PODCAST · education
Teachers Unify
by Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence
The Teachers Unify podcast is hosted by Sarah Lerner, a co-founder of Teachers Unify To End Gun Violence. A 25-year educator in Florida, Sarah is a teacher-survivor from the shooting on Feb. 14, 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. The show works to address issues of gun violence and how it impacts schools & communities.
Episodes
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Voices for Change: José Vilson
This episode features José Vilson, PhD, a New York City educator & the Executive Director of EduColor. He talks about what led him to education and creating EduColor, how he came to work with Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence and why he is committed to making change in the gun violence…
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Mental Health: Melissa Michelin
This episode features Melissa Michelin, the assistant director at Eagles’ Haven, a wellness center located in Parkland/Coral Springs, Florida. The center opened in 2019 to honor the lives of the victims and survivors of the MSD school shooting in 2018. Melissa talks about her experience as a...
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Stories of Loss: Veronica Mata
This episode features Veronica Mata, an educator and mother of Tess, whose life was tragically taken at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas in May 2022. She talks about Tess, her advocacy work with Lives Robbed, and Gloves for Tess, the non-profit her family started.
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Survivor Stories: Diana & Ray Haneski
This episode features Ray & Diana Haneski, survivors of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. They were joined off-mic by their therapy dog, River. They talk about their experiences, journeys through healing and how they brought River into their lives and the lives of…
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Voices for Change: Sydney Chaffee
This episode features Sydney Chaffee, a Nationally Board Certified high school teacher in Boston, the 2017 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year and 2017 National Teacher of the Year, as well as a Teachers Unify Ambassador. She talks about her role as an educator, the work she’s done since becoming...
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Survivor Stories: Kiki Leyba
This episode features Kiki Leyba, Columbine teacher-survivor & Teachers Unify Ambassador. He shares his experience from April 20, 1999, the work he’s done in the survivor space and more.
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Voices for Change: Katherine White & Feel Good Action
This episode features Katherine White of Feel Good Action. She discusses National Preregistration Day, what educators can do to help get their students engaged and more.
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Survivor Stories: Jack DiPrimio
This extended episode features Jack DiPrimio, a graduate student survivor from the Brown University shooting on Dec. 13, 2025. In a very raw & honest conversation recorded less than a month after the incident, Jack talks about his experience, the loss of a dear friend, navigating life as a…
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School Stories: Kate McCann
This episode features Kate McCann, an educator & state legislator from Vermont. She talks about her experience as a high school math teacher, work she’s done in the legislature, what students & teachers can do to enact change and more.
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School Stories: Sofia Gonzalez
This episode features Sofia Gonzalez, an educator & activist from Chicago. She talks about losing students to gang & gun violence, what brought her to education & navigating as an education activist. She shares an excerpt of an essay she recently had published, gives some suggestions for change,...
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Survivor Stories: Alex Fleming
This episode features Alex Fleming, a gun violence survivor. She talks about her experience & journey as a drive-by shooting survivor, the importance of the teacher-voice, the advocacy work she’s done and more.
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Survivor Stories: Teachers Unify Crisis Intervention & Support Team
This episode features members of the Teachers Unify To End Gun Violence Crisis Intervention & Support Team who attended the inaugural Summit in Philadelphia from Nov. 7-9, 2025, under the leadership of Dr. Michael Schultz. The voices in the episode include survivors from Columbine High School,...
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Voices for Change: Elyse Thulin
This episode features Dr. Elyse Thulin, an assistant research professor at the University of Michigan. She works for the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, the Department of Health Behavior and Health Equity and the Institute for Social Research. She talks about her extensive research on...
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Survivor Stories: Cindy Carlson
This episode features Cindy Carlson, a Sandy Hook School survivor. She talks about her experience from Dec. 14, 2012, her work in the gun violence prevention space and much more.
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Voices for Change: Michael Cotey
This episode features Michael Cotey, the creator of Enough: Plays To End Gun Violence. He talks about his organization, his work with Change the Ref and Manny & Patricia Oliver, what he hopes people glean from the plays, and much more.
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Survivor Stories: La-Shanda West
This episode features La-Shanda West, an educator & Teachers Unify Ambassador. She talks about her activism, navigating life as a child-survivor of gun violence and why she remains in the gun violence prevention space.
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Voices for Change: Karen Dunholter
This episode features Karen Dunholter, a school social worker in Michigan. She talks about her experiences working with families impacted by homicide, losing a student to suicide at school, her school safety task force and more.
