Pop and Play

Teachers College
  • 5.0 (31)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A podcast from the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University about play and pop culture. Professors Haeny Yoon and Nathan Holbert talk with educators, parents and kids about how they play in their work and their lives, and why play and pop culture matter. The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

  1. 4D AGO

    Protest Music and Striking Notes of Resistance

    Protest music and acts of protest from musicians are in the news right now. What is the role of music in protest, and how has it taken shape in different times and places, including our current moment? Patrick Schmidt, Professor of Music and Music Education at Teachers College, Columbia University ( https://www.tc.columbia.edu/faculty/pks2150/ ) joins Haeny and Nathan to talk music and protest today in the U.S., in Brazil during Patrick’s youth, and playing in a band.  Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Minneapolis https://youtu.be/GDaPdpwA4Iw  Billy Bragg - City of Heroes https://braggb.substack.com/p/city-of-heroes  Chico Buarque - Construção https://youtu.be/wBfVsucRe1w Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young - Ohio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1PrUU2S_iw  Billy Holiday - Strange Fruit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx_mOECjT_8  Dylan - Times they are a-changing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90WD_ats6eE&list=RD90WD_ats6eE&start_radio=1  Masters of War https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEmI_FT4YHU&t=51s  Springsteen - Minneapolis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDaPdpwA4Iw&list=RDGDaPdpwA4Iw&start_radio=1  NWA - F*** the Police https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WbQeDj74kc&rco=1  No$hu - F*** ICE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB1aROXqnXM&list=RDYB1aROXqnXM&rco=1  Sam Cook - A time is gonna come https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPr3yvkHYsE&list=RDfPr3yvkHYsE&start_radio=1  Buffalo Springfield - For what’s worth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80_39eAx3z8&list=RD80_39eAx3z8&start_radio=1   Credence Clearwater Revival -  Fortunate Son https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWijx_AgPiA&t=1s  Sonic Youth - Youth against Racism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWzIlCJAw-o&t=31s  Pete Seeger - We Shall Overcome https://youtu.be/1osKWCDXl40 Edwin Starr - War https://youtu.be/dQHUAJTZqF0 Bruce Springsteen - American Skin (41 shots) https://youtu.be/aQMqWAiWPMs

    34 min

  2. JAN 27

    Best Pop Culture and Play Moments of 2025

    This week Haeny and Nathan are sharing their top moments in play and pop culture from 2025! What is giving them hope? What reframed their perspective? Find out in this best-of episode that goes deeper than your typical top 5 lists.  Here’s the Deep Dive on LLMs Nathan mentions in the episode:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xTGNNLPyMI For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Credits: Video and audio for this episode were recorded by Jen Lee. This episode was edited by Billy Collins. Website support by Abu Abdelbagi. Pop and Play is produced by Haeny Yoon, Nathan Holbert, Lalitha Vasudevan, Joe Riina-Ferrie, and Billy Collins and is part of the Digital Futures Institute Podcast Network at Teachers College, Columbia University. The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

    38 min

  3. JAN 20

    Woodworking and When Playing Around Becomes a Serious Craft

    How do you know when what you started playing around with has become a serious craft? This week Haeny and Nathan talk with Professor Bryan Keller about his passion for woodworking that has grown some deep roots.  Bryan Keller is an applied statistician and Associate Professor of Practice at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he directs the programs in Measurement, Evaluation, and Statistics. His research focuses on the development and application of statistical methods for research, especially in education, health, and psychology. Learn more at his faculty webpage https://www.tc.columbia.edu/faculty/bsk2131/ For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Credits: Video and audio for this episode were recorded by Joe Riina-Ferrie. This episode was edited by Adrienne Vitullo and Billy Collins. Website support by Abu Abdelbagi. Pop and Play is produced by Haeny Yoon, Nathan Holbert, Lalitha Vasudevan, Joe Riina-Ferrie, and Billy Collins and is part of the Digital Futures Institute Podcast Network at Teachers College, Columbia University. The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

    38 min

  4. JAN 13

    Should We Stop Saying "Kids These Days"?

