Best Montessori Classroom Podcasts (2025)

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A Boy Erased: Garrard Conley on Surviving Conversion Therapy and Growing Up Gay in the Bible Belt 1:03:03

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2d ago1:03:03

1:03:03

What if the people you trust most try to change who you are—and call it love? In this episode, Garrard Conley, author of the bestselling memoir Boy Erased, adapted into a film starring Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe, shares his powerful journey from being outed and forced into conversion therapy to becoming a writer, educator, and advocate for tru…

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Leading with Purpose: Anita Hanks and the Future of Montessori Education 39:06

16d ago39:06

39:06

How does a second-generation Montessori child become a transformational leader in the movement? In this episode, Anita Hanks, newly appointed President of the AMS Board of Directors, shares her deeply personal Montessori journey—from toddler in the classroom to founder of a thriving school, teacher education program director, and now national leade…

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Montessori for Grown Ups with Jamie Watts 33:12

29d ago33:12

33:12

This week, Rachel sits down with author and Montessorian, Jamie Watts to discuss Montessori for Grown Ups, Jamie's newest book. Jamie is the Director at Little River Montessori and has a wealth of knowledge of Montessori due to their extensive experience and background. This conversation tackles how adults can think about their cosmic task, how to …

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From Burnout to Balance: Suneel Gupta on Small Adjustments with Big Impact 42:39

30d ago42:39

42:39

How do we stay energized, focused, and fulfilled in a world that constantly demands more? In this episode, hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman are joined by bestselling author and Harvard Medical School visiting scholar Suneel Gupta, who shares why the path from burnout to balance doesn’t require a major life overhaul—just a few intentional shifts. H…

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Life After Montessori: High School Seniors Reflect on the Impact of Their Early Education 1:18:19

1M ago1:18:19

1:18:19

What happens when Montessori students leave their multi-age classrooms and step into the world of traditional high schools? In this episode, two seniors—Symona and Josie—reflect on how their Montessori foundations shaped their confidence, relationships, and academic resilience through the challenges of public and independent school settings. Hosts …

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Toddlers, Motherhood, and Making Montessori Make Sense with Rachel Martin 37:44

2M ago37:44

37:44

This week, Rachel sits down with Rachel Martin from the Montessori Moms in the Wild podcast. They talk through raising children in the Montessori method, how to set up your home environment, and embracing the changes in the Montessori school world. Check out Montessori Moms in the Wild!By Rachel Merle-Smith

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The Joy of Foraging: Alexis Nikole Nelson on Food, Nature, and Her Montessori Roots 1:04:21

2M ago1:04:21

1:04:21

How does a childhood spent exploring nature shape a lifelong passion? In this episode, Alexis Nikole Nelson—award-winning forager, chef, and social media star—shares how her Montessori education helped nurture her curiosity and independence, ultimately leading to her unique career. Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman discuss with Alexis: How her Mont…

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The Power of Social Identity with Dr. Jay Van Bavel: How Groups Shape Learning, Bias, and Belonging 29:02

2M ago29:02

29:02

How does social identity influence the way we learn, form biases, and navigate the world? In this episode, Dr. Jay Van Bavel, NYU professor and coauthor of The Power of Us, joins us to explore the psychology and neuroscience behind identity formation. Hosts Nicole Coleman and Biff Maier discuss with Dr. Van Bavel: How group identity impacts learnin…

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Navigating the Bridge Between Home and School with Caroline Moulsdale 26:57

3M ago26:57

26:57

Rachel sits down with ABC Crate CEO and Founder, Caroline Moulsdale for this week's episode. Caroline started ABC Crate to help families bridge the gap between home and school by providing Montessori educational kits to build a supportive home environment. Interested in ABC Crate? Use CODE: Montessori for 20% off any of ABC Crate's services or educ…

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Why Rules Fail: The Montessori Approach to Raising Disciplined Children 38:49

3M ago38:49

38:49

Are traditional discipline methods setting children up for failure? In this episode, hosts Nicole Coman and Biff Maier challenge the outdated, top-down approach to rules and discipline, revealing how Montessori principles cultivate true self-regulation, accountability, and independence—without authoritarian control. They explore: Why rules often ba…

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Raising Kids in a Hypersexualized Digital World with Dr. Sharon Maxwell & Chelsea Maxwell 48:48

3M ago48:48

48:48

How can parents and educators help kids develop healthy relationships, navigate social media, and build self-control in a world designed to capture their attention? In this episode, Dr. Sharon Maxwell, clinical psychologist and author of The Talk, joins her daughter Chelsea Maxwell, an educator and learning designer, to discuss the challenges of ra…

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Lisa Ling on Journalism, Curiosity, and the Power of Storytelling 33:33

3M ago33:33

33:33

Award-winning journalist Lisa Ling has spent her career uncovering untold stories and bringing hidden perspectives to light. From reporting in war zones at 21 to hosting This Is Life on CNN and joining CBS News, Ling has dedicated herself to educating and informing the public. In this episode, she shares: How her early experiences with Channel One …

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Introducing Educating The Human Potential 14:13

4M ago14:13

14:13

Is education preparing children for the world they’ll inherit—or the world of the past? In this premiere episode, hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman launch Educating the Human Potential by challenging conventional wisdom about how children learn and thrive. They explore: What’s broken in education and how Montessori principles offer a bold alternati…

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All Things Parenting, Episode 5: Finding Power in Your Cycle with Lauren Barton 39:27

4M ago39:27

39:27

Today, I sit down with the incredible Lauren Barton to talk all about womanhood, motherhood, and our cycles. We touch on how to talk about periods with children, how we experience them ourselves, and how we can find power in knowing our own cycle. Interested in working with Lauren? Check out her website.…

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The Montessori Planes of Development 17:45

8M ago17:45

17:45

This week, we are going back to basics and breaking down the first and second plane of development. The first plane of development centers on 0-6 years of age. This child loves order, movement, and soaks everything up around her. The second plane of development is all about the 6-12 years old child. This child loves adventure, being social, and has…

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All Things Parenting, Episode 4: Age Gaps Between Kids, Building Traditions, and Getting Outside with Leah O'Connell 33:25

8M ago33:25

33:25

On this fourth episode of All Things Parenting, my dear friend Leah returns to the podcast to talk about parenting. She has three beautiful children spanning the ages of 9, 4 and 16 months. We talk about the challenges and benefits of age gaps, finding the beauty in the simple things, and committing to building traditions with your family. Leah is …

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All Things Parenting, Episode 3: Taking Lessons from Our Own Upbringing with Zander Merle-Smith 52:13

9M ago52:13

52:13

On this episode of All Things Parenting, Zander is back to share his observations about entering a new phase of fatherhood. We discuss the hardship of watching your child get hurt, how to regulate our own emotions, and the beauty of the process. We touch on discipline and how we want to approach it as a team while Wilder grows. Sign up for the All …

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Montessori, Anxiety, and IVF - Rachel's Journey to Motherhood 1:29:29

10M ago1:29:29

1:29:29

This week I'm sharing my interview on the wonderful podcast, Know Ya Flow produced and hosted by my friend Lauren Barton. I'm sharing it here because I detail a very low point in my life that led me to therapy, working through failure, and embracing challenges that I was facing as a Montessori teacher. Check out Know Ya Flow!…

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Encouraging Curiosity about Social Justice with Shelby Kretz 31:53

11M ago31:53

31:53

Dr. Shelby Kretz is back on the podcast! Rachel and Shelby talk all about Little Justice Leader's new digital resource, how to have hard conversations with children, and how to move past shame and embrace curiosity when learning about social justice. Join the LJL Community! https://littlejusticeleaders.thinkific.com/bundles/little-justice-leaders-c…

