This episode embraces a spirit of acceptance and pride by listening to stories from members of the LGBTQ community. Freedom Writer Teacher Tara Bordeaux talks about overcoming tremendous obstacles and hateful opposition in her journey to becoming the 2018 Texas Teacher of the Year. Then Erin Gruwell shares her conversation with advocate and activist Matthew Boger. After being thrown out of his home at the age of thirteen because of his sexuality, Matthew was savagely beaten by a gang of neo-Nazi...
Jul 09, 2018•58 min
Erin Gruwell speaks with two extraordinary educators, Dr. Nomsa Galeta and Dr. St. Claire Adriaan, whose remarkable stories span continents and bridge barriers. Both of these individuals are Freedom Writer Teachers that hail from the beautiful country of South Africa. They talk about growing up under the Apartheid regime, the legacy of Nelson Mandela in fighting for freedom, and the power of education to deliver the promise of democracy. Links and Resources: Questions, stories, reviews? Contact ...
Jun 25, 2018•41 min
Recorded live at the Los Angeles Theater, this episode features Erin Gruwell's conversation with Eva Schloss, Holocaust survivor and step-sister of Anne Frank. Eva talks about her friendship with Anne when they were young girls, the terror of living in hiding during the Nazi regime, and the tragedy of being captured and sent to Auschwitz. After Eva was liberated with her mother, their story took a surprising twist when they were reunited with Otto Frank, Anne Frank's father. What followed is a t...
Jun 11, 2018•56 min
Erin Gruwell shares her conversation with activist David Goodman, who tells the heartbreaking story of his brother's tragic murder in 1964 by members of the Ku Klux Klan, and the 44-day federal investigation that followed. David then talks about confronting the horror of racism in America's past, using one's voice to vote in our present, and the crucial role that the youth play in bettering our democracy for the future. Links and Resources: Andrew Goodman Foundation: https://andrewgoodman.org/ A...
Jun 04, 2018•51 min
This episode explores the "creative spark" that lies within each of us, and how to use creativity to heal after a loss. Our guest, author and producer Kathy Eldon, recounts her family's vibrant life of adventure, art, and activism, and how she helped nurture her children's creativity from a young age. She also talks about how she found solace in creativity after the tragic death of her son, Dan. Links and Resources: Kathy Eldon's Work Kathy's Website (with books): www.kathyeldon.com Creative Vis...
May 28, 2018•45 min
Freedom Writer Tanisha Knight talks about her family's humble beginnings, her collegiate basketball career, and how education inspired her to become a teacher. Then in our featured discussion, actor Tony Danza joins Erin on the show to take us from a boxing ring in Brooklyn to his big break on the classic sitcom "Taxi." He then takes us to the moment where he chose a different stage and became a 10th grade English teacher at Northeast High in Philly. Tony discusses what motivates a person to wan...
May 21, 2018•42 min
This episode pulls back the curtain on the making of the feature film Freedom Writers, written and directed by Richard LaGravenese and starring Hilary Swank. First, original Freedom Writer Tanya Payne reflects on what it was like to see her experience, her words, represented onscreen in the movie. Then Erin shares her conversation with writer/director Richard LaGravenese, recorded in New York City. Erin and Richard discuss the process of adapting The Freedom Writers Diary into a feature film; th...
May 14, 2018•38 min
Freedom Writer Teacher Henry Wright tells his story of walking to the bus stop on the morning he integrated his high school in South Carolina. Then Erin shares her stirring conversation with civil rights icon Dr. Terrence Roberts of the Little Rock Nine, who was among the first group of African-American teenagers to integrate a U.S. high school in 1957. Dr. Roberts recounts facing a vicious mob outside the school, being escorted by soldiers through the hallways to each class, and the manner in w...
May 07, 2018•50 min
Erin's brother Chris Gruwell brings us back to Bosnia in the early 1990s, where he visited as an American soldier at the time of a brutal civil war (a conflict which was later classified as a genocide). Chris recalls the chaos and violence in Sarajevo, painfully punctuated by an overwhelming sense of helplessness to stop the slaughter, and then recounts his experience chaperoning the Freedom Writers' trip to Europe in 1999. Next, Erin introduces her featured guest -- author, activist, and docume...
Apr 30, 2018•50 min
Shanate Jones, a Freedom Writer and Tech Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force, shares her story about serving in the military and how she used writing to cope during combat. Then Erin presents her riveting conversation with author, historian, and world traveler Andrew Carroll. Andy admits he hated history as a kid, but the turning point in his life occurred when his family's home was burned to the ground along with all of their photos, letters, and heirlooms. This tragedy, together with a World War II...
Apr 23, 2018•54 min
John Lewis, original 1960's Freedom Rider and now Congressman, tells his story about growing up as an African-American boy in the south and how he became a civil rights activist under the tutelage of Dr. Martin Luther King. He encourages us to stand up for justice and get into "the good kind of trouble" when necessary. Then Erin shares her humbling conversation with the courageous Jim Zwerg, a white male Freedom Rider who protested segregation in the south alongside his friend John Lewis and sev...
Apr 16, 2018•49 min
Freedom Writer Michael Bongiorno tells his story about falling into alcoholism as a teenager and how writing helped him overcome his addiction. Then Erin shares her inspiring conversation with former Congressman Patrick Kennedy. Patrick opens up about what it was like growing up in the Kennedy family and how he discovered his calling in politics; he shares personal experiences from his childhood, including how his mother and grandmother suffered from alcoholism and depression; then, Patrick tell...
Apr 04, 2018•44 min
On the inaugural episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, one of Ms. G's first students tells a story about a moment in class that changed his life forever. It all started with a drawing, an embarrassed classmate, and a question that surprised everyone: "What is the Holocaust?" Next, Erin shares a harrowing discussion she had with Holocaust survivor Renee Firestone and her daughter Klaire about what it was like in the concentration camps, how Klaire learned about the Holocaust from her parents, a...
Apr 04, 2018•44 min
