In this episode of the Edvolution Podcast, we explore a powerful and often overlooked connection: how athletics and physical education can be a catalyst for service learning, sustainability, global citizenship, and edible education.

We’re joined by Dr. Gesa Beecken, Athletic Director and PE Lead at the International School of Ulm in Germany. Gesa brings a fresh and thoughtful perspective on how movement, play, and competition can support deeper learning and social impact.

Together, we discuss:

This episode invites educators and school leaders to rethink spaces we don’t always associate with service learning, and to see athletics as a powerful platform for connection, purpose, and real-world learning.

Here are Gesa's resource recommendations:

As always, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to [email protected] to share what’s happening in your school community or to continue the conversation.

Join us next time for more stories and strategies at the intersection of learning, sustainability, global citizenship, and edible education.

We’re kicking off the new year with inspiration and practical ideas for building sustainable service learning systems in schools!

In this episode, we’re joined by Crystal Pottebaum, Service Learning and Sustainability Coordinator at the International School of Debrecen, Hungary. Crystal shares her journey from classroom teacher to K–12 coordinator and reflects on what it really takes to design programs that last.

Together, we explore:

This conversation is especially valuable for educators and leaders who are starting the year ready to rethink service learning, sustainability, and how schools can live their values through purposeful programming.

Check out Crystal’s Padlet for building service learning programs here and her children's books below:

Laney's Little Lamb - Amazon or USA-based distribution.

Pass it to Rizwana (Amazon)

As always, we’d love to hear from more educators doing meaningful work. If you have experiences to share, reach out and join the conversation!

In this episode, Laurence interviews Sandy and Mel about how edible education can transform learning. We unpack why it’s more powerful than food tech, how to build meaningful programs in real schools, and how food-based learning enhances rigor, even in AP and high school courses!

Perfect for educators, school leaders, and anyone curious about sustainability, real-world learning, and reconnecting students with the natural world.

Check out the Center for Ecoliteracy and their guide for getting started with a school garden!

In this episode of the Edvolution Podcast, we dive into the world of ethical global service learning with Kimberly Haley Coleman, Founder and Executive Director of Globe Aware. With more than 25 years in the field, Kimberly shares how community-driven partnerships, ethical frameworks, and deep cultural engagement create meaningful experiences for both volunteers and host communities.

We unpack the myths of “voluntourism,” discuss the importance of community-led project design, and explore what schools must consider when sending students abroad. Kimberly also shares powerful examples from Globe Aware’s programs in places like Guatemala, Cambodia, Costa Rica, and Ghana — and reflects on the joy, learning, and transformation that come from serving alongside local partners.

Whether you're a teacher, school leader, parent, or student travel coordinator, this episode offers a grounded, ethical perspective on what responsible global service should look like.

Learn more about Globe Aware here!

This week we’re chatting with Tristan Reynolds, educator, writer, and Dean of Academics at VIS@betterworld lab in Taipei. We dive into what it means to build a school as a prototype, connect global citizenship to authentic community learning, and create student-centered systems for both project-based learning and AI use.

Take a look at the fantastic resources Tristan has to share:

In this episode, we dive into the many ways educators continue to grow both inside and outside the classroom. From Sandy’s unique journey to Italy for a Honey Sommelier certification to Mel’s deep dive into coaching and professional learning, and Laurence’s work with schools around the world, this conversation is all about how authentic learning experiences keep us curious, connected, and inspired.

We explore how personal passions can spark new ideas for teaching and how schools can reimagine professional development as something meaningful, not mandatory.

Learn more about the work that we do and how we can support educators by checking out our website here!

Service learning experiences can be deeply meaningful for both students and teachers, but when they’re not thoughtfully planned, they can also lead to unintended consequences.

In this episode, we dive into the behind-the-scenes of those big “Week Without Walls” trips and other school-led service projects. Together, we reflect on how schools can design service learning programs that foster meaningful connections, responsible action, and real learning for everyone involved.

Check out the Complete Guide to Service Learning by our friend Cathy Berger Kaye for an A-Z guide to help you get started, review, or refine your service learning approaches. If you already have it, keep an eye out for the 3rd edition coming out soon!

In this episode, we dig into why so many schools struggle to truly embrace sustainability and what it takes to move beyond surface-level efforts.

We explore:

But it’s not all challenges! We highlight schools that do great things and share some resources that we hope will be helpful:

Education in Motion ESG Report

Chinese International School Carbon Report

Edvolution's Zero-Waste Classroom Guide 

We would love to learn more about any other great examples out there. Get in touch with us at [email protected].

In this conversation, we sit down with the fabulous LeeAnne Lavender, a global citizenship and community engagement consultant who brings a passion for storytelling to every project. Together, we unpack some of the common challenges schools face when building service learning programs and explore strategies for creating strong, lasting community partnerships. We also discuss how storytelling can be a powerful tool to kick off the school year, helping educators set the tone, inspire students, and connect purpose with action.

Learn more about LeeAnne and how she supports educators here! 

Check out her new course, Authentic Global Citizenship & Community Engagement here.

We’re kicking off Season 2 by sharing how we approach the start of a new school year with purpose and energy. From finding the right thought partners to spark collaboration, to identifying “low-hanging fruit” that builds early wins, we dive into practical ways to set yourself up for success with connection and purpose.

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