Best Betsy Bird Podcasts (2024)

1
EP309 Why humans fall for misinformation & creative ways to teach information literacy skills 38:06

34m ago38:06

38:06

Even young students can learn how to understanding and combat misinformation, and it's a key information literacy skill in 2024. In this episode, I'm talking to Melanie Trecek-King of Thinking is Power, because I love how her approach to the topic of misinformation is characterized by compassion and empathy. Melanie emphasizes that everyone is susc…

1
67: Authors Against Book Bans with guests David Levithan and Maggie Tokuda-Hall 1:03:47

2h ago1:03:47

1:03:47

The number of books being banned and challenged in schools and libraries has increased exponentially in the USA in recent years. These attacks on our freedom to read are not coming just from fringe zealots -- they are being embedded into legislation across the country, and that's a BIG problem for anyone who values public libraries, public schools,…

1
Episode 329 - Wemberly Worried 29:02

20m ago29:02

29:02

All around the U.S. kids are beginning to go back to school. With that in mind, Kate asked Betsy to come up with a back-to-school book they hadn't done before. Now you might think that the only first day of school book the great Kevin Henkes created was Chrysanthemum (which we did back in 2021). Not so! Here we find another. Kate says the cover is …

1
EP308 How (and why) schools should support neurodivergent educators 47:46

14d ago47:46

47:46

Yes, we’re talking about accommodations FOR TEACHERS… I recently asked educators on social media if neurodivergent staff were being offered any support, and folks had a LOT to say! In this episode I’ll share: What we mean when we talk about neurodivergence Why neurodivergence isn’t a deficiency, just a difference What teachers say about accommodati…

1
Episode 328 - The Color Kittens 29:49

3d ago29:49

29:49

Our Margaret Wise Brown output on this podcast has, until now, been a bit on the scanty side. Sure, we did Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny but beyond that we've sort of left her out in the cold. All that changes today with this, our third MWB and what may be our very first Provensen deep dive. In light of the new life injected into Little Golden B…

1
86. The Swollen Mouth of Family 31:08

3d ago31:08

31:08

Gums of pink, are gonna stink / Gums of red, are fonts of dread. Teeth are unwelcome in our parish! Yet, hygiene is a virtue. Ohh, we’re complicated—no easy answers in the Story! You must yeeeearn.InvocationThe Washing of ChalmsLiturgical Reading: “The Swollen Mouth of Family”Concluding PrayerGrease unto thee. Be sure to check out the newest video …

1
Episode 327 - Abuela 29:13

8d ago29:13

29:13

How the HECK have we done 327 episodes of this podcast and we haven't yet done this book? Released in 1991, we can't help but note that this story, of people flying above New York City, happened to come out the same year that a fellow people flying above New York City picture book came out: Tar Beach. Something about the early 90s just made people …

1
EP307 Creating conditions for transformation (with Elena Aguilar) 32:34

19d ago32:34

32:34

"Transformative change means feeling different, having different experiences every day, not just little changes that feel like a band-aid." These are the words of today’s guest, Elena Aguilar, an instructional coach whose latest book is called Arise: The Art of Transformation Coaching. (https://amzn.to/3Srseot) Through her book and our conversation…

1
175. Gribbies 2 37:32

12d ago37:32

37:32

Let the Story reduce you to flesh mulch! Let the Story compress you and your every neighbor into a lovehogpile. Let go and let STORY. We’re back, BABY, ohhhhhh for a just widdle bit of Story truuuuuth. Get ready for the highest concentration of annoying names any Story has ever held! Uh oh!DEAD BIRD SONGS: https://www.patreon.com/reidfaylorPATREON:…

1
Episode 326 - Tooth - Gnasher Superflash 29:38

14d ago29:38

29:38

By gum, if there's one thing this children's literature podcast needs, it's more Reading Rainbow books from the days of yore. And if that's something we need to go out and find, then surely we will. We were inspired to give this particular book a go after Betsy saw the model of its vehicle on display at Kansas City's The Rabbit Hole. In this episod…

1
Episode 325 - little blue and little yellow 30:50

1M ago30:50

30:50

While Betsy often prefers to hand Kate children's picture books to consider that are chock full of details, at a certain point she is forced to come up with books that contain none of that. And you cannot get much more basic than Little Blue and Little Yellow here. Your heroes are essentially paint swatches, after all. In the course of our conversa…

1
EP306 How to get TRUE student buy-in for your "no phone" policy (with Ashly HIlst) 27:25

1M ago27:25

27:25

Here’s an innovative way to get student buy-in for your cell phone policy, reduce distractions, and maximize class time. Today you’re going to hear from Ashly Hilst, a secondary teacher at North Clackamas Christian School in Oregon City, Oregon. Ashly has taught high school English for 7 years in both public and private schools. For the 2024 Summit…

