Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning

What does it mean to travel in a way that leaves places better than we found them? In Episode 201 of the Adventures in Learning podcast, Dr. Diane sits down with Bryn Geddes, Senior Manager of Program Sustainability at Road Scholar, for a conversation that feels both practical and deeply personal. I've been fascinated by Road Scholar since I traveled to Antarctica with them -- and am delighted to bring this conversation home to you.

We talk about what sustainable travel really looks like on the ground, the everyday choices that add up, and how an organization with almost 800 itineraries in 100 countries is weaving care for people and planet into every trip.

Bryn shares how Road Scholar is moving beyond a few “green” programs to a whole-company approach: auditing itineraries, training teams and group leaders, and setting standards that protect wildlife, reduce waste, and support local communities. She also reflects on her own path from archaeology to sustainable tourism, what makes Road Scholar’s culture unique, and why curiosity and critical thinking are at the heart of meaningful travel. From plastic water bottles to linen changes, from Patagonia to the Civil Rights Trail, this episode is a warm, hopeful look at how we can explore the world with more humility, more respect, and more long-term impact.

If you’ve ever wondered how to travel in a way that aligns with your values — or if you just love hearing stories about people who are building a better kind of tourism — this conversation is for you.

Chapters

• 00:00 Welcome and the promise of travel
• 01:20 Bryn’s role and Road Scholar’s sustainability mission
• 03:45 What sustainable travel really means
• 09:30 Cultural sustainability and local communities
• 10:13 Road Scholar’s long-term sustainability plan
• 12:48 Meeting travelers where they are
• 14:44 Luxury, convenience, and behavior change in hotels
• 20:06 Bryn’s path from archaeology to sustainable tourism
• 24:38 What makes Road Scholar special
• 27:18 Favorite trips and bucket-list destinations
• 29:39 The Civil Rights Trail and immersive travel
• 31:12 Humility, curiosity, and intergenerational travel
• 33:03 Serving travelers 50+ and the next generation
• 35:33 What’s bringing Bryn hope right now
• 37:25 Closing and where to learn more

Links and resources

• Learn more about Road Scholar: Road Scholar
• Explore Road Scholar’s sustainability efforts: Road Scholar Sustainability

Call to action

Listen to the full episode, explore Road Scholar’s programs, and on your next trip, try one small sustainable change: carry a refillable water bottle, ask about towel and linen policies at your hotel, or choose a locally owned business for a meal or tour. This conversation is a reminder that travel can be an act of care — for the places we visit, the people who live there, and the future we all share.

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*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

What happens when two beloved picture book creators, Caldecott Honorees, and longtime friends with very different artistic styles make a book together?

In Episode 200 of the Adventures in Learning podcast, host Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor welcomes acclaimed authors and illustrators Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal for a warm, funny, and thoughtful conversation. Together, they offer an exclusive look behind their new picture book, Off The Wall, exploring the joys and messy realities of true creative collaboration.

Along the way, they talk about trust, studio process, file-naming systems, rhinoceroses, rhino dehorning, sidewalk chalk, and why play still matters for adults just as much as children.

Episode Summary

Making Art & Sharing the Journey

This milestone episode is a celebration of making things together. Molly and Juana share how their artistic partnership evolved from an earlier project (I Don't Care) into a deeper collaboration where they learned to trade off, set aside egos, and choose the best idea for the story. They also share candid insights into the business side of being children's book artists, navigating long-distance co-creation, and why traveling together makes the creative journey far more meaningful.

From Picture Books to Conservation in South Africa

There is also an inspiring South Africa thread running through this conversation. The episode returns to their shared experience with Wild Tomorrow, the Green Mambas, community-led conservation, rewilding, and the creative problem-solving required to protect both people and the planet. From community murals to wildlife protection, the episode highlights a core truth: art, like conservation, is collaborative, messy, and deeply human.

