Just Talk! Educational Equity Podcast

Social justice jargon doesn't have to be a guessing game anymore. Host Tony Neal and co-host Deborah Bohlmann discuss some of the most commonly used terms in social justice conversation, offering context and examples. Clearer communication brings deeper understanding and greater confidence when we have those courageous conversations with our colleagues and in our classrooms. Terms we discuss include:

• impact vs. intent
• ally/accomplice
• internalized racism/internalized oppression
• white privilege/privilege deniers
• racism vis a' vis classism
• race as a social construct
• Oppression Olympics
• implicit bias
• colorblind vs. color brave
• white savior complex

Episode produced and directed by Deborah Bohlmann. Engineering, music, and creative support by Alvin Zamudio.

Recruiting and retaining educators of color is a growing challenge for schools. While public school student populations nationally are just 50% white overall, our teaching force is 80% white. Every school benefits from a balanced percentage of black, indigenous, and people of color teaching all students. In episode 9, Dr. Basiyr Rodney, chair of the teacher education department at Webster University in St. Louis, shares strategies and underlying supports that can help diversify a school's faculty. Tony Neal is our host. Episode produced and directed by Deborah Bohlmann. Engineering, music, and creative support by Alvin Zamudio.

Let's say you are an educator who knows classroom conversations about race are essential. How can you lead those conversations effectively? Matthew R. Kay wrote the book on this topic: Not Light, But Fire: How to Lead Meaningful Race Conversations in the Classroom. Join host Tony Neal and co-host Deborah Bohlmann as they discuss with Matthew his practical how-to book for educators committed to the task of open conversation on social justice. Episode produced and directed by Deborah Bohlmann. Engineering, music, and creative support by Alvin Zamudio.

How do we manage as teachers and educational leaders when our own stresses and hurts interfere with a healthy, joyful approach to our work? Join host Tony Neal, co-host Deborah Bohlmann, and guest Brittini Gray for more discussion of living and working in emotionally challenging conditions, suggesting approaches that allow us to feel supported, energized and renewed for ongoing engagement. Produced and directed by Deborah Bohlmann. Recording, editing, and creative support by Alvin Zamudio.

Brittini Gray of InPower Institute joins host Tony Neal and co-host Deborah Bohlmann to talk about her work as a practitioner of "healing justice in movement spaces." Brittini addresses the need for ongoing support for those suffering ongoing trauma of racism and describes multiple practices for promoting greater health.  Produced by Deborah Bohlmann, engineered by Alvin Zamudio, along with music and graphic design. Sponsored by Educational Equity Consultants.

Teens in a trauma-informed educational setting for high school students provide candid conversation about their unique needs as learners. Host Tony Neal, a veteran social justice trainer, and co-host Deborah Bohlmann, an experienced high school teacher, respond and reflect on the implications of the conversation for educators committed to listening to their students. Recording, music, logo, and editing by Alvin Zamudio. Produced by Deborah Bohlmann.

Host Tony Neal and co-host Deborah Bohlmann consider the practices of trauma-informed teaching, including conversation with Travis Williams, a teacher in alternative education in a St. Louis-area public school district, Maplewood Richmond Heights. Travis is a knowledgeable and experienced practitioner in trauma-sensitive education. Recording, music, logo, and editing by Alvin Zamudio. Produced by Deborah Bohlmann.

Host Tony Neal welcomes Ismael Jimenez of the national organizing committee for Black Lives Matter at School. They discuss this new movement, designed to infuse schools with an activist approach to racial justice education, through a weeklong observance at the beginning of February each year. Recording, music, logo, and editing by Alvin Zamudio. Produced and co-hosted by Deborah Bohlmann.

Veteran social-justice educator Tony Neal discusses how he established the agency Educational Equity Consultants, which has been providing social justice training for educators since 2001, and how he developed his identity as a leader doing this heart-and-hard work. Co-host Deborah Bohlmann joins in with reflection on the ways social justice training with Ed Equity influenced her practice as a white teacher. Each episode begins with a student voice and ends with resource recommendations. Recording, music, logo, and editing by Alvin Zamudio. Produced by Deborah Bohlmann.

Tony and Deborah discuss the problems inherent to creating a meaningful Black History Month experience and how to elevate our practice as educators. Recording, music, logo, and editing by Alvin Zamudio. Produced by Deborah Bohlmann.