TODOS Podcast

In this episode, hosts Teddy Chao, Shari Kaku, and Shakiyya Bland sit down with the editorial team behind Antiracist Mathematics Education: Building a Practice of Equity and Justice , the TODOS publication that anchors this entire season of the podcast. It turns out this is the first time the four editors have been together since the book came out, and that reunion energy carries through the whole...

What does it look like when elementary students use math to make sense of their own communities? In this episode, hosts Shari Kaku and Shakiyya Bland sit down with Dr. Jennifer Suh, Professor of Mathematics Education at George Mason University, and Delia Sotelo Fierros, a third-grade teacher in Tucson, Arizona, to dig into Chapter 9 of Antiracist Mathematics Education: Building a Practice of Equit...

What happens when mathematics, computer programming, and bilingual education come together in an afterschool program for Latine elementary students? And what does it look like when those same kids become the teachers? In this episode, Theodore sits down with three co-authors of Chapter 10: Learning More Mathematics by Cracking the Code: Promoting Algebraic Thinking through Computer Programming fro...

In this episode, John Staley and Denise Thornton share how administrators can create antiracist mathematics spaces by prioritizing relationships and showing up for students. John reflects on his early teaching at a juvenile correctional facility, where he learned that it's not about the math topics but about the students you teach. Denise shares how her student Natalia shaped her understanding of...

In this episode, we delve into the world of place-based mathematics education with Guadalupe I. Lozano, author of Grounded in Place: A Culturally Affirming Precalculus Curriculum, the first chapter in the TODOS Antiracist Mathematics Education book. New host, Dr. Shakiyya Bland joins Shari Kaku to discuss the importance of integrating cultural narratives and community connections into math teachin...

In this episode of the TODOS Podcast, Theodore Chao and Shari Kaku engage in a profound discussion with Dr. Will Tidwell about the intersection of mathematical modeling and social justice. Dr. Tidwell was part of the authorship team of Drs. Cynthia O. Anhalt, Ricardo Cortez, and Brynja Kohler who wrote Chapter 4, “Enacting Antiracist Teaching Practices Through Mathematical Modeling” for the TODOS...

In this first episode of Season 5 of the TODOS podcast, hosts Theodore Chao, Shakiyya Bland, and Shari Kaku introduce themselves and discuss their backgrounds in education and advocacy. They delve into the theme of Antiracist Mathematics Education, which connects to the recent book published by TODOS. And they emphasize the importance of community engagement and diverse perspectives in shaping mat...

In this reflection episode of the TODOS podcast, hosts Theodore Chao and Shari Kaku discuss their experiences and insights from focus on Asian American identity within mathematics education. They explore the impact of the Teaching for Justice Conference, the implications of the model minority stereotype, and the importance of storytelling in mathematics education. This emotional conversation highl...

In this powerful episode of the TODOS Podcast, legendary mathematics educator Susie Håkansson opens up about her Chinese American identity and what it was like growing up as a Toisan American in 1940s–50s Los Angeles. A pioneering leader with over 60 years of leadership in mathematics education, Susie shares how her cultural identity shaped her journey as a teacher, mentor, and advocate. Tune in t...

Dr. Niral Shah joins the TODOS Podcast to explore the complexities of Asian American identity in mathematics education. Reflecting on his experiences as a South Asian student and teacher, Shah unpacks how racialized narratives like the model minority myth both hypervisibilize and dehumanize Asian learners. He introduces the metaphor of a “bubble level” to describe how racial discourse positions As...

In this powerful episode, Dr. Richard Velasco shares his journey from Guam to the U.S. mainland and back—through teaching, research, and a deep sense of purpose. As a Filipino Guamanian mathematics educator, Richard reflects on growing up in a U.S. territory, navigating racialized spaces in predominantly white communities, and now leading a groundbreaking data science project that centers indigeno...

What does it mean to build authentic, sustaining communities as a math educator—and why is it so hard to find those spaces? In this episode, we talk with Bobson Wong, a high school math teacher, local and national educational leader, and author of The Math Teacher’s Toolbox, about his ongoing journey through teaching, identity, and advocacy. Bobson reflects on how community has played a central ro...

