3 Education-Focused Podcasts to Check Out Today

3 Education-Focused Podcasts to Check Out Today

By Erin E.H. Austin

It feels like there are two main camps where podcasts are concerned: those who subscribe to far more podcasts than they can reasonably listen to in a single lifetime and those who have never listened to a single podcast episode. And at least in my social circles, there doesn’t seem to be much in between!

I happen to fall solidly into the first camp. 

Whether commuting to work, walking the dog, or warming up at the gym, I’m rocking my AirPods, either being thoroughly entertained (see: Smartless with Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes!) or trying to learn something new that will support my personal or professional growth. The podcasts below get my top votes in the professional growth category. Best of all, the episodes come in manageable bites: typically 25-35 minutes in length.

World Language Classroom

Joshua Cabral seems to be at every other conference I attend, and I see his work everywhere! He teaches French and Spanish, consults in a variety of educational contexts, and presents workshops at conferences around the country. What I love most about Joshua is that he diligently and respectfully works to bridge what he refers to as “legacy teaching” methods to newer comprehensible input-based strategies. Over and over again he says, “We cannot let grammar divide us.” He is, of course, right, and he is at the forefront of bringing teachers of all backgrounds and styles together to move our students forward. His innovative and approachable style, combined with a charismatic energy, make Joshua easy and fun to listen to in any format! 

Available on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, YouTube, Overcast, Amazon Music

World Languages Collaborative Podcast

Dr. Grant Gearhart, Spanish teacher at Georgia Southern University, hosts this excellent podcast. The show’s aim is to “share ideas, strategies, and best practices from experts in the field of education”...and he hits the mark every time! Dr. Gearhart’s guests are all working in the field of education--teaching, researching, writing, or a combination of the three--and together, the conversations are rich and timely. He doesn’t shy away from having guests whose topics he isn’t already well-versed in; rather, it’s clear he uses the platform so that he, too, can learn alongside the listener.

Available on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Buzzsprout, Audible

Leading Equity

This podcast isn’t explicitly for world language teachers, but its content is exceptional and useful for educators at all levels. The host, Dr. Sheldon L. Eakins, is equally as passionate about giving equitable opportunities for students as he is simply about growing as an educator. He is unrelentingly positive, even in the face of educational adversity at the individual or systemic level, which I find to be a powerful model for leadership. I especially appreciate that over the course of his career, he has worked in a variety of contexts--teacher, school principal, adjunct professor, Director of Special Education, educational consultant, and speaker--yet he’s incredibly humble and approachable despite his vast expertise. 

Available on: Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify

Bonus podcast for French teachers: The Earful Tower

Although this podcast is not made for educators, I’m including it here because it brings me joy! Oliver Gee, the host, is an Australian (who doesn’t love an Aussie?) expat and journalist who is married to a Swedish woman working in fashion, and they’re raising their two children trilingual in the City of Light. The guests are fantastic, and the topics are timely and fascinating. While they do include some French, the episodes are primarily conducted in English, so this is an excellent podcast for any francophiles in your life.

Available on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube

If you’re already a podcast aficionado, consider subscribing to the ones above; if you’re new to the podcast world, look at the available episodes and pick one to sample. Either way, podcasts are a treasure trove of FREE professional development that we can all tap into at our leisure.

Do you listen to any great education-focused podcasts? Tell us what they are in the comments below!

The 2023 CCFLT Teacher of the Year, Erin E.H. Austin is also a National Board Certified French teacher in Fort Collins and the author of The Ultimate Guide to Selling Your Original World Language Resources and Going Global in the World Language Classroom. Follow her on Bluesky @erin-eh-austin.bsky.social or on YouTube here.