What We Carry Forward

In this powerful episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, Rarou Kong reflects on family, identity, and the histories we inherit. Through her personal story, Rarou explores the courage it takes to confront the past, preserve the experiences of those who came before us, and determine what we carry into the future. Her journey is a moving reminder that our histories can give us strength and purpose without defining the limits of who we can become.Stay through the end of the episode for a special archival excerpt featuring Loung Ung, author of First They Killed My Father, as she reflects on surviving the Khmer Rouge, honoring memory, and transforming unimaginable loss into a lifelong commitment to peace and human dignity.

The latest installment of our “Tea with Ms. G” Livestream Series is now available here on the Freedom Writers Podcast. Listen to a thoughtful Back to School Edition conversation featuring four Freedom Writer Teachers working with students in four different parts of the country. Chauncy Williams serves as the Academy Coach for the Innovation Academies of Muskegon Public Schools, Karen Lynn Kazemi teaches newcomers to the United States in Aurora, Colorado, Deb Kubin is Superintendent of the Ukiah Unified School District, and David Hoffman is a counselor supporting student mental health alongside his canine companion in Upstate New York. Hosted by Erin Gruwell, also known as Ms. G, this robust roundtable brings together perspectives from across the education system to explore the challenges students and educators are facing as they head back into the classroom. Drawing from their experiences as teachers, counselors, administrators, and advocates, our panelists reflect on what students need to feel safe, supported, and excited to learn. This episode is a meaningful listen for educators and anyone committed to creating classrooms, schools, and districts where every student has the opportunity to succeed. Listen all the way to the end for a special excerpt from our archive featuring Dr. Carl Cohn. Drawing from his experience as a superintendent during the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Dr. Cohn reflects on leading schools through crisis and the vital role educators can play in helping a community heal and rebuild after tragedy.

The latest installment of our “Tea with Ms. G” Livestream Series is now available here on the Freedom Writers Podcast. Listen to a thoughtful and inspiring Pride Edition conversation featuring Freedom Writer Teachers Rachel Workentine, Diana Beltrani, and Francisco Lopez with Freedom Writers Foundation Chief of Staff Bryan Solis. Hosted by Erin Gruwell, also known as Ms. G, this robust roundtable explores LGBTQIA+ identity, visibility, and what it means to create classrooms where every student feels seen, valued, and supported. Drawing from their personal experiences as proud members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their work as educators, our panelists share honest reflections on the challenges and joys of showing up authentically at school and in the world. This episode is a meaningful listen for educators, allies, and anyone committed to building more inclusive communities. Listen all the way to the end for a special excerpt from our archive featuring Judy Shepard. Following the 1998 murder of her son Matthew Shepard, Judy and her husband Dennis became lifelong advocates for LGBTQIA+ rights. This excerpt includes the moving speech Ellen DeGeneres delivered at Matthew’s vigil, offering a resounding reminder to continue the fight for love, dignity, and equality.

What does it take to become the first person in your family to go to college? In this special episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, scholarship recipients from across the Freedom Writers community share their journeys through higher education. From overcoming financial and personal obstacles to finding mentors who believed in them, their stories reveal the courage, persistence, and hope required to pursue a dream that can transform generations. Stick around through the end of the episode to hear from the incredible Liz Murray. Her full interview, excerpted here, can be found in Episode 38 of the Freedom Writers Podcast.

The latest installment of our “Tea with Ms. G” Livestream Series is now available here on the Freedom Writers Podcast. Listen to a vulnerable and powerful conversation about mental health featuring Professor and sociologist Dr. Tom Reifer, Freedom Writer Teacher Meghan Abruzzo, and original Freedom Writer Mauricio “Tony” Becerra. Hosted by Erin Gruwell, also known as Ms. G, this thoughtful roundtable explores topics like depression, grief, trauma, healing, mentorship, and the importance of showing up for young people who are struggling. This episode is a must-listen for educators and mentors interested in supporting others and themselves in fostering positive mental health outcomes, and it also has great value as a teaching tool for validating students in being open about their mental health and seeking help when needed. Listen all the way to the end for a moving excerpt from our archive featuring former Congressman Patrick Kennedy. In his full Freedom Writers Podcast interview, which you can find in Episode 2, Patrick reflects on the deeply personal experiences that shaped his advocacy for mental health and addiction recovery, including his work on the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.

