PODCAST · education
Courageous Conversations About Our Schools
by Hosted by Ken Futernick
Bringing people together for respectful conversations about today’s most contentious issues affecting our schools. A way forward in divided times.
Episodes
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The Cost of Silence: Why Good People Don’t Speak Up (Ep. 53)
Why do good people remain silent when they see problems that need to be addressed? The problem schools face is not always that there is too much conflict. Sometimes the greater problem is too little: people hold back concerns, avoid questioning decisions, remain quiet about problems that everyone...
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An Alternative to “Knock it Off!” when Students Fight (Ep. 52)
In this episode of “Courageous Conversations about our Schools,” host Ken Futernick talks with educator and interpreter Shelby Rideout about a simple, in-the-moment strategy for handling kid conflicts without defaulting to “Knock it off,” “Go to your room,” or forced apologies. Instead of sending...
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From Strangers to Connection: A Day That Changes Everything (Ep. 51)
What if just 6 hours could transform how students see each other—and themselves? In this powerful episode, we take you inside Breaking Down the Walls, a high school workshop where simple conversations evolve into moments of deep vulnerability, empathy, and connection. At a Northern California…
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Why Connection—not Control—Is What Schools Need Now (Ep. 50)
In this episode, Ken Futernick sits down with Mike Walsh—widely known across California education circles as a master human connector—to explore how schools can build trust, strengthen relationships, and create communities where both adults and students truly belong. Drawing on decades of...
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The Extraordinary Transformation of a City and Its Schools—Pt. 2
In Part 1, we heard how Reading, Pennsylvania, began to turn outward—listening to families, students, and educators to rethink what their school system could be. In Part 2, we see what happened when a new mindset and civic culture shifted from data gathering and healthy conversation to concrete...
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The Extraordinary Transformation of a City and Its Schools—Pt 1
When the pandemic struck Reading, Pennsylvania, its school system was already under enormous strain. The Reading School District—the poorest in the state—served 16,000 students, many of whom faced daunting barriers long before COVID arrived. Hundreds were homeless. Thousands stopped showing up to...
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"30 for Us" is Breaking Bubbles and Bridging Student Divides (Ep 49)
What would make someone leave a thirty–year career on Wall Street to help heal America’s divides? In this episode of Courageous Conversations About Our Schools, host Ken Futernick talks with Adam Mizel, former investment banker turned bridge-builder, who co-founded US United to strengthen...
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Two Panelists on Opposite Sides of the Ethnic Studies Debate Want to Continue the Conversation (Ep 48)
In a live, online discussion we co-hosted with Braver Angels on September 4th, 2025, eight panelists discussed whether Ethnic Studies should be required for high school graduation, whether such a course should even be offered at all, or whether the content is likely to do more harm than good....
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The Future of California’s High School Ethnic Studies Course (Ep 47)
Should high school students be required to take an Ethnic Studies course? Should such a course even be offered at all, or is the content likely to do more harm than good? These were the questions that a diverse group of panelists discussed in a live, online “fishbowl” discussion we co-hosted with...
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Are Your Schools Prepared for ICE Raids? (Ep. 46)
In this timely conversation, attorney Leo Tucker shares his expertise on preparing schools and communities for immigration enforcement actions that could separate children from their families. As executive director of Aid (Aiding Survivors of Trafficking and Child Abuse), Tucker has developed a...
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Crossing Divides: How Schools Can Help Close America's Perception Gaps (Ep. 45)
In this episode, host Ken Futernick speaks with James Coan, founder of More Like US, along with high school students Landon and Deegan, about perception gaps in American society. James explains how perception gaps are the exaggerated negative views we hold about people with different political...
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When "Good Citizens" Disagree: An Educational Historian Weighs in on the Competing Visions for American Schools (Ep. 44)
In this Courageous Conversation, host Ken Futernick and Dr. Jonathan Zimmerman, a professor of History of Education at the University of Pennsylvania, delve into the heated debates surrounding American schooling. They explore the historical roots of compulsory education, analyze the recent…
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Bruce Wasser Helped Students Stand Up For Principle. Do We Want More Teachers Like That? (Ep. 43)
In this episode, host Ken Futernick sits down with Bruce Wasser, a former history teacher whose life story is as inspiring as his teaching career. Bruce shares his poignant journey from being a conscientious objector during the Vietnam War to becoming a beloved educator who had a profound impact…
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The Shoe Club: Walking Towards Empathy and Connection in a Michigan School (Ep. 42)
This story starts with a bag of shoes that helped a school community heal after the tragic deaths of two students. That story blossomed into a unique project called the “Shoe Club” that fosters empathy and breaks barriers in a Michigan middle school. The founder of the club and guest on this...
