Episode

Don’t Wait for Permission: Redefining Education with Don Wettrick

Podcast
The Genius Hour: Voices of Indianapolis
Published
May 15, 2026
Duration seconds
2430
Processing state
not_requested
Canonical source
https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/jpedge1959305
Audio
https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/fbdc4d1a-564e-4a59-9547-a73a3800d499.mp3
JSON
/v1/public/podcasts/the-genius-hour-voices-of-indianapolis-6597529/episodes/don-t-wait-for-permission-redefining-education-with-don-wettrick
Markdown
/podcast/the-genius-hour-voices-of-indianapolis-6597529/don-t-wait-for-permission-redefining-education-with-don-wettrick.md

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Summary

"The world doesn't need more compliant workers; it needs more innovative thinkers." For the latest episode of The Genius Hour: Voices of Indianapolis, we are honored to sit down with a true trailblazer in the world of education: Don Wettrick. Don is the founder of the STARTed UP Foundation and a world-renowned advocate for student-led innovation. In this episode, we dive deep into the philosophy that transformed a high school classroom into a global movement. Don shares why it is vital for students to stop waiting for permission to be great and start taking ownership of their own learning today. This episode is a milestone for our program. As part of a multi-week intensive project, the students of our PPHS Audio/Visual program handled every aspect of this production: from researching Don’s extensive career in entrepreneurship to building our first professional multi-camera video set and managing the final edit. In this conversation, we discuss: - The origin of the "Genius Hour" and how it empowers student voice. - The mission of the STARTed UP Foundation to foster an "Innovator's Mindset." - Why Indianapolis is a unique hub for young entrepreneurs and creators. - Advice for teachers and students on navigating failure and building resilience. Whether you are an educator looking to spark innovation in your classroom or a student ready to build your own future, this conversation with Don Wettrick is your roadmap. Student Production Credits: Lead Researchers: Luke Knutson Audio Engineer: Natalie Neri Toledo Camera Ops & Set Design: Annie Trent, Jayden Crowe, Jacob Johnson Post-Production/Editing: Luke Knutson & Natalie Neri Toledo Learn more about Don’s work at: startedupfoundation.org Subscribe to support student-run media and join the conversation about the futur…