In the latest episode of the STM Daily News Podcast, Rod Washington delves into key stories like Union Station’s high-speed rail transformation, NASA’s partnership with SpaceX, Boom Supersonic’s milestone, and the proposed DJI drone ban. Dive into these compelling narratives shaping transportation, space exploration, and national security. Stay informed with Rod Washington on the STM Daily News Podcast!
In this episode, we revisit a hilarious—and slightly suspicious—childhood memory from fifth grade. When a string of substitute teachers rotated through the classroom, one of them gave an assignment no kid saw coming: draw a complete schematic of your house, including where everyone slept… and even where the dog lived.
What followed was a week of confusion, creativity, and a moment of pure relief from a very concerned mother. We look back at the odd request, the wildly inaccurate “floor plan” that saved the day, and the real question that now haunts adulthood: Was this substitute teaching… or casing the neighborhood?
Join us for a nostalgic, comedic commentary on the quirks of childhood, the weirdness of substitute teachers, and the imagination of kids who were always one step ahead—intentionally or not.
Read the full humorous Story: https://stmdailynews.com/the-substitute-teacher-who-wanted-blueprints-of-our-house/
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Rod: A creative force, blending words, images, and flavors. Blogger, writer, filmmaker, and photographer. Cooking enthusiast with a sci-fi vision. Passionate about his upcoming series and dedicated to TNC Network. Partnered with Rebecca Washington for a shared journey of love and art. View all posts
Rod: A creative force, blending words, images, and flavors. Blogger, writer, filmmaker, and photographer. Cooking enthusiast with a sci-fi vision. Passionate about his upcoming series and dedicated to TNC Network. Partnered with Rebecca Washington for a shared journey of love and art.
The Substitute Teacher Who Wanted Blueprints of Our House
A fifth-grade assignment took a strange turn when a substitute teacher asked students to draw schematics of their homes. What followed — a wildly fictional floor plan and a priceless reaction from my mom — turned into one of my funniest childhood memories.
The Substitute Teacher Who Wanted Blueprints of Our House
Elementary school memories tend to blend together — cafeteria pizza, playground arguments, the eternal struggle of times tables — but every once in a while, something happens that sticks with you for life. For me, that moment came in the fifth grade during a week when our regular teacher was out, and we cycled through substitute teachers like we were testing models for durability. By midweek, in walked a substitute with a mysterious, slightly intense energy — the kind of vibe that suggested he either meditated at dawn or worked a graveyard shift doing something he couldn’t talk about. We settled into our seats, expecting worksheets or quiet reading time. But nope. He had other plans. “Today,” he announced, “we’re going to draw schematics of our houses.” Schematics. Not drawings. Not little houses with smoke coming out of the chimney. Actual blueprint-style schematics. He wanted the layout of our bedrooms, our parents’ rooms, and where the pets slept. Every detail. Now, to be fair, Highlights Magazine did have a feature that month teaching kids how to draw floor plans. So maybe he was just a bit overenthusiastic about cross-curricular learning. Or maybe — and this is my completely rhetorical adult theory — he worked the graveyard shift as a cat burglar gathering intel between heists. Just moonlighting between blueprints. While the rest of the class tried their best to recreate their actual homes, my imagination sprinted in a totally different direction. The house I drew had:
A massive master bedroom with an oversized bathroom for my parents
Separate bedrooms for us kids on the opposite side of the house
A kitchen placed right in the center like a command center
And the dog — the true VIP — had a luxurious two-story doghouse
I had basically created a dream home designed by a 10-year-old watching too much Fantasy Homes by the Yard. Later that day, my mom asked the usual question: “So, what did you guys do today?” “We drew schematics of our house,” I said casually. The look on her face was instant and intense. She wasn’t panicked, but there was definitely a “Why does a substitute teacher need to know the exact layout of my home?” expression happening. Parental instincts activated. But then I showed her my diagram. She stared at it. Blinked. Then sighed with massive relief. “This isn’t our house,” she said. “Nope! I made it up,” I replied proudly. Her shoulders relaxed so much she probably lost five pounds of tension in one instant. If the substitute was secretly planning a heist, my masterpiece of misinformation would have sent him to the wrong house entirely. Looking back, the whole moment feels like a sitcom setup — a mysterious substitute collecting “house schematics,” me creating a completely fictional piece of architecture, and my mom going on a full emotional journey in under 30 seconds. Maybe he was just excited about the Highlights Magazine floor-plan activity. Or maybe — just maybe — he moonlighted in cat burglary. We’ll never know. But if he was, I like to think I threw him completely off the scent.
