PODyssey of the Mind Wed, 04 Mar 2026 21:22:49 -0500 http://www.paodyssey.com en-us © 2026 Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind is administered by Creativity Unlimited in Pennsylvania, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization run entirely by volunteers. Odyssey of the Mind and OMER are registered trademarks of Creative Competitions, Inc. yes Support this Podcast 736302b6-8178-5a82-bfbc-a89367171078 Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind - Creativity Unlimited in Pennsylvania episodic false Odyssey of the Mind is the world’s largest K-12 and college creative problem-solving STEAM program. We speak with past and present OMers, coaches, judges, parents, volunteers, and other friends from around the world about Odyssey advice, culture, experiences, opportunities, and skills.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) STEM, STEAM, education, arts, engineering, technology, building, design, acting, theater, performing arts, Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind - Creativity Unlimited in Pennsylvania https://storage.buzzsprout.com/3viaer780mco0ap0u2lqt5qu1zn5?.jpg PODyssey of the Mind http://www.paodyssey.com Ryan Balton Sammy Micklus – Part 2: OM Origins and Tales Sammy Micklus – Part 2: OM Origins and Tales Odyssey of the Mind HQ's international director, Sammy Micklus, recounts the origins of what was then Olympics of the Mind – when his father and founder of the program Dr. Sam recruited him to volunteer. Sammy goes on to tell the tales – or tails, as OMER might say – of the program's milestones and memorable solutions, including a look at what goes into writing problems, scoring guidelines, and clarifications. 

This conversation was originally recorded in 2020, and released in 2023 following a busy three years this side of the pandemic – and, well, extreme procrastination. 

To support PODyssey of the Mind, you can share information about our Jumpstart Grant program with PA educators and parents at paodyssey.com/grants, or visit paodyssey.com/podcast to make a donation. 

Support the show

]]> Odyssey of the Mind HQ's international director, Sammy Micklus, recounts the origins of what was then Olympics of the Mind – when his father and founder of the program Dr. Sam recruited him to volunteer. Sammy goes on to tell the tales – or tails, as OMER might say – of the program's milestones and memorable solutions, including a look at what goes into writing problems, scoring guidelines, and clarifications. 

This conversation was originally recorded in 2020, and released in 2023 following a busy three years this side of the pandemic – and, well, extreme procrastination. 

To support PODyssey of the Mind, you can share information about our Jumpstart Grant program with PA educators and parents at paodyssey.com/grants, or visit paodyssey.com/podcast to make a donation. 

Support the show

]]> Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind - Creativity Unlimited in PA Buzzsprout-13333295 Tue, 01 Aug 2023 18:00:00 -0400 2640 odysseyofthemind, odyssey of the mind, om, omer, ootm, education, education policy, STEM, STEAM, STEM education, STEM learning, STEAM education, STEAM learning, K-12, K-12 education 9 full false Sammy Micklus – Part 1: Competing Virtually Sammy Micklus – Part 1: Competing Virtually Odyssey of the Mind's top dog (top raccoon?) joins us to discuss this past year's Virtual World Finals and how the coming 2020-21 season is shaping up. We're thrilled to have Sammy Micklus, Odyssey of the Mind HQ's program director, in this first part of a two-part series. 

Sammy's father, Dr. Sam, founded the program in 1978. Over the past 40 decades, Sammy has watched Odyssey of the Mind grow. This year, Sammy and his team at Odyssey HQ led thousands of creative problem-solvers and volunteers from around the world to navigate through an unprecedented "spontaneous problem." In this episode, he reflects on the outcome and looks forward to the new season. 

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]]> Odyssey of the Mind's top dog (top raccoon?) joins us to discuss this past year's Virtual World Finals and how the coming 2020-21 season is shaping up. We're thrilled to have Sammy Micklus, Odyssey of the Mind HQ's program director, in this first part of a two-part series. 

Sammy's father, Dr. Sam, founded the program in 1978. Over the past 40 decades, Sammy has watched Odyssey of the Mind grow. This year, Sammy and his team at Odyssey HQ led thousands of creative problem-solvers and volunteers from around the world to navigate through an unprecedented "spontaneous problem." In this episode, he reflects on the outcome and looks forward to the new season. 

Support the show

]]> Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind - Creativity Unlimited in PA Buzzsprout-5820730 Fri, 09 Oct 2020 14:00:00 -0400 1877 8 full false PINcast sPINoff – David, Olivia, Paisley, and Ryan PINcast sPINoff – David, Olivia, Paisley, and Ryan Good people of the PINternet, we're back! This week's ePINsode is chock full of pins. Pin trading is a staple of the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals experience. Long-time World Finals officials and pin gurus Ryan Blackman, Olivia Holvik, David Palermo, and Paisley Ramstead join us for our first coast-to-coast show to discuss the economics of pin trading, their favorite pins, displaying their pins, and their friendship born of a mutual love of – you guessed it – pins. 