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All Things Parenting, Episode 2: Raising Babies at Home with Alex Parris 24:24

12M ago24:24

24:24

The second episode of the All Things Parenting series focuses on raising children from a stay at home mom perspective. One of my best friends, Alex joins me for this incredible conversation all about gentle parenting, raising two kids, veganism, and the love we both feel for parenthood.By Rachel Merle-Smith

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Kei Ikeda Returns: Incorporating Dance into the Montessori Classroom 43:04

1y ago43:04

43:04

Kei joins Rachel to talk through Montessori Dance and how it can help educators introduce dance into their classrooms. They discuss how music is innate in humans, ideas of how to introduce dance to children, and the joy music and dance bring to the world. Danse Paix au Partage (International Dance Peace Sharing event) Dancing Towards Peace Presenta…

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054: Choice in the Elementary Classroom 18:52

1y ago18:52

18:52

Understanding how to facilitate, organize, and prepare an environment that fosters student choice is one of the most challenging aspects of being a Montessori Elementary teacher. Educators who follow the Montessori approach know that Maria Montessori placed a lot of emphasis on the idea of “choice,” and while the notion of choice is universally cel…

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All Things Parenting, Episode 1: Embracing Fatherhood with Zander Merle-Smith 41:08

1y ago41:08

41:08

The first episode of the All Things Parenting series focuses on fatherhood. My husband, Zander joins me for this episode and we discuss the first few months of parenting, grieving your former self, and his experience with Montessori.By Rachel Merle-Smith

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Introducing All Things Parenting 4:52

1y ago4:52

4:52

All Things Parenting is a new offshoot of All Things Montessori. Becoming a parent has been the most incredible experience, and I wanted to sit down with experts, other parents, and my own husband to talk through parenting and doing it in a Montessori way. New episodes coming soon!By Rachel Merle-Smith

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053: Building Relationships Through Games 23:57

1y ago23:57

23:57

One of the best ways to create a learning environment that promotes positivity and productivity is play. When playing games, students become more comfortable with not only their peers but also their teacher. In today’s episode, I’m sharing how both structured and unstructured games can build a variety of social, emotional, and executive functioning…

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052: Guiding a Classroom with Fewer Older Students 12:57

1y ago12:57

12:57

As students get older, parents seem to become more inclined to pull their children out of Montessori programs. Especially when those classrooms have smaller groups of older students. Parents often think that there are disadvantages to keeping their older children in this setting, but it’s actually quite the opposite: there are numerous benefits to …

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The Montessori Child with Simone Davies & Junnifa Uzodike 43:48

1y ago43:48

43:48

Join Rachel and Jamie as they sit down with the incredible authors behind to book, The Montessori Child. They discuss the four planes of development, the inspiration behind this book, and how parents can use this book as a guide to implement Montessori in the home. Get your copy of the Montessori Child! Check out the Montessori Notebook. Check our …

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051: Technology and Brain Development with Dr. Luz Casquejo Johnston 1:03:35

1y ago1:03:35

1:03:35

How does technology affect brain development in children? How can we mindfully incorporate technology into Montessori classrooms? Is social media inherently bad for adolescents? In today’s episode, Letty is joined by Dr. Luz Casquejo Johnston to discuss technology in relation to Montessori education, particularly for upper elementary and adolescent…

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S2 Bonus episode: A quick personal update, The Montessori Child book, and talking to children about war 39:11

1+ y ago39:11

39:11

Hello there! I'm popping into your podcast feed with a catch up on what has been happening the last 2.5 years since the last podcast episode, including the launch of The Montessori Child book. The book picks up where The Montessori Toddler leaves off, covering how to bring Montessori into your home with 3-12 year olds, including a bonus chapter on …

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Capturing the Real Moments with Child & Family Photographer Leah O'Connell 38:32

