STEMtastic Stories with Stanberry
STEMtastic Stories with Stanberry
Podcast Description
Description: Welcome to STEMtastic Stories by Stanberry—a podcast dedicated to celebrating the passion, innovation, and people who have shaped my journey as an educator over the past two decades. My mission is to shine a spotlight on the diverse voices and authentic educational experiences that have challenged my thinking, broadened my perspective, and ultimately helped me become a better teacher.
Through engaging conversations with guests I greatly respect—professionals whose expertise and can inspire us all,I aim to spark new ideas and encourage reflection on how we serve students.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers themes related to educational innovation, inclusive teaching practices, and the transformative power of sports and relationships. Episodes include discussions on building community through sports with guests like Willy Allred, exploring place-based pedagogy with Tim Sorey, and employing culturally relevant teaching to address trauma, focusing on authentic teacher-student relationships.

Description: Welcome to STEMtastic Stories by Stanberry—a podcast dedicated to celebrating the passion, innovation, and people who have shaped my journey as an educator over the past two decades. My mission is to shine a spotlight on the diverse voices and authentic educational experiences that have challenged my thinking, broadened my perspective, and ultimately helped me become a better teacher.
Through engaging conversations with guests I greatly respect—professionals whose expertise and can inspire us all,I aim to spark new ideas and encourage reflection on how we serve students.
Welcome to STEMtastic Stories with Stanberry SEASON 2—where we spotlight the voices that shape better teaching. In this episode, Missy Widmann shares her journey into neuroscience and why understanding the brain isn’t just for researchers—it’s for every classroom. We dig into the science behind movement and learning (inspired by John Ratey’s Spark), practical entry points for teachers who are new to brain science, and how to make SEL feel less “touchy-feely” and more like durable skill-building. We also explore how disequilibrium, funds of knowledge, and culturally relevant hooks (from K-Pop to gaming) can keep learning rigorous and relational. Missy closes with resources from her nonprofit and a roadmap for bringing open, brain-based strategies to your students—because illuminating others never detracts from your own light.
How Missy’s path into neuroscience informs day-to-day teaching moves
Why fitness and movement prime cognition, memory, and mood in class
First steps for teachers: simple brain-aligned routines you can start tomorrow
Making SEL measurable: from vibes to viable, transferable skills
Using student interests + scaffolds to create productive disequilibrium and deeper learning
Where to find Missy’s nonprofit resources and OER you can adopt immediately
What you’ll learn

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