Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning
🎧 Adventures in Learning with Dr. Diane 🎧 Inspire curiosity. Spark creativity. Fuel a lifelong love of learning. Are you an educator, librarian, parent, or STEM/STEAM enthusiast looking to make learning come alive for kids? Adventures in Learning with Dr. Diane is your go-to podcast for hands-on, joyful learning that connects STEM/STEAM education, multicultural children's literature, and real-world exploration. Join Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor, educator and explorer, as she travels the world (literally and virtually!) to bring you conversations with award-winning authors, illustrators, educators, scientists, and STEM leaders. Each episode delivers fresh ideas, engaging stories, and practical tips to inspire early childhood and elementary learners—in the classroom, the library, or at home. Wonder, curiosity, connection, and play -- we bring the world to you! 🌎 Featuring: Innovative STEM/STEAM experiences Diverse children's book recommendations Strategies for inquiry-based, joyful learning through play Voices from around the globe that inspire the WOW 🧠 Perfect for: Early childhood & elementary educators | School librarians | Homeschoolers | Caregivers | STEM/STEAM champions 🔗 Explore featured books: bookshop.org/shop/drdianeadventures 📝 Read full show notes: drdianeadventures.com/blog 💌 Have an idea or guest suggestion? Email: diane@drdianeadventures.com 👉 Subscribe, rate, and review to support more Adventures in Learning!
Episodes
What if your next STEM lesson started with a 65‑foot whale and a beach cleanup scavenger hunt?
For 25 years, Blue Ocean Society has been quietly protecting whales and marine life right in our New England “backyard.” In this ocean-focused episode, Dr. Diane talks with co-founder and executive director Jen Kennedy about how long-term whale research, monthly beach cleanups, and joyful, hands-on education invite kids (and adults) to lea...
If you’ve ever walked along a shoreline, spotted trash, and thought, “How did this get here, and what can I do about it?” -- this conversation is for you. Ashley Sullivan, Executive Director of the Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean, joins me to unpack the very real problem of marine debris and microplastics, and to remind us that curiosity, community, and “lots of littles” can add up to big change.
What happens when a bestselling middle grade author joins you on World Read Aloud Day -- and opens the episode with a live read-aloud from his brand-new release?
In this return conversation, James Ponti celebrates the book birthday of City Spies: Europa (Book 7!) and takes us behind the scenes of what it really takes to write page-turning mystery-adventure that kids don’t just read, they inhabit.
We talk about the research rabbit hol...
What happens when young readers are invited to question the stories they’ve always been told?
In this episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor welcomes bestselling author Tracy Wolff to celebrate the launch of her middle grade fantasy debut, The Aftermyth. Together they explore how mythology, storytelling, empathy, and student identity come together in powerful ways, and why middle grade fiction plays...
What if the biggest gap in reading instruction isn’t phonics or fluency — but motivation?
Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor sits down with Anmarie Paul, Executive Director of Behind the Book, to explore how intrinsic motivation, belonging, student choice, and joyful literacy experiences help children become lifelong readers.
Together, they unpack how Science of Reading practices and reading engagement strategies must work together b...
When cold weather keeps kids inside, big feelings can spike—for children and the adults supporting them. In this uplifting conversation, early childhood expert Francine Prince shares practical, realistic strategies for indoor days, and reminds us that the best early learning happens when we stay intentional, flexible, and deeply connected.
In this episode, we'll discuss:
- How to plan indoor days so you’re not “teaching on the...
What if the most powerful thing we could give young children is time to play?
Early childhood expert Rae Pica joins Dr. Diane for a candid conversation about why play, movement, and joy are essentials, not extras -- and how rushing children into academics is doing real harm.
🎧 Episode Summary
In this episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor welcomes author, keynote speaker, and longtime advocate for de...
From AfroBets to We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices to a brand-new picture book that sings with history, legendary author and publisher Cheryl Willis Hudson has helped shape what children can see (and become) through books. If you care about diverse children’s books, freedom to read, and the cultural power of music, this episode is for you.
Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor welcomes Cheryl Willis Hudson, co-founder of the groundbreakin...
A book some adults tried to keep off shelves helped a seventh grader make sense of grief, addiction, and forgiveness and shaped the storyteller she became. This episode is a powerful reminder that books can be lifelines and freedom to read matters.
