Outrageous Love the Podcast: Our Journeys to Responsiveness

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 used her many skills to be validating and affirming for students in special education and currently with equity in technology. As always, listen in for Dr. Hollie's two cents where he just asks the questions, but rarely gives the answers.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

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 kick off the 6th season, Dr. Hollie focuses on the importance of family and introduces us to his cousin, Carrie Palmer. Carrie is a true renaissance woman - multi-talented and multi-faceted. She brings a lens that is varied, leveled, and nuanced. VABBulous life story. Hear Dr. Hollie's two cents, which provides some history and background on the podcast and why we must advocate for outrageous love now more than ever.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

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 administrator. You are going to be intrigued by her journey and how connected her journey has been to CLR and Dr. H from day one. Second up is Cindy Krumplitsch, another seasoned SPED educator. Based on a recent classroom observation, Cindy's classroom inspired this series, as she has begun to take a deep dive into cultural and linguistic practices. Cindy's journey to responsiveness is fascinating in so many ways, demonstrating that there is no one path to VABB. Dr. Hollie will culminate the series with his two cents.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

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 administrator. You are going to be intrigued by her journey and how connected her journey has been to CLR and Dr. H from day one. Second up is Cindy Krumplitsch, another seasoned SPED educator. Based on a recent classroom observation, Cindy's classroom inspired this series, as she has begun to take a deep dive into cultural and linguistic practices. Cindy's journey to responsiveness is fascinating in so many ways, demonstrating that there is no one path to VABB. Dr. Hollie will culminate the series with his two cents.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

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 responsiveness. Born and raised in the Central New York, Chris provides a unique perspective and one that we wish were far more common. Dr. Hollie's "two cents" is a finger wag about one of his key teachings - we don't fix one generalization with the solution of another generalization. Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

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 affirmation of students with various challenges. In so many ways, special education teachers are culturally and linguistically responsive inherently. We start the 3 part series with an educator from Southern California who is new to special education but not new to teaching. And as a bonus, Shawnee Muhammad shares her journey to responsiveness that started with Dr. Hollie 35 years ago, when they taught at the same school. A true full circle moment. Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

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 engaged with private/independent schools so he brings knowledge and experience for what validation and affirmation means in that context. You will be surprised and not so surprised by what he has learned. Les we forget Dr. Hollie's two cents, which is a summation of the latest series focusing on Directors of Equity and a celebration of OTLP making the top 25% of all podcasts in 2024.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

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 educators and also as African American women in high pressure positions. Decide for yourself. Have they been able to lead equity in their respective districts or are they managing inequity? Don't forget Dr. Hollie's two cents where he gives some post election commentary. We shall overcome.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

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. Whatever you want to call it. You will learn something from this episode. Dr. Hollie's two cents acknowledges the historical importance of the upcoming presidential election regardless of the outcome. Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

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 put out the house period. Our first director is Marisa Tersy from Washington DC. Here Marisa's experience in DEI as a director and her unique journey to responsiveness. Dr. Hollie's two cents will provide the context for why we are doing this series. Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

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 she also leads the CLR work at her school as a facilitator and as a model teacher. In addition to all of that, we are intrigued with her journey to responsiveness and her love for PE. Dr. Hollie wraps up the series and the summer season with his two cents. Although you may not be a PE teacher, still listen in and/or pass it along to a colleague who is.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

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 this episode and hear Dr. Hollie's two cents as usual. Share your responses to the same questions via social media (#CLRinthestreets) @validateaffirm.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

In this episode, we keep the conversation around different content areas and CLR going. We return to our beloved St. Louis and gain insight from the sage, Kristi Ponder, a high school art teacher in the Parkway Schools. Listen in as Kristi tells not only her journey to responsiveness, which is VABBulous, but also her journey to becoming an art teacher, which is fascinating. What is notable as well is Kristi's particular focus on relating to her students, finding connections with them, and unraveling their creativity in art and beyond. Lastly, Kristi and Dr. Hollie go way back. Find out how. Dr. Hollie riffs on the restoring of confederate names and statues around the country, which he predicted. Now what?Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

