Like, I can't, like, I'm, like, I, no one taught. And then in my teacher preparation programs, they didn't tell me about how to handle lighters being brought out in the middle of class. So literally, the kids are lighting these torches and like, and so, and I'm just, I'm thinking to myself, I'm like, I'm going, I'm, I'm not even going to survive my first week on the job.

I'm going to be fired. And so I, I just, I grabbed one of these flaming torches from a kid in the front row and I just like shove it into the Gatorade bottle. And then I just took the hard boiled egg and I just slammed it in. And then I'm like, put out the fire. Put your stuff, put your stuff away. Like it's the demo is over.

Lauran: Oh my God. 

Jared: So we barely survived. 

Lauran: I'm sure all those 10th graders, even years later, are still talking about it. I'm sure they are 

Jared: because I was the teacher was crazy enough to do an experiment and have it go completely awry. 

Lauran: Listen, I, I've seen so many experiments. that I dare never try in my classroom, so you're better than me.

I just I don't have that kind of confidence. And I teach science as one of my subject areas. And in fifth grade, like we are tested in fifth grade science in Ohio. Yeah. So. Like, we try to incorporate experiments as best we can, uh, but never will I ever introduce a flame to a ten year old. 

Jordan: Oh my god. You know, I, there is a certain kind of bravery, like, high school science teachers have, because I remember the experiments, like, when I was in high school, I did, like, college in high school, so I was taking college courses my last two years of high school, and I took chemistry and I just remember the one day, like, Our teacher came up.

He's like, all right, we're going to be using hydrochloric acid. Do not get this on your skin. It's going to eat through it. And like just this idea of giving like fresh teenagers access to these kind of chemicals is just, Oh my God, that's so 

Jared: scary. 

Jordan: Oh 

Lauran: my, that would give me so much anxiety. 

Jared: I remember as a student in my 10th grade chemistry class.

Our, uh, in our textbook, they had a picture of like this massive explosion when you mix potassium in water. 

Jordan: Yeah. 

Jared: And so I just remember my entire 10th grade year, I just remember hassling our chemistry teacher like, can you, can you do, can you put together, can you put potassium in water together? And like literally we would ask him every single day to the point where he just got frustrated and was like, you know what?

We're going to the fume hood. Potassium in water. It's going down. Yes! 

Lauran: Did he, and he did it? He 

Jared: actually legit did it. What did he say? Oh, it exploded. It was an explosion. Yeah, oh. Yeah, I mean, it was under the fume hood. It was much safer than having students pull torches out in the middle of, uh, the third day.

Lauran: See, I feel like when I took chemistry in high school, I don't recall it being that dramatic. Like, I don't recall having, like, access to these crazy chemicals. Like, I'm sure we had, you know, what did you, what did you say? 

Jordan: Hydrochloric acid. Yeah. I, 

Lauran: I remember doing experiments, but they were like so mild. I feel like it was like, put this drop of this in here and watch the color change and like.

Make rock candy. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It was like the, uh, what was the gummy bear one? There's like a gummy bear experiment. You put. I forget what it is. It's like you put a gummy bear with something else and it like makes the flames all different colors. Like, we did that experiment. Yeah, try 

Jordan: that 

Lauran: one. The one 

Jordan: I really enjoyed was the elephant toothpaste one.

Did you ever? 

Lauran: I've seen it. I've never done that one. Oh, I 

Jordan: love that one. That one's a lot of fun. How does that one work? Um, I forget the specifics of it. Like, you could Google it. But essentially, you have these chemicals you put together and it shoots out like this foam. Like, it's just like a geyser of foam.

called elephant toothpaste, and it's just really fun to just like watch it because you start with the, it's just like a couple like liquids in like a beaker essentially and then it just like explodes outward. Have you seen 

Lauran: videos of people, when people do it in like Home Depot buckets? Yeah. Or like they'll do it in like a kiddie pool.

They'll put it together and it like, it, it grows. Like one person, I remember seeing this on YouTube somewhere, someone did it in like You I don't even know how many gallon barrel, like the big barrel, like oil barrels almost. Um, they did it in like ten of those all put together. Yeah, and it like took over their entire backyard.

I'm like, but how do you get rid of it once you make it? 

Jordan: I, I don't know. We didn't do it in that amount of quantity. Brush an 

Lauran: elephant's teeth with it. Oh, shut 

Jordan: up. 

Lauran: You fell right into that one. Man. Okay. So like. My background is mainly in like language arts and like the social studies realm, but because I teach it like a smaller district and I teach all subject areas in fifth grade, like I have fallen in love with science and math over the past couple of years.

