Be a Better Ally: critical conversations for K12 educators

Tricia Friedman
  • 5.0 (11)
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  • Updated Weekly

A podcast for educators reimagining what allyship looks like in classrooms, staff rooms, and communities. Host Tricia Friedman, global educator, coach, and Director at Shifting Schools, guides dynamic conversations at the intersection of education, identity, and digital humanities. Each episode brings together practitioners, authors, and thought leaders exploring how schools can cultivate belonging, through curriculum, culture, and critical reflection. With an eye toward digital culture and justice, this show asks: How might we be better listeners, advocates, and co-creators in an interconnected world?

  1. 1d ago

    Be Curious, Not Judgmental: Cristo Fernández on Joy, Teamwork, and Trying Again

    You may know Cristo Fernandez as Danny Rojas from Ted Lasso, but this conversation reaches far beyond one beloved role. In this episode, Cristo talks with Tricia about dreaming big, trying again after failure, staying generous, and remembering that we all have something powerful to bring to the table. From his early life in Guadalajara to his years in football, acting, storytelling, and now children's books, Cristo reflects on the people, setbacks, and second chances that shaped his path. For educators and school leaders, this conversation is a reminder that culture is built in small choices: choosing curiosity over judgment, teamwork over ego, and generosity over individual shine. Cristo speaks with care about the lessons he learned from family, sport, collaboration, and Ted Lasso, including the simple but demanding idea that being kind is cool. He also shares why failure does not have to mean the end of a dream. Injuries shifted his path away from professional football, but storytelling brought him back to the game in a new way. His story invites listeners to think differently about what success looks like, especially for young people who may be navigating setbacks, uncertainty, or pressure to choose only one version of themselves. This episode is for anyone working to build school communities where people feel seen, encouraged, and brave enough to try again. In this episode, we explore: How Cristo's family shaped his belief in generosity and giving back Why "being kind is cool" still matters in schools, teams, and creative work What football taught him about humility, teamwork, and resilience How failure, injury, and rejection can become part of a larger story Why Danny Rojas remains a reminder to return to joy How collaboration asks us to stay open, curious, and willing to learn What children can teach adults about imagination, courage, and possibility Why embracing who you are may be one of the strongest "superpowers" we have For educators, this conversation offers a useful question to carry into the school year: how do we help young people dream big without making them feel like failure closes the door? Cristo's answer is generous and practical. Stay curious. Keep learning. Help others shine. Try again. Learn more about his new book: https://shop.scholastic.com/parent-ecommerce/books/futbol-is-life-futbol-es-vida-9798225012274.html

    21 min
  2. You Might Also Like: Morning Brew Daily

    1d ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: Morning Brew Daily

    Introducing American AI Companies Fend Off Chinese Copy Cats & Gen Z Loves Love Island from Morning Brew Daily. Follow the show: Morning Brew Daily #884: American AI companies are sounding the alarm on Chinese companies copying their models through “distillation.” Stellantis officially opens its doors to the sale of the tiny car priced at under $15,000. The US is seeing its middle-aged population slowly shrinking and which could harm the economy. Love Island USA has been a rare hit that has captured and retained Gen Z’s attention.  Get 10% off using MORNINGBREW10 at altrarunning.com/morningbrew  Get tickets for our trivia tournament! https://caveat.nyc/events/the-morning-brew-trivia-tournament-2026-07-30  Grab tickets to our Performance Revue show! https://www.morningbrew.com/events/brew-performance-revue-2026?utm_campaign=performance_revue_2026&utm_source=mbd Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.swap.fm/l/mbd-note⁠⁠⁠  Watch Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/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 team@podroll.fm.

