Advertise on podcast: Be a Better Ally: critical conversations for K12 educators

Award-winning author Sharon Cameron joins the podcast to discuss her novel, Up from the Ashes . Sharon shares her meticulous process of creating "dramatized reality" by working closely with the family of her real-life subjects, Hyman and Selma, to honor their legacy with accuracy and respect . She also opens up about the messy reality of the creative process, how her background as a musician influences the rhythm of her sentences, and why a lifelong love of The Lord of the Rings taught her that ordinary people hold the power to change the world . In This Episode, We Cover: The Weight and Joy of Research: How Sharon balances the devastating realities of Holocaust research with the profound joy and resilience found in real families' stories . "Dramatized Reality": The ethical responsibility of writing about real historical figures and the importance of building a common vision with their descendants . The Messy Creative Process: Why writers must give themselves permission to write terrible first drafts, and Sharon's need to isolate and fully immerse herself to find the story . Musical Storytelling: How Sharon's background in music and teaching translates into the pacing, swelling, and emotional rhythm of her writing . The Power of the Ordinary: How reading fantasy literature as a child instilled the core belief that ordinary people are not powerless—a theme deeply woven into Up from the Ashes . Books & Resources Mentioned: Up from the Ashes by Sharon Cameron The Other Bennet Sister (A Jane Austen spin-off Sharon is currently reading for lighter fare) The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (Which Sharon estimates she has read nearly 50 times) Traditional polyphonic folk music from a men's choir in the country of Georgia https://sharoncameronbooks.com/

Introducing EZRA FRECH: "I Was Put on This Earth to Change the Way We See Disability" from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty Ezra Frech shares the mindset, discipline, and determination that have shaped his career and led him to win two Paralympic gold medals. From turning heartbreak in Tokyo into motivation to using visualization and meditation to perform under pressure, Ezra reveals how he prepares for the biggest moments of his career. He also opens up about competing on Dancing With the Stars, breaking down misconceptions about disability, and founding Angel City Sports to make adaptive sports more accessible to the next generation. Instagram Teen Accounts: Built-in protections for teens. Learn More. At https://chase.com/sapphirereserve JAY'S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe here: https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast What We Discuss: 00:00 Introduction 01:20 "Pressure Doesn't Exist" 02:51 The Day Ezra Was Born 06:24 The 15-Hour Surgery At Age 3 11:15 The Kindergarten Letter 13:29 Learning To Handle The Stares 16:21 Overcoming Stigma And Bullying 23:18 Falling In Love With Sports 27:00 Changing Culture & Looking Ahead to LA 2028 31:09 Mentorship From Pau Gasol 33:56 A Message From Novak Djokovic 36:53 How Do You Define Confidence? 40:43 The Moment That Inspired His Paralympic Dream 44:35 Making Team USA At 14 48:41 How Running Blades Actually Work 52:09 Tokyo Heartbreak & "The Man In The Arena" 58:53 Visualizing Paris Gold Every Morning 01:04:50 Protecting His Good Leg 01:11:33 Winning Double Gold & The 20-Minute Rule 01:17:00 Meditation Under Pressure 01:20:34 A Lifelong Dream to Compete on Dancing With the Stars 01:24:14 Inside the Dancing With the Stars Family 01:27:19 Learning To Dance On A Blade 01:30:12 Pressure Is A Privilege 01:32:10 Making Adaptive Sports Mainstream 01:37:10 Ezra On Final 5 Episode Resources Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/ezrafrech/ TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@ezrafrech Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/teamezra05/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

How do we raise innovators, rebels, and revolutionaries? This week, award-winning author A.S. King joins the show to answer that question and discuss her latest middle-grade novel, It Came From the Creek. We explore the real-life youth activists fighting book bans, the heartbreaking decline of creative writing in public schools, and the deep, late-night research into negligent chemical dumping that inspired her new book. Along the way, A.S. King shares her personal journey with self-esteem, the importance of nurturing lifelong childhood friendships, and how one teacher handing her a Paul Zindel novel changed the trajectory of her life. Key Takeaways Youth Activism: How students in Pennsylvania successfully organized to overturn a massive school board book ban when the adults could not. The Creativity Crisis: Why heavy testing burdens have pushed creative writing out of 90% of public schools, and why story-building is an essential life skill. The Puzzle of Writing: A look into A.S. King's creative process, how she weaves together haunted houses, the 1980 Philadelphia Phillies, and environmental hazards. Deep-Dive Research: The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests and 3 A.M. rabbit holes that uncovered the true history of toxic dumping in Pottstown, PA. The Power of Friendship: How A.S. King's perspective on connection and self-esteem has evolved, and why childhood friendships are worth nurturing well into adulthood. Mentioned in This Episode It Came From the Creek by A.S. King Me and Marvin Gardens by A.S. King (Companion novel) The Pigman by Paul Zindel About the Guest A.S. King is a multi-award-winning author of young adult and middle-grade fiction. She is the recipient of the Printz Medal and the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature. Known for her authentic, surreal, and deeply empathetic storytelling, she has spent her career championing the voices and complex inner lives of young readers. Connect with A.S. King https://www.as-king.com/ Have a question for Tricia? tricia(@)shiftingschools(dotcom)

