Reach. Teach. Talk. With Nat Damon: Recent Episodes
Nat Damon
Only Relate! The best teachers understand that relationships are at the heart of learning. Join international educator Nat Damon and guests as they discuss the importance of authentic human connection both in the classroom and the world just outside the school walls.
Three years after the great pivot into remote teaching due to the Pandemic, teachers are now facing a technology revolution in the classroom once more. ChatGPT is changing the way students write, research, study and think. The AI technology impacts the way teachers are designing, assigning, and grading assessments. Yet the advent of ChatGPT has created in many situations a cat and mouse game that no one wants to play - particularly as we still struggle to form trusting bonds in the classroom. Join us for a deep look into the impact of AI in the classroom as it stands today, and learn strategies to help integrate ChatGPT smoothly into you classroom.
We are thrilled to celebrate our 40th episode by hosting Father Gregory Boyle, Jesuit priest and founder of Homeboy Industries, based in Los Angeles and influential around the world. In this teaching and mentor-focused conversation, Father Greg speaks with Nat about the transcendent power of relational wholeness at Homeboy and in our classrooms. Belief, Hope and Love are its mainstays.
France did this back in 2019…why can’t we? Buxton School, a co-ed boarding school in Williamstown, MA, introduced the 2022-23 academic year with a new smartphone policy: No smartphones allowed. After the Wall Street Journal spotlighted the impact of this policy on campus life, Nat sat down with Associate Head of School John Kalapos, to speak about the relational impact on all members of the Buxton community. What resulted is an instructive case study on the decision to eliminate the influence of smartphones in the classroom and on campus — 24/7 — at a boarding school.
Benjamin Zander, conductor of the Boston Philharmonic and co-author of the book, “The Art of Possibility”, and an infamous TED Talk speaks about the essentialness of positivity in the classroom (and the classroom of life). Music is in all our hearts. Mr. Zander makes a beautiful case for it in this immersive conversation.
Join Nat and South African author, speaker and social entrepreneur Craig Wilkinson (www.fatheranation.co.za) as they discuss the crucial role men play in the lives of their youth and society. For anyone working with or raising boys in this day and age, their conversation will provide exploration and strategies on how to cultivate positive masculinity in today’s world.
What happens to boys as they become young men in today’s culture? How has the pandemic impacted the way boys perceive the world, and their place in it? How can we best guide our boys to become the young men they truly wish to be? Find the answers to these questions and many more in this timely conversation with Dr. Judy Chu, renowned lecturer on boys’ psychosocial behavior and author of the book, “When Boys become Boys”.
Nat's conversation is with Mr. Mike Erwin, co-founder of The Positivity Project, a nationwide program designed to empower our youngest generation through hope and possibility. Drawing from his experience from tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr. Erwin applies themes of collaboration, community, and teamwork into his organization. We conclude with a focus on the status of young men today.
How does our relationship to the environment help or hinder our ability to flourish in school and in life? Finland-based author, journalist, and Helsinki’s greatest ambassador, Katja Pantzar, joins us for a fascinating (and ice-cold!) deep-dive into the Finnish concept of Sisu (pronounced “See-Sue”), which centers around self-reliance, determination, and harmony with one’s outside world.
Season Two launches with this central question: What is relational trust? Why is it so important now, as we return to a Now Normal in K-12 schools? Join education thought-leader, author, and mentor Parker Palmer as he guides us down the path of trust, authenticity, and hope.
This one-hour episode dives deep into the elements of Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) by understanding what CRT is…and is not. Esteemed writer and teacher-researcher Zaretta Hammond (Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain) defines the obstacles that prevent classroom belongingness for non-white students, and why there are reasons for hope even during these deeply divided times.
How do we ensure that our children receive the relational attention they need while remote? Join renowned Early Childhood Expert Dr. Nancy Carlsson-Paige as she navigates the world of learning through play…even while remote. This podcast is directly aimed at parents and educators and anyone seeking hopeful wisdom regarding how best to raise our children during these unprecedented times.
How do we create a remote classroom experience where emotions are the shared currency? Join Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang and Dr. Rebecca Gotlieb as we explore the connections between emotions and cognitions in learning…and create strategies on how to incorporate them in the remote classroom.
