Wisconsin-based duo Dale Basler and Brian Bartel have been podcasting together for almost 10 years, not only combining their love of science and technology, but also generating the free award-winning Lab Out Loud podcast, which is supported by NSTA and features the best in science education news and commentary.
With backgrounds as science teachers and curriculum specialists, Dale and Brian produce two 30-minute episodes per month and focus on science education by interviewing leading scientists, researchers, science writers, and other important figures in the field. Even they are surprised at where the discussion with guests can lead. Recently, they started talking about the future of robots with guest Illah Nourbakhsh (Episode 109), and ended up having insightful conversation about the process of science and educational philosophy.
“After seven seasons of Lab Out Loud, one thing that keeps us going is the support we receive from our target audience: science teachers,” said Brian. “We know that teachers listen to the show for ideas, inspiration, and some even use our episodes in class. Episode 5: Sir Alec Jeffries and DNA Fingerprinting and Episode 34: Gene Therapy for Colorblind Monkeys are classroom favorites.”
With more than a hundred episodes, podcasts themes have covered everything from Next Generation Science Standards for science teachers, engineering activities for students, and next generation technology upgrades for K-12 classrooms. By distilling diverse subjects of science, from physics to paleontology, into the 30-minute audio format, Dale and Brian aim to give fellow educators inspiration and confidence to continue exploring science outside the classroom.
Dale and Brian’s Top 12 Favorite Episodes:

1. Episode 109: Thinking About Our Future with Robots
2. Episode 74: There’s a Zombie in My Classroom
3. Episode 59 – The Courage to Teach
4. Episode 55: Science Comedian Brian Malow
5. Episode 49: Science We Can Listen To (They Might Be Giants)
6. Episode 46: Paleontologist Scott from Dinosaur Train
7. Episode 43: Mythbusters’ Adam Savage
8. Episode 37: Science Because We Can (Dr. Theo Gray)
9. Episode 34 – Gene Therapy for Color Blind Monkeys
10. Episode 32: Neil deGrasse Tyson on Science Literacy
11. Episode 14: Bill Nye Talks About Energy and More
12. Episode 5: Sir Alec Jeffries and DNA Fingerprinting

“Doing the show has expanded our own knowledge about science beyond our comfort areas,” said Dale. “It has been a way for me to learn about things I would not have normally pursued. And we also get to connect with some of our heroes in science. How many people have been able to call Bill Nye?”
In the time it takes to get to work in the morning, run to the grocery store, or eat lunch, one 30-minute Lab Out Loud podcast can keep you inspired, boost your science knowledge, and maybe even get you inspired to be part of the science education movement.
Subscribe to Lab Out Loud today!
More time?

• Read the Lab Out Loud blog, where the hosts provide insight on episode guests, discuss themes, and provide linked resources from each podcast.
• Dale and Brian actually started podcasting in 2006, for the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers in a show called Periodicity. You can still find all 52 episodes at http://laboutloud.com/2007/06/periodicity.

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Laura Berry of Cogberry Creative is our guest blogger for this series. Laura is a communications professional for the education community.