Shows
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeWho Gets Called a “Bad Student”? | Ep. 227 (with Samrat Sharma)Samrat Sharma is a queer immigrant scholar from India pursuing a dual-title PhD at Penn State. In this conversation with Bryan Stanton, he compares schooling in India and the United States, from unequal resources and school meals to the gap between education policy and what children actually receive.Samrat also shares his research with the Hijra community in New Delhi. By studying gossip and cussing as ways people build community and share knowledge, he asks who gets labelled a “good” or “bad” student, and whose knowledge schools recognise.In this episode, you will:Exa...
2026-10-2935 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeDon’t Dim Your Light: Queer Leadership and Being Yourself at Work | Ep. 226 (with Di'Andre Davenport)Di’Andre Davenport has built a career around helping young people find opportunities to lead. A first-generation master’s graduate from Paterson, New Jersey, he talks with Bryan about civic engagement, the mentors who recognized his strengths, and what it means to build a professional life without hiding his identity as a Black gay man.Their conversation moves from the joy of Di’Andre’s first Pride to a homophobic comment on a university video that briefly made him want to hide. Di’Andre reflects on how the university responded, and why every student and staff member deserves t...
2026-10-2240 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice“Only Girls Wear Earrings”: What a Kindergartner’s Question Can Teach Us About Gender | Ep. 225 (with Sulwyn Garcia)Sulwyn is a primary school teacher in Copenhagen who has taught across five countries. In this conversation, they and Bryan talk about what young children learn about gender long before anyone gives them a formal lesson, and how a teacher can respond when a child asks an unexpected question.Sulwyn shares a moment from their classroom: a five-year-old notices their earrings and asks if they are a girl. Rather than shutting the question down, Sulwyn asks what the child means. Their exchange offers a practical glimpse of queer literacy in the early years. The conversation also makes...
2026-10-1532 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeWhat Does Belonging Look Like When Working in Higher Ed? | Ep. 224 (with Renee Wells)Renee has worked in classrooms, taught writing and literature, and now helps colleges put their commitments to equity into practice. In this conversation with Bryan, they look at the assumptions built into higher education, from who gets recognized as a leader to whose needs are considered in workplace policies.They also talk about restorative practices beyond the classroom. Renee describes how colleagues can build community before harm happens, respond when it does, and turn broad commitments to belonging into concrete ways of caring for one another.In this episode, you will:...
2026-10-0824 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeWho is AI Really Built For? Queering Technology | Ep. 223 (with Raj Korpan)What happens when we stop treating technology as neutral and start asking who it was actually built to serve?In this episode, Bryan sits down with Raj Korpan, an assistant professor of computer science at Hunter College, to explore the intersection of queer identity, education, artificial intelligence, and technology ethics. Raj shares how he encourages computer science students to question the defaults built into technology, connect their identities and communities to what they create, and consider the human consequences of even seemingly small design decisions.Their conversation moves beyond the simple question of whether educators...
2026-10-0132 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeWhat If the Classroom Is the Problem? What Queering Systems Looks Like | Ep. 222 (with Rutvik Sanke)What happens when education moves beyond textbooks, fixed classrooms, and predetermined paths?In this episode of Queering Education, Bryan Stanton sits down with architect, educator, and self-described queer nomad Rutvik Sanke to explore how identity, architecture, community, and indigenous ways of knowing can reshape the way we think about teaching and learning.Rutvik reflects on their experiences within education in India, from rigid academic structures to learning environments rooted in curiosity, movement, performance, craft, and community. They share why they resist scripted classrooms, how their queer identity naturally informs their teaching practice, and why education...
2026-09-2433 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeI Am Not Hiding Who I Am: Teaching, Drag, and the Right to Be Visible | Ep. 221 (with Sarabijit aka Kween Mallika)Sarabjit “Sam” is an educator, trained pharmacist, classically trained dancer, and drag performer whose work brings together teaching, South Asian culture, queerness, and performance. In this conversation, Sam shares how bringing drag and culturally specific workshops into schools helped them recognize the power of representation—and ultimately helped lead them toward becoming a licensed teacher in Canada. Sam and Bryan also dig into what happens when educators are expected to separate their professional identities from the rest of their lives. From being asked whether they would hide their public drag profile during a teaching practicum to creating boundar...
2026-09-1738 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeA Pride Flag Isn’t Enough Here's What Queer Students Actually Need | Ep. 220 (with Zsofia Leary)Zsofia Leary knows what it means to move through a school system where queer identities are rarely acknowledged—and what it can mean when educators choose to create something different. An MPA student at NYU Wagner, advocate, former music teacher, and queer person raised in Indiana, Zsofia joins Bryan to talk about the connection between education policy, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and the everyday choices that help students feel safe and seen. Their conversation explores the difference between visible signs of support and meaningful allyship, including why a Pride flag or inclusive book is only a beginning. Zsofia also sha...
2026-09-1033 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeScotland Put LGBTQ+ Inclusion Into Every Subject. Here’s What Happened | Ep. 219 (with Darek Ciszek)Tomorrow on Queering Education, Bryan Stanton sits down with Darek Ciszek, a former middle school teacher and UCLA researcher whose dissertation examines LGBTQ-inclusive education in Scotland.After watching anti-LGBTQ+ education policies spread in the United States, Darek went looking for a different model. He found one in Scotland, where LGBTQ+ inclusion has been integrated across curriculum, grade levels, and subject areas—with implementation support to help educators actually put policy into practice. From two dads appearing naturally in a math problem to queer historical figures being incorporated into existing lessons, Darek explains why representation doesn’t alw...
2026-09-0341 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeLet's Talk About Sex(Ed), Baby! Queering Sexual Education | Ep. 218 (with Dr. Shanéa Thomas)Tomorrow on Queering Education, Bryan Stanton sits down with Dr. Shanéa Thomas—a social worker, sexuality educator, educator, grief counselor, death doula, and Black queer nonbinary parent—for a conversation about what it really means to teach gender and sexuality inclusively.Dr. Thomas challenges the idea that queer and trans identities are exceptions we need to explain. Instead, what if we started with the understanding that all of us exist somewhere on spectrums of gender, sexuality, attraction, and identity—and that those things can change throughout our lives?Together, Bryan and Shanéa unpack...
2026-08-2738 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeThree Teachers Reported a T-Shirt And Students Weren't Present | Ep. 216 (with Alex Holdford)Three teachers reported a T-shirt. There weren't even students in the building.That moment became one of many reminders that for nonbinary special education teacher Alex Holdford, visibility at work isn't just personal. It's political.Alex joins Bryan Stanton to share what it's like teaching in a self-contained special education classroom while navigating increasingly restrictive policies in Texas. From wearing subtle nonbinary symbols to building trust with students who communicate differently, Alex explains how authenticity, community, and compassion can coexist even when systems make them difficult.The conversation moves beyond one...
2026-08-1336 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeI Didn't Know I Could Be Queer and a Teacher | Ep. 215 (with Richard McDonald)For many LGBTQ+ educators, the hardest lesson wasn't how to teach. It was believing there was a place for them in the classroom at all.Richard MacDonald shares how growing up under the legacy of Section 28 shaped his understanding of what it meant to be a teacher, why he believed his queer identity didn't belong at school, and the student who helped change that perspective. Now an assistant principal, English teacher, and PhD researcher exploring the experiences of LGBTQ+ educators, Richard reflects on what authentic leadership looks like and why creating schools where educators can be themselves...
