MAHPERD "Voices From The field"
In this podcast, you will hear from educators and professionals in the field sharing their insights and experiences in the HPE (Health Physical Education) and allied fields. I hope you find this podcast informative, and inspiring. Learn about best practices and tools that you can implement in your teaching practice. We want to know not only what you do, but also the action steps you took to get you where you are. The Status Quo is not in our vocabulary folks, my guests are leaders in the field who are taking action to make an impact in their respective fields. If you have any questions or would like to be a guest on the show email mahperdpodcast@gmail.com
"If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got" Henry Ford
Episodes
37 episodes
A Practical Playbook For Elementary P.E. Teachers
If you’ve ever walked into a gym with 80 plus students and thought, “How am I supposed to teach real skills, keep everyone safe, and still meet state standards?” you’re not alone. I sit down with longtime educator Wendi Daniels to unpack what i...
If P.E. is Required, Then What Are We Teaching?
If you’ve ever heard a student say, “We just played tag,” and felt that sinking feeling, you’re going to want this conversation. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Hilary Glencross, PE teacher educator, curriculum designer, and founde...
Award Winning P.E. Teacher: "Meet students where they are"
A well-run gym doesn’t happen by luck. I’m joined by Tom Gelardi, a nationally recognized elementary physical education teacher in New York City, to talk about what strong PE instruction really looks like day to day. We get into the practical c...
“Supporting student health and wellness"”
When a school tries to solve student wellness one office at a time, everyone burns out and kids fall through the cracks. I’m joined by Dr. Jeanie Alter, Executive Director of the American School Health Association (ASHA), to talk about what cha...
From Pause To Purpose "Teaching Through Apathy"
A majority of teachers experience this, but what do we do about it? Apathy doesn’t start as laziness. It starts when good teachers feel drained, unheard, and stuck in systems that keep adding more while taking away the parts of school that actu...
The School Nurse "Behind The Scenes"
Most people think of the school nurse as the place you go for a stomachache. Then you hear what Tami Hale BSN, RN, NCSN actually does before the first bell and all day after that, and the whole picture changes. Tammy is a Worcester Public Schoo...
Understanding Brain Science: A conversation with Dr. Lisa Riegel
What if the fastest path to better teaching, stronger leadership, and happier learners starts in the brain? We sit down with Dr. Lisa Riegel—educator, researcher, and author of NeuroWell and Aspirations to Operations—to unpack how biology and c...
"Question Everything" Rethinking P.E. For Every Student
What if physical education shifted its focus from selecting standouts to elevating every learner? In this conversation, we sit down with Jarrod Robinson—founder of ConnectedPE and the original The PE Geek—to explore how a l...
"Moved To Move"
What if PE class felt like a place where every student belongs—and every choice builds confidence? We sit down with veteran elementary PE teacher Will Westphal to unpack a practical, research-driven approach that turns movement into meaning. Wi...
From PE Teacher To School Health Leader: How Brave and Healthy Spaces Help Kids Learn, Grow, and Thrive.
What if schools stopped rewarding quiet compliance and started designing for how kids actually learn? We sat down with Shannon Milliken—founder of Play Education and former P.E teacher turned systems leader—to unpack how movement, health, and b...
We’re Not Just Pressing Play On A Yoga Video
Tired of PD that doesn’t fit your teaching space? We sit back down with educator Kristen Santos to unpack a practical, standards-aligned approach to yoga in PE that strengthens bodies, focuses minds, and gives teachers a clear roadm...
What Would Students Miss If Your PE Program Vanished Tomorrow?
Feeling stretched thin or stuck on autopilot? We take a deep breath, slow the pace, and work through five reflective questions that help teachers, coaches, and PE leaders move from scattered to intentional. We start by unpacking a ...
Equipment That Works, Support That Lasts GOPHER SPORT 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
We sit down with Gopher Sport’s assistant marketing manager, Michael Ewen, to dive into the systems that help teachers deliver better lessons with less stress: a true satisfaction guarantee, teacher-designed equipment, and a ton of free profess...
National P.E TOY: Will Potter on Inclusive, Joyful Movement and Community Advocacy
A surprise job interview at a Blockbuster counter set Will Potter on a path to becoming a national voice for quality elementary PE—and the spark behind a family‑powered movement that now advocates for programs across the country. We sit down wi...
Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
When Dr. Neutzling managed physical education classes with 52 students in a Florida gymnasium, she never imagined that experience would lay the foundation for her pioneering work with artificial intelligence in education. Now serving as Associa...
A conversation with Brad Hunter: National APE Teacher Of The Year!
As the 2025 Shape America National Adapted PE Teacher of the Year, Brad brings a refreshing perspective to adaptive physical education. Rather than focusing on what students can't do, he zeroes in on what standards are truly asking students to ...
Movement as Medicine: Dance PL3Y
Melanie Levenberg's journey from P.E. teacher to global movement educator is inspiring. She reimagined her relationship with movement, eventually creating Dance PL3Y—a program that has transformed physical education for over 4.1 million childre...
Teaching For Health, Movement, and Connection
What happens when a physical education teacher prioritizes relationships over rules and student choice over standardized instruction? Nick Morse, a health and physical education teacher at Hartnett Middle School, reveals how his innovativ...
Purposeful PE: Insights on a quality program
When you think of physical education, do you picture students mindlessly kicking balls around a gymnasium while a teacher blows a whistle? Dave Carney is on a mission to transform that outdated perception. With 14 years + of PE teaching experie...
From Dance Studio to Third Grade: A Teacher's Journey
When passion meets purpose, learning transforms. Tiana's story begins at sixteen, teaching ballet, tap, and jazz to preschoolers and special education dance classes—experiences that kindled her love for teaching long before formal education tra...
The Human Element: Building Trust Through Project Adventure
Meet Adam Joyce, a passionate Project Adventure teacher who's transforming physical education at Watertown High School. Coming from a family of educators , Adam discovered his calling after initially pursuing history education. Today, he's dedi...
The Power of Connection: Meet Maria Melchionda, MAHPERDS Executive Director
In this illuminating conversation with Maria Melchionda, a 40-year veteran educator and executive director of MAHPERD, we explore the difference between qualified instruction and common misconceptions in the field.Maria shares her...
Access for all through Innovative P.E.
What happens when genuine passion for movement meets resourcefulness and creativity? Bradley Land, a K-8 physical education teacher from Phoenix, Arizona, demonstrates how innovative thinking and creativity can transform physical education with...