Dr. Monique Chism, the Smithsonian’s Under Secretary for Education, joins middle schooler Mia for a conversation about the power of learning. Dr. Chism reflects on the teachers who had a lasting impact on her, her love for dance and performance, and why she values being in rooms full of people who know more than she does. They also discuss how making tough decisions is a part of life and growth.

Marc Thompson Jr., the proud owner-operator of a Chick-fil-A in Queens, joins us on this episode of Formative! Marc and middle schooler co-host Kianni dive into why giving your best at work matters, even if you’re just starting out. They chat about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, how to handle tough customers, and why learning how to learn is one of the best skills you can have.

Season 9 kicks off with Janet Godwin, CEO of ACT, as she sits down with middle schooler and co-host, Adesewa! In this episode, Janet shows us that confidence doesn’t always have to be loud. She opens up about her biggest career mistakes, her ongoing quest for more patience, and how she leads with kindness and accountability. Get ready to learn how quiet confidence can make a big impact!

We’re closing out this season of Formative with Erin Frankel. Erin is a children’s book author, speaker and teacher. Joining Erin is middle schooler and co-host, Diogob, who learns that being weird only means being unique and special. Erin shares with Diogob how bullying played a prominent role in her childhood and how it taught her the importance of kindness and why we should all stand proud of who we are, no matter what others think.

On this episode of Formative, Bill Carbone and middle schooler, Blake, talk about how we have to protect our greatest joys from becoming chores. Bill is the Executive Director at Teachrock and he’s loved music his entire life. He shares with us the importance of remaining flexible in your career and how walking through the open doors can lead to beautiful unexpected experiences.

Susan Warner joins us on today’s episode. Susan is Vice President of Community Engagement for Mastercard's Center for Inclusive Growth. Susan also created a STEM program called Girls4Tech. Joining Susan is middle schooler and co-host, Sage, who learns that we should pursue our passions in full force because it’ll be the greatest gift we give ourselves. Susan shares with Sage what she would do differently if she could do it all over again and what the third act of her career may look like.

From working in the kitchen and on the register to owning and operating seven McDonald’s franchises, Brian Hairston joins our co-host, Joy, to talk about growing up in an entrepreneurial family. Brian tells us about why his parents, despite owning McDonald’s franchises themselves, taught him the business from the bottom up, along with the importance of taking our time to grow and succeed.

On this episode of Formative, Sarah Rose Siskind and middle schooler, Blake, talk about how our world is full of wonder and silliness. Sarah is a science comedy writer and she’s fascinated by astrophysics and robots. She shares with us what happens to your body when you fall through a blackhole, why she’s optimistic about artificial intelligence and how being a huge fan of making mistakes has helped her learn and grow.