Be a Better Ally: Critical Conversations for K12 Educators

In this episode, Tricia Friedman discusses the intersection of AI, personal health, and community engagement through the lens of her experience with vibe coding. She shares a personal anecdote about tracking gut health and how she utilized AI to develop an app that promotes health awareness. The conversation emphasizes the importance of storytelling and empathy in technology, encouraging listeners to explore AI's potential for community building and personal growth.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI and Personal Anecdotes 02:56 Vibe Coding: Merging Technology with Personal Health 05:45 Community Engagement through AI and Storytelling

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What happens when your teammate isn't human? In this episode, Tricia Friedman explores the rise of AI-powered robotics in sports—from Stephen Curry's new training partner A.B.E. (Automated Basketball Engine) to motivational robot K.I.T.—and why these breakthroughs signal urgent lessons for K12 school leaders.

If robots can wear team colors and offer pep talks in the NBA, what does that mean for the classroom, playground, and future of education? This conversation digs into the world of Companion AI, emotional engineering, and what it means for leadership, identity, and belonging.

You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How AI robotics are transforming professional sports and teamwork

• Why AI companions are already in classrooms—as learning buddies, wellness check-ins, and more

• What school leaders need to know now about emotional AI and trust

• Key questions to help educators, parents, and communities prepare for this shift

• How workshops can help schools move from curiosity to strategy when it comes to AI in education

Why It Matters Sports are often the front line for cultural change. As AI companions move from locker rooms to classrooms, leaders face a choice: ignore the shift, or learn to navigate it with intention. The stakes aren't just technological—they're emotional, ethical, and human.

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Reach out to Tricia with questions:

[email protected]

In this episode, we welcome Dylan Thuras, cofounder and creative director of Atlas Obscura, and Jennifer Swanson, award-winning author and co-host of Solve It for Kids, to talk about their latest book: The Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide to Inventing the World. Following up on their acclaimed New York Times bestseller The Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide for the World's Most Adventurous Kid (200,000+ copies sold), this new globe-spanning, STEM-focused guide takes middle-grade readers on a thrilling journey through the 50 most fascinating inventions and scientific discoveries in history.

Chapters

00:00 The Ambitious Project Begins 02:52 Exploring the Evolution of Invention 05:56 The Power of Collaboration in Science 08:38 Interdisciplinary Learning and Curiosity 11:30 The Role of Play in Invention 14:23 A New Perspective on Everyday Objects

As mentioned at the top of the show, learn more about Learning with Purpose: Authentic Global Citizenship & Community Engagement

In this conversation, Tricia Friedman speaks with Dr. Gauri and Dr. Abhijit Desai about their skincare brand, Brownkind, which focuses on the unique needs of brown skin. They discuss the importance of recognizing and celebrating diverse skin types, the role of education in skincare, and the necessity of creating products specifically for brown skin. The doctors share their journey from frustration in their clinical practice to launching their own line, emphasizing the importance of scientific understanding over trends. They also highlight the need for diversity in dermatology and the significance of collaboration in their work.

Chapters

00:00 The Vision Behind Brownkind 02:38 Understanding Brown Skin Needs 05:29 The Importance of Education in Skincare 08:01 Taking Action: From Frustration to Creation 10:51 Debunking Myths in Skincare 13:25 The Role of Diversity in Dermatology 16:13 Collaboration and Mutual Respect in Business

Learn more

https://brownkind.com/

In this conversation, Tiffany D. Jackson discusses her journey as a writer, the influence of her early experiences with film, the importance of representation in horror and thrillers, the collaborative nature of writing, and the role of research in her creative process. She emphasizes the significance of understanding characters deeply and the impact of her background on her storytelling.

Meet the guest:

Tiffany D. Jackson is the NYT Bestselling, award-winning author of YA novels Monday's Not Coming, Allegedly, Let Me Hear A Rhyme, Grown, White Smoke, Santa in The City, The Weight of Blood, Marvel's STORM: Dawn of a Goddess and co-author of Blackout and Whiteout. A Coretta Scott King — John Steptoe New Talent Award-winner and the NAACP Image Award-nominee, she received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University and has over a decade in TV/Film experience. The Brooklyn native is currently splitting her time between the borough she loves and the south, most likely multitasking.

