Category: Education Reform
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“We need more time to stop and think. We’re all in a hurry and I don’t know where we’re going.” – Sonia
In this episode, I speak with Sonia, an educator, podcaster, and career coach—about her earliest memories of growing up as the youngest daughter of immigrant parents, to becoming an educator and advocate for defining what success looks like for the next generation. We talk about the mentors in her life who saw great potential in…
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“A college degree doesn’t prove you’re smart. But it does prove that you’re disciplined.” – Sun
In this episode, I speak with Sun, an entrepreneur and storyteller, about his education journey from Korea to the US, California to New York, and engineering to film school. We talk about his socio-emotional development from being the good kid to eventually overcorrecting to protect himself from the bullies. We also discuss what it means…
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“I am because we are. If you don’t work well with others, figure it out. How can you connect more dots? Who can you build with” – Charli
In this episode, I speak with Dr. Charli Kemp, an educator and social impact-maker, about her high school memories of selling candy, evading tardy sweeps by hanging out in the counselor’s office, and negotiating her grades with her teachers…before becoming an educator herself. We talk about her nonlinear journey of discovering her place in education…
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“We need to work on changing people’s mindset around what education is. Around how children learn.” – Fran
In this episode, I speak with Fran, a writer, unschooler, and consent-based education advocate about her education journey, which began in Italy. We talk about how her early interests in humanities and dream of becoming a writer led to her pursuing a career in journalism before she became a mother who decided to give unschooling…
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Identity, cultural acceptance, and the creativity needed for growth and expansion
In this season 2 finale, two of my good friends (who I co-host another podcast with, called Your Asian Besties) interview me about my education journey. Maryn and I attended elementary school together, and Lia was Maryn’s college roommate. They ask me about my earliest memories of being a student, how I navigated between my…
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Critical thinking, opinion-sharing, and the freedom to disagree
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In this episode, I speak with Rosie—a trauma recovery coach, HR leader, and professional accountant—about her early memories of growing up in an immigrant family, and the Asian values that were instilled in her. We talk about how her education systems encouraged her development of skills and abilities that could lead to job and financial…
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Emotional intelligence, divergent thinking, and the self-acceptance needed to transform our anger
In this episode, I speak with Benoit—a US army veteran, former policymaker, and current psychotherapist—about his education journey across multiple countries, and having to adapt to each of its languages and cultures from scratch, every few years. We talk about the influence his mother had on his mental landscape, how he overcame being bullied in…
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Connection, project based learning, and an understanding of how our brains work
In this episode, I speak with Megan—a special education teacher and advocate for the disability community—about her memories of testing gifted at an early age, and her discovery of what giftedness means when she went through her special education credentialing program, over a decade later. We talk about the structural issues with our heavily standardized…
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Inclusion, differentiated support, and a plan for leading with our strengths
In this episode, I speak with Tim—an educator, podcaster, and the Director of Communications for the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education. We talk about his journey from considering a career in family counseling to becoming a special education teacher working with families and then schools for 16 years. We also discuss the shift in his…
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Intercultural awareness, belonging, and the safety to express our identities
In this episode, I chat with SJ—a former classroom teacher, LGBTQ+ Inclusion Expert, and DEIB trainer—about their experience being “the new kid.” We talk about how their experience of moving across states every few years impacted their social relationships, and how their biracial and transgender identities didn’t make it easier. We discuss what led them…