Hot Topics!

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to returning guest Robin Simpson about the potential impact of discourse community in city schools, the differences between city and suburban schools, and the ways that parents can be more involved in schools. Who is Robin Simpson? Robin Renee Simpson received her Associate in Human Services degree from the New York College of Technology and her Bach...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to Nancy Becher about the definition of "chronic illness," the life changes of those with these illnesses, and the ways that one can rise above them. Who is Nancy Becher? Nancy Becher, the Chief Flying Pig Wrangler of Business Success Unlimited, is a speaker, trainer, radio show host, author, and business coach. Having been in business in some form s...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to guest Raju Rajan about the impact of native plants on our ecosystem, the effects of climate change on animal life, and the small changes we can implement prevent further harm to our environment. Who is Raju Rajan? Raju Rajan is a technologist with a strong communitarian ethic. He came to the United States from India to obtain his PhD in Communicat...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to guest Shauna Anderson about her homeschooling journey and its impact on her family and business. Who is Shauna Anderson? Shauna Anderson is the Co-founder and CEO of Invata. Having founded the company alongside Janine Lyman, Co-founder, and COO, she is ultimately the chief visionary. “I help make the education experience easier for families whethe...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to guest Diana Kluwin about her homeschooling journey and its impact on her family and budget. Who is Diana Kluwin? Diana Kluwin is the founder of Willow Ridge Academy. You can find Diana Kluwin: On the web: https://www.willowridgeacademy.com On her blog: https://kluwinskottage.com/ By email: WillowRidgePSP@gmail.com Watch this episode on YouTube: ht...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to Dr. Rochelle Matthews-Somerville about the rules, regulations, and the know-how of homeschooling a child with special needs. Who is Dr. Rochelle Matthews-Somerville? Rochelle Matthews-Somerville, Ph. D., co-founded EFM Educational Consultants in 2010 after teaching as a university professor for many years. She has dedicated more than 25 years to s...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to returning guest Darren Jones about the legalities of homeschooling (again!) and the ways that parents can be well-informed about it (again!). Who is Darren Jones? Darren Jones has been with the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) since 1996, serving as a legal assistant and an attorney in various capacities. At the office, he dedicates 4...

