Great Minds TEACH Alike Podcast

Great Minds TEACH Alike Podcast

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Great Minds TEACH Alike Podcast episodes

  • From the Classroom to Financial Freedom: A Conversation with Davy Yap

    In this episode of Great Minds Teach Alike, Dr. Tasia Fields sits down with Davy Yap, a middle school history teacher, personal finance educator, and content creator, to discuss how educators can take control of their finances and build long-term wealth.

    As a first-generation Cambodian American who grew up in poverty, Davi shares her journey from simply saving money to becoming an intentional investor with a goal of retiring by age 45. Together, they break down investing, retirement planning, multiple income streams, financial mindset, and practical steps teachers can take today—regardless of where they are financially.

    Whether you're a first-year teacher or a veteran educator, this conversation will empower you to think differently about money, retirement, and creating financial freedom while continuing to serve students.

    Resources Mentioned
    • The Millionaire Next Door
    • The Millionaire Mind

    Retirement & Investing

    • Roth IRA
    • 403(b)
    • 457(b)
    • Brokerage Accounts
    • Index Funds
    • Fidelity
    • Vanguard
    • CalSTRS Pension2
    • 403bwise.org

    Side Hustle Platforms

    • https://www.userinterviews.com/
    • https://www.respondent.io/
    • https://dscout.com/participate-in-research-studie
    Key Takeaways

    ✨ Financial literacy begins with changing your mindset about money.

    ✨ You don't need thousands of dollars to begin investing.

    ✨ Consistency beats perfection when building wealth.

    ✨ Increasing your income through side hustles can accelerate financial goals.

    ✨ Taking care of your financial health is an important part of educator wellness.

    Connect with Davy Yap

    Davy on Substack

    Davy’s Stan Store

    Davy on Instagram

    Connect with Dr. Tasia Fields

    🌐 Instagram: Great Minds TEACH Alike (@greatmindsteachalike) • Instagram photos and videos

    📚 Website: https://greatmindsteachalike.com/

    🛍️ Grab Your Merch

    🎨Get Your GMTA Coloring Book

    Have a Question for The Fly Professor?

    Have an education question you'd like Dr. Tasia Fields to answer on a future episode? Visit GreatMindsTeachAlike.com and submit your question. Your story—or question—may be featured on an upcoming episode.

    If You Enjoyed This Episode…

    Please subscribe, rate, and leave a review.

    Share this episode with a fellow educator, administrator, instructional coach, or school leader who believes every student deserves to be seen, heard, and empowered.

    Your support helps us continue amplifying the voices of educators making a lasting difference.

    39 min
  • Lecture Less, Engage More: ReImagining History Education with Dan Lewer

    In this episode of Great Minds TEACH Alike, Dr. Tasia Fields sits down with award-winning educator, author, and content creator Dan Lewer to explore how teachers can move beyond traditional lectures and create classrooms where students are engaged, curious, and empowered to learn.

    Drawing from sixteen years of experience teaching history at a Title I public school in Hawai'i, Dan shares practical strategies from his new book, Lectureless: Teaching History to Engage and Empower, and discusses why joyful learning experiences are essential for student success.

    Key Takeaways

    ✨ Why engagement is not the enemy of rigor

    ✨ The limitations of lecture-heavy instruction

    ✨ Practical ways to make history relevant and meaningful

    ✨ How curiosity can transform student learning

    ✨ Strategies for creating student-centered classrooms

    ✨ Why joy should be an intentional part of every learning experience

    ✨ Empowering students through storytelling, inquiry, and authentic learning

    Connect with Dan Lewer

    Website: www.historyforhumans.com

    Instagram: @history_4_humans

    TikTok: @history_4_humans

    YouTube: History For Humans

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/History4Humans

    New Book: Lectureless: Teaching History to Engage and Empower https://a.co/d/0dkiKSIV

    Connect with Dr. Tasia Fields

    Instagram: @greatmindsteachalike

    Website: greatmindsteachalike.com

    Grab Your Merch

    GET your GMTA Coloring Book

    Have a question or want The Fly Professor to weigh in on your education dilemma? Send it HERE.

    Thanks for listening. Please follow, rate, and leave a review. Your support helps us amplify educator voices everywhere. 🎧

    55 min
  • Black on Black Education: Student Voice, Courage, and Liberatory Teaching with Evalaurene Jean-Charles

    In this thought-provoking episode of Great Minds TEACH Alike, Dr. Tasia Fields sits down with educator, speaker, and CEO of Black on Black Education, Evalaurene Jean-Charles, for an honest conversation about what it truly means to teach with courage, center student voices, and create classrooms where every learner is empowered to thrive.

