“Arts Educators Save the World,” a podcast hosted by UW–Madison’s Erica Halverson, launched its second season this November.
In the podcast, artists talk with Halverson alongside their teachers and mentors about how those collaborations made them who they are today. The first episode, released in August of last year, had Lin-Manuel Miranda, the ultra-prolific creator of “Hamilton,” and Robert Lopez, the first-ever double EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards) winner and co-writer of songs from “The Book of Mormon,” “Avenue Q,” and “Frozen,” sit down with their elementary school music teacher Barbara Ames. Both artists credit her for guiding them toward their life’s work.
Halverson is professor with the School of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction. She is interested in how people learn in and through the arts across a range of art forms with a focus on the performing arts. Halverson also runs Whoopensocker, an artist-in-residence program working in Madison public schools.
The podcast’s new season began with an interview with actress, disability activist, and model Jillian Mercado and her mentors, Kay Gayner and Agnes McConlogue Ferro of the National Dance Institute.
Other episodes so far this season include actor, writer, and comedian Langston Kerman; rapper and teacher Rich Robbins; and mathematician and author Jordan Ellenberg.
Halverson is also the author of the 2021 book, “How the Arts Can Save Education” — a blueprint for how the arts can transform our broken system of teaching and learning.
Learn more about the “Arts Educators Save the World” podcast at www.artseducatorspodcast.com. The show is available on Apple Podcast, Stitcher, and other popular podcast platforms.