Jesse McCarthy
125 episodes listed below
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A Montessori podcast for parents and teachers about raising children and educating students while bettering ourselves alongside them
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Jesse McCarthy turns Montessori principles into concrete questions about children's independence, adult authority, and everyday classroom and family decisions.
Jesse McCarthy keeps Montessori Education grounded in the small decisions that shape a child's day. Moving between solo explanation and guest conversation, he considers classroom practice, family life, independence, and the adult's responsibility to see situations from a child's…
Rome fell; a child pictured it underwater, and you may start checking your own explanations.
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Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
Normalization becomes a test of adult comfort, classroom purpose, and what children are ready to discover.
Normalization is framed here as something shared: the child grows into steadier, more harmonious work while the adult changes alongside the child.
A compact, careful look at how Montessori color tablets connect shade-matching with the hand, eye, and memory.
Color Box treats a familiar Montessori classroom material as a small study in how children learn through color, movement, attention, and memory. Jesse McCarthy keeps the setting clear: the casa, or primary classroom, for children around three to six.
A grounded Montessori conversation about trading perfect-home comparison for steadier parental growth.
Parenting Comparisons takes on a reflex many parents know well: measuring a child's progress, a home environment, or their own performance against someone else's.
A thoughtful review of how adult convictions can outrun a child's understanding.
The episode begins with the unsettling image of protesters carrying signs that say "God hates facts," then narrows to a photo of a young boy holding one while an adult seems to cheer him on.
A grounded Montessori reflection on seeing independence from a child's height.
The Montessori Giant centers on Dr. Maria Montessori's 1915 analogy, inviting adults to picture a child's world as one scaled for much larger people.
The host shares a personal anecdote about a three-year-old child named Kennedy interacting with a plant in their Montessori schoolhouse to illustrate the educational principle of freedom within limits.
The host discusses how yelling between rooms causes frustration in his marriage and draws parallels to similar communication issues with children in Montessori education.
The host shares a personal story about a child annoying him during a read-aloud session in his early teaching career, using it to reflect on child development and adult self-improvement in education.
This episode discusses the role of Montessori assistants in the classroom, including their responsibilities, interactions with teachers and parents, and insights from experienced educators Kate and Terry Millie.
This episode explores the origin story of the Montessori education method as described by Dr.
A Montessori educator shares a story about a child's self-discipline during pickup time to illustrate how treating children with respect fosters positive behavior.
This episode features an interview with 94-year-old Montessori educator Beverley McGhee, discussing her 60-year career founding schools, teacher training, and contributions to the Montessori movement.
This episode features an interview with experienced Montessori educator Claudia Alvarez, who shares practical guidance for parents and teachers of toddlers based on her three decades of work with young children.
This episode features an interview with Andrew, an elementary school teacher who discusses the challenges of public education and explores Montessori as a successful alternative based on his experiences with his own children.
This episode features an interview with experienced Montessori educator Sandra Girolato discussing how allowing children to experience manageable discomfort can foster learning and independence.
This episode explores how Montessori education fosters entrepreneurial skills, featuring insights from Jeff Bezos and an interview with tech entrepreneur William Kelly.
This episode features Janet Lansbury discussing RIE parenting philosophy, its origins with Magda Gerber, and the focus on respect and joy for both children and adults.
This episode discusses how real Montessori education embraces messiness and mistakes in children's learning, contrasting with idealized social media portrayals.
A Montessori educator shares a personal story about a student who disappeared to test if anyone cared, illustrating how children's growth cannot be forced and requires patience and emotional support.
This episode features an interview with Gabby Velasquez, an experienced Montessori educator and trainer, discussing practical parenting and education approaches for children, particularly from ages zero to three.
This episode features professors Angeline Lillard and Justice Randolph discussing modern research findings on Montessori schooling, including a systematic review of global studies.
A parenting expert addresses two questions from mothers about balancing independence and anxiety in children, discussing Montessori principles of freedom within limits.
This episode explores the Montessori Spindle Box as a hands-on math lesson to teach the concept of zero, while addressing misconceptions about Montessori education.
A parent shares a recorded zoo trip with their 19-month-old son, discussing the Montessori-inspired approach of 'following the child' by letting him explore freely in a safe environment.
This episode presents a unique interview format where host Jesse McCarthy asks questions answered verbatim with Maria Montessori's own words from her lectures and writings to explore her educational philosophy and its relevance today.
This episode explores Maria Montessori's knitting analogy to explain how missing sensitive periods in early childhood development can lead to less optimal adult outcomes.
This episode features an interview with Amukta Mahapatra, an experienced Montessori educator trained in 1973, discussing her work with children in India and her extensive background in teaching, directing, and founding schools.
