Fueling Creativity in Education

Season 12 Preview: Creativity, Dialogue, and the Future of Education

Welcome to Season 12 of the Fueling Creativity in Education podcast! In this special preview episode, co-hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett reflect on major milestones—five years of podcasting and 250 published episodes—and offer a glimpse into the conversations ahead.
This season dives deep into Teaching Creativity, where it is most challenged: within systems, under pressure, and through the everyday decisions educators and learners make. With a strong foundation now in place, Season 12 focuses on building from within the system—exploring how creativity can be nurtured, sustained, and expanded in real-world educational contexts.
What to Expect This Season
Drs. Matt and Cyndi preview several early episodes that highlight new and timely dimensions of Creativity in Education, including:
Creativity in SportHow do athletes make creative decisions under pressure? A conversation with pioneering researcher Daniel Memmert explores creativity, play, constraints, and risk-taking in high-stakes environments.
Pushing the Boundaries of Public EducationKicking off the season is Carlos Moreno, Co-Executive Director of Big Picture Learning, who shares an unconventional yet scalable model of public education rooted in student agency, real-world learning, and creative self-direction.
Creative Self-Belief and IdentityAn upcoming episode with Michał Kowalski examines creative self-efficacy, identity, and motivation—especially for today’s learners—raising important questions about passion, agency, and growth.
Constructive Dialogue in the ClassroomWith Caroline Mehl from the Constructive Dialogue Institute, the hosts explore why meaningful dialogue is essential for creativity, empathy, and learning—and how educators can intentionally cultivate it.
 
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Practical Approaches to Unlocking Success Through Creativity in 2e Learners

Recorded live at the National Association for Gifted and Talented (NAGC) Conference in Pittsburgh, this final episode of the Winter 2026 Listen & Learn series brings together Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett with emerging scholar Jimmy Wilson and researcher Dr. Julie Delgado.
Together, they explore how creativity can become a powerful pathway for twice-exceptional (2e) learners—particularly students with autism spectrum disorder—by centering passion, projects, peers, and play.
This conversation bridges research and practice, drawing from Project 2EASD and the Lifelong Kindergarten Lab’s Four P’s Framework (Passion, Play, Projects, Peers) to reimagine how schools and universities can support neurodiverse learners.
 
Episode Highlights
What twice-exceptional (2e) really means—and why creativity matters
How Project 2EASD reshapes professional learning for teachers
The Four P’s of creative learning: Passion, Play, Projects, and Peers
Why interest-based peers matter more than same-age peers
The role of extracurriculars, clubs, and mentorship in student growth
Moving beyond deficit-based views of neurodiversity
How passion fuels perseverance—and when it’s okay to pivot
“Hard fun” as a catalyst for leadership, confidence, and real-world skills
From launching clubs to hosting dorm-room tea parties, the stories shared highlight how creative environments empower students to thrive—academically, socially, and personally.
About the Guests
Jimmy Wilson
Jimmy Wilson is an emerging scholar and resident expert in gifted education, specializing in twice-exceptional (2e) learners. His research focuses on supporting neurodiverse students—particularly those on the autism spectrum—through creative learning experiences, mentorship, and interest-based peer connections. Jimmy brings both scholarly insight and practical strategies for implementing programs that help 2e learners thrive academically, socially, and personally.
Julie Delgado, Ph.D.
Julie Delgado is a tenure-track researcher in gifted education, having recently completed her dissertation on Project 2EASD (Twice-Exceptional Autism Spectrum Disorder). Her work centers on professional development for teachers, integrating creativity into learning, and helping educators cultivate meaningful experiences for neurodiverse students. Julie’s research emphasizes passion-driven projects, mentorship, and leveraging extracurricular activities to promote leadership, collaboration, and real-world skill development.
 
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Training Educators for Positive Advanced Learning Outcomes: A Systematic Review

In this special on-location recording at the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, hosts Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett sit down with Sarah Caroleo, Ph.D. to explore the powerful role of professional learning in advancing gifted education.
Together, they unpack how thoughtfully designed professional learning (PL) can elevate teacher practice, strengthen advanced learning opportunities, and help close long-standing excellence gaps within schools and districts.
About the Guest 
Sarah Caroleo is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Annenberg Institute, Brown University. She researches professional learning in gifted education, sharing evidence-based strategies to help teachers support high-potential students and close excellence gaps.
 
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Developing Talent for Activism: Transformational Giftedness and Animal Justice

In this Winter 2026 episode of the Listen and Learn series, Dr. Jennifer Riedl Cross joins Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett to challenge traditional views of giftedness. Moving beyond IQ and high achievement, she introduces Transformational Giftedness—the idea that intelligence and talent are most meaningful when used to tackle societal challenges and create positive change.
The conversation explores the “Rage for Justice,” the moral intensity often found in gifted individuals, and how it can be channeled into effective activism. Animal justice emerges as a compelling entry point for young activists, highlighting how concern for animals often sparks broader social awareness and motivates action for the common good.  She shares the work she has done in this area conducted in collaboration with Barbara J. King. 
Dr. Worwood and Dr. Burnett discuss practical strategies for nurturing young changemakers. From persuasive writing and public speaking to strategic thinking, they emphasize how educators and parents can help students transform passion into real-world impact. Creativity is central, with activism framed as an imaginative act—envisioning worlds that do not yet exist and taking steps to bring them to life.
If you are interested in this topic, you might also want to check out Barbara J. King's TED talk on grief and love in the animal kingdom!
 
About the Guest:
Dr. Jennifer Riedl Cross is a Research Professor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Her research focuses on the social and emotional development of gifted students, particularly those who use their talents for social justice and advocacy.
 
