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When cold weather keeps kids inside, big feelings can spike—for children and the adults supporting them. In this uplifting conversation, early childhood expert Francine Prince shares practical, realistic strategies for indoor days, and reminds us that the best early learning happens when we stay intentional, flexible, and deeply connected.

In this episode, we'll discuss:

• How to plan indoor days so you’re not “teaching on the fly”
• What child-led really means (and what it doesn’t)
• Why teachable moments matter more than rigid timing
• Simple ways to communicate learning to families—without writing an essay
• The power of leading with the positive to build trust and partnership
• What early childhood can teach adults about conflict, adaptability, and routines
• Why burnout is rising—and what support teachers actually need

Timestamps

• 01:41 Indoor-day advice: movement breaks, intentional planning, and being “ready for anything”
• 03:27 Defining child-led for families (and how teachers still facilitate learning)
• 05:08 Teachable moments: what great teachers notice—and why it matters
• 07:10 Creating a climate where teachers feel safe to follow children’s learning
• 08:41 Making learning visible to families 
• 12:18 “Everything we need as adults, we should’ve learned in preschool” (3 big takeaways)
• 15:23 Teaching empathy + conflict resolution through environment and facilitation
• 17:03 What empathy means—and how to meet families where they are
• 20:04 Coaching adults: empathy, communication styles, and partnering with parents
• 24:05 Francine’s story: Head Start roots, coaching, leadership, disability advocacy, and statewide work
• 29:28 Biggest challenges today: burnout, behavior, low pay, and support gaps
• 33:16 What effective professional learning should look like (practical, real, implemented)
• 37:24 Hope: why early childhood still matters—and why people in the field bring hope

Links & Resources

• Dr. Diane’s free 365-day Picture Book Read-Aloud Calendar
• Connect with Dr. Diane and book her to speak or lead professional development workshops at your next event
• Connect with Francine Prince on LinkedIn.

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What if the most powerful thing we could give young children is time to play?

Early childhood expert Rae Pica joins Dr. Diane for a candid conversation about why play, movement, and joy are essentials, not extras -- and how rushing children into academics is doing real harm.

🎧 Episode Summary

In this episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor welcomes author, keynote speaker, and longtime advocate for developmentally appropriate early childhood education Rae Pica.

Together, they explore what’s gone wrong in early childhood education—from scripted teaching and excessive seat time to the loss of play—and what the research actually tells us about how young children learn. Rae explains why play builds problem-solving, empathy, language, and executive function, how parents can become powerful allies, and why small acts of advocacy can help educators reclaim joy and reduce burnout.

This is a hopeful, practical conversation for educators, families, and anyone who believes childhood should be honored, not hurried.

⏱️ Highlights & Chapters

• 00:00 — Meet Rae Pica + why early childhood matters
• 02:22 — What’s gone wrong: rushed academics & ignored research
• 07:01 — Why play is “everything” to young children
• 10:32 — What block play teaches (SEL, STEM, critical thinking)
• 16:14 — Why movement fuels the brain
• 19:07 — Rae’s vision of a joyful early childhood classroom
• 25:16 — Research on play, joy, and how the brain learns
• 38:07 — Rae’s magic wand: follow child development
• 39:38 — Advocacy, burnout, and teacher empowerment
• 43:37 — Hope: signs the tide is turning

🔗 Links & Resources

• Rae Pica's free resources
• Rae Pica's online courses
• Rae Pica's books
• Dr Diane's 365 Day Picture Book Read Aloud Calendar

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From AfroBets to We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices to a brand-new picture book that sings with history, legendary author and publisher Cheryl Willis Hudson has helped shape what children can see (and become) through books. If you care about diverse children’s books, freedom to read, and the cultural power of music, this episode is for you.

Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor welcomes Cheryl Willis Hudson, co-founder of the groundbreaking children’s publishing house Just Us Books. Cheryl shares why she and husband Wade Hudson created Just Us Books, and what it’s meant to write and publish stories that serve as windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors for children.

Cheryl reflects on growing up in the Jim Crow South and how the lack of accurate representation in children’s literature shaped her mission to publish books that affirm Black childhood, celebrate multicultural experiences, and expand the canon of children’s books. The conversation also addresses book bans and censorship, including how books are challenged by small groups who often haven’t read the full text -- and why that’s an urgent threat to freedom of expression and access to stories.

