I have been listening to this podcast for almost 2 years and at the beginning it was really helpful with so many useful ideas and so much inspiration for my classes. Marie and Amanda are so chill and knowledgeable and fun to listen to, they are also very organized which helps with taking ideas afterwards and applying them to my own work. However, more and more it seems that anything actionable or helpful is held behind a paywall and now about ⅓ of the podcast time is just spent on advertising their offers. For example, in their latest podcast episode, 186, the actual podcast didn’t start until 14 minutes into it. I completely understand there is a determined need to make this into a successful, profitable company, but I believe it is getting to a point where the enjoyment of listening is being crushed by the desire to sell the trainings — all of which I am sure are useful and worth it. It has sometimes gotten to a point where I get tired of the long-winded ads that I just skip the episode entirely. I am hoping the podcasts can be better structured so the hosts can still inform listeners about their offers, but the primary purpose of the episode is not drowned out.

These ladies supply so many ideas that are accessible to teachers immediately. That saves time but I also know they will work! Camp BNT has been an awesome experience to explore curated authors I’d never have found, like Jo Chrona, who talked about starting local when exposing kids to Indigenous writers. It’s so simple and so wise and could be applied to LOTS of people of all walks of life in our kids’ environments! Have been a fan from the start and will continue spreading the word over and over to any educator I know.

A few weeks ago I saw this podcast mentioned in a Facebook group for AP Literature and Composition teachers. I started listening, and I was shocked that I had missed all this fantastic contact for this many years. I’ve listened to at least two episodes a day for the past two weeks, and I’m working hard on redoing some of my units. I’ve felt more invigorated and inspired from this podcast than I have from almost any other PD I’ve done. Try it out!

I have listened to the BNT podcast since it began in 2020 and they have made me a better teacher. I wish they had been around when I first started teaching 10 years ago. I get so many great ideas from their podcasts and festivals. I love the Camp BNT where they interview authors and help debrief how to use these texts in your classroom ASAP. I would never have thought to use a whole class text like Yamile Saied Mendez’s Furia for a research paper but now it seems so obvious. I love hearing about these new authors and thinking about how to use the required canon with these new texts where the authors seem more real as you can hear them on a podcast. You can spiral the skills discusses into this podcast to fit your individual classroom and I can’t wait to see what comes next!

I don’t remember exactly how I found the bravenewteaching podcast, but once I did, I had been a better teacher for all the amazing, high-quality topics, resources, and discussions Amanda and Marie present. I have shared their podcast with my colleagues, and they all agree! It is a must listen for experienced and new teachers in the ELA classroom. I am a high school English teacher going on my 15th year, and I cannot believe how much I have grown and changed to become a better educator all thanks to Amanda and Marie!

For real. This podcast and all the workshops and masterclasses have helped me learn to love my job again! I’ve used so many ideas and can’t wait to try more! I’ve purchased all the workshops/festivals and they are invaluable! Marie and Amanda are the best. I feel like we’re friends :) The interview with Ruta Sepetys sparked a love for historical fiction and inspired me to create a new unit for my seniors. I seriously cannot say enough good things about these women!

Amanda and Marie share an incredible wealth of knowledge that is relevant, helpful, and applicable. As a 5th year teacher, I have a lot to learn but am also in a stage of taking on new challenges and responsibilities in my career. These two women have been a tremendous part of my growth and preparation for my first year as a solo English II teacher (small district= team of me!). Their advice, ideas, and tips are digestible enough to implement but impactful enough to inspire. I just can’t say enough good things about these educators and the help they have provided me!

I have been an avid listener of BNT as I am a newbie teacher. This summer series has given me so many ideas of how to diversify my curriculum and how to revamp existing units. My personal favorite was the interview with Jo Chrona, as incorporating Indigenous texts and conversations in our classrooms has never been more important.

This isn’t just my favorite teacher podcast, it’s my favorite podcast. Amanda and Marie share strategies and ideas for keeping rigor without sacrificing wonder that are always user-friendly and ready-to-implement-in-class-tomorrow. They also trouble shoot potential obstacles and share ways they have overcome them to still make activities and assessments work. Fun bonus: listening to them is the best mix of chatting with friends over coffee, sharing great ideas and wins in the teachers lounge, and the real talk that is often left out of PD sessions. The highest complement: when I was listening to a recent episode on my phone, my fiancé walked in and immediately apologized for interrupting what he thought was a conversation with a friend on speaker. I am inspired by every single episode and I genuinely look forward to listening every week (unlike other teacher podcasts where I pick and choose for content).

