Legend Makers

About Legend Makers

Welcome to Legend Makers! The podcast where education's true heroes take center stage. Hosted by Scott Buell, founder and CEO of Drone Legends, this interview-style podcast dives deep into the world of teaching, where the real magic happens. Each episode, Scott speaks with exceptional teachers, the true Legend Makers, who are shaping the minds and futures of the next generation. In every classroom, there's a legend in the making, and behind every legend is a passionate educator committed to unlocking their students' full potential. Legend Makers Podcast is dedicated to shining a spotlight on these educators, providing a platform for them to share their innovative methods, heartfelt stories, and the challenges they face in today's rapidly evolving educational landscape. Whether you're an experienced teacher, a new educator, or someone with a passion for the future of education, Legend Makers Podcast offers insights, inspiration, and practical advice straight from those on the front lines. Each episode is a candid conversation, filled with personal anecdotes, effective strategies, and the philosophies that drive these educators to go above and beyond in their mission to inspire the next generation of legends. Join us on this journey as we explore what it takes to be a Legend Maker. From integrating cutting-edge technology in the classroom to fostering emotional resilience and creativity in students, our guests share the tools and techniques that help them turn ordinary moments into extraordinary learning experiences.

Publisher

Scott Buell

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Sept 2024

Latest episode

17 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

51 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   17 Jun 2026

   The School Year Ends. The Education Revolution Doesn’t

   In this episode of the Legend Makers Podcast, Scott Buell sits down with Peter Hostrawser, Career Internship Educator and Program Coordinator at Naperville Community Unit School District 203, and host of the Disrupt Education Podcast. Peter has spent more than 23 years in education building programs that connect students to real-world learning, career readiness, internships, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. His mission is simple but powerful: help students find and show their value. Scott and Peter talk about why the traditional education model is being challenged, why grades and test scores are no longer enough, and why students need authentic experiences before they graduate. They also dig into CTE, career pathways, internships, durable skills, AI, edtech, community partnerships, and the growing need to connect academics with the professional world. This conversation is especially relevant for teachers, school leaders, CTE directors, workforce development partners, and anyone who believes students need more than classroom instruction to prepare for the future. As Peter says near the end of the episode: life is short. If you have something you want to build, mentor, push, or create, try it. Learn, fail, learn, fail, learn, fail, succeed. This episode closes out the 2025/26 school year with a clear message: the school year may end, but the education revolution does not. Learn more about Drone Legends: https://www.dronelegends.com (https://www.dronelegends.com) Connect with Peter Hostrawser: https://www.peterhostrawser.com (https://www.peterhostrawser.com) Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-hostrawser-71723/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-hostrawser-71723/) Listen to Disrupt Education: https://www.disrupteducationpodcast.com (https://www.disrupteducationpodcast.com)

2. 

   2 Jun 2026

   He Escaped the Odds. Now He Teaches Kids How to Build a Future.

   In this episode of the Legend Makers Podcast, Scott sits down with Leonard “Lenny The Boss” Nesmith, founder and CEO of the Kids Real Estate & Financial Literacy Academy. Lenny grew up in North Philadelphia as the youngest of 10 children in a crowded row home. His neighborhood was surrounded by violence, drugs, and pressure. But at 14 years old, he made a decision that changed his life. Instead of following his friends to the same high school, Lenny chose a school outside his neighborhood. Not because it was academically better, but because it put him around different people and a different environment. That one choice helped him go from sitting in the back of the class to making the honor roll, working two jobs as a teenager, learning a trade, and buying his first house at 19. Today, Lenny teaches students the lessons he wishes someone had taught him earlier: mindset, confidence, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, real estate, and how to design a life instead of drifting through one. This conversation is about mentorship, environment, money, choices, and helping kids see what is possible. Connect with Lenny: Website: kidsrealestateacademy.com (http://kidsrealestateacademy.com) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonard-nesmith-369b57128/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonard-nesmith-369b57128/) Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lenny_the_boss723/ (https://www.instagram.com/lenny_the_boss723/) Subscribe to Legend Makers for more conversations with educators, entrepreneurs, and leaders helping kids build brighter futures.

3. 

   12 May 2026

   Dr. Jeffrey Zwiebel: Preparing Students for Life Beyond the Test

   In this episode of the Legend Makers Podcast, Scott Buell sits down with Dr. Jeffrey Zwiebel, a longtime K-12 education leader, former superintendent, and current EdTech strategist, to talk about leadership, technology, student wellness, and the future of education. Dr. Zwiebel brings more than three decades of experience in public education, including nine years as a superintendent in Pennsylvania. His perspective is grounded in real district leadership, including budget pressure, board dynamics, student safety, staff support, and the difficult decisions that come with leading schools through crisis. The conversation begins with Dr. Zwiebel’s unexpected path into education. Before becoming a superintendent, he started as a musician and band director. A summer teaching high school drumline helped him see the impact educators can have on students, and that experience shaped the rest of his career. Scott and Dr. Zwiebel also discuss the pressure school leaders face, especially during moments of financial strain and public scrutiny. Dr. Zwiebel shares openly about the personal toll of leadership, the impact on family, and how that experience eventually led him into the EdTech space. A major focus of the episode is the role of AI in schools. Dr. Zwiebel argues that blocking AI is the wrong response. Instead, educators must help students learn how to use AI responsibly, safely, and productively. He compares the current moment to the early days of the internet in schools, but makes clear that AI is moving much faster and requires a more intentional approach. Scott and Dr. Zwiebel also explore how teachers can use AI as a creative and practical tool, not just as a shortcut for writing assignments. They discuss student data privacy, responsible prompting, teacher training, district policy, and the need for schools to prepare students for a world where technology is already embedded in nearly every career path. The episode closes with a broader reflection on the future of education. Dr. Zwiebel challenges schools to think beyond test scores and focus on preparing students with the skills they need for college, military service, careers, and life. Key Topics Dr. Zwiebel’s path from musician to educator to superintendent The real pressure of district leadership Why student safety and wellness are operational issues, not buzzwords How the pandemic exposed opportunities for change in education Why schools should teach responsible AI use instead of blocking it The importance of student data privacy How teachers can help students use AI constructively Why training must support both teachers and administrators The future of education beyond test scores Preparing students for real-world success About Dr. Jeffrey Zwiebel Dr. Jeffrey Zwiebel is a K-12 education leader, former superintendent, and EdTech strategist. After more than 30 years in public education, he now works in the student digital wellness space, helping schools think through technology, safety, AI, and student support from both an educator and district leadership perspective. Connect Follow Dr. Jeffrey Zwiebel on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-jeffrey-zwiebel-aa31881b3/). Learn more about the Legend Makers Podcast and Drone Legends at DroneLegends.com (http://DroneLegends.com).

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 42 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

71

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Legend Makers

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.