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The Purple Zone
Welcome to The Purple Zone (formerly Our Kids Our Schools).
Bridging the Gap between Public Policy, Practice & People.
The Purple Zone explores what it really means to align how we govern, how we educate, and how we show up for our communities.
Hosted by Alexis — a PhD student in public policy and administration, and longtime educator and advocate for kids, communities, and the systems that shape our lives. This podcast connects the dots between policy and practice, without the politics or platitudes.
It’s about naming what often goes unsaid — and making space for a more honest, human approach to systems that impact all of us.
How systems shape our communities, from policy on paper to action in practice. + Thinking Out Loud as a PhD Student
Podcasting since 2023 • 55 episodes
The Purple Zone
Latest Episodes
A Five-Year Grant Promise Cut Short: What’s Happening to Idaho’s Community Schools
Last Friday, Idaho school and community leaders were notified that a major federal education grant already awarded and already supporting students is being cut short.The Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) State Scaling Grant, a...
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Episode 55
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19:38
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When Policy Meets a Viral Moment: Inside Idaho’s HB 41 (Flags & Schools Bill)
How does a bill actually move through a legislature — not in textbooks, but in real life? In this episode of The Purple Zone, Alexis takes a deep dive into House Bill 41, Idaho’s 2025 “flags and schools” law, a bill that une...
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Episode 54
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1:21:32
The Assassination That Rewired American Government
What do a disappointed office-seeker, a presidential assassination, a reform act from the 1880s, and an academic essay from Woodrow Wilson have to do with your life today? More than you think.In this episode, Alexis traces the s...
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Episode 53
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43:01
Human → AI → Human: Navigating AI with Integrity, Clarity & Curiosity
Alexis sits down with Will Goodman, Chief Technology Officer for the Boise School District and a central voice in Idaho’s statewide conversations on AI in K–12 education. Will and Alexis serve together on an AI in K-12 Education Workgroup in Id...
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Episode 52
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54:13
Who Runs This Town? Local Government & the Art of Folding in the Cheese
Most people can name the President—but not their local city council members. In this episode of The Purple Zone, Alexis sits down with Matt Todd, host of The Ranch Podcast, to unpack what local government actually does and why...
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Episode 51
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1:10:13