Why Adults Need Play

At the center of it all is a question that reaches beyond the picture book page and into everyday life: how do we keep play alive? Molly and Juana make a compelling case that creativity isn't just for childhood, showing how everyday play opens the door to empathy, curiosity, and human connection. That is exactly the kind of learning this podcast loves to celebrate.

Chapters & Timestamps

• 00:00 - Introduction & Reunited Friends 
• 01:17 - Collaborating Across Distance 
• 03:22 - What Story-First Collaboration Looks Like 
• 06:36 - The Business vs. The Art 
• 12:39 - First Look at Off The Wall 
• 18:38 - "Happy Accidents" in the Studio 
• 22:24 - Memories from South Africa 
• 25:28 - Dr. Diane Mid-Roll 
• 27:01 - Street Art & Everyday Creativity 
• 32:32 - The Vital Importance of Adult Play 
• 35:03 - Lessons from Conservation Workers 
• 48:18 - Play-Based Learning Over Prescriptive Teaching 
• 50:43 - What Brings You Hope?

Links & Resources

• Pre-Order Off The Wall (Releasing August 4, 2026!) Pre-order your copy and support independent bookstores.
• Molly Idle’s Official Website
• Juana Martinez-Neal’s Official Website
• Wild Tomorrow
• Listen to Molly (#149) & Juana's (#137) Previous Episodes 
• Explore the CBCC & Wild Tomorrow Series

Call to Action

Listen to the full episode, pre-order or pick up Off the Wall, and take a moment this week to make something with someone else. Draw, paint, write, build, or simply play. The episode is a reminder that learning is richer when it is shared, and creativity is better when it is messy, joyful, and alive.

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*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

What does it take to protect wildlife when the work is dangerous, the stakes are high, and hope has to be built every single day? In Episode 199 of the Adventures in Learning Podcast, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor continues the Wild Tomorrow series with Assistant Reserve Manager Sibiya Siyabonga for an honest and deeply human conversation about ranger life, anti-poaching work, community trust, and the courage it takes to protect animals that cannot protect themselves.

This is Part 4 in the Wild Tomorrow story, and it follows the earlier episodes with John Steward and Wendy Hapgood, Aphiwe Notshaya, and Kevin Jolliffe. Siya shares how he came to Wild Tomorrow, what he learned as a ranger and firefighter, and why conservation depends not only on fences and patrols but also on relationships, training, and collaboration with the people who live closest to the land.

Listeners will hear about the daily realities of ranger work, including listening posts, ambushes, tracking, teamwork, and the difficult balance between protecting wildlife and understanding the human pressures around poaching. Most of all, this episode is a reminder that conservation is not abstract; it is personal, practical, and often risky work carried out by people who love the land enough to guard it.

As we approach World Ranger Day on July 31, this episode feels especially timely. It’s a chance to honor the men and women who protect natural heritage on the front lines, and to support the Wild Tomorrow fundraiser that helps make their work safer, stronger, and more sustainable.

Chapters

• 00:01 Hope in the sounds of the bush
• 01:18 Meet Sibiya Siyabonga
• 01:53 From firefighting to ranger work
• 03:22 What a ranger does every day
• 05:55 Building trust with community leaders
• 08:59 Creating different paths forward
• 10:02 A recent poaching arrest
• 17:35 Protecting animals that cannot protect themselves
• 18:09 The dangers rangers face
• 23:06 Why poachers take bigger risks
• 25:08 Rangers as conservation’s backbone
• 27:25 What rangers need most
• 31:03 Ranger numbers and team structure
• 33:25 Working with neighboring reserves
• 35:45 Training the next generation of rangers
• 41:07 Why Siya keeps doing this work
• 46:22 What brings Siya hope
• 48:26 Closing and call to action

Key moments

• Siya explains that his job is to protect animals that cannot protect themselves.
• Ranger work includes patrols, listening posts, ambushes, tracking, and hard choices.
• Building trust with communities is part of conservation, not separate from it.
• The reserve depends on collaboration with neighboring properties and shared intelligence.
• Hope comes from nature, from the next generation, and from the chance to make a difference.

