No Silly Questions- An Education Podcast for Parents

Episoade

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  What is a Classical Education? With Rabbi Abraham Unger, Ph.D. 16.08.2026 48min

  As AI and EdTech infiltrate our schools, a paradoxical trend is also emerging- a resurgence of classical education. But don’t be fooled. These philosophies are not necessarily in conflict with each other, as today's guest helps us understand. As he puts it , by mastering the classical arts of grammar, rhetoric and logic, students will have the habits of mind necessary for clear reasoning, strong writing, public speaking, and close analysis of texts and ideas. And who can argue with that? Bi...
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  Just ask Brooke! With Brooke Parker, Education and Parenting Consultant 09.08.2026 54min

  Today we’ve compiled all of your quick-hit “No Silly Questions” and brought on an expert known for having the answers in a pinch. We’re talking about Brooke Parker from “Just Ask Brooke.” This wide-ranging conversation covers common questions - from routines, to reading, and more- and we’re confident Brooke’s signature combination of research and reliability will benefit all of you tuning in. Brooke Parker is a native New Yorker with deep ties to the independent school community. She holds a ...
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  What does it mean for a child to be gifted? With Samantha Gabrielli, Lower School Head of the Speyer Legacy School, and Dr. Jordan Zelinger, School Psychologist 02.08.2026 36min

  All children are special and excel in different ways. But today, we are seeking to gain a precise understanding of what exactly “giftedness” means as a designation in a school context. We are so grateful to be joined by two prominent educators from the Speyer Legacy School to break it down for us. BIO Dr. Jordan Zelinger is a Licensed Psychologist and practices as a School Psychologist at The Speyer Legacy School, an independent school for gifted learners in New York City. In addition to work...
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  What is Russian Math? With Russian School of Mathematics founder Inessa Rifkin, and Masha Gershman, VP of Outreach 26.07.2026 46min

  If there’s any enrichment program we get asked about the most- it’s got to be Russian Math. And if you have school-aged children, it’s likely you’ve heard of the Russian School of Math program too and may even be wondering if it’s worth it to you to sign your child up. On today’s episode, we’re thrilled to have a rare interview with the founder of RSM, where we break it all down for you. Www.nosillyquestionspodcast.com
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  Is EdTech good for learning? With Caroline Bryk, Senior Director at Tikvah 19.07.2026 53min

  Your child is 6. It’s their first day of kindergarten. And instead of a desk full of papers and pencils, and a backpack with books, they’ve got, well, their tablet. Times have changed since we millennials were in grade school- and a key hallmark of that change has been the introduction of educational technology into the classroom. But are these technologies helping or hindering learning? On today’s episode of NSQ, we bring on a guest who is making it her mission to educate parents on what the...
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  Season 6 Solo Episode: Can we learn more about the No Silly Questions podcast hosts? With Danielle Freilich and Jordana Fruchter 12.07.2026 38min

  Today we are doing something different and releasing our first episode together- without a guest- to launch the 6th season of No Silly Questions podcast. We will be opening up more about our own thinking and our own experiences as parents. Topics include: why and how we started the podcastthe guests and episodes that have really made an impact on our parentingthe guests and episodes that have challenged usspecific parenting beliefs that have evolved for us over timehow the podcast has i...
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  Executive functioning and how can parents prepare for back to school? With Dr. Liz Angoff 17.08.2025 36min

  It’s 7:30 AM. Your child comes to the door ready to go to school, but there’s one shoe on, things are falling out of their backpack because it’s unzipped, and the homework folder is nowhere to be found. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering why your child may struggle to stay organized, follow directions, or manage transitions, this episode is for you. Today, we’re talking about executive function, a set of brain skills that effect everything from planning and focus to emotional regulation,...
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  How can parents support their boys’ development? With Michael G. Thompson 10.08.2025 38min

  “My problem with gentle parenting is it’s too much parental talking - when you’re raising a boy you’ve got to learn how to do it in a sentence or two.” This is just one insight that today’s guest, Michael Thompson, shares for how we can support our boys’ development, as well as our relationship with them, in and out, of the classroom. Michael G. Thompson, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized clinical psychologist, school consultant, and author of ten influential books, includin...
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  What are charter schools and what are the politics around them? With Lisa Sun, Chief Learning Officer at Success Academy Charter Network 03.08.2025 47min

  If you’re at all curious about the full scope of parent choice when it comes to schools, this episode is for you. Though Jordana has been in education for a long time, her personal knowledge base on charter schools is limited and this conversation, with two experts - Danielle being one of them - expanded her understanding of the promise of charter schools, specifically Success Academies, the largest and highest performing charter network in New York. Lisa Sun- As Chief Learning Officer, Lisa ...
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  Do I qualify for financial aid? With Alisa Evans of Mission Enrollment 27.07.2025 1h 3min

  The good news is that parents may not have to pay for the whole independent school tuition themselves. In this episode, Alisa provides clarification around the process of financial aid - and how it’s changing - to create opportunities for more families. Through Alisa, we learn that a private school education is more attainable than many understand it to be- and may be worth investigating for your family. Alisa Evans, Founder of Mission Enrollment, designated as a Certified B Corporation...
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  How are we miseducating the American elite? With William Deresiewicz 20.07.2025 28min

