Episodes
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232: Boba, Books & Belonging with Joanna Ho
Join Tricia Friedman and Joanna Ho in this inspiring conversation about cultural identity, creativity, and the power of food as a storytelling medium. Joanna reflects on her transition from K–12 educator to published author, revealing how intergenerational learning—especially the wisdom exchanged...
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231: Cultivating Awe with Homa Tavangar
In this conversation, Tricia Friedman and Homa Tavangar explore the significance of asking big questions in leadership, the importance of relationships, and the need for deeper connections in education and community. They discuss how embracing complexity and uncertainty can lead to growth, the…
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230: Erin Entrada Kelly on Reclaiming Hidden Histories for Young Readers
In this conversation, Erin Entrada Kelly discusses her debut nonfiction book that explores the life of Joey, a Filipino woman who became a spy during World War II. Kelly emphasizes the importance of presenting history in an engaging way for young readers, while also addressing the complexities of...
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229: Coaching the Person, Not the Problem with Reem Labib Tyson
In this conversation, Tricia Friedman and Reem Labib Tyson explore the evolving landscape of coaching, emphasizing the importance of reflection, emotional intelligence, and the dynamics between coach and coachee. They discuss the significance of diverse experiences in coaching, the gray areas of...
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228: Bellen Woodard brings the perspective we need
In this conversation, Tricia Friedman speaks with Bellen Woodard, the first crayon activist, about her journey in leadership, the importance of young voices, and her new book 'Ballet Brown'. Bellen shares her experiences of advocating for inclusive language in schools and ballet, emphasizing the...
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227: How Schools Make Race with Dr. Chávez-Moreno
Dr. Laura Chávez-Moreno is an award-winning scholar, qualitative social scientist, and assistant professor in the Departments of Chicana/o & Central American Studies and Education at the University of California, Los Angeles. She earned her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of...
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226: Kickstart Pride with Kyle Casey Chu (Panda Dulce)
Kyle Casey Chu (aka Panda Dulce) is a writer, filmmaker, and one of the founding queens of Drag Story Hour. In June 2022, far-right extremists stormed her Drag Story Hour in an attempt to silence her. She is now using her global platform to tell even gayer stories. She lives in San Francisco. The...
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225: Cultivating Inner Excellence with Jim Murphy
In this conversation, Jim Murphy shares insights from his book 'Inner Excellence,' discussing the importance and the need for self-awareness. He emphasizes that true excellence comes from within and is about developing skills that foster belief and joy. The discussion touches on the lessons that...
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224: Pop Culture's possibilities for Gender Studies
In this conversation, Tricia Friedman and Dr. Sharon Lauricella go deep into the critical examination of gender performance in the popular TV series Grey's Anatomy, exploring how weddings depicted in the show reflect societal norms and expectations. They discuss the collaborative research process...
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223: Of My Own Making with Daria Burke
In this conversation, Daria Burke discusses her book and the complexities of self-identity, healing, and the importance of community. She explores how our past shapes our present and the power of storytelling in personal growth. Burke emphasizes the significance of friendship and chosen family in...
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222: The Transformative Power of Comics with Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud
In this conversation, Tricia Friedman speaks with Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud about the transformative power of comics in education, the importance of fostering belonging among students, and the creative process behind their collaborative graphic novel. They discuss the evolving perception...
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221: The attention we give each other
Tricia speaks with Naomi and Kyra from Making Stuff Better about their upcoming event and the intentionality behind their work. They discuss the importance of resourcefulness, noticing, and community in education, as well as the need to rethink traditional educational practices. The conversation...
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220: How are boys doing? with Sharon G. Flake
Sharon G. Flake is a celebrated author with multiple honors, including two Coretta Scott King Honor Awards and author of THE FAMILY I’M IN, the third installment in the I’m In series, following her groundbreaking debut The Skin I’m In (2000) and sister novel The Life I’m In (2021). The Family I’m...
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219: Rethinking masculinity one story at a time with Francesca Cavallo
Francesca Cavallo discusses her new book and the importance of rethinking masculinity through storytelling. She emphasizes the role of media in shaping gender dynamics and the necessity of compassion in understanding boys' identities. The discussion highlights the impact of gender representation…
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218: plant trees and plant questions
Tricia Friedman discusses the upcoming Earth Day and introduces a free guide aimed at helping educators engage students in sustainability discussions. The SEED guide emphasizes the intersection of AI and sustainability, encouraging a comprehensive approach to environmental education. Ready to...
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217: Wash Day Love with Tanisia Moore
Tanisia Moore discusses her latest picture book 'Wash Day Love', emphasizing themes of intergenerational care, joy, and representation in children's literature. She shares her personal experiences that inspired the book, the importance of collaboration with illustrators, and her passion for...
