In this episode of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, host Dave Roberts welcomes back photographer and educator Heather Pillar. Heather shares her experiences from a 27-year career teaching and photographing across four continents, with a focus on community, service learning, and the power of empathy.

The conversation explores Heather’s collaborative work with Morrie Schwartz, whose philosophies on life, love, and community continue to inspire through Heather’s photography and the bestselling memoir "Tuesdays with Morrie." Heather discusses her global projects, from documenting community stories in the U.S. and Grenada to teaching and service learning initiatives in Taiwan, Germany, Bangladesh, Tanzania, and Brazil.

Key topics include the importance of building caring communities, the impact of service learning in education, and the value of public schools and teachers. Heather and Dave reflect on the challenges faced by marginalized groups, the significance of empathy, and the need for safe, inclusive spaces for learning and growth.

Listeners are encouraged to embrace new experiences, foster kindness, and support community-building efforts in their own lives.

Heather’s Bio and Contact Information

Heather Pillar, photographer and teacher, has lived, taught and photographed in seven countries over four continents during the past 25 years. Her personal and collaborative photographic projects reveal her ongoing interest in women, girls' education, and aging.

In 1995, Heather collaborated with Morrie Schwartz during the last six months as he battled ALS. Her first monograph, Memento Morrie: Images of Love and Loss (Daylight Books, 2024) illustrates Morrie's philosophies through photographs of him interacting with family, friends, and caregivers and building community. Over a quarter-century later, Morrie's wisdom resonates with people around the world due to the best-selling memoir: Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom. Morrie taught people, including Heather - how to live fulfilling lives with love. “It is by facing fears of death that we learn how to live.”

Heather's photographs have been exhibited internationally as well as published in numerous newspapers and magazines such as People Magazine and The Boston Globe; books include The Wisdom of Morrie, Tuesdays with Morrie and Morrie: In His Own Words. Her work has also appeared on television (CBS Sunday Morning, Today Show) and online – NPR, Next Avenue (AARP) and on PBS’s Inside E Street.

Connect with Heather Pillar:

Website: https://www.heatherpillar.com

Email: [email protected]

Instagram @heatherpillarimages

Facebook: Heather Pillar images

YouTube: @heatherpillarimages

LinkedIn: Heather Pillar

To connect with Dave, go to davidrobertsmsw.com and his author page psychologyprofessorandminister.com