This podcast episode explores the concept of grit and its application in education. It discusses the controversy surrounding the teaching and grading of students' grit, the rise of the concept in the American education system, and its integration into the national curriculum. The episode also examines the challenges and criticisms faced by the concept of grit, including its overlap with conscientiousness and its potential to instill deficit thinking. The conversation highlights the importance of a nuanced understanding of grit and the need for a comprehensive approach to teaching and character-building in schools.