There are not enough stars to tell you how incredible this podcast is - truly. Marie and Amanda are a JOY to listen, to and the information has transformed my teaching. They have found their calling and we get to reap the benefits of their years of teaching and innovative pedagogy. Save it as a favorite and listen as you have your year set for you in ELA. Thank you both for your expertise, laughter and humor. It’s the best end to the week - BNT on Thursday and Happy Hour on Friday!

I love this podcast. Marie and Amanda are a lot of fun to listen to each week. They’re goofy, but they’re not extra. Like I laugh with them instead of rolling my eyes (as I do to many influencers). The podcast truly has changed some of my teaching practices for the better, or it has confirmed some of my own teaching philosophy. It’s a smart, grounded podcast on best practices in ELA. What I really appreciate about Amanda & Marie is that this product is clearly a labor of love. I never feel as if I’m listening to an advertisement for something more. The show itself is quality. That being said, I think I’ve bought almost everything in Amanda’s TPT store! I hope this podcast continues for many seasons more. Thank you for all you do.

Very grateful I stumbled across this podcast and the mudandink teaching blog. The more I listen and learn, the more I appreciate these materials. Thank you for inspiring this mid-career teacher. ❤️🙏

I just stumbled across your podcast two months ago when, in desperation (due to the fact that I had been handed a dual-credit American literature class because the teacher left mid-year) I began scouring the Internet for resources. My first year of teaching was way back in 1997-98. I came into the profession with the understanding that I was merely to assess whether students had read the assigned novel and could write decently. Over the last two months, my understanding of what it means to be a teacher, what it means to encourage thought and learning has completely exploded thanks to your podcast. I have overhauled not only the dual-credit American lit curriculum, but I am now also overhauling the 10th grade ELA curriculum (what I’ve been teaching for the last eight years). Essential questions, Sesame Street quizzes, close reads are showing up in all their blazing glory. Supplemental text? Yes, please! Honestly, I’m a little bit addicted. In your podcast about supplemental texts you gave a ton of resources, but then you also said that the supplemental texts would come to you as you just lived your life. This morning, as I was working out and listening to Hamilton, I thought, “ ‘My Shot’ would be an amazing supplemental text as I teach Great Gatsby with the EQ “Is the American Dream more likely to inspire or destroy?’ “ AAUUGGHH! I can’t wait to add that in! You both have breathed fresh life into a profession that I have loved for decades, but now holds even more joy and excitement for me and my students. THANK YOU!

I would love to listen because they speak clearly and with passion. But its so watered down, a lot of talking about nothing and it takes so much time to get to anything of worth. When mining for gold there has to be a certain amount of gold in the dirt.

First, thank you for hosting such an engaging podcast. Your friendship and the various ways you implement them is both fun and instructional. I actually take notes occasionally. I been a Trainer/Coach then Prof. and am now an 8th grade homeschool teacher. And while I do have an insatiably curiosity for learning, I have spent the last 4 years trying to learn what it takes to be a teacher. My natural talent is writing and reading but when it became a critical part of the curriculum I was lost. It came naturally to me and my son who is both Gifted/Talented and dyslexic struggled and has avoided writing like castor oil, same with reading. This year will be different and I’m using your advice and can see some progress. There are quite a few homeschool parents who teach for other than religious reasons and we are constantly looking for resources to make homeschool more like real school. So, we are learning or getting another degree. I think I might have earned a PhD with all the content I’ve absorbed. Thank you for sharing your hard earned knowledge and helping us homeschool parents feel like we can teach our kiddos too.

One, a suggestion for helping you guys with finding popular or more universally, popular and accessible YA books— speak with your schools, library media specialist for one, if your school has a reading specialist there another resource, group think with other ELA teachers teachers, or reach out to your local library’s teen librarian. Yes, I know the last one would require you to do work outside of class which isn’t fair/may not be doable but it’s a suggestion. Also, local bookstore talk to the booksellers they will know what is popular and what is selling. Two—I respectfully disagree with the conclusion one of the hosts mentioned about withdrawing a book as a class-read. It is a form of censorship— because your students don’t know about the choices they’re being offered, because you’re not letting them know. Therefore, it is a censorship of sorts. It may be for a simple reason—like you don’t want the book to go with that unit or something, but it’s still censorship in my eyes. And that doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing in that context, but it really does depend on the situation. Finally, thank you for the great discussion question. I have an inquiry post I have to create for one of my teaching certification classes, so this podcast episode has been really helpful!

I listen to so many podcasts but this is my new favorite. I’ve devoured half the episodes in one weekend and I can’t wait to revisit them throughout my teaching career. Most podcasts are philosophical and stop there; making you wonder how do I do this in my own classroom? This podcast gives you both the application and philosophy that your educator heart needs. Truly a must listen for all English teachers grades 6-12.

I am an active podcast listener and have been following Amanda at Mud and Ink on Instagram for a couple of years now. I had no idea that she was part of a podcast! So, when I saw her post about reading the novel out loud because kids don’t read that recommended episode 85, I quickly looked it up! So good! I am going to use this method next week with my one honors English 3 class. If all goes well, I will implement with my regular English 3 classes. Thanks for the input!

I listen to Marie and Amanda every single week and always feel more inspired. They are down to earth, funny, and give me a realistic dose of how to improve my teaching. My only suggestion is to consider all the interruptions. Marie often cuts off Amanda and the other guests. Otherwise, it’s great.

I get such a kick out of these two podcasting, educating, humor-showing gals. Their humility and humor is refreshing, and I learn nuggets every time I listen. I wish I had found this blog sooner, but I am playing catch-up. Thanks so much, Marie and Amanda!

I happily stumbled on the Brave New Teaching podcast earlier this summer. I love listening to the honest voices of Amanda and Marie. As a veteran teacher who has taught, taken a long break to parent, and then returned to the classroom, I love hearing them talk about obstacles, wishful thinking, new discoveries, and ideas that have worked. Thank you Amanda and Marie! Mentors are important for constant growth, and I love having mentors I can listen to any day and time of the week that inspiration strikes.

I found this from watching all of Marie’s YouTube videos, and quickly fell in love with this podcast and their friendship. The advice and content are so helpful! My favorite episode was probably the one where they recommend books they have taught, and I feel like I could have listened to them recommend books for many hours. I find them inspiring and I appreciate this podcast so much!

This podcast and these amazing teachers have given me so much hope. I need you. Thanks for being here.

I have been listening to this podcast for two years and it has given me more confidence as an educator! My teaching approaches are innovative and transgressive, so it is so affirming that I can listen to other educators, like Marie and Amanda, who are not afraid to try new strategies in writing and literature! Their personalities also brighten my day:) I look forward to hearing new episodes in the future!

Amanda and Marie have helped renew my energy and excitement for teaching with their ideas, philosophy, and guests on the show. I stumbled upon this podcast a year ago and have been a faithful listener since. I am about to go through the Curriculum Rehab course, and I’m expecting great things. Thanks ladies, for being such an inspiration!

I look forward to the new episode every week. These two teachers have given me so many new ideas and new ways of thinking. I found their podcast when I was struggling with my own life as a teacher and they reminded me of all that is amazing and exciting about teaching and being with kids.

I love this podcast! Amanda and Marie are so personable and witty and have the most innovative ideas when it comes to teaching English. I started listening to them as a new teacher, and I’m so glad I did. I learned so much about teaching high school English, and was able to put the ideas they discuss into practice immediately. They are the best!

I’m a new teacher and I can’t get enough of this podcast. Amanda and Marie keep it real with concrete and usable ideas, insights, tips, and teaching philosophy. I’m always looking for PD and podcasts that share what is really going on in a classroom and how to put together plans and whole units. It’s all here!

This is one of my favorite “go-to” podcasts channels! I love that the topics covered are almost always areas I need help in! The best advice is offered in this podcast and I take it to heart. You can tell when someone is truly committed to their job and have a true gift for working in education. Thank you so much for this amazing podcast!

As a former middle school teacher of 7 years, I wondered how I would transition to the high school this year. This podcast gave me so much confidence in preparing my lessons and continues to be a quality resource for my instruction. I look forward to new episodes. Their dynamic as hosts is lighthearted, energetic, and comical. They clearly have a passion for what they do.

I have been teaching for 24 years, and this is by far the best form of PD that I have ever experienced. It has reinvigorated me as a teacher, and I have truly enjoyed working with my colleagues, who are also avid listeners, to implement some of the ideas shared. I can’t thank you enough for all of your honesty, hard work, and humor!!

I have a long commute to work, and it’s my first year as a teacher. I found this podcast a little late in the school year, but it is the perfect inspo I need to keep me motivated as an educator. I’m looking forward to implementing these ideas as I plan & design over the summer for next year! I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to take the curriculum rehab program for even more support! Thanks y’all! (Triple exclamation because the caffeine is hittin!)

I was just turned on to this podcast by a professional development Facebook group. I’ve been teaching 17 years and this podcast is a gem! Lots of episodes that I can relate to and tons of fresh ideas to inspire!!

I just found Brave New Teaching and I am hooked! Now I know how I will be spending my summer break starting in 28 days. So many episodes to catch up on but so excited to listen!

As a new teacher, this podcast is a treasure trove of wisdom and resources that I can implement TODAY!

Episodes are just the right length; a little chit-chatting and storytelling with a bunch of helpful tips and tricks for the classroom. I’ve been listening to them ever since I joined the teachergram community (give them a follow) and am never disappointed by the resources they share. Great for any teacher!

I have worked in high school ELA for 21 years and these two ladies are the best at what they do. Their experience and insight into crafting engaging instruction that leads to elevated learning outcomes is unsurpassed. I believe this podcast should be required listening for all new teachers, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

I am a first year ELA teacher and listening to this podcast has helped me so much this year! If you’re looking for help and direction, look no further! Brave New Teaching is helpful and honest and I appreciate that!

I love how Marie and Amanda took their teaching passions to create a way to share helpful ideas with the world! A good friend and work partner encouraged me to listen to this podcast and I am so happy I listened. It’s super easy to listen to and apply to my classroom. I look forward to binge listening this summer to past episodes. Every teacher should tune in!

I’ve been listening to Amanda and Marie for almost a year now and have LOVED this show. I am a middle school teacher, but they are insightful, witty, and just generally lovely people to listen to weekly. It’s ELA PD you don’t want to miss! Especially the “Down with the reading quiz” master class!

I love listening to these ladies and their ideas are fantastic! I use their twist on reading quizzes (no copying can happen there), among other resources.

Amanda and Marie are some of my favorite voices to hear, and I’m constantly checking for the next episode to drop. I’ve listened to a few different teaching podcasts, but rarely find one that keeps me coming back week after week. My Teacher Podcast BFFs (which I refer to them as in my head) are always such a great listen - I’ve learned strategies for engaging reluctant learners, methods for planning that get me excited for upcoming units, and that it is okay (and even normal) to have an obsession with all things Shakespeare! The best part about Amanda and Marie is that they don’t just care about gaining listeners - they have truly built a community of like-minded educators who are excited about teaching learning together. This podcast makes me feel seen, heard, and absolutely pumped for creating new content and getting back into my classroom each week. What more could you ask for?

I’ve been listening to the Brave New Teaching podcast for the last year and it has transformed my teaching. This is by far the best professional development I’ve ever engaged with. Marie and Amanda offer great insights and resources to help all teachers. There have been so many times when I’ve been wrestling with an idea in teaching and I’ve listened to a podcast episode and walked away with an idea and inspiration!

I can’t get enough of these ladies! I love learning about essential questions and the case for inquiry. Both ladies help ignite passion into whatever I’m teaching. I listen to the podcast on the way to work, and then review the show notes during prep. Teaching has been rough the last few years, but listening to this podcast has inspired me to push forward.

I look forward to listening to each new episode! These ladies have pushed me to think outside the box with my English instruction and each episode gives me inspiration to try something new in the classroom. The best part of this podcast is just how realistic Amanda and Marie are. They get it! There are so many highs and lows of teaching right now and these two are so relatable with experiences in education. Thank you for pushing me to be a better educator and for challenging me to be brave!

These girls are so realistic! They get it! They talk about the highs and lows of being in a classroom and I just nod along thinking “That’s my class too!” I have never gotten so many ideas or passed along so many episodes to others. The support in my school is lacking and these girls fill that vacancy and I look forward to it every time. Highly recommended! Love, love, love!

Every single episode has some wisdom that helps me plan my curriculum more equitably, thoughtfully and with a greater emphasis on how to engage all students in their own learning. Full disclosure: I’ve participated in curriculum rehab, but I find this to be an excellent and inspiring compassion listen. I love that the amount of episodes offers even experienced educators—I’m on year 17–a menu of on demand PD based on their needs in a given moment. I’m a huge curriculum nerd, and this scratches that itch while giving me strategies to keep growing and improving! On regular rotation.

I’ve been teaching for close to 10 years, but this is my first year teaching English! I have benefited immensely from your podcast, resources and trainings. Thanks so much for you passion for teachers.

I’m an upper elementary teacher and just started listening but so far I’m loving what I’m getting from this podcast, so many actionable ideas and even though I’m elementary, I can’t recommend it enough! Thank you!

This podcast is really valuable, especially for teachers who don’t have strong community at their school. I have listened to every episode so far. But wow, it is really frustrating to listen to Marie interrupting Amanda so often. I would really appreciate it if Amanda finished her thoughts and then Marie jumped in. Even if it doesn’t bother Amanda, it is hard to listen to because I feel like Amanda starts a thought I’m interested in but then never finishes it because Marie jumps in and talks over her.Interrupting is not good practice for my classroom discussions, so it’s hard to listen to teachers doing it!