UW–Madison’s Erica Halverson, a professor in the School of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction and chair of the Department of Theatre and Drama, has received the 2025 Ear Worthy Award for Best Education Podcast for her show, “Arts Educators Save the World.”
The Ear Worthy awards recognize excellence in podcasting across multiple categories. Halverson launched the podcast in 2022 as a way to highlight the impact of arts educators and the role that mentorship plays in creative growth.
“Arts Educators Save the World” is a weekly show that brings artists together in conversation with their mentors. Her guests have included Lin-Manuel Miranda, Robert Lopez, Josh Radnor, and Annaleigh Ashford, among others.
In addition to her podcast, Halverson is the author of “How the Arts Can Save Education: Transforming Teaching, Learning, and Instruction,” which provides a framework for how the arts can reimagine teaching and learning practices. She has also founded two community arts outreach programs — Playmakers Lab in Chicago and Whoopensocker in Madison — that extend her teaching and research into the community.
Read more about the 2025 Ear Worthy podcast award winners.