What can picture books teach us about helping children feel heard—and learning to ask for help ourselves? Author and illustrator Christy Mandin returns to explore Millie Fleur's Pumpkin Problem and Millie Fleur's Worst Day Ever. Through her imaginative characters, Christy opens up conversations about creativity, community, and respecting children's emotional experiences. Together, we consider why a child's "worst day ever" deserves our attention, even when the problem seems small to an adult. Christy shares how life in her neurodivergent household shapes her approach to communication and why supporting someone involves both expressing our needs and noticing the needs of others. We also go behind the scenes of her creative process—from gardening and escaping chickens to a beloved shed character—and hear her refreshingly honest three-day rule for processing feedback. In this episode, we explore: Respecting children as whole people with experiences that matter. Asking for help and challenging the fear of burdening others. Using picture books to spark conversations and build community. Finding characters and creative inspiration in everyday life. Making space to process feedback before deciding what comes next. For educators, librarians, parents, and anyone nurturing creativity, this conversation offers an invitation to notice more, listen closely, and make room for support. Explore Christy's books and work: https://www.christymandin.com Discover the Millie Fleur series: https://www.scholastic.com/site/millie-fleur.html

What makes a monster? NYT bestselling author Claribel A. Ortega just finished the five-book Witchlings series, and she's got thoughts. We talk about The Sims as a storytelling engine, why curiosity about death and darkness is something to welcome, and how kids are finding their first real friends through Seven, Valley, and Thorn. Claribel shares how she held a whole series in her head from day one, why "writing" includes walks with her dog Steven, and why she refuses to write about community without living it. Educators: stick around for Ghost Squad Week and her classroom resources. Gamers: she leaves you with two indie picks that might eat your weekend. Chapters 00:00 Steven, her canine manager 02:38 Why raccoons are half monster 04:20 Respect across species 05:53 The Sims and worldbuilding 07:48 Why we're curious about the dark 09:56 What readers write to her 11:58 Planning five books from the start 14:14 Showing up for inspiration 15:53 Community, Ghost Squad Week, and Louise Penny 20:24 Design and crediting illustrators 24:33 Game recommendations 26:35 What's next: Thirty Ways to Kill Your Avatar About the Guest Claribel A. Ortega is a New York Times bestselling author born in the Bronx to a Dominican family. She wrote Ghost Squad, the graphic novel Frizzy, and the Witchlings series, which concludes with The Sea Witch Prophecy. Resources Mentioned Claribel's site: https://www.claribelortega.com Witchlings series: https://www.claribelortega.com/witchlings Educator resources + Ghost Squad Week: https://www.claribelortega.com/educators-teachers Paralives: https://www.paralives.com Dressmaker on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4019220/Dressmaker/ Louise Penny: https://louisepenny.com Website designer Danika Corrall: http://www.danikacorrall.com

What helps a young person believe their creative ideas are worth pursuing? New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Guillory joins Tricia Friedman to discuss her first young adult novel, It's Only Dancing, inspired by Dirty Dancing. Together, they explore teenage friendship, artistic possibility, and what it means to write about young people with respect. Jasmine shares how an encouraging friend helped her begin writing, why finishing an imperfect draft matters, and how her creative process changes from book to book. She also reflects on the joy of learning something difficult—a conversation with particular resonance for educators thinking about creativity in the age of AI. In this episode, we explore: Taking teenagers' passions and perspectives seriously. How unexpected friendships help us try something new. Supporting a creative person through listening, questions, and encouragement. Making room for the struggle and discovery involved in learning. Valuing art for the joy it brings, alongside its career possibilities. Listen with this question in mind: Who in your classroom or community needs encouragement to keep going with an idea they're still learning how to express? Featured book: It's Only Dancing by Jasmine Guillory. https://www.jasmineguillory.com/its-only-dancing