Call to action

Download and listen to Episode 199 of Adventures in Learning to hear the full conversation and continue the Wild Tomorrow series. If Siya’s story moved you, please consider supporting the Wild Tomorrow Rangers with a donation and honoring the work of rangers this World Ranger Day season.

Links and resources

• John Steward and Wendy Hapgood: From Boots to a Wildlife Corridor: The Wild Tomorrow Story
• Aphiwe Notshaya: People, Preschoolers, and Planet
• Kevin Jolliffe: Rewilding, Restoration, and Hope
• Learn More About the Wild Tomorrow Rangers
• Donate to Support the Rangers
• Learn more about World Ranger Day

About Sibiya Siyabonga

Sibiya Siyabonga is Assistant Reserve Manager at Wild Tomorrow. Siya joins the reserve from KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife’s Tembe Elephant Park, where he served as an Advance Field Ranger. During his time there, Siya was involved in successful confrontations with poachers. He also holds certificates in firefighting, field training and firearms, and reserve guardianship.

#AdventuresInLearning #WildTomorrow #SibiyaSiyabonga #Siya #Rangers #Conservation #AntiPoaching #WildlifeProtection #CommunityConservation #NatureRestoration #SouthAfrica #EnvironmentalEducation #LearningThroughNature #WonderCuriosityConnection #PodcastEpisode #HopeInTheWild #WorldRangerDay

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*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

What does it look like when conservation becomes a long view, a daily practice, and a promise to the future? In Episode 198 of the Adventures in Learning Podcast, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor welcomes Kevin Jolliffe, reserve manager at Wild Tomorrow, for a rich conversation about rewilding, restoration, community partnership, and the patience it takes to care for a landscape over time.

In Part 3 of the Wild Tomorrow series, Kevin shares how a childhood rooted in nature grew into a career in conservation that has taken him around the world and back again. From sea turtles in the Seychelles to habitat restoration in South Africa, he reflects on what it means to steward land, manage wildlife, and think in terms of generations rather than quick fixes.

This episode also continues the Wild Tomorrow story through the lens of balance and hope. Kevin and Dr. Diane talk about what it means to let nature lead when appropriate, step in when human action caused the harm, and support the surrounding community as part of the larger conservation mission. If you’ve loved the earlier Wild Tomorrow conversations with co-founders John Steward and Wendy Hapgood, and community conservation manager Aphiwe Notshaya, this episode deepens that story in a meaningful way.

Chapters

• 01:19 A childhood in nature
• 02:45 Studying conservation and meeting his wife
• 03:33 Work in the Seychelles and the Bahamas
• 04:56 How Kevin joined Wild Tomorrow
• 05:56 What a reserve manager does
• 06:53 A "typical day" on the reserve
• 08:42 Rewilding the land
• 10:15 Man-made problems and nature’s balance
• 13:05 Species brought back to the reserve
• 14:37 Anti-poaching and community partnership
• 16:29 Working with local herders and land use
• 19:32 Nursery work and growing trees
• 21:22 Reconnecting with nature
• 24:23 Quiet moments with hippos
• 27:01 How to care about conservation
• 29:34 Thinking in generations, not instant fixes
• 30:24 Favorite trees, birds, and animals
• 32:02 What gives Kevin hope

About Kevin Jolliffe

Kevin was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. His early holidays with his aunt and uncle in Hluhluwe sparked his love for Zululand and determined the career he would later pursue. As the youngest of five siblings and the odd man out with the neighbourhood children, Kevin developed a passion for nature. Afternoons were spent exploring the Botanic Gardens where he honed his bird watching skills, collected butterflies and developed an interest in plants, including collecting and growing orchids at the age of seven, becoming the youngest orchid grower in South Africa for over 10 years. Kevin is currently writing and illustrating a book on the orchids of KZN and his vast knowledge has been put to good use while working with the Pollination Ecology department at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. 

