Best Rec Room Podcasts (2024)

1
336: 💬 How Harkness Won Me Over (Completely) 8:40

1h ago8:40

8:40

Today we’re talking about a model that influenced every discussion I ran in my classroom from my first year to my last, across grade levels, years, and countries. I’ve run hundreds of Harkness discussions - terrible ones, experimental ones, pretty ok ones, good ones, and absolutely incredible ones. Today I want to tell you how Harkness discussion c…

1
335: 💬 5 Discussion Types that Can Work for You, Even if You've Almost Given Up (The Discussion Series Begins) 17:41

2h ago17:41

17:41

Discussion. Theoretically it’s the bread and butter of the English classroom, but sometimes it feels like all crusts and crumbs. How can you get students excited to talk about voice and theme, metaphor and symbolism, when they have a million other things going on? How do you inspire them to dive in together to the ways that literature illuminates l…

101
Where to now for TVNZ? 39:05

2h ago39:05

39:05

It's a week since TVNZ shocked the media with a proposal to shut down 1news.co.nz and merge news with content. Glen Kyne joins Duncan Greive on The Fold to discuss the merits of the approach, what it implies about the future of the business, and other ways it might save $30m and provide a pathway to a sustainable future. Plus – reflections on the d…

1
334: The Writing Tip Every Kid Needs (that I Learned in Bulgaria) 4:08

27m ago4:08

4:08

The late afternoon sun filtered through the windows of our tiny department office as I ran in to grab the papers I’d just printed. As I waited for them to finish, I examined the old books stacked on the shelf above the printer, brought to our school in Bulgaria by another ex-pat teacher many years ago, judging by the dust. One caught my eye - Willi…

1
Motion Sickness on their wild journey from Dunedin to Cannes 45:21

5d ago45:21

45:21

Sam Stuchbury founded Motion Sickness as a brand and advertising agency in a flat in Ōtepoti. 10 years on, it has become known for powerful campaigns like 'Proud to be Māori' and 'Rep your Suburb' for Whānau Ora. The company dominated the Axis Awards and picked up silver in the Global Agency of the Year awards in London. Stuchbury and Motion Sickne…

1
333: How to Teach a Multigenre Essay Project 15:43

20h ago15:43

15:43

Want to teach a multigenre essay project? Good! Our students see story splashed across so many platforms these days. Video, audio, visuals, and words all mixed up together in a daily swirl. Understanding how to tell a story across mediums is a highly relevant skill for students, and one they can quickly see the relevance of every time they switch o…

1
Google threatens to abandon news in NZ. What comes next? 36:02

9d ago36:02

36:02

On Friday afternoon, Google published a post to its little-read New Zealand blog, one which immediately sent shockwaves through the local news media. It confirmed what had been rumoured – that if the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill passes in its current form, Google will pull news from all its systems and services, and cancel all its agreements w…

1
332: The Rec Letter Tweak that gave me my Octobers Back 4:18

15d ago4:18

4:18

Welcome to the Thursday edition of The Spark Creativity Teacher Podcast, a podcast for English teachers in search of creative teaching strategies. Tell me if this sounds familiar. You sit down to write a rec letter after a long fall day of teaching, meetings, coaching, and everything else on your plate. Maybe it’s 9 pm and you’re trying to remember…

1
Could live events be the TV commercials of the future? Spark thinks so 38:49

7d ago38:49

38:49

Matt Bain spent a career working across prestige brands in digital contexts before returning to New Zealand to become Data and Marketing Director (CMO in all but name) of the telco-turned-digital services provider that is Spark. It's one of the biggest marketing jobs in the country, with a budget to match – but figuring out what Spark is and how it…

1
331: Does Essay Writing Feel like Torture to your Students? Try this. 15:34

15d ago15:34

15:34

It's no fun announcing an argument paper and being met by groans. If your students have arrived at your class afraid of essays, you're not the only one. And we all know, buy-in matters. When students are confronted with a task they're horrified by, it's hard for them to access their skills and motivation to do their best work. So what are you suppo…

