Happy holidays, teacher friends! Whether you’re celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, winter break, or simply breathing for the first time in weeks, this episode is our gift to you. We’re revisiting powerful, joyful, meaningful moments from some of our favorite conversations this year—with incredible educators who bring creativity, courage, purpose, and fun into classrooms every day.
You’ll hear:
🎙️ Debbie Tannenbaum on authentic, student-centered EdTech and reflection
🌮 Gabriel Carrillo on food as connection + AI literacy + real talk PD
🎭 Kiki (Keke) Powell on joy, costumes, innovation, and believing BIG for kids
🎮 John Meehan playing a lightning-round classroom strategy game that is pure teacher joy
Light, warmth, laughter, growth, and seriously good thinking—this one feels like gathering around a holiday table with the best people in education.
00:00 – 01:55
Holiday welcome + episode intro + setting the tone for warmth, joy, and reflection
01:56 – 10:14
Co-teaching with empathy and pacing for teacher comfort
Building culture, not one-off tech moments
Student reflection beyond pencil & paper
Creating problem-finders, not just problem-solvers
Shifting from consumption → creation
10:44 – 16:45
Food as a universal engagement tool
Classroom + PD lessons = meals we craft with intention
AI literacy, ethics, modeling, and district responsibility
16:45 – 19:56
“Click-click-click” PD isn’t learning
Implementation matters
Coaching + co-teaching + real classroom transfer
Evidence from student artifacts + classroom practice
20:20 – 21:56
Why she dresses up
Family support
Costumes as engagement & memory anchors
Learning that feels magical
21:56 – 25:15
Choosing brand partnerships with integrity
Using influence to help teachers
Awards, impact, gratitude, and growth
25:34 – 28:20
Grant writing courage
Student-led innovation
Listening to kids
Thinking WAY beyond flexible seating
28:20 – 33:40
Fast-paced fun deciding whether to:
Keep it 🔥
Rethink it 🤔
Topics include:
Bell ringers • Homework • Classroom jobs • Digital badges • Extra credit • Assigned seats • Lectures • Escape rooms
Teacher PD disguised as joy? Absolutely.
✔️ Holiday encouragement
✔️ Fresh EdTech mindset
✔️ A spark of joy + creativity
✔️ Leadership thinking without overwhelm
✔️ A laugh (or three)
Debbie Tannenbaum
Gabriel Carrillo
Kiki “Keke” Powell
John Meehan
If you enjoyed today’s episode:
⭐ Subscribe
💬 Leave a review
📣 Share with a teacher friend
📚 Support our guests’ books on Bookshop.org
Wishing you peace, joy, and a season full of rest and inspiration!
⏱️ Episode Breakdown⭐ Debbie Tannenbaum (Meaningful EdTech & Reflection)⭐ Gabriel Carrillo (Food, Connection & AI Literacy)⭐ Gabriel Carrillo (PD That Actually Works)⭐ Kiki / Keke Powell (Joy, Costumes & Classroom Magic)⭐ Keke Powell (Purpose, Partnerships & Recognition)⭐ Keke Powell (Innovation & Pop-Up Learning Pods)⭐ John Meehan Game Segment — “Rush or Rethink It”🎧 Listen If You Need:🙌 Featuring❤️ Thanks for Listening!
