99. Are We Educating Kids or Managing Them? Rethinking Childhood Education with Dr. Jack Talmadge

Being Different with Liz Durham · Jan 15, 2026 · 1h 28m

Something about the way we do school for children just isn’t working, so it's time to talk about it. This week, I sit down with Dr. Jack Talmadge, Head of School at Episcopal School of Knoxville, to talk candidly about education, play, and why so many kids struggle in environments that demand stillness, compliance, and constant performance.

We talk about play-based and place-based learning, why movement actually helps kids focus, and how “sit still and listen” somehow became synonymous with being a good student. Jack shares his own experience growing up in a high-pressure academic…