All Learning for Adults Posts
Feminism Won’t Get Us Anywhere … Unless It’s Intersectional Feminism
“Feminism” can be a taboo or scary word to some people, and that is because it is often misunderstood and misused. bell hooks said, “Feminism is the movement to end…
Celebrate Women’s History Month With These Podcast Episodes
March is Women’s History Month — a time to honor women and the contributions women make to society, both now and historically. It’s a time to elevate the voices and…
Work With Me: First Name Basis at Your School
We’re wrapping up Season 8 with this episode, and it’s got me thinking all about our evolution over the years. From beginning as a tiny Instagram account to starting the…
We Are Anti-Racist and Anti-Genocide
Like so many of you, I have been all consumed the last few weeks by the events going on in Gaza and the genocide that is being carried out against…
Black and Brown Emojis Are Not a Punch Line
This episode can be summarized with one sentence: Please stop using Black and Brown emojis if you are not Black or Brown. Skin color is something that should be celebrated,…
Raising Multiracial Children with Dr. Jennifer Noble
Growing up as a multiracial child, I often felt my racial identity shifting and developing — heck, even as an adult I do! Navigating what it means to be multiracial…
3 Things I’ve Learned On My Anti-Racist Journey
This episode is a bit of a role reversal with someone I admire SO MUCH. I have been a longtime fan of Rachel Nielson’s podcast 3 in 30: Takeaways for…
Teaching Children About Disabilities
July 26, 2023, is the 33rd anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act. If you’re doing the math in your head, let me give you a shortcut: That means the…
My Journey: Resisting White Supremacy Culture and Finding Joy
Y’all, I’m gettin’ REAL in this episode. We always talk about how anti-racism is a journey not a destination, and it’s so important to take time to reflect on that…
The Story of the First Openly Gay MLB Player: Glenn Burke
Happy Pride my friends, especially to the LGBTQ+ members in our community! To celebrate Pride, I wanted to share an episode from my Bite-Sized Black History program that features a…
Motherhood: An Unexpected Act of Resistance
This episode is a special one to me, one dedicated to all of the Black and Brown moms out there. A lot of my Black and Brown friends who are…
The Untold Story of the Story That I Told: Correcting Mistakes When Teaching Kids About Slavery
Did you read the title of this episode? It’s a doozy! As convoluted as “The Untold Story of the Story That I Told” is, I couldn’t resist calling this newest…
4 Podcasts to Hep You Learn More About Martin Luther King Jr.
To say Martin Luther King Jr.’s work has impacted my own anti-racism work is an understatement. His legacy is foundational to so much of my experience as a Black person…
Jesus Had Brown Skin
When we really take a moment to step back and think, it’s easy to agree that Jesus had brown skin because he was from the Middle East. If that’s the…
How Can Parents Support Teachers Who Try to Create Change?
Anti-racism needs to be done in community in order to be effective. Parents and teachers make up the backbone of a student’s community, so it’s absolutely critical that parents and…
Your School Has a Diversity Statement. Now What?
We all know that 2020 was a wake-up call for a lot of people. It was a time of reflection, a time of change (hopefully), and a time where schools…
The 3 Types of Microaggressions
Microaggression may have “micro” in its name, but that doesn’t mean these assaults are small. Two women I admire so much for their anti-racism work explain it like this: “There’s…
3 Steps to a More Inclusive Bookshelf
The books that we have in our bookshelves speak volumes about who and what we value, and our bookshelves are the perfect place to help us raise anti-racist kiddos. Not…
How the One Drop Rule and Blood Quantum Show Just How Made-Up Race Really Is
When you take the time to understand all the “rules” around race, it becomes so obvious how made-up race and the laws about race really are. They are full of…
Real Quick: Black Voting Power
If you’ve been around a while, you’ve heard me say it hundreds of times: Race is a social construct. Race was created and has always been manipulated to make sure…
Real Quick: Politicians Need Experience
Politicians need experience to do their job. This may fall under the “unpopular opinion” category to some people, but it’s something I feel strongly about and have been thinking about…
What is a Decolonized Story? Here Are 3 Characteristics
We hear all the time how the episodes in our Untold Stories series are some of everyone’s favorites — and we totally agree! Part of what makes our Untold Stories…
3 Common Critical Race Theory Myths and How You Can Respond
Despite what you may see on social media, Critical Race Theory is not the boogie man! Critical Race Theory, or CRT, became a major buzzword in the news and immediately…
How Do I Avoid Cultural Appropriation When It Comes to Halloween Costumes? 
