Fueling Creativity in Education

What happens when you combine a new season, a new academic year, and a recording location that has been on your bucket list for years?
Season 13 of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast begins with a special introduction recorded from Mount Etna in Sicily, a place that has fascinated Dr. Matthew Worwood since childhood.
The episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of recording from the side of an active volcano, including poor signal, a rapidly draining battery, and the uncertainty of whether the episode would actually make it onto the podcast.
But those challenges become part of the conversation.
A simple question about whether there should be snow on Mount Etna leads to an unexpected discovery about snow trapped beneath volcanic ash. The experience becomes a reminder of how curiosity can turn an ordinary observation into a series of new questions and discoveries.
The conversation also connects the experience on Mount Etna to several of the ideas explored in The Future Creative, including Ask Questions, Model Creative Behavior, Face the Feelings, and Enjoy the Ride.
Rather than simply talking about these ideas, the episode offers a real-life example of what they can look like when something doesn't go according to plan. It is a fitting way to begin a new season and a new academic year.
 
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📘 Purchase Your Copy of The Future Creative: 10 Actions for Fueling Creativity in Education
What happens when we get so focused on getting through the day that we forget to enjoy it?
In this final episode of the Summer 2026 Listen and Learn Series, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett explore the tenth and final action from The Future Creative: Enjoy the Ride.
Teaching can sometimes feel like driving on autopilot. You get through the lesson, answer the questions, cover the material, and move on to the next thing. But when we are constantly focused on what comes next, we can miss the small moments that make teaching meaningful.
This episode explores the importance of noticing joy in everyday classroom experiences. A student's breakthrough, a surprising question, a moment of laughter, or a small sign of growth can remind us why we chose this work in the first place.
The episode also challenges the idea that fun is separate from serious learning. When students experience joy, they can become more willing to participate, take risks, and remember what they learn. But enjoyment matters for educators too. Finding moments of fun and connection can help us stay engaged and bring more energy into our work.
Dr. Matthew shares a personal story about a stressful period when he was writing about joy while feeling anything but joyful. A silly idea from his family about dressing up as their dog, Riggy, for a holiday card became an unexpected reminder to pause, laugh, and enjoy the moment.
The goal isn't to make every lesson bigger, louder, or more entertaining. Sometimes it is simply about noticing what is already enjoyable and giving ourselves permission to experience it.
 
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📘 Purchase Your Copy of The Future Creative: 10 Actions for Fueling Creativity in Education
What happens after a creative idea doesn't work?
In this ninth episode of the Summer 2026 Listen and Learn Series, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett explore Action #9 from The Future Creative: Face the Feelings.
Creativity always involves some level of uncertainty. When we try something new, there is always a chance that it will not work as planned. We often talk about failure as an important part of learning, but we don't always talk about what failure actually feels like.
In this episode, Matthew shares a personal story about a creative project that fell short of what he and others had hoped to achieve. While he was able to take responsibility for what went wrong, the emotional impact lasted much longer. Feelings of embarrassment, frustration, and disappointment influenced how he thought about taking on similar projects in the future.
That experience highlights an important part of creative learning: failure doesn't just affect what we think. It can affect what we are willing to try next.
The episode explores how students, educators, and professionals can become more cautious after experiencing failure, particularly when the experience is public or emotionally difficult. The goal is not to ignore these feelings or simply tell ourselves that failure is part of the process. Instead, we can learn to recognize and face the emotions that come with trying something new.
Matthew also encourages educators to share some of their own experiences with failure. Rather than offering students a polished message about how "failure is part of learning," educators can share the real story, including the disappointment, embarrassment, or uncertainty they experienced. Doing so can help students understand that difficult feelings are a natural part of creative work.
 
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📘 Purchase Your Copy of The Future Creative: 10 Actions for Fueling Creativity in Education
 
What if the most valuable creative resource in your classroom is something you already have?
In this eighth episode of the Summer 2026 Listen and Learn Series, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett explore Action #8 from The Future Creative: Maximize the Environment.
The episode begins with a simple comparison. Two classrooms have the same stack of cardboard boxes. In one classroom, the boxes serve as storage. In the other, they become rocket ships, stages, reading nooks, and creative workspaces. The difference is not the resources themselves. It is how they are viewed and used.
Matthew explores the idea that creativity is often less about having more and more about seeing more. Instead of focusing on limited budgets or waiting for new technology, educators are encouraged to rethink the possibilities hidden within the materials, tools, and spaces they already have.
The episode also looks at how our assumptions shape the way we use everyday resources. An interactive whiteboard can become much more than a digital chalkboard. A shared document can become a space for collaboration, feedback, and creative learning. When we begin asking, "What else could this do?" familiar tools can open up entirely new learning experiences.
Ultimately, maximizing the environment is about developing the habit of seeing possibilities where others see ordinary objects. It is a mindset that helps both educators and students discover creativity in the resources already around them.
 
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📘 Purchase Your Copy of The Future Creative: 10 Actions for Fueling Creativity in Education
What if the student who challenges you the most is also the one with the greatest creative potential?
In this seventh episode of the Summer 2026 Listen and Learn Series, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett explore Action #7 from The Future Creative: Spot Creative Potential.
Creative potential is often easy to miss because it doesn't always look the way we expect. It may not be the student with the highest grades or the one who always follows the rules. Instead, it might be the student who asks unexpected questions, challenges assumptions, experiments with new ideas, or approaches problems differently from everyone else.
Drawing on insights from creativity researchers Mark Runco and Todd Lubart, this episode explores why educators should look beyond finished work and begin noticing the early signs of creativity. Matthew introduces the image of an acorn, reminding us that every student has hidden potential waiting for the right conditions to grow. The role of an educator is not to create that potential, but to recognize it and help it develop.
The episode also encourages teachers to broaden the opportunities they provide for students to demonstrate creativity. Open-ended challenges and student choice often reveal strengths that traditional assignments and single-answer assessments can overlook. When every student has the chance to approach a task in their own way, creativity becomes easier to recognize.
Most importantly, this episode reminds us that one conversation, one opportunity, or one teacher who chooses to look a little closer can make all the difference in helping a student discover their creative potential.
 
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📘 Purchase Your Copy of The Future Creative: 10 Actions for Fueling Creativity in Education
 
What do your students learn when things don't go according to plan?
In this sixth episode of the Summer 2026 Listen and Learn Series, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett explore Action #6 from The Future Creative: Model Creative Behavior.
The episode begins with a personal story about a classroom technology problem that turned out to have a surprisingly simple solution. What could have remained an embarrassing moment instead became an opportunity to model something far more valuable than a perfectly delivered lesson.
Matthew reflects on how our first reactions to mistakes can shape the learning experiences of those around us. Rather than hiding errors or pretending everything went smoothly, educators can use these moments to demonstrate reflection, persistence, and problem solving. By thinking out loud, acknowledging assumptions, and showing how they work through challenges, teachers give students a real example of what creativity looks like in practice.
The episode also explores why modeling matters. Students pay close attention not only to what educators say, but also to how they respond when things go wrong. Every unexpected setback becomes an opportunity to demonstrate resilience, curiosity, and a willingness to learn.
Rather than striving for perfection, this episode encourages educators to embrace the everyday moments that reveal the creative process in action.
 
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📘 Purchase Your Copy of The Future Creative: 10 Actions for Fueling Creativity in Education
How many people in your school would describe themselves as creative?
For many people, the answer is "not really." They picture artists, musicians, or famous inventors, while overlooking the creativity they use every day to solve problems, adapt to challenges, and connect ideas.
In this fifth episode of the Summer 2026 Listen and Learn Series, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett explore Action #5 from The Future Creative: Initiate Discussions.
This episode looks at why conversations about creativity matter. The way we define creativity influences what we notice, what we encourage, and who feels confident enough to see themselves as creative. When those conversations never happen, outdated ideas often remain unchallenged.
Matthew explores two common myths that continue to shape education. The first is that creativity belongs only in the arts. The second is that only a small number of people are naturally creative. Drawing on insights from creativity researchers including Dr. Anna Abraham and Dr. James Kaufman, he explains why these beliefs can prevent both educators and students from recognizing their own creative strengths.
The episode also highlights the importance of creating opportunities for honest conversations about creativity. Rather than telling people what creativity is, educators can ask thoughtful questions, listen carefully, and invite different perspectives. Those discussions can help build a shared understanding of creativity across classrooms, schools, and communities.
If we want creativity to become part of everyday learning, the conversation has to begin somewhere. This episode offers a simple place to start.
 
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📘 Purchase Your Copy of The Future Creative: 10 Actions for Fueling Creativity in Education
What if the most powerful tool for creativity isn't having the right answers, but asking better questions?
In this third episode of the Summer 2026 Listen and Learn Series, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett explore Action #3 from The Future Creative: Ask Questions.
The episode begins with a simple challenge: take an ordinary pencil and spend five minutes asking as many questions about it as possible. What starts as an ordinary classroom object quickly becomes an invitation to wonder, revealing how easily familiarity can prevent us from noticing the world around us.
Matthew explores the difference between questions that simply check for understanding and questions that spark curiosity, imagination, and creative thinking. While many classroom questions have a single correct answer, authentic questions encourage exploration, invite multiple possibilities, and create opportunities for deeper learning.
Drawing from interviews with leading creativity researchers, educators, and practitioners, this episode highlights why asking questions emerged as one of the most common themes across The Future Creative. As creativity practitioner Anne Jacoby reminds us, curiosity is the gateway to creativity.
The conversation also examines why questioning has become even more important in the age of artificial intelligence. As information becomes increasingly accessible, the ability to ask thoughtful, meaningful questions is becoming one of the most valuable creative skills educators can help students develop.
Most importantly, this episode encourages educators to create classrooms where curiosity feels safe, where students are encouraged to wonder, and where questions are celebrated as the beginning of creative thinking rather than interruptions to learning.
Be sure to subscribe to your favorite platform and sign up for our Extra Fuel newsletter for more resources and inspiration.
Visit FuelingCreativityPodcast.com for more information or email us at questions@fuelingcreativitypodcast.com.