The Glass Apple Podcast

Green Apple Podcast
In-depth conversations about inclusive teaching

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Inclusive Teaching at UO is instruction designed to ensure every student can participate fully and recognize that their presence and participation is valued. An inclusive course includes content that reflects the diversity of the field's practitioners, the contested and evolving status of knowledge, the value of academic questions beyond the academy and of lived experience as evidence, and/or other efforts to help students see themselves in the work of the course.

Join hosts Troy Elias, Associate Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, and Lee Rumbarger, Associate Vice Provost for Teaching Engagement, as they interview guests who offer us a rare look inside their classrooms and ways of thinking about teaching. Our focus: we want to know how our guests develop and run classes where students feel they belong and can thrive—in the room, in the discipline. Our first interviews are Kirby Brown (English, Native American Studies), and Danny Pimentel (SOJC), and Camisha Russell (Philosophy).

troy elias
Troy Elias
Associate Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion
Lee Rumbarger
Lee Rumbarger
Associate Vice Provost for Teaching Engagement

Hosted & Produced by

Troy Elias Host & Production
Lee Rumbarger Host & Production
Denita Strietelmeier Production & Support
Alex Lacy Production & Music
Special thank you to Matt Schmitt and SOJC for access to their studio and equipment 

Episodes
 

daniel pimentel

 

Daniel Pimentel ► Listen now​​​

Overcoming Barriers in the Learning Environment

Daniel is Assistant Professor of Immersive Psychology at the School of Journalism and Communication in Portland. Daniel’s research primarily focuses on cross-reality (XR) media platforms: virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR). Specifically, he conducts experimental research examining how XR storytelling experiences can contribute to prosocial attitude and behavior change across various contexts, including climate action, wildlife conservation, and mental/physical well-being. In this episode, Daniel talks about a number of inclusive teaching practices from his classes:

  • Giving students agency
  • Personalized learning - scaling to large classes and diverse students
  • How one-on-one attention shapes his approach
  • Experiential learning
  • Creative approaches to accessibility

 

kirby brown

 

Kirby Brown ► Listen now​​​

I Change You, You Change Me: Leaving the Classroom Different

Kirby is Associate Professor of Native American and Indigenous Literary and Culture Production in the Department of English, and director of the Native American and Indigenous Studies at the University of Oregon. He is an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Kirby’s work focuses on Native American literary, intellectual, and cultural production from the late eighteenth century to the present, Indigenous critical theory, and studies in sovereignty/self-determination, nationhood/nationalism, modernism/modernity, and genre. In this episode, Kirby talks about a number of inclusive teaching practices from his classes: 

  • Setting expectations during the first week of class
  • Inclusive teaching assignments
  • Defining cultural production and the role of non-indigenous students
  • Creating a class environment where students are comfortable with being unsettled and inspired to ask questions
  • Scalable and adoptable inclusive teaching practices   

 

camisha russell

Camisha Russell ► Listen now​​​

On Grace, Inclusion, Feminism, Joy, and Teaching with Courage

Camisha is Associate Professor of Philosophy and a member of the Provost's Teaching Academy board. Her work focuses on critical philosophy of race, ethics (esp. Bioethics), African American philosophy and feminist theory. In this episode, Camisha talks about inclusive teaching in her classroom and her approaches to it number of inclusive teaching practices including: 

  • Being open to students about teaching practices
  • Sources of confidence, vulnerability, and presence with students
  • Inclusive classrooms when the course isn’t inherently DEI-specific
  • What is needed to advance teaching culture on campus
  • Cultivating community around teaching 

 

Leah Schneider

Leah Schneider ► Listen now​​​

Building a Safe and Open Platform for Learning

Leah is Senior Instructor I of Marketing at Lundquist College of Business. As a teacher, she feels there is nothing more satisfying than to hear students put what they've learned into action, and to do so intelligently, concisely, and creatively. A recipient of the university's Herman Award for Outstanding Online Education, Leah says that creating a successful online class experience - especially ones with team projects - lies with the the students themselves. She talks about a number of inclusive teaching practices including: 

  • Encouraging enagement in online courses vs in-person courses
  • How making her class more accessible and transparent for her online classes changed her in-person classes
  • Inclusivity in design elements of the course and mindful aspects of teaching
  • What is needed to advance teaching culture on campus
  • Cultivating community around teaching 

 

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Mike Price ► Listen now​​​

Turning Students into "Math People"

In this episode, we sit down with Mike Price, Senior Instructor and Distinguished Teaching Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oregon. A 2025 recipient of the university’s Distinguished Teaching Award and long-time member of the Provost’s Teaching Academy, Mike shares his passion for transforming math education through inclusive teaching practices and active learning. Mike discusses how he creates a welcoming classroom environment—especially for students who arrive with math anxiety or low expectations. He shares strategies for making large lecture halls feel intimate, using incremental inclusive techniques and diverse assessment methods to engage every learner. His mission? To help every student see themselves as a “math person.” Whether you're a seasoned educator or just beginning your teaching journey, this episode offers practical insights and heartfelt motivation to make your classroom more inclusive and impactful.  

  • "Emotional Capital Banks" in the classroom (03:00)
  • How inclusive teaching practices apply in STEM disciplines (06:11)
  • "Reason Neutral" philosophy (10:00)
  • Evolution of a teaching style (15:45)
  • Inside Mike's classroom--large classrooms and formative assessments (23:02)
  • The value of grading the the art of teaching (28:25)
  • Turning students into "math people" (34:28)
  • Equity and achievement gaps in the classroom (37:07)
  • Inclusivity and exclusivity--encouraging diversity in a STEM classroom (42:27)
  • Making pedagogical changes in your classroom and department (52:26)