    Drawing from her experiences as a middle school history teacher in the Bronx and founder of Black on Black Education, Evalaurene shares how educators can move beyond simply managing classrooms to cultivating communities rooted in belonging, advocacy, leadership, and liberation.

    Together, Dr. Fields and Evalaurene explore teacher creativity, educational equity, student-centered learning, school leadership, wellness, and the evolving political landscape impacting education today. They also discuss why educators must remain committed to serving students authentically—even when systems become increasingly challenging.

    Whether you're a classroom teacher, school leader, instructional coach, or aspiring educator, this episode will challenge you to rethink your role and recommit to the students sitting right in front of you.

    What You'll Learn

    ✨ Why student voice is one of the most powerful tools for school transformation

    ✨ The real meaning behind Black on Black Education

    ✨ How educators can reclaim creativity inside scripted curriculum

    ✨ The difference between managing students and empowering leaders

    ✨ How administrators can better support teacher innovation

    ✨ The importance of helping students become advocates for themselves and their communities

    Featured ResourcesI'm Just a Teacher/I'm Just a Kid: What Can I Do - Guided Journal Set

    Teacher: A guided journal designed to help educators reconnect with purpose, reflect intentionally, and continue growing as leaders.

    Kid: A guided journal empowering students through reflection, self-awareness, leadership, and advocacy.

    Student Action Board Curriculum

    A student-centered leadership curriculum that empowers middle and high school students to:

    • Conduct authentic research

    • Solve real school challenges

    • Strengthen leadership skills

    • Practice advocacy

    • Improve school culture

    Schools implementing the Student Action Board create meaningful opportunities for students to lead lasting change—not simply participate in it.

    Connect with Evalaurene Jean-Charles

    Website: Black on Black Education

    Evalaurene on Instagram

    Connect with Dr. Tasia Fields

    🌐 Instagram: Great Minds TEACH Alike (@greatmindsteachalike) • Instagram photos and videos

    📚 Website: https://greatmindsteachalike.com/

    🛍️ Grab Your Merch

    🎨Get Your GMTA Coloring Book

    Have a Question for The Fly Professor?

    Have an education question you'd like Dr. Tasia Fields to answer on a future episode? Visit GreatMindsTeachAlike.com and submit your question. Your story—or question—may be featured on an upcoming episode.

    If You Enjoyed This Episode…

    Please subscribe, rate, and leave a review.

    Share this episode with a fellow educator, administrator, instructional coach, or school leader who believes every student deserves to be seen, heard, and empowered.

    Your support helps us continue amplifying the voices of educators making a lasting difference.

    47 min
  • Learning to Relearn with Kwame Sarfo-Mensah
    In today's episode of Great Minds Teach Alike, Dr. Tasia Fields welcomes Kwame Sarfo-Mensah—former math teacher, author, consultant, and founder of Identity Talk Consulting.

    Known for his unwavering commitment to culturally affirming education, Kwame shares his remarkable journey from aspiring athlete to educator, entrepreneur, and global education advocate.

    Together, Dr. Fields and Kwame explore the importance of identity-affirming practices in today's educational landscape, discuss the challenges educators face amid shifting educational climates, and unpack the mindset shifts necessary to create classrooms where every student feels seen, valued, and empowered.

    In this episode, we discuss:
    • Teaching abroad, and navigating educational equity work during challenging political and social climates
    • Why educators must stay true to their values and continue advocating for students
    • Viewing educators as assets and leveraging intellectual property beyond the classroom

    Connect with Kwame Sarfo-Mensah:
    • Website
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIN
    • Patreon
    • Youtube Channel
    • Podcast
    Grab a copy of Learning to Relearn through your favorite online bookseller or local bookstore.

    Connect with Dr. Tasia Fields:
    • Instagram
    • Website
    • Grab Your Merch
    • GET your GMTA Coloring Book
    Have a question or want The Fly Professor to weigh in on your education dilemma? Send it through the website!

    Thank you for listening! Please follow, rate, and leave a review. Your support helps us amplify educator voices and continue conversations that inspire educators to teach boldly, lead intentionally, and remain true to their purpose.

    Keep teaching. Keep leading. And as always, stay fly.