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How China cleaned up its air pollution – and what that meant for the climate
How China cleaned up its air pollution: Beijing’s air quality went from hazardous to good while Delhi and Lahore still struggle. Discover how China dramatically reduced pollution since 2013—and why cleaner air may have unintended consequences for global warming and climate change.
Delhi: 442. Lahore: 334. Beijing: 16. These are the levels of PM 2.5, one of the principle measures for air pollution, on November 19. As Pakistanis and Indians struggle with hazardous air quality, in Beijing – a city once notorious for its smog – the air quality is currently rated as good. Ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government was so concerned about pollution that it introduced temporary restrictions on cars, shut down factories and stopped work on some construction sites. The measures worked and one study later found that levels of air pollution were down 30% during the period when the temporary Olympic restrictions were in place. It would take a few more years before the Chinese government implemented a clean air action plan in 2013. Since then, China has achieved a dramatic improvement in its air quality. In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we speak to Laura Wilcox, a professor at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of Reading in the UK, to understand how China managed to clean up its air pollution. But Wilcox’s recent research uncovered some unintended consequences from this cleaner air for the global climate: the pollution was actually helping to cool the atmosphere and by taking it away, it may have accelerated global warming. Wilcox explains:
What we’re seeing is a removing of cooling that’s revealing warming that’s already there. So the air pollution isn’t the cause of the warming. It’s just letting us see stuff that we’ve already done.
Dive into “The Knowledge,” where curiosity meets clarity. This playlist, in collaboration with STMDailyNews.com, is designed for viewers who value historical accuracy and insightful learning. Our short videos, ranging from 30 seconds to a minute and a half, make complex subjects easy to grasp in no time. Covering everything from historical events to contemporary processes and entertainment, “The Knowledge” bridges the past with the present. In a world where information is abundant yet often misused, our series aims to guide you through the noise, preserving vital knowledge and truths that shape our lives today. Perfect for curious minds eager to discover the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of everything around us. Subscribe and join in as we explore the facts that matter. https://stmdailynews.com/the-knowledge/
In Episode 2 of the STM Daily News Podcast, we explore “Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story,” a documentary highlighting pickleball’s rise, and recap the Phoenix Women’s Expo, showcasing community empowerment and collaboration among women entrepreneurs, connecting bold endeavors in sports and business.
Welcome back to the STM Daily News Podcast! In Episode 2, we’re diving into two incredible stories that showcase the power of community, determination, and building something from the ground up.
Welcome to episode two of the STM Daily News Podcast, where we connect the stories that matter in our community. This week, we're exploring two powerful narratives about passion, perseverance, and the strength of community.
First, we dive deep into the Phoenix Women's Expo that took place last September right here in the Valley. This inspiring event brought together hundreds of women entrepreneurs, business owners, and community leaders for a day of networking, education, and empowerment. We break down the key highlights, the energy in the room, and why events like this matter for building stronger, more connected communities.
Then, we shift our focus to "Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story," the groundbreaking documentary directed by Ashley Underwood that premiered on truTV and Max. At the center of this compelling film is Mike "Sleeves" Sliwa, whose journey mirrors the explosive rise of pickleball from backyard pastime to billion-dollar industry. We explore the billionaire rivalries, the professional development of the sport, and what makes this documentary essential viewing for anyone interested in sports, business, or authentic storytelling.
