A Practical Blueprint for Teaching Life Skills With Rob Heller

Grades can look great while real-world readiness quietly falls apart. Jackie sat down with Rob Heller, founder of the Boost Program and author of The Missing Course for Today’s Youth, to dig into the skills schools often assume students already have and why that assumption is costing young people in relationships, mental health, and career growth. Rob breaks down “soft skills” for what they really are: hard, learnable life skills made up of micro-skills. We talk about why teamwork, leadership, and conflict resolution don’t improve through group projects alone, and how foundational behaviors like active listening, asking better questions, nonverbal communication, integrity, and refraining from gossip create better collaboration in school and at work. If you care about instructional design, curriculum development, or social-emotional learning, you’ll hear practical strategies for turning broad traits like confidence and resilience into real learning experiences that stick. We also tackle the biggest force shaping human connection right now: smartphones and social media. Rob shares a lesson framework for “you control your phone versus it controlling you,” including a realistic 30-day plan, journaling, and accountability check-ins so students can build healthier tech boundaries without rejecting technology entirely. Subscribe for more conversations on teaching beyond content, share this with an educator or parent, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What life skill do you think belongs in every school schedule? 🔗 Website and Social Links Please visit Rob Heller’s website and social media links below. Rob Heller’s Website Rob’s Facebook Page Rob’s X Page Rob’s Instagram Page Rob’s TikTok Page Rob’s YouTube Channel 📢 Call-to-Action: To learn more about Rob Heller and the Boost Program, visit the Boost Program website. There, you can explore the program’s 26 essential life skills, learn how to bring Boost to a school or youth organization, and discover Rob’s book, The Missing Course for Today’s Youth. You can also connect with Rob through his social media channels for additional insights and resources on preparing young people for success in life and work.  Send Jackie a Text Join PodMatch! Use the link to join PodMatch, a place for hosts and guests to connect. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show 💟 Designing with Love + allows you to support the show by keeping the mic on and the ideas flowing. Click on the link above to provide your support. ☕ Buy Me a Coffee is another way you can support the show, either as a one-time gift or through a monthly subscription.  🗣️ Want to be a guest on Designing with Love? Send Jackie Pelegrin a message on PodMatch, here: Be a guest on the show 🌐 Check out the show's website here: Designing with Love 📱 Send a text to the show by clicking the Send Jackie a Text link above.  👍🏼 Please make sure to like and share this episode with others. Here's to great learning!