Welcome to season 5, episode 2 and the start of a new series, I Teach X Content Area AND I am CLR. There are far too many instances of teachers saying,  "I teach science or math or art or robotics or physical education, so I cannot do cultural and linguistic responsiveness (CLR)." This 3-part series will feature educators who debunk that thought. Each of them has made CLR a part of their daily instruction in their respective content areas. We start the series CLR math educator Vada Gray, a long time CLR educator going back over 20 years with Dr. Hollie. Listen in to learn how Vada's journey has always been about math and cultural and linguistic responsiveness from Oakland to Los Angeles and now in Chicago. Check out Dr. Hollie's two cents on why he thinks some educators use their content area as an excuse not to do or be CLR and how that excuse is super annoying.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

Dr. Hollie's riff on celebrating 5 years!Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

Hear Kim's Interview...Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

Here Linda's interviewLearn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

In April 2020, we launched the first episode of Outrageous Love the Podcast. We had no idea that 4 years and over 25,000 downloads later,  we we would be still launching. Thank you VABB nation! This episode celebrates 5 years of outrageous love and the over 40 educators who have shared their journeys to responsiveness with us. Thanks to all the previous guests. Your stories have been inspirational, educational, and enlightening. This very special episode will continue our annual tradition of starting a new season with Dr. Hollie's personal episode, which means that he brings on someone from his personal space. This time, we have his two master teachers from 31 years ago.  The amazing Linda Wolvek and the incredible Kim Dallape both share their influential and impactful journeys to responsiveness. They also share their memories of Dr. Hollie when he was a first year teacher.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

We continue our PRIDE series, celebrating educators who are LGBTQA+ and PROUD, serving as models and advocates for their students. In this final installment, we meet Theresa Hopkins. LGBTQA+ Advocate. Arts Teacher. Artist. Awesome. Hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, Theresa is a long time educator, who has been validating and affirming her students since the first day she walked into the classroom, over 25 years ago. She is always taught in African American students in Title 1 schools. Theresa has run the Art Academy for over 10 years. Most importantly, Theresa has been authentic with who she is not only as an educator but as a person. It has not been easy and took her a while to come to it. You want to hear how she did it - a most fascinating, inspiring, and empowering journey to responsiveness. See her on Instagram at  Art Academy   @jeffersonartacademy; art gallery @ellipsisstudiostl; her artist page @rychus_artis. And don't forget Dr. Hollie's two cents, as he reminds us of the purpose and importance of advocacy.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

We continue the highlighting and celebration of LGBTQIA+ CLR educators with Tsedale Forbes from the Ithaca City Schools. Tsedale identifies as non-binary (she/they) in an open, courageous, and inspiring way. Listen to Tsedale's journey from the Bronx, where the importance and value of advocacy was learned in a transformational way, to Ithaca where now as an educator she is empowering students to be advocates and courageous. Like the last PRIDE episode focus, you will be educated and enlightened. Dr. Hollie riffs on the power and the value to students of CLR educators modeling their cultural authenticity. Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

Part of being CLR is that we don't wait on designated months to celebrate culture. We believe that culture should be celebrated 365, 24/7 and we encourage "random acts" of cultural celebration. This episode we celebrate PRIDE and our  LGBTQIA+ community. Authentically representing is Ana Bialsky from city of Lowell, Massachusetts near Boston. But what started out as a celebration became testimony of living and speaking your truth and validating and affirm your students through advocacy, agency, and voice. In short, we need more Ana's in CLR. You will not be disappointed and you might want to be sitting down while listening. Dr. Hollie's two cents discusses what happens when there is honesty, openness, and transparency (and courage) in the room.  Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

Our December episode traditionally features a "non-educator" educator, meaning that we hear journeys of folks who are serving as educators outside of the system or in a different career. Have you ever walked into your job and just quit? Have you ever thought about "leaving the system" because you realize that nothing to little is going to change? You decide to fight another way. Meet someone who has.  LeDominque Rhodes is an CLR educator from Missouri who did both. Now living in Texas and a semester away from her doctoral degree, soon to be Dr. Rhodes shares her journey to responsiveness and what led her to make a bold career move. Dr. Hollie riffs on what is predicted to a chaotic 2024 socially and politically and he poses this questions: Are we as CLR educators ready to get crazy with crazy?Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