“Is a (fill in the blank) costume cultural appropriation?” “How do I know if the costumes we’ve picked are appropriation?” “I don’t understand why ______ would be considered cultural appropriation….
How Do I Start Talking to My Kids About Racism?
When your kiddo says something racist or is exposed to racism in some way, it is, of course, a time you need to respond and have a conversation with them…
Oh No! I Talked About Racism and Made Things Worse
I’ve heard from so many parents who have been listening to the First Name Basis Podcast and other anti-racist educators, have tried to implement the suggestions they learn as they…
Where Did Student Loans Come From and Why Is College So Expensive?
The fact that there is a need for student loan forgiveness really paints a picture of just how complicated education funding has become. So how did we get to this…
Real Talk: You Should Support Student Loan Forgiveness
It’s been a few weeks since the White House announced a plan for student loan forgiveness, and in that time, you’ve likely seen all sorts of articles and social media…
You Are Not Meant to Do This Alone: The Power of Anti-Racist Community
Anti-racism is meant to be done in community. It makes sense, right? This work is SO important and we need to be sharing it with others in order for change…
How Can I Show Up on Social Media When I Don’t Have All of the Answers?
Social media feels like a double-edged sword: It can be a great way to keep in touch with family and friends and learn new things, but it can also be…
Environmental Justice: What in the World Are Carbon Credits?
“Carbon credit” is a trendy term you might have heard being used by businesses, government officials and the news media, but what exactly is it? We’re answering that in this…
Creating Change in the Classroom
Classrooms should be places of growth, discovery and change, and as parents and caregivers we need to support teachers in fostering a positive environment for students. And Patrick Harris II…
Thoughts, Prayers and Actions: We Need Stricter Gun Laws
As a former teacher and a mom, I have a recurring nightmare that I’m sure many of you share: a constant, ever-present fear of my children — and any other…
Racism is Built on a Big Fat Lie Pt. 1: Blood Quantum and the One Drop Rule
Think back to when you were a kid. Remember when you’d be playing a game and you were about to make an epic power move or even win the game,…
Redefining Relationships After Racism
Racism is traumatizing no matter what, but when it manifests itself in your personal relationships, it is crushing. Dr. Lucretia Berry, an anti-racist educator, author, scholar and mother to three…
Raising Multi-Racial Children
Growing up as a multi-racial child, I often felt my racial identity shifting and developing — heck, even as an adult I do! Navigating what it means to be multi-racial…
Black Lives Matter: How Will You Respond?
In the summer of 2020, author Veronica Chambers had what she calls an “aha moment.” Born in Panama and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Veronica’s Afro-Latina heritage has always been…
3 Things I Wish White Moms Knew About Black Motherhood
Every mother experiences motherhood differently — no two journeys are the same. And there are some things that Black mothers experience that mothers who hold white privilege don’t fully understand….
If Reverse Racism Isn’t Real, Then What Is It?
Have you ever heard a white person claim that they’ve experienced “reverse racism”? I sure have! But here’s a spoiler alert for you: Reverse racism is not real. Don’t get…
Is Reverse Racism Real?
Have you ever heard a white person claim that they’ve experienced “reverse racism”? I sure have! Let’s break this down together because I’ve heard from many of you that you’re…
Can We Talk About White Privilege?
But really, can we? I know y’all are seeing it too. You’ve shared with me that once you know what to look for you’ve started to see it all over…
Oh No! My Child Said Something Racist
Your kiddo just said something racist. Trust me, as a parent myself, I can feel your pain, hear your groans of embarrassment and sense your anxiety. But what do you…
Black Lives Matter and the Family, Part 2: Over-Policing and Mass Incarceration
Debunking the myth that Black Lives Matter is trying to destroy families is such an important topic, we’re spending our second week in a row talking about it. If you…
Black Lives Matter and the Family, Part 1: Enslavement
The summer of 2020 was difficult and emotionally taxing for So. Many. Reasons. But one of the hardest things for me was hearing white parents say that they could not…
What Should I Do When I Hear and See Microaggressions?
