Freedom Writers Podcast

Erin Gruwell discusses the tragedy of sexual abuse with four courageous survivors. Current events in the United States have made this subject particularly prominent. In October 2017, survivors of sexual abuse came forward and started sharing their stories with the #MeToo movement. Most recently, the appointment of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court despite allegations of sexual assault has heightened our sense of urgency to speak up. We invite you to join us in protecting survivors and preventing sexual abuse in the future. Links and Resources National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network): https://www.rainn.org/ Christine Blasey Ford Opening Testimony: https://goo.gl/zBVHYS

This episode digs deep into the role of positive energy in teaching and leadership. Cesar Millan, the renowned "Dog Whisperer," shares his story with Erin (and her dog, Beau!) about coming to America, working hard to develop his talents, and seeing his dreams come to fruition. He also teaches us important principles about dog and human psychology, and about his “four energies of happiness": calm, confidence, love, and joy. We hope that this discussion puts a smile on your face and ignites passion in your pack. Links and Resources: Cesar Millan Cesar's Website: https://www.cesarsway.com/ Books by Cesar Millan: https://amzn.to/2LKBh28 Take Cesar's Courses: https://www.trainingcesarsway.com/ Cesar on Instagram: @cesarsway Cesar Millan Twitter: @cesarmillan Buy Signed Copies of Freedom Writers Books www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/index.php/shop Questions, stories, reviews? Contact us: podcast@freedomwritersfoundation.org

This episode covers the difficult subjects of mental illness and suicide, and the importance of awareness and prevention. First, Freedom Writer Teacher Mikael Aringer tells his story of hope and healing after a loved one attempted suicide. Then Erin Gruwell shares her conversation with legendary music producer, Bob Ezrin. Bob has produced some of the most iconic albums of the last forty years and now uses his platform to help those in need. His dedication to suicide awareness and prevention is particularly personal because his son, David, took his own life in 2008 after a long battle with mental illness. Erin and Bob discuss warning signs, how to cope with tragic loss, and ways we can remove stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide. They also extend loving support to anyone who may be struggling. Links and Resources: Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-800-273-8255 (Immediate contact with crisis workers who can offer support and direct you to local mental health care providers) Suicide Prevention Resource

Erin Gruwell shares a special live recording of a panel discussion about genocide. Co-moderated by Erin and historian Andrew Carroll, the panel features direct testimony of the Holocaust and the genocides in Bosnia, Cambodia, Rwanda, and South Sudan. Genocide awareness is a subject that has played a role in the Freedom Writers' education since the very beginning. By learning about war in far-off countries, Ms. G's students were able to make sense of the violence in their own neighborhoods. Relating to stories from other young people who had experienced hardships helped the Freedom Writers find their own voices and share their stories with the world.

In this episode, Erin Gruwell takes you along the publishing journey of The Freedom Writers Diary. Through her conversations with Carol Schild Levy, the Freedom Writers' book agent, and Janet Hill Talbert, the editor of The Freedom Writers Diary, Erin gives you a glimpse behind the curtain at how her students' journal entries evolved into a book, and then a movie, and now -- a movement. Links and Resources: Questions, stories, reviews? Contact us: podcast@freedomwritersfoundation.org Buy Signed Copies of Freedom Writers Books www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/index.php/shop "In Defense of the 'Freedom Writers'": https://bit.ly/2OPecJT Penguin Random House Publishing House: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/ More On The Power of Journaling "Journaling for Mental Health": https://bit.ly/2yt79j8 "Popular Autobiographies": https://bit.ly/2nPT0Ih "Literature's Emotional Lessons": https://bit.ly/2omumP3

This episode explores how violence affects children, and the plight of refugees around the globe. First, Original Freedom Writer Bunni Sek explains what it was like being raised by survivors of the Cambodian genocide. Then Erin shares her conversation with Ger Duany, an actor and activist, and known to many as one of the "Lost Boys" of Sudan. When Ger was only 7 years old, his family fled his village in South Sudan and walked for three months to a refugee camp in Ethiopia. Ger recounts in compelling detail the steps of his journey and the challenges he and his family faced. He also paints a vivid picture of what life as a refugee is like -- as a child, an adolescent, and now, as an adult. Links and Resources: Questions, stories, reviews? Contact us: podcast@freedomwritersfoundation.org Connect with Ger Duany Website: https://www.gerduany.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ger_duany Info about Lost Boys of Sudan https://www.rescue.org/article/lost-boys-sudan Info about Cambodian Genocide https:/