Kevin was always determined to work in nature conservation. He attained a National Diploma in Nature Conservation from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, where he met his conservationist wife. They have been working together ever since. He has worked at government run, Ndumo Game Reserve as well as a number of private reserves in KZN, the Western and Eastern Cape, Swaziland and Limpopo provinces. He was the conservation manager for Cousine Island in the Seychelles for five 5 years conducting in-depth monitoring of nesting Hawksbill sea turtles, sea birds and endangered land birds. From there he took up the position of landscape manager in the Bahamas, before returning to South Africa to manage a private nature reserve in the Western Cape. He is now proudly Wild Tomorrow Fund’s Reserve Manager at The Greater Ukuwela Nature Reserve.

Links and resources

• Learn more about Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning: drdianadventures.com
• Explore Wild Tomorrowand follow on Instagram and LinkedIn
• Listen to the Wild Tomorrow Series, featuring John Steward and Wendy Hapgood and Aphiwe Notshaya
• Join Wild Tomorrow for the Junior Wildlife Crime Scene Detective Event on July 20, 2026

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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*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

What do you call a life filled with service, curiosity, humor, and love? In Episode 197 of the Adventures in Learning Podcast, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor shares a deeply personal tribute to her father, Dr. Edward John Jackson, a quiet hero whose life touched military service, higher education, community leadership, and family in lasting ways.

This episode honors Dr. Jackson’s journey from a difficult childhood to a distinguished Army career and a decades-long legacy at Fayetteville Technical Community College. Along the way, Dr. Diane weaves in stories that reveal his adventurous spirit, his gift for play, his commitment to equity and education, and the joyful way he showed up for the people he loved.

Listeners will hear memories of travel, teaching, theater, puppets, family adventures, and the creation of programs that made education more accessible for service members and working adults. At its heart, this episode is a celebration of a life that embodied wonder, connection, and the belief that learning should open doors for others.

Chapters

• 00:00 Opening tribute and introduction to Dr. Edward Jackson
• 02:00 Pamela the chimpanzee and an early summer job
• 05:20 Choosing the Army and seeing the world
• 09:00 Rising from enlisted soldier to officer
• 13:06 Korea, OCS, and the realities of military life
• 16:01 Segregation, service, and standing for equal rights
• 17:16 Women in the Army and supporting change
• 18:44 Education, graduate school, and teaching
• 20:24 Building SOCAD and changing degree pathways
• 23:27 Transforming Fayetteville Technical Community College
• 25:28 Theater, the arts, and community service
• 26:31 Play, family adventures, and imagination
• 33:19 Sunday school, teaching, and faith
• 36:11 Final reflections and closing tribute

Key moments

• Dr. Jackson helped build smoother educational pathways for service members through SOCAD and transfer credit reform.
• He lived through major social change in the Army and supported equal rights, women soldiers, and integration.
• He brought play, creativity, and wonder into family life through puppets, forts, games, and travel.
• He served his community through education, theater, faith, and civic organizations.
• His legacy continues through his daughters, granddaughters, and the many people whose lives he shaped.

About Dr. Edward John Jackson

Dr. Edward John Jackson (Maj. Ret.) served more than 20 years in the United States Army, including tours in Korea and Vietnam, and later dedicated decades to Fayetteville Technical Community College. He was a builder of programs, a champion for equity, a lover of learning, and a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend.

Memorial information

Memorial gifts may be made to the Dr. Edward and Eleanor Jackson Memorial Scholarship at the Fayetteville Technical Community College Foundation, P.O. Box 35236, Fayetteville, NC 28303, or online through Fayetteville Tech’s giving page by selecting “give now” and noting “Dr. Edward Jackson” in the comments.

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*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

What if a children’s book could travel through time and connect generations of storytellers? Join Dr. Diane as she welcomes back acclaimed author Emma Otheguy to discuss her enchanting new book, Adventure in the City of Stories, the enduring power of school librarians, and why stories are the ultimate secret weapon for building human connection.

Summary

In this episode, Dr. Diane sits down with historian and children's book author Emma Otheguy. Together, they explore the critical role school librarians play as frontline champions for literacy and open access to books. Emma gives us an exclusive first look at her upcoming middle-grade historical fantasy Adventure in the City of Stories, a companion novel to Cousins in the Time of Magic.

Set against the backdrop of 1930s New York City, the book weaves historical reality with time-traveling magic. Emma shares the real-life intellectual lineages that connected historical giants like public library pioneer Pura Belpré, Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral, archivist Arturo Schomburg, and legendary children's librarian Anne Carol Moore. Plus, don't miss a delightful live reading from Chapter 5 that features a quirky, real-life historical artifact, a talking 8-inch wooden doll named Nicholas!

Chapters

• [00:00] Welcome back Emma Otheguy! 
• [00:51] From Social Media to Substack: Writing Digital Love Letters to Readers 
• [03:09] Frontline Champions: The Crucial Fight of School Librarians Today 
• [07:10] Purposeful Play: Symbiosis Between Librarians and STEM Educators 
• [09:00] Introducing Adventure in the City of Stories: 1930s NYC & Latinx Lineages 
• [18:49] Intentionality in Publishing: Books vs. Visual Media 
• [20:55] What it Takes to Make a Reader (and the Heavy Lifting of Families) 
• [22:12] Exclusive Live Reading: Chapter 5 – "42nd Street" and the Nicholas Doll 
• [34:38] Balancing Fact vs. Fiction: A Historian's Approach to Fantasy 
• [39:02] Finding Hope: The Gift of Urban Public Schools

Key Takeaways

• Librarians are Essential Warriors: School librarians actively curate structural spaces that allow children independent time for pleasure reading, read-alouds, and critical engagement with literature.
• History is Interconnected: Historical figures shouldn't be taught in isolated vacuums; pioneers like Pura Belpré, Arturo Schomburg, and Gabriela Mistral actively collaborated, forming a rich lineage of Latinx intellectual history in New York City.
• Intentionality Builds Empathy: Unlike mass media designed for clicks and revenue, children’s books undergo a rigorous process involving authors, editors, and authenticity readers to safely guide children through complex real-world issues.
• Literacy Requires a Village: Raising a reader isn’t an accidental milestone—it requires a coordinated network of beautifully illustrated books, robust library funding, enthusiastic teachers, and dedicated parents managing the logistics.

Join Emma's Pub Club

To celebrate the release of Adventure in the City of Stories, Emma is inviting educators and librarians to join the Pub Club, where they will receive a handwritten letter from the author, an invitation to a fun webinar, and writing prompts connected to the book. In exchange, Emma asks that participants make the book available in their school or classroom library, read the first chapter aloud, and help her promote the book, whether by writing a review or sharing online.

Links & Resources

• Subscribe to Emma’s Substack
• Pre-order: Adventure in the City of Stories
• Sign up for Emma's Pub Club
• Listen to Emma on Episode 122 of the Adventures in Learning Podcast

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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Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

What if the key to helping children learn to write, count, and grow wasn’t more pressure but more play? In this episode of Adventures in Learning, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor welcomes developmental therapist and early childhood advocate Sola Zaccheus for a rich conversation about fine motor development, developmentally appropriate practice, and the power of purposeful play.

Sola shares her path from aspiring lawyer to educator and therapist, and how that journey led her to create Knots and Knuckles, a framework focused on strengthening the whole body before expecting children to master small motor tasks like writing, tracing, or holding a pencil correctly. Together, Diane and Sola unpack why play is not a break from learning; it is learning; and how teachers can embed literacy, math, language, and problem solving into meaningful hands on experiences.

This conversation is especially powerful for early childhood educators, instructional coaches, therapists, and families who want practical strategies for supporting children in ways that are joyful, developmentally sound, and responsive to the child in front of them. From modeling in the classroom to building independence through everyday routines, this episode offers both encouragement and concrete ideas you can use right away.

