The Informed Educator: Research and Teaching in the Anthropocene

In this episode, we sit down with Juliet Hess to explore music education through a more critical and socially aware lens. Drawing on her work in the philosophy and sociology of music education, Juliet reflects on how music can become a point of encounter, giving students ways to engage with people, experiences, and perspectives they may not otherwise come across in everyday life. The conversation also touches on the emotional role music plays in people’s lives, especially for young learners, and how music education can either narrow that experience or create room for reflection and affirmation.Note: This conversation was recorded in August 2025

In this episode, we sit down with Katrina Keefer to explore how games and interactive design can create new ways of engaging with history in educational settings. Drawing on her work as a historian and game developer, Katrina reflects on the value of game-based learning while stressing the importance of using these tools with intention. A key part of the conversation centers on her Bunce Island project, which digitally recreates the historically significant site in Sierra Leone and invites learners to engage more directly with the history of the transatlantic slave trade, memory, and displacement. Rather than presenting the past as distant or static, Katrina shows how immersive design can help students encounter difficult histories in a way that feels more immediate and considered.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Li to explore what a more holistic approach to AI education can look like in practice. Rather than treating AI as a purely technical subject, Dr. Li emphasizes the importance of helping students think critically about how these technologies shape society, identity, and everyday life. The conversation also explores Design Fiction Pedagogy, age-appropriate ways of teaching AI concepts, and the value of classroom spaces that encourage reflection, curiosity, and ethical engagement with emerging technologies.

In this episode, we sit down with Chris Sarkonak to explore how assessment, grading, and student learning are shaped by systems that do not always reflect what students actually know or can do. Chris argues for a more honest approach to assessment, one that pays closer attention to growth, meaningful feedback, and the ways students demonstrate learning over time. He also highlights the value of student agency and classrooms that support curiosity rather than anxiety, suggesting that stronger assessment practices can better reflect the real learning taking place.

In this episode, we sit down with Terry Greene - senior eLearning designer and longtime podcaster, to dig into how AI is reshaping teaching, learning, and the everyday work of educators. Terry shares a grounded, critical take on what these tools can (and can’t) do in educational contexts, why hype cycles matter, and how institutions can respond with curiosity and care rather than panic or blind adoption.

In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Finlan - an educator and school leader to talk about what it looks like to build learning environments where students can thrive. Andrew speaks candidly about his own positionality and how it influences the way he shows up for students, navigates responsibility, and makes meaning of the work. Together we explore what it means to teach with humility and build spaces where students feel seen and supported.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Denise Handlarski, an educator, researcher, and rabbi, to explore the role of wellness in education. Denise shares insights on how schools can become more creative and values-driven, along with practical strategies for integrating well-being into teaching and learning.

In this episode, we’re joined by Roman Williams, the founder of Interfaith Photovoice, an organization that merges photography and sociology to foster intergroup and interfaith engagement. Roman holds a Ph.D. in the sociology of religion from Boston University and a Th.M. in global religions from Gordon-Conwell Seminary. He spent nearly a decade as a tenured associate professor of sociology at Calvin University and served as the executive officer of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. His academic work explores lived religion and participatory visual methodologies, themes central to his edited volume Seeing Religion

In this episode, we talk with Professor Karleen Pendleton Jiménez—writer, filmmaker, and educator—about gender and social justice in education. Karleen shares insights on current research, challenges, and opportunities, along with practical advice for educators striving to create more inclusive and supportive learning environments.

Building on our discussion of the YLS program, this episode looks at key research findings and insights from the program’s implementation. We examine the role of community-based experiential learning, interdisciplinary approaches, and self-efficacy in climate change education, along with practical strategies for bringing these elements into mainstream classrooms.

In this episode, we explore the vision, goals, and impact of the Youth Leadership in Sustainability (YLS) program with Cam Douglas. We discuss the importance of integrating climate change education into youth learning experiences and how YLS fosters student engagement, leadership, and interdisciplinary thinking to address the climate crisis.  

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Stephanie Muehlethaler about fostering inclusive and supportive communities in higher education. She shares insights on student success, leadership in times of crisis, and her innovative graduate course on educational leadership during challenging times.

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Nicole Bell, an Anishinaabe scholar and educator, to discus storytelling from an Anishinaabe perspective. She shares insights on Indigenous culture-based education, the role of storytelling in teaching and learning, and how educators can meaningfully incorporate storytelling into their practice.

In this episode, we speak with Shaghig Chaparian, a Ph.D. candidate at New York University specializing in Science and Environmental Conservation Education, about the power of eco-pedagogy and systems thinking in the classroom. She shares insights on how educators can incorporate eco-pedagogy into their practice without feeling overwhelmed and how systems thinking can empower students to critically engage and take action. 

In this short introductory episode, hosts Anne and Lauren introduce The Informed Educator and discuss why reimagining teaching and learning in the Anthropocene is more important than ever. They share their vision for the podcast and the critical issues it will explore.