I’ve taught everyone from snack-loving kindergarteners to coffee-fueled graduate students—and sometimes I think the only real difference is the size of their backpacks. Along the way, I’ve designed everything from finger-paint-friendly lesson plans to county-wide education programs and college courses designed to keep students curious, engaged, and, ideally, awake.

I’ve also taught across just about every format imaginable: live and in person (where I can see who’s actually paying attention), hybrid (the best of both worlds—or the worst, depending on the Wi-Fi), and fully remote (where I’ve mastered the art of talking to a sea of muted microphones).

No matter the age, subject, or delivery format, I approach teaching the same way I approach storytelling: figure out what people need to know, find the best way to communicate it, and create an experience that makes them want to keep going.