In a moving highlight, Cheryl introduces her “dream book,” When I Hear Spirituals, and shares how spirituals carry history, resilience, and joy while shaping American music itself. She even sings a portion of “Over My Head,” offering listeners a moment that feels like story, song, and legacy braided together.

Chapters:

01:00 Cheryl Willis Hudson + Just Us Books origin story

08:08 Growing up in Jim Crow South + why representation matters

13:49 Book challenges, lists, and censorship ripple effects

20:01 Reading from We Rise, We Resist…

30:13 When I Hear Spirituals + history of spirituals

🔗 Links & Resources 

• Dr. Diane's 365 Day Picture Book Read Aloud Calendar
• Follow Cheryl Willis Hudson on her website, Instagram, LinkedIn
• Rudine Sims Bishop: “Windows, Mirrors, Sliding Glass Doors” 
• Freedom to Read / Anti-censorship resources: Ever

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A book some adults tried to keep off shelves helped a seventh grader make sense of grief, addiction, and forgiveness and shaped the storyteller she became. This episode is a powerful reminder that books can be lifelines and freedom to read matters.

In Episode 169 of Adventures in Learning, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor welcomes Dynahlee Star Padilla-Vasquez for a timely conversation about banned books, empathy, and the transformative power of reading.

Dynahlee shares an excerpt from her essay, “Thanks to a Banned Book, I Forgave My Drug Addicted Grandpa and Escaped His Path,” and reflects on how Ellen Hopkins’ Crank, a frequently challenged book, helped her understand addiction, humanize a family story, and ultimately choose a path in journalism and storytelling.

Together, Dr Diane and Dynahlee unpack why adults fear difficult topics in books, how communication (not censorship) supports kids, and how book challenges often come from organized efforts that pull lines out of context. They close with a hopeful look toward the new year, grounded in the belief that one book can change a life.

⏱️ Chapters

02:06 Reading from “Thanks to a Banned Book…”

07:41 Crank as a transformative tale

12:10 What makes a powerful story

14:10 Fear, censorship & book challenges

19:44 Research, PEN America, EveryLibrary, data, and banning trends

26:35 Books vs. the online “wild west”

28:23 What brings hope into the new year

🔗 Links 

• Dynahlee’s essay in Everyday Advocacy
• Freedom to Read / anti-censorship resources: PEN America, EveryLibrary, Committee for the First Amendment
• Check out

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What if hope isn’t a feeling—but something you do?

From caring for orphaned rhinos to writing books that spark curiosity, this episode explores how learning, conservation, and community come together in powerful ways.

In Episode 167 of Adventures in Learning, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor is joined by Brenda Scott Royce, author, former primate caregiver, and conservation advocate, for a heartfelt conversation about learning from the natural world.

Brenda shares her journey from publishing and primate care to writing books that connect children with animals and conservation. Together, Diane and Brenda reflect on their recent trip to South Africa with Children’s Book Creators for Conservation (CBCC)—from reading aloud to preschoolers to hands-on conservation work at a rhino orphanage.

This episode is a reminder that learning happens through curiosity, connection, and action—and that, as Brenda reminds us, hope is a verb with its sleeves rolled up.

🕒 Episode Chapters & Timestamps

01:00 — Writing, Primates, and Purpose

Following curiosity instead of a straight career path

06:30 — Writing Books That Connect Kids to Animals

Stories, nonfiction, and nurturing curiosity

08:20 — Helping Children Fall in Love with Nature

Access, observation, and letting kids lead

10:05 — Why CBCC and South Africa

Traveling with like-minded creators for conservation

15:20 — Meeting Lazula: A Rhino Full-Circle Moment

From fundraiser photo to bottle-feeding a rhino

18:40 — Conservation, Community, and Responsibility

What real change looks like on the ground

24:00 — Seeing the Whole Ecosystem

Why animals—and learning—aren’t isolated

33:30 — Continuing the Work: Chimps in Zambia

Solo conservation work after South Africa

38:00 — Hope Is a Verb

What brings hope right now

🔗 Links & Resources

• Children’s Book Creators for Conservation (CBCC)
• Wild Tomorrow and blog about the trip
• Publishers Weekly article about the trip
• Brenda Scott Royce — books & writing
• Connect with Brenda on

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In Episode 167 of Adventures in Learning, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor welcomes Ann Dye, Vice President of Sales Operations at HarperCollins, for a powerful conversation about books, belonging, and conservation.

