Working “podfolio”

Role of Podcast Consultant for the Brookings Institute

Meet Laura and Keith

Made in a lab for the Reimaging Rural podcast project, we have backgrounds in rural education, research and policy, mission-focused communication, and podcast production across genres.

Together, we bring our time, talents, and passion to The Brookings Institute Center for Sustainable Development, bolstering your capacity as long as you need us.

Lead Consultant
Over 20 years of experience in communication, research, technical assistance, policy, and education. Specialize in leading and inspiring teams, designing practitioner-friendly products and engaging professional learning experiences, developing content strategy and leveraging technology and social media to disseminate complex information to diverse audiences, managing large-scale projects, and implementing evidence-based practices focused on equity and optimizing outcomes for marginalized populations.
Additionally, building a business providing technical assistance services to individuals, tackling pressing projects and freeing them up to pursue joy.

Podcast consultant, leveraged as needed
Award-winning communications manager, dissemination lead, consultant, and multimedia producer working on behalf of the nation’s learners, families, workers, and the institutions that support them.

Audio samples

Early Childhood Policy Matters

Early Childhood Policy Matters is a podcast for early childhood professionals and strategic partners hoping to use research to inform policy and better serve children, families, and their communities. Supported by the National Technical Assistance Center for Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care. Laura hosted and wrote interview questions and scripts for several episodes. Keith produced the entire series.

Episode 19: A Unique Approach to Early Childhood Systems-Building in Virginia

In this episode, we explore Virginia’s unique “Ready Regions” program, designed to bring unprecedented levels of coordination, accountability, and family engagement to early education programs in every community in the Commonwealth. Host Laura Kassner joins leaders from the state and regional levels in Virginia to discuss the program, developed with support from the Preschool Development Grants Birth-To-Five initiative, and their recommendations for early childhood leaders in states across the country.

Episode 14: Connecting and Engaging With Families in Kansas

Host Mandy Reeve (SRI Education) speaks with two state leaders about the program, how it was influenced by the PDG B-5 initiative, and how it is being used to serve children, families, and communities across the state. Guests include Melissa Rooker, Executive Director of the Kansas Children's Cabinet and Trust Fund; and Sara Gardner, Assistant Director of the Center for Public Partnerships and Research at the University of Kansas. In this podcast we explore “Our Tomorrows,” an innovative story-gathering tool being used to connect and engage with families in Kansas.

The SRI Homeroom

Down-to-earth discussions of the most pressing challenges facing America’s students, educators and families, and the work being done to address them. Featuring interviews with some of the nation’s most dedicated researchers, data experts, developers and educators.

Laura consulted on show concept and content infrastructure, and Keith was responsible for all technical production.

Episode 1: Opening the Door: An Introduction to SRI Education

How can we make education research more impactful? How can experts and stakeholder groups work together to reduce barriers and optimize outcomes for students and families across the U.S.?

Host Kori Hamilton Biagas joins Todd Grindal, Co-Director of the Center for Learning and Development with SRI Education, to discuss some of the most pressing challenges facing today's educators, researchers, policymakers, and parents, and the innovative work being done to meet those challenges head-on.

Pushing Past Polite

Pushing Past polite is an independent podcast with Kori and Laura from Just Educators.

Co-hosted by Kori and Laura, elder millennial working mamas and colleague besties, with hearts for social justice and a passion for good conversation. Pushing Past Polite, featuring an interracial friendship among millennial working mothers, "where we talk about what matters, and make the world more just."

Laura leads content development, including interview protocols for guests (when relevant), scheduling, content editing, and promotion (social media clip selections, web copy, show notes, and posting to host and website. Keith is responsible for all technical production and appears as a guest.

Episode 18: Mammograms, self-advocacy, and a literal pain in the ass

Kori and Laura recorded this season opener in the same physical room. Can you believe it?? Speaking of physicals, the gals delve into their experiences and best practices in preparing to see their doctors. They are grateful to have practitioners whom they trust, but also emphasize the importance of self-advocacy in medical decisions. Kori tells the story of food allergies, discovering a pain in her ass, and an amazing sports medicine doctor. Laura shares how her doctor discovered she had thyroid cancer from exercising an abundance of caution and reveals all the other well checks she went through afterwards to make sure she was all clear. We touch on college health centers, how Laura’s pediatrician set her up on a babysitting date, assumptions about what a healthy body looks like, how the BMI is B.S., and how Kori’s dad leverages his identities to connect with skeptical patients. Most importantly, we challenge the notion that health care has to be a commodity like it is in these here United States - and we address the history of injustice against Black and Brown bodies by medical researchers - and ongoing medical injustice from access to outcomes.