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Teaching the Person First: Lessons from 2025 & Goals for 2026

In this special end-of-year episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Cindy Burnett and Dr. Matthew Warwood reflect on their accomplishments throughout 2025, sharing candid insights into the goals they've met and the challenges they've faced. From launching their YouTube channel and refining their website, to penning an almost-complete book titled "The Future Creative: 10 Actions for Fueling Creativity in Education." They discuss the importance of aiming for "B plus work" in a busy world and celebrate the creative experiments with video shorts, newsletter outreach, and organizing over 200 interviews into meaningful collections. The hosts also express heartfelt appreciation for their growing community and the feedback they've received from listeners and past guests.
Looking ahead, Dr. Cindy Burnett and Dr. Matthew Warwood invite listeners to shape the future of the podcast by sharing feedback, suggesting topics, and exploring new ways to connect around their forthcoming book. Exciting plans for 2026 include a five-year anniversary celebration—potentially a live or virtual party for VIP listeners who engage with their call to action. The episode concludes with personal reflections on how their mission has evolved: focusing on educating the whole person to foster transformational creativity that makes the world a better place. Tune in for a thoughtful recap, a glimpse into what’s next, and a sincere thank you to the Fueling Creativity community!
 
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Alternative Schooling in Focus: What Works, What Doesn’t, with Jimmy Wilson

In the season finale of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Matthew Worwood, and Cyndi Burnett welcome their emerging scholar in residence, Jimmy Wilson, for a dynamic exploration of micro schools and alternative educational models. Drawing from Jimmy's personal experiences and research, the episode dives deep into the benefits and trade-offs of innovative school structures versus traditional public education. Key topics include the autonomy and specialization offered by micro schools, challenges around resources, the impact of test-focused environments, and the essential role of creative teaching and learning in student development.
Listeners will hear thoughtful debate about whether high school students should specialize or diversify their studies, and how environments can foster agency, collaboration, and transformational creativity. The episode also highlights research on established alternative models like Montessori and Waldorf, discussing their effects on creativity and student well-being. With references to real case studies and expert research, the hosts encourage educators and parents to consider the "best fit" for every child, emphasizing the importance of meaningful experiences, lifelong learning, and ongoing action research. Tune in for practical insights, personal stories, and a sneak peek at Cyndi Burnett and Matthew Worwood's upcoming book, all focused on fueling creativity for the future of education.
 
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Personifying AI, Deliberate Creativity, and the Power of Playful Learning

In this debrief episode marking the end of season 11 and 2025, hosts Dr. Matthew Warwood and Dr. Cindy Burnett dive into three pivotal topics they explored with recent guests: AI’s impact on student creativity, the reframing of creativity through “innovation-ish” thinking, and the power of game-based learning for creative and critical thinking in education. Reflecting on discussions with experts like Dr. Florin Vinshon, Tessa Forshaw, Richard Cox Braden, Steven Slota, and Trent Hergenrader, they weigh the nuances of treating AI as a tool versus a collaborator, underscore the importance of mindset over process in creative problem-solving, and unpack how playful learning and world-building foster creativity in the classroom.
Throughout the conversation, Dr. Matthew Warwood and Dr. Cindy Burnett connect research, personal insights, and classroom experiences, emphasizing that meaningful connections—central to creativity—cannot be replicated by technology alone. They highlight the evolving role of educators in nurturing creative mindsets, champion playful learning strategies, and advocate for innovative approaches to schooling, including micro schools and systemic “revolutions” in education. The episode wraps with a look forward to the upcoming season and a special research recap, continuing their commitment to fueling creativity in education.
 
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World Building in Education: Game-Based Learning with Stephen Slota & Trent Hergenrader

What if students saw themselves not just as learners, but as world builders, empowered to design, problem-solve, and imagine new possibilities through playful learning?
In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, hosts Dr. Cindy Burnett and Dr. Matthew Warwood dive into the dynamic potential of game-based learning and world-building with guests Stephen Slota and Trent Hergenrader. Together, they unpack how treating students as designers—rather than passive recipients of information—fosters creativity, critical thinking, and authentic engagement. Drawing from their experiences as educators and co-authors of The World Building Workshop, Stephen Slota and Trent Hergenrader share insights on leveraging narrative, choice, and playful contexts to deepen learning, regardless of technology access or subject area.
The conversation explores the difference between true game-based learning and surface-level gamification, emphasizing the power of agency, narrative, and exploring “messy,” real-world problems. Listeners will gain practical insights on aligning classroom activities with learning goals, infusing creativity, and adopting a facilitator mindset. Whether you’re game-curious or an experienced educator, this episode highlights how world building can transform classrooms—and help students make meaningful connections to their own lives.
 
Guest Bios
Stephen Slota
Stephen Slota is an educational technologist, learning theorist, and interactive storyteller. He has directed major projects for organizations like CVS Health, Pfizer, and Arizona State University, where he explores how game mechanics and narratives can enhance engagement, creativity, and learning. A former high school biology teacher, Stephen Slota draws on years of classroom experience and research at the University of Connecticut to promote playful learning as a transformative tool in education.
 
Trent Hergenrader
Trent Hergenrader is an Associate Professor of English and Creative Writing, and Director of the Center for World Building and Storytelling at Rochester Institute of Technology. He’s the co-editor of "Creative Writing in the Digital Age" and "Creative Writing Innovations," and author of "Collaborative World Building for Writers and Gamers." Trent Hergenrader integrates fiction writing, role-playing, and collaborative design to help students view learning as a creative, participatory process.
For more resources and to connect with the guests, visit theworldbuildingworkshop.com.
 
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