WE Talk: Recent Episodes
Nita June Davanzo
WE Talk is a podcast that explores the role of Waldorf Education in helping children, parents, and families thrive in an ever-changing world. WE Talk is brought to you by Shining Mountain Waldorf School and hosted by Nita June.
ABOUT THE HOST Nita June is a Waldorf School graduate, attending SMWS from K-12.
After studying Theater and English at Barnard College, Nita worked as actor, director, violinist, and teacher in London, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boulder and Santa Barbara. She holds an MFA in Contemporary Performance from Naropa University and is the Creative Director and Founder of DogStar Theater Company. When not directing, Nita works with both young adults and adults as a counselor and life coach. As host of WE Talk, Nita brings her skills and experience with performance together with her passion for supporting others to find their purpose in the world.
Introduction music for all episodes was created by SoundDotCom.com.
On this episode: - Competing in track and field at a Division I school - Balancing majors - philosophy and Computer Information Systems - Advice to a young athlete
On this episode: - The art of navigating change - Cultivating sustainability in community relationships - How to apply learned skills in various capacities and jobs - Community-minded visioning for a better shared future
On this episode: - Traveling the world as a documentary producer - The gifts of a Waldorf education in filmmaking, communication, and relationship - Finding purpose and beauty in the everyday - Following one's interests to find one's passion
One this episode: - Explorations of life as a Zoom student at Boston University - Reflections on past inspirations leading to present-day endeavors - Inspired plans and visions for a sustainable future - From Waldorf student to creative engineer - Engineering with a deeper purpose
On this episode: - A practitioner's definition of Anthroposophic Medicine - Healing work for the "whole human" - Working with children holistically - The evolution of anthroposophic teaching and training - Ways to support one’s self and family holistically COVID
On this episode: - Advocating for women’s health in the 21st century - Connecting holistic traditions of birth with new practices - Compare and contrast: living and learning in Central America and the American South - Studying medicine in the South during these charged times
On this episode:
- Seeking a deeper understanding of the broader, diverse world
- How experience can be the truest educator
- Forging new perspectives on interrelatedness
- Taking conscious action when the time is right to do so
On this episode: - How the search for meaning leads a career path - Being present with what is, and creating out of that - A typical Waldorf alum trait: always learning - The highs and lows of being a musician
On this episode: - Finding ourselves in the natural world - reconnecting to the essential - exploring the rich and mysterious relationship between human and animal - reframing the position of our species within the order of things
On this episode: - how following one's curiosity led to success and happiness - true talents of a Waldorf education shining through: communication, empathy, and creativity - seeing opportunity and taking the reins - knowing one's strengths and how to implement them - supporting others to shine
On this episode: - shattering the Waldorf "math" myth - finding a new community and a new home - the strengths of test-taking as a Waldorf grad - how to settle into college life seamlessly - virtual dance parties during the time of COVID-19
On this episode: - pursuing curiosity in order to find one's passion - from stylist to nutritional and holistic counseling - cultivating a rich sense of self - creating and supporting beauty and wellness from the inside out
On this episode: - from joyous to uncomfortable - the act of giving - teaching giving and gratitude - cultivating a giving community - tithing, saving and planning - giving as an act of engagement towards positive change - being a part of something bigger than yourself
On this episode: - infusing mindfulness into the creative process of dance and choreography - connecting spirit and creativity - navigating from life as a gymnast into the life of a dancer - how a Waldorf community provided the rich ground of support and belief in one's gifts
On this episode: - how one person can make a huge impact - the inspiration of a Waldorf Education and community - the wisdom of embracing our differences and similarities - bold visions for the future
On this episode: - gratitude and enthusiasm for his Waldorf education - advocacy of learning at one's own pace - the importance of boldness and communication (over high grades)in pursuing your dreams - engineering as an excellent career path even for those not-as-strong in math - how to thrive in creative research pursuits
On this episode: - how a Waldorf education cultivated "big picture thinking" - the essentiality of creativity in business - creating an office culture of respect for and celebration of the individual and the whole - how a Waldorf education teaches "long game" life skills
