Teachers Unify

This episode features Kate McCann, an educator & state legislator from Vermont. She talks about her experience as a high school math teacher, work she’s done in the legislature, what students & teachers can do to enact change and more.

This episode features Sofia Gonzalez, an educator & activist from Chicago. She talks about losing students to gang & gun violence, what brought her to education & navigating as an education activist. She shares an excerpt of an essay she recently had published, gives some suggestions for change, and more.

This episode features Alex Fleming, a gun violence survivor. She talks about her experience & journey as a drive-by shooting survivor, the importance of the teacher-voice, the advocacy work she’s done and more.

This episode features members of the Teachers Unify To End Gun Violence Crisis Intervention & Support Team who attended the inaugural Summit in Philadelphia from Nov. 7-9, 2025, under the leadership of Dr. Michael Schultz. The voices in the episode include survivors from Columbine High School, Sandy Hook School, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Sparks Middle School, Santa Fe High School, as well as a licensed clinical professional counselor. They each share their experiences with gun violence, what the Summit meant to them, how the Crisis Intervention & Support team will be able to help others, and more.

This episode features Dr. Elyse Thulin, an assistant research professor at the University of Michigan. She works for the Institute for Firearm Injury Prevention, the Department of Health Behavior and Health Equity and the Institute for Social Research. She talks about her extensive research on social media platforms, firearm violence, anonymous reporting systems, and more.

This episode features Cindy Carlson, a Sandy Hook School survivor. She talks about her experience from Dec. 14, 2012, her work in the gun violence prevention space and much more.

This episode features Michael Cotey, the creator of Enough: Plays To End Gun Violence. He talks about his organization, his work with Change the Ref and Manny & Patricia Oliver, what he hopes people glean from the plays, and much more.

This episode features La-Shanda West, an educator & Teachers Unify Ambassador. She talks about her activism, navigating life as a child-survivor of gun violence and why she remains in the gun violence prevention space.

This episode features Karen Dunholter, a school social worker in Michigan. She talks about her experiences working with families impacted by homicide, losing a student to suicide at school, her school safety task force and more.

This episode features Karen McDonald, a former educator & judge, current Oakland County prosecutor & candidate for Michigan Attorney General. She talks about her time in the classroom, the Oxford shooting trials, how she worked to create a foundation in the gun violence prevention space, and more.

This episode features Nadia Murillo, a survivor from both Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018 & Florida State University in April 2025. She talks about her experiences, how she kept her own students safe, her healing journey, plans for the future, and more.

This episode features Flo Rice, a former substitute teacher & injured survivor from the shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas in May 2018. She talks about her experience from that day, how she’s used her story to bring about change, the different connections she’s made, and much more.

This episode features Debra Hixon, a former educator, current school board member and wife of Chris Hixon, who was killed at MSD in 2018. She talks about her life with Chris, her time in education, work she’s done to make schools safer, and much more.

This episode features Paula Reed, a retired English teacher & current Jefferson County School Board member, who survived the Columbine High School shooting in April 1999. She shares her experience from that day, how she’s moved through trauma & healing, her experiences helping others, and much more.

This episode features Nikki Fried, the former Florida Commissioner of Agriculture & current Chair of the Florida Democratic Party. She talks about her role in public service, her support for the gun violence community, how people can get involved to make change, and much more.

This episode features Rhiannon Murphy, a lifelong Bronx resident and mom who worked to end gun violence in her community. She shares how she moved her daughter upstate near Buffalo for her education & safety, her forthcoming book, her work in community organizing & activism, and much more.

This episode features Audrey Brianne, a stylist based in Los Angeles. She shares her experiences in being in close proximity to gun violence & the loss of a dear friend, how she sees gun violence in Black & Brown communities and much more.

This two-part episode features Stacey Lippel, a teacher/survivor from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Feb. 2018. She shares her experience from that day, how she’s been able to help others, her journey through mental health and much more.

