Outrageous Love the Podcast: Our Journeys to Responsiveness

It's July and that means it's time for the FUN episode. The FUN episode is when take a break from usual exciting journeys to responsiveness from outstanding CLR educators. The episode features interviews from participants in our CLR Deep Dive Institutes or as I put, interviews from "dese streets." Each participant was asked the same four questions but they gave completely different answers. They were inquiries about their most impa...

Now in video, we culminate the focus on ethnic identity in the context of the so-called racial "whiteness." We look at Italian culture through the lens of seasoned educator and friend of the VABB Nation, Nicole Lusiani. Now educating in Portland, Nicole has over 25 years of experience teaching in the Bay area, in namely the San Lorenzo schools. She has worked as a key team key member of the Center for Culturally Responsive Teaching...

The opening of season 7 has a lot going on. First, a celebration for a 7th season and nearly 100 episodes. Then, each season opens with Dr. Hollie's annual personal episode, where he brings a guest who knows him personally. Perhaps this year's guest will give us something juicy. The special guest is Professor Marva Cappello, Dr. Hollie's classmate in doctoral studies at USC. Dr. Hollie and Marva have been connected as students, col...

Who knew that Italian immigrants worked the grape crops in California? The final episode of season 6 begins a new series focusing on how we, the macro-society and pretty much all forms of media, conflate race and culture non-stop. For this series, we look specifically at educators who are Caucasian (or white racially) but are not white culturally. Hence, don't call me white, call me _____. Listen in to the journey of Carrie Sotro, ...

Have you heard of Curriculum Violence? Neither had we until meeting Dr. Carolyn Strong. This episode will provoke you to think about how curricula can be an "assault" on our students in a variety of ways. It will also inspire you. Carolyn Strong's journey to responsiveness is filled with lessons, insights, and wisdom at every turn. Born and raised in Chicago, Carolyn gives us a compelling journey and a look at what has become her d...

We are looking back to jump forward in the first episode of 2026. We look at the our podcast's stats for 2025. Find out where we stand in podcast universe. Note that we are in the top 50% and have been downloaded in 99 countries! VABBulous! Then, we go back to a theme of last year - honoring educators who have been CLR their entire careers. We meet Tanya Harris from Oakland and current leader in Alameda Schools. Tanya's CLR journey...

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 holiday season after ...

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 for an...

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-librarian in ...

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 ever sin...

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 experie...

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 today's sociopolitic...

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, she has use...

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. To ...

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 administr...

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 administr...

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 to res...

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...