The Reason We Learn Podcast: Recent Episodes
Deborah Fillman
In this episode, I sit down with veteran educator James Furey to unpack a question many parents and educators grapple with: What makes a school “good”? We explore how standardized test scores, college admissions, and school rankings often fail to capture the true quality of education. James shares insights from his years in the classroom, discussing the impact of school culture, teacher autonomy, and student engagement on learning outcomes.
Whether you're a parent evaluating school options or an educator reflecting on your practice, this conversation offers a thought-provoking look at the deeper elements that contribute to a meaningful education.
🎓 Want More Than School Can Offer? Let’s Work Together.If you're ready to give your child a real education—not just schooling—visit CogitoLearningCenter.com to explore how I can help. Whether you need expert tutoring, personalized curriculum guidance, or full enrichment courses, I work directly with families to design a learning path that actually works.
🟢 Start here: CogitoLearningCenter.com
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What are your children learning in school about man and what he should do in life? What kind of "self" are they being encouraged to develop? Do you even know?
James Lindsay joins me to discuss the Marxian religious questions our children are being taught to ask in school, how the answers are purging enlightenment values from American culture, one lost "self" at a time.
An American-born author, mathematician, and professional troublemaker, Dr. James Lindsay has written six books spanning a range of subjects including religion, the philosophy of science and postmodern theory. He is a leading expert on Critical Race Theory, which leads him to reject it completely. He is the founder of New Discourses and currently promoting his new book "Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity―and Why This Harms Everybody," which is currently being translated into more than fifteen languages.
Join us for a discussion about what it means for all of us when our children are taught an anti-enlightenment theory of mind?
Get full access to The Reason We Learn at thereasonwelearn.substack.com/subscribe
How often have you heard someone say “We have a mental health problem!” in the aftermath of a school shooting? It’s usually the thing you hear immediately after “We need commonsense gun control,” or "gun-free zones make easy targets."
I’m going to guess it’s roughly every time, and it’s even possible you’ve said it yourself. Who could blame you? No one would deny the fact that anyone shooting up a school is mentally disturbed, but is that the whole story? Why schools? Why students and teachers? Why aren’t we asking these questions?
My guests for this show, Pamela Garfield Jaeger and Cyndi O'Brien have some thoughts on that subject, as well as some fascinating stories to share about how “mental health” is actually addressed at school, some of which may surprise you. They'll explain how there might be more to the choice of location than the usual narratives would have us believe.
Also, if you are currently under the impression we need more mental healthcare at school, or that every child should be evaluated for mental illness by default by school counselors, you’ll want to hear what these ladies have to say.My Guests:
Pamela Garfield-Jaeger has worked as an LCSW for over 20 years in a variety of settings and programs. Most recently she worked with teens in school and outpatient settings. She realized that the vast majority of parents are unprepared to engage the Mental Health system from a position on knowledge and understanding. She is here to help educate parents on what to expect and how to interact with a very complicated and insular system.
Follow Pam on X @truththerapist, and check out her website, work, public speaking and service offerings here: https://linktr.ee/thetruthfultherapist
Cyndi O'Brien is a former K12 education insider. She was an English teacher for 17 years and a school counselor for 3 years. She finally quit because of the corruption. She has been a whistleblower and produces her own videos and podcasts exposing what goes on behind the scenes in K12 education.
Cyndi is currently employed as a child trauma therapist while she works toward professional counselor licensure (which should occur in just a couple of months). She also works as a college instructor of both English and Counseling. Follow Cyndi on X @ObrienCynd72601 and on YouTube @k12formerinsider
Get full access to The Reason We Learn at thereasonwelearn.substack.com/subscribe
Imagine growing up and not knowing your parents were Holocaust survivors…That was childhood for my guest today, Anna Salton Eisen. Anna is the author of The 23rd Psalm: A Holocaust Memoir, The Twentieth Anniversary Edition (A National Jewish Book Awards Finalist in 2022) and Pillar of Salt: A Daughter’s Life in the Shadow of the Holocaust. She is the daughter of two Holocaust survivors and executive producer of the upcoming documentary film In My Father’s Words based on both of her books. Her writing has been published in The Jerusalem Post and The Forward, among other publications. As the founder of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, site of the antisemitic synagogue hostage crisis in January 2022, Anna has been featured in numerous major news outlets, including CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Fox News. A social worker, Salton Eisen formerly practiced as a therapist, specializing in mental health and trauma.
Today, Anna works to bring Holocaust education to everyone who wants and needs it. In this show, we will discuss why and how she’s doing it.
Find Anna:
Facebook: Anna Salton Eisen, Author
X: @AnnaSaltonEisen
Instagram: @annasaltoneisen
Website, where you can buy the books:
https://annasaltoneisen.com/
TIMESTAMPS
01:38 Intro
03:55 Anna's story
09:09 Why we need Holocaust education
17:14 What has changed in education to make so many students hostile to Holocaust education?
26:53 What works WELL for Holocaust education?
44:02 Connecting Jewish history to American history
49:10 Looking ahead, wrapping up
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College Counseling and Essay Coaching: https://thereasonwelearn.com/consulting/ Education Consulting & School Search: https://thereasonwelearn.com/1942-2/
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Writing: https://thereasonwelearn.com/writing-2/
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Enroll your child in The Socratic Experience, a virtual school grades 3-12.
They provide Socratic discussions of classic texts with a commitment to rationality while supporting students in entrepreneurial and creative projects.
My listeners can now get a 10% discount by using the link below!
https://socraticexperience.com/parent-guide/?utm_source=thereasonwelearn
teachingtheholocaust #holocaustsurvivor #holocausteducation #holocaustsurvivors #publiceducation #k12education #antisemitism
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You may have noticed that Mental Health, sometimes referred to as “wellness” or wellbeing, has, both in terms of funding, and staffing, become job 1 for most schools, and you may even have heard that students “can’t learn” until they’ve been seen, heard, and assessed psychologically.
Earlier, I sat down to talk with Jake Wiskerchen, marriage and family therapist, national certified counselor, and founder of Nevada based Zephyr Wellness, to get an update on what’s going on in counseling, especially in schools. I asked Jake because of his broad and deep experience in the field. He has given consultations, talks, seminars, continuing education classes, and staff trainings, to many agencies, groups, organizations, and individuals, including the Nevada Bar Association, Northern Nevada Law Enforcement Academy (POST), Nevada State Civil Attorneys Association, Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce, University of Nevada, Washoe County School District, Nevada School Counselors Association, Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence, Lyon County School District, Pershing County School District, Sixth Judicial District Court, VanNess Group Homes, and CSA/Head Start, and he’s the host of not one, but TWO podcasts: noggin notes and guns and mental health.In this show, you’ll learn why mental health is front and center in education, and why that may be much too much of an otherwise good thing.
Follow Jake @jakewisk
Podcast host: Guns & Mental Health, Noggin Notes
YouTube @ZephyrWellness
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// Donate:
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// Join:
If you want to join weekly calls with me and my audience, and get access to my curated lists of education enrichment and homeschooling resources, join one or both of my private communities:
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TRWP Parent Support Group: https://wokescreen.com/the-reason-we-parent/
//Do Business With My Affiliates
Purchase books from Heroes of Liberty with my referral link and get 10% off! https://heroesofliberty.com/?ref=Zqpq...
Enroll your child in The Socratic Experience, a virtual school grades 3-12.
They provide Socratic discussions of classic texts with a commitment to rationality while supporting students in entrepreneurial and creative projects.
My listeners can now get a 10% discount by using the link below!
https://socraticexperience.com/parent-guide/?utm_source=thereasonwelearn
schoolcounseling #mentalhealthandwellbeing #mentalhealthatschool #schoolcounselors #sel #mtss
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If you haven't yet watched the Hulu miniseries Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence, I highly recommend that you do. I watched it, and invited Josh Slocum, from @DisaffectedPodcast here to discuss coercive control -- what it is, and how it works -- because he's a graduate of Sarah Lawrence, and because he is an expert in cluster-B personality disorders, and while not all who are cluster-B engage in coercive control, all those who coercively control are cluster-B.
Follow Josh on X @DisaffectedPod
Subscribe to his Substack at https://disaffectedpod.substack.com/
Watch the Hulu series: https://press.hulu.com/shows/stolen-youth-inside-the-cult-at-sarah-lawrence/
SUPPORT MY WORK:
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// Join:
If you want to join weekly calls with me and my audience, and get access to my curated lists of education enrichment and homeschooling resources, join one or both of my private communities:
TRWL @Wokescreen: https://wokescreen.com/thereasonwelearn/
TRWP Parent Support Group: https://wokescreen.com/the-reason-we-parent/
//Work With Me:
I offer a wide range of consulting services to parents and parent advocacy organizations. Learn more about my services, and book my time using these links
Tutoring & Homeschool Teaching: https://thereasonwelearn.com/online-tutoring-and-homeschool-teaching/
College Counseling and Essay Coaching: https://thereasonwelearn.com/consulting/ Education Consulting & School Search: https://thereasonwelearn.com/1942-2/
Public Speaking: https://thereasonwelearn.com/speaking/
Writing: https://thereasonwelearn.com/writing-2/
//Do Business With My Affiliates
Purchase books from Heroes of Liberty with my referral link and get 10% off! https://heroesofliberty.com/?ref=Zqpq...
Enroll your child in The Socratic Experience, a virtual school grades 3-12.
They provide Socratic discussions of classic texts with a commitment to rationality while supporting students in entrepreneurial and creative projects.
My listeners can now get a 10% discount by using the link below!
https://socraticexperience.com/parent-guide/?utm_source=thereasonwelearn
sarahlawrence #hulu #coercivecontrol #clusterb #narcissism #narcissiticabuse #humantrafficking
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Jon England is the Education Policy Analyst at Libertas Institute. He is a fourteen-year veteran public schools who became frustrated with the lack of innovation, transparency and accountability in the system, and decided to leave the system and join Libertas to work on empowering parents, and defending parental rights.
Find Jon on X @Principal_Jon
Website: https://libertas.org
TIMESTAMPS
03:16 - Welcome Jon!
04:47 - COVID: The Final Straw
09:01 - School vs. Parents
13:12 - The School Trap
20:00 - The Push to College
32:32 - New Models for K12
44:15 - Government Roadblocks to Alternatives
48:55 - Let's Talk About School Choice...
