This podcast episode features an insightful discussion between hosts Johanna and John, focusing on the critical transition for students from high school to college and careers. This episode was originally hosted on Dr. John Schembari's Have a Life Teaching Podcast , and I enjoyed the talk so much, I am sharing it with my audience, too! We discuss that many students are currently unprepared for post-secondary education, often struggling with executive functioning skills like time management, orga...
Jul 03, 2025•26 min•Season 4Ep. 4
In this episode of the Literacy Landscapes Podcast , Johanna is joined by Professor Krisler Bailey, an experienced college transition coach, professor, and expert in executive functioning and health coaching. Together, they explore the challenges students face as they move from high school to college, focusing on the essential skills needed for success—time management, independence, communication, and mental health. Professor Kler shares insights from both her professional experience and her per...
Jun 04, 2025•31 min•Season 4Ep. 3
On this episode of Literacy Landscapes, Johanna sits down with Francis Vigeant, CEO of KnowAtom, to explore how custom AI is reshaping K–12 science instruction, deepening critical thinking, and supporting equitable, culturally responsive classrooms. Don't miss this future-focused conversation! https://www.knowatom.com/ About Johanna: https://www.instagram.com/professoronyourside/ leveragingliteracy.com...
May 29, 2025•34 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Dr. Susan Lambert, Chief Academic Officer of Elementary Humanities at Amplify, draws on her vast experience as a classroom teacher, administrator, and curriculum developer to turn educational theory into effective, evidence-based literacy practices. As the host of Science of Reading: The Podcast , she explores the latest research in reading instruction, working to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and real-world classroom implementation. In this episode we discuss the importance of aca...
May 22, 2025•24 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Join Johanna in a heartfelt conversation with James Young (he/they), a social sciences professor, social justice advocate, award-winning LGBTQ+ activist, and musician. Also known as i.den.t, James spreads queer joy through art, music, and storytelling, inspiring change and fostering belonging. In this episode, James shares their journey of discovering music at 48, the inspiration behind their album Queerphoria , and the profound impact of finding community at The Loft, a vital LGBTQ+ support spa...
Jan 12, 2025•23 min•Season 3Ep. 7
This thought-provoking episode delves into the intersection of artificial intelligence, modern pedagogical approaches, and language acquisition, with a particular focus on the transformative potential of corpus linguistics in second language learning. The discussion illuminates how corpus linguistics, by analyzing vast collections of authentic language data, can uncover intricate patterns of language use. For second language learners, however, these patterns—such as collocations like "fast car" ...
Sep 06, 2024•57 min
In this special first episode of Season 3, host Johanna returns from a brief hiatus, excited to introduce the extraordinarily talented Carrie Osgood. Carrie is a master at empowering businesses, organizations, and individuals to communicate with impact through innovative storytelling, branding, and education solutions. In this episode, Carrie shares her journey from a childhood love of pop-up books to her current work in multimodal literacies and alternative storytelling. Listen as Carrie discus...
Aug 26, 2024•37 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Former NBA basketball player Dean Tolson, the author of: Power Forward discusses his personal journey, and the transformative power of education. We discuss Dean's background and early life, the power of persistence and reframing failure, keys to success as a student-athlete and the transformative power of education. Dean's book is available at major book sellers. For more information please follow this link. Power Forward: My Journey from Illiterate NBA Player to a Magna Cum Laude Master's Degr...
Feb 29, 2024•41 min
Maestro Stephen Gunzenhauser is an accomplished conductor, and author. His book, Travels With Stephen: The Most Famous Unknown Conductor, is available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and at Politics and Prose . For more information about Maestro Gunzenhauser, his website is available at this link . The link to the recording of Dvorak 9 I reference is available here ....
Jan 31, 2024•37 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. We discuss our love of reading, the research that went into writing her book, and Ronni also provides some writing inspiration for all aspiring writers! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ronni.diamondstein Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maggiemaepupreporter/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaggieMae10514 Threads https://www.threads.net/@maggiemaepupreporter Bluesky: @ ronnidiamondstein.bsky.social Local signed books are available at Susan Lawrence in Chappaqua htt...