1
Episode 324 - Tomás and the Library Lady 30:23

30d ago30:23

30:23

Kooky that we haven't done this one yet? You betcha. It's well known nationwide, been turned into lots of stage plays, and is generally a book that should be right up our alley. In the pantheon of heroic librarian books, where does this particular book fall out? We discuss the correct length of dinosaur teeth, sensible shoes, and how the HECK the a…

1
Episode 323 - LIVE FROM ALA - Who's Got the Apple? 30:44

2M ago30:44

30:44

The American Library Association's Annual Conference for 2024 may be over but here at Fuse 8 n' Kate the party NEVER stops! And we can back that statement up by pointing out that this latest episode was actually recorded AT the conference. And not only that, it was recorded WITH a special guest star! Turns out, conferences are a great way to connec…

1
EP305 5 ways to automate teaching tasks next school year to save you time 31:17

1M ago31:17

31:17

It seems like every tech tool we use has now integrated generative artificial intelligence. Open a Google Doc, you’re prompted to use Gemini to help you write. Read a post on Facebook, Meta prompts you to “ask anything” via their AI. It’s powering our phones and our email, and the customer support chatbots on nearly every website when shopping onli…

1
Episode 322 - Apple Pie Fourth of July 28:56

1M ago28:56

28:56

We are pleased to announce that with its 2002 publication date we are finally able to celebrate the upcoming Independence Day with a book that Betsy has been sitting on for years. It can be exceedingly hard to find books for this particular holiday. Even better, this consideration of this book marks the very first time the podcast has ever done a J…

1
Last chance for early bird discounts on the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek! 14:02

2M ago14:02

14:02

Get an early bird discount by July 1st when you join the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Full Year program! The full transcript of this announcement is below. ---- Hey there, it’s Angela, I just wanted to release a quick announcement letting you know that our 40 Hour Workweek programs are now open for early bird access for the 2024-2025 school year! I’m g…

1
Episode 321 - Baby, Come Out! 29:49

2M ago29:49

29:49

Betsy's logic behind this week's choice is that it is hot outside right now, so why not do a picture book featuring nudity? Now we currently live in a country where so much as a bare butted goblin picture book can get banned by Moms for Liberty at the drop of a hat. May as well go all in and do a book that unapologetically doesn't care about such p…

1
EP304 Is artificial intelligence the key to a 40 hour teacher workweek? 27:33

2M ago27:33

27:33

We know there’s potential…but let’s talk about the larger implications for the profession. In this episode, I’m sharing how AI has already transformed the way many teachers work, and exploring the ethics, best practices, and future trends for AI in schools. Listen in to hear: What surprised me in a survey about schools' AI policies 3 principles tha…

1
66: Hallucinating AI Spider Robots with Martha Brockenbrough 1:38:26

2M ago1:38:26

1:38:26

Author Martha Brockenbrough joins me to discuss her new book FUTURE TENSE: HOW WE MADE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE -- AND HOW IT WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING. We're tackling your burning AI-related questions, such as: Should authors and illustrators be worried about AI? HOW worried? Are there ethical ways to utilize AI technology? How can AI help us, and how…

1
Episode 320 - Mr. Maxwell's Mouse 31:26

2M ago31:26

31:26

Kate's crie de coeur for more blood and guts in children's picture books once again finds its mark. Usually you might associate a book of this sort with titles of a more European bent, but Asch and son are 100% 'merican, baby. With enough weirdness to choke a cat, this one's just so very strange. Not to give anything away but we are exceedingly ple…

1
Episode 319 - The Mysterious Tadpole 32:22

3M ago32:22

32:22

Oh ho! We haven't done a Steven Kellogg re-illustration title since Pinkereton, Behave! back in 2021! This is particularly strange as The Mysterious Tadpole was always, without a doubt, a favorite Kellogg picture book of Betsy's when she was a child. For various reasons we were never able to discuss it on Fuse 8 n' Kate... until today! We consider …

1
EP303 How Danish schools embrace the slowdown and foster work/life balance (with Pernille Ripp) 1:10:59

3M ago1:10:59

1:10:59

As an educator who's lived and taught in both the US and Denmark, Pernille’s story is a revealing look into two vastly different education systems. Let's unpack her journey and what it tells us about work-life balance, societal values, and teaching philosophies. You’ll hear: Why Pernille’s family moved to Wisconsin from Denmark when she was a teena…

