Hard Beeswax: Experiences in Waldorf Education

Episode 30: Tales from the Cosmic Bathtub - Discussion of the Principals of Waldorf Education

Episode 29: Alumni Roundtable: Conversation with Austin Waldorf School Alumni

Episode 28: Parent Perspective: Shel Frolich-Tscherne, Waldorf-inspired Homeschool Mom

In this episode Matthew and Taylor discuss Waldorf-inspired homeschooling with Shel Frolich-Tscherne.

Episode 27: Faculty Spotlight: Rosa Vela Sachs, Retired Waldorf Spanish Teacher

This week on Hard Beeswax, Matthew and Taylor interviews Rosa Vela Sachs, a retired Waldorf Spanish teacher from the Austin Waldorf School in Austin, Texas.

Episode 26: Alumni Spotlight: Matt Mizzi, Environmental Scientist and Founder of Drinkable Water Solutions

This week on Hard Beeswax, Matthew and Taylor interviews Matt Mizzi, a Waldorf Alumni from the Halton Waldorf School in Burlington, Ontario, and an environmental scientist and founder of Drinkable Water Solutions.

Episode 25: Tales from the Cosmic Bathtub - The Six Basic/Protective Exercises

In this episode, Matthew and Taylor explore Rudolf Steiner's six basic/protective exercises. To help us through this topic, we relied on the handout by Tom van Gelder, from 2011 entitled: "The Six Basic Exercises by Rudolf Steiner". This handout is easily found through a internet search of the title.

Episode 24: Alumni Spotlight: Melissa Frishkoff

This week on Hard Beeswax, Matthew and Taylor speak with Melissa Frishkoff, a Waldorf alumni from the Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School in Ghent, New York.

Episode 23: Alumni Spotlight: Rebecca Burritt, Art Instructor

This week on Hard Beeswax, Matthew and Taylor interviews Rebecca Burritt, a Waldorf alumni from the Green Meadow Waldorf School in Chestnut Ridge, New York, and an art instructor. As Matthew's younger sister, the conversation promises many delicious sibling tidbits.

Episode 22: Alumni Spotlight: Stephanie Todman, Waldorf Class Teacher

This week on Hard Beeswax, Matthew and Taylor interviews Stephanie Todman, a Waldorf alumni and Waldorf Class Teacher in the Halton Waldorf School in Burlington, Ontario, Canada.

Episode 21: Alumni Spotlight: Cait Mizzi, Communications & Marketing Coordinator

This week on Hard Beeswax, Matthew and Taylor have a delightful conversation with Cait Mizzi, who is a Waldorf alumni and currently the Communications and Marketing Coordinator for the Halton Waldorf School in Burlington, Ontario.

Episode 20: Alumni Spotlight: Sara Parrilli, Waldorf Art Teacher

This week on Hard Beeswax, Matthew and Taylor talk Waldorf art pedagogy, wet-on-wet watercolor painting, and why the blue paint smells bad with Green Meadow alumnus Sara Parrilli, who is now a Waldorf art teacher at the Hawthorne Valley Waldorf School in New York. Link to Sara's watercolor activities on YouTube is here: https://youtu.be/GlS0DIgf2eU?si=MmV9lyUGFTHlW61Y

Episode 19: Teacher Spotlight: Jon Metric, Waldorf Class Teacher

In this episode Matthew and Taylor speak with Matthew's dream guest, his class teacher, Jon Metric!

Episode 18: Alumni/Teacher/Wise Elder Spotlight: Douglas Gerwin

In this episode Matthew and Taylor have a conversation with Douglas Gerwin, the Executive Director of the Center for Anthroposophy and the Executive Director of the Research Institute for Waldorf Education. Affectionately known to many as "Captain Waldorf", Douglas shares his insights into the pedagogical law and his biography as a Waldorf alumnus of the Waldorf School of Garden City, class of 1968. If you are interested in listening to more insights from Douglas Gerwin, please check out this in...

Episode 17: Alumni Spotlight: Matthew Paulazzo, Death Metal Musician

On this episode, Matthew and Taylor discuss Metal, artistic creativity, and pursuing one's life dreams with Santa Fe Waldorf School Alumni Matthew Paulazzo, class of 2011.

Episode 16: The Making of Hard Beeswax

In this episode Matthew and Taylor speak with Andy Smith, the producer of Hard Beeswax about how the show conceived, the process of creating it, and the work that goes on behind the scenes to bring you this show.

Episode 15: Tales from the Cosmic Bathtub - The Temperaments, Planetary Types

This week we present another Tales from the Cosmic Bathtub episode. Cohosts Matthew Burritt and Taylor Romens speak with our producer Andy Smith about the temperaments that Waldorf grade school teachers use to understand their students and the planetary types that Waldorf high school teachers use to understand adolescents in their learning process.

