Courageous Curiosity Podcast

Superintendent Ben Mainka interviews students, staff, community stakeholders, experts and celebrities on the Courageous Curiosity Podcast.

Each episode aims to tackle a central question. Most episodes are 30 minutes or less.

The podcast first airs on YouTube in video format. Audio podcasts are also available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Overcast. Subscribe to stay up to date.

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Latest episode: 2.5

Season 2

2.4: Why are risky behaviors a concern?

In episode 2.4 of the Courageous Curiosity Podcast, Superintendent Ben Mainka discusses how concerns about risky behaviors and how we can help students avoid making negative choices that have lasting consequences.

Superintendent Ben Mainka is joined by:

Dr. Marc Zimmerman, co-director of the U-M Firearm Injury Prevention institute and co-principal investigator of the National Center for School Safety
Lisa Fenchel, Novi Meadows Principal
Det. Julie Warren, School Resource Officer, Novi Police

2.3: What are the responsibilities of a school board?

In episode 2.3 of the Courageous Curiosity Podcast, Superintendent Ben Mainka discusses the roles and responsibilities of school board members and school boards.

Superintendent Ben Mainka is joined by:

Brad Banasik, MASB Legal Counsel/Director
Paul Cook, Novi Board of Education President
Jason Michener, Novi Board of Education Trustee
Bobbie Murphy, former Novi Board of Education President

2.2: Why are parent volunteers so important to schools?

In episode 2.2 of the Courageous Curiosity Podcast, Superintendent Ben Mainka discusses why parent volunteers are so important to schools.

Superintendent Ben Mainka is joined by:

John Brickey, Novi Meadows Principal
Kaija Juszak, Novi Athletic Boosters
Anu Udupa, Frog Force 503/Novi Robotics
Kristy McKone, Orchestra Boosters

2.1: How do school district and city leaderrs work together?

Season 1

1.9: What goes into calling a snow day?

In the ninth episode of the Courageous Curiosity Podcast, Superintendent Ben Mainka discusses all of the factors that go into calling a snow day.

Superintendent Ben Mainka is joined in episode nine by:

Ella Griffin, sophomore, Novi High School
Arnab Ghosal, sophomore, Novi High
Logan Belsky, sixth grader, Novi Meadows
Grace Steslicki , fourth grader, Parkview Elementary

1.l8: How has the role and importance of school nurses expanded over time?

1.7: Why is food equity important in schools?

In the seventh episode of the Courageous Curiosity Podcast, Superintendent Ben Mainka explores why food equity is important in schools.

Superintendent Ben Mainka is joined in episode seven by:

Kimberly Sinclair, Director of Food Service, Chartwells/NCSD
Susan Rudnick, Executive Chef, Chartwells/ NCSD
Deborah Beeker, parent, lunch aide at Novi Woods and member of Superintendent’s Parent Advisory committee for food service
Neel Archis Manish, Novi High School Student and member of Superintendent’s High School Student Advisory Committee

Students, Food Service staff and Ben Mainka on the Courageous Curiosity Podcast.

1.6: How has parenting changed?

In the sixth episode of the Courageous Curiosity Podcast, Superintendent Ben Mainka explores how parenting has changed over the past few decades.

Superintendent Ben Mainka is joined in episode five by:

Hunter Clarke-Fields, author and podcaster who gave the keynote at the Novi Educational Foundation/Novi Mental Health Alliance Pancake Breakfast and Parent Camp on Saturday at Novi High School.

Ben Mainka and Hunter Clarke-Fields together for the Courageous Curiosity podcast.

1.5: Why do we have Novi Pride?

In the fifth episode of the Courageous Curiosity Podcast, Superintendent Ben Mainka explores why so many graduates of Novi who go into education want to return and help the next generation of students.

Superintendent Ben Mainka is joined in episode five by:

Emily Pohlonski, NCSD Director of Instruction and Novi Virtual Principal
Ron Kane, Novi High School Assistant Principal
Kelsey Partyka, Novi High Teacher and Varsity Girls Basketball Coach
Marissa Catner, Novi Deerfield Teacher

Emily Pohlonski, Marissa Catner, Ben Mainka, Kelsey Partyka and Ron Kane.

1.4: Should we be concerned about AI and Chat GPT?

In the fourth episode of the Courageous Curiosity Podcast, Superintendent Ben Mainka explores the artificial intelligence and how tools like Chat GPT impact education.

Superintendent Ben Mainka is joined in episode four by:

Laura McBain, Co-Managing Director, Stanford d.School
Andrew Kim, Novi High School senior
Andrew Comb, NCSD Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Hattie Maguire, Novi High School teacher and recent NEF Educator of the Year.

Hattie Maguire, Andrew Comb, Ben Mainka and Andrew Kim in podcast studio.

Laura McBain, Co-Managing Director of the Stanford d.School

1.3: What should we know about the opioid crisis and stigma associated with it?

In the third episode of the Courageous Curiosity Podcast, Superintendent Ben Mainka explores the opiod epidemic and the stigma associated with it.

Superintendent Ben Mainka is joined in episode three by:

Ken Daniels, Detroit Red Wings play-by-play announcer and co-founder of the Jamie Daniels Foundation
Dr. Stella Resko, professor in the School of Social Work at Wayne State University

Ken Daniels, Supt. Ben Mainka and Dr. Stella Resko.

1.2: Why Is Play So Important?

In the second episode of the Courageous Curiosity Podcast, Superintendent Ben Mainka explores the question “why is play so important?”

Superintendent Ben Mainka is joined in episode two by:

Matt Matthews, Associate Director of Playworks Michigan
Audrey Moiseeff, Novi Meadows 6th Grade Counselor
Dr. Rodlescia Sneed, social gerontologist at Wayne State University
Jacqueline Ukrop, 4th grade teacher at Orchard Hills Elementary

1.1: Are we curious anymore?

This is the first episode of the Courageous Curiosity Podcast. Superintendent Ben Mainka discusses the purpose of the show, what to expect in each episode, and explores the question “are we curious anymore?”

For centuries, people have asked questions, explored new ideas, and pushed innovation to the highest levels. Have we lost our desire to be curious? We will find out as we launch our new video podcast.

Ben Mainka and guests for the debut episode of Courageous Curiosity Podcast.

Superintendent Ben Mainka is joined in episode one by:

Ashley Kurtz, Orchard Hills Elementary first grade teacher
Shailee Patel, NCSD Director of Special Education Programs and Services
Korinne Lavergne, Novi Middle School student
Kristin Franchi, Novi High School AP Computer Science and Incubator teacher.