Just, just having more experience getting to teach it because like it's so, the kids don't really, up until that age level, they don't get like a dedicated science time, you know? So they, for them to have like, A full hour of the day dedicated to, like, learning about, like, ours is the solar system, and ecosystems, and forces in motion, and doing all kinds of experiments.

They like, lose their minds over science. They love it. We just did these little biome boxes, so they all made little dioramas at home and brought them in. They were so cute. So I love doing that kind of stuff. That's so fun. That is awesome. Do you ever, do you ever miss being in the classroom? 

Jared: All the time.

Lauran: Yeah. 

Jared: All the time. But you're, I 

Lauran: mean, but you're always in there, so. 

Jared: I'm in there a lot. I think like it, but it's one of the things that like I also prioritize too is like finding opportunities to still be in the classroom. So for example, like last school year I taught a sixth grade math class for, for actually a couple months.

Uh, and. And even throughout my tenure as a principal, like there was a, there was a couple of years where I taught an eighth grade math class throughout the whole course of the entire school year. And so I think that it does two things. One, I, I just, I got into this work because I love teaching and I don't think there's anything that beats like that direct.

connection that you make. It's, it's different as an administrator, even, and it's part of the reason why I do, you know, I, why, why I go mobile, uh, so I can have those interactions with students. So I can give those high fives and, and have that connection, but it definitely is different. It's a different connection as a principal than it is with, as a, as a teacher in a classroom.

And it is something that I definitely miss. Um, but I do it, I, I find avenues to get into the classroom for two reasons. First, because I just enjoy that contact with the students and the relationship piece with, uh, with working directly with students. But I think the second thing is, I think being in the classroom reminds me of just what our teachers go through day to day.

And, you know, it was a while ago, I was, you know, that, that, Horrible biology experiment that that went wrong that that was like, that was like almost two decades ago. So, like, it's difficult. Like, I think I, I sometimes think about how, like, When I'm not saying current and I'm not saying in the classroom myself, you just forget what it's like.

And so I think as a leader, I think being able to empathize with what our teachers are going through day to day is an important part of just being able to better serve the team. 

Lauran: I agree entirely because I mean, I've heard that over and over and over again of like, Uh, admin that haven't been in classrooms for quite a while and then they have like, uh, an expectation or something they, you know, carry out because of a, like a state mandate or whatever.

Um, and, you know, when you're not getting that direct experience and you're, you do, you are kind of removed and. Um, you have, it's almost like, uh, like you almost have amnesia a little bit once you, when you haven't been in the classroom a little bit and then you're like, oh yeah, well just do this and then your teacher's like, yeah, well, I've done that 80 times and it doesn't work, 

Jared: so, 

Lauran: like, so.

I 

Jared: think for me too, like, I, it just. Stuff changes, right? And so I think about like, even just like our, like what our teachers went through and experienced during COVID, I'm like, I don't like, I've, I've never taught a lesson on Google classroom. And so like, I had to like go through like, and learn Google classroom myself.

Like, but like, I, I, I think like there's, there is an element of like. The, the, the work that we do while working, while there's commonalities in working with students, stuff changes and evolves, uh, and schools change and evolve. And so it's important as a leader, I believe, to like stay current on the current issues at hand.

Lauran: Absolutely. Um, well, one more question and then we'll take a little break and then we'll get into our fun game that we have, but, uh, so this one's actually for Brenna. So I want to know. What is one thing that Tiktok doesn't know about Principal Lam? Oh my god. 

Theme: Uh oh. Oh, that's a good one. We need, 

Brenna: we need the inside scoop.

Um, okay. Uh, we may or may not have revealed this actually. So, it's so funny you were just talking about how much, like you, you do miss the classroom and I think that is true. Uh, we have three children. And Jared, we They come home with a sizable amount of homework. Um, Principal Lamb does not often help them with their homework.

That is actually true. Principal Lamb! Oh no! So when it comes to teaching at home, Mommy tends to pick up more of those responsibilities. Okay, I He's like, he's like, 

Lauran: I do this 

Brenna: all day. Okay, so I use a lot of math in my job. And so this is also Maybe this is too much. Okay, but when he did teach that eighth grade math class a few years ago, he would say like, hey, can you explain this to me?

Listen, it's so relatable though. 

Jared: It was either Google or my wife. I had to, I had to get the right 

Lauran: answers. Okay. Okay. Listen, can we normalize teachers not knowing everything under the sun? I want to say 

Jordan: thank you because So let's say you are not alone in this because this was back when you were teaching at your other district.

Yes. Um, in the middle of the year, they collapsed her class and moved her to a different grade. So she had at that time, she was teaching second grade, had never taught fifth grade in her life. But I was the 

Lauran: only one licensed to be able to teach it, so they had to move me there. And I cried every day on my way to work for the rest of the year because I was so anxious about teaching math to 5th graders.

