In Episode 8, Zaretta Hammond, author of Rebuilding Students’ Learning Power, joins EducationInContext to explore how educators can move students from compliance to cognitive independence. Together, we unpack learning power, student agency, critical thinking, culturally responsive teaching, and the practices that help students become confident, independent thinkers.
In Episode 7, Larry and Nel are joined by George "Conscious" Lee to discuss Dr. Brittney Cooper's Eloquent Rage. This episode discusses the historical, political, and cultural roots of Black women's anger, challenges the "angry Black woman" stereotype, and examines how empathy, accountability, and community can move us from judgment to collective liberation.
In Episode 6, Larry and Nel explore Heather McGhee’s The Sum of Us and how racism, anti-Blackness, and zero-sum thinking divide communities, weaken public goods, and limit collective flourishing. This episode examines how fear and scarcity are used to keep people apart. The discussion challenges listeners to interrupt harmful narratives and imagine communities that reflect solidarity, abundance, dignity, shared responsibility, and collective success.
In Episode 5, Nel and Larry explore W.E.B. Du Bois’ concept of double consciousness and what it means to navigate life through the gaze of a society that often defines people before they speak. Through personal experiences and historical context, they examine how schools, workplaces, and everyday interactions shape identity and belonging.
In Episode 4, Larry and Nel examine how coded language, often subtle and normalized, shapes bias, identity, and inequality. From classrooms to policy, we explore how language reinforces harmful narratives, impacts Black and Brown communities, and influences opportunity. This episode challenges us to move beyond intent and confront the real impact of the words we use.
In Episode 3, Larry and Nel examine the life-changing influence of abolitionist teaching and what it means for educators to reimagine learning environments that center joy, love, and the intellectual brilliance of Black and Brown students. Through freedom dreaming, culturally responsive pedagogy, relational teaching, and restorative practices, schools can become spaces where students are empowered to question systems, develop critical consciousness, and experience the joy of learning.
In Episode 2, Nel & Larry discuss the historical roots and modern consequences of standardized testing, asking questions about fairness, power, and the hidden ways harm can be reproduced through educational structures that many of us have been taught to accept as normal. From eugenics-era thinking to the ways testing continues to shape opportunity, identity, and access, this episode challenges viewers to reconsider what we actually achieve with this kind of assessment.
Season 1: Episode 1 of #EducationInContext launches the series with an honest and necessary conversation about the unintended harm that can live inside well-meaning school structures. This episode sets the foundation for the series by asking a critical question:
What happens when we prioritize structure without fully understanding its impact?
We’d love to hear from you.
Whether you’re a listener with reflections, an educator doing transformative work, or a scholar interested in joining the conversation—we want to hear from you. 📧 Email: jointheconversation@educationincontext.org 📱 Instagram: @EducationInContext (Follow & DM us) 🎵 TikTok: @EducationInContext 📺 YouTube: Subscribe to #EducationInContext
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