Over the past two decades, Finland has been regarded with praise and envy when it comes to PISA scores and student/teacher wellbeing. But why is this the case? In what ways is Finland a positive model for other countries to aspire to? Dr. Pasi Sahlberg explains the Finnish Miracle and shares his wisdom regarding the centrality of relationships in the classroom.
Learning is stifled when a student feels not listened to. How can we use listening in order to hold inclusive conversations about race, identity and equity so that our students can optimally learn in the relational classroom? Educator, filmmaker, and thought-leader André Lee shares what matters most when building group cohesion: Listening.
There's a lot of hearing in schools. Echoing hallways, lockers slamming, teachers talking, students playing. Yet there’s not enough listening going on. Erahm Christopher’s film, “LISTEN”, stimulates deeply proactive conversation thanks to the strength of its message about the need to be listened to, and what happens when we don't listen to our children.
During these times when voices need to be heard, listening skills are critical. In the first episode of our “Listen Up!” series, professor, consultant and listening expert Dr. Graham Bodie shares his wisdom and strategies that will help all listeners feel more comfortable and confident while engaging in the difficult yet essential conversations required to improve our society.
What is compassion? Can it be taught? What is the difference between being compassionate and being nice? Join compassion (and compassionate!) thought-leader Jimi Slattery as he educates us on the centrality of compassion in relationships. In today’s globalized world, we tend to work better when we view others with a compassionate lens. This episode explains why that is the case.
“The only constant is change”. Organizations undergo change in order to reinvent, adapt and grow. Human relationships are impacted each time change occurs. The way we respond to change is individual and relational. Change cycle expert Lorri Palko provides educators and workers from all fields with strategy and wisdom regarding how we can manage the inevitability of change in our workplace. Unlike a seminar, this podcast is unique because of the approach Lorri takes while helping the audience navigate their way. Her consultancy is called “Love, Money, Purpose”. As you’ll discover, there is a reason why “Love” is the first word.
When John Rassias died in 2015, he left behind a legacy of language instruction based on relationships. Through games, improvisation, and conversational banter, the Rassias Method views learning as cognitive and emotional…and social! Ann Diederich, a 25-year teacher and Rassias disciple, takes us on a lively journey connecting joyous language acquisition to cultural understanding.
What is loneliness? How does it manifest? What can we do to address loneliness? What are the modern contributors toward loneliness today? “Only Connect!”…but how do we achieve connection meaningfully and with intention? In this episode, Rev. Janet Broderick guides us through a thoughtful and open discussion on the impact of loneliness on the spirit, the self and in society.
Raising a child with special needs is a life-altering experience. This episode’s guest describes her experience with candor and love. Come join us on a uniquely authentic conversation that touches on the various themes regarding the gift that comes from the least likely of sources. You will leave feeling uplifted and hopeful…and wishing to meet a beautiful young adult named Arizona.
The word ‘tribe’ is often viewed through a political lens. We stick to our own, feeling less safe to cross boundaries with those who think differently. Yet there is another definition of ‘tribe’ that applies to deep learning, which forms in tribal classrooms that promote cultures of safety and stability. Dr. Louis Cozolino explains how the tribal classroom is the model classroom.
Fortune 500 consultant Drew Kugler has worked with some of the best in the field of leadership coaching and public speaking. As someone well-versed in the prickly world of difficult conversations and diplomacy, Drew provides meaningful techniques regarding how to best mean what we say…and say what we actually mean.
With all of the focus on remote teaching and its applications on learning and social/emotional development, it is essential to hear from the teachers themselves. By listening to their experiences, we gain a sense of what it feels like to swiftly pivot from the brick and mortar classroom to the remote classroom. As expert high school teacher Marc Rudajev explains, this transition goes far beyond firing up the laptop and mimicking the traditional classroom experience.
Join writer and education expert Brittany Collins as she shares her hope-filled wisdom about the opportunities that come with relational teaching in the remote classroom. During our conversation, we explore topics such as the need for trauma-informed teaching, the power of writing in teacher/student wellness, and the centrality of maintaining a strong SEL remote classroom during this unprecedented time.