Chapters

01:16 From aspiring lawyer to early childhood educator

06:12 Why play belongs at the center of learning

10:59 Modeling, engagement, and what children need from adults

12:20 Behavior, support needs, and classroom environments

18:08 Fine motor development and Knots and Knuckles

23:13 Montessori, independence, and everyday routines

25:08 Language, narration, and the power of conversation

29:08 Why adults need play too

31:00 How to connect with Sola

32:02 What brings hope

Key moments

• Children need time, repetition, and practice before mastering complex skills.
• Play supports critical thinking, peer interaction, creativity, and regulation.
• Teachers do not have to abandon curriculum; they can weave it into play.
• Simple shifts in language and environment can make a big difference.
• Growth happens when we meet children where they are and build from there.

About the guest

Sola Zaccheus is a developmental therapist, early childhood specialist, and founder of The Golden Nugget LLC and Knots and Knuckles. She supports educators, programs, and families with developmentally appropriate strategies that strengthen fine motor skills, language development, independence, and whole child learning.

Connect with Sola

• Website
• Instagram: @thegoldennuggetllc
• Email: [email protected]
• LinkedIn @SolaZaccheus

Stay connected

• Learn more about Dr. Diane’s speaking and professional development: drdianadventures.com
• Subscribe to Adventures in Learning on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Buzzsprout, and wherever you listen

Support the show

Share this episode

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Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

What if one oak tree could help kids fall in love with science, story, and their own backyards? In Episode 194, author Maria Gianferrariand illustrator Diana Sudyka share how their new picture book Just One Oakturns a single tree into a whole universe of keystone species, climate conversations, and everyday nature joy, from city parks to schoolyards.

Summary

In this episode of Adventures in Learning with Dr. Diane, author Maria Gianferrari and illustrator Diana Sudyka talk about their collaboration on Fungi Grow and their newest nature picture book, Just One Oak. They share how a lifelong love of the outdoors, urban ecology, and everyday backyard wildlife fuels their work and helps kids see that nature isn’t “out there” in national parks -- it’s right outside their doors in cities, suburbs, and schoolyards.

Maria explains how Doug Tallamy’s The Nature of Oaks and the Homegrown National Park movement inspired her to celebrate oak trees as keystone species and to weave science, vocabulary, and rich back matter into lyrical, read-aloud text. Diana talks about researching oak ecosystems, grieving the loss of 200–250 year old oaks in Illinois, and visually “peopling” the pages with ants, weevils, and acorn woodpeckers so readers can sense the oak as a living habitat.

Together, they and Dr. Diane explore how Just One Oak can launch lessons on ecosystems, climate change, keystone species, and habitats for elementary and middle school learners, and how picture books act as true art objects that teach complex science to kids and adults alike. They also share their creative origin stories, upcoming projects about dead wood and oak forests, and what currently gives them hope: young people, community, and small, daily moments of wonder like hummingbirds, frogs, and backyard birds.

Chapters

• [01:30] Nature as Shared Inspiration: Maria and Diana describe nature as their place of solace, joy, and curiosity, and how their shared love of the natural world fuels their collaborations
• [04:18] Urban Ecology & Everyday Nature: Finding wildlife and nature connection in cities and suburbs (backyard coyotes, bobcats, and Central Park birding, oh my!)
• [08:12] Inside Just One Oak: Keystone Species & Research: How Doug Tallamy and The Nature of Oaks inspired the concept, from microscopic soil life to birds and mammals relying on oaks as keystone species.
• [12:49] Old Oaks, Loss, and Art as Response: Channeling grief and urgency into art
• [16:25] Building a Spread: Acorn Woodpeckers & Hidden Details: Walk through the acorn woodpecker “granary” spread, talking about lyrical text, scientific sidebars, visual storytelling, and packing pages with tiny creatures.
• [22:36] Teaching with Just One Oak in K–8 Classrooms: Using the book to teach keystone species, climate change, habitats, food webs, and close observation across grade levels.
• [26:51] Becoming an Author: Maria's path from shy, nature-loving child to children’s author, persistence through rejection, and turning encounters like Coyote Moon into nonfiction
• [32:10] From Band Posters to Picture Books: Diana's path from screen-printed band posters to books like The Mysterious Benedict Society, and why picture books are a powerful narrative art form.
• [36:53] Picture Books as Art Objects in the Age of AI: Why the craft, intention, and skill behind picture books remains relevant and timely
• [40:01] Favorite Places in Nature & Learning to Love Where You Live: From Illinois forest preserves and Lake Michigan to New England woods and ponds, discover the joy of backyard birding and travel.
• [46:22] What’s Next: Dead Wood & Acorn Adventures: Maria previews her upcoming book From Forest to a Dead Tree’s Legacy, while Diana shares her forthcoming author/illustrator title The Acorn’s Gift.
• [48:52] What Brings Hope: young people, readers, community, and everyday wonders like phoebes, hummingbirds, and backyard wildlife.

