Libsyn Directory

'Napoleon Dynamite' with Brian Parker, Carla Cummins, and Kevin Stoller

Release Date: 05/14/2025

'Back to School' with Thea Wayburn, Carla Cummins, and Kevin Stoller

Better Learning Podcast

In this episode of the Better Learning Podcast, we’re breaking down the 1986 comedy Back to School, where Rodney Dangerfield plays a loud, lovable millionaire who enrolls in college to reconnect with his son and shakes up the entire campus in the process. Joined by guest Thea Wayburn from BRIC Architecture, host Kevin Stoller and co-host Carla Cummins take a deeper look at how the film portrays higher education, student life, and the meaning of "fitting in." Part of our ongoing series dissecting school-related movies, we explore what this over-the-top comedy reveals (intentionally or not)...

'Finding Nemo' with Brenda Swirczynski, Carla Cummins, and Kevin Stoller

Better Learning Podcast

In this episode of the Better Learning Podcast, we dive deep (pun intended) into Finding Nemo - the animated adventure that’s equal parts heartwarming, hilarious, and insightful. As part of our series on school-related films, we explore what this Pixar classic can tell us about the student experience, the importance of trust and independence, and how schools can support every kind of learner on their journey. Joining host Kevin Stoller is co-host Carla Cummins and special guest Brenda Swirczynski from Pfluger Architects, bringing both educational and design perspectives to the table....

'Superbad' with Nick Duffy, Ken Hagen, Carla Cummins, and Kevin Stoller

Better Learning Podcast

In this episode, we’re diving into the wildly popular teen comedy Superbad — one of the most iconic (and ridiculous) high school movies out there. As part of our series on school-related films, we’re looking at what Superbad got right about the student experience, what it totally blew out of proportion, and why it still hits home for so many people. Superbad follows two inseparable best friends, Seth and Evan, as they navigate their final days of high school — chasing parties, popularity, and one last shot at leaving their mark before graduation. Beneath all the chaos and crude humor...

'Napoleon Dynamite' with Brian Parker, Carla Cummins, and Kevin Stoller

Better Learning Podcast

In this episode of the Better Learning Podcast, host Kevin Stoller is joined by co-host Carla Cummins and guest speaker Brian Parker, AIA, ALEP—Vice President of K-12 at MHTN Architects—for a quirky and insightful conversation centered around the 2004 classic Napoleon Dynamite. As one of only two Accredited Learning Environment Planners in Utah, Brian brings a unique design perspective rooted in empathy, student agency, and unlocking the potential within every learner. Napoleon Dynamite follows the offbeat story of an awkward high schooler navigating friendship, identity, and...

'School of Rock' with Mason Pashia, Matt Rogers, and Kevin Stoller

Better Learning Podcast

In this episode of the Better Learning Podcast, host Kevin Stoller is joined by co-host Matt Rogers and guest speaker Mason Pashia, Partner (Storytelling) at Getting Smart Collective, for an energetic and thought-provoking conversation centered around the 2003 cult classic School of Rock. Known for his work amplifying the voices of educators and change-makers through storytelling, Mason brings a fresh and imaginative lens to how we think about student engagement, creative expression, and nontraditional learning paths. School of Rock follows the story of Dewey Finn, a struggling musician who...

What Are Green Schools and Why They Matter

Better Learning Podcast

What is a Green School? When people hear “Green School,” they often picture solar panels, school gardens, or maybe a greenhouse out back. While those are pieces of the puzzle, the full picture is much more powerful. A Green School integrates sustainability into every aspect of the learning experience: from the design of its physical space to its curriculum, culture, and community impact. It’s a school that not only teaches sustainability but lives it, showing students, educators, and families what a healthier, more equitable future can look like—and empowering them to lead the...

'Stand and Deliver' with Don Baus, Victoria Morlan, and Carla Cummins

Better Learning Podcast

In this episode of the Better Learning Podcast, host Carla Cummins is joined by co-host Victoria Morlan as well as architect and education advocate Don Baus for a powerful conversation around the 1988 film Stand and Deliver. With decades of combined experience in designing and supporting student-centered environments, the two explore how the true story of Jaime Escalante continues to challenge and inspire today’s educators, designers, and school leaders. Set in a struggling East L.A. high school, Stand and Deliver follows math teacher Jaime Escalante as he empowers his students to defy...

