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PODCAST

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

Jeff Utecht & Tricia Friedman

Shifting Schools is a thought-provoking podcast that explores the latest trends, strategies, and tools in K-12 education. Hosted by educators Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman, the podcast provides a platform for teachers, administrators, and education thought leaders to share their experiences and insights on how to improve teaching and learning. From innovative approaches in classroom management to leveraging technology for personalized learning, Shifting Schools tackles the most pressing issues

education courses

All Episodes

14:33

Building connection one board book at a time

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2026/02/15

In this conversation, Sandra Magsamen discusses her approach to creating children's literature that emphasizes connection, love, and emotional intelligence. She shares insights into her creative process, the importance of feedback from readers, and how her work aims to foster self-love and connection between caregivers and children. Magsamen also reflects on her artistic journey, the role of perseverance, and the significance of storytelling in shaping lives. Takeaways Connection is at the heart of

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10:35

Empowering the Next Generation Through Storytelling...

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2026/02/09

In this conversation, we explore the new collaborative picture book 'Rise Girl Rise', which explores themes of empowerment, friendship, and the importance of storytelling across cultures. They emphasize the book's role in inspiring the next generation and fostering a sense of shared humanity. Gloria Steinem is a political activist, feminist organizer, and the author of many acclaimed books, including the national bestseller Revolution from Within: A Book of Self-Esteem. She is a contributor to the

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11:03

Will AI change the future of the Super Bowl?

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2026/02/02

How is artificial intelligence being used in the NFL today? In this solo episode of Shifting Schools, Tricia Friedman explores how AI is already shaping professional football, with a special focus on Super Bowl Sunday. Rather than speculation, this episode looks at concrete, current examples of how AI is influencing advertising, predictions, player safety, and fan experience. This episode is designed as a conversation resource for educators, families, and anyone gathering around the Super Bowl,

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15:44

How Puzzles Build Confidence, Community, and Curiosity

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2026/01/27

What do puzzles teach us about being human. In this episode, Tricia talks with Allison Kane, Head of Puzzle Innovation at Highlights, about why puzzling matters far beyond entertainment. From Hidden Pictures and Wordle to classroom design and family learning, this conversation explores how puzzles build confidence, perseverance, and joyful learning across ages. Learn more: https://parents.highlights.com/printable-puzzles-and-mazes-puzzle-day-challenge Allison shares her origin story as a lifelong

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31:10

What to Do When Teachers Are at Very Different Places...

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2026/01/25

How do you move forward with AI in schools when staff confidence is all over the place? Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman address one of the most persistent leadership challenges in AI literacy implementation. Within the same faculty, some educators are experimenting confidently with tools and workflows while others feel intimidated, skeptical, or frustrated by rapid change. Jeff and Tricia frame the issue through a mindset-first lens and introduce practical leadership moves grounded in BAKE: balance,

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33:35

What Skills Matter Most for AI Literacy?

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2026/01/18

AI literacy in the classroom looks like students practicing judgment, sense-making, and self-awareness while working alongside AI, not replacing thinking with tools. It emphasizes mindset before mechanics. In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman frame AI literacy through the BAKE Mindset: Balance – Knowing when AI helps and when it doesn't Adaptability – Updating learning practices as tools change Knowledge Sharing – Making thinking visible and collective Empathy

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33:10

The Mindset Shift You Need for AI Literacy in 2026

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2026/01/11

In this episode of Shifting Schools, hosts Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman discuss their personal experiences over the holidays, leading into a broader conversation about the importance of mindset in education, particularly in relation to AI literacy. They introduce the 'BAKE Framework' as a tool for educators to navigate AI discussions, emphasizing the need for adaptability, empathy, and open communication. The conversation highlights the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in educational

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22:03

How do we help students be more critical of health...

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2026/01/05

In this episode, host Tricia Friedman sits down with Dr. Michael Greger, bestselling author and founder of NutritionFacts.org, to explore why non-commercial, evidence-based health guidance matters more than ever. They discuss lifestyle medicine, plant-based nutrition, scientific integrity, cannabis research, and how small, testable behavior changes can dramatically improve long-term health. What This Conversation Is Really About Health advice is everywhere — but trustworthy guidance is not. This

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32:09

Why Millions of Students Are Creating Together:...

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2025/12/29

What does it look like when creativity becomes a global learning movement—not an add-on, but a connector across every subject? In this episode of Shifting Schools, Tricia Friedman is joined by Cheri Sterman to explore Crayola Creativity Week, a free, cross-curricular program designed to help educators spark collaboration, confidence, and creative thinking in classrooms around the world. Together, they unpack how Creativity Week connects creativity to every subject and career, why celebrity

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28:58

Holiday Gifting for Teachers: Tools for Wellness,...

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2025/12/22

This special Shifting Schools holiday episode isn't about trendy gadgets or generic gift lists. Instead, Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman share seven thoughtfully chosen gifts for educators—each matched to a specific kind of person and a specific kind of need. Some gifts are playful. Some are reflective. Some are deeply practical. All of them offer a meaningful boost during a season when educators are often running on empty. This episode asks a practical question: "What might actually support someone

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24:55

What Makes a Family? Scott & Mark Hoying on...

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2025/12/15

You know Pentatonix – the multi-platinum selling acapella group is the number one most listened to musical acct of the holiday season. Co-founder and Grammy winner Scott Hoying is currently starring in Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars. Scott Hoying and his husband Mark are now also authors of an innovative picture book which features text that doubles as lyrics to a new, original Christmas song. FA LA LA FAMILY celebrates the spirit of Christmas with a look at nontraditional families. The

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21:23

Why Interdisciplinary Learning Fuels Creativity: A...

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2025/12/08

In this episode of Shifting Schools, bestselling author Alan Gratz joins Tricia Friedman to explore the craft of storytelling, the role of creativity in education, and why curiosity is the engine behind both great writing and great learning. Gratz shares how baseball has quietly shaped the structure of many of his novels, how he approaches character development with authenticity, and why understanding a character's background is essential for emotional truth. The conversation also digs into the need

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19:36

Inside the Mind of a 4.1 Million-Follower Creator:...

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2025/11/30

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht reconnects with Marcus DiPaola, a successful content creator and documentary filmmaker. They discuss Marcus's journey from working in news to becoming a prominent influencer on platforms like TikTok, where he has amassed over 4 million followers. The conversation delves into the challenges of content creation, the importance of writing skills, and the role of AI in enhancing creative processes. Marcus shares insights on his documentary work, including

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24:45

The Rise of Micro schools: How Educators Are...

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2025/11/24

Are micro schools the future of personalized learning? In this high-impact episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht sits down with David K. Richards, CEO of ChangeMaker Education, to break down one of the fastest-growing movements in the education ecosystem: microschools. With over 125,000 micro schools and 1.5 million students already learning in small, relationship-centered environments across the U.S., this episode delivers a deeply practical and future-focused look at why educators, parents, and

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40:10

Can we communicate with our pets? Leo Trottier on the...

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2025/11/17

What if our pets are communicating complex ideas—and technology is finally catching up? In this episode of the Shifting Schools Podcast, cognitive scientist and FluentPet founder Leo Trottier joins us to explore how breakthroughs in animal cognition, inter-species communication, and speech-button interfaces are reshaping the way humans understand pets. Trottier unpacks the science behind communication-enhancing tools for animals, drawing from research in cognitive psychology, comparative cognition,

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09:51

Crossing the Line of Falling Behind: Where Is Your...

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2025/11/10

Summary In this episode, Jeff Utecht discusses the critical importance of understanding where schools stand on the AI adoption curve. He emphasizes the need for leadership to actively engage with AI and for educators to integrate AI into their teaching practices. The conversation highlights the transformative potential of AI in education, urging schools to move from mere conversation to meaningful integration. Learn more about our amazing show sponsor: Poll Everywhere Takeaways AI adoption is

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20:32

How Generative AI Can Deepen Critical Thinking in...

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2025/11/03

Discover how educators are using generative AI not to automate, but to elevate critical thinking and collaboration in K-12 schools. In this episode of Shifting Schools, host Tricia Friedman shows how "disagreement by design" and intentional prompt-engineering transform student and leadership learning. What you'll learn: What disagreement by design looks like in real classrooms and leadership teams How prompt engineering unlocks student curiosity and systems-thinking mindset in K-12 Why writing

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27:17

Parenting, Picture Books, and the Practice of Wonder:...

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2025/10/27

A conversation that reminds us how curiosity, art, and iteration can reshape are necessary and may even be assets for our school leadership and the ways we nurture creative courage in young learners.... In this episode, Tricia Friedman sits down with author-illustrator Christy Mandin to explore what school leaders can learn from the creative process behind children's literature. Together they unpack how curiosity fuels empathy, how messy iteration sparks innovation, and how embracing the dark and

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46:38

Beyond Cheating: What AI Is Really Teaching Us About...

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2025/10/20

The conversation about AI in education often starts—and stops—with cheating. But what if that’s the least interesting part of the story? In this episode, Tricia Friedman speaks with the team behind the new show: The Homework Machine, MIT’s Justin Reich and journalist Jesse Dukes. They unpack how generative AI is reshaping what we mean by integrity, creativity, and student voice. Together they explore how teachers can balance innovation with empathy, and what schools might learn from students already

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13:31

Why vibe coding is such a vibe

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators ·

2025/10/13

In this episode Tricia Friedman talks listeners through an example of how she vibe coding an app from start to finish. Her vibe coding process of building an app blends AI literacy, digital humanities, and leadership design thinking. What does this tell us about the future of using generative AI for projects in K12? This episode is sponsored by our amazing friends at Poll Everywhere. Join over 1 million educators using Poll Everywhere. Try it risk free for 30 days—we'll refund you if it's not a good

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