1
Parks: A Spooky Celebration 8:42

13d ago8:42

8:42

Oregon’s Spirit of Halloweentown capitalizes on the iconic 1998 movie By Melissa Hart Most of us celebrate Halloween on a single night. But in the small waterfront town of St. Helens, Ore.—27 miles north of Portland—strange and spooky festivities over six autumn weekends attract thousands of visitors. Witches perform spirited broom dances in gorgeo…

1
Programming: Blossoming Success 9:13

8d ago9:13

9:13

Tips, insights, and impact from Open Space Arts’ May Flower Show By I.E. Lucky Open Space Arts’ May Flower Show has become a highly anticipated event, drawing visitors from all corners of Prince William County, Va. to experience the vibrant display of floral arrangements, educational workshops, and community involvement. A staple on the gallery’s a…

1
Rec Facilities: A Sustainable Vision 9:31

18d ago9:31

9:31

The future of aquatic-center design By Jody Sergi While swim meet and water polo athletes focus on agility, speed, and performance, they rarely pay attention to the pool in which they compete. After all, they know it will always be heated to a consistent 81 degrees, fully cleaned, and tested, allowing swimmers to race at their highest level.…

1
Parks: All Wheels Welcome 8:19

9d ago8:19

8:19

Austin’s Mueller development integrates greenspace and a skate park to create a one-of-a-kind neighborhood amenity By Drew Carman and Amy Westermeyer Access to greenspace is a defining feature of the Mueller development, an award-winning urban village constructed on the site of a former municipal airport in Austin, Texas. This is entirely by design…

1
Parks: The Taggart Transplant 10:04

15d ago10:04

10:04

Transforming a crumbling monument into a community theatre By John Jackson First open to the public in 1899, Riverside Park was once the crown jewel of Indianapolis’ parks and boulevards system. Its modern footprint is 862 acres—22 more than New York’s Central Park. After more than a century, the time had come to reinvigorate Riverside.…

51
What the hell happened to traffic? + Stuff's pivots and RNZ's regrets 52:52

9d ago52:52

52:52

Anna Rawhiti-Connell is head of audience for The Spinoff, but spent most of the last decade working in social media for BNZ and the Auckland Theatre Company. She joins Duncan to do a deep dive into the changing nature and shape of social platforms – specifically what happened to links, and therefore traffic. Then they discuss two changes at Stuff –…

1
330: Routines that aren’t Boring for Whole Class Novels 4:30

12d ago4:30

4:30

If you’ve ever felt like you were stuck in a rut doing the same thing day after day, I’ve got a quick mindset shift to help. I do NOT want you to give up on whole class novels, so let’s talk about how to make them work. In theory, whole class novels are the bread and butter of the English classroom. But if you struggle to get students to read at ho…

1
Have advertisers forgotten how to build brands? 50:28

15d ago50:28

50:28

James Hurman is a globally recognised expert in advertising effectiveness – and believes many businesses have become transfixed by generating present day sales through social and search, at the expense of those in the future, generated by brand building on other surfaces. Together they examine what New Zealand's large advertisers and media agencies…

1
329: Turn Dusty Old Books into a Stunning Display 3:24

14d ago3:24

3:24

Do you have old books lying around taking up space in your classroom? Books no one is ever going to read again? Recently in our Facebook group, Creative High School English, a fun visual thread erupted all about bookish page displays. So in today’s one minute idea-isode, I want to suggest you try one. You’ll clear space on your shelves, help the ea…

1
More cuts at TVNZ, more growth at RNZ – is the future a news merger? 37:27

17d ago37:27

37:27

Glen Kyne returns to join host Duncan Greive to discuss a pair of different stories which seem to head to the same conclusion. The first is Shayne Currie's report on a leaked email from TVNZ CEO Jodi O'Donnell flagging more cuts at the broadcaster, potentially at 1news.co.nz. The second is a Newsroom story about fast-rising ratings at RNZ's website…