This short episode asks for your help. In anticipation of the upcoming AAIE Institute in Atlanta, might your students want to weigh in and share their feedback on questions we will be using for focus groups and surveys? If yes, share this link with them: https://student-voice-questions.netlify.app/ Want to join me this November for an online series that begins the critical work of reimagining assessment? Learn more: https://cdlt.isa.nl/events/ai-attention-and-the-architecture-of-assessment

Does the world keep getting stranger, or are we hearing more about how strange it has always been? Returning guest Brian Boone joins Tricia to explore curiosity, creativity, and human behavior through the stories in Uncle John's All-Knowing Bathroom Reader. From the ways horses reshaped human societies to a chimpanzee's place in early morning television, Brian shares stories that invite us to reconsider what we think of as normal. We also go behind the scenes of the book's collaborative process. Brian explains how the team traces stories back to primary sources, checks claims, and turns a writer's enthusiasm for an unfamiliar subject into something readers want to explore. In this episode, we discuss: Why Brian believes greater access to information shapes our sense that these times are uniquely strange. What our relationships with other species reveal about human history. How unusual experiments and failed ideas open up conversations about creativity. Why fact-checking requires more work when stories circulate across multiple websites. How collaborators with different interests expand one another's curiosity. What decades of writing trivia have taught Brian about wisdom and our desire to learn. For educators, this conversation offers a question worth bringing into the classroom: How might a surprising story get someone interested in a subject they thought wasn't for them? Featured book: Uncle John's All-Knowing Bathroom Reader https://bathroomreader.com/

What does it look like to be bold about AI in education while remaining humble enough to revise what does not work? In this episode, Tricia Friedman responds to recent guidance from MIT by sharing a practical way to experiment with AI, assessment, and curriculum design. The challenge invites students to research a topic, develop the concept for a board game, select mechanics that support its theme, and pitch their idea. Along the way, students must make five deliberate choices: three moments when AI could assist their work and two when the task should remain human. They then explain what each choice contributed, complicated, or diminished. Tricia introduces a shorter version of her free GAMES Framework for educators who want to explore game design without committing to a complete game-development unit. Her example draws inspiration from the history of the Spokane River, but the structure can be adapted to almost any subject or local context. The episode also considers: Why AI literacy requires judgment, not simply tool proficiency How game design can bring together research, writing, creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration Why the relationship between a game's theme and mechanics matters How playtesting gives students useful feedback about difficulty, clarity, and engagement What board-game boxes, reviews, playthrough videos, and Kickstarter campaigns can teach us as contemporary texts How the challenge could extend into mathematics, economics, visual art, media literacy, or local history Why alternative forms of assessment can help students make their thinking more visible The goal is not to use AI throughout the assignment. It is to give students genuine practice deciding when AI adds value, when it distracts from the work, and what evidence supports that judgment. Explore the free GAMES Framework: https://shifting-schools-games.netlify.app/salmon-challenge   Read the MIT report referenced in the episode: https://aiandeducation.mit.edu/   Have a unit that does not seem to connect naturally with game design or AI literacy? Send Tricia the topic and challenge her to find the connection. Contact Tricia: [email protected]

What do young people understand that adults mistakenly believe they have hidden from them? Award-winning author Tiffany D. Jackson returns to the podcast to discuss Ghost in the Night, her haunting middle-grade novel set against the ghost tours, buried histories, and complicated beauty of Savannah, Georgia. Tiffany invites educators to take young readers—and their capacity to confront difficult subjects—seriously. We explore why children sometimes attach themselves intensely to a particular interest while processing grief, and what educators might discover if they look beyond the fascination and ask what need it may be meeting. We also discuss the importance of grief literacy, the trust created when adults acknowledge what children already know, and the difference between protecting young people and underestimating them. The conversation moves beyond the ghosts of Savannah to examine whose histories become tourist attractions, whose stories remain untold, and how literature can inspire students to investigate the overlooked histories of their own communities. Tiffany also shares why young characters need opportunities to form friendships without constant adult choreography, how she calibrates horror for middle-grade readers, and the deceptively simple practice she recommends to every aspiring writer: read closely enough to notice how a story works. This episode explores: Why educators need to take children's inner lives seriously How intense interests can sometimes help young people process grief The role of grief literacy in schools and classrooms How honest conversations can build trust between adults and children Why young people need agency in friendship and problem-solving Whose histories are preserved, promoted, ignored, or buried How place can function as a character in a novel What horror offers middle-grade readers How students can learn the craft of writing by reading like writers At its heart, this conversation asks educators to consider what becomes possible when we stop assuming young people cannot handle the truth—and begin giving them stories that honour their intelligence, curiosity, and humanity.