This two-part episode features Stacey Lippel, a teacher/survivor from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Feb. 2018. She shares her experience from that day, how she’s been able to help others, her journey through mental health and much more.

This episode features Kristin Song & Robin Fox, who came together in the aftermath of the death of Kristen’s son Ethan in January 2018. They share their own stories and connections to gun violence, Kristen’s work with Ethan’s Law and safe storage initiatives, the work they’ve done collaboratively through “Trust Talk For Teens,” and much more.

This episode features Rori Abernethy, a teacher from the Oakland/San Francisco area. She speaks about being a child of the Black Panther Party, her experience as a teacher dealing with school & community gun violence and her hopes for the future.

This episode features Eric Garner, a teacher/survivor from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He speaks about what brought him to education, his experience from Feb. 14, 2018, his journey through healing & why it’s important to use your voice.

This episode was recorded from a Teachers Unify To End Gun Violence Back To School Zoom held on Sept. 12, 2024. Hosted by Teachers Unify co-founders Abbey Clements and Sarah Lerner, the special guests were American Federation of Teachers President, Randi Weingarten and White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention Deputy Directors Greg Jackson & Rob Wilcox.

This episode features Megan Doney, an English professor at New River Community College in Virginia. She shares her experience from surviving the campus shooting in April 2013, how she navigated healing, the book she wrote to help survivors, and much more.

This episode features Darren Thomas, a teacher who survived the tragedy at Saugus High School in 2019.

He talks about his experience that day, working to create the yearbook with his students, how he’s cared for his mental health, and much more.

This episode features Hope Nuzback, a gun violence survivor who created the first chapter of Future Teachers Unify To End Gun Violence at Penn State. She talks about her experience with gun violence, the work she’s done with Future Teachers Unify, and things teachers can do to make change.

This episode features Ben Tucker, a recently retired teacher from Nevada, who is a school shooting survivor from Sparks Middle School. He shares his experience as a photojournalist in California, his healing journey since the shooting at his school and how he believes that teachers and school-based personnel can make change for students in crisis.

This episode features Florida State Senator Shevrin Jones, a Democrat who represents the state's 35th District.

He speaks about being an educator, the work he’s done within his community, why politics matters, and how we can all work to keep communities safe from gun violence.

This episode features Cyrena Arokium, a survivor from the Sandy Hook School shooting in 2012. She talks about her experience, what it’s like being a college student and her plans for the future.

This episode features Khadijah Butler, founder & president of the Craig D. Butler Scholarship Foundation. She speaks about the loss of her father to community gun violence, the scholarship foundation she’s created in his memory, working to help the students of Philadelphia and much more.

This extended episode features Melissa Gibbons, a teacher at Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan. She speaks about her experience from Nov. 30, 2021, how she’s using her voice to speak out, and much more.

This episode features Robert Wilcox, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, which was created by the Biden Administration in Sept. 2023. He talks about his experience with gun violence, the work he’s done with the Office of Gun Violence Prevention and things teachers can do to make change.

This episode features Kaitlin Haynes. She speaks about losing her best friend and uncle to gun violence, going into schools every day for work, being a mom with the struggles and fears of raising Black sons today, and much more.

On this episode, we’ll hear from Natalie Niemeyer, a survivor from the Des Moines East High School shooting in March 2022. She speaks about how having educator parents shaped her formative years, which led her to education, her experience from the shooting, being a new mom amidst the loss of her parents, guiding her journalism students through covering the tragedy & navigating through caring for her mental health.

In this extended episode, we’ll hear from Reed Alexander. He played Nevel Papperman on iCarly and has gone on to become a world-class professional journalist with Business Insider. He speaks about his experience as a child actor, how it led him to journalism, how journalism led him to cover the events at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018 & why it’s important to be a trauma-informed reporter.

In this episode, we’ll hear from Logan Rubenstein, the former director of March For Our Lives Parkland. He speaks about his experience adjacent to the events at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018, how he’s gotten into politics & his plans for the future.

