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Artwork for Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

Jeff Utecht & Tricia Friedman
Artificial Intelligence
Education
Generative AI
AI Literacy
Play
AI In Education
K12 Education
Educational Technology
Media Literacy
Higher Education
Mental Health
Creativity
Personalized Learning
Community Building
K-12 Education
Sustainability
AI Companions
Interdisciplinary Learning
Career and Technical Education
Prompt Engineering

Shifting Schools is a thought-provoking podcast that explores the latest trends, strategies, and tools in K-12 education. Hosted by educators Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman, the podcast provides a platform for teachers, administrators, and education thought leaders to share their experiences and insights on how to improve teaching and learning. From innovative approaches in classroom management t... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes303Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CoursesEducation

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Artwork for Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

Latest Episodes

School districts are reaching a turning point in how they manage classroom technology.

After years of rapid device adoption and policies that often responded to one risk at a time, leaders are asking a harder question: How can schools protect stude... more

Uncle John's All-Knowing Bathroom Reader, Curiosity, and the Weirdness of Human History Brian Boone joins the show to talk about why the world has always been weird—not just now. The conversation ranges from animal history and television oddities to... more

What if readers and writers received the same attention, celebration, and investment as star athletes?

In this episode, Tricia speaks with Super Bowl champion, children's author, and literacy advocate Malcolm Mitchell about his new picture book, My... more

What do young people understand that adults mistakenly believe they have hidden from them?

Award-winning author Tiffany D. Jackson returns to the podcast to discuss Ghost in the Night, her haunting middle-grade novel set against the ghost tours, bu... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Malcolm Mitchell
Former NFL player, literacy advocate, author and founder of Share the Magic Foundation
Share the Magic Foundation
Episode: From Super Bowl Champion to Literacy Champion | Malcolm Mitchell
Tiffany D. Jackson
Bestselling and award-winning author
Author
Episode: Never Underestimate a Young Reader
Mark Beehler
Superintendent of Salamanca City School District
Salamanca City School District
Episode: The Humanoid Robot, the Headlines, and What Really Happened
Lisa Gardner
New York Times bestselling author of suspense novels
Author
Episode: Lisa Gardner on Creativity and Curiosity
Sandra Magsamen
Author, artist, and art therapist
Independent author/artist; works with family and children books
Episode: How to Raise a Reader from Birth with Sandra Magsamen
Rachel Thrash
Educator and author focused on student voice and leadership
Episode: Who Gets to Lead? Expanding Student Voice with Rachel Thrash
Christine Kuehn
Author of Family of Spies
Author
Episode: How do we teach students to sit with evidence longer?
Mark Schiponi
Researcher and co-author of Family of Spies
Co-author
Episode: How do we teach students to sit with evidence longer?
Cristo Fernández
Actor, former professional soccer player, author, podcaster
Episode: Ted Lasso's Cristo Fernández: Fútbol Is Life, and It's Never Too Late to Dream

Hosts

Jeff Utecht
Co-host of Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators
Tricia Friedman
Co-host of Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 112 ratings
  • Timely and Needed Now More than Ever!

    Lorraine here listening in from Brussels, Belgium! This podcast series is great! Extremely important, timely, and useful topics for anyone working with K-12 aged students. Jeff has a knack for breaking down seemingly complex and sometimes controversial questions about tech and learning in the 21st century and making them digestible for laypersons. The guests are always extremely knowledgeable, making the conversations even the more better!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lorrainejkellum
    Germany2 years ago
  • I enjoyed listening to this podcast!

    It’s amazing to hear educators thoughts on the education system 😊. I truly enjoyed these episodes, can’t wait for more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Partyovo18
    United States2 years ago
  • AI series top notch!

    Hello from Toppenish, WA. The AI series for the month of May was excellent. I really enjoyed the prompts. One things I learned was to make sure the you state the the AI is a expert in that particular subject. This blew my mind!!! I can wait to be a guest again.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stiner.777
    United States2 years ago
  • Great podcast, great educators, Great people

    Fahv from PA here! Love your podcast and the dialogues within! Excited about your little challenge this holiday season!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fahvyon
    United States3 years ago
  • Educational Evolution: Navigating EdTech and Remote Work Abroad

    This podcast is a valuable resource for anyone in education, including teachers, administrators, and curriculum designers, etc. The content is fantastic, with insightful interviews and resources in a rapidly evolving space. Personally, it's been especially helpful for me as I recently transitioned from the classroom in California to working remotely in France, navigating the shift to edtech. Highly recommended for those seeking quality insights in the intersection of AI and the education field.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Longstreetmusic
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners highlight the strong mix of AI, edtech, and literacy content as valuable and accessible.
The show provides timely, practical insights for educators working with K-12 students.
Educators praise the thoughtful discussions and actionable takeaways from guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#190
Canada/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#27
Australia/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#170
Ireland/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#180
Japan/Education/Courses

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Never Underestimate a Young Reader
Q: How do you approach making scary elements appropriate for middle graders without overstepping?
Her approach is to calibrate suspense so it challenges and engages without patronizing, ensuring the reader feels an active role in solving the story and that the experience remains empowering rather than traumatic.
Never Underestimate a Young Reader
Q: What practical advice would you give to a young aspiring writer?
She advocates reading as the core practice, then studying craft by dissecting how authors structure chapters, develop characters, and drive plots—encouraging young writers to pursue early book deals and use writing as a learning tool.
Never Underestimate a Young Reader
Q: Could you say a little more about how grief shines through in your latest book?
Tiffany explains that grief appears in varied forms and colors for kids, and the protagonist Harmony processes loss through curiosity and interaction with the world around her, emphasizing that children notice things adults may overlook and deserve honest, age-appropriate truth.
Who Gets to Lead? Expanding Student Voice with Rachel Thrash
Q: What role do parents play in a school shifting toward co-created leadership?
Parents can serve as authentic audiences and advocates who witness student effort, validate progress, and help bridge school actions to the broader community. Involving parents in the learning journey helps sustain and scale inclusive leadership practices beyond the classroom.
Who Gets to Lead? Expanding Student Voice with Rachel Thrash
Q: How can schools begin to expand the circle of leadership to include students who are often left out?
Start with a clear audit of who is present, identify barriers to participation, and create tools and processes that make leadership accessible to all students. Use inclusive language, involve students in redesigning structures, and provide supports so everyone can contribute in their own terms.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Shifting Schools covers trends, strategies, and tools in K-12 education through conversations with educators, authors, researchers, and thought leaders. Episodes frequently explore how technology, AI, classroom practice, civics and literacy, student voice, and real-world problem solving intersect with teaching and learning. Unique strengths include bringing diverse perspectives—from early childhood literacy to national identity and archival research—into practical takeaways for educators. The show tends to mix hands-on classroom guidance with big-picture inquiries about leadership, democracy, and equity in education, making it a useful resource for teachers, admins, and sponsors looking to engage educators on modern schooling challenges.

P... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Happier with Gretchen Rubin
2. The Mel Robbins Podcast
3. TED Radio Hour
4. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
5. The Daily

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this podcast launched 20 years ago and published 303 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Malcolm Mitchell
2. Tiffany D. Jackson
3. Mark Beehler
4. Lisa Gardner
5. Sandra Magsamen
6. Rachel Thrash
7. Christine Kuehn
8. Mark Schiponi

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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