Jordan: And I'll never forget too because they moved you up to 5th grade and you're like, I have to learn how to teach math. I don't remember how to do like fractions and stuff like that. So you were on the phone with her one friend who lives out in California like almost every night being tutored in 5th grade math.

Lauran: No, that wasn't even then, was it? 

Jordan: Yeah, that was then. No, because I 

Lauran: didn't have that friend then. Okay. Are you talking about Andy? 

Jordan: Oh, that was a different time period. That was a 

Lauran: couple years ago. That was racist. This is a repeat experience. No, uh, so, okay. A little bit of both. So like, that year when I got moved to fifth grade, I, like, cause I had only taught little kids, so I was like, terrified.

I'm like, oh my god, these are big kids. They're so big. And fifth grade math, like, it's tricky cause like, the new strategies they use, you actually have to kind of reteach yourself. But. I hadn't done any kind of fifth grade math in a, in a minute, so the every day I would go into work and the math coach for our district, she was like, don't worry, I'll help you.

I'll come teach math with you every day. I was like, thank. God because I will be teaching these kids the wrong thing and so she would come in my classroom every day But there were some days when like her child would be sick or she couldn't make it to school or something And she would I get that email on the way to work and it was like, sorry I won't be able to be in today.

You'll be fine and I would be like

So, but we made it we got there we were okay and now that I actually do teach fifth grade math And I've been teaching it for, you know, six years. It's, it clip, it clicks more. Yeah. You know, I've gotten to practice, but when I'm telling you that jump from like primary to early or to, um, upper elementary. It is a leap because I, I was terrified and I, I honestly, that experience was like one of the best and worst in my teaching careers because at the moment it really sucked and I was like, Oh my God, I'm going to die.

Yeah, but then that actually kind of sparked my love for working with older children. So now I, you know, I went to school for. You know, PK3 got a 4 5 endorsement thinking, Oh, I'm never gonna use that. It just will look good on my resume. And then here I am, you know, the majority of my career has been in upper elementary.

Theme: Yeah. 

Lauran: So, it's kind of a happy accident. But yeah, I, I relate to that. Okay, just to be really 

Brenna: clear. If I had to teach that math to a , I think he had a group of 48th graders at the time. Oh my God. would have, I would've had a full blown panic attack. I would not have been able to do that. So absolutely insane respect for the ability to teach that content.

You know, that that would be far beyond my skillset. . 

Jordan: Oh no, I am exactly in that same boat, like. I, I think about like, like you teaching Lauren and everything, and I'm just like, I think I'd die. I think I'd walk into that classroom, I'd be in there for five minutes, and then my heart would just give out and then chaos.

I 

Lauran: feel like at one point you even described it, like you were like, me with one kid? Alright, we'll survive, we'll be okay. Me with two kids, that's getting dicey, but we'll be, we'll be alright. Three kids, that's one too many, right? So, I, I always think that's really funny cause like, cause Jordan is like insanely smart on, in many different topics, and I, anytime I ask him to explain something to me, he gets so frustrated, like, if I don't understand it the first time, and I'm like, you would be a horrible teacher, and I'm like, I know.

So 

Brenna: unrelatable, exactly. Have never felt that way or acted in that way, ever. 

Jordan: Cause I, yeah, I feel bad, cause I know it's like an assumption, and I'll explain something, and because like, Especially like you'll ask things either it's like sometimes about like marketing or like design things or stuff like that And i'll be like, oh you just do this this and you explain it at such a high level because you're in it every day And then i'm just like oh, yeah I'm talking to someone who has no idea what i'm talking about and I use just every jargon term You could ever think of and it's just over your head.

Lauran: Yeah, that's been the the Kind of the experience this year is like, because so Jordan and I are, we started a business and we're trying to build, um, a platform for kids to learn financial literacy. So we're trying to, thank you. We're working to build a plat, like a gamified platform that'll make it like fun for them to learn that.

Um, and going from the education world to the business world is a whole nother ballgame. And it just makes me feel. So inferior sometimes and like, I'm the CEO of the company and I have to go to these meetings and I'm like, Uh huh. Yeah. I'm like boss babing it up, but like I have no, I'm like, I'm just building this ship as we, as we sail people.

I, 

Brenna: I work with quite a few CEOs and like executives in my, in my current role and across the course of my career. And I, I have to say that's what many of them do. Like that is what many of them for that. Um, so like that is you are, you are doing exactly what you need to do as the chief executive. Awesome.

Lauran: Wow. I didn't know I was doing so well. 

Theme: Just 

Brenna: speak with confidence and you know, you got this. 