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Voices for Change: Karen McDonald
This episode features Karen McDonald, a former educator & judge, current Oakland County prosecutor & candidate for Michigan Attorney General. She talks about her time in the classroom, the Oxford shooting trials, how she worked to create a foundation in the gun violence prevention space, and more.
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Survivor Stories: Nadia Murillo
This episode features Nadia Murillo, a survivor from both Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018 & Florida State University in April 2025. She talks about her experiences, how she kept her own students safe, her healing journey, plans for the future, and more.
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Survivor Stories: Flo Rice
This episode features Flo Rice, a former substitute teacher & injured survivor from the shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas in May 2018. She talks about her experience from that day, how she’s used her story to bring about change, the different connections she’s made, and much more.
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Stories of Loss: Debra Hixon
This episode features Debra Hixon, a former educator, current school board member and wife of Chris Hixon, who was killed at MSD in 2018. She talks about her life with Chris, her time in education, work she’s done to make schools safer, and much more.
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Survivor Stories: Paula Reed
This episode features Paula Reed, a retired English teacher & current Jefferson County School Board member, who survived the Columbine High School shooting in April 1999. She shares her experience from that day, how she’s moved through trauma & healing, her experiences helping others, and much more.
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Voices for Change: Nikki Fried
This episode features Nikki Fried, the former Florida Commissioner of Agriculture & current Chair of the Florida Democratic Party. She talks about her role in public service, her support for the gun violence community, how people can get involved to make change, and much more.
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Voices for Change: Rhiannon Murphy
This episode features Rhiannon Murphy, a lifelong Bronx resident and mom who worked to end gun violence in her community. She shares how she moved her daughter upstate near Buffalo for her education & safety, her forthcoming book, her work in community organizing & activism, and much more.
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Stories of Loss: Audrey Brianne
This episode features Audrey Brianne, a stylist based in Los Angeles. She shares her experiences in being in close proximity to gun violence & the loss of a dear friend, how she sees gun violence in Black & Brown communities and much more.
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Survivor Stories: Stacey Lippel (Part 2)
This two-part episode features Stacey Lippel, a teacher/survivor from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Feb. 2018. She shares her experience from that day, how she’s been able to help others, her journey through mental health and much more.
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Survivor Stories: Stacey Lippel (Part 1)
This two-part episode features Stacey Lippel, a teacher/survivor from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Feb. 2018. She shares her experience from that day, how she’s been able to help others, her journey through mental health and much more.
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Stories of Loss: Kristin Song & Robin Fox
This episode features Kristin Song & Robin Fox, who came together in the aftermath of the death of Kristen’s son Ethan in January 2018. They share their own stories and connections to gun violence, Kristen’s work with Ethan’s Law and safe storage initiatives, the work they’ve done collaboratively...
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School Stories: Rori Abernethy
This episode features Rori Abernethy, a teacher from the Oakland/San Francisco area. She speaks about being a child of the Black Panther Party, her experience as a teacher dealing with school & community gun violence and her hopes for the future.
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Survivor Stories: Eric Garner
This episode features Eric Garner, a teacher/survivor from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He speaks about what brought him to education, his experience from Feb. 14, 2018, his journey through healing & why it’s important to use your voice.
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Back to School: Randi Weingarten, Greg Jackson & Rob Wilcox
This episode was recorded from a Teachers Unify To End Gun Violence Back To School Zoom held on Sept. 12, 2024. Hosted by Teachers Unify co-founders Abbey Clements and Sarah Lerner, the special guests were American Federation of Teachers President, Randi Weingarten and White House Office of Gun...
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Survivor Stories: Megan Doney
This episode features Megan Doney, an English professor at New River Community College in Virginia. She shares her experience from surviving the campus shooting in April 2013, how she navigated healing, the book she wrote to help survivors, and much more.
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Survivor Stories: Darren Thomas
This episode features Darren Thomas, a teacher who survived the tragedy at Saugus High School in 2019. He talks about his experience that day, working to create the yearbook with his students, how he’s cared for his mental health, and much more.
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Survivor Stories: Hope Nuzback
This episode features Hope Nuzback, a gun violence survivor who created the first chapter of Future Teachers Unify To End Gun Violence at Penn State. She talks about her experience with gun violence, the work she’s done with Future Teachers Unify, and things teachers can do to make change.
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Survivor Stories: Ben Tucker
This episode features Ben Tucker, a recently retired teacher from Nevada, who is a school shooting survivor from Sparks Middle School. He shares his experience as a photojournalist in California, his healing journey since the shooting at his school and how he believes that teachers and…
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Voices for Change: Sen. Shevrin Jones
This episode features Florida State Senator Shevrin Jones, a Democrat who represents the state's 35th District. He speaks about being an educator, the work he’s done within his community, why politics matters, and how we can all work to keep communities safe from gun violence.
