Real Talk Education

In this episode, we’re diving into the dangerous and deliberate removal of nearly 400 books from the U.S. Naval Academy’s library ahead of a visit from the Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this past Tuesday, April 1, 2025. 🎧 We’re unpacking:  ✅ What’s really behind this wave of book bans ✅ How this rollback of DEI threatens all marginalized groups—not just Black service members ✅ What the data t...

Mardi Gras is often seen as just a wild party—beads, parades, and celebrations. But what many don’t realize is that Mardi Gras has deep African, Creole, and Black American roots . It’s a tradition born from Black resilience, joy, and resistance . So, in today’s episode, we’re answering: ✅ What are the African and Black American influences on Mardi Gras? ✅ How have Black communities shaped the ce...

We’ve spent February celebrating Black History Month , amplifying Black excellence, addressing the current state of DEI and recognizing the profound impact of Black leaders, innovators, and change-makers. But as the month comes to a close, here’s the real talk — Black history doesn’t end on February 29th. So today, we’re going to talk about: ✅ The origins of Black History Month —Why it was create...

Public school hiring in 2025 is under attack. With new political restrictions on DEI, merit-based hiring shifts, and increased scrutiny on educators, schools are struggling to hire diverse and experienced teachers. In this episode of the Real Talk Education Podcast , we break down: ✔️ How political changes are reshaping public school hiring ✔️ The biggest challenges for teachers, administrators, a...

📢 Did you know that the push for a federal Department of Education was originally backed by the Ku Klux Klan? Yes, you read that right. In the 1920s, the KKK pushed for a federal education department to enforce cultural homogeneity and racial exclusion . But over time, education policy transformed —from being a tool of oppression to a pillar of civil rights and equity in America. Now, history is...

As Black History Month begins, the battle over Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in schools is intensifying. With political attacks against DEI initiatives growing—led by Trump and other conservative leaders—educators, students, and communities must be prepared to resist efforts to erase Black history and marginalized voices from classrooms. In this episode of Real Talk Education , we’ll brea...

In this episode of Real Talk Education , we analyze the historical parallels between Adolf Hitler’s rise to power and Donald Trump’s planned first-day executive actions. From “Draining the Swamp” rhetoric to targeting marginalized groups, we explore how Jim Crow laws inspired the Nuremberg Laws and how echoes of authoritarian tactics are resurfacing today. Discover actionable steps for educators,...

In this episode of Real Talk Education , we dive into the striking contrast between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of justice and equality and the policies associated with Donald Trump’s presidency and Agenda 47. As Trump’s inauguration coincides with MLK Day in 2025, we discuss what this means for America’s moral and social direction. Discover practical actions educators, students, parents,...

Explore strategies for educators to create supportive, inclusive classrooms after the election. Discover practical solutions for fostering respect, empathy, and civil discourse in your school community post-election. Resources: For a complete list of strategies to help your students and colleagues post-election, check out our blog post . Parent Email Templates can also be found in the blog post. B...

The topic of race and racial discrimination continues to remain a pressing issue in modern society particularly in schools for both students, teachers and leaders. As discussions surrounding racism and microaggressions become more prevalent, it is crucial for white people to not only participate in these conversations but also to be comfortable with the inevitable discomfort that comes with them....

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day , better known as MLK Day.  Many people will post their favorite MLK quote. Some white allies will even join in marches around the country remembering the legacy of Dr. King, usually quoting from his  "I Have A Dream"speech . Today is often filled with remembrance, but in too many spaces and places just more talk . It’s time to have some “real talk” about the m...

Injuries are a common occurrence in sports, especially in the NFL where players can be seriously injured in front of a large audience. This was the case for Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who collapsed on the field during a Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on January 2, 2023. It was immediately clear that this was a serious and potentially life-threatening situation. A...