1:00:00 - How to Get More Involved in Making Education Better
SUPPORT MY WORK:
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PayPal: paypal.me/deborahfillman
// Join:
If you want to join weekly calls with me and my audience, and get access to my curated lists of education enrichment and homeschooling resources, join one or both of my private communities:
TRWL @Wokescreen: https://wokescreen.com/thereasonwelearn/
TRWP Parent Support Group: https://wokescreen.com/the-reason-we-parent/
//Work With Me:
I offer a wide range of consulting services to parents and parent advocacy organizations. Learn more about my services, and book my time using these links
Tutoring & Homeschool Teaching: https://thereasonwelearn.com/online-tutoring-and-homeschool-teaching/
College Counseling and Essay Coaching: https://thereasonwelearn.com/consulting/ Education Consulting & School Search: https://thereasonwelearn.com/1942-2/
Public Speaking: https://thereasonwelearn.com/speaking/
Writing: https://thereasonwelearn.com/writing-2/
//Do Business With My Affiliates
Purchase books from Heroes of Liberty with my referral link and get 10% off! https://heroesofliberty.com/?ref=Zqpq...
Enroll your child in The Socratic Experience, a virtual school grades 3-12.
They provide Socratic discussions of classic texts with a commitment to rationality while supporting students in entrepreneurial and creative projects.
My listeners can now get a 10% discount by using the link below!
https://socraticexperience.com/parent-guide/?utm_source=thereasonwelearn
publicschoolsystem #walkaway #publicschool #education #microschool #homeschooling #schoolchoice
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/debf/support
Get full access to The Reason We Learn at thereasonwelearn.substack.com/subscribe
Professor William B. Allen is the Emeritus Dean of James Madison College, and Professor Emeritus of Political Philosophy at Michigan State University. I had the privilege of hearing Professor Allen speak at the Alumni Summit on Free Expression hosted by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, also known as ACTA, and the Alumni Free Speech Alliance, also known as AFSA.
The title of his talk was Criminals Think, but Thinking is not Criminal, and I felt strongly then, as I do today, that my audience, parents and teachers in particular, needed to hear from him directly.
Professor Allen's Talk:
https://youtu.be/P1nLRW_hXC4?si=PETMTDS6mfqOC_HW
Transcript as an Article at The Journal of Free Black Thought:
https://freeblackthought.substack.com/p/criminals-think-but-thinking-is-not
Professor Allen's book:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001IZ0ZS8/allbooks
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philosophyofeducation #educationreform #highereducationreform #academicfreedom #raisingreaders
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Wilfred Reilly and I look back on the 70 years since Brown v Board of Education to ask if we are trying to re-segregate American Education, if so why, and what does "segregation" post Brown vs Board?
We also take a look at recent statistics concerning the racial achievement gap, and Wil gives his take on new questions to ask about achievement gaps in general.
Wilfred Reilly is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Kentucky State University, and the author of the books "Taboo: 10 Facts You Can't Talk About,' "Hate Crime Hoax," and "The $50,000,000 Question." He is currently working on the upcoming project "Alt-Wrongs: an American Case against Racial Nationalism," as well as sketching out a book looking at the transgender, gender-fluid, and Otherkin communities and the idea of flexible identity. Reilly has published pieces in Academic Questions, Commentary, Quillette, and a number of other journals and magazines. His research interests include international relations and the prevention of war, contemporary American race relations, and the use of modern quantitative methods to test "sacred cow" theories such as the existence of widespread white privilege. Off work, he enjoys dogs, archery, basketball, Asian cooking, and beer. Reilly has been described, by himself, as "the greatest mind of a generation."
Follow him on X @wil_da_beast630
Buy his books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/...
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race #segregation #brownvboard #education #k12 #desegregation #publicschools #teaching #achievementgap #blackachievementgap #blackexcellence
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Ron Coleman joins me again, this time to talk about legal education and its impact on the practice of law, and the justice system in America.
Ron Coleman is a Partner at the Dhillon Law Group and resident in its New York Metro office. Ron is a commercial litigator with extensive first-seat trial and appellate experience who focuses on torts of competition such as trademark infringement, unfair competition and consumer law.
Besides his trademark work Ron is also known for his Internet-related and First Amendment advocacy, regarding both religious and free speech rights, including his representation of Simon Tam and “The Slants” in the watershed free speech case, Matal v. Tam, in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the prohibition against registration of “disparaging” trademarks was unconstitutional.
Having recently semi-retired his popular “Likelihood of Confusion” blog on trademark law, Ron is a popular influencer on Twitter with over 200,000 followers (@roncoleman) and hosts the ColemanNation video podcast which focuses on free expression, cancel culture and law. He attended Princeton University and Northwestern University School of Law.
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legaleducation #justicesystem #lawschool #education #civilrights #lawfare #harvard #activism
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Join me for a conversation with Justine Deterling, founder of a new resource for families called Gender Health Query, a medical and queer theory watchdog organization with a focus on same-sex attracted youth. The site provides extensive information on many topics relating to pediatric medical transition of gender dysphoric youth and the impacts of contemporary gender ideology.
Justine is an LGB human rights activist. Justine and her organization's members would like people to join them in opposing indoctrinating school children and teens into radicalization and unscientific worldviews around sex and gender. They have released a pro-parental rights document with well-researched and well-articulated reasons why gender activism in schools is inappropriate and harmful. It may help inform educators or be useful at public meetings. Activist-controlled institutions are a wider cultural problem and this trend must be reversed.
Gender Health Query:
https://thehomoarchy.com/ghq-home
Parent/Educator Resource landing page:
https://thehomoarchy.com/lgbt-trans-p...
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gendereducation #publicschool #parenting #education #k12 #parentresource
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Freedom of expression on college campuses has been under assault across America for years, and at Cornell University the problem was particularly bad, so a group of alumni decided they'd had enough. Through hard work and dedication, they persuaded the President to launch a university-wide free expression initiative.
Cornell Alum Paul Rossi and Cornell Professor Randy Wayne join me to discuss how the University's freedom of expression initiative is working as we approach the one year anniversary of its implementation.
Paul Rossi is an active high school math teacher and the co-founder and CEO of Terra Firma Teaching Alliance, a peer support and placement network of traditional K-12 teachers.
Find Paul at: https://tfteach.org/
Randy Wayne is an associate professor at Cornell University. He is a biophysical plant cell biologist, in the Laboratory of Natural Philosophy, who researches the nature of light. He teaches Plant Cell Biology, Light and Video Microscopy, and a nonmajors course called Light and Life. He is the author of Plant Cell Biology: From Astronomy to Zoology and Light and Video Microscopy. He is co-chair of the Heterodox Academy Campus Community at Cornell University, which brings heterodox thinkers to campus. He is the recipient of the Steamboat Institute’s 2023 Courage in Education Award for being a tireless advocate for free speech and intellectual diversity.
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#freedomofexpression #college #cornell #cornelluniversity #freedomofspeech #DEI #diversity #heterodoxacademy
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What if we've known exactly how to educate children so they continue to love learning throughout the process, for thousands of years?
What if "progressive" education is taking us backwards?
Michael Strong, Founder and Chief Visionary of The Socratic Experience joins me to discuss!
Michael Strong is one of the most experienced designers of innovative school programs in the United States. His projects include a public school program in which minority female students gained four years’ worth of critical thinking gains in four months (on the Watson-Glaser). He later went into Montessori secondary school program design at The Judson Montessori School (San Antonio), The Emerson School, and Hacienda School. He created The Winston Academy, where middle school students passed AP exams, making it the most academically advanced school in the country at the time.
Another of Michael’s projects, Moreno Valley High School, a Paideia charter high school, was ranked the 36th-best U.S. public high school by Newsweek. More recently he co-founded KoSchool in Austin, Texas, which combined his high-performance approach to AP coursework and SAT score gains with a focus on entrepreneurial and creative projects. KoSchool, in turn, became the original model for The Academy of Thought and Industry, the high school model for the largest Montessori network in the United States.
Students from Michael’s schools have been admitted to Harvard, Stanford, Georgetown, Smith, Bard, Bennington, McGill, UT-Austin, University of Colorado, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Parsons School of Design, Quest, St. John’s and many dozens of other post-secondary institutions.
He is the author of The Habit of Thought: From Socratic Seminars to Socratic Practice and lead author of Be the Solution: How Entrepreneurs and Conscious Capitalists Can Solve All the World’s Problems.
Find Michael @flowidealism
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education #K12 #homeschool #homeschooling #socratic #teaching #parentalrights #parenting
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In this episode, I'm joined by Diana Blum, a mom featured in Eli Steele's new documentary, "Killing America." We will discuss the film, but can only show stills because YT will not allow the film of any clips of it to be shown on this platform.
Please visit the link below watch the film prior to watching this episode to fully understand what we will be discussing.
https://rumble.com/v4np95x-killing-am...
Dr. Diana Blum is a board-certified neurologist who graduated from the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine and completed her Neurology Residency at Stanford Hospital and Clinics. She is a mom of two currently enrolled SUHSD students and during the pandemic, she began noticing that an illiberal ideology was dominating the narrative in school curriculums. She spent the following two years volunteering in the classroom at Belle Haven Elementary in East Menlo Park to better understand what the root issues were.
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DEI #education #k12 #censorship #hypocrisy #antisemitism #equity #criticalracetheory #intersectionality #holocaust #history #americandream #parenting #SFUSD
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John Wilson is back to give us an update on how things are going with Math education in California, something everyone should care about because as CA goes, so goes the nation when it comes to school curriculum.
He'll also share what he's hearing from students about the UC system's growing anti-Jewish problem on its campuses.
John H. Wilson, III became the full-time Education and Enrichment Program (EEP) Director in 2006 at West Angeles Church after earning his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from George Washington University and enjoying a 20-year career as an aerospace engineer and years of volunteer youth work in his church and community.
Under his direction for over two decades, EEP has grown from modest math tutoring sessions to a noteworthy educational program that has provided year-round enrichment opportunities to thousands of youth, mostly non-members, from over 50 middle and high schools across Los Angeles County and serving more than 600 families.
From 2004 until now, through his vision and work, over 2,000 youth in the Los Angeles and Long Beach area have attained an affordable college. Over this time, John has developed an expertise for admission, enrollment, financial aid and many other details of the college access process
John’s vision to provide the best resources developed into a partnership with Princeton Review for SAT Prep classes; a CSU Summer Algebra Institute for 6th through 9th graders; a Summer Bridge Program to enhance math, science and language skills; and a College Readiness Program to equip students for higher-learning. He also established youth Life Skills Workshops and a Parent Institute to communicate vital information. Finally, John has mentored dozens of students to and through successful careers.
His region-wide outreach includes coaching math teachers and consulting with charter school staff to help them build strong math curriculums. John has also served on several community boards at El Camino Community College, received the Vertie Blackwell Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, El Camino Community Service Award in 2007, and the NAACP Man of Valor Award in 2006 and 2010. John has 3 successful grown children and is married and lives in Long Beach.