Ann shares her journey into publishing, how books help children (and adults) slow down in a noisy, screen-filled world, and why matching the right book to the right reader still matters. Diane and Ann also reflect on their life-changing trip to South Africa with the Children’s Book Creators for Conservation, including volunteering at a rhino orphanage, learning from local conservation leaders, and witnessing the power of community-driven change.

This episode explores how reading, empathy, creativity, and service connect us—to each other, to nature, and to hope.

Topics include:

children’s books • literacy • publishing • conservation • empathy • community • play-based learning • hope

📚 Key Takeaways

• Why matching the right book to the right reader can change everything
• How books offer a powerful counterbalance to screens and constant noise
• What conservation really looks like on the ground — and why community matters
• How creativity, play, and service build connection across cultures
• Finding hope through everyday acts of care, kindness, and commitment

🕒 Chapter Titles & Timestamps

Meet Anne Dye: A Life in Publishing

01:01 – Anne’s path into children’s publishing and sales operations

Matching Books to Readers

04:04 – Helping kids (and adults) fall in love with reading

Books vs. the Noise of Modern Life

06:06 – Why reading still matters in a screen-saturated world

Holiday Books & Finding “Just Right” Stories

09:09 – Gift ideas, animals, and beloved children’s books

South Africa: Why This Trip Mattered

12:11 – What drew Anne to conservation work abroad

Volunteering at the Rhino Orphanage

18:17 – Trust, vulnerability, and unforgettable moments with rhinos

Dehorning, Ethics, and Human Responsibility

22:21 – Conservation choices and protecting endangered animals

The Power of Community & the Green Mambas

26:25 – Local leadership, women in conservation, and sustainable change

Art, Play, and Creative Connection

31:30 – What illustrators, murals, and playfulness teach us

Being Present in Extraordinary Moments

34:33 – Wildlife encounters, awe, and putting the camera down

Biodiversity, Humility, and Lifelong Learning

37:36

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What happens when an illustrator channels courage, mental health, and a 600-year-old sarcastic snowman into a single powerful story? In this inspiring conversation, The Snowman Code illustrator Reggie Brown reveals how he transformed a charming seasonal narrative into a visually rich, emotionally resonant world—and how his own life experiences shaped every brushstroke.

If you’re an educator, caregiver, librarian, picture-book lover, or emerging illustrator, this episode offers a masterclass in storytelling through art, navigating big feelings with creativity, and following unexpected paths into meaningful work.

In Episode 166, Dr. Diane sits down with illustrator Reggie Brown, whose artwork elevates The Snowman Code—a winter story that tackles seasonal depression, parentification, courage, and connection. Reggie shares how he intuitively designs characters like Blessing and Albert and how he transitioned from biotech to bestselling illustrator after a life-changing moment during the pandemic.

Listeners also get a sneak peek at Reggie’s upcoming 2026 projects, including Walk the Walk and Do You See Me?, plus a heartwarming story of hope, family, and the Star Wars–themed Christmas surprise that changed his life forever.

00:27 – Designing a Story Beyond Snowflakes

03:41 – Illustrating Mental Health with Care

04:39 – From Biotech to Books: Reggie’s Unconventional Path

07:00 – Comics, Storytelling, and Illustration Craft

07:54 – A Lifelong Sci-Fi Fan

09:06 – Books You Should Know

11:15 – What’s Coming in 2026?

13:10 – What Makes a Manuscript Irresistible

13:47 – A New Source of Hope

Connect with Reggie Brown on Website, Instagram and LinkedIn

Check out Reggie's Books: The Snowman Code, Magnificent Makers, Santa and the City, Bros, Little Big Man, Who Are Your People?,

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Just in time for the holidays, we whisk away on a cozy, magical journey through the enchanting world of The Snowman Code with Simon Stephenson. Warm yourself with this comfortable conversation about friendship, mental health, inner strength, and the transformative power of empathy as Simon shares the creative process behind his debut middle grade novel. 

Summary

This week on the Adventures in Learning, Dr Diane Jackson Schnoor welcomes author Simon Stephenson, who unveils the American publication of his debut middle-grade realistic fantasy The Snowman Code. Simon shares his journey from being a children's doctor to writing for films like Luca and Paddington 2. Discover how his experiences with foster care children influenced The Snowman Code, a story about friendship, magic, empathy, resilience, depression, and finding your inner strength. We explore Simon's familial inspirations for the pompous and loving Albert the Snowman. Learn more about the artistic brilliance of illustrator Reggie Brown, whose rich multicultural illustrations add depth and unexpected surprises into this heartwarming story. Plus we envision how the book translates into a potential cinematic adaptation. 