In anti-racism — as in most things in life — knowledge gains power through action, and the same is true when it comes to microaggressions. Microaggressions are often covert to…
(Not So Micro) Aggressions
Microaggression may have “micro” in its name, but that doesn’t mean these assaults are small. Two women I admire so much for their anti-racism work explain it like this: “There’s…
Critical Race Theory in Schools
It’s basically impossible to open your news app without seeing a headline about Critical Race Theory, but what is it? Could you explain it to a friend if they asked…
The Danger of Gaslighting
I think we can all agree that gaslighting is the wooooorst. When you share a vulnerable or tough experience with someone and they respond in a way that makes you…
How You Can Help Stop Voter Suppression
Are you fed up with voter suppression? Me too. This episode not only breaks down what’s going on with voter suppression but also gives action steps for what we need…
For Those of Us Who Need A Little Bit of Hope
Things have felt heavy lately and I thought we all might need a little hope. This is the audio from an IG live that I shared last week. Take some…
Racism 101
If someone asked you “what is racism” how would you respond? Would you be able to help them understand the different ways that racism rears its ugly head in our…
Service, Not Saviorism
Are you serving or trying to save? In this episode I unpack white saviorism and the detrimental effect that it has on communities in our backyard and across the globe….
Your Top 5 Cultural Appropriation Questions Answered
Cultural appropriation can be so confusing. We all want to learn about and celebrate other cultures while making sure we don’t cross any lines or embrace stereotypes and caricatures. In…
How to Become an Informed Voter
I have heard from so many of you that this election season has left you feeling confused and overwhelmed. That is completely understandable —2020 has been a year full of…
My Working Mom: Chasing Her Dreams
Now more than ever women and girls are being encouraged to share their gifts, talents, and intelligence with the world in spectacular ways! So what does it look like to…
Cancel Culture Pt. 3: Removing Statues
Our country is in the midst of a social revolution. People everywhere are standing up and fighting for racial equity and part of the protesting has included taking down statues…
Cancel Culture Pt. 2: What Is Cancel Culture And What Do We Do About It?
Cancel culture is difficult to define and widely viewed in a negative light. It could be defined as a modern form of protest or boycott and therefore it has an…
Cancel Culture Pt. 1: Calling Out, Calling In & Tone Policing
In this first episode of our three-part cancel culture series, we lay a foundation for the conversation by getting clear about the difference between calling someone out and calling someone…
How You Can Support Anti-racist Educators
Anti-racism work is critical to creating the community that we all want, and those of us who have been called to lead this movement are carrying a heavy load. In…
The Danger of Spiritual Bypassing
There have been many different types of reactions to the calls for racial justice that are going on in our country right now. If your social media looks anything like…
Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd: Unpacking Racism
Right now our country is reeling from the murders of our Black brothers and sisters. You may be confused by all of the uprising and rebellion, but you need to…
How to Avoid Cultural Appropriation
Celebrating the people around us and their unique cultures can be exciting and incredibly enriching! But where is that fine line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation? When we take…
What Is Privilege And What Do I Do With It?
White privilege is one of the strongest pillars that upholds racism. In her article “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” Peggy McIntosh describes white privilege as: “An invisible package of…
Let’s Talk Language: Black or African-American?
This episode answers the number one question I’ve been asked since starting First Name Basis: How do I know whether to say ”Black” or “African-American”? I went straight to the…
How to be a Liberator
We had an amazing conversation on Instagram and I really didn’t want you to miss it! I shared a post about resisting the temptation to be seen as a savior…
How The Coronavirus Pandemic Unmasks Inequality In Our Society
I’m sure you’ve seen the headlines: The Black community has been hit the hardest by the coronavirus. Infection rates in Black counties are 3 times that of infection rates in…
3 Ways to Celebrate Martin Luther King Day That Honor His Legacy
If creating a society that is just and inclusive is our goal, we need to do more than post a quote and a photo on social media on Martin Luther…
The Untold Story of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
We have the opportunity to celebrate one of America’s greatest heroes this month, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. During the month of January we will learn about the untold story…
Native American Voices Pt. 2
Michael Bennet is a husband, father of two, and an attorney for the Navajo Nation. In this episode he shares: The importance of looking outside yourself to learn about the…
Native American Voices Pt. 1
In this episode we interview Ryan Kamper. Ryan is from the Diné (Navajo) Nation. He is of the Folded arms people born for the Anglo-Saxon people, his maternal grandfather is…
The Face of DACA
In this episode we interview Ivan Aragon, a DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipient. Ivan is from Chihuahua, Mexico and came to the United States with his family when…
What is Juneteenth?
What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth is a celebration that commemorates the ending of legal slavery in the United states. After President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 there…