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Survivor Stories: Cyrena Arokium
This episode features Cyrena Arokium, a survivor from the Sandy Hook School shooting in 2012. She talks about her experience, what it’s like being a college student and her plans for the future.
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Stories of Loss: Khadijah Butler
This episode features Khadijah Butler, founder & president of the Craig D. Butler Scholarship Foundation. She speaks about the loss of her father to community gun violence, the scholarship foundation she’s created in his memory, working to help the students of Philadelphia and much more.
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Survivor Stories: Melissa Gibbons
This extended episode features Melissa Gibbons, a teacher at Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan. She speaks about her experience from Nov. 30, 2021, how she’s using her voice to speak out, and much more.
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Voices for Change: Robert Wilcox
This episode features Robert Wilcox, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which was created by the Biden Administration in Sept. 2023. He talks about his experience with gun violence, the work he’s done with the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and things…
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Stories of Loss: Kaitlin Haynes
This episode features Kaitlin Haynes. She speaks about losing her best friend and uncle to gun violence, going into schools every day for work, being a mom with the struggles and fears of raising Black sons today, and much more.
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Survivor Stories: Natalie Niemeyer
On this episode, we’ll hear from Natalie Niemeyer, a survivor from the Des Moines East High School shooting in March 2022. She speaks about how having educator parents shaped her formative years, which led her to education, her experience from the shooting, being a new mom amidst the loss of her...
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Covering a Tragedy: Reed Alexander
In this extended episode, we’ll hear from Reed Alexander. He played Nevel Papperman on iCarly and has gone on to become a world-class professional journalist with Business Insider. He speaks about his experience as a child actor, how it led him to journalism, how journalism led him to cover the...
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Voices for Change: Logan Rubenstein
In this episode, we’ll hear from Logan Rubenstein, the former director of March For Our Lives Parkland. He speaks about his experience adjacent to the events at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018, how he’s gotten into politics & his plans for the future.
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Living With PTSD: Rachel Archambault
In this episode, we’ll hear from Rachel Archambault, a speech-language pathologist, public speaker & gun violence survivor. She speaks about her experience at MSD, how she’s helping to educate about trauma-informed care & her unique perspective in education.
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Voices for Change: Santiago Mayer
On this episode, we’ll hear from Santiago Mayer, Executive Director of Voters of Tomorrow. He shares the organization’s origin, what young people can do to speak out about issues that matter, like gun reform, and why he feels so strongly about educators.
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Parkland Speaks
In this episode, we’ll talk about “Parkland Speaks,” the book that was released in January 2019, published by Random House. It’s an anthology of writing, art and photography from students and faculty from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who survived and share their experiences from Feb. 14,...
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Mental Health: Jack Hilton
On this episode, we’ll hear from Jack Hilton, a social worker in Maine who specializes in trauma-informed counseling. He shares how his personal trauma and work as a local journalist led him to a career in social work. He also talks about EMDR, gives some tips for when someone becomes activated &...
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Mind & Body: Amy Kenny
In this episode, we’ll hear from Amy Kenny, an educator & yoga instructor. She speaks about her experience with gun violence, why yoga, meditation & the mind-body connection are so important to healing, and the sides of survivor guilt most people don’t talk about.
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Survivor Stories: Antonius Wiriadjaja
In this episode, we’ll hear from Antonius Wiriadjaja, an educator, artist & gun violence survivor. He speaks about the moment that changed his life, being in the gun violence prevention space & how art helped him through his healing journey.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Teachers Unify podcast is hosted by Sarah Lerner, a co-founder of Teachers Unify To End Gun Violence. A 25-year educator in Florida, Sarah is a teacher-survivor from the shooting on Feb. 14, 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. The show works to address issues of gun violence and how it impacts schools & communities.
HOSTED BY
Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Teachers Unify have?
Teachers Unify currently has 64 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Teachers Unify about?
The Teachers Unify podcast is hosted by Sarah Lerner, a co-founder of Teachers Unify To End Gun Violence. A 25-year educator in Florida, Sarah is a teacher-survivor from the shooting on Feb. 14, 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. The show works to address issues of gun...
How often does Teachers Unify release new episodes?
Teachers Unify has 64 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Teachers Unify?
You can listen to Teachers Unify 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 Teachers Unify?
Teachers Unify is created and hosted by Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence.
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