Send us a text

S1.E9.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Giani Clarkson joins Thembi to discuss his journey as an educator, the importance of mentorship and cultural representation in education, his approach to teaching civic engagement, and he even lets us in on which Abbott Elementary character that he most identifies with.

Dr. Giani Clarkson is a proud graduate of Dillard University and received his master's and doctorate from Concordia University. Clarkson is a chemist in the classroom, converting ungenerous personalities into individuals of great worth. Programs he has pioneered in District of Columbia Public Schools and Public Charter Schools have boosted test scores across the district and helped guide students to college and beyond. 

His mantra is simple: Every child deserves a chance to build the blueprint for their dreams and make it a reality. This message is consistent with his teaching style: pushing the envelope of conventional thinking and providing lesson plans that are relevant, and challenging, but as he says all the time..." learning covered in fun". 

He has been recognized by numerous organizations for innovations in teaching and mentoring children in civic engagement which includes community service and presenting policies to local government officials.

Clarkson also mentors 1st-year teachers through various programs at local universities. He has served as an adjunct professor at Coppin State University and the University of Maryland. Due to his expertise in the field of education and numerous accomplishments, Clarkson is now a featured editorial writer for the Dallas Weekly and several other papers across the country. 

He has won multiple awards from iCivics for excellence in social studies teaching, three Teacher of The Year awards, and won the first-ever Michelle Obama Award from the I Believe Project for excellence in teaching students about civic duties in connection to the importance of registering to vote. 

He has been selected as a Ford’s Theatre National Oratory Fellow for the past ten years. The Oratory Fellows Program gives teachers the opportunity to teach social advocacy through the power of oratory and history. Clarkson has presented on various occasions on behalf of Ford’s Theatre - discussing police brutality and gun violence. Clarkson has won Ford’s Theatre Lincoln Lead Teacher Award for his work with youth and social activism. In addition, Clarkson has recently been named a Board of Trustee Member at Ford’s Theatre. "What is important is to empower students no matter where they are from, love them through adversity, and celebrate their success." 

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan.
Theme music by Sycho Sid.

Listen and Connect:

• Spotify: Follow, Rate, and Share
• Apple Podcasts: Subscribe, Review, and Rate
• Instagram: @Keybard_IG
• Facebook: The KeyBARD Podcast

Send us a text

S1.E8.

Thembi takes a deep dive into MicroSims, systems thinking, generative artificial intelligence (AI), and so much more with Dan McCreary, an AI strategist that works as head of AI for TigerGraph.

In the past, Dan worked as a VLSI circuit designer at Bell Labs and with the creators of the UNIX operating system.  He worked with Steve Jobs at NeXT Computer, and founded his own consulting firm with over 75 employees. 

His background includes topics such as scale-out enterprise knowledge graphs, high performance computing and advanced databases to support AI.  While at a healthcare company he helped create the world's largest knowledge graph. 

He is the co-author of the book "Making Sense of NoSQL" and is a frequent blogger on AI strategy.  He has been closely following the growth of knowledge graphs and generative AI. He is a huge fan of ChatGPT.

Connect with Dan on LinkedIn and read his blog on Medium, where he writes about Generative AI Strategy, knowledge graphs, software architecture, systems thinking, and storytelling.

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan.
Theme music by Sycho Sid.

Listen and Connect:

• Spotify: Follow, Rate, and Share
• Apple Podcasts: Subscribe, Review, and Rate
• Instagram: @Keybard_IG
• Facebook: The KeyBARD Podcast

Send us a text

S1.E7.

For this special episode of KeyBARD, Thembi talks with the multifaceted community advocate, consultant, and educator Wil Green II. With over 28 years of experience in education and youth development, Wil brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to this dynamic conversation. 

Wil talks about the city that made him, Buffalo, NY, and the way he advocates for marginalized groups and amplifies the voices of the unheard.

He is the owner and operator of Tremani Solutions, LLC, an educational consulting company dedicated to building cultural and racial literacy and addressing conflicts within schools.

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan.
Theme music by Sycho Sid.

Listen and Connect:

• Spotify: Follow, Rate, and Share
• Apple Podcasts: Subscribe, Review, and Rate
• Instagram: @Keybard_IG
• Facebook: The KeyBARD Podcast

Send us a text

S1.E6.

In this episode, Thembi is joined by award-winning choreographer, director and performing artist, Naila Ansari, who shares her journey from the world of dance to her work as an academic and archivist.

We talk about some of her groundbreaking projects including The Movement of Joy, in which she archives the Joy of Black women, challenging dominant narratives and celebrating resilience.

Naila also discusses her innovative work in exploring the subversion of gender norms and interrogating the near absence of Black women in academia.

Naila Ansari is a SUNY Buffalo State University Assistant Professor in Theater and Africana Studies. She recently served as a choreographer for Black Roots Summer, recognized for "Best Theater" by The New York Times, and was praised by Broadway World for her directing and choreography of her adaptation of Shea’s Performing Arts Center's first produced show, Once On This Island. 

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan.
Theme music by Sycho Sid.

