This Week in Edutainment | Sept 21 - Sept 25
We connect students around the world to primary source experts from a wide variety of topics and subjects. For more information, visit edutainmentlearning.com.
Upcoming Live Zoom Sessions
Lia Haberman is a social media marketing expert, educator, and industry analyst recognized for helping professionals and organizations navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape. She is the creator of the widely read ICYMI newsletter, a trusted source for the latest social media news, platform updates, and emerging marketing trends.
In addition to her work as a marketing strategist, Lia is an instructor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she teaches social media marketing and prepares students for careers in digital communications. Throughout her career, she has worked with leading global brands, advising on content strategy, audience engagement, and digital storytelling.
Known for her ability to simplify complex industry trends and make them accessible to audiences of all backgrounds, Lia is a respected voice in social media, marketing, and digital communications. Her expertise continues to help businesses, educators, and creators better understand how technology is shaping the future of communication.
Padma Venkatraman is the author of BORN BEHIND BARS (Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Random House) as well as THE BRIDGE HOME, A TIME TO DANCE, ISLAND’S END and CLIMBING THE STAIRS.
She is the winner of a WNDB Walter Dean Myers Award, Golden Kite Award, Crystal Kite Award, Nerdy Book Award, two Julia Ward Howe awards, two Paterson Prizes, two Malka Penn honors, three South Asia Book Awards and many other awards and honors. Her novels have been shortlisted for over 20 state awards, received over 20 starred reviews, appeared on numerous best book lists, such as the ALA Notable, NYPL Best Book, Kirkus Best Book, Booklist editor’s Choice and Junior Library Guild selection.
Her poetry has been published in Poetry magazine and elsewhere. Before becoming an American author, Dr. Venkatraman spent time under the ocean and in rainforests, served as chief scientist on oceanographic research vessels where she was the only BIPOC female, and also worked as a teacher at a school in the UK and later as diversity director and lecturer at a graduate school in the United States.
When she’s not writing, she loves speaking to others about her love for books and her passion for diversity, equity and inclusion and has presented keynote addresses, conducted writing workshops and attended festivals and conferences around the world. She also facilitates meditation sessions and teaches yoga in the tradition of Shri Krishnamacharya, from whom she began learning as a child.
Born in India, she is now an American citizen and lives in New England with her family. Her love of poetry and books and her dedication to speaking out against social injustices and speaking up as a woman of color led her to found Diverse Verse and #AuthorsTakeAction. Visit her at www.padmavenkatraman.com ; arrange for a visit via https://theauthorvillage.com/presenters/padma-venkatraman/; follow her on twitter (@padmatv); (@venkatraman.padma) on fb and ig.
Steve Alcorn is an inventor, engineer, author, entrepreneur, and one of the creative minds who helped bring some of Disney's most exciting attractions to life. During his career with Disney, Steve worked on projects that combined technology, storytelling, and imagination to create unforgettable experiences for millions of guests around the world.
Steve has spent his life turning big ideas into reality. From designing interactive attractions and innovative technology to starting his own companies and writing books, he has shown that creativity and problem-solving can open the door to incredible opportunities.
Today, Steve enjoys sharing what he has learned with students, entrepreneurs, and future innovators. He encourages young people to stay curious, ask questions, embrace challenges, and never stop learning. His career proves that with imagination, hard work, and perseverance, it's possible to help create experiences that inspire people for generations.
Join us as Steve shares his journey, the exciting world of engineering and innovation, and his advice for students who dream of making a difference through creativity and technology.
Jennifer Hale is one of the most talented and recognizable voice actors in the world. She has brought hundreds of characters to life in video games, animated TV shows, and movies, using only her voice to create unforgettable heroes, villains, and everything in between.
Throughout her career, Jennifer has voiced characters in popular games such as Mass Effect, Overwatch, Halo, Metal Gear Solid, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Ratchet & Clank. She has also appeared in countless animated series and films, making her one of the most accomplished voice performers in the entertainment industry.
Jennifer's career shows that there are many exciting jobs behind the scenes in entertainment. As a voice actor, she works with writers, directors, animators, and game developers to help create characters that inspire and entertain millions of people around the world.
Students will enjoy learning how Jennifer got started in voice acting, what it takes to perform different characters, how video games and animated shows are made, and why creativity, perseverance, and teamwork are essential for success in the entertainment industry.
Todd Nesloney is an award-winning educator, author, speaker, and school leader who is passionate about helping students and teachers reach their full potential. Throughout his career, he has served as a classroom teacher, principal, and educational leader, always believing that strong relationships and kindness are the foundation of successful learning.
Todd is the bestselling author of several books on education and leadership, including Kids Deserve It!, Stories from Web, and Building Authenticity. Through his writing and speaking, he encourages educators to create schools where every student feels valued, supported, and inspired to succeed.
Recognized as one of the nation's leading voices in education, Todd has received numerous honors for his innovative work and has spoken to educators around the world about leadership, creativity, and the importance of putting students first.
In addition to his work in schools, Todd hosts educational podcasts, mentors educators, and shares practical ideas that help teachers build positive and engaging classrooms.
Through his leadership and dedication to education, Todd Nesloney inspires students to believe in themselves, embrace challenges, and remember that kindness, perseverance, and a love of learning can open doors to endless opportunities.
Dr. Sarah McAnulty is a squid biologist, science communicator, and the founder and Executive Director of Skype a Scientist, a nonprofit that has helped connect thousands of scientists with classrooms around the world. Her work focuses on making science more accessible, engaging, and personal by giving young people opportunities to interact directly with real scientists. Alongside leading Skype a Scientist, Dr. McAnulty has studied cephalopods—including squid—and has become a passionate advocate for helping scientists communicate their work in ways everyone can understand. Her career shows students that science is not only about discoveries in a laboratory, but also about curiosity, communication, creativity, and sharing knowledge with others.
Edutainment Podcast
Our podcast features bi-weekly episodes that are uploaded to all major streaming platforms. Each episode comes with a downloadable student worksheet to accompany the listening portion!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Edutainment Learning? Edutainment Learning is an online educational platform that connects students and teachers to primary sources of learning from a wide variety of subjects. Our goal is to provide students access to in-person conversations with industry leaders, historical figures, athletes, musicians, and more.
Do I need to pay for this service? No! Our newsletter, programming, and student worksheets are accessible to everyone for free.
How do I join the live Zoom sessions? Go to edutainmentlearning.com/upcoming and click the link to join.
How do I find the student worksheets? Go to edutainmentlearning.com/podcasts to download free student worksheets.