Chapters

00:00 The Early Calling of a Writer 02:02 The Influence of Film Studies on Writing 04:40 Trailblazing in Horror and Thrillers 08:46 The Collaborative Nature of Writing 10:43 The Role of Research in Writing 14:54 Writing as a Form of Meditation 16:40 Curiosity and Learning Through Literature

Check out Tricia's Futures Literacy online challenge with AAIE:

https://www.aaie.org/professional-learning/future-foresight-community

If your digital‑literacy lessons feel stuck on the same old slide deck, Gordon Korman's brand‑new novel Snoop (Scholastic Press, July 1 2025) offers a timely narrative hook. The story follows Carter, a phone‑addicted tween who—after two broken legs and zero mobility—turns police webcams into his personal feed and learns the hard way that surveillance isn't a superpower.

Teacher Take‑Aways

1. Mirror, then Question. Use Snoop's live‑cam plot to ask: Who controls the lens in your daily media diet?

2. Empathy through POV. Have students rewrite a chapter from the watched classmate's perspective to surface the ethics of surveillance.

3. Data Literacy Mini‑Lab. Compare Carter's police‑cam feeds to real‑world open‑data CCTV dashboards; chart what's missing from each data set.

Learn more about this week's guest:

Gordon Korman is a household name in the middle grade space. With over 100 titles to his name, he's written a book for every kind of reader in this age group—from reluctant to voracious and all the shades in between. His brand-new adventure: SNOOP is the story of a screen-obsessed boy who finds himself trapped at home—and discovers that life gets harder when screens are all you have.

If Carter hadn't been checking his phone, he might have seen his brother coming down the ski slopes in his direction. And if Carter had seen his brother in time and avoided the crash, he might not have two broken legs right now. Oops. Now Carter is stuck at home for weeks, with both his legs in casts. Bored, he starts checking out the live feeds from police cams around his town.

Before he knows it, he's obsessed—watching his classmates when they don't know he's looking and discovering some other very strange things going on that no one else is noticing. But what happens when Carter is found out... and the people he's watching know where he lives?

SNOOP tackles finding a balance between screen-free time and being connected to the outside world. When screen-addicted Carter is forced to relate to the outside world only through screens he discovers that there's something missing. Between being unable to stand up for himself to his classmates via Zoom to getting only part of the story through the police cameras, Carter finds that screens aren't the perfect medium he thought they were. But he also manages to break up an illegal animal-smuggling ring and call an ambulance for a woman who unexpectedly goes into labor. The story, wisely, ends with a call for balance and moderation. As Carter says, "I took it too far. You just have to know where to draw the line."

Get your copy: https://gordonkorman.com/from-snoop

Learn more about Tricia five week AI Literacy challenge:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/aingela

Use special promo code 'SHIFTING2025' to take $30 off by August 30th

Join Tricia Friedman and Joanna Ho in this inspiring conversation about cultural identity, creativity, and the power of food as a storytelling medium. Joanna reflects on her transition from K–12 educator to published author, revealing how intergenerational learning—especially the wisdom exchanged over a cup of boba—fueled her narrative style. We dive deep into her creative process, the challenges of balancing productivity with lived experience, and why embracing life's full spectrum of emotions is essential for authentic storytelling. If you're passionate about personal narrative, Asian American culture, or using food as a metaphor for connection, this episode is for you.

