In this episode of Randy Unscripted, we examine the fatal shooting of a woman in Minnesota by a federal ICE officer. Many discussions around this incident have focused on emotion, politics, or selective interpretations of video footage. Here, we cut through the noise and analyze what Minnesota law actually says about use of deadly force.[...]

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, Randy Black takes a thoughtful, even-handed look at the growing school choice movement in West Virginia, with a particular focus on the Hope Scholarship Program. As the program expands toward universal eligibility, it has sparked intense debate among parents, educators, policymakers, and taxpayers. This episode breaks down what the[...]

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, we explore the top ten myths about podcasting that can hold creators back before they even hit record. From the pressure to include video, to fears about gear, downloads, and consistency, we examine the most common misconceptions and why they aren’t always true. This episode is designed to help[...]

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, Randy reflects on a thought-provoking opinion article published by Fox News that challenges a long-held assumption in education: that a 4.0 GPA automatically signals academic mastery. Drawing from the article and his own experience as an educator, Randy explores how grades have increasingly come to represent effort, compliance, and[...]

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, Randy takes an unfiltered look at apostasy and its growing impact on the modern Christian Church. Drawing from Scripture and cultural observation, the conversation defines apostasy as a “falling away” from biblical truth and explores how this spiritual drift is not a distant theological concept, but a present and[...]

Reflection and Challenges Randy Black reflects on the month of NAPODPOMO 2025, highlighting how the journey tested his discipline and creativity. The month was particularly challenging due to a personal loss when his father-in-law passed away on day 24. Despite this setback, Randy realized that the routine and focus cultivated through NAPODPOMO provided a lifeline,[...]

Reflection on NaPodPoMo 2025 Experience: Randy Black reflects on the challenges and lessons learned from completing 30 podcast episodes in 30 days. Initially expecting the endeavor to be incredibly difficult, Randy faced worries about creativity, inspiration, and burnout. However, he discovered that commitment to the process led to personal growth and resilience. Challenges and Adaptations:[...]

Randy Black’s Reflection on Christmas Introduction: Randy reflects on the holiday season, focusing on the deeper spiritual meaning of Christmas rather than the commercialism often associated with it. The Commercialization of Christmas: Randy notes the overwhelming commercialism during the holiday season, with advertisements for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and other sales inundating people. He emphasizes[...]

Spiritual Meaning of Thanksgiving The episode discusses the spiritual significance of Thanksgiving, emphasizing it as a command and a posture in the Christian faith rather than just a holiday. It highlights how thanksgiving involves remembering God’s faithfulness, trusting in His sovereignty, and aligning our spiritual center with God’s goodness. Scripture References The episode references several[...]

Randy Black discusses the intersection of Thanksgiving and the U.S. Constitution in a podcast episode. He highlights that while the Constitution doesn’t mention Thanksgiving, it provides the framework for national observances through presidential proclamations and legislative actions. Key Points and Main Ideas: Constitutional Foundation: Thanksgiving became a legal and national observance due to the constitutional[...]

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, I share the story of Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman whose decades-long advocacy helped Abraham Lincoln establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863. From her role as editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book to her persistent appeals to presidents and governors, Hale believed that a shared day of gratitude[...]

In this episode, I explore how America’s understanding of Thanksgiving evolved from scattered regional observances to a unified national holiday. Drawing from my background as a history educator, I look at how presidents like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln used Thanksgiving proclamations to encourage national unity, humility, and reflection—especially in times of crisis. By weaving[...]

In this opening episode of my Thanksgiving series, I use my background as a former history teacher to take listeners beyond the familiar textbook version of the holiday and into the deeper historical realities that shaped it. I explore the context of the 1621 gathering, the complex relationship between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag, and[...]

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, I take a break from my usual reflections to share a podcast that I believe offers tremendous value for anyone interested in media literacy: No Agenda, hosted by former MTV VJ Adam Curry and veteran media analyst John C. Dvorak. After more than eighteen years of breaking down news[...]

In Episode 20 of Randy Unscripted, Randy explores the growing empathy crisis in America, expanding on the ideas he first shared in his blog post, “Empathy: A Crisis in America Today” ( https://randallblack.com/blog/empathy-a-crisis-in-america-today/). He examines how empathy is declining across culture, education, and our technology-driven world, and offers practical steps listeners can take to rebuild[...]

In this episode of Randy Unscripted (NaPodPoMo 2025 episode 19, overall episode 20), we explore the power of voice-to-text dictation tools and how they can transform your workflow as a podcaster, blogger, or educator. I dive into how the Mac app Monologue lets you dictate your ideas directly into any application, complete with smart formatting,[...]

In this episode, I dive into the idea of micro-challenges—small, simple, and repeatable actions that help build momentum, confidence, and personal growth. Instead of relying on motivation or trying to tackle overwhelming goals, I share how micro-challenges offer an accessible way to make consistent progress through tiny, intentional steps. I explain what micro-challenges are, why[...]