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From Hate to Dialogue: A Conversation with Daryl Davis, “Klan Whisperer” (Ep. 41)
How many of us would have the courage to have a conversation with someone who hates us? My guest, Daryl Davis, has done just that, not once, but for decades, with members of the Ku Kluz Klan and other hate groups, and many have renounced their ideology after getting to know him. A Black musician,...
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Character Education is Essential (and Unavoidable). How To Do It Well (Ep. 39)
This episode is part of our series on our sister podcast, Teacher Stories, on what schools can do to help save our democracy. Guests include Dr. Marvin W. Berkowitz, McDonnell Professor of Character Education at the Center for Character Education and Citizenship at the University of Missouri at…
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Democracies Cannot Survive Without Quality Education. A Conversation with Author Brook Manville (Ep. 40)
American democracy cannot survive without well-functioning schools that enable students to become good citizens and that teach them to appreciate what it means to live under a system whose only boss are the people themselves. That’s the claim my guest Brook Manville makes in his new book, The…
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The Transformative Power of Curiosity - A Conversation with Scott Shigeoka (Ep. 38)
Curiosity has been a common theme in this podcast. Conflict experts like my guests Amanda Ripley, Monica Guzman, and Peter Coleman say being curious and less judgmental is often a better way out of toxic conflict than making stronger arguments or presenting more facts. And, as we heard from our...
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Why These Students Are Rejecting Contempt and Embracing Dignity (Ep. 37)
In our previous episode (Ep. 36), Tim Shriver America’s widening political and social divides are, surprisingly, not due to our differences. “We’ve always had differences,” he says, “Contempt is the problem.” Shriver explains why treating others with dignity is more likely to produce the results…
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Getting Students (and Adults) to Respect One Another’s Dignity - A Conversation with Tim Shriver (Ep. 36)
Tim Shriver is a member of the Kennedy family, Chairman of Special Olympics International, co-founder of UNITE, and a former teacher. In this wide-ranging conversation with host Ken Futernick, Shriver describes a tool he co-created called the Dignity Index, and he describes how educators are…
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Schools Are Abandoning DEI. How a Different Approach Can Preserve It (Ep. 35)
School mission statements across the county commonly included language about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. DEI training for educators was also common. But that’s changed in recent years as school culture wars erupted around the books students have access to: how students learn about history,...
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Teachers Are Afraid to Talk About the 2024 Election (Ep. 34)
One would think that schools are the perfect place for students to learn about elections. What better opportunity to use the critical thinking skills they’ve learned in making sense of what the candidates are saying and to distinguish credible information from what they often encounter on social...
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Bold, Effective Leadership in Polarized Times - An Illuminating Conversation with Katy Anthes (Ep. 33)
This episode will interest anyone interested in what it takes to successfully lead a politically diverse school board (or any such organization) in these highly polarized times. My guest, Dr. Katy Anthes, did just that as Colorado’s Commissioner of Education from 2016 to 2023 by building trust,...
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Meet Aaron Stark - Almost a School Shooter (Ep. 32)
Ever wonder what goes on in the mind of a school shooter? Or, why someone chooses to kill innocent people? My guest, Aaron Stark, was ready to commit mass murder but decided, at the last minute, not to follow through with his plan. He also chose not to kill himself. In this episode, you’ll hear...
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Better Mental Health Can Reduce Gun Violence in Schools. Do We Have the Will to Promote It? Part 2 (Ep. 31)
One day after interviewing clinical psychologist Hayley Watson for Part 1 of this two-part series about the need for better mental health support in schools, Colt Gray, a 14-year-old student at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia walked onto campus with a military-style rifle and killed two...
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Better Mental Health Can Reduce Gun Violence in Schools. Do We Have the Will to Promote It? Part 1 (Ep. 30)
Immediately following the fatal shooting of two students and two math teachers at Apalachee High School in Georgia, the predictable debate over gun laws ensued. Less prominent were calls for another remedy for school gun violence that can have an immediate impact and, surprisingly, is not...
