What’s the best ‘hard conversation’ you’ve had?
As educators, hosting conversations that expand and challenge is baked into our work. However, something I’ve noticed about myself as a queer educator is the number of times I’ve chosen silence over having a ‘hard’ talk with a peer or school leader. I’ve talked about this before, and I have not stopped thinking about it. I wanted to learn from other educators: how can we transform ‘difficult’ talks and reframe them as ‘necessary’?
Ready to start listening
to this podcast mini-series?
Episode One: Learned Discomfort (soundcloud version)
Justin Garcia shares experiences with doing this, as well as advice on ways all educators can unlearn ‘learned discomfort.’
In this episode, Justin recommends:
The Leading Equity Podcast
www.leadingequitycenter.com
Learn more about #queer_educhat and explore the archive of chats:
sites.google.com/view/queereduchat-archives/home
Connect with Justin on Twitter: @kruu_justin
Episode One: Learned Discomfort (apple version)
Justin Garcia shares experiences with doing this, as well as advice on ways all educators can unlearn ‘learned discomfort.’
In this episode, Justin recommends:
The Leading Equity Podcast
www.leadingequitycenter.com
Learn more about #queer_educhat and explore the archive of chats:
sites.google.com/view/queereduchat-archives/home
Connect with Justin on Twitter: @kruu_justin
Episode Two: The Difficult Conversations I didn't have (soundcloud)
On this episode, Vice-Principal, Ange Molony explores the special ways leaders can help ensure teachers are better prepared to host necessary conversations.
In this episode Ange endorses:
Adaptive Schools: www.thinkingcollaborative.com/seminars/a…-seminars/
The work of Jennifer Abrams:Â jenniferabrams.com/workshops/
We also discuss Slate’s ‘Pre-Woke Viewing’ Youtube Playlist:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2A8c5Yva8Y
Episode Two: The Difficult Conversations I didn't have (Apple)
On this episode, Vice-Principal, Ange Molony explores the special ways leaders can help ensure teachers are better prepared to host necessary conversations.
In this episode Ange endorses:
Adaptive Schools: www.thinkingcollaborative.com/seminars/a…-seminars/
The work of Jennifer Abrams:Â jenniferabrams.com/workshops/
We also discuss Slate’s ‘Pre-Woke Viewing’ Youtube Playlist:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2A8c5Yva8Y
Episode Three: Challenging the bystander default (soundcloud version)
In this episode, we join Head of School Kathleen Naglee as she explores the modeling a leader can do when it comes to turning ‘difficult dialogues’ to ‘necessary conversations.
Mentioned on this episode:
Dr Fran Prolman
www.linkedin.com/in/dr-fran-prolman
With Friends Like These Converts Season
crooked.com/podcast-series/with…friends-like-these/
All About Love: New Visions. by bell hooks
www.harpercollins.ca/9780060959470/all-about-love/
One Dark Night
www.engadget.com/2015-04-23-one-d…shooting-vr.html
Episode Three: Challenging the bystander default (Apple)
In this episode, we join Head of School Kathleen Naglee as she explores the modeling a leader can do when it comes to turning ‘difficult dialogues’ to ‘necessary conversations.
Mentioned on this episode:
Dr Fran Prolman
www.linkedin.com/in/dr-fran-prolman
With Friends Like These Converts Season
crooked.com/podcast-series/with…friends-like-these/
All About Love: New Visions. by bell hooks
www.harpercollins.ca/9780060959470/all-about-love/
One Dark Night
www.engadget.com/2015-04-23-one-d…shooting-vr.html
Episode Four: Necessary Tension (soundcloud)
On this episode, Shei Ascencio explores the ways our expectations for one another and for our students can push (or restrict) our real change in schools.
Discussed in this episode:
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/56429…am-x-kendi/
www.cbkassociates.com/
daretolead.brenebrown.com/
Episode Four: Necessary Tension (soundcloud)
On this episode, Shei Ascencio explores the ways our expectations for one another and for our students can push (or restrict) our real change in schools.
Discussed in this episode:
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/56429…am-x-kendi/
www.cbkassociates.com/
daretolead.brenebrown.com/
Episode Five: Vulnerability with Students (soundcloud version)
In this episode, Kanako Suwa speaks to the importance of vulnerability.
Discussed on this show:
Myths about an antihomophobic education
bctf.ca/SocialJustice.aspx?id=10392
The Half of It
www.netflix.com/ca/title/81005150
Episode Five: Vulnerability with Students (soundcloud version)
In this episode, Kanako Suwa speaks to the importance of vulnerability.
Discussed on this show:
Myths about an antihomophobic education
bctf.ca/SocialJustice.aspx?id=10392
The Half of It
www.netflix.com/ca/title/81005150
Episode Six: The Capacity to Ask (Soundcloud)
On this episode, Dr. Thornhill gives us insight into why and how a more inclusive and relevant sex education framework can become the norm.
Learn more from Dr. Nadine Thornhill: https://www.nadinethornhill.com/
Follow Dr. Thornhill at @NadineThornhill
Check out the recommendations discussed in this episode:
Everybody Curious
Sexpositive_families on Instagram
Sex is a Funny Word
The Self Love Revolution
Episode Six: The Capacity to Ask (Soundcloud)
On this episode, Dr. Thornhill gives us insight into why and how a more inclusive and relevant sex education framework can become the norm.
Learn more from Dr. Nadine Thornhill: https://www.nadinethornhill.com/
Follow Dr. Thornhill at @NadineThornhill
Check out the recommendations discussed in this episode:
Everybody Curious
Sexpositive_families on Instagram
Sex is a Funny Word
The Self Love Revolution
Episode Seven: Conversations For Change (Soundcloud version)
In this episode, Joel Llaban (@JoelJrLLABAN)
and I explore some of the following resources:
Disclosure on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/81284247
Margaret Wheatley https://margaretwheatley.com/bio/
Hard Conversations https://jenniferabrams.com/
Better Conversations https://www.amazon.ca/Better-Conversations-Coaching-Ourselves-Connected/dp/1506307450
Dare to Lead: https://daretolead.brenebrown.com/
The Power of Why: https://simonsinek.com/commit/the-power-of-why/
The View from Flyover Country: https://www.npr.org/books/titles/660077394/the-view-from-flyover-country-dispatches-from-the-forgotten-america
Episode Seven: Conversations For Change (Apple version)
In this episode, Joel Llaban (@JoelJrLLABAN)
and I explore some of the following resources:
Disclosure on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/81284247
Margaret Wheatley https://margaretwheatley.com/bio/
Hard Conversations https://jenniferabrams.com/
Better Conversations https://www.amazon.ca/Better-Conversations-Coaching-Ourselves-Connected/dp/1506307450
Dare to Lead: https://daretolead.brenebrown.com/
The Power of Why: https://simonsinek.com/commit/the-power-of-why/
The View from Flyover Country: https://www.npr.org/books/titles/660077394/the-view-from-flyover-country-dispatches-from-the-forgotten-america
Episode Eight: Building my Bandwidth (Soundcloud)
Episode Eight: Building my Bandwidth (Apple)
Connect with our guests
Are you hosting a necessary conversation through a book group?
Setting the conditions for necessary conversations that spark action and engagement is a nuanced process. If you’d like a guide to help you kickstart that process, here’s some free fuel for that fire.
Do you reflect on how well your campus invites ‘necessary dialogue’?
The following reflection questions will help you assess and reflect on how open your school is to discussing necessary issues. Consider using this as a survey or audit to get a better sense of school culture.