What happens when a teacher refuses to let great student podcasts disappear into a Google Drive folder? He builds a platform. In this episode, Dr. Fonz welcomes back returning guest Tim Belmont, Language Arts teacher and Technology Coordinator at Lyndhurst High School in New Jersey, for a rich conversation on what it actually means to give students an authentic voice — and the innovative project he built to make that a reality.

Tim breaks down how he integrates podcasting into his Public Speaking and Advanced Public Speaking classes, why choice and personal connection are the secret ingredients to genuine student expression, and how the NPR Student Podcast Challenge transforms reluctant students into passionate communicators. He also shares the story behind the Bell Tower — a privacy-conscious podcast platform he built from the ground up to give student voices a stage that goes beyond the classroom walls, while staying FERPA and COPPA compliant.

Whether you're a classroom teacher, a tech coordinator, or a district leader, this episode will challenge you to rethink how you define assessment, student engagement, and what authentic learning looks like in the age of AI.

In this episode, you will learn:
→How Tim uses podcasting as a core assessment tool in Public Speaking and Advanced Public Speaking classes
→Why authentic audience dramatically shift student effort, ownership, and confidence
→How the NPR Student Podcast Challenge creates breakthrough moments for students
→What the Bell Tower is, why Tim built it, and how it solves the FERPA/privacy puzzle for student podcasting
→The lowest barrier-to-entry tools to start podcasting in your classroom today
→How student-created media could reshape assessment as AI becomes more prevalent in schools

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
02:43 Tim Belmont's Background in Education
05:51 Integrating Podcasting in the Classroom
10:26 Authentic Student Voice vs. Performative Voice
15:15 The Impact of Authentic Audiences
20:24 The Importance of Scripted Communication
22:32 The Bell Tower Project Overview
23:40 The Bell Tower Project: Vision and Goals
29:57 Authentic Audience Engagement in Education
34:45 Transformative Student Experiences through Podcasting
39:34 Getting Started with Podcasting in the Classroom
44:25 The Future of Student-Created Media and Assessment

Connect with Tim Belmont:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timbelmont/

Tools & Resources Mentioned:
NPR Student Podcast Challenge & Curriculum — npr.org
Adobe Podcast https://podcast.adobe.com/enhance
Screencastify https://www.screencastify.com/
The Bell Tower https://www.linkedin.com/company/belltower-edu/

Connect with Dr. Fonz:
🎙️ Website: https://www.myedtech.life/
📲 Follow on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook & YouTube

Thank you to our sponsors:
📚 Book Creator Edu
🎓 Peel Back Education