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matheducation #K12 #california #public schools #teaching #math #woke #joboaler #antisemitism
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Dennis is back to discuss the WPATH files revelations, as well as this week's ban by the NHS on giving puberty blockers to minors.
We will discuss what this means for the overall battle for reality-based medicine and responsible treatment of gender dysphoria, as well as what it took to get this far.
Dennis Noel Kavanagh is a former criminal barrister and now legal commentator, he is one of the three directors of the "Gay Men's Network", a not for profit organisation fighting modern forms of homophobia.
Subscribe to Dennis's Substack at https://dennisnoelkavanagh.substack.com/
SHOW NOTES:
Andrew Doyle's Free Speech Nation: • The WPATH Files: ‘One of the Biggest ...
WPATH Files: https://environmentalprogress.org/big...
WPATH FAQ: https://static1.squarespace.com/stati...
Puberty Blockers Banned in England and Wales: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/polit...
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Want to create live streams like this? Check out StreamYard: https://streamyard.com/pal/d/57025435...#WPATHfiles #genderdysphoria #education #woke
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In this show, we will discuss Pam's new book: A Rational Response to Gender Distress: Tips and Tools for Families, coming out March 12th, 2024.
Pamela Garfield-Jaeger has worked as an LCSW for over 20 years in a variety of settings and programs. Most recently she worked with teens in school and outpatient settings. She realized that the vast majority of parents are unprepared to engage the Mental Health system from a position on knowledge and understanding. She is here to help educate parents on what to expect and how to interact with a very complicated and insular system.
Follow Pam on X @truththerapist, and check out her website, work, public speaking and service offerings here: https://linktr.ee/thetruthfultherapist
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genderdysphoria #therapyforkids #parenting #gendertheory #WPATHfiles #newbook #LIVE
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There's a bigger story behind Google's AI than you may realize. Watch this show to learn more...
About Shannon Edwards:
For nearly 20 years Shannon worked for startups in Silicon Valley and Europe, first in marketing and communications, and later in general management, including at Netflix, LinkedIn, eBay, luxury resale marketplace Vestiaire Collective, and shopping search engine ShopStyle. As CEO of Styloko, in 2016 she oversaw the development of a shopping app that used computer vision and machine learning to suggest similar items of clothing to consumers. With her experience in data-rich shopping marketplaces and advertising platforms, Shannon became a frequent global media contributor covering data trends in the online shopping space. With her mantra of “there is no AI without all of us” Shannon is calling for a reset in how freely and absentmindedly we give of our information without consideration for the exchange we are making with the companies now building AI. Shannon has a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University. She lives in New York City with her husband and two teenage daughters.
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google #AI #Gemini #datamining #dataprivacy
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"School Choice" is all the rage these days, especially with conservatives and GOP candidates in 2024, but ESAs and voucher programs keep government in charge of education, which is what most parents say they don't want.
Is there a way to get government OUT of education? Mike Ross, Libertarian candidate for NC governor will be here to discuss!
Mike Ross has lived in the Charlotte area for more than two decades with his wife of 18 years and their son. He obtained degrees in business and finance before becoming a Certified Financial Planner.
After getting his start in tech, he began working in the corporate sector in the early 2000s until he left to start “My Money Coach” in 2018 to help provide quality financial advice to people of all economic backgrounds.
Using the Golden Rule as his guide, he works hard to provide for his family and to help others in need.
His modesty and selfless attitude have led him to become active in his community, non-profit groups, and movements like the Sunshine Project.
When he is not running his business, homeschooling his son, or working with various groups that serve those in need, he and his family enjoy spending time by attending church, going to the gun range, and having family nights at their Gaston County home.
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politics #schoolchoice #NC2024election #education #libertarian #NCgovernor #k12
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Stephen R. C. Hicks joins me to discuss the Illiberalism on College and University Campuses. We will address the following:
1. How the ideological capture at American, Russian and Chinese universities share the same illiberal pattern
2. What is the dominant philosophy in the American college/university right now, and why is that a problem?
3. What would take to restore academic and intellectual freedom to higher education (is it even possible)?
Stephen R.C. Hicks is Professor of Philosophy at Rockford University, Illinois, USA, Executive Director of the Center for Ethics and Entrepreneurship, and Senior Scholar at The Atlas Society. He has six books:
Explaining Postmodernism: Skepticism and Socialism from Rousseau to Foucault (Scholarly Publishing, 2004; Expanded Edition, 2011)
His writings have been translated into seventeen languages: * He has published in academic journals such as Business Ethics Quarterly, Teaching Philosophy, and Review of Metaphysics, as well as other publications such as The Wall Street Journal and Cato Unbound. In 2010, he won his university’s Excellence in Teaching Award. He has been Visiting Professor of Business Ethics at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., Visiting Professor at Jagiellonian University, Poland, Visiting Fellow at the Social Philosophy & Policy Center in Bowling Green, Ohio, Visiting Fellow at Harris Manchester College at Oxford University in England, Senior Fellow at The Objectivist Center in New York, and Visiting Professor at the University of Kasimir the Great, Poland. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Guelph, Canada, and his Ph.D. in philosophy from Indiana University, Bloomington, USA.
Article referenced:
https://www.stephenhicks.org/2024/02/...
On Education:
https://www.stephenhicks.org/education/
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college #university #philosophy #stephenhicks #teaching #education
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How does radicalized language hurt race relations? Do you even know that language has been radicalized? Are you using it yourself without even realizing it? Ada Akpala joins me to discuss this topic.
Ada Akpala is a writer, commentator, and content creator. She is particularly interested in subjects and narratives about race and identity. Once featured on BBC Radio 4's Analysis, she seeks to empower individuals by challenging victimhood and defeatist mentalities. She aims to uplift people and discourage divisive beliefs that undermine personal morale and fuel intergroup tensions.
Subscribe to Ada's YT channel: www.youtube.com/@adaakpala
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Get in touch with her at ada@theequianoproject.com
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race #language #racerelations #racism #antiracism #education #k12 #radicalizedlanguage
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The Trans movement, indeed Queer Theory itself, has been called a "gnostic cult," but is it one, gnostic or otherwise? Simone & Malcolm Collins, hosts of the Based Camp YouTube channel and authors of The Pragmatist's Guides - to Life, Relationships, Sexuality, Governance, and Crafting Religion, all of which have been bestsellers, join me to discuss!
Simone & Malcolm Collins are entrepreneurs, authors of The Pragmatist's Guide to Life, Relationships, Sexuality, Governance, and Crafting Religion (all of which have been bestsellers, with one topping the Wall Street Journal bestseller list) and advocates for pronatalism (Pronatalist.org) and education reform (CollinsInstitute.org). Among other channels, their work has been covered by Insider, VICE News, the Telegraph, Entrepreneur, Bloomberg, and the National Post. In addition to addressing a variety of topics on their podcast, Based Camp, Simone and Malcolm lecture on business operations, demographic collapse, education innovation, and relationships.
Based Camp: / @simoneandmalcolm
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trans #transmovement #queertheory #gnosticcult #cult #religion #education #k12 #gendertheory #queertheory #queerpedagogy
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How much do you know about the detransitioning process, or how much patients are told about it prior to medical transition? The truth may shock you, but you should know, because even if you don't think this issue affects you, it may someday affect someone in your life, and you likely won't hear what we'll be discussing from doctors, therapists, teachers, and definitely not from politicians.
Camille Kiefel is a pathfinder. She brings the message that mental and physical health are connected; in an area of medicine dominated by medical institutions and their bottom line. Instead of pursuing risky, experimental and life-altering treatments for gender dysphoria, she advocates for a medical protocol grounded in the physical fundamentals of health.
A detransitioner, Camille once believed a non-binary double mastectomy would finally provide relief where 20- years of talk therapy with conventional modalities hadn’t; she lives with physical health issues from the surgery. Through improved diet, and directly addressing her physical health imbalances, her mental health resolved. She now brings awareness to the often overlooked, but undeniable link between physical health and mental health.
Camille determined that the discomforts that lead to her gender dysphoria were rooted in the state of her physical health all along—and they had been overlooked by her doctor, two mental health professionals, and a surgeon.
Camille lives at the intersection of a foundational controversy in how we define health: That mental health is not separate from the biological systems of the body. She believes every Human being needs a solid foundation in physical health from which to thrive—an integrated approach to health, that incorporates all three foundational domains of health—physical, mental and dietary—is needed to address the biggest health issues of our time.
Website: https://www.camillekiefel.com/
Detrans Help: https://detranshelp.org/
Allmylinks: https://allmylinks.com/camille-kiefel
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David Krae is a writer, actor, director and producer. In 2007, he won the Golden Palm Award for Best Screenplay at the Beverly Hills Film Festival for his script Lucretia. In 2006, he directed The House, an independent feature film and has since produced several other independent feature film projects. It was the official selection at the Canadian Filmmakers' Festival.
Krae has been in various TV shows as well. He has been in Degrassi: The Next Generation as Julien, and Queer as Folk (North American TV series)
You can find him at https://www.davidkrae.com
Find his historical fiction on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/s?rh=n%3A13314...
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surveillancestate #education #spying #sovietunion #communism #stasi #k12 #camerasintheclassroom #survellance
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Ron Coleman is a Partner at the Dhillon Law Group and resident in its New York Metro office. Ron is a commercial litigator with extensive first-seat trial and appellate experience who focuses on torts of competition such as trademark infringement, unfair competition and consumer law.
Besides his trademark work Ron is also known for his Internet-related and First Amendment advocacy, regarding both religious and free speech rights, including his representation of Simon Tam and “The Slants” in the watershed free speech case, Matal v. Tam, in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the prohibition against registration of “disparaging” trademarks was unconstitutional.
Having recently semi-retired his popular “Likelihood of Confusion” blog on trademark law, Ron is a popular influencer on Twitter with over 200,000 followers (@roncoleman) and hosts the ColemanNation video podcast which focuses on free expression, cancel culture and law. He attended Princeton University and Northwestern University School of Law.
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Daniel Buck is an Editorial and Policy Associate at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. He is the author of What Is Wrong with Our Schools? and taught English and English as a second language at the middle and high school levels. He earned his master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, along with bachelor’s degrees in English literature and the Spanish language. His work has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, National Affairs, National Review, the New York Post, First Things, and many other publications.
