Life Is The Future Partner Program

More Podcasts! More Videos! More Resources!
Proud to announce that Mr. Todnem and friends are expanding. Join us?

The Life Is The Future educational experience is now offering a look and a listen into more classrooms, more organizations, more businesses, and more people around the world.

Since 2018, our nationally-recognized podcast and YouTube channel have focused on real life topics that teachers and students face in their weekly lives. Middle Schoolers pour from the heart each school year to offer candid insight into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors affecting teenagers today.

The Life Is The Future website and related platforms have always existed as an endorsement for lifelong learning. It only makes sense to open this opportunity to more people to share their own stories of working towards health and self-improvement. From veteran teachers to newcomers in education, from outspoken student advocates to leaders just finding their voice, the public deserves to hear from groups and individuals making a positive impact on the future.

So… we now welcome YOU. What’s your story?

Stay tuned for continued life lessons in combination with additional featured content sure to provide insight and inspiration.

TL; DR
Allow Life Is The Future to publish and promote your work. Receive guidance on your own podcast or YouTube experience.

Sign-up form is at the bottom on this page.

The Rationale
In terms of the internet and social media, Pew Research reports teenagers ages 13-17:

  • are online “almost constantly” (97% report daily access to the internet)

  • debate the impact of internet use (76% say social media isn’t inherently bad, but as much as 24% report it to be more negative than positive)

  • differ in beliefs of their personal time online (55% say they do not overuse apps, but as much as 36% say they are online “too much”)

Students of today face a world of issues that deserve attention and empathy. Education for the 21st century learner must include lessons on digital citizenship. How can we model healthy online behavior? How can we best include media navigation as an important life skill? How can we meet teens where they are… while maintaining their safety from oversharing, cyberbullying, FOMO, inappropriate content, doom scrolling, or predatory behavior? [Sources: World Health Organization; Common Sense Media; Nemours TeensHealth]

If no one is teaching our youth how to be safe online— how to speak and debate and have fun while maintaining life balance— then they end up teaching themselves. Caring adults that can provide guidance proves increasingly important in our steadily exciting/scary ascent/plummet into a tech-driven world.

Functional advice and monitored practice is necessary. Lessons are required to help teens examine the risks vs. rewards of internet use, potential effects on social-emotional well-being, and consumption vs. creation in life. A hands-on experience such as this one can help educate participants on these topics in real time.

The Details
Once we connect, we will figure out the best course of action based on your experience in YouTube and podcasts. We can decide the amount of guidance you would need to record and share.

No fees. No fancy equipment. No experience necessary.

This partnership is open to any teacher, group, or community members working towards adolescent well-being. Any content area, any age group, and any level of experience is welcome! However, we want to share quality content for viewers and listeners, so Scott Todnem and Life Is The Future will reserve the final decision on inclusion and promotion.

What is included in the partnership? FAQs below.

  • How do I choose a topic?
    A life topic will be provided. Already have ideas? Those are welcome too.

  • What is my time frame?
    A workable timeline for the podcast and/or video will be established for the next few months.

  • How do I get consent?
    A consent form template will be provided for caregivers, school and district administration, or other necessary personnel.

  • How do I actually record?
    How-tos and related recommendations will be provided for the recording process (environment, sound and video engineering, scripting, titles/subtitles, etc.)

  • How do I edit? What if I can’t do that?
    Editing will be done by Mr. Todnem. Help here is welcome as well; advice on programs provided.

  • Do I have to make things public? How?
    Options for your work to be private or public will be provided. Personal comfort and internet safety for everyone involved is a priority.

  • What should I do post-recording?
    Classroom extensions, for those school-based, will be provided (follow-up ideas during class time, starting a similar process on your own, etc.). Sharing ideas will also be offered (how to promote to your school, families, and/or community).

  • Is there any further commitment?
    Nope. This can be a one-time deal. OR, if all goes well, multiple recordings can be arranged as a series or as a program regular. A Life Is The Future affiliate, of sorts!

  • Anything else?
    Additional details will be provided once the partnership is accepted.

The Process
Interested in being included?

Please reach out right away by filling in the contact form below. We will get you started in your journey with Life Is The Future as soon as possible. Thanks ahead of time for your consideration!