    56 min
  • God Given Purpose in Education with Kenneth Gorham

    In today’s episode of Great Minds Teach Alike, Dr. Tasia Fields, also known as "Fly Professor" returns to the microphone with a heartfelt life update and an inspiring conversation centered on faith, purpose, leadership, and impact. In this episode, Dr. Fields reflects on a season of healing, transition, and growth that included health challenges, launching a wellness coloring book for educators, and stepping into a new role as Assistant Superintendent. She shares how trusting God's timing and remaining aligned with purpose opened doors she never imagined.

    Dr. Fields is then joined by Kenneth Gorham, educational leader, principal, and familiar face from Netflix's Love Is Blind Season 6. Kenneth shares his powerful journey from navigating childhood adversity and the loss of his mother to becoming one of the youngest principals in the nation. Grounded in faith and fueled by a passion for serving students, Kenneth discusses the lessons that shaped his leadership philosophy, the importance of mentorship, and what it truly means to lead with purpose.

    Together, they explore how educators can remain committed to their calling while prioritizing self-care, discipline, and personal growth.

    In This Episode, We Discuss:

    ✨ How adversity can shape purpose and leadership

    ✨ Why instructional leadership must remain at the center of school improvement

    ✨ The power of mentorship in developing future leaders

    ✨ Why discipline is Kenneth's word of the year

    ✨ Leadership aspirations, educational advocacy, and creating opportunities for underserved students

    Connect with Kenneth Gorham:
    • Kenneth on Instagram
    Connect with Dr. Tasia Fields:
    • Instagram: @greatmindsteachalike
    • Website: greatmindsteachalike.com
    • Grab Your Merch
    • GET your GMTA Coloring Book

    📩 Have a question or want The Fly Professor to weigh in on your education dilemma? Send it HERE.

    • Thanks for listening. Please follow, rate, and leave a review your support helps us amplify educator voices everywhere. 🎧

    46 min
  • Release: Coloring, Comedy, and Letting Go of Educator Burnout with Tom Filline

    In this episode of Great Minds Teach Alike, we’re talking honestly about the weight educators carry and what it really takes to let some of it go. Fly Professor, Dr. Tasia Fields, opens up about her recent surgery, the physical and emotional toll of being unable to “turn her brain off,” and the research that shows just how deeply burnout is impacting today’s teachers.

    To help us explore release through a different lens, Dr. Fields is joined by Tom Filline, better known online as The Angry Gym Teacher ,a PE teacher turned stand-up comedian whose viral videos capture the chaos, humor, and heart of working in schools. Together, they dive into the need for laughter, community, and intentional self-care as powerful tools for educator survival.

    This episode also marks the official release of Dr. Fields’ newest wellness resource:

     ✨ The GMTA Adult Coloring Book for Educators a creative, restorative tool designed to help teachers decompress, reflect, and reconnect with joy.

    In this episode, we explore:
    • Why educators struggle to “turn it off” even when their bodies demand it
    • What recent research says about burnout, stress, and educator mental health
    • How comedy and creative expression help teachers release pressure
    • Tom’s journey from PE teacher to viral creator and touring comedian

    This is a conversation filled with truth, laughter, and reminders that you deserve rest, too.

    Let’s release together. 🎧

    Articles Mentioned in This Episode
    • “What’s Causing Teacher Burnout?” – NEA Today 
    • “Teacher Burnout Statistics: Why Teachers Quit in 2025” – Devlin Peck

    Connect with Tom Filline: 
    • https://linktr.ee/tffilline

    Connect with Dr. Tasia Fields: 
    • Instagram: @greatmindsteachalike
    • Website: greatmindsteachalike.com
    • Grab Your Merch
    • GET your GMTA Coloring Book

    📩 Have a question or want The Fly Professor to weigh in on your education dilemma? Send it HERE.

    • Thanks for listening. Please follow, rate, and leave a review your support helps us amplify educator voices everywhere. 🎧
    36 min
  • Grounded in the Writing Process with LaNesha Tabb

    In today’s episode of Great Minds Teach Alike, we are diving deep into the heart of writing instruction — not just as an academic skill, but as a tool for confidence, independence, and healing.

