S12E8 – Demystifying Disability with Emily Ladau

S12E8 – Demystifying Disability with Emily Ladau

The Integrated Schools Podcast returns with a generous, grounding conversation with disability rights activist and author Emily Ladau, author of Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally. Ladau models what it means to “call people in,” making conversations about disability more accessible, human, and connected.
We explore disability as an identity that cuts across all others, the links between ableism and White supremacy, and why this work can’t be done in isolation. An invitation into learning, belonging, and collective responsibility.

S12E7 – 2025 In Review

S12E7 – 2025 In Review

As we close out 2025, we reflect on a year of big transitions, hard truths, and deep community. We talk about parenting through uncertainty, choosing schools rooted in belonging over prestige, and raising kids in a world that feels increasingly unstable.
We look back on this season’s conversations, share reflections from our first-ever in-person Integrated Schools gathering, and remind ourselves why community is not optional—it’s how we survive and stay in the work.
Ten years into Integrated Schools, we’re still here. And we’re carrying this together.

S12E6 – Calling In with Loretta Ross

S12E6 – Calling In with Loretta Ross

What if accountability didn’t require public shaming? MacArthur “Genius” Dr. Loretta Ross joins us to talk about the power of “calling in”—a practice rooted in love, curiosity, and connection. From her personal journey through trauma and healing to her decades of justice work, Dr. Ross shows us how we can hold each other accountable without breaking our communities.
A timely, necessary conversation about parenting, privilege, public schools, and the power of showing up as our best selves.

S12E5 – A Big Tent: Parent Voice for Public Education

S12E5 – A Big Tent: Parent Voice for Public Education

We’re joined by Ms. Keri Rodrigues, President of the National Parents Union, for a conversation about parent voice, public education, and what it means to build a “big tent” in a moment of real crisis for kids and schools. Speaking from the halls of the U.S. Senate, Ms. Rodrigues reflects on her journey as a mother and organizer, the fears and hopes shaping families today, and why authentic family engagement—not the fear-based tactics we’ve seen from groups like Moms for Liberty—is essential to a healthy public education system.

S12E4 – Using Stories to Inspire Change

S12E4 – Using Stories to Inspire Change

At this year’s Color of Education Summit in Raleigh, NC, we heard powerful stories from educators, students, and advocates committed to equity. From personal journeys to collective action, this episode highlights how storytelling builds community, inspires change, and sustains the work of educational justice. Featuring Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith and voices from across the state, we explore how the stories we carry shape the future we build—together.