Unboxing Social and Emotional Learning
We are a group of friends, educators, and scholars (but hopefully not the gate-keeping kind) who use podcasting to speak critically, honestly, and open-mindedly about the excitements and concerns we have about social and emotional learning (SEL). What happens when sociality and emotionality, two things that have always been a part of learning, become seen as measurable in a world of marketized and self-managed education? How can we bust SEL out of any boxed-in definitions, and how might we unpack its complexity? Join us in asking questions without easy answers and taking the time to peel back layers of education that are often left undisturbed.
Contact us at: unboxingselpodcast@gmail.com
Podcasting since 2025 • 11 episodes
Unboxing Social and Emotional Learning
Latest Episodes
Restoring the Humanity of Social and Emotional Learning - With Chris McNutt
Chris McNutt joins us for a transformative conversation about his work as the co-founder and executive director of Human Restoration Project, a nonprofit organization focused on truly listening to youth and reimagining school at a systems level...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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59:46
Season 2 Kickoff: The Past, Present, and Future of Unboxing Social and Emotional Learning
After a hiatus following Season 1, we are back and more excited than ever to dive into the unboxing of social and emotional learning! We find ourselves in a social scene that is both new and not-new, when we consider the political tensions SEL ...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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59:43
SEL and Politics
Let’s talk politics! As SEL becomes increasingly situated in the midst of educational “culture wars” between the political left and right, we decided to devote an entire episode to discussing how this polarization has happened and what it means...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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57:49
SEL and Cultural Appropriation: Mindfulness and Yoga
Drawing on our own experiences and associations with yoga and meditative practices, we investigate the rise of mindfulness and yoga in SEL programs. Substantial research touts the benefits of these practices across age groups, and yet we wonder...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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54:05
SEL and More-Than-Human Entanglements
Gut bacteria, viruses, microbes, sand and soil…in this episode, we acknowledge how sociality and emotionality are always embedded within human-nonhuman entanglements. How can SEL be extended to recognize and nurture these entanglements? If SEL ...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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50:56