The third installment of our "Tea with Ms. G" Livestream Series is once again re-broadcast here on the Freedom Writers Podcast. Listen to an enlightening and moving conversation with experts on all aspects of the autism spectrum. Our roundtable features two published Freedom Writer authors who are on the autism spectrum themselves, CarolAnn Edscorn and Jayden Braddock, and one inspiring Freedom Writer Teacher who both works with neurodivergent youth and is mother to child with autism, Nancy Rodriguez. The conversation is hosted by our own Erin Gruwell, also known as Ms. G. They touch on topics like sensory overload, the importance of allyship, and the unique advantages of seeing the world through a different lens. Keep listening after the livestream for an excerpt from a wonderful interview out of our archive. We had the pleasure of speaking with renowned autism advocate Temple Grandin in 2021, and you can hear her full interview on episode 72 of the Freedom Writers Podcast.

This is "Tea with Ms. G": a Livestream series hosted by Erin Gruwell and featuring some of the best and brightest minds in the Freedom Writers community. On February 23, 2026, we had a courageous conversation with Freedom Writer Teachers Cameron Lymon and Dr. Robert Hill with original Freedom Writer Latilla Cain. This is that roundtable discussion in honor of Black History Month 2026. Our panelists share pieces of their own complex and beautiful family histories, and we discuss controversial topics plaguing our society today. Topics of discussion include videos released in February 2026 by the current presidential administration that featured highly racist propaganda, as well as the current movement to erase Black History from museums nationwide. We also talk about the power of mentorship in allowing African American kids--and kids of all races--to blossom today, and the importance of taking the time to slow down and let our students be heard.

In this powerful episode of the Freedom Writers Podcast, host Erin Gruwell, affectionately known as Ms. G, launches a new series titled "Tea with Miss G," designed to facilitate courageous conversations on pressing societal issues. The inaugural episode brings together a diverse panel of activists, educators, and original Freedom Writers to tackle the complexities surrounding immigration and customs enforcement (ICE). As the panelists delve into personal anecdotes and experiences, they shine a light on the relentless courage required to face the fears and challenges imposed by current immigration policies. This conversation was originally aired as a livestream across the Freedom Writers Foundation's social media platforms, and is rebroadcast here on the Freedom Writers Podcast. Our panelists include three Freedom Writer Teachers: Minnesota Educator Emily Bollinger, Minnesota Principal Dr. Marcia Nelson, and Southern California Assistant Principal Johnny Muñoz. They were joined in conversation by original Freedom Writers Mauricio "Tony" Becerra and Melvin Logan. To download the ReadyNow! app referenced in this episode, go to readynowapp.org. To get connected with mutual aid efforts in Minneapolis, please contact the Freedom Writers Foundation.

In this episode of The Freedom Writers Podcast, something unexpected happens. During a visit to Green Valley High School, what began as a classroom exercise turned into an unscripted podcast—led entirely by students. Original Freedom Writer Melvin Logan responds in real time to their thoughtful questions, reflecting on growing up in Long Beach amid gang violence, navigating loss at home, and the choices that shaped his life. This conversation is shared at the students’ request, capturing a rare moment of trust, curiosity, and courage—where young voices lead, and real learning unfolds.

In this episode of The Freedom Writers Podcast, Erin Gruwell sits down with original Freedom Writer Sharaud Moore—the student whose experience of bullying in Room 203 ultimately sparked the movement that would become Freedom Writers. Growing up in Long Beach surrounded by gang violence and hampered by the low expectations placed on young African American men, Sharaud learned early how to protect himself and those he loved. In this deeply personal conversation, he reflects on the moments that shaped him, the mentors who stayed, and how those experiences led him to become a devoted father, award-winning educator, and decorated coach. Sharaud’s story is a powerful reminder that mentorship isn’t about saving kids, but about showing up with the consistency they need to exceed the limits the world set for them.