Freedom Writers Podcast

In this episode...

On this week's episode, Erin Gruwell speaks with Edie Mermelstein, an attorney and Holocaust educator. They discuss the recent and troubling rise in antisemitism on social media, Edie's family's incredible work with the Auschwitz Study Foundation, and the importance of keeping stories from the Holocaust alive. This episode is sadly more relevant than ever, but we hope it will leave you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference.

Learn More About the Auschwitz Study Foundation: https://www.auschwitzstudyfoundation.org

On this week's episode, join Erin Gruwell as she speaks with Nyaz Burhan, a Kurdish student author from our new book, Dear Freedom Writer, and his amazing Freedom Writer Teacher, Michael Wegmann, who hails from Germany. They discuss Nyaz's harrowing journey as a Kurdish refugee, and how the power of education has helped him to heal, find his voice, and build a new life in Europe. This story is both heartbreaking and heroic, and we hope it will leave you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference.

Purchase Dear Freedom Writer: bit.ly/3wpsB8N

Donate to Our Student Authors: tinyurl.com/DearFWFundraiser

On today's episode, Erin interviews Samuel DePace, a celebrated student author from the new book, Dear Freedom Writer. Samuel, or “Sam” as Erin affectionately refers to him is a trans man. Sam candidly discusses what it was like to grow up feeling out of place in his own body, and how he ultimately found the strength to live his truth. Sam's courage and authenticity are truly inspiring, and we hope this episode will leave you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference.

Purchase Dear Freedom Writer: bit.ly/3wpsB8N

Donate to Our Student Authors: tinyurl.com/DearFWFundraiser

On this week's episode, Erin Gruwell is joined by two Ukrainians currently living in the United States. Our first guest, Lenny Shtyenberg, is one of the co-founders of UkraineNeedsYou.org - an impressive mental health care non-profit that provides services to those affected by the conflict. Lenny makes a passionate plea about what you can do to help support their efforts. Later, we are joined by a Ukrainian member of our Freedom Writer family, Laurence Bezinover, whose parents escaped the former Soviet Union, but instilled in their children a profound respect for their people and culture. This episode is a heart-wrenching look at the human cost of conflict, and we hope it will leave you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference.

Donate to Help Ukraine: https://www.UkraineNeedsYou.org

Learn More About BlueCheck Ukraine: https://www.bluecheck.in/

On today's episode, Erin Gruwell speaks with dramaturge, author, and the new dean of the Claire Trevor School of the Arts at UC Irvine, Dr. Tiffany Lopez. They discuss Dr. Lopez's journey from being a first generation college student to becoming a leading voice in the fight for diversity and inclusion in higher education and the arts. This episode is packed with inspiring insights, and we hope it will leave you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference.

Purchase Dr. Lopez's book, Growing Up Chicana/o: https://amzn.to/3Sn7Brq

Purchase The Freedom Writers Diary: https://amzn.to/3LM2w9D

Purchase Dear Freedom Writer: https://amzn.to/3LLDOq1

On this week's episode, Erin Gruwell speaks with Krish Sharma, a British student author from our new book, Dear Freedom Writer, and his fabulous Freedom Writer Teacher, Sam Norwood. They discuss Krish's struggles with bullying, how important trust is for victims of bullying, and how parents, teachers, and students alike can protect students from bullying. This episode is a powerful look at how to find strength in the face of adversity and we hope it will leave you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference.

Purchase Dear Freedom Writer: bit.ly/3wpsB8N

Donate to Our Student Authors: tinyurl.com/DearFWFundraiser

More About the "Write Back" Program:

Write Back is a UK based charity founded by Freedom Writer teacher Sam Norwood. Like the Freedom Writer Foundation, Write Back is guided by the belief that every young person has a story to tell and the capacity to tell it. Its mission is to build the confidence and capacity of young people to express themselves creatively through the sharing of their stories. The charity does this through collaborative after-school storytelling programmes for marginalised young people which develop their creativity, self-esteem and agency. Its work is inspired by the work of the Freedom Writers and Ms G.

Website: www.write-back.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writebackuk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/writebackuk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writebackuk/

On this week's episode, Erin Gruwell speaks with Lucas Hammeken, a Greenlandic student author from the new book, Dear Freedom Writer, and his former headmaster, Torbjørn Ydegaard, a dedicated Freedom Writer Teacher who hails from Denmark. They discuss the linguistic challenges faced by students in Greenland, how Torbjørn and Lucas braved the COVID-19 pandemic in their rural village and the pride that Lucas feels as an author in Dear Freedom Writer. This episode is a fascinating look into how language and culture impact education and we hope it will leave you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference.

Purchase Dear Freedom Writer: bit.ly/3wpsB8N

Donate to Our Student Authors: tinyurl.com/DearFWFundraiser

On this week's episode, Erin Gruwell speaks with New Zealand’s Gisborne District Councillor, Meredith Akuhata-Brown, and her daughter, Casey - two proud, Maori members of our Freedom Writer Family. They discuss the history of the Maori people, the effects of New Zealand's colonization by the British, and the importance of knowing and accepting your cultural roots. This episode is an eye-opening look into the lingering effects of colonization, and how community activism and involvement can overcome that intergenerational trauma. We hope this episode will leave you feeling enlightened and empowered to make a difference.

Purchase Dear Freedom Writer: bit.ly/3wpsB8N

Donate to Our Student Authors: tinyurl.com/DearFWFundraiser

Today's episode is serious and somber as we share that our Freedom Writer Family has lost a beloved member. Alexi Rodriguez, whom we affectionately refer to as “Lexi,"  tragically took her life. As a student author in our new book, DEAR FREEDOM WRITER, Lexi penned her pain in the letter "Perpetual Patient.” The loss of Lexi compelled us to create a safe space to discuss suicide, to encourage those experiencing thoughts of suicide to seek help, and to increase factors that promote suicide prevention.

In this episode, Erin Gruwell is joined by six of our Freedom Writer Family members who have each been touched by Lexi personally. They reminisce about the unforgettable moments they shared with Lexi, process her passing, and seek to turn their pain into purpose. Lexi has impacted all of us, so this episode is raw and it is real. We hope, in her honor, that it will inspire you to take action for mental health awareness.

To Learn More About the Alexi Emilia Rodriguez Memorial Scholarship Fund, Please go to https://bit.ly/3ySrzBM or text “LEXI” to 44-321.

Purchase Dear Freedom Writer: bit.ly/3wpsB8N