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Rich Harwood Rocks My World! (Ep. 29)
Rich Harwood knows a thing or two about depolarizing communities. He’s been doing it—successfully—for over 30 years, which is why I wanted to probe his thinking about the widening divides and the worrisome rise of culture wars that are threatening our public schools. Let me simply say, Rich…
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Middie Rising - A City Unites and Defuses a School Culture War (Ep. 3 of 3)
In the final episode of this series, several people reflect on the lessons learned from Middletown’s successful efforts to avoid a costly culture war and to unify around an inclusive vision of education that all of its students. In addition to Middletown’s community leaders who share their...
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Middie Rising - A City Unites and Defuses a School Culture War (Ep. 2 of 3)
In this second of three episodes about a culture war simmering in Middletown, Ohio, we learn how Superintendent Styles responds to allegations of racism and violations of students’ rights because of health mandates. Hint: He didn’t fight back. Instead, he listened to his critics. He then asked…
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Middie Rising - A City Unites and Defuses a School Culture War (Ep. 1 of 3)
This is the first of three episodes about the unusual steps school leaders in Middletown, Ohio took to defuse tensions over race issues and health policies. These tensions could have led to a full-blown culture war - the kind of knock-down, drag out clashes that have pitted educators, parents…
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Bridging Youth Divides Through Morning Classroom Conversations (Ep. 25)
This podcast usually focuses on how adults can have less contentious, more fruitful conversations about schools, but my two guests on this episode have plenty to say about the need to strengthen communication and relationships among young people. In fact, Nina Murphy and Kellie Dromboski (along...
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Politics in the Classroom in these Divided Times? Now More Than Ever, says Educator Diana Hess (Ep. 24)
It’s April 2024. Polarization in America is at an all-time high, and another highly contentious election season is fast approaching. Fears about teacher bias and the undue influence they might have over their students has raised suspicions among parents and has led several states to restrict what...
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A Conversation with Daniel Buck-Defender of the Education Culture Wars (Ep. 23)
When Daniel Buck’s article, “In Defense of the Education Culture Wars,” appeared in my news feed, I thought, Is this guy kidding? Is he seriously arguing that the culture wars are a good thing for schools? Turns out he was, which made me think, I have to get this guy on my show. Buck agreed to…
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Do Discomfort, Anguish, and Divisive Concepts Belong in the Classroom? A Conversation about Free Speech in Public Schools (Ep. 22)
Since 2020, nearly 20 states have passed legislation prohibiting public school educators from teaching “divisive concepts” or any content that might cause students to feel “discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress” because of their race or sex. Florida and several...
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When Homeschooling Fails Should the Government Step In? (Ep. 21)
According to a recent Washington Post article, homeschooling is the fastest growing form of education in America. As many as 2.7 million students are currently being homeschooled. One of my guests, Heidi Sampson, is a veteran homeschooling parent from Maine and a four-term Republican legislator....
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A Courageous Conversation with a Transgender Educator (Ep. 20)
Most of us have opinions about transgender people and, perhaps, about the controversial policies affecting transgender students - like ones requiring teachers to notify parents if their students are using names that do not match their birth gender. But few of us have ever had a real, in-depth...
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Breaking Through - A Compton High School Teacher Discovers a Way to Bridge Toxic Divides - Part 2 (Ep. 19)
In Part 2 of this story, high school students and a parent discuss their experiences participating in an innovative program called SEND (Student Empathy Network for Diversity) designed by Compton High School teacher, Jason Morgan, to strengthen relationships among students and parents from...
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Breaking Through - A Compton High School Teacher Discovers a Way to Bridge Toxic Divides - Part 1 (Ep. 18)
In Part 1 of this story, Jason Morgan, a high school math teacher from Compton, California, describes the innovative program he created called SEND (Student Empathy Network for Diversity) that was designed to strengthen relationships among students and parents in different parts of Los Angeles.…
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Can Educators Prevent Racism in Schools? Diverse Perspectives, Lively Conversation (Ep. 17)
Racist acts on school campuses are rising fast. Incidents of hate crimes and physical attacks with a weapon nearly doubled between the 2015-16 and 2017-18 school years. In the 2017-18 school year, schools reported nearly 6,000 hate crimes, according to the US Government Accountability Office.…
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The Pushback Against Social Emotional Learning. Where it's Coming from and How it Hurts Children (Part 2 with Stephanie Krauss) (Ep. 16)
In part 2 of this episode, host Ken Futernick continues his conversation with author Stephanie Krauss about Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and her new book, Whole Child, Whole Life. They explore the growing pushback from conservative policy organizations, like the American Enterprise Institute,...
