#EduCrush
A celebration of the brave humans who are reimagining education through a liberating praxis. Hosted by assessment specialist Natalie Vardabasso, and teacher Alex Noel, this is a show for change agents who aren't afraid to ask uncomfortable questions, embrace complexity, and continuously empower themselves and others. Your next #EduCrush is right here!
Recent Episodes
July 15, 2024
Thank you #Educrush
Hey there Friends, It's Alex. I just wanted to come and say thank you to all of you for everything! Thanks especially to Natalie for all she's shared and taught me. I'm working on some new things starting with a new podcast on Youtube (for now)...
June 24, 2024
114 — Five Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting #EduCrush
On her final episode of the #EduCrush podcast, Natalie reflects on her personal growth throughout the past four years of creating the show and shares insights into what's next. Show Notes: The greatest validation comes from within. Creativity...
June 21, 2024
Introducing...Unleash YES with Tom & Nat!
This new podcast from Natalie Vardabasso with co-host Tom Schimmer will help you leave the politics of your job behind and experience the freedom of becoming your own boss. →
June 17, 2024
113 - Dungeons and Formative Assessment w/Andrew Rigby
On this episode Alex interviews passionate and innovative educator Andrew Rigby, on the numerous benefits of TTRPG’s for students in the classroom. Continue the conversation with Natalie on or ...
June 3, 2024
112 - Changing Ourselves, Our Assessment Practice & Our Careers (w Starr Sackstein)
Though Starr is considered a leading voice in innovative assessment and grading practices, it didn’t start out that way. Once upon a time, she was a teacher in her classroom on the precipice of making a terrifying change. In this episode, Nat talks...
March 4, 2024
111 – The Court of Public Opinion
Continue the conversation with Natalie on or Continue the conversation with Alex on or On this episode Alex discusses how the court of public opinion...
Feb. 26, 2024
110 – Hacking Parent Communication (w Crystal Frommert)
✊ Parent communication isn’t the sexiest part of our jobs, but that doesn’t make it any less critical. Natalie is joined by Crystal Frommert, author of “When Calling Parents isn’t your Calling,” to discuss strategies to proactively...
Feb. 5, 2024
109 – Pillars of the community w/ Rodney Noel
On this episode Alex interviews an expert in the community work that goes on in major cities. He has 20 years of experience working with children and youth, non-profits, schools, and families. He also happens to be my older brother, Rodney Noel. ...
Jan. 29, 2024
108 – Assessment Identity (w Karley Alleyn)
✨J Assessment and identity might not seem like a logical pairing on the surface, but they are a powerhouse combo for learning and professional growth. Everyone has an assessment story that we carry into the school space and those...
Jan. 22, 2024
107 – Learning for Need, Honour, and Awe
Happy new year! What are the things in this world that make your jaw drop? Things that are so awesome that you can’t help but get excited about it, about learning about it and experiencing it? On this episode of #Educrush, Alex explores knowledge...
Jan. 15, 2024
106 - Let go of limiting BS and transform your life
✨J Sometimes, our focus on external change is just a reflection of the deeper changes we know we're avoiding in ourselves. Go read that again. Join Natalie for a solo episode to seize the new year and finally let go of the toxic habits,...
Dec. 18, 2023
105 – Reflections on Community
This week on #Educrush, Alex is looking back on some of the interviews that match with what has turned out to be the focal point of the year…Community. Continue the conversation with Natalie on or Continue...
Dec. 11, 2023
104 – Assessment, Change and Mindset through Story (w Tom Schimmer)
In this crossover episode, Natalie joins fellow podcast host and co-author, Tom Schimmer, to discuss how story is critical to rehumanize assessment, embrace the messiness of change, and to cultivate the mindset necessary for inner peace. 💬 Continue...
Dec. 4, 2023
103 – Sharing Cultures without Fear
As the winter Holiday’s loom, now is the time of the year that I and others start to think about family. The countdown is on and we’re ready for a break. What does it look like to use this time, leading to the holidays, as an opportunity for...
Nov. 27, 2023
102 - The Goal of Inclusion, is to Not Need Inclusion (w Dr. Shelley Moore)
As soon as we say the word inclusion, there’s an exclusion. Designing an education system that is grounded in the mindset that all students belong and are capable of high levels of learning is the real goal. Dr. Shelley Moore joins Natalie to talk...
Nov. 19, 2023
101– Beginning Equity Conversations w/ Dr. Shirley Steinberg
Diversity, equity and inclusion will always be a complicated subject. It’s worthwhile to learn and to grow from it, because that allows us as teachers to create environments where all students can learn. Not just about the subject matter that...
Nov. 13, 2023
99 – From Science Teacher to STEM School Founder (w Stephanie Lammlein)
Fasten your seatbelts as Natalie takes you on a journey through the inception, challenges, and triumphs of Bio-Med Science Academy with its founder, Stephanie Lammlein. They explore how she turned a bold vision into reality, how the students are...
Nov. 6, 2023
99 – The Person, The Team and the Task
Leadership is often cited as one of the most important and contentious parts of school’s life. Many dream of being a leader that is effective and inspiring and many more have opinions on what exactly a leader needs in order to be effective and...
Oct. 30, 2023
96 – Five Culture Fixes for Schools
In this solo episode, Natalie honors the Halloween season by describing five ghastly ghouls haunting our schools: phantom policies, zombie meetings, dementor processes, and the control and avoidance poltergeists. Learn what they are and how to defeat...
Oct. 23, 2023
97 – Athletics for Education w/ Nick Waterbury
School or Athletics? That’s the question we often ask students athletes if grades begin to slip. What if we are misunderstanding the role that sports have in the education space? How can teams help students better grasp the concepts in the academic...
Oct. 16, 2023
94 – Learning, Assessment and Belonging in Physical Health Education (w Josh Ogilvie)
Is participation the only thing that can be assessed in Phys Ed class? How might health be integrated as a goal alongside physical activity? Nat joins Canadian PHE and assessment expert Josh Ogilvie to explore what’s possible for Phys Ed when we...
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