Episodes

  • Branching Out: Growing Environmental Stewards One Lesson at a Time
    Jan 10 2026

    Find reassurance for parents worried about GENERAL SCHOOL SAFETY. Explore concerns around bullying, violence, and campus security, and learn what effective safety measures and supportive school climates can look like when families and educators work together.

    Step inside the classroom to tackle LIMITED AUTONOMY AND DECISION-MAKING POWER. Hear how educators can advocate for shared leadership through teacher-led committees, collaborative structures, and professional learning communities that elevate their voices in shaping instruction and school policy.

    Venture beyond borders to discover PROJECT LEARNING TREE, an environmental education program that uses forests as a lens for hands-on, cross-disciplinary learning. With resources and professional development spanning PreK–12, PLT fosters environmental stewardship and meaningful, place-based experiences for students nationwide.

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    34 mins
  • Portfolio Power: Designing Learning Without Boundaries
    Jan 3 2026

    Find insight for parents navigating the pressures of STANDARDIZED TESTING. Explore concerns about test-driven instruction, student stress, and whether high-stakes assessments truly reflect a child’s full range of abilities or narrow the educational experience.

    Step inside the classroom to confront the challenge of OVERWHELMING ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN. Hear how mounting paperwork and compliance demands strain school leaders—and learn actionable steps like advocating for additional support and collaborating with professional associations to ease the load.

    Venture beyond borders to explore ONE STONE in Boise, Idaho, an innovative nonprofit high school built on student-led learning. With no grades, coach-guided instruction, and design thinking–driven, community-connected projects, One Stone empowers teens to grow as creative, self-directed leaders.

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    39 mins
  • Climbing Higher: Lessons Beyond the Classroom
    Dec 27 2025

    Find support for parents concerned about ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE and the persistent ACHIEVEMENT GAP. Explore worries around meeting grade-level expectations and ensuring every child has access to a high-quality education that sets them up for long-term success.

    Step inside the classroom to address INEQUITIES IN RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES. Hear how disparities infunding, teacher access, advanced coursework, and student supports shape learning—and learn how culturally responsive practices and equity-focused professional development can begin to bridge those gaps.

    Venture beyond borders to experience PROJECT ADVENTURE, a pioneering experiential education nonprofit using challenge courses and adventure-based learning to strengthen social-emotional skills, leadership, and teamwork in schools across the nation and around the world.

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    35 mins
  • Lessons That Travel: Education Without Borders
    Dec 20 2025

    Find clarity for parents navigating concerns about SCREEN TIME as technology becomes ever more present in learning. Explore worries around social development, health effects, and striking the right balance between digital benefits and healthy boundaries.

    Step inside the classroom to examine the challenge of LIMITED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Hear why ongoing learning matters for educators and how schools can tap into low-cost webinars, podcasts, online courses, or even create their own in-house PD opportunities.

    Venture beyond borders to discover buildOn, a global nonprofit empowering students through service at home and expanding access to education abroad by building schools in underserved communities across the world.

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    39 mins
  • Projects Over Paper: Empowering Students Through PBL
    Dec 13 2025

    Find guidance for parents grappling with the unimaginable fear surrounding SCHOOL SHOOTINGS. Explore the deep anxieties families carry about safety, insufficient security measures, and the emotional toll these tragedies inflict on entire school communities. Learn how advocacy for stronger prevention efforts, improved mental health supports, and clearer protocols can help parents feel more empowered in protecting their children.

    Step inside the classroom to unpack the impact of an OVER-EMPHASIS ON ACCOUNTABILITY. Hear how high-stakes testing culture strains teachers and students, narrows instruction, and restricts creativity. Discover practical ways educators can regain agency by clearly communicating assessment goals, engaging families and community members, and using data to guide thoughtful, flexible decision-making.

    Venture beyond borders to explore PBLWORKS in Novato, California, a leading nonprofit shaping the future of high-quality Project-Based Learning. Learn how their professional development and equity-focused tools support educators in designing rich, real-world learning experiences—especially for Black and Brown students—and in building school cultures where deeper learning can truly flourish.

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    38 mins
  • EAST of Innovation: Students Taking the Lead
    Dec 6 2025

    Find support for parents navigating the difficult reality of BULLYING—this time from the perspective of families whose own children are the ones causing harm. Explore the complex mix of guilt, fear, responsibility, and concern that parents face, and learn what meaningful communication and collaboration with schools and counselors can look like when addressing bullying behavior with empathy and accountability.

    Step inside the classroom to unpack the ongoing challenge of INSUFFICIENT SCHOOL FUNDING. Hear how outdated materials, limited technology, and strained resources affect educators and students alike, and gain insight into how advocates and administrators can work together to set clear budget priorities and push for sustainable solutions.

    Venture beyond borders to discover THE EAST INITIATIVE, a groundbreaking nonprofit that sparks student empowerment through project-based service learning and advanced technologies. From GIS to VR to digital media, explore how EAST’s facilitator-guided, student-driven environment cultivates autonomy, innovation, and real-world community impact.

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    40 mins
  • Storming the Castle: Where Creativity, Community, and Classrooms Work Together
    Nov 29 2025

    Find guidance for parents navigating the complexities of SCHOOL CHOICE AND THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS.Explore concerns around fairness, transparency, and competitiveness, and learn strategies for supporting your child while making informed decisions in New York City’s challenging school landscape.

    Step inside the classroom to examine TECHNOLOGY USE. Beyond screen time, discover how over-reliance on digital tools can affect creativity, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills—and explore ways educators can balance technology with hands-on, student-centered learning experiences that foster deeper thinking and collaboration.

    Venture beyond borders to experience THE CASTLE in Putnam County, Indiana, a nonprofit hub where teachers, artists, and civic leaders collaborate to create joyful, empowering, project-based learning. Here, students are encouraged to explore, experiment, and grow authentically—learning beyond standardized metrics and discovering the full potential of creative, community-driven education.

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    34 mins
  • A Conversation with Kate Sungeon-Kang
    Jan 4 2025

    Continuing our Beyond Borders investigation about the educational system of South Korea, Hal speaks with educator and South Korean native, Kate Sungeon-Kang.


    Formerly a teacher, Kate moved to Canada to found a digital education platform that expands access to resources for underserved communities. Her educational philosophy incorporates the cornerstone ideas of creating value, building community, and fostering growth, especially through passion.


    Hal and Kate discuss the challenges and potential solutions for transforming the education system while focusing on the generational gap between parents and children, cultural differences, and language barriers as significant issues.

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    1 hr and 41 mins