On this episode: - Debunking the “bad at math myth” of Waldorf education - Top reasons to send a child to a Waldorf school - The learning opportunities presented by failure - Building empathy, resilience, and creative thinking inside the Waldorf classroom - Being a socially responsible investor--before it was “cool”
On this episode: - how Waldorf education sets love of learning aflame - the benefits of choosing a Waldorf high school education - knowing HOW to learn - applying one's creativity and flexibility of thinking to successfully navigate into the field of engineering
On this episode: - Preparing for a life in music during her high school years - Working with diverse and disparate groups to create a cohesive whole - How she continues returning with new passion to her instrument, the cello, again and again - Knowing herself and her dreams from a very young age - Introducing her children to Waldorf education - Balancing work and motherhood
On this episode: - what sets Waldorf students apart - how a deep love for learning is fostered and developed - recognizing and teaching to young adults' universal truths - a rich perspective on Waldorf education as an alum, teacher, and parent
On this episode: - insights on how to go about creating a thriving Waldorf High School - the changing nature of students today, and how Waldorf education meets them - how Waldorf education has changed and developed over time to meet the needs of today - words of wisdom to young adults
On this episode: - how her Waldorf education sparked the drive to be of service - learning how to work with and support healing in female inmates through dance - pursuing that which brings joy and purpose - thoughts on purposeful and integrated mental health and healing
On this episode: - Learning the ropes of winemaking through apprenticeship and mentoring - The beauty of the winemaking process as a gateway to nature and humanity - How a Waldorf education supported the entrepreneurial spirit needed to be successful in the winemaking business - Advice to aspiring young winemakers
On this episode: - How a Waldorf education planted the seed for a life lived with empathy - Trusting yourself to make a change, and knowing how to do it - Seeing the parts and the whole, and making a change - How a Waldorf education strengthens self-knowledge and self-trust
On this episode: - Bringing flexibility of thinking into the business and marketing world - How an athletic mindset contributes to school, studies and work - Embracing the strengths of communication and relationship built through a Waldorf curriculum - Combining one’s passions and interests to forge ahead into the future
On this episode: - The highs and lows of a being on the road as a musician - The role of friendship in the creative process - How Waldorf Education served the strengthening of self, vision, and creative drive - The continued blossoming of friendships seeded 15 years ago.
On this episode:
- One Waldorf student’s perspective on the myriad of riches found in the Waldorf curriculum
- The meaning and purpose of our life--a high school junior’s spot on perspective
- Insights into leadership, teamwork and community
- Visions for the future
On this episode: - how positive relationships with peers and teachers affects learning - knowing one's self in a world of change - recognizing the traits and characteristics of a Waldorf student
On this episode: - - rich learning, tight community, and depth of experience: the stuff that makes a Waldorf education - knowing one's place in the world of things - how the Waldorf high school curriculum offers a myriad of choices--all which develop the self into a wholistic being - loving one's community--teachers and peers.
On this episode: - connecting spirit and self through the window of gender and sexuality - teaching sexual education in the 21st century - how to inspire resilience and will in children and young adults - inner life development as the restorative path for societal challenges and maladies.
On this episode: - Steps and practices for teaching strong language arts skills in the early grades - The importance of one’s word - How building a strong language arts foundation sets students up for success and ease in the later years - From Waldorf parent to Waldorf teacher--the inspiration
On this episode: - Seeing one's place in the movement of time - How Waldorf education nurtures a longing for and finding of a sense of belonging - How to see the future as welcoming - Insight for those seeking to find their path in life
On this episode: - How a Waldorf high school curriculum taught communication, empathy and connection - What it is like to enter a Waldorf school in high school - The openness and warmth of Waldorf students - Making lifelong connections at a crucial point in one’s life
On this episode: - The relationship between love and money - Finding the spiritual side of giving - Cultivating conscious gratitude - 'Electronic currency' as a gift in these busy, modern times - Continuing the lineage of giving at Shining Mountain Waldorf School
On this episode: - How to hold the light and the dark in the movement to protect our earth - How honoring and respect for the world was cultivated in a Waldorf School - The balance between holding space for grief while still moving forward in responsible action - When led by truth and goodness, nothing can stand in one’s way - Relationship as the key factor for future sustainability.