1
328: The Short Unit that Never Fails 4:15

20d ago4:15

4:15

On this week’s mini-episode, I want to tell you about a one week unit that has never failed to produce incredible results from my students. I’ve done it with 10th graders and 11th graders, honors students and their counterparts, American students and Bulgarian students speaking English as their second language. And I’ve loved it every. Single. Time…

1
The man in charge of an era-defining rugby rights negotiation 1:08:35

1M ago1:08:35

1:08:35

Craig Fenton has been boss of NZ Rugby Commercial for a little over six months, but is already in the midst of a crucial deal, one which will shape not just his period in charge, but the whole future of rugby in New Zealand. He joins Duncan Greive to discuss the evolving sports rights landscape in New Zealand, and how Craig sees the All Blacks, Bla…

1
327: Dystopia Book Clubs: A How-To Guide 24:29

22d ago24:29

24:29

Let's talk about dystopia book clubs, a compelling unit option for ELA. I taught my first dystopian fiction, 1984, to tenth graders in Bulgaria. They had very strong reactions to the way Orwell portrayed communism, since Communist rule had existed in their family's living memories. For some, Orwell nailed it. Others, outraged, clearly thought he wa…

1
Rec Facilities: Technology For The Future 8:27

22d ago8:27

8:27

How waterblasting is changing the surface-preparation market By Jordan Koster Sandblasting and waterblasting both stem from naturally occurring processes. Both types of erosion existed long before humans harnessed the power of sand and water. It wasn’t until the 1870s that the preliminary sandblasting process was developed. Over the last century an…

1
Parks: A Radiant Journey 8:44

22d ago8:44

8:44

A pioneering venture leads to Joya, a unique glow-in-the-dark playground By Michael Mashburn Significant decisions often gravitate toward the familiar, the status quo, or the absence of alternatives. Cities find themselves entrenched in convention due to resource limitations, potential community resistance, and the intricate web of politics. Pionee…

1
Columns: The Power Of Decency 6:26

22d ago6:26

6:26

Extending courtesy to those who need it most By Ron Ciancutti Doctors agreed that, after President Ronald Reagan survived a 1981 assassination attempt, his memory was diminished. (Years later, he was formally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.) As his term continued, his staff prepared remarks and speeches that were short and to the point. Though his nego…

1
Sports Fields: Smaller Field, Faster Game 7:18

22d ago7:18

7:18

How to incorporate the new Olympic lacrosse format into park play By Mary Helen Sprecher Lacrosse is ready for its close-up. But that close-up won’t come until 2028, when lacrosse will be featured as a showcase sport at the Olympics in Los Angeles. However, that’s actually a good thing because that gives parks (and player camps) an opportunity to g…

1
Parks: Made In The Shade 9:30

1M ago9:30

9:30

Award-winning nature park’s holistic approach to building shade structures inspires other communities By Sarah Yant From wildlife-viewing blinds to pergolas, shade structures in parks are essential features that not only enhance the visitor experience but also foster environmental awareness and stewardship. Horseshoe Bay Nature Park—an 11-acre gree…

1
Continuing Education Spotlight: Camp Insurance 7:25

28d ago7:25

7:25

Tips to ensure camps are properly protected for every scenario By Tracy Schmeltzer As a camp manager or director, participating in timely training is important not only to keep skills relevant but also to stay informed about issues impacting the camp industry. One such issue is insurance. How much do directors know about their organization’s insura…

1
Camps: A Cheer For Peace 13:04

1M ago13:04

13:04

Applying the principle of reconciliation By Christopher Thurber August 6, 1980, was my first day at overnight camp. The day began with homesick tears and almost ended in gloomy ones. My cabin had just lost a close tennis baseball game to a neighboring cabin. But sadness turned to confusion as my cabin leader and the returning boys on my team chante…

