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Building Thinkers: Accessible Blueprints for Learning & Life

Building Thinkers: Accessible Blueprints for Learning & Life

By: Tracy Clark
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About this listen

 Building Thinkers is based on the realization that there is exponential potential in the things we build, from mindsets and behaviors, to resumes and meal-plans, but sometimes insights and impact seem out of reach or overly complex. In the Building Thinkers podcast we will explore a wide range of topics (business, education, organization, habits, therapy, finances, research to name a few) unpacking the design, strategy, and details behind the things we build to create accessible blueprints for you to explore and apply to your own learning and life. There is no limit to what you can learn.Tracy Clark
Episodes
  • How to Raise Middle Schoolers Without Losing Your Mind

    How to Raise Middle Schoolers Without Losing Your Mind
    Feb 13 2026
    Middle school doesn’t have to be a war zone, and your kid’s big feelings don’t have to derail your life. Megan Saxelby of Wild Feelings has seen it all. From navigating her own adolescence with learning differences to helping middle schoolers (and their parents) thrive instead of just survive. She shares real stories from her classroom and coaching work that show how small shifts in mindset and language can completely change your connection with your kid.We unpack why so many of us are trapped in the “middle school is impossible” story, how behavior is really a need trying to be met, and what it looks like when you give your child autonomy, belonging, and a sense of purpose. Megan offers practical, digestible steps for parents who want to parent from calm, connection, and clarity, not stress, guilt, or perfectionism. By the end, you’ll see how this phase can be one of the most joyful, relationship-building periods of your family life, and why approaching it strategically can leave everyone feeling capable, seen, and relieved.Key Takeaways:Belonging is crucial for adolescents' emotional well-being.Behavior is often a need trying to be met, not a personal attack.Repairing relationships after conflict is essential for healthy dynamics.Modeling silliness can encourage children to embrace playfulness.Creating a playful environment can help ease tensions at home.Recognizing the developmental needs of adolescents can improve parenting strategies.Resources Mentioned:10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People by David YeagerI Just Want My Kids to Be Happy by Aaron Cooper & Eric KeitelTimestamps:00:00 Introduction04:48 Deconstructing the negative narrative of middle schoolers08:25 How to shift your mindset and embrace the middle school experience13:12 Why your middle schooler acts like a total stranger20:28 When your kid pushes your buttons38:40 How to fix it when things go sideways40:29 Turn your home into a place your kid actually wants to be at48:24 The secret nobody tells you about middle school parenting48:54 How to work with Megan50:09 Parting wisdom for surviving and thrivingConnect with Megan:Substack: https://wildfeelings.substack.com/ Website: https://wildfeelings.co/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wildfeelings.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-saxelby-20b1a689/ Email: megan@wildfeelings.co The WILD Compass Workshop: https://buy.stripe.com/bJefZiaYm3Fi9Sz0d4dnW08 More About Building Thinkers: I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.
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    51 mins
  • How to Learn in Alignment with How Your Brain Actually Works

    How to Learn in Alignment with How Your Brain Actually Works
    Jan 30 2026
    Learning the “right way” isn’t about trying harder, it’s about learning smarter.Lauren Waldman, a learning scientist and self-proclaimed “learning pirate,” spent over a decade in teaching and corporate learning, but it wasn’t until she dove into the neuroscience of the brain that everything clicked. We unpack how to learn in alignment with how your brain actually works, and in a way you can put into practice immediately. Lauren reminds us that most of us were never taught how to learn, and she introduces a simple metacognition framework: What do I know? What don’t I know? And what do I think I know that might be wrong?We explore stepping into discomfort, because growth happens when your brain is challenged, and Lauren encourages treating learning like a personal experiment. She helps you drill down on why you’re learning something, which keeps your efforts strategic, intentional, and way less overwhelming in a world full of endless resources.Key Takeaways:Learning works best when you are intentional and focused, not just consuming information.Ask yourself what you know, what you don’t, and what you might think you know to guide your learning.Growth comes from leaning into discomfort, even when your brain resists.Treat learning like an experiment: try, fail, adjust, and repeat to build skill and confidence.Focus is a skill you can train with attention exercises to learn more efficiently.Knowing your “why” keeps you motivated and helps you choose what to focus on.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction02:44 What is a ‘learning scientist’?04:47 How to learn in a way that aligns with how your brain is wired08:24 3 questions to ask yourself when learning something new11:41 Choosing resources that support real learning, not false comfort15:36 Why learning feels so hard even when you're doing everything right19:29 What comfort does to your brain26:12 A real example of skills, focus, and metacognition working together31:43 Moments of YARR35:06 Working through perfectionism38:50 What becomes possible when you stop fighting your brain and start partnering with itResources Mentioned:Joining Forces with Your Brain: https://www.learningpirate.com/joining-forces-with-your-brain The Creative Way by Rick Reuben: https://www.amazon.com/Creative-Act-Way-Being/dp/0593652886 Connect with Lauren:Website: ⁠https://www.learningpirate.com/⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-waldman-4666bab/⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/learning_pirate/⁠Connect with Me:LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/⁠Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/buildingthinkers/⁠Building Thinkers Newsletter: ⁠https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf⁠More About Building Thinkers: I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.
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    42 mins
  • How to Reinvent Yourself When You're Feeling Stuck

    How to Reinvent Yourself When You're Feeling Stuck
    Jan 16 2026

    Ever feel that quiet tug that it’s time for a change, but you’re not sure where to start?


    I sit down with Anzar Khaliq, a physicist turned educator and Chief Learning Officer at San Francisco Bay University, to unpack what it really means to reinvent yourself. Anzar shares the three signals that it’s time for growth and how curiosity, humility, and self-awareness can help you move toward something more aligned and fulfilling. We explore how design thinking, iteration, and divergent thinking can guide not just your work, but your whole life.


    If you’ve been craving a reset or simply want to grow with more intention, this conversation will inspire you to pause, reflect, and design your next chapter with purpose.


    Key Takeaways:


    Reinvention is essential for personal growth.


    Listening to the world helps identify the need for change.


    Self-awareness is a starting point for reinvention.


    Understanding different life domains can aid in self-discovery.


    Curiosity about oneself is crucial for growth.


    Experimentation allows for exploration of new possibilities.


    Intellectual humility fosters openness to new ideas.


    Timestamps:


    00:00 Introduction

    01:32 Recognizing the need for change

    05:04 Anzar’s journey

    06:08 The importance of self-understanding

    08:36 Lessons from Design Your Life class

    14:57 Embracing open-mindedness

    19:16 Convergent & Divergent thinking

    23:17 Balancing work and life

    27:31 Navigating information overload

    31:25 Exploring new versions of yourself


    Connect with Anzar:


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


    Connect with Me:


    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyannclark08/

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

    Building Thinkers Newsletter: https://building-thinkers.kit.com/24cdc43dcf


    More About Building Thinkers:


    I'm your host, Tracy Clark, and this is where potential becomes reality through deliberate curiosity, reflection, practice, and play. The Building Thinkers podcast is based on the realization that there's exponential potential in the things we build.


    And so, in my little corner of the internet and podcasting land, I want to take my 12 favorite problems, these are my constant curiosities, and I want to go deeper. I want to build thinkers. This is a community of multi-potentialites who may be disoriented by all the possibilities of success we envision but haven't yet achieved.


    If any of that sounds like you, come listen in. Welcome to the Building Thinkers podcast.
    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
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