    Kids these days just don’t know what it was like back in our day. Which makes sense, cause they’re, you know, kids. This week on Pop and Play, Haeny and Nathan talk about the good, the bad, and the nuance of nostalgia. Just a note that this episode was recorded in September, 2025. This episode references the “Nostalgia Bone” episode of Throughline, and the article “Whatever You Want to Call It: Science of Reading Mythologies in the Education Reform Movement” by Elena Aydarova. For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Credits: Video and audio for this episode were recorded by Billy Collins and Madeline McGee. This episode was edited by Adrienne Vitullo with support from Joe Riina-Ferrie. Website support by Abu Abdelbagi. Pop and Play is produced by Haeny Yoon, Nathan Holbert, Lalitha Vasudevan, Joe Riina-Ferrie, and Billy Collins and is part of the Digital Futures Institute Podcast Network at Teachers College, Columbia University. The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

    18 min

  5. 12/23/2025 · BONUS

    A Very Special Holiday Music Pop Off!

    Welcome to a very special holiday music pop off! In this festive bonus episode, Haeny, Nathan, and special guests Sonali Rajan and Lalitha Vasudevan talk holiday music! Which songs do they love, and which would they get rid of if they could? What’s that ringing sound? They’re at your door and they want to sing you songs? For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Credits: Video and audio for this episode were recorded by Abu Abdelbagi. This episode was edited by Adrienne Vitullo with support from Joe Riina-Ferrie. Website support by Abu Abdelbagi. Social media by Madeline McGee. Pop and Play is produced by Haeny Yoon, Nathan Holbert, Lalitha Vasudevan, Joe Riina-Ferrie, and Billy Collins and is part of the Digital Futures Institute Podcast Network at Teachers College, Columbia University. The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

    24 min

  6. 12/09/2025

    What is the Purpose of School?

    A Pew Center Report from 2024 prompts Haeny and Nathan to ask a big question: “What is the Purpose of School?” And is school the best place for children to learn? For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Credits: Video and audio for this episode were recorded by Abu Abdelbagi. This episode was edited by Adrienne Vitullo. Website support by Abu Abdelbagi. Social media by Madeline McGee. Pop and Play is produced by Haeny Yoon, Nathan Holbert, Lalitha Vasudevan, Joe Riina-Ferrie, and Billy Collins and is part of the Digital Futures Institute Podcast Network at Teachers College, Cohis episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

    18 min

  7. 11/25/2025

    What's Poppin' for Haeny and Nathan?!

    This week, Haeny and Nathan finally get to share what’s poppin’ for them! Enough politely making space for guests to share, it’s time for the hosts to show off their play and pop cultural recommendations! For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Credits: Video and audio for this episode were recorded by Abu Abdelbagi. This episode was edited by Adrienne Vitullo and Joe Riina-Ferrie. Website support by Abu Abdelbagi. Social media by Madeline McGee. Pop and Play is produced by Haeny Yoon, Nathan Holbert, Lalitha Vasudevan, Joe Riina-Ferrie, and Billy Collins and is part of the Digital Futures Institute Podcast Network at Teachers College, Columbia University. The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

    23 min

  8. 11/11/2025

    The Life of a Showgirl and Being a Swiftie

    Welcome to Season 6 and our first “play date”! Listen along with Haeny and Nathan and guest and fellow Swiftie Dr. Cassie Brownell, Associate Professor at the University of Toronto to Life of a Showgirl by a little known artist called Taylor Swift. What is being a Swiftie all about, and what can we learn from being part of that community? Find out this week and check out the album if you want to be part of the phenomenon! For transcripts of this episode, to learn about our guests, and more, visit our website. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or search “Pop and Play” wherever you listen to Podcasts and subscribe! Our music is selections from Leaf Eaters by Podington Bear, Licensed under CC (BY-NC) 3.0. Pop and Play is produced by the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University.  Credits: Video and audio for this episode were recorded by Jen Lee. This episode was edited by Adrienne Vitullo and Joe Riina-Ferrie. Website support by Abu Abdelbagi. Social media by Madeline McGee. Pop and Play is produced by Haeny Yoon, Nathan Holbert, Lalitha Vasudevan, Joe Riina-Ferrie, and Billy Collins and is part of the Digital Futures Institute Podcast Network at Teachers College, Columbia University. The views expressed in this episode are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

    38 min
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5
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

A podcast from the Digital Futures Institute at Teachers College, Columbia University about play and pop culture. Professors Haeny Yoon and Nathan Holbert talk with educators, parents and kids about how they play in their work and their lives, and why play and pop culture matter. The views expressed in this podcast are solely those of the speaker to whom they are attributed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, administration, staff or Trustees either of Teachers College or of Columbia University.

Information

  • Creator
    Teachers College
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    67
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Teachers College
  • Show Website
    Pop and Play