In this episode, hosts Teddy Chao, Shari Kaku, and Shakiyya Bland sit down with the editorial team behind Antiracist Mathematics Education: Building a Practice of Equity and Justice, the TODOS publication that anchors this entire season of the podcast. It turns out this is the first time the four editors have been together since the book came out, and that reunion energy carries through the whole conversation. Teddy calls the book a love letter to the TODOS community, and it shows.Linda Fulmore, who led the project and was TODOS president when the work began, traces the book back to the 2020 antiracist mathematics statement, written in the middle of the pandemic and in the wake of George Floyd's murder. Marilyn Strutchens, professor of mathematics education at Auburn University, describes how she pulled the rest of the editorial team together in a single ten minute phone call. Gladys Krause, of William and Mary, led the student section after volunteering with immigrant high schoolers who were not getting math instruction because their schools focused only on English. Dorothy White, University of Georgia, took on the parent section and speaks openly about the risks of doing antiracist work in a state where the word itself has become contested.Along with Jennifer Bay-Williams, the editors walk through how the book is organized, by students, teachers, parents, administrators, and community members, and why they built it so any chapter can stand on its own. Dorothy even jokes that you can read it backwards if you want to, choose your own adventure style. They talk about asking authors to root their writing in the original 2020 statement, about the discussion questions placed at the end of each chapter so readers can use the book in classrooms and book clubs, and about wanting a text that amplified voices rather than smoothing them over.Of course, no TODOS episode skips the food talk. Marilyn has just discovered smash burgers and is trying, unsuccessfully, to stay away from them. Gladys shares the story of her son in Austin smoking a brisket for Mother's Day. Linda is currently devoted to Trader Joe's tofu ice cream, chocolate syrup included, eaten within her intermittent fasting window.The conversation closes on legacy. Linda recalls telling the team that they had simply tried to do their part when it was their turn. Now that work passes to the next generation of TODOS leaders, including everyone listening. If this book has shaped how you show up for your students, your colleagues, or yourself, the editors hope you keep passing it on.Join us at the TODOS Conference, June 25 to 26, 2026 in Garden Grove, California, where this season's Book Club journey comes full circle.

What does it look like when elementary students use math to make sense of their own communities? In this episode, hosts Shari Kaku and Shakiyya Bland sit down with Dr. Jennifer Suh, Professor of Mathematics Education at George Mason University, and Delia Sotelo Fierros, a third-grade teacher in Tucson, Arizona, to dig into Chapter 9 of Antiracist Mathematics Education: Building a Practice of Equity and Justice: "Cultivating Equity and Empathy in Community-Focused Elementary Math Modeling."Jennifer and Delia are part of the EQSTEMM Project, an NSF-funded collaboration focused on equity in STEM education. Together, they explore how mathematical modeling can become a space for student voice, cultural connection, and genuine problem-solving when it's rooted in what kids actually know and care about.Delia opens up about her own journey as a first-generation Mexican American growing up in Arizona, where math meant speed and accuracy and nothing more. It wasn't until she encountered the concept of funds of knowledge as an undergraduate student at the University of Arizona that something shifted. Suddenly, she saw a different vision for what math class could be: a space where students' histories, families, and lived experiences don't wait at the door. She shares how something as simple as Monday morning catch-up conversations, or swapping out textbook names for students' family members, can transform engagement for kids who rarely see themselves in the curriculum.Jennifer traces her own path from lesson study to the EQSTEMM project, and reflects on what it meant to grow up in spaces where her culture was never really invited in. She lifts up the work of their co-author and math coach Holly Tate, whose lesson around indigenous land loss in Virginia shows just how deep math modeling can go when it's paired with historical awareness and civic engagement. Second graders weren't just learning about area. They were reckoning with real stories of land taken from Native nations, and they got to hear from a member of the tribal council directly.The conversation also touches on what it means to shift your own math identity. Delia reflects on moving from "I follow the steps correctly" to "I am a problem solver," and why that shift matters for the students she teaches now. Jennifer reminds us that cultural humility has to accompany all of this: you can't know every child's world, but you can stay curious.Jenn closes with a story about eating Tteokguk, Korean rice cakes, every New Year, and also imperfections when her family makes dumplings, which is the whole point. Delia makes the case for Tucson's 23 miles of Mexican food and recommends Antojo Poblano for dishes from Puebla. Finally, before you go, write this down: Look around you. Where do you see math?Don't miss the hosts' reflection at the end of the episode. And mark your calendars for the TODOS Conference, June 25-26, 2026 in Garden Grove, California!

What happens when mathematics, computer programming, and bilingual education come together in an afterschool program for Latine elementary students? And what does it look like when those same kids become the teachers?In this episode, Theodore sits down with three co-authors of Chapter 10: Learning More Mathematics by Cracking the Code: Promoting Algebraic Thinking through Computer Programming from Antiracist Mathematics Education, Dr. Carlos LópezLeiva, Dr. Sylvia Celedón-Pattichis, and Dr. Marios Pattichis. Together, they share the story behind AOLME (Advancing Out-of-school Learning in Mathematics and Engineering), a program born out of the belief that students in Title I, bilingual communities deserve access to the same doors that computer science and engineering can open.The conversation traces a 20-year arc, from the early days of CEMELA and the inspiration of La Clase Mágica, to after-school programs where kids used Legos to understand pixels and came up with their own ways of explaining hashtags and coding syntax, in Spanish, in English, and in their own language. One student, a decade ago, looked at a computer and said, "computer, write me a program." He was right on time with predicting how we use AI to code today.What makes this episode special is how personal it gets. Marios learned to code from an English textbook while he was still learning English. Sylvia and Carlos made the push to bring this work from out-of-school spaces into classrooms, so it wouldn't just reach the kids who chose to show up. The students who went through the program came back as co-facilitators, teaching older students, building identity, and in some cases going on to study engineering. And their daughters were part of the story too.Shari, Shakiyya, and Teddy then reflect on what this chapter means for the moment we're in now, a moment when AI is everywhere and the math education community is still figuring out how to respond. Should students be coding? Should we be teaching them to think critically about the systems being built around them? And what does it look like to use mathematics not just to solve problems, but to create something?Shakiyya closes with a question from page 140 of the book: "How often do your students use mathematics to create something?"Plus, the food! Huevos rancheros, red and green chile, chicken mole enchiladas, Greek salad with New Mexico chili, and piñon coffee!This episode is part of the Season 5 TODOS Book Club series, aligned to the Teachers section of Antiracist Mathematics Education. The next Book Club meeting is March 25. Join us!The transcript.Links to Resources:Web App for Image Generatorhttp://ivpcl.unm.edu/ivpclpages/Research/aolme/app/interactive-img-v2.htmlAOLME/ESTRELLA Curriculum https://aolme.unm.edu/WebsiteModel/template/index.htmlAIML Project: https://github.com/pattichis/AIML https://github.com/pattichis/AI4All-Med

In this episode, John Staley and Denise Thornton share how administrators can create antiracist mathematics spaces by prioritizing relationships and showing up for students. John reflects on his early teaching at a juvenile correctional facility, where he learned that it's not about the math topics but about the students you teach. Denise shares how her student Natalia shaped her understanding of barriers students face and the power of believing in their potential.Together, they discuss practical ways educators can connect with students outside the classroom, from attending soccer games to shopping at local grocery stores, and why these small moments matter for building trust and dismantling math trauma. They also explore how administrators can support authentic family engagement and examine the beliefs that shape student experiences.Resources MentionedLaunch Years Initiative Launch Years Math Organizations Leadership Network Dana Center Transition-Year ResourcesThe Season 4, Episode 4 transcript.

