What Do We Know? A Podcast for Teachers

What Do We Know? A Podcast for Teachers

The repetitive nature of teaching lends itself to living life on autopilot. That makes it all the more important to step back and reflect. What we do know works? How do we know that? What can we do better? This podcast aims to name and explore the most important issues that teachers face every day inside and outside the classroom. Through organic conversations, we unpack the challenges facing modern educators, discuss student-centered solutions to these problems, and reflect on our strengths and weaknesses.

Episodes

#26 - Laura Boyle

June 21, 2021 • 61 mins

I talk with Laura Boyle, a former student of mine at GCM who is now in the teacher education program at the University of Virginia.

The poem featured in the intro is "To Rebuild" by Hallie Knight.

All other content written, edited, and produced by James MacIndoe.

Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#25 - Hindsight 2020 (Part 2)

January 3, 2021 • 39 mins
The second in a series, this episode is exactly what it sounds like: a highly critical examination of what it was like to teach in 2020. I talked to admin, teachers, students, and even my school's psychologist about the visible and invisible impacts of the pandemic on instruction, student life, and the future of teaching. Also featured in this episode is some food for thought from the new book A Wolf at the Schoolhouse Door, by Jen...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#24 - Hindsight 2020 (Part 1)

December 31, 2020 • 39 mins
The first in a series, this episode is exactly what it sounds like: a highly critical examination of what it was like to teach in 2020. I talked to admin, teachers, students, and even my school's psychologist about the visible and invisible impacts of the pandemic on instruction, student life, and the future of teaching.  Special thanks to Cole Harding, Jessica Post, Trip Sargent, and Willow Mason.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#23 - Daniel Reinish

April 25, 2020 • 62 mins
Dan and I talk about our districts’ respective remote learning plans and explore the logistical, instructional, and personal obstacles we’ve had to navigate as we try to do our jobs.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#22 - Sam Long

February 7, 2020 • 75 mins
In this episode, I review Dana Goldstein’s book The Teacher Wars, and I talk to Sam Long, a science instructor at my school who is developing a gender inclusive approach to teaching biology. Episode notes Sam's most recent Chalkbeat articles: Disrespected and excluded as a teen, this transgender teacher wants a different high school experience for today’s students I’m a trans educator who’s had to fight for my place in school. Here...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#21 - Jonathan Wolfer

January 12, 2020 • 46 mins
In this episode, I talk with Jonathan Wolfer -- a Regis University professor and the principal of Douglass Elementary School in Boulder Valley -- about educational policy, leadership philosophy, and some of the more unique aspects of Colorado's education scene.  Links to important things: TABOR The negative factor (there's a great breakdown about halfway through the article) SB-191
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#20 - Ying Ong

August 25, 2019 • 76 mins
In the first episode of season three, I talk to Ying Ong -- an English language acquisition teacher from Cherry Creek Schools -- about how her racial consciousness has impacted her work in education and the many ways that dominant cultures influence public education, often for the worse. Also -- there's new theme music. Links to things we talk about: Courageous Conversations Crucial Accountability The Wallace Foundation
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#19 - GCM Commencement Address

June 20, 2019 • 15 mins
On June 12, 2019, I had the tremendous honor of delivering the commencement address at George C. Marshall High School's graduation ceremony. It feels a little self-aggrandizing to put that speech on this platform, but it's a love letter to my former students and to my son. I worked hard on it, and I wanted to share it. I am thankful for so many things. Marshall's administrators helped arrange my flights and in general made it possi...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#18 - Reflections

May 19, 2019 • 27 mins
I talk about my five key experiences and takeaways from the 2018-19 school year: school culture, grief, technology, curriculum, and writing. There's no interview this time, and while it's May and it very much feels like the end of a sequence, there will probably be a couple of bonus pods over the summer featuring some grad school action, so stay tuned. Music credit: "Thrum Room" by Podington Bear
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#17 - Jessica Post

