Cultural Connections Lab

Taylor Tribble, Kelly Forbes, and Mike Overholt
  • 5.0 (4)
  • LANGUAGE LEARNING
  • UPDATED DAILY
Cultural Connections Lab

Welcome to Cultural Connections Lab, a podcast that explores the intersections of culture, travel, education, and language learning. We believe that learning about other cultures can be a transformative experience that broadens our understanding of the world, breaks down barriers, and promotes empathy and respect for diverse perspectives. Each episode, we take a deep dive into a different cultural topic, sharing stories and insights from experts and everyday people who have experienced it firsthand. Our hosts, Dr. J. Taylor Tribble, Dr. Kelly Forbes, and Mike Overholt come from diverse backgrounds and bring their own unique perspectives to the table. From seasoned travelers to language enthusiasts, our team is passionate about exploring new cultures and sharing their knowledge with others. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or just starting out on your cultural jouney, Cultural Connections Lab (CCL) has something for you. Join us as we explore the world and make meaningful connections across cultures. Connect with us on Social Media: LinkedInTwitterFacebook

  1. FEB 24

    Miguel Briones

    Today’s guest is Miguel A. Briones, an award-winning educator, community organizer, public speaker, and author. Miguel is also the founder of Know Culture Publishing, established in 2023 with the mission to empower marginalized communities impacted by generational trauma, systemic inequities, and cultural displacement. Through its work, Know Culture Publishing creates opportunities to share diverse stories, provide access to critical resources, and preserve local history, fostering a stronger sense of belonging through literature, performances, and heritage preservation. The organization also offers tailored content that addresses the social-emotional needs of individuals and families, providing practical strategies for building resilience and confidence while navigating life’s challenges. One of its upcoming projects, ¿Por qué Hoy?: Lupe Garcia and the East Austin IMOM’s, documents and honors the history and advocacy of grassroots changemakers, preserving their legacy for future generations. Miguel Briones, who was born and raised in Central El Paso, Texas, credits his early life as a "travieso" with shaping the stories and cultural experiences that now inform his work. As the self-published author and illustrator of the bilingual children’s book Como Mi Padrino, Miguel has received the Honorable Mention Award for Best Latino-Themed Young Adult Book of 2023 from the International Latino Book Awards. His follow-up book, Macho No Machismo, has been widely acclaimed and added to over 30 public and school libraries across Texas. Through his writing and illustrations, Miguel’s hope is to inspire and empower future generations by uplifting the lived experiences, voices, and stories of Chicanos, Hispanics, Latinos, and all members of the Spanish-speaking community. When he’s not writing or illustrating, Miguel enjoys writing music, volunteering with local and national organizations, and writing about himself in the third person. Whether through storytelling, publishing, or advocacy, Miguel is committed to amplifying voices, preserving culture, and helping communities heal and thrive. Website: https://www.miguelbrioneswrites.com/ LinkedIn Instagram

    1h 35m

  2. FEB 3

    Sam Aguirre

    Samuel Aguirre is the Senior Director of the Consortium and State Relations Department at WIDA. His team engages and supports WIDA Consortium member states to ensure successful implementation of all WIDA products and services. The Consortium and States Relations team also engages and facilitates state expertise within WIDA to deliver high quality products and services for multilingual learners and their educators. Sam’s life experiences as an immigrant and language learner in the U.S., work as a classroom educator, advocate working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and director of multilingual student services at a state education agency provide a strong foundation for his role at WIDA. Sam joined WIDA in fall of 2019 as director of WIDA Español and transitioned to his current role in August 2024. Sam holds a bachelor’s degree in Bilingual Bicultural Elementary Education from Northeastern Illinois University and a masters in Second Language Studies with a concentration in Engaged Language Policy and Practice from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. Sam is currently completing a doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Bilingual Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. E-mail: saaguirre@wisc.edu LinkedIn WIDA Webinars

    1h 19m
  3. Empowering Multilingual Learners in the Digital Classroom

    JAN 20

    Empowering Multilingual Learners in the Digital Classroom

    Explore how digital-age teaching strategies can transform learning for multilingual and multicultural students in this engaging podcast. We’ll uncover the advantages of flipped learning and discuss how to design equitable approaches that meet the needs of diverse learners. Dive into practical methods for balancing the six language domains—listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing, and visually representing—within innovative, tech-enhanced curricula. Learn how to craft assessments that foster critical thinking and creativity, and discover the power of virtual communities in enhancing collaboration between students, parents, and educators. Finally, we’ll examine how schools can create holistic digital ecosystems that ensure equitable access while celebrating the linguistic richness of all students. Perfect for educators, administrators, and advocates committed to inclusive, forward-thinking education! Links: Digital-Age Teaching for English Learners and Appendices & Resources

    1h 18m
  4. David Rogers

    12/23/2024

    David Rogers

    David Rogers supports the work of Dual Language Education of New Mexico-DLeNM whose mission is to promote the effective design and implementation of dual language education in New Mexico, and beyond. In his thirty-five years as an educator, David has served as an education volunteer and program coordinator in Peace Corps Paraguay, South America, a bilingual special education teacher in South Bronx, NY, and as a dual language classroom teacher, bilingual program coordinator, and school principal in the South Valley of Albuquerque. In 1996 David and his colleagues helped to organize the first La Cosecha Dual Language Conference, which was hosted by DLeNM, where David served from 1999 until 2022 as its first Executive Director. David is an advocate for culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and has provided leadership support for advocacy groups like Transform Education New Mexico and NM Hispanic Education Advisory Council, and NCEL. David is husband to dual language educator Rosie González-Rogers, and together they have four bilingual/multicultural daughters and call Albuquerque, New Mexico their home. www.dlenm.org https://www.lacosechaconference.org/

    1h 29m
  5. Dr. Jobi Lawrence

    12/10/2024

    Dr. Jobi Lawrence

    Dr. Jobi Lawrence has almost three decades of experience working across all levels in the field of education and as a parent to three grown adult children. From her early career at the local level as a classroom teacher, to serving as the Title III Director at a state education agency, to her role at the national level as the Director for the National Clearinghouse of English Language Acquisition (NCELA) to her current role as the Director of Product Development and Strategic Partnerships for UCLA-CRESST (The National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing), (supporting ELPA21) she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in working with students and families. Dr. Lawrence has developed and delivered professional development, publications, guidance documents, and toolkits for use with a variety of education stakeholders to meet the needs of diverse students and their families. She has conducted program evaluations in more than 300 (urban, suburban, and rural) schools across the country over the past 30 years. Connect with Dr. Lawrence on LinkedIn and check out her podcast called Assets. You can also find her article titled Being True to Form at this link.

    1h 22m
  6. Dr. Okhee Lee

    11/25/2024

    Dr. Okhee Lee

    Okhee Lee is a professor in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development at New York University. She is committed to advancing research, policy, and practice that promote STEM and language learning for all students, particularly multilingual learners. Lee was a member of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) writing team and served as leader for the NGSS Diversity and Equity Team. She also was a member of the Steering Committee for the Understanding Language Initiative at Stanford University. Her work involves integrating science, language, and computational thinking with a focus on multilingual learners. Her latest work addresses justice-centered STEM education with multilingual learners by integrating multiple STEM subjects, including data science and computer science, to address societal challenges using the case of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the early 1990s, her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation. Lee brings research and policy to practice. Her team developed a yearlong fifth-grade science curriculum called Science And Integrated Language, or SAIL, that translates contemporary science standards into classroom practice with multilingual learners. The curriculum is in a field trial at New York City Public Schools with funding from the National Science Foundation. Using the SAIL curriculum, Lee’s team published teacher resources in collaboration with the New York State Education Department. In addition, her team published teacher resources in collaboration with the National Science Teaching Association and made them available across the country and internationally. Lee provides leadership for major organizations and institutions across multiple fields, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Educational Research Association, Center for Applied Linguistics, National Academy of Education, National Association for Research in Science Teaching, National Science Foundation, New York State Boards of Cooperative Education Services, New York State Education Department, and New York City Department of Education. For more information, please visit: https://www.nyusail.org/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okhee_Lee https://wikitia.com/wiki/Okhee_Lee https://www.okheelee.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmptRBGO6G6yl4Ph0n7Pr_w/featured https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/people/okhee-lee Latest Article: Transforming STEM by Focusing on Justice

