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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
AI Literacy
Generative AI
Play
AI In Education
K12 Education
Educational Technology
Media Literacy
Creativity
Higher Education
Mental Health
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

What will it actually take—mentally, physically, and socially—to send humans to Mars and bring them back?

In this episode, host Tricia sits down with Dr. Mark Shelhamer, former Chief Scientist of NASA's Human Research Program, Professor at Johns Ho... more

How do we help children navigate profound, often overwhelming emotions like grief, fear, and insecurity without overwhelming them? In this episode, host Tricia sits down with author Kara LaReau

to discuss her newest book, Licorice—a captivating, se... more

YouTube

What happens when a young person starts to wonder, "Maybe I could make something?" In this episode, New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Guillory joins the show to discuss her debut young adult novel, It's Only Dancing (out October 6th), inspire... more

YouTube

What happens when a reader's first friends are characters in a book?

Author Claribel A. Ortega joins Tricia to talk about the Witchlings series and the connections readers build through stories. She shares how gaming shaped her worldbuilding, why f... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Kara LaReau
Author and former editor of children's books.
Episode: Teaching Big Emotions Through Spooky Stories with Kara LaReau
Jasmine Guillory
New York Times bestselling author, former lawyer, and writer of contemporary romance and young adult fiction
Episode: How to Embrace Creative Risk | Jasmine Guillory
Claribel A. Ortega
New York Times bestselling author of the Witchlings series, Ghost Squad, and Frizzy
Episode: Writing Worlds Where Readers Find Friends with Claribel A. Ortega
Christy Mandin
Author and illustrator of Millie Fleur series
Self-employed author/illustrator
Episode: Googly Eyes, Big Feelings, and Asking for Help with Christy Mandin
Ryan La Sala
Award-winning author of The Dead of Summer
Author, The Dead of Summer
Episode: What Horror Teaches Us About Grief and Belonging—with Ryan La Sala
Renata Castro
Immigration attorney, founder of USA4ALL
USA4ALL
Episode: Building a Firm Around People Who Need an Advocate
Dr. Camille Busette
Executive Vice President of Programs at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Episode: From Research to Collective Action: Dr. Camille Busette on Healthcare Advocacy
Harrison Parker
Representative from Linewize focusing on student safety and digital management
Linewize
Episode: Beyond Screen-Time Bans: Student Safety in the Age of AI
Brian Boone
Author and co-author of Uncle John's All-Knowing Bathroom Reader
Uncle John's All-Knowing Bathroom Reader
Episode: Why the World Has Always Been Weird — and Why That Matters

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 106 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
#127
Australia/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#152
Netherlands/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#208
Japan/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#234
Ireland/Education/Courses

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How to Embrace Creative Risk | Jasmine Guillory
Q: What does it mean to support a creative person, and what listening stances do they need?
Guillory recommends being encouraging, asking useful questions, sharing personal experience without treating it as universal advice, and staying open to different approaches.
How to Embrace Creative Risk | Jasmine Guillory
Q: Can you tell us what you mean when you say that moving into YA feels like coming home?
Guillory says her first, unpublished book was a young adult novel, and returning to writing about teenagers after adult romance novels felt fun and familiar.
Teaching Big Emotions Through Spooky Stories with Kara LaReau
Q: Can you talk a little bit about that process of developing these very, very fun characters?
LaReau began with the characters in Rebecca and translated their roles into animals suited to a child-friendly story. Mrs. Van Hopper became a haughty rabbit, Ben inspired the anxious squirrel Skur, and Mrs. Danvers became a stern gray parrot.
Teaching Big Emotions Through Spooky Stories with Kara LaReau
Q: Could you say a little bit more about whether or not it was your intention to merge this idea of it's fun, it's of course very seasonal for Halloween, it's creative, it's about friendship, but then it also really gets you thinking about grieving?
LaReau wanted the book to be an engaging, layered read for children and adults. Its Gothic mystery and animal characters explore loss, grief, insecurity, fear, and belonging, and she hopes discussing these emotions helps readers feel less alone.
Writing Worlds Where Readers Find Friends with Claribel A. Ortega
Q: Can you talk a little bit about what you have received as an awareness of the fan experience of the Witchling series?
Ortega says young readers have found friends through the books and connected with stories of abuse, anger, and loneliness; LGBTQ+ adults have also thanked her for reflecting their lived experiences.

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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1. Up First from NPR
2. The Daily
3. SmartLess
4. New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
5. Two Ts In A Pod with Teddi Mellencamp and Tamra Judge

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

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. Kara LaReau
2. Jasmine Guillory
3. Claribel A. Ortega
4. Christy Mandin
5. Ryan La Sala
6. Renata Castro
7. Dr. Camille Busette
8. Harrison Parker

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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