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, Randy walks listeners through his real, day-to-day podcast production workflow as part of his NaPodPoMo challenge. He explains how he records on the Zoom H6, edits and cleans up audio in Audacity, then masters the file through Auphonic for leveling and polish. From there, he uploads the finished MP3[...]

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, I reflect on the decline of Christianity in America and the consequences that come when a nation drifts from its spiritual foundations. Drawing from my blog post “The Decline of Christianity and the Downfall of America,” we explore how faith shapes culture, the moral and societal effects of turning[...]

Continuing my coverage of Dr. Craig Vanslyke’s PodIndy 2025 workshop, this episode dives into what he called the “gold” of AI — meta-prompting. I share Craig’s live demonstration of how asking AI to write its own prompts can generate powerful results, including his now-famous deep-research example that produced a 22-page, footnoted report in minutes. Craig[...]

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, I share insights from Dr. Craig Vanslyke’s PodIndy 2025 presentation on how creators can work with artificial intelligence without losing their humanity. Craig reminded us that “AI isn’t hard — it’s human,” and that learning to think clearly about what we want to create is more important than mastering[...]

In episode 13 for NaPodPoMo of Randy Unscripted, Randy reflects on an unexpected source of wisdom — a fortune cookie that read, “Failure is feedback, and feedback is the breakfast of champions.” Building from a clip from his other show Shooting It Straight, he explores how failure fuels growth and learning. Drawing on his experiences[...]

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, Randy explores Veritasium’s video “Why Democracy Is Mathematically Impossible” (YouTube link) and breaks down how voting systems, no matter how well designed, can’t be perfectly fair. He reflects on what this means for democracy in the United States, where each state controls its own elections — making any national[...]

In this special Veterans Day episode of Randy Unscripted, part of NaPodPoMo (National Podcast Post Month), we explore the history and significance of Veterans Day, from its origins as Armistice Day to its modern meaning honoring all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. We reflect on the freedoms veterans protect and the responsibilities[...]

Episode 10 of my NaPodPoMo series dives into PodChapters, a powerful tool that helps podcasters create chapter markers, transcripts, and organized show notes with ease. I share how PodChapters has streamlined my workflow, saved hours of editing time, and improved the listening experience for my audience. Whether you’re a seasoned podcaster or just getting started,[...]

In this episode of Randy Unscripted, I unpack the often-misunderstood idea of the “spirit” of the First Amendment. Many people invoke it when their speech faces criticism, but the amendment’s true purpose is to protect citizens from government interference — not public disagreement. Join me as I explore why understanding that distinction is key to[...]

On this episode for NaPodPoMo I'm discussing the ideas of parody and fair use. Does parody require a license? Can you be sued and held liable for creating a parody? We'll be talking about that today. The content of this episode is based on a blog post available on my website at https://randallblack.com/blog/does-a-parody-require-a-license-understanding-fair-use-and-recent-developments/.

We've made it to day 7 for NaPodPoMo and I am having the time of my life! In this episode of Randy Unscripted, I share my excitement about attending PodIndy, a grassroots podcasting event that celebrates independent creators and community connection. I talk about being personally invited by Dr. Brad Miller, a past guest on[...]

In this NaPodPoMo episode of Randy Unscripted, I explores what Wikipedia truly is and how it became the world’s reference desk. I examine both its strengths and weaknesses—its openness, accessibility, and pitfalls in reliability and bias. The episode also reflects on how Wikipedia has transformed how we learn, share, and think about knowledge in the[...]

On today's episode for NaPodPoMo I do a quick overview of Artificial Intelligence and the impact it is, and could be having, on education today. The podcast episode is based on information available in a blog post on my website: https://randallblack.com/blog/the-rise-of-artificial-intelligence-in-education-opportunities-for-teachers-students-and-administrators/.

On this episode for NaPodPoMo I share about an experience I had at work and how I handled it. I also discuss why I was able to handle it the way in which I did due to my faith.

On this third episode for NaPodPoMo, I talked about the idea of online privacy in the United States of America today. This podcast episode is based on a blog post available on my website: https://randallblack.com/blog/do-you-have-a-right-to-privacy-online-in-the-united-states/.

On this second episode for NaPodPoMo, I talk with my son Mikey about some things going on this school year and his plans for the future.

Join me as we take this journey of NaPodPoMo (National Podcast Posting Month) and try to post a new episode every day of the month of November.

In this deeply personal episode, I honor my dear friend, colleague, co-host, and mentor, Coach Jim Clayton, who passed away on September 18, 2025. I share how Jim first impacted me as a teenager, how our friendship grew through years of teaching together, and what I learned from his everyday example—his integrity, humility, encouragement, and[...]