Links

• Learn more about Maria Gianferrari and Diana Sudyka (and check out the resource guides for their books on their websites!)
• Order Fungi Grow and Just One Oak
• Follow Maria on Instagram & Facebook
• Follow Diana on Instagram & Facebook

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.

Subscribe • Download • Review • Tell a friend

Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

What if saving wildlife starts with school lunches, backpacks, and bush walks? In Part 2 of the Wild Tomorrow series, community leader Aphiwe Notshaya joins Dr. Diane to share how a community partnership approach to conservation in rural South Africa is feeding preschoolers, supporting orphaned and vulnerable children, opening doors to university, and building real climate resilience—one partnership at a time.

Summary

In this episode, Dr. Diane continues the Wild Tomorrow series with community conservation manager Aphiwe Notshaya. Aphiwe describes her path from aspiring accountant to environmental manager and how Wild Tomorrow lets her merge people-centered work with habitat protection. 

Aphiwe shares how the Early Childhood Development (ECD) program supports preschools with teacher training, toys, and monthly food so young children receive two meals a day and learn to love school, and how a partner community center provides uniforms, stationery, backpacks, and academic support for orphaned and vulnerable children. Aphiwe highlights a local mentor helping graduates apply for university, learnerships, and internships in a rural area with limited digital access, and explains how environmental education days bring children into the reserve for bush walks, outdoor journals, and close-up encounters with insects, birds, and habitats, not just the “big five.” 

She talks about choosing strategic partnerships with traditional leaders, women’s climate‑smart agriculture projects, and Zulu cultural practices tied to healthy rivers, all while avoiding conservation models that fence people out. Looking ahead, Aphiwe shares her dream of deeper climate resilience work, seed banks, and disaster centers—and why her love of snakes surprises people. What keeps her hopeful is simple -- communities that are still willing to listen, learn, and change.

Chapters

• [00:01] Welcome & Meet Aphiwe: Part 2 of the Wild Tomorrow series and the woman leading community partnerships.
• [01:11] Discovering Conservation as a Career: From “future accountant” to environmental management and Wild Tomorrow.
• [04:34] Community-Centered Conservation: Why Wild Tomorrow centers local needs alongside wildlife.
• [04:58] Preschools, Food, and Early Childhood Development: Supporting ECD centers with teacher training, resources, and monthly meals.
• [08:10] Orphaned and Vulnerable Children: Uniforms, stationery, backpacks, and extra classes for kids who need it most.
• [09:50] Helping Youth Reach University and Jobs: Backing a local mentor who guides applications for university, learnerships, and internships.
• [12:16] Game Drives, Bush Walks, and Outdoor Journals: Bringing local kids into the reserve to notice insects, birds, and habitats.
• [15:35] Partnerships with Chiefs, Culture, and Climate-Smart Farmers: Working with traditional leaders, Zulu maidens, and women’s agriculture groups.
• [20:40] Breaking Down Fences: Making the reserve feel like “our future” for neighboring communities.
• [23:55] Aphiwe’s Practical Wish List: Fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, and basic school supplies with big impact.
• [25:36] Dreaming of Climate Resilience and Disaster Centers: Teaching about wetlands, floods, and planning for a changing climate.
• [28:49] Favorite Animal: The Dramatic Rinkhals: Why a snake that plays dead has her heart.
• [29:51] What Brings Aphiwe Hope: Communities that listen, adapt, and choose sustainable paths.