Find Daniel @MrDanielBuck
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education #teaching #k12 #parenting #publicschool #instructor #projectbasedlearning #studentled #teachersunions #edtech #21stcenturyskills #sel
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Kate Wand is a content creator, video and podcast producer, and author of the Very Opinionated Kate Wand Substack. In this video, we sit down to discuss collectivism vs. individualism, how the former dominates our culture, politics, and education establishment right now, and how to deal with the fact that no one is coming to save you from any of it.
Some recent samples of Kate's work that are relevant:
Who Will Be The Leaders of Tomorrow? | Harry Wade & Kate Wand
• Who Will Be The Leaders of Tomorrow? ...
The Recent Scandal Breaking the Internet
• The Scandal BREAKING the internet
How the Left Poisoned Education with Phil Magness
• How the Left POISONED Education | Phi...
Kate's Reading List for Viewers:
The Road to Serfdom, F.A. Hayek
https://a.co/d/fgdHiUm
Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl
https://a.co/d/32gt6kR
Reading Lolita in Tehran, by Azar Nafisi
https://a.co/d/5BRJ4HP
Find Kate at:
Website: very-opinionated.com
Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh...
YouTube: / katewand
Substack: katewand.substack.com
Your support makes my work possible. If you appreciate this content, please consider supporting me in one of the following ways:
Join The Reason We Learn Community @WOKESCREEN : https://wokescreen.com/thereasonwelearn/
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education #philosophy #history #culture #indoctrination #hivemind #collectivism #individualism #objectivism #viktorfrankl #dei #racism #antisemitism
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When it comes to the word "abuse," woke projection is REAL. Not only are they claiming "Your parents won't love you" to lure the kids into toxic ideologies, they're browbeating parents with "If you don't do this, your kid won't love you anymore" or "you don't want a dead child, do you?"
Many parents are so scared of even being accused of "abuse," they're allowing their children to run their homes.
Joshua Slocum, host of the Disaffected podcast will join us to discuss the misuse of the word "abuse," as well as the discipline that's lacking because of it.
Josh Slocum is the host of the weekly show Disaffected. The show looks at society, culture, and politics through the lens of abnormal psychology. Society now runs on "domestic abuse" rules, and features narcissistic and emotionally unstable behavior known to any child who grew up in an abusive home.
At 41, a family crisis forced Josh to see that his mother was deranged beyond help with Borderline and Narcissistic personality disorders. It quickly became clear that the same derangement at home had gone public and feral with the "woke" left. This connection between private domestic abuse and public narcissism is the basis of Disaffected.
Disaffected on Youtube:
/ @disaffectedpodcast
Disaffected on Rumble:
https://rumble.com/c/Disaffected/live...
Book a coaching session with Josh:
https://joshuaslocum.net/
Disaffected on Substack:
https://disaffectedpod.substack.com/
Disaffected on Twitter:
/ disaffectedpod
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J.D. Haltigan holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology, and an MA in Forensic Psychology. His work is in the field of developmental psychopathology.
In this broadcast, we will discuss what he calls "pathological" empathy, and the high cost we all pay for it in our culture, in particular when it comes to our children.
Find J.D. on X @jdhaltigan
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f the title of this stream alarms you, good. You should be alarmed, especially if you're one of the millions of parents who think the purpose of a K12 education is to prepare your children to attend college, because you also believe a college degree is essential to getting hired at a so-called "good" job.
Dr. James Lindsay joins me to talk about what's going on in America's institutions of "higher" learning, and why he's advising employers to STOP hiring college graduates.
An American-born author, mathematician, and professional troublemaker, Dr. James Lindsay has written six books spanning a range of subjects including religion, the philosophy of science and postmodern theory. He is a leading expert on Critical Race Theory, which leads him to reject it completely. He is the founder of New Discourses and currently promoting his new book "Cynical Theories: How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity―and Why This Harms Everybody," which is currently being translated into more than fifteen languages.
Follow his important work here:
https://newdiscourses.com/
@ConceptualJames
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Join us as we take a look not so much at what Jew hatred is, but how it is manufactured for purpose. My guests include Dr. Naya Lecht and Oona Trien, two scholars of the subject who will bring their unique backgrounds and perspectives to this important discussion.
There's a method to the madness, and once you see it, you cannot un-see it!
Dr. Naya Lekht is a scholar on contemporary anti-Semitism and works with the Jewish community to enhance pride and education in the history of the Jewish people and the Arab-Israeli conflict. In addition to her interest in the history of anti-Semitism, Naya likewise writes and teaches about Soviet history. In 2022, Naya was a guest educator for the National Teachers' Seminar at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, where she taught a cohort of teachers on the topic of Soviet literature and film. She holds a Ph.D. from UCLA, where she wrote about Holocaust literature in the Soviet Union, where she was born.
Find Naya on Instagram @naya_lecht
Read her work at White Rose Magazine: https://whiterosemagazine.com/contrib...
Ooana Trien, a graduate of Tish school of the arts with a concentration in experimental and classical theater. Daughter of a Hungarian mother, and survivor of both Hitler and Stalin, whose father--a former nobleman--who died in Stalin's Romanian Gulag, otherwise known as the Pitesti Prison experiment (an experiment to prove that human beings were nothing more than reactive MEAT).
Find Ooana on YouTube at @ooana and on Twitter @oona
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"Trauma-Informed" is a term you've likely heard a lot lately, but what does it mean in the context of your child's education? We'll explain why you need to know, and need to push back on it, hard.
Beanie Geoghegan is Manager of Content & Solutions and Co-Founder of Freedom in Education. She has been involved in education for over two decades as a teacher, parent, volunteer, and advocate. She spent the last 2 ½ years in a leadership position for a national parents organization where she also created mission driven content and worked side by side with parents in Kentucky and nationally to champion parents rights and shine a light on the harmful content in K-12 schools. She is passionate about ensuring that all students have access to a high-quality education that shapes them into virtuous citizens and prepares them for a purposeful life. Though her four children are no longer in school, she is using her experience in the classroom and as a parent to continue to advocate for the next generation. Beanie is married to her high school sweetheart and spends a lot of her free time letting dogs in and out of the house.
Find Beanie at Freedom in Education: https://freedomined.org/
On X @Beanie0597
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Margo Margen (not her real name) has an important story to tell us all, her Gen Z peers especially. Hear what it was like to have history and English classes focus almost exclusively on the race or ethnicity of historical figures, characters, and authors, as well as how frustrating it was to leave class each day feeling like every conversation you’ll have with anyone is, and should be, a social minefield.
Hear hear how endless repetition of the same narratives and themes was not only boring, but also sent a clear message: there are correct and incorrect ways of thinking and “knowing,” and those must critique and deconstruct historical ‘norms.”
This show is for you if you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to attend a postmodern “woke” private school from 8th through 12th grade, or walk through life in general believing that everyone is either an oppressor, or oppressed.
Find Margo's Work:
Third Factor: https://www.thirdfactor.org/
Maladjusted to Maladjustment group: https://www.thirdfactor.org/member-gr...
CroXcards and my other creative works: https://boardgamesmargomargan.wordpre...
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This is part 2 of my fascinating conversation with Christine Jones, aka The Palmer Worm on X. If you have not yet listened to Part 1, I strongly recommend you do so this will make more sense.
This portion is longer than Part 1 so as to avoid breaking it into three parts in an unnatural way. Whereas part one introduced the the core values and ideas of the unconstrained, “affective” approach to education (as opposed to the constrained (or traditional/classical), “cognitive” approach, part 2 delves into the people, and the policies that set the West on its current path towards memory erasure, and cultural suicide.
If you truly want to understand why AND how this happened, these shows are essential listening.
Please also subscribe to and support Christine’s work, which she does tirelessly and voluntarily, and shares with us so generously in the hope that we may salvage some semblance of sanity, at least for ourselves and our individual posterity, before it’s too late.
To learn more about the why and how of where we are, in education and our culture at large, please also watch this incredible video series produced and presented by Canadian Historian, Curtis McManus: The Age of Nihilism. Watch ALL five parts.
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This is part 2 of my fascinating conversation with Christine Jones, aka on X and here on Substack. If you have not yet listened to Part 1, I strongly recommend you do so this will make more sense. This portion is longer than Part 1 so as to avoid breaking it into three parts in an unnatural way. Whereas part one introduced the the core values and ideas of the unconstrained, “affective” approach to education (as opposed to the constrained (or traditional/classical), “cognitive” approach, part 2 delves into the people, and the policies that set the West on its current path towards memory erasure, and cultural suicide. If you truly want to understand why AND how this happened, these shows are essential listening. Please also subscribe to and support Christine’s work, which she does tirelessly and voluntarily, and shares with us so generously in the hope that we may salvage some semblance of sanity, at least for ourselves and our individual posterity, before it’s too late.To learn more about the why and how of where we are, in education and our culture at large, please also watch this incredible video series produced and presented by Canadian Historian, Curtis McManus: The Age of Nihilism. Watch ALL five parts.
Get full access to The Reason We Learn at thereasonwelearn.substack.com/subscribe
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ScioSophia has graciously permitted me to publish the audio for the SciChat Saturday show where she and I discussed what’s happening in science education broadly, and physics specifically. We cover the following:
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the hidden premises in the drive to insert “equity” into physics (and science education in general);
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the underlying philosophy driving “educators” preoccupied with equity in the first place;
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the risks to our kids, and to humankind, of failing to stop these teachers before they do any more damage to the science curriculum, at all levels of education.To watch the show, visit ScioSophia’s channel here.
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This is Part 1 of a 2 part series with Christine Jones of .
Christine presents her research on what appears to be a new ideology she (and some others) call "Mental Healthism."
Christine Jones is wife and mother of four. She graduated with a degree in Classical Music Analysis & Performance, began working in the mid-90s, entering the teaching field via an apprenticeship scheme. She has 25 yrs experience in Education comprising: Public, Private & Alternative Secondary & 6th Form Classroom Teaching; Choral Directing (County Youth Choirs, Adult Choirs, School Choirs, University Choirs); Singing Teaching (coaching for ABRSM Gr.5-8 & National Youth Choir Auditions); Advisory Teacher Professional Development Program Delivery (Aural/Vocal Approach Musicianship); Delivering Whole School INSET Programs & Conference Presentations across the UK (over 10 yrs); Corporate Choral Sessions for Management Training Programs, and Delivery of CiPD Training Program; Co-Teaching (& Designing) of Module on Concert Audience Engagement for Post Grad Ed Students. She is not a trained mental health professional, just a keen observer of reality, and independent researcher seeking answers to questions about what ails our education system, our culture, and our kids.
You can find Christine on X @thepalmerworm, and
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Pamela Garfield-Jaeger has worked as an LCSW for over 20 years in a variety of settings and programs. Most recently she worked with teens in school and outpatient settings. She realized that the vast majority of parents are unprepared to engage the Mental Health system from a position on knowledge and understanding. She is here to help educate parents on what to expect and how to interact with a very complicated and insular system.
Topics of this conversation include:
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school counselors being horrible;
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involving parents;
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parental rights;
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how wrong our mental health system is;
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how therapy speak is ruining us all;
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how kids shouldn’t be encouraged to be peer counselors;
and whatever else is on her mind…
Follow Pam on X @truththerapist, and check out her website, work, public speaking and service offerings here: https://linktr.ee/thetruthfultherapist
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Daniel Buck, practicing classroom teacher, and author of "What is wrong with our schools?" joins me to discuss his book, so I can (I hope) persuade you to BUY IT AND READ IT. To be an effective advocate for your children, you to know and understand what you're asking for (and rejecting) when it comes to their education. If you want transparency, you need to know enough about education to evaluate what you're given. Daniel's book will give you both, in a short 200 pages!
I am NOT paid to endorse the book, nor was I given a copy. I bought myself, so you can trust me completely on this, it will be the most important book you read all year. Buy it here: https://a.co/d/foMcs8R Daniel Buck is a senior visiting fellow at the Fordham Institute, editor-in-chief of Chalkboard Review, and author. He earned his master's degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. His work has appeared in various publications including National Review, the Wall Street Journal, RealClearEducation, and The New York Post. He has taught English literature and English as a second language in public and private schools at the middle and high-school levels.
Find Daniel on Twitter @mrdanielbuck
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Parents: if you're looking to school choice to deliver your children from "woke" curricula and activist teachers, my guest wants you to understand these problems aren't a function of a given school as much as they are a function of the teachers in the classroom, how and why they came to teaching in the first place, and the pedagogy they bring with them.
Dan argues that "Inactivist" teachers, or those who do not see themselves as organizers and liberators, adoptive parents, or therapists, not only aren't "made" in Ed school, they can't be "made," period. Instead, they are "born" and have a completely different mindset about education, the craft and responsibility of the teaching profession, and the role of parents in their children’s lives.
Dan Clemens is a Canadian-born international teacher. As an undergraduate in Philosophy, he was a Marxist atheist. He is now in ‘recovery.’ He initially gravitated towards critical theory and The Frankfurt School and did his Masters thesis on Marcuse and Fromm. He went to teach in South Korea for two years then returned home to enter a PhD program but found it to be “woke” that is, focused on (Critique and Social Transformation, Ways of Knowing). He became disillusioned and had a different kind of political awakening. He lost faith in the program and several options. That exploration led him to voluntarily withdraw from the program. He went to Ed school, then back to teach in Asia. He is now in his fourth year teaching in China.
Inspiration for this show comes from his two recent articles on Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/unchang... https://open.substack.com/pub/unchang... Follow Dan on Twitter @Rieffian and on Substack at Unchanging.substack.com
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Jeremy Tate, founder and CEO of the Classic Learning Test speaks to us about standardized testing — is it still relevant, if so how, and what can parents do to ensure their kids are achieving? We also discuss why he (and I) think Classical Education is the optimal style of education for a self-governing people. Jeremy Tate is the founder and CEO of the Classic Learning Test. Jeremy is also the host of the Anchored Podcast, CLT’s top 2% global podcast that features discussions at the intersection of education and culture. Prior to founding CLT, Jeremy served as Director of College Counseling at Mount de Sales Academy in Catonsville, Maryland. He received his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from Louisiana State University and a Masters in Religious Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary. Jeremy and his wife, Erin, reside in Annapolis, Maryland with their six children.
You can find Jeremy on Twitter @JeremyTate41. Classic Learning Test Website: https://www.cltexam.com/
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We’ve been told the low, LOW NAEP test scores out this year were so low because of Covid, and school closures, but is that accurate? Lynne Taylor, an expert on Common Core, and it’s long-term impact on learning outcomes joins me to assess the situation, and to explain how and why the “crisis” we perceive today was set in motion decades ago.Lynne Taylor has been recognized by her peers as an expert in Common Core, Career Tech Education, Career Pathways, workforce and competency based education reform, social emotional learning (child abuse) STEM/STEAM/STREAM from the UN, and federal overreaches into education and our families.
Her work has been recognized and honored by Charlotte Iserbyt, legendary education whistleblower. Lynne humbly carries on Charlotte's mission to expose corruption in, not only education, but of our nation.
Since 2002, she has been a featured speaker at small meetings and large conferences, and a multi media guest on several outlets, nationwide. Since 2009, she has served as a frequent guest on nationwide radio and multimedia shows based out of a dozen States (so far). Lynne also helped co-establish PIE NC (Preserving Integrity and Excellence in Education for NC) circa 2012.
Lynne is a retired private (homeschool) teacher and regionally recognized support group leader, wife and mom. Lynne was also an adviser to the national grassroots campaign "Child Abuse in the Classroom,” where it is the campaign's belief that "Repealing ESSA and Restoring FERPA" are the best ways to help restore our nation's education system.business owner and children's ministry director (2 separate churches), board member for Heart for Homeschoolers Ministry, and leadership team member for US PIE (Parents Involved in Education).
She has been awarded the 2011 Distinguished Educator from the National Society of High School Scholars, as well as the 2016 L&B Network's Torchbearer Award for educational advocacy. She has appeared several times before the NC General Assembly in efforts to preserve freedom in education, and has written researched articles for "Prevent Common Core" and the Patriot Institute.Lynne blogs at Common Core Diva and is currently, a weekly guest on The Sons of Liberty Media Show's Wednesday "Rotten to the Core" episodes. Most recently, Lynne has joined forces with another independent thinker, Suzanne Hamner (Hamner It Out on Brighteon) to create the Liberty Belles. "Catching Fire TV", a project of the American Policy Center (Tom DeWeese) has extended an opportunity for Lynne's own show.
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We're told "Equity Math" is what black students need to improve math skills, but is that true? With the recent dismal scores on the NAEP, especially for black students, this question seems more relevant than ever.
I asked John Wilson to join me to address it, and to talk about how he thinks the black parents of his students feel about it. His answers will surprise you.
John H. Wilson, III became the full-time Education and Enrichment Program (EEP) Director in 2006 at West Angeles Church after earning his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from George Washington University and enjoying a 20-year career as an aerospace engineer and years of volunteer youth work in his church and community. Under his direction for over two decades, EEP has grown from modest math tutoring sessions to a noteworthy educational program that has provided year-round enrichment opportunities to thousands of youth, mostly non-members, from over 50 middle and high schools across Los Angeles County and serving more than 600 families. From 2004 until now, through his vision and work, over 2,000 youth in the Los Angeles and Long Beach area have attained an affordable college. Over this time, John has developed an expertise for admission, enrollment, financial aid and many other details of the college access process John’s vision to provide the best resources developed into a partnership with Princeton Review for SAT Prep classes; a CSU Summer Algebra Institute for 6th through 9th graders; a Summer Bridge Program to enhance math, science and language skills; and a College Readiness Program to equip students for higher-learning. He also established youth Life Skills Workshops and a Parent Institute to communicate vital information. Finally, John has mentored dozens of students to and through successful careers. His region-wide outreach includes coaching math teachers and consulting with charter school staff to help them build strong math curriculums. John has also served on several community boards at El Camino Community College, received the Vertie Blackwell Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, El Camino Community Service Award in 2007, and the NAACP Man of Valor Award in 2006 and 2010. John has 3 successful grown children and is married and lives in Long Beach.
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Join Dr. Ping and me as we discuss his new book, A Spectre is Haunting America (available from the link below), and about how China's centrally-planned, micro-managed economy, complete with social credit scoring system, are increasingly lauded by our own elite as THE model to follow.
Dr. Pingnan Shi, Ph.D., aka Dr. Ping, grew up during China’s Cultural Revolution. His father was imprisoned, and his family was kicked out of their apartment during the Big Purge after Mao used the Red Guards to overthrow the government under Liu Shaoqi. He experienced poverty and witnessed mass starvation and public execution. In elementary school, he and his classmates were brainwashed by political officers to criticize their teachers, parents, and classmates. Like hundreds of millions of Chinese people, he was traumatized by the Red Terror. After Mao’s death, China opened its door to the outside world. Dr. Shi went to Canada in 1984 for his graduate studies in Electrical Engineering. He wanted to help China become a democracy. But his dream was crushed when the Chinese government under Deng Xiaoping sent in tanks and soldiers with assault weapons to massacre college students protesting peacefully in Tiananmen Square. It was then he realized the evil of Communism.
Dr. Shi immigrated to the US in 1995 and had worked as an engineer for 16 years before becoming a high school math teacher. He taught in a private Christian college preparatory school for seven years and realized the fundamental problems with America’s education. In 2018, he started a nonprofit to develop and advocate alternative education models. In May 2021, he was alarmed by the hiring of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) officers in the Indiana State government and several large school districts. It reminded him of the political officers during the Cultural Revolution. He spent a couple of months researching the origin of DEI and found that Marxism has already controlled most of America’s higher education, especially in schools of education. He thought Communism died after the Tiananmen Massacre but was shocked to see that it is very much alive in America’s college campuses. Since then, he has published several articles warning the American people about the evilness and danger of Marxism. He also has a weekly YouTube show where he interviews teachers and parents to expose Communism in K-12 education and explore alternative education models. He is committed to speaking to as many Americans as possible of the imminent danger of Communism.
Buy the book
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This is longer than my usual podcast, but we wanted to delve into this topic in depth. Professor of Linguistics, Alaric Naudé and I were watching a recording of a lecture at Rowan University in New Jersey during this show, and commenting on what we saw and heard, so my apologies for comments about visuals, you can watch the video here to see what we’re talking about. I tried to read the slides we were looking at so you wouldn’t miss anything in the audio version.
The gist of their presentation is that ascribing gender can be an act of aggression if you don’t have the proper authority to do it, and that means you mom and dad! We didn’t get to the part of their lecture where they go into depth on second and third-person gendering, so I recommend listening to the full lecture, but we did our best to explain why all of this is, to put a fine point on it, kinda nuts. That said, don’t be comforted by how “nuts” it seems. Many people take it seriously, including their audience of would-be K12 teachers. You should know what teachers are being taught because whether public or private, schools share the same pipeline. Don’t assume their students reject these notions. In fact, for your children’s sake, assume they don’t.
Alaric Naudé has written "everything is language, and language is everything." In this show, he explains why understanding this fact, and understanding how people use language to quite literally alter the way we think, about the world and each other, is more important than ever right now. If you're interested in the subject of ideological indoctrination, of children especially, or wondering how we got to the point where a nominee for the Supreme Court could say, under oath, that she does not know what a "woman" is, this is the show for you. Alaric is a Professor of Linguistics at Suwon Science College in the Republic of Korea. He is an expert scholar, researcher and free thinker in the fields of education, linguistics, social science and business. In 2020, during the global Covid19 pandemic he became Head Professor of the English Department. Due to this unique worldview, his extensive academic research network extends from Korea, Australia, the UK, the Netherlands, USA, Japan, China, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, India, Indonesia to Sudan. At present, his international collaboration includes increasing the quality and educational opportunities in Pakistan. The scope of his publications covers communication, business, linguistics, translation, education and social sciences to name but a few. You can read more of Professor Naudé's writings on his website.
Please consider supporting my work with a paid subscription! Your support helps me produce as much free content as possible to help people fight back against woke agendas in schools!
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In this show, Dennis Noel Kavanagh, of the Queens Speech Podcast and Dennis Noel Kavanagh Substack walks us through the Mermaids UK charity scandal, unfolding as we speak.
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He also helps us answer the following questions, answers we should take seriously, and treat as lessons we can use to prevent worse horrors being visited on American children:
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How did charities like Mermaids get started and gain so much support so fast?
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What do we mean when we talk about “grooming” and “misinformation” when it comes to “gender care?”
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How do gender/queer theorists and groomers hide their toxic predation from average, everyday people, parents especially, and why is it legal when they do
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How is gender theory homophobic?
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What do we mean when we call the “trans” craze a “cult?”
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Why are we so damn afraid to open our mouths and challenge gender and queer theory (and what IS “queer theory”)?
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Why isn’t it enough to get gender theory out of the schools, and how can parents safeguard their children wherever they are?We are truly blessed to have Dennis speaking out on this topic, and I sincerely hope you will listen to this show and share it with at least one other person!Parents especially need to reclaim their role as #1 EXPERT in their child’s life, even when they don’t know what to do themselves. They should hand-pick ALL the other adults who have any access to their children, especially when they are confused and hurting! As Dennis says, if you wouldn’t hire them to babysit your kids while you go out to dinner, you shouldn’t allow them to “treat” your child’s mental illness!Dennis Noel Kavanagh is a former criminal barrister and now legal commentator, he is one of the three directors of the "Gay Men's Network", a not for profit organization fighting modern forms of homophobia. He joins me to discuss the willful manipulation and conversion of vulnerable children by the Mermaids "charity in the UK. We'll discuss what if anything we can take from this scandal in our fight to protect American kids from the same fate.
Subscribe to Dennis's Substack at
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Last week was “Banned Books Week,” which in itself is predicated on a lie, but it’s just one of many lies told by librarians in the United States.
Dan Kleinman and I discuss how the American Library Association trains its members to lie to parents, and the public, even if it means violating state law. We also talk specifically about what a book ban “is” and isn’t, and what really motivates librarians to engage in this subterfuge (hint: it’s not just politics).
Dan Kleinman is the owner SafeLibraries® brand library educational services. For over almost a quarter Century he has raised public awareness of crime, sexual harassment in libraries, and inappropriate books and web sites in schools due to American Library Association policy. ⚖️ See SafeLibraries
Also follow him on Twitter @SexHarassed or email SafeLibraries@pm.me.
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Stop me if you’ve heard this one: “They’re teaching kids WHAT to think, not HOW to think!”
Sounds about right at first, until you look more closely at what’s happening in schools. Kids are being taught HOW to think — like social justice activists—but more importantly, they’re being taught WHAT TO FEEL.
Teaching kids to evaluate every situation based on how it makes them feel, and evaluating every person based on how that person feels, or makes them feel, is very dangerous. Most frightening of all, teaching kids which feelings they should have is downright abusive, and a violation of their personal boundaries and individual autonomy.
”Empathy” has been weaponized, and schools are making sure your kids will be “carrying” when they come home to your values.
Paul and I explain why this is a problem, and what you can do about it!
Paul Rossi is a high school mathematics teacher, tutor, writer, and musician. He has been tutoring since 2007 and taught math at Grace Church School from 2012 to 2021. His essay "I Refuse to Stand by While My Students are Indoctrinated" [link] was published in April 2021. He's done a bevy of podcasts with hosts such as as Jordan Peterson and Megyn Kelly. He graduated with a B.A. in French Literature from Cornell in 1992, and got an M.A. in Educational Psychology at Hunter College in 2010. He's currently writing a Guide to free expression for K-12 students.
Follow Paul on Twitter here: @pauldrossi
Please consider supporting my work with a paid subscription! Your support helps me produce as much free content as possible to help people fight back against woke agendas in schools!
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When is a school really “open?” Is it when kids aren’t forced to do virtual school, or is it when they don’t need to show proof of vaccination to enter the building, or participate in before/after-school activities?
What if you’re a teacher, who can’t go to work (or keep your job) because you aren’t vaccinated, and refuse to get vaccinated?
These are some of the questions we tackle in this show.
Stephanie Edmonds has been a tireless fighter for medical freedom for students, and to restore childhood and parental rights and autonomy. She's a creator at Chalkboard Review, a mom, and a former teacher.
You can follow Stephanie @teachingliberty on Instagram and @TeachingLiberty1 on Twitter.
Please consider supporting my work with a paid subscription! Your support helps me produce as much free content as possible to help people fight back against woke agendas in schools!
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In this show, Alvin Lui and I go over how woke ideas get into school, and why they’re so hard to combat, or get out. We also unveil Courage is a Habit’s latest explainer about the different kinds of abusers in and around your child’s school, and how you should deal with them!
Listen and learn about the Activist, the Liar, the Troll, and the Spineless, how they behave, and how (or if) you should engage with them.
Alvin Lui, President of Courage Is A Habit, is a political refugee from California. He moved his family to the mid-west only to find the same ideologies that ruined his old home are now spreading across the country. Courage Is A Habit is an organization that creates tools and strategies for the average parent, school board candidate, and legislator to take action in defending children from indoctrination in K-12.
Follow Alvin @CourageHabit on Twitter, and visit https://courageisahabit.org for everything you need to subvert the woke agenda in your school!
Please consider supporting my work with a paid subscription! Your support helps me produce as much free content as possible to help people fight back against woke agendas in schools!
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If you think supporting School Choice is a no-brainer, you need to hear from Nicki. Before you leap to embrace this supposed salvation from the public schools you think you're "stuck" with, take the time to fully understand what the government's definition of "choice" is, and how that affects you, and the future of education in America. Nicki is a second-generation homeschooler, author of the book Anyone Can Homeschool, homeschool blogger for 13 years, and a 22-year veteran homeschooling mom. She also speaks at homeschool conferences and publishes a series of American history books from primary sources.
Website: http://Nickitruesdell.com
Bookstore: http://knowledgekeepersbookstore.com
Facebook: https://facebook.com/nickitruesdellof...
Instagram: http://Instagram.com/Nickitruesdell
Twitter: @nickitruesdell1
I do try to make as much of my content free as I can, for the benefit of parents who need it, however it is paid subscribers who make this work possible, and to whom I am profoundly grateful. Please consider becoming one today!
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Mercedes Grant is a former public educator that founded Path of Life Learning, a microschool in Yorktown, VA. She is a military spouse who has worked in the public school system in four states, and decided to break away to offer an exciting and exceptional learning experience for her daughter and her students. She can be reached at PathofLifeLearning@gmail.com, and you can follow her journey on Facebook @facebook.com/pathoflifelearning.
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Ray Raymond has a teaching career spanning 29 years in both public and private schools from the kindergarten to the university level. He is still employed in the California public schools system. He's also spent 10 years as Master Teacher (teaching education students who are finishing their degrees by having them internship in his classroom).
He has numerous teaching and tech awards, served on numerous curriculum adoption committees, and is a Math and Science Coach
Credentials: Bachelor's in Child Psychology Master's in Educational Philosophy He is currently writing his dissertation.
Thanks for listening, sharing, and subscribing!
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Frank McCormick was back at The Reason We Learn today to catch us up about what he’s been doing since he took a stand last year in his district of Waukegan, Illinois. A former History and Civics teacher, Frank tried to fight critical theories from inside his school quietly, inside his classroom, but outside the school, he built a platform at Chalkboard Heresy, and told the truth about what was going on behind the schoolhouse doors. For that truth-telling, he paid dearly.
After being harassed, bullied, defamed, and then ignored by his union, Frank recently decided to take a job offer elsewhere, and left. In this broadcast, he explains what why, how he sees the landscape of public education in America now, and what parents can and should do to protect their own kids.
Thanks for listening, sharing, and subscribing!
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Shelly is a Homeschooling mom and YouTuber whose channel, There’s No Place Like Home, helps new and experienced homeschooling parents alike learn and grow as they customize their children’s educations.
In this show, she joins me to talk about the following:
What homeschooling is and isn’t, debunking a couple of myths along the way.
What new homeschoolers need to do, and not do, to maximize their success.
Why homeschoolers should be wary of School Choice initiatives.
Whether you’re thinking about homeschooling, or already doing it, you’ll get something out of this show!
Thanks for listening! Be sure to follow Shelly on her channel, and on Twitter @redheadmom8.
Your paid subscription makes this work possible! Thank you for subscribing.
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Josh Daws is the host of the Great Awakening podcast (available wherever podcasts are), where he talks about how woke ideas are infiltrating churches, and Christianity in general, and what to do about it.
We talked about this topic, his story, and how he and his wife decided to homeschool their kids, and how that's going.
I asked him what common ground he thought there was between secular homeschool families and Christian, and together we came up with some ideas for joining forces to homeschool our kids and provide exit ramps from schools!
Check it out!
Follow Josh @JoshDaws on Twitter, and check out his podcast, The Great Awakening wherever podcasts are available, and his YouTube at Josh Daws.
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Barrington Martin, II was born and raised in the great city of Atlanta, GA. After qualifying for a the 2020 Congressional primary in Georgia’s 5th District, he’s become a formidable political thought leader in the nation with writing credits in Newsweek, Fox News, Breitbart, ScoonTv, and appearances on various international news media sources including RT News and Sky Australia.
He is the host of ‘The Barrington Report” on ATL Talks radio, on iHeart radio.
During this conversation, we discussed the influences that made Barrington into the successful, confident man he is today, the most important of which was his family.
We talked about racial “achievement gaps,” disaggregation of data by race, and what he thinks of that, and I asked him what’s missing from education today.
Finally, we discussed how well (or poorly) government solves problems in education.
This was a great conversation, full of something all too rare today: common sense and honesty.
Enjoy, and please share!
Contact Barrington:
@_Barringtonii -Twitter
@bdmii_ -Instagram
Thank you for supporting my work!
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“Tranpa” Buck Angel stopped by The Reason We Learn today, and we had a great conversation!
Here are the questions I asked, and he answered, with grace and humor, passion, and wisdom:
Who is Buck Angel, and what would you like us to know about you?
What can you tell us about feeling like the opposite sex, if you can describe it to us, what is that like?
What do you think of “wrong-body” theory?
What do you think there was about living as a man you wanted in your life?
What do you think of that change from “gender dysphoria” to “gender identity?”
Do you have any theories about why so many kids today think they are trans?
What do you think is the real distribution of people whose gender dysphoria is organic?
In school, feeling as you did, do you think it would have been appropriate for your teachers to affirm you, or counselors to socially transition you, or help you medically transition?
Do you think your struggle was, in any way helpful to you?
Let’s talk about the “affirmation” model of care…
Do you think the adults working in and around kids right now adequately understand what they’re teaching kids?
Proponents of affirmation claim they are helping the kids be “safer” in the world, that they’re saving lives (from suicide) and preventing hate. Do you agree with these claims?
What’s your advice?
What would you like to say to these teachers, counselors, and therapists, most of whom probably think they’re doing good, and are well-meaning?
What’s the best argument in your opinion for waiting until adulthood?
What would you say to the kids, especially teenagers, who would probably say they feel exactly the way you did about their bodies, about feeling like they’re in the wrong body, etc?
What about well-meaning parents? What would you tell parents today who are struggling to love and support their children, but who don’t want them making permanent decisions about their bodies until they’re physically and emotionally more mature?
Many thanks to Buck for coming on the show, and for the audience for participating! Please share this show with parents, teachers, counselors, and anyone else you think would benefit from hearing it!
Please follow Buck on Twitter @BuckAngel, and check out his website too.
Buck stuck around with me on Patreon for 30 minutes of “bonus” material for Patrons only, including questions about his background in the porn industry, and his reaction to those who blame porn for a host of different societal problems, including problems our kids are having.
Thanks for checking it out and supporting me!
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Most parents don’t receive any formal education in child development, and the educators pushing toxic ideologies in American schools are benefitting from their ignorance. As someone committed to helping parents protect their children, I asked Professor Alaric Naudé to help me explain exactly how children’s brains develop, and how they actually learn, so parents can better understand why the threat posed by critical social justice, and gender ideology is so great.
In this broadcast, Alaric we discuss child development stages, what is and is not appropriate in terms of material at each stage, why respecting childhood innocence matters, and how normalizing language and behaviors that assault this innocence is evil.
Our kids are in very real danger, cognitively, as well as emotionally, and ultimately, in many cases, physically. It is up to us to learn all we can about what they need so we can properly protect them from adults who do not have their best interests at heart.
To that end, I hope you will listen to this show, and share it with other parents as well!
You can follow Alaric on Twitter @AlaricNaude or on his website.
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Fellow Gen-Xer David Krae joined me for a conversation about the current cultural trends known collectively as "Woke" culture, looking at them (and "interrogating" them, as the kids today say) through the lens of our Gen-X childhoods.
We covered TV, movies, education, parenting, working in corporate America, Hollywood, and the government, and so much more! If you’re Gen-X, or a fan of Gen-X culture, and just want to be a fly on the wall of a relatable conversation, check it out!
David Krae is a film director, actor, producer and author. After years working on both sides of the camera as an actor and crew member on various film and television projects, in 2006 he directed the independent feature film The House, which was featured as an Official Selection of the Canadian Filmmakers' Festival.
Find him via his website, and on Twitter @DavidKrae
Find his historical fiction on Amazon.
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This show is essential listening/viewing if you want to better understand why Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is so popular amongst progressive/woke educators today (and ed-tech firms, and the Federal Department of Education).
This show began as a collaboration between ScioSophia, Lisa Logan and I, and rapidly turned into a panel discussion featuring James Lindsay of New Discourses, and Paul Rossi of Legal Insurrection when the two joined us not long after we started!
The “paper” we reference throughout the broadcast, which you can read for yourself because it’s publicly available, is titled Psychodata: disassembling the psychological, economic, and statistical infrastructure of ‘social-emotional learning’.
One thing we all agreed on: this is the creepiest paper we’ve ever read about education.
Whether you’re a parent or not, you need to understand where the few want to take the many in the future, and how they’re using children to take us there. Even we would wonder where our tinfoil hats were if we hadn’t verified the information presented in this paper ourselves. It’s legit, and the people writing and promoting these ideas, think we are the “problematic” ones for opposing them.
Have a listen, and decide for yourselves.
I welcome all comments to this one, it’s that important.
Thanks as always for your support! When you become a paid subscriber, you help make this work possible.
Follow me on twitter @deb_fillman
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Love is powerful stuff.
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Ada Akpala was one of my first guests ever on The Reason We Learn, but it’s been a while since we’ve talked. We try to get together as often as we can just to talk about current events, historical events, and culture to compare notes. She shares what she’s seeing and hearing in the UK, and I share my American perspective. Our conversations are always spontaneous, honest, and fun!
In this episode, we discuss:
The Queen’s Jubilee, and perceptions of the monarchy in the UK.
Identity markers, and how they don’t work.
Gender Ideology.
Perspectives on Gun Control, hers, mine, and our respective cultures.
Character education, and who’s responsible for it.
Ada is the host of her own YouTube channel, Different Voice Initiative where she provides alternative perspectives to historical events and current events, and challenges false narratives and mainstream beliefs in relation to the two. She’s also active on Instagram and Twitter, @Ada_Akpala. I hope you’ll follow and subscribe to her there too!
Enjoy, and as always, thank you for your support! It makes this work possible.
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Today, I sat down with Dennis Noel Kavanagh to discuss an issue that keeps me up nights: the gender ideology dominating the places where our children — as young as 3 — go for daycare, school, socializing, and interaction online. I asked Dennis to talk with us today because of his experience and background fighting against this ideology, and for gay rights, in the UK.
If you’re unfamiliar with Dennis, he is former criminal barrister and now legal commentator, he is one of the three directors of the "Gay Men's Network", a not for profit organization fighting modern forms of homophobia. You can read his writing, and learn more about him on his Substack.
If you’ve been thinking something is seriously wrong with the affirmation-model of care pushed by the mainstream, including the Biden Administration, the medical and psychiatric community, and even the Department of Education, you need to hear from Dennis.
He covered things you won’t be hearing much about elsewhere:
the ahistorical nature, top-down nature of the “Trans” movement
the cult-like/pseudo-religious nature of the ideology
the EX-clusion (excommunication) of de-transitioners
the impact of “tolerating” trans ideology on gay children and adults
how the U.S. has gone farther down the rabbit hole than the UK, and Dennis’ theory of why that is
how the LGB individuals are targeted, abused, and punished for speaking out
what we can, and must do ASAP to protect our kids, and our families from this dangerous ideology
Thank you for listening, and sharing this broadcast.
Please also consider becoming a paid supporter of this Substack. I’m fully independent, and your support makes it possible for me to bring you content like this!
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Posting this out of order because it’s that good, and I wanted to get it out ASAP. Many thanks to Freddie deBoer for joining me today, and sharing his common sense, straightforward wisdom with me and my audience!
This episode was inspired by his April 27th Substack, Nobody Walks Around Feeling Valid, which I loved, and you should read if you haven’t already. There is so much in there to think about, but was what made me realize I wanted to do a show for my audience of mostly parents of school and college-aged kids:
“The first and most obvious point is that nobody knows what it means to be “valid.” It’s entirely unclear to me what the boundaries are for this notion of validity, which is not true for more durable concepts like happiness. To be “valid” means whatever people find convenient at the time, making the condition a moving target. And if we recognize “happiness” as the simplest expression of the emotional state humans desire, there’s an essential way in which being happy is very different from being valid: happiness can come from within, at least theoretically, but being valid always implies some sort of exterior criteria.” [Emphasis mine]
Now consider the self-esteem movement pushed into schools, and then the anti-bullying campaigns, and finally, Social Emotional Learning programs, or SEL…What are we teaching our kids, and more to the point, WHY?! Does it make any sense at all, or are we not only in denial about our true nature as humans, but hurting them by forcing them to externalize their self-worth, while at the same time making them feel even worse if they aren’t walking around loving everything about themselves all day?
I’m a firm believer in making sure we don’t do anything in our teaching and rearing of kids that isn’t based on evidence that it works, and by “works,” I mean “benefits them.” We should always be gut-checking to make sure we aren’t projecting our wishes, hopes, dreams, fears, and insecurities onto them, never mind using the equivalent of junk-science woo-woo, with a chaser of snake-oil, because it makes us look or feel good to “do something.”
Very often, it’s the “doing” of “something” that causes the problems we later want to “do something” more about…
Maybe we should step back, take a good long look at reality, and embrace that, even if it’s a little uncomfortable? Just a suggestion.
Enjoy the show!
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Mark Ousley, aka "Unwokable” and I sat down to talk about the politics of fighting woke ideas, and warned us not to make blanket assumptions based on political party affiliation. We also talked about how more conservative states may be accidentally promoting very bad ideas because of what he calls the “innately corrupt” system of education we have now.
Using his home state of Oklahoma to illustrate his point, he explained the way lawmakers and other public officials don’t know what they don’t know, and are resistant to changing course even once they find out how things really work. Objective data be-damned, preserving political power is job-one, and the price of taking a bold stand will be too high for them.
At the same time, Mark is careful not to impugn intentions. These otherwise “conservative” politicians are not actively trying to promote the woke ideas, but they are loath to go after the administrative state, which includes DEI Directors and their departments. Conservatives tend to go after teachers, rather than these administrators, but even like-minded, conservative teachers are at their mercy.
Mark’s beef? Politicians appoint the people who appoint these people, and yet refuse to hold them accountable for political reasons. So nothing stands in the way of the funding for these unelected bureaucrats who are responsible for implementing the umbrella policy for all woke curricula: DEI.
This is the second show Mark and I have done together, and I’m grateful to Mark for joining me because he has deep knowledge of both sides of this subject. I encourage you to watch our other show, and to subscribe to his YouTube and Substack, and follow him on Twitter @AcsAgainstCRT
0:00 Introductions
5:00 The innately corrupt system
16:00 Why DEI is the real problem
27:00 “Enforcement” is really what the “E” stands for
43:41 A solution in search of a problem
55:00 Destroying the truth
1:08:00 The rise of the administrative state
1:22:00 The Republicans have a huge hand in this problem
1:36:00 People have forgotten what “conservatism” really is
1:52:51 The system has its own immune system
1:59:00 We have to hold our own accountable, and the devil is in the details
Interested in learning more about alternatives to institutional K12 education, and want to get more direct interaction with other people who are?
