A podcast about reckoning, reconciliation, and rebuilding. The first season of Belonging follows teachers and students from across the U.S. on a journey to confront their biases and build classrooms where students can bring their full selves. Teachers have the power to affirm students’ identities. Unchecked teacher bias can cause harm.Young people’s perspectives can spark the change needed to build belonging in schools. Featuring original music by high school students in New York City and Chicago. Explore more at www.soundsofbelonging.com
Maya Wanner, a documentary film graduate student at Northwestern University, emphasizes the significance of having conversations about complicated topics sooner rather than later. Maya plays an audio documentary that she produced, which detailed a field trip she took with her grammar school classmates to learn about the underground railroad through a simulation. Following the documentary, Erica and educator Ayesha Al-Shabazz discuss practical methods for teaching "hard history."
14 Jun 2026
Episode 6: Where Do We Go?
Erica‘s quest to advocate for her niece, Jorie, hits a wall when Jorie’s teacher doesn’t respond to an offer to learn about the history of Juneteenth and visit nearby Eatonville, the first all-Black municipality that Erica‘s family established. To support Jorie’s critical consciousness, Erica guides her in writing a letter expressing her feelings of exclusion in school, and knowledge about her people’s history. But due to the anti- “critical race theory” legislation in Florida and across the ...
14 Jun 2026
Episode 5: The Invisible Child
What happens when students’ identities are not reflected in the curriculum? Erica connects with an Asian American mother concerned with the lack of representation of Asians in the curriculum. The mother questions her own child’s teacher in Brooklyn, and students from a tiny school in Colorado who brought the local history of Chinese exclusion to light, and want to learn more about Mexican-American local history. These stories examine how culturally affirming curricula that offers students “wi...
14 Jun 2026
Episode 2: Pride and Prejudice
Erica’s classroom was right next door to her wife’s classroom, but nobody at school knew they were married. They built a safe space that allowed them to grow. And they want to hear from others who “have the gall to live their truth.” Erica co-hosts this episode with her wife, Daphne. They explore bias and belonging for LGBTQ+ students and teachers with a third grader in Chicago, a high school student in Bronx, NY, and GSA (Gender and Sexuality Alliance) facilitator and members in Queens, NY.
14 Jun 2026
Episode 4: Homeplace
Erica reconnects with her third grade teacher, and tells her that her classroom was the first place she felt she belonged in school. The idea of a “homeplace” is further explored with an educator in Queens who established a Black affinity group at her school, and with a student who is part of that group.
14 Jun 2026
Episode 1: The Young Family
Educator and storyteller Erica Young talks to her mom about leaving her all-Black school for an integrated school in the 1960s, an experience that left her without confidence. When Erica realizes her beloved 12-year-old niece is also experiencing feelings of exclusion in her education, Erica commits to sharing voices of those impacted by bias and belonging in schools, and to spark and share stories of transformation. She starts with a former colleague who reflects on her use of racist l...
14 Jun 2026
Episode 3: The Problem with Blindspots
This podcast used to have a different name: Blindspots. Erica explores her own biases and responsibility for inclusion by talking to a writing teacher who is blind. A new name for the podcast is born: Belonging. To hold her former colleague accountable for listening and learning, Erica has a follow-up courageous conversation about the impact of her actions on students. The podcast theme song is born as students in Washington Heights, New York share about what happens when they aren't fully se...
2 May 2023
Episode 07: Unchained Memory
“How would things have been different if we’d been able to talk about all this sooner?” -Maya Wanner During a discussion with Erica, Maya Wanner, a documentary film graduate student at Northwestern University, emphasized the significance of having conversations about complicated topics sooner rather than later. Maya played an audio documentary that she produced, which detailed a field trip she took with her grammar school classmates to learn about the underground railroad through a simulation...
27 Jul 2022
Is It Freedom?
Is It Freedom? is a song featured in Episode 06: Where Do We Go. The song is the result of a unique collaboration between Jorie, Erica’s niece, and Larii, a young Chicago-based artist.
19 Jul 2022
Episode 06: Where Do We Go?
Erica‘s quest to advocate for her niece, Jorie, hits a wall when Jorie’s teacher doesn’t respond to an offer to learn about the history of Juneteenth and visit nearby Eatonville, the first all-Black municipality that Erica‘s family established. To support Jorie’s critical consciousness, Erica guides her in writing a letter expressing her feelings of exclusion in school, and knowledge about her people’s history. But due to the anti- “critical race theory” legislation in Florida and across the ...
12 Jul 2022
Episode 05: The Invisible Child
What happens when students’ identities are not reflected in the curriculum? Erica connects with an Asian American mother concerned with the lack of representation of Asians in the curriculum. The mother questions her own child’s teacher in Brooklyn, and students from a tiny school in Colorado who brought the local history of Chinese exclusion to light, and want to learn more about Mexican-American local history. These stories examine how culturally affirming curricula that offers students “wi...
4 Jul 2022
Programming Pause
Erica pauses programming and encourages us all to think deeply about Independence Day and what it means to be free.
28 Jun 2022
Episode 04: Homeplace
Erica reconnects with her third grade teacher, and tells her that her classroom was the first place she felt she belonged in school. The idea of a “homeplace” is further explored with an educator in Queens who established a Black affinity group at her school, and with three students who are part of that group.
20 Jun 2022
Episode 03: The Problem with Blindspots
This podcast used to have a different name: Blindspots. Erica explores her own biases and responsibility for inclusion by talking to a writing teacher who is blind. A new name for the podcast is born: Belonging. To hold her former colleague accountable for listening and learning, Erica has a follow-up courageous conversation about the impact of her actions on students. The podcast theme song is born as students in Washington Heights, NY share about what happens when they aren't fully seen and...
13 Jun 2022
Episode 02: Pride and Prejudice
Erica’s classroom was right next door to her wife’s classroom, but nobody at school knew they were married. They built a safe space that allowed them to grow. And they want to hear from others who “have the gall to live their truth.” Erica co-hosts this episode with her wife, Daphne. They explore bias and belonging for LGBTQ+ students and teachers with a third grader in Chicago, a high school student in Bronx, NY, and GSA (Gender and Sexuality Alliance) facilitator and members in Queens, NY....
9 Jun 2022
Episode 01: The Young Family
“To make it right for your children, you have to make noise” — Erica Young Educator and storyteller Erica Young talks to her mom about leaving her all-Black school for an integrated school in the 1960s, an experience that left her without confidence. When Erica realizes her beloved 12-year-old niece is also experiencing feelings of exclusion in her education, Erica commits to sharing voices of those impacted by bias and belonging in schools, and to spark and share stories of transformat...
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
15 ratings
Contact Belonging
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Belonging?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
