Educating the Human Potential: The American Montessori Society Podcast

What happens when the two pedagogical standard bearers in Montessori come together around a shared vision for education? Denise Monnier of the Montessori Public Policy Initiative joins Biff and Nicole with Mary Beth McCormack and Dr. Lisa Roy to discuss the development of the U.S. National Montessori Curriculum, a collaborative effort involving the American Montessori Society and the Association Montessori Internationale USA. Designed to help policymakers and advocates better understand Monte...

What does a Montessori classroom actually look like—and what is really happening beneath the freedom, movement, and choice? In this conversation, Biff and Nicole take on some of the most common questions and misconceptions they hear about Montessori. Is it a chaotic free-for-all? Is it overly strict? Do children get enough academics? Are Montessori students prepared for the “real world”—or for transitioning to a more traditional school? And does Montessori really mean no technology? Rather th...

What do children actually think about school? For this special conversation, we hand the microphones over to two very honest critics: nine-year-old twins Ishaan and Ayaan. After years in Montessori and a recent transition to a new school, the third graders have plenty to say about how they learn, what they love, what they miss, and what they would change. Their answers are funny, thoughtful, occasionally surprising—and often more insightful than adults might expect. They talk about choosing t...

What happens when artificial intelligence becomes part of how children learn, teachers work, and we relate to one another? Samantha Gleisten believes the answer isn't simply learning how to use new tools—it's strengthening the human capacities that should guide how we use them. Samantha brings her experience as a Montessori educator, digital citizenship teacher, and AI developer to a conversation about what education can contribute in an AI-powered world. She explains why relational int...

What if the problem isn't that we're failing to find work-life balance—but that we're chasing something that doesn't exist? Katie Keller Wood joins Educating the Human Potential to rethink one of the most persistent ideas in modern life. Drawing on her Montessori work and her book Alignment, Katie argues that our lives aren't a scale where work and life compete for equal weight. They're more like a mosaic: a collection of pieces that shift, grow, and change across different seasons of our liv...

Across the country, Horizons National is helping change that. With more than 70 affiliated programs, the national nonprofit partners with schools to provide high-quality summer learning experiences that help students stay engaged academically while opening doors to new opportunities. At Lexington Montessori School, Director Maricarmen Sullivan and longtime Horizons student Mayelis Burgos-Sanchez share what that looks like in practice—and why its impact extends far beyond the classroom. Togeth...

What happens when children spend time away from home—and why do so many parents find that harder than their kids do? In Educating the Human Potential's first-ever returning guest episode, psychologist and bestselling author Michael Thompson returns for a timely conversation about why summer camp remains one of childhood's most powerful developmental experiences. Together with Nicole Coman and Biff Maier, he explores why homesickness is a normal part of growing up, how camp fosters resilience ...

What does it really mean for a child to become independent? For many parents, independence means tying shoes, getting dressed, or completing tasks without help. But in this conversation, Biff and Nicole explore a deeper question: What if true independence is about more than doing things alone? Drawing on Montessori philosophy, they examine how autonomy, choice, responsibility, and thoughtfully prepared environments help children develop the confidence and self-direction they'll carry througho...

What if the moments that change a life are often small, intentional acts of belief? In this inspiring conversation, Biff and Nicole are joined by Emmy Award-winning speaker, drummer, and bestselling author Clint Pulver to explore how mentorship, connection, and presence shape the stories children and adults tell about themselves. From the teacher who handed him his first pair of drumsticks to years spent studying workplace culture, Clint shares why people thrive when they feel seen, heard, an...

What happens when children borrow not just our words, but our emotions? In this thoughtful conversation, Biff and Nicole explore how children learn emotional regulation by watching the adults around them. Drawing from Montessori principles, psychology, and real-life parenting experiences, they discuss why our reactions matter, how children absorb the emotional climate around them, and what we can do when we inevitably lose our cool. Together, they discuss: • Why children learn emotional regul...

What happens when Montessori education and occupational therapy come together? In this thoughtful and deeply practical conversation, Biff and Nicole sit down with a Montessori educator and occupational therapist Tia Gamelin to explore how movement, sensory regulation, emotional development, and environment all shape the way children learn. Together, they discuss: • The connection between occupational therapy and Montessori philosophy • Why behavior is often communication — not defiance • How ...