In this episode, we’ll hear from Rachel Archambault, a speech-language pathologist, public speaker & gun violence survivor. She speaks about her experience at MSD, how she’s helping to educate about trauma-informed care & her unique perspective in education.

On this episode, we’ll hear from Santiago Mayer, Executive Director of Voters of Tomorrow. He shares the organization’s origin, what young people can do to speak out about issues that matter, like gun reform, and why he feels so strongly about educators.

In this episode, we’ll talk about “Parkland Speaks,” the book that was released in January 2019, published by Random House. It’s an anthology of writing, art and photography from students and faculty from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who survived and share their experiences from Feb. 14, 2018.

We will hear from several contributors, hear how the book came to be, where the proceeds were donated and more.

On this episode, we’ll hear from Jack Hilton, a social worker in Maine who specializes in trauma-informed counseling. He shares how his personal trauma and work as a local journalist led him to a career in social work. He also talks about EMDR, gives some tips for when someone becomes activated & anxious, and the benefits of therapy.

In this episode, we’ll hear from Amy Kenny, an educator & yoga instructor. She speaks about her experience with gun violence, why yoga, meditation & the mind-body connection are so important to healing, and the sides of survivor guilt most people don’t talk about.

In this episode, we’ll hear from Antonius Wiriadjaja, an educator, artist & gun violence survivor. He speaks about the moment that changed his life, being in the gun violence prevention space & how art helped him through his healing journey.

In this episode, we have a follow-up interview with WKBW anchor, Ed Drantch. He shares what life is like in Buffalo a year and a half after Tops, how his reporting has changed & what his hopes are for the future.

In this episode, we’ll hear from Winfred Porter, an educator & survivor from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018. He speaks about his early life, being an educator, his experience from Feb. 14, and his journey through mental health & self-discovery.

On this episode, we’ll hear from Mei-Ling Ho-Shing, a survivor from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018. She speaks about being a lifelong activist, her experience from Feb. 14, 2018, how she cares for her mental health, what she’s been up to since graduation & the work she’s doing with Chainless Change & communities of color.

In this episode, Sarah Lerner shares some updates about the show, what Teachers Unify To End Gun Violence has been up to & ways you can get involved.

Edward Drantch, a reporter from WKBW, the ABC affiliate in Buffalo, shares his experiences covering the tragic events surrounding the shooting at Tops in Buffalo on May 14, 2022.

Dr. Joseph Sakran, a gun violence survivor and trauma surgeon, shares his experiences and journey through activism.

Teachers Unify Podcast hosts Sarah Lerner and Dave Price talk about the current status of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence, guns, violence, the 2nd Amendment, education today and more.

On this episode, Caitie Munoz, a reporter from WLRN, the Miami NPR affiliate, shares her experience as a reporter on Feb. 14, 2018, trauma-informed reporting & other related projects.

On this episode, Jeff Foster, a teacher in at MSD, shares his story from Feb. 14, 2018 & talks about his influence on the students who started March For Our Lives, his hopes for gun reform & his book “For Which We Stand.”

On this episode, Jeff Foster, a teacher in at MSD, shares his story from Feb. 14, 2018 & talks about his influence on the students who started March For Our Lives, his hopes for gun reform & his book “For Which We Stand.”

On this episode, Jeff Foster, a teacher in at MSD, shares his story from Feb. 14, 2018 & talks about his influence on the students who started March For Our Lives, his hopes for gun reform & his book “For Which We Stand.”

On this episode, Amie Stevens, a teacher at Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan, describes here experience from Nov. 30, 2021. She shares her "new normal" as a gun violence survivor and how's she's working through trauma.

On this episode, Sari Beth Rosenberg, a teacher in New York City, shares here experience as an educator and activist & what led her to become a co-founder of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence

Elementary teacher Abbey Clements describes the horror-filled day at Sandy Hook School in Newtown CT, on Dec. 14, 2012. She shares how that tragic event turned her into an activist, and what led her to become a co-founder of Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence.

On this, our premiere episode, you will hear Sarah's moving story about being a school shooting survivor.