  3. Jul 2

    A better understanding of who we are with Katie Kennedy

    What does it mean to teach the Declaration of Independence as more than a document students memorize? In this episode, Tricia speaks with historian and author Katie Kennedy about her new book on the Declaration of Independence, the world that produced it, and why young people need more than dates, vocabulary, and simplified civic narratives. Kennedy invites readers to see the Declaration as a living historical text: political, philosophical, literary, flawed, hopeful, and deeply human. Together, Tricia and Katie discuss how educators can help students slow down with primary sources, ask better questions about evidence, and understand history as something made by real people under pressure. From Thomas Jefferson's nervous drafting process to Caesar Rodney's dangerous ride for independence, Kennedy reminds us that history becomes more meaningful when students can see the people, stakes, contradictions, and choices behind the documents.This conversation is especially relevant for educators thinking about civics, U.S. history, media literacy, historical inquiry, and the upcoming U.S. 250th anniversary. In This Episode: Tricia and Katie explore: How the Declaration of Independence differs from the Constitution, and why students often confuse the two. Why civic education needs to move beyond memorizing branches of government or repeating patriotic slogans.How primary sources help students understand "how we know what we know."Why historians begin with people, names, ages, letters, objects, and material traces.How teachers can invite students to read the Declaration as both a political document and a work of language, argument, philosophy, and art. Why the Declaration can be taught honestly, including its contradictions around slavery, rights, and equality.What it means to help students examine claims rather than cherry-pick evidence. Why historical complexity is not a problem to avoid, but a classroom opportunity. Why Educators Will Want to Listen: This episode offers a strong reminder that civics education is not only about government structures. It is also about evidence, responsibility, interpretation, and belonging.Katie Kennedy makes the case for helping students read foundational documents with care. Not as sacred artifacts beyond critique, and not as dead texts with fixed meanings, but as historical documents created by people living through uncertainty.For teachers, this conversation offers practical ways to make history more vivid: start with the human story, return to primary sources, ask what evidence supports a claim, and give students room to notice both ideals and contradictions.Classroom Connections: Educators might use this episode to think about:How to introduce the Declaration of Independence before asking students to analyze it.How to help students compare the Declaration and the Constitution.How to use objects, letters, diaries, menus, or artifacts as primary sources.How to teach civic ideals while also naming historical exclusions and contradictions.How to design inquiry questions around founding documents.How to prepare students for U.S. 250 conversations in ways that are honest, humane, and intellectually serious. Questions for Reflection: What do students need to understand about the world that produced the Declaration?How can we help students distinguish between a historical claim, an opinion, and evidence?What happens when we teach founding documents as arguments rather than answers?How might students respond differently if they first encounter the people, risks, and conflicts behind the text?What primary sources from students' own lives could help them understand how historians work?A Quote to Carry Into Your Planning: "History is people."That line sits at the center of this conversation. For educators, it is a useful design principle. Before the worksheet, before the vocabulary list, before the assessment, there are people making decisions, taking risks, disagreeing, revising, resisting, and trying to imagine a different future. Mentioned in the Episode: Katie Kennedy's new book on the Declaration of Independence The Declaration of Independence The U.S. Constitution Primary sources and material history Pauline Maier's phrase "American scripture" Lincoln's description of the Declaration as an "electric cord" Ron Chernow's biography of Ulysses S. Grant Fiona Hill's work on Russia and Vladimir Putin Heather Cox Richardson's public history writing Best For: U.S. history teachers Civics and government teachers Humanities educators School leaders planning for U.S. 250 Librarians and instructional coaches Educators interested in inquiry, primary sources, and civic reasoning Content type: Interview Primary goal: Educational / Inspirational Main topics: The importance of understanding foundational historical documents like the Declaration of Independence The role of storytelling and primary sources in historical education Civics education and civic responsibility Katie Kennedy once caught her then-nine-year-old daughter reading the Constitution under the covers with a flashlight. As an American history professor, Katie has never been more proud. She is the author of The Constitution Decoded: A Guide to the Document That Shapes Our Nation and The Presidents Decoded: A Guide to the Leaders Who Shaped Our Nation, as well as Did You Hear What Happened in Salem?, which Booklist called "irresistible" in a starred review. Katie lives in Iowa with her husband and son. Visit her online at katiekennedybooks.com.   (00:01) - Introducing Katie Kennedy and the significance of understanding founding documents (00:29) - Why reading the Declaration of Independence matters for all ages (01:35) - Storytelling's role in engaging with history and Jefferson's drafting journey (02:15) - Jefferson's nervousness and the importance of primary sources (03:10) - Caesar Rodney's courageous ride for independence (04:56) - The human stories behind historical actions, like Rodney's cancer and sacrifice (06:10) - The modern role of the historian and the value of primary sources (07:45) - The importance of honoring individual stories to understand history (08:44) - How primary sources reveal truths about figures like Washington (09:42) - Lincoln's pocket watch as a primary source and the stories objects tell (11:24) - The role of civics education in fostering critical thinking about power (12:45) - The poetry and art in the Declaration, its cultural resonance (14:40) - The Declaration as a unifying "electric cord" connecting generations (15:56) - How the Declaration embodies hope and the importance of political engagement (17:27) - The complexity of historical figures like Jefferson and their legacy (20:01) - Recommended summer reads for aspiring historians (21:09) - The importance of understanding the people behind the headlines (22:30) - Closing thoughts on the importance of people in history

