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Join us on a thrilling spooky adventure as we sit down with J.A. Dauber, the creative force behind the new middle grade novel Press One for Invasion. Discover the intriguing world where a mysterious cell phone unlocks unexpected alien encounters and a mad adventure to save the world from destruction!

In this spooky season episode, we dive into Jeremy Dauber's Press One for Invasion, a middle-grade novel that brings spooky (and relatable) adventures roaring to life. We discuss the pairing of Matt, a young boy who discovers a cell phone revealing aliens in disguise, with dynamic female characters, such as Marcella and Mrs. McGillicuddy. Jeremy shares insights on relatable heroes, diversity, and the joy of reading, drawing inspiration from timeless series like Ramona. Jeremy is also the author of American Scary: A History of Horror from Salem to Stephen King and Beyond -- and we dive into a little haunting history as well.

Timestamps:

(0:00:03) - Meet J.A. Dauber (Jeremy) and his latest book, Press One for Invasion

(0:07:41) - Creating relatable protagonists without superpowers

(0:10:00) - What do Ramona Quimby and Stephen King have in common?

(0:19:01) - Finding Hope in Children's Enthusiasm

Links:

Purchase Press One for Invasion, Mayhem and Madness: Chronicles of a Teenaged Supervillain, and American Scary: A History of Horror from Salem to Stephen King and Beyond

Follow J.A. Dauber on Bluesky

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*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

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Have you ever wondered what it takes to go from being a nature-loving Midwesterner to a pivotal figure in wildlife law enforcement? Discover how Tim Santel's unique career path led him to fight against big cat trafficking and rhino and elephant poaching as he become a champion for wildlife conservation.

Episode Summary:

This episode is personal for me. I recently returned from a conservation trip with CBCC and Wild Tomorrow where the enormity of poaching, as well as the inspiring stories of the many, many people working to make the planet a better place had a huge impact on me. On Episode 157, we sit down with Tim Santel from Focused Conservation. Tim shares his remarkable journey from his Midwestern roots to becoming an undercover agent dedicated to combating wildlife trafficking. Through captivating stories like the adrenaline-pumping Operation Snowplow and Operation Crash, Tim offers insights into the challenges and triumphs of dismantling animal trafficking networks.

We also discuss diverse career paths in wildlife conservation available to today's students, focusing on the power of education, storytelling, and persistence. This episode is packed with guidance for aspiring conservationists and inspires hope for the future, encouraging the next generation to follow in the footsteps of icons like Diane Fossey and Jane Goodall.

Timestamps & Chapter Titles:

00:02:39: Tim Santel's Wildlife Conservation Origin Story

00:12:23:What does a wildlife inspector/special agent do?

00:23:34:Undercover Helping Wildlife

00:35:55:Wildlife Trafficking Fueling Impactful Conservation

00:49:45:Using Your Voice to Build Awareness, Impact, and Influence to Protect Wildlife

00:51:26:Exploring Wildlife Conservation Career Paths

01:02:54:Inspiring Hope through Conservation with the Next Wildlife Heroes

Links:

Focused Conservation

Wild Tomorrow

CBCC

Zululand Conservation Trust

Support the show

Subscribe & Follow: Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.

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How do we shape tomorrow's social justice champions today! Join us as Dr. Shelby Kretz, founder of Little Justice Leaders, reveals how empathy, storytelling, and education can ignite the transformative power of young voices in a divided world. Don't miss this chance to be inspired by the leaders of tomorrow, today.

Summary:

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Shelby Kretz, founder of Little Justice Leaders. We delve into the crucial role of social justice education in creating a just and equitable society. Dr. Kretz shares her journey from studying psychology at Ohio State to earning a PhD in urban education from UCLA. Her passion led to the creation of an collaborative initiative that equips educators and parents to engage young minds in discussions about diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. Through empathy, storytelling, and playfulness, Dr. Kretz reveals how young people are driving social change today, standing as beacons of hope for a brighter future. We also explore the challenges of creating accessible social justice content in a complex political climate, emphasizing the importance of true collaboration with diverse content creators, self-care for overwhelmed citizens and advocates, and the inspiring role of youth in leadership.

Chapters with Timestamps:

00:44 - Shelby Katz's Origin Story and Little Justice Leaders' Mission

03:17 - It Takes a Diverse Team To Put Out Compelling Content

06:04 - Connecting to Children's Books to Deepen Diverse Understanding

08:58 - Calling In and Calling Out: Creating Communities of Openness and Learning

11:57 - Harnessing Empathy and Play in Social Justice Learning

14:26 - Breaking News: Responding to Current Events vs Planned Content

0:18:09 - Being Intentional When Overwhelmed and Facing Challenges

0:21:19 - Finding Hope in Youth Leading Social Change

Links:

Little Justice Leaders Website

Little Justice Leaders Instagram

For more information and resources, don't forget to check out the links in our show notes. Stay inspired and keep empowering the next generation of little justice leaders!

Support the show

Subscribe & Follow: Stay updated with our latest episodes and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and the Adventures in Learning website. Don't forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

*Disclosure: I am a Bookshop.org. affiliate.