Dr. Diane's Adventures in Learning

Pour yourself a cup of coffee and join me for a chat with rock star Newbery Medalist Katherine Applegate as we celebrate the book birthday of Dogtown, The One and Only Ruby, and Odder. You know her from The One and Only Ivan, but you also know her from so many other books like Crenshaw, Wishtree, and the Animorphs series, now in a new graphic format designed by Chris Grine.

[01:14] How We Met: Shenandoah University's ...

Meet author/illustrator team Carole Boston Weatherford and Jeffery Boston Weatherford (also mother and son). Carole has authored 70+ books, including award winning Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre;  Box: Henry Brown Mails Himself to Freedom;  and All Rise: The Story of Ketanji Brown Jackson. Jeffery's beautiful illustrations can be found in  We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices and  You Can Fly: The Tuskegee Airman.  On...

She's STEMspirational! Meet youth inventor Lydia Denton. At 15, she's already been honored for many of her inventions, including the Beat the Heat car seat. In this episode we explore strategies for engaging girls in STEM and inventing, as well as secrets to being well-rounded and happy.

[00:52] Lydia's Background and Inventions:

• Lydia shares her journey as an inventor since the second grade.
• Her diverse education p...

Covey Denton is a rock star STEM educator. We met through Steve Spangler, when we were both presenting workshops at Science in the Rockies. Check out her strategies for helping you get your science classroom funded.,

[01:26] - Covey's Journey

• Covey explains her diverse career path, starting from biomedical engineering,  and transitioning into teaching through unconventional pathways.

[04:04] - Contribution to Kesler Scie...

Dr. Ronda Taylor Bullock is the co founder and executive director of we are (working to extend anti-racist education), a nonprofit in North Carolina that provides antiracism training for children, families, and educators. I first met Dr. Ronda at the North Carolina Reading Conference, and she blew me away with the resources and the thoughtfulness she had put behind helping teachers and families really think through how to create an...

Meet Wincey Terry-Bryant, an incredible, knock your socks off edutainer who knows how to connect history, STEM, cultural, and the performing arts in a way that engages early childhood and elementary audiences. She's the CEO of  WinceyCo,  and an international artist who has performed with Sting and Tina Turner and guested on Sesame Street In 1988, Wincey combined her love for music, education and children to found a performing...

Could this be the first podcast broadcast from inside a volcano's magma chamber? As Iceland braces itself for another potential eruption, join us for a special episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast. In this episode, we go Inside the Volcano with co-founder Ólafur Þór Júlíusson and Science of Iceland host Steve Spangler. Join us to learn about the Three Peaks Crater, as well as the difference between a tourist eruption ...

 Corinna Luyken joins us to share her journey and the story behind her latest book, ABC and You and Me. This delightful picture book celebrates movement, creativity, and the power of imagination.  We  delve into the inspiration and collaborative process behind, Patchwork, written by Matt de la Pena and illustrated by Corinna. We also touch upon the influence of mindfulness in Corinna's work and her personal connection to Thich...

Welcome to Adventures in Learning, where curiosity and connection lead to exciting discoveries. In this episode, we delve into the world of STEM picture books with the acclaimed author Sue Fliess.

With a passion for combining science, technology, engineering, and math with captivating storytelling, Sue has captured the hearts of young readers and educators alike. Sue is the author of more than 50 picture books, including ...

What is an edutainer? How do we use entertainment to inspire STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education for and with young students? In this episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast, we talk with  DLR Foundation executive director Shaakira Hardy.   Shaakira has worked in roles such as science training, program and curriculum development, district-wide science coordinating and directing within two school...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Miranda  Schnoor works for NAMI, the National Alliance of Mental Illness. As NAMI Virginia’s Educational Support & HelpLine Coordinator, Miranda oversees the HelpLine, developing and leading a number of NAMI’s programs, and working directly with volunteers. In this conversation, we share resources and picture books that may help caregivers, families, and educators support children's me...

If we want to be the change in the world as the adult, first we have to look at ourselves and say, this is something we value, and then tell our children that we value that because we want every child to be seen, heard, and valued. We want every family to be seen, heard and valued. 

In this episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast, Dr. Diane chats with Alyssa Dituro, executive director of the ...

"When I think about what experiences I want guests on the expedition to bring back with them, it's this sense of connectedness with our planet." -- Phil Hunter

When I traveled to Antarctica on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure with my father and sister last December, we were fortunate enough to have Phil Hunter as our expedition guide. Phil has been guiding travelers around the world’s most remote regions for t...

What do bicycles, Bruce Lee, the Dalai Lama, and the woman who helped unlock the secrets of the atom have in common? They are all products of the creative work of author Teresa Robeson.

Teresa Robeson is the APALA Picture Book Award-winning author of Queen of Physics (also ILA Nonfiction PB Honor and NCTE Orbis Pictus Nonfiction Recommended Book). Other publications include Two Bicycles in Beijing and an essay in Nonfictio...

Today's guest is  Deborah Freedman, author/illustrator of  such beloved children's books as Carl and The Meaning of Life. Tiny Dino, Shy, Is Was, and the soon to be published Welcome to the Wonder House. Educators, librarians, and families will love the resources on her website to accompany her books, which includes many teaching ideas, connected experiences and activities, and suggested read alikes for each book.

I first ...

In today's episode, we meet a power couple who really know how to connect STEM experiences and picture books for powerful 21st century learning. Kahla DeSmit is the executive director of the Lewisburg Children's Museum and Raymond DeSmit is the Summit Early Learning site coordinator and maker space director.  I met both of them at a Steve Spangler workshop last year where we were putting water over our heads, making bubbl...

How often in life do you get to meet a real life superhero? Strap in for a fun ride with Captain Antarctica, aka Sean McBride. A former member of Australia's Special Forces, he's studied anthropology, taught survival skills, organized rescues, created a character and blog dedicated to educating about Antarctica, and became a Buddhist Zen monk. Marvel, if you're listening, his juicy backstory starts at 36:27, and it r...

In today's podcast episode, we visit with parenting expert, coach, blogger, and podcast host of Parenting in the First Three Years, Ann McKitrick. Ann is an early childhood specialist. She has done training and coaching for schools. She also coaches new parents and caregivers, and her podcast is a delight. If you haven't started following it, please head over to nurturednoggins.com and check out all that Ann has to offer....

Soar today with our  guest Alison Green Myers, whose first book for middle grade readers, A Bird Will Soar, received the American Library Association's 2022 Schneider Family Book Award and the Pennsylvania State Library Association's 2022 Carolyn W. Field Award. Alison is the program director for the Highlights Foundation, a national writing fellow, and an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and I...