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216: Nature as a Source for Creativity with Rosanne Parry
In A WOLF CALLED FIRE, Warm, the younger and smaller brother of Swift (the protagonist of A Wolf Called Wander) must find the warrior in his own heart to protect his pack and earn his alpha name. A fast-paced survival story inspired by Wolf 8, a real Yellowstone wolf who started as the smallest…
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215: Exploring dyscalculia in middle grade fiction with Hope Larson
In this episode of the Be a Better Ally podcast, Tricia Friedman interviews Hope Larson, a prolific artist and author, about her journey in the creative industry. They discuss the importance of defining success beyond traditional metrics, the significance of connection and community in education,...
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214: Building Bridges with Marla Hunter
In this conversation, Marla Hunter discusses her upcoming book 'Building Bridges.' She emphasizes the importance of a humanistic approach in education, the authenticity of her writing, and the emotional journey of authorship. The discussion also touches on the significance of community…
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213: Masculinity can look like that
On the show this week is Dr. Tony Keith Jr.: a Black American gay poet, spoken word artist, and hip-hop educational leader from Washington, DC. He is author of the YA memoir in verse How the Boogeyman Became a Poet. Tony’s writings have appeared in the International Journal of Critical Media...
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212: The Power of Fantasy in Addressing Bigotry with TJ Klune
In this conversation, TJ Klune discusses the intersection of fantasy literature and societal issues, particularly bigotry and the LGBTQ+ experience. He emphasizes the importance of literature in challenging norms and fostering understanding. Klune shares personal anecdotes about his writing...
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Special bonus song episode: the forty
This episode is a musical rendition of the forty 'forbidden' words that are under attack right now. Special shout out to the bravery of Darby Saxbe, a professor at the University of Southern California for sharing the list of forbidden words, as she said on Twitter in her post: "This is a crisis...
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211: Fight Club, But Make It AI: Rehearsing Conflict With a Bot Buddy
Can AI help us get better at one of the most challenging human skills—navigating conflict? In this episode, host Tricia Friedman shares the results of her latest experiment: building an AI-powered Conflict Simulator designed to help us rehearse and refine our approach to tough conversations. From...
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210: The always critical role of creativity in progress
In this conversation, Tricia speaks with Luthern Williams, a futurist and school leader, about the role of creativity and the arts in reimagining education. They discuss the importance of imagination and the need to move away from the factory-age industrial model of education. Luthern shares the...
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209: The ABC’S Of Women’s History with Rio Cortez
In this conversation, Tricia Friedman and Rio Cortez discuss the themes and creative processes behind Rio's latest work, 'The ABCs of Women's History.' They explore the interdisciplinary approach to women's history, the importance of slow reading, and the joy of writing for children compared to...
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The future of work is neuroinclusive with Max Simpson
Tricia Friedman speaks with Max Simpson, the founder and CEO of STEPS, an organization dedicated to improving employment outcomes for the neurodivergent community. Max discuss the origins of STEPS, the importance of collaboration and partnerships, and the need for systemic change in education and...
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207: Finding your balance with Companion AI with Professor Neil McArthur
In this conversation, Professor Neil McArthur discusses the intersection of AI, technology, and human relationships, particularly in the context of dating and companionship. He explores the potential benefits and concerns surrounding AI in romantic settings, the emergence of new sexual identities...
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206: The significance of supporting Queer-owned businesses
Everywhere is Queer is a worldwide map of queer-owned businesses, created by this week's guest: Charlie Sprinkman. The idea for the platform came to Charlie during a year-long road trip, where they were constantly seeking queer spaces. They realized that there was more to queer-owned businesses...
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205: How can you chase change in 2025?
In this conversation, Alexis Fernandez-Preiksa discusses her new book, 'How to Chase Change,' emphasizing the importance of embracing limitations and redirecting focus towards personal growth. She introduces a structured 30-day challenge designed to facilitate gradual change, highlighting the...
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204: What will you cook up in 2025? with April Remfrey
Tricia and April explore the connections between cooking and education, emphasizing the importance of personalization, cultural context, and intentionality in both fields. They discuss the significance of feedback, the need for demystifying teaching practices, and the impact of labels on…
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203: Remaking the Space Between Us with Diana McLain Smith
In this conversation, Tricia and Diana discuss the pressing issues surrounding democracy, the importance of community and friendship in bridging divides, and the emotional toll of political polarization. Diana emphasizes the need for a shift from an outrage mindset to one of engagement and...
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202: The future of neuroinclusion with Pasha Marlowe
In this conversation, Tricia and Pasha Marlowe explore the multifaceted world of neurodiversity, exploring how social media platforms like TikTok serve as vital spaces for connection and understanding. Pasha shares insights on the importance of concise communication, particularly in short-form...
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201: Our shared responsibility to shape joy
In this conversation, Jason June discusses his latest book, 'Flopping in a Winter Wonderland,' exploring themes of queer joy, the importance of setting in literature, sibling dynamics, and the creative process of writing. He emphasizes the need for representation of queer love in holiday...