We round out the series, "Don't Call Me Karen," with Melissa Scadina, a CLR educator originally from San Jose, California. Melissa has been rolling with Dr. Hollie for over 15 years. Wherever she goes to teach, she has brought CLR with her, including her current stint in Brooklyn. Her story is an actual journey, not only metaphorical. If anybody embodies the spirit and purpose of CLRness, it is Melissa Scadina. Proof is her keen insight and perspective as it applies to the Karen issue. Dr. Hollie will reiterate why the focus on issue in the first place and re-challenge CLR educators to be willing to take on the tough topics for our students' sake and understanding.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

Meet Carrie Eicher, seasoned CLR educator and she is not a so-called Karen. Carrie Eicher's journey takes us from Minnesota to Great Britain back to Minnesota. In addition to international flavor, Eicher discusses her angle on the "Karen" phenomenon. As a white woman in education, she has had many vantage points that has led her to be insightful about her privilege and yet being a woman she has experienced sexism. All provocative stuff. You will want to listen in. Dr. Hollie's two cents sets it off by giving the origins of why we are focusing "Karen." You will be very interested in how the thought developed. Here is a hint: a 3rd grader.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

We end the "make up series" by going back to the random audience participant series in May and June. Our very special random audience participant is Jessica Waters from Providence, Rhode Island. Jessica has an incredible and very engaging journey to responsiveness. Her story is so fascinating that we don't want to give anything away. We promise that you will be moved and inspired by the story.  Listen right now. Don't forget, as always, Dr. Hollie's two cents. This time he riffs on what does it mean to fit the cultural "normative" and how do we find ourselves unknowingly and unintentionally comparing ourselves to that normative, whether we like it or not? What's your answer to those questions? Find out Dr. Hollie's non-answer. Listen right now.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

We are going back to go forward. Back to the Sizzling Hot CLR Educators series from earlier this year. What a better way to start the year than with a model example of the CLR mindset and skillset. Kaila Dickey from Taos, New Mexico via Texas is our featured guest.  We missed Kaila in January and February so we decided to try again.  Join Kaila on her journey to responsiveness, which mixes rock climbing and the preciseness of data analysis. Both of those seemingly two different things are linked to her passion for validating and affirming her students.  This episode, Dr. Hollie's two cents ask this question: Why is Florida so anti-black? Of course, he does not have an answer but you might be interested to know why he is asking the question in the first place.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

You asked for it. You got it. This episode was your chance to call-in and ask those burning questions about CLR, VABB, race, or whatever was on your mind. Dr. Hollie takes 5 calls from educators from across the country and gives what he considers to be patented responses to commonly asked questions. The answers to these questions bear repeating again and again because many folks are thinking the same but do not have the opportunity to ask.  Also included in this episode is Dr. Hollie's two cents on the Supreme Court's dismantling of affirmative action and what are the important questions he thinks that we should now be asking. Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

OTLP is kicking off the official start of summer with a hot episode. We are continuing the "Random" CLR Participant series. This time, we hear the journey of Dana Perez, Connecticut's Assistant Principal of the Year.  Dana was brave enough to step up and volunteer to be our guest and we are honored to have her join us. She shares two compelling stories in her walk that will not only surprise you but will inspire you to validate and affirm your students. And, as always, you can look forward to Dr. Hollie's two cents.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

This episode takes OTLP to a place it has not gone before. Dr. Hollie, your host, asked for volunteers to be guests on the podcast during a recent presentation New York with the Transfer Schools. Two random folks in the audience took him up on the offer. These are first timers to the VABB approach and they only had 2 days of learning with Dr. Hollie. The first brave person is Jazmin Rivera-Polanco, principal at Bronx Haven High School. Her incredible journey is a true and authentic New York story that starts in the South Bronx back and, not so ironically, ends in the South Bronx. The second brave soul is Catherine Owens, World Languages teacher at Harlem Renaissance High School. Here incredible journey starts in Minneapolis-St. Paul, namely Woodbury High School (one of our favorite CLR schools) then takes us to the world of Google and lands in Harlem. Listening to these two journeys will inspire and enlighten you. Also, don't miss Dr. Hollie's two cents on the joy of ending your school year CLR strong and vabbulous.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