1
Parks: Building Connections 7:59

22d ago7:59

7:59

Progress and opportunity along the 3,700-mile route of the Great American Rail-Trail By Kevin Belle When Powell County, Mont., purchased an 11-mile stretch of the former Milwaukee Road railroad corridor in 2017, officials weren’t yet aware it would become part of the nation’s first cross-country, multi-use trail. However, the county’s location alon…

1
Camps: A Winning Strategy 6:05

1M ago6:05

6:05

Coordinating successful youth sports game days By Jason Schaitz Game days are the reason kids, parents, and coaches participate in youth sports. Coordinators put all the work into planning, marketing, registration, player evaluations, team formation, orientation, coaches’ meetings, and scheduling. Then, it is finally time to play some games. Below …

1
Columns: Cultivating Courage 4:33

1M ago4:33

4:33

Getting kids to sample all sorts of sports By John Engh Growing up, I played just about every sport imaginable, and I’m glad I did. I loved baseball from the start and was lucky to play all through high school. Everything about the game fascinated me. Some of my most treasured childhood memories involve stepping onto the field every spring for anot…

1
Assessing two tough years in screen production and news, and Australian media follows NZ media into a hole 52:38

1M ago52:38

52:38

Tamar Münch joins Duncan Greive to discuss the challenges facing screen and news media – and how they intertwine. They also discuss the resignation of Mike Sneesby at Nine, and the way Australian media is following a bad trail blazed by New Zealand media. Finally, a look at Snapchat's hold on teenagers and an intriguing new BSA survey. Learn more a…

1
Sports Fields: From “No” To “Whoa” 6:56

24d ago6:56

6:56

Advice on maintaining a disc-golf course By Danielle Spence There are more than 14,000 disc-golf courses available worldwide, with over 1.2-million disc golfers, according to UDisc’s Disc Golf Growth Report. The West Chicago Park District, located 32 miles from downtown Chicago, maintains an 18-hole disc-golf course within Kress Creek Farms Park. W…

1
Parks: Future-Proof Housing 7:56

24d ago7:56

7:56

Park model cabins provide camper and staff housing that’s flexible and sustainable By Gina Tabasso Many people have fond childhood memories of camping with their families and enjoying the outdoors, but the experience of camping has changed dramatically. Gone are the days of simply pitching tents or hauling around a pop-up camper behind the car and …

1
Parks: Closing The Deal 7:31

24d ago7:31

7:31

How to score parks & rec bonds in a challenging economy By Karen Fischer When it comes to the economy, 2024 has been a confounding year. There has often been positive news, but elevated interest rates have held steady, and the costs of everyday goods and services remain stubbornly high. Persistent inflation has forced many families to choose betwee…

1
Sports Fields: Love Of The Game 6:56

30d ago6:56

6:56

The struggle to preserve paddle tennis amidst the rise of pickleball By Janine Parkinson In an era when trends come and go with the scroll of a finger, there's something comforting about tradition. It's the thread woven through the fabric of people’s lives, connecting to the past and pointing toward the future. Whether it's the crack of a bat on a …

1
326: The Literary Travel Poster Project 2:59

27d ago2:59

2:59

On this week’s mini-episode, I’d like to challenge you to get your students set up on Canva and help them get comfortable on the platform with a simple assignment that will give you a great fall display, literary travel posters. Have you seen PBS’ The Great Read posters, which are available for free download on the PBS site? I’ll link them in the s…

1
325: 6 Creative Video Project Ideas for ELA 20:58

1M ago20:58

20:58

Video is everywhere in communication these days, including on Reels, TikTok, and Youtube, where our students are. Building creative video projects into ELA can help leverage students' interests in these platforms toward building skills in research, storytelling, speaking, and building an argument. Not to mention skills within the genre itself, whic…

1
Did Spark win its big gaming event? Plus Nielsen drama between Stuff and the NZ Herald 32:46

1M ago32:46

32:46

Duncan Greive has a solo podcast this week, talking about the debut of Spark Game Arena Live, a huge new event at Spark Arena. He looks at the upside and downsides of the trend away from sponsorships towards brands creating their own projects. Plus: who's number one? Both NZME and Stuff claimed the title this week – but does it even matter? And fin…

1
324: Try Tiny Audio this Fall 4:46

1M ago4:46

4:46

On this week’s mini-episode, let’s talk about how to build an audio assignment in early in the year without feeling intimidated. Maybe you joined me for Camp Creative last summer and you’ve got alllll the student podcasting background, or maybe you’re new to the topic and feeling a bit wary. Either way, this episode is for you! Let’s walk through h…

1
323: This I Believe (As My Life Changes) 7:52

1M ago7:52

7:52

We moved this month, and it wasn’t one of your quick moves. We did one of those once, from one cabin to the one next door, carrying our furniture and baskets of stuff across a soon well-worn path through the woods. But no, this one was an international move across four flights and nine time zones, with some of our stuff going by shipping container …

1
NZME and TVNZ’s contrasting fortunes and the global challenges of public radio 54:20

2M ago54:20

54:20

One eked out a flat result, the other had a giant loss. Toby Manhire and Duncan Greive discuss what that says about their revenue models. They also discuss the downward trend for RNZ, one mirrored by public media entities around the world. Finally, they look at X’s ban in Brazil and the arrest of Telegram’s founder in France, as a window into the g…

1
322: A Super Simple Way to Learn Names 5:25

2M ago5:25

5:25

On this week’s mini-episode, I want to talk about learning names, and my easy trick for mastery. It took me many years, but finally, after a year in which I had a Kalina, Karina, Ekaterina, and Katrina, I figured out a plan that really worked. I hate not knowing students’ names. It stresses me out, big time. Maybe you’re the same? The worst is when…

1
Spotify's data alchemist explains the mysteries of music streaming 50:59

2M ago50:59

50:59

Glenn McDonald spent over a decade with a very mysterious and specific job title: data alchemist at Spotify. It's possible – even likely – that no one on earth knows as much about music streaming. He is in New Zealand for the Going Global music industry conference, and joins Duncan Greive to talk about how Spotify does and doesn't work for artists,…

1
321: Jason Reynolds doesn't write Boring Books 19:38

1M ago19:38

19:38

Jason Reynolds' website headline reads "Here's What I Do: Not Write Boring books." How great is that? As with everything he does, he seems to be speaking directly to the young people he's always trying to reach. There's a reason The Library of Congress chose him as the national ambassador for young adult literature. Last year I created an Instagram…

1
320: A Simple Go-To for Better Discussions 3:40

1M ago3:40

3:40

On this week’s mini-episode, I’m sharing the coolest discussion warm-up I’ve ever learned, which I picked up at the Exeter Humanities Institute one week after my first year of teaching and the same week that I met my husband. You’re going to love it! As you know if you listen to the podcast much, my favorite discussion method is called Harkness, an…

1
NZ on Air's Where are the Audiences 2024 special: legacy media strikes back 37:18

2M ago37:18

37:18

The 2024 edition of NZ on Air's Where are the Audiences is a bombshell - largely because so little has changed. The past decade has been characterised by a sharp and consistent rise in UGC, social and SVOD platforms, while local media has slid precipitously. This year that slide has arrested – and in some cases reversed. Duncan Greive is joined by …

1
Urban Legend 1:20:10

2M ago1:20:10

1:20:10

After a summer of legendary audio issues, Bree and friend of the show Frederick Blichert cap off the season with a playful romp through a home viewing favourite (“favourite” might be generous for Bree), Urban Legend. The movie obviously apes Scream every chance it gets, which might make it the ultimate movie through which to explore the context of …

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