On Demand PD: My Top 10 Favorite Podcasts for Schools Librarians

Podcasts have completely changed how I do PD. It's amazing have access to professional learning anytime, anywhere. While I started podcasts a few years ago with This American Life, I find myself listening to more and more education-centered ones.

Why?

• Podcasts tend to be short, so it allows me the opportunity to learn on my lunch break or in the car or when my hands are busy with other work. There have been several times I am listening to a podcast while I am shelving books in the mornings. It's on demand PD!
• They tend to be conversational in nature, which makes it automatically more appealing to me than reading a blog post. This also lets me hear from different educators along with the host, offering varying perspectives on topics.
• We've all experienced that PD that doesn't jive with your goals or job description. With podcasts, if I don't like an episode or the topic doesn't pertain to me, I can skip it or turn it off.
• Some podcasts come with a robust PLN that build a community of learners, adding to the educational value. I love connecting with other listeners!
• Episodes don't always include education influencers (EduStars). They often include new and unique voices!
• Binging Netflix is fun, but so is binging an awesome podcast. When I've found one I love, I could listen to several episodes back to back. With AASL coming up in just a few short days, I already know what episodes I want to listen to while waiting for the plane. 

So, where do you start? Check out my Top 10 favorites below!

My Top 10 Favorite Podcasts for School Librarians

School Librarians United with Amy Hermon
School Librarians United is a podcast dedicated to the nuts and bolts of running a successful school library. From genrefying to student library boards to diversity audits to programming, tune in to learn all about the issues and challenges school librarians face everyday!

Leading from the Library with Future Ready Librarians
This podcast from Future Ready Librarians and Shannon Miller includes stories of how school librarians are tackling the unique issues that are facing school libraries today from planning for remote student learning with equity in mind, creating flexible schedules to supporting parents and families with blended learning environments.

Moonshots Podcast: Learning Out Loud
The Moonshots Podcast goes behind the scenes of the world's greatest superstars, thinkers and entrepreneurs to discover the secrets to their success. They deconstruct their success from mindset to daily habits so that we can apply it to our lives.

TED: How to Be a Better Human
How To Be A Better Human isn’t your average self improvement podcast. Each uncover sharp insights and give clear takeaways on how YOU can be a better human. From your work to your home and your head to your heart, How To Be a Better Human looks in unexpected places for new ways to improve and show up for one another. This is a great podcast to incorporate SEL into our daily lives as librarians.

The Creative Classroom
John Spencer and the Creative Classroom has episodes about growth mindset, project-based learning, design thinking, and, of course, creativity.Are you looking to add more creativity into your MakerSpace, collaborations, or PD? This one comes out each Monday and is only about 15 minutes!

The Balance by Catlin Tucker
In each episode, Tucker talks with thought leaders to explore this complex issue, striving for ways to achieve a healthier work-life balance and address the question, ‘How do we empower ourselves to create and implement boundaries both inside and outside of the classroom?’” The Balance will help with your instructional partnerships and leading from the middle.

Dare to Lead with Brene Brown
As school librarians, we lead from the middle. This podcast is uplifting and informative as Brown includes conversations with change-catalysts, culture-shifters and more than a few troublemakers who are innovating, creating, and daring to lead.

Cult of Pedagogy
Teaching strategies, classroom management, education reform, educational technology — if it has something to do with teaching, she talks about it. On the podcast, Jennifer Gonzalez interviews educators, students, administrators and parents about the psychological and social dynamics of school, trade secrets, and other juicy things you’ll never learn in a textbook.

TNT EdTech Podcast
From the creative minds of Scott Nunes and Matthew Ketchum, TNT EdTech Podcast offers insights into a variety of topics that can support school librarians and other educators from AR/VR to English strategies to leadership styles.

The House of #EdTech
The House of #EdTech Podcast shares stories from teachers and creators about education technology, recommends the valuable tools, tips, and resources to integrate technology into your classroom and instruction. It's perfect for those who want to stay up to date with how EdTech is changing in education.