On this episode: - Learning what it means to be human - The developments of Waldorf education over the last 100 years - How Waldorf education is more relevant now than ever - A unique perspective on teaching children through adults - Modeling how to be courageous, curious and confident
On this Episode: - How to find comfort in uncomfortable situations - Being at home within one’s self - How to find genuine personal connections in any situation - Following your passion, trusting yourself - Learning as a lifelong adventure
On this episode: - A fascinating brief history of Demeter and Biodynamic farming - Creating a sustainable future through Biodynamics - How living in alignment with the earth affects one's entire being - Climate change solutions? The answer in the soil - Pragmatic actions to take for climate health--NOW
On this episode: - The recipe for success: commitment, drive, talent and pragmatism - Balancing creativity with discipline - Trusting your intuition - The gifts of collaboration
On this episode: - How to meaningfully engage with and inspire middle schoolers - The joys and lessons in working with this generation of young men and young women - Being a strong role model in and outside the classroom - Seeking a deeper purpose in teaching… and finding Waldorf education
On this episode: - How Waldorf education promotes self-knowledge - The similarities and unique differences of individual Waldorf schools - The challenges presented in the world ahead, and how Waldorf students are equipped to meet them. - Being a part of the lineage of Shining Mountain Waldorf School - Waldorf students as the next generation’s thought leaders
On this episode:
- How students have changed over the past 60 years
- The challenges that teachers today are faced with--and the solutions!
- The gifts that today’s children bring with them
- How the movement of Waldorf Education has evolved over the past 100 years
- Why Waldorf Education is necessary for a sustainable future
- The secret to healthy educational development: MOVEMENT--physical movement, mental flexibility and spiritual exercise.
On this episode: - How Waldorf Education fosters clarity in one’s life purpose - How knowing one’s self encourages empathy for others - Having the ability, thanks to Waldorf, to find one’s direction and navigate change - Being a therapist in these challenging times
On this episode: - The gift of taking the route less traveled post-high school: perspective. - The smart choice: choosing a major in philosophy over business - Common facets of a Waldorf student: the ever-present drive to give back, holistic thinking, the quest for beauty and adventure, and rich sense of humility.
On this Episode: - From Math major to East Asian Religions major - Trusting one’s intuition and sense of self - Taking the time to find the right path in life--then leaping! - How comparative religion applies to international relations - Shining Mountain Waldorf HS grad, to Smith College Alum to a future at The Hague or the U.N.
On this episode: - Six parents following a calling: how Shining Mountain Waldorf School came to be - Insight and wisdom for new Waldorf school founders - How Waldorf education supports mental and emotional health and self-development - The need for like-minded children to be held and nurtured within like-minded communities.
On this episode: - how Waldorf education inspires a sense of global community - connecting across languages to the heart of being human - how each alum's appreciation for Waldorf education grows year after year - advice to one's younger self: trust and patience.
On this episode: - BioDynamics: the what and the how - Why BioDynamics is the solution for our future - Small and doable daily steps to making ourselves, society and world healthier and more vibrant - Looking to and finding the answers in our earth, our soils, and ourselves
On this episode: - how healthy play promotes emotional and social well-being - physics in the Waldorf kindergarten classroom - the unhealthy effects of screens and screentime on today's child - the best-kept secret toy: dirt - mindful, heart-centered tips on parenting and teaching
On this episode: - Saying yes to the opportunities life presents - Building friendships and businesses around the world - Never letting "no" stop you - Seeing an opportunity and taking the leap - Trusting the process, and staying curious - How to lead with your strengths and find your community by doing so - How a Waldorf education, based on the love of learning, has brought meaning, joy and success into an alum’s life
On this episode: - pursuing a passion and finding success--in architecture to cooking - the balance of science and creativity in cooking - bringing design to food - marriage and business partnership: a perfect pairing - spreading goodness, health and love, one millet tot at a time
On this episode: - The journey from Peace Corps to Travel Writer and Spanish Teacher - Teaching language to foster global citizenship - Play, movement and imagination: all part of the language learning process - Bringing culture into the classroom - Making language learning accessible and grounded in relationship and play.