1
Episode 318 - Red-Eyed Tree Frog 41:25

2M ago41:25

41:25

Here in Illinois the cicadas are truly beginning to emerge en masse. As such, Betsy was kind of hoping she might be able to find a book that speaks to this. Alas, Cicada Symphony by Sue Fleiss (illustrated by Gareth Lucas) is just barely a year old. So what's the next best course of action? Locate some other red-eyed creature found in trees, of cou…

1
65: Inside the Art Department, with Art Director Brian LaRossa 1:08:23

3M ago1:08:23

1:08:23

We're back from hiatus with special guest Brian LaRossa, who in addition to being an Executive Art Director at Scholastic, is an educator, pizza-maker, and all-around mensch. We tackle a variety of topics, like what IS an Art Director, how does the Art Department work with illustrators, what role do they play in the acquisitions process, how do typ…

1
EP302 Education trends, predictions, and hope for the future of teaching 49:27

3M ago49:27

49:27

As the school year comes to a close, we’re taking a step back from practical strategies, and looking at the big picture of K-12 education. Until summer, there’s not a lot of time or mental bandwidth to consider questions like, “What are the larger factors impacting our work? How are other schools handling these challenges? How do we proactively pre…

1
Episode 317 - Dinosaur Bob and his Adventures with the Family Lazardo 41:25

3M ago41:25

41:25

As mentioned on this podcast episode, Kate and Betsy truly will be in San Diego at the upcoming ALA Annual Conference to record an episode WITH a special secret guest. Many thanks to the very kind Travis Jonker (alumni of Kate's college) for sharing his recording booth with us. Today's book was a Reading Rainbow book back in the day. We detect some…

1
Episode 316 - The Three Pigs 30:46

3M ago30:46

30:46

Today, we do our second David Wiesner book (after Tuesday). Along the way we discuss the philosophy behind Wiesner's void ("Is this just the space between the stories we tell?") and how this is (spoiler alert) our 200th classic on the podcast! Woohoo!Show Notes:For the full show notes please visit: https://afuse8production.slj.com/2024/05/13/fuse-8…

1
EP301 5 ways to make an old lesson feel fresh and interesting again (with Betsy Potash of Spark Creativity) 40:05

4M ago40:05

40:05

Bored with your curriculum or instructional routines? I’m talking with Betsy Potash of the Spark Creativity Podcast about easy ways to make things feel fresh and interesting again. Often we switch things up in our teaching to keep ourselves from getting bored. But, too much change can create unnecessary work for us. It can also waste class time for…

1
Episode 315 - Tops and Bottoms 28:42

3M ago28:42

28:42

Today we dive right in to a good spring picture book that somehow we've never done before. Even better, a Caldecott Honor title at that! We haven't discussed Janet Stevens since we did Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock a little more than a year ago. Consider this the book that made vertical picture books cool (Mel Fell owes this title a hat tip of t…

1
Episode 314 - Enemy Pie 30:50

4M ago30:50

30:50

Recently LeVar Burton suggested today's picture book on an episode of The Sporkful ("Reheat: LeVar Burton Even Reads Recipes Dramatically") and in spite of the fact that Kate was dead-on about the fact that we should have done this book for a Thanksgiving episode, we're doing it, baby! Enemy Pie was a Reading Rainbow Book back in the day, how does …

1
EP300 Teaching through hormonal changes: post-partum, perimenopause, and beyond (with Dr. Jen Gunter) 34:42

4M ago34:42

34:42

This topic is definitely new territory for my Truth for Teachers podcast, and I was initially hesitant to include it because I didn’t want to overshare. However, as I began to talk to other women about this, I realized how many of us really didn’t have a good grasp on the way hormones impact our daily function. The experience is so individualistic,…

1
Episode 313 - Ginger Bear 30:33

4M ago30:33

30:33

"Crime and murder!"Do you want unspeakable violence on the picture book page? Well, folks, Kate sure did. And thanks to the suggestion of listener Rachelle, and her daughter Sarah, Betsy finally had a book that would give her just what she required. Is there blood? There is not, though honestly she got her fill of blood when we talked about King St…

1
Episode 312 - I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew 30:19

5M ago30:19

30:19

What's that? You've never heard of this particular Dr. Seuss book? Well, you're definitely not alone. If one were to rank Seuss titles from best known to least, there is no doubt in my mind that Solla Sollew would be right there at the bottom. But is there any chance that this 1965 publication might have something to say about the baby boomer gener…

1
EP299 A spring cleaning classroom guide: what if you didn’t need all that STUFF to teach well? 17:16

5M ago17:16

17:16

Do you refuse to throw anything out because you MIGHT need it one day, or find yourself holding on to worthless stuff “just in case” you need it? In this episode, I’ll share 10 things you can get rid of in your classroom this spring to make space for what you actually need and use. And, I’ll help you establish a mindset of abundance rather than sca…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Betsy Bird Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide