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Teaching While White Podcast

Teaching While White·Hosted by Jenna Chandler-Ward, Elizabeth Denevi and Liza Talusan·30 episodes

EducationEducator-focusedAntiracist teachingExpert interviewsStandalone episodesReflective

Over 80% of teachers in the U.S. are white. But most don’t know that their whiteness matters. TWW seeks to move the conversation forward on how to be consciously, intentionally, anti-racist in the classroom. Because "white" does not mean a blank slate. It is a set of assumptions that is the baseline from which everything is judged; it is what passes for normal. This means if you are not white or don’t adhere to those assumptions, you are abnormal or less than. TWW wants to have conversations about those assumptions: what they are, how they impact our students, and...

Why listen

Teaching While White Podcast is for educators who want to understand how race, whiteness, and power show up in everyday school life. Hosts Jenna Chandler-Ward, Elizabeth Denevi, and Liza Talusan use conversations with scholars, teachers, students, and advocates to turn antiracist teaching from an abstract value into classroom practice. It is especially useful for white teachers, school leaders, and parents who want candid, grounded discussion rather than generic equity language.

Episodes

Jun 6, 2026
Why Now is the Perfect Time to Teach

Revolutionary Teaching: https://revolutionaryteaching.info/start-revolutionary-teaching/About Eva : https://blackonblackeducation.com/about-2026Eva’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/blackonblacked/Eva’s Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blackonblackedEva’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evalaurenejean-charles/

Nov 6, 2025
What we can learn from the fight for Mexican-American Studies, with Dr. Nolan Cabrera

https://education.arizona.edu/person/nolan-l-cabrerahttps://chicanostocracy.com/

Oct 24, 2025
Why Teaching Matters with Dr. Pedro Noguera

Dr. Pedro Noguera is a prolific writer. Some of the books we mentioned can be found here.

Oct 9, 2025Episode 1
The History of Whiteness, with Dr. Jacqueline Battalora

Our guest is Jacqueline Battalora, author of, Birth of a White Nation (Her lecture can be seen here) and, Lucy, a Girls Journey From Indenture to Freedom in Colonial North America. She can be contacted here. Here is the past episode Liza references that explores how to move forward when we get things wrong in cross racial relationships. Finally, the Book Jackie was reading, Betty by Tiffany McDaniel can be found here!

Sep 30, 2025Episode 1
Teaching While White the Reboot!

The trailer for our next season!

Mar 11, 2024Episode 29
Coping with Racial Stress with Dr. Howard Stevenson

What does Cross racial solidarity look, sound and feel like? Elizabeth and Liza speak with Dr. Howard Stevenson about the need to acknowledge racial stress so that we can be authentic and antiracist in our cross racial relationships.

Feb 26, 2024Episode 28
Cross Racial Solidarity

In this episode, Jenna and Liza talk with a cross racial team, Dr. Tabitha Moore and Erin Maguire, from Vermont public schools, about how they have been able to build a successful collaboration across race to effect greater change.

Sep 25, 2023Episode 27
Our New Co-Host Liza Talusan!

http://www.lizatalusan.com/

Jul 30, 2023Episode 26
Why Tracking Doesn't Add Up

(Ep 24) Kevin Welner and Prudence Carter, Closing the Opportunity Gap: What America Must Do to Give Every Child an Even Chance.(Ep 25) John Diamond and Amanda Lewis, Despite the Best Intentions: How Racial Inequality Thrives in Good SchoolsEdutopia: Moving Beyond Status in Math ClassDetracking, AVID atmosphere may improve students’ health, psychosocial outcomeshttps://corp.smartbrief.com/original/2023/05/detracking-psychosocial-outcomesNCTM: Catalyzing Change in Middle School MathematicsRadical MathThe Algebra ProjectRethinking Mathematics: Teaching Social Justice by the Numbers

Nov 28, 2022Episode 25
Despite the Best Intentions

Despite The Best IntentionsLearning for Justice ArticleDetracking.comVoices for Racial JusticeIntegrated Schools

Sep 2, 2022
As a Matter of Track

Episode Resources:Prudence Carter and Kevin Welner, Closing the Opportunity Gap: What America Must Do to Give Every Child an Even ChanceCarol Burris and Delia Garrity, Detracking for Excellence and Equity Jeannie Oaks, Keeping Track American Progress report, ​​Closing Advanced Coursework Equity Gaps for All StudentsLearning for Justice,  “How one school stopped tracking students” Parent organizations:Integrated Schools

May 17, 2022Episode 12
Parenting While White 2

Jenna spoke with Ellen Guettler about her decision to move her children out of a predominantly white school in Minneapolis.

Apr 25, 2022Episode 22
Talking to Young White Children about Race

Find out more about City Love Here!

Feb 26, 2022Episode 21
Parenting While White Part 1- Talking to White Kids About Race

There are plenty of great resources out there. Gere are some to get started.Social Justice KidsRaising Race Conscious ChildrenBeyond the Golden RuleHere is the music from City Love that we featured at the end!