Listen and Connect:

• Spotify: Follow, Rate, and Share
• Apple Podcasts: Subscribe, Review, and Rate
• Instagram: @Keybard_IG
• Facebook: The KeyBARD Podcast

Send us a text

S1.E5.

Arts and culture visionary Michael J. Bobbitt joins Thembi this week to discuss the pressing need for systemic change in the arts sector. In his role as Executive Director of Mass Cultural Council, Michael "walks the walk" and consistently implements innovation and sparks paradigm shift in the agency.

In this rich discussion, Michael also talks about the double-edged sword of grantmaking, the challenges of change management, and what the arts sector must do to survive.

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan.
Theme music by Sycho Sid.

Listen and Connect:

• Spotify: Follow, Rate, and Share
• Apple Podcasts: Subscribe, Review, and Rate
• Instagram: @Keybard_IG
• Facebook: The KeyBARD Podcast

Send us a text

S1.E4.

Award-winning South African playwright/director Nwabisa Plaatjie shares gems from her artistic journey as a theatre maker from a long line of storytellers.

From her groundbreaking work in Cape Town to her roots in rural South Africa, Nwabisa shares how she's reshaping cultural narratives, fostering community connections, and redefining self-care.

Nwabisa Plaatjie is an independent producer, theatre-maker, and director based in Cape Town, South Africa. She holds an MA in Theatre and Performance from the University of Cape Town, and her practice draws from traditional oral storytelling practices to create plays that challenge systemic discrimination in the theatre sector.

Her artistic prowess and leadership have been recognized through various special grants and commissions and support the creation of nine original pieces, with two touring internationally.  

Her latest play, Ziyana, was created through the support of the International Network For Contemporary Performing Arts’ Local Journeys for Change, Georgetown University’s Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics, where she was a Global Fellow, as well the Institute of Creative Arts, and encouraged her to make various contributions in the National Theatre and Dance Policy “Breathing New Vision into Theatre and Dance in South Africa.”

Nwabisa is devoted to stories, people, and culture. She is an alumna of the Mandela Washington Fellowship [2020/21], an IETM Global connector [2022] and an ISPA Global fellow [2022 and 2023 cohort].

From 2018 to October 2022, she coordinated and curated the Baxter’s Masambe Theatre, driving its relaunch as a space for performance, collaboration, mentorship, and networking.

In 2023 she launched her “An artist is made” project, celebrating community and recognizing the role of social and cultural capital in our creative journeys. The project was funded by the National Arts Council and included plays, workshops, an archiving project, and community building platforms. 

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan.
Theme music by Sycho Sid.

Listen and Connect:

• Spotify: Follow, Rate, and Share
• Apple Podcasts: Subscribe, Review, and Rate
• Instagram: @Keybard_IG
• Facebook: The KeyBARD Podcast

Send us a text

S1.E3.

Step into the world of playwright, director, and actor Psalmayene 24 as he shares insights into his unique creative process and the powerful themes that define his theatrical body of work.

We explore his seminal hip-hop theatre piece Free Jujube Brown!, discuss his reimagining of an iconic historical interaction between Richard Wright and James Baldwin in Les Deux Noirs, and reflect of several other dynamic works that he has written, directed, or performed in throughout his career. 

Don't miss this conversation about the essence of creativity, the exploration of identity, and the profound responsibility that artists bear in shaping our cultural landscape.

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan.
Theme music by Sycho Sid.

Listen and Connect:

• Spotify: Follow, Rate, and Share
• Apple Podcasts: Subscribe, Review, and Rate
• Instagram: @Keybard_IG
• Facebook: The KeyBARD Podcast

Send us a text

Imagine an education system with no grade levels -- or no grades at all! Imagine schools where students advance based on their mastery of the material, not just the passage of time. This is personalized, competency-based learning.

This week’s guest is Charles Reigeluth, Ph.D., an award-winning, internationally renowned author, scholar, and social scientist who has championed a transformative paradigm shift in American education for over 40 years.

In this episode, Dr. Reigeluth explains the revolutionary concept of competency-based learning and its potential to transform the landscape of American education.

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan.
Theme music by Sycho Sid.

Listen and Connect:

• Spotify: Follow, Rate, and Share
• Apple Podcasts: Subscribe, Review, and Rate
• Instagram: @Keybard_IG
• Facebook: The KeyBARD Podcast

Send us a text

Join host Thembi Duncan as she sits down for the very first episode of KeyBARD with Ayesis Clay, a distinguished educator, theatre practitioner, and nationally sought-after keynote speaker.

Ayesis shares her insights on the creative process, working with incarcerated youth, the biggest challenges of the US education system, and her unique approach to professional development, the Reignite Leadership Mastermind and School Development Series.  

Educators, artists, and other smart people will enjoy this thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between the arts, education, and social impact!

Want to be a guest on KeyBARD? Send Thembi a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1740803399472257afce75768

KeyBARD is produced, written, and hosted by Thembi Duncan.
Theme music by Sycho Sid.

Listen and Connect:

• Spotify: Follow, Rate, and Share
• Apple Podcasts: Subscribe, Review, and Rate
• Instagram: @Keybard_IG
• Facebook: The KeyBARD Podcast