In this episode, we sit down with renowned mathematician Francis Su to explore the intersections of Asian American identity, mathematics, and visibility. As the first non-white president of the Mathematical Association of America and author of Mathematics for Human Flourishing , Francis shares his personal journey—from grappling with stereotypes to discovering the joy of mathematics through inquir...

What happens when three Asian American women math educators come together to reflect on their journeys, activism, and the role of mathematics in justice? In this powerful episode, Dr. Kari Kokka—math educator, social justice advocate, and former high school teacher—joins hosts Shari Kaku and Michelle Lo for an inspiring conversation about searching for our own stories, math identity, and community...

David Masunaga, geometry education expert, MC Escher enthusiast, and origami aficionado, shared his passion and creativity for student thinking in the classroom with Teddy and Shari. In this episode, David delves into his journey as an Asian American educator in Hawaiʻi, reflecting on the cultural forces that shape who gets to teach math, the untold stories of his own Asian American teachers, and...

We change things up this episode. Due to the devastating wild fires in Southern California, we take some time to connect with two L.A.-based Asian American Mathematics Teachers. We start our conversation with Eugene Hung, a high school math teacher and advocate for women's rights. Then, we connect with Janet Lee Ortiz, LAUSD’s Teacher of the Year and a middle school math and science educator. Both...

In this episode, Dr. Paulo Tan shares his powerful journey as a critical special education math educator navigating Asian American identity, assimilation, and advocacy for disability justice. Together with hosts Theodore Chao and Shari Kaku, Paulo reflects on the systemic inequities of mathematics education, the isolation of marginalized students, and the need for a revolutionary shift toward trul...

The TODOS Podcast is back! Join us for a fresh new season with new hosts, Theodore Chao and Shari Kaku, as we dive into issues of equity in mathematics education through the lens of Asian American identity. In Episode 1, we chat with Naehee Kwun about her work as a social justice-oriented mathematics educator and one of the founders of the Teaching for Justice conference. Naehee also shares about...

In Episode 2, high school math teacher and TODOS Member Services Director, Michelle Lo shares her journey as a second-generation Taiwanese American navigating identity and teaching. Michelle reflects on the impact of her upbringing, the pressures of the model minority myth, and her commitment to resisting traditional norms in the classroom. She discusses fostering a student-centered environment, b...

Welcome to Season 4 of the TODOS: Mathematics for All Podcast, which  explore how invisibility and hypervisibility impact the mathematics education of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Meet the new hosts of the TODOS Podcasts, Theodore Chao and Shari Kaku, both Asian American mathematics educators, who engage with guests in deep, narrative-driven conversations that challenge...

This episode features Dr. Cindy Jong, Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of Kentucky. Cindy, who identifies as both Thai and Guatemalan, opens up about her experiences growing up biracial and how these intersecting racial identities and communities shaped her journey in mathematics. She reflects on the challenges and joys of navigating Asian American and Latinx identity in math s...

In this reflective episode, Dr. Jiyeong Yi shares her remarkable journey from South Korea to becoming an Associate Professor of Mathematics Education at Iowa State University. Jiyeong discusses the intersections of her identity as a first-generation immigrant, a mother, and an educator navigating anti-Asian racism in America. She recounts the challenges of overcoming language barriers, the U.S. vi...

We sit down with Bernadette Salagrino, the first Filipino president of the California Math Council and a trailblazer in mathematics education. Ma Bernadette shares her journey from teaching in the Philippines to becoming a leading advocate for immigrant teachers and underrepresented students in the U.S. Theodore, Shari, and Ma Bernadette discuss the complexities of Filipino American identity, the...

In this episode, we take a step away from our Asian American math journey to chat with TODOS Partnerships Director, Nolan Fossum, about his work as a visiting mathematician at the Minnesota State Fair’s Math on a Stick , curated by Christopher Danielson. Representing TODOS, Nolan reflects on how the event uses creativity and play to make math engaging and accessible for families from all backgroun...

We are so happy to finally have this episode out and in your ears, public! Back at the end of November Maria had a lovely conversation with 3 of the 4 authors of the book Teaching Math to Multilingual Students: Positioning Students for Success  by Kathryn Chval, Erin Smith, Lina Trigos-Carillo, and Rachel Pinnow. Kathryn, Erin, and Lina, along with elementary school teacher Rachel Kahn, joined in...