Regarding the nationwide move to remote teaching, UCLA professor Dr. Tyrone Howard stated, “The (teachers) best able to take lessons online already had strong relationships with their students and their families.” In this episode, Dr. Howard speaks about the positive effect of remote learning on relational trust and the negative effect on equity regarding the many LAUSD students without access.
The Kindness School Foundation’s Executive Director Ben Berger takes us from London to Switzerland to Bhutan, where he shares stories highlighting kindness in schools and communities. Ben's story is relatable to all who crave kindness and community during these unprecedented times.
This episode highlights the importance of a growth mindset - for both teachers and students - when making the transition toward remote learning.
This episode articulates three primary components toward building a strong and stable distance learning environment while understanding that perfection is not the main goal.
This episode centers on how building a remote classroom community can provide unforeseen gains in empathy, collaboration, and connection.
This episode is about wellbeing. Join me and primary school teacher, author, and consultant Adrian Bethune for an inspiring and hope-filled conversation about areas of happiness that matter most: eudaimonia, flourishing, contentment and confidence.
Andria Zafirakou, a teacher at Alperton Community School in Brent, UK, won the 2018 Global Teacher Prize. She is passionate about education and changing the lives of young people and underserved communities through creativity. Andria used the $1 million prize money to found a charity called Artists in Residence (AiR) with an aim to improve arts education in schools. Andria has also been named in the Top Ten of The Evening Standard’s "1000 Londoners List", a list of the most influential people in London. She also sits on the World Economic Forum's Global Future Leaders Council.
Dr. Robert “Rob” Loe launches the London miniseries of “Reach Teach Talk” with a powerful discussion on the importance of relational teaching. Rob is the Founder of Relational Schools Project and currently CEO of The Relationships Foundation. Listen and learn from the global research that supports connection-building in all classrooms.
What is the difference between being a teacher and being a coach? Over the past decade, Alex Rosenblum has been a massively successful secondary school history teacher and 4-time championship football coach. Join us as we dive into the nuances between both, and learn strategies from someone who can speak to the power of relationships both in the classroom and on the sports field.
What is the difference between being a teacher and being a coach? Over the past decade, Alex Rosenblum has been a massively successful secondary school history teacher and 4-time championship football coach. Join us as we dive into the nuances between both, and learn strategies from someone who can speak to the power of relationships both in the classroom and on the sports field.
25 years ago, Brian Wogensen was a stonemason’s apprentice in the foothills of rural Tuscany. For over two decades, he has been a supremely effective and deeply beloved English teacher. Join us as we navigate his course from Siena to his decades-long teaching career in Los Angeles. And learn how success is predicated on belief, whether in a one-to-one apprenticeship or in the classroom.
Los Angeles-based Parent Coach Oona Hanson has been a high school English teacher, a one-on-one academic tutor, and a parent educator. Listen to Oona share her definition of health while she explains why the student-parent-teacher "relationship triangle” is critical toward its maintenance.
Over the past 25 years, Matthew Arnold has been an educational technologist at schools in Chicago and Los Angeles. During that time, he has journeyed from a classroom technology evangelist to one of its greatest skeptics. His story is fascinating, and his wisdom benefits us all.
A former cover model goes on a road trip and receives the call to teach on the Pacific Coast Highway, under a full moon. You can’t make that stuff up! 25 years since, Chip Williams has found himself in classrooms from Los Angeles to Turkey, observing the importance of teaching to the spirit in all kids everywhere.
They say if you can build trust with a 5 year old, you can build trust with anyone. 45-year kindergarten/1st grade teacher Judy Mansfield gives truth to this. Listen and learn as she shares her wisdom, candor and insights in her uniquely humorous and loving way. I guarantee you will wish you had Judy as your teacher!
Eric and Nat talk about the importance of connection in the classroom and the key role identity plays in it. Join us as Eric shares his story of being a male elementary school teacher, and the importance of being authentic as the only adult in the room.Enjoy what you heard? Please spread the word to your network.
Interested in being a guest or referring someone who would make a fantastic guest on the topic of relationships in the classroom or workplace? Submit the name and a brief summary of the referral to: nat@reachacademics.com
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