What if saving wildlife starts with school lunches, backpacks, and bush walks? In Part 2 of the Wild Tomorrow series, community leader Aphiwe Notshaya joins Dr. Diane to share how a community partnership approach to conservation in rural South Africa is feeding preschoolers, supporting orphaned and vulnerable children, opening doors to university, and building real climate resilience—one partnership at a time. Summary In this episode, Dr. Diane continues the Wild Tomorrow series with communit...
Jun 10
31 min
Newbery Medalist Katherine Applegate(The One and Only Ivan, Wishtree, Odder) returns to talk about her newest book, Wombat Waiting—a free-verse “destiny dog” story set against California wildfires. We dive into climate change with hope, why picture books still matter for big kids, how to reach reluctant readers, and why “weird is wonderful” might be the best antidote to both peer pressure and AI. Summary: In this episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast, Dr. Diane sits down with Katherin...
Jun 3
31 min
What happens when a 17-year-old decides STEM should work for everyone—not just some students? In Episode 191, Dr. Diane talks with Amritha Praveen, founder of Amethyst Changemakers, about creating inclusive STEM kits using Universal Design for Learning, distributing over 250 kits to Title 1 schools, placing third at the International Science and Engineering Fair, and why resilience and empathy drive real change. Summary: In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Diane welcomes Amritha Praveen, a ri...
May 27
19 min
"Any book a child loves is a good book," but when a teacher says she has to "sneak in" Number the Stars, something is broken. Dr. Diane welcomes Dr. Karen Huff, chair of the Shenandoah University Children's Literature Conference, to celebrate 40 years of fighting for books that matter. We discuss the importance of honoring diverse voices and creating communities of readers -- spaces where teachers, librarians, and authors come together to champion books that build empathy, connection, wonder,...
May 20
58 min
What happens when two people leave corporate life behind and start solving conservation problems one practical need at a time? In the first episode of an ongoing seven-part series, Dr. Diane talks with Wild Tomorrow's co-founders John Steward and Wendy Hapgood about turning boots, socks, and urgency into a wildlife corridor in South Africa. This episode is about conservation, community, and the power of asking what is actually needed before trying to solve the problem. John shares how volunte...
May 13
1 hr 2 min
What happens when artists refuse to stay silent? Puerto Rican actress and NBC Diversity Monologue Slam champion Jesenia joins Dr. Diane to discuss protecting First Amendment rights, creating comedy during difficult times, and why "productive delusion" might be the secret to hope. Dr. Diane and Jesenia—a seasoned actress, writer, and comedy performer who has appeared on Starz and Showtime -- discuss their shared involvement with the Committee for the First Amendment, relaunched by Jane Fonda i...
May 6
44 min
What if a picture book could help children feel brave in the face of something bigger than themselves? In this episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast, Dr. Diane talks with Hudson Valley author/illustrator Kerry McQuaide about The Biggest, Highest Wave, the power of read-alouds, and why picture books can help young readers see themselves as resilient. Summary In Episode 187 of the Adventures in Learning podcast, Dr. Diane welcomes Kerry McQuaide, an author/illustrator based in New ...
Apr 29
19 min
What happens when travel, conservation, and community come together? In this Earth Day episode of the Adventures in Learning podcast, Dr. Diane talks with Analu Huerta about ecotourism in the Galapagos and Ecuador, and why protecting what we love starts with truly seeing it. Summary In Episode 186, Dr. Diane welcomes Analu Huerta, a sustainable tourism professional and tourist guide based in Ecuador, for a conversation about ecotourism, conservation, and the beauty of learning from place. Ana...
Apr 22
29 min
When art is personal, playful, and purposeful, it can change the way people learn and connect. In Episode. 185, Dr. Diane talks with poet, teaching artist, and speaker LeJuane “El’Ja” Bowens about poetry, workshops, civic engagement, and why the next generation gives him hope. El'Ja shares how a 10th-grade poetry project sparked his love of writing, how an open mic after the military helped him realize poetry could become a career, and how his work as a teaching artist grew from one workshop ...
Apr 15
25 min
What makes a classic story feel new again? In this episode of Adventures in Learning, Dr. Diane talks with author Máire Roche about Little Monsters, Little Women, Bromantasy, and the power of stories that help young readers feel seen. Máire shares how Little Women shaped her as a reader and writer, why Meg has always been her favorite March sister, and how Little Monsters grew from her desire to write a spooky, recognizable story for kids. They explore literature as mirrors, windows, and slid...
Apr 10
38 min
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