Welcome to our 4th year of honoring and sharing outrageous love to CLR educators and their journeys to responsiveness. We begin season four with Dr. Hollie's annual personal episode, where you get a quick look into the personal life of your host. This time, Dr. Hollie is celebrating 45 years of friendship with Gerald Luke. They have been friends since 4th grade! What a blessing! Part of the celebration is hearing Gerald's journey to responsiveness. Currently, he is Director of Federal Program and African American Student Achievement in Palmdale, California. Hear his fascinating journey. which starts with the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles with a pit stop in the "DMV" and lands in Palmdale. Listen carefully because Dr. Hollie and Gerald have another interesting connection that you do not want to miss. Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

This episode culminates the "Sizzling Hot" series with an educator from Minnesota. Ashley Acosta, newly appointed Supervisor of DEI in the South Washington County Schools, tells us her journey to responsiveness from the perspective of a Mexican American who grew up in area where there were very few people who looked like her. Ashley also provides insight on the importance of being student-centered in all that we do in our cultural and linguistic responsiveness. Her journey entails multiple situations that remind us of who this work should be about - students first. As always, don't miss Dr. Hollie two cents. This time, a rant on a systemic hypocrisy.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

Our Outrageous Love "balloon" lands in the "Show Me" state, Missouri.  Parkway Schools in St. Louis to be exact. And what we see are two sizzling hot CLR educators. Elize Meyers and Toni Dwiggins, who share a lot in common - both teachers in Parkway, both Missourians, both had similar light bulbs moments in relation to the murder of Michael Brown, and both passionate about their equity/CLR work. They also have a lot of differences, which you will have to listen in to find out. Their positive energy and keen perspectives are insightful and inspiring. As always, don't forget about Dr. Hollie's two cents, where he poses a philosophical question: Is there a nexus between the numerous tragic police killings of blacks caught on video over the years, the latest Tyre Nichols, and our journeys to responsiveness?Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

We are taking the journey to responsiveness to the Pacific Northwest in Everett, Washington specifically. There, we meet two "sizzling hot" CLR cadre members (educators). What is a CLR cadre member? Listen in and find out. The first cadre member is Jennifer Caione who serves as an instructional coach and is bringing her passion for students and equity work together in her CLRness.  The second cadre member is 5th grade teacher Stevie Peretti, who, like Jennifer, has unconditional love for her students and equity work.  Together, they are a dynamic duo for CLR with two very different but similar journeys. What unfolded was an interesting discussion about intersectionality. As always, Dr. Hollie will challenge us with his two cents and a question of commitment to CLR in the new year. Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

This episode will bring a little joy, cheer, wisdom, and inspiration to the end of your year. Renowned expert and author, Dr. Cruz takes us to Ecuador, Pico Union, Lucky Grocery store, and the work of Shel Silverstein. All of that on top of a keen, wise perspective as it applies to what makes for fearless leadership. Luis offers us insight from his best selling text,  Time For Change: Four Essential Skills for Transformational Leadership, as a way of culminating our four part series on Fearless CLR leadership. There is much to learn from Dr. Cruz. Per usual, Dr. Hollie offers his two cents. This time, he poses one of his so-called rhetorical questions: Is there every a "right time" to do equity, CLR work? Don't answer that! Listen to the episode.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

We have another first for Outrageous Love the Podcast. Our first double feature - two episodes in one.  We have two fearless CLR leaders. Both from St. Louis. Both original educators (30 years or more). Both elementary school leaders. Both from the same district - The Schools of University City. Up first is Dorlita Adams whose journey will take us from her days as an law enforcement officer to a classroom teacher to a building leader among many other things. Then, we have Dr. Rebecca O'Connell whose journey will take us from Harlem to St. Louis to U City specifically, where she spent a lot of time in central office but landed in her sweet spot as a builder leader. We have been in both of their schools and the common denominator is when you walk in you feel the love - the Outrageous Love! Dr. Hollie's two cents will continue his thoughts around what it means to be a fearless CLR leader and why all of our leaders were women.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

With it being October, we have a treat for you. The journey of Isabelle St. Onge, director of Vista Grande High School in Taos, New Mexico, is like no other. Isabelle takes us on a geographic journey from Minnesota to Montana to Wyoming to New Mexico.  She takes us on a religious journey with a look at Catholicism, sort of.  We experience the down and dirty early years of special education in the US and how Isabelle broke through walls to bring equity, justice and responsiveness to her students in Taos. Finally, we again look at the inequities for women in leadership. Talk about intersectionality. It is all here in this episode. And don't forget Dr. Hollie's "two cents," where he gives his theory for why all the fearless CLR leaders interviewed thus far have been women, not men.Learn more about CLR and Dr. Hollie at www.culturallyresponsive.org and Twitter @validateaffirm

Meet and love Lisa Sahasrabudhe, current elementary school principal and a true advocate for equity and cultural responsiveness.  We continue our 4 episode focus on fearless leaders of CLR. This time we go to Ithaca NY with stops in India and New York city. In these places we hear about Lisa's incredible and interesting journey, which can be summed up with the adage,  never judge a book by its cover. Saharsrabudhe is the embodiment of culture intersectionality when we look through her rings of culture. There will be a couple of surprises along the way. Here is a tease: Have you ever ran after a student all the way their home? She has! Listen in for the full story. Also, check out Dr. Hollie's two cents, where he reminds us that our biases never really go away. We just do them less....maybe.

End of summer brings a new series to Outrageous Love the Podcast. "Fearless CLR Leaders" will focus on 5 building leaders who have successfully implemented CLR in their schools. These episodes will not be an how to on successful implementation but an "into" their insightful and eventful journeys to responsiveness. The first fearless leader is Patty Hand, principal of Fridley High School in Minneapolis-St. Paul. Patty is a dynamic principal who leads with courage, a steady hand, and warm heart. Not just a believer of equity and CLR practices but a doer as well, going back to her early days in administration. Her journey takes us up the administrator ladder and what it took for her to succeed as a woman and a mother in a field dominated by men.  Dr. Hollie's two cents defines what it means to be a fearless CLR leader. 

For the first time but certainly not for the last time, we are going off script from our usual format. As you know, we usually hear the journey of a great CLR educator for every episode. Unfortunately, our special guest could not make the episode, so we had to come up with an alternative real fast. And we did! Dr. Hollie is going through ten common myths about CLR that can be used as a resource in any CLR professional learning experience. Last year, these myths were discussed as a theme in our monthly blog VABB Perspectives (available at culturallyresponsive.org) to thwart the onslaught of misinformation, disinformation, and ignorance about not only CLR but anti-racist and social justice work in general. Some things don't change, however. Hear Dr. Hollie's usual two cents about the need for all CLR educators to be prepared to get involved in the politics of our times, as we head toward Election Day '22. 

Back to Minneapolis-St. Paul we go. This time to hear the journey of "original educator" Nanette Yurecko, affectionately known as Nan. What started off as an observation in her high school while serving as a teacher's assistant in a special education classroom blossomed into a vabbulous mission and service in education spanning 30 years. In other words, Nanette has been a warrior in equity/cultural responsiveness since day one. Known best for her time as an assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction in the Brooklyn Center Schools, Yurecko has always been a strong and loud advocate for the underserved. In-depth would be one word to describe her journey as she reflects on the decades of service she has given to countless students and educators. And her work continues today as she mentors future educators going into senior leadership. Also in this episode, Dr. Hollie laments the Buffalo and Uvalde tragedies and how they should remind us of the importance of showing outrageous love to our students, friends, and family every single day.

In this reflective episode, we honor and celebrate Anthony Jackson as our first "original educator" or OE. An "OE" is an educator who has been in the game for more than 30 years and has retired.  Anthony, formerly an administrator in the Los Angeles Unified School District, dedicated 40 years and is now newly retired. Hear his incredible journey to responsiveness as he reflects on an amazing career! Soon to be Dr. Jackson humbly describes where it all began at 99th Street Elementary in Watts and how he has bobbed and weaved his way through what we call the matrix, ending his career as a Director of Equitable Services. You will not be disappointed with all that is in between the beginning and the end, not to mention what is coming in his next chapter. Dr. Hollie also reflects on the idea of legacy and longevity, posing the reflective question to us all - what is or will be your legacy? What are you leaving behind?

In the opening episode of season 3, meet a student, Pablo Mejia, from Dr. Hollie's very first class in 1992. Pablo is now an up and coming building leader in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), but 30 years ago he was one of Dr. Hollie's 9th graders at Charles Drew Junior High School. Pablo describes "Hollie," as the students used to call him, in his first year and what his best memories are of him as English/Language Arts teacher. Then, we hear about Pablo's incredible journey as he successfully  matriculated through a system that statistically had told him that he was not supposed to succeed as a Latinx student. Like so many of Hollie's former and current students, Pablo defied the odds and is now paying it forward as an culturally and linguistically responsive educator. Dr. Hollie provides an opening commentary on his perspective after 30 years in education. Listen in for his three take-aways. This personal episode is your once a year opportunity to learn a little about Dr. Hollie's personal side.

OLTP ends the "educrats series" in California with a look inside the belly of the beast of the California Department of Education (CDE). This time, we hear the perspective of educator Ben Kingsbury. Ben serves as a program consultant in the CDE. He offers deep insights, not only on the bureaucracy but also on his journey, which takes us to Saudi Arabia and we land with a dope reference to the GAP Band. Ben's journey reminds us of the old adage you cannot judge a book by its cover...ever. Fascinating and fun! Dr. Hollie's two cents raises the question, why do we to continue to believe in  an educational system that has perpetually not equitably served all students? How many chances does the system get? Listen in for the answer.

Welcome to the second part of  a three-part special series, The Educrats, a focus on educators who work within state and county departments of education. This episode takes us back to the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) in the Language and Cultural Division.  The educrat is Dr. Kadriye El-Atwani or otherwise known as Dr. Kad, Multicultural Education Specialist, in NMPED. Dr. Kad's journey to responsiveness begins in Turkey, then goes to Indiana (of all places), and lands in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her journey is multicultural and multifaceted, meaning it is fascinating because of the complexity and intersectionality of race, ethnicity, religion, and gender. But Dr. El-Atwani's resonating ring of culture is her "immigrant" culture, which takes the listener to an under-spoken space culturally. Dr. Hollie continues his cause for us to validate and affirm our students as they are culturally and linguistically and not buy into how our society and our institutions have defined them as deficits. Our students are fine as they are.

Outrageous Love the Podcast opens up 2022 with a bang. New year, new series. For the next 3 episodes, we will go to the bureaucracy of state education departments, namely New Mexico's Public Education Department (or the PED), to have an internal peek on how advocating for cultural and linguistic responsiveness looks and feels. Mayra Valtierrez is  the  Director of Language and Culture and Hispanic Education Liaison for NMPED, but she is no educrat, as Dr. Hollie's call them, by any measure. Mayra is a true "soulja" in this work as you will hear as her journey takes us from the Borderlands of New Mexico to Santa Fe to the hallways of PED, where key education policies are initiated. Mayra is a proud, authentic Mexican American, which centers her culturally and linguistically, making for a fascinating listen. She also introduces VABB Nation to her CLR playlist on Spotify, linked here, which inspired Dr. Hollie to create his VABBLift playlist on Spotify. We want you do the same via social media @Clrplaylist. Lastly, check out Dr. Hollie's two cents around loving who you are just as you are and that goes for your students too in '22.

Welcome to the last episode of 2021 or the winter episode.  This episode spotlights a former educator who is now in an exciting career outside of education. If you remember last year, we had Claudia Salinas, former ELL educator, now a senior executive with Curriculum Associates.  This year, we meet Crescent Imani Novell, former performing arts educator, now television writer and playwright. Crescent is a long time little sister, colleague, former employee, and mentee of Dr. Hollie. Her journey is truly unique and incredible! She is going to take us from Seattle to Hollywood, where she is making waves. All the while, Crescent has maintained her cultural and linguistic responsiveness (CLR) as she validates and affirms Black culture in deep ways throughout her art and her work. She is a true embodiment that CLR is fo' life because it is who you are, not what you do. See a sample of Crescent's work at the Culture Language Academy of Success. As usual, Dr. Hollie will offer his two cents, a year end reflection on 2021.