What if some of the most powerful lessons children learn happen outside the classroom walls? In this episode, Biff and Nicole sit down with Montessori educator and school farmer Elise Washburn to explore how farming can become a living classroom — one that nurtures independence, observation, responsibility, and a deeper connection to the natural world. Together, they discuss: • Elise’s unconventional journey into Montessori, from California’s redwood forests to Rwanda and ultimately to the sc...

What if the way we think about learning… is wrong? In this episode, Biff and Nicole sit down with neuroscientist Jared Cooney Horvath to break down what science actually tells us about how the brain learns—and why so many common approaches fall short. Drawing from research and real-world application, Horvath challenges popular assumptions and offers a clearer, more effective framework for understanding how children absorb, retain, and apply knowledge. Together, they explore: What’s really hap...

What if anxiety isn’t something to eliminate—but something to understand? In this episode, Biff and Nicole sit down with clinical psychologist and bestselling author Lisa Damour to unpack the science of stress, anxiety, and adolescent development. With clarity and compassion, she reframes anxiety not as a problem to fix, but as a natural and necessary part of growing up. Together, they explore: The difference between healthy stress and harmful anxiety—and why both matterWhy avoidance actually...

What do boys really need from the adults who teach and raise them? In this episode of Educating the Human Potential, hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman sit down with renowned psychologist and author Michael Thompson, whose decades of work have focused on boys’ development, friendships, emotional lives, and school experiences. Together they explore how developmental differences can shape boys’ experiences in school, why some boys disengage from learning, and how educators and parents can ...

In this episode of Educating the Human Potential, hosts Biff Maier and child psychologist Nicole Coman discuss how evaluations can help families better understand a child’s learning, behavior, and emotional development. Together they explore the differences between educational, psychological, and neuropsychological evaluations, and how these tools can provide valuable insight rather than labels. In this conversation, they discuss: Why parents sometimes hesitate and how to think about diagnose...

What happens when Montessori moves beyond the classroom — and begins transforming the adults who guide it? In this Montessori Deep Dive, hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman sit down with educator and global teacher educator Natasha McKenzie, whose journey into Montessori began unexpectedly in an international classroom and grew into a career supporting educators across continents. Drawing on decades of international experience, Natasha shares how Montessori adapts across cultures while maintain...

In this powerful and deeply personal conversation, world-renowned psychiatrist and ADHD expert Dr. Ned Hallowell challenges everything we think we know about attention, learning, and human potential. Drawing from decades of clinical experience — and his own life with ADHD — Dr. Hallowell reframes ADHD not simply as a disorder, but as a complex condition that can become a profound strength when understood and supported. He shares stories from his childhood, his work with children and families,...

Season 2 of Educating the Human Potential begins with reflection and anticipation. In this premiere episode, hosts Nicole and Biff look back on meaningful moments from Season 1, revisiting conversations that shaped the journey and sharing memories from a remarkable group of guests. From psychology and well-being to creativity, identity, and lifelong learning, this episode highlights voices including Dr. Nick Mian on what children are really telling us through behavior; Suneel Gupta on small a...

A quick message from Nicole and Biff as we prepare to launch Season 2 of Educating the Human Potential. Season 2 debuts next Monday, the 9th. Thank you for listening and being part of our community. Contact Us: humanpotential@amshq.org Educating the Human Potential is a podcast about optimizing education for a better society, through a Montessori lens. Hosts Nicole Coman, a licensed educational psychologist specializing in school psychology and child development -- and a "Montesso...

What happens when a child is truly seen—and supported—at exactly the moment it matters most? In this very special episode of Educating the Human Potential, Biff and Nicole are joined by Hawaiʻi Governor Josh Green, who shares a deeply personal story of how Montessori education helped change the trajectory of his life. After beginning his early childhood unable to hear or speak, Josh entered a Montessori classroom at just two and a half years old—where educators recognized his potential and he...

What if children’s behavior is communication—not something to fix, but something to understand? In this episode of Educating the Human Potential, Biff and Nicole are joined by Dr. Nick Mian, a developmental psychologist whose work bridges mental health, child development, and education. Together, they explore how psychology can deepen our understanding of children’s emotional lives and learning experiences. In this conversation, you’ll hear about: How child development shapes behavior, emotio...

What if music could unlock a child’s full potential—and transform the way we teach? In this episode, Biff & Nicole sit down with educator and musician Frank Leto, who shares his half-century-long journey of inspiring creativity, confidence, and curiosity in children through music. Together, they explore: Frank’s unforgettable and life-changing discovery of Montessori education.Translating powerful teaching tools through the power of music.Stories of transforming shy or hesitant learners i...

What does it really mean to support parents who are stretched thin—and how can schools, communities, and families work together to ease the load? In this conversation, hosts Nicole Coman and Biff Maier get real about the universal experience of parental overwhelm and the many pressures today’s caregivers carry. Nicole and Biff explore: Why naming your stress and reaching out for connection is often the first stepHow schools can serve as a trusted extension of the familyThe role of community, ...

What shapes a lifetime in education—and what keeps someone devoted to it for more than half a century? In this episode, longtime educator and AMS Living Legacy honoree Charles Terranova looks back on 55 years in Montessori, sharing the unexpected twists, transformative mentors, and unforgettable children who defined his journey. Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coleman speak with Charles about: How a chance visit to a Montessori classroom changed the course of his lifeThe influence of early mentor...

What if your greatest limitation became your most powerful creative force? In this episode, Phil Hansen, internationally recognized multimedia artist and TED speaker, joins hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman to share how a hand tremor reshaped his art, his mindset, and his life. From painting with worms and karate chops to creating art he deliberately destroys, Phil’s story is a masterclass in resilience, curiosity, and reinvention. Together, they explore: How embracing constraints can spark i...

What happens when a child who once asked to be homeschooled grows up to become a Montessori educator, and a Montessori parent? In this episode, Montessori teacher Cassandra Duggan traces her winding journey from anxious second grader to public-school teacher and autism interventionist, through a brief stop in Waldorf, and finally into Montessori, where follow the child, intrinsic motivation, and multi-age communities transformed her practice and her own daughter’s love of school. Hosts Biff M...

What happens when hip-hop, spoken word, and student support meet in higher education? In this episode, Donovan Livingston, award-winning educator, spoken word poet, and creator of the viral Harvard speech Lift Off, shares how culture and community can transform student success. Now director of College Thriving at UNC–Chapel Hill, Livingston bridges music, equity, and education to help students find their voice and their place. Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman talk with Donovan about: How the...

What happens when one of the world’s most iconic toy makers goes back to its roots – and invites Montessori experts to help chart the future? In this episode, hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman go inside Fisher-Price’s legendary Play Lab with Dr. Corinne Eggleston, Senior Manager of the Fisher-Price Play Lab, to unpack why the company returned to wood, how the team designed a Montessori-inspired product line, and what decades of play research reveal about how children really learn. Hosts Biff ...

Why is strong communication between home and school essential for a child’s success? In this episode, hosts Nicole Coman and Biff Maier explore the role of trust, honesty, and consistency between parents and educators. Through stories from their own school experiences, they discuss: Why consistency between home and school is key to student growthHow open communication builds trust and reduces stress for families, teachers, and childrenStrategies for navigating difficult conversations, from ac...

What if art wasn’t just something you make—but a way you think, live, and heal? In this episode, internationally acclaimed graffiti artist and speaker Erik Wahl, joined by his wife and creative partner, Tasha Wahl, share their deeply personal story of losing everything, redefining success, and building a home that doubles as a life studio. Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman talk with Erik and Tasha about: Why Erik defines art as thinking – and how that perspective can liberate learners of all...

Maria Montessori was a visionary—but she was also human, complicated, and far more radical than the myths suggest. In this episode, Erica Moretti, author of The Best Weapon for Peace: Maria Montessori, Education, and Children’s Rights, joins hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman to explore the radical roots of Montessori’s legacy. Together, they discuss: Montessori’s early activism and interactions —including with Mussolini and the VaticanMoretti presents Montessori as a trailblazing champion for...

What if our education system isn’t broken—but just built for a different era? In this episode, Ulcca Joshi Hansen—author of The Future of Smart, Chief Program Officer at Grantmakers for Education, and host of the Future Smart podcast—shares why true educational equity requires more than better technology or expanded curriculum. It requires a fundamental shift in how we define learning and human potential. Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman talk with Ulcca about: Why “bolting on” solutions to a...

How can sports empower children—and what happens when they don't? In this episode, Olympic gold medalist and mother of four Dominique Dawes reflects on the highs and harms of elite athletics, and how she’s now working to redefine what success in sports can look like for today’s youth. Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman speak with Dominique about: The psychological costs of high-level competition—and the power of healing environmentsHow her gymnastics academies prioritize whole-child developmen...

What if technology didn’t replace our humanity—but helped us deepen it? In this episode, Eric Rodriguez—engineer, keynote speaker, and facilitator of the AMS Innovation Think Tank—shares how a formative experience in his Montessori-inspired childhood sparked a lifelong passion for technology, ultimately shaping his mission to create a more human-centered digital future. Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman explore with Eric: How a seventh-grade encounter with a school computer lab in Ecuador ign...

Elizabeth Tingle never planned to become a Montessori teacher, but her path seems to have led her there all along. With decades of experience behind her, Elizabeth Tingle discovered that Montessori aligned perfectly with the values she'd been teaching by for years. Hosts Nicole Coman and Biff Maier talk with Elizabeth about: Elizabeth Tingle’s early calling to teach and how a fifth-grade teacher inspired her to embrace every child’s uniquenessThe challenges and insights from 14 years working ...

What if the people you trust most try to change who you are—and call it love? In this episode, Garrard Conley, author of the bestselling memoir Boy Erased, adapted into a film starring Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe, shares his powerful journey from being outed and forced into conversion therapy to becoming a writer, educator, and advocate for truth and healing. Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman talk with Garrard about: Growing up gay in a fundamentalist Baptist community in rural ArkansasCo...

How does a second-generation Montessori child become a transformational leader in the movement? In this episode, Anita Hanks, newly appointed President of the AMS Board of Directors, shares her deeply personal Montessori journey—from toddler in the classroom to founder of a thriving school, teacher education program director, and now national leader. Hosts Nicole Coman and Biff Maier talk with Anita about: Anita's generational ties to Montessori and what led her back after a career in busines...

How do we stay energized, focused, and fulfilled in a world that constantly demands more? In this episode, hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman are joined by bestselling author and Harvard Medical School visiting scholar Suneel Gupta, who shares why the path from burnout to balance doesn’t require a major life overhaul—just a few intentional shifts. Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman talk with Suneel about: How your dharma—your inner calling—can be expressed without upending your lifeThe connecti...

What happens when Montessori students leave their multi-age classrooms and step into the world of traditional high schools? In this episode, two seniors—Symona and Josie—reflect on how their Montessori foundations shaped their confidence, relationships, and academic resilience through the challenges of public and independent school settings. Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman explore with Symona and Josie: The academic and social transitions after graduating from a Montessori middle schoolHow ...

How does a childhood spent exploring nature shape a lifelong passion? In this episode, Alexis Nikole Nelson—award-winning forager, chef, and social media star—shares how her Montessori education helped nurture her curiosity and independence, ultimately leading to her unique career. Hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman discuss with Alexis: How her Montessori upbringing encouraged hands-on learning and a love of natureThe history and cultural significance of foraging, especially in Black and Indig...

How does social identity influence the way we learn, form biases, and navigate the world? In this episode, Dr. Jay Van Bavel, NYU professor and coauthor of The Power of Us, joins us to explore the psychology and neuroscience behind identity formation. Hosts Nicole Coleman and Biff Maier discuss with Dr. Van Bavel: How group identity impacts learning, motivation, and cognitive performanceThe role of social media in shaping and reinforcing identitiesStrategies to reduce bias and build inclusion...

Are traditional discipline methods setting children up for failure? In this episode, hosts Nicole Coman and Biff Maier challenge the outdated, top-down approach to rules and discipline, revealing how Montessori principles cultivate true self-regulation, accountability, and independence—without authoritarian control. They explore: Why rules often backfire and what works insteadThe power of natural consequences over punishmentsHow to build a culture of respect where kids take responsibilityMont...

How can parents and educators help kids develop healthy relationships, navigate social media, and build self-control in a world designed to capture their attention? In this episode, Dr. Sharon Maxwell, clinical psychologist and author of The Talk, joins her daughter Chelsea Maxwell, an educator and learning designer, to discuss the challenges of raising kids in today’s digital, oversexualized culture—through a lens that aligns with Montessori principles of self-regulation, independence, and v...

Award-winning journalist Lisa Ling has spent her career uncovering untold stories and bringing hidden perspectives to light. From reporting in war zones at 21 to hosting This Is Life on CNN and joining CBS News, Ling has dedicated herself to educating and informing the public. In this episode, she shares: How her early experiences with Channel One News shaped her as a journalistThe power of storytelling to foster empathy and global awarenessThe impact of technology and social media on young m...

Is education preparing children for the world they’ll inherit—or the world of the past? In this premiere episode, hosts Biff Maier and Nicole Coman launch Educating the Human Potential by challenging conventional wisdom about how children learn and thrive. They explore: What’s broken in education and how Montessori principles offer a bold alternativeThe meaning of ‘human potential’—and why it’s more than just academic successWhy learning differences matter and how to truly support every child...