May 4, 2019 • 60 mins
In this episode, Jessica and I talk about her Multicultural Perspectives Class -- a cohort of students that works to address systemic problems within the education system, and our school specifically. And I talk about a bunch of random things that have been on my mind since it's been three months since we had a pod. Links and such. smashSMARD: https://www.smashsmard.org/ Colorado Youth Congress: https://coyouthcongress.org/ Sou...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#16 - Cole Harding

February 22, 2019 • 56 mins
We talk about why Cole loves teaching, the importance of fun, making math accessible to all students, and we dig a bit into the culture at our school. Also grief metaphors and Finn sneezes. Music credit: "Thrum Room" by Podington Bear
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#15 - Finn

January 2, 2019 • 44 mins
*** Content Warning: child loss *** I talk about my son, Finn, and how losing him has shaped life and work and every little thing. Music credits: "Thrum Room" and "Corridor" by Podington Bear
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#14 - Tiffany Santana

September 22, 2018 • 54 mins
We talk about how to reach and teach students who have historically had difficulty with reading and decoding English. We also talk about the baby. We always talk about the baby.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#13 - Katie Clark

September 2, 2018 • 33 mins
In this episode, we talk to Katie Clark about starting at her third school in three years and building relationships with new co-workers. We also hear about James's wacky summer and his Colorado culture shock. Oh, and there's new theme music.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#12 - Students & Dean Wood

June 12, 2018 • 93 mins
The end of year reflections just won’t stop coming. James talks about the end of the school year, leaving Marshall, and what’s next. Some of his students talk about becoming aware of their own growth. And Dean Wood joins in once again to talk about what he’s proud of this school year. Editing note: James sounds sad, or at least slightly ambivalent about the impending birth of his child. He is not. He’s excited -- just worn out at ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#11 - Emma Choi

May 23, 2018 • 70 mins
In this special, student-centered episode, we talk about the things that have helped Emma build good relationships with her teachers, her favorite kinds of classrooms, and what she thinks teachers sometimes forget. We also get her take on the biggest problems facing public schools right now, making friends in high school, and heaps of existential dread.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#10 - Dean Wood

February 10, 2018 • 75 mins
We talk about teacher burnout, how Dean’s perspective on school has changed since becoming department chair, problematic legacy practices within education, and just being open to new ideas. Notes and links! The Pedagogy of the Oppressed: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedagogy_of_the_Oppressed The "Guide on the Side" vs the "Sage on Stage" tropes: https://www.jstor.org/stable/27558571?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents Hawkeye Pierce ...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#9 - Apoorva Johri & Lindsay Karr

December 20, 2017 • 70 mins
We talk about the work of Carol Dweck, Alfie Kohn, and other researchers who have studied the effects of praise/encouragement and rewards/punishments on human development. Using the articles linked below as a framework, we explore ways to have better conversations with our students and avoid toxic praise. Praise vs. Encouragement: http://www.pbs.org/parents/expert-tips-advice/2015/05/difference-praise-encouragement-matters/ Carol...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#8 - Kara Clark

November 18, 2017 • 55 mins
We talk about Teach for America, Kara’s move from high school English to K-8 art, the necessity of fine arts in public schools, and why we really just want to be teacher coaches.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

#7 - Melissa Wyse

November 10, 2017 • 92 mins
We talk about teaching writing, being present in the classroom, authentic tasks, sentences, landscapes, and so much more. Links to things we reference: The Bard institute: http://writingandthinking.org/ Idlewild Arts: https://idlewildarts.com So…Poetry: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/so-poetry/id1034664577?mt=2 How to Write a Sentence: https://www.amazon.com/How-Write-Sentence-Read-One/dp/006184053X
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Stuff You Should Know

    Stuff You Should Know

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Crime Junkie

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.

    NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal

    NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal

    Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of NFL Media hosts including Jourdan Rodrigue, Colleen Wolfe, and Nick Shook provide all the NFL news, previews, recaps and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.

    The Breakfast Club

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

Explore

iHeart

Live Radio

Podcasts

Artist Radio

Exclusives

News

Features

Events

Contests

Photos

Information

About

Advertise

Blog

Brand Guidelines

Contest Guidelines

Subscription Offers

Jobs

Get the App

Automotive

Home

Wearables

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices