My Montessori Life with Barbara Isaacs and David Gettman

In this second of three podcasts on the theme of activism, Barbara and David are joined by three guests: Merlin Matthews, a lifelong activist and social entrepreneur, whose reputation as ‘Dr Bike’ at the London School of Economics grew into a pioneering inter-sectional charity called Re-Cycle, addressing both ecology and poverty; Blue Sandford, who is still only 18, but is already well known as a founding ‘youth’ member of Extinction Rebellion, a best-selling author, and a literally-underground protestor against over-development; and Wendelien Bellinger, a seasoned Montessorian, academic lecturer, and now Board Member at Montessori Europe.

In this first of three podcasts on the theme of activism, Barbara and David discuss Maria Montessori’s role as an activist — a leader who speaks up and disrupts the status quo to push forward urgent social change. Her best-known activist cause was about protecting the well-being of children. But she also catalysed advances towards women’s rights, world peace, nature conservation, and many other matters of social conscience. While remaining firmly apolitical, Montessori was far ahead of other educationalists in not only standing up to the established order, but also in creating a new, far-reaching alternative way forward — whose mission is to educate the human spirit.

In this third of three podcasts on the theme of creativity, Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Ambra Medda, a global expert in art and design, founder of the Design Miami fair, advisor to Christie’s, and much-in-demand as a curator of exhibitions; and Sophie Pretorius, art historian, and researcher and archivist for The Estate of Francis Bacon, one of the most important figures in 20th Century art.

In this second of three podcasts on the theme of creativity, Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Sophie Pretorius, art historian, and researcher and archivist for The Estate of Francis Bacon, one of the most important figures in 20th Century art; and Ambra Medda, a global expert in art and design, founder of the Design Miami fair, advisor to the auction house Christie’s, and much-in-demand as a curator of exhibitions.

In this first of three podcasts on the theme of creativity, Barbara and David discuss Maria Montessori’s unique take on children and art. She did not focus on children’s naïve attempts at painting, colouring and Play-Doh, as is usually practised at nurseries. Instead she facilitated the young child’s desire to acquire grown-up skills — for example, seeing subtle differences in colours and shapes, and handling proper tools and materials — and she supported the child generally in discovering his or her authentic self. Montessori believed that together these early advances would foster, in due course, the child’s real creative potential.

In this third of three podcasts on the theme of equality, Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Zainab Shamis-Saleem, founder of ‘The Montessori Studio’, a consultancy that aims to make Montessori more accessible to those who see it as elitist and “not for people like us”. Much of her work addresses issues of diversity and representation. We also welcome back Liz Pemberton, director of ‘The Black Nursery Manager’, a company that offers training and consultancy on anti-racist practice in early years settings. Liz has become a leading media spokesperson on race, culture, ethnicity and inclusivity for under-fives.

In this second of three podcasts on the theme of equality, Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Liz Pemberton, director of ‘The Black Nursery Manager’, a company that offers training and consultancy on anti-racist practice in early years settings. Liz has become a leading media spokesperson on race, culture, ethnicity and inclusivity for under-fives. We also welcome Zainab Shamis-Saleem, founder of The Montessori Studio, a consultancy that aims to make Montessori more accessible to those who see it as elitist and “not for people like us”. Much of her work addresses issues of diversity and representation.

In this first of three podcasts on the theme of equality, Barbara and David discuss Dr Montessori’s moral mission to bring autonomy and human dignity to every individual, starting with the very youngest in society, who hitherto had no advocate against, and no protection from, the manipulation and expectations of the adults around them.

In this third of three podcasts on the theme of peace … Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Charlie Cavaliero, a young researcher on peace education and social justice, specifically in the favela communities in Brazil, who also has field experience in aid for victims of atrocities; and Hannah Baynham, a leading Montessori trainer and author, who has run nurseries for Tibetan refugees in India and for low-income families in Turkey.

In this second of three podcasts on the theme of peace, Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Hannah Baynham, a leading Montessori trainer and author, who has set-up nurseries for Tibetan refugees in India and for low-income families in Turkey; and Charlie Cavaliero, a young researcher on peace education and social justice, specifically in the favela communities in Brazil, who also has field experience in aid for victims of atrocities.