039: Mike Flynn and Zak Champagne: Math Playdates and the Gift of Vulnerability

What do you get when two deeply reflective educators who love math — and love teachers — show up with vulnerability, humor, and a whole lot of heart?In this episode, Zak Champagne (Chief Content Officer at Flynn Education and co-author of enVision Mathematics) and Dr. Mike Flynn (former second-grade teacher and Director of Math Leadership Programs at Mount Holyoke College, and now CEO of Flynn Education) join Pam for a conversation that feels like a warm invitation into the kinds of spaces we wish every teacher had.Together, they explore:The power of vulnerability in teaching and learningWhy teachers need Math Playdates — and what happens when we do math together as adultsHow their own journeys (and mistakes) have reshaped their beliefs and perspectivesThe joy of learning from 7- and 8-year-oldsWhat it means to build math spaces that are brave, not perfectWhether you’ve been to a Math Playdate or you’re hearing about them for the first time, this episode will leave you feeling seen, inspired, and maybe a little more ready to take a math risk — alongside your students.🎧 Listen in. Reflect. And maybe change your perspective on what it means to be a math person!Zak ChampagneTwitter/X: @zakchampInstagram: @zakchampagneDr. Mike FlynnTwitter/X: @MikeFlynn55Instagram: @drmikeflynnWebsite: Flynn Education