Episode 14: Alumni Spotlight: Matthew Moraine, Airline Pilot

Cohosts Matthew Burritt and Taylor Romens spoke with Matthew Moraine, a graduate of the Sacramento Waldorf School, class of 1997. Matthew’s professional pursuits led him into the marine corps, where he trained as a C-130 pilot and served in Afghanistan. Now, Matthew is a commercial pilot and caring father.

The Shepherd’s Play

The Hard Beeswax crew presents The Shepherd's Play in this bonus episode. Ut hoy! Enjoy!

Episode 13: Alumni Spotlight: Addison Nace - PhD Candidate

Co-hosts Matthew Burritt and Taylor Romens have the opportunity to speak with Addison Nace, who is currently working on her PhD in Design Studies in the school of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. We caught up with her in Chiapas, Mexico, where Addison is living as she pursues her research. Addison is a graduate of the Santa Fe Waldorf School class of 2013. To further support Addison's non-profit work, visit: https://www.natik.org/...

Episode 12: Teacher Spotlight: Katie Moran, Movement Teacher

This week on Hard Beeswax, cohosts Matthew Burritt and Taylor Romens had the opportunity to speak with Katie Moran, a Waldorf movement educator, a level three spatial dynamics graduate, and a current faculty member of the Austin Waldorf School.

Episode 11: Tales from the Cosmic Bathtub - Advent and the Human Being

This week we present our second Tales from the Cosmic Bathtub episode. Cohost Matthew Burritt speaks with our producer Andy Smith about the festival of advent and how it relates to the human being.

Episode 10: Parent Perspective: Dameron Midgette - Body Worker and Alternative Health Practitioner

Cohosts Matthew Burritt and Taylor Romens had the opportunity to speak with Dameron Midgette, parent to three Waldorf alums, who was involved in two different Waldorf communities over the past few decades. We spoke about his experiences, his thoughts on raising kids in the Waldorf tradition, and the evolving nature of Waldorf community life.

Episode 9: Teacher Spotlight: Daniel Wendland, Movement Teacher

This week on Hard Beeswax, cohosts Matthew Burritt and Taylor Romens had the opportunity to speak with Daniel Wendland, a Waldorf movement educator, former athletic director, spatial dynamics graduate, and enthusiastic father.

Episode 8: Teacher Spotlight: Karl Johnson, Educational Consultant

Co-hosts Matthew Burritt and Taylor Romens have the opportunity to interview Karl Johnson, a Waldorf educator of 38-years. Karl has served as a class teacher, educational support specialist, outdoor educator and pedagogical chair for several schools. Karl is also an experienced mentor, consultant, and teacher trainer, who has mentored and trained hundreds of teachers at dozens of schools in the U.S. and internationally. Visit Karl's website: www.karljohnsoneducator.com...

Episode 7: Alumni Spotlight: Jake Yeager, Software Engineer

Co-hosts Matthew Burritt and Taylor Romens have the opportunity to interview Jake Yeager, a Waldorf alumni from Kimberton Waldorf School class of 1997, Waldorf arts teacher, and software engineer.

Episode 6: Tales from the Cosmic Bathtub - Autumn Festivals and Michaelmas

This week on Hard Beeswax cohosts Matthew and Taylor introduce Tales from the Cosmic Bathtub, a periodic deeper dive into the foundational ideas of Waldorf education. This episode focuses on autumn festival life in many Waldorf schools and especially the festival of Michaelmas.

Episode 5: Alumni Spotlight: Zac Caputo, Independent Filmmaker

Co-hosts Matthew Burritt and Taylor Romens have the opportunity to speak with Zac Caputo, Independent Filmmaker and graduate of the Austin Waldorf School class of 2010. Crossing Iceland on YouTube: Crossing Iceland Crossing Tasmania on YouTube: Crossing Tasmania

Episode 4: Teacher Spotlight: Nicole Gent, Kindergarten Teacher

Co-hosts Matthew Burritt and Taylor Romens have the opportunity to interview Nicole Gent, a lead Waldorf kindergarten teacher who previously taught at the Santa Fe Waldorf School.

Episode 3: Waldorf Beginnings: Taylor’s Story

Co-Hosts Matthew Burritt and Taylor Romens discuss their Waldorf origins, tracing through their lives as to how they arrived where they are today: trained Waldorf high school teachers. Follow them from the kindergarten tree stumps through the grades, all the way up to high school. Then see how far they went out into the world before ultimately circling back, returning to Waldorf education as teachers.

Episode 2: Waldorf Beginnings: Matthew’s Story

Co-Hosts Matthew Burritt and Taylor Romens discuss their Waldorf origins, tracing through their lives as to how they arrived where they are today: trained Waldorf high school teachers. Follow them from the kindergarten tree stumps through the grades, all the way up to high school. Then see how far they went out into the world before ultimately circling back, returning to Waldorf education as teachers.