Learn Fresh Podcast

In this season premier, Nick and Calvin talk with former NBA TV personality and podcaster, Leigh Ellis. He takes us through the moment he turned his career around, leaving the booth in search of pick-up games around the world and the stories in between – like the infamous shootout with Steph Curry. Tune in as they discuss career exploration, the life lessons travel teaches you, and the beauty of cross-cultural exchange from playing 3x3 pick-up basketball. To learn more about Leigh's work visit: https://basketballpassport.net/

In this week's episode, Nick and Calvin sit down with Mariana Rivera, an educator from San Francisco, California. Mariana is a longtime NBA Math Hoops program educator at Bay Area Community Resources, and in 2017, her students Angela and Patricia Rodas attended and won the inaugural NBA Math Hoops National Championship. Throughout the conversation, the group recaps the memorable 2017 season and the experience of the first National Championship event.

Join Nick and Calvin in this week's episode as they sit down with Kayla Alexander, professional basketball player, author, and Learn Fresh board member. Kayla shares her passion for education and her inspiring journey as a division 1 athlete, and also speaks about her children's book, The Magic of Basketball. Tune in to gain insights into Kayla's multifaceted career and her dedication to achieving equity in education.To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit learnfresh.org. Email us at podcast@learnfresh.org. Follow Learn Fresh on Twitter @Learn_Fresh and Facebook @learnfreshedu

In this week's episode, Nick and Calvin sit down with a group from Clevyr, an application and development firm from Oklahoma City, OK. Clevyr is the developer of the NBA Math Hoops apps and the NBA Math Hoops digital game, and we have worked closely with them to build out Learn Fresh digital tools for students and educators. Nick and Calvin are joined by Kelli Matthews, Strategic Account Manager, Tim Giddens, Senior Software Developer, and Nick Duttwyler, Senior Software Developer. All three have worked extensively on Learn Fresh projects in the past. The group explores how each got into game development and design, key features of the NBA Math Hoops App, the game development process, and visions for STEM education and pipeline development. 

In this week's episode, Nick and Calvin sit down with Jesse Smith Thomas, Partnership Marketing Manager at the Los Angeles Rams and formerly at the New Orleans Pelicans and New Orleans Saints. Jess shares her transition from a career in STEM to a career in professional sports in her late 20s, and how her STEM education benefited her in this career shift. The three discuss the role of partnership marketing within professional sports teams and how cross industry partnerships have the ability to make a meaningful difference in communities. If you are interested in bringing Learn Fresh programming to your school or organization, Colleen can be reached at colleen@learnfresh.org To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit learnfresh.org. Email us at podcast@learnfresh.org. Follow Learn Fresh on Twitter @Learn_Fresh and Facebook @learnfresh

Meet Learn Fresh's Chief Program Officer, Colleen Serafini! In this episode, Colleen sits down with Nick and Calvin to share discuss her career in education, her journey to joining Learn Fresh, and reflections on Learn Fresh's work and mission. Colleen was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended University of California Berkeley. Her first position after graduation was with AmeriCorps VISTA at a middle school in Berkeley, CA supporting youth as an Academic Coordinator. This began her career working with low-income communities in Bay Area schools, where she focused on guiding the implementation of STEM curricula. Colleen joined the Learn Fresh team from Bay Area Community Resources, a longtime Learn Fresh implementation partner in the region. As Chief Program Officer at Learn Fresh, she remains dedicated to providing all students a fun, engaging way to learn. If you are interested in bringing Learn Fresh programming to your school or organization, Colleen can be reached at colleen@learnfresh.org To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit learnfresh.org. Email us at podcast@learnfresh.org.Follow Learn Fresh on social media:facebook.com/learnfreshinstagram.com/learn_fresh/twitter.com/learn_freshlinkedin.com/company/learnfresh

In Episode 16, Nick and Calvin chop it up with Eric Woodyard, an award-winning journalist and author from Flint, Michigan. Eric is currently the NFL Nation reporter for the Detroit Lions at ESPN, where he also covers basketball and boxing. Eric has appeared on ESPN's “The Jump,” “E:60”, and “Outside the Lines”, and was awarded first place for Best Sports Story and Best Sports Feature categories in 2012 and 2015 by the Michigan Associated Press. Throughout the conversation, Eric shares stories from early in his career covering the NBA, and talks about his path into journalism, the importance of mentorship in education, and his Flint roots. To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit: www.learnfresh.orgEmail us at podcast@learnfresh.orgFollow Learn Fresh on social media:https://www.facebook.com/learnfreshhttps://www.instagram.com/learn_freshhttps://twitter.com/learn_freshhttps://linkedin.com/company/learnfresh

In Episode 15, Nick and Calvin welcome Gemma Lenowitz, Program Officer, and Uchenna Ezibe, Program Analysts with the Overdeck Family Foundation's Inspired Minds portfolio. The Inspired Minds portfolio supports direct impact and ecosystem organizations that expand access to high-quality out-of-school STEM learning experiences that deepen family engagement, build STEM mindsets, and inspire students with joyful and rigorous learning. Learn Fresh has been a grantee of the Inspired Minds portfolio since 2019. Gemma and Uchenna share their personal journeys to Overdeck Family Foundation and their shared passion for education. The conversation explores the landscape of STEM education in the afterschool space and the critical importance of funding exceptional learning opportunities for students. To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit learnfresh.org. Email us at podcast@learnfresh.org.Follow Learn Fresh on social media:facebook.com/learnfreshinstagram.com/learn_fresh/twitter.com/learn_freshlinkedin.com/company/learnfresh

In honor of the upcoming 2022 NBA Math Hoops National Championship, Nick and Calvin speak with Calvin's former student and NBA Math Hoops alumnus Daivion Smith. Daivion shares his experience participating in the first NBA Math Hoops National Championship, and how his journey through the program helped shape the student and person he is today. Daivion's experience in the first annual NBA Math Hoops National Championship was featured in ‘An NBA Math Hoops Story', a mini-doc available to view on the Learn Fresh Youtube Channel. Follow @NBAMathHoops on Twitter and Instagram to catch all the action at the 2022 NBA Math Hoops National Championship, taking place June 10 -12, 2022 in Philadelphia!To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit learnfresh.org. Email us at podcast@learnfresh.org.Follow Learn Fresh on social media:facebook.com/learnfreshinstagram.com/learn_fresh/twitter.com/learn_freshlinkedin.com/company/learnfresh

In this episode, Calvin shares his journey as an educator, from a young man with aspirations for the NBA to the ‘Game Changer of Education'. Calvin and Nick discuss the importance of identity representation in education, and how Calvin leveraged culture and fashion to position himself as a positive role model for his students. The discussion then turns to a critical look at the education system: how educators' enthusiasm and creativity are often stifled to the detriment of students, and the importance of real world lessons in the classroom. Calvin shares why he chose to leave the classroom to join the Learn Fresh team, and examines why so many educators are now choosing to pursue alternative careers in education. To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit learnfresh.org. Email us at podcast@learnfresh.org.Follow Learn Fresh on social media:facebook.com/learnfreshinstagram.com/learn_fresh/twitter.com/learn_freshlinkedin.com/company/learnfresh

In this episode, Calvin and Nick are joined by David Gould, Chief Diversity and Impact Officer at Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, the ownership group of the Philadelphia 76ers. Throughout the conversation, recorded in January of 2021, the group explores how the Sixers and HBSE think about engaging the community, and the specific programs that they're using to achieve impact. David shares his background growing up in a poor part of Philadelphia, having the opportunity to attend an elite private school, and the impact of his schooling on his academic and career trajectory. The conversation touches on themes including racial and educational equity, code switching as a cultural and professional tool, supporting black-owned businesses in the community, and the importance of research funding. To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit learnfresh.org, or email us at podcast@learnfresh.org. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram @Learn_Fresh.

Gender Equity in K-12 EducationIn this episode, Calvin and Nick are joined by Delphi Cleaveland, Special Assistant in the Office of Global Women's Issues at U.S. Department of State, for a conversation about gender equity within American education. Throughout the conversation, recorded in December of 2020, the group explores the international and domestic context for gender equity within K-12 education, including issues like gendering of academic topics and activities, representation in school systems and STEM fields, and gender-related challenges during the pandemic. Please note that all statements made in this episode were given in a personal capacity and do not reflect the views of the United States Government.To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit learnfresh.org, or email us at podcast@learnfresh.org. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram @Learn_Fresh.

In the final episode of our “Meet the Learn Fresh Fellows” series, we hear from Learn Fresh Fellow Melanie Young. Melanie is the founder of Infinite Mind Tutors, a Black-owned tutoring agency with the mission to use the collective power of Black minds to transform America's educational landscape. Melanie's passion is to make high-quality education accessible to all children. Before launching Infinite Mind Tutors, Melanie was a teacher and tutor working in Philadelphia's public schools for over nine years. During this time, Melanie taught at Central High School, coached two NBA Math Hoops National Championship participants across two consecutive years, was awarded the Sixers Youth Foundation Game Changer Award in 2018, Philadelphia Superintendent's Award in 2016, Woodrow Wilson Rockefeller Brothers Fund Fellowship in 2015, and the University of Pennsylvania Woman of Color Award in 2014. Melanie Young is a two-time graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. In this episode, Melanie shares her personal journey to becoming an educator and the powerful influence her parents had over her passion for education. To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit learnfresh.org, or email us at podcast@learnfresh.org. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram @Learn_Fresh.

In Part III of this series, we hear from Learn Fresh Fellow Dr. Francene Garrett. Francene holds a Bachelors of Arts degree with a specialization in Vocal Performance, a Masters of Science degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Technology, and an Educational Doctoral degree in Administrative Leadership for Teaching and Learning. Currently, Francene serves as an Instruction and Personalized Learning Lead in the metropolitan area of Atlanta. She is a mother of one, an avid reader, and enjoys traveling and listening to music. Francene prides herself on being a change agent in the field of education through the use of practical, relevant, and engaging professional development, consulting, and coaching. In this episode, Francene shares her journey as an educator and the impact her own teachers had on her life. To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit learnfresh.org, or email us at podcast@learnfresh.org. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram @Learn_Fresh.

In Part II of this series, you will hear from Learn Fresh Fellow, Chris Robinson. Chris is a special education teacher and the athletic director at his neighborhood middle school, McAuliffe International School in Denver, Colorado. Growing up, his family put a high standard on education, but it's something that he took for granted until he transferred to a private school in 8th grade. Immediately, he understood that education was not the same for everyone and as one of the only Black students at his new school, the inequity felt personal. From then on, becoming a teacher was always in the back of his mind.  In this episode, Chris discusses his journey as an educator and the importance of creating relevant curriculum for students. To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit learnfresh.org, or email us at podcast@learnfresh.org. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram @Learn_Fresh.

Meet the inaugural class of Learn Fresh Fellows! Launched in Fall 2020, the Learn Fresh Fellowship for Culturally Inclusive Education invites educators and curriculum writers of color to create and broadly share standards-aligned curricula that authentically represent the cultural, ethnic, and racial identities of their communities. After a rigorous review process, four fellows from across the country were selected as a part of the inaugural class.Over the next four episodes, you will have the opportunity to hear from each of these incredible educators. In this episode, we meet Ashley Barnett, an elementary educator working in a private school in Baltimore. Ashley graduated from St. John's University with a master's degree in childhood education. She has been teaching for over 10 years in Washington D.C., New York City, and Baltimore. Ashley has taught K-4th grade students and art to middle school students as an elective. Her favorite age to teach is 1st grade and her favorite subject to teach is reading. Throughout this episode, Ashley shares her journey to the Fellowship and her vision for change in the classroom. To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit learnfresh.org, or email us at podcast@learnfresh.org. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram @Learn_Fresh.

Calvin and Nick share reflections on the role and importance of education in the racial justice movement in a two-part episode recorded in December 2020. Throughout the conversation, they talk about how they've seen these themes play out in our own lives, in the classroom, and through our work with Learn Fresh.In Part 2, the pair talk about representation in the classroom, culture, and curricula, and what it means for building racial acceptance and the pursuit of social justice.To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit learnfresh.org, or email us at podcast@learnfresh.org. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram @Learn_Fresh.

Calvin and Nick share reflections on the role and importance of education in the racial justice movement in a two-part episode recorded in December 2020. Throughout the conversation, they talk about how they've seen these themes play out in our own lives, in the classroom, and through our work with Learn Fresh.In Part 1, Calvin and Nick explore how the American education system approaches Black history and U.S. history more generally, and how teaching, technology, and pedagogy can contribute to combating racism and building racial equity. To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit learnfresh.org, or email us at podcast@learnfresh.org. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram @Learn_Fresh.

Today we're talking again with three long standing educators from the Learn Fresh community about their experiences with the NBA Math Hoops program. In Episode 2, we spoke with Denzel Smith, Robin Seelye, and Sean Patterson about teaching during the pandemic. In this episode, we're sharing more from that conversation, with a focus on what NBA Math Hoops has meant to them, their students, and their teaching. To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit learnfresh.org, or email us at podcast@learnfresh.org. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram @Learn_Fresh.

Continuing themes from last week around sport and community, this week's episode explores the case study of The Huddle, an organization leveraging the power of sport to create positive outcomes for youth in Australia. Nick and Calvin are joined by Emma Kearney, captain and star player of the North Melbourne Football Club and Head of Education and Careers at The Huddle. Cam McLeod serves as CEO of The Huddle and also joins the conversation to discuss his vision for the organization's scale. The group discusses The Huddle's True North program, which is building a new model for professional sports organizations and community engagement across Australia.To learn more about True North and The Huddle, visit:https://www.nmfc.com.au/huddle https://truenorthportal.com.au/ To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit learnfresh.org, or email us at podcast@learnfresh.org. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram @Learn_Fresh.