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In this episode, I sit down with Rhyen Staley, a former teacher and coach, turned researcher with Parents Defending Ed. to discuss his findings about ethnic studies, or more specifically “Liberated Ethnic Studies,” which is not your mom or dad’s “Multicultural” education at all.
Sadly, it, like so many allegedly “must-have,” DEI-focused curricula, is just another way for activists to infuse the K12 curriculum with Marxist ideology.
Rhyen explains how the concept of “Radical Love,” from Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed, takes the word “love” itself, and turns it upside down, and inside out. With this concept, Freire takes the traditional Marxist dogma that self-sacrifice is an obligation, and connects it to liberation. Therefore, it is impossible to “love” unless you are fighting for the liberation of “marginalized people.” The problem is, his definition of “liberation,” as Rhyan explains, simply means “free from all traditional norms and societal expectations,” especially those we value (even treasure) from the Western Enlightenment.
Rhyen has written about this himself on his Substack in his article entitled The NEA, Ethnic Studies, and Socialism, and I highly recommend reading his full report too as a companion to this show.
My goal is to help Rhyen, and others like him, disseminate this information to people who may still be stuck on CRT (or what James Lindsay more accurately calls ‘Race Marxism’), because ultimately we have to realize how intentional the effort is to subvert, and rewrite our cultural mores and values, for the purpose of (quite literally), rewriting (or eliminating altogether) our Constitutional principles.
You can follow Rhyen on Twitter @DunedainRanger9
Here on Substack at The Reconnaissance
Also check out past interviews with Rhyen on The Reason We Learn about What Your Kids are Not Learning in School, and The Lessons We Teach When We Don’t Discipline in Schools.
2:21 Acknowledging the contributions of the Jewish Community.
4:22 In there own words: what is “Liberated Ethnic Studies?”
6:58 Translating the vocabulary of Marxist Educators.
10:40 Paulo Freire’s “Radical Love.”
17:11 Why the word “Groomer” is accurate.
22:00 Challenging “hegemony,” and redefining “normalcy.”
32:45 Ascent of the “Freirians.”
46:00 Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Freire and Fromm.
58:00 How reality gets labeled “conspiracy.”
1:20:00 “Submit, or else…” The religious overtones of Liberation Ethnic Studies.
1:35:25 Real world application: analyzing “The Slap” through a Freirian lens.
Interested in learning more about alternatives to institutional K12 education, and want to get more direct interaction with other people who are?
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Try Subscriber features for one month FREE using code SUBSTACK
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Last week I was a fortunate enough to interview Dr. Ping, a child of Mao’s Cultural Revolution who managed to educate himself (he was always naturally good at math, he explains), and go onto college and graduate school.
In 1995, he moved to Indianapolis to work as a senior engineer, and later became a US citizen. In 2011, after retiring from engineering, he became a math teacher, and began to notice similarities in the American Schools to those he experienced during the cultural revolution. Not seeing reform of the existing system as a solution, in 2018 he started a non-profit organization, Poema Institute, to research and promote alternative education models.
During this conversation, we talk about what those eery similarities are, why they’re harmful to our kids right now, and how dangerous they are for the future of the country, and Western civilization as we know it.
More optimistically, we talked about what we can do right now to improve education for our kids, while protecting them from the damage of the Marxist/Maoist ideas dominating K-12 in America right now.
Dr. Ping deserves our full attention. Who better to raise the alarm, and help us understand why it’s essential to use our freedoms while we can, lest we lost them? I’m grateful he took the time to do this interview, and hope not only to have him back again soon, but to work with him on building alternatives in the near future!
Read Dr. Ping's Book, Our Children Are Not Prepared https://www.amazon.com/Our-Children-A...
Read his article Education 4.0: Transforming Students to Masters Instead of Slaves https://www.patreon.com/posts/19306338
You can find Dr. Ping on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/c/TakingBackEducation
7:19 The Four Olds
20:29 Marxism is a religion
22:20 What’s wrong with math right now?
30:09 Dumbing us down
42:57 We don’t teach reason
49:04 Building a “new” world requires destruction
1:16:21 “Education 4.0: The Lost Tools for Learning, and the Microschool Initiative
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Robert Pondiscio is someone I’ve followed, and admired, for years. The author of How the Other Half Learns, he has been a consistent voice of reason in the public school reform, and education press for going on twenty years. His commitment to understanding, and advocating, for what works, especially where literacy is concerned, is what I admire most about him, and we talked a lot about his views on literacy in this interview.
An on-again, off-again Elementary school teacher himself, he talked about his time in the classroom, how he got there (it wasn’t his intention originally to become a teacher), and what he’s passionate about as he approaches his milestone anniversary of working in the field of education.
I will confess, I approached this interview with some trepidation; as many of you know, I am a government compulsory school abolitionist. That means I have almost no hope we can reform the current system. Robert not only has more hope than I do, he is a supporter of public schooling, and believes it not only will always exist, but that it must. I wasn’t sure how our conversation would go when we came to that topic, but I’m pleased to say, as you will hear, Robert opened my eyes to my own blindspots where this subject is concerned, and I’m grateful.
One thing you can count on from me is a commitment to empiricism; I am very opinionated, and not shy about sharing those opinions, but I’m also open to new information, and have no trouble admitting when that new information reveals I was either wrong about, or misunderstanding a topic or situation. It’s a matter of personal pride and integrity to admit that Robert made me realize while reform will be extraordinarily difficult, and may well (as I predict) involve decentralizing the system, and decoupling it from federal purview, abolishing it completely is probably as much of a utopian fantasy as the goals of the “woke” educators he and I challenged in this conversation.
Robert and I are both big E.D. Hirsch fans, and for those of you who are unfamiliar with Hirsch, let me commend to your reading (as a companion to this video and podcast), his book How to Educate a Citizen: the Power of Shared Knowledge to Unify a Nation. My Locals community and I read this book for our bookclub, and had a great discussion about the importance of knowledge-based, or content-based curriculum, and how the current (for the past 30 years and counting actually) trend of relying on student-led and inquiry approaches, has contributed significantly to the poor outcomes we are seeing.
Another thing Robert and I discussed at length is the problems we have in our schools with the teaching of reading, especially reading comprehension. His thoughts on that alone will likely alarm, and motivate most parents to become more vocal, and involved in their child’s education. We agreed, if schools did nothing else but effectively taught kids to read proficiently, with comprehension, we’d already have improved education in America 100%.
It wasn’t all serious; there were lots of funny moments in this discussion too, like when Robert and I discussed our mutual revulsion for “uptalk” and “vocal fry!”
Finally, Robert shared his thoughts on teacher education, what he thinks is wrong with it, and why he worries about the future of public education because of the direction it’s taking.
I so enjoyed this conversation, and we hope to have follow-up about early childhood education sometime soon as well!
Follow Robert @rpondiscio
0:04 Welcome, introductions.
9:09 What’s going on with reading?
14:37 “Reading is not a skill…we are unaware of the verbal water we are swimming in.”
16:01 The importance of knowing stuff: “Hirsch was right.”
19:47 This is how language works
23:14 “Do you want to change the world for children, or do you want to prepare children for the world?”
29:43 “We have a moral obligation to get kids invested in something; if they’re not feeling bought in, excited and engaged in the world, then we’ve failed.”
45:42 Teachers: “It’s not about you!” We need a teacher code of ethics.
51:02 The culture of education.
57:43 A crisis of trust.
1:07:52 “Choice is a meaningless construct when you live in rural America.”
1:19:35 “In my perfect world…”
1:24:47 “You go to school with the teachers you have, not the teachers you wish you had…You have to make this job doable with the men and women you have.”
1:30:26 “We will know that we are serious about education when most of our energy goes to early childhood education….It’s easier to keep up than catch up.”
Join The Reason We Learn Locals Community for homeschool-specific resources, access to LIVE Zoom calls each week, and two private live shows per week created for subs, based on your questions and requests!
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Last week, I sat down with Keri Smith, a self-described “former SJW,” writer, the host of Deprogrammed with Keri Smith, and the founder of Civility Dinners.
We talked about how she grew up in South Carolina, attended an excellent specialized school for math and science, and attended Southern Baptist church, but despite her traditional upbringing, like so many young adults today, she went “woke” in college.
In this conversation, she explains how it happened rather gradually. She was exposed to ideas in her women’s studies classes that seemed aimed at helping people, and making progress for human beings, but she was never presented with alternative ideas about how to go about achieving these goals. Everything was one-sided, but she wasn’t really aware of it until after long after she’d graduated, and built her life and identity around being the kind of person who subscribes to the ideas she learned in college without questioning them.
Keri and I decided to have this conversation on behalf of parents who may be wondering their kids can be indoctrinated into ideas that aren’t good for them, or don’t make sense (yes it can), how it can happen (could seem to be overnight, or it could happen gradually across years), and what if anything they can do to prevent it from happening, or maintain their relationships with their children if it happens anyway, despite their best efforts.
We also wanted to have an open, frank discussion about the grieving process and loss that comes with deprogramming, so everyone can understand it’s not only a long process, much like leaving a cult, it’s a process that takes courage, because it generally includes the loss of friendships, a sense of purpose and belonging, and even sometimes of jobs or careers.
Keri is one of the most open, caring, and insightful people I have had the pleasure of speaking with, and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and that you will find hope in her story. Whether you’re dealing with a “Social Justice Warrior” in your own family, or if you are someone who’s trying to break away from the “Woke” culture, but afraid of the unknown, or of rejection on the other side, Keri has wisdom to offer!
Many thanks to Keri Smith for her generosity in taking the time to talk with me, and for her courage in speaking out about these issues when she’s already gone through so much!
Please also subscribe to Keri’s podcast, Deprogrammed on YouTube and Spotify.Deprogrammed started as a series of interviews intended to better understand and make sense of her old belief system, Social Justice ideology.
Deprogrammed and Civility Dinners are also committed to fostering conversation, creating a culture that respects freedom of speech, and making space for both reason and faith.
Follow Keri @RealKeriSmith on Twitter
0:48 Welcome, introductions
3:20 Falling into “woke” culture
6:47 Confronting “white privilege” for the first time
19:08 Outsourcing “identity”
35:01 Outsourcing judgment and virtue
44:42 The gnostic faith-based cult of “woke”
58:00 The High Priests and Priestesses of the “woke” church
1:03:59 Why deprogramming is so hard
1:39:01 What the deprogrammed lose, and what they gain
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