The final segment of the 3-part series, It's the White Man's Fault?, culminates with the journey of Tim Leistikow, a high school educator from Minneapolis-St. Paul. Tim provides his answer to the question as a "white man" in a unique way as he brings a personal and a professional perspective to the topic.  Currently working in curriculum as a coordinator and instructional coach, Tim takes us to Dallas, Santa Fe, and the Twin Cities for his journey to responsiveness, and somehow, connects (or at least tries to) A Tribe Called Quest and Taylor Swift. Seriously. We also learn about his two resonating rings of culture - gender and age. Dr. Hollie's two cents gives a final word on the provocative series, ending where he began - the answer to one generalization is not to provide another generalization.

This episode, Dr. Greg Mathison, explores the thought-provoking and somewhat rhetorical statement/question, It's The White Man's Fault and shares his journey to responsiveness. Dr. Mathison is assistant superintendent with the Parkway Schools located in St. Louis. Like many of our journeys, Greg's journey is windy road of twists and turns that are a combination of the predictable and the unexpected. His journey begins in Minnesota and makes it way through Japan and other places around the world. Dr. Mathison is willingly takes on the very sensitive topic of how white men are generally viewed when it comes to race and culture in our society. and does so with eloquence and wisdom. Listen closely for how the Red Hot Chili Peppers become part of the conversation.  Dr. Hollie will continue to share his train of thoughts that led to the special series and the ongoing paradox of how we make generalizations while at the same time see each person as an individual - including white men. 

Is institutional racism the white man's fault? This rhetorical question will be tackled over the next 3 episodes. In part one, Andrew Haaheim, high school science teacher from Minneapolis-St. Paul, answers the question from his perspective as a "white man" and CLR educator. More than that, though, Andrew tells his fascinating journey to responsiveness that began during a compelling moment with an individual student 13 years ago. We also learn about the rings of culture that resonate for Haaheim (pronounced HAW-HIME), with a particular take on age culture. Andrew brings multiple vantage points and keen insights about culture and race, proving once again that we should never judge a book by its cover. Dr. Hollie's two cents introduces the series theme and provides his rationale for the focus on the "white man."

The Unsung Heroes Series culminates with Dr. Amy Swick, English Learning/Bilingual Coordinator in the Appleton (Wisconsin) Schools. Amy's journey begins in Wisconsin, where her roots are, then goes to Reno, and finally returns to Wisconsin. All along, Dr. Swick has been an advocate for cultural responsiveness regardless of her location, with a particular focus and expertise on second language learning. There is a certain charm that comes with Amy's journey, as you will see when she discusses the two rings of culture that resonate for her. Most importantly, Dr. Swick shows us all that you can get your equity fight on, regardless of your positionality, if you have the courage and the savviness to do so. Dr. Hollie's "two cents" is an emphatic push to put the focus on the students as the new school year begins. Despite all the distractions, including the Delta variant surge and new mask mandates, we have to show up for them and Dr. Hollie reminds us of that. Be inspired.

Hear Suzanne Nguyen's fascinating  journey to responsiveness. Suzanne is  Executive Director of Federal, Bilingual, and Native American Programs for the Rio Rancho Public School District in Albuquerque, New Mexico. From her position in "mid level management," she has positively influenced cultural and linguistic responsiveness (CLR) in Rio Rancho slowly but surely.  Her advocacy is not only professional but personal because of her upbringing in New Mexico as an Asian American with Vietnamese heritage. More interestingly is her education experience, and the matriculation through school as the "only one" or "one of very few, "  which drives her passion for equity and CLR and at the same time has been the root of her bi-culturalism. Be moved by a life-changing homecoming she experienced as an adult. As always, anticipate Dr. Hollie's two cents with his take on "who is at the top" of your district could be the glass ceiling for your equity and CLR success.