    23 min

  4. Jun 25

    Beyond Polarization: Helping Students Make Sense of America with Colin Woodard

    In this episode, we explore what it means to educate young people in a time of deep civic division. Students are growing up surrounded by polarization, yet schools remain one of the few places where people are still asked to learn and engage across differences. Joining the conversation is Colin Woodard, Director of Nationhood Lab at Salve Regina University's Pell Center and a New York Times best-selling author. Nationhood Lab examines the stories Americans tell about identity, belonging, and what holds the country together—and how those stories shape the health of our democracy. We discuss how historical settlement patterns continue to influence regional divides in the United States, affecting trust, community engagement, and perspectives on major issues. Woodard also highlights the importance of social capital—the relationships and shared spaces that help communities function and thrive. For educators, this conversation connects directly to the work happening in schools every day. Classrooms are not just places where history is taught, but where students learn how to listen, disagree, and build community. They are spaces where young people begin to understand their role in civic life. Despite the current climate, there is also reason for hope. Research shows that Americans still share strong agreement around core democratic ideals, including those found in the Declaration of Independence. This episode invites educators to reflect on the stories students are inheriting, the communities they are helping to shape, and the role schools can play in fostering a more connected and thoughtful civic future. Key Topics: Teaching during a time of polarization Nationhood Lab and the study of American identity Regional divides and their historical roots The role of social capital in community health Schools as spaces for civic learning and belonging Shared democratic values in a divided nation Guest: Colin Woodard Director, Nationhood Lab at the Pell Center New York Times best-selling author   https://www.nationhoodlab.org/

    19 min

  5. Jun 18

    Why Trivia Isn't Trivial: Brian Boone on Curiosity, Connection, and a Great Father's Day Gift

    If creativity, curiosity, and connection matter to you, this episode is a good one to queue up for Father's Day weekend. This week, we welcome back writer and researcher Brian Boone for a conversation about trivia, fandom, and why the facts we collect are often connected to the people, places, stories, and memories we care about most. Brian writes across genres, but his work has a throughline: he knows how to make research feel playful, surprising, and deeply human. In this episode, he shares why "trivia is not trivial," how curiosity can become a bridge between generations, and why his latest book may be the kind of Father's Day gift that starts a conversation rather than simply fills a shelf. Listen in for a conversation about the joy of knowing odd things, the communities that form around shared interests, and the way small facts can carry big meaning. In this episode, we discuss: Why trivia can be a form of connection How research becomes storytelling The fandom surrounding Brian Boone's work Why curiosity matters across generations How a book of trivia can become a thoughtful Father's Day weekend gift Why the things we remember often say something about what we value Featured Guest: Brian Boone, writer, researcher, and author Learn more: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Brian-Boone/2137715445

    22 min

  6. Jun 4

    Aida Salazar on Stream, Story as Technology, and the Self Beyond the Feed

    Award-winning author Aida Salazar joins us to discuss Stream, her new middle grade novel in verse featuring Celi and Elio, two teens sent to rural Mexico after a viral catfishing incident exposes how much of their lives has been shaped by screens. Salazar describes Stream as part of an unintended loose trilogy that began with The Moon Within and continued with Ultraviolet. In this new standalone story, she brings Celi and Elio together for a summer without internet, electricity, or running water. What begins as exile becomes something more complicated: a return to land, body, culture, family history, and the question of what young people are taking in through their digital streams. The conversation moves through the book's layered title, from the literal stream to the social media feed to the inner stream of consciousness. Salazar also talks about writing young people without condescension, why story can help teens make sense of mistakes, and how fiction can offer parents and educators a less preachy way into conversations about digital life. She opens up about the craft of writing in verse, including the "split screen" structure of the book, where Celi and Elio occupy different sides of the page. For Salazar, voice is built through word choice, rhythm, and punctuation. Verse gives her a way to access the inner life of young people with precision, music, humor, and white space. This episode also explores embodiment, attention, and creativity. Salazar reflects on visiting the land in Mexico where her mother and ancestors were born, describing a powerful moment of physical connection to place that helped shape the novel. She speaks about writing in service of children, working in artistic communities, and why creativity belongs to everyone, not only people who call themselves artists. About the Book: Stream follows newly graduated eighth graders Celi and Elio, who are sent from Oakland, California, to the same rancho in Mexico after their parents become alarmed by their screen use. In rural Mexico, Celi helps her tías in a healing clinic while Elio works to rehabilitate a river. Slowly, both characters begin to shed parts of their online selves and reconnect with nature, culture, family, and their own inner lives. The novel is a standalone story connected to Salazar's earlier verse novels The Moon Within and Ultraviolet. About Aida Salazar: Aida Salazar is an award-winning author and arts activist whose work explores identity, justice, culture, and belonging. Her books include Ultraviolet, an ALA Pura Belpré Honor Book; The Moon Within, winner of the International Latino Book Award; Land of the Cranes, winner of the Américas Award; and the Caldecott Honor picture book Jovita Wore Pants: The Story of a Mexican Freedom Fighter. She lives in Oakland, California, with her family of artists. In This Conversation: Aida Salazar discusses: Why Stream became part of an unintended trilogy with The Moon Within and Ultraviolet How social media, puberty, crushes, shame, identity, and selfhood intersect for young people Why adults need compassion when talking with teens about digital life How story can help young readers think through mistakes without feeling lectured Why she writes in verse and how poetry gives access to the "interior landscape" of emotion The craft decision to place Celi and Elio on different sides of the page How a visit to ancestral land in Mexico shaped the book's attention to body, place, and healing Why creativity is not reserved for professional artists Her forthcoming picture book Sana Sana and a future verse novel connected to Ultraviolet that explores AI For Educators, Parents, and Caregivers: This conversation offers a useful way to think about screen life without panic or oversimplification. Salazar does not frame young people as careless or broken. Instead, she asks what they are absorbing, what they are performing, what they are longing for, and what kinds of stories might help them reclaim agency. For educators, Stream also makes a strong case for including middle grade and YA fiction in professional learning spaces. The book gives adults a way to re-enter the perspective of young people and talk about technology, embodiment, culture, and attention through story rather than lecture.

    35 min

  7. May 28

    Meredith Walker on Identity, Friendship, Comedy, and Becoming Yourself

    What does it really mean to "be yourself"? In this episode, Tricia speaks with Meredith Walker about her new book and the deeper work of self-discovery. Meredith's motto, "get your hair wet," becomes the perfect entry point for a conversation about joining the moment instead of protecting the version of ourselves we think we need to present. Together, they explore why identity is not something we solve once, but something we keep returning to. Meredith shares how her work with young people, storytelling, comedy, friendship, and even dogs has shaped the way she thinks about confidence, connection, and becoming. This conversation is especially useful for educators, families, and anyone supporting adolescents as they ask bigger questions about who they are, what matters to them, and how they want to move through the world. In this episode, we discuss: Why "just be yourself" is not enough guidance for young people How self-discovery changes as we meet new people and gain new experiences Why rethinking success matters at every age What storytelling can offer young people who need to feel seen and heard How comedy helps us loosen shame and make room for play Why friendship can be a bridge to deeper self-understanding The role of face-to-face connection in a digital world What dogs can teach us about attention, love, and belonging Memorable moments: 00:01 — Meredith explains the story behind her motto, "get your hair wet" 01:13 — Why being yourself requires reflection, not just confidence 03:32 — Rethinking success beyond career ladders and external approval 04:13 — Meredith shares a powerful story from a storytelling workshop with girls living in a Syrian refugee camp 06:02 — What good listening makes possible 07:07 — How comedy helps us question the scripts we take too seriously 09:46 — Why trying something badly can still help us grow 12:00 — Meredith reflects on creating across TV, radio, podcasts, digital work, and books 13:11 — How the book can become a bridge for friendship 14:35 — Dog wisdom, connection, and the most loving version of ourselves Pull quotes: "Get your hair wet" is really an invitation to stop guarding your look and join the moment. Identity is not a one-time answer. It is a conversation we keep returning to. Sometimes success is not the next step on a ladder. Sometimes it is helping someone feel seen enough to tell their story. Comedy can help us loosen shame and make room for becoming. Friendship helps us find ourselves more interesting. Dogs remind us that connection does not always require perfect language. For educators and families: This episode offers a gentle but powerful way to talk with young people about identity. Instead of asking them to simply "be themselves," we can help them build the habits that make self-understanding possible: reflection, curiosity, humor, friendship, storytelling, and care. Meredith's work invites us to give young people better questions, not just better advice. Listen for this question: What would change if we treated "be yourself" not as a slogan, but as a practice? Learn more about the summit mentioned at the top of the episode: https://www.sidecarcounsel.com/ Connect with Bridget: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-mcnamer/

    21 min

  8. May 21

    Keala Kendall on Horror, Hawaiian History, and Teaching Students to Question "Paradise"

    Tricia Friedman speaks with Keala Kendall, author of That Which Feeds Us, a gothic novel that begins with a missing sister and opens into a larger conversation about Hawaii, diaspora, colonialism, memory, and the stories we are taught to accept about place. Keala describes her writing process as a kind of "ingredient foraging." The novel began as the story of a diaspora girl returning to Hawaii for the first time to search for her missing twin sister. As Keala researched and followed the emotional truth of the story, she realized horror was not simply a genre choice. It was the form the story required. For K–12 educators, this conversation offers a powerful way to think about place-based learning, media literacy, Indigenous histories, and the role of fiction in helping students ask better questions. Keala challenges the postcard version of Hawaii often shown in films, tourism campaigns, and popular culture. She asks readers to look at what gets hidden when a place is sold only as paradise. Tricia and Keala also discuss horror as a serious literary form. Keala makes the case that horror can reveal what a society fears, what it refuses to confront, and what histories remain unresolved. Her description of history as "one big ghost story" offers a compelling frame for educators working with students on historical memory, colonialism, belonging, and power. This episode is especially useful for educators interested in how speculative fiction can help students engage with difficult truths without reducing literature to a lesson plan. Keala is clear that That Which Feeds Us is entertainment first. But the book also invites readers to think more carefully about whose stories are amplified, whose are flattened, and what it means to be haunted by history.

    30 min
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About

A podcast for educators reimagining what allyship looks like in classrooms, staff rooms, and communities. Host Tricia Friedman, global educator, coach, and Director at Shifting Schools, guides dynamic conversations at the intersection of education, identity, and digital humanities. Each episode brings together practitioners, authors, and thought leaders exploring how schools can cultivate belonging, through curriculum, culture, and critical reflection. With an eye toward digital culture and justice, this show asks: How might we be better listeners, advocates, and co-creators in an interconnected world?

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