Lauran: I try to use, I try to use some business. Lingo every now and then and some sometimes it sticks. I know sometimes I'm like And sometimes i'm honest with people and i'm like i've never done this before Please talk to me like I am in third grade because Explain your, your business tech techniques and tactics like I'm a nine year old.

But that's how you're gonna actually learn. If you don't ask questions, you're 

Brenna: never gonna learn. 

Lauran: Right. And, and that's the one thing it's hard. Like, you know, we talk about kids like that don't want to participate. Well, adults don't either. It's hard when you have to admit that you don't know something.

And it's, it's hard when you have to ask somebody To explain something to you when you feel like you should already know it, you know? 

Jordan: Well, I think that's the, like, the downside of not normalizing that at a younger age. Because then you get into adulthood and then nobody wants to do that. So then you're just kind of like, everybody's just like, Alright, I guess we're all gonna go out in the dark with this one.

And just hope, like, the best happens. 

Lauran: I try to do that a lot in my classroom. Like, that's the one thing I say over and over again. I'm like, I don't care if you're wrong, I just care if you try. Love that. 

Theme: Yes. 

Lauran: I'm not saying that works because I still have to like, you know, it's like pulling teeth, trying to get kids to raise their hands in class, and I get it, but it's, yeah, like that's a universal experience.

It's not just something that kids experience, but you get that. Yeah. It carries. So. Me too, kids. Me too. But we're gonna take a quick break and then we'll be right back to play a fun little game.

Jordan: And we're back. 

Lauran: So we are going to play a little game of riddles called Riddle Me This. All right. So with the help of ChatGPT, our producer Rob has come up with three riddles for us to try and solve together. Okay, and they're not necessarily education related. So just, okay. There's a variety of 

Jared: it. We got a couple of non educators working on it.

Lauran: Exactly. We felt that it was a bit unfair if we kept everything education and gave you guys a disadvantage. 

Jordan: I am losing challenge after challenge after 

Lauran: challenge. Yeah, so, uh, and I've also been told that Principal Lamb is horrible at riddles, but Brenna is very good at riddles. I am. Oh, see, now you set me up for absolute failure.

Oh, no, that was not helpful. Wait, what if he cheated and he looked at all the riddles and the answers ahead of time? 

Jared: No, no. I have no intel. I have no idea what's coming. We 

Brenna: played Clue last night, and he absolutely was low integrity in that game. Oh, I like 

Lauran: that, 

Brenna: I like 

Lauran: that, that, that describer, low integrity.

Yeah, no, the next 

Jordan: time I play Monopoly with my dad, because my dad, 

Lauran: Oh, he, he skims off the top, man. He, 

Jordan: when I was growing up, just, just to talk about low integrity. I love my dad, he listens to the podcast, and I'm airing this out now for everyone to hear. He would, Come up with this stupid rule when we would play Monopoly as a family that the banker took an interest rate from any transaction that required the use of the bank.

So if you were like, Oh, I need change. Oh, that's 10 percent comes to money. Wooly. And I'm like. This, like, as I got older, I was like, what is this? You're cheating! Yeah, 

Brenna: it's absolutely a low integrity move, and at the same time, I feel like very authentic to the, sort of, the experience of Monopoly. Experience, yes.

Jordan: Oh yeah, he was teaching a life lesson. 

Lauran: Yeah, that definitely is, it's, it's pretty valid, pretty accurate. We, let's just say we don't play board games with Monty anymore in the, in the, in the woolly household. Yeah. Or, or otherwise if we do, we just are prepared to call him out on cheating. So there's three riddles.

So each person's going to get a riddle. Let's start with Jordan. I'll put you in the hot seat first. No! I'll put your, your, your pineapple on the stove top first. Or the grill. I don't know, I tried to make a pineapple joke. 

Jordan: I thought you were going to go like pineapple on the ham. 

Lauran: Okay, I'll put your pineapple on the ham first.

Okay, riddle number one. 

Jordan: Okay, riddle number one. 

Lauran: You measure my life in hours, and I serve you by expiring. I'm quick when I'm thin and slow when I'm fat. The wind is my enemy. 

Jordan: What 

Lauran: am I? 

Jordan: Gosh, hold on. So, you measure my life in hours. 

Lauran: Yes. 

Jordan: What's the next part? 

Lauran: I serve you by expiring. I 

Jordan: serve you by expiring.

Lauran: I'm quick when I'm thin. 

Jordan: I'm quick when I'm thin. 

Lauran: And slow when I'm fat. 

Jordan: Slow when I'm fat. 

Lauran: The wind is my enemy. I love being the one that doesn't have to figure out the riddle. Yeah, you really, you 

Jared: really positioned yourself well for this. 

Jordan: Yeah, you, you get to not look stupid. 

Lauran: Uh, no, I just get the privilege of setting you all up to look intelligent.

Oh. 

Jordan: Oh gosh, okay. I don't know why it infiltrated my mind when you said expire, and then I just started thinking of milk. I went there too. Okay, I'm not alone in this one. 

Lauran: Do you measure the life of milk in hours? That's what threw me. I was 

Jordan: like, you know, you don't measure the life of milk in hours. I 

Lauran: mean, I guess you could.

Like, how many hours until it expires? 

Jordan: Also, milk is not affected by the wind, like, I just thought it was really weird. 

Lauran: I don't know, have you ever had a glass of milk on a really windy day? 

Jordan: I have not, thank you very much. Oh gosh, okay. 

Lauran: Final guess in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, Five. Four. 

Jordan: I don't know. 

Lauran: Three. One. 

Jordan: Weather? I 

Lauran: think, okay, you're guessing weather?

Jordan: I, I, throwing out weather, just at a last minute buzzer beater. 

Lauran: Eh, that's wrong. I 

Jordan: figured, ugh. 

Lauran: Alright, for the steal, does anyone want to try and guess what it is? Is it a candle? Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding! We have a winner! Oh, that's a good one. 

Jared: I told you. Brenna 

Lauran: is good at riddles. But that one makes sense.

It does. Okay, you measure my life in hours. Yes. I serve you by expiring. 

Theme: Yep. 

Lauran: I'm quick when I'm thin, so like, thinner candles burn faster, and then slower candles are like, larger ones, and the wind is their enemy. 

Brenna: It helped that you wrote it down. You should write it down again, that was really helpful. See, that's smart.

They had a strategy. What am I gonna write 

Jordan: it with? 

Brenna: With air? I'm gonna write it in the air. It was a co strategy. He like, he helped me. 

Lauran: This one looks a little bit more, I don't know, it looks, it's a longer one, so I'm assuming it's more challenging. Oh no, okay. Good luck writing this one. Alright. Okay. Rule number two.

What word in the English language does the following? The first two letters signify a male. The first three letters signify a female. The first four letters signify a great. While the entire word signifies a great woman. What is the word as there's dog snores? 

Brenna: Oh no, the first two letters signify a male. A male.

Lauran: The first three letters signify a female. 

Brenna: Okay. 

Lauran: The first four letters signify a great. A great. Like G R E A T. Okay, a great. While the entire word signifies a great woman. 

Brenna: And this is one word in the English language. 

Lauran: Yes, one word. 

Brenna: Oh, goodness. She's like, I need some time. I know. This is so difficult.

Immediately, I this 

Lauran: one is a hard one. I'm not gonna lie. I would never get 

Brenna: this one in a million years. Yeah, this is so hard. Immediately, and now I'm stuck. I went to Mr. and Mrs. is because mr and mrs, like mr, like a male and a female, but I think I'm in the wrong direction with that. And then of course there's a good 

Lauran: connection though, cause I don't think I would have even gotten that far and 

Brenna: she and he, but unfortunately that's like reverse because he is the male and she is the female.

And so like, I think you should keep going in that direction with, yeah, I was going to say you're, you're really close with that. And then there is. Oh gosh. The first four letters signify a great. A great. Something great like, oh gosh, um, oh gosh. The entire word signifies a great woman. Oh, a hero. Oh, Prince William Halsey.

Okay, there we go. I don't call him that, by the way. I call him a hero. That's fine. Yeah. 

Lauran: I keep calling him that, but I really should probably just The word is heroine. Okay, that was cute. I love it. I love 

Theme: it. I love it. I love it. I love 

Lauran: it. I love it. 

Jared: I'm 

Jordan: all alone on an 

Jared: island over here. This is not a competition.

This is not a competition. This is we're 

Jordan: all in this together. We're all in this together. We're all in 

Lauran: this together. You gotta do the dance. We're all in this together. 

Theme: That 

Lauran: was, that was impressive. You got that so fast. That was multiple assists. That's okay, because I would have, with the assists, I still would have been on the floor.

Even reached the net, like, wouldn't have happened. All right, I'm gonna call you. It feels, okay. It feels wrong calling a principal by their first name. 

Jared: You may do it. 

Lauran: Your teachers call you. I know, I know. I call, I call my own principal by her first name, but like, it almost feels disrespectful to somebody else that I, that I'm just meeting for the first time.

Jordan: What broke my brain and I cannot do it. So I work for a healthcare organization and our CMO in a meeting was like, nobody call me doctor, call me by my first name. I cannot 

Lauran: do it I still call your CMO by his whole name. Oh 

Jordan: my god. Doctor, I 

Lauran: can't say it. I 

Jordan: cannot do it. I cannot. I don't even 

Lauran: know what his first name is.

Jordan: George. 

Lauran: Oh. Yeah. Yeah, I could not look at him and say George. That's our 

Jordan: CEO, our CMO. Uh, is Angela now. Oh, okay, okay. And it was just like, she was like, yeah, just call me by my first name. I was like, I just, I don't know why. It just breaks my brain. It's like, I can't do it. There's too much schooling there.

Brenna: There's too much schooling. It's disrespectful to the education that has preceded that person. Yes. 

Lauran: Yes, and like, okay, so like, From that perspective, like, okay, I don't Like, I don't get mad at kids when they call me by my first name, like, they'll, they never do, but like some, you know, when they find out your first name, they always want to say it.

So, they'll, they'll be like, I know what your name is. I'm like, what? And they're like, Lauren. I'm like, Yep. That's my name. And then like, they're like, well, you're not mad. I'm like, well, no, like that's my actual name. But I didn't, I just explained to them, like, it's just like a respect thing. That's why you call teachers by your last name.

But 

Jared: I shared an Instagram story once that was like a, it was a message I had sent out to our faculty and staff and I signed like any, a lot of my communications to the faculty and staff, I sign it, Jared. And so, so, so like I had someone on the internet was like, That is so unprofessional that you would say Jared and not sign your name Principal Lamb.

And I was like Get a life. 

Theme: Yeah. 

Lauran: Jared! It's my name! And I'll say what I want! That's okay, I get the unprofessional comments too about like my hair or having a nose ring and they're like, well, I bet you can't teach, and I'm like, well, my kids get the highest test scores in the county, 

Theme: so. 

Lauran: Yes I can. How does that impact your teaching ability?

I don't know, apparently to some people it does. Yeah, wrong thing. Yeah, not the right thing to worry about. Anyway, alright, Jared. 

Jared: Let's go. 

Lauran: Riddle number three. I come from a mine and get surrounded by wood. Everyone uses me. What am I? 

Jared: A mine surrounded by wood. Everyone uses me. Cole? 

Lauran: To be fair, my first guess was like, a pickaxe.

Like, who, who uses a pickaxe but like, miners? Okay, I might be totally wrong. But is it a pencil? Uh, you're, you're almost there. It's pencil lead. 

Brenna: Oh. Ahhh. Everyone uses me as a 

Lauran: pencil. 

Jared: That was school related. I should have got that one. 

Lauran: It was 

Brenna: surrounded by wood, you know. 

Lauran: Yeah, yeah. See, like, I can't, I think to, To literally about riddles, like I can't put, which I guess would make, it should make me better at riddles, but it doesn't.

Oh my, I don't know, I just. I have been okay with the fact that I suck at riddles and that's just fine. So Anywho, uh, Brenna gets the gold medal for the riddle game because she just schooled all of us Yeah But anywho, this was so fun and i'm so glad you guys came on the show today and we appreciate everything that you do for educators and everything you do to um put administrators in a positive light and I I would love to keep in touch especially since i'm gonna be You know, finishing up my second degree.

I'm gonna have all the, all the questions, so. Yeah, 

Jared: Jordan and Lauren, thank you so much for having us. This has actually been a blast. Awesome. Good, good. We would love to come back anytime. 

Lauran: Yeah, absolutely. We would love to have you back. Alright, guys. We will be right back.

Jordan: I'm a little pineapple. 

Lauran: Were you going to continue that song? 

Jordan: I'm a sexy little pineapple. 

Lauran: Oh my gosh, you guys. What am I going to do with him? Anywho, uh, I'm so, I'm like so glad I got to meet Principal Lamb. Oh, absolutely. Because I and Brenna, like they're, they're great. 

Jordan: They're such lambs. 

Lauran: They are lambs. I want to go visit them.

Yes! Okay, one, because I've never been to New Orleans. I would love to go. 

Jordan: That'd be really cool. And Well, they're in, they're in Baton Rouge, right? 

Lauran: Yeah, but like we could totally make like a little, a little journey out of it. Yeah. I would love that. Let's do it. Follow Principal Lam. All of his socials are Principal underscore Lam and he just launched a new YouTube channel.

Go 

Jordan: check it out. 

Lauran: What video did he just post? Because you were like, I did that. I was gonna 

Jordan: say, the polar plunge is what you're talking about, right? Yeah. Yeah. 

Lauran: He was very brave and he jumped into an ice cold pool Uh, in the middle of winter because you got more subscribers. 

Jordan: You know what is coming up?

Registration for the Pittsburgh Polar Plunge. 

Lauran: And I will be standing on the sidelines ready to videotape you jumping into ice cold water. 

Jordan: And it is a blast and you know I'm gonna do it. 

Lauran: And I, and I will bundle up and stand there and watch you be cold. Okay, fine. That is totally fine. Yeah. Uh, it's just not for me.

Jordan: One of these days i'm gonna get you to do it. 

Lauran: Hey, I did participate in that ice bucket challenge like many moons ago We are not the same Uh, i'm not saying those are the same thing but That's a big deal for me, because I hate the cold. 

Jordan: Okay, well, you know what? I will give you points on that 

Lauran: then. Okay. Uh, so, I'm excited for all of the Bonds every week, because I just love hearing your stories.

But What about James Bond? Yeah! Yeah, yeah, 

Jordan: he's he's cool. I was just checking, you said you liked all the Bonds. 

Lauran: I I also like, uh, like Uh, I had, I had some bonds, like, growing up, and then I could cash them in before I got married for money, like, those kind of bonds are cool. Those are, those are 

Jordan: nice bonds.

Those give you money. 

Lauran: Yeah, those ones grow, somewhat. Do they still do those? Yes! Okay, I It's like a 

Jordan: core function of our economy is the bond market! 

Lauran: Uh, well, I just have not personally Like purchased a bond for any reason so I just I don't know. I just knew I had them growing up Well, yeah, but I mean, you know how people would like give you actual bonds in your name like, okay when I was a baby like people like gifted those as like a birthday gift for like a one year old or 

Jordan: Usually like a 10 year bond.

Lauran: Yeah, something like that. Mine, I feel like they didn't have any kind of date, like you could, they would only expire like if your name changed which was when we got married I had to cash, my mom gave me all the bonds I had to cash in because I was changing my name. Didn't you have an expiration date? I didn't think so, no, I was able to cash them.

I think some do for sure, but this is a 

Jordan: really specific topic and I'm 

Lauran: gonna, I'm gonna go research bonds. 

Jordan: Okay, I'm just, we're gonna, we're, we're turning the ship here a little bit. 

Lauran: Let's just skirt skirt 

Jordan: the 

Lauran: other way. 

Jordan: Yeah, I, you know, I'm pretty sure the podcast market niche for bond talk is absolutely huge.

Lauran: I bet you it is, you know. Like we are building a financial literacy platform. 

Jordan: Yeah, but So our special bond this week comes from Tinsley Tinsley All right. I have a really good relationship with my middle school orchestra teacher. Here's the full story So I started in sixth grade and joined orchestra since I wanted to learn how to play the violin.

Lauran: Same, fun fact I actually, uh I have this thing where I hyperfixate on stuff for like a hot minute, um, and once upon a time when I was like 19, I wanted to learn how to play the violin at 19 years old, and I bought this like cheap electric violin off Amazon, which it actually did work, um, and then I watched some YouTube videos and taught myself how to play hot cross buns, and that is the extent of my violin career.

Jordan: Wow. 

Lauran: Yes. 

Jordan: Regular, uh, Lindsey Stirling. Yes, I was going to say Lacey, so Lindsey Stirling. Nope, Lindsey 

Lauran: Stirling, yep. 

Jordan: Regular Lindsey Stirling over here, everyone. Look at her go. Back to 

Lauran: Tinsley. 

Jordan: I joined in our teacher, Mr. R. He was very kind to all of us, and he told dad jokes. Flash forward, I love dad jokes.

Flash forward to 8th grade, I realized towards 2nd semester that I was non binary and pansexual. And since I felt safe in my orchestra class, I wrote a letter to Mr. R, which was me coming out to him. He emailed me and said he was honored that I trusted him with that information and that he would be there to support me no matter what.

I'm a freshman in high school now and I try to visit him as much as I can. I'm so glad I got to join orchestra and have him as my teacher. I'm still in orchestra to this day. That's 

Lauran: awesome. That is 

Jordan: awesome. 

Lauran: I mean, I, I think it's so important for teachers to create a safe space for all students. Um, so I'm really glad that your orchestra teacher made you feel safe and seen for the person that you are.

And I love that so much for you. I wish that every student, no matter, you know, what you are or who you are, has that kind of person in your life that loves and accepts you unconditionally. Um, so thank you, Tinsley, for sharing that. I really appreciate that. 

Jordan: No, that was awesome. 

Lauran: And I remember. When, um, I was in eighth grade, I can't, we didn't have an orchestra, but we did have some kids that I went to school with that played, like, orchestra instruments.

Like, I know there was one girl that we went to school with that played, like, four different instruments, and she would always bring her violin, and her, like, I think she played cello, maybe, and I think clarinet, and something else. Um, she would always bring her violin and stuff to school, and I thought it was so impressive.

Like, I don't know why, I, I, I, Grew up wanting to play an instrument, but never actually, really, truly learning how to play an instrument. Um, fun fact, I took piano lessons for eight years. No, it wasn't that long. I don't know, something like that. Five to eight years. 

Theme: Okay. 

Lauran: And I still, I, like, I could read music, but I can't, like, sit down in front of pianos with sheet music and play it.

So, my, my piano teacher. Yeah. He used to, um, like when he would introduce a new piece of music to me, I would be like, oh, can you play it first? I could hear it. He'd be like, yeah, sure. So he would play the piece and then he would give me like a few of the bars to learn for the next week or whatever. Yeah.

And I would go home and instead of actually like reading the sheet music like I should have been doing, I would pick out the notes by ear. Because he had played it for me already. So I cheated. 

Theme: Cheater. 

Lauran: But I learned some piano pieces like that. And so I can play a handful of things. I guess, so, 

Jordan: cause I can read music.

Like I played in band and everything. I don't know how to read music. I play multiple instruments and everything. I can say now, like, as an adult, if I'm learning a new song, it's all by ear. Like, I don't, like, it's been years. Years since I've read a piece of music. 

Lauran: Yeah, I'm so jealous of anyone that can do that.

Like, I Uh, utmost respect for all musicians out there. Awesome. Well, 

Theme: let 

Lauran: us know how the show is, guys. I hope you're enjoying it. Um, we really appreciate you guys for not only listening, if you've gotten this far into the episode, thank you so much for being here. And also, I, I want to hear how we're doing.

So make sure that you guys leave comments. Make sure that you send us emails if you have suggestions for guests that you might want to have. 

Jordan: Or challenges. Yes! So that I am not the only one that's dressed up like a pineapple! 

Lauran: Or challenges, so that Jordan is always the only one dressed up like a pineapple.

And I feel, I feel sad for those of you that are listening. To this and not actually witnessing this on YouTube. If you are listening but haven't seen the imagery, that is Jordan as a pineapple. Please, at least for me. Please watch. 

Jordan: Yeah, just go, just go watch it too, just because you gotta see it. I . 

Lauran: Anyway, you can reach out to us, um, on TikTok and Instagram at Human Content Pods or you can send us emails directly at hello at we are fine pod.com.

And don't forget, my YouTube channel is Mrs. Wooley in. 5th, so you can check it out there. Full episodes are there, including our episodes where we hang out with Egbert, and you get to see Egbert. Yeah! Egbert! Egbert Jr. And then, what was the second egg? What was his name? 

Jordan: There was Egbert. 

Lauran: Egbert Jr. is the third one.

Oh my gosh. I don't remember. I'm forgetting 

Jordan: our egg child's name. 

Lauran: Eggbert number two. Now we're gonna have to figure it out. He was 

Jordan: the Waffle King! Waffles O'Brien! 

Lauran: Yes! 

Jordan: Gosh! How 

Lauran: could we forget Waffles O'Brien? How could 

Jordan: you forget? I totally remembered. And I did not need Rob to come in and tell me what it was.

Are you kidding me? 

Lauran: Thank you for listening. We're your hosts, Lauren and Jordan Woolley. 

Jordan: Special thanks to our guests, Jared and Brenna Lamb. 

Lauran: A. K. A. Principal Lam, and also you can follow them at Principal underscore Lam and all of his amazing administrator content, um, even if you're not an administrator or an educator because it's just nice to see good things in education.

Oh yeah. Love it. 

Jordan: Especially when they're on wheels. 

Lauran: That's true. And carts. Carts are important. Our executive producers are Lauren and Jordan Woolley, 

Jordan: Aaron Corny, 

Lauran: Rob Goldman, 

Jordan: and Shanti Brooke. 

Lauran: Our editor is Andrew Sims. 

Jordan: Our engineer is Jason Portizzo. 

Lauran: And our music is by Omer Bensby. 

Jordan: To learn about our program disclaimer and ethics policy and submission verification and licensing term, you can go to our website at wearefinepod.

com. Or you can reach out to us at hello at wearefinepod. com with any questions or concerns. 

Lauran: This podcast discusses sensitive and challenging topics including mental health and personal struggles. If you're in crisis or need someone to talk to, please reach out to the suicide hotline at 988. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

You are not alone. 

Jordan: We Are Fine is a human content production. 

Lauran: Yes it is. 

Jordan: Sir. We are, we are Thor!

Hey you! 

Lauran: Hey! I love 

Jordan: that shirt you're wearing. And you know what would go great with that shirt? What? A nice big virtual hug. And you can get that by hitting some of these buttons down here. Subscribe, like, comment. We'll give you a big ol virtual hug. 

Lauran: Thank you so much for listening and we will see you guys next Wednesday.

Bye! Bye!