The movie Freedom Writers is filled with memorable characters based on the students of Room 203. For many viewers, the standout character is Eva Benitez, the Latina student whose loyalty is put to the test when called to testify in a murder trial. In today's episode, Erin Gruwell brings you her conversation with the woman behind the amazing portrayal of that character, the talented actress-turned-activist, April Hernandez-Castillo. Erin and April discuss the making of Freedom Writers, and dive even deeper about empowering women and helping people to heal from wounds of depression and abuse. April then takes us into her personal story about escaping teen dating violence, using her voice to find healing and purpose, and working diligently to serve others with similar struggles. Links and Resources: Questions, stories, reviews? Contact us: podcast@freedomwritersfoundation.org Your Voice, Your Choice website: http://www.voiceischoice.com/#about April Hernandez's CoolSpeak Profile: https://www.coolspeak.net/mo

This episode embraces a spirit of acceptance and pride by listening to stories from members of the LGBTQ community. Freedom Writer Teacher Tara Bordeaux talks about overcoming tremendous obstacles and hateful opposition in her journey to becoming the 2018 Texas Teacher of the Year. Then Erin Gruwell shares her conversation with advocate and activist Matthew Boger. After being thrown out of his home at the age of thirteen because of his sexuality, Matthew was savagely beaten by a gang of neo-Nazis and left for dead. Twenty-five years later, Matthew came face-to-face with one of his assailants and ventured down a remarkable path of forgiveness and friendship. Links and Resources: Questions, stories, reviews? Contact us: podcast@freedomwritersfoundation.org More on Tara Bordeaux: 2018 Texas Teacher of the Year Announcement: https://atxne.ws/2zljGcN https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diYWNTKWr7o More on Matthew Boger: Matthew Boger and Tim Zaal on NPR: https://n.pr/2MWSDWW "Facing Fear" website: http://www.

Erin Gruwell speaks with two extraordinary educators, Dr. Nomsa Galeta and Dr. St. Claire Adriaan, whose remarkable stories span continents and bridge barriers. Both of these individuals are Freedom Writer Teachers that hail from the beautiful country of South Africa. They talk about growing up under the Apartheid regime, the legacy of Nelson Mandela in fighting for freedom, and the power of education to deliver the promise of democracy. Links and Resources: Questions, stories, reviews? Contact us: podcast@freedomwritersfoundation.org More on the Horrors of Apartheid: https://www.history.com/topics/apartheid http://www.sahistory.org.za/article/history-apartheid-south-africa More on Nelson Mandela: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqoYmx_L-Xs https://www.nelsonmandela.org/ Become a Freedom Writer Teacher! Attend a Freedom Writer Teacher Institute: http://www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/index.php/programs/teachers fwi@freedomwritersfoundation.org Buy Signed Copies of Freedom Writers Books www.freedomw

Recorded live at the Los Angeles Theater, this episode features Erin Gruwell's conversation with Eva Schloss, Holocaust survivor and step-sister of Anne Frank. Eva talks about her friendship with Anne when they were young girls, the terror of living in hiding during the Nazi regime, and the tragedy of being captured and sent to Auschwitz. After Eva was liberated with her mother, their story took a surprising twist when they were reunited with Otto Frank, Anne Frank's father. What followed is a tender story of healing and hope. Links and Resources: Buy Eva Schloss's Book, "Eva's Story" https://amzn.to/2JnecRq Eva Returns to Rescue Her Brother's Paintings: https://bit.ly/2iVZ25a "Living In the Shadow of Anne Frank" https://bit.ly/2sMFYOT http://www.annefrank.org/en/ Holocaust Education www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/the-holocaust www.museumoftolerance.com www.holocaust.org.uk Learn more about the Freedom Writers Foundation: www.freedomwritersfoundation.org Buy Signed Copies of Freedom Writers

Erin Gruwell shares her conversation with activist David Goodman, who tells the heartbreaking story of his brother's tragic murder in 1964 by members of the Ku Klux Klan, and the 44-day federal investigation that followed. David then talks about confronting the horror of racism in America's past, using one's voice to vote in our present, and the crucial role that the youth play in bettering our democracy for the future. Links and Resources: Andrew Goodman Foundation: https://andrewgoodman.org/ Andrew Goodman with two Parkland students: https://bit.ly/2JsTZdS Learn more about the Goodman/Cheney/Schwerner case and Freedom Summer: https://to.pbs.org/2sDiSJp Video: https://bit.ly/2LUwHvX Video: https://bit.ly/2JbIHat More on Rosa Parks: https://bit.ly/2qlBlHg USA.gov State Election Office Directory: https://www.usa.gov/election-office Learn more about the Freedom Writers Foundation: www.freedomwritersfoundation.org Buy Signed Copies of Freedom Writers Books www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/index.php

This episode explores the "creative spark" that lies within each of us, and how to use creativity to heal after a loss. Our guest, author and producer Kathy Eldon, recounts her family's vibrant life of adventure, art, and activism, and how she helped nurture her children's creativity from a young age. She also talks about how she found solace in creativity after the tragic death of her son, Dan. Links and Resources: Kathy Eldon's Work Kathy's Website (with books): www.kathyeldon.com Creative Visions: www.creativevisions.org/ Dan Eldon website: http://www.daneldon.org/ Rock Your World: http://www.rock-your-world.org/ "Dying to Tell the Story" documentary: https://bit.ly/2IMVa8u "The Journey is the Destination" book: https://amzn.to/2LHSMjN Learn more about Peter Beard (Dan Eldon's artistic mentor): http://peterbeard.com/home PBS News Report on Mogadishu, Somalia: https://bit.ly/2kwcCzG Learn more about the Freedom Writers Foundation: www.freedomwritersfoundation.org Buy Signed Copies of Freedom W

Freedom Writer Tanisha Knight talks about her family's humble beginnings, her collegiate basketball career, and how education inspired her to become a teacher. Then in our featured discussion, actor Tony Danza joins Erin on the show to take us from a boxing ring in Brooklyn to his big break on the classic sitcom "Taxi." He then takes us to the moment where he chose a different stage and became a 10th grade English teacher at Northeast High in Philly. Tony discusses what motivates a person to want to teach, what kinds of challenges a teacher faces, and those magical moments in a classroom that make it all worthwhile. Links and Resources: Freedom Writers YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCYV20mK-emJ9cC5VU8zPOLg Tony Danza on Twitter: @TonyDanza Tony Danza on IMdB: https://imdb.to/2IXUXP2 Buy Tony's book "I'd Like to Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had" https://amzn.to/2xzW9AZ Articles about Tony's latest show "The Good Cop" Tony Danza https://bit.ly/2IXRgZU Josh Groban https://bit.ly/2GBSo

This episode pulls back the curtain on the making of the feature film Freedom Writers, written and directed by Richard LaGravenese and starring Hilary Swank. First, original Freedom Writer Tanya Payne reflects on what it was like to see her experience, her words, represented onscreen in the movie. Then Erin shares her conversation with writer/director Richard LaGravenese, recorded in New York City. Erin and Richard discuss the process of adapting The Freedom Writers Diary into a feature film; the casting choices and the real-life stories behind the talented kids who played Ms. G's students; and those special behind-the-scenes moments that proved to everyone involved that this was more than just a movie. It was a movement. Links and Resources: Richard LaGravanese on Twitter: @RLaGravenese Richard LaGravenese on IMdB: https://imdb.to/2rEOPkj Buy Freedom Writers: https://amzn.to/2XAP9mT Bring a Freedom Writer to Your School or Organization: http://www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/index.php/programs/outre

Freedom Writer Teacher Henry Wright tells his story of walking to the bus stop on the morning he integrated his high school in South Carolina. Then Erin shares her stirring conversation with civil rights icon Dr. Terrence Roberts of the Little Rock Nine, who was among the first group of African-American teenagers to integrate a U.S. high school in 1957. Dr. Roberts recounts facing a vicious mob outside the school, being escorted by soldiers through the hallways to each class, and the manner in which teachers and students regarded him and his African-American classmates. Candid and elegantly articulated, Dr. Roberts' message is one of hope and honesty about our past so together we can build a better, more equitable future. Links and Resources: Dr. Terrence Roberts' Website http://terrenceroberts.com/ Buy Dr. Roberts' Book Lessons from Little Rock: https://amzn.to/2XC75Zo More on Brown Vs. Board of Education: https://bit.ly/2GGyNjo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1siiQelPHbQ More on the Little Rock Nine:

Erin's brother Chris Gruwell brings us back to Bosnia in the early 1990s, where he visited as an American soldier at the time of a brutal civil war (a conflict which was later classified as a genocide). Chris recalls the chaos and violence in Sarajevo, painfully punctuated by an overwhelming sense of helplessness to stop the slaughter, and then recounts his experience chaperoning the Freedom Writers' trip to Europe in 1999. Next, Erin introduces her featured guest -- author, activist, and documentary filmmaker Zlata Filipovic, who was dubbed the "modern-day Anne Frank" when her heartrending book "Zlata's Diary: A Child's Life in Wartime Sarajevo" reached global acclaim. In her conversation with Erin, Zlata paints a vivid picture of what it was like to grow up with bombs and bullets in the streets of her hometown, reflects on the identity politics that initiated the genocide in the first place, and firmly cautions against the use of labels and stereotypes in the contemporary dialogue. She also encourages us to

Shanate Jones, a Freedom Writer and Tech Sergeant of the U.S. Air Force, shares her story about serving in the military and how she used writing to cope during combat. Then Erin presents her riveting conversation with author, historian, and world traveler Andrew Carroll. Andy admits he hated history as a kid, but the turning point in his life occurred when his family's home was burned to the ground along with all of their photos, letters, and heirlooms. This tragedy, together with a World War II letter written by his cousin, sparked a lifelong mission to find and preserve personal histories from veterans, active-duty troops, and their families. In this episode, Andy tells captivating stories from soldiers and civilians dating all the way back to the American Revolution. In his work and his service, Andy focuses on drawing out the humanity in history in hopes of inspiring people from all backgrounds to discover their family history and write their own stories for future generations. Links and Resources: Book

John Lewis, original 1960's Freedom Rider and now Congressman, tells his story about growing up as an African-American boy in the south and how he became a civil rights activist under the tutelage of Dr. Martin Luther King. He encourages us to stand up for justice and get into "the good kind of trouble" when necessary. Then Erin shares her humbling conversation with the courageous Jim Zwerg, a white male Freedom Rider who protested segregation in the south alongside his friend John Lewis and several other key players of the civil rights movement such as Bernard Lafayette, Jim Bevel, and Diane Nash. Jim paints a vivid picture of the youth movement in Nashville in the early 1960s and then takes us to that fateful moment in Montgomery when he and John stepped off a bus and their lives were changed forever. Links and Resources: Books by Congressman John Lewis: https://amzn.to/2XyMOnu More about the Freedom Riders: https://to.pbs.org/2rPYWDV Jim Zwerg's Speech from the Hospital Bed: https://www.youtube.com/w

Freedom Writer Michael Bongiorno tells his story about falling into alcoholism as a teenager and how writing helped him overcome his addiction. Then Erin shares her inspiring conversation with former Congressman Patrick Kennedy. Patrick opens up about what it was like growing up in the Kennedy family and how he discovered his calling in politics; he shares personal experiences from his childhood, including how his mother and grandmother suffered from alcoholism and depression; then, Patrick tells the stirring story of his own struggle with addiction and mental illness, addressing common stumbling blocks and expounding on his fight for mental health parity today. Links and Resources: Patrick Kennedy www.parityregistry.org (Patrick's website that shows people how to file an appeal after being denied insurance coverage for mental health or addiction treatment services and send a formal complaint directly to enforcement officials in their state) https://www.patrickjkennedy.net/ (Patrick's main website) Patrick'

On the inaugural episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, one of Ms. G's first students tells a story about a moment in class that changed his life forever. It all started with a drawing, an embarrassed classmate, and a question that surprised everyone: "What is the Holocaust?" Next, Erin shares a harrowing discussion she had with Holocaust survivor Renee Firestone and her daughter Klaire about what it was like in the concentration camps, how Klaire learned about the Holocaust from her parents, and a shocking revelation about what happened to Renee's sister at the hands of a Nazi doctor. Renee and Klaire also share their advice about how to learn from history and challenge us to act now to make a difference in the world. Links and Resources: Holocaust Education www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/the-holocaust www.museumoftolerance.com www.holocaust.org.uk The Last Days documentary www.imdb.com/title/tt0174852/ www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-last-days-1999 Buy Signed Copies of The Freedom Writers Diary w