Outrageous Love the Podcast: Our Journeys to Responsiveness

2025 ends with an inspirational journey to responsiveness from author, educator, and motivational speaker Dr. Al Johnson. We throw around the word transformative. Dr. Johnson's life story is truly, truly transformative and inspiring. Al was that student - a high school dropout from a single parent household. He could have easily become another "statistic." But he didn't! You will be filled with joy during this h...

How have you centered race? How have your centered culture? Find perspective with these two thought-provoking questions by listening to Francine's journey to responsiveness. Multi-layered. Nuanced. Unique. As a school librarian and a strong advocate for equity, Francine brings a double threat of experience and education. Add in her upbringing in Pennsylvania to her residence in New Mexico and you have one interesting journey f...

This episode makes OTLP history as we feature for the very first time a CLR librarian. Let's give some love to the librarian, a key support of CLR because, typically these folks see ALL the students and are obvious supporters of literacy as well as supporters of other schoolwide initiatives. We set this two part series off with Paizley Spencer, an original educator (in education for 25 years or more). She is a teacher-libraria...

We are continuing the special tribute series, honoring CLR educators who have been rolling with the VA/BB since day one. The queen, Dr. Ramona Bishop, is one of those educators. Dr. Bishop started with CLR as a principal in the Sacramento City Schools and she is now founder and chief visionary for the Elite Schools in Vallejo, CA. There have been a lot of stops along the way and CLR has been there each step. You will want to hear R...

We are starting a new 2-part series, Special Tribute. We will focus on two very special CLR educators who have been rocking the VABB from day one to this day, in some cases over 20 years. In addition to them being VABBulous educators in every sense of the word, what's make them special for CLR is they started with CLR as new teacher and new principal or early in their educational careers and they have been rolling with CLR eve...

It is the middle of July and that means it is time for the annual summer fun episode. We are delving into the true crime genre, which is by far the most popular podcasts. Our true crime involves a theft. A student's opportunity to be cultural in the context of school was stolen and more importantly an opportunity to be validated and affirmed was lost. Listen in as we follow what happens to an African American 8th grader who ex...

Here is another episode with a "random" guest who volunteered to share their journey to responsiveness. At a recent CLR Deep Dive Institute in Alburquerque, NM, the participants were asked out of the blue, "Who would like to be a guest on Outrageous Love the Podcast?" Udell Chavez, an educator from Santa Fe, stepped up to the plate. And we are grateful that he did. His CLR journey is unique and most relevant to ...

This year, we invited participants in our CLR Deep Dive Institutes to be guests on the podcast for an "open mic" series. In other words, say what you want, get some things off your chest, or just let loose. Our first taker is an educator from Las Cruces, NM. Meet Micaela Altamirano, a multi-talented and multi-faceted educator. She may be new to CLR but she is not new to the needs of underserved students. Over the years, s...

Episode 61!!! We are celebrating 6 years of Outrageous Love and 6 years of honoring journeys to responsiveness. From all walks of life, we have interviewed over 50 educators who have inspired us with their personal histories, equity walks, and keen insights on equity and cultural responsiveness. Per tradition, we start the new season with Dr. Hollie's personal episode, which supposedly provides a peek inside his personal space...

We culminate the special series celebrating special education educators with two powerhouse educators. First up is Kiechelle Russell, 20 year veteran educator in special education and the origin of CLR and Special Education for Dr. Hollie in terms of a model classroom example. Dr. Hollie first saw Kiechelle's classroom over 20 years ago and 20 years later she is still representing for special education students, now as an admi...

We culminate the special series celebrating special education educators with two powerhouse educators. First up is Kiechelle Russell, 20 year veteran educator in special education and the origin of CLR and Special Education for Dr. Hollie in terms of a model classroom example. Dr. Hollie first saw Kiechelle's classroom over 20 years ago and 20 years later she is still representing for special education students, now as an admi...

Our world has been turned upside down or at least it feels like it and yet we remained focused. Our eyes are still on the prize. We are going to beat meanness with kindness. We continue our celebration of CLR educators in special education. We go back to Ithaca, one of our CLR superstar districts, where we meet Christine Barley, a self-professed white anti-racist educator. Here this outstanding educator's fascinating journey t...

Happy 2025! With our thoughts and prayers on the devasting wildfires in Southern California and the pending historic Presidential Inauguration (not to mention the birthday of Martin Luther King), we begin a celebration of CLR Special Education Educators. I have been inspired so many times by the dedication, commitment, and compassion that these educators demonstrate everyday. I have personally witnessed the moving validation and af...

The last episode of 2024. End the year with outrageous love and listen two the journey of Quincy Davis, independent school educator. Traditionally in December, OTLP goes traditional public school adjacent with the guest. Mr. Quincy, as the students call him, fits the bill. He goes back over 15 years in the work of CLR and is a friend, colleague, and mentee of Dr. Hollie's. For the past 10 years or so, Quincy has been directly ...

The final episode in the 3 part series culminates with a double episode. We have two dynamite educators who currently serve as directors of equity and inclusion. Both are from California, one in the Bay area and the other in Southern California. Shamar Edwards is in the Alameda Schools (Oakland) and Dr. Ayanna Balogun works in the Rialto Schools (San Bernardino). Check out their similarities and differences in their journeys as CLR...

We continue our focus on the ups and downs of being a coordinator or director of equity in the past 4 years. This episode we got to upstate New York to experience the journey of Alyssa Haymore. Alyssa brings it on so many levels - personally and professionally. With keen insight, wisdom, and life experience, she captures the essentials of the rise and fall of the administration or managing of diversity, equity, or inclusion. Whatev...

Do you have a Director of Equity or a DEI Coordinator or an Inclusion Ambassador? Or should we ask did you previously have one? This 3-part series will focus on the successes and struggles of Equity Directors from the across the country. The main question is what have the past 3-4 years been like for them? What is the difference between 2020 when DEI was the hottest ticket in town and now when DEI is on the back burner (again) or p...

Teaching Physical Education inherently lends itself to the validation and affirmation of cultural and linguistic behaviors. Why don't we, then, see more students validated and affirmed in PE? Let's find out through the lens of 5th grade PE teacher Sabrina Krasinski in the Maywood-Melrose Park schools in Chicago. Sabrina brings a unique perspective to the topic, not only because she is a VABBulous PE teacher, but because s...

It's July and that means it's time for the annual summer fun episode. This year, we take CLR to "dese streets." Well...almost.  At the CLR Deep Dive Institute in St. Louis, we interviewed participants about their perspectives on CLR.  We asked four questions: most impactful CLR moment, biggest CLR struggle, first impression of Dr. Hollie, and the plan to sustain CLR at your locale? Want their answers! Check out ...