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Thriving in Turbulent Times: Why Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is Essential (Part 1 with Stephanie Krauss) (Ep. 15)
Host Ken Futernick speaks with Stephanie Krauss, author of the new book, Whole Child, Whole Life - 10 Ways to Help Kids Live, Learn, and Thrive. In Part I of this episode, Krauss, a former teacher with years of experience doing social work, explains why she wrote the book and why it’s especially...
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The Latest Culture War Dustup: Balancing Parent Rights With Student Rights (Ep. 14)
Host Ken Futernick and his guests strive for civil dialogue around a contentious debate playing out across the country: What rights should parents of public school students have when it comes to what’s taught, the books students have access to, and the policies educators must follow? Ken’s…
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Taking a Stand Against Antisemitism in Schools (Ep. 13)
Antisemitism in America is on the rise. In 2022, the Anti-Defamation League reported a 50% increase in antisemitic acts in schools over the previous year. In this episode, two students from Montgomery County, Maryland discuss the impact of recent antisemitic acts at their high school. One of…
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Overcoming Toxic Polarization in our Schools with Peter Coleman (Ep. 12)
Peter Coleman, a renowned expert on constructive conflict resolution, shares valuable insights about the sharp rise of polarization in America and the divisive culture wars that plague our schools. He is the authorof the book, The Way Out: How to Overcome Toxic Polarization. After decades of...
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Political Opposites Find Common Ground on Schools, Gender, and Sexuality (Ep. 11)
What role should schools play when it comes to gender and sexuality? What books should students have access to? What topics should teachers and students be able to discuss? What kind of support should LGBTQ students be able to expect from their schools? These questions have become the focus of...
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Book Bans Exposed: Who Decides What Students Can Read? (Ep. 10)
In 2021-22, 138 school districts in 32 states banned more than 2500 books, affecting close to 4 million students. according to EdWeek. In some cases, books are removed because they are deemed by some to be pornographic. In other cases, book bans were prompted by themes considered inappropriate by...
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Calming the Culture Wars in our Schools with Journalist Monica Guzman (Ep. 9)
In the end, nobody wins the culture wars, says journalist Monica Guzman. The surprising key to overcoming these conflicts is to become curious rather than confrontational — to reframe the us/them confusion with complexity. Guzman also urges us to reject the easy answers — the sense of certainty...
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Weston Brown's Story: A Family and School Tragedy (Ep. 8)
Weston Brown was homeschooled in Dallas, Texas and had limited access to the internet, books, television, and the outside world. At age 24, he mustered the courage to tell his parents that he was gay. Their reaction was not unexpected, he said. “They thought that I was mentally ill or demonically...
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Forbidden Topics: Are Schools Hiding the Truth from Students? (Ep. 7)
Remember the classroom discussions of current events and controversial topics? They were opportunities to learn what was happening in the world, hear opposing perspectives, and formulate our own opinions. Recently, however, several states have passed laws restricting these discussions. In some...
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Taming the Culture Wars with Journalist Amanda Ripley (Ep. 6)
Best-selling author Amanda Ripley has devoted much of her career studying and writing about conflict. In this interview, Ripley suggests ways to respond to the “conflict entrepreneurs” that are fueling the culture wars in education, and she explains what it will take to shift from “high conflict”…
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Courageous Conversations About Our Schools have?
Courageous Conversations About Our Schools currently has 55 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Courageous Conversations About Our Schools about?
Bringing people together for respectful conversations about today’s most contentious issues affecting our schools. A way forward in divided times.
How often does Courageous Conversations About Our Schools release new episodes?
Courageous Conversations About Our Schools has 55 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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You can listen to Courageous Conversations About Our Schools on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Courageous Conversations About Our Schools?
Courageous Conversations About Our Schools is created and hosted by Hosted by Ken Futernick.
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