Podcast
The Advocate Podcast: Amplifying Voices. Challenging Systems. Prioritizing Children.
Hosted by Dr. Kristi N. Love · EN
The Advocate Podcast centers real stories from social media to help parents, educators, and communities advocate for children with wisdom, courage, and compassion. Hosted by Dr. Kristi N. Love, the podcast challenges harmful narratives while offering restorative, equity-centered perspectives that lead to understanding and change.
11episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Summer Growth Matters: Preventing Learning Loss and Building Life Skills
3d ago00:20:59Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailSummer break is a time for fun, family, and making memories, but it can also be a time of tremendous growth.In this episode of The Advocate Podcast, Dr. Kristi Love explores the reality of summer learning loss and shares practical, low-stress ways families can keep children engaged academically throughout the summer months. More importantly, she challenges parents to think beyond reading and math and consider how summer can be used to strengthen the behavioral, social, and executive functioning skills that children need to succeed in school and in life.Learn simple strategies to support: 📚 Reading and literacy development ➕ Math skills through everyday activities 📝 Writing and communication skills 🧠 Executive functioning and organization ❤️ Emotional regulation and self-control 🤝 Social skills and responsibilityDr. Love also shares free and affordable resources available to families and explains why behavior should be approached the same way we approach academics- with instruction, practice, feedback, and support.Because summer growth isn't just about preventing the "summer slide." It's about helping children return to school more confident, capable, and prepared for success.Resources Mentioned: • PBS Kids • Khan Academy & Khan Academy Kids • ReadWorks • National Geographic Kids • Scholastic Learn at Home • Local Public Libraries • NASA for StudentsWhether you're a parent, caregiver, educator, or advocate, this episode will help you make the most of the summer months without turning summer into school.Connect With MeTo submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below.Facebook Group: TheAdvocateInstagram: @TheAdvocateDr.LoveEmail: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com
Transcribe →We Intervene for Academics, So Why Not Behavior?
2w ago00:12:14Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailSome students struggle loudly.Others struggle silently while everyone assumes they’re fine.In this episode of The Advocate Podcast, Dr. Kristi N. Love explores why schools often treat academic struggles with intervention and support—but respond to behavioral struggles with labels, punishment, or assumptions.This conversation dives into the quiet behaviors educators and parents frequently overlook:chronic disorganizationmissing assignmentslack of follow-throughinattentivenessinconsistent performance“capable but not producing” studentsDr. Love challenges the idea that these students are simply lazy or unmotivated and explains why behaviors connected to executive functioning, organization, and task completion should be addressed through Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 supports—just like academics.This episode is a powerful reflection on intervention, skill-building, accountability, and what students may truly need in order to succeed.Because sometimes the issue isn’t intelligence.It’s that students were never explicitly taught how to manage the demands school places on them.🎙️ Perfect for educators, parents, school leaders, counselors, and anyone passionate about supporting the whole child.Connect With MeTo submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below.Facebook Group: TheAdvocateInstagram: @TheAdvocateDr.LoveEmail: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com
Transcribe →How Does a Child Reach 8th Grade Still Struggling? Retention, Social Promotion, and the Support Students Deserve
3w ago00:16:39Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of The Advocate Podcast, Dr. Kristi N. Love tackles one of education’s hardest and most emotional questions:👉 How does a child reach 8th grade still struggling academically?Through an honest and balanced conversation about retention, social promotion, intervention, attendance, special education referrals, and systemic gaps, this episode explores what happens when students continue moving forward without truly getting the support they need.Dr. Love discusses:How grades can sometimes hide learning gapsThe emotional impact of both retention and silent struggleWhat schools must consider before special education testingWhy attendance, interventions, and documentation matterThe importance of early intervention and honest communicationWhat real support for students should actually look likeThis episode is not about blame.It’s about reflection.It’s about advocacy.And most importantly, it’s about making sure students are not just passed along… but truly prepared.🎧 If this conversation resonates with you, share this episode with a parent, educator, counselor, or school leader.Because every child deserves the opportunity not just to pass,👉 but to truly learn.Connect With MeTo submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below.Facebook Group: TheAdvocateInstagram: @TheAdvocateDr.LoveEmail: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com
Transcribe →Passing, But Not Prepared: The Truth About Grades
Apr 2900:15:33Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailAre passing grades really a sign of success… or just a sign students are getting through?In this episode, we take an honest look at a growing concern in education: 👉 Students who are passing… but not truly understanding 👉 Grades that don’t always reflect mastery 👉 And a system that sometimes prioritizes completion over comprehensionThrough real classroom experiences, personal reflection, and insights from educational theory, including the work of Paulo Freire, this episode explores the gap between performing in school and actually being prepared for life beyond it.You’ll hear: Why compliance is not the same as comprehension How students can “do school” without truly learning The impact of rushed instruction and surface-level understanding A powerful personal story about hidden gaps in learning And why meaningful feedback matters—even when answers are correct This conversation is for educators, parents, and anyone invested in student success.Because at the end of the day…👉 The real question isn’t “Did they pass?”👉 It’s “Are they prepared?Connect With MeTo submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below.Facebook Group: TheAdvocateInstagram: @TheAdvocateDr.LoveEmail: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com
Transcribe →If Not Traditional Grading… Then What?: Making Sense of Fair Grading
Apr 2200:14:40Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat actually makes a grade fair, and what happens when we mix learning, behavior, and completion into one number?In this episode, we go beyond traditional grading debates and get into the real questions educators and parents are asking right now: Should students be allowed to retest? How do we fairly grade homework when access and home environments vary? And what role does AI play in whether homework even reflects true learning?We also explore why some schools are shifting grading scales (like the 50 minimum) and moving toward standards-based grading, and why changing numbers alone doesn’t solve the deeper issue.A major focus of this conversation is clarity: grades should reflect academic mastery, not behavior, effort, or circumstances outside of learning. So what does accountability look like if it’s not tied to grades?This episode challenges assumptions, invites reflection, and pushes us to ask a bigger question:Are our grading systems measuring what students know or everything around it?A must-listen for educators, parents, and anyone rethinking what fairness in education really means.Connect With MeTo submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below.Facebook Group: TheAdvocateInstagram: @TheAdvocateDr.LoveEmail: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com
Transcribe →Grading or Gatekeeping? What Are We Really Measuring in Schools?
Apr 1500:12:06Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat if the way we grade students is not actually measuring what they know?In this episode, we take a deep look at traditional grading practices and ask hard but necessary questions about equity, accuracy, and student learning.From the 0–100 grading scale and how a single zero can distort achievement, to late penalties, extra credit, and assignments that don’t always reflect mastery, we explore how grades can sometimes measure compliance more than understanding.I also share a personal experience as a parent that challenged my perspective on grading and learning, along with reflections on how we support students who are struggling, and those who may be passing without being fully prepared for what comes next.We also talk about: Why behavior and academic achievement should be separated The problem with averaging scores over time Why re-teaching and reassessing matters for true mastery And how instructional decisions should be driven by data, not just grades in a gradebook This is a conversation for educators, parents, and anyone who cares about student success beyond the report card.Are our grading practices telling the truth about learning or are they gatekeeping opportunity?Let’s talk about it.Connect With MeTo submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below.Facebook Group: TheAdvocateInstagram: @TheAdvocateDr.LoveEmail: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com
Transcribe →From At-Risk to At-Promise: How Words Shape Student Outcomes
Apr 800:11:48Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat if the problem starts with the labels we use? I’m your host, Dr. Kristi N. Love, and on this episode of The Advocate Podcast, we explore how the words we choose in education shape student identity, expectations, and outcomes.We’ll discuss the origins of the term at-promise, share stories of students who defy labels, and offer practical strategies for educators to raise expectations, nurture potential, and see students for who they truly are. This episode is for anyone ready to shift the narrative from risk to promise, and make a real difference in the lives of children.Let's Go!Connect With MeTo submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below.Facebook Group: TheAdvocateInstagram: @TheAdvocateDr.LoveEmail: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com