In Episode 169 of Adventures in Learning, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor welcomes Dynahlee Star Padilla-Vasquez for a timely conversation about banned books, empathy, and the transformative po...
What if hope isn’t a feeling—but something you do?
From caring for orphaned rhinos to writing books that spark curiosity, this episode explores how learning, conservation, and community come together in powerful ways.
In Episode 167 of Adventures in Learning, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor is joined by Brenda Scott Royce, author, former primate caregiver, and conservation advocate, for a heartfelt conversation about learning from the natu...
In Episode 167 of Adventures in Learning, Dr. Diane Jackson Schnoor welcomes Ann Dye, Vice President of Sales Operations at HarperCollins, for a powerful conversation about books, belonging, and conservation.
Ann shares her journey into publishing, how books help children (and adults) slow down in a noisy, screen-filled world, and why matching the right book to the right reader still matters. Diane and Ann also reflect on their life...
What happens when an illustrator channels courage, mental health, and a 600-year-old sarcastic snowman into a single powerful story? In this inspiring conversation, The Snowman Code illustrator Reggie Brown reveals how he transformed a charming seasonal narrative into a visually rich, emotionally resonant world—and how his own life experiences shaped every brushstroke.
If you’re an educator, caregiver, librarian, picture-book lover,...
Just in time for the holidays, we whisk away on a cozy, magical journey through the enchanting world of The Snowman Code with Simon Stephenson. Warm yourself with this comfortable conversation about friendship, mental health, inner strength, and the transformative power of empathy as Simon shares the creative process behind his debut middle grade novel.
Summary
This week on the Adventures in Learning, Dr Diane Jackson Schnoor welcom...
Unwrap the joy of the holiday season with Jason M. Burns and Kate Kasch as they sprinkle holiday magic in every episode of their Dear Santa Podcast! This magical podcast crossover takes us on a festive journey filled with storytelling, traditions, and a direct line to the North Pole. Whether you're curious about the enchanting travels of Christmas trees or eager to hear from Santa himself, this episode is your ticket to a merr...
Dive into an inspiring journey of healing, empathy, and community with Myisha T. Hill. Discover how embracing sobriety—not just from substances but from systemic oppression and self-criticism—opens new pathways to personal growth and collective liberation.
Explore the transformative insights of author, speaker, and possibilitarian Myisha T. Hill on empathy, healing, and community building. Myisha's books, "Check Your Priv...
Discover the enchanting world of children's book illustration with Stephen Macquignon, as we explore unexpected connections between scientific thinking, whimsy, and transitioning from comics and animation to crafting magical picture books with watercolor and pencil. Join us for a journey that blends creativity, connection, and the delightful adventures of Oliver the Octopus.
Summary:
In a world dominated by screens, algorithms, and the buzz of artificial intelligence, how do we reconnect with our humanity and nuture creativity, connection, critical thinking, and collaboration? This week, speaker, writer, and coach Jane Newman drops by the Adventures in Learning podcast to help us unpack the profound challenges and opportunities at the intersection of technology, AI, and humanity.
Summary
In this episode, we expl...
Just in time for Veterans Day, meet a mother-daughter writing team focused on publishing books that help children understand freedom, sacrifice, and the challenges of deployment. In the latest episode of Adventures in Learning, Dr. Diane interviews Beverly and Alyssa Samuel, a mother-daughter writing team behind the children's series Make New Friends. With an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion, the books encourage ch...
Step into Books of Wonder, a New York City bookstore where every reader has a story. This iconic bookstore has sparked joy in young readers for 45 years. It inspired the Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan film You've Got Mail. In this conversation with founder Peter Glassman, we explore how Books of Wonder became a cherished destination for children's literature enthusiasts, fostering a vibrant community that celebrates the art of storyt...
Join us on a thrilling spooky adventure as we sit down with J.A. Dauber, the creative force behind the new middle grade novel Press One for Invasion. Discover the intriguing world where a mysterious cell phone unlocks unexpected alien encounters and a mad adventure to save the world from destruction!
In this spooky season episode, we dive into Jeremy Dauber's Press One for Invasion, a middle-grade novel that brings spooky (and ...
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