Special Needs Week continues with Ryan from Lionsgate Academy - #2899

·1 hr 16 min·5 clips

Ryan reveals Lionsgate Academy has a 350-person waiting list and uses a blind lottery for its specialized public charter school.

The episode opens with Tom Barnard sharing a humorous anecdote about almost causing a dog to choke on freeze-dried chicken. The conversation transitions to personal stories about phone usage, directions, and early cell phones. A segment on politics discusses the Epstein case, with panelists noting bipartisan efforts to release files and questioning why five administrations blocked them. The show then introduces Ryan, executive director of Lionsgate Academy, as part of Special Needs Week. Ryan details Lionsgate's role as a public charter school for students on the autism spectrum, with campuses in Minnetonka and Shoreview. He explains the school's lottery system, lack of traditional sports, and focus on e-sports and activities like Magic: The Gathering. Ryan discusses the challenges of teacher retention in charter schools and the school's 18-to-22 transition program, which teaches independent living skills. He advises parents to advocate for their children through IEP meetings and organizations like Pacer. The episode also includes lighter segments on TV shows like Landman and Tulsa King, and personal stories about vacations and weddings. Throughout, the tone is conversational, blending humor with serious topics related to education and special needs.

As heard by us

Dog panic, Breakers sticker shock, and a late e-sports question give the episode its loose, human scale.

The episode works best as a compact study in ordinary absurdity. Catherine Brandt's story about Jude, the chocolate lab in a hotel elevator, and a piece of freeze-dried chicken turns a tiny moment into low-stakes panic comedy.

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Why you'd press play

You get a chocolate lab scare, freeze-dried chicken, and Breakers math in one loose conversation.

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