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200: Why Fiction Needs More Asexual Representation
Karen Wilfrid discusses her book LAMBDA award nominated middle grade novel 'Just Lizzie' and how her personal experience and background in education helped spark the story. She talks about the importance of capturing the journey of identity exploration in middle grade books and the role of school...
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199: The Story of Second Chance with Joan Liu
In this conversation, we hear from founder and Executive Director Joan Liu who discusses the origin and mission of Second Chance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping international students secure last-minute scholarships for higher education. The initiative began in response to a crisis...
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198: Get in the Garden with Christy Mandin
Christy Mandin is a New York Times bestselling children's book author, illustrator, and surface designer. She grew up in rural Georgia and credits her country life of solitude as an only child for much of her love of books and nature. You'll find this love of nature along with nostalgia, magic…
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197: Learning to Relearn is finally here!
Kwame Sarfo-Mensah has an incredible book hitting shelves TODAY, and it is one of those must read books. In this episode we talk about that book and Kwame's perspective on much more. We explore the importance of understanding one's childhood experiences and how it can help educators better…
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196: Aaron Blabey on what it means to start with one reader in mind
Aaron Blabey discusses the creation and conclusion of his beloved children's series, The Bad Guys. He reflects on the balance between humor and deeper messages in storytelling, the emotional journey of saying goodbye to a series that has impacted millions, and the importance of staying true to...
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195: The Brightness Between Us with Eliot Schrefer
Eliot Schrefer, the New York Times bestselling standout author of many books for kids and teens. The Brightness Between Us is the sequel to The Darkness Outside Us. His books have twice been named finalists for the National Book Award in Young People’s Literature and have garnered a Printz Honor…
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194: What our celebrations say about our school
In this conversation, Tricia and Rebecca Skinner discuss the upcoming Neurodiversity Comic Con at Gillen Brewer, emphasizing the importance of creating inclusive spaces for neurodiverse learners. They explore the significance of partnerships, representation in literature, and the role of joy in...
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193: Radically reimagining meaningful apprenticeships
On this week Tricia speaks with Dr. Sirisha Kuchimanchi and Malur Narayan about their new emerging concept to better bridge students with apprenticeships that are meaningful: https://employability.one/ Our guests are looking for educator input and perspective. We talk about why that matters now...
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192: What's At The Heart Of Heartstopper?
This week's episode explores the journey of Heartstopper from its origins as a webcomic to its successful adaptation into a TV series with Author Alice Oseman and Executive Producer Patrick Walters. The creators discuss the importance of staying true to the source material, the emotional…
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191: People Are Experts Of Their Own Lives With Daryl SInclair
In this conversation, Tricia and Daryl Sinclair discuss the launch of Daryl's podcast, DEIJ Hot Takes, which aims to explore diverse perspectives in the DEIJ (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice) space. Daryl shares his journey into the DEIJ field, emphasizing the importance of learning…
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Mitigating Misinformation With Agents Of Influence
How can a game help us work on media literacy? On the show this week we talk to Anahita Dalmia about Agents of Influence. Try the game out today: https://www.agentsofinfluencegame.com/ As mentioned at the top of the episode: Do you believe in the power of stories? Do you want your students to...
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189: It starts today, let's get Banned Together with PLP!
For Banned Books Week the INCREDIBLE non-profit Pride and Less Prejudice is hosting Banned Together. How can you help them meet their goal for this year? https://www.prideandlessprejudice.org/events
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188: Turning the tables, Tricia gets interviewed
This week Tricia brings you an espisode of a show she appreciates: The SENIA Happy Hour podcast, where host Lori Boll chats with Tricia Friedman. Tricia shares insights on how algorithms shape our interactions, particularly in education and social media. Be sure to learn more about the show and...
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187: What's changing about the university experience?
On the show today Tricia speaks with a renowned expert in HigherED about the ways AI is already shifting the university experience. If you work in K12, what more do we need to understand about that changing landscape? Our guest this week: Dr. Claire Brady is a seasoned executive and recognized...
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186: Telling Ourselves The Story Of Ourself
On this week: Alder Van Otterloo https://aldervanotterloo.com/about We dig into their incredible book and more: https://aldervanotterloo.com/books The conversation explores the themes of empathy, understanding, and respect for others, as well as the importance of storytelling and fiction in...
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185: Classrooms of care with Kwame Sarfo-Mensah
Kwame Sarfo-Mensah has an incredible book hitting shelves this coming Fall, and it is one of those must read books. In this episode we talk about that book and Kwame's perspective on much more. We explore the importance of understanding one's childhood experiences and how it can help educators...
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184: Building better futures with games
On this week: Dr. Kat Schrier discusses the potential of games to help people better connect with themselves and others. She shares her research on using games to enhance compassion, empathy, and reduce biases, as well as her work on a game in Nigeria that teaches about different ethnicities and...
About this show
Reimagining K12 education to foster allyship and belonging one conversation at a time. Learn more at triciafriedman.com
Hosted by
Tricia Friedman
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