We’ve been wanting to bring Huda Fahmy on the podcast for a long time, and this conversation was well worth the wait! From her journey as an English teacher to bestselling graphic novelist, to the power of humor, representation, and student voice, Huda shares how her work helps young readers feel seen—and why that matters.

We talk about the themes in her Huda F series, how her books function as both mirrors and windows for students, and why letting go of perfectionism is one of the most important lessons we can pass on to young writers.

Resources:

• Join Camp BNT: Summer 2025
• Huda's Website
• Instagram: @yesimhotinthis
• Huda’s books

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode268

"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"

Get your FREE Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs gateway lesson: shop.bravenewteaching.com/cloudy
Check out Curriculum Rehab here!

Support the show

📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩‍💻

• Join Happy Hour!
• Curriculum Rehab
• Down with the Reading Quiz
• Shop the BNT Resource Library
• Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Some conversations leave a mark, and this one with author Libba Bray is exactly that. From the first few minutes, we found ourselves completely pulled in by her honesty, humor, and the kind of insight that makes you pause and say, “Yes, that’s it.” What started as a chat about books quickly turned into a rich, winding conversation about creativity, teaching, storytelling, and the way young people show up in the world with fierce hope and resilience.

We dive into Libba’s newest novel, Under the Same Stars—a multigenerational story inspired by a real-life matchmaking tree—exploring how she weaves together history, structure, and emotion to spark meaningful reflection and classroom connection.

Resources:

• Join Camp BNT: Summer 2025
• Under the Same Stars: Amazon | Bookshop
• Libba's Website
• Liba's Instagram: @libbabray

More Camp BNT Episodes:

• Episode 260, Samira Ahmed: A Conversation About Internment Part 1
• Episode 261, Samira Ahmed: A Conversation About Internment Part 2
• Episode 262, Aimee Phan: A Conversation About The Lost Queen Part 1
• Episode 263, Aimee Phan: A Conversation About The Lost Queen Part 2
• Episode 264, Aaron H. Aceves: A Conversation About This is Why They Hate Us
• Episode 266, Katie Bayerl: A Conversational About What Comes After

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode267

"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"

Get your FREE Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs gateway lesson: shop.bravenewteaching.com/cloudy
Check out Curriculum Rehab here!

Support the show

📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩‍💻

• Join Happy Hour!
• Curriculum Rehab
• Down with the Reading Quiz
• Shop the BNT Resource Library
• Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

If you've ever daydreamed about writing a novel between grading essays, this one’s for you. In this episode, we chat with former English teacher turned YA author Katie Bayerl about her newest book, What Comes After—a laugh-out-loud, heart-tugging story about grief, identity, and the afterlife. Katie shares her journey from the classroom to the writing world, her process for weaving humor into heavy themes, and how her novel can spark deep, inquiry-based conversations in your classroom. Plus, we’ve got ideas for book pairings and plenty of student writing tips!

Resources:

• Join Camp BNT: Summer 2025
• What Comes After, by Katie Bayerl: Bookshop.org | Amazon
• Katie's website
• Katie's Instagram

More Camp BNT Episodes:

• Episode 260, Samira Ahmed: A Conversation About Internment Part 1
• Episode 261, Samira Ahmed: A Conversation About Internment Part 2
• Episode 262, Aimee Phan: A Conversation About The Lost Queen Part 1
• Episode 263, Aimee Phan: A Conversation About The Lost Queen Part 2
• Episode 264, Aaron H. Aceves: A Conversation About This is Why They Hate Us

SHOW NOTES: https://www.bravenewteaching.com/home/episode266

"Send us a message - please include your contact information so we can chat soon!"

Get your FREE Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs gateway lesson: shop.bravenewteaching.com/cloudy
Check out Curriculum Rehab here!

Support the show

📚 BNT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & RESOURCES 👩‍💻

• Join Happy Hour!
• Curriculum Rehab
• Down with the Reading Quiz
• Shop the BNT Resource Library
• Connect with us on Instagram @bravenewteaching
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel