Is creativity only about coming up with lots of ideas? Or does it also involve choosing the right idea in the right moment? What can sport teach us about thinking under pressure?

In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cyndi Burnett welcome sports psychologist Dr. Daniel Memmert to explore how creativity shows up on the field.

Listen in as the conversation explores tactical creativity, which combines generating many possible plays with selecting the most effective one. Daniel explains why creativity in sport is not about being flashy, but about making decisions that are both unexpected and appropriate.

In this thoughtful conversation, they explore:

– The difference between generating options and choosing the best one – Why young athletes need freedom to experiment – How fear of mistakes can shut down creativity – Why coaches should be mindful of when and how they give feedback – How early training should focus more on exploration than rigid systems

Daniel also shares research showing that at elite levels, physical skills often level out. What makes the difference is how players think, notice patterns, and respond in the moment.

If you are a coach, educator, or parent involved in youth sports, this episode offers practical insights on nurturing creative thinking while still supporting strong performance.

About the Guest

Dr. Daniel Memmert is a professor at the German Sport University Cologne. He has published more than 300 research articles and over 40 books on creativity, attention, and performance in sport. He also holds coaching licenses in several sports, bringing both research and real world experience to his work.

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Visit FuelingCreativityPodcast.com for more information or email us at questions@fuelingcreativitypodcast.com.

Is handwriting still relevant in a world of screens, tablets, and AI? What role does writing by hand play in creativity, learning, and thinking?

In this episode of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, Dr. Matthew Worwood and Dr. Cindy Burnett welcome handwriting instruction specialist Holly Britton, M.Ed to explore why handwriting still matters — especially for developing minds.

Holly brings over 26 years of experience in education, from classroom teacher to curriculum director, kindergarten coach, and founder of Squiggle Squad Handwriting. Her work focuses on helping children, teachers, and parents understand handwriting not as “pretty penmanship,” but as a meaningful tool for learning and self-expression.

Listen in as the conversation explores how handwriting supports thinking, language development, and creativity — particularly in young learners. Holly shares why writing by hand helps children make sense of letters, sounds, and ideas, and what can happen when students are expected to write without ever being properly taught how.

Together, the trio discusses:

• How handwriting has slowly faded from classrooms

• Why writing by hand supports learning in ways typing cannot fully replace

• The connection between movement, memory, and understanding

• Why handwriting should be seen as a tool, not just a finished product

• How teachers can support handwriting without adding pressure or stress

Holly also offers practical insights for educators who feel overwhelmed by packed curriculums but still want to honor handwriting as part of meaningful learning.

If you’ve ever wondered whether handwriting still has a place in today’s digital classrooms — or worried about what students might be losing as screens take over — this episode will give you plenty to think about.

Holly Britton, M.Ed is a handwriting instruction specialist with more than 26 years of experience in education. She has worked as a classroom teacher, curriculum director, and kindergarten coach, and is the founder of Squiggle Squad Handwriting, a unique approach to teaching letter and number formation for early writers.

Holly works with diverse learners who experience a wide range of learning challenges and speaks nationally about handwriting as a kinesthetic connection to language — one that supports creativity, learning, and self-expression.

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Visit FuelingCreativityPodcast.com for more information or email us at questions@fuelingcreativitypodcast.com.

As we kick off Season 12 of the Fueling Creativity in Education Podcast, we explore a question that sits at the heart of education reform. What does it actually look like to design a school around preparing young people for the real world?

In this episode, we welcome Carlos Moreno, educator, author, and Executive Director of Big Picture Learning. Carlos brings a systems-level perspective shaped by his work as a teacher, principal, district leader, and national education executive.

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Visit FuelingCreativityPodcast.com for more information or email us at Finding Your Leadership Soul. This conversation challenges us to rethink control, trust educators and students, and design schools that help young people discover purpose, agency, and voice.

Carlos Moreno is an educator, author, and national education leader who currently serves as Executive Director of Big Picture Learning. He has worked as a teacher, principal, and district leader, and co-founded the Deeper Learning Equity Fellowship. Carlos is the author of Finding Your Leadership Soul and is widely recognized for his work supporting equity-centered, relationship-driven school design.