Be a Better Ally: critical conversations for K12 educators

232: Boba, Books & Belonging with Joanna Ho

Join Tricia Friedman and Joanna Ho in this inspiring conversation about cultural identity, creativity, and the power of food as a storytelling medium. Joanna reflects on her transition from K–12 educator to published author, revealing how intergenerational learning—especially the wisdom exchanged over a cup of boba—fueled her narrative style. We dive deep into her creative process, the challenges of balancing productivity with lived experience, and why embracing life’s full spectrum of emotions is essential for authentic storytelling. If you’re passionate about personal narrative, Asian American culture, or using food as a metaphor for connection, this episode is for you. Learn more about Joanna Ho's latest book: Becoming Boba https://www.joannahowrites.com/books Key Topics & Takeaways: Educator → Author: How Joanna’s teaching background informs her writing practice Cultural Identity: The role of Asian American heritage in shaping personal narrative Food as Story: Why boba becomes a bridge between generations and cultures Bidirectional Learning: Stories of wisdom flowing both up and down the family tree Creative Process: Overcoming productivity myths to live fully and write authentically Self‑Discovery: Defining your identity beyond labels and expectations

231: Cultivating Awe with Homa Tavangar

In this conversation, Tricia Friedman and Homa Tavangar explore the significance of asking big questions in leadership, the importance of relationships, and the need for deeper connections in education and community. They discuss how embracing complexity and uncertainty can lead to growth, the role of play in learning, and the necessity of listening to unheard voices. The dialogue also touches on redefining leadership to combat loneliness and the importance of cultivating awe and spirituality in our lives. Meet our guest: Homa Tavangar is the co-founder of the Big Questions Institute and the Oneness Lab. She brings 30+ years’ experience helping diverse organizations and individuals to build cultural, racial and global competence, strategic governance, and visionary, generative leadership in diverse schools and organizations. She coaches leaders on accountability for equity, leading through crisis, and advises on strategic design and planning across five continents. She has co-authored seven books for educators, and is the author of best-selling Growing Up Global: Raising Children to Be At Home in the World (published by Random House) and Global Kids (Barefoot Books). Her most recent publication is 12 Big Questions Schools Must Answer to Create Irresistible Futures with Will Richardson (forthcoming, 2025). A graduate of UCLA and Princeton, Homa was born in Iran, has lived on four continents, speaks four languages, and has heritage in four world religions. She serves on several Boards, including ISS (International Schools Services) and is a judge for the Templeton Prize, considered the “world’s most interesting prize” with a purse calibrated to exceed the Nobel Prize. She is married and the mother of three adult daughters, and resides in Villanova, Pennsylvania. https://homatavangar.com/about-homa Chapters 00:00 The Power of Questions in Leadership 04:06 Embracing Relationships as Solutions 09:46 Nature and Relational Intelligence 18:31 The Role of Boards in Education 23:50 Reframing Leadership as an Act of Love 29:52 The Role of Joy in Education 31:50 Social Emotional Learning: A Double-Edged Sword 34:20 Loneliness in Leadership and the Need for Connection 36:13 Global Citizenship: Friendship and Community 41:27 Seeking Spiritual Guidance in Education 44:28 Cultivating Awe and Community Connections

230: Erin Entrada Kelly on Reclaiming Hidden Histories for Young Readers

In this conversation, Erin Entrada Kelly discusses her debut nonfiction book that explores the life of Joey, a Filipino woman who became a spy during World War II. Kelly emphasizes the importance of presenting history in an engaging way for young readers, while also addressing the complexities of war, identity, and the gray areas in history. She shares her process of honoring Joey's story and the challenges of presenting conflicting information. The discussion highlights the need for young readers to understand the multifaceted nature of history and patriotism. Chapters 00:00 Unveiling Joey's Story 06:23 The Complexity of History and Personal Narratives 12:46 Understanding Gray Areas in History Learn more https://www.harpercollins.com/products/at-last-she-stood-erin-entrada-kelly?variant=43050194993186

229: Coaching the Person, Not the Problem with Reem Labib Tyson

In this conversation, Tricia Friedman and Reem Labib Tyson explore the evolving landscape of coaching, emphasizing the importance of reflection, emotional intelligence, and the dynamics between coach and coachee. They discuss the significance of diverse experiences in coaching, the gray areas of leadership, and the need for accessible coaching strategies. The dialogue highlights the importance of curiosity, identity, and authenticity in coaching relationships, as well as the flexibility of coaching engagements and the potential of group coaching. Chapters 00:00 The Evolution of Coaching 03:00 The Need for Reflection and Space 06:04 Navigating the Coach-Coachee Dynamic 09:13 The Importance of Diverse Experiences in Coaching 12:02 Leadership in the Gray Areas 15:05 Emotional Intelligence and Coaching 17:52 Demystifying Coaching 20:50 Finding the Right Coach 23:45 Identity and Coaching 26:31 Navigating Difficult Conversations 29:29 The Art of Active Listening 32:37 Building Inclusive Spaces 34:26 Influences on Coaching Style 36:11 Simplifying Complex Concepts 39:25 The Importance of Breathing and Mindfulness 41:09 Democratizing Coaching 45:23 Understanding Group Coaching Dynamics Connect with Reem: https://www.edspired.org/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/reem-labib-tyson/

228: Bellen Woodard brings the perspective we need

In this conversation, Tricia Friedman speaks with Bellen Woodard, the first crayon activist, about her journey in leadership, the importance of young voices, and her new book 'Ballet Brown'. Bellen shares her experiences of advocating for inclusive language in schools and ballet, emphasizing the need for empathy and community building. She encourages young people to trust themselves and their perspectives, while also discussing the evolution of traditions in ballet. BALLET BROWN is a heartwarming, inspirational story about authenticity and the richness that brings! Recently featured in TIME Magazine, her op-ed “You’ve Heard of Ballet Pink. It’s Time to Embrace Ballet Brown,” reflects on how Bellen questioned the longstanding default in ballet attire, much like her early experiences with “flesh” crayons being only available in peach. After realizing what was missing, Bellen created Bellen’s More Than Peach Project followed by her More than Peach crayons and picture book More than Peach to challenge these norms and broaden the visual language of color across multiple spaces. Her latest endeavor asks a simple, powerful question of the ballet world: Why is everything pink? In BALLET BROWN, Bellen decides to ditch the pink dance attire and instead embrace brown dance attire that better suits her skin tone. She finds a dance studio who is supportive of this change, because though ballet pink is tradition, Bellen believes that traditions are meant to grow as we do! And she names the change “ballet brown.” Learn more: https://www.scholastic.ca/our-books/book/ballet-brown-bellen-woodard-original-picture-book-2-9781546134077 Connect with Tricia at DiverseED: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/leading-diversity-equity-inclusion-belonging-in-schools-conference-25-tickets-931785885667