Jan 22, 2024•38 min
Kimberly Marcus is an accomplished author and educator. Her new release, Frankenstein's Matzah: A Passover Parody by K. Marcus is available for pre-order at the following links: website: http://www.kmarcuswrites.com linktree : https://linktr.ee/kmarcuswrites Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kmarcuswrites/ Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/kmarcuswrites/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kmarcuswrites/ For Pre-order: Need it shipped and signed? The Village Bookstore https://thevillageboo...
Jan 15, 2024•35 min
Sn2. Ep. 4: A conversation with Jim Harold: Children's Spooky Stories and the Power of Engaging Books This episode is devoted to the allure of children’s spooky stories and was loads of fun for me to plan for. Jim Harold is an accomplished podcaster. In fact, Jim started podcasting in 2005 and is one of the first to begin publishing in this format! We discuss our favorite spooky stories, why it's important to engage children's interests through reading, and stories that have made an impact on us...
Oct 31, 2023•33 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Soo Mentor is the Founder and CEO of We Are Multi , which specializes in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for kids, teachers, administrators, parents, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committees. In this episode, Soo Mentor shares meaningful and actionable strategies for approaching DEI in all spaces and how her approach through We Are Multi supports the youngest learners.
Oct 07, 2023•35 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Dr. Olander is an innovative, forward-thinking educator and scholar. The link to the UDL website mentioned is: https://udlforteachers.com/ In this episode, we discuss Universal Design for Learning in urban schools, Translanguaging as a UDL strategy, rethinking the language we use when discussing students with special needs, and the ways in which systems, policies, and practices can directly impact teachers and students.
Sep 08, 2023•38 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Jill Liflander is an artistic tour de force! We discussed many interesting and interconnected ideas, including graphic novels, art as expression, youth studies, creating art, the concept of "play" in art, and lots of other things! You can find her art at https://www.miceforpeace.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jillypuppets/ I mentioned my new love of junk journaling- here's a great YT vide o if you are interested! I have an Etsy store! I sell shirts, mugs, and other fun things for educators and a...
Aug 27, 2023•48 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In this episode, we discuss the effective use of technology to support instructional strategies. We also talk about gamification of learning, and ways to connect with students.
Jul 10, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Sky Sofer is a former student of Johanna's, a current research associate at a university, and an educator. We discuss everything from being a student, teaching practices, "failing up" and reflecting on lessons in teaching, and Eurovision!
Jul 02, 2023•35 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Dr. Susan Neuman is an educator, researcher, and education policy-maker in early childhood and literacy development. Dr. Susan Neuman previously served as Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education in the US Department of Education during the President George W. Bush Administration. Her recent book, Handbook on the Science of Early Literacy 1st Edition, by Sonia Q. Cabell (Editor), Susan B. Neuman (Editor), Nicole Patton Terry (Editor), David K. Dickinson (Foreword) is available o...
Jun 22, 2023•25 min
In this episode, we discuss Dr. Sarah Hart's recently published book, Once Upon a Prime: The Wondrous Connections Between Mathematics and Literature. It's available at all fine bookstores, including Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Dr. Hart is a London-based mathematician, and Gresham Professor of Geometry, Professor of Mathematics at Birkbeck, University of London. https://www.amazon.com/Once-Upon-Prime-Connections-Mathematics-ebook/dp/B09XL7YC2N https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/once-upon-a-prime-s...
Jun 15, 2023•34 min
In this episode, Dr. Kevin M. Wong discusses the power of children's literature to foster discussion around multiracial identity. Dr. Wong is an Assistant Professor & Chair of MA TESOL at Pepperdine University, Graduate School of Education and Psychology www.kevin-m-wong.com...
Jun 08, 2023•43 min
The article I reference from Forbes Magazine: Low Literacy Levels Among U.S. Adults Could Be Costing The Economy $2.2 Trillion A Year https://www.barbarabush.org/ LiteracyPromoting the power of literacy for all Mychal's Instagram Mychal's Twitter MAY is Mental Health Awareness Month! You are #MoreThanEnough https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Mental-Health-Awareness-Month https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/03/fact-sheet-celebrating-mental-health-awareness-month-2023.html Digit...