This episode explores Montessori education for adolescents aged 12-18, featuring expert Paula Lillard Preschlack discussing how Montessori principles apply to middle and high school students.
This episode explores the Montessori approach to correcting mistakes in children and adults, drawing parallels between personal relationship dynamics and educational principles.
This episode explores what academic learning looks like in Montessori education, comparing it to traditional schooling, with insights from experienced educator Sandra Giarlato.
The host shares a personal story about his newborn son Ragnar, discussing his anxiety over the baby's safety while sleeping and reflecting on Montessori principles in early parenting.
This episode features an interview with Ginny Sackett, a Montessori expert who shares her personal journey from being an uninvolved parent to embracing Montessori education after witnessing its positive impact on her son.
This episode discusses examples from Montessori biographer E.M.
This episode explores the importance of critical feedback and pushback in Montessori education and broader contexts, using a personal childhood story about debating God's existence as an illustrative example.
The host shares a personal college story about a roommate's outburst over chicken fingers to illustrate how people handle conflict differently and connect it to Montessori principles of self-improvement.
Host Jesse McCarthy interviews longtime Montessori educator Bridget D'Angelo about practical aspects of Montessori education, including barefoot children, parent involvement, and test-taking.
This episode explores whether playpens align with Montessori principles through personal anecdotes and philosophical discussion about child-rearing practices.
A podcast host shares a personal story from a mother about her preschool son's intense desire for a toy, which involves police and explores Montessori education principles.
A parent shares a critical audio clip from a former Montessori dad who questions why children are washing dishes at school instead of traditional learning activities.
This episode explores the contradictions between people's political beliefs and their personal actions, particularly in parenting and education, using examples from both liberal and conservative perspectives and referencing Maria Montessori's ideas about self-reform.
This episode presents Maria Montessori's 1946 speech 'Education as a Help to Life,' exploring how education addresses the roots of violence and war to achieve lasting peace.
This episode explores the effectiveness of Montessori elementary education through an interview with experienced educator Don Cowan, addressing key differences from traditional schools, classroom dynamics, and potential drawbacks.
Former inmate Big Herc shares his journey from bank robbery and prison to finding purpose, with host Jesse McCarthy connecting it to broader themes of education and parenting.
A father shares a personal story about navigating his toddler's request for a snack before dinner, reflecting on Montessori principles of child development and self-improvement.
This episode features an interview with Montessori trainer Zerreen Malva, who shares her deep expertise and personal connection to Maria Montessori's teachings on child development and education.
Host Jess McCarthy interviews Gordon McNeil, a former elite private school leader, about questioning traditional schooling assumptions and exploring non-traditional educational approaches.
This episode shares clips from a live Q&A discussing Montessori education principles, focusing on screen time recommendations and media choices for young children aged 3-6.
A podcast host shares a recorded conversation with dads discussing how Montessori education has enhanced their children's cognitive abilities and learning approaches.
This episode explores Montessori education principles for children ages 0-3 through an interview with trainer Gabriela Velazquez, focusing on practical parenting insights and child development.
This episode explores the Montessori perspective on fantasy content like Disney movies and superheroes for young children, featuring an interview with experienced Montessorian Ginny Sackett.
A teacher recounts his experience tutoring a brilliant but disorganized student named Rachel, highlighting her struggles with organization despite various interventions.
This episode explores how reading and writing are approached in Montessori education, featuring insights from a veteran educator and historical anecdotes from Maria Montessori.
Jesse McCarthy shares a personal story from his early teaching days, where a joke about Santa Claus in a fifth-grade classroom leads to an awkward realization when one student still believes.
Jesse McCarthy explores Montessori education through a sunburn analogy, illustrating how painful experiences teach lasting lessons for parenting and teaching.
Jesse McCarthy opens Montessori Education with Jesse McCarthy by introducing Ginny Sackett as a longtime Montessori teacher, former AMI pedagogy leader, and head of a training center in Portland, Oregon.
Jesse McCarthy’s Montessori Education episode centers on the color box, or color tablets, in the Montessori casa classroom.
Lucy Tomasheva says some Kenyan parents refused a nonviolent school because they believed teachers who would not hit children would "spoil" them.
Montessori Education with Jesse McCarthy opens on a Westboro Baptist Church protest near 21st and Oliver in Kansas, where one sign reads "God hates facts." Jesse McCarthy contrasts that scene with a young girl holding a "refugees are welcome here" sign and says both images can be examples of adults pushing beliefs onto children.
Jesse McCarthy frames Montessori Education around Maria Montessori's 1915 "giant" analogy, after apologizing for a late release caused by a tonsillectomy.