Transcribe →Gifted but Disengaged: The Truth Behind ‘Unmotivated’ Students
Apr 100:40:31Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat if the students we label as “unmotivated” are actually the most misunderstood?In this powerful episode of The Advocate Podcast, Dr. Kristi N. Love sits down with a guest whose story challenges one of the most common narratives in education. Identified as gifted but often disengaged, he struggled to meet traditional academic expectations, not because he lacked ability, but because the system didn’t align with how he experienced learning, responsibility, and motivation.From unfinished homework and falling behind… to the influence of a father who demanded accountability… to ultimately finding discipline, structure, and purpose through the military, this conversation unpacks what it really means to grow into your potential.Together, we explore: ✨ The difference between being unmotivated and being misunderstood ✨ Why academic success doesn’t always reflect true ability ✨ The role of parents in balancing accountability and support ✨ What educators often miss about students who don’t “perform” ✨ How discipline and direction can transform a lifeThis episode is a must-listen for educators, parents, and anyone who believes in seeing beyond labels and investing in what’s possible.Because sometimes, the problem isn’t the student… it’s the narrative.🎧 Tune in—and don’t forget to share with someone who needs this perspective.Connect With MeTo submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below.Facebook Group: TheAdvocateInstagram: @TheAdvocateDr.LoveEmail: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com
Transcribe →Beyond Bootstraps: What We’ve Been Told vs. What Is True
Mar 2500:12:55Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat if the problem isn’t that people aren’t working hard enough…but that we’ve been telling the wrong story?In this episode of The Advocate Podcast, we challenge the deeply rooted “bootstrap” narrative—the idea that success is simply the result of hard work and personal responsibility. While effort matters, this conversation goes deeper, unpacking the systems, structures, and historical realities that shape access, opportunity, and outcomes.Building on earlier discussions about literacy as a justice issue, this episode zooms out to examine the broader context: how environment, exposure, and policy influence what children experience long before they ever step into a classroom.We explore:The difference between effort and accessHow communities are shaped by systemic decisions over timeWhy we often misinterpret struggle as lack of effortThe lasting impact of historical policies on present-day outcomesAnd how our language—like shifting from “at-risk” to “at-promise”—can reshape how we see and support childrenThis episode invites listeners to move beyond surface-level explanations and begin asking deeper questions—not just about education, but about equity, opportunity, and responsibility.Because when we change the narrative…we change how we show up for children.🎙️ Next week: A powerful, real-life story that brings this conversation to life—exploring responsibility, resilience, and the role of community in shaping success.💛 If this episode resonates, share it with someone who believes in advocating for children and challenging the narratives that limit them.Connect With MeTo submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below.Facebook Group: TheAdvocateInstagram: @TheAdvocateDr.LoveEmail: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com
Transcribe →Intelligence-Led Literacy: Exploring Social and Environmental Determinants and Life Trajectories. A Conversation with Demetrius Paschel
Mar 1800:39:30Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailIn this episode of The Advocate Podcast, we explore why literacy is not just an education issue—it’s a justice issue. I sit down with an expert to discuss the social and environmental determinants that shape early childhood reading comprehension, and how struggles with literacy by third grade can lead to negative long-term outcomes, including dropout, suspension, and even justice system involvement.We dig into the factors outside the classroom that impact reading, the ways academic frustration can be misinterpreted as behavioral issues, and what schools, families, and communities can do to intervene early. This conversation is essential for parents, educators, and policymakers who want to understand how equitable literacy opportunities can transform a child’s future.Connect With MeTo submit a question or join my mailing list, use the information below.Facebook Group: TheAdvocateInstagram: @TheAdvocateDr.LoveEmail: Dr.Love.TheAdvocate@gmail.com
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