In our "The Knowledge" segment, we explore the recently covered stories from STM Daily News. These articles and videos offer the power of knowledge to those individuals who refuse to accept the status quo, the importance of community support, and the reminder that the most inspiring narratives are happening right now, all around us. Featured Articles & Resources
Women's Expo Phoenix 2025: Debbie Gibson Inspires at the 2025 Arizona Ultimate Women's Expo
The Government Shutdown and Obamacare vs the ACA: Debunking the Myth: Obamacare Does Not Cover Undocumented Immigrants Politics and Perception: Why Some Americans Think Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act Are Two Different Things 3I/ATLAS – Avi Loeb Thoughts: Avi Loeb on 3I/ATLAS: Is This Interstellar Visitor Just a Comet or Something More?
10 Most Walkable Cities in the West: The 10 Most Walkable Cities in the Western United States
Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story: Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story – A Closer Look at the Documentary and Its Uncredited Voice Video Series: "THE KNOWLEDGE"
Check out clips from our popular video series, "THE KNOWLEDGE" — short, engaging educational conten…
What’s in This Episode
Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story
We’re talking about the documentary that’s got everyone buzzing. Dreambreaker: A Pickleball Story premiered on truTV and Max back in April, and it’s so much more than a sports film.
Director Ashley Underwood takes us inside the explosive rise of pickleball through the lens of Mike “Sleeves” Sliwa’s journey. But here’s what makes it fascinating—it’s not just about the game. It’s about billionaire rivalries, the business of professional sports, and how a backyard pastime became a multi-billion-dollar industry practically overnight.
The documentary is raw, authentic, and pulls no punches. If you’re curious about what’s really happening behind the scenes in one of America’s fastest-growing sports, this is essential viewing.
Stream it now on Max or truTV.
Phoenix Women’s Expo 2025
We’re also recapping the Phoenix Women’s Expo from last September, and wow—what an event. Hundreds of women entrepreneurs, business owners, and aspiring leaders gathered right here in the Valley to connect, learn, and support each other.
From inspiring keynote speakers to hands-on workshops covering everything from social media strategy to financial planning, the expo was a masterclass in empowerment and collaboration. The energy in that room was electric, and the connections made will ripple through our community for years to come.
If you missed it, don’t worry—we break down the highlights and why events like this matter for Phoenix’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The Common Thread
What connects a pickleball documentary and a women’s business expo? More than you’d think. Both stories are about people who didn’t wait for permission, who built their own platforms, and who understood that community is the foundation of success.
Whether it’s Mike Sleeves creating his voice in pickleball or women entrepreneurs supporting each other’s growth, the message is clear: the best stories are happening right now, in real time, in our own communities.
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Episode 2 of the STM Daily News Podcast is available wherever you get your podcasts. We’d love to hear what you think—drop us a message on social media or visit us at TNC.network.
Produced by TNC Network in Phoenix, Arizona. Telling the stories that matter in our community.
STM Daily News is a multifaceted podcast that explores a wide range of topics, from life and consumer issues to the latest in food and beverage trends. Our discussions dive into the realms of science, covering everything from space and Earth to nature, artificial intelligence, and astronomy. We also celebrate the amateur sports scene, highlighting local athletes and events, including our special segment on senior Pickleball, where we report on the latest happenings in this exciting community. With our diverse content, STM Daily News aims to inform, entertain, and engage listeners, providing a comprehensive look at the issues that matter most in our daily lives. https://stories-this-moment.castos.com/
Later that day, my mom asked the usual question: “So, what did you guys do today?” “We drew schematics of our house,” I said casually. The look on her face was instant and intense. She wasn’t panicked, but there was definitely a “Why does a substitute teacher need to know the exact layout of my home?” expression happening. Parental instincts activated. But then I showed her my diagram. She stared at it. Blinked. Then sighed with massive relief. “This isn’t our house,” she said. “Nope! I made it up,” I replied proudly. Her shoulders relaxed so much she probably lost five pounds of tension in one instant. If the substitute was secretly planning a heist, my masterpiece of misinformation would have sent him to the wrong house entirely. Looking back, the whole moment feels like a sitcom setup — a mysterious substitute collecting “house schematics,” me creating a completely fictional piece of architecture, and my mom going on a full emotional journey in under 30 seconds. Maybe he was just excited about the Highlights Magazine floor-plan activity. Or maybe — just maybe — he moonlighted in cat burglary. We’ll never know. But if he was, I like to think I threw him completely off the scent.
Gemma Ware, Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
