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Captain of the Class With Eric Austin | Ship's Log 16

Project Candor: Ordinary People. Unexpected Stories

Chapters
0:43
Meet Eric Austin
2:04
Three Words Your Students Would Use
5:56
Losing His Father
17:19
The Subject He Struggled With
20:05
What Stays the Same in Every Classroom
29:09
The Moments That Stick
32:28
Do Kids Learn From What You Say or How You Show Up?
33:49
Who Stepped in After Dad Died
37:14
Seeing Yourself in Quiet Kids
40:31
Two Truths and a Lie
54:01
K9s For Warriors
57:48
Closing
Project Candor: Ordinary People. Unexpected Stories
Captain of the Class With Eric Austin | Ship's Log 16
Apr 16, 2026 Season 1 Episode 16
Jeanne Andersen

Guest Quote:

“Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from making bad decisions.” — Mark Twain

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Project Candor, host Jeanne Andersen sits down with Eric Austin — a lifelong educator with more than 30 years in the classroom across North Carolina and South Carolina. Eric has been named Teacher of the Year and earned multiple Teacher of the Month awards, but the real story has never been about the trophies. It’s about the thirty kids who chose to spend their free time in his room.

Eric and Jeanne explore what it means to show up for students the way a good coach shows up for an athlete — especially for kids who are quietly struggling. Eric lost his father to ALS at the start of ninth grade, and that experience shaped everything about the kind of teacher — and the kind of man — he became. He talks about three boys learning to cook for themselves, the neighbor who checked in, the coaches who kept them out of trouble, and how he went on to be that presence for thousands of kids who needed it.

The episode closes with a lively Two Truths and a Lie — including whether Eric really competed as a Division I lacrosse player, whether he’s on a quest to visit every South Carolina state park, and whether Citizen Kane is truly his all-time favorite film. Plus: a heartfelt shoutout to K9s For Warriors, a Northeast Florida organization that pairs rescued dogs with veterans facing PTSD.

Guest Bio:

Eric Austin is a lifelong educator with more than 30 years of teaching experience in North Carolina and South Carolina. Known for his humor, his honesty, and his deep investment in young people, Eric built a career around showing up consistently — in the classroom, on the wrestling mat, and in the lives of students who needed someone in their corner.

Connect with Eric Austin:

Eric doesn’t have an offering to promote — his work has always been about investing in people. If this conversation meant something to you, leave a comment or find a way to serve in your own community.

Eric’s Call to Action:

One organization Project Candor would love to highlight is K9s For Warriors, based right here in Northeast Florida. They pair rescued dogs with veterans facing PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and military sexual trauma — and volunteers are a vital part of that mission. Learn more at K9sForWarriors.org.

Project Candor Standard Footer:

Who do you know who’d make a great guest for the show? Email: info@projectcandor.com

Website:  https://www.projectcandor.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ProjectCandor/
LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/projectcandor/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/project.candor/
YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@ProjectCandorPodcast

Who do you know who'd make a great guest for the show? Please let us know.
Email: info@projectcandor.com

Website:   https://www.projectcandor.com

Social Media

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YouTube:    https://www.youtube.com/@ProjectCandorPodcast