During the Christmas season, many people around the world celebrate the holidays and traditions of their respective religions. While the specifics of these celebrations may vary widely, there are a few general principles that can help you to respectfully and thoughtfully participate in the holiday traditions of others as well as teach your students to do the same. It’s time to have some “ real tal...

For over a decade, Twitter has provided teachers and leaders a transformational space to build their professional learning communities, exchange lesson ideas, find out what’s going on in schools around the country, build successful side gigs, and be inspired by other educators.  Since billionaire Elon Musk purchased the platform in October 2022, many educators are grappling if they should stay or...

November is Native American Heritage Month with the goal of celebrating the rich and diverse cultures and traditions of Native Americans. November is also the perfect time to correctly educate our students and school communities on the full histories, important contributions, and the unique challenges Native people have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways indigenous people hav...

The blockbuster hit, ‘Black Panther’, may be set in the fictional afro-centric world of Wakanda, but the movie’s power of boosting diversity in STEM careers is very real.  According to the United States Department of Commerce, 7 out of 10 STEM positions in the US are held by white, non-Latinx people. Black, Native American, and Latinx (any race) workers are half as likely to hold STEM positions co...

As we think about eradicating the barriers of occupational hierarchy of our BIPOC students, we have to identify drivers and access points in our college and career readiness practices that subconsciously reinforce the pathways of these barriers. Equity work is complex. It is time to have some “ real talk ” about how eradicating occupational hierarchy for our BIPOC students requires us as EduGladia...

Allies are a critical piece for moving the needle of making our schools for students and staff more diverse, equitable, and inclusive; however, when faced with action steps that includes addressing one’s own biases, microaggressions and discriminatory behavior, DEI allies quickly revert to problematic responses to their fragility. It’s time to have some “ real talk ” about how to be a true DEI all...

It’s time to have some “ real talk” about why districts are struggling with recruiting and retaining diverse staff.  Having a diverse teacher and leadership workforce is critical, yet, few districts have achieved the goal of building a teaching workforce that looks like its students. In today’s episode, we will uncover challenges to your school or district DEI recruiting and retention efforts incl...

It’s time to have some “ real talk” about the elephant in the room or for some listeners, the boardroom - misinformation.   Plus I will share tips to fight back against misinformation about our schools, students and curriculum! This particular podcast episode corresponds to the EduGladiators Twitter chat for October 22, titled “Debunking Misinformation” which aligns to our October theme -  “Unapol...

Since the horrific, public murder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020, companies and school districts nationwide have increased their awareness of systemic racism towards Black Americans, but have done very little since that unforgettable event to operationalize the DEI pledges, resolutions and marketing campaign promises made in 2020.  Instead DEI practices have to be ingrained in the culture a...

The fall season is here and now is the perfect time to have some ”real talk” on Culture Vulturing.  Our holidays in the United States have always been political, but so have the practices of appropriating a group's culture instead of simply appreciating it.  Listen closely to today’s episode for tips to STOP Culture Vulturing. Also, be sure to subscribe to the Real Talk Education Podcast and never...

Have you ever heard of the fable, The Elephant and The Mouse ? Well in this episode of Real Talk Education, we are zeroing in on what is needed for teachers and leaders to move beyond just awareness of inequities, biases and microaggressions, but to actual action to combat these issues. How can schools and districts move from awareness rhetoric to visible action in addressing inequities for studen...

“Unapologetic DEI” is our October theme for our #EduGladiators Twitter Chat and resources including this podcast.  All month long we will have “real talk” on DEI topics that often keep us from creating inclusive learning environments for our students as well as psychologically safe work environments for teachers and even leaders. Each week we will have a NEW Real Talk Education podcast episode to...

Welcome to the Real Talk Education Podcast, where we dive into the real topics facing real teachers, leaders, and students with your host, Marlena Gross, DEI champion, national edu thought leader and founder of EduGladiators. Each week we will discuss the topics that might be keeping you up at night as an educator or parent. This is not an echo chamber podcast. We will unapologetically examine the...