Conscious Pathways: Conversations for Transformative Education
Welcome to Conscious Pathways: Conversations for Transformative Education, the podcast that uplifts teachers, empowers students, and supports parents in re-imagining the way we learn. Hosted by Brittney Carey, founder and education consultant at Conscious Pathways, this space is for the social justice curious educators and caregivers who are passionate about creating a more just world for all students. Join us for thought-provoking discussions on equity in schools, culturally responsive teaching, restorative justice, and more—all in a judgment-free space designed to inspire growth. Each episode will leave you with new insights, practical ideas, and the encouragement to navigate your conscious journey with courage and kindness.
Episodes
In this powerful episode of Conscious Pathways, host Brittney Carey sits down with Dr. Helen P. Young—educator, counselor, and advocate for equity in higher education. With over 25 years of experience in both K–12 and community college settings, Dr. Young shares her inspiring journey into education, the challenges she’s faced as a Black woman in academia, and her groundbreaking work to create pathways from ...
“If we are comfortable enough to talk about Black suffering, we have to be comfortable enough to talk about how that suffering made Black folks feel.”
— Dr. Brittany Jones
What happens when we strip emotion from how we teach history? In this powerful episode of Conscious Pathways, I sit down with Dr. Brittany Jones, a researcher, educator, and former social studies teacher whose work centers on Black emotiona...
In this episode of Conscious Pathways, I sit down with Bee Alvarado—Child Development Specialist, children’s author, and founder of Mother Earth’s Learning Center. Bee shares her powerful journey from big sister in a Mexican-American family to visionary educator creating nature-based learning experiences for young children.
We talk about:
- How nature and healing shaped Bee’s teaching philosophy
- The role...
In this inspiring episode of Conscious Pathways, host Brittney Carey is joined by award-winning educator and TEDx speaker Nick Marmolejo to explore how purpose-driven learning can transform education. Nick shares his personal journey into the classroom, the pivotal role mentorship played in shaping his philosophy, and why purpose—not just performance—should be at the center of our schools.
Together, we unpac...
In Episode 55 of Conscious Pathways, Brittney Carey sits down with Dr. Erika L. McDowell—educator, equity steward, and liberatory leader—to explore how education can be a tool for freedom and transformation.
Dr. McDowell shares her powerful journey as a legacy educator and speaks candidly about the systemic challenges Black educators and communities continue to face. From her experience in district leadershi...
"We don’t stop fighting for inclusion just because policies shift—we double down on the classroom, the community, and each other." — Dr. Tr’Vel T. Lyons
In this episode of Conscious Pathways, I sit down with Dr. Tr’Vel T. Lyons—educator, researcher, and DEI advocate—to explore what it means to fight for inclusive, supportive learning environments when educational policies and public narratives are in...
What does it truly mean to learn? How can we create classrooms that affirm, uplift, and empower Black and brown children?
In this episode of Conscious Pathways, host Brittney Carey sits down with Mike Browne, Senior Director of Community Engagement at Cultivate Learning at the University of Washington, to explore the critical distinction between schooling and learning. Mike shares his power...
In this powerful episode of Conscious Pathways, Brittney Carey sits down with Sharon Shelton, a leader in racial justice and equity, to discuss the pivotal experiences that shaped her decades-long career in social justice. Sharon reflects on her upbringing in South Los Angeles, attending predominantly white schools, and a life-changing encounter with civil rights icon Rosa Parks.
Together, Brittney and Sharo...
In this thought-provoking episode of Conscious Pathways, we dive deep into the transformative world of early childhood education with Akiea "Ki" Gross, a passionate advocate for abolitionist pedagogy and pro-Black, queer, and trans liberation. As the creator of Woke Kindergarten, an abolitionist early childhood ecosystem, Ki shares their innovative approaches to resist, heal, liberate, and creat...
In this episode of the Conscious Pathways podcast, host Brittney Carey speaks with Kwame Sarfo-Mensah, founder of Identity Talk Consulting and author of Learning to Relearn: Supporting Identity in a Culturally Affirming Classroom.
Kwame shares his journey from aspiring athlete to influential educator and consultant. Together, they explore how centering student identity can transform classrooms, build cul...
In this episode of Conscious Pathways, Brittney dives into how parents, teachers, and caregivers can nurture children’s innate sense of fairness and justice, starting as early as three years old. Learn practical strategies for having age-appropriate conversations about equity, compassion, and social justice.
Discover how to:
- Use everyday moments to model fairness and empathy.
- Introduce complex social j...
In the final episode of 2024, host Brittney Carey takes listeners on a reflective journey through the achievements, challenges, and pivotal moments in education and social justice over the past year. From celebrating California's implementation of the ethnic studies requirement and the growth of transitional kindergarten to highlighting national victories against school voucher programs and book ban...
In this thought-provoking episode, Dr. Megan Pamela Ruth Madison joins us to explore why teaching is political and how early conversations about race, gender, consent, and body positivity can shape a more just and equitable future. A political educator and co-author of the award-winning First Conversations book series, Dr. Megan shares insights into addressing complex topics with young children in an age-appropriate and impactful w...
In this powerful episode of the Conscious Pathways podcast, host Brittney Carey sits down with Andratesha Fritzgerald, a seasoned educator, consultant, and author of Anti-Racism and Universal Design for Learning: Building Expressways to Success. Together, they explore the transformative intersection of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and anti-racism in education.
Andratesha shares her personal journe...
In this powerful episode of Conscious Pathway, host Brittney Carey sits down with Ijumaa Jordan, a trailblazer in early childhood education and a dedicated advocate for anti-bias learning environments. With over 30 years in the field, Ijumaa brings a wealth of experience and insight as they explore the often-overlooked intersection of early education and social justice.
Together, Brittney and Ijumaa dive...
In this episode of Conscious Pathways, host Brittney Carey sits down with Ben Arthur, NFL reporter for FOX Sports and founder of the Pinnacle Code podcast, to explore the vital intersection of media literacy, culturally responsive education, and digital storytelling. As a first-generation Ghanaian American, Ben offers a unique perspective on the importance of culturally affirming education and how media...
In this episode, I sit down with Olivier Bernier, the award-winning filmmaker behind the powerful documentary Forget Me Not: Inclusion in the Classroom and co-founder of Rota6 Films. As a passionate advocate for inclusive education, Olivier brings a unique perspective to our conversation, both as a filmmaker and as a father fighting for his son’s right to an inclusive education. His documentary sheds light on the often-segregated w...
In this episode of Conscious Pathways, I am joined by Dr. Sarah M. Toutant, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Childcare Resource Center and an expert in advancing equity in higher education. Dr. Toutant shares her journey from studying education policy to becoming a passionate advocate for social justice, representation, and inclusivity in academia.
We dive into her experiences as a DEI leader, exploring the import...
In this episode of Conscious Pathways, Dr. Justin Gerald unpacks the critical intersection of race, language, and neurodiversity in education. As an educator, theorist, and author, Dr. Gerald shares insights from his latest book, which explores the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent students of color and the lack of representation and research in this area. Drawing from his personal experiences as a teacher and researcher, h...
WELCOME TO SEASON 2!! In this episode, I’m excited to catch up with you all after a summer break filled with some big changes. I'll be sharing my personal journey, including my experience with COVID-19, updates to my website (which now has a blog and podcast section!), and the launch of my new newsletter. On a personal note, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve become a professor and have plans to apply to grad school soon!
The Consc...
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