These four Odyssey alums also extol the virtues of participating in Odyssey of the Mind and discuss the skills they use in their careers and lives to this very day. As Paisley says, "No matter what you're into, or what your skills are, there's a spot in Odyssey for you."

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]]> Good people of the PINternet, we're back! This week's ePINsode is chock full of pins. Pin trading is a staple of the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals experience. Long-time World Finals officials and pin gurus Ryan Blackman, Olivia Holvik, David Palermo, and Paisley Ramstead join us for our first coast-to-coast show to discuss the economics of pin trading, their favorite pins, displaying their pins, and their friendship born of a mutual love of – you guessed it – pins. 

These four Odyssey alums also extol the virtues of participating in Odyssey of the Mind and discuss the skills they use in their careers and lives to this very day. As Paisley says, "No matter what you're into, or what your skills are, there's a spot in Odyssey for you."

Support the show

]]> Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind - Creativity Unlimited in PA Buzzsprout-5663062 Tue, 29 Sep 2020 16:00:00 -0400 4144 7 full false Makers, Take the Stage! Anna, Leah, Melody, Natalie, Nikki, Ruby, and Coach McGee Makers, Take the Stage! Anna, Leah, Melody, Natalie, Nikki, Ruby, and Coach McGee Are they coaches, or are they OMers? The answer is – both! 

We caught up with a team of 11th grade OMers who run a creative problem-solving summer camp called "Makers, Take the Stage!" in western Pennsylvania. It's a mini version of Odyssey of the Mind that the students came up with a few years ago when they didn't want the fun to stop after competing. 

From Mt. Lebanon High School in western Pennsylvania, we're joined by Nikki LaSota, Anna Mares, Natalie McGee, Melody Reynolds, Ruby Siefken, Leah Vuillemot, and their coach Kerry McGee. 

They discuss the genesis of "Makers, Take the Stage!" and some of the things they've learned from the younger students they mentor. They also discuss their experiences as OMers, having competed in nearly every different long-term problem and applying their skills in unique, Ranatra-worthy ways.

Support the show

]]> Are they coaches, or are they OMers? The answer is – both! 

We caught up with a team of 11th grade OMers who run a creative problem-solving summer camp called "Makers, Take the Stage!" in western Pennsylvania. It's a mini version of Odyssey of the Mind that the students came up with a few years ago when they didn't want the fun to stop after competing. 

From Mt. Lebanon High School in western Pennsylvania, we're joined by Nikki LaSota, Anna Mares, Natalie McGee, Melody Reynolds, Ruby Siefken, Leah Vuillemot, and their coach Kerry McGee. 

They discuss the genesis of "Makers, Take the Stage!" and some of the things they've learned from the younger students they mentor. They also discuss their experiences as OMers, having competed in nearly every different long-term problem and applying their skills in unique, Ranatra-worthy ways.

Support the show

]]> Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind - Creativity Unlimited in PA Buzzsprout-4673672 Wed, 22 Jul 2020 14:00:00 -0400 4130 6 full false Ariel and Drew Ariel and Drew Back in Pennsylvania this week, we get the scoop from two rising high school seniors in the Masterman School Odyssey of the Mind program in Philadelphia. Long-time OMers Ariel Weinbaum and Drew Brown talk about pushing the envelope with their long-term and spontaneous solutions, their World Finals buddy teams, Ari's family's Odyssey obsessions, Drew's unconventional competition day diet, and why they choose to be a part of Odyssey of the Mind among all of the options high school students have today.

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]]> Back in Pennsylvania this week, we get the scoop from two rising high school seniors in the Masterman School Odyssey of the Mind program in Philadelphia. Long-time OMers Ariel Weinbaum and Drew Brown talk about pushing the envelope with their long-term and spontaneous solutions, their World Finals buddy teams, Ari's family's Odyssey obsessions, Drew's unconventional competition day diet, and why they choose to be a part of Odyssey of the Mind among all of the options high school students have today.

Support the show

]]> Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind - Creativity Unlimited in PA Buzzsprout-4521788 Fri, 10 Jul 2020 19:00:00 -0400 3818 education, creativity, stem, steam, k-12 5 full false Mr. Mac, Mr. Sulsky, and their Long Beach, New York OMers Mr. Mac, Mr. Sulsky, and their Long Beach, New York OMers We cross state lines for our biggest episode ever! Coaches Doug MacConnell and Justin Sulsky join us with several of their fourth and fifth grade OMers from the Long Beach Public Schools in New York. 