On this episode: - How the learning of language teaches empathy - How to bring relationship into language learning - How SMWS is carving out opportunities for students to study in Germany in college--for free! - Getting to the heart of learning a language--and breaking down fears one by one - How language learning builds lifelong cultural bridges and global citizens - The Waldorf high school exchange process: an avenue to self-knowledge
On this episode: - How a well-rounded artist chose the path of music and cello performance - Daily practice and action steps to attaining one’s goal - Making classical music inclusive and relevant for the 21st century - Breaking barriers and building communities through music - How to see an opportunity and make it a reality
On this episode: - Through comparing and contrasting other educations, a Waldorf alum returns to her roots - Perspectives on a changing campus--from mud and boardwalks 35 years ago, to a thriving, verdant campus today. - Seeing the Waldorf curriculum through her children’s eyes - A new-to-Waldorf-education husband’s perspective
On this Episode: - What healthy play looks like - The positive results of healthy play in the classroom and in life - What play teaches us about trust, communication, society, and interdependence - The results seen in adults and society from a lack of healthy play
On this episode: - A departure and return to Waldorf education - How Waldorf education supports the individual to chart one’s own course in life - The unseen and wonderfully surprising gifts of a Waldorf education - Quieting society’s voices and trusting one’s self and one’s inner ambitions, talents, and passions - Reflection on life’s unexpected doors of opportunity
On this episode: - One extraordinary mother’s crusade to shed light on a broken public educational system focused on testing rather than purpose - The dark side of high stakes educational testing - The call for meaningful, hands-on learning in public schools - How Waldorf education meets students where they are at, in their own time, instilling them with a lifelong love of learning - A call to action for all educators to support meaning, purpose, goodness, and truth inside and outside the classroom
On This Episode: - Growing up in a three-fold community - The sport of orienteering, and how it translates to life navigation - How to support children and young adults to learn to enjoy the simple act of moving - How Waldorf education helped to clarify a life’s purpose and direction
On this episode: - From Kung Fu Black Belt to Kick-Ass Waldorf High School Teacher - Trusting one’s intuition through life’s ups and downs - Finding one’s calling - How passionate teaching ignites learning - The smell of a Waldorf classroom - The telling traits of a Waldorf student: insatiable desire to learn, striving to give back, renaissance individuals.
On this episode: - A recent Waldorf graduate's reflections on the fruits of her Waldorf education - How Waldorf education inspires students to create meaningful and lasting relationships with the people and the world around them - Love of learning embodied - Poignant wisdom, insight, and truth shared from a young Waldorf graduate’s heart.
On this episode: - The qualities that college admissions officials look for in students (and that Waldorf students have!) - How Waldorf students are preparing and prepared for college AND for life - How Waldorf students stand out from other high school students - A Waldorf student’s ability to self-reflect and communicate
On this episode: - The Waldorf teacher-student relationship: role models for life - How Waldorf education inspires children with stories that instill integrity, values, and compassion - Camphill Communities--inclusivity within a dedicated cultural community - Transitioning from a Waldorf 8th grade class to a public high school - Insights into Waldorf education from a three-fold perspective: student, teacher, and parent - Waldorf education’s “invitation to learn” that has fueled an entire life’s decisions - A Waldorf graduate’s resilience and quest for adventure - The need for constantly re-examining and re-evaluating Waldorf curriculum for the current days and for the future - Calling on courage to work with others in a constantly changing world
On this episode: - Paving new pathways in art and creative expression - How art and creativity can be a force for positive change - Following one’s intuition, one baby step at a time, and looking back on choices made - How a Waldorf education and a study abroad opportunity launched an artistic career
On this episode: -Waldorf Education—teaching human goodness -How Waldorf education was honored after WWII -An underlying mission of Waldorf education—a focus on social responsibility -Notes on exciting current campus developments from an experienced perspective: Waldorf Education is more relevant and more important today than ever -Shining Mountain Waldorf School: the vision for the next 100 years launching into the future while honoring the past
On this Episode: - a conversation with current Williams College senior: from a Waldorf High School to Williams College -from art major to Biology major -resilience in learning and life -following your passion and dreams -connecting and communicating with diverse groups of people -striving forward with bravery towards the Fulbright!
On this episode: - the detrimental effects of screen time on learning, relationships, and self-perception - tips on establishing healthy boundaries for screen use in your family - screen time and self-confidence and depression - Waldorf’s educational policy on screen time: creating a community of inclusion
On this episode: - Navigating diverse communities in Baghdad - Consensus work on an international level at NATO - Big picture thinking - The creative, photographic process - Love of nature - Life in balance: work, travel, and creativity
On this episode: - insights into the philosophy behind Waldorf education - how to recognize a Waldorf student and a Waldorf teacher - the differences between Waldorf education, Montessori and public education - why Waldorf education is more relevant today than it was 100 years ago
On this episode: - Reflections on education--from public school to Waldorf School - From Waldorf alum to Waldorf parent - Beauty, truth, and goodness in and outside of the Waldorf School classroom - Waldorf School students=renaissance individuals - Insights into Waldorf students’ academic strengths - Lifelong learning and living a balanced life
On this episode: - the benefits and results of “slow learning” in a fast-paced world - watching one’s children thrive in one’s own Waldorf School alma mater - how a Waldorf education inspires the desire to do good and be of service in the world - how a Waldorf education supports the building of strong and healthy relationships and the development of compassion and empathy - how Waldorf students see opportunity, connect with others, then take action