Welcome to Gabrielle Crichlow talks to guest Dominique Gates about her homeschooling journey and the lessons she learned along the way. Who is Dominique Gates? She’s first a child of God, raised by two awesome parents (Terry and Darlene Wilson) who taught her the ways of God. Now, she’s blessed to be a wife to a wonderful husband and friend (Sam Gates), homeschool mom of three blessings (Donovan,...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to guest Camelia Janelle about her homeschooling journey and the ways that it made her a stronger mother. Who is Camelia Janelle? Camelia Janelle is a multi-faceted world changer eager to teach, learn, and inspire. She is a growing creative with the tools to lead people through social influence, cosmic sexuality, entertainment, dance, community outre...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to guest Sandra Williams about the best reading strategies for teachers, parents, and tutors to use with their students. They also discuss the importance of implementing these strategies at an early age. Who is Sandra Williams? Sandra Williams is a retired teacher with 30 years of teaching experience. She has taught grades 1, 3, 4, and 5. She is the...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to guest Claudine Land about the role models who influenced her love for writing, the ways in which she developed the skill, and her zeal for turning it into a small business. Who is Claudine Land? Claudine Land, a native of Jamaica, West Indies, comes from a generational background of business owners and understands first-hand what it takes to run a...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to guest Debra Pralle about the pros and cons of the acting industry, the steps to enter the industry, and its evolution during the pandemic. Who is Debra Pralle? Debra Pralle has worked in film, television, and theatre for over thirty years. She also contributes to the industry in Seattle by guiding the next generation of actors and filmmakers throu...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to guest Jan Sixt about the ways that parents can strengthen their homeschooling skills and build more self-confidence. Who is Jan Sixt? Jan Sixt, founder of JSTutor.com, offers over 1200 educational videos covering many subjects for preschool through 12th grade. With over 45 years of teaching experience, Jan helps parents teach foundational concepts...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to guest Darren Jones about the legalities of homeschooling and the ways that parents can be well-informed about it. Who is Darren Jones? Darren Jones has been with the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) since 1996, serving as a legal assistant and an attorney in various capacities. At the office, he dedicates 40% of his time to assisting...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to guest Whitnee Lowe (aka W.L. Carol) along with her mother Cissy Lowe about growing up with Asperger's Syndrome, understanding the symptoms, and learning how to manage the disability. Who is Whitnee Lowe (aka W.L. Carol)? W. L. Carol was born and raised in the state of Texas. After showing some signs of being autistic, she spent some of her prescho...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to guest Danita Young about the flaws of the weight loss industry, the wrong ideas we have about weight loss, and the proper way to get in shape. Who is Danita Young? Danita Young is the Owner and co-founder of Booty Bands & Barbells®.  This female fitness brand uses women-designed fitness equipment, educational content, personal training apps, a...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to guest Debbie Lindon about the struggles of teaching in urban and suburban areas, along with the change in career choice due to the pandemic. Who is Debbie Lindon? Debbie Lindon, owner of Peaceful Vibes, offers private and group sessions of sound healing, sound reiki, and chakra balancing for people and pets. She is certified in sound healing, anim...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to returning guest Robin Simpson about the realities of the school-to-prison pipeline and the ways that we can address it. Who is Robin Simpson? Robin Renee Simpson received her Associate in Human Services degree from the New York College of Technology and her Bachelor's degree from Metropolitan College. She's pursuing her Master's in Childhood and S...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to returning guest Jaciann Wright about the balance of motherhood and entrepreneurship and the challenges that come with it. Who is Jaciann Wright? Jaciann Wright is a 25-year-old married/single mom with a compelling story. She is Jamaican, born and raised halfway in America, and holds a BS in Mathematics, class of 2016. Thanks to the Smart Scholars...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to guest Amber Hawkins about the future of employment, the rise of machines and the internet, and the ways that we can remain employed in our digital world. Who is Amber Hawkins? Amber Hawkins hails from Toledo, Ohio, one of 3 daughters to Walter and Gussie Hawkins (deceased); their brother Arthur passed away years prior. While attending Cardinal Str...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to returning guest Robin Simpson about twice exceptional (or 2E) students and the ways that we can support them. Who is Robin Simpson? Robin Renee Simpson received her Associate in Human Services degree from the New York College of Technology and her Bachelor's degree from Metropolitan College. She's pursuing her Master's in Childhood and Special Edu...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to returning guest Malachi Davis about the impact of bullying on kids and the ways that we can address it. Who is Malachi Davis? Malachi Davis is the co-founder of the Mal the Motivator Brand. He's a motivational speaker at some of the most prestigious venues and institutions nationwide. In addition to motivational speaking, he is also a mentor and w...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to guest Brenda Farmer about the struggles of raising four children as a single mother and navigating her young children through racism. #singlemom #racism #hottopics Who is Brenda Farmer? Brenda Farmer was born and raised in Southeast Queens (SEQ). She grew up in a two-parent household, with her mother staying home until the children were older and...

Welcome to Hot Topics! Gabrielle Crichlow talks to returning guest Samantha Miller about her reasons for homeschooling her daughter, the steps for starting the process, and the impact of homeschooling on her family. Who is Samantha Miller? Samantha is a wellness coach and energy healer in Tucson, AZ. A former educator, she runs her online business to care for and homeschool her child with multiple...

Welcome to Hot Topics! This is a special episode because Gabrielle Crichlow is her own guest! In this episode, she talks about the beginning of her entrepreneurship, the life events that caused it, and the impact of those events on her mindset. * Interview re-purposed with permission. Credit goes to the Mindset + Motivation for Women Entrepreneurs of Color Facebook group * Mindset + Motivation for...