What happens when we stop treating unaffordable healthcare as an individual problem—and recognize it as a shared crisis? In this episode of Be a Better Ally, Tricia Friedman speaks with Dr. Camille Busette about One Nation, Overcharged, a people-powered movement demanding a healthcare system that puts people over profits. Dr. Busette explains why so many people experience the rising cost of healthcare privately, even as families across the United States face the same impossible choices: medication or groceries, an inhaler or gas, necessary care or financial security. When these struggles remain isolated, it is easy to mistake a broken system for a personal failure. But sharing our stories can change that. Together, Tricia and Dr. Busette explore how personal experiences can build collective understanding—and how conversations in book clubs, faith communities, community gatherings, and even art spaces can help transform that understanding into action. They also discuss: Why asking "Whose perspectives are missing?" can change how we define a problem How healthcare costs affect people far beyond the person receiving care Why storytelling is essential to building people-powered solutions What those with greater financial privilege need to understand about healthcare affordability How seemingly small necessities, such as access to an inhaler, can prevent medical and financial trauma Why we are all responsible for one another How listeners can speak up, share their experiences, and organize within their communities As Dr. Busette reminds us, when one person cannot afford the care they need, the consequences reach their family, neighbors, community, and all of us. Healthcare affordability is not someone else's issue. It is a social and economic responsibility we share. Learn more, share your story, or find and organize a local event through the One Nation, Overcharged campaign.

Renata Castro on Supporting Immigrant Families, Choosing Competent Counsel, and Staying Resilient My guest today is immigration attorney Renata Castro,ESQ. founder of USA4All, a law firm focused on helping immigrants, survivors of domestic violence, and victims of human trafficking. We talk about the role educators can play when families are facing immigration stress, how to recognize real professional competence, and why empathy matters most when it is paired with expertise. Renata also shares the personal story behind her work, the emotional toll of immigration law, and the habits that help her keep going through difficult cases. The conversation widens into a bigger lesson about learning, resilience, and refusing to let other people define your potential. Key topics In this episode, Renata shares how her own experience as an immigrant and survivor of abuse shaped the creation of USA for All. She explains that the firm has 5 working attorneys and a total staff of 90 across several countries, with about 3,200 active cases and roughly 2,000 new calls each month. We discuss why educators are often the first people families turn to, and how the best support is to listen, show empathy, and avoid giving legal advice. Renata suggests educators can help by referring families to more than one attorney when possible and by offering practical handouts from trusted nonprofit or pro bono sources. She makes a strong case that empathy alone is not enough in legal work - clients should prioritize competence, clear strategy, and honest communication over chemistry. We talk about why immigration law is demanding, multidisciplinary, and often emotionally draining, yet also deeply rewarding. Renata describes the importance of resilience, detachment from personal criticism, and not letting one loss define a whole mission. She shares the routines and supports that keep her grounded, including family, a partner who helps her stay objective, exercise, mentors, therapists, and a mindset of not spiraling. She encourages young people to stay intellectually curious, read widely, and treat learning as a privilege rather than a chore. The conversation closes with a reminder that success takes time, effort, and a willingness to sit with adversity. Timestamps 00:00 - Why educators are often the first support line for immigrant families 00:34 - Renata's personal immigrant story and the origin of USA for All 01:58 - Serving survivors of domestic violence and trafficking 03:31 - What educators should do instead of giving legal advice 04:27 - Why listening and school counseling matter in crisis situations 07:25 - Competence versus empathy when choosing a lawyer 11:24 - Why the best legal work comes from challenge, not cookie-cutter cases 13:45 - Not taking client or public criticism personally 15:07 - Active caseloads, new inquiries, and the reality of immigration practice 18:16 - How family, exercise, mentors, and therapy help Renata stay grounded 21:49 - Why immigration law stays intellectually exciting 23:16 - Learning as a privilege, not a chore 26:01 - Kim Kardashian, persistence, and the myth of instant success 28:48 - A final reminder to keep going and trust your own path     Action items If you work with immigrant families, listen first and avoid offering legal advice. Refer people to qualified attorneys instead of trying to solve the legal issue yourself. Encourage access to school counselors or psychological support when families are overwhelmed. When choosing professional help, look for competence, clarity, and honesty. For your own resilience, build support outside of work and protect time for recovery.

