#127: I met the King, and he asked me a question about the work I do with classroom management I was NOT expecting

The Unteachables Podcast

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Species Unite

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Trevor Ritland: The Golden Toad 34:01

4 weeks ago34:01

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34:01

I think you could probably go back and track the stages of grief, probably that is what I went through. But I think if you do it right, you end up at acceptance. And that's where I ended up. And that's not to say that I've fully accepted the idea that the golden toad is extinct. Personally, I do still hold out hope that it could still be out there in those forests." - Trevor Ritland This conversation is with Trevor Ritland, who—along with his twin brother Kyle—authored The Golden Toad . The book chronicles their remarkable journey into Costa Rica’s cloud forest, once home to hundreds of brilliant golden toads that would emerge for just a few weeks each year—until, one day, they vanished without a trace. What began as a search for a lost species soon became something much more profound: a confrontation with ecological grief, a meditation on hope, and a powerful call to protect the natural world while we still can. Links: SpeciesUnite.com Kyle and Trevor: https://kyleandtrevor.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventureterm/ Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222249677-the-golden-toad Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Toad-Ecological-Mystery-Species/dp/163576996…

about a year ago 17:21

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Wait, did I just explain classroom management to the King?!
Yep. That happened. In this episode, I’m giving you a front seat to one of the most bizarre, surreal, and pinch-me experiences of my life — being invited to Buckingham Palace and getting to literally talk to King Charles about what we do as educators.

But more importantly, I want to unpack why it was so powerful. Not because it was fancy or royal or Insta-worthy (though…yes, yes it was). But because what I shared with him? It wasn’t shiny. It wasn’t new. It wasn’t revolutionary.

It was real.

The simple, human-first, practical work we do in our classrooms every day — the stuff that doesn’t come with buzzwords or fancy acronyms — THAT is what got me standing in front of the actual King. And I want to tell you why that matters. Because this episode is for you.

If you’ve ever doubted whether your small routines make a difference…
If you’ve ever wondered whether this values-led way of teaching is actually working…
If you’ve ever felt like what you’re doing is “just good teaching” and not enough to be noticed…

Let me tell you: It’s radical. It’s rare. And it’s working.

So, shall we roll the tape?

What You’ll Learn:

The wild story of how I got invited to Buckingham Palace 🏰
What I said to King Charles (and the curveball question he asked)
Why actionable classroom practice IS innovative (even if it doesn’t feel like it)
How teaching with clarity, consistency, and compassion is changing lives — literally
The empowering reminder that things like your entry routine are literally changing lives
Why “just good teaching” is more than enough

Have a question, comment, or just want to say hello? Drop us a text!

RESOURCES AND MORE SUPPORT:

Connect with me:

Follow on Instagram @the.unteachables
Check out my website

Chapters

1. Welcome to Unteachables Podcast (00:00:00)

2. Podcast Recording Process Revealed (00:00:52)

3. My Buckingham Palace Invitation Story (00:02:44)

4. Being Presented to King Charles (00:06:50)

5. What Innovation Really Means in Teaching (00:10:19)

6. Changing Lives Through Everyday Teaching (00:13:30)

7. Closing Thoughts and Invitation (00:16:13)

134 episodes

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