May 28, 2023•28 min
In this episode, we discuss the literacies of acupuncture, what it means to be an active learner, and so much more! I truly enjoyed this episode, and hope you do, too! For more information about DR. SEAN E. CHILLEMI, DACM, MSTOM, LA.C, LMT, HHC , you can visit his website at http://www.renshenhealing.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/renshenhealing/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Ren-Shen-Healing/100057478599052/ The book Dr. Chillemi mentions: The Web That Has No Weaver, by T...
May 21, 2023•35 min
Jeff Pearlman is an accomplished writer and podcaster. In this episode, we discuss sports writing, writing in general, and his upcoming projects. His podcast is Two Writers Slinging Yang. A New York Times Best Selling author, you can find more information about him here: https://jeffpearlman.com/ Jeff Pearlman recently published The Last Folk Hero: The Life and Myth of Bo Jackson , available on Amazon, at Barnes and Noble, and other fine bookstores. His book Showtime is the basis for the HBO Max...
May 15, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Manny Alayon is a fitness entrepreneur, coach, fellow podcaster, and the owner of NorthEast CrossFit in Westchester, NY. You can follow him on Instagram @northeastcrossfit In this episode, we discuss the language of fitness, and CrossFit® terminology, among other things! Here is the article I mention Schlegel P. CrossFit® Training Strategies from the Perspective of Concurrent Training: A Systematic Review . J Sports Sci Med. 2020 Nov 19;19(4):670-680. PMID: 33239940; PMCID: PMC7675627. FB https:...
May 07, 2023•37 min
In this conversation, we discuss congregational Hebrew use and approaches to language in Jewish education. This conversation addresses the role of religious languages in schooling- across religions, as we look to where we are now, and in the future. We explore how we use language to make claims about our identities and the “story of language.” Who controls language? What is the role of language in defining who we are and our beliefs? You can learn more about Dr. Sharon Avni’s work at http://www....
Apr 30, 2023•47 min
Thais Miller is a writer, educator, editor, and doctoral candidate. In this episode, we discuss the creative writing process, the challenges of revision and feedback, and the teaching of writing. For more information about Thais, you can visit her website at https://thaismiller.wordpress.com/
Apr 23, 2023•39 min
Janny Perez is a Colombian-American multilingual parenting mom, founder of Mi Legasi, podcast host of The Latina Mom Legacy, and bilingual parenting educator. Jenny recently published “Nobody Told Me This About Raising a Bilingual Child,” which can be found at the following link . Janny Perez Website: milegasi.com Instagram & FB @milegasi Link to Janny's podcast: The Latina Mom Legacy Link to the Ted Talk Johanna mentioned: The Linguistic Genius of Babies (Patricia Kuhl)...
Apr 16, 2023•34 min
In this episode, Johanna interviews Dr. Adam Tramantano about his new book, Consider the Volley: How We Make Sense of Things. You can access his book on Amazon at this link . You can also learn more about Adam, and his artwork, at his website https://tramantano.com/ You can also access the article Adam references, Constructing a Pedagogy of Apparentness, at the following link....
Apr 09, 2023•26 min
In this brief episode, I discuss my "Why" as Simon Sinek would say, for why literacy matters to me. I'm excited about future episodes I'm planning, including: The connection between mathematics and literature, the importance of print rich environments in early literacy practices, interviewing Dr. Adam Tramantano about his newly released book, and planning a series on bilingual education. Stay tuned and please subscribe!
Apr 05, 2023•8 min•Season 1Ep. 7
This episode is near and dear to my heart. I had the pleasure and honor of speaking about the Yiddish language, history, literature, and culture with two accomplished experts in the field. There are some powerful insights in this episode about how language shapes us. We explore the specific aspects of the Yiddish language, including the complexity of language through concise and highly nuanced language, songs, and poetry that impact us, and how the Yiddish language has been shaped by history, an...
Mar 26, 2023•1 hr 9 min