2026-08-0631 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeThe Students Were Already Ready for this Conversation | Ep. 214 (with Max Rodriguez)Every student deserves to see their family and themselves reflected in the classroom. But what does LGBTQ-inclusive education actually look like in an elementary school, especially in a community where support isn't guaranteed?New Jersey fourth-grade teacher Max Rodriguez (he/they) shares how he thoughtfully weaves inclusive curriculum, family representation, and social justice into everyday teaching while navigating community expectations. Drawing on more than three decades in education, Max reflects on how much schools have changed, why visible support matters, and what it means to become the teacher he wished he'd had growing up.Bryan...
2026-07-3035 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice"You're Kind of My Father Figure." The Moment One Student Changed Everything | Ep. 212 (with Stephan Hoda)A welcoming classroom doesn't happen by accident. It grows from the choices educators make every day about representation, belonging, and whose stories deserve to be told.Seventh grade science teacher Stephan Hoda joins Bryan Stanton to talk about creating affirming classrooms where queer students feel seen while every student benefits. From teaching mythology through a more inclusive lens to advising a middle school Queer Student Alliance, Stephan reflects on how curriculum, history, and authentic relationships shape school culture. He also shares why queer educators matter far beyond representation and how students often surprise us with their insight...
2026-07-1644 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeHow Educators Can Integrate LGBTQ History and Inclusive Teaching into Any Classroom | Ep. 211 (with Steve Koumoulis)Bryan Stanton sits down with New Jersey educator and advocate Steve Koumoulis to explore what LGBTQ inclusive teaching actually looks like in everyday classrooms. From queer history to curriculum design, this conversation offers practical ideas for educators who want to create more inclusive classrooms through authentic storytelling rather than token representation.Steve shares his work helping bring New Jersey's LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum mandate to life, discusses founding one of his school's first GSAs, and explains why queer pedagogy isn't about adding a lesson during Pride Month—it's about helping every student see th...
2026-07-0912 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeUsing Dance and Social Justice to Create Queer Inclusive Classrooms | Ep. 209 (with Micah Gary-Fryer)How can LGBTQ-inclusive teaching and queer pedagogy help students find their voice? In this episode of Queering Education, Bryan Stanton sits down with dance educator Micah Gary-Fryer to explore how movement, social justice, and arts education create more inclusive classrooms where students feel seen, valued, and empowered. Drawing from more than two decades in education and the performing arts, Micah shares how dance can become a powerful tool for student expression, body confidence, community building, and social justice learning. From immigration stories to student-created performance art, this conversation highlights what happens when educators trust students to connect t...
2026-06-2515 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeI Became the Teacher I Never Saw | Ep. 207 (with Joe Chianakas)What does it mean to be the teacher you needed when you were young? In this episode of Queering Education, Bryan Stanton talks with educator and author Joe Chianakas about LGBTQ inclusive teaching, queer visibility, and why representation remains essential in both K–12 and higher education.Drawing on more than 25 years in education, Joe reflects on his journey from a closeted high school teacher to an openly queer professor. Together, Bryan and Joe explore queer pedagogy, community building, mentorship, and the impact that visible LGBTQ educators can have on students searching for belonging and possibility.In...
2026-06-1146 min
The Teacher's ForumTeaching While Queer: Bryan Stanton on Pride, Education, and BelongingBryan Stanton joins The Teacher’s Forum for a special Pride Month conversation about education, identity, advocacy, and belonging. An award-winning theater educator and founder of Teaching While Queer, Bryan reflects on his journey from being outed as a teenager to becoming a national voice for LGBTQ+ educators and students.Bryan shares the experiences that shaped his commitment to creating inclusive schools, discusses the challenges facing queer educators in today's political climate, and explains how theater can help students develop empathy and a deeper understanding of others. David and Bryan also explore resilience, representation, student advocacy, and th...
2026-06-081h 04Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeWe Refuse to Disappear: Pushing Back Against Anti-Queer Rhetoric in Education | Ep. 205 (with sj Miller)Host Bryan Stanton (they/them) sits down with agender educator, sj Miller (none) to discuss ways to support students navigating their identities and socialization. This episode dives into LGBTQ inclusive teaching, queer pedagogy, and the realities of building inclusive classrooms in today’s policy climate. Through lived experience and classroom practice, we explore what it actually means to show up for queer and trans students when systems aren’t built for them.From navigating anti-trans legislation to redefining what classroom inclusion looks like, this conversation centers real educator strategies—not theory. It’s about how teachers are protecti...
2026-05-0740 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeI Don’t Want Your Kid to Be Gay—Here’s What I Actually Want | Ep. 204 (with Christian Shearhod)What does LGBTQ inclusive teaching actually look like in real classrooms—not theory, not policy, but day-to-day practice? This episode explores how queer pedagogy and inclusive teaching show up through kindness, boundaries, and honest conversations with students.Bryan Stanton sits down with educator Christian Shearhod to talk about what it means to create inclusive classrooms in a time when even basic respect feels politicized. From teaching consent and boundaries to navigating parent pressure and online backlash, this conversation stays grounded in what students actually need.In this episode, you’ll learn: How to te...
2026-04-3033 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeSafe Space Stickers Aren’t Enough: The Truth About Allyship in Classrooms | Ep. 203 (with Shelby Hall Denney)What does LGBTQ inclusive teaching actually look like beyond posters and policies? This episode digs into the real work of building inclusive classrooms through queer pedagogy, lived experience, and practical strategies educators can use right now.Bryan sits down with Shelby Hall Denney from PFLAG NYC’s Safe Schools program to unpack what it means to move from performative allyship to meaningful classroom inclusion. From navigating policy confusion to supporting LGBTQ students through authentic representation, this conversation stays grounded in the realities educators face every day.In this episode, you’ll learn: How t...
2026-04-2335 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeStart with Kindness: How Queer Educators Build Inclusive College ClassroomsIn this episode of Queering Education, Bryan Stanton (they/them) sits down with Emilia (she/her), a graduate teaching assistant and first-year PhD student at the University of California Davis, to talk about discovering your teaching identity while navigating queerness, accessibility, and classroom culture.Emilia reflects on her journey from the U.S. South to a more affirming academic space, and how that shift shaped her approach to teaching. Together, they explore what it means to build classrooms rooted in kindness, trauma-informed practices, and genuine inclusion—not just as theory, but as daily practice.In th...
2026-04-0935 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeHow Queer Teachers Teach Inclusivity When They're Not Sure What They're Allowed To Say | Ep. 200 (with Bryan Stanton)In this solo episode, Bryan Stanton (they/them) walks through what inclusive teaching actually looks like when policies feel vague, pressure is real, and every classroom decision carries weight. This isn’t theory—it’s what you can do tomorrow to support students while staying grounded in your professional role.If you’ve ever found yourself editing your language, second-guessing your curriculum, or wondering what might come back to you later, this episode offers a clear, practical path forward rooted in design, consistency, and educator reality.In this episode, you’ll learn:Simple language shifts tha...
2026-04-0217 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeThis Is Not a Culture War This Is How Students Learn | Ep. 199 (with Bryan Stanton)What if inclusive education isn’t political—or optional—but necessary for learning itself?In this solo episode, Bryan Stanton (they/them) breaks down what’s actually happening in education right now and reframes inclusion as a core pedagogical issue, not a cultural debate. From Universal Design for Learning to culturally responsive teaching and queer pedagogy, this episode connects theory to real classroom practice—without losing sight of the risks many educators are navigating.If you’ve ever felt like you’re trying to “add inclusion” on top of everything else, this episode offers a different lens: on...