Can professional sports inspire student learning and social impact? How can sports organizations leverage data to evaluate community outcomes? Do professional athletes and leagues have a responsibility to the community? In today's episode, Nick and Calvin welcome Sacramento Kings star Harrison Barnes, a leading activist in the NBA community, and Kirk Walters, Director of Math Research at WestEd. The group discusses the links between sports and education, and explores the powerful platform athletes have to drive change and progress in their communities.Sources for this episode include:2019-20 End-of-Season Community Assist Award: Harrison Barnes WNBA Announces A 2020 Season Dedicated To Social JusticeNBA details All-Star support for HBCUs, communities impacted by COVID-19More than $3M to be donated in initial support as part of NBA All-Star 2021Colin Kaepernick kneeling timeline: How protests during the national anthem started a movement in the NFLThe WNBA's Black Lives Matter Protest Has Set a New Standard for Sports ActivismThe WNBA Made the NBA Strike Possible‘Black Lives Matter, people': How the NBA's social justice efforts dominated the seasonAt the W.N.B.A., the Fight for Racial Justice Goes Way BackHarrison Barnes' approval ratings through the roofFor Harrison Barnes, the Desire to Make a Difference Is UnceasingHarrison and Brittany Barnes focusing on change inside and outside of NBA bubbleTo learn more about Learn Fresh, visit: www.learnfresh.orgEmail us at podcast@learnfresh.orgFollow Learn Fresh on social media:https://www.facebook.com/learnfreshhttps://www.instagram.com/learn_freshhttps://twitter.com/learn_freshhttps://linkedin.com/company/learnfresh

K-12 education and the importance of schools have been at the forefront of the national discourse since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, Nick and Calvin are joined by three educators from across the United States to discuss their experience teaching through this unprecedented time. Their discussion highlights the challenges of remote learning, the importance of adaptability, and the resilience of students. Thank you to our guests: Denzel Smith from Camden, NJ; Sean Patterson from Milwaukee, WI; and Robyn Seelye from Lansing, MI!Sources for this episode include:  Cameron, Peter. “Rural Schools Have Battled Bad Internet, Low Attendance and Academic Decline Through the Pandemic. Now the Push Is On to Return Students to Classrooms — Safely.” The 74 Million. January 21, 2021 Kuhfeld, Megan, et al. “Learning during COVID-19: Initial findings on students' reading and math achievement and growth.” NWEA. November 2020 Dorn, Emma, et al. “COVID-19 and learning loss—disparities grow and students need help.” McKinsey & Company. December 8, 2020 Jordan, Phyllis. “What Congressional Covid Funding Means for K-12 Schools.” ED Future. March 18, 2021.  Kuhfeld, Megan, et al. “How is COVID-19 affecting student learning? Initial findings from fall 2020.” Brookings. December 3, 2020 To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit learnfresh.org, or email us at podcast@learnfresh.org. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram @Learn_Fresh.

Learn Fresh is a nonprofit organization, dedicated to providing innovative STEM learning experiences that empower educators and inspire students. By bringing students' genuine interests into the classroom, Learn Fresh programs foster a lifelong enthusiasm for learning. Nick is the CEO and Co-Founder of the organization and Calvin serves as the Chief Academic Officer. Throughout the episode, Nick and Calvin discuss Learn Fresh and the organization's founding program, NBA Math Hoops. NBA Math Hoops, engages students with fundamental math and social-emotional learning through a physical and digital game, integrated curriculum, and community program structure. The NBA Math Hoops game simulates the real game of basketball: students complete core math operations and analyze the real stats of NBA and WNBA players. The program is implemented across school-day classrooms, out-of-school programs, and in students'  homes. Learn Fresh partners with community organizations including districts, Boys & Girls Clubs, and state afterschool networks to deliver programming at no cost. Students participate in community-based events and experiences including end-of-season Regional Championships and the NBA Math Hoops National Championship. Learn Fresh has partnered with the NBA and 25 NBA/WNBA teams to deliver this program to over 350,000 students nationwide.To learn more about Learn Fresh, visit learnfresh.org, or email us at podcast@learnfresh.org. Follow along on Twitter and Instagram @Learn_Fresh. 

Meet Nick Monzi and Calvin Sibert: nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, and hosts of the new Learn Fresh Podcast from the SYHDE Audio Network. Monzi and Sibert discuss topics impacting education and society today, including racial and gender equity, innovative learning models, cross-sector collaboration in education, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Along the way, they will be joined by industry leaders and educators from across the United States.