A podcast for educators reimagining what allyship looks like in classrooms, staff rooms, and communities. Host Tricia Friedman, global educator, coach, and Director at Shifting Schools, guides dynamic conversations at the intersection of education, identity, and digital humanities. Each episode brings together practitioners, authors, and thought leaders exploring how schools can cultivate belonging, through curriculum, culture, and critical reflection. With an eye toward digital culture and ...
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Tricia Friedman Podcasts
Shifting Schools is a thought-provoking podcast that explores the latest trends, strategies, and tools in K-12 education. Hosted by educators Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman, the podcast provides a platform for teachers, administrators, and education thought leaders to share their experiences and insights on how to improve teaching and learning. From innovative approaches in classroom management to leveraging technology for personalized learning, Shifting Schools tackles the most pressing is ...
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What ideas about collaboration in K12 education are no longer relevant? How might we reimagine what our teams need and how might we cultivate more inclusive teams in schools?
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Author and writing coach Nadine Kenney Johnstone shares interviews with today's top women writers, including Jen Hatmaker, Catherine Newman, Maggie Smith, Molly Wizenberg, Abigail Thomas, Dr. Hillary McBride, Emily P. Freeman, Laura Tremaine, Sari Botton, Francesca Royster, Susan Piver, Jane Friedman, Mae Yoshikawa, and more. Nadine also shares her own stories of healing, hope, and following her heart.
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Holiday Gifting for Teachers: Tools for Wellness, Creativity, and Reflection
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This special Shifting Schools holiday episode isn't about trendy gadgets or generic gift lists. Instead, Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman share seven thoughtfully chosen gifts for educators—each matched to a specific kind of person and a specific kind of need. Some gifts are playful. Some are reflective. Some are deeply practical. All of them offer …
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228 In 2025, Nadine interviewed bestselling authors Catherine Newman, Jen Hatmaker, Molly Wizenberg, and many more! Now, Nadine chats with her producer about their 12 favorite episodes and which bits of guest wisdom impacted them the most. Learn how their personal and creative lives have changed as a result these impactful conversations. While the …
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Can Scientists Succeed Where Politicians Fail? A Conversation with Nobel Laureate Peter Agre
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What role can scientists play when politics reaches a standstill? In this episode, Tricia Friedman speaks with Nobel Prize–winning scientist Peter Agre about his extraordinary second career in science diplomacy—a path that took him from the laboratory into conversations with presidents, prime ministers, health ministers, and scientists in countries…
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What Makes a Family? Scott & Mark Hoying on Representation, Creativity, and Love
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You know Pentatonix – the multi-platinum selling acapella group is the number one most listened to musical acct of the holiday season. Co-founder and Grammy winner Scott Hoying is currently starring in Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars. Scott Hoying and his husband Mark are now also authors of an innovative picture book which features text that d…
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227 Nadine is taking a semi-sabbatical this year to study, try new things, & travel, and she's sharing her adventures with you in a podcast series that airs monthly throughout 2025. In this 11th episode, she shares the highlights, challenges, and takeaways from November, which was a month of tackling things she's been avoiding. She breaks down the …
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Co-Creating Wonder: The Making of Interactive Stories with Sandra Magsamen
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In this conversation, Sandra Magsamen discusses the importance of interactive storytelling in children's books, emphasizing how they foster emotional connections and self-esteem in young readers. She shares insights into her creative process, the significance of collaboration with publishers, and offers tips for enhancing storytime experiences. Mag…
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Why Interdisciplinary Learning Fuels Creativity: A Conversation with Alan Gratz
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In this episode of Shifting Schools, bestselling author Alan Gratz joins Tricia Friedman to explore the craft of storytelling, the role of creativity in education, and why curiosity is the engine behind both great writing and great learning. Gratz shares how baseball has quietly shaped the structure of many of his novels, how he approaches characte…
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Start Small, Start Now - Realizing Your Dreams w/ Tricia Leach
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226: How do you turn a daydream into a life? Tricia Leach has been doing exactly that for the past decade. What began as a bold leap into full-time RV living became a family adventure that took Trish, her husband, and their kids through all 50 states and beyond—stories they’ve shared with a worldwide following through their beloved YouTube channel,…
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Using Trivia to Inspire Writers: Lessons from Brian "Uncle John" Boone
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In this warm and curiosity-packed conversation, Tricia Friedman sits down with Brian "Uncle John" Boone, longtime contributor to the iconic Uncle John's Know It All Bathroom Reader series—now celebrating its 38th edition. Brian shares why trivia continues to captivate millions, how collaborative writing fuels the series' longevity, and why tiny bit…
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Inside the Mind of a 4.1 Million-Follower Creator: AI, Internships, and the Future of Storytelling
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In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht reconnects with Marcus DiPaola, a successful content creator and documentary filmmaker. They discuss Marcus's journey from working in news to becoming a prominent influencer on platforms like TikTok, where he has amassed over 4 million followers. The conversation delves into the challenges of content…
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Redefining Family with Scott & Mark Hoying: Creativity, Parenthood, and Representation
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Tricia Friedman sits down with Scott and Mark Hoying to explore what it means to build a family rooted in love, creativity, and community. Together they talk about their new children's book, why representation in early storytelling matters, and how reimagining family through inclusive narratives can nurture belonging. They also share how their crea…
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The Rise of Micro schools: How Educators Are Reimagining Learning with David Richards
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Are micro schools the future of personalized learning? In this high-impact episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht sits down with David K. Richards, CEO of ChangeMaker Education, to break down one of the fastest-growing movements in the education ecosystem: microschools. With over 125,000 micro schools and 1.5 million students already learning in …
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225 Want to see your words in print but don't know where to begin? Or maybe the rejections are racking up and you don't know why. The world of publishing can feel illusive at best and cutthroat at worst, but once you know the unspoken rules, you can get published in no time. Learn how Nadine has gotten her writing in top mags and how she's helped h…
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Tami Charles on Picture Books, Fear in Creativity, and Teaching Unity Through Stories
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What happens when a children's book becomes a tool for unity, empathy, and allyship? In this conversation, Tami Charles—author, former teacher, and champion of diverse stories—opens up about the creative process behind her latest picture book, Together United. She shares how her writing is shaped not only by ideas, but by her collaboration with ill…
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Can we communicate with our pets? Leo Trottier on the Future of Interspecies Communication
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What if our pets are communicating complex ideas—and technology is finally catching up? In this episode of the Shifting Schools Podcast, cognitive scientist and FluentPet founder Leo Trottier joins us to explore how breakthroughs in animal cognition, inter-species communication, and speech-button interfaces are reshaping the way humans understand p…
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224 If you want to feel more vibrant and inspired, this encore conversation is for you. Artist and retreat leader, Flora Bowley, joins Nadine for a conversation about their favorite creative practices and Flora's book, The Art of Aliveness. Join Nadine at her Revision Retreat on Madeline Island Aug 24-28, 2026. About Nadine: Nadine Kenney Johnstone…
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Teaching Creativity: Alan Gratz on Storytelling, Curiosity, and Collaboration
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Join host Tricia Friedman in conversation with Alan Gratz, the New York Times–bestselling author whose novels have captivated readers for over five years. Gratz shares how baseball shaped his storytelling, why creativity and curiosity belong at the heart of every classroom, and how interdisciplinary learning strengthens student engagement. This epi…
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Crossing the Line of Falling Behind: Where Is Your School on the AI Curve?
