My Montessori Life with Barbara Isaacs and David Gettman

In this third of three podcasts on the theme of drama, Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Peter Clements, a young actor, teacher and writer who trained at The Drama Centre, works extensively in theatre, feature films and TV, teaches at the RADA and LAMDA theatre schools in London, and recently created a critically-acclaimed solo show and a new dance-theatre production at the Bristol Old V...

In this second of three podcasts on the theme of drama, Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Di Trevis, one of Britain’s leading theatre directors, the first woman to run a company at the Royal National Theatre where her Remembrance of Things Past won an Olivier Award, a director of productions at the Royal Shakespeare Company and Royal Opera House, and an acclaimed teacher of acting and di...

In this first of three podcasts on the theme of drama, Barbara and David consider how dramatic role-play, which all young children naturally engage in, fits with Montessori’s ideas. While Montessori didn’t address drama per se, she did identify social relations as a Sensitive Period from ages two to five. And she did encourage practical social skills, interpersonal communications, grace and courte...

In this third of three podcasts on the theme of motherhood, Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Sabine Leitner, who trained as a musician in her native Austria, opened a music school and puppet theatre for young children in Vienna, and then changed careers, earning an MA in Philosophy and another MA in Psychosynthesis, which is a form of therapy she now practices in London; and Roxana Halo...

In this second of three podcasts on the theme of motherhood, Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Roxana Haloiu, a qualified and experienced Montessori practitioner, and mother of baby Theo. To combine the two vocations, she also now runs a Montessori-inspired playgroup for her north London community; and Sabine Leitner, who trained as a musician in her native Austria, opened a music school...

In this first of three podcasts on the theme of motherhood, Barbara and David look at Maria Montessori’s view of the role of the mother in child development. Maria was a mother herself, but in difficult circumstances. She was one of the first women in Italy to qualify as a doctor. As she specialised in paediatrics, Maria was appointed co-director of a training institute in Rome for professionals w...

In this third of three podcasts on the theme of nature, Barbara and David are joined by three guests: Nicola Davies, who trained as a biologist, was an original presenter on the BBC’s The Really Wild Show , and is the acclaimed author of over 80 illustrated children’s books on animals, habitats, ecology and the sea; and Jonathan Preston, Conservation Manager for the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, one a s...

In this second of three podcasts on the theme of nature, Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Jonathan Preston, Conservation Manager for the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, one a series of such posts he has held across the country over three decades, with current responsibility for wildlife conservation at 30 different sites in Norfolk; and Nicola Davies, who trained as a biologist, was an original...

In this first of three podcasts on the theme of nature, Barbara and David explore Maria Montessori’s advocacy of all things natural. Montessori believed that modern children, who are effectively imprisoned in our urban, degenerate, artificial lifestyles, should be reconnected with Nature at large. By this she meant not just flower gardens, petting zoos, and parks with sandpits — but wild, scary an...

In this third of three podcasts on the theme of activism, Barbara and David are joined by three guests: Blue Sandford, who is still only 18, but is already well known as a founding ‘youth’ member of Extinction Rebellion, a best-selling author, and a literally-underground protestor against over-development; Merlin Matthews, a lifelong activist and social entrepreneur, whose reputation as ‘Dr Bike’...

In this second of three podcasts on the theme of activism, Barbara and David are joined by three guests: Merlin Matthews, a lifelong activist and social entrepreneur, whose reputation as ‘Dr Bike’ at the London School of Economics grew into a pioneering inter-sectional charity called Re-Cycle, addressing both ecology and poverty; Blue Sandford, who is still only 18, but is already well known as a...

In this first of three podcasts on the theme of activism, Barbara and David discuss Maria Montessori’s role as an activist — a leader who speaks up and disrupts the status quo to push forward urgent social change. Her best-known activist cause was about protecting the well-being of children. But she also catalysed advances towards women’s rights, world peace, nature conservation, and many other ma...

In this third of three podcasts on the theme of creativity, Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Ambra Medda, a global expert in art and design, founder of the Design Miami fair, advisor to Christie’s, and much-in-demand as a curator of exhibitions; and Sophie Pretorius, art historian, and researcher and archivist for The Estate of Francis Bacon, one of the most important figures in 20th Ce...

In this second of three podcasts on the theme of creativity, Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Sophie Pretorius, art historian, and researcher and archivist for The Estate of Francis Bacon, one of the most important figures in 20th Century art; and Ambra Medda, a global expert in art and design, founder of the Design Miami fair, advisor to the auction house Christie’s, and much-in-demand...

In this first of three podcasts on the theme of creativity, Barbara and David discuss Maria Montessori’s unique take on children and art. She did not focus on children’s naïve attempts at painting, colouring and Play-Doh, as is usually practised at nurseries. Instead she facilitated the young child’s desire to acquire grown-up skills — for example, seeing subtle differences in colours and shapes,...

In this third of three podcasts on the theme of equality, Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Zainab Shamis-Saleem, founder of ‘The Montessori Studio’, a consultancy that aims to make Montessori more accessible to those who see it as elitist and “not for people like us”. Much of her work addresses issues of diversity and representation. We also welcome back Liz Pemberton, director of ‘The...

In this second of three podcasts on the theme of equality, Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Liz Pemberton, director of ‘The Black Nursery Manager’, a company that offers training and consultancy on anti-racist practice in early years settings. Liz has become a leading media spokesperson on race, culture, ethnicity and inclusivity for under-fives. We also welcome Zainab Shamis-Saleem, fo...

In this first of three podcasts on the theme of equality, Barbara and David discuss Dr Montessori’s moral mission to bring autonomy and human dignity to every individual, starting with the very youngest in society, who hitherto had no advocate against, and no protection from, the manipulation and expectations of the adults around them.

In this third of three podcasts on the theme of peace … Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Charlie Cavaliero, a young researcher on peace education and social justice, specifically in the favela communities in Brazil, who also has field experience in aid for victims of atrocities; and Hannah Baynham, a leading Montessori trainer and author, who has run nurseries for Tibetan refugees in In...

In this second of three podcasts on the theme of peace, Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Hannah Baynham, a leading Montessori trainer and author, who has set-up nurseries for Tibetan refugees in India and for low-income families in Turkey; and Charlie Cavaliero, a young researcher on peace education and social justice, specifically in the favela communities in Brazil, who also has field...

In this first of three podcasts on the theme of peace, Barbara and David reflect on how Dr Montessori came to view her educational philosophy as having a key role to play in peace-making, and how her method actively fosters a collaborative, tolerant, environmentally-conscious mind-set in young children.

In this third of three podcasts on the theme of feminism, Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Adelaide Waldrop, a young contemporary feminist working in the arts and co-founder of Maude, a feminist theatre company, and Sid Mohandas, whose doctoral thesis explores the materialisation of gender in learning environments.

In this second of three podcasts on the theme of feminism, Barbara and David are joined by two guests: Sid Mohandas, whose doctoral thesis explores the materialisation of gender in learning environments, and Adelaide Waldrop, a young contemporary feminist working in the arts, and co-founder of Maude, a feminist theatre company.

In this first of three podcasts on the theme of feminism, Barbara and David reflect on how Dr Montessori helped pioneer first-wave feminism in the early 20th Century, and how feminist ideals are realised in her educational method.