Learn more about Joanna Ho's latest book: Becoming Boba https://www.joannahowrites.com/books

Key Topics & Takeaways:

Educator → Author: How Joanna's teaching background informs her writing practice

Cultural Identity: The role of Asian American heritage in shaping personal narrative

Food as Story: Why boba becomes a bridge between generations and cultures

Bidirectional Learning: Stories of wisdom flowing both up and down the family tree

Creative Process: Overcoming productivity myths to live fully and write authentically

Self‑Discovery: Defining your identity beyond labels and expectations

In this conversation, Tricia Friedman and Homa Tavangar explore the significance of asking big questions in leadership, the importance of relationships, and the need for deeper connections in education and community. They discuss how embracing complexity and uncertainty can lead to growth, the role of play in learning, and the necessity of listening to unheard voices. The dialogue also touches on redefining leadership to combat loneliness and the importance of cultivating awe and spirituality in our lives. Meet our guest: Homa Tavangar is the co-founder of the Big Questions Institute and the Oneness Lab. She brings 30+ years' experience helping diverse organizations and individuals to build cultural, racial and global competence, strategic governance, and visionary, generative leadership in diverse schools and organizations. She coaches leaders on accountability for equity, leading through crisis, and advises on strategic design and planning across five continents. She has co-authored seven books for educators, and is the author of best-selling Growing Up Global: Raising Children to Be At Home in the World (published by Random House) and Global Kids (Barefoot Books). Her most recent publication is 12 Big Questions Schools Must Answer to Create Irresistible Futures with Will Richardson (forthcoming, 2025). A graduate of UCLA and Princeton, Homa was born in Iran, has lived on four continents, speaks four languages, and has heritage in four world religions. She serves on several Boards, including ISS (International Schools Services) and is a judge for the Templeton Prize, considered the "world's most interesting prize" with a purse calibrated to exceed the Nobel Prize. She is married and the mother of three adult daughters, and resides in Villanova, Pennsylvania. https://homatavangar.com/about-homa Chapters 00:00 The Power of Questions in Leadership 04:06 Embracing Relationships as Solutions 09:46 Nature and Relational Intelligence 18:31 The Role of Boards in Education 23:50 Reframing Leadership as an Act of Love 29:52 The Role of Joy in Education 31:50 Social Emotional Learning: A Double-Edged Sword 34:20 Loneliness in Leadership and the Need for Connection 36:13 Global Citizenship: Friendship and Community 41:27 Seeking Spiritual Guidance in Education 44:28 Cultivating Awe and Community Connections

In this conversation, Erin Entrada Kelly discusses her debut nonfiction book that explores the life of Joey, a Filipino woman who became a spy during World War II. Kelly emphasizes the importance of presenting history in an engaging way for young readers, while also addressing the complexities of war, identity, and the gray areas in history. She shares her process of honoring Joey's story and the challenges of presenting conflicting information. The discussion highlights the need for young readers to understand the multifaceted nature of history and patriotism. Chapters 00:00 Unveiling Joey's Story 06:23 The Complexity of History and Personal Narratives 12:46 Understanding Gray Areas in History Learn more https://www.harpercollins.com/products/at-last-she-stood-erin-entrada-kelly?variant=43050194993186

In this conversation, Tricia Friedman and Reem Labib Tyson explore the evolving landscape of coaching, emphasizing the importance of reflection, emotional intelligence, and the dynamics between coach and coachee. They discuss the significance of diverse experiences in coaching, the gray areas of leadership, and the need for accessible coaching strategies. The dialogue highlights the importance of curiosity, identity, and authenticity in coaching relationships, as well as the flexibility of coaching engagements and the potential of group coaching. Chapters 00:00 The Evolution of Coaching 03:00 The Need for Reflection and Space 06:04 Navigating the Coach-Coachee Dynamic 09:13 The Importance of Diverse Experiences in Coaching 12:02 Leadership in the Gray Areas 15:05 Emotional Intelligence and Coaching 17:52 Demystifying Coaching 20:50 Finding the Right Coach 23:45 Identity and Coaching 26:31 Navigating Difficult Conversations 29:29 The Art of Active Listening 32:37 Building Inclusive Spaces 34:26 Influences on Coaching Style 36:11 Simplifying Complex Concepts 39:25 The Importance of Breathing and Mindfulness 41:09 Democratizing Coaching 45:23 Understanding Group Coaching Dynamics Connect with Reem: https://www.edspired.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/reem-labib-tyson/