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Summary In this episode, Jeff Utecht discusses the critical importance of understanding where schools stand on the AI adoption curve. He emphasizes the need for leadership to actively engage with AI and for educators to integrate AI into their teaching practices. The conversation highlights the transformative potential of AI in education, urging sc…
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223 As we prep for the holidays and turn our attention to food, we're revisiting our chat w/ cookbook author, registered dietician, and culinary school grad Nisha Melvani. Covered in this episode: -how living in many places (Jamaica, England, Canada, NY) has impacted her cooking -how food affects our bodies -how to eat more plants even if you're no…
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Narrative Justice: The Future of Climate Justice with Shilpi Chhotray
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What if the fight for climate justice began with the stories we tell? In this reflective episode, Tricia Friedman sits down with Shilpi Chhotray, host of A People's Climate, to unpack the concept of narrative justice — the belief that climate storytelling must center the communities most impacted by environmental change. Together, they explore how …
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How Generative AI Can Deepen Critical Thinking in K12, Not Replace It
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Discover how educators are using generative AI not to automate, but to elevate critical thinking and collaboration in K-12 schools. In this episode of Shifting Schools, host Tricia Friedman shows how "disagreement by design" and intentional prompt-engineering transform student and leadership learning. What you'll learn: What disagreement by design …
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Sabbatical Adventures #10: Trying New Things
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222 Nadine is taking a semi-sabbatical this year to study, try new things, & travel, and she's sharing her adventures with you in a podcast series that airs monthly throughout the year. In this 10th episode, she shares the highlights, challenges, and takeaways from October, which was a month of trying new things and being in community. She shares h…
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A conversation that reminds us how curiosity, art, and iteration can reshape are necessary and may even be assets for our school leadership and the ways we nurture creative courage in young learners.... In this episode, Tricia Friedman sits down with author-illustrator Christy Mandin to explore what school leaders can learn from the creative proces…
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Parenting, Picture Books, and the Practice of Wonder: Leadership Lessons in Creativity
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A conversation that reminds us how curiosity, art, and iteration can reshape are necessary and may even be assets for our school leadership and the ways we nurture creative courage in young learners.... In this episode, Tricia Friedman sits down with author-illustrator Christy Mandin to explore what school leaders can learn from the creative proces…
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Catherine Newman on Motherhood, Midlife, and Anxiety
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221 In this hilarious episode, bestselling author Catherine Newman discusses the beauty and torture of parenting and perimenopause. They discuss the balance of humor and fear in Catherine's latest novels, Sandwich and Wreck, in which Catherine gets real about the complexities of everything from family vacations to "reproductive mayhem." Catherine s…
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The Creative Process of Ryan La Sala: Writing Fear, Joy, and Queer Resilience
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Tricia Friedman sits down with bestselling author Ryan La Sala for a deep dive into the creative process behind his latest book. Together, they explore how queer horror, artistic design, and emotional literacy intersect to shape stories that resonate with today's readers. La Sala reveals how multiple drafts, layered perspectives, and intentional de…
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Beyond Cheating: What AI Is Really Teaching Us About Students and Schools
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The conversation about AI in education often starts—and stops—with cheating. But what if that's the least interesting part of the story? In this episode, Tricia Friedman speaks with the team behind the new show: The Homework Machine, MIT's Justin Reich and journalist Jesse Dukes. They unpack how generative AI is reshaping what we mean by integrity,…
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220 Writer’s block. How do we overcome it? Nadine shares the 8 tried and true ways to not only break the block, but avoid it altogether. Hear the wisdom she’s gained from her decades of professional writing, magazine editing, university teaching, and manuscript coaching. Here are the links for her 2025/2026 workshops and retreats: Writer Workout Me…
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Claribel A. Ortega on Why Monsters Matter: Writing Hope and Friendship in Dark Times
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What can monsters, middle-grade fantasy, and community-centered storytelling teach us about the world we live in today? In this episode, Tricia Friedman sits down with New York Times bestselling author Claribel A. Ortega (Witchlings) to explore how fantasy fiction helps young readers navigate identity, belonging, and hope in turbulent times. Ortega…
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In this episode Tricia Friedman talks listeners through an example of how she vibe coding an app from start to finish. Her vibe coding process of building an app blends AI literacy, digital humanities, and leadership design thinking. What does this tell us about the future of using generative AI for projects in K12? This episode is sponsored by our…
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