Timestamps:

01:02: The Author Behind The Snowman Code

03:26:Blessing, Foster Care, Trauma, and Resilience

07:28:Familial Origins of Albert the Snowman

12:20:Themes of Empathy, Kindness, Compassion, and Sacrifice

15:30:UK Reaction to The Snowman Code

18:21:Exploring the Insightful, Layered Illustrations of Reggie Brown

20:43:Imagining The Film Version

23:52:What Brings You Hope?

Links:

Purchase The Snowman Code

Follow Simon Stephenson on Instagram

Discover more about Illustrator Reggie Brown

Support the show

Share this episode

If this conversation sparked wonder, gave you a helpful strategy, or offered a needed reminder of hope, please share it with a friend or colleague.

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Unwrap the joy of the holiday season with Jason M. Burns and Kate Kasch as they sprinkle holiday magic in every episode of their Dear Santa Podcast! This magical podcast crossover takes us on a festive journey filled with storytelling, traditions, and a direct line to the North Pole. Whether you're curious about the enchanting travels of Christmas trees or eager to hear from Santa himself, this episode is your ticket to a merry adventure!

Summary:

Dive into the festive world of Jason M. Burns and Kate Kasch, the creative minds behind the Dear Santa Podcast. Since its debut in July 2025, this podcast has become a cherished companion for holiday enthusiasts. This podcast takes you from timeless traditions to the latest in holiday music and films -- and even includes a Destination Christmas series that showcases the nation's most festive towns. From personalized ornaments to extravagant home decorations, Jason and Kate's seasonal adventures inspire joy and togetherness. Don't miss their special connection with Santa Claus, who answers listener questions and shares North Pole secrets! BONUS On my crossover episode with the Dear Santa Podcast, we talked about holiday books and traditions to help families and children with anticipation, waiting, empathy, and kindness during this festive season. Download the recommended books here.

Chapters:

01:01: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas -- Origins of the Dear Santa Podcast

09:37 - Holiday Traditions, 12 Cookies of Christmas, and a Direct Link to the North Pole

17:32 - Reflecting on Hope in the Holiday Season

Links

• Listen to the Dear Santa Podcast
• Episode 11: Classroom Connections featuring Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor
• Download the Holiday Books Dr. Diane suggested
• Send your questions for Santa
• Follow the Dear Santa Podcast on Instagram and LinkedIn

Thank you for joining us on this magical journey

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Dive into an inspiring journey of healing, empathy, and community with Myisha T. Hill. Discover how embracing sobriety—not just from substances but from systemic oppression and self-criticism—opens new pathways to personal growth and collective liberation. 

Explore the transformative insights of author, speaker, and possibilitarian Myisha T. Hill on empathy, healing, and community building. Myisha's books, "Check Your Privilege" and "Heal Your Way Forward," provide valuable frameworks for personal and communal growth and healing. In this episode, Myisha discusses her approach to "sobriety" from oppressive systems, highlighting the profound impact of African proverbs such as Umbuntu and Sankofa on her work. Through personal stories and insightful discussions, she helps us learn how to model self-compassion and empathy for our children, foster community connections, and embrace the healing journey forward. 

Myisha T Hill  is a nationally recognized voice in healing justice and racial equity. As the curator of Heal Your Way Forward and Iwosan Collective, her work centers on the intersections of mental wellness, social healing, and community care. With Iwosan Collective, she expands that vision, bringing the medicine of water, compassion, and environmental connection to those who’ve historically been excluded from it.

Chapters:

01:03:Healing and Moving Forward Together 

11:44:Modeling Self-Compassion and Empathy for Children 

20:58:A Personal Journey of Empathy, Compassion, and Transformation 

33:15:Heal Your Way Forward 

Links:

Come to Myisha T Hill's Ted Talk

Visit the Heal Your Way Forward community

Explore the Check Your Privilege community

Learn about the Iwosan Collective

Purchase Check Your Privilege Journal and Heal Your Way Forward 

Follow Myisha T Hill on Instagram, Substack, YouTube, and LinkedIn

#Empathy, #Healing, #MyishaTHill, #Liberation, #Sobriety, #CommunityCare, #Podcast, #SelfCompassion, #Unschooling, #PersonalGrowth, #Ubuntu, #Sankofa, #AdventuresInLearning, #HealYourWayForward, #CheckYourPrivilege, #EmpathyInAction

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