What can a suspense novelist teach educators about empathy, creativity, and the danger of reducing people to simple labels? In this episode of Be a Better Ally, Tricia Friedman speaks with bestselling author Lisa Gardner about the psychology behind her novels and her enduring fascination with the nature of evil. After 35 years of researching crime and human behaviour, Lisa no longer sees good and evil as an either-or question. People are layered, shaped by experience, relationships, choices, and generational trauma. That understanding guides her approach to character development. Lisa begins writing without knowing who the villain will be. Instead, she allows each character to reveal more of themselves as the story develops. Even a villain, she argues, needs a moral code. Their conversation moves beyond writing to consider the conditions that make creative thinking possible. Lisa discusses hiking with her dogs, letting her mind wander, cold-calling experts, learning through games and puzzles, and giving characters enough room to surprise her. She also explains why publishing is a team sport and why accomplished writers benefit from supporting one another rather than treating creativity as a competition. For educators, this conversation raises questions about the space students are given to wonder, investigate, revise their assumptions, and create without already knowing the answer. In this episode: Why suspense helps readers explore fear and human behaviour What fiction can teach us about empathy and moral complexity Why Lisa does not decide who the villain is before she begins writing How walking and unstructured time support creative thought What careful research adds to imaginative work Why games, puzzles, and reading mattered during Lisa's childhood How collaboration supports even highly accomplished artists What educators can learn from Lisa's distinction between individual craft and collective support The real-life research and creative process behind You'll Be Sorry Lisa Gardner's latest novel, You'll Be Sorry, brings together a missing family, a decades-old mystery, small-town secrets, a witchy rhyme, complicated characters, and one especially important dog. Learn more: https://www.lisagardner.com/

What if readers and writers received the same attention, celebration, and investment as star athletes? In this episode, Tricia speaks with Super Bowl champion, children's author, and literacy advocate Malcolm Mitchell about his new picture book, My Super Duper Me. They discuss the lasting effect of a few encouraging words, the role librarians can play in helping children see their own possibilities, and why adults should never underestimate the power of simply showing up with a positive message. Malcolm shares his own journey from struggling reader to member of the Silverleaf Book Club, published author, and founder of Share the Magic Foundation. He explains why reading is not only an academic skill, but also a source of confidence, community, opportunity, and belonging. The conversation also considers what schools and communities could learn from the cultural power of sports. If young people see athletes celebrated everywhere, how might their aspirations change if readers, writers, books, and libraries were made just as visible? Malcolm also offers a candid look at his writing practice and the connection between athletic and creative training: show up, make the most of each repetition, and be willing to try again tomorrow. In this episode: • Why brief words of encouragement can stay with a young person • The librarian at the heart of My Super Duper Me • Malcolm's journey from struggling reader to passionate literacy advocate • How a welcoming book club helped change his life • Why reading can build confidence, connection, and belonging • What it would mean to celebrate literacy as loudly as sports • How educators can participate in free Share the Magic reading challenges • What football taught Malcolm about writing, practice, and persistence Learn more about Malcolm Mitchell, Share the Magic Foundation, and its free reading programs at readwithmalcolm.com.

What can a book offer a child before they understand its words? For bestselling author, artist, and art therapist Sandra Magsamen, the answer begins with connection. Her new board book, Hello, Baby, was created for children from birth to age three as a bright, playful welcome into reading—and into the family awaiting them. Sandra joins Tricia to discuss how large illustrations, expressive faces, melodic language, and an embedded mirror help babies engage with a book. They explore why reading with a young child is about much more than building vocabulary. It is also a chance to snuggle, play, bond, and communicate one of the earliest messages a child can receive: you are loved, you are seen, and you belong here. The conversation also makes room for chewed books, spilled milk, crowded bookshelves, and the occasional "uh-oh." Sandra explains why children need permission to touch, explore, and make mistakes—and why treating books as untouchable objects can get in the way of curiosity. Sandra also reflects on collaborating with her daughter, preparing to become a grandmother, and continuing to experiment after decades as a successful artist. She shares why creative growth requires us to loosen our grip on what has worked before and remain open to who we are becoming. In this episode: How early reading supports connection and belonging Designing words and illustrations for babies Making books playful, sensory, and inviting Allowing children to explore without demanding perfection How stories become part of a family's shared language Why artists—and people—need to keep changing   SANDRA MAGSAMEN is the author and illustrator of many books for young children, including the picture book When I Grow Up I Want to Be Me, as well as a number of bestselling novelty titles, including Everybody Goes Nighty-Night, named a Best Board Book of 2018 by The Children's Book Review; Baby Love; I Love You, Little Pumpkin; and Peek-a-Boo, I Love You. As an artist, an art therapist, and a mom, she uses her creativity to remind people to express themselves and connect with others. Her lifestyle brands, products, and books are sold worldwide. Visit her at sandramagsamen.com