Links:

• Episode 189 – Part 1 of the Wild Tomorrow series with co-founders John Seward and Wendy Hapgood
• Wild Tomorrow Community Programs and opportunities to support
• Follow Aphiwe and Wild Tomorrow on Instagram
• Follow Aphiwe and Wild Tomorrow on LinkedIn

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*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

Newbery Medalist Katherine Applegate(The One and Only Ivan, Wishtree, Odder) returns to talk about her newest book, Wombat Waiting—a free-verse “destiny dog” story set against California wildfires. We dive into climate change with hope, why picture books still matter for big kids, how to reach reluctant readers, and why “weird is wonderful” might be the best antidote to both peer pressure and AI.

Summary:

In this episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast, Dr. Diane sits down with Katherine Applegate to explore Wombat Waiting, a lyrical novel-in-verse about a stray dog, wildfires, waiting, and finding your purpose. Katherine shares the real rescue dog who inspired Wombat, how she writes about climate change without overwhelming kids, and why she believes in best-friend books, comfort reads, and picture books for older readers. They also talk about scripted curricula, book bans, and Dr. Diane’s Read•Connect•Play•Reflect™ framework for connecting stories like Wombat Waiting to STEM/STEAM, SEL, and inquiry-based thinking. Katherine closes with her core message for kids—“embrace your weird”—and a peek at what she’s working on next.

Chapters:

[02:08] Inside Wombat Waiting: Destiny Dog in a Wildfire

Katherine shares the California fire inspiration, her real rescue dog Astrid, and why she chose free verse and white space to make a climate story accessible.

[04:18] From Stray to Comforter: Character, Community, and Very Few Words

How Wombat learns to trust humans, the Hachiko connection, and why Katherine loves “chiseling” language down to its most essential form.

[08:30] Author Visits, Rally for Reading, and Reluctant Readers

School visit stories, one-book/one-school programs, kids meeting a “real author,” and how a “best friend book” like Charlotte’s Web can flip a reluctant reader.

[11:00] Graphic Novels, Comfort Reads, and Picture Books for Big Kids

Why we shouldn’t dismiss graphic novels or series, and how picture books support dyslexic, visual, and older readers while teaching craft and content.

[14:07] Curriculum, Book Bans, and Trusting Teachers

A candid look at scripted programs, excerpts vs. full novels, and why respecting teacher judgment and giving kids whole books matters for real literacy.

[16:21] Read–Connect–Play–Reflect: Classroom Ideas for Wombat Waiting

Dr. Diane shares practical ways to link Wombat Waiting to climate change, STEM challenges, creative response, and deeper reflection.

[22:21] AI, Authentic Voices, and “Weird Is Wonderful”

Katherine and Dr. Diane discuss AI’s push toward generic voices, why kids need to be their boldest, strangest selves, and how “embrace your weird” empowers readers.

[24:10] Climate Themes, Kids Who Care, and Finding Hope

Katherine’s environmental throughline, the seven-year-old who explained climate change at a school visit, and why informed, passionate kids give her hope.

[26:25] Writing for Kids, Staying 11 Inside, and What’s Next

Why children are her favorite audience, staying connected to her “inner 11-year-old,” and a glimpse at upcoming graphic/picture adaptations and a new middle-grade fantasy.

Links and Resources

• Check out all of Katherine's books -- and don't miss Wombat Waiting
• Check out Katherine's previous appearances on the podcast: Episodes 51, 83, and 132.
• Learn more about Dr. Diane’s Read•Connect•Play•Reflect™ frameworkand contact her to speak or work with your school, library, or district.

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.

Subscribe • Download • Review • Tell a friend

Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.