    Fly Professor welcomes guest LaNesha Tabb, educator, author, literacy consultant, and founder of Reimagine Writing. With nearly two decades in classrooms, coaching roles, and curriculum design, LaNesha has transformed how educators understand and teach the writing process. Her work centers on providing practical, research-based strategies that help students write with clarity, purpose, and ownership. Grounded in the Writing Process…

    In this episode, we talk about:

    • Moving from assigning writing to teaching writing
    • Building independent student writers by grounding instruction in the writing process
    • Balancing authenticity, student choice, and academic rigor
    • And why consistent writing is not only key for better writing — but stronger reading outcomes too

    When she’s not helping educators reimagine their writing blocks, LaNesha is writing children’s books (including the beloved Albert series), co-authoring professional texts like Unpack Your Impact, and preparing for the release of her newest picture book, The Gingerbread Diva — coming soon!

    Trust me—you’re going to want a notebook for this one.

    Let’s get into it. ✍🏾✨

    Connect with LaNesha Tabb:

    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lanesha_tabb/
    • Website: https://laneshatabb.com/

    Connect with Dr. Tasia Fields:

    • Instagram: @greatmindsteachalike
    • Website: greatmindsteachalike.com
    • Grab Your Merch

    📩 Have a question or want The Fly Professor to weigh in on your education dilemma? Send it HERE.

    Thanks for listening. Please follow, rate, and leave a review your support helps us amplify educator voices everywhere. 🎧

    43 min
  • Authentic Leadership with Principal MO

    Welcome back to Great Minds Teach Alike! Dr. Tasia Fields kicks off Season 2 with a powerful and inspiring conversation featuring the incredible Principal MO, a dynamic school leader, innovator, and edupreneur who’s redefining what it means to lead in education.

    In this episode, we explore the heart of leadership: authenticity, innovation, and vulnerability. Principal MO shares how embracing your true self not only makes you a stronger leader but also empowers those around you to thrive. We also dive into his journey as an edupreneur, his passion for sneaker collecting, and the importance of bringing your full self to every space you enter.

    Whether you’re an educator, leader, or aspiring change-maker, this conversation will leave you with practical inspiration to:

    • Lead with authenticity
    • Innovate with intention
    • Embrace vulnerability
    • Explore how passions outside of education—like sneaker culture—can spark creativity and connection.

    🎧 Tune in, take notes, and get ready to start this season with fresh energy and perspective.

    Connect with Principal MO:

    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/principal_mo/
    • Website: https://www.principalmo.com/
    • Check her out on Rules to Engagement

    Connect with Dr. Tasia Fields:

    • Instagram: @greatmindsteachalike
    • Website: greatmindsteachalike.com
    • Grab Your Merch

    📩 Have a question or want The Fly Professor to weigh in on your education dilemma? Send it HERE.

    Thanks for listening. Please follow, rate, and leave a review your support helps us amplify educator voices everywhere. 🎧

    47 min
  • Power of Hip-Hop in the Classroom with Dr. Omekongo Dibinga

    In this episode of Great Minds TEACH Alike, Dr. Tasia Fields (aka The Fly Professor) challenges us to step away from the rigid boundaries of the curriculum and reimagine classrooms where students can show up fully bringing their voice, their culture, and their truth through Hip Hop.

    Dr. Fields chats with educator, poet, and global change maker Dr. Omékongo Dibinga in a thought-provoking conversation about the real power of DEI work in schools, what it truly means to be an upstander, and how hip-hop is far from being a classroom distraction can be a dynamic force for critical thinking, cultural empowerment, and social change.

    Whether you’re a veteran teacher, new to the classroom, or rethinking your approach to equity, this episode will leave you inspired to teach louder, lead bolder, and build learning spaces that honor the whole child.

    You don’t have to choose between standards and soul. You can do both.

    🎧 Tune in and find out how.

    Connect with Dr. Omékongo Dibinga:

    Website: https://omekongo.com

    IG: @omekongo

    Books, music, and more: Upstander International

    Referenced in the episode:

    • “The World Is Yours: Hip-Hop at 50” – University of South Carolina

    Follow Great Minds TEACH Alike on Instagram @greatmindsteachalike

    📩 Have a question or want The Fly Professor to weigh in on your education dilemma? Send it HERE.

    Thanks for listening. Please follow, rate, and leave a review your support helps us amplify educator voices everywhere. 🎧

    49 min

About Great Minds TEACH Alike Podcast

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to Great Minds TEACH Alike, a podcast hosted by Dr. Tasia Fields (The FlyProfessor), which is dedicated to all things education. Whether you're a teacher, administrator, parent, or advocate, this podcast is designed to provide you with new insights, entertainment (make that EDUtainment), and inspiration as we are challenged daily to change the landscape of education.