In this episode, we delve into the world of place-based mathematics education with Guadalupe I. Lozano, author of Grounded in Place: A Culturally Affirming Precalculus Curriculum, the first chapter in the TODOS Antiracist Mathematics Education book. New host, Dr. Shakiyya Bland joins Shari Kaku to discuss the importance of integrating cultural narratives and community connections into math teaching and exploring how these elements can transform educational experiences. Dr. Lozano shares insights on creating a curriculum that builds from students' identities and the land they inhabit, offering a fresh perspective on the role of mathematics in our lives. Dr. Lozano also mentions a few other pieces of her writing: A forthcoming book called Being and Becoming to Change the World, not Toward Embodying Critically Conscious Mathematics Teaching and a forthcoming book chapter available now, Towards Embodying Critical Conscious Mathematics Teaching: Tools, Craft, and Practices, that extends on this work and is availably here. And, the Season 5 Episode 3 Transcript Available here. 

In this episode of the TODOS Podcast, Theodore Chao and Shari Kaku engage in a profound discussion with Dr. Will Tidwell about the intersection of mathematical modeling and social justice. Dr. Tidwell was part of the authorship team of Drs. Cynthia O. Anhalt, Ricardo Cortez, and Brynja Kohler who wrote Chapter 4, “Enacting Antiracist Teaching Practices Through Mathematical Modeling” for the TODOS Book, “Antiracist Mathematics Education”. Listen as they explore the historical context of Native American land rights, delving into a conversation around how mathematical modeling can illuminate societal injustices and engage educators to foster critical thinking. Join us as we honor Native American History Month and reflect on the transformative power of culturally relevant mathematics education. Full Transcript of S5E2.

In this first episode of Season 5 of the TODOS podcast, hosts Theodore Chao, Shakiyya Bland, and Shari Kaku introduce themselves and discuss their backgrounds in education and advocacy. They delve into the theme of Antiracist Mathematics Education, which connects to the recent book published by TODOS. And they emphasize the importance of community engagement and diverse perspectives in shaping math identity. The conversation highlights the significance of storytelling and personal narratives in education, and the hosts express excitement for future discussions and collaborations within the TODOS community. Welcome to Season 5! Episode 1 Transcript.

In this reflection episode of the TODOS podcast, hosts Theodore Chao and Shari Kaku discuss their experiences and insights from focus on Asian American identity within mathematics education. They explore the impact of the Teaching for Justice Conference, the implications of the model minority stereotype, and the importance of storytelling in mathematics education. This emotional conversation highlights personal narratives, the challenges faced by Asian American mathematics educators, and the need for community and social-emotional learning in math education. Thank you for joining us on our journey into podcasting and telling stories long hidden in our field.Transcript can be found here. 

In this powerful episode of the TODOS Podcast, legendary mathematics educator Susie Håkansson opens up about her Chinese American identity and what it was like growing up as a Toisan American in 1940s–50s Los Angeles. A pioneering leader with over 60 years of leadership in mathematics education, Susie shares how her cultural identity shaped her journey as a teacher, mentor, and advocate. Tune in to hear deeply personal reflections on invisibility, resilience, and how one woman helped build a more just and equitable world in mathematics education. This is our last interview episode of the season, an interview that we've been wanting to do for more than 20 years!  Transcripts for this episode are in this folder. 

Dr. Niral Shah joins the TODOS Podcast to explore the complexities of Asian American identity in mathematics education. Reflecting on his experiences as a South Asian student and teacher, Shah unpacks how racialized narratives like the model minority myth both hypervisibilize and dehumanize Asian learners. He introduces the metaphor of a “bubble level” to describe how racial discourse positions Asian and Black students at opposite ends of a spectrum, with whiteness centered as the norm.The conversation delves into Shah’s research on race and STEM, including his Harvard Educational Review article “Asians Are Good at Math” Is Not a Compliment, and is informed by thinkers such as Vijay Prashad, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Zeus Leonardo. Shah also shares a parenting story about his son calling out white supremacy on the playground, offering a vision of anti-racism grounded in nuance and empathy.This episode addresses classroom practice, intra-Asian diversity, anti-Blackness, and the importance of moving beyond binaries to humanize all students.Episode transcript is here. Reflection transcript is here.