Educating the Human Potential: The American Montessori Society Podcast

What does it really mean to support parents who are stretched thin—and how can schools, communities, and families work together to ease the load? In this conversation, hosts Nicole Coman and Biff Maier get real about the universal experience of parental overwhelm and the many pressures today’s caregivers carry.

Nicole and Biff explore:

• Why naming your stress and reaching out for connection is often the first step
• How schools can s...

What shapes a lifetime in education—and what keeps someone devoted to it for more than half a century? In this episode, longtime educator and AMS Living Legacy honoree Charles Terranova looks back on 55 years in Montessori, sharing the unexpected twists, transformative mentors, and unforgettable children who defined his journey.

Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coleman speak with Charles about:

• How a chance visit to a Montessori class...

What if your greatest limitation became your most powerful creative force? In this episode, Phil Hansen, internationally recognized multimedia artist and TED speaker, joins hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman to share how a hand tremor reshaped his art, his mindset, and his life. From painting with worms and karate chops to creating art he deliberately destroys, Phil’s story is a masterclass in resilience, curiosity, and reinvention.

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What happens when a child who once asked to be homeschooled grows up to become a Montessori educator, and a Montessori parent? In this episode, Montessori teacher Cassandra Duggan traces her winding journey from anxious second grader to public-school teacher and autism interventionist, through a brief stop in Waldorf, and finally into Montessori, where follow the child, intrinsic motivation, and multi-age communities transformed he...

What happens when hip-hop, spoken word, and student support meet in higher education? In this episode, Donovan Livingston, award-winning educator, spoken word poet, and creator of the viral Harvard speech Lift Off, shares how culture and community can transform student success. Now director of College Thriving at UNC–Chapel Hill, Livingston bridges music, equity, and education to help students find their voice and their place.

Hosts...

What happens when one of the world’s most iconic toy makers goes back to its roots – and invites Montessori experts to help chart the future? In this episode, hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman go inside Fisher-Price’s legendary Play Lab with Dr. Corinne Eggleston, Senior Manager of the Fisher-Price Play Lab, to unpack why the company returned to wood, how the team designed a Montessori-inspired product line, and what decades of pla...

Why is strong communication between home and school essential for a child’s success? In this episode, hosts Nicole Coman and Biff Maier explore the role of trust, honesty, and consistency between parents and educators.

Through stories from their own school experiences, they discuss:

• Why consistency between home and school is key to student growth
• How open communication builds trust and reduces stress for families, teachers, and ch...

What if art wasn’t just something you make—but a way you think, live, and heal? In this episode, internationally acclaimed graffiti artist and speaker Erik Wahl, joined by his wife and creative partner, Tasha Wahl, share their deeply personal story of losing everything, redefining success, and building a home that doubles as a life studio.

Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman talk with Erik and Tasha about:

• Why Erik define...

Maria Montessori was a visionary—but she was also human, complicated, and far more radical than the myths suggest. In this episode, Erica Moretti, author of The Best Weapon for Peace: Maria Montessori, Education, and Children’s Rights, joins hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman to explore the radical roots of Montessori’s legacy.

Together, they discuss:

• Montessori’s early activism and interactions —including with Mussolini and the V...

What if our education system isn’t broken—but just built for a different era? In this episode, Ulcca Joshi Hansen—author of The Future of Smart, Chief Program Officer at Grantmakers for Education, and host of the Future Smart podcast—shares why true educational equity requires more than better technology or expanded curriculum. It requires a fundamental shift in how we define learning and human potential.

Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole...

How can sports empower children—and what happens when they don't? In this episode, Olympic gold medalist and mother of four Dominique Dawes reflects on the highs and harms of elite athletics, and how she’s now working to redefine what success in sports can look like for today’s youth.

Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman speak with Dominique about:

• The psychological costs of high-level competition—and the power of healing envir...

What if technology didn’t replace our humanity—but helped us deepen it? In this episode, Eric Rodriguez—engineer, keynote speaker, and facilitator of the AMS Innovation Think Tank—shares how a formative experience in his Montessori-inspired childhood sparked a lifelong passion for technology, ultimately shaping his mission to create a more human-centered digital future.

Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman explore with Eric:

• How a s...

Elizabeth Tingle never planned to become a Montessori teacher, but her path seems to have led her there all along. With decades of experience behind her, Elizabeth Tingle discovered that Montessori aligned perfectly with the values she'd been teaching by for years.

Hosts Nicole Coman and Biff Maier talk with Elizabeth about:

• Elizabeth Tingle’s early calling to teach and how a fifth-grade teacher inspired her to embrace every...

What if the people you trust most try to change who you are—and call it love? In this episode, Garrard Conley, author of the bestselling memoir Boy Erased, adapted into a film starring Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe, shares his powerful journey from being outed and forced into conversion therapy to becoming a writer, educator, and advocate for truth and healing.

Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman talk with Garrard about:

• Growing ...

How does a second-generation Montessori child become a transformational leader in the movement? In this episode, Anita Hanks, newly appointed President of the AMS Board of Directors, shares her deeply personal Montessori journey—from toddler in the classroom to founder of a thriving school, teacher education program director, and now national leader.

Hosts Nicole Coman and Biff Maier talk with Anita about:

• Anita's generation...

How do we stay energized, focused, and fulfilled in a world that constantly demands more? In this episode, hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman are joined by bestselling author and Harvard Medical School visiting scholar Suneel Gupta, who shares why the path from burnout to balance doesn’t require a major life overhaul—just a few intentional shifts.

Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman talk with Suneel about:

• How your dharma—your inner...

What happens when Montessori students leave their multi-age classrooms and step into the world of traditional high schools? In this episode, two seniors—Symona and Josie—reflect on how their Montessori foundations shaped their confidence, relationships, and academic resilience through the challenges of public and independent school settings.

Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman explore with Symona and Josie:

• The academic and social ...

How does a childhood spent exploring nature shape a lifelong passion? In this episode, Alexis Nikole Nelson—award-winning forager, chef, and social media star—shares how her Montessori education helped nurture her curiosity and independence, ultimately leading to her unique career.

Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman discuss with Alexis:

• How her Montessori upbringing encouraged hands-on learning and a love of nature
• The history and ...

How does social identity influence the way we learn, form biases, and navigate the world? In this episode, Dr. Jay Van Bavel, NYU professor and coauthor of The Power of Us, joins us to explore the psychology and neuroscience behind identity formation.

Hosts Nicole Coleman and Biff Maier discuss with Dr. Van Bavel:

• How group identity impacts learning, motivation, and cognitive performance
• The role of social media in shaping and rei...