Mr. Mac and Mr. Sulsky discuss how they started coaching teams a few years ago – coming in with no past Odyssey experience – and worked their way to bring teams to World Finals both in-person, and virtually this year. Their team members jump in with stories and strategies from creating their solutions. And even the district's assistant superintendent, Dr. Paul Romanelli, was on the call to lend his support!

Our conversation emphasizes how an Odyssey of the Mind team is like a family. The young OMers discuss how they are using their Odyssey skills and teamwork to help their community with an Odyssey Angels project. As Mr. Sulsky says, "I think that global issues like racism and the pandemic, only prove more about why we need to nurture the talents of our young kids."

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]]> We cross state lines for our biggest episode ever! Coaches Doug MacConnell and Justin Sulsky join us with several of their fourth and fifth grade OMers from the Long Beach Public Schools in New York. 

Mr. Mac and Mr. Sulsky discuss how they started coaching teams a few years ago – coming in with no past Odyssey experience – and worked their way to bring teams to World Finals both in-person, and virtually this year. Their team members jump in with stories and strategies from creating their solutions. And even the district's assistant superintendent, Dr. Paul Romanelli, was on the call to lend his support!

Our conversation emphasizes how an Odyssey of the Mind team is like a family. The young OMers discuss how they are using their Odyssey skills and teamwork to help their community with an Odyssey Angels project. As Mr. Sulsky says, "I think that global issues like racism and the pandemic, only prove more about why we need to nurture the talents of our young kids."

Support the show

]]> http://www.paodyssey.com/podcast Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind - Creativity Unlimited in PA Buzzsprout-4402418 Wed, 01 Jul 2020 14:00:00 -0400 3556 Odyssey of the Mind, STEM, STEAM, education, arts, engineering, learning, curriculum, k-12, public, schools, teaching, teachers, skills, creativity, creative 4 full false Graduates Talk OM Skills and Memories Graduates Talk OM Skills and Memories A special edition of PODyssey of the Mind: We're joined by Odyssey alumni from across the state of Pennsylvania for our first ever Virtual Graduation Ceremony. Members of our state board who are past OMers shared their wisdom for our graduating seniors, who had their own stories to add. It was a special evening that we are excited to share with you! Congratulations to the class of 2020!

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]]> A special edition of PODyssey of the Mind: We're joined by Odyssey alumni from across the state of Pennsylvania for our first ever Virtual Graduation Ceremony. Members of our state board who are past OMers shared their wisdom for our graduating seniors, who had their own stories to add. It was a special evening that we are excited to share with you! Congratulations to the class of 2020!

Support the show

]]> http://www.paodyssey.com/graduation Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind - Creativity Unlimited in PA Buzzsprout-4206527 Tue, 16 Jun 2020 23:00:00 -0400 1790 3 full false Abby, Lorna, and Luca Abby, Lorna, and Luca What do a bubble machine, magnetic silverware, and melted Starbursts have in common? Find out in this week's episode featuring North Penn High School teammates Abby Boquist, Lorna Loughery, and Luca Scott! A graduating high school senior, an incoming high school senior, and a college freshman respectively, these three OMers reflect on how their Odyssey paths brought them together to advance to World Finals in 2019. 

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]]> What do a bubble machine, magnetic silverware, and melted Starbursts have in common? Find out in this week's episode featuring North Penn High School teammates Abby Boquist, Lorna Loughery, and Luca Scott! A graduating high school senior, an incoming high school senior, and a college freshman respectively, these three OMers reflect on how their Odyssey paths brought them together to advance to World Finals in 2019. 

Support the show

]]> Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind - Creativity Unlimited in PA Buzzsprout-4109066 Tue, 09 Jun 2020 18:00:00 -0400 3610 2 full false Kartik and Robbie Kartik and Robbie In our inaugural episode, graduating Pennsbury High School seniors Kartik Kannan and Robbie Oleynick discuss some of their favorite Odyssey memories, mentors, and – of course – pins. They also explain the challenges they've faced as high school seniors during the pandemic. 

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]]> In our inaugural episode, graduating Pennsbury High School seniors Kartik Kannan and Robbie Oleynick discuss some of their favorite Odyssey memories, mentors, and – of course – pins. They also explain the challenges they've faced as high school seniors during the pandemic. 

Support the show

]]> Pennsylvania Odyssey of the Mind - Creativity Unlimited in PA Buzzsprout-4016405 Tue, 02 Jun 2020 13:00:00 -0400 3723 1 full false