Dec 7, 2021Episode 20
Engaging Resistance, CRT and What's Best for Kids Part 2

To learn more about Kimberland Jackson and her work: www.kimberlandjackson.com IG: www.instagram.com/kimberlandjwww.mindingmyblackassbusiness.comIG: www.instagram.com/mindingmyblackassbusinesswww.TheWholeChild.tv

Oct 23, 2021Episode 19
Engaging Resistance

In this episode, Jenna sat down with Nicole Post, an elementary school teacher from St. Louis. Nicole describes how she met with and challenged the resistance she faced from parents when teaching about race and racism in her classroom.

Sep 18, 2021
Band New Pandemic, Same Old White Supremacy

Elizabeth sat down with Thu Anh Nguyen to discuss how the pandemic has highlighted white supremacy in schools. Thu Anh Nguyen (she/her) is an educator and writer whose work centers around equity and justice. Thu Anh has led workshops and writes essays about cultural competence and literacy. She is also a poet. Her writing has been published in Literacy Today, Southern Humanities Review, Cider Press Review, and Crab Orchard Review. Make sure to read Thu’s blog as well. Thu can be reached through her website, www.thuanhnguyen.com .

Apr 27, 2021Episode 17
Elena Aguilar on Coaching for Equity

In this episode, Elizabeth sits down with author and coach Elena Aguilar to talk about how race shows up in teacher coaching relationships.

Feb 8, 2021Episode 15
Mockingbird in the Classroom

As a follow-up from To Teach or To Kill a Mockingbird, in this episode we hear from a group of multiracial students about their experiences reading this iconic novel in school.

Nov 3, 2020Episode 14
No Neutral Zone

In this episode, Jenna speaks with William Yepes, a Spanish teacher in Cambridge, MA who is originally from Columbia. William talks about the false notion of "remaining neutral," and how his journey to becoming a US citizen defined his identity and his teaching practice.

Oct 19, 2020Episode 13
Beyond the Bookclub: Antiracism in Action

What can White teachers do in this moment to take action in the midst of the duel pandemics or Covid and Racism? Our guests, Jose Vilson, and Kelly Wickham Hurst give their insights as two educators who are leading efforts to move schools towards antiracism.Other resources mentioned in this episode: Educolor How to Start a Plan and Take Action Against Racism

Oct 19, 2020
Examining White Privilege ft. Elizabeth Denevi & Jenna Chandler-Ward - Third Space with Jen Cort Podcast

Founders of Teaching While White Elizabeth Denevi and Jenna Chandler-Ward join third space to discuss white privilege, white allyship, white saviorism and more.Click here to listen Listen to "Examining White Privilege ft. Elizabeth Denevi and Jenna Chandler-Ward" on Spreaker.

Oct 5, 2020Episode 12
Hate Groups Recruiting White Students

Shelly Tochluk and Christine Saxman have been investigating White supremacist organizations and their tactics for recruiting White youth. Join us for a discussion about the importance of having explicit conversations about race and what teachers and parents can do to support White students.

May 31, 2020Episode 11
Schools Succeeding at Failure with Tim Wise

What if schools are doing exactly what they were meant to do? What if they were designed to only educate the elite few? Warning: This episode contains swearing, which, given the topic, feels appropriate.

Nov 22, 2019Episode 10
Recovering the Voice of Native Americans in the Classroom

In this episode, we speak with Claudia Fox Tree, a Native American teacher, about the ways we learn about Indigenous Peoples in school- or don’t.Resource List

Oct 18, 2019Episode 9
Challenging the Canon - Part 2

In this episode, we learn about Project Lit, which was started by teacher Jarred Amato and his students at Maplewood High School in Nashville. We hear from Jarred and his former student/Co-founder, Jakaylia about the need to rethink how we create readers and writers. Jarred has since switched schools and Jakaylia is now a Freshman in College, but Project Lit is still going strong.

Feb 20, 2019Episode 8
Challenging the Canon - Part 1

Who decides what books are worthy of study and which voices are included in the literary canon? Interviews with Tricia Ebarvia and Jack Hill.

Oct 9, 2018Episode 7
White Fragility - Part 2

We speak with white teachers, teachers of color, white students, and each other to uncover the cause and impact of white fragility. With Dr. Kimberly Parker, and Afrika Afeni Mills

Aug 18, 2018Episode 6
White Fragility - Part 1

An interview with Robin DiAngelo, author of White Fragility, consultant, and Affiliate Associate Professor of Education at the University of Washington, Seattle.

Jan 25, 2018Episode 5
The Myth of the Model Minority

Rosetta Lee and Nathan Tanaka, two brilliant educators and social justice advocates, help us explore the myth of the model minority and its damages.

Oct 10, 2017Episode 4
Whiteness Visible - Part 2

Our season launch continues with an interview with podcast host, John Biewen- of the series, Seeing White, on the Scene on Radio podcast. Biewen reflects on the evolution of his podcast, exposing historical myths, and making whiteness visible.

Sep 29, 2017Episode 3
Whiteness Visible - Part 1

In this episode, we hear from Peggy McIntosh, author of, White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack, and also Debby Irving, author of Waking Up White. Both guests reflect on why they feel it is important to make whiteness visible.

Jun 1, 2017Episode 2
The Cost of Racial Isolation in Schools

What are the costs of segregation and what role can white teachers play in solving the problems that come with racial isolation in schools? We interview Ralph Wales, Dr. Eddie Moore Jr., and Alethea White.

Apr 19, 2017Episode 1
To Teach or To Kill a Mockingbird

Episode Transcript