'High School Musical' with Candace Seda, Stephanie Seda, and Carla Cummins

Better Learning Podcast

In this episode of the Better Learning Podcast, Carla Cummins is joined by her daughter Jennifer Cummins and special guests Candace Seda and Stephanie Seda for a fun and thought-provoking dive into Disney’s 2006 cultural phenomenon High School Musical. With a multigenerational panel of educators, designers, and education advocates, the group explores how the film’s catchy tunes, teen drama, and feel-good message intersect with real-life high school experiences. Set at the fictional East High School, High School Musical follows Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez as they challenge stereotypes,...

'Teachers' (1984) with Steve Miletto and Kevin Stoller

Better Learning Podcast

Kevin Stoller is joined by longtime educator and podcast host Steve Miletto to unpack the 1984 film Teachers, a gritty dramedy that offers an unflinching critique of the American public school system. Directed by Arthur Hiller and starring Nick Nolte, Teachers dives headfirst into the dysfunction, bureaucracy, and burnout often hidden behind school walls. Set in a troubled urban high school, the story centers on idealistic teacher Alex Jurel, who’s caught between his desire to make a difference and a system that seems determined to maintain the status quo. With subplots involving a...

'Mean Girls' with Steven Shapiro, Nancy Shapiro Rapport, and Kevin Stoller

Better Learning Podcast

Mean Girls, directed by Mark Waters and written by Tina Fey, is a cult classic teen comedy based on Rosalind Wiseman’s book Queen Bees and Wannabes. The film humorously yet accurately portrays the harsh realities of high school social dynamics, focusing on cliques, peer pressure, and the impact of popularity on self-identity. The story follows Cady Heron, a homeschooled girl navigating the cutthroat social hierarchy of public high school life after moving from Africa. As she infiltrates "The Plastics," the school’s most popular clique, Cady faces a moral dilemma that tests her values,...

More Episodes

In this episode of the Better Learning Podcast, host Kevin Stoller is joined by co-host Carla Cummins and guest speaker Brian Parker, AIA, ALEP—Vice President of K-12 at MHTN Architects—for a quirky and insightful conversation centered around the 2004 classic Napoleon Dynamite. As one of only two Accredited Learning Environment Planners in Utah, Brian brings a unique design perspective rooted in empathy, student agency, and unlocking the potential within every learner.

Napoleon Dynamite follows the offbeat story of an awkward high schooler navigating friendship, identity, and self-expression in rural Idaho. Through the lens of this oddball comedy, Kevin, Carla, and Brian explore deeper themes of inclusion, overlooked potential, and the importance of designing learning spaces that honor the individuality of each student. They reflect on how schools can be more than institutions—they can be launchpads for confidence, creativity, and quiet greatness, especially for those who don’t always fit the traditional mold.

Takeaways:

Just like the characters in Napoleon Dynamite, students don’t all fit into a standard mold—and that’s something to celebrate. School environments should support individuality and provide room for students to be unapologetically themselves.
When students feel seen, heard, and valued—whether in the classroom or the cafeteria—they’re more likely to engage and thrive. Designing for belonging is just as important as designing for function.
Like Napoleon, many students have gifts that aren't always loud or obvious. Educators and designers should look for ways to highlight and support those quiet strengths.
A little levity and creativity go a long way in helping students (and educators) feel connected and human. Schools don’t have to be stiff to be successful.

About Brian Parker, AIA, ALEP

Brian has dedicated his career to designing spaces that support the engagement of students and teachers in the learning process. He is one of roughly 100 Accredited Learning Environment Planners in the United States – and one of two in the State of Utah. His design talent, expertise, and leadership style inspires innovative solutions as he leads the MHTN K-12 team in developing educational facilities.

Learn More About Brian Parker, AIA, ALEP:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianparkerarchitect/

Learn More About Co-Host, Carla Cummins

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-cummins-01449659/

Learn More About Kay-Twelve:

Website: https://kay-twelve.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kay-twelve-com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kay_twelve/

Connect with host, Kevin Stoller:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinstoller/

Episode 232 of the Better Learning Podcast

Kevin Stoller is the host of the Better Learning Podcast and Co-Founder of Kay-Twelve, a national leader for educational furniture. Learn more about creating better learning environments at www.Kay-Twelve.com.

For more information on our partners:

Association for Learning Environments (A4LE) - https://www.a4le.org/

Education Leaders' Organization - https://www.ed-leaders.org/

Second Class Foundation - https://secondclassfoundation.org/

EDmarket - https://www.edmarket.org/

Catapult @ Penn GSE - https://catapult.gse.upenn.edu/

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