2026-03-2614 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeHow Glisten Supports LGBTQ+ Students: Resources for Teachers and GSAs | Ep. 198 (with Damon Carbajal)In this episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) sits down with Damon Carbajal (he/el), Director of Chapter Network and Program Integration at Glisten, to talk about the resources available to educators who want to better support LGBTQ+ students.From lesson plans and GSA support to affirming book programs and national student initiatives, Damon shares how Glisten is evolving to meet the needs of today’s classrooms. The conversation also explores the organization’s recent name change, the upcoming National School Climate Survey update, and why the shif...
2026-03-1922 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeThe Past Is Always Present: Bringing Queer History to Life in the Classroom | Ep. 197 (with Deb Fowler from History UnErased)In this episode, host Bryan Stanton talks with Deb Fowler about the work of History UnErased, a nonprofit bringing LGBTQ+ history into K–12 classrooms through primary sources, theater, and creative learning.Deb shares how their project “The Past Is Always Present” helps students explore LGBTQ+ history through original plays, music, and improv exercises grounded in real historical documents. The result? Students aren’t just memorizing facts—they’re analyzing history, embodying historical figures, and discovering stories many educators never learned themselves.You’ll also hear about classroom-ready resources, tea...
2026-03-1226 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeQueering Research: Studying Bisexual Identity, Violence, and Academic Resistance | Ep. 196 (with Katherine Bogen)In this episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) talks with Katherine Bogen (she/her), a sixth-year doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at the University of Nebraska. Katherine’s work focuses on bisexual identity, experiences of violence, and how disclosure impacts relationships and healing. She shares what it means to conduct “me-search” that honors queer lived experience—and what it felt like when federal DEI funding cuts abruptly canceled her NIH-funded research grant.The conversation explores bisexual stigma, institutional cowardice around anti-DEI policies, and why queer educators and researchers must continue documenting their communities—even when...
2026-03-0547 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeSafe Isn't Enough: Why LGBTQ+ Educators Matter More Than Ever | Ep. 195 (with Dr. Michael Sadowski)In this powerful conversation, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) speaks with Michael Sadowski about what it means to be an out educator—from coming out in job interviews in the 1990s to researching queer youth, GSAs, and the limits of “safe schools.”Michael shares his journey from theater to teaching, launching a GSA in Massachusetts, earning his doctorate, and writing extensively about LGBTQ+ youth, identity development, and education. Together, they explore what’s changed for queer students and educators, what hasn’t, and why “safe” simply isn’t enough anymore.In this episode, you’ll learn:What it...
2026-02-2642 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeTeaching While Queer in a Shifting Policy Climate | Ep. 194 (with Bryan Stanton)In this solo episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) reflects on what it means to teach while queer during a moment of shifting protections, contested policies, and public scrutiny around trans inclusion in schools. As headlines intensify, so does the pressure on LGBTQ+ educators—who often find themselves acting as both teacher and shield.But this episode isn’t just about turbulence. It’s about momentum. Brian shares why they believe queer educators are on the precipice of something powerful: deeper collaboration, stronger networks, and community-built change. This conversation is a reminder that survival is not th...
2026-02-1912 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeMental Health, Queer Visibility, and Professional Risk in Education | Ep. 193 (with Dr. Clark Ausloos)In this episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) is joined by February Educator of the Month Dr. Clark Ausloos (he/him) for a deeply grounded conversation about the intersection of education, mental health, and queer identity.Dr. Ausloos shares what it looks like to teach future counselors while navigating political pressure, professional ethics, and the emotional labor of showing up authentically in higher education. Together, Bryan and Clark unpack belonging versus boundaries, privilege and risk, and why small moments of care can matter more than grand gestures.In...
2026-02-1250 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeWorking with Immigrant and Refugee Students While Queer | Ep. 192 (with Alejandro Aristizabal)Live from the Creating Change Conference in Washington, D.C., Bryan sits down with Alejandro, a youth program assistant with Foundation Communities in Austin, Texas. Together, they explore what it means to be an openly gay educator working with immigrant and refugee youth in a state where policy often conflicts with inclusion.Alejandro shares his path from reluctant teacher to joyful mentor, how his queerness shows up in small but powerful ways, and why community and creativity sustain him—even when the world feels unsafe.Listeners will learn:...
2026-02-0545 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticePastoral Care, Student Trust, and Queer Visibility in Schools | Ep. 191 (with Danny Walker-Drake)What does it actually look like to be an out queer educator—and just do your job?In this episode of Teaching While Queer, host Brian Stanton talks with Danny Walker-Drake, a behavior support manager at a large secondary school in southwest England, about pastoral care, student trust, and why authenticity doesn’t have to be a big announcement. Broadcasting from the Creating Change Conference, this conversation centers relationships, boundaries, humor, and the reality of working with young people as whole humans.In this episode, listeners will learn:How queerness can show up n...
2026-01-2941 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeThe future really is queer: How Queer Educator Representation Impacts Students | Ep. 190 (with Julia Lathin)In this episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) talks with Julia Lathin (she/her), a lesbian art teacher in Los Angeles, about the evolution of her teaching—from closeted survival in a Michigan Catholic school with a morality clause, to building affirming, creative classrooms for queer youth in California.Listeners will learn:What it meant to teach under a “morality clause” while hiding key parts of her identityHow one small phrase—“pick a better word”—became a lifelong teaching mantraPractical ways to create safe, affirming art classroomsWhat happens when admin support is missing—and wh...
2026-01-2250 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeSix Promises for Queer Educators in 2026 | Ep. 187 (with Bryan Stanton)In this New Year continuation of the December 25th reflection, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) turns from reflection to direction. This solo episode names six promises—practices, boundaries, and strategies—for queer educators in 2026, and closes with a powerful New Year’s blessing rooted in the realities of today’s classrooms.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to define success beyond survival.Ways to bring queer truth into curriculum safely and meaningfully.What sustainable visibility looks like for educators under scrutiny.How to interrupt bias and harm in real time.Why joy, bound...
2026-01-0116 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeEducate, Advocate, Celebrate: What Queer Educators Built in 2025 | Ep. 186 (with Bryan Stanton)This year, queer educators didn’t just survive — we built something that can outlast the moment. 🌈 In this reflective solo episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) revisits the major themes that shaped 2025 for LGBTQ+ teachers: quiet resistance, authentic storytelling, and the radical act of joy. From the Teaching While Queer Educators Conference to episodes that redefined advocacy, Bryan invites listeners to pause, reflect, and name the impact they’ve made — even when no one was watching.This episode is for every LGBTQ+ educator, school counselor, or ally who needs a reminder that strategy and community—not perfection—ar...
2025-12-2517 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeWhen “Inclusion” Means Erasure: Decolonizing Holiday Practices in Schools | Ep. 185 (with Bryan Stanton)This episode is for educators — especially queer teachers, principals, and school leaders — who care deeply about real inclusion and belonging. Bryan Stanton (they/them) unpacks how well-intentioned “inclusive” classroom practices often end up reinforcing Christian dominance, sidelining Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, and secular families. Together, we’ll examine how public schools perpetuate cultural erasure under the banner of “neutrality,” and what authentic pluralism can look like in action.You’ll Learn:How “inclusive” school traditions often reinforce Christian cultural normsWhy neutrality isn’t neutral — and how law, culture, and faith intersect in public schoolsWhat exclusion looks like for Jewish, Muslim...
2025-12-1120 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeHow Music Educators Can Build Queer-Inclusive Classrooms | Ep. 184 (with Dr. Justin Caithaml) For music and performing arts educators striving to create affirming spaces for every student — this episode is for you. Bryan (they/them) sits down with Dr. Justin Caithaml) (they/them), Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Bridgeport, to explore how gender, sexuality, and policy intersect in the music classroom. Together, they unpack how queer educators can balance authenticity, safety, and advocacy — both for themselves and their students.In this episode, you’ll learn:How to design inclusive classroom “policies” — from pronouns to physical space to performance practicesWhy separating imagined harm from actual harm matters...
2025-12-0448 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeHow Queer Educators Can Interrupt Bias & Model Brave Conversations | Ep. 183 (with Sean McGill)This episode is for teachers, school leaders, and DEI facilitators who want to create more inclusive classrooms while navigating fear, burnout, and systemic bias. Bryan (they/them) talks with Sean McGill (he/him) — a Chicago-based educator, anti-bias facilitator, and doctoral researcher — about what it means to teach, train, and show up authentically as a queer man across classrooms, police academies, and digital spaces.Listeners will learn how to:Interrupt bias in real time — even when you don’t know exactly what to sayModel queer authenticity safely in K–12 and adult learning environmentsBuild plans for bias response b...
2025-11-2052 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeHow Queer Librarians Can Lead on Inclusive Literacy | Ep. 182 (with Bec Anderson)This episode is for school librarians, elementary educators, and district leaders who want to create truly inclusive and affirming library spaces—without fear or burnout. Bryan (they/them) sits down with Bec Anderson (they/them), a nonbinary librarian from Kansas, to talk about what “Reading the Rainbow” really means, how librarians can push back against book bans, and why visibility matters in small communities.Key Takeaways:How to build a library collection that mirrors your students’ lived experiencesPractical ways to make queer and diverse representation visible in subtle, safe waysThe power of book choice as a pathwa...
2025-11-1335 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeBeyond Allyship — Language, Courage, and Co-Conspiracy | Ep. 181 (with Françoise Thenoux)What does real allyship look like when the stakes are high? In this powerful episode, Bryan (they/them/elle) talks with Françoise Thenoux (she/ella) — also known as @TheWokeSpanishTeacher — about how educators can move from performative allyship to courageous co-conspiracy through inclusive, non-binary Spanish language and classroom practices.🌈 You’ll hear:How non-binary and gender-neutral Spanish is reshaping classrooms across the AmericasWhy true allyship requires risk, courage, and communityPractical steps for educators to create linguistically and queer-affirming spacesThe story of one student who changed Françoise’s entire approach to teachingThis episod...
2025-11-0639 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeFaith, Identity & Burnout – A Gay Educator’s Journey in Catholic Schools | Ep. 180 (with Bill Hulseman)What does it mean to be a queer teacher in a faith-based school? In this episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) sits down with author and ritual designer Bill Hulseman (he/him) to explore his path from Catholic school teacher to educational leader to full-time ritualist and writer.• Navigating authenticity and inclusion as a gay man in Catholic education• How ritual, faith, and teaching intersect to shape culture and community• Lessons on burnout, conscience, and leaving the classroom with integrity• The story behind Bill’s new book Carry...
2025-10-3053 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeStories Are Strategy – Reflections from the Queer Educators Conference | Ep. 179 (with Host Bryan Stanton)In this special episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) reflects on the inaugural Teaching While Queer Educators Conference, held on October 11, 2025—a global gathering of queer educators, allies, and advocates transforming education through authenticity and collective care.• “Belonging isn’t just entering the room—it’s redesigning it.” • How storytelling became a tool for organizing, resistance, and liberation • Lessons from sessions on union power, media strategy, and affirming visibility • Why cultural shifts must come before policy shifts—and how to make both happen • The joy, kinship, and courag...
2025-10-2309 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeTeaching Truth in Dangerous Times: Queer History, Resistance, and Radical Hope | Ep. 178 (with Rodney C. Wilson)“I had to become a fully integrated person—same at home, same in class, same everywhere—or I couldn’t keep teaching.”In this powerful conversation, Bryan sits down with Rodney Wilson, the Missouri educator who founded LGBTQ+ History Month and made history as the first openly gay K–12 Missouri teacher to come out to his students. Together, they unpack the intersections of queer identity, teaching, and resistance—from the origins of LGBTQ+ History Month to the modern-day fight against censorship and “Don’t Say Gay” laws.Listeners will learn:How queer teachers...
2025-10-0943 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeSix Ways Queer Teachers Can Protect Their Energy and Stay in the Classroom | Ep. 175 (with Host Bryan Stanton)Self-care isn’t bubble baths — for queer teachers, it’s survival in a world trying to push us out of classrooms. In this solo episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) lays out what authentic, practical self-care looks like for LGBTQ+ educators navigating burnout, political attacks, and the daily emotional labor of being visible in schools.You’ll learn:Six concrete self-care strategies queer teachers can use in under five minutesHow to set boundaries and say no without guiltWhy self-care is not a luxury but an act of survival, sustaina...
2025-09-2316 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeJoy Is Resistance How Queer Teachers Are Building a Movement | Ep. 174 (with Host Bryan Stanton)Celebration is advocacy—and when queer educators gather, we refuse to be erased. In this solo episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) shares everything you need to know about the upcoming Teaching While Queer Queer Educators Conference 2025, happening October 11th, National Coming Out Day.This isn’t just another professional development event—it’s a day of community, courage, and celebration where queer teachers, allies, and advocates come together to educate, advocate, and sustain joy.In this episode you’ll hear:Why National Coming Out Day is the perfect moment for...
2025-09-1126 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeTeaching the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as Queer Resistance | Ep. 173 (with Host Bryan Stanton)Queer educators are not just teaching the Universal Declaration of Human Rights—they’re living it, every time they step into the classroom.This episode is for every teacher who’s ever asked, “How do I teach justice when my own visibility feels at risk?”We dive into the power of teaching the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) through a queer lens. This episode explores how LGBTQ+ teachers bring human rights to life in schools, bridging history, advocacy, and daily classroom realities.Listeners will hear stories and strategies that connect qu...
2025-08-2812 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice170. Start the Year Queer: Real Back-to-School Strategies for LGBTQ+ Teachers“You don’t have to be perfect to be inclusive—just keep trying, keep listening, and keep loving your students fiercely.”Back-to-school season is here, and for queer teachers, the first weeks can feel like both an opportunity and a battleground. In this episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) shares proven strategies to create a classroom where every LGBTQ+ student—and every teacher—can show up as their full self.Drawing on antiracist, culturally responsive, and queer-affirming pedagogy, Bryan covers:How to set the tone for trust, s...
2025-08-0513 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice169. When the World Says "No" Queer Teachers Should Queer Everything!Queerness isn’t just what we are—it’s how we teach, breathe, and survive, even when the world tries to shut us down.In this solo recap, Bryan Stanton (they/them) unpacks Maya Gonzalez’s transformative approach to education, creativity, and queer resilience—rooted in four decades of lived experience as a queer femme artist, educator, and creator of the Gender Wheel. Whether you’re a queer teacher, LGBTQ+ ally, or navigating pushback in education, this episode is your roadmap to queering every corner of your classroom and life.You’ll walk away with:...
2025-07-3119 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice169. When the World Says "No" Queer Teachers Should Queer Everything!Queerness isn’t just what we are—it’s how we teach, breathe, and survive, even when the world tries to shut us down.In this solo recap, Bryan Stanton (they/them) unpacks Maya Gonzalez’s transformative approach to education, creativity, and queer resilience—rooted in four decades of lived experience as a queer femme artist, educator, and creator of the Gender Wheel. Whether you’re a queer teacher, LGBTQ+ ally, or navigating pushback in education, this episode is your roadmap to queering every corner of your classroom and life.You’ll walk away with:...
2025-07-1919 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice165. Affirming LGBTQ+ Students Means More than Just Surviving Right Now“If we’re surpassing the safety of children to satisfy community attitudes, then we’re failing—period.”This episode of Teaching While Queer dives deep into the lived realities of queer teachers and LGBTQ+ allies fighting for truly inclusive schools in 2025. Drawing on Bryan’s conversation with Josh Qua, a queer educator and special education coordinator in New Orleans, we tackle the urgent need for radical empathy, queer visibility, and defending the power of choice—especially as anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and book bans sweep the country.In this episode, queer educators and allies will:...
2025-07-1718 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice159. Teaching While Queer Is a Lifeline, Not a LiabilityYour authenticity is not small—it’s a radical act of defiance.In this heartfelt solo episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) reflects on five transformative lessons from their conversation with queer icon Jeffrey Marsh. Together, they explore what it means to teach with joy, show the seams of your process, and create classrooms that radically affirm LGBTQ+ identity. For queer educators and LGBTQ+ teachers navigating visibility, vulnerability, and resistance, this episode is a love letter and a roadmap.You’ll walk away with:Emotional and spiritual tools to disman...
2025-06-2619 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice158. The Cruel Things They Say Mean Nothing to Healed LGBTQ+ Teachers“You’re not doing a little podcast—what you do is not little.”In this heartfelt Pride Month episode, host Bryan Stanton and viral educator Jeffrey Marsh dive into what it means to teach, live, and lead while queer—especially in a world that seems to both need us and fear us. This episode is a love letter to LGBTQ+ teachers navigating doxing, isolation, and the politicization of their existence.Learn how queer educators can show up authentically, even when it’s not safe to come outExplore how joy in the classroom is a radical...
2025-06-241h 01
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice157. Quiet Resistance, Loud Impact: Queer Teacher Visibility in Hostile SchoolsYou don’t have to wave a flag to be radical—but you do have to survive. In this special solo episode, host Bryan Stanton shares five transformative takeaways from his conversation with Jed Dearybury—LGBTQ+ educator, illustrator, and champion of joy in South Carolina schools. This is for every queer teacher navigating visibility, safety, and joy under pressure.In this episode, you will:Learn how “quiet” queer pedagogy can be just as powerful as loud pride.Understand the mental health toll of being out—and the tools to survive it.Discover why play, joy, and small da...
2025-06-1911 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice155. Queer Educators Are Done Waiting for Permission to Be SeenPride Month ends—but your queerness doesn’t.For queer educators, June often brings rainbow logos and empty gestures—while silence reigns inside the school walls. In this episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) digs deep into what it means to reclaim Pride as a daily practice of resistance, authenticity, and survival.You’ll learn:How to transform performative Pride into meaningful daily visibilityPractical steps for building inclusive classrooms without burning outWhy sharing your story might be the most radical thing you do this year
2025-06-1208 min
Supporting Your Neurodivergent Child at School and Home46: How to Be an Ally to Queer Educators and Students with Bryan StantonSend us Fan MailIn this interview episode, Bryan Stanton (chair of "Teaching While Queer," a not-for-profit organization) shares the importance of allyship even when it feels scary or uncomfortable. "But how can I be an ally?," you ask?! Listen as Bryan shares the importance of visual signals, asking about pronouns, checking in on queer students, creating space for queer educators, preserving accurate history (i.e., NOT banning books), listening to understand, and attending professional development focused on how to be an ally to queer educators and how to nurture LGBTQ students.Speaking of professional...
2025-06-101h 17
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice153. How Queer Educators Can Reclaim Pride as a Daily Practice Even When Schools Stay SilentPride Month can feel hollow when your school ignores your existence. For queer educators, visibility isn’t just a celebration—it’s survival. In this episode, Bryan Stanton (they/them) unpacks how to reclaim Pride as a purposeful, daily practice when your institution stays silent.With both tenderness and tenacity, Bryan speaks directly to queer teachers navigating erasure, fear, and exhaustion. This isn’t about performative allyship or rainbow logos—it’s about how to live and teach with authenticity in the face of resistance. In this episode, you will:Learn how to center Pr...
2025-06-0510 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice151. 5 Simple Shifts to Transform your Classroom into a Queer-Affirming SpaceWhat if just five small shifts could radically change how your students feel seen, safe, and celebrated in your classroom? In this episode of Teaching While Queer, Bryan Stanton breaks down five transformative practices inspired by his powerful interview with theater educator Tim Cusick.These aren't abstract theories—they're real, actionable changes that can turn any classroom into a queer-affirming environment. From embracing vulnerability to challenging outdated norms, each shift is designed to deepen trust, encourage expression, and center student identity.In this episode, you will:Learn how modeling vu...
2025-05-2909 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice149. The Hidden Power of Queer Joy in EducationWhat if the most radical thing you could bring into your classroom isn’t resistance—but joy? In this celebration-filled episode of Teaching While Queer, Bryan Stanton flips the script on traditional trauma narratives in education and makes the case for joy as a transformative force in queer pedagogy.Too often, we focus solely on surviving oppressive systems. But what happens when we center laughter, glitter, and connection instead? Bryan explores the power of queer joy as both strategy and sanctuary. From classroom anecdotes to affirming research, you’ll hear why joy isn't fluff—it's foundational.
2025-05-2215 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice148. Stop Praising Resilience: How It’s Killing Queer EducatorsWhat if praising queer educators for being “resilient” is actually just another way to keep them exhausted and unsupported? In this episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton pulls back the curtain on the myth of resilience — especially for queer educators who are trans, nonbinary, BIPOC, or multiply marginalized. Through personal stories, critical insights, and tangible strategies, Bryan invites listeners to reclaim rest as a radical, necessary act of self-preservation. In this episode, you will:Learn how resilience culture can mask systemic neglect of queer educators.Disc...
2025-05-2011 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice147: 3 Ways Queer Educators Can Build Safe Classrooms With Their Story & IdentityAre you a queer educator struggling to balance authenticity with classroom safety—and wondering if sharing your story can actually build trust?In this episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) explores how embracing your queer identity and personal narrative can create safer, more inclusive learning environments—without putting yourself at risk. Drawing inspiration from educator and paranormal medium Rob Gutro, you'll learn how story, strategy, and self-awareness can transform your teaching practice.In this episode, you will:Discover how selective storytelling can foster trust and connection with students.Learn practical ways to asse...
2025-05-1508 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice145. Why “Self-Care” Is Failing Queer Educators—and What Real Support Looks LikeWhat if the people building safe spaces in schools are the ones who feel the least safe?In this deeply personal episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) explores the emotional and professional toll of being a queer educator in a system not designed to protect—or even acknowledge—you. If you’ve ever felt like teaching as your full self comes at a cost, this episode will resonate hard.In this episode, you will: Hear real, raw stories from LGBTQ+ educators navigating burnout, invisibility, and unsafe school environments.Learn how system...
2025-05-0809 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice135. 3 Strategies Queer Teachers Can Use To Advocate For Inclusion Without Risking Their JobsCan LGBTQ+ teachers truly be themselves in the classroom? Despite progress, many still face discrimination, fear, and pushback when advocating for inclusion.In this episode of Teaching While Queer, Bryan Stanton recaps an eye-opening conversation with Greg R. Baird, a longtime educator and activist. Greg shares his personal experiences navigating the education system as a gay teacher, the resistance he faced when launching a GSA, and how he’s adapted his advocacy to keep pushing for change. If you’re a queer educator, an ally, or someone passionate about LGBTQ+ rights, this episode is packed with insi...
2025-04-0309 min
JUST DO YOU.S1E39 Bryan Stanton - Teacher of the Year ... While QueerJoin me this week as I sit down with Bryan Stanton, an award winning visionary in theatre education based in the Bronx, New York, who is dedicated to creating dynamic and impactful learning experiences for educators and students alike.During our time together he shares about his own personal journey to finding his authenticity AND voice, and how he is committed to living a powerful, out and proud life as an educator, singer, actor, Queer Theorist ... AND an amazing dad to his 4 children. Given the current climate in our country with teachers and students alike under attack, Br...
2024-12-0551 minQueering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeHow to Respond When K.A.L. “Kill All Lesbians” is Posted in Schools as An LGBTQ EducatorAsk A Queer EducatorEver wondered what it's like to be an educator embracing their true identity while navigating through the complexities of teaching? Dive into this episode with Rebecca Creasy as she shares her journey from late-life queerness to creating safe spaces for diverse students.In this episode, Rebecca Creasy, an ESL teacher in Pittsburgh, discusses her journey of self-discovery and the challenges of coming out while teaching in a diverse, multicultural setting. Her insights shed light on the importance of visibility and acceptance in educational environments, especially for LGBTQ+ students.Through...
2024-08-0730 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice59. Breaking Stereotypes: Trans Advocacy in SchoolsAsk A Queer EducatorWhat does it mean to teach while queer? Join host Bryan Stanton as he dives into the stories of transgender educators paving the way for inclusivity in academia.In a world where LGBTQIA+ rights and representation remain a pressing issue, the journey of transgender educators provides critical insights into navigating challenges and fostering inclusive educational spaces.In this episode you will:Gain actionable strategies for promoting gender inclusivity in educational setti...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores queer and trans representation in...
2024-06-1307 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice43. How to Navigate Being an LGBTQ Educator in Conservative SchoolsAsk A Queer EducatorEver wondered how music education can shape inclusivity in today's classrooms? Join Am're and Bryan as they discuss their journeys through music, education, and navigating identity in conservative spaces.Am're and Bryan share personal stories of growing up queer in Oklahoma and Texas, discussing the challenges of reconciling their identities with their passions for music and education. Their experiences shed light on the broader issue of inclusivity in educational settings...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores queer and trans representation in ed...
2024-02-2243 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice41. Navigating the Educational Currents: Being LGBTQ A Educator in Today's SchoolsAsk A Queer EducatorTeaching While Queer, Season 2, Episode 22Strap in for an intimate journey through the world of queer education with myself, Brian Stanton, and the exceptional Julio Carpio (he/they). Together, we navigate the nuanced path of teaching with pride amid today's societal complexities. Julio, a non-binary Latinx educator, shares their transformative shift from lecturing college students to inspiring seventh graders in Syracuse, revealing the sobering impact of anti-LGBTQ+ legis...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores queer and trans representation in education, educator bu...
2024-02-0838 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice36. From Surviving the AIDS Epidemic to Promoting Sex Education for LGBTQ Students in SchoolsAsk A Queer EducatorTeaching While Queer, Season 2, Episode 17Have you ever wondered how the threads of personal history, activism, and education weave together to shape our understanding of critical social issues? I, Brian Stanton, am thrilled to share a compelling conversation with Ed Sperin, an extraordinary individual whose life as an older gay man has been deeply intertwined with the realms of education and theater. Ed's story, marked by both adversity and triumph, shines a light on the ...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores qu...
2024-01-041h 00
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice30. Navigating Queerness in Schools: Self-Discovery and LGBTQ InclusivityAsk A Queer EducatorTeaching While Queer, Season 2 Episode 11How does a queer, non-binary AFAB individual navigate through a conservative, all-female Catholic high school and find their identity? What if the era is the early 2000s and technological resources are bare to none? Meet our guest, Keri McDonough (they/them), who shares this fascinating journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Keri, now an assistant director at an LGBTQ Center at a university in Rhode Island, candidly reveals their...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores queer and tr...
2023-11-0251 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice29. A Journey of LGBTQ Inclusivity, Advocacy, and Compassion in EducationAsk A Queer EducatorTeaching While Queer, Season 2, Episode 10Ever wondered how a queer educator navigates through the intricacies of faith, education, and identity? Well, strap in for a deep dive into a unique intersection of life and learning with our guest, Jake Brown (he/him). Raised in a small, Catholic mining town in Arizona, Jake's experiences — from being bullied to coming out in a less-than-accepting environment — have shaped him into a compassionate and inclusive educator. Jake...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores queer and trans...
2023-10-261h 02
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice28. Small Steps, Big Impact: LGBTQ Identity in SchoolsAsk A Queer EducatorTeaching While Queer, Season 2, Episode 9Ever felt like you're living a future that didn't exist in your childhood? That's the extraordinary journey of Aaron Rupchand-Kokotek (he/him), a queer science teacher who navigated his self-discovery in a conservative Jewish school. Our chat explores his queer awakening, the remarkable evolution of educational content, and the nuances of teaching while queer. Take a walk with us down memory lane as we unravel how changes in gender ...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores queer an...
2023-10-1947 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice27. Advocating for LGBTQ+ Inclusion in Schools and Representation in MediaAsk A Queer EducatorTeaching While Queer: Season 2, Episode 8Ever wish you had a clear, accessible resource to navigate the complexities of gender and sexuality when you were just a kid? Meet Lindz Amer (they/them), a creator, author, educator, activist, and performer, who is changing the narrative with their ground-breaking web series, Queer Kids Stuff. Designed for preschoolers, it embodies the essence of Mr Rogers meeting Queer Theory 101, providing young minds a safe and welcoming environ...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores queer and tr...
2023-10-1259 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice26. Transcending Barriers in Queer Education: A Conversation on LGBTQ AdvocacyAsk A Queer EducatorTeaching While Queer: Season 2, Episode 7Have you ever considered the complexities of navigating classrooms as a queer student or teacher? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Finn Menzies (he/him), a skilled educator with experiences spanning from preschool to community college. We delve headfirst into Finn's journey, discussing his personal experiences as a queer student, the absence of queer representation in education, and the lingering effects of the 1980s An...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores queer and trans representation in...
2023-10-0556 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice25. Unpacking Queer Identity and LGBTQ Inclusivity in SchoolsAsk A Queer EducatorStrap in for a riveting conversation with the dynamic and inspiring, Gerilyn Brault, a queer youth educator who takes us on a deep and personal journey into her life as a bisexual pansexual. Our conversation explores her journey to self-discovery, from the stirring moment she saw Sailor Uranus to her experiences growing up as a queer individual. We dissect the stigma around bisexuality, its roots in patriarchy, and how language and terms related to queer identities have ev...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. Th...
2023-09-2852 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice24. An LGBTQ Educator's Journey of Resilience, Advocacy, and Activism in Kentucky SchoolsAsk A Queer EducatorWelcome to an intriguing conversation with Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr (he/him), the 2022 Kentucky Teacher of the Year, an advocate for LGBTQ+ students, and a proud gay Appalachian. Willie's story of growing up queer amidst the 90s AIDS narrative and his experience of finding solace in school during his tumultuous childhood sets the tone for a gripping episode. We dig deeper into Willie’s journey, the intersection of teaching, activism, and queerness, and the challenges...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show expl...
2023-09-2157 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice23. Teaching, Advocacy in Education, Parenting, and CosplayAsk A Queer EducatorIn this episode Bryan (he/they) speaks with Jacob Boergesson (he/him) about teaching, professional development, cosplay, and leaving the profession. What would you say if I told you that cosplay could be a powerful tool in the world of education? Intriguing, right? In our exclusive chat with Jacob Boergesson, a seasoned teacher with a nine-year tenure, we unwrap layers of intriguing anecdotes, insights, and experiences. As a queer educator, Jacob opens up about ...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores queer an...
2023-09-1453 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice22. Breaking Down Barriers in Schools: The Story of an LGBTQ Teacher in Rural MontanaAsk A Queer EducatorIn this episode Bryan sits down with high school English teacher, Chris Warren (they/them). Have you ever considered the struggle of self-discovery and identity formation in a deeply conservative society? Imagine then, the transformative journey of Chris, a non-binary transmasc high school English teacher from rural Montana. Their story is an inspiration, an exploration of self-identity formed within a red-state environment, and further developed amidst the isolation of th...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores queer and trans representation in ed...
2023-09-0759 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice21. Inclusivity and Courage: LGBTQ Teachers in SchoolsAsk A Queer EducatorHave you ever pondered what it takes to live authentically while being a queer educator? Revealing her personal journey, our guest Andrea "Fitz" Fitzgerald (she/her), a lesbian math coach from Memphis, Tennessee, provides us with an intimate understanding of such a life. Andrea's journey, filled with the struggle for authenticity and the constant battle against biases, uncovers a remarkable tale of resilience and courage. Her unique perspective as a queer teacher will undo...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores queer an...
2023-08-3137 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice20. Creating LGBTQ Safe Spaces in SchoolsAsk A Queer EducatorJoin me on a journey into the life of Jake Noble (they/them), a non-binary, queer theater educator who has intertwined their personal identity journey with their passion for teaching. Hailing from Williamsburg, Virginia, Jake discusses their upbringing in Indiana, his self-discovery through theater, and how the COVID-19 pandemic became a catalyst for their self-identification. With a narrative that seamlessly blends personal experience and professional expertise, Jake's st...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores queer and trans representation in education, educator bu...
2023-08-2446 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice19. Advocacy through Art and Drag: A Queer Teacher Helping LGBTQ Students in SchoolsAsk A Queer EducatorEver wondered what it’s like to be a trailblazing queer educator on national television? Sharon Tang shares her journey from the classroom to the screen in this eye-opening episode.For many, navigating the intersection of identity and profession can be daunting. Sharon Tang, a high school teacher and openly queer role model, discusses the challenges and triumphs of her journey. In a time where LGBTQ+ rights are under scrutiny, Sharon’s story sheds light on the importance o...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s school...
2023-05-1855 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice18. Breaking Down Barriers for LGBTQ Folx in SchoolsAsk A Queer EducatorHost, Bryan Stanton (he/they) sits down with Clinical Psychologist, Alex Conway (he/him). The two talk techniques for creating safe and inclusive spaces, homophobia and ableism, and working with children with disabilities. You can learn more about Alex's new business LGBT Joy at www.lgbtjoy.comWant to uncover the layers of LGBTQIA+ acceptance and inclusivity in the education sector? Get ready to dissect these complex issues with Alex Conway, a counselor and the founde...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores qu...
2023-05-0456 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice17. Amplifying Queer Narratives in Education: The Importance of Representation in SchoolsAsk A Queer EducatorHost, Bryan Stanton (he/they), talks with New Jersey, lesbian teacher, Danielle Earle (she/her) about current legislation and the black queer community.When I first met Danielle, she was a beacon of hope in a classroom that needed it the most. As an openly queer teacher navigating the complexities of a predominantly black and Hispanic school district, Danielle has truly become an advocate for her students. This episode unravels her journey, from her own struggles growing u...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. Th...
2023-04-2036 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice16. Unraveling the Complexities of Being a Queer Educator in Today's School EnvironmentAsk A Queer EducatorThis week host, Bryan Stanton (he/they), speaks with English Teacher Sarah Wilt (shey/they). The two talk about demisexual identity, working as a virtual educator for a Christian School, and past careers in Juvenile Detention and Camp. Technique: Highlight a guestEver wondered what it feels like to navigate the world of education as a queer educator? Prepare to be enlightened as we sit down with Sarah Wilt, a non-binary, bi and demisexual educator, who shares her rive...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. Th...
2023-04-0653 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice15. A Journey of LGBTQ Advocacy in Education: Being Queer, Christian, and CourageousAsk A Queer EducatorHost, Bryan Stanton (he/they) sits down with Brittany (she/her) a bisexual English teacher in North Texas. The two talk about bisexual identity, conservative outrage, and doxing. Have you ever wondered what it's like to be a queer educator navigating a hostile educational environment? Join us on an enlightening journey with Brittany, an 11th-grade dual credit English teacher, who explores the complexities of being a bisexual woman in academia. In a captivating convers...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores queer an...
2023-03-2358 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice14. The Power of Authenticity and Advocacy in Education: An Aromantic and Asexual Educator's TaleAsk A Queer EducatorIn this episode, Host, Bryan Stanton (he/they), talks with Jeanne-Anne Tye (she/her) a high school English teacher in North Texas. We dive into the "A" of LGBTQIA talking asexual/aromantic identities and masking. Ever wondered how identity is navigated when it doesn't fit within society's normative parameters? Get ready to journey into the life of Jean Ann Tai, a Texas-based educator who identifies as Ace and Aromantic. We dissect the societal emphasis on romantic and...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The sh...
2023-03-091h 04
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice13. Breaking LGBTQ Stereotypes and Inspiring Students in SchoolsAsk A Queer EducatorHost Bryan Stanton (he/they) sits down with lesbian elementary health and PE Teacher, Katelyn Hartman-Geier (she/her). The two discuss the moment you realize you're different, navigating social norms and self identity, and supporting teachers and students who are queer.Join us on an engaging exploration with the extraordinary Katelynn Hartman-Geier. Katelynn, a cisgender lesbian elementary school health and PE teacher, bravely opens the book of her life, sharing her vivid ...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores queer and trans re...
2023-02-2334 min
Weathering RainbowsTeaching While Queer with Bryan StantonWith growing concern over conservative bills targeting lgbtq+ youth in schools, Kurtis Sunset sits down with Bryan Stanton, the host of Teaching While Queer Podcast, to discuss how they have provided an inclusive environment in spite of the right wing rhetoric in Texas government. Bryan has won teacher of the year for their district and now gives back by sharing the stories and experiences of LGBTQ+ Teachers on their podcast. This interview answers questions such as how to be more inclusive in the classroom, at what age is teaching youth about sexual identity appropriate, and how to overcome the...
2023-02-101h 02
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice12. The Influence of LGBTQ+ Experiences on School DynamicsAsk A Queer EducatorHost, Bryan Stanton (he/they), sits down with Toronto-based French Immersion teacher Monseiur Steve (he/him). They talk everything from the difference in educational standards between the US and Canada to similar experiences growing up in the 90s. Have you ever wondered about the profound impact a teacher's personal journey can have on their approach to teaching? Well, prepare to be moved as we share an intimate conversation with Monsieur Steve, an inspiring grade two...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores qu...
2023-02-0936 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom Practice10. Shaping the Future through LGBTQ Inclusive Education in SchoolsAsk A Queer EducatorIn this episode host, Bryan (he/they), speaks with visual arts teacher, Seth Day (he/him) about his transgender journey, transitioning from public education to nannying to private education, and working in a very supportive private school in Canada.Ever wondered how individuals discover their queerness and navigate the world with their newfound identities? Join us as we delve into a heartfelt conversation with Seth Day, a queer theater educator from New York, now residing ...Teaching While Queer is a podcast for LGBTQ+ educators navigating teaching, leadership, and survival in today’s schools. The show explores qu...
2022-12-2244 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeHow Theater Teachers Build Belonging After Trauma | Ep. 9 (with Kolby Campbell)“I wanted every student I met to know they had one person on campus who would literally roll up to a teacher’s door for them — because I didn’t.” This episode is for theatre educators, LGBTQ+ teachers, and school leaders who are striving to create classrooms where every student feels safe, seen, and valued — even after facing trauma or burnout.In this deeply personal conversation, Bryan Stanton (they/them) sits down with Kolby Campbell (he/him), a theatre teacher from Carrollton, Texas, who opens up about surviving relentless bullying, rediscovering his purpose through teach...
2022-12-0854 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeHealing Through Harmony: Finding Belonging in Music Education | Ep. 8 (with Ben Wilkinson)“If you can’t teach through the lens of humanity, then what’s the point of the standards? The music won’t mean anything without compassion.” In this heartfelt episode, Bryan Stanton (they/them) sits down with Ben Wilkinson (he/him) — a music educator, color guard coach, and proud queer teacher from Northern California — to explore how the arts can become a refuge for identity, empathy, and connection.From surviving small-town homophobia to reclaiming his voice in education, Ben’s story is a testament to the power of music as community and teaching as healing. Toget...
2022-11-2445 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeHow Theatre Education Opens Space for Gender Exploration | Ep. 7 (with Susannah Crowell)“Language affects what our brains think is possible — and once kids have the words, their world gets bigger.”For theatre educators, teaching is about more than performance — it’s about creating brave spaces for self-discovery. 🎭 In this episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) sits down with Susannah Crowell (they/she), a nonbinary musical theatre educator, to discuss how theatre classrooms can become affirming laboratories for identity, empathy, and radical acceptance.This conversation is for arts educators, elementary teachers, and teaching artists who want to better support gender exploration and inclusive expression in their classrooms.
2022-11-101h 00
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeFinding Safety in the Spotlight: Theatre, Faith, and Identity | Ep. 6 (with Abe Ramirez)“Theatre is the one place where my students can take off their masks — not put them on. That’s the real performance: being yourself.”n this episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton sits down with Abe Ramirez (he/him) — a high school theatre director in San Antonio — to talk about what it means to create safe, authentic spaces for queer students on and off the stage.Abe opens up about his journey as a gay Latinx educator navigating faith, identity, and the politics of being out in the classroom. Together, Bryan and Abe expl...
2022-10-271h 12Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeTeaching While Queer: Katie Graves and Tiffany ToddBryan (he/they) sits down with Katie Graves (she/her) and Tiffany Todd (she/her) a married couple teaching at the same high school in a small town in Indiana. We talk about coming out later in life, representing the LGBTQIA+ community in a small town, and how being your authentic self can make a huge difference.
2022-10-1345 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeAffirmation Over Acceptance: Suicide Prevention & Queer Parenting | Ep. 4 (with Dr. Lulu)“Affirmation is not just saying, ‘I accept you.’ It’s saying, ‘You are beautiful — exactly as you are.’”⚠️ Content Warning: This episode discusses suicide and mental health within the LGBTQIA+ community. Please listen with care.In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, host Bryan Stanton (he/they) sits down with Dr. Lulu (she/they) — a retired U.S. Air Force pediatrician, TEDx speaker, author, and parent coach — to explore how affirmation can save lives.Born and raised in Nigeria, one of Africa’s most homophobic nations, Dr. Lulu brings both medical expertise and live...
2022-09-2953 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeFaith, Fear & Finding Authenticity in the Classroom — with Dr. Jimmy Chrismon (he/him) | Ep. 3“You can only be your authentic self when you’re safe — but even when you’re not, you can still leave glimpses of your light.” In this deeply moving episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton (he/they) speaks with Dr. Jimmy Chrismon (he/him), a theatre education professor at Illinois State University, about navigating faith, fear, and authenticity as a queer educator.Jimmy shares his powerful story of growing up in a devout religious household, enduring conversion therapy, and teaching in the public school system for 17 years before he was ever able to say...
2022-09-1541 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeFinding Balance, Building Boundaries, and Creating Safe Stages — with Michael Musgrave-Perkins (he/him) | Ep. 2"You don’t have to mine your trauma to make good art. Teach with empathy, but protect your peace.” In this episode of Teaching While Queer, host Bryan Stanton (he/they) sits down with Michael Musgrave-Perkins (he/him) — theatre department chair at Grand Center Arts Academy in St. Louis, Missouri — for an honest and insightful conversation about growing up gay in the Midwest, surviving being outed as a teen, and finding strength and authenticity through theatre education.Michael shares his journey from a touring actor with the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival to becoming a full-ti...
2022-09-0155 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeHow Global Educators Confront Queer Inclusion & Resistance | Ep. 1 (with Romain, he/him)What does it mean to teach while queer in a country where inclusion and resistance collide? In this premiere episode, host Bryan Stanton (they/them) travels across the Atlantic to speak with Romain about teaching languages and advocating for inclusion in France. Together they reflect on growing up queer in a small town, finding love and security early in life, and how recent political movements in France mirror anti-LGBTQIA+ rhetoric in the U.S. They discuss the importance of bridging culture and language to create understanding — and why solidarity across borders matters more than ever.Listeners wi...
2022-08-1842 min
Queering Education: LGBTQ+ Inclusive Teaching, Queer Pedagogy, and Real Classroom PracticeCreating Safe Classrooms by Living Authentically | Ep. 0 (with Host Bryan Stanton)Welcome to Teaching While Queer. I’m your host, Bryan Stanton (he/they), a queer theatre educator in San Antonio, Texas. This podcast was born from a simple truth — that LGBTQIA+ educators need space to share our stories, celebrate our resilience, and learn from one another.In this very first episode, I open up about my own journey — from being outed at thirteen to becoming a visible queer educator and advocate. I talk about the power of showing up authentically, the teachers who shaped me, and the students who continue to inspire me.So set...
2022-06-0914 min
THED Talks4.17 A Conversation with Bryan StantonThis week Jimmy talks with Texas theatre teacher Bryan Stanton. He talks about philanthropic theatre, empowering actors and technicians with disabilities and creating a culture in the theatre program where students see the world is bigger than just them!
2021-12-081h 07