    1h 29m
  7. Michael Rodríguez & José "Azul" Cortés

    11/18/2024

    Michael Rodríguez & José "Azul" Cortés

    Michael Rodríguez is the Executive Director of Dual Language Education of NM (DLeNM). For six years, he served as the organization's director of operations, heading up and expanding its Program Design and Leadership Development offerings while supporting schools, districts, and state agencies across the country to create quality, sustainable dual language programs. During his fifteen years as a school administrator, he helped to establish and operate three different dual language programs in the Santa Fe and Albuquerque areas. In his current role, Michael leads an experienced team of dual language educator-trainers who provide professional development in support of quality instruction for language learners and effective dual language program design. DLeNM is also host to the country’s largest dual language conference annually, in New Mexico. Azul Cortes (Huasteco/Tepehuan) is the Director of Heritage Languages at DLeNM. With Master’s degrees in Bilingual, Secondary and Special Education, Azul is passionate about language, community and cultural identity. He is currently a Doctoral Student at UNM’s Language Literacy and Sociocultural Studies with his research focusing on the maintenance and revitalization of the heritage language through cultural Identity. Azul has worked as a Clinical Research Educator at the University of New Mexico’s College of Education Elementary Education in the area of Teacher Preparation and in numerous indigenous communities with linguistically and culturally diverse youth through the Bureau of Indian Education and in México. He continues to work with grassroots organizations, La Plazita Institute in Albuquerque and Homeboy Industries in East Los Angeles who dedicate services to adjudicated youths and young adults. Current work highlights language maintenance and revitalization efforts through an indigenous lens that centers culture and language as the voice of the community and the land in which they reside. You can contact Michael Rodriguez and José "Azul" Cortés via their LinkedIn Accounts: Michael Rodriguez José "Azul" Cortés or email: micahel@dlenm.org azul@dlenm.org

    1h 13m
  8. Montserrat Garibay

    10/28/2024

    Montserrat Garibay

    Montserrat Garibay is the Assistant Deputy Secretary & Director for the Office of English Language Acquisition at the U.S. Department of Education. More recently, she was the Senior Advisor for Labor Relations at the Office of the Secretary. She was the secretary-treasurer of the Texas AFL-CIO. Previously, she served as vice president for Certified Employees with Education Austin, a merged union local with the American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, and the American Federation of Labor Congress of Industrial Organizations. An activist on education and immigration issues, Garibay came to the U.S. from Mexico City as an undocumented immigrant and became a citizen 20 years later. She has been instrumental in promoting opportunities for all students, including those from immigrant families. She promoted passage of the Texas version of the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform. A bilingual pre-kindergarten teacher for eight years and National Board-Certified Teacher, she is a graduate of the National Labor Leadership Initiative with the Worker Institute at Cornell University. Garibay is a University of Texas -Austin graduate with a master’s degree in Education.

    43 min
See All (35)

Trailer

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to Cultural Connections Lab, a podcast that explores the intersections of culture, travel, education, and language learning. We believe that learning about other cultures can be a transformative experience that broadens our understanding of the world, breaks down barriers, and promotes empathy and respect for diverse perspectives. Each episode, we take a deep dive into a different cultural topic, sharing stories and insights from experts and everyday people who have experienced it firsthand. Our hosts, Dr. J. Taylor Tribble, Dr. Kelly Forbes, and Mike Overholt come from diverse backgrounds and bring their own unique perspectives to the table. From seasoned travelers to language enthusiasts, our team is passionate about exploring new cultures and sharing their knowledge with others. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or just starting out on your cultural jouney, Cultural Connections Lab (CCL) has something for you. Join us as we explore the world and make meaningful connections across cultures. Connect with us on Social Media: LinkedInTwitterFacebook

Information

  • Creator
    Taylor Tribble, Kelly Forbes, and Mike Overholt
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 Cultural Connections Lab
  • Show Website
    Cultural Connections Lab

You Might Also Like

Content Restricted

This episode can’t be played on the web in your country or region.

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada