Blue Glasses Math

039: Mike Flynn and Zak Champagne: Math Playdates and the Gift of Vulnerability


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What do you get when two deeply reflective educators who love math — and love teachers — show up with vulnerability, humor, and a whole lot of heart?

In this episode, Zak Champagne (Chief Content Officer at Flynn Education and co-author of enVision Mathematics) and Dr. Mike Flynn (former second-grade teacher and Director of Math Leadership Programs at Mount Holyoke College, and now CEO of Flynn Education) join Pam for a conversation that feels like a warm invitation into the kinds of spaces we wish every teacher had.

Together, they explore:

  • The power of vulnerability in teaching and learning

  • Why teachers need Math Playdates — and what happens when we do math together as adults

  • How their own journeys (and mistakes) have reshaped their beliefs and perspectives

  • The joy of learning from 7- and 8-year-olds

  • What it means to build math spaces that are brave, not perfect

Whether you’ve been to a Math Playdate or you’re hearing about them for the first time, this episode will leave you feeling seen, inspired, and maybe a little more ready to take a math risk — alongside your students.

🎧 Listen in. Reflect. And maybe change your perspective on what it means to be a math person!

  • Zak Champagne
    Twitter/X: @zakchamp
    Instagram: @zakchampagne

  • Dr. Mike Flynn
    Twitter/X: @MikeFlynn55
    Instagram: @drmikeflynn
    Website: Flynn Education


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Blue Glasses MathBy Pamela Brett