  Educational environments should foster exploration, healthy self development, and ripe opportunities to think independently. Instead, as our guest today puts it, we see that our youth experience a ‘poverty of the self,” leading to group think, pressure to conform and a lack of strength and stability from within. On today’s episode, we’ll unpack this idea and discuss how parents can drive against these forces. William Deresiewicz (DEREZOWITZ) is an award-winning essayist and critic, a fr...
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  Why don’t kids like school? With Daniel Willingham 13.07.2025 44min

  Wouldn't we all like to know how to help our kids fall in love with learning and absolutely love going to school? Well, today, we are joined by cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham, who breaks down for us how students learn—and why traditional classroom environments often fail to engage them. We loved this conversation because Daniel has a unique ability to use his scientific research to offer practical advice for parents and educators. Daniel Willingham is a Professor of Psychology at...
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  Are all stuffed animals created equal? With Kelly Oriard and Callie Christensen of Slumberkins 06.07.2025 28min

  Many children receive comfort from a cherished blanket, stuffed animal, or lovey. Today, we’re speaking with the team at Slumberkins, who elevate these comfort items to help parents address tricky topics in an intentional way. Kelly Oriard - Chief Therapeutic Officer- and Callie Christensen - Chief Brand Officer - are the co-founders of Slumberkins, a children’s education and emotional health brand. Kelly is a mother, licensed family therapist and school counselor, and Callie is a mother and ...
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  Are podcasts good for kids? With Tinkercast 29.06.2025 34min

  More and more, adults are consuming information from podcasts- just like you right now! But what about for our kids? Is podcasting closer to TV watching or reading? What are the unique benefits of this platform? Which programs can parents trust? Today, we sit down with the co-founder of Tinkercast and the star of their hit show “Wow in the World” - who are the very best in this space. BIO Meredith halpern-ranzer is an Emmy-nominated children’s media executive and co-founder / Chief Exe...
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  What is a Montessori approach to education? With Jesse McCarthy 15.06.2025 47min

  Parents who have never heard of any pedagogical philosophy will often have heard of Montessori. With that popularity comes misunderstandings and myths. Is it progressive? Is it structured? Is it rigorous? Is it permissive? Today, we hope to add clarity to the conversation through our conversation with Montessori expert Jesse McCarthy. For 20 years, Jesse McCarthy has worked with thousands of children, parents, teachers and administrators — as a principal for infants to 8th graders...
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  What education headlines do parents need to know about? With Free Press reporter Frannie Block 08.06.2025 41min

  As parents, we are bombarded with headlines on all different topics and from sources all over the political spectrum. It can be hard to have your finger on the pulse- especially as it relates to your child's education. Today, we are joined by journalist Frannie Block to fill us in on the top news-making stories as they relate to our kid’s schooling and learning. Better yet, she joins us from the Free Press, a media company built on its impartiality and fearlessness. Frannie Block is an...
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  How do we- and how much should we- support our children’s feelings? With Dr. Marc Brackett 02.06.2025 36min

  Emotional intelligence, or the ability to understand and manage our own emotions, and relate to and understand others, is a key skill for success in life and in the workplace. And frankly, in an age of artificial intelligence, emotional intelligence may be our great differentiator: our self-awareness, empathy, social skills, defining features of what it means to be human. We’ve covered multiple intelligences on the podcast, but we’ve never dived deep into EQ- and today we have the perfe...
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  Are mental health initiatives making things worse? With Carolyn D. Gorman 25.05.2025 39min

  You may have heard of the book “Bad Therapy” where author Abigail Shrier argues that the mental health industry is harming, not healing, American children. Well today, we are fortunate to be joined by her colleague Carolyn Gorman, who similarly studies mental health solutions- in and out of schools- and their efficacy, or lackthereof. Next week, we will follow up this conversation with an alternate perspective, so stay tuned for the full pairing. Carolyn D. Gorman is a Paulson Policy An...
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  How do we get our kids to play independently? With Myriam Sandler of Mothercould 18.05.2025 52min

  Let me set the scene. The parent is preparing dinner in the kitchen. All three kids are happily playing at various activities of interest. The TV is off. The iPads are absent. Harmony is in the home, every member in flow. Sounds nice right? Well this is the environment our guest, Myriam Sandler, has been able to foster in her own home through thoughtful play. These are skills she has already taught to so many through her community, MotherCould, and today,we’ll be getting in to all the d...
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  What is the real impact of social media on girls? With Kara Alaimo, PhD 11.05.2025 44min

  Last season’s concluding NSQ was “should we be worried about our boys?” So to launch Season Five, we've decided to shift the spotlight to our girls and spend some time understanding the pressures and challenges for girls in particular when it comes to everyone’s favorite topic: social media. Our expert today, says girls are uniquely impacted by the visual content they’re consuming- and it’s effecting both their offline and online worlds. We hope you enjoy this episode. Kara Alaimo, PhD ...