1+ y ago38:32

38:32

This episode features the incredible Leah O'Connell, family and child photographer based in Charlottesville, VA. A best friend of mine and a innovative photographer, mother, and teacher we chat though capturing realness, doing Montessori in unique ways, and touch on parenting. Check out Firefly Photography!…

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050: From Dyslexia to Dyscalculia: Insights on Learning Disabilities with Meghan Hicks 1:04:10

1+ y ago1:04:10

1:04:10

As Montessori educators, we learn a lot through training and practical experience about how to guide our students. However, we often find ourselves lacking knowledge when it comes to supporting students with additional needs. In today’s episode, Meghan Hicks joins Letty Rising to thoughtfully explore how we can best support children with learning d…

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Season 3 Episode Three: Establishing Routines in the Classroom and at Home 1:00:55

1+ y ago1:00:55

1:00:55

Hello! Welcome to the LTF Podcast! I am so glad you're here. In this episode I ramble on about routines; how to establish them and why they matter. This information can be applied to the classroom or at home. This episode is linked to the last episode about independence. Children are always in search of themselves, and who they are in the world, an…

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Season 3 Episode 2: The Young Child and Building A Foundation of Independence 43:36

1+ y ago43:36

43:36

Hello and welcome to the LTF Podcast! I am so excited to welcome you to another episode in which I share some insights on understanding childhood better. In this episode, I explore the notion that your young child doesn't need you in the ways you might think they do and that sometimes, getting out of their way is the best thing to do for them. I wi…

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049: Executive Functioning Skills in the Montessori Elementary Classroom 21:55

1+ y ago21:55

21:55

The elementary age is the time when children are really developing their executive functioning skills. A highly teacher-directed environment doesn’t really give students the space and grace to explore and develop these skills. A Montessori environment, on the other hand, is built for such exploration. In today’s episode, we’re talking about the var…

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048: Beyond Early Childhood and Materials: Montessori Across the Planes of Development with Luz Casquejo Johnston 39:52

1+ y ago39:52

39:52

Maria Montessori’s theories of developmental psychology include her foundational observations of the planes of development for children. These planes outline various milestones physically and mentally as the child’s education progresses, and it’s so interesting to see common threads emerge when observing Montessori students in the classroom. In tod…

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047: Montessori Literacy and the Science of Reading: Insights from Zil Jaeger 43:23

1+ y ago43:23

43:23

There’s a Montessori notion out there that we shouldn’t teach letter names along with letter sounds to our young learners. We’ve often heard that children don’t need to know the names of letters to read a word. And while that’s technically true, the Science of Reading suggests we should reframe our thinking around letter names. In today’s episode, …

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Season 3: Episode 1 Back to School 54:25

1+ y ago54:25

54:25

Welcome Back! Although let's be real, most of you have been back to school for a couple of months now. But better late than never I suppose. In this episode, I share with you ideas for how to help your child or your students adjust to the new school year routine. I honestly believe these ideas are for any time of the year and hold true for establis…

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046: Bringing Joy and Levity to Montessori Spaces with Lisa Thauvette 38:53

1+ y ago38:53

38:53

As Montessorians, we’re not necessarily known for our humor in the classroom. The focus is, understandably, more on the learning environment. We don’t want to come across as being too silly or lose control of our learning environments. But what if a sense of playfulness could actually help enhance our learning? In today’s episode, I’m talking to Li…

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045: Why Planning and Recordkeeping is Essential for Montessori Schools 45:47

1+ y ago45:47

45:47

Planning and recordkeeping is essential for Montessori educators. It provides alignment for your classrooms and allows you to articulate to parents what their children are learning. Meanwhile, it still allows educators the freedom and adaptability to explore their students’ interests more in depth. In today’s episode, I’m talking to Elizabeth Slade…

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044: The Inspiring Journey of New Montessori School Owners in Atlanta 30:37

2y ago30:37

30:37

It’s no surprise that Montessori education is still growing in popularity and many people are becoming more interested in this model - as parents, as educators, and especially as owners. If you’ve wanted to own a Montessori school but don’t have an education background, it’s OK, it’s definitely possible to do so. In today’s episode, I’m talking to …

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043: Embracing Bilingual Education in Montessori Schools: Challenges, Successes, and the Future 46:31

2y ago46:31

46:31

There are unique challenges in implementing a bilingual education program at the elementary age in Montessori schools for a variety of reasons, but it can be done successfully. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Marikay McCabe, founding partner of the Bilingual Montessori Project. We talk about the challenges, the common misconceptions, and the …

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042: Elementary Bootcamp Opening Soon 9:49

2y ago9:49

9:49

If standard Montessori teacher training taught you everything you needed to know before you stepped into the classroom, it would last way longer than two years! Chances are, you learned the content but not necessarily how to implement it in a real, everchanging classroom environment. That’s where supplementary education like the Elementary Bootcamp…

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041: Spanish Language Immersion with Lindsey Barnes and David Hernández of The Dahlia School 34:56

2y ago34:56

34:56

Studies have shown that children who are in language immersion programs through the elementary years end up becoming more proficient in their home language as they get older, and they also experience the benefits of cultural awareness. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Lindsey Barnes, Executive Director, and David Hernández, Elementary Teacher …

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040: Debunking the 3 Hour Work Cycle with Jana Morgan Herman 40:29

2y ago40:29

40:29

Over time, as more interpretations are overlaid on top of older theories, sometimes we can lose track of the actual meaning behind the source material. And when it comes to the 3 hour work cycle as applied in a Montessori setting, this seems to be the case. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Jana Morgan Herman, national director for Endeavor Sch…

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039: Co-Teaching, Organizing, and Managing a Large Upper Elementary Classroom with Tania Torres-Delgado and Gabriela Gonzalez 38:12

2y ago38:12

38:12

Co-teaching in a Montessori classroom can definitely be a challenge. And with so many differing opinions on how to best approach a co-teaching relationship, it can be confusing to know how to get started. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Tania Torres-Delgado and Gabriela Gonzalez, co-teachers of a classroom of 48 students at Guidepost Montesso…

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Montessori & Infertility with Becky Myers-Pollock 53:03

2y ago53:03

53:03

Join Rachel as she sits down with primary guide and friend Becky Myers-Pollock as they talk through Becky's unique journey to pregnancy while being in the classroom. Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of miscarriage, fertility treatments, and pregnancy loss.By Rachel Merle-Smith

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038: A Quick Guide to Homeschooling With Chelsea Roberts 36:59

2y ago36:59

36:59

Homeschool, especially since the pandemic, is becoming more and more common for many reasons—and the Montessori method is making its way into more homes than ever. As education continues to evolve, Montessori schools are offering homeschool programs that serve as a support for families who have shifted out of traditional schooling. In today’s episo…

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037: A Journey to Virtual Montessori Homeschooling with Christine Sithichai 30:28

2y ago30:28

30:28

The future of education is constantly shifting. Hybrid models that split the students' time between the Montessori classroom and homeschooling are giving way to entirely virtual homeschooling models utilizing the Montessori method. In today’s episode, I’m talking with 20-year veteran Montessori teacher Christine Sithichai. She’s sharing her experie…

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The Toddler Autonomy: Discovery of Independent Thoughts, Actions and the Word "No" 52:17

2y ago52:17

52:17

Hello and welcome to the LTF Podcast! I am so happy you're here. You must have chosen this episode because you yourself are experiencing the amazing wonder that is the young child and asserting their independence, finding their voice and their self realization that their actions have power! In this episode I share with you some of my insights and i…

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036: Creating Confident and Competent Writers 36:07

2y ago36:07

36:07

Writing opportunities present themselves in the elementary classroom in a variety of ways. Some students are naturally inclined writers, and others might lack the confidence to write. In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Madeline Walk, Elementary Content Editor at Trillium Montessori. We’re discussing how writing fits into all aspects of the Monte…