Chalk Dust, Woodshed Spankings, Teenage Chaos, & Teachers We Loved: Back-to-School Stories

Send us Fan Mail For sure, Chris spent more time in "The Woodshed" getting disciplined than the average kid... So grab your lunch trays and settle in, empty-nesters—Jen and Chris Fenton are cracking open the yearbooks, dusting off the memories, and serving up pure Back-to-School week chaos on this unforgettable episode of Plate & Ponder. From the pure pandemonium of first-day jitters and locker jams to the teachers who made us laugh until we cried (and the ones who left permanent marks on our souls), the Fentons take us on a wild ride through elementary antics, middle-school mayhem, high-school highs, and those hazy college days we can still half-remember.They trade tales of their absolute favorite educators, the funniest classroom legends, and the most memorable mentors who somehow turned detention into destiny. Then the conversation deepens: the seismic moments that still echo—Len Bias’s shocking death that rocked a generation of young athletes, the heartbreaking Challenger tragedy that stopped the nation cold, and the everyday victories and heartbreaks that defined growing up. And because nothing says “compare and contrast” like two coasts, Jen and Chris dive into life as a student in quiet, classic Glastonbury, CT versus the bright lights and big personalities of Los Angeles, CA—different hallways, same universal scramble of homework, hormones, and hope. It’s equal parts nostalgia, laughter, and “wait… that really happened?!” reflection. Perfect listening while the kids (or the ghosts of kids past) head back to class and the empty nest feels a little fuller with stories. Pull up a plate, pour something strong, and ponder with us. School’s back in session—and the bells are ringing loud.