Shows
Tuesday Talks!Season 2 Finale!Send us your thoughts about this week's episode!We celebrate our Season 2 finale reflecting on 41 weeks of educational insights spanning topics from cell phones in schools to the science of reading, classroom management to student self-accountability.• Sharing our personal connections, including our May birthdays just days apart• Highlighting key episodes such as classroom management, building community, and understanding the grading system• Discussing our popular multi-part series on "letting kids fail" and its impact on child development• Revealing how our episodes with our own children provide real, unfiltered perspectives• Exploring our deep dive into...2025-05-2834 minTuesday Talks!Think for Yourself: Teaching Kids to Own Their LearningSend us your thoughts about this week's episode!Dr. Tiff and Coach Val explore how children often listen for instructions rather than understanding, and why teaching kids to own their thinking is crucial for success. They share strategies for helping students become independent thinkers instead of passive instruction-followers.• Students are often trained to listen for what to do rather than listening to understand• Self-reflection is necessary for parents and teachers to recognize how they may encourage dependency• Breaking information into smaller chunks helps students process concepts more effectively• Building independence requires gradually reducing...2025-05-2131 minTuesday Talks!AI in the Classroom: Innovation or Disruption?Send us your thoughts about this week's episode!The digital revolution has arrived in our classrooms, and it's transforming education in ways we're only beginning to understand. From fourth graders using ChatGPT for writing assignments to China implementing mandatory AI training for kindergarteners, artificial intelligence is no longer just a futuristic concept – it's reshaping how our children learn right now.Communication expert Melissa D. White joins Tuesday Talks to demystify AI in education, offering a refreshingly balanced perspective on what many educators view as either a threat or an untapped resource. White introduces us to th...2025-05-1432 minTuesday Talks!The Science of Reading Revolution is Transforming How We Teach Children to ReadSend us your thoughts about this week's episode!Step into the fascinating world of how children actually learn to read with our eye-opening exploration of the science of reading. This isn't just about different teaching methods—it's about understanding the fundamental neural processes that transform squiggles on a page into meaningful language in a child's developing brain.With special guest Ambria King, an early education advocate with 17 years of experience in various educational settings, we unpack the stark differences between traditional reading approaches and evidence-based methods. While many schools have taught children to use context cl...2025-05-0739 minTuesday Talks!Literacy in Schools: How did the US get so far behind? (Part 2)Send us your thoughts about this week's episode!We continue our discussion about the literacy crisis in American schools and the problems with "cueing" methods that teach children to guess words rather than sound them out.• A real-life example of a sixth-grade student who struggled with reading due to being taught with picture-based guessing strategies• The critical importance of third grade as a reading benchmark and how falling behind creates a compounding problem• How to determine if your child's school is using ineffective reading methods• Warning terms to watch for: reading recovery, cueing...2025-04-3033 minTuesday Talks!Literacy in Schools: How did the US get so far behind? (Part 1)Send us your thoughts about this week's episode!America is failing its children in the most fundamental educational task: teaching them to read. This eye-opening episode dives into the revelations of the "Sold a Story" podcast, exposing how millions of children nationwide have been taught reading through methods with no scientific backing.We unpack the controversial "cueing system" approach that encourages young readers to guess words based on pictures and context rather than sounding them out. Despite its widespread adoption through programs like Reading Recovery and Balanced Literacy, this method bypasses the essential skill of...2025-04-2335 minTuesday Talks!Reading Between the Lines: The Crisis of High School Graduates Who Can't ReadSend us your thoughts about this week's episode!When a Tennessee high schooler with a 3.4 GPA graduated unable to read or write and successfully sued his school district, it exposed a devastating reality in American education. How can students progress through twelve years of schooling without mastering fundamental literacy skills?Dr. Nikki Anthony, special education advocate and dyslexia specialist, joins Coach Val and Dr. Tiff to unpack this critical issue. She explains that dyslexia – a neurological difference affecting phonological processing – often gets buried under generic "learning disabilities" classifications in schools, resulting in inadequate interventions that fail...2025-04-1634 minTuesday Talks!Parents ask, kids answer: What makes the perfect summer experience?Send us your thoughts about this week's episode!What does the perfect summer look like through a child's eyes? We decided to go straight to the source and invited Parker and Uriah to share their unfiltered thoughts about summer break, camps, and what actually engages them during those precious months away from school.The conversation quickly revealed that while kids certainly appreciate the freedom from early morning alarms and rigid schedules, they're not necessarily looking to turn their brains off completely. Our young guests surprised us with their enthusiasm for learning opportunities—provided they're presented in...2025-04-0930 minTuesday Talks!Summer plans for kids: Now is the time to start planning!Send us your thoughts about this week's episode!Planning summer activities for your children shouldn't wait until the final school bell rings. Dr. Tiff and Val share their personal experiences with summer camps, highlighting the struggle to find options that prevent the dreaded "summer slide" while still giving kids the break they deserve. Both agree that the ideal solution combines learning with movement—exactly the approach our special guest has mastered.Wanda Wozniak, founder of BTG Learning in Columbus, Georgia, joins us to share her innovative camp model that seamlessly blends academics with physical activities. Her...2025-04-0229 min
Yoga Medicine132 Interoception Research & Yoga: Expert Insights with Valerie Knopik PhDToday host Rachel and returning guest and Yoga Medicine Teacher Valerie Knopik PhD explore a recent research paper on the topic of interoception (Voss et al: Mind-body practices, interoception and pain: a scoping review of behavioral and neural correlates). In this episode, we discuss the many ways yoga teachers can guide students to becoming more informed inhabitants of their body, and how honing that skill of interoception seems to help manage all kinds of pain. Listen in to learn more. — Show Notes: Overview of the scoping review paper [5:02] Limitations of the study [9:36] Def...2025-03-2747 minTuesday Talks!Teaching & Earning: The Gender Pay Gap in EducationSend us your thoughts about this week's episode!The education system faces a significant gender imbalance with too few male teachers, largely due to the substantial pay gap deterring men from entering the profession. This absence particularly impacts boys who benefit from seeing themselves represented in educational leadership.• Only 3% of Pre-K and kindergarten teachers are male, with representation increasing to just 43% by high school• Male teachers earn approximately $30,000 less than other college-educated men ($65,000 vs $95,000)• Research shows boys often respond differently to male teachers who are less likely to perceive them as disruptive• Many mal...2025-03-2632 min
The Sisterhood PodcastEpisode 191 - Effectiveness of business boycotts, the danger of putting too much trust in church leaders, and the sweeping efforts to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusionJoin Allyson and Tiffany as they each share three things they couldn't stop thinking about plus three of their favorite things. Forbes article about boycotts Utah Sex Abuse Case with the judge and fire chief Project 2025 tracking website White House webpage on ending all DEI initiatives What is the “flooding the zone” strategy? Article on the Pentagon’s purge of “DEI” (Allyson talked about the scrubbing of Pentagon webpages including one about the Navajo Code Talkers and others, but after public outrage many of these have been restored in r...2025-03-251h 01Tuesday Talks!Screen Time in Classrooms: How Much Is Too Much?Send us your thoughts about this week's episode!Striking the right balance between technology and education is becoming more paramount as classrooms evolve into tech-centric environments. Dive into this episode as we examine the critical issues surrounding increased screen time in schools. With students spending significant time on devices for both learning and recreation, it's essential to explore how this shift is shaping their development and learning processes. Join us for an enlightening discussion that inspires deep reflection on the role of technology in our schools. We'll provide actionable insights and suggestions for finding balance—ens...2025-03-1932 minTuesday Talks!State Testing: It's Time to Get Ready!Send us your thoughts about this week's episode!State testing can be a formidable experience for both students and parents, but equipping yourself with the right knowledge and techniques can make a world of difference. In this episode, we delve into everything concerning standardized assessments, from their significance in the education system to effective preparation strategies that can ease anxiety. Join us as we share our experiences and insights, aiming to create a stress-free approach to testing that empowers students, provides comfort to parents, and fosters collaboration among educators. Don't miss out on strategies t...2025-03-1230 minTuesday Talks!The Post-COVID SlideSend us your thoughts about this week's episode!The episode dives deep into the impact of COVID-19 on student learning, guided by recent data highlighting a significant decline in academic performance among fourth and eighth graders. We discuss the allocation of federal funds for education and emphasize the importance of collaborative efforts between parents and schools to support students effectively. • Examination of the "summer slide" phenomenon in the context of COVID • Discussion of findings from a recent NPR article on academic performance post-pandemic • Reflection on personal educational experiences during COVID • Analysis of the $190 bil...2025-03-0532 minTuesday Talks!Coach Val's Teen Girl Empowerment EventSend us your thoughts about this week's episode!Join us for an inspiring episode as we spotlight Coach Val and her upcoming Teen Girl Empowerment Event! This transformative gathering, taking place on March 1st in Tifton, Georgia, promises to uplift and inspire young girls. Coach Val shares her passion for helping teens navigate the struggles they face in today’s society, from peer pressures to self-identification. Throughout the episode, we discuss her personal journey, the importance of creating a safe space for expression, and how essential it is for young girls to connect with players who lift th...2025-02-2632 minTuesday Talks!“The Gift of Failure” by Jessica Lahey (Part 3)Send us your thoughts about this week's episode!This episode explores insights from “The Gift of Failure” by Jessica Leahy, emphasizing the significance of allowing children to experience failure as a learning opportunity. We discuss the importance of trust between parents and teachers, strategies for fostering independence in homework, and the need to shift focus from grades to skill development. • Trusting teacher expertise is paramount • Building positive parent-teacher partnerships enhances student success • A collaborative mindset benefits the child’s education • Focusing on skills over grades leads to better outcomes • Allowing kids to struggle fosters r...2025-02-1932 minTuesday Talks!"The Gift of Failure" by Jessica Lahey (Part 2)Send us your thoughts about this week's episode!What happens when federal funding for education is put on ice? Join us as Coach Val and Dr. Tiffany reflect on the potent role of responsibility in shaping a child's development. Inspired by Jessica Lahey's "The Gift of Failure," we share practical nuggets on how parents can instill independence and self-reliance from preschool to high school. Our conversation highlights the immense value of allowing children to stumble and learn from their mistakes, building confidence and autonomy. Forget about dangling carrots; instead, we champion the power of cultivating intrinsic motivation...2025-02-1234 minTuesday Talks!“The Gift of Failure” by Jessica Lahey (Part 1)Send us your thoughts about this week's episode!This episode dives into the critical role of failure in child development, emphasizing that over-parenting can lead to a lack of independence and resilience. Reflecting on Jessica Leahy's book, we explore how allowing children to face challenges and make decisions fosters their growth into competent and confident adults. • Discussing the balance between short-term success and long-term growth • The implications of over-intervening in children's lives • The importance of allowing children to face natural consequences • Strategies for fostering autonomy and competence in kids • Practical examples reflecting chan...2025-02-0532 minTuesday Talks!Navigating Delayed Adulthood: Preparing the Next Generation for IndependenceSend us your thoughts about this week's episode!Our latest episode examines the troubling trend of delayed adulthood among today's youth, exploring the psychological, social, and economic factors that contribute to it. We take a closer look at generational differences and the role of education, parental influence, and social media in shaping young adults' journeys toward independence.•Analyzing the psychological impacts of prolonged dependence •Exploring the role of social media in fostering comparison •Discussing generational shifts from Millennials to Gen Z •Highlighting the need for goal-setting in education •Reflecting on the economic impli...2025-01-2927 minTuesday Talks!What Happens When A Whole Generation Never Grows Up: Part 1Send us your thoughts about this week's episode!Can young adults truly step into adulthood when burdened by rising inflation, staggering housing costs, and overwhelming student debt? We tackle this pressing question and unravel the multifaceted issues that contribute to delayed transitions into adulthood. Beyond the economic storm, there's a social and psychological dimension to explore. As we navigate this complex topic, we also challenge the status quo of our education system. Traditional schooling often falls short in preparing students for the real world, focusing on rote learning instead of equipping them with critical thinking a...2025-01-2230 minTuesday Talks!Letting Your Child Learn Life Skills Through the Lens of Failure (Part 2)Send us your thoughts about this week's episode!In part 2 of our chat about failure, we tackle the often-underestimated impact of parental standards and the quest for personal growth. By examining myths like the endless pursuit of perfection in parenting, we emphasize the importance of allowing children to develop their unique values while maintaining the core principles of family. With stories and shared experiences, we encourage you to give yourself grace, recognizing that both your